tw.thestoneoffarewell-第131部分

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　　Binabik　and　Sludig　had　not　e　far　into　the　forest；　only　deep　enough　to　shelter　their　camp　from　the　bitter　wind　sweeping　down　the　plains；　a　wind　whose　voice　had　bee　a　ceaseless　howling。　The　horses　shifted　uneasily　on　their　tethers；　and　even　Qantaqa　seemed　restless。　She　had　just　returned　from　her　third　excursion　into　the　forest；　and　now　sat　with　ears　erect；　as　though　listening　for　some　expected　but　nonetheless　dire　warning。　Her　eyes　gleamed　with　reflected　firelight。
　　〃Do　you　think　we　are　any　safer　here；　little　man？〃　Sludig　asked；　sharpening　his　sword。　〃I　think　I　would　rather　face　the　empty　plains　than　his　forest。〃
　　Binabik　frowned。　〃Perhaps；　but　would　you　rather　also　be　facing　hairy　giants　like　those　we　saw？〃
　　The　White　Way；　the　great　road　that　spanned　the　northern　borders　of　Aldheorte；　had　turned　at　last　by　the　forest's　easternmost　edge；　leading　them　south　for　the　first　time　since　they　had　e　down　off　the　Old　Tumet'ai　Road　with　Simon　many　days　earlier。　Not　long　after　the　southward　turn；　they　had　spotted　a　group　of　white　shapes　moving　in　the　distance　behind　them…shapes　that　they　both　realized　could　be　nothing　but　Hunen。　The　giants；　once　unwilling　to　leave　their　hunting　lands　at　the　foot　of　Stormspike；　now　seemed　to　range　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　northland。　Remembering　the　destruction　that　a　band　of　these　creatures　had　wreaked　on　their　large　traveling　party；　neither　troll　nor　Rimmersgarder　had　any　false　hopes　that　the　two　of　them　could　survive　an　encounter　with　the　shaggy　monstrosities。
　　〃What　makes　you　sure　we　are　any　safer　because　we　have　e　a　few　furlongs　into　the　woods？〃　demanded　Sludig。
　　〃Nothing　that　is　certain；〃　Binabik　admitted；　〃but　I　know　that　the　small；　creeping　diggers　are　reluctant　to　tunnel　into　Aldheorte。　Perhaps　the　giants　may　be　having　similar　reluctance。〃
　　Sludig　snorted　and　made　the　blade　rasp　loudly　on　the　whetstone。　〃And　the　Hune　that　Josua　killed　near　Naglimund；　when　the　boy　Simon　was　found？　That　one　was　in　the　forest；　was　it　not？〃
　　 〃That　giant　was　driven　to　there；〃　Binabik　said　irritably。　He　pushed　the　second　of　the　leaf…wrapped　birds　into　the　coals。　〃There　are　no　promises　in　life；　Sludig；　but　it　seems　to　me　smarter　to　take　fewer　chances。〃　
　　After　a　short　silence；　the　Rimmersman　spoke　up。　〃You　speak　rightly；　troll。　I　am　only　tired。　I　wish　we　would　get　where　we　are　going；　to　this　Farewell　Stone！　I　would　like　to　give　Josua　his　damnable　sword；　then　sleep　for　a　week。　In　a　bed。〃
　　Binabik　smiled。　〃With　certainty。　But　it　is　not　Josua's　sword；　or　at　least　I　am　not　sure　it　is　meant　for　him。〃　He　stood　and　took　the　long　bundle　from　where　it　leaned　against　a　tree。　〃I　am　not　sure　what　it　is　for　at　all。〃　Binabik's　fingers　unwrapped　the　blade；　allowing　its　dark　surface　to　show。　The　firelight　revealed　no　more　than　its　dark　outlines。　〃Do　you　see？〃　Binabik　said；　hefting　the　bundle　in　his　arms。　〃Thorn　now　seems　to　think　it　is　acceptable　for　a　small　troll　to　carry　it。〃
　　 〃Don't　talk　about　it　as　if　it　were　alive；〃　Sludig　said；　sketching　a　hasty　Tree　in　the　air。　〃That　is　against　nature。〃
　　Binabik　eyed　him。　〃It　may　not　be　alive；　as　a　bear　or　a　bird　or　a　man　is　alive；　but　there　is　something　in　it　that　is　more　than　sword…metal。　You　know　that；　Sludig。〃
　　〃That　may　be。〃　The　Rimmersman　frowned。　〃No；　curse　it；　I　do　know。　That　is　why　I　do　not　like　speaking　of　it。　I　have　dreams　about　the　cave　where　we　found　the　thing。〃
