tw.thestoneoffarewell-第20部分
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A few moments later Streawe himself arrived by another path； carried down the winding cliff roads in his carved and becurtained litter by four brawny men wearing sailors' garb。 The old count wore a heavy cloak and muffler against the night fog。 Miriamele thought that the sallow light of dawn made him look ancient。
〃So；〃 he said； waving for his bearers to lower him to the stone platform； 〃our time together is at an end。〃 He smiled ruefully。 〃I feel a deep regret at letting you go…not least because the Victor of Naglimund； your beloved father Elias； would pay much for your safe return。〃 He shook his head and coughed。 〃Still； I am a honorable man； and an obligation unpaid is a ghost unshriven； as we say here in Perdruin。 Say hello to my friend when you meet him。 Extend my regards。〃
〃You haven't told us who this 'friend' is；〃 Miriamele said tightly。 〃The one to whom we are being given。〃
Streawe waved his hand dismissively。 〃If he wishes you to know his true name； he will tell you himself。〃
〃And you will be setting us across to Nabban on the open sea in this tiny little isgbahta；〃 Cadrach growled； 〃…this fishing boat？〃
〃It is scarcely a stone's throw；〃 the count said。 〃And you will have Lenti and Alespo along to protect you from kilpa and such。〃 He indicated the two servants with a wave of his trembling hand。 Lenti was chewing sullenly at something。 〃You don't think I would let you go alone； do you？〃 Streawe smiled。 〃How could I ever be sure you would reach my friend and resolve my debt？〃
He waved for his servants to lift the litter。 Miriamele and Cadrach were herded into the pitching boat； squeezed side by side into the tiny bow。
〃Do not think unkindly of me； Miriamele and Padreic； I beg you；〃 Streawe called as his servants wrestled him back up the slippery stairs。 〃My little island must maintain a delicate balance； a very delicate balance。 Sometimes the adjustments seem cruel。〃 He pulled the curtain closed before him。
The one whom Streawe had called Alespo untied the rope and Lenti reached out with his oar to push the little wooden boat away from the dock。 As they drifted slowly away from the light of the dockside lanterns； Miriamele felt her heart sinking。 They were going to Nabban； a place that now held little hope for her。 Cadrach； her only ally； had been sullenly quiet since they had been reunited…and what name had Streawe called him？ Where had she heard that before？ Now she herself was being sent to some unknown friend of Count Streawe's； a pawn in some sort of strange business arrangement。 And everyone； from the local nobles to the humblest peasant； seemed to know her affairs better than she did herself。 What else could go wrong？
Miriamele let out a sigh of grief and frustration。 Lenti； seated across from her； stiffened。 〃Don't try anything； now；〃 he growled。 〃I have a knife。〃
5
Singing Man's House
SIMON slapped a hand against the cold stone wall of the cave and felt a strange satisfaction at the pain。 〃Bleeding Usires！〃 he swore。 〃Bleeding Usires； Usires bleeding on the Tree！〃 He raised an arm to strike the wall again； but instead dropped it to his side and dug furiously at his breeches…leg with his fingernails。
〃Calm y'rself； boy；〃 Haestan said。 〃Was naught we c'do。〃
〃I won't let them kill him！〃 He turned to Haestan imploringly。 〃And Geloe said we must go to the Stone of Farewell。 I don't even know where that is！〃
Haestan shook his head unhappily。 〃Whatever this stone may be。 I've not understood ye right since fell down and struck y'r head this afternoon。 Y've been talkin' moon…mad。 But about th' troll an' Rimmersman…what can we do？〃
〃I don't know！〃 Simon barked。 He put out his aching hand to lean against the wall。 The night wind keened beyond the door…flap。 〃Free them；〃 he said at last。 〃Free them both…Binabik and Sludig。〃 The tears he had felt himself holding back were gone。 He suddenly felt cold…minded
and full of strength。
Haestan started to reply； then checked himself。 He looked at the youth's trembling fists and the livid scar striping his cheek。 〃How； then？〃 he asked quietly。 〃Two 'gainst a mountain？〃
Simon stared furiously。 〃There must be a way！〃
〃Th'only rope trolls took with Binabik's pack。 Down a deep hole they are； lad。 With guards 'round。〃
After a long moment； Simon turned and slid down to sit on the cave floor； pushing away the sheepskin rug to bring himself as close as possible to the unforgiving rock。
〃We can't just let them die； Haestan。 We can't。 Binabik said his people would throw them from the cliffs。 How can they be such 。 。 。 such
demons！？〃
Haestan squatted and poked the coals with his knife。 〃I've no understanding of heathens and suchlike；〃 the bearded guardsman said。 〃They be tricksy folk。 Why should they prison them and give us freedom…an' leave our weapons besides？〃
〃Because we've got no rope；〃 Simon said bitterly； and shivered。 He was finally beginning to feel the cold。 〃Besides； even if we killed the guards； what good would it do us？ They'd throw us down the mountain as well； and no one would ever take Thorn back to Josua。〃 He thought。 〃Perhaps we could steal some rope？〃
