tw.thestoneoffarewell-第73部分
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r which Vren had swung shut behind him； then propped it against the pitted mortar of the wall。
He gave his silent audience a meaningful look。 〃No one may touch this；〃 he said。 〃Understood' Gjal es； kunden'〃' He patted his scabbarded sword； then lifted a fist and thumped on the door。 Simon looked back at Thorn； a hide…wrapped bundle on one of the packhorses。 He wondered whether he should bring it with him； but decided that would draw more attention than was best。 Still； it rankled。 So many sacrifices to get the black sword； just to leave it strapped to the saddle like an old broomstick。
〃Binabik。〃 he said quietly； pointing at the concealed sword。 〃Do you think。。。？〃
The troll shook his head。 〃Little need for concern； I am certain；〃 the troll whispered。 〃In any case； even if these children were to steal it； I am guessing they would have a difficult time carrying it away。〃
The heavy door swung slowly open。 Little Vren stood in the doorway 〃e in； you men。 Skodi says e in。〃
Binabik dismounted。 Qantaqa sniffed the air for a moment； then bounded away in the direction they had e。 The children by the fire watched her departure raptly。
〃Let her hunt；〃 Binabik said。 〃She is not happy walking inside a people…house。 e； Simon； we have been offered some hospitality。〃 He stepped past Sludig and followed Vren inside。
A fire nearly as large as the bonfire in the dooryard was roaring and crackling in the grate； throwing wild； flickering shadows on the cob… webbed plaster。 Simon's first impression of the room was of some kind of animal nest。 Great piles of clothes and straw and other more unusual articles were piled haphazardly on every dirty surface。
〃Wele； strangers；〃 someone said。 〃I'm Skodi。 Do you have any food？ The children are very hungry。〃
She was sitting in a chair close to the fire； with several children younger than those in the yard clambering over her lap or sitting at her feet。 Simon's first thought was that she was another child herself…albeit a very large one…but after a moment's inspection he could see that she was his own age or even a little older。 Her white…blonde hair； colorless as spider silk； framed a round face that might have been quite pretty； despite a few blemishes； if she had not been so fat。 Her pale blue eyes stared avidly at the new arrivals。
Sludig looked at her suspiciously； unfortable in such close surroundings 〃Food？ We have little； mistress。。。〃 he considered for a moment； 〃but you are wele to share。〃
She waved her hand airily。 Her chubby pink arm nearly dislodged a sleeping toddler。 〃It's not important。 We always get by。〃 As Sludig had predicted； she spoke Westerhng with a heavy Rimmersgard accent。 〃Sit down and tell me the news of the world。〃 She frowned； pursing her red lips。 〃There may be some beer somewhere。 You men like beer； don't you？ Vren； go find some beer。 And where are those oak…nuts I sent you for？〃
Sludig looked up suddenly。 〃Oh。〃 Sheepishly； he produced Vren's acorns from his cloak pocket。
〃Good；〃 Skodi said。 〃Now beer。〃
〃Yes； Skodi。〃 Vren scuttled off down an aisle of stacked stools； vanishing into the shadows。
〃How is it； if we may be asking； that you can live out here？〃 Binabik said。 〃It seems a place of great isolation。〃
Skodi had been staring at him avidly。 Now her eyebrows lifted in surprise。 〃I thought you were a child！〃 She sounded disappointed。 〃But you are a little man。〃
〃Qanuc； my lady。〃 Binabik sketched a bow。 〃What your people call 'trolls '。 〃
〃A troll！〃 She clapped her hands in excitement。 This time； one of the children did slither off her rounded lap into the blankets coiled at her feet。 The little one did not wake； and another quickly crawled up to take the spot the first had vacated。 〃So wonderful！ We have never had a troll here！〃 She turned and called into the darkness。 〃Vren！ Where is the beer for these men？〃
〃Where did all these children e from？〃 Simon asked wondenngly。 〃Are they all yours？〃
A defensive look came to the girl's face。 〃Yes。 They are now。 Their parents did not want them； so Skodi keeps them instead。〃
〃Well。 〃 Simon was nonplussed。 〃Well； that's very kind of you。 But how do you feed them？ You said they were hungry。〃
〃Yes； it is kind；〃 Skodi said； smiling now。 〃It is kind of me； but that is how I was taught。 Lord Usires said to shelter the children。〃
〃Aye；〃 Siudig grumbled。 'That's so。 〃
Vren came back into the firelight balancing a jar of beer and several cracked bowls。 The pile swayed dangerously； but with help he was able to set them down and pour beer for all three travelers。 The wind had risen； making the flames billow in the grate。
〃This is a very good fire；〃 Sludig said as he wiped froth from his mustache。 〃You must have had a difficult time finding dry wood in yesterday's storm。〃
'Oh； Vren chopped for me early in the spring。〃 She reached out and patted the boy's head with her plump hand。 〃He butchers and cooks； too。 He is my good boy； Vren is。〃
〃Is there no one here who is older？〃 Binabik asked。 〃I am meaning nothing discourteous； but you seem young to raise these children m solitude。〃
