tw.thestoneoffarewell-第81部分

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　　〃And　bring　it　carefully！〃　Skodi　cried。　〃Don't　spill　any　inside　the　circle。　You　know　how　the　little　ones　swarm　when　charms　are　spoken；　how　hungry　they　are。〃
　　The　Hyrka　boy　suddenly　whirled　and　came　stalking　toward　Skodi　and　Simon；　his　face　suffused　with　anger　and　fear。　〃No！〃　he　screamed。　For　a　moment　Simon　felt　a　rush　of　hope；　chinking　that　the　boy　meant　to　strike　Skodi　down。　〃No！〃　Vren　shrieked　again；　waving　the　knife　in　the　air　as　tears　coursed　down　his　cheeks。　〃Why　are　you　keeping　them？　Why　are　you　keeping　him！？〃　He　jabbed　his　blade　in　Simon's　direction。　〃He's　too　old；　Skodi！　He's　bad！　Not　like　me！〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing；　Vren？〃　Skodi　narrowed　her　eyes　in　alarm　as　the　boy　leaped　forward　toward　the　circle。　The　blade　swept　up；　red…gleaming。　Simon's　muscles　burned　as　he　strove　to　throw　himself　out　of　the　boy's　path；　but　he　was　clenched　in　a　hand　of　stone。　Sweat　sluiced　into　his　eyes。
　　〃You　can't　like　him！〃　Vren　screeched。　With　a　croaking　shriek；　Simon　managed　to　squirm　just　enough　for　the　blade　aimed　at　his　ribs　to　miss　and　tear　along　his　back　instead；　leaving　a　track　of　cold　silvery　pain。　Something　m　the　fire　bellowed　like　a　bull；　then　the　darkness　fell　in　on　top　of　Simon；　blotting　out　the　faded　stars。
　　
　　
　　Eolair　had　left　her　alone　for　a　moment　while　he　went　back　through　the　great　doorway　to　fetch　another　lamp。
　　As　she　waited　for　the　Count　of　Nad　Mullach's　return；　Maegwin　gazed　happily　down　at　the　vast　stone　city　in　the　cavern　below。　A　great　burden　had　been　lifted　from　her。　Here　was　the　city　of　the　Sithi；　of　Hernystir's　allies　of　old。　She　had　found　it！　For　a　while；　Maegwin　had　begun　to　believe　herself　as　mad　as　Eolair　and　the　others　thought；　but　here　it　stood。
　　It　had　e　to　her　at　first　as　a　certain　disorder　in　her　dreams…troubled　dreams　that　were　already　dark　and　chaotic；　full　of　the　suffering　faces　of　her　beloved　dead。　Then　other　images　began　to　seep　through。　These　new　dreams　showed　her　a　beautiful　city　rippling　with　banners；　a　city　of　flowers　and　captivating　music；　hidden　from　war　and　bloodshed。　But　these　visions　that　appeared　in　the　last；　fleeting　moments　of　sleep；　although　preferable　to　her　nightmares；　had　not　helped　to　calm　her。　Rather；　in　their　richness　and　exotic　wonder；　they　had　inflamed　Maegwin　with　fear　for　her　own　troubled　mind。　Soon；　in　her　wanderings　through　Grianspog's　tunnels；　she　had　also　begun　to　hear　whispering　in　the　earth's　depths；　chanting　voices　unlike　anything　she　had　ever　experienced。
　　The　idea　of　the　ancient　city　had　grown　and　flowered　until　it　became　far　more　important　than　anything　happening　within　reach　of　sunlight。　Sunlight　brought　evil：　the　daystar　was　a　beacon　for　disaster；　a　lamp　that　the　enemies　of　Hernystir　could　use　to　seek　out　and　destroy　her　people。　Only　in　the　deeps　did　safety　lie；　down　among　the　roots　of　the　earth　where　the　heroes　and　gods　of　elder　days　still　lived；　where　the　cruel　winter　could　not。
　　Now；　as　she　stood　above　this　fantastic　stone　city…her　city…a　vast　sense　of　satisfaction　spread　over　her。　For　the　first　time　since　her　father　King　Lluth　had　gone　away　to　battle　Skali　Sharp…nose；　she　felt　peace。　True；　the　stone　towers　and　domes　spread　across　the　rock　canyon　below　did　not　much　resemble　the　airy　summer…city　of　her　dreams；　but　there　seemed　small　doubt　that　this　was　a　place　crafted　by　inhuman　hands；　and　it　stood　in　a　place　where　no　Hernystiri　had　walked　since　time　out　of　mind。　If　it　was　not　the　dwelling　place　of　the　deathless　Sithi；　then　what　was　it？　Of　course　it　was　their　city；　that　seemed　laughably　obvious。
