tw.thestoneoffarewell-第134部分

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up　of　water；　which　she　held　to　Simon's　lips　with　her　own　hands。　He　drank　thirstily。　The　water　was　cold　and　sweet；　with　just　a　savor　of　wood　and　earth；　as　though　it　had　been　scooped　from　the　trunk　of　a　hollow　tree。　In　her　white　robe；　Simon　thought；　Amerasu　looked　like　some　pale　and　radiant　saint　from　a　church　picture。
　　〃What。。。　did　you　do？〃　he　asked　as　he　sat　up。　There　was　a　buzzing　sound　in　his　ears　and　small　shining　flecks　dancing　before　his　eyes。　　
　　〃I　learned　what　I　needed　to　learn；〃　Amerasu　said。　〃I　knew　that　I　had　seen　you　in　Jiriki's　mirror；　but　I　thought　that　a　fluke；　a　mischance。　The　Road　of　Dreams　has　changed　much　of　late；　and　has　bee　as　obscure　and　unpredictable　to　even　the　experienced　as　it　once　was　for　those　who　only　traveled　it　in　sleep。　I　see　now　that　our　earlier　meeting　was　no　accident　of　fate。〃
　　〃Do　you　mean　that　your　meeting　with　Simon　was　intended　by　someone；　First　Grandmother？〃　Jiriki　said。
　　〃No。　I　mean　only　that　the　boundaries　between　those　worlds　and　ours　are　beginning　to　weaken。　Someone　like　this　manchild；　who　has　been　pulled　one　way　and　another；　who　through　true　chance　or　some　unimaginable　design　has　been　dragged　into　many　powerful　and　dangerous　connections　between　the　dream　world　and　the　waking　。。。〃　She　trailed　off；　seating　herself　carefully　once　more　before　continuing。　〃It　is　as　though　he　lived　on　the　edge　of　a　great　wood。　When　the　trees　begin　to　spread　outward；　it　is　his　house　that　first　has　roots　across　the　threshold。　When　the　wolves　of　the　forest　begin　to　grow　hungry；　it　is　beneath　his　window　that　they　first　e　howling。〃
　　Simon　struggled　to　speak。　〃What　did　you　learn。。。　from　my　memories？　About。。。　about　Ineluki？〃
　　Her　face　became　impassive。　〃Too　much。　I　believe　I　now　understand　my　son's　terrible；　subtle　design；　but　I　must　think　a　while　longer。　Even　in　this　hour；　I　must　not　be　frightened　into　foolish　haste。〃　She　lifted　a　hand　to　her　brow。　〃If　I　am　correct；　our　danger　is　graver　than　we　ever　guessed。　I　must　speak　to　Shima'onari　and　Likimeya。　I　only　hope　they　listen…and　that　time　has　not　passed　us　by。　We　may　be　starting　to　dig　the　well　as　our　houses　burn　down。〃
　　Jiriki　helped　Simon　sit　up。　〃My　father　and　mother　must　listen。　Everyone　knows　your　wisdom；　First　Grandmother。　〃
　　Amerasu　smiled　sadly。　〃Once；　the　women　of　the　House　Sa'onserei　were　the　keepers　of　lore。　The　final　word　belonged　to　the　eldest　of　the　house。　When　Jenjiyana　of　the　Nightingales　saw　the　right　of　things；　she　spoke　and　it　was　so。　Since　the　Flight；　things　have　changed。〃　Her　hand　fluttered　in　the　air　like　a　bird　alighting。　〃1　am　certain　your　mother　will　listen　to　reason。　Your　father　is　good；　Jiriki；　but　in　some　ways　he　dwells　even　more　deeply　in　the　past　than　I　do。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃Forgive　me。　I　am　weary　and　I　have　much　to　think　about。　Otherwise；　I　would　not　talk　so　uncarefully；　and　especially　in　front　of　this　boy。〃　She　extended　her　hand　toward　Simon；　brushing　his　cheek　with　her　fingertip。　The　pain　of　his　old　burn　became　less。　As　he　looked　at　her　solemn　face　and　the　weight　she　seemed　to　carry；　he　reached　up　and　touched　her　retreating　hand。
　　〃Jiriki　spoke　to　you　truthfully；　manchild；〃　she　said。　〃For　better　or　for　worse；　you　have　been　marked。　I　only　wish　I　could　give　you　some　word　to　help　you　on　your　journey。〃
　　The　light　faded　again。　Simon　let　Jirki　lead　him　out　in　darkness。
　　
　　26
　　Painted　Eyes
　　
