tw.thestoneoffarewell-第2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！
Though the moon ranged above the snowy spires of Mintahoq's neighbors； only a fine spray of moonlight reached down to the bottom of the pit； where it touched but did not illuminate two unmoving shapes。 For a long while since moonrise it had been this way： the pale moon…disk…Sedda； as the trolls called her…the only moving thing in all the night world； crossing slowly through the black fields of the sky。
Now something stirred at the mouth of the pit。 A small figure leaned over； squinting down into the thick shadows。
〃Binabik 。。。〃 the crouching shape called at last in the guttural tongue of the troll folk。 〃Binabik； do you hear me？〃
If one of the shadows at the bottom moved； it made no sound in doing so。 At last the figure at the top of the stone well spoke again。
〃Nine times nine days； Binabik； your spear stood before my cave； and I waited for you。〃
The words were spoken in a ritual chant； but the voice wavered unsteadily； pausing for a moment before continuing。 〃I waited and I called out your name in the Place of Echoes。 Nothing came back to me but my own voice。 Why did you not return and take up your spear again？〃
Still there was no reply。
〃Binabik？ Why do you not answer？ Surely you owe me that； do you not？〃
The larger of the two shapes at the bottom of the pit stirred。 Pale blue eyes caught a thin stripe of moongleam。
〃What is that trollish yammering？ It's bad enough you throw a man down a hole who's never done you harm； but must you e shouting your nonsense…talk at him when he's trying to sleep？〃
The crouching shape froze for a moment like a startled deer splashed by lantern…glare； then disappeared into the night。
〃Good。〃 The Rimmersman Sludig curled himself up once more in his damp cloak。 〃I do not know what that troll was saying to you； Binabik； but I do not think much of your people； that they e to mock at you…and me； too。 although I am not surprised that they hate my kind。〃
The troll beside him said nothing； only stared at the Rimmersman with dark； troubled eyes。 After a while； Sludig rolled over again； shivering； and tried to sleep。
〃But Jiriki； you can't go！〃 Simon was perched at the edge of his pallet； wrapped in his blanket against the insinuating chill。 He gritted his teeth against a wave of light…headedness； he had not been off his back often in the five days since he had awakened。
〃I must；〃 the Sitha said； eyes downcast as though he could not meet Simon's imploring stare。 〃I have already sent Sijandi and Ki'ushapo ahead； but it is my own presence that is demanded。 I shall not leave for a day or two； Seoman； but that is the utmost length I can put off my duty。〃
〃You have to help me free Binabik！〃 Simon lifted his feet off the cold stone floor back onto the bed。 〃You said the trolls trust you。 Make them set Binabik free。 Then we'll all go together。〃
Jiriki let out a thin whistle of air between his lips。 〃It is not so simple； young Seoman；〃 he said； almost impatiently。 〃I have no right or power to make the Qanuc do anything。 Also； I have other responsibilities and duties you cannot understand。 I only stayed as long as I have because I wanted to see you on your feet once more。 My uncle Khendraja'aro has long since returned to Jao e…Tinukai'i； and my duties to my house and my kin pel me to follow。〃
〃pel you？ But you're a prince！〃
The Sitha shook his head。 〃That word is not the same in our speech as in yours； Seoman。 I am of the reigning house； but I order no one and rule no one。 Neither am I ruled； fortunately…except in certain things and at certain times。 My parents have declared that this is such a time。〃 Simon thought he could almost detect a touch of anger in Jiriki's voice。 〃Never fear； though。 You and Haestan are not prisoners。 The Qanuc honor you。 They will let you leave when you wish。〃
〃But I won't leave without Binabik。〃 Simon twisted his cloak between his fists。 〃And Sludig； too。〃
A small dark figure appeared in the doorway and coughed politely。
Jiriki looked over his shoulder； then nodded his head。 The old Qanuc woman stepped forward and set a steaming pot down at Jiriki's feet； then quickly pulled three bowls out of her tentlike sheepskin coat； arranging them in a semicircle。 Though her diminutive fingers worked nimbly； and her seamed； round…cheeked face was expressionless； Simon saw a glimmer of fear in her eyes as they rose briefly to meet his。 When she had finished； she backed quickly out of the cave； disappearing under the door flap as silently as she had appeared。
What is she afraid of？ Simon wondered。 Jiriki？ But Binabik said the Qanuc and Sithi have always gotten along…more or less。
He suddenly thought of himself： twice as tall as a troll； red…haired； hairy…faced with his first man's beard…skinny as a switch； too； but since he was wrapped in blankets the old Qanuc woman couldn't know that。 What difference could the people of Yiqanuc see between himself and a hated Rimmersman？ Hadn't Sludig's people warred on the troll folk for centuries？
