tw.thestoneoffarewell-第142部分

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he　snow　around　Ingen　Jegger；　red　tongues　lolling。
　　The　Queen's　Huntsman　calmly　looked　over　his　strange　congregation；　then　picked　his　snarling；　dog…faced　helm　from　the　ground。
　　〃Too　long　have　you　been　roaming　free；〃　he　hissed；　〃harrying　the　forest　fringes；　stealing　babies　like　kennel　cubs；　running　down　foolish　travelers　for　the　joy　of　the　chase。　Now　your　master　has　e　back。　Now　you　must　do　what　you　were　bred　to　do。〃　The　milky　eyes　followed　him　as　he　moved　to　his　horse；　which　waited　with　supernatural　patience　beneath　the　hemlock。　〃But　this　time　I　will　lead；　not　you。　It　is　a　strange　chase；　and　Ingen　alone　has　been　taught　the　scent。〃　He　pulled　himself　up　into　the　saddle。　〃Run　silently。〃　He　lowered　the　helmet　onto　his　head；　so　that　hound　looked　at　hounds。　〃We　take　death　to　the　Queen's　enemies。〃
　　A　low　growling　rose　from　the　dogs　as　they　rose　and　came　together；　sliding　against　one　another；　snapping　at　each　other's　faces　and　tails　in　fierce　anticipation。　Ingen　spurred　his　horse　forward；　then　turned。　〃Follow！〃　he　cried。　〃Follow　to　death　and　blood！〃
　　He　passed　swiftly　from　the　clearing。　The　pack　ran　after；　voiceless　now；　silent　and　white　as　snowfall。
　　
　　Huddled　deep　in　his　cloak；　Isgrimnur　sat　in　the　bow　of　the　small　boat　and　watched　stubby　Sinetris　rowing　and　sniffling。　The　duke　wore　a　fixed　expression　of　grim　preoccupation；　in　part　because　he　found　the　boatman's　pany　extremely　unrewarding；　but　mostly　because　he　himself　hated　boats；　especially　small　boats　like　the　one　on　which　he　was　now　trapped。　Sinetris　had　spoken　truthfully　about　one　thing；　anyway：　this　was　no　time　to　be　on　the　water。　A　great　storm　was　flailing　the　entire　length　of　the　coast。　The　choppy　water　of　Firannos　Bay　constantly　threatened　to　swamp　them；　and　Sinetris　had　not　stopped　moaning　since　their　hull　had　first　touched　the　water　a　week　before；　some　thirty　leagues　northward。
　　The　duke　had　to　admit　that　Sinetris　was　a　talented　boatman；　if　only　in　the　defense　of　his　own　life。　The　Nabban…man　had　handled　his　craft　well　under　terrible　conditions。　If　only　he　would　stop　sniveling！　Isgrimnur　was　no　happier　about　the　conditions　for　their　journey　than　Sinetris　was；　but　he　would　be　damned　to　the　blackest　circle　of　Hell　before　he　made　a　fool　out　of　himself　by　showing　it。
　　〃How　far　to　Kwanitupul？〃　he　shouted　over　the　noise　of　wind　and　waves。　
　　〃Haifa　day；　master　monk；〃　Sinetris　called　back；　eyes　red　and　streaming。　〃We　will　stop　soon　to　sleep；　then　we　can　be　there　by　midday　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Sleep！〃　Isgnmnur　roared。　〃Are　you　mad？　It　is　not　even　dark　yet！　Besides；　you　will　only　try　to　sneak　away　again；　and　this　time　I　will　not　be　so　merciful。　If　you　cease　your　self…pitying　nonsense　and　work；　you　can　sleep　in　a　bed　tonight！〃
　　〃Please；　holy　brother！〃　Sinetns　almost　shrieked。　〃Do　not　force　me　to　row　in　darkness！　We　will　run　onto　the　rocks。　Our　only　beds　will　be　down　among　the　kilpa！〃
　　〃Don't　hand　that　superstitious　nonsense　to　me。　I'm　paying　you　well　and　I　am　in　a　hurry。　If　you　are　too　weak　or　sore；　let　me　take　those　paddles　for　a　while。〃
　　The　oarsman；　wet　and　cold；　still　managed　a　convincing　look　of　wounded　pride。　〃You！　You　would　have　us　under　the　water　in　a　moment！　No；　you　cruel　monk；　if　Sinetris　must　die；　let　it　be　with　his　oars　in　his　hand；　as　befits　a　Firannos　boatman。　If　Sinetris　must　be　torn　from　his　home　and　the　bosom　of　his　family　and　sacrificed　to　the　whims　of　a　monster　in　the　robes　of　a　priest；　if　he　must　die　。　。　let　it　be　as　a　guild…man！〃
