tw.thestoneoffarewell-第69部分

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　　And　what　had　he　done　to　her　Simon？
　　She　turned　to　look　sternly　at　her　wide…eyed　maids。　〃You　had　all　better　get　what　sleep　you　can；〃　she　growled。　〃A　little　excitement　doesn't　mean　the　floors　won't　need　scrubbing　when　the　sun　is　up。〃
　　 As　they　crawled　into　their　beds；　Rachel　snuffed　the　candle；　then　lay　down　with　her　cold　thoughts。　Outside；　the　wind　was　still　searching　for　a　way　in。
　　
　　The　morning　sun　rose　above　the　gray　blanket　of　clouds。　It　brought　a　diffuse　light　to　the　rolling　grasslands　of　the　High　Thrithings；　but　could　not　lift　the　damp　from　the　endless　leagues　of　prairie　grass　and　heather。　Deornoth　was　soaked　to　the　thighs　and　tired　of　marching。
　　The　Thrithings…men　did　not　stop　for　a　meal；　instead　eating　dried　meat　and　fruits　from　their　saddlebags　as　they　rode。　The　prisoners　were　not　offered　any　food；　and　were　only　allowed　to　pause　for　a　short　rest　at　mid…morning；　during　which　time　Deornoth　and　Josua　quietly　questioned　the　rest　of　their　party　about　Vorzheva's　whereabouts。　No　one　had　seen　her　leave；　although　Geloe　said　she　had　awakened　Vorzheva　at　the　first　sound　of　the　approaching　riders。
　　　 〃She　was　born　on　this　land；〃　the　witch　woman　told　the　prince。　〃I　would　not　worry　for　her　too　much。〃　Geloe's　own　face；　however；　showed　more　than　a　trace　of　concern。
　　Hotvig　and　his　men　roused　Josua's　band　after　a　too…short　rest　and　the　march　began　anew。　A　wind　sprang　up　from　the　northwest；　soft　at　first；　then　blowing　stronger；　until　the　ribbons　on　the　Thrithings…men's　saddles　whipped　like　tournament　pennants　and　the　long　grasses　bent　double。　The　prisoners　labored　on；　shivering　in　their　wet　clothing。
　　Soon　they　began　to　see　signs　of　habitation：　small　herds　of　cattle　grazing　on　the　low　hills；　watched　over　by　solitary　horsemen。　As　the　sun　rose　closer　to　its　noon　apogee；　the　cattle　herds　they　passed　grew　larger　and　closer　together；　until　at　last　the　prisoners　found　themselves　following　the　snaking　course　of　one　of　the　Ymstrecca's　tributaries　through　the　very　midst　of　an　immense　throng　of　animals。　The　vast　herd　seemed　to　run　from　horizon　to　horizon　and　contained　mostly　cattle　of　the　ordinary　sort；　but　shaggy　bison　and　bulls　with　long；　curving　horns　also　grazed　among　them；　lifting　their　heads　to　stare　bleakly　at　the　passing　prisoners；　mouths　sol…emnly　chewing。
　　〃It　is　obvious　that　these　folk　do　not　follow　Geloe's　advice　on　vegetable…eating；〃　Deornoth　said。　〃There　is　enough　meat　on　the　hoof　here　to　feed　all　Osten　Ard。〃　He　looked　hopefully　to　his　prince；　but　Josua's　smile　was　a　weary　one。
　　〃Many　of　them　are　sickly；〃　Gutrun　pronounced。　In　her　husband's　frequent　absences；　she　ran　the　duke's　household　at　Elvritshalla　with　a　firm　hand；　and　rightly　considered　herself　a　good　judge　of　livestock。　〃See；　and　there　are　not　many　calves　for　such　a　huge　herd。〃
　　One　of　the　riders　who　had　been　listening　made　a　noise　of　disgust；　as　if　to　show　his　disdain　for　the　opinions　of　prisoners；　but　one　of　his　mounted　panions　nodded　his　head　and　said：　〃It　is　a　bad　year。　Many　cows　die　birthing。　Others　eat　but　do　not　grow　fat。〃　The　Thrithings…man's　beard　fluttered　in　the　wind。　〃It　is　a　bad　year；〃　he　repeated。
