tw.thestoneoffarewell-第57部分

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；　to　handle　it　unnecessarily　might　spell　its　ruin。
　　But　in　any　case；　hope　alone　was　not　a　fit　diet　for　a　knight…even　an　old　one　like　the　duke；　with　his　best　days　behind　him。　There　was　also　duty。　Now　that　Naglimund　was　fallen　and　Isgrimnur's　folk　were　all　scattered　God　knew　where；　the　only　duty　he　had　left　was　to　Miriamele；　and　to　Prince　Josua　who　had　sent　him　after　her。　Indeed；　he　was　grateful　there　was　something　left　for　him　to　do。
　　
　　Isgrimnur　stood　in　the　hallway　stroking　his　chin。　Praise　Usires；　the　beard　stubble　was　not　too　pronounced。　He　had　not　been　able　to　force　himself　to　shave　this　morning。　The　bowl　of　water　had　been　nearly　frozen；　and　even　after　several　weeks　of　traveling　as　a　monk　he　was　still　not　reconciled　to　running　a　sharp　blade　over　his　face　every　day。　He　had　worn　a　beard　since　his　first　year　as　a　man。　He　mourned　it　now　the　way　he　would　have　a　missing　hand　or　foot。
　　The　duke　was　trying　to　decide　which　direction　might　lead　him　back　toward　the　mon　room…and　toward　its　blazing　fire…when　he　felt　a　hand　on　his　arm。　He　turned　quickly；　startled　and　found　himself　sur…　rounded　by　a　trio　of　priests。　The　one　who　had　touched　him。　an　old　man　with　a　harelip；　smiled。
　　〃Did　1　not　see　you　in　the　room　last　night；　brother？〃　he　asked。　He　spoke　the　Westerling　tongue　carefully；　hampered　by　a　strong　Nabbanai　accent。　〃You　have　just　e　from　the　north；　no？　e　and　join　us　for　the　morning　meal。　Are　vou　hungry？〃
　　Isgrimnur　shrugged　and　nodded
　　〃Good。〃　The　old　man　patted　his　arm。　〃I　am　Brother　Septes。　These　are　Rovalles　and　Neylin；　two　others　of　my　order；〃　He　indicated　the　younger　monks。　〃You　will　join　us；　yes？〃
　　〃Thank　you。〃　Isgrimnur　smiled　uncertainly；　wondering　if　there　was　some　monkish　etiquette　known　only　to　initiates。　〃God　bless　you；〃　he　added。
　　〃And　you；〃　Septes　said；　taking　Isgrimnur's　large　arm　with　his　thin　fingers；　leading　him　up　the　corridor。　The　other　two　monks　fell　in　behind；　talking　quietly。
　　〃Have　you　seen　the　Elysia　Chapel　yet？〃　the　old　man　asked。　Isgrimnur　shook　his　head。　〃I　only　arrived　last　night。　〃
　　〃It　is　beautiful。　Beautiful。　Our　abbey　is　near　Lake　Myrme；　to　the　east；　but　I　try　to　e　here　once　a　year。　I　always　bring　a　few　of　the　younger　ones　with　me；　to　show　them　the　glory　that　God　has　built　for　us　here。〃
　　Isgrimnur　nodded　piously。　They　walked　on　in　silence　for　a　while；　their　path　joining　that　of　other　monks　and　priests　who　converged　from　criss…crossing　hallways　onto　the　main　thoroughfare；　blending　together　like　shoals　of　drab　fish；　being　drawn　as　though　by　a　current　toward　the　dining　hall。
　　The　mass　migration　slowed　at　the　hall's　wide　doors。　As　Isgrimnur　and　his　new　panions　joined　the　pressing　throng；　Septes　asked　the　duke　a　question。　Isgrimnur　could　not　hear　above　the　clamor　of　voices；　so　the　old　man　stood　on　tiptoe　to　speak　into　his　ear。
　　〃I　said；　how　are　things　in　the　north？〃　Septes　almost　shouted。　〃We　have　heard　terrible　stories。　Famine；　wolves；　deadly　blizzards。　〃
　　Isgrimnur　nodded；　frowning。　〃Things　are　very　bad；〃　he　called　back。　As　he　spoke；　he　and　the　others　were　propelled　through　the　door　like　a　stopper　from　the　neck　of　a　bottle；　and　found　themselves　milling　inside　the　dining　hall　entrance。　The　roar　of　conversation　seemed　enough　to　shake　the　roofbeams。