　　Isgrimnur　groaned。　〃Let　it　be　with　his　mouth　closed；　for　a　change。　And　keep　paddling！　〃
　　〃Rowing；〃　Sinetris　replied　frostily；　then　burst　into　tears　once　more。
　　
　　It　was　past　midnight　when　the　first　stilt…houses　of　Kwanitupul　came　into　view。　Sinetris；　whose　plaining　had　faded　at　last　to　a　low；　self…pitying　murmur；　nosed　the　boat　into　the　great　network　of　canals。　Isgrimnur；　who　had　briefly　fallen　asleep；　rubbed　his　eyes　and　craned　his　head；　looking　around。　Kwanitupul's　ramshackle　warehouses　and　inns　were　all　dusted　with　a　thin　coating　of　snow。
　　If　I　doubted　that　the　world　had　gone　topsy…turvy；　Isgrimnur　thought　bemusediy；　here　is　all　the　proof　I　need：　a　Rimmersman　taking　a　leaky　boat　to　sea　in　a　storm；　and　snow　in　the　southland…in　high　summer。　Can　any　doubt　the　world　has　run　mad？
　　Madness。　He　remembered　the　hideous　death　of　the　lector　and　felt　his　stomach　gurgle。　Madness…or　something　else？　It　was　a　strange　coincidence　that　Pryrates　and　Benigaris　should　both　be　in　the　house　of　Mother　Church　on　such　a　dreadful　night。　Only　a　stroke　of　rare　luck　had　brought　Isgrimnur　to　Dinivan　in　time　to　hear　the　priest's　last　words；　and　perhaps　to　salvage　something　from　this　grim　pass。
　　He　had　escaped　from　the　Sancellan　Aedonitis　only　moments　before　Benigaris；　Duke　of　Nabban；　had　ordered　his　guardsmen　to　bar　all　doors。　Isgrimnur　could　not　have　afforded　capture…even　if　he　had　not　been　immediately　recognized；　his　story　would　not　have　held　up　long。　Hiafmansa　Eve；　the　night　of　the　lector's　murder；　had　been　a　bad　night　to　be　an　unfamiliar　guest　at　the　Sancellan。
　　〃Do　you　know　of　a　place　here　called　Pelippa's　Bowl？〃　he　asked　aloud。　〃I　think　it　is　an　inn　or　a　hostel。〃
　　〃I　have　never　heard　of　the　place；　master　monk；〃　Sinetris　said　gravely。　〃It　sounds　like　a　low　establishment；　one　in　which　Sinetris　would　not　be　seen。〃　Now　that　they　had　reached　the　relatively　still　waters　of　the　canals；　the　boatman　had　reassumed　much　of　his　dignity。　Isgrimnur　decided　he　liked　him　better　when　he　sniveled。
　　 〃By　the　Tree；　we　will　never　find　it　at　night。　Take　me　to　some　inn　you　know；　then　I　must　get　something　under　my　belt。〃
　　Sinetris　steered　the　little　craft　down　a　series　of　crisscrossing　canals　to　the　city's　tavern　district。　Things　seemed　quite　lively　here　despite　the　late　hour；　the　boardwalks　lined　with　garish　cloth　lanterns　that　swung　in　the　wind；　the　alleyways　full　of　drunken　revelers。
　　〃This　is　a　fine　inn；　holy　brother；〃　Sinetris　said　as　they　glided　to　a　stop　at　the　dock　stairs　of　a　well…lit　establishment。　〃There　is　wine　to　be　had；　and　food。〃　Sinetris；　feeling　bold　now　that　their　journey　had　ended　safely；　gave　Isgrimnur　a　chummy；　gap…toothed　smile。　〃And　women；　too。〃　His　smile　grew　uncertain　as　he　surveyed　Isgrimnur's　face。　〃…Or　boys；　if　that　is　more　to　your　liking。〃
　　The　duke　forced　a　great　hiss　of　air　between　his　teeth。　He　reached　into　his　cloak　and　pulled　out　a　gold　Imperator；　then　placed　it　gently　on　the　rowing　bench　beside　Sinetris'　skinny　leg。　Isgrimnur　next　moved　to　the　bottommost　stair。　〃There　is　your　thievish　payment；　as　I　promised。　Now；　I　have　a　suggestion　for　how　you　might　spend　your　evening。　〃
　　Sinetris　looked　up　warily。　〃Yes？〃
　　Isgrimnur　drew　down　his　eyebrows　in　a　horrible　frown。　〃Spend　it　doing　your　very　best　to　make　sure　that　I　do　not　see　you　again。　Because　if　I　do；〃　he　lifted　his　hairy　fist；　〃I　will　roll　your　eyeballs　around　in　your　pointy　head。　Understood？〃
