tw.thestoneoffarewell-第137部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


fore　him　and　cruelly　battered　his　good　shin；　so　that　for　a　moment　Tiamak　had　to　stop　and　bite　his　lip　as　he　rubbed　the　leg；　holding　in　a　screech　of　pain　and　anger　that　he　feared　would　have　no　ending。　Why　had　he　and　he　alone　been　singled　out　for　such　ill　treatment？
　　When　he　could　walk　once　more；　he　continued　with　even　more　care；　so　that　his　journey　to　the　door　seemed　to　take　hours。　When　he　reached　it　at　last　he　discovered　to　his　immense　disappointment　that　the　door　was　shut；　there　seemed　little　more　he　could　do　to　prevent　himself　from　spending　a　sleepless　and　freezing　night。　As　he　thumped　his　hand　against　the　frame　m　frustration；　the　door　swung　open　to　reveal　the　empty　pier　outside；　a　dim　gray　rectangle　in　the　moonlight。　A　blast　of　chill　air　rolled　over　him；　but　before　he　could　grasp　the　elusive　handle　and　pull　the　door　closed　again；　something　caught　his　eye。　Baffled；　he　took　a　couple　of　limping　steps　out　through　the　doorway。　There　was　something　odd　about　the　fine　mist　that　floated　down　through　the　moonlight。
　　A　long　moment　passed　before　Tiamak　realized　that　it　was　not　rain　that　dotted　his　outstretched　palm；　but　rather　tiny　flakes　of　white。　He　had　never　seen　this　thing　before…no　Wrannaman　ever　had…but　he　was　unusually　well…read；　and　had　also　heard　it　described　many　times　in　his　student　days。　It　took　only　a　moment　for　him　to　understand　the　significance　of　the　downy　flakes　and　the　vapor　that　rose　from　his　own　lips　to　drift　and　dissipate　on　the　night　air。
　　Snow　was　falling　on　Kwanitupul；　m　the　heart　of　summer。
　　
　　
　　Miriamele　lay　in　her　bed　in　darkness　and　wept　until　she　was　too　tired　to　weep　any　longer。　As　Eadne　Cloud　rocked　at　anchor　in　Vinitta's　harbor；　she　felt　loneliness　pressing　down　on　her　like　a　great　weight。
　　It　was　not　so　much　Cadrach's　betrayal　despite　her　moments　of　weakness　toward　him；　the　monk　had　shown　his　true　colors　long　ago。　It　was　rather　that　he　was　her　last　link　with　her　true　self；　with　her　past　life。　As　if　an　anchor…rope　had　been　cut；　she　felt　herself　suddenly　adrift　in　a　sea　of　strangers。
　　Cadrach's　desertion　had　not　been　a　plete　surprise。　So　little　good　feeling　remained　between　the　two　of　them　that　it　seemed　only　circumstance　had　kept　him　from　deserting　her　earlier。　She　looked　back　on　the　cool　deliberateness　he　had　shown　in　selecting　his　traveling　cloak　before　they　left　the　boat　and　saw　that　he　had　clearly　anticipated　this　escape；　at　least　from　the　moment　they　had　been　summoned　down　to　Vinitta。　In　a　way；　he　had　tried　to　warn　her；　hadn't　he？　On　the　deck　he　had　asked　her　to　listen；　saying　〃this　last　time。〃
　　The　monk's　betrayal　was　unsurprising；　but　the　pain　was　no　less　heavy　for　that。　A　long…anticipated　blow　had　fallen　at　last。
　　Desertion　and　indifference。　That　seemed　to　be　the　thread　that　ran　through　her　life。　Her　mother　had　died；　her　father　had　changed　into　something　cold　and　uncanny；　her　uncle　Josua　had　only　wished　her　out　of　his　way…he　would　deny　it；　no　doubt；　but　it　had　been　plain　m　his　every　word　and　expression。　For　a　while　she　had　thought　Dinivan　and　his　master　the　lector　could　shelter　her；　but　they　had　died　and　left　her　friendless。　Although　she　knew　it　was　not　even　remotely　their　fault；　she　still　could　not　forgive。
　　No　one　would　help　her　The　kinder　ones；　like　Simon　and　the　troll　or　dear　old　Duke　Isgrimnur；　were　absent　or　powerless。　Now　Cadrach；　too；　had　left　her。
