tw.thestoneoffarewell-第127部分

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　rock？〃
　　〃Sesuad'ra　has　been　broken　and　worn　over　the　eons　of　its　existence；〃　Geloe　answered。　〃Plants　will　ever　find　a　way；　and　they　themselves　help　to　further　break　the　stone　until　it　is　crumbled　to　a　dirt　scarcely　less　rich　than　found　on　a　Hewenshire　freeholding。　〃
　　Deornoth　frowned　slightly　at　this　reference　to　his　birthplace；　then　wondered　how　the　wise　woman　knew　of　his　father's　farm。　He　had　certainly　never　mentioned　it　to　her。
　　Soon　they　were　walking　in　the　sudden　twilight　of　the　hill's　long　shadow；　whipped　by　a　chilly　wind。　The　path　that　began　at　Sesuad'ra's　base　lay　before　them；　hugging　the　hillside；　a　trampled　cut　of　grass　and　moss　overhung　by　trees　and　twining　creepers。
　　〃And　we　are　going　up？〃　Duchess　Gutrun　asked　in　some　consternation。　〃Up　into　this　place？〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　Geloe　said；　a　touch　of　impatience　in　her　rough　voice。　〃It　is　the　highest　ground　for　leagues。　We　have　need　of　high　ground　just　now。　Besides；　there　are　other　reasons…must　I　explain　them　all　again？〃
　　〃No；　Valada　Geloe；　please　lead　us；〃Josua　said。　The　prince　seemed　fired　by　some　inner　flame；　his　pale　face　alight　with　excitement。　〃This　is　what　we　have　been　searching　for。　This　is　where　we　will　begin　the　long　road　back。〃　His　face　slackened　somewhat。　〃I　do　wonder；　though；　how　Hotvig　and　his　folk　will　feel　about　leaving　their　wagons　below。　It　is　a　pity　there　is　no　way　to　get　them　up　the　hill。〃
　　The　wise　woman　waved　her　callused　hand。　〃You　worry　too　soon　Step　ahead　and　you　will　have　a　surprise。〃
　　They　rode　forward。　Beneath　the　straggling　grass　the　path　that　wound　up　the　hillside　was　as　smooth　as　one　of　old　Naglimund's　hallways　and　wide　enough　for　any　wagon。
　　〃But　how　can　this　be？〃Josua　asked。
　　〃You　forget；〃　Geloe　responded；　〃this　is　a　Sithi　place。　Beneath　this　bramble　is　the　road　they　built。　It　takes　many；　many　centuries　to　destroy　the　handiwork　of　the　Zida'ya。〃
　　Josua　was　not　cheered。　〃I　am　amazed；　but　now　I　am　even　more　worried。　What　will　keep　our　enemies　from　climbing　as　easily　as　we　do？〃
　　Geloe　snorted　in　disgust。　〃First；　it　is　easier　to　defend　a　high　place　than　to　take　it　from　below。　Secondly；　the　nature　of　the　place　itself　is　against　it。　Third；　and　perhaps　most　importantly；　our　enemy's　own　rage　may　outsmart　him　and　ensure　our　survival…at　least　for　a　while。〃
　　〃How　so？〃　the　prince　demanded。
　　〃You　will　see。〃　Geloe　spurred　her　horse　up　the　path；　Leieth　bobbing　on　the　saddle　before　her。　The　child's　wide　brown　eyes　took　in　everything　without　any　show　of　feeling。　Josua　shrugged　and　followed。　
　　Deornoth　turned　to　see　Vorzheva　sitting　upright　on　her　horse；　face　set　in　lines　of　grim　fear。　〃What　is　it；　my　lady？〃　he　asked。　〃Is　something　amiss？。〃
　　She　offered　a　nervous　smile。　〃My　people　have　hated　and　feared　this　valley　forever。　Hotvig　is　a　clan…man　and　would　not　show　it；　but　he　fears　this　place；　too。　〃　She　sighed　shakily。　〃Now　I　must　follow　my　husband　up　on　this　unnatural　rock　I　am　afraid。〃
　　For　the　first　time　since　his　prince　had　brought　this　odd　woman　to　live　in　the　castle　at　Naglimund；　Deornoth　felt　his　heart　opening　to　her；　filling　with　admiration。　〃We　are　all　deathly　afraid；　my　lady；〃　he　said。　〃The　rest　of　us　are　just　not　as　honest　as　you。〃
　　He　tapped　gently　with　his　heels　at　Vildalix's　ribs　and　followed　Vorzheva　up　the　path。
　　
