tw.thestoneoffarewell-第123部分

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bing　away；　draining　like　sand　through　the　neck　of　an　hourglass。
　　We　have　e　ten　times　as　far　as　anyone　would　have　dreamed　possible；　he　thought；　clinging　tightly　to　the　reins　as　Vildalix　topped　one　of　the　meadow　downs　and　plunged　down　the　opposite　slope　like　a　boat　breasting　a　wave。　There　is　no　dishonor　in　failing　now。　What　more　can　God　expect　than　that　we　give　our　all？　He　looked　back。　The　rest　of　the　party　was　beginning　to　fall　behind。　Deornoth　pulled　up　on　the　reins；　slowing　his　charger　until　he　was　in　the　midst　of　the　pany　once　more。　God　might　be　ready　to　reward　them　with　a　hero's　place　in　Heaven；　but　he　could　not　give　up　the　struggle　while　innocents　like　the　duchess　and　the　child　were　at　risk。
　　 Isorn　was　beside　him　now；　clutching　Leieth　on　the　saddle　before　him。　The　young　Rimmersman's　face　was　a　gray　blur　in　the　moonlight；　but　Deornoth　did　not　need　to　see　his　friend　to　know　the　anger　and　determina…　tion　written　on　his　broad　features。
　　He　looked　back　once　more。　For　all　their　haste；　the　rippling　torches　had　gained　ground　on　them；　closing　the　distance　in　the　last　two　hours　until　they　trailed　the　prince's　folk　by　less　than　a　dozen　furlongs。
　　〃Slow　up！〃　Josua　cried　behind　him　in　the　darkness。　〃If　we　run　farther；　we　will　have　no　strength　left　to　fight。　There　is　a　grove　of　trees　atop　the　rise　there。　That　is　where　we　will　make　a　stand。〃
　　They　followed　the　prince　up　the　slope。　The　cold　wind　had　risen　and　the　trees　bent　and　thrashed；　branches　scraping　together。　In　the　dark…　ness　the　pale；　swaying　trunks　seemed　white…robed　spirits　lamenting　some　terrible　circumstance。
　　〃Here。〃　The　prince　ushered　them　past　the　outermost　circle　of　trees。　〃Where　are　those　bows；　Sir　Deornoth？〃　His　voice　was　flat。
　　〃At　my　saddle；　Prince　Josua。〃　Deornoth　heard　the　awful　formality　echoed　in　his　own　tones；　as　though　they　all　participated　in　some　ritual。　He　loosed　the　two　bows　and　flung　one　to　Isorn；　who　had　handed　Leieth　over　to　his　mother　to　free　his　hands。　As　Deornoth　and　the　young　Rimmersman　strung　the　supple　ashwood；　Father　Strangyeard　accepted　an　extra　dagger　from　Sangfugol。　He　held　it　unhappily；　as　chough　he　pinched　a　serpent's　tail。　〃What　will　Usires　think？〃　he　said　mournfully。　〃What　will　my　God　think　of　me？〃
　　〃He　will　know　you　fought　to　save　the　lives　of　women　and　children；〃　Isorn　said　shortly；　nocking　one　of　their　few　arrows。
　　〃Now　we　wait；〃　Joshua　hissed。　〃We　stay　close　together；　in　case　I　see　a　chance　for　us　to　run　once　more；　and　we　wait。〃
　　The　minutes　stretched　as　taut　as　the　bowstring　beneath　Deornoth's　fingers。　The　nightbirds　had　gone　silent　in　the　trees　overhead；　but　for　one　whose　eerie；　whispering　call　echoed　over　and　over　until　Deornoth　wished　he　could　put　an　arrow　through　its　feathered　throat。　A　sound　as　of　distant　and　continuous　drumming　began　to　separate　itself　from　the　droning　mur…　mur　of　the　Steffiod；　growing　ever　louder。　Deornoth　thought　he　could　feel　the　ground　beginning　to　shudder　beneath　his　feet。　He　suddenly　wondered　if　blood　had　ever　been　shed　in　this　seemingly　uninhabited　land　before。　Had　the　roots　of　these　pale　trees　ever　drunk　of　things　other　than　water？　The　great　oaks　around　the　battlefield　at　the　Knock　were　said　to　have　gorged　on　blood　until　their　pith　was　rosy　pink。
