tw.thestoneoffarewell-第87部分
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Josua's face was empty。 〃I am tired of talking。 Kill me if you wish； but do not bore me。〃
Fikolmij leaped forward。 His broad fist crashed against the side of Josua's head and the prince crumpled to his knees。 〃Proud talk； worm！ I should kill you with my own hands！〃 The March…thane stood over Josua； his barrel chest heaving。 〃Where is my daughter！？〃
〃I don't know。〃
Fikolmij grabbed Joshua's tattered shirt and pulled the prince onto his feet。 Watching； Utvart swayed gently from side to side； his eyes dreamy。 〃And you don't care； either； do you？ By the Grass Thunderer； I have dreamed of smashing you…dreamed of it！ Tell me of my Vorzheva； child…stealer。 Did you at least marry her？ 〃
A bleeding welt showed at Josua's temple。 He stared back 〃We did not wish to marry。 〃
Another blow rocked the prince's head。 Blood started from his upper lip and nose。 〃How you laughed at old Fikolmij when you sat in your stone house； eh？〃 the March…thane hissed。 〃Stole his daughter and made her your whore； then did not have to pay a single horse for her！ You laughed； didn't you？〃 He slapped hard at the prince's face； pearls of blood flew through the air。 〃You thought you could cut off my stones and run away。〃 The March…thane struck again； but though fresh blood seeped from Josua's nose； this blow was softer； dealt with a kind of savage affection。 〃You are clever； Lackhand。 Clever。 But Fikolmij is no gelding。〃
〃Vorzheva is no whore。〃
Fikolmij propelled him back against the wagon's door。 The prince left his arms dangling； making no attempt to defend himself as he was struck twice more。 〃You stole what was mine；〃 Fikolmij snarled； his face so close to Josua's that his braided beard rubbed on the prince's bloody shirtfront。 〃What would you call her； then？ What did you use her for？〃
Josua's red…smeared face； despite his injuries； had been full of a terrible calmness。 Now； it seemed to break apart； dissolving into grief。 〃I used her badly。。。〃 He hung his head。
Utvart strode forward drawing his sword from its tooled and beaded scabbard。 The tip clicked against a ceiling beam。 〃Let me kill him；〃 he breathed 〃Slow。 〃
Fikolmij looked up； eyes squinting fiercely。 Sweat dripped from his face as he looked from Utvart to Josua； then lifted his thick…knuckled fist over the prince's head。 〃Let me；'〃 Utvart pleaded。
The March…thane hammered three times against the wall。 The harnesses swayed； tinkling。 〃Hotvig'〃 he roared。
The wagon door opened。 Hotvig entered pushing a slender figure before him The pair stopped just within the doorway。
〃You heard all！〃 Fikolmij bellowed。 〃You betrayed your clan and me for this！〃 He gave Josua's shoulder a push。 The prince fell back against the wall and slid to the floor。
Vorzheva burst into tears。 Hotvig's restraining hand held her back as she leaned forward to touch the prince。 Josua slowly lifted his head； staring at her distractedly from eyes that were beginning to swell shut。 〃You are alive；〃 was all he said。
She tried to pull away from her captor； but Hotvig grasped her close； ignoring the nails that raked at his arm； leaning his head away when she tried to reach his eyes。
〃Randwarders caught her in the outer grazing march；〃 Fikolmij growled。 He slapped at her lightly； angered by her struggling。 〃Be still； you faithless bitch！ I should have drowned you in the Umstrejha at birth。 You are worse than your mother； and she was the evilest cow I have ever known。 Why do you waste your tears on this piece of dung？〃 He prodded Josua with his foot。
The prince's absorbed look had returned。 He regarded the March…chane with dispassionate interest for a moment before turning to Vorzheva。 〃I am glad you are safe。〃
〃Safe！〃 Vorzheva laughed shrilly。 〃I love a man who does not want me。 The man who does want me would use me like a brood mare and beat me if I ever left my knees！〃 She struggled in Hotvig's grasp； turning to face Utvart； who had lowered his sword to the floor。 〃Oh； I remember you； Utvart！ Why did I run away； except to get away from you； you raper of children…and of young sheep when you cannot get a child！ You； who love your scars more than you ever could a woman I would rather be dead than your bride！〃
Grim…faced Utvart said nothing； but Fikolmij snorted in dour amusement 〃By the Four…Footed； 1 had almost forgotten that jagged knife you have for a tongue； daughter。 Maybe Josua here is happy to feel the blows of fists for a change； eh？ As for what you prefer； kill yourself the moment the marriage ride is over if you wish。 I only want my bride…price and the honor of the Stallion Clan made good。〃
〃There are better ways to do that than slaughtering helpless prisoners；〃 a new voice said。
All heads turned…even Josua's； though he moved carefully。 Geloe stood m the doorway； arms spread to the lintel； cloak rippling in the wind
〃They have escaped from the bull run！〃 Fikolmij shouted wrathfully。 〃Don't move； woman！ Hotvig； saddle and bring the rest back。 Someone will howl for this！〃