Skodi looked at him carefully before answering。 〃I told you。 Their mothers and fathers have gone away。 There is no one here but us。 But we do very well； don't we； Vren？〃
〃Yes； Skodi。〃 The little boy's eyes were growing heavy。 He snuggled himself against her leg； basking in the warmth of the fire。
〃So；〃 she said at last； 〃you said that you had some food。 Why do you not get it； then we can share。 We can find the makings of a meal somewhere here。 Wake up； Vren； you lazy thing！〃 She cuffed him lightly on the side of the head。 〃Wake up！ It's time to make supper！〃
〃Don't wake him；〃 Simon said； feeling sorry for the little black…haired boy。 〃We'll take care of the meal。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 Skodi said。 She gave the protesting Vren a gentle shake。 〃He loves to make supper。 You go and get what you have。 You will stay the night； yes？ Then you should stable your horses。 I think the stable is around the side of the courtyard。 Vren； get up； you lazy lump！ Where is the stable？〃
The forest had grown close around the back of the abbey where the stables were located。 The old trees； dusted with snow； swayed mournfully as Simon and his panions threw dry straw onto the floor of one of the stalls and dumped snow into the trough to melt。 The stable seemed to have been used occasionally…there were blackened torches in the cressets； and the crumbling walls had been haphazardly patched…but it was hard to guess when the most recent occasion might have been。
〃Shall we bring all our things inside？〃 Simon asked。
〃I am thinking so；〃 Binabik replied； loosening the belly…strap on one of the packhorses。 〃I doubt the children would steal anything that was not food； but who can say what might bee mislaid？〃
The smell of wet horses was strong。 Simon rubbed Homefinder's hard flank。 〃Don't you think it's strange that no one lives here but children？〃
Sludig laughed shortly。 〃The young woman is older than you； Snowlock…and quite a lot of woman at that。 Girls her age often have children of their own。〃
Simon blushed； but his irritated reply was forestalled by Binabik。 〃I am thinking；〃 the troll said； 〃that Simon speaks with good sense。 There are things unclear about this place。 It will do no harm to ask more questions of our hostess。〃
Simon wrapped Thorn in his cloak before carrying it back through the snow to the abbey。 The changeable sword was at this moment quite light。 It also seemed to throb slightly； although Simon knew that might be no more than his chilled； trembling hands。 When little Vren let them back inside； Simon placed Thorn near the hearth where they would sleep and piled several of their saddlebags atop it； as though to immobilize a sleeping beast that might wake and flail about。
Supper was an odd mixture of unusual food and strange conversation。 Beside the remains of dried fruit and meat provided by the three travelers； Skodi and her young charges put out bowls of bitter acorns and sour berries。 Scavenging； Vren found a molding but edible cheese somewhere in the abbey's ruined larder； along with several more jars of musky Rimmersgard beer。 With this they managed to make a meal that served the whole pany； albeit meagerly： the children all assembled numbered a dozen or more。
Binabik found little time to ask questions during the meal。 Those of Skodi's charges who were old enough to go outside stood up to relate fanciful stories of various adventures they had encountered that day； stories so exaggerated as to be obviously untrue。 One little girl told of flying to the top of a mighty pine tree to steal a feather from a magical jaybird。 Another； one of the older boys； swore that he had found a chest of ogre's gold in a cave in the forest。 Vren； when his turn came； calmly informed his listeners that while gathering as he had been pursued by an icy demon with glinting blue eyes； and that Simon and his two panions had saved him from the frosty menace's clutches； smiting it with their swords until it shattered into icicles。
Skodi held the smaller children on her lap as she ate； each in its turn； and listened to each story with an expression of envious fascination。 She rewarded those she enjoyed most by giving the teller an extra morsel of food； which was eagerly accepted…indeed； Simon decided； the reward was probably the main reason for the fabulous nature of the stories。
There was something about Skodi's face that Simon found captivating。 Despite her great size； there was a delicacy to her girlish features and a brightness to her eyes and smile that transfixed him。 At certain moments； as she laughed breathlessly at one of the children's inventions； or turned so that the firelight played glinting in her flaxen hair； she seemed quite beautiful； at others； when she greedily snatched a handful of berries from one of the smaller children and stuffed her wide mouth； or when her spellbound appreciation of the story…telling for a moment resembled mere idiocy； he found her repellent。
A few times she caught Simon staring。 The glances she returned to him frightened him a little； even as they made him blush。 Skodi； for al