　　Here　and　there　among　the　great　herd　were　circles　of　wagons；　each　circle　surrounded　with　fences　of　hastily…driven　posts。　The　wagons　themselves　were　all　wooden；　with　large；　high　wheels；　but　otherwise　were　quite　different　from　each　other。　Some　were　tall　as　two　or　three　men；　wheeled　cottages　with　wooden　roofs　and　shuttered　windows。　Others　were　little　more　than　a　wagon…bed　topped　with　a　cloth…covered　shelter；　the　fabric　rippling　and　snapping　in　the　stiff　breeze。　Children　played　in　many　of　the　enclosures　or　darted　in　and　out　among　the　milling；　amiable　cattle。　Horses　grazed　in　some　of　the　paddlocks…and　not　just　dray　horses　and　wagon…pullers。　Many　were　slender…limbed　and　wild…maned；　with　something　light　and　strong　as　forged　steel　to　be　seen　in　their　step　even　from　a　distance。
　　〃Ah；　God；　if　only　we　had　a　few　beasts　like　those；〃　Deornoth　said　wistfully。　〃But　we　have　nothing　to　trade。　I　am　mightily　tired　of　walking。　〃
　　Josua　looked　at　him　with　a　trace　of　sour　humor。　〃We　will　be　lucky　if　we　walk　away　from　here　with　our　lives；　Deornoth；　and　you　are　hoping　for　a　brace　of　battle　steeds？　I　would　rather　I　had　your　optimism　than　their　horses。〃
　　As　the　prisoners　and　their　captors　continued　south；　the　sprawl　of　separate　wagon…camps　began　to　e　together；　clumped　like　mushrooms　after　an　autumn　rain。　Other　groups　of　mounted　men　rode　in　and　out　among　the　settlements；　Josua's　escorts　exchanged　shouted　remarks　with　some　of　them。　Soon　the　wagons　stood　so　near　each　other　that　it　began　to　seem　that　the　prisoners　traversed　a　city　without　roads。
　　At　last　they　reached　a　large　stockade；　its　fence　posts　hung　with　ornaments　of　bright　metal　and　polished　wood　that　clattered　in　the　wind。　Most　of　the　riders　sheared　off；　but　Hotvig　the　leader　and　six　or　seven　others　ushered　the　prince's　party　through　a　swinging　gate。　There　were　several　pounds　within　the　stockade；　one　of　them　containing　a　score　of　fine　horses；　another　a　half…dozen　fat　and　glossy　heifers。　In　an　enclosure　by　himself　stood　a　huge　stallion；　his　shaggy　mane　twined　with　red　and　gold　　ribbons。　The　great　horse　nosed　the　ground　as　they　passed　and　did　not　look　up…he　was　a　monarch　more　used　to　being　stared　at　than　staring。　The　men　escorting　Josua's　party　touched　their　hands　to　their　eyes　reverently　as　they　passed。
　　〃It　is　their　clan　beast；〃　Geloe　said　to　no　one　m　particular。　
　　At　the　far　end　of　the　encampment　stood　a　great　wagon　with　wide；　heavy…spoked　wheels　and　a　banner　bearing　a　golden　horse　billowing　from　the　roof…peak。　Before　it　were　two　figures；　a　large　man　and　a　young　girl。　The　girl　was　knotting　the　man's　long　beard　into　two　thick　braids　that　hung　down　onto　his　chest。　Despite　his　age…he　looked　to　have　passed　some　sixty　summers　on　the　grasslands…his　black　hair　was　only　faintly　striped　with　silver　and　his　wide　frame　was　still　knotted　with　muscle。　He　held　a　bowl　upon　his　lap　in　his　huge　beringed　and　braceleted　hands。　The　riders　stopped　and　dismounted。　Hotvig　strode　forward　to　stand　before　him。
　　〃We　have　captured　several　trespassers　who　walked　the　Feluwelt　without　your　leave；　March…thane：　six　men；　two　women；　and　a　child。　〃
　　The　March…thane　stared　the　prisoners　up　and　down。　His　face　split　in　a　wide；　crooked…toothed　grin。　〃Prince　Josua　Lackhand；〃　he　said；　without　the　least　trace　of　surprise　in　his　voice。　〃Now　that　your　stone　house　is　fallen；　have　you　e　to　live　beneath　the　sky　like　men　do？〃　He　took　a　long　swallow　from　his　bowl；　draining　it　dry；　then　handed　it　to　the　girl　and　waved　her　away。
　　〃Fikolmij；〃　Josua　said；　bleakly　amused。　〃So　you　are　March…thane　now。〃　〃When　the　Choosing　came；　of　all　the　chieftains　there　was　only　Blehmunt　who　would　stand　against　me。　I　broke　his　head　like　an　egg。〃　Fikolmij　laughed；　patting　at　his　new…braided　beard；　then　stopped；　lowering　his　eyebrows　like　a　nettled　bull。　〃Where　is　my　daughter？〃