　　The　thunder　of　hoofbeats　rose　until　it　was　louder　than　Deornoth's　own　heart　drumming　in　his　ears。　He　lifted　his　bow　but　did　not　bend　it；　saving　his　strength　for　the　moment　it　would　be　needed。　A　swirl　of　flickering　lights　appeared　on　the　meadow　below　them。　The　headlong　flight　of　the　horsemen　slowed；　as　though　they　somehow　sensed　the　prince's　folk　hiding　in　the　grove　above　them。　As　they　reined　up；　the　flames　of　their　streaming　torches　bobbed　upright　once　more；　blooming　like　orange　flowers。
　　〃They　are　nearly　two　dozen；〃　Isorn　said　unhappily。
　　〃I　will　take　the　first；〃　Deornoth　whispered。　〃You　take　the　second。〃
　　〃Hold；〃　said　Josua　quietly。　〃Not　until　I　say。〃
　　The　leader　got　down　from　his　horse；　bending　to　the　ground　so　that　he　disappeared　out　of　the　glow　of　torchlight。　When　he　stood　his　pale；　hooded　face　turned　to　look　up　the　slope；　so　that　it　almost　seemed　to　Deornoth　he　had　sighted　them　in　the　fastness　of　the　shadows。　Deornoth　lowered　his　arrowhead　until　it　pointed　at　the　cloaked　chest　beneath　the　faint　moon　of　face。
　　〃Steady　now；〃　Josua　murmured；　〃a　moment　more。。。〃　There　was　a　rush　and　clatter　in　the　branches　overhead。　A　dark　shape　battered　at　Deornoth's　head；　startling　him　so　that　the　arrow　flew　free；　high　above　its　intended　mark。　Deornoth　shouted　in　alarm　and　staggered　back；　raising　his　hands　to　protect　his　eyes；　but　whatever　had　struck　him　was　gone。
　　〃Stop！〃　a　voice　cried　from　the　trees　above；　a　creaking；　whistlingly　inhuman　voice。　〃Stop！〃
　　Isorn；　who　had　stared　in　stupefaction　as　Deornoth　swatted　at　nothing；　turned　grimly　and　lowered　his　own　arrow　to　the　target。　〃Demons！〃　he　growled；　pulling　his　bowstring　back　to　his　ear。
　　〃Josua？〃　somebody　called　from　the　meadow　below。　〃Prince　Josua？　Are　you　there？〃
　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　〃Aedon　be　praised；〃　Josua　breathed。　He　pushed　his　way　through　the　crackling　undergrowth　and　strode　out　into　the　full　light　of　the　moon；　his　cloak　billowing　like　a　sail　in　the　fierce　wind。　〃I　am　here！〃　he　shouted。
　　〃What　is　he　doing？〃　Isorn　hissed　frantically。　Vorzheva　let　out　a　small　cry　of　anguish；　but　Deornoth；　too；　had　recognized　the　voice。
　　〃Josua？〃　the　leader　of　the　horsemen　cried。　〃It　is　Hotvig　of　the　Stallion　Clan。〃　He　pushed　back　his　hood　to　show　his　beard　and　wind…tossed　yellow　hair。　〃We　have　followed　you　for　days！〃
　　〃Hotvig！〃　Vorzheva　shouted　anxiously。　〃Is　my　father　with　you？〃
　　The　Thrithings…man　laughed　harshly。　〃Not　him；　Lady　Vorzheva。　The　March…thane　is　no　happier　with　me　than　he　is　with　you　or　your　husband！〃
　　As　the　randwarder　and　Josua　clasped　hands；　the　rest　of　the　prince's　party　emerged　from　the　copse　of　trees；　tight…strung　muscles　trembling；　babbling　among　themselves　with　relief。
　　〃There　is　much　to　tell；　Josua；〃　Hotvig　said　as　his　fellow　riders　came　up　the　slope　to　join　them。　〃First；　though；　we　must　make　a　fire。　We　have　been　riding　fast　as　the　Grass　Thunderer　himself。　We　are　cold　and　very　tired。〃
　　〃Indeed；〃　Josua　smiled。　〃A　fire。〃
　　Deornoth　stepped　forward　and　took　Hotvig's　hand　in　his。　〃Praise　Usires'　mercy；〃　he　said。　〃We　thought　you　were　Fengbald；　the　High　King's　man。　I　was　a　moment　from　loosing　an　arrow　into　your　heart；　but　something　struck　my　hand　in　the　darkness。〃
　　〃You　may　praise　Usires；〃　a　dry　voice　said；　〃but　I　had　something　to　do　with　it；　too。〃
　　Geloe　came　out　of　the　trees　behind　them；　marching　down　the　slope　and　into　the　circle　of　torchlight。　The　witch　woman；　Deornoth　realized　with　a　start；　wore　a　cloak　and　breeches　that　came　from　his　own　saddlebag。　Her　feet　were　unshod。
