tw.thestoneoffarewell-第15部分

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　　Riding　close　behind；　Guthwulf　of　Utanyeat　restrained　a　scowl。　He；　too；　held　an　earl's　title…and　supposedly　the　king's　favor…but　he　knew　beyond　doubt　that　the　siege　of　Naghmund　had　changed　everything。
　　He　had　always　envisioned　the　day　when　his　old　rade　Elias　would　reign　as　king　and　Guthwulf　would　stand　at　his　side。　Well；　Elias　was　king　now；　but　somehow　the　rest　of　the　story　had　gone　wrong。　Only　a　fat…headed　young　idiot　like　Fengbald　could　be　either　too　ignorant　to　notice。。。　or　too　ambitious　to　let　it　bother　him。
　　Guthwulf　had　shorn　his　graying　hair　close　to　his　head　before　the　siege　had　started。　Now　his　helmet　fit　loosely。　Even　chough　he　was　a　strong　man　still　in　the　prime　of　his　health；　he　felt　almost　as　though　he　were　shrinking　away　inside　of　his　armor；　being　smaller　and　smaller。
　　Was　he　the　only　one　uneasy；　he　wondered？　Perhaps　he　had　grown　soft　and　womanish　in　his　too　many　years　away　from　the　field　of　battle。
　　But　that　could　not　be　true。　It　was　true　that　during　the　siege　a　fortnight　ago　his　heart　had　beaten　very　swiftly；　but　that　had　been　the　racing　pulse　of　exhilaration；　not　of　fear。　He　had　laughed　as　his　enemies　had　swept　down　upon　him。　He　had　broken　a　man's　back　with　a　single　blow　of　his　longsword；　and　taken　blows　in　turn　without　losing　his　scat；　handling　his　mount　as　well　as　he　had　twenty　years　ago…better；　if　anything。　No；　he　had　not　grown　soft。　Not　that　way。
　　He　also　knew　that　he　was　not　the　only　soul　who　felt　a　gnawing　disquietude。　Though　crowds　stood　by　cheering；　most　of　them　were　young　bravos　and　drunkards　from　the　town。　A　goodly　number　of　the　windows　facing　Erchester's　Main　Row　were　shuttered；　more　than　a　few　others　showed　only　a　stripe　of　darkness；　out　of　which　peered　those　citizens　who　did　not　care　to　e　down　and　cheer　the　king。
　　Guthwulf　turned　his　head　to　look　for　Elias；　then　experienced　an　unsettling　chill　when　he　discovered　the　king　was　already　staring　at　him…a　rapt；　green　stare。　Almost　against　his　will。　Guthwulf　nodded　his　head。　The　king　stiffly　returned　the　gesture；　then　looked　sourly　out　on　the　weling　folk　of　Erchester。　Elias；　feeling　the　pains　of　some　undisclosed　but　minor　illness；　had　only　left　his　tented　wagon　to　climb　atop　his　black　charger　a　furlong　or　so　before　their　arrival　at　the　city　gate。　Nevertheless；　he　was　riding　well；　concealing　any　disfort　he　might　feel。　The　king　was　thinner　than　he　had　been　in　some　years；　the　firm　line　of　his　jaw　could　be　seen　quite　plainly。　Except　for　his　pale　skin…not　as　obvious　in　the　blotchy　afternoon　light　as　it　sometimes　was…and　the　distracted　glare　of　his　eyes；　Elias　looked　slender　and　strong；　as　befitted　a　warrior　king　returning　in　triumph　from　a　successful　siege。
　　Guthwulf　stole　a　worried　glance　at　the　double…guarded　gray　sword　bumping　in　its　scabbard　against　the　king's　hip。　Cursed　thing！　How　he　wished　that　Elias　would　throw　the　damned　blade　down　a　well。　There　was　something　wrong　about　it；　Guthwulf　knew　that　beyond　question。　Some　among　the　crowd　obviously　felt　the　uneasiness　the　blade　engendered　as　well；　but　only　Guthwulf　had　been　in　Sorrow's　presence　often　enough　to　recognize　the　true　source　of　their　distress。