〃Will you have some； Seoman？〃 Jiriki asked； pouring out steaming liquid from the pot。 〃They have provided you with a bowl。〃
Simon reached out a hand。 〃Is it more soup？〃
〃It is aka； as the Qanuc call it…or as you would say； tea。〃
〃Tea！〃 He took the bowl eagerly。 Judith； Kitchen Mistress of the Hayholt； had been very fond of tea。 She would sit down at the end of a long day's work to nurse a great hot mug full of the stuff； the kitchen filling with the vapors of steeped southern island herbs。 When she was in a good mood； she would let Simon have some； too。 Usires； how he missed his home！
〃I never thought。 。 。〃he began； and took a great long swallow； only to spit it out a moment later in a fit of coughing。 〃What is it？〃 he choked。
〃That's not tea！〃
Jiriki might have been smiling； but since he had his bowl up to his mouth； sipping slowly； it was impossible to tell。 〃Certainly it is；〃 the Sitha replied。 〃The Qanuc people use different herbs than you Sudhoda'ya； of course。 How could it be otherwise； when they have so little trade with your kind？〃
Simon wiped his mouth； grimacing。 〃But it's salty！〃 He took a sniff of the bowl and made another face。
The Sitha nodded and sipped again。 〃They put salt in it； yes…and butter as well。〃
〃Butter！〃
〃Marvelous are the ways of all Mezumiiru's grandchildren；〃 Jiriki intoned solemnly； 〃。 。 。 endless is their variety。〃
Simon set the bowl down in disgust。 〃Butter。 Usires help me； what a miserable adventure。〃
Jiriki calmly finished his tea。 The mention of Mezumiiru reminded Simon again of his troll friend； who one night in the forest had sung a song about the Moon…woman。 His mood turned sour once more。
〃But what are we going to do for Binabik？〃 Simon asked。 〃Anything？〃
Jiriki lifted calm； catlike eyes。 〃We will have a chance to speak on his behalf tomorrow。 I have not yet discovered his crime。 Few Qanuc speak any language but their own…your panion is a rare troll indeed…and I am not very acplished in theirs。 Neither do they like to share their thoughts with outsiders。〃
〃What's happening tomorrow？〃 Simon asked； sinking back into his bed again。 His head was pounding。 Why should he still feel so weak？
〃There is a 。。。 court； I suppose。 Where the Qanuc rulers hear and
decide。〃
〃And we are going to speak for Binabik？〃
〃No； Seoman； not as such；〃 Jiriki said gently。 For a moment a strange look flitted across his spare features。 〃We are going because you met the Dragon of the Mountain 。 。 。 and lived。 The lords of the Qanuc wish to see you。 I do not doubt that your friend's crimes will also be addressed； there before the whole of his people。 Now take rest； for you will have need of it。〃
Jiriki stood and stretched his slender limbs； moving his head in his disconcertingly alien way； amber eyes fixed on nothing。 Simon felt a shudder travel the length of his own body； followed by a powerful weariness。
The dragon！ he thought groggily； halfway between wonderment and horror。 He had seen a dragon！ He； Simon the scullion； despised muckabout and mooncalf； had swung a sword at a dragon and lived…even after its scalding blood had splashed him！ Like in a story！
He looked at blackly gleaming Thorn； which lay partly covered against the wall； wailing like a beautiful； deadly serpent。 Even Jiriki seemed unwilling to handle it； or even discuss it； the Sitha had calmly deflected all of Simon's questions as to what magic might run like blood through Camaris' strange sword。 Simon's chilled fingers crept up his jaw to the still painful scar running down his face。 How had a mere scullion like himself ever dared to lift such a potent thing？
Closing his eyes； he felt the huge and uncaring world spin ever so slowly beneath him。 He heard Jiriki pad across the cave toward the doorway； and a faint swish as the Sitha slid past the flap and out； then sleep tugged him down。
Simon dreamed。 The face of the small； dark…haired girl swam before him once more。 It was a child's face； but the solemn eyes were old and deep as a well in a deserted churchyard。 She seemed to want to tell him something。 Her mouth worked soundlessly； but as she slipped away through the murky waters of sleep； he thought for a moment he heard her voice。
He awoke the next morning to find Haestan standing over him。 The guardsman's teeth were bared in a grim smile and his beard sparkled with melting snow。
〃Time y'were up； Simon…lad。 Many doin's this day； many doin's。〃
It took some time； but even though he felt quite feeble； he managed to dress himself。 Haestan helped him with his boots； which he had not worn since waking up in Yiqanuc。 They seemed stiff as wood on his feet； and the fabric of his garments scraped against his strangely sensitive skin； but he felt better for being up and dressed。 He walked gingerly across the length of the cave a few times； beginning to feel like a two…legged animal once more。
〃Where's Jiriki？〃 Simon asked as he pulled his cloak around his shoulders。
〃That one's gone ahead。 But ha' no worry 'bout goin' t' meetin'。 I
could carry ye； stickly thing that y'are。〃
〃I was carried here；〃 Simon said； and hear