　　Sinetris　dropped　his　oar…blades　and　backed　water　hastily；　so　that　Isgrimnur　had　to　quickly　swing　his　other　foot　up　onto　the　stairs。　〃So　this　is　how　you　monks　treat　Sinetris　after　all　his　favors！？〃　the　boatman　said　indignantly；　puffing　up　his　thin　chest　like　a　courting　pigeon。　〃No　wonder　the　church　is　in　bad　repute！　You　。　。　bearded　barbarian！〃　He　splashed　off　into　the　darkened　canal。
　　Isgrimnur　laughed　harshly；　then　stumped　up　the　stairs　to　the　inn。
　　
　　After　several　fitful　nights　in　the　grasslands…nights　in　which　he　had　been　forced　to　keep　a　careful　watch　on　the　treacherous　Sinetris；　who　had　several　times　tried　to　slip　away　and　leave　Isgrimnur　standed　on　the　bleak；　wind…swept　coast　of　Firannos　Bay…the　Duke　of　Elvritshalla　took　his　sleep　in　full　measure。　He　remained　in　bed　until　the　sun　was　high　m　the　sky；　then　broke　his　fast　with　a　manly　portion　of　bread　and　honey　acpanied　by　a　stoup　of　ale。　It　was　nearly　noontide　before　he　obtained　directions　to　Pelippa's　Bowl　from　the　innkeeper　and　was　out　on　the　rainy　canals　once　more。　His　boatman　this　time　was　a　Wrannaman；　who　despite　the　bitter　wind　wore　only　a　loincloth　and　a　broad…brimmed　hat　with　a　red；　drizzle…soaked　feather　drooping　from　the　band。　The　boatman's　sullen　silence　was　a　pleasant　change　from　the　ceaseless　carping　of　Sinetris。　Isgrimnur　settled　back　to　fondle　his　new…sprouted　beard　and　enjoy　the　sodden　sights　of　Kwanitupul；　a　city　he　had　not　visited　for　many　years。
　　The　storm　had　obviously　cast　a　pall　over　the　trading　city。　Unless　things　had　changed　greatly　since　his　last　sojourn；　there　should　be　many　more　boats　out　on　the　water　at　midday；　many　more　folk　wandering　Kwanitupul's　exotic　byways。　Those　who　were　about　seemed　to　be　hurrying　to　their　destinations。　Even　the　ritual　cries　of　greeting　and　challenge　that　rang　between　canal　boats　seemed　unusually　muted。　Like　insects；　the　residents　seemed　chilled　almost　to　immobility　by　the　snow　that　melted　in　patches　on　their　wooden　walkways；　and　the　wind…borne　sleet　that　stung　exposed　limbs　and　filled　the　canals　with　circular　ripples。
　　Here　and　there　among　the　sparse　crowds　Isgrimnur　saw　small　gatherings　of　Fire　Dancers；　the　religious　maniacs　who　had　gained　their　notoriety　by　self…immolation。　They　had　bee　a　familiar　sight　to　the　duke　since　he　had　first　reached　Nabban。　These　wild…eyed　penitents；　uncaring　of　the　cold；　stood　on　the　walkways　near　busy　canal　intersections　and　shouted　the　praises　of　their　dark　master；　the　Storm　King。　Isgrimnur　wondered　where　they　had　heard　that　name。　He　had　never　heard　it　spoken　south　of　the　Frostmarch　before；　even　in　a　children's　bogey…story。　It　was　no　coincidence；　he　knew；　but　he　could　not　help　musing　on　whether　these　robed　lunatics　were　the　pawns　of　someone　like　Pryrates　or　true　visionaries。　If　the　latter　was　the　case；　then　the　end　they　foresaw　might　be　real。
　　Isgrimnur　shuddered　at　this　thought　and　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree　on　his　breast。　Black　times；　these　were。　For　all　their　shouting；　though；　the　Fire　Dancers　did　not　seem　to　be　engaging　in　their　familiar　trick　of　setting　themselves　aflame。　The　duke　smiled　sourly。　Perhaps　it　was　a　little　too　damp　today。
　　The　boatman　stopped　at　last　before　an　unprepossessing　structure　in　the　warehouse　district；　far　from　the　centers　of　merce。　When　Isgrimnur　had　paid　him；　the　little　dark　man　reached　up　with　his　gaff　hook　and　pulled　down　the