tw.thestoneoffarewell-第148部分

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s　already　that　morning　would　not　go　away。
　　〃Why？　Because　Amerasu　had　seen　into　Ineluki's　secret　heart…and　who　would　have　been　better　able　to　do　that　than　she？　She　had　discovered　his　design　at　last　and　was　going　to　reveal　it　to　her　people。　Now；　we　may　never　know…or　perhaps　we　will　understand　only　when　Ineluki　sees　fit　to　display　it　in　all　its　inevitability。〃　Weariness　seemed　to　wash　through　him。　〃By　our　Grove；　Seoman；　we　have　lost　so　much！　Not　only　Amerasu's　wisdom；　which　was　great；　but　we　have　also　lost　our　last　link　with　the　Garden。　We　are　truly　unhomed。〃　He　lifted　his　eyes　to　the　billowing　ceiling；　so　that　his　angular　face　was　bathed　in　pale　yellow　light。　〃The　Hernystiri　had　a　song　of　her；　you　know：
　　
　　〃Snow…white　breast；　lady　of　the　foaming　sea；
　　She　is　the　light　that　shines　by　night
　　Until　even　the　stars　are　drunken　。。。〃
　　
　　Jiriki　took　a　careful　breath　to　ease　his　scorched　throat。　A　look　of　surprising　fury　contorted　his　normally　placid　face。　〃Even　from　the　place　where　Ineluki　lives；　from　beyond　death…how　could　he　send　a　stranger　to　kill　his　mother！？〃
　　〃What　will　we　do？　How　can　we　fight　him？〃
　　〃That　is　not　for　you　to　worry　about；　Seoman　Snowlock。〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Simon　restrained　his　anger。　〃How　can　you　say　that　to　me？　After　all　we've　both　seen？〃
　　〃I　did　not　mean　it　in　the　way　it　sounded；　Seoman。〃　The　Sitha　smiled　in　self…mockery。　〃I　have　lost　even　the　basest　elements　of　courtesy。　Forgive　me。〃
　　Simon　saw　that　he　was　actually　waiting。　〃Of　course；　Jiriki。　Forgiven。〃　〃I　mean　only　that　we　Zida'ya　have　our　own　councils　to　keep。　My　father　Shima'onari　is　badly　wounded　and　Likimeya　my　mother　must　call　the　folk　together…but　not　at　the　Yasira。　I　think　we　will　never　meet　in　that　place　again。　Did　you　know；　Seoman；　that　the　great　tree　was　burned　white　as　snow？　Did　you　not　have　a　dream　once　about　such　a　thing？〃　Jiriki　cocked　his　head；　his　gaze　full　of　subtle　light。　〃Ah；　forgive　me　again。　I　wander　in　thought　and　forget　the　important　things。　Has　anyone　told　you？　Likimeya　has　decreed　that　you　will　go。〃
　　〃Go？　Leave　Jao　e…Tinukai'i？〃　The　rush　of　joy　was　acpanied　by　an　unexpected　current　of　regret　and　anger。　〃Why　now？〃
　　〃Because　it　was　Amerasu's　last　wish。　She　told　my　parents　before　the　gathering　began。　But　why　do　you　sound　so　unsettled？　You　will　go　back　to　your　own　people。　It　is　for　the　best；　in　any　case。　We　Zida'ya　must　mourn　the　loss　of　our　eldest；　our　best。　This　is　no　place　for　mortals；　now…and　it　is　what　you　wanted；　is　it　not？　To　go　back　to　your　folk？〃
　　〃But　you　can't　just　close　yourselves　off　and　turn　away！　Not　this　time！　Didn't　you　hear　Amerasu？　We　all　have　to　fight　the　Storm　King！　It　is　cowardice　not　to！〃　Her　stern；　soft　face　was　suddenly　before　him　again；　at　least　in　memory。　Her　magnificently　knowing　eyes。。。
　　〃Calm　yourself；　young　friend；〃　Jiriki　said　with　a　tight；　angry　smile。　〃You　are　full　of　good　intentions；　but　you　do　not　know　enough　to　speak　so　forcefully。〃　His　expression　softened。　〃Fear　not；　Seoman。　Things　are　changing。　The　Hikeda'ya　have　killed　our　eldest；　struck　her　down　in　our　own　sacred　house。　They　have　crossed　a　line　that　cannot　be　recrossed。　Perhaps　they　meant　to；　but　that　matters　less　than　the　fact　that　it　has　happened。　That　is　another　reason　for　you　to　leave；　manchild。　There　is　no　place　for　you　in　the　war　councils　of　the　Zida'ya。〃
