tw.togreenangeltower2-第108部分

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　　　　　　　〃When　we　were　in　the　Wran；〃　he　suddenly　said　to　Miriamele；　〃I　could　not　force　myself　to　go　down　into　the　ghants'　nest。　That　was　because　it　was　too　much　like。。。　like　going　into　the　tunnels　below　Hjeldin's　Tower。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　were　here　before？〃　She　stared　at　him；　her　attention　unwillingly　held。　〃Here　beneath　the　castle？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　but　not　in　the　places　you　have　been；　the　places　I　have　followed　you。〃　He　wiped　at　his　forehead　again。　〃Ransomer　preserve　me；　I　wish　my　escape　had　been　through　the　parts　of　this　vast　maze　you　saw！　The　way　I　came　was　far　worse。〃　He　tried　to　find　words　but　gave　up。　〃Far；　far　worse。〃
　　　　　　　〃Worse？　Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　Cadrach　shook　his　head。　〃I　will　not　tell　you。　There　are　many　ways　in　and　out　of　here；　and　not　all　of　them　are　。。。　normal。　I　will　speak　no　further　on　it；　and　if　you　could　glimpse　even　a　piece　of　what　I　saw；　you　would　thank　me　for　not　telling　you。〃　He　shivered。　〃But　it　felt　like　years　that　I　was　below　the　ground；　and　I　saw　and　heard　and　felt　things　。。。　things　that　。。　。〃　He　stopped；　shaking　his　head　again。
〃Don't　tell　us；　then。　I　don't　believe　you；　in　any　case。　How　could　you　escape　unnoticed？　You　said　that　Pryrates　could　find　you；　could　summon　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　had…I　still　have…some　little　smatterings　of　the　Art　left　to　me。　I　was　able　to　draw　a　。。。　a　sort　of　fog　over　me。　I　have　kept　it　since。　That　is　why　you　were　not　summoned　to　Sesuad'ra　as　Tiamak　and　the　others　were。　They　could　not　find　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why　didn't　that　shield　you　from　Pryrates　before；　when　he　summoned　you…when　you　couldn't　run　away　and　had　to　spy　and　sneak　for　him　like　the　worst　sort　of　traitor　in　the　world？〃　She　was　disgusted　with　herself　for　being　drawn　back　into　a　discussion。　She　was　even　angrier　that　she　had　ever　wasted　her　trust　and　concern　on　someone　who　could　do　what　the　monk　had　done。　She　had　defended　him　to　the　world；　but　it　was　she　who　had　been　the　fool。　He　was　a　traitor　through　and　through。
　　　　　　　〃Because　he　thinks　I　am　dead！〃　Cadrach　almost　shouted。　〃If　he　knew　I　lived；　he　would　find　me　soon　enough。　He　would　blow　my　poor　shielding　fog　away　like　a　strong　wind　and　I　would　be　naked；　and　helpless。　By　all　the　gods　old　and　new；　Miriamele；　why　do　you　think　I　was　so　determined　to　get　off　Aspitis'　ship？　As　I　slowly　came　to　realize　that　he　was　one　of　Pryrates'　servitors　I　could　think　of　nothing　but　that　he　might　tell　his　master　I　still　lived。　Aedon　save　us；　why　do　you　think　when　we　met　him　again　on　the　Lakelands　I　begged　you　to　kill　him？〃　He　mopped　more　sweat　from　his　face。　〃I　can　only　guess　that　Pryrates　did　not　recognize　the　name　'Cadrach；'　although　I　had　used　it　before。　But　I　have　used　many　names…even　that　red…robed　demon　could　not　know　them　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　you　were　making　your　way　to　freedom　through　the　tunnels；〃　Binabik　prompted。　〃Kikkasut！　This　place　is　indeed　like　our　Mintahoq　cave…city…most　that　is　important　happens　beneath　the　rock。〃
　　　　　　　〃Freedom？〃　Cadrach　almost　sneered。　〃How　could　any…　one　be　free　who　lived　with　the　knowledge　I　did？　Yes；　I　finally　made　my　way　up　from　the　very　deepest　depths；　I　think　I　was　quite　mad　by　then。　I　headed　north；　away　from　Pryrates　and　the　Hayholt；　although　at　the　time　I　had　no　idea　of　where　I　would　go。　I　wound　up　finally　in　Naglimund；　thinking　that　I　would　be　safest　in　a　place　sworn　to　oppose　Elias　and　his　chief　counselor。　But　it　was　soon　apparent　that　Naglimund；　too；　would　be　attacked　and　thrown　down；　so　I　took　up　the　Lady　Vorzheva's　offer　to　acpany　Miriamele　south。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　said　you　were　not　free　because　of　the　knowledge　you　had；〃　said　Miriamele　slowly。　〃But　you　did　not　share　that　knowledge　with　anyone。　That　is　perhaps　the　most　wretched　deed　of　all　you　have　done；　Cadrach。　Fear　of　Pryrates　might　make　you　do　terrible　things；　but　to　be　free　of　him　and　still　say　nothing…while　the　rest　of　us　have　pondered　and　struggled　and　suffered　and　died　。。。〃　She　shook　her　head；　trying　to　make　her　words　reflect　the　chilly　contempt　she　felt。　〃That　I　cannot　forgive。〃
　　　　　　　He　looked　at　her　without　flinching。　〃Now　you　truly　know　me；　Princess　Miriamele。〃　
　　　　　　　A　long　silence　fell；　broken　only　by　the　faint　singsong　of　the　dwarrows　muttering　among　themselves。　Binabik　was　the　one　who　ended　it。　〃We　have　talked　enough　of　these　things。　And　I　need　time　for　pondering　on　what　Cadrach　has　said。　But　something　there　is　that　is　clear：　Josua　and　the　others　search　for　Bright…Nail；　and　they　have　Thorn　already。　They　plan　to　bring　them　here　if　they　can；　but　they　are　knowing　nothing　of　what　this　one　says　of　Pryrates。　If　we　were　having　no　other　reason　for　surviving　and　escaping；　we　now　have　one　that　is　large。〃　He　made　a　close…fisted　gesture。　〃But　what　is　outside　our　door　is　the　first　thing　that　will　prevent　us。　How　will　we　be　making　an　escape？〃
　　　　　　　〃Or　have　we　already　lost　the　chance　listening　to　Brother　Cadrach's　tale　of　treachery？〃　Miriamele　took　a　breath。　〃There　were　a　handful　of　Norns　before…how　long　before　there　is　an　army？〃　
　　　　　　　Binabik　looked　at　Cadrach；　but　the　monk　had　lowered　his　face　into　his　hands。　
　　　　　　　〃We　must　make　an　attempt　at　escaping。　If　only　one　of　us　can　survive　to　bear　the　tale；　then　still　it　will　be　a　victory。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　even　if　all　is　lost；〃　Miriamele　said；　〃there　will　be　some　Norns　who　will　not　be　around　to　see　it。　I　would　settle　for　even　a　victory　like　that。〃　She　meant　it；　she　realized…and　with　that　realization；　a　part　of　her　seemed　to　turn　cold　and　lifeless。

