tw.thestoneoffarewell-第35部分
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harp…nose had stolen with the High King's help？ With Josua broken； with Leobardis and Lluth dead； there was none who could stand in Elias' way。
Still； he must find Miriamele。 He could at least discover her； rescue her from the traitor Cadrach and take her somewhere safe。 That one piece of misery still remained which he could prevent Elias from acplishing。
So； defeated； he had e at last to The Hat and Plover； an inn of the lowest sort； which was just what his aching spirit craved。 His sixth jug of sour beer sat at his side； as yet untouched。 Isgrimnur brooded。
He might have dozed； for he had been walking the long waterfront all day and was very tired。 The man who stood before him might have been there for some time。 Isgrimnur did not like his look。
〃What are you staring at？〃 he growled。
The stranger's eyebrows came together over his eyes。 His lantern jaw was set in a contemptuous smirk。 He was tall and dressed in black； but the Duke of Elvritshalla did not find him nearly as impressive as the stranger obviously felt himself to be。
〃Are you the monk who has been asking questions all over the city？〃 the stranger demanded。
〃Go away；〃 Isgrimnur replied。 He reached to take a draught of beer。 It made him feel a little more alert； so he took another swallow。
〃Are you the one who has been asking about the other monks？〃 the stranger began again。 〃About the tall and short ones？〃
〃I might be。 Who are you； and what business do you have with me？〃 Isgrimnur grunted； wiping the back of his hand across his mouth。 His head hurt。
〃My name is Lenti；〃 the stranger said。 〃My master wishes to speak with you。〃
〃And who is your master？〃
〃Never mind。 e。 We will go now。〃
Isgrimnur belched。 〃I do not wish to go meet any nameless masters。 He can e to me if he wishes。 Now go away。〃
Lenti bent forward； his eyes keenly fixed on Isgrimnur's。 There were pimples on his chin。
〃You will e now； fat old man； if you don't want to be hurt；〃 he whispered fiercely。 〃I have a knife。〃
Isgrimnur's hamhock fist struck him right where his eyebrows met。 Lenti pitched backward and dropped bonelessly； as though he had been struck with a slaughtering…hammer。 A few of the other tavern…goers laughed before turning back to their various unpleasant conversations。
After a while the duke leaned forward； pouring a stream of beer onto his black…clad victim's face。 〃Get up； man； get up。 I have decided I will go with you and meet your master。〃 Isgrimnur grinned wickedly as Lenti spluttered foam。 〃I was feeling poorly before； but by Aedon's Holy Hand； I suddenly feel a great deal better！〃
Teligure disappeared behind the three riders。 They continued west on the Coast Road； following its winding course through a handful of pact towns。 The work of bringing in the hay was going forward at full speed on the hillsides and in the valley below； haycocks rising all over the fields like the heads of wakened sleepers。 Miriamele listened to the chanting voices of the field…masters and the joking cries of the women as they waded out into the tawny pastures with bottles and wallets containing the workers' mid…afternoon meals。 It seemed a happy； simple life； and she said as much to Dinivan。
〃If you think working each day from before sunup to dark； breaking your back in the fields is happy and simple work； then you are right；〃 he answered； narrowing his eyes against the sun。 〃But there is little rest； and when the year is bad； little food。 And；〃 he said； smiling wickedly； 〃most of your crop goes out as tithes to the baron。 But that seems to be what God intended。 Certainly； honest labor is better than a life of beggary or theft…in the eyes of Mother Church； anyway； if not in the eyes of some beggars and most thieves。〃
〃Father Dinivan！〃 exclaimed Miriamele； a little shocked。 〃That sounds 。。。 I don't know 。 。 。 heretical； I suppose。〃
The priest laughed。 〃God the Highest gifted me with a heretical nature； my lady； so if He regrets his gift； he will soon gather me back to His bosom again and make all right。 But my old teachers would agree with you。 I was frequently told that my questions were the devil's tongue speaking in my head。 Lector Ranessin； when he offered me the position of his secretary； told my teachers： Better the devil's tongue to argue and question than a silent tongue and an empty head。' Some of the Church's more proper priests find Ranessin a difficult master。〃 Here Dinivan frowned。 〃But they know nothing。 He is the best man on earth。〃
During the long afternoon Cadrach allowed the distance between himself and his panions to diminish gradually； until at last they were riding nearly side…by…side once more。 This concession did not loosen his lips； however； although he seemed to be listening to Miriamele's questions and Dinivan's stories of the land through which they passed； he did not in any way join the conversation。
The cloud…strewn sky had turned orange and the sun was streaming into their eyes as they approached the walled town of Grants Sacrana； the spot Dinivan had chosen for them to spend the night。 The town sat on a bluff overlooking the Coast Road。 The hills all around； sunset brushed； were tangled with grape vines。