　　〃Then　you're　going　to　fight？〃　Simon　felt　a　sudden　pinch　of　hope　at　his　heart。
　　Jiriki　shrugged。　〃Yes；　I　think　so…but　how　or　when　is　not　for　me　to　say。〃
　　〃It's　all　so　much；〃　Simon　murmured。　〃So　fast。〃
　　〃You　must　go；　young　friend。　Aditu　will　return　soon　from　attending　my　parents。　She　will　take　you　to　where　you　can　find　your　folk。　It　is　best　done　swiftly；　since　it　is　not　usual　for　Shima'onari　or　Likimeya　to　undo　their　own　Words　of　Decree。　Go。　My　sister　will　e　to　you　at　my　house　by　the　river。〃　Jiriki　leaned　down　and　lifted　something　from　the　mossy　floor。　〃And　do　not　forget　to　take　your　mirror；　my　friend。〃　He　smiled　slyly。　〃You　may　need　to　call　me　again；　and　I　still　owe　you　a　life。〃
　　Simon　took　the　gleaming　thing　and　slid　it　into　his　pocket。　He　hesitated；　then　leaned　forward　and　carefully　wrapped　his　arms　around　Jiriki；　trying　not　to　touch　his　burns　as　he　gently　embraced　him。　The　Sithi　prince　touched　Simon's　cheek　with　his　cool　lips。
　　〃Go　in　peace；　Seoman　Snowlock。　We　will　meet　again。　That　is　a　promise。〃　
　　〃Farewell；　Jiriki。〃　He　turned　and　marched　swiftly　away　without　looking　back。　He　slowed　his　pace　after　he　stumbled　once　in　the　winding　hallway；　a　long；　wind…rippled　tunnel　the　color　of　sand。　
　　Outside；　immersed　in　a　swirl　of　confused　thoughts；　Simon　suddenly　realized　that　he　was　feeling　a　curious　chill。　Looking　up；　he　saw　that　the　summery　skies　over　Jao　e…Tinukai'i　had　darkened；　taking　on　a　more　somber　hue。　The　breeze　was　colder　than　any　he　had　ever　felt　there　before。　
　　The　summer　is　fading；　he　thought；　and　was　frightened　again。　I　don't　think　they'll　ever　get　it　back。
　　Suddenly　all　his　petty　anger　toward　the　Sithi　evaporated　and　a　great；　heavy　sorrow　for　them　overtook　him。　Whatever　else　was　here；　there　was　also　beauty　unseen　since　the　world　was　young；　long　preserved　against　the　killing　frosts　of　time。　Now　the　walls　were　tumbling　down　before　a　great；　wintery　wind。　Many　exquisite　things　might　be　ravaged　beyond　reclaiming。
　　He　hurried　along　the　riverbank　toward　Jiriki's　house。
　　
　　
　　The　joumey　out　of　Jao　e…Tinukai'i　passed　swiftly　for　Simon；　dim　and　slippery　as　a　dream。　Aditu　sang　in　her　family's　tongue　and　Simon　held　her　hand　tightly　as　the　forest　shimmered　and　changed　around　them。　They　walked　out　of　cool　grayish…blue　skies　into　the　very　jaws　of　winter；　which　had　lain　in　wait　like　a　stalking　beast。
　　Snow　covered　the　forest　floor；　a　blanket　so　thick　and　cold　that　it　was　hard　for　Simon　to　remember　that　Jao　e…Tinukai'i　itself　had　not　been　covered；　that　in　that　one　place　winter　was　still　held　at　bay：　here　outside　the　magical　circle　of　the　Zida'ya；　the　Storm　King's　handiwork　was　so　terribly　real。　But　now；　he　realized；　even　that　circle　had　been　broken。　Blood　had　been　spilled　in　the　very　heart　of　summer。
　　They　walked　through　the　morning　and　early　afternoon；　gradually　leaving　the　densest　part　of　the　woods　and　moving　toward　the　forest　fringe。　Aditu　answered　Simon's　few　questions；　but　neither　had　the　strength　for　much　talk；　as　though　the　awful　cold　had　withered　the　affection　that　had　once　flowered　between　them。　As　unfortable　as　her　presence　had　often　made　him；　still　Simon　was　saddened；　but　the　world　had　changed　somehow　and　he　had　no　more　strength　to　struggle。　He　let　the　winter　world　flow　over　him　like　a　dream；　and　did　not　think。
　　They　walked　for　some　hours　beside　a　swift　river；　following　it　until　they　reached　a　long　gentle　slope。　Before　them　lay　a　vast　body　of　water；　as　gray　and　mysterious　as　an　alchemist's　bowl。　A　shadowed；　tree…covered　hill　jutted　from　it　like　a　dark　pestle。
