tw.thestoneoffarewell-第66部分

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　　They　walked　several　more　paces　in　silence。　〃Will　you　read？〃　Geloe　asked　at　last。
　　〃Oh！　Of　course。〃　Strangyeard　cleared　his　throat。
　　〃。。。In　truth；　articles　useful　to　The　Art　seem　to　fall　into　two　broad　categories；〃　the　pnest　began；　　〃those　whose　worth　is　bound　in　themselves；　and　those　whose　worth　is　bound　in　their　derivation。　In　contradiction　to　popular　superstition；　an　herb　gathered　in　a　graveyard　is　not　generally　useful　because　it　came　from　such　a　place；　but　rather　because　of　the　herb　itself。　Since　a　graveyard　may　be　the　only　place　that　herb　is　found；　the　connection　bees　established　and　is　then　almost　impossible　to　disentangle。
　　〃The　other　category　of　useful　objects　are　usually　'made'　objects；　and　their　virtue　is　in　their　shaping　or　their　raw　beginnings。　The　Sithi；　who　have　long　possessed　secrets　of　crafting　hidden　from　mortals；　made　many　things　whose　creation　itself　was　a　practice　of　The　Art…although　the　Sithi　would　not　exactly　term　it　so。　Thus；　the　virtue　of　these　objects　is　in　their　making。　The　famous　arrows　of　Vindaomeyo　are　an　example：　carved　from　mon　wood　and　fletched　with　the　feathers　of　ordinary　birds；　yet　each　one　is　a　talisman　of　great　worth。
　　〃Other　objects　take　their　power　from　the　stuff　of　their　making。　The　great　swords　alluded　to　in　Nisses'　lost　book　are　examples　here。　All　feem　to　derive　their　worth　from　their　materials；　although　the　crafting　of　each　was　a　mighty　task。　Minneyar；　King　Fingil's　sword；　was　made　of　the　iron　keel　of　his　boat；　iron　brought　to　Osten　Ard　by　the　Rimmersman　sea…raiders　out　of　the　lost　west。　Thorn；　most　recently　the　sword　of　Prester　John's　noblest　knight；　Sir　Camaris；　was　forged　from　the　glowing　metals　of　a　fallen　star…like　Minneyar　's　iron；　something　foreign　to　Osten　Ard。　And　Sorrow；　the　sword　that　Nisses　claims　Ineluki　of　the　Sithi　used　to　slay　his　own　father　the　Erl…king；　was　made　of　Sithi　witchwood　and　iron；　two　elements　long　thought　to　be　antithetical　and　unmixable。　Thus；　such　objects　derive　their　strength　primarily；　it　would　seem；　from　the　unearthly　origins　of　their　substance。　Stories　tell；　however；　that　powerful　Spells　of　Making　were　also　wound　in　the　forging　of　all　these　three　blades；　so　the　power　of　the　Great　Swords　may　e　from　both　their　substance　and　their　making。
　　〃Ti…tuno；　the　hunting　horn　crafted　in　fabled　Mezutu'a　from　the　tooth　of　the　dragon　Hidohehbi；　is　another　clear　example　of　how　sometimes　an　object　of　power　may　be　made　by　both　the　crafting　and　the　materials　crafted。。。〃
　　Strangyeard　broke　off。　〃It　goes　on　to　talk　of　other　things。　It　is　all　fascinating；　of　course…what　a　scholar　that　man　was'…but　I　thought　the　section　on　the　swords　might　be　interesting。〃
　　Geloe　nodded　her　head　slowly。　〃It　is。　I　wondered　about　these　three　swords　that　have　bee　the　object　of　our　hopes。　Morgenes　seems　to　make　a　good　argument　as　to　the　reason　for　their　value。　Perhaps　they　will　indeed　be　useful　against　Ineluki。　It　is　good　that　you　found　that；　Strangyeard。〃
　　The　priest's　pink　cheeks　went　a　deeper　red。　〃Too　kind。　You're　too　kind。〃
　　Geloe　cocked　her　head。　〃I　hear　the　others。　Are　you　posed；　Vorzheva？〃
　　Vorzheva　nodded　her　head。　〃I　am　not　such　a　fool　as　you　think　me；〃　she　said　quietly。
　　The　witch　woman　laughed。　〃I　do　not　think　you　a　fool；　particularly。　I　think　most　people　are　foolish…and　I　count　myself　as　well；　for　here　I　am　without　a　roof；　wandering　over　the　grasslands　like　a　stray　heifer。　Some…　times　obvious　foolishness　is　the　only　answer　to　grave　problems。〃
