tw.thestoneoffarewell-第74部分

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　　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　all　her　bulk；　wore　a　hungering　look　that　would　not　have　been　out　of　place　on　a　starveling　beggar。
　　〃So；〃　she　said　when　Vren　had　finished　his　wild　tale；　〃you　are　even　braver　men　than　I　guessed。〃　She　smiled　hugely　at　Simon。　〃We　will　sleep　well　tonight；　knowing　you　are　under　our　roof。　You　do　not　think　Vren's　ice…demon　has　brothers；　do　you？〃
　　'I　am　thinking　it　is　not　likely；〃　Binabik　said　with　a　gentle　smile。　〃You　need　not　be　fearing　any　such　demon　while　we　are　staying　here　in　your　home。　In　return；　we　have　much　gratitude　for　a　roof　and　a　hearth　for　warming。〃
　　〃Oh；　no；〃　Skodi　said；　her　eyes　wide；　〃it　is　me　who　is　grateful。　We　do　not　get　many　visitors。　Vren；　help　clear　a　place　for　the　men　to　sleep。　Vren；　do　you　hear　me？〃
　　Vren　was　staring　intently　at　Simon；　an　unfathomable　expression　in　his　dark　eyes。
　　〃Your　mentioning　of　guests；　my　lady；〃　Binabik　began；　〃…it　brings　to　my　mind　a　question　I　had　meant　to　be　asking　you。　How　is　it　that　you　and　these　children　have　e　to　be　in　such　a　place　of　isolation？〃
　　〃The　storms　came。　Others　ran　away。　We　had　nowhere　else　to　go。〃　Her　brisk　words　poorly　concealed　her　wounded　tone。　〃None　of　us　were　wanted…none　of　the　children；　nor　Skodi　either。〃　The　subject　discussed；　her　voice　warmed　again。　〃Now　it　is　time　for　the　little　ones　to　sleep。　e；　alt　of　you；　help　me　up。〃　Several　of　her　wards　scurried　to　assist　Skodi　in　levering　her　large　body　up　out　of　the　chair。　As　she　moved　slowly　toward　the　door　at　the　back　of　the　room；　a　pair　of　sleeping　children　clinging　to　her　like　baby　bats；　she　called：　〃Vren　will　help　you　find　your　way。　Bring　the　candle　when　you　e；　Vren。〃　She　disappeared　into　the　shadows。
　　
　　Simon　awakened　from　an　uneasy　sleep　in　the　depths　of　night；　filled　with　confused　panic　by　the　red…touched　and　starless　darkness；　and　also　by　a　faint　thread　of　sound　that　wove　itself　in　and　out　of　the　muted　tapestry　of　windsong。　It　took　some　moments　to　remember　that　they　slept　near　the　hearth　of　the　old　abbey；　warmed　by　dreaming　coals　and　sheltered　from　the　elements　by　the　roof　and　decaying　walls。　The　noise　was　Qantaqa's　lonely　howl；　floating　distantly。　Simon's　fear　faded　a　little；　but　did　not　disappear。
　　Was　that　a　dream　I　had　last　night？　Shem　and　Ruben　and　the　voices？　Was　it　truly　just　a　mad　fancy；　or　was　it　as　real　as　it　seemed　。　。　。　as　it　sounded？
　　Ever　since　the　night　of　his　escape　from　the　Hayholt；　he　had　not　felt　a　master　of　his　own　destiny。　That　same　Stoning　Night；　when　he　had　somehow　felt　Pryrates'　repellent　thoughts　and　had　unwillingly　shared　in　the　ritual　as　Elias　received　the　terrible　gift　of　the　sword　Sorrow；　Simon　had　wondered　if　he　was　even　a　master　of　his　own　mind。　His　dreams　had　bee　vivid　far　beyond　the　realms　of　mere　night…wandering。　The　dream　at　Geloe's　house；　in　which　a　cadaverous　Morgenes　had　warned　him　of　a　false　messenger；　and　the　repeated　visitations　of　the　great；　all…crushing　wheel　and　of　the　tree…that…was…a…tower；　white　among　the　stars…　these　seemed　too　insistent；　too　powerful　to　be　just　unsettled　sleep。　And　now；　in　his　dreams　the　night　before；　he　heard　Pryrates　talking　to　some　unearthly　thing　as　clearly　as　if　Simon　listened　at　a　keyhole。　These　were　not　anything　like　the　dreams　of　his　life　before　this　last　terrible　year。