　　〃There　is　your　destination；　Seoman；〃　Aditu　said　abruptly。　〃That　is　Sesuad'ra。〃
　　〃The　Stone　of　Farewell？〃
　　Aditu　nodded。　〃The　Leavetaking　Stone。〃
　　The　abstraction　finally　made　real；　Simon　felt　as　though　he　were　stepping　from　one　dream　into　another。　〃But　how　will　I　get　there？　Am　I　supposed　to　swim？〃
　　 Aditu　said　nothing；　but　led　him　down　the　slope　to　where　the　river　rushed　into　the　gray　water；　spilling　across　the　rocks　with　a　roar。　A　little　distance　along　the　shoreline；　out　of　the　way　of　the　river's　turbulent　inflow；　a　small；　silvery　boat　bobbed　at　anchor。　〃Once　every　hundred　or　so　winters；〃　she　said；　〃when　the　rains　are　particularly　fierce；　the　lands　around　Sesuad'ra　flood…although　this　is　certainly　the　first　time　it　has　ever　happened　when　Reniku　the　Summer…Lantern　was　in　the　sky。〃　She　turned　away；　unwilling　to　share　thoughts　written　on　her　face　so　that　even　a　mortal　could　understand。　〃We　keep　these　hiyanha…these　boats…here　and　there；　so　that　Sesuad'ra　will　not　be　denied　to　those　who　wish　to　visit　it。〃
　　Simon　put　his　hand　on　the　little　boat；　feeling　the　smooth　grain　of　the　wood　beneath　his　fingers。　A　paddle　of　the　same　silvery　stuff　lay　in　the　hull。　〃And　you're　sure　that's　where　I　go？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　unwilling　to　say　good…bye。
　　Aditu　nodded。　〃Yes；　Seoman。〃　She　shrugged　off　the　bag　she　had　been　carrying　on　her　shoulder　and　handed　it　to　him。　〃This　is　for　you…no；〃　she　corrected　herself；　〃not　for　you。　It　is　for　you　to　take　to　your　Prince　Josua；　from　Amerasu。　She　said　she　believed　he　would　know　what　to　do　with　it…if　not　now；　then　soon。〃
　　〃Amerasu？　She　sent　this。。。　？〃
　　Aditu　put　a　hand　on　his　cheek。　〃Not　exactly；　Seoman。　First　Grandmother　had　asked　me　to　take　it　if　your　imprisonment　did　not　end。　Since　you　have　been　released；　I　give　it　to　you。〃　She　stroked　his　face。　〃I　am　glad　for　your　sake　that　you　are　free。　It　pained　me　to　see　you　so　unhappy。　It　was　good　to　know　of　you…a　rare　thing。〃　She　leaned　forward　and　kissed　him。　Despite　all　that　had　happened；　he　still　felt　a　quickening　of　his　heart　as　her　mouth　touched　his。　Her　lips　were　warm　and　dry　and　tasted　of　mint。
　　Aditu　stepped　away。　〃Farewell；　Snowlock。　I　must　go　back　and　mourn。〃
　　Before　he　could　even　lift　his　hand　to　wave；　she　turned　and　disappeared　among　the　trees。　He　watched　for　some　moments；　looking　for　some　sign　of　her　slender　form；　but　she　was　gone。　He　turned　and　clambered　into　the　small　boat　and　set　the　sack　she　had　given　him　down　in　the　hull。　It　was　of　good　weight；　but　he　was　too　weary　and　sore…hearted　even　to　look　at　what　might　be　inside。　He　thought　it　might　be　peaceful　to　fall　asleep　here　in　the　boat；　at　the　edge　of　the　great　forest。　It　would　be　a　blessing　to　sleep　and　not　wake　for　a　year　and　a　day。　Instead；　he　picked　up　his　paddle　and　pushed　himself　out　onto　the　still　water。
　　
　　The　afternoon　fell　away　and　the　deep　chill　of　evening　came　on。　As　Simon　floated　toward　the　growing　shadow　of　Sesuad'ra；　he　felt　the　silence　of　the　winter　world　envelop　him；　until　he　thought　he　might　be　the　only　living；　moving　thing　upon　the　face　of　Osten　Ard。
　　　For　a　long　time　he　did　not　notice　that　there　were　torches　bobbing　before　him　on　the　twilit　shoreline。　When　he　saw　them　at　last；　he　was　already　close　enough　to　hear　the　voices。　His　arms　were　cold　and　numb。　He　felt　as　though　he　had　no　more　strength　left　to　paddle；　but　managed　to