　　〃Maegwin？〃　Eolair　called；　slipping　through　the　half…open　door。　〃Where　are　you？〃　The　worry　in　his　voice　brought　a　tiny　smile　to　her　face；　but　she　hid　it　from　him。
　　〃I　am　here；　of　course。　Count。　Where　you　bade　me　stay。〃　
　　He　came　and　stood　at　her　shoulder；　gazing　down。　〃Gods　of　storm　and　stone；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　head；　〃it　is　miraculous。〃
　　Maegwin's　smile　came　back。　〃What　else　would　you　expect　of　such　a　place？　Let's　go　down　and　find　those　who　live　here。　Our　people　are　in　great　need；　you　know。〃
　　Eolair　looked　at　her　carefully。　〃Princess；　I　doubt　very　much　that　anyone　is　living　there。　Do　you　see　anything　moving？　And　no　lights　are　burning　but　our　own。〃
　　〃What　makes　you　think　that　the　Peaceful　Ones　cannot　see　in　darkness？〃　she　said；　laughing　at　the　foolishness　of　men　m　general　and　clever　ones　like　the　count　in　particular。　Her　heart　was　racing　so　that　the　laugh　threatened　to　get　away　from　her。　Safety！　It　was　a　breathtaking　thought。　How　could　anything　harm　them　in　the　lap　of　Hernystir's　ancient　protectors？
　　〃Very　well；　my　lady；〃　Eolair　said　slowly。　〃We　will　go　down　a　short　way；　if　these　stairs　are　to　be　trusted。　But　your　people　are　worrying　about　you；〃　he　grimaced；　〃…and　me；　too；　before　long。　We　must　return　quickly。　We　can　always　e　back　again　later；　with　more　folk　〃
　　〃Certainly。〃　She　fluttered　her　hand　to　show　how　little　such　concerns　affected　her。　They　would　return　with　all　her　people；　of　course。　This　was　the　place　they　would　live　forever；　out　of　reach　of　Skali　and　Elias　and　the　rest　of　the　blood…soaked　madmen　above　ground。
　　Eolair　grasped　her　elbow；　guiding　her　with　almost　laughable　caution。　She　herself　felt　the　urge　to　skip　down　the　rough…hewn　stairs。　What　could　hurt　them　here？
　　They　descended　like　two　small　stars　falling　into　a　great　abyss；　the　flames　of　their　lamps　reflecting　from　the　pale　stone　roofs　below。　Their　footsteps　echoed　out　through　the　great　cavern　and　rebounded　from　the　invisible　ceiling　to　be　repeated　m　countless　reverberations；　returning　to　them　as　a　rush　of　pattering　sound　like　the　velvet　wings　of　a　million　bats。
　　For　all　its　pleteness；　the　city　nevertheless　seemed　skeletal。　Its　inter…connected　buildings　were　tiled　in　a　thousand　colors　of　pale　stone；　ranging　from　the　white　of　a　first　snow　through　endless　wan　shades　of　sand　and　pearl　and　sooty　gray。　The　round　windows　stared　like　unseeing　eyes。　The　polished　stone　streets　gleamed　like　the　tracks　of　wandering　snails。
　　They　were　halfway　down　the　stairs　when　Eolair　pulled　up　short；　clasping　Maegwin's　arm　close　against　his　side。　In　the　lamplight　his　worried　face　seemed　almost　translucent；　she　fancied　suddenly　that　she　could　see　everything　that　was　in　his　mind。
　　〃We　have　gone　far　enough；　Lady；〃　he　said。　〃Your　people　will　be　hunting　for　us。〃
　　〃My　people？〃　she　asked；　pulling　away。　〃Are　they　not　your　people；　too？　Or　are　you　now　far　above　a　mere　tribe　of　cringing　cave…dwellers；　Count？〃
　　〃That　is　not　what　I　mean；　Maegwin；　and　you　know　it；〃　he　said　harshly。
　　That　looks　like　pain　in　your　eyes；　Eolair；　she　thought。　Does　it　hurt　you　so　to　be　yoked　to　a　madwoman？　How　could　I　have　been　fool　enough　to　love　you　when　I　could　never　hope　for　more　than　polite　forbearance　in　return？