To the travelers' surprise； a squad of guardsmen sat mounted at the broad gate questioning those who sought entrance。 They were not local…levied troops； but armored men wearing the gold kingfisher of the royal Benidrivine House。 When Dinivan gave their names…choosing Cadrach's by default and offering 〃Malachias〃 on the princess' behalf…they were told that they must ride on and harbor elsewhere that night。 〃And why should such a thing be？〃 Dinivan demanded。 The sheepish guardsman could only stubbornly repeat his order。
〃Then let me speak to your sergeant。〃
The sergeant； when produced； echoed his subordinate's words。
〃But why； man？〃 the priest asked hotly。 〃By whose orders？ Is there plague here； or something like？〃
〃Something like indeed；〃 the sergeant said； scratching his long nose in a worried manner。 〃It's by the orders of Duke Benigaris himself； or so I take it to be。 I have his seal on it。〃
〃And I bear the seal of the Lector Ranessin；〃 Dinivan said； producing a ring from his pocket and waggling its blood…red ruby beneath the startled sergeant's nose。 〃Know that we are on the holy business of the Sancellan Aedonitis。 Is there plague； or what？ If there is no dangerous air or diseased water； we will stay here tonight。〃
The troop…sergeant took off his helmet and squinted at Dinivan's signet ring。 When he looked up； his thick face was still troubled。
〃As I said； Your Eminence；〃 he begun unhappily； 〃it's like a plague。 It's those madmen； those Fire Dancers。〃
〃What are Fire Dancers？〃 Miriamele asked； remembering to imitate a boy's gruff tones。
〃Doom…criers；〃 Dinivan said grimly。
〃If that were all；〃 the sergeant said； spreading his hands helplessly。 He was a large man； broad…shouldered and thick…legged； but he looked quite undone。 〃They're mad； the lot of them。 Duke Benigaris has manded that we 。。。 well； keep a watch over them。 We are not to interfere； but I thought that at least we could keep more strangers from ing in 。。。〃 He trailed off； looking uneasily at Dinivan's ring。
〃We are not strangers； and as the lector's secretary I am in little danger of falling under the sway of these people's exhortations；〃 Dinivan said sternly。 〃So let us in； that we may find shelter for the night。 We have ridden long。 We are tired。〃
〃Very well； Your Eminence；〃 the sergeant said； waving for his troops to unblock the gates。 〃But I take no responsibility 。。。〃
〃We all take responsibility in this life； every one of us；〃 the priest responded seriously； then softened his expression。 〃But our Lord Usires understands about difficult burdens。〃 He made the sign of the Tree as they rode in past the sergeant's jostling men…at…arms。
〃That soldier seemed very upset；〃 Miriamele said as they clattered up the central row。 Many houses were shuttered； but pale faces peeped from doorways； watching the travelers。 For a town the size of Granis Sacrana； the streets were surprisingly empty。 Small groups of soldiers rode back and forth from the gates； but only a few other folk hurried along the dusty street； darting uneasy glances at Miriamele and her panions before dropping their eyes and hustling on。
〃The troop…sergeant is not the only one；〃 Dinivan answered as they rode along in the shadows of the tall houses and shops。 〃Fear sweeps through all Nabban like a plague these days。〃
〃Fear goes where it is invited；〃 Cadrach said quietly； but turned away from their questioning looks。
When they reached the marketplace in the center of town they discovered why Grants Sacrana's streets were so preternaturally empty。 A crowd stood half a dozen deep around the town square； whispering and laughing。 Although the final glimmers of afternoon still warmed the horizon； the torches had been lit in their sconces all around the square； throwing quivering shadows into the dark places between houses and illuminating the white robes of the Fire Dancers； who swayed and shouted in the middle of the mons。
〃There must be a hundred of them or more！〃 Miriamele said in surprise。 Dinivan wore a scowling； worried face。 Some in the watching crowd were shouting derisively or throwing stones and refuse at the capering dancers； but others stared intently； even fearfully； as if at some animal upon which they feared to turn their backs。
〃Too late for repentance'〃 one of the robed ones screeched； bounding away from his fellows to bob up and down like a jumping jack before the front row of spectators。 The crowd eddied away from him as if fearful of some contagion。 Too late；〃 he shouted。 His face； that of a young man with his first beard； split in a grin of glee。 〃Too late！ The dreams told us！ The master's ing！〃
Another of the white…clad figures climbed onto a stone in the center of the mons； waving to silence fellow dancers。 The watchers murmured as this one threw back a capacious hood； revealing the yellow…haired head of a woman。 She would have been very pretty； but for her staring eyes； white…rimmed in the torchlight； and her huge； ghastly smi
