tw.thestoneoffarewell-第98部分
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Yis…fidri lowered his heavy lids and cupped his chin in trembling fingers。 When the moaning had died away； he looked up。
〃No； Hern's Child；〃 he said slowly； 〃we are not immortal。 It is true we are far longer…lived than you mortals be； unless your race has much changed。 But unlike Zida'ya and Hikeda'ya…our old overlords； Sithi and Norn…we do not live on and on； eternal as the mountains。 Nay； Death es for us as for your folk； like a thief and a reaver。〃 Anger touched his face。 〃Mayhap our once…masters were of somewhat different blood since back m the Garden of our old stories； whence came all the Firstborn； mayhap then we are just of shorter…lived stock。 Either that； or there was in truth some secret kept from us； who were after all deemed only their servers and vassals。〃 He turned to his wife and gently touched her cheek。 Yis…hadra hid her face against his shoulder； her long neck graceful as a swan's。 〃Some of us died； some left； and The Art of the Witnesses has escaped us。〃
Eolair shook his head； confused。 〃I am listening carefully； Yis…fidri； but I fear I still do not understand all the riddles in what you say。 The voice that spoke to us from the stone…the one you called the grandmother of the Sithi…said that Great Swords are being sought。 What does Prince Josua have to do with any of this？〃
Yis…fidri raised his hand。 〃e with us to a better place for speaking。 I fear that your presence has bewildered some of our folk。 It has been beyond the lives of most of us since Sudhoda'ya were among us。〃 He stood up with a creak of leather； unfolding his spindly limbs like a locust climbing a stalk of wheat。 〃We will continue m the Pattern Hall。〃 His expression became apologetic。 〃Also； Hern's Folk； I am tired and hungry。〃 He shook his head。 〃I have not talked so much in a long age。〃
Imai…an and Sho…vennae stayed behind； perhaps to explain to their shy fellows what sort of creatures the mortals were。 Maegwin saw them gather the other dwarrows together in a solemn group at the center of the giant bowl； huddling near the inconstant light of the Shard。 Only an hour before she had been brimming with anticipation and excitement； but now Maegwin was glad to see the arena disappearing behind them。 Wonder had turned to unease。 A structure like the Site of Witness should stretch beneath an open sky filled with stars； as did the circuses of Nabban or the great theater of Erchester； not crouch beneath a firmament of dead black basalt。 Anyway； there was no help for the Hernystiri here。
Yis…fidri and Yis…hadra led them through Mezutu'a's deserted byways； crystal rods glowing in the murk like swamp…ghosts as they wound through the narrow streets； across broad； echoing squares and over icicle…slender bridges with only shadowed emptiness below。
The lamps that Maegwin and Eolair had brought down to the subterranean city had guttered and gone out。 The soft； roseate glow of the dwarrow's batons cast the only light。 Mezutu'a's lines seemed softer now than they had by lamplight； the city's edges gentler； rounded as though by wind and rain。 But Maegwin knew that here in the deeps of the earth no such weather had troubled the ancient walls。
She found her thoughts straying even from such wonderfully strange sights as these； returning instead to the trick that had been played upon her。 The Sithi were not here。 In fact； if the remaining Peaceful Ones were calling for the help of a diminished tribe like the dwarrows； they were probably in worse straits than Maegwin's own folk。
So here was the end of her hope of assistance…at least of earthly aid。 There would be no rescue for her people； unless she herself could think of some way。 Why had the gods sent Maegwin such dreams； only to dash them to pieces？ Had Brynioch； Mircha； Rhynn and the rest truly turned their back on the Hernystin？ Many of her people； crouched in the cave above； already thought it dangerous even to fight back against Skali's invading army…as though the gods' will was so clearly against Lluth's tribe that to resist would be to insult the minions of heaven。 Was that the lesson； both of her dreams about the lost Sithi and the actuality of Yis…fidri's frightened folk？ Had the gods brought her here only to show her that the Hernystiri； too； would soon diminish and fade； as the proud Sithi and crafty dwarrows had themselves been brought low？
Maegwin straightened her shoulders。 She could not let such qualms frighten her。 She was Lluth's daughter。。。 the king's daughter。 She would think of something。 The error was in relying on the fallible creatures of earth； men or Sithi。 The gods would send to her。 They would…they must…give her some further sign； some plan； even in the midst of her despair。
Her sigh drew a curious glance from Eolair。 〃Lady？ Are you sick？〃
She waved away his concerns。
〃Once all this city was full…lit；〃 Yis…fidri announced suddenly； waving an elongated hand。 〃The mountain…heart all besparkled； yes。〃
〃Who lived here； Yis…fidri？〃 the count asked。