　　There　must　be　something　inside　of　her　that　pushed　others　away；　Miriamele　brooded…some　stain　like　the　dark　discoloration　m　the　white　stone　canals　of　Meremund；　hidden　until　the　tide　went　out。　Or　maybe　it　was　not　in　her　at　all；　but　in　the　souls　of　those　around　her；　those　who　could　not　stay　rooted　to　obligation；　who　could　not　remember　their　duty　to　a　young　woman。
　　And　what　ofAspitis；　the　golden　earl？　She　had　little　hope　that　he　would　prove　more　responsible　than　the　others；　but　at　least　he　cared　for　her。　At　least　he　wanted　her　for　something。
　　 Perhaps　when　all　was　over；　when　her　father　had　reshaped　the　world　in　whatever　way　pleased　his　corrupt　fancy；　she　would　be　able　to　find　a　home　somewhere。　She　would　be　happy　with　a　small　house　by　the　sea；　would　gladly　shed　her　unwanted　royalty　like　an　old　snakeskin。　But　until　then；　what　should　she　do？
　　Miriamele　rolled　over　and　pushed　her　face　into　the　rough　blanket；　feeling　the　bed　and　the　entire　ship　moving　in　the　sea's　gentle　but　insistent　grip。　It　was　all　too　much；　too　many　thoughts；　too　many　questions。　She　felt　quite　strengthless。　She　wanted　only　to　be　held；　to　be　protected；　to　let　time　slip　away　until　she　could　wake　into　a　better　world。
　　She　cried　quietly；　fretfully；　anchorless　on　the　edge　of　sleep。　
　　The　afternoon　slipped　past。　Miriamele　lay　in　the　darkness　of　her　cabin；　wandering　in　and　out　of　dreams。
　　Somewhere　above；　the　lookout　cried　sunset；　no　other　sound　intruded　but　the　lap　of　waves　and　the　muffled　cry　of　sea　birds。　The　ship　was　all　but　deserted；　the　sailing　men　ashore　in　Vinitta。
　　Miriamele　was　not　surprised　when　the　cabin　door　quietly　opened　at　last　and　a　weight　pressed　down　on　the　bed　beside　her。　Aspitis'　finger　traced　her　features。　Miriamele　turned　away；　wishing　she　could　pull　the　shadows　over　her　like　a　blanket；　wishing　she　were　a　child　again；　living　beside　an　ocean　that　was　still　innocent　of　kilpa；　an　ocean　upon　whose　waves　storms　touched　only　lightly　and　disappeared　at　the　sun's　golden　rising。
　　〃My　lady。。。〃　he　whispered。　〃Ah；　I　am　so　sorry。　You　have　been　badly　treated。〃
　　Miriamele　said　nothing；　but　his　voice　seemed　a　soothing　balm　to　her　painful　thoughts。　He　spoke　again；　telling　her　of　her　beauty　and　kindness。　In　her　feverish　sadness　the　words　were　little　more　than　nonsense；　but　his　voice　was　sweet　and　reassuring。　She　felt　calmed　by　it；　gentled　like　a　nervous　horse。　When　he　slid　beneath　the　sheet　she　felt　his　skin　against　hers；　warm　and　smooth　and　firm。　She　murmured　in　protest；　but　softly；　with　no　real　strength：　in　a　way；　this；　too；　seemed　a　kindness。
　　 His　mouth　was　at　her　neck。　His　hands　moved　over　her　with　calm　possessiveness；　as　though　he　handled　some　lovely　thing　that　belonged　only　to　him。　Tears　came　to　her　again。　Full　of　loneliness；　she　let　herself　be　drawn　into　his　embrace；　but　she　could　not　suffer　his　touch　unfeelingly。　While　a　part　of　her　yearned　only　to　be　held；　to　be　drawn　into　a　reassuring　warmth；　a　safe　harbor　like　the　one　in　which　Eadne　Cloud　rocked　gently　at　anchor；　untroubled　by　the　storms　that　swept　the　great　ocean；　a　different　self　wished　to　break　free　and　run　madly　into　danger。　Still　another　shadow　huddled　deeper　within　her；　a　shape　of　dark　regret；　tied　to　her　heart　with　chains　of　iron。
　　The　thin　light　leaking　in　at　the　doorframe　caught　glimmering　in　his　hair　as　Aspitis　pressed　himself　against　her。　What　if　someone　should　e　in？　There　was　no　latch；　no　latch　on　the　door。　She　struggled。　Mistaking　her　fear；　he　whispered　soothing　things　about　her　beauty。