　　And　the　sword　was　not　the　only　thing　troubling　the　people　of　Erchester。　Just　as　the　mounted　king　of　the　afternoon　had　been　a　sick　man　in　a　wagon　at　mid…moming；　so　also　had　the　breaking　of　Naglimund　been　something　less　than　a　glorious　victory　over　a　usurping　brother。　Guthwulf　knew　that　even　far　from　the　scene；　the　citizens　of　Erchester　and　the　Hayholt　had　e　to　hear　something　about　the　odd；　terrible　fate　of　Josua's　castle　and　people。　Even　if　they　had　not；　the　faintly　sickened　expressions　and　bowed　posture　of　what　should　be　an　exulting；　victorious　army　proclaimed　that　all　was　not　as　it　should　be。
　　It　was　more　than　shame；　Guthwulf　thought；　and　it　was　more　than　just　feeling　unmanned…for　him　as　well　as　for　the　soldiers。　It　was　fear　they　felt　and　could　not　quite　hide。　Was　the　king　mad？　Had　he　brought　evil　down　on　them　all？　God　did　not　fear　a　fight；　the　earl　knew；　or　a　little　blood…in　such　ink　were　His　intentions　written；　a　philosopher　had　once　said。　But；　Usires　curse　it；　this　was　different；　was　it　not？
　　He　sneaked　another　look　at　the　king；　his　stomach　churning。　Elias　was　listening　closely　to　his　counselor；　red…robed　Pryrates。　The　priest's　hairless　head　bobbed　near　the　king's　car　like　a　skin…covered　egg。
　　Guthwulf　had　considered　killing　Pryrates；　but　had　decided　it　might　only　make　things　worse；　like　killing　the　houndkeeper　when　the　dogs　waited　at　one's　throat。　Pryrates　might　be　the　only　one　left　who　could　control　the　king…unless；　as　the　Earl　of　Utanyeat　sometimes　felt　sure；　it　was　the　meddling　priest　himself　who　was　leading　Elias　down　the　road　to　perdition。　Who　could　know；　God　damn　them　all？　Who　could　know？
　　Perhaps　in　response　to　something　Pryrates　said；　Elias　bared　his　teeth　in　a　smile　as　he　looked　over　the　sparseness　of　the　cheering　throng。　It　was　not；　Guthwulf　saw；　the　expression　of　a　happy　man。
　　
　　〃I　am　very　angry。　My　patience　is　strained　by　this　ingratitude。〃　The　king　had　taken　to　his　throne；　his　father　John's　great　Dragonbone　Chair。
　　〃Your　monarch　returns　from　war；　bringing　news　of　a　great　victory；　and　all　that　greets　him　is　a　paltry　rabble。〃　Elias　curled　his　lip；　staring　at　Father　Helfcene；　a　slightly…built　priest　who　was　also　the　chancellor　of　the　mighty　Hayholt。　Helfcene　kneeled　at　the　king's　feet；　the　top　of　his　bald　head　facing　the　throne　like　a　pitifully　inadequate　shield。　〃Why　was　there　no　wele　for　me？〃
　　〃But　there　was；　my　Lord；　there　was；〃　the　chancellor　stuttered。　〃Did　I　not　meet　you　at　the　Nearulagh　Gate　with　all　your　household　who　remained　at　the　Hayholt？　We　are　thrilled　to　have　Your　Majesty　back　in　good　health；　awed　by　your　triumph　in　the　north！〃
　　〃My　cringing　bondsmen　of　Erchester　did　not　appear　to　be　either　very　thrilled　or　awed。〃　Elias　reached　for　his　cup。　Ever…vigilant　Pryrates　handed　it　to　him；　careful　not　to　slosh　the　dark　liquid　over　the　rim。　The　king　took　a　long　draught　and　made　a　face　at　its　bitterness。　〃Guthwulf；　did　you　feel　that　the　king's　subjects　showed　him　proper　fealty？〃
　　The　earl　took　a　deep　breath　before　speaking　slowly。　〃Perhaps　they　were。。。　perhaps　they　had　heard　rumors。。。〃
　　〃Rumors？　Of　what？　Did　we　or　did　we　not　throw　down　my　treacherous　brother's　keep　at　Naglimund？〃
　　〃Of　course；　my　king；〃　Guthwulf　felt　himself　far　out　on　a　slender　branch。　Elias'　sea…green　eyes　stared　at　him；　as　insanely　curious　as　an　owl's。
　　〃Of　course；〃　the　earl　repeated；　〃but　our　。　。　。　allies　。　。　。　were　bound　to　cause　rumor。〃
　　Elias　turned　to　Pryrates。　The　king's　pale　brow　was　furrowed；　as　though　he　were　genuinely　puzzled。　〃We　have　acquired　mighty　friends；　have　we　not；　Pryrates？〃
　　The　priest　nodded　silkily。　〃Mighty　friends；　Majesty。〃