　　〃Hmmm；〃　said　Strangyeard；　baffled。　〃Hmmm。〃
　　
　　The　ragged　band　continued　out　onto　the　fog…ridden　meadowlands；　heading　south　toward　the　river　Ymstrecca；　which　meandered　along　the　breadth　of　the　High　Thrithings。　They　made　camp　on　the　open　plain；　shivering　in　the　rain…sodden　wind；　huddling　close　to　their　small　fire。　Geloe　made　a　soup　of　herbs　and　roots　she　had　gathered。　It　was　filling　and　warmed　the　stomach；　but　Deornoth　mourned　the　absence　of　something　more　toothsome。
　　〃Tomorrow　let　me　go　farther　afield；　my　lord；〃　he　implored　Josua　as　they　sat　by　the　fire。　All　the　others　but　Geloe　had　wrapped　themselves　in　their　cloaks　to　sleep；　bundled　close　together　like　a　family　of　sleeping　kittens。　The　witch　woman　had　gone　a…wandenng。　〃I　know　I　could　find　a　hare　or　two；　and　the　underbrush　must　be　full　of　grouse；　even　in　this　cold　summer。　We　have　had　no　meat　for　several　days！〃
　　Josua　permitted　himself　a　chilly　smile。　〃I　wish　I　could　say　yes；　faithful　friend；　but　I　need　your　strong　arms　and　good　wit　close　by。　These　people　can　scarcely　walk　another　step…those　who　can　still　walk；　that　is。　No；　a　brace　of　hares　would　be　tasty　indeed；　but　I　must　keep　you　here。　Besides；　Valada　Geloe　tells　me　that　one　can　live　years　without　tasting　meat。〃
　　 　Deornoth　grimaced。　〃But　who　would　want　to？〃　He　studied　his　prince　carefully。　Josua's　already　slender　frame　had　grown　even　thinner；　the　play　of　his　bones　was　plain　beneath　the　skin。　With　what　little　fat　he　had　worn　long　gone；　the　prince's　high　forehead　and　pale　eyes　made　him　seem　a　statue　of　some　ancient　philosopher…monk；　his　gaze　fixed　always　upon　the　infinite　while　the　busy　world　spun　on　before　him；　ignored。
　　The　fire　hissed；　working　away　at　the　damp　wood。　〃One　other　question；　then；　my　lord；〃　Deornoth　said　softly。　〃Are　we　so　sure　of　this　Stone　of　Farewell　that　we　should　drag　these　sick；　wounded　people　across　the　Thrithings　in　search　of　it？　I　speak　no　ill　of　Geloe；　who　is　plainly　a　good…hearted　soul；　but　to　go　so　far？　The　edge　of　Erkynland　is　only　a　few　leagues　to　the　west。　Surely　we　could　find　a　loyal　heart　in　one　of　the　towns　of　the　Hasu　Vale…even　if　they　were　too　frightened　of　your　brother　the　king　to　give　us　shelter；　we　could　find　food　and　drink　and　warmer　clothing　for　our　wounded；　surely。〃
　　Josua　sighed　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　〃Perhaps；　Deornoth；　perhaps。　Believe　me；　the　thought　has　occurred　to　me。〃　He　stretched　his　long　legs　before　him；　nudging　at　the　edge　of　the　coals　with　his　boot　heel。　〃But　we　cannot　risk　it；　nor　can　we　spare　the　time。　Every　hour　we　walk　in　the　open　means　more　time　for　one　of　Ellas'　patrols　to　find　us；　or　something　worse　to　catch　us　unprotected。　No；　the　only　place　that　it　seems　we　can　go　is　Geloe's　Stone　of　Farewell；　so　the　sooner　we　do；　the　better。　Erkynland　is　lost　to　us…at　least　for　now；　perhaps　forever。〃
　　The　prince　shook　his　head　and　fell　into　thought　once　more。　Deornoth　sighed　and　poked　at　the　fire。
　　
　　They　reached　the　banks　of　the　Ymstrecca　in　the　morning　of　their　third　day　on　the　grasslands。　The　wide　river　shone　faintly　beneath　the　gray　sky；　a　dim　streak　of　silver　passing　like　a　dream　through　the　dark；　damp　meadows。　The　water's　voice　was　as　muted　as　its　sheen；　a　faint　murmur　like　distant　conversation。