Haestan looked doubtful。 〃In darkness； in a strange place？ Like as not we'd just rouse guards an' get spear…stabbed。〃
〃Damnation and sin！ We must do something； Haestan！ Are we cowards？ We can't just stand by。〃 A sharp wind stabbed in past the door curtain。 He hugged his arms tight around his chest。 〃At the very least； I'm going to have that Herder's rotten little head off。 Then they can kill me； too； and I won't care。〃
The guardsman smiled sadly。 〃Ah； boy； y'r talkin' stupid。 Said y'rself someone must take that black sword t'Prince Josua。〃 He indicated cloth…wrapped Thorn lying beside the cavern wall。 〃If the sword be not taken t'prince； Ethelbearn and Grimmric died for naught。 That'd be cruel shame。 Too many hopes； slender 'uns though may be； rest on yon blade。〃 Haestan chuckled。 〃 'Sides； lad； d'ye think they'd spare one if th' other killed their king？ Y'r bound t'get me killed； too。〃 Haestan poked at the fire again。 〃No； no； ye be green yet an' don't understand th' world。 Ye've not been in war； lad； like me…not seen what I have。 Didn't I see two of my fellows die just since we left Naglimund？ The Good God saves his justice and such for th' Day ofWeighin' Out。 'Til then； we have t'look t'ourselves。〃 He leaned forward as he began to warm to the topic。 〃Each 'un must do his best； but things can't always be made right； Simon 。。。〃
He stopped abruptly； staring at the doorway。 Seeing the look of surprise on the soldier's round face； Simon turned swiftly。 A figure had stepped past the flap of hide。
〃Th' troll girl；〃 Haestan breathed softly； as though she might startle and bolt like a fawn。 Sisqinanamook's eyes were wide with apprehension； but Simon also saw determination in the set of her jaw。 He thought she looked readier to fight than to flee。
〃Do you e to gloat？〃 he asked angrily。
Sisqinanamook steadfastly returned his stare。 〃Help me；〃 she said at last。
〃Elysia； Mother of God；〃 Haestan gasped； 〃she can talk！〃
The troll maiden shied back at the guardsman's outburst； but held her ground。 Simon clambered up onto his knees before her。 Kneeling； he was still taller than Binabik's once…betrothed。
〃Can you speak our tongue？〃
She looked at him for a moment as if puzzled； then made a sign with crossed fingers。 〃Little；〃 she said。 〃Little talk。 Binabik teach。〃
〃I should have guessed；〃 Simon said。 〃Binabik has been trying to
pound things into my head as long as I've known him。〃
Haestan snorted。 Simon gestured for Sisqinanamook to enter。 She slithered away from the door…flap； crouching near the cave's entrance with her back against the wall。 A snow serpent carved in relief upon the stone coiled about her head like a saint's halo。
〃Why should we help you？〃 Simon said。 〃And help you do what？〃
She stared at him unprehendingly。 He repeated himself more slowly。 〃Help Binbinaqegabenik；〃 she replied at last。 〃Help me； help Binabik。〃
〃Help Binabik？〃 Haestan hissed in surprise。 〃Why； y'r what's got him in trouble！〃
〃How？〃 Simon asked。 〃Help Binabik how？〃
〃Go away；〃 Sisqinanamook replied。 〃Binabik go away Mintahoq。〃 She reached under her thick hide jacket。 For a moment Simon feared some kind of trick…had she understood enough of what they had been saying to know they were discussing a rescue？…but when her small hand appeared again it bore a coil of slender gray rope。 〃Help Binabik；〃 she repeated。 〃You help； I help。〃
〃Merciful Aedon；〃 said Simon。
They quickly gathered up all their belongings； throwing them into two packs with little concern for order。 When they were finished and had donned their fur…lined cloaks； Simon went to the corner of the room where the black sword Thorn lay…the object； as Haestan had said； of many hopes； fruitless or otherwise。 In the dim firelight it was only a sword…shaped hole in the furs that cradled it。 Simon pressed its cold surface with his fingers； remembering how it had felt when he raised it before the onrushing Igjarjuk。 For a moment it seemed to grow warm beneath his hand。
Someone touched him on the shoulder。
〃No； no kill；〃 Sisqinanamook said。 She pointed frowningly at the sword； then tugged gently at his arm。 Simon wrapped his hand around Thorn's cord…wrapped hilt and hefted： it was too heavy to lift without using both arms。 As he struggled upright； he turned to the troll maiden。
〃I'm not bringing it to kill anybody。 This is the reason we went to the dragon…mountain。 No kill。〃
She stared at him； then nodded。
〃Let me carry it； lad；〃 Haestan said。 〃I'm rested。〃
Simon bit back a sullen retort and let him take the sword。 It seemed no lighter in the burly guardsman's hands； but no heavier either。 Haestan reached over his head and carefully eased Thorn's black length down through a pair of thick loops on the back of his pack。
It's not my sword； Simon reminded himself。 I knew that already。 And Haestan's right to take it…I'm too weak。 He felt his thoughts wandering。 It doesn't belong lo anyone。 It belonged to Sir Camaris once； but he's dead。 Seems almost to
