tw.thestoneoffarewell-第65部分

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　　Qantaqa　started　ahead。　Simon　and　Sludig　spurred　their　horses　forward。　Prompted　by　something　he　did　not　understand；　Simon　looked　back　once　more；　although　he　knew　what　he　would　see。
　　The　ravens；　now　little　more　than　black　specks　on　the　wind；　were　fading　from　sight　into　the　dark　swell　of　the　gathering　storm。
　　
　　13
　　The　Stallion　Clan
　　
　　PRINCE　JOSUA'S　pany　came　out　at　last　onto　the　plains　after　nearly　a　month　m　the　vast；　ancient　forest。　As　they　broke　through　the　last　line　of　trees；　the　grasslands　opened　before　them；　a　floor　of　uneven　turf　shrouded　by　morning　mist；　merging　seamlessly　with　the　gray　horizon。
　　Father　Strangyeard　sped　his　pace　to　catch　up　with　Geloe。　The　witch　woman　was　striding　purposefully　out　onto　the　flatland；　wet　stems　falling　before　her　approach。
　　 〃Valada　Geloe；〃　Strangyeard　said　breathlessly；　〃ah；　this　is　a　marvelous　book　Morgenes　has　written。　Marvelous！　Valada　Geloe；　have　you　read　this　passage？〃　He　tried　to　juggle　the　loose　pages；　stumbled　over　a　tussock；　and　only　barely　retained　his　balance。　〃I　think　there　is　something　here　of　importance。　Ah；　how　silly　of　me；　how　foolish…there　are　many　things　of　importance。　What　a　marvelous　book！〃
　　Geloe　put　her　hand　on　Leieth's　shoulder；　bringing　the　child　to　a　halt。　The　little　girl　did　not　look　up；　but　stood　where　she　had　stopped；　staring　out　into　the　mists。
　　〃Strangyeard；　you　will　do　yourself　an　injury；〃　Geloe　said　brusquely。　She　looked　at　him　expectantly。　〃Well？〃
　　〃Oh；　dear；〃　the　archivist　said。　He　tugged　at　his　eyepatch　self…consciously；　almost　losing　his　armful　of　pages　in　the　process。　〃I　didn't　want　you　to　stop　walking　I　can　read　and　still　keep　up。　〃
　　〃I　repeat　you　will　do　yourself　an　injury。　Read。〃
　　Before　Strangyeard　could　do　so；　they　were　interrupted　by　new　arrivals。
　　〃Praise　God；〃　Isorn　cried　He　and　Deornoth　struggled　out　of　the　trees　upslope。　〃We　are　out　of　the　cursed　forest　and　on　open　ground！〃　The　pair　carefully　set　down　the　litter　they　had　been　dragging；　glad　to　rest　Sangfugol's　weight　for　a　moment。　Under　the　witch　woman's　ministrations；　the　harper　was　healing　well　and　swiftly　from　what　should　have　been　a　fatal　corruption　of　his　blood；　but　he　still　could　not　walk　more　than　a　few　hours　at　a　time。
　　 Geloe　turned　to　look　back。　〃Praise　God　all　you　wish；〃　she　warned；　〃but　we　may　regret　the　loss　of　those　sheltering　trees　before　long。〃
　　The　rest　of　the　party　limped　down　out　of　the　woods。　Prince　Josua　was　helping　Towser；　who　walked　dazed　and　unspeakmg；　the　old　man's　eyes　were　rolled　up；　as　though　he　contemplated　a　distant　heaven　hidden　behind　the　fog…blanketed　sky。　Vorzheva　and　Duchess　Gutrun　walked　a　little　way　behind　them。
　　〃It　has　been　many　years　since　I　have　seen　the　Thrithings；〃　Josua　said；　〃even　this　tamer　part。　I　had　almost　forgotten　its　beauty。〃　He　closed　his　eyes　in　thought　for　a　moment；　then　opened　them　once　more　to　gaze　out　toward　the　indistinct　horizon。　〃It　is　like　no　other　land　in　all　of　Osten　Ard…some　call　it　'God's　tabletop。'　〃
　　 〃If　this　is　indeed　God's　tabletop；〃　Sangfugol　said　with　a　weak　smile；　〃my　prince；　He　uses　us　for　dice。　Aedon　save　me；　I　am　meant　to　sing　of　Jack　Mundwode　and　his　naughty　bandits；　not　ape　their　forest…traipsing。〃　He　struggled　out　of　the　litter。　〃I　need　to　get　out　of　this　thumping；　bouncing　torture　device　and　sit　down…no；　the　grass　is　fine　for　me。　I　fear　my　sore　leg　more　than　the　wet。〃