　　The　road　was　overhung　with　trailing　vines　and　the　tangled　branches　of　trees；　forcing　the　travelers　to　spend　as　much　time　ducking　their　heads　as　they　did　riding　upright。　As　they　slowly　circled　out　of　the　shadow；　like　ants　walking　the　perimeter　of　a　sundial；　the　mist　that　clung　to　the　hill　lent　an　unusual　sparkle　to　the　afternoon　glow。
　　Deornoth　thought　that　the　smell　of　the　place　was　what　seemed　strangest　of　all。　Sesuad'ra　gave　off　a　scent　of　timeless　growth；　of　water　and　roots　and　damp　earth　in　a　place　long　undisturbed。　There　was　an　air　of　peace　here；　of　slow；　careful　thought；　but　also　a　disturbing　sensation　of　watchfulness。　From　time　to　time　the　stillness　was　broken　by　the　trill　of　unseen　birds　whose　songs　were　as　somber　and　hesitant　as　children　whis…　pering　in　a　high…ceilmged　hall。
　　As　the　grassy　meadow　began　to　drop　away　below　them；　the　travelers　passed　posts　of　standing　stone；　time…smoothed　white　shapes　almost　twice　a　man's　height　that　had　in　their　unrecognizable　outlines　some　hint　of　movement；　of　life。　They　passed　the　first　as　the　path　brought　them　around　into　direct　sunlight　for　the　first　time。
　　〃Marking　pillars。〃　Geloe　called　over　her　shoulder。　〃One　for　each　of　the　moons　in　the　year。　We'll　pass　a　dozen　every　time　we　circle　around　the　hill　until　we　reach　the　summit。　They　were　carved　to　look　like　animals　and　birds　once；　I　think。　〃
　　Deornoth　stared　at　the　rounded　nob　that　might　have　been　a　head　and　wondered　what　beast　it　had　once　represented。　Weathered　by　wind　and　rain；　it　was　now　as　shapeless　as　melted　wax；　faceless　as　the　forgotten　dead。　He　shivered　and　make　the　sign　of　the　Tree　on　his　breast。　
　　A　little　while　later　Geloe　stopped　and　pointed　downward　toward　the　northwest　part　of　the　valley；　where　the　rim　of　the　old　forest　reached　out　almost　to　the　very　banks　of　the　Stefflod。　The　river　was　a　tiny　streak　of　quicksilver　along　the　valley's　emerald　floor。
　　〃Just　beyond　the　river；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　see？〃　She　gestured　again　at　the　forest's　dark　breakfront；　which　might　have　been　a　frozen　sea…wave　awaiting　only　spring's　thaw　before　it　swept　across　the　low　ground。　〃There；　in　the　forest's　fringe。　Those　are　the　ruins　of　Enki…e…Shao'saye；　which　some　say　was　the　most　beautiful　city　ever　built　in　Osten　Ard　since　the　world　began。〃
　　As　his　panions　whispered　and　shaded　their　eyes；　Deornoth　moved　to　the　edge　of　the　path；　squinting　at　the　distant　forest。　He　saw　nothing　but　what　might　have　been　a　crumbled　wall　of　lavender；　a　flash　of　gold。
　　〃There's　not　much　to　see；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　〃Not　in　this　age；〃　Geloe　replied。
　　
　　Up　they　climbed　as　the　day　waned。　Each　time　they　circled　around　to　the　hill's　northern　slope；　ing　out　of　shade　into　ever…decreasing　afternoon　light；　they　could　see　the　spreading　knot　of　blackness　on　the　horizon。　The　storm　was　moving　in　swiftly。　It　had　now　swallowed　the　far　borders　of　great　Aldheorte；　so　that　all　the　north　seemed　a　gray　uncertainty。
　　As　they　finished　their　twelfth　circuit　around　the　hill；　passing　the　one　hundred　and　forty…fourth　of　the　marking　pillars…a　small　enough　diversion；　but　still　Deornoth　had　kept　score…the　travelers　emerged　at　last　from　the　shadowing　greenery；　clambering　up　a　final　slope　until　they　stood　on　the　hill's　windy　summit。　The　sun　had　fallen　away　into　the　west；　only　a　reddish　sliver　remained。
　　The　top　of　the　hill　was　nearly　flat　and　scarcely　less　wide　than　Sesuad'ra's　base。　All　around　its　perimeter　jutted　fingers　of　upright　stone；　not　smoothed　like　the　marking　pillars；　but　great；　raw　standing　stones；　each　as　tall　as　four　men；　made　of　the　same　gray　rock　veined　with　white　and　pink　that　formed　the　hill。