　　〃And　yet　they　have　served　our　will；　have　they　not？　They　have　done　what　we　wished　done？〃
　　〃To　the　exact　length　of　your　intent；　King　Elias。〃　Pryrates　snuck　a　glance　at　Guthwulf　〃They　have　done　your　will。〃
　　〃Well；　then。〃　Elias　turned；　satisfied；　and　regarded　Father　Helfcene　once　more。　〃Your　king　has　gone　away　to　war　and　has　destroyed　his　enemies；　returning　with　the　allegiance　of　a　kingdom　older　even　than　the　long…gone　Imperium　of　Nabban。〃　His　voice　wavered　dangerously。　〃Why　do　my　subjects　skulk　like　whipped　dogs？〃
　　〃They　are　ignorant　peasants；　sire；〃　Helfcene　said。　A　drop　of　sweat　hung　on　his　nose。
　　〃I　think　that　someone　here　has　been　stirring　up　trouble　in　my　absence；〃　Elias　said　with　frightful　deliberation。　〃I　would　like　to　know　who　has　been　spreading　tales。　Do　you　hear　me；　Helfcene？　I　must　find　out　who　thinks　they　know　the　good　of　Osten　Ard　better　than　does　her　High　King。　Go　now；　and　when　I　see　you　next；　have　something　to　tell　me。〃　He　pulled　at　the　skin　of　his　face；　angrily。　〃Some　of　these　be…damned；　stay…at…home　nobles　need　to　see　the　shadow　of　the　gibbet；　I　think。　That　may　remind　them　who　rules　this　land。〃
　　The　bead　of　sweat　finally　fell　free　of　Helfcene's　nose；　spattering　on　the　tile　floor。　The　chancellor　nodded　briskly　and　several　other　drops；　strangely　numerous　on　a　cool　afternoon；　leaped　from　his　face。
　　〃Of　course；　my　Lord。　It　is　good；　so　good；　to　have　you　back　once　more。〃　He　rose　to　a　half　crouch；　bowed　again；　then　turned　and　walked　quickly　from　the　throne　room。
　　The　thump　of　the　great　door　closing　echoed　up　amidst　the　the　ceiling　beams　and　serried　banners。　Elias　leaned　back　against　the　vast　spreading　cage　of　yellowed　bones；　rubbing　at　his　eye　sockets　with　the　backs　of　his　powerful　hands。
　　〃Guthwulf；　e　here；〃　he　said；　voice　muffled。　The　Earl　of　Utanyeat　stepped　forward；　feeling　a　strange　but　pelling　urge　to　flee　the　room。　Pryrates　hovered　at　Elias'　elbow；　his　face　smooth　and　emotionless　as　marble。
　　Even　as　Guthwulf　reached　the　Dragonbone　Chair；　Elias　dropped　his　hands　to　his　lap。　The　blue　circles　beneath　his　eyes　made　it　seem　as　though　the　king's　gaze　had　pulled　back　farther　into　his　head。　For　a　moment　it　almost　seemed　to　the　earl　that　the　king　was　peering　out　of　some　dark　hole；　some　trap　into　which　he　had　fallen。
　　〃You　must　protect　me　from　treachery；　Guthwulf。〃　A　ragged　fringe　of　desperation　sounded　in　Elias'　words。　〃I　am　vulnerable　now；　but　there　are　great　things　ing。　This　land　will　see　a　Golden　Age　such　as　the　philosophers　and　priests　have　only　dreamed　of…but　I　must　survive。　I　must　survive；　or　all　will　be　ruined。　All　will　be　ashes。〃　Elias　leaned　forward；　grasping　Guthwulf　s　callused　hand　with　fingers　cold　as　fish　tails。
　　〃You　must　help　me；　Guthwulf。〃　A　powerful　note　ran　through　his　straining　voice。　For　a　moment；　the　earl　heard　his　panion　of　many　battles　and　many　taverns　the　way　he　remembered　him；　which　only　made　the　king's　words　all　the　more　painful。　〃Fengbald　and　Godwig　and　the　rest　are　fools；〃　Elias　said。　〃Helfcene　is　a　frightened　rabbit。　You　are　the　only　one　in　all　the　world　I　can　trust…besides　Pryrates　here；　that　is。　You　are　the　only　ones　whose　loyalty　to　me　is　plete。〃
　　The　king　slumped　back　and　covered　his　eyes　again；　clenching　his　teeth　as　though　in　pain。　He　waved　Guthwulfs　dismissal。　The　earl　looked　up　to　Pryrates；　but　the　red　priest　only　shook　his　head　and　turned　to　refill　Ellas'　goblet。
　　As　he　pushed　open　the　door　of　the　chamber　and　walked　out　into　the　lamplit　hallway；　Guthw