　　When　Binabik　and　Geloe　had　taken　him　on　the　Road　of　Dreams；　the　vision　he　experienced　there　had　felt　much　like　these　others…like　dreaming；　but　with　a　wild　and　indescribable　potency　of　vision。　Perhaps　somehow；　because　of　Pryrates　on　the　hilltop　or　something　else；　a　door　had　opened　in　him　that　sometimes　led　to　the　dream…road。　That　seemed　like　madness；　but　what　did　not　in　this　topsy…turvy　age？　The　dreams　must　be　important…when　he　awoke；　it　was　with　the　sense　of　something　infinitely　crucial　slipping　away…but　terrifyingly；　he　had　no　idea　what　they　might　mean。
　　Qantaqa's　mournful　cry　sounded　again　through　the　storm　that　blew　beyond　the　abbey's　walls。　Simon　wondered　that　the　troll　did　not　get　up　to　soothe　his　mount；　but　the　sound　of　Binabik's　and　Sludig's　snoring　continued　unabated。　Simon　tried　to　rise；　determined　to　at　least　offer　her　the　chance　to　e　in…she　sounded　so　lone　and　lorn；　and　it　was　so　very　cold　outside…but　found　that　a　heavy　languor　clutched　his　limbs；　so　that　he　could　not　force　himself　up。　He　struggled；　but　to　no　avail。　His　limbs　were　no　more　responsive　than　if　they　had　been　carved　of　ash…wood。
　　 Simon　suddenly　felt　terribly　sleepy。　He　fought　his　drowsiness；　but　it　pulled　him　relentlessly　downward；　Qantaqa's　distant　howl　faded　and　he　went　sliding　as　though　down　a　long　slope；　back　toward　unknowingness。。。　
　　When　he　woke　again；　the　last　coals　had　burned　black　and　the　abbey　was　in　utter　darkness。　A　cold　hand　was　touching　his　face。　He　gasped　with　horror；　but　air　barely　filled　his　lungs。　His　body　still　felt　heavy　as　stone；　without　the　power　of　movement。
　　〃Pretty；〃　Skodi　whispered；　a　deeper　shadow；　sensed　rather　than　seen；　looming　tall　and　wide　above　him。　She　stroked　his　cheek。　〃Just　got　your　beard；　too。　You　are　a　pretty　one。　I　will　keep　you。〃
　　 Simon　strove　helplessly　to　wriggle　from　beneath　her　touch。
　　　 〃They　don't　want　you；　either；　do　they？〃　Skodi　said；　crooning　as　though　to　a　baby。　〃I　can　feel　it。　Skodi　knows。　Cast　out；　you　were。　I　can　hear　it　in　your　head。　But　that　is　not　why　I　had　Vren　bring　you。〃
　　She　settled　down　beside　him　in　the　dark；　folding　into　a　crouch　like　a　tent　pulling　loose　from　its　stakes。　〃Skodi　knows　what　you　have。　I　heard　it　singing　in　my　ears；　saw　it　in　my　dreams。　Lady　Silver　Mask　wants　it。　Her　Lord　Red　Eyes　does；　too。　They　want　the　sword；　the　black　sword；　and　when　I　give　it　to　them　they　will　be　nice　to　me。　They　will　love　Skodi　and　give　her　presents。〃　She　caught　a　lock　of　his　hair　between　her　plump　fingers　and　gave　it　a　sharp　pull。　The　twinge　of　pain　seemed　far　away。　A　moment　later；　as　if　in　repense；　she　ran　her　hand　carefully　over　Simon's　head　and　face。
　　〃Pretty；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃A　friend　for　me…a　friend　my　age。　That　is　what　I　have　waited　for。　I　will　take　away　those　dreams　that　are　bothering　you。　I　will　take　away　all　your　dreams。　I　can　do　that；　you　know。〃　She　lowered　her　whispering　voice　even　further；　and　Simon　realized　for　the　first　time　that　the　heavy　breathing　of　his　two　friends　had　ceased。　He　wondered　if　they　were　lying　silent　in　the　darkness；　waiting　to　save　him。　If　that　was　so；　he　prayed　they　would　act　soon。　His　heart　seemed　as　nerveless　as　his　leaden　limbs；　but　fear　beat　through　him；　acting　like　a　secret　pulse。　〃They　drove　me　out　of　Haethstad；〃　Skodi　muttered。　〃My　own　family　and　neighbors。　Said　I　was　a　witch。　Said　I　put　curses　on　people。　Drove　me　out。〃　Horribly；　she　began　to　snuffle。　When　she　spoke　again；　her　words　were　garbled　by　tears。　〃I　sh…sh…showed　them。　