　　〃Some　gratitude；〃　Isorn　said；　smiling。　〃I　think　I　shall　show　you　what　thumping　really　is；　harper。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　Josua　said。　〃We　shall　rest。　No　one　stray　far；　and　if　you　go　more　than　a　stone's　throw；　take　someone　with　you。〃
　　〃So　we　have　escaped　the　forest；〃　Deornoth　sighed。　〃If　only　Einskaldir　could　have　seen　it。〃　He　thought　of　the　Rimmersman's　grave　in　one　of　the　quiet　glades　of　Shisae'ron；　a　simple　mound　marked　only　by　his　helmet　and　Strangyeard's　wooden　Tree。　Even　Geloe's　healing　skills　had　not　been　enough　to　save　him　from　the　terrible　wounds　he　had　received　leading　their　escape　from　the　Norns。　Now；　fierce　Einskaldir　would　lie　forever　in　a　place　of　timeless　calm。　〃He　was　a　stern　bastard；　bless　him。〃　Deornoth　shook　his　head。　〃He　never　gave　up；　either…but　I　don't　think　he　believed　we　would　ever　get　away。〃
　　 〃We　wouldn't　have；　if　not　for　him；〃　Isorn　said。　〃He's　another　mark　on　the　list。〃
　　〃List？〃
　　〃The　list　of　what　is　owed　to　our　enemies…to　Skali　and　Elias　and　all　the　rest。〃　Isorn's　broad　face　was　grim。　〃We　owe　them　a　blood　feud。　Someday；　they　will　pay　for　what　they　did。　And　when　it　happens；　Einskaldir　will　be　watching　in　heaven。　And　laughing。〃
　　Deornoth　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。　If　Einskaldir　could　watch　battles　from　heaven；　he　would　be　laughing。　For　all　his　piety；　it　seemed　a　shame　that　Einskaldir　had　missed　the　old　pagan　days　of　Rimmersgard；　and　would　instead　be　forced　to　spend　his　eternity　m　the　quieter　environs　of　Aedon's　paradise。
　　As　the　others　milled　about；　Vorzheva　said　a　quiet　word　to　Duchess　Gutrun；　then　walked　down　the　short　slope　and　onto　the　damp　meadow。
　　She　moved　as　if　in　a　kind　of　dream；　her　eyes　fixed　on　nothing；　her　track　aimless　and　elliptical　as　she　made　her　way　through　the　damp　grasses　　〃Vorzheva；〃　Josua　called；　his　voice　sharper　than　usual；　〃do　not　go　alone。　The　mist　is　very　thick　and　you　would　soon　be　out　of　sight。〃
　　〃She　would　have　to　go　very　far　before　she　would　be　out　of　earshot；　Prince　Josua；〃　said　Duchess　Gutrun；　leading　Towser　with　a　gentle　hand　on　his　elbow。
　　〃That　may　be；〃　Josua　said；　〃but　I　would　prefer　we　were　not　stumbling　through　the　fog；　shouting　our　presence　to　any　listening　ears。　Surely　you　have　not　so　soon　forgotten　our　escort　from　Naglimund。〃
　　Gutrun　shook　her　head　in　dismay；　conceding　the　point。　Vorzheva；　seemingly　oblivious　to　the　discussion；　was　now　only　a　dim　upright　shape　slipping　through　the　mists　like　a　ghost。
　　〃Damn　her　forwardness；〃　Josua　said　grimly；　staring　after　her。
　　〃I　will　go　with　her；〃　Geloe　turned　to　Gutrun。　〃Keep　the　child　close　to　you；　please。〃　She　pointed　Leieth　in　the　general　direction　of　the　duchess；　then　strode　off　after　the　fast…fading　Vorzheva。
　　Josua　watched　her　go；　then　laughed　unhappily。　〃If　this　is　the　way　I　mand　a　kingdom　of　nine　or　ten；〃　he　told　Deornoth；　〃then　my　brother　can　rest　easily　on　the　Dragonbone　Chair。　People　used　to　beg　to　do　my　father　John's　bidding。〃
　　Even　his　queen？　Deornoth　wondered；　but　he　did　not　say　it。　He　watched　the　dark　shape　of　Geloe　catch　up　to　the　wraith　that　was　Vorzheva。　If　you　have　a　proud　and　headstrong　woman；　you　would　be　better　off　not　to　judge　your　success　by　her　obedience。
　　 〃Please；　my　lord；〃　he　said　instead；　〃do　not　speak　ill　of　yourself。　You　are　hungry　and　tired　and　cold。　Let　me　build　a　fire。〃