　　Josua's　people　were　content　to　pause　and　rest　a　while　on　the　riverbanks；　enjoying　the　sound　and　sight　of　the　first　swiftly…moving　waters　they　had　seen　since　deep　in　Aldheorte　Forest。　When　Gutrun　and　Vorzheva　made　known　their　plan　to　follow　the　river　downstream　a　short　distance　to　where　they　could　bathe　their　limbs　in　privacy；　Josua　was　quick　to　object；　worried　for　their　safety。　When　Geloe　offered　to　go　with　them；　the　prince　reluctantly　consented。　It　was　difficult　to　think　of　a　situation　beyond　the　witch　woman's　enormous　petence。
　　〃Ah；　it　is　somehow　as　if　I　never　left；〃　Vorzheva　said；　dangling　her　feet　in　the　current。　They　had　chosen　a　sandy　bank　where　a　stand　of　birch　trees　in　midstream　widened　the　rivercourse；　shielding　them　from　the　view　of　their　distant　fellow　travelers。　Her　voice　was　careless；　though　her　face　belied　her。　〃It　is　like　when　I　was　a　little　girl。〃　She　frowned　as　she　splashed　water　on　the　numerous　scratches　covering　her　legs。　〃But　it　is　so　cold！〃
　　Duchess　Gutrun　had　loosened　the　neck　of　her　garment。　She　stood　a　little　way　out　from　the　bank；　the　river　eddying　around　her　plump　calves　as　she　splashed　water　on　her　throat　and　scrubbed　at　her　face。　〃It　is　not　so　bad；〃　she　laughed。　〃The　river　Gratuvask　that　runs　by　our　home　in　Elvritshalla…　now　that　is　cold　water！　Every　year　at　spring　the　maidens　of　the　town　go　down　to　the　river　to　bathe…I　did　when　I　was　young。〃　She　straightened　up；　staring　at　nothing。　〃The　men　must　stay　inside　all　morning；　on　penalty　of　a　beating；　so　the　maidens　can　splash　in　the　Gratuvask。　And　cold！　The　river　is　born　from　the　snows　of　the　northern　mountains！　You　have　not　heard　shrieking　until　you　hear　a　hundred　young　girls　plunge　into　a　chilly　river　on　an　Avrel　morning！〃　She　laughed　again。　〃There　is　a　story；　you　know；　about　one　young　man　who　was　determined　to　see　the　Gratuvask　maidens…it　is　a　famous　tale　in　Rimmersland；　perhaps　you　have　heard　it？〃　She　broke　off；　water　sluicing　from　her　cupped　hands。　〃Vorzheva？　Are　you　ill？〃
　　The　Thrithings…woman　was　bent　over；　her　face　pale　as　milk。　〃Just　a　pain；〃　she　said　harshly；　straightening　up。　〃It　will　go　away　soon。　See；　I　am　better　now。　Tell　your　story。〃
　　Gutrun　looked　at　her　suspiciously。　Before　the　duchess　could　say　anything；　Geloe　spoke　up　from　her　seat　on　the　bank　nearby；　where　she　had　been　tidying　Leieth's　hair　with　a　b　made　from　fishbone。
　　〃The　story　must　wait。〃　The　witch　woman's　tone　was　sharp。　〃See…we　are　not　alone。〃
　　Vorzheva　and　the　duchess　turned　to　follow　Geloe's　pointing　finger。　Across　the　meadows；　some　three　or　four　furlongs　away　to　the　south；　a　mounted　rider　stood　poised　on　a　hillock。　He　was　much　too　far　away　for　his　face　to　be　discernible；　but　there　was　little　doubt　he　was　looking　in　their　direction。　All　the　women　stared　back；　even　Leieth；　her　strange　eyes　wide。　After　several　silent　moments　in　which　it　seemed　that　no　hearts　beat；　the　solitary　figure　turned　his　horse　and　rode　down　the　hillock；　vanishing　from　sight。
　　〃How。。。　how　frightening；〃　the　duchess　said；　clutching　the　neck　of　her　dress　closed　with　a　damp　hand。　〃Who　is　it？　Those　horrible　Norns？〃
　　〃I　cannot　say；〃　Geloe　rasped。　〃But　we　should　return　to　tell　the　others；　in　case　Josua　did　not　see。　We　must　be　concerned　with　any　strangers　now；　be　they　friend　or　foe。〃
　　Vorzheva　shuddered。　Her　face　was　still　pale。　〃There　are　no　friendly　strangers　on　these　grasslands；〃　she　said。
　　
　　The　women's　news　was　enough　to　convince　Josua　that　they　could　dally　no　longer。　Unhappily；　the　pany　shouldered　their　few　possessions　and　set　off　again；　following　the　course　of