　　〃If　that　young　one　was　yours；　you　just　sent　her　away；〃　Josua　said。　Fikolmij　clenched　a　fist　in　anger；　then　laughed　again。　〃Stupid　tricks；　Josua。　You　know　who　I　mean。　Where　is　she？〃
　　〃I　will　tell　you　the　truth；〃　Josua　said。　〃I　do　not　know　where　Vorzheva　is。〃　The　March…thane　looked　him　over　speculatively。　〃So；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃You　are　not　so　high　in　the　world　today；　stone…dweller。　You　are　a　trespasser　in　the　Free　Thrithings　now；　as　well　as　a　daughter…stealer。　Perhaps　you　will　seem　better　to　me　with　your　other　hand　cut　off；　too。　I　will　think　on　it。〃　He　lifted　his　hairy　paw　and　gestured　carelessly　to　Hotvig。　〃Put　them　in　one　of　the　bull　runs　until　I　decide　which　ones　to　cut　up　and　which　to　keep。〃
　　〃Merciful　Aedon　preserve　us；〃　Father　Strangyard　murmured。　The　March…thane　chuckled；　flicking　a　wind…blown　curl　of　hair　from　his　eye。　〃And　give　these　city…rats　a　blanket　or　two　and　some　food；　Hotvig。　Otherwise；　the　night　air　may　kill　them　and　rob　my　sport。〃
　　As　Josua　and　the　others　were　led　away　at　spearpomt；　Fikolmij　turned　and　shouted　for　the　girl　to　bring　him　more　wine。
　　
　　14
　　A　Crown　of　Fire
　　
　　IT　was　a　dream；　Simon　knew　even　as　he　dreamed　it。　It　started　in　an　ordinary　enough　fashion：　he　was　lying　in　the　Hayholt's　great　loft；　hidden　in　tickling　hay；　watching　the　familiar　figures　of　Shem　Horsegroom　and　castle　smith　Ruben　the　Bear　talking　quietly　below。　Ruben；　his　broad　arms　glimmering　with　sweat；　was　hammering　clankingly　away　at　a　scarlet…hot　horseshoe。
　　Suddenly　the　dream　took　on　a　strange　cast。　Ruben's　and　Shem's　voices　changed；　until　they　sounded　nothing　like　their　real　selves。　Simon　could　now　hear　the　conversation　perfectly　well；　but　the　smith's　hammer　was　silent　as　it　struck　the　gleaming　iron。
　　〃。。。But　I　have　done　all　you　asked　for；〃　Shem　abruptly　said　in　a　queer；　rasping　tone。　〃I　brought　King　Elias　to　you。〃
　　〃You　presume　too　much；〃　Ruben　replied。　His　voice　was　like　nothing　Simon　had　ever　heard；　cold　and　remote　as　the　wind　in　a　high　mountain　pass。　〃You　know　nothing　of　what　we　want。。。　of　what　He　wants。〃　There　was　more　wrong　with　the　blacksmith　than　just　his　voice：　a　feeling　of　wrongness　emanated　from　him；　a　black　and　bottomless　lake　hidden　beneath　a　crust　of　thin　ice。　How　could　Ruben　seem　so　evil；　even　m　a　dream…kind；　slow…talking　Ruben？
　　Shem's　lined　face　smiled　cheerfully；　but　his　words　sounded　strained。　〃I　do　not　care。　I　will　do　anything　He　wishes。　I　ask　little　in　return。〃
　　〃You　ask　a　great　deal　more　than　any　other　mortal　would；〃　Ruben　replied。　〃Not　only　do　you　dare　to　call　on　the　Red　Hand；　you　have　the　temerity　to　demand　favors。〃　He　was　chill　and　uncaring　as　graveyard　dirt。　〃You　do　not　even　know　what　you　ask。　You　are　a　child；　priest；　and　you　grasp　at　gleaming　things　because　they　seem　pretty。　You　may　cut　yourself　on　something　jagged　and　find　that　you　bleed　to　death。〃
　　〃I　don't　care。〃　Shem　spoke　with　a　lunatic　firmness。　〃I　don't　care。　Teach　me　the　Words　of　Changing。　The　Dark　One　owes　me。。。　he　is　obligated　。。。〃
　　Ruben　threw　back　his　head　in　wild　laughter。　A　crown　of　flames　seemed　to　blaze　about　his　head。　〃Obligated？〃　he　gasped。　The　sound　of　his　amusement　was　terrifying。　〃Our　master？　To　you？〃　He　laughed　again；　and　suddenly　the　blacksmith's　skin　began　blistering。　Little　gouts　of　smoke　jetted　into　the　air　as