　　〃That　is　not　surprising　to　me；〃　the　troll　said　softly。　〃That　was　a　fearsome　place。〃
　　〃But　it　is　not　just　the　place…not　even　the　worm；　or　Grimmric's　death。　I　dream　of　the　damnable　sword；　little　man。　It　was　laying　there　among　those　bones　as　though　it　waited　for　us。　Cold；　cold；　like　a　snake　in　its　den　。。。〃
　　Sludig　trailed　off。　Binabik　watched　him；　but　said　nothing。
　　The　Rimmersman　sighed。　〃And　I　still　do　not　understand　what　good　having　it　will　do　Josua。〃
　　〃No　more　do　I；　but　it　is　a　powerful　thing。　It　is　good　to　remember　that。〃　
　　Binabik　stroked　the　glinting　surface　as　he　might　the　back　of　a　cat。　〃Look　at　it；　Sludig。　We　have　been　so　caught　up　in　our　trials　and　losses　that　we　have　almost　been　forgetting　Thorn。　This　is　an　object　that　is　making　legends！　Perhaps　it　is　the　greatest　weapon　ever　to　have　e　to　light　in　Osten　Ard…greater　than　Hern's　spear　Oinduth；　greater　than　Chukku's　sling。〃
　　 〃Powerful　it　may　be；〃　Sludig　grumbled；　〃but　I　have　doubts　as　to　how　lucky　it　is。　It　didn't　save　Sir　Camaris；　did　it？〃
　　Binabik　showed　a　small；　secretive　smile。　〃But　he　did　not　have　it　when　he　was　swept　over　the　side　in　Firannos　Bay：　Towser　the　jester　told　that　to　us。　That　is　why　we　were　able　to　discover　it　on　the　dragon…mountain。　Otherwise　it　would　be　at　ocean's　bottom…like　Camaris。〃　
　　The　wind　shrieked；　rattling　the　branches　overhead。　Sludig　waited　an　appropriate　interval；　then　moved　closer　to　the　forting　fire。　〃How　could　such　a　great　knight　fall　off　a　boat？　God　grant　that　I　die　more　honorably；　in　battle。　It　only　proves　to　me；　if　I　had　any　doubts；　that　boats　are　things　best　left　alone。〃
　　Binabik's　yellow　grin　widened。　〃To　be　hearing　such　words　from　one　whose　ancestors　were　the　greatest　sailors　mankind　has　known！〃　His　expression　grew　serious。　〃Although　it　must　be　told　that　some　doubt　Camaris　was　swept　into　the　sea。　Some　there　are　who　say　that　he　was　drowning　himself。〃
　　〃What？　Why　in　Usires'　name　would　he　do　such　a　thing？〃　Sludig　poked　at　the　fire　indignantly。
　　The　troll　shrugged。　〃It　is　only　being　rumor；　but　I　do　not　ignore　such　things。　Morgenes'　writings　are　filled　with　many　strange　stories。　Qinkipa！　How　I　wish　I　had　found　more　time　for　reading　the　doctor's　book！　One　thing　Morgenes　was　telling　in　his　life…story　of　Prester　John　was　that　Sir　Camaris　was　much　like　our　Prince　Josua：　a　man　of　strange；　melancholy　moods。　Also；　he　was　much　in　admiration　of　John's　queen；　Ebekah。　King　Prester　John　had　made　Camaris　her　special　protector。　When　the　Rose　of　Hernysadharc…as　many　were　naming　her…died　in　the　birthing　of　Josua；　Camaris　was　said　to　be　much　upset。　He　grew　fell　and　strange；　and　railed　against　his　God　and　Heaven。　He　gave　up　sword　and　armor　and　other　things；　as　one　who　takes　up　a　life　of　religion…or；　as　one　who　knows　he　will　die。　He　was　making　his　way　back　to　his　home　in　Vinitta　after　a　pilgrimage　to　the　Sancellan　Aedonitis。　In　a　storm　he　was　lost　in　the　ocean　off　Harcha…island。〃
　　Binabik　leaned　forward　and　began　pulling　the　wrapped　birds　out　of　the　fire；　exerting　caution　so　as　not　to　burn　his　stubby　fingers。　The　fire　crackled　and　the　wind　moaned。
　　〃Welladay；〃　Sludig　said　at　last。　〃What　you　say　only　makes　me　more　sure　that　I　will　avoid　the　high　and　the　mighty　whenever　possible。　But　for　Duke　Isgrimnur；　who　has　a　good　level　head　on　his　shoulders；　the　rest　of　them　are　drifty　and　foolish　as　geese。　Your　Prince　Josua；　if　you　will　pardon　my　saying　it；　first　among　them。〃