　　〃No；　Deornoth。〃Josua　rubbed　the　stump　of　his　wrist　as　though　it　hurt。　〃We　will　not　stay　so　long。〃　He　turned　to　look　back　at　the　forest　fringe　and　the　gaping　shadows　that　lined　it。　〃We　must　move　farther　before　we　do　more　than　pause　to　rest。　We　will　stop　somewhere　that　puts　us　in　open　ground　on　all　sides。　At　least　then；　even　though　we　are　exposed；　anything　that　stalks　us　will　be　exposed　as　well。〃
　　〃A　happy　thought；〃　grunted　Sangfugol　from　his　seat　on　the　turf。　〃S'truth；　but　we　are　a　merry　band　of　pilgrims。〃
　　〃Pilgrims　on　the　road　through　hell　cannot　afford　too　much　merriment；〃　Josua　said。　He　strode　a　little　way　out　onto　the　greensward　to　stand　by　himself　in　thought。
　　
　　〃Then　why　don't　you　tell　him？〃　There　was　exasperation　in　Geloe's　voice；　but　her　hawk…yellow　eyes　betrayed　little　emotion。　〃By　bough　and　branch；　Vorzheva；　you　are　not　a　young　girl；　you　are　a　woman。　Why　do　you　carry　on　so？〃
　　Vorzheva's　eyes　were　moist。　〃I　do　not　know。　I　cannot　understand　him。〃
　　Geloe　shook　her　head。　〃I　cannot　understand　any　of　you。　I　have　spent　little　of　my　life　with　human　folk；　and　it　is　because　of　this　ridiculous　uncertainty…'I　want　this；　I　do　not　want　that。。。'　The　animals　are　more　sensible；　it　seems　to　me。　They　do　what　they　must　and　do　not　fret　over　what　cannot　be　changed。〃　The　witch　woman　laid　a　callused　hand　on　Vorzheva's　arm。　〃Why　do　you　worry　so　about　things　that　do　not　matter？　Prince　Josua　obviously　cares　for　you。　Why　do　you　not　tell　him　the　truth？〃
　　Her　panion　sighed。　〃He　thinks　me　a　foolish　wagon…girl。　It　makes　him　cold　to　me。　If　I　tell　him；　it　will　only　be　worse。。。　I　am　sorry。〃　She　angrily　wiped　at　her　face　with　her　tattered　sleeve。　〃It　was　seeing　the　Feluwelt　again…that　is　what　my　people　call　this　place；　where　the　meadow　runs　in　the　forest's　shadow。　It　brought　many　memories　to　my　mind；　and　made　me　unhappy。　〃
　　〃Valada　Geloe？〃　It　was　Father　Strangyeard's　voice；　sourceless　in　the　mist；　but　quite　near。　〃Are　you　there？　Valada　Geloe？〃
　　A　little　frustration　showed　itself　on　Geloe's　stern　face。　〃Here；　Strangyeard。　Is　anything　wrong？〃
　　The　archivist　appeared；　a　lanky；　flapping　shape　materializing　from　gray　obscurity。　〃No；　no；　I　just　wanted　to。。。〃　He　stopped；　staring　at　Vorzheva's　tear…stained　face。　〃Oh。　Oh；　I'm　so　terribly　sorry。　How　rude　of　me。　I　will　leave　you。〃　He　turned　to　lurch　off　into　the　mist　once　more。　
　　〃Don't　go！〃　Strangely；　it　was　Vorzheva　who　spoke。　〃Do　not　leave　us；　Father。　Walk　with　us。　〃
　　Strangyeard　looked　at　her；　then　to　Geloe。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　intrude；　Lady。　I　fear　I　was　thinking　only　of　something　I　found　in　Morgenes'　book。　〃　Eyepatch　askew；　thin　fringe　of　reddish　hair　curling　in　the　damp；　he　looked　like　a　startled　woodpecker。　He　seemed　about　to　bolt　once　more；　but　the　witch　woman　raised　a　calming　hand。
　　〃Walk　with　us；　Strangyeard；　as　Vorzheva　said。　Perhaps　your　need　is　one　for　which　my　talents　are　better　suited。〃　The　priest　looked　at　her　nervously。　〃e。　We　will　walk　back　toward　the　others　as　we　talk。〃
　　Strangyeard　was　still　carrying　the　loose　sheaves　of　Morgenes'　book　in　his　hand；　after　a　few　silent　paces　he　began　to　leaf　through　them。　〃I'm　afraid　I've　lost　the　section；〃　he　said；　shuffling　the　parchments。　〃I　thought　it　might　be　significant…it　was　a　bit　about　magic…The　Art；　that's　what　Morgenes　called　it。　I'm　amazed　by　the　things　he　knew；　quite　amazed。。。　I　would　never　have　dreamt。。。　〃　A　triumphant　smile　came　to　his　face。　〃Here　it　is。　〃　He　squinted。　〃Wonderful　way　with　words。　〃
　　They　walked　several　more　paces　in　silence。　〃Will　you　read？〃　Geloe　asked　at　last。