　　In　the　center　of　the　plateau；　in　the　midst　of　a　field　of　waving　grass；　stood　a　vast；　low　building　of　opalescent　stone；　tinged　with　the　sunset's　red　glow。
　　At　first　it　seemed　a　temple　of　some　sort；　like　the　great　old　buildings　of　Nabban　from　the　days　of　the　Imperium；　but　its　lines　were　plainer。　Its　unassuming　but　affecting　style　made　it　seem　almost　to　spring　from　the　hill　itself。　It　was　plain　that　this　structure　belonged　on　this　windy　hilltop；　beneath　this　incredibly　wide　sky。　The　grandeur　and　self…interest　that　spoke　from　every　angle　of　houses　of　human　worship；　however　finely　wrought；　was　a　language　alien　to　whoever　had　built　this。　The　passage　of　unguessable　years　had　in　places　brought　its　walls　to　collapse。　Unhindered　for　centuries；　trees　had　thrust　up　through　the　building's　very　roof；　or　pushed　their　way　in　at　the　arched　doorways　like　unwanted　guests。　Still；　the　simplicity　and　beauty　of　the　place　were　so　plain…and　at　the　same　time　so　inhuman…　that　for　a　long　time　no　one　ventured　to　speak。
　　〃We　are　here；〃　Josua　said　at　last；　his　tones　solemn　but　exalted。　〃After　all　our　danger　and　all　our　suffering；　we　have　found　a　place　where　we　can　stop　and　say：　we　go　no　farther。〃
　　〃It　is　not　forever；　Prince　Josua。〃　Geloe　spoke　gently；　as　if　unwilling　to　break　his　mood；　but　the　prince　was　already　striding　confidently　across　the　hilltop　toward　the　white　walls。
　　〃It　need　not　be　forever；〃　he　called。　〃But　for　now；　we　will　be　safe！〃　He　turned　and　waved　his　hand　for　the　others　to　follow；　then　continued　turning；　gazing　around　him　on　all　sides。　〃I　take　back　what　I　said！〃　he　shouted　to　Geloe。　〃With　a　few　good　folk　behind　me；　I　could　make　a　stand　here　and　Sir　Camaris　himself　could　not　defeat　me；　not　with　all　the　knights　of　my　father's　Great　Table　at　his　side！〃
　　 He　bounded　away　toward　the　pale　walls　that　now　showed　a　touch　of　blue。　Evening　was　ing　on。　The　others　went　after　him；　talking　quietly　among　themselves　as　they　passed　through　the　swaying　grass。　
　　
　　25
　　Petals　in　a　Wind　Storm
　　
　　〃A　FOOLISH　game；〃　Simon　said。　〃It　doesn't　make　any　sense。〃
　　Aditu　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　　〃It　doesn't！〃　he　insisted；　〃I　mean；　look！　You　could　win　if　you　just　moved　here。。。　〃　he　pointed；　〃and　there。。。〃　he　pointed　again。　Looking　up；　he　found　Aditu's　golden　eyes　upon　him；　laughing；　mocking。　〃Couldn't　you。。。？〃　he　finished。
　　〃Of　course；　Seoman。〃　She　moved　the　polished　stones　across　the　gaming　board　as　he　had　suggested；　from　one　golden　island　to　another　over　a　sea　of　sapphire…blue　waves。　The　mock…ocean　was　surrounded　by　scarlet　flames　and　murky　gray　clouds。　〃But　then　the　game　is　over；　and　only　the　shallowest　waters　have　been　explored。〃
　　Simon　shook　his　head。　He　had　struggled　for　days　to　learn　the　plex　rules　of　shent；　only　to　discover　that　what　he　had　been　taught　were　only　the　rudiments。　How　could　he　learn　a　game　that　people　did　not　play　to　win？　But　Aditu　did　not　try　to　lose　either；　as　far　as　Simon　could　tell。　Instead；　it　seemed　as　though　the　issue　was　to　make　the　game　interesting　by　introducing　themes　and　puzzles；　most　of　which　were　as　far　beyond　Simon's　prehension　as　the　mechanisms　of　the　rainbow。
　　〃If　you　will　not　take　offense；〃　Aditu　said；　smiling；　〃may　I　instead　show　you　another　way？〃　She　put　the　markers　back　in　their　previous　locations。　〃If　I　use　these　Songs　of　mine　to　build　a