When　Father　was　drunk　and　sleeping；　I　stabbed　Mother　with　his　knife　and　then　put　it　back　in　his　hand。　He　killed　himself。〃　Her　laugh　was　bitter　but　remorseless。　〃I　could　always　see　things　others　could　not；　think　of　things　they　would　not。　Then；　when　the　deep　winter　came　and　would　not　go　away；　I　began　to　be　able　to　do　things。　Now　I　can　do　things　no　one　else　can　do。〃　Her　voice　rose　triumphantly。　〃I　am　growing　stronger　all　the　time。　Stronger　and　stronger。　When　I　give　Lady　Silver　Mask　and　Lord　Red　Eyes　the　sword　they're　looking　for；　the　singing　black　sword　I　heard　in　my　dreams；　then　I'll　be　like　they　are。　Then　the　children　and　I　will　make　everyone　sorry。〃
　　As　she　spoke；　she　absently　slid　her　cold　hand　from　Simon's　forehead　down　into　his　shirt；　letting　it　play　over　his　naked　chest　as　if　she　petted　a　dog。　The　wind　had　stilled；　and　in　the　dreadful　silence　of　its　abatement　he　suddenly　knew　that　his　friends　had　been　taken　away。　There　was　no　one　in　the　lightless　room　but　Skodi　and　Simon。
　　〃But　I　will　keep　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　keep　you　for　myself。〃
　　
　　15
　　Within　God's　Walls
　　
　　FATHER　Dinivan　toyed　with　his　food；　staring　into　his　bowl　as　though　some　helpful　message　might　be　written　there　in　olive　pits　and　breadcrumbs。　Candles　burned　fiercely　the　length　of　the　table。　Pryrates'　voice　was　loud　and　harsh　as　a　brazen　gong。
　　〃。。。So　you　see；　Your　Sacredness；　all　that　King　Elias　wishes　is　your　acceptance　of　one　fact　Mother　Church's　provenance　may　be　men's　souls；　but　she　has　no　right　to　interfere　in　the　disposition　of　men's　corporeal　forms　by　their　legitimate　monarch。〃　The　hairless　priest　grinned　in　self…　satisfaction。　Dinivan's　heart　sank　to　see　the　lector　smile　dully　m　return。　Surely　Ranessin　must　know　that　Elias　was　as　much　as　declaring　that　God's　shepherd　on　earth　had　less　right　to　power　than　an　earthly　king？　Why　did　he　sit　and　say　nothing？
　　The　lector　slowly　nodded　his　head。　He　looked　across　the　table　to　Pryrates；　then　briefly　to　Duke　Benigaris；　new　master　of　Nabban；　who　appeared　a　trifle　nervous　beneath　the　lector's　scrutiny；　hurriedly　wiping　grease　from　his　chin　with　the　back　of　a　brocaded　sleeve。　This　Feast　of　Hiafmansa　Eve　was　usually　only　a　religious　and　ceremonial　occasion。　Although　Dinivan　knew　him　to　be　utterly　the　creature　of　Pryrates'　master　Elias；　at　this　moment　the　duke　seemed　to　be　wishing　for　more　ceremony　and　less　confrontation。
　　〃The　High　King　and　his　emissary　Pryrates　wish　only　the　best　for　Mother　Church；　Sacredness；〃　Benigaris　said　gruffly；　unable　to　hold　Ranessin's　gaze；　as　though　he　saw　his　rumored　murder　of　his　father　mirrored　there。　〃We　should　listen　to　what　Pryrates　says。〃　He　addressed　his　trencher　once　more；　wherein　he　found　more　convivial　pany。
　　〃We　are　considering　all　that　Pryrates　has　to　say；〃　the　lector　responded　mildly。　Silence　fell　upon　the　table　once　more。　Fat　Velligis　and　the　other　escritors　present　returned　to　their　own　meals；　obviously　pleased　that　the　long…feared　confrontation　seemed　to　have　been　averted。
　　 Dinivan　lowered　his　eyes　to　the　remains　of　his　supper。　A　young　priest　who　hovered　at　his　elbow　refilled　Dinivan's　goblet　with　water…it　had　seemed　a　good　night　to　avoid　wine…and　reached　forward　to　take　his　bowl；　but　Dinivan　waved　him　back。　It　was　better　to　have　something　to　concentrate　on；　if　only　to　avoid　looking　at　viperous　Pryrates；　who　was　not　bothering　to　hide　his　immense　pleasure　at　disfiting　the　church　hierarchy。