　　〃I　thought　it　was　custom　to　have　silence　at　mealtimes！〃　Isgrimnur　shouted。　Septes'　young　followers；　like　the　duke；　stared　goggle…eyed　at　the　scores　of　tables　that　stretched　end　to　end　across　the　wide　room。　There　were　some　dozen　or　so　rows；　and　each　table　in　each　row　was　crowded　with　the　hunched　backs　of　cassocked　men；　their　tonsured　heads　a　profu…　sion　of　pink　spots；　like　the　fingernails　of　some　hundred…handed　ogre。　Each　man　seemed　to　be　engaged　in　loud　conversation　with　his　neighbors；　some　waving　their　spoons　for　attention。　The　sound　was　as　vast　as　the　ocean　that　surrounded　Nabban。
　　Septes　laughed；　the　sound　subsumed　in　the　greater　roaring。　He　stood　on　tiptoe　again。　〃It　is　silent　in　our　abbey　at　home　and　in　many　others…as　no　doubt　it　is　in　your　Rimmersgard　monasteries；　yes？　But　here　at　the　Sancellan　Aedonitis　are　those　who　are　doing　God's　business　they　must　speak　and　listen　just　like　merchants。〃
　　〃Speculating　on　the　price　of　souls？〃　Isgrimnur　grinned　sourly；　but　the　old　man　did　not　hear　him。
　　〃If　you　prefer　silence；〃　Septes　shouted；　〃you　should　go　down　to　the　archives。　The　priests　there　are　silent　as　the　tomb　and　a　whisper　sounds　like　a　thunderclap。　e！　Bread　and　soup　can　be　got　over　there；　where　that　door　is；　then　you　will　tell　me　more　about　what　happens　in　the　north；　yes？〃
　　Isgrimnur　tried　not　to　watch　the　old　man　eat；　but　it　was　difficult。　Because　of　his　harelip；　Septes　dribbled　soup　constantly；　and　soon　had　a　little　river　of　it　running　down　the　front　of　his　robe。
　　〃I　am　sorry；〃　the　old　man　said　at　last；　mumbling　at　a　crust　of　bread；　he　did　not　seem　to　have　many　teeth；　either。　〃I　have　not　asked　your　name。　What　are　you　called？〃
　　〃Isbeorn；〃　the　duke　said。　It　was　his　father's　name　and　fairly　mon。
　　〃Ah；　Isbeorn。　Well；　I　am　Septes。。。　　but　I　told　you　that；　no？　Tell　us　more　of　what　happens　in　the　north。　That　is　another　reason　I　e　to　Nabban…for　news　we　do　not　get　in　the　Lakelands。〃
　　Isgrimnur　told　him　something　of　what　had　happened　north　of　the　Frostmarch；　of　the　killing　storms　and　evil　times。　Choking　down　his　bitterness；　he　told　of　Skali　of　Kaldskryke's　usurpation　of　his　own　power　in　Elvritshalla　and　the　devastation　and　kinslaymg　that　had　resulted。
　　 〃We　had　heard　that　Duke　Isgrimnur　was　proved　a　traitor　to　the　High　King；〃　Septes　said；　mopping　the　last　of　the　soup　from　his　bowl　with　a　rind　of　bread。　〃Travelers　told　us　that　Elias　found　out　the　duke　was　in　league　with　the　king's　brother　Josua　to　take　the　throne。　〃
　　〃That's　a　lie'〃　Isgrimnur　said　angrily；　smacking　his　hand　on　the　table　so　that　young　Neylin's　bowl　almost　overtipped。　Heads　turned　on　all　sides。
　　Septes　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Forgive　us；〃　he　said；　〃for　we　only　speak　of　rumors　we　have　heard。　Perhaps　we　have　touched　on　a　painful　subject。　Was　Isgrimnur　a　patron　of　your　order？〃
　　〃Duke　Isgrimnur　is　an　honest　man；〃　the　duke　said；　cursing　himself　for　letting　his　temper　get　the　best　of　him。　〃I　hate　to　hear　him　slandered。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　Septes　spoke　as　soothingly　as　he　could　while　still　being　heard　above　the　ruckus。　〃But　we　have　heard　other　stories　from　the　north　as　well；　very　frightening；　yes？　Rovalles；　tell　him　what　the　traveler　told　to　you。〃
　　Young　Rovalles　started　to　speak；　but　broke　into　a　fit　of　coughing　as　he　choked　on　a　crust。　Neylm　the　other　acolyte；　pounded　him　on　the　back　until　he　got　his　breath；　then　continued　pounding；　perhaps　a　little　overexcited　at　being　in　Nabban　for　the　first　time。