〃Our people Tmukeda'ya。 But most of our kind are long gone。 A few are here； and some few lived in Hikehikayo in the northern mountains； a smaller city than this。〃 His face twisted。 〃Until they were made to leave。〃
〃Made to leave？ By what？〃
Yis…fidri shook his head； palpating his long chin with his fingers。 〃That would be a great wrong to say。 Unkind it would be to bring our evil on Hern's innocent children。 Fear not。 Our few remaining folk there fled； leaving the evil behind them。〃
His wife Yis…hadra said something in the fluttering dwarrow tongue。
〃True； that is true；〃 Yis…fidri said regretfully。 He blinked his vast eyes。 〃Our people have left those mountains behind。 We hope that they have left the evil behind as well。〃
Eolair looked at Maegwin in a way she supposed was somehow significant。 The talk had mostly slipped past her； immersed as she was in the greater problems of her unhomed people。 She smiled sadly； letting the Count of Nad Mullach know that his laboring after such fruitless details did not go unnoticed or unappreciated； then lapsed back into silent con… templation once more。
Count Eolair shifted his disconcerted glance from Lluth's daughter back to the dwarrows。 〃Can you tell me of this evil？〃
Yis…fidri looked at him speculatively。 〃No；〃 he said at last。 〃I have not the right to share so much； for all you be noble persons among your kind。 Mayhap when I have had a greater while to think； you will hear more。 Content yourself。〃 He would say nothing further concerning the subject。
Silent now but for the quiet noise of footsteps； the odd procession crept on through the ancient city； lights bobbing like fireflies。
The Pattern Hall was a dome only slightly smaller in circumference than the Site of Witness； set low in the midst of a forest of towers； surrounded by a moat of rock sculpted to resemble the waves of a crashing sea。 The dome itself was fluted like a sea shell； constructed of some fair stone that did not shine like the rose…crystal rods； but nevertheless seemed faintly radiant。
〃The Ocean Indefinite and Eternal；〃 said Yis…fidri with a gesture at the spiky stone waves。 〃Our birth…home was an island in the sea that surrounds all。 We Tinukeda'ya built those craft that took all the Gardenborn across that water。 Ruyan Ve； the greatest of our folk； steered the ships and brought us here to this land； safe out of destruction。〃 A light came to the dwarrow's saucerlike eyes； a note of triumph to his voice。 He wagged his head firmly； as though to emphasize the importance of what he said。 〃Without us； no ships would have been。 All； both masters and servants； would have passed into Unbeing。〃 After a moment he blinked and looked around； the fire abruptly gone。 〃e； Hern…folk；〃 he said。 〃Hie we down to the Banipha…sha…ze…the Pattern Hall。〃
His wife Yis…hadra beckoned； then led Maegwin and the count around the frozen gray ocean to the back of the dome； which sat off…center in the moat like the yoke of an egg。 A ramp curled down into the shadowed depths。
〃This is where my husband and I dwell；〃 Yis…hadra said。 She spoke Hernystiri more haltingly than her husband； 〃We are keepers of this place。〃
The inside of the Pattern Hall was dark； but as Yis…hadra entered before them； she drew her hands along the walls。 Where her long fingers touched； stones began to glow with a pale light； yellower than that given off by the rods。
Maegwin saw Eolair's sharp profile hovering beside her； spectral and dreamlike。 She was beginning to feel the burden of her long； strenuous day； her knees were growing weak； her thoughts furry。 How had Eolair ever let her do such a foolish thing； she wondered？ He should have。。。 have。。。 have what？ Knocked her senseless？ Carried her kicking and screeching back to the surface？ She would have hated him if he had。 Maegwin ran her hands through her matted hair。 If only none of these terrible things had ever happened； if only life at the Taig had gone on its small； foolish way； with her father and Gwythinn alive； with winter in its proper place。。。
〃Maegwin！〃 The count took her elbow。 〃You almost hit your head against the doorway。〃
She shook off his hand and bent to pass through。 〃I saw it。〃
The room beyond slowly revealed itself as Yis…hadra touched more stones into radiant life。 It was circular； the walls peeked every few paces by a low doorway。 The doors themselves were carved of dressed stone and hinged with tarnished bronze。 Their surfaces were covered with runic letters unlike anything Maegwin had seen； different even than the great gates that had led her to Mezutu'a in the first place。
〃Seat yourself； if you please；〃 Yis…fidri said； gesturing to a row of granite stools； solid upcroppings that rose like mushrooms beside a low stone cable。 〃We will prepare food。 Will you dine with us？〃
Eolair looked at her； but Maegwin pretended to be looking in the other direction。 She was desperately tired and confused； full of regret。 The Sithi were not here。 These bent； flawed creatures could be no help against the likes of Skali and King Elias。 There was no earthly help ing。
〃You are very kind； Yis…fidri；〃 the count said。 〃We will be pleased to share your table。〃
A great show was made o