　　Binabik's　grin　returned。　〃He　is　not　my　Prince　Josua；　and　he　is…what　was　your　wording？…drifty。　But　not　foolish。　Not　foolish　at　all。　And　he　may　be　our　last　hope　for　staving　off　the　ing　storm。〃　As　though　he　had　stumbled　into　an　unfortable　subject；　the　troll　busied　himself　with　their　supper。　He　pushed　a　smoking　bird　over　to　the　Rimmersman。　〃Here。　Have　something　to　eat。　Perhaps　if　the　Hunen　are　enjoying　the　cold　weather；　they　will　be　leaving　us　alone。　We　can　then　gain　ourselves　a　good　night　sleeping。〃
　　〃We　will　need　it。　We　have　a　long　road　before　we　can　give　away　this　damnable　sword。〃
　　〃But　we　owe　it　to　those　who　have　fallen；〃　Binabik　said；　staring　out　into　the　dark　reaches　of　the　surrounding　forest。　〃We　do　not　have　the　freedom　of　making　a　failure。〃
　　As　they　ate；　Qantaqa　rose　and　paced　about　the　campsite；　listening　intently　to　the　wailing　wind。
　　
　　Snow　was　blowing　savagely　across　the　Waste；　flung　hard　enough　by　the　howling　wind　to　strip　the　very　bark　from　the　trees　along　the　Aldheorte's　ragged　north　fringe。　The　great　hound；　not　hindered　in　the　least　by　such　unfriendly　weather；　bounded　lightly　back　through　the　blinding　flurries；　stone…hard　muscles　coiling　and　uncoiling　beneath　its　short　fur。　When　the　dog　reached　Ingen's　side；　the　Queen's　Huntsman　reached　into　his　vest　and　produced　a　length　of　gnarled；　dried　meat　that　had　at　one　end　something　suspiciously　like　a　fingernail。　The　white　hound　crunched　it　in　a　second；　then　stood　peering　out　into　the　darkness；　cloudy　little　eyes　full　of　eagerness　to　be　moving　once　more。　Ingen　scratched　carefully　behind　the　dog's　ears；　his　gloved　fingers　trailing　across　a　bulgingly　muscled　jaw　that　could　crush　rock。
　　〃Yes；　Niku'a；〃　the　huntsman　whispered；　voice　echoing　within　his　helm。　His　own　eyes　were　as　madly　intent　as　those　of　the　hound。　〃You　have　the　scent　now；　do　you　not？　Ah；　the　Queen　will　be　so　proud。　My　name　will　be　sung　until　the　sun　turns　black　and　rotten　and　drops　from　the　sky。〃
　　He　lifted　his　helmet　and　let　the　stinging　wind　batter　his　face。　As　certainly　as　he　knew　that　frosty　stars　shone　somewhere　above　the　dark…　ness；　so；　too；　he　knew　that　his　quarry　was　still　before　him；　and　that　he　drew　nearer　to　it　with　every　day　that　passed。　At　this　moment　he　did　not　feel　himself　to　be　the　stolid；　tireless　hound　that　was　his　sigil；　and　whose　snarling　face　made　the　mask　of　his　helm；　he　was　instead　some　subtler；　more　feline　predator；　a　creature　of　fierce　but　quiet　joy。　He　felt　the　freezing　night　on　his　face　and　knew　that　nothing　that　lived　beneath　the　black　sky　could　escape　him　for　long。
　　Ingen　Jegger　slid　the　crystalline　dagger　from　his　sleeve　and　held　it　before　him；　staring　at　it　as　though　it　were　a　mirror　in　which　he　could　see　himself；　the　Ingen　who　had　feared　to　die　in　obscurity。　Catching　some　hardy　beam　of　moonlight　or　starshine；　the　translucent　blade　burned　with　a　chilly　blue　fire；　its　carvings　seemed　to　writhe　like　serpents　beneath　his　fingers。　This　was　all　he　had　dreamed；　and　more。　The　Queen　in　the　Silver　Mask　had　set　him　a　great　task；　a　task　befitting　the　making　of　a　legend。　Soon…he　felt　it　with　a　certainty　that　made　him　tremble…soon　that　task　would　be　acplished。　Ingen　let　the　dagger　slide　back　into　his　sleeve。　
　　〃Go；　Niku'a；〃　he　whispered；　as　though　the　hidden　stars　might　betray　him　if　they　heard。　〃It　is　time　to　hunt　our　prey　to　ground。　We　will　run。〃　
　　Ingen　vaulted　into　the　saddle。　His　patient　mount　stirred　as