　　MIRIAMELE　leaned　against　the　railing；　watching　the　bustle　and　activity　of　the　docks。　Vinitta　was　not　a　large　island；　but　its　ruling　Benidrivine　house　had　provided　Nabban's　final　two　Imperators；　as　well　as　its　three　dukes　under　Prester　John's　kingship。　It　had　also　been　the　birthplace　of　the　legendary　Camaris；　but　even　so　great　a　knight　was　accorded　only　a　middling…high　place　in　Vinitta's　luminous；　hero…studded　history。　The　port　was　a　busy　one：　with　Benigaris　on　the　ducal　throne；　the　fortunes　of　Vinitta　still　ran　high。
　　Aspitis　Preves　and　his　captain　had　gone　down　into　the　town　to　acplish　their　business。　What　that　might　be；　Miriamele　could　not　say。　The　earl　had　intimated　that　he　had　some　important　mission　direct　from　Duke　Benigaris；　but　that　was　as　far　as　he　would　discuss　the　subject。　Aspitis　had　bade　both　Miriamele　and　Cadrach　stay　on　board　until　he　returned；　suggesting　that　the　port　was　not　the　place　for　a　noble　lady　to　wander；　and　that　he　had　not　enough　men…at…arms　available　to　handle　his　own　affairs　safely　less　still　detach　a　pair　of　soldiers　for　their　protection。
　　Miriamele　knew　what　this　meant。　Whatever　Aspitis　thought　of　her；　however　he　valued　her　beauty　and　pany；　he　did　not　intend　to　give　her　the　chance　to　slip　away。　Perhaps　he　harbored　some　doubts　about　her　story；　or　simply　worried　that　she　might　be　persuaded　to　leave　by　Cadrach；　who　had　made　little　attempt　to　disguise　his　growing　hatred　of　the　Earl　of　Eadne　and　Drina。
　　She　sighed；　gazing　sadly　at　the　rows　of　tented　booths　that　ran　along　the　dockfront；　each　one　festooned　with　flags　and　crammed　with　goods　for　sale。　Hawkers　cried　their　wares　as　they　shuffled　along　the　road；　carrying　their　stock　on　their　backs　in　huge；　overstuffed　bags。　Dancers　and　musicians　performed　for　coins；　and　the　sailors　of　various　boats　mingled　with　Vinitta's　residents　in　a　shouting；　laughing；　swearing　throng。　Despite　the　dark　skies　and　intermittent　flumes　of　rain；　the　crowds　that　swarmed　the　waterfront　seemed　bent　on　making　a　cheerful　ruckus。　Miriamele's　heart　ached　to　join　them。
　　Cadrach　stood　beside　her；　pink　face　paler　than　usual。　The　monk　had　not　spoken　much　since　Aspitis'　pronouncement；　he　had　watched　the　earl's　party　leave　the　Eadne　Cloud　with　much　the　same　sour　expression　as　he　now　leveled　on　the　activity　below。
　　〃God；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　makes　a　man　sick　to　see　such　heedlessness。〃　It　was　not　exactly　clear　what　his　remark　addressed；　but　Miriamele　felt　it　rankle　nonetheless。
　　〃And　you；〃　she　snapped。　〃You　are　better？　A　drunkard　and　coward？〃　
　　Cadrach's　large　head　came　around；　moving　as　ponderously　as　a　millwheel。　〃It　is　my　very　heedfulness　that　makes　me　so。　Lady；　I　have　watched　too　carefully。〃
　　〃Watched　what？　Oh；　never　mind：　I　am　not　in　the　mood　for　one　of　your　roundabout　lectures。〃　She　shivered　with　anger；　but　could　nor　summon　the　sense　of　righteousness　she　sought。　Cadrach　had　grown　more　remote　over　the　last　few　days；　observing　her　from　what　seemed　a　disapproving　distance。　This　irritated　her；　but　the　continuing　flirtation　between　herself　and　the　earl　made　even　Miriamele　somewhat　unfortable。　It　was　hard　to　feel　truly　justified　in　her　irritation；　but　it　was　harder　still　to　have　Cadrach's　gray　eyes　staring　at　her　as　though　she　were　a　child　or　a　misbehaving　animal。　〃Why　don't　you　go　and　plain　to　some　of　the　sailors？〃　she　said　at　last。　〃See　how　well　they'll　listen　to　you。〃