　　Each　curl　of　his　hair　was　intricate；　textured　and　individual　as　a　tree。　His　head　seemed　a　forest；　his　dark　form　looming　like　a　distant　mountain　side。　She　cried　out　softly；　unable　to　resist　such　implacability。
　　Time　slid　by　in　the　shadows　and　Miriamele　felt　herself　drifting　away。　Aspitis　once　more　began　to　speak。
　　He　loved　her；　her　goodness　and　wit　and　loveliness。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　His　words；　like　caresses；　were　blind　but　enflaming。　She　did　not　care　for　flattering　talk；　but　felt　her　resistance　melting　before　his　strength　and　sureness。　He　cared　for　her；　at　least　a　little。　He　could　hide　her　away　in　darkness；　pull　it　around　her　like　a　cloak。　She　would　disappear　into　the　deeps　of　a　sheltering　forest　until　the　world　was　right　again。
　　The　boat　swayed　gently　on　the　cradling　waters。
　　He　would　protect　her　from　those　who　would　harm　her；　he　said。　He　would　never　desert　her。
　　She　gave　herself　up　to　him　at　last。　There　was　pain；　but　there　were　also　promises。　Miriamele　had　hoped　for　nothing　more。　In　a　way；　it　was　a　lesson　the　world　had　already　taught　her。
　　
　　Awash　with　strange　new　feelings；　not　pletely　fortable　with　any　of　them；　Miriamele　sat　quietly　across　the　dining　table　from　Aspitis；　pushing　food　from　one　side　of　her　plate　to　the　other。　She　could　not　understand　why　the　earl　had　forced　her　to　e　sit　with　him　in　the　brightly　candlelit　room。　She　could　not　understand　why　she　was　not　even　slightly　in　love。
　　A　soldier　rapped　at　the　doorway；　then　entered。
　　〃We've　caught　him；　Lord；〃　the　guardsman　said。　His　satisfaction　at　having　redressed　the　earlier　error　of　the　monk's　escape　was　plain　in　his　voice。　Miriamele；　seated　across　the　table　from　Earl　Aspitis；　felt　herself　stiffen。
　　The　guardsman　stepped　aside　and　two　of　his　fellows　brought　Cadrach　in；　slumped　between　them。　The　monk　seemed　to　be　having　trouble　keeping　his　head　up。　Had　they　beaten　him？　Miriamele　felt　a　sickening　pang　of　regret。　She　had　half…hoped　that　Cadrach　would　just　vanish；　so　that　she　would　never　have　to　see　him　again。　It　was　easier　to　hate　him　when　he　was　not　around。
　　〃He's　drunk；　Lord　Aspitis；〃　the　guardsman　said。　〃Stinking。　We　found　him　in　the　Feathered　Eel；　down　on　the　east　dock。　He'd　already　bought　a　place　out　on　a　Perdruinese　merchantman；　but　the　fool　got　pissed　and　diced　it　away。〃
　　Cadrach　looked　up　blearily；　his　face　slack　with　despair。　Even　from　across　the　table；　Miriamele　could　smell　the　stink　of　wine。　〃Was　'bout　t'win　it　back；　too。　Would've。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Maybe　not。　Luck's　gone　bad。　Water's　rising　。。。〃
　　Aspitis　rose　and　strode　around　the　table。　He　reached　out　a　hand　and　grasped　the　monk's　chin；　pressing　with　his　strong　fingers　until　the　flesh　bulged　between　them。　He　forced　Cadrach's　pink　face　upward　until　their　eyes　met。
　　The　earl　turned　to　Miriamele。　〃Has　he　tried　to　do　this　before；　Lady　Marya？〃
　　 Miriamele　nodded　helplessly。　She　wished　she　were　somewhere　else。　〃More　or　less。〃
　　Aspitis　returned　his　attention　to　the　monk。　〃What　a　strange　man。　Why　does　he　not　just　leave　your　father's　service　instead　of　sneaking　away　like　a　thief？〃　The　earl　turned　to　his　squire。　〃And　you　are　sure　nothing　is　missing？〃
　　 The　squire　shook　his　head。　〃Nothing；　Lord。〃
　　Cadrach　tried　to　pull　his　head　free　from　Aspitis'　restraining　fingers。　〃Had　m'own　gold。　Stole　nothing。　Need　t'get　away　。。。〃　His　eyes　fixed　uncertainly　on　Miriamele；　his　voi