　　Aloud；　she　said：　〃You　are　free　to　go　whenever　you　wish；　Count。　You　doubted　me。　Now　perhaps　you　are　frightened　that　you　might　have　to　face　those　whose　existence　you　denied。　I；　however；　am　not　going　anywhere　but　down　to　the　city。〃
　　Eolair's　fine　features　wrinkled　in　frustration。　As　he　unknowingly　wiped　a　smear　of　lampblack　onto　his　chin；　Maegwin　wondered　suddenly　what　she　looked　like。　The　long；　obsessive　hours　of　searching　and　digging　and　chipping　away　at　the　bolt　that　secured　the　great　door　floated　in　her　mind　like　a　poorly…remembered　dream。　How　long　had　she　been　down　here　in　the　depths？　She　stared　at　her　dirt…caked　hands　with　a　growing　sense　of　horror…she　must　indeed　look　the　part　of　madwoman…then　pushed　the　thought　away　in　disgust。　What　did　such　things　matter　at　an　hour　like　this？
　　〃I　cannot　let　you　lose　yourself　in　this　place；　Lady；〃　Eolair　said　at　last。　
　　〃Then　e　with　me　or　bully　me　all　the　way　back　to　your　wretched　camp；　noble　count。〃　She　suddenly　did　not　like　the　way　she　sounded；　but　it　was　said　and　she　would　not　take　it　back。
　　Eolair　did　not　show　the　anger　she　expected；　instead；　a　weary　resignation　crept　over　his　features。　The　pain　she　had　seen　before　did　not　go　away；　but　rather　seemed　to　sink　deeper；　spreading　into　the　very　lines　of　his　face。
　　〃You　made　a　promise　to　me；　Maegwin。　Before　I　opened　the　door；　you　said　you　would　heed　my　decision。　I　did　not　believe　you　an　oath…breaker。　I　know　your　father　never　was。〃
　　Maegwin　pulled　back；　stung。　〃Do　not　throw　my　father　up　to　me！〃　
　　Eolair　shook　his　head。　〃Still；　my　lady；　you　promised　me。〃
　　 Maegwin　stared　at　him。　Something　in　his　careful；　clever　face　took　hold　of　her　so　that　she　did　not　hurry　away　down　the　stairs　as　she　had　intended。　An　inner　voice　mocked　her　stupidity；　but　she　faced　him　squarely。
　　〃You　are　only　partly　correct；　Count　Eolair；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃You　could　not　open　it　yourself；　if　you　remember。　I　had　to　help　you。〃
　　He　looked　at　her　closely。　〃So；　then？〃　
　　〃So；　then；　a　promise。　I　know　you　think　me　headstrong　or　worse；　but　I　do　still　want　your　friendship；　Eolair。　You　have　been　good　to　my　father's　house。〃
　　〃A　bargain；　Maegwin？〃　he　asked　expressionlessly。
　　〃If　you　will　let　us　walk　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs…just　until　we　can　set　foot　on　the　tiles　of　the　city…I　will　turn　around　and　go　back　with　you　。　。　。　if　that　is　what　you　wish。　I　promise。〃
　　A　weary　smile　touched　Eolair's　lips。　〃You　promise；　do　you？〃　
　　〃I　swear　by　Bagba's　Herd。〃　She　touched　her　soiled　hand　to　her　breast。
　　〃Better　you　should　swear　by　Black　Cuamh；　down　here。〃　He　grimaced　in　frustration。　His　long　tail　of　hair　had　shed　its　ribbon　and　lay　black　across　his　shoulders。　〃Very　well。　I　don't　like　the　idea　of　trying　to　carry　you　back　up　these　stairs　against　your　will。〃
　　〃You　couldn't；〃　Maegwin　said；　pleased。　〃I　am　too　strong。　e；　let's　go　faster。　As　you　said；　people　are　waiting　for　us。〃
　　They　passed　down　the　steps　in　silence；　Maegwin　reveling　in　the　safety　of　shadows　and　stone　mountains；　Eolair　lost　in　his　own　unvoiced　thoughts。　They　watched　their　feet；　fearful　of　a　misstep　despite　the　stairway's　great　width。　The　stairs　were　pitted；　crazed　with　cracks　as　though　the　earth　had　shifted　in　uneasy　sleep；　but　the　stonecraft　was　beautiful　and　subtle。　The　lamplight　revealed　traces　of　intricate　designs　that　coiled　across　the　steps　and　onto　the　wall　above　the　staircase；　scribings　delicate　as　the　fronds　of　young　ferns　or　the　shingled　feathers　of　hummingbirds。　Maegwin　could　not　help　tur