　　The　monk　folded　his　arms。　He　spoke　patiently；　but　did　not　meet　her　eyes。　〃Will　you　not　listen　to　me；　Lady？　This　last　time？　My　advice　is　not　half　so　bad　as　you　make　out　and　you　know　it。　How　long　will　you　listen　to　the　honeyed　words　of　this。。。　this　court　beauty？　You　are　like　his　little　bird　that　he　takes　from　the　cage　to　play　with；　then　puts　back。　He　does　not　care　for　you。〃
　　〃You　are　a　strange　person　to　talk　of　that；　Brother　Cadrach。　The　earl　has　given　us　the　captain's　cabin；　fed　us　at　his　own　table；　and　treated　me　with　plete　respect。〃　Her　heart　sped　a　little　as　she　remembered　Aspitis'　mouth　at　her　ear；　his　firm；　gentle　touch。　〃You；　on　the　other　hand；　have　lied　to　me；　taken　money　for　my　freedom；　and　struck　me　senseless。　Only　a　madman　could　put　himself　forward　as　the　better　friend　after　all　that。〃
　　Now　Cadrach　did　lift　his　eyes；　holding　her　gaze　for　a　long　moment。　He　seemed　to　be　looking　for　something；　and　his　probing　inspection　brought　warmth　to　her　cheeks。　She　made　a　mocking　face　and　turned　away。
　　〃Very　well；　Lady；〃　he　said。　From　the　er　of　his　eye　she　saw　him　shrug　and　walk　off　down　the　deck。　〃It　seems　they　teach　little　of　kindness　or　forgiving　in　Usires'　church　these　days；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。　
　　Miriamele　bunked　back　angry　tears。　〃You　are　the　religious　man；　Cadrach；　not　me。　If　that　is　true；　you　are　the　best　example！〃　She　did　not　receive　much　pleasure　from　her　own　harsh　rejoinder。
　　
　　When　she　had　tired　of　watching　the　dockyard　crowds；　Miriamele　went　down　to　her　cabin。　The　monk　was　sitting　there；　staring　resolutely　at　nothing。　Miriamele　did　not　want　to　speak　to　him；　so　she　turned　and　made　her　way　above　deck　once　more；　then　paced　restlessly　back　and　forth　along　the　length　of　the　Eadne　Cloud。　Those　of　the　ship's　crew　who　had　remained　on　board　were　refitting　her　for　the　outgoing　voyage；　some　clambering　in　the　rigging　checking　the　state　of　the　sails；　others　effecting　various　small　repairs　here　and　there　about　the　deck。　This　was　to　be　their　only　night　on　Vinitta；　so　the　crewmen　fairly　flew　through　their　tasks　in　a　hurry　to　get　ashore。
　　Soon　Miriamele　found　herself　at　the　rail　by　the　top　of　the　gangplank；　staring　down　once　more　at　the　eddying　citizenry　of　the　island。　As　the　cool；　moist　wind　ruffled　her　hair；　she　found　herself　thinking　about　what　Cadrach　had　said。　Could　he　be　right？　She　knew　that　Aspitis　had　a　flattering　tongue；　but　could　it　be　possible　he　did　not　care　for　her　at　all？　Miriamele　remembered　their　first　night　on　deck；　and　the　other　sweet　and　secret　kisses　he　had　stolen　from　her　since；　and　knew　that　the　monk　was　wrong。　She　did　not　pretend　that　Aspitis　loved　her　with　all　his　soul…she　doubted　that　her　face　tormented　him　at　sleeping　time；　as　his　did　to　her…but　she　also　knew　beyond　question　that　he　was　fond　of　her；　and　that　was　more　than　could　be　said　of　the　other　men　she　knew。　Her　father　had　wanted　her　to　marry　that　horrible；　drunken　braggart　Fengbald；　and　her　uncle　Josua　had　just　wanted　her　to　sit　quietly　and　not　cause　him　any　trouble。
　　But　there　was　Simon。。。　she　thought；　and　felt　a　flicker　of　warmth　cut　through　the　gray　morning。　He　had　been　sweet　in　his　foolish　way；　yet　brave　as　any　of　the　noblemen　she　had　seen。　But　he　was　a　scullion　and　she　a　king's　daughter。。。　and　what　did　it　matter　anyway？　They　were　on　opposite　sides　of　the　world。　They　would　never　meet　again。
　　Something　touched　her　arm；　startling　her。　She　whirled　to　find　the　wrinkled　face　of　Gan　Itai　gazing　up　into　hers。　The　Niskie's　usual　look　of　wily　good　humor　was　abse