Geloe stepped into the wagon； which was rapidly being crowded。 With a muffled curse； Hotvig pushed past her and out into the darkness。 The witch woman calmly pulled the door closed behind him。 〃He will find them still penned；〃 she said。 〃Only I can e and go as I please。〃
Utvart lifted his broad blade and held it near her neck。 Geloe's hooded yellow eyes touched his and the tall Thrithings…man stepped back a pace； brandishing the sword as though he were menaced。
Fikolmij looked her up and down with puzzlement and guarded anger。 〃What is your business； old woman？〃
Released from Hotvig's grip； Vorzheva had dropped to her knees and crawled past her father to dab at Josua's face with her tattered cloak。 The prince gently caught her hand； holding it away as Geloe spoke。
〃I said； I e and go as I please For now； I choose to be here。〃
〃You are in my wagon； old woman。〃 The March…thane wiped sweat from his forehead with a hairy arm。
〃You thought to hold Geloe your prisoner； Fikolmij。 That was foolish。 Still； I have e to give you advice； in hopes that you have more sense than you have shown so far this day。〃
He seemed to fight an urge to strike out once more。 Seeing his struggle； his strained look； Geloe nodded her head and smiled grimly。
〃You have heard of me。〃
〃I have heard of a devil…woman with your name； one who lurks in the forest and steals the souls of men；〃 Fikolmij grunted。 Utvart stood close behind him； mouth set in a tight line； but the tall man's eyes were wide； and shifted as though he made certain of where the doors and windows were。
〃You have heard many false rumors； I am sure；〃 Geloe said； 〃but there is some truth behind them； however twisted it may have bee。 That truth is in the tales that say I make a bad enemy； Fikolmij。〃 She blinked slowly； as an owl blinks when it catches sight of something small and helpless。 〃A bad enemy。〃
The March…thane pulled his beard。 〃I do not fear you； woman； but I do not trifle with demons needlessly。 You are no use to me。 Go away； then； and I will not trouble you； but do not meddle in what does not concern you。〃
〃Fool of a horse…lord！〃 Geloe flung up her arm； cloak trailing like a black wing。 The door burst open behind her。 The wind that swept in extinguished the lamps and plunged the wagon into near…darkness； leaving only the fire glowing scarlet in its trough like a door into Hell。 Somebody cursed fearfully； barely audible above the moaning inrush。 〃I told you；〃Geloe cried； 〃I go where I please！〃 The door swung shut again； although the witch woman had not moved。 The wind was gone。 She leaned forward so that her yellow eyes reflected restless flames。 〃What happens to these people does concern me…and concerns you as well； although you are too ignorant to know it。 Our enemy is your enemy； and he is greater than you can understand； Fikolmij。 When he es； he will sweep across your fields like a grassfire。〃
〃Hah！〃 The March…thane smirked； but the nervous edge was not gone from his voice。 〃Do not preach to me。 I know all about your enemy； King Elias。 He is no more a man than Josua here。 The Thrithings…men do not fear him。〃
Before Geloe could respond there was a rap at the door； which swung open to reveal Hotvig； bearing his spear and a puzzled expression。 He was only a young man； despite his heavy beard； and he regarded the witch woman with undisguised dismay as he spoke to his chieftain。
〃The prisoners are still in the bull run。 None of the men outside saw this one leave。 The gate is locked； and there are no holes in the fence。〃
Fikolmij grunted and waved his hand。 〃I know。〃 The March…thane's gaze shifted to Geloe for a brooding moment； then he smiled slowly。 〃e here；〃 he ordered Hotvig； then whispered into the rider's ear。
〃It will be done；〃 Hotvig said； darting a nervous glance at Geloe before going out again。
〃So；〃 Fikolmij said； and smiled broadly； showing most of his crooked teeth。 〃You think I should set this dog free to run away。〃 He shoved Josua with his foot； earning a swift glare of hatred from his daughter。 〃What if I do not？〃 he asked cheerfully。
Geloe narrowed her eyes。 〃As I told you； March…thane； I make a bad enemy。〃
Fikomij chortled。 〃And what shall you do to me； when I have told my men to kill the remaining prisoners unless I e to them myself before the next watch of the night to say otherwise？〃 He patted his hands on his belly in contentment。 〃I do not doubt you have charms and spells that can harm me； but now our blades are at each other's throats； are they not？〃 In the corner of the wagon Utvart growled； as if excited by the image invoked。
〃Oh； horse…lord； may the world be preserved from such as you；〃 Geloe said disgustedly。 〃I hoped to convince you to help us； which would be for your good as much as ours。〃 She shook her head。 〃Now； as you say； our knives are out。 Who knows if they may be put away without causing many deaths？〃
〃I do not fear your threats；〃 Fikolmy growled。
Geloe stared at him for a moment； then looked at Josua； who was still seated on the floor watching all that transpired with odd placidity。 Lastly； she turned her gaze on Utvart。 The tall man scowled fiercely； not at all fortabl