　　〃Valada　Geloe！〃　Josua　said　in　wonderment。　〃You　e　unlooked…for。〃
　　〃You　may　not　have　looked　for　me；　Prince　Josua；　but　I　looked　for　you。　And　a　good　thing　that　I　did；　else　this　night　might　have　ended　in　bloodshed。〃　〃It　was　you　that　struck　me　before　I　could　let　my　arrow　fly？〃　Deornoth　said　slowly。　〃But　how。。。？〃
　　〃Time　enough　for　stories　later；〃　Geloe　said；　then　kneeled　as　Leieth　pulled　free　of　Gutrun's　clutch　to　run　into　the　wise　woman's　arms　with　a　wordless　cry　of　pleasure。　As　she　embraced　the　child；　Geloe's　huge　yellow　eyes　held　Deornoth's　gaze；　he　felt　a　shiver　travel　down　his　backbone。　〃Time　enough　for　stories　later；〃　she　repeated。　〃Now　it　is　time　to　make　a　fire。　The　moon　is　far　along　in　her　journey。　If　you　are　on　your　horses　by　dawn　tomorrow；　you　will　reach　the　Stone　of　Farewell　before　dark。〃　She　looked　up　at　the　northern　sky。　〃And　perhaps　before　the　storm；　as　well。〃
　　
　　The　sky　was　tar…black　with　angry　clouds。　The　rain　was　turning　into　sleet。　Rachel　the　Dragon；　chilled　and　storm…battered；　stepped　into　the　lee　of　a　building　on　Ironmonger's　Street　for　a　moment's　rest。　The　byways　of　Erchester　were　empty　but　for　flurrying　hailstones　and　a　solitary　figure　carrying　a　large　bundle　on　its　back　as　it　trudged　away　through　the　mud　toward　Main　Row。
　　Probably　leaving　for　the　countryside；　carrying　all　his　wordly　goods；　she　thought　bitterly。　Another　one　gone；　and　who　could　blame　him？　It's　like　the　plague　has　run　through　this　city。
　　Shivering；　she　set　out　once　more。
　　Despite　the　vicious　weather；　many　of　the　doors　along　Ironmonger's　Street　swung　back　and　forth　unlatched；　opening　to　giving　a　glimpse　of　empty　blackness　beyond；　banging　closed　with　a　sound　like　breaking　bones。　It　was　indeed　much　as　if　some　pestilence　had　devastated　Erchester；　but　it　was　a　scourge　of　fear　rather　than　disease　that　was　driving　out　the　city's　denizens。　This；　in　turn；　had　forced　the　Mistress　of　Chambermaids　to　walk　the　entire　length　of　the　ironmongery　district　before　she　could　find　　someone　to　sell　her　what　she　needed。　She　carried　her　new　purchase　under　her　cloak　and　against　her　bosom；　hidden　from　the　sight　of　passersby…of　which　there　were　obviously　few…and　perhaps；　she　hoped；　somehow　also　hidden　from　the　eyes　of　a　disapproving　God。　The　irony　was　that　there　had　been　no　necessity　to　walk　through　the　savage　winds　and　deserted　streets：　any　of　several　hundred　implements　in　the　Hayholt's　kitchen　would　have　admirably　suited　her　bill　of　particulars。
　　But　this　was　her　own　plan　and　her　own　decision。　To　take　what　she　needed　from　Judith's　cupboards　might　put　the　fat　Mistress　of　Kitchens　in　jeopardy。　and　Judith　was　one　of　the　few　castle　folk　for　whom　Rachel　felt　respect。　More　importantly；　it　truly　was　Rachel's　own　plan；　and　in　a　way　it　had　been　necessary　for　her　to　walk　one　more　time　through　Erchester's　haunted　alleyways：　it　was　helping　her　work　up　the　courage　to　do　what　must　be　done。
　　Spring　cleaning；　she　reminded　herself　grimly。　A　shrill；　un…Rachel…like　laugh　escaped　her　lips。　Spring　cleaning　in　midsummer；　with　snow　on　the　way。　She　shook　her　head；　feeling　a　momentary　urge　to　sit　down　in　the　muddy　street　and　cry。　That's　enough；　old　woman；　she　told　herself；　as　she　often　did。　There's　work　to　be　done；　and　no　rest　this　side　of　Heaven。
　　
　　If　there　had　been　any　doubts　that　the　Day　of　Weighing…Out　was　almost　at　hand；　just　as　foretold　in　the　holy　Book　of　the　Aedon；　Rachel　had　only　to　think　back　to　the　et　that　had　appeared　in　the　sky　during　the　sprin