　　〃A　man　we　meet　when　we　are　ing　here；〃　Rovalles　said　when　Neylin　had　been　restrained；　〃he　is　from　Hewenshire；　or　some　place　up　in　Erkynland。〃　The　young　monk　did　not　speak　Westerling　as　well　as　Septes；　he　had　to　stop　and　think　carefully　before　choosing　words。　〃He　say　that　when　Elias'　siege　cannot　throw　down　Josua's　castle；　the　High　King　raise　up　white　demons　from　the　earth；　and　by　magic　they　kill　everyone　in　the　keep。　He　swear　it　is　so；　that　he　sees　it　himself。　〃
　　Septcs；　who　had　been　dabbing　at　the　front　of　his　robe　while　Rovalles　spoke；　now　leaned　forward。　〃Like　me；　Isbeorn；　you　know　how　full　of　superstition　people　can　be；　yes？　If　only　this　man　told　the　story；　I　would　call　him　madman　and　have　done。　But　many　are　speaking　quietly　here　in　the　Sancellan；　many　who　say　Elias　has　trafficked　with　demons　and　evil　spirits。〃　He　touched　Isgrimnur's　hand　with　his　bent　fingers；　the　duke　fought　an　urge　to　recoil。　〃You　must　have　heard　of　the　siege；　even　though　you　say　you　left　the　north　before　it　ended。　What　is　the　truth　behind　these　stories？〃
　　Isgrimnur　stared　at　the　old　monk　for　a　moment；　wondering　if　there　was　more　to　this　question　than　met　the　eye。　At　last　he　sighed。　This　was　a　kindly　old　man　with　a　harelip；　nothing　more。　These　were　frightening　times…why　should　Septes　not　try　to　cadge　information　from　someone　who　had　e　from　the　heartland　of　rumor？
　　〃I　have　heard　little　more　than　you；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃but　I　can　tell　you　that　evil　things　are　afoot…things　that　godly　men　would　rather　not　know　about；　but　damn　me　if　that　makes　them　go　away。〃　Septes'　eyebrow　twitched　upward　again　at　Isgrimnur's　language；　but　he　did　not　interrupt。　Isgrimnur；　warming　to　the　subject；　spoke　on。　〃Sides　are　forming；　you　could　say；　and　some　that　look　prettier　are　really　the　fouler。　I　can't　say　more　than　that。　Don't　believe　everything　you　hear；　but　don't　be　too　quick　to　cry　'superstition；'　either。。。〃　He　broke　off；　realizing　that　he　was　entering　dangerous　territory。　There　was　little　more　he　could　say　without　attracting　attention　as　a　source　of　substantiation　for　the　gossip　that　was　doubtless　flying　through　the　Sancellan　Aedonitis。　He　could　not　afford　to　be　the　subject　of　attention　until　he　had　learned　if　Princess　Miriamele　was　indeed　here。
　　The　bits　and　pieces　he　had　doled　out；　however；　seemed　to　satisfy　Septes。　The　old　man　leaned　back；　still　scratching　idly　at　the　drying　soup　stain　on　his　breast。　〃Ah；〃　he　nodded。　His　voice　just　carried　above　the　tabletalk。　〃Weliaday；　we　have　heard　enough　fearsome　stories　to　take　what　you　say　seriously；　yes？　Very　seriously　〃　He　gestured　for　the　nearest　acolyte　to　help　him　up。　〃Thank　you　for　sharing　our　meal；　Isbeorn；〃　he　said　〃God　keep　you　I　hope　we　can　speak　more　in　the　mon　room　tonight。　How　long　do　you　stay？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure　yet；〃　Isgrimnur　replied。　〃My　thanks　to　you；　too。〃
　　The　old　man　and　his　two　panions　disappeared　into　the　crush　of　retreating　monks；　leaving　Isgrimnur　to　sort　out　his　thoughts。　After　a　moment　he　gave　up　and　rose　from　the　table。
　　I　can't　even　hear　myself　think　in　here。　He　shook　his　head　grimly；　pushing　toward　the　doorway。　His　large　size　helped　him　make　rapid　progress　and　he　reached　the　main　hallway　swiftly。　Now　I've　gone　and　spouted　my　own　piece；　but　I'm　not　a　whit　closer　to　finding　poor　Miriamele；　he　thought　sourly。　And　how　can　I　find　out　her　whereabouts；　anyway？　Just　ask　someone　if　Elias'　missing　daughter　is　anywhere　in　the　place？　Oh；　and　she's　traveling　as　a　boy；　besides。　That's　even　better。　Perhaps　I'll　just　　ask　around；　find　out　if　any　young　monks　have　shown　up　at　the　Sance