27
Hammer　of　　Pain

　　　　　　　〃Prince　Jiriki。　At　last　we　meet。〃　Josua　bowed；　then　extended　his　left　hand；　the　manacle　he　wore　as　a　remembrance　of　imprisonment　was　a　shadow　on　his　wrist。　The　Sitha　made　a　strangely…jointed　bow　of　his　own；　then　reached　out　his　hand　to　clasp　Josua's。　Isgrimnur　could　not　help　marveling　at　such　a　strange　scene。
〃Prince　Josua。〃　The　new…risen　sun　turned　both　Jiriki's　white　hair　and　the　snow　faintly　golden。　〃Young　Seoman　told　me　much　about　you。　Is　he　here？〃
Josua　frowned。　〃He　is　not；　to　my　regret。　There　is　much　to　say…much　to　tell　you；　and　much　we　hope　you　can　tell　us。〃　He　looked　up　at　the　looming　walls　of　the　Hayholt；　falsely　weling　in　the　dawn　light。　〃I　am　not　surewhich　of　us　should　say　to　the　other：　'Wele　home。'　〃
The　Sitha　smiled　coldly。　〃This　is　not　our　home　any　more；　Prince　Josua。〃
〃And　I　am　not　sure　it　is　mine；　either。　But　e；　it　is　foolish　to　stand　in　the　snow。　Will　you　e　and　break　your　fast　with　us？〃
Jiriki　shook　his　head。　〃Thanks　to　you　for　your　courtesy；　but　I　think　not　yet。〃　He　looked　back　at　the　milling　Sithi；　who　had　fanned　out　across　the　hillside　and　were　rapidly　setting　up　camp；　the　first　colorful　tents　blooming　like　snowfiowers。　〃My　mother　Likimeya；　I　think；　speaks　with　my　sister；　I；　too；　would　like　to　spend　a　short　time　with　Aditu。　If　you　would　be　kind　enough　to　e　to　my　mother's　tent　by　the　time　the　sun　is　above　the　treeline；　bringing　those　of　your　household　you　deem　necessary；　we　will　begin　to　talk。　There　is；　as　you　said；　much　to　tell。〃
The　Sitha　gave　a　sort　of　graceful　salute；　bowed　again；　then　turned　and　moved　away　across　the　snow。
〃That's　cheek；〃　Isgrimnur　muttered。　〃Making　you　e　to　them。〃
〃It　was　their　castle　first。〃　Josua　laughed　quietly。　〃Even　if　they　do　not　wish　to　reclaim　it。〃
Isgrimnur　grunted。　〃As　long　as　they　help　us　put　the　bastards　out；　I　suppose　we　can　go　to　their　house　for　a　visit。〃　He　squinted。　〃Now　who's　that？〃
A　solitary　rider　had　crested　the　hilltop　behind　the　Sithi　encampment。　He　was　taller　and　more　solidly…built　than　the　immortals；　but　he　slumped　wearily　in　the　saddle。
〃God　be　praised！〃　Isgrimnur　breathed；　then　shouted　for　joy。　〃Isorn！　Hah；　Isorn！〃　He　waved　his　arms。　The　rider　looked　up；　then　spurred　his　horse　down　the　hill。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　Father；〃　he　said　after　he　had　dismounted　and　received　a　backbreaking　embrace　from　the　duke；　〃I　cannot　tell　you　how　good　it　is　to　see　you。　This　brave　Hernystiri　mount；〃　he　patted　his　gray　horse；　〃kept　up　with　the　Sithi　almost　all　the　way　from　Naglimund。　They　ride　so　fast！　But　we　fell　behind　at　the　end。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　matter；　no　matter；〃　Isgrimnur　chortled。　〃I　only　wish　your　mother　was　not　behind　in　Nabban。　Bless　you；　son；　it　makes　my　heart　glad　to　see　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Indeed；〃　said　Josua。　〃You　are　a　happy　sight。　What　of　Eolair？　What　of　Hernystir？　Jiriki　said　but　little。〃
　　　　　　　Isorn　made　a　weary　bow。　〃Everything　I　can　tell　you　I　will；　Josua。　Is　there　something　to　eat　here？　And　somewhat　to　drink；　too？〃
　　　　　　　〃e。〃　Isgrimnur　put　his　arm　about　bis　tall　son。　〃Let　your　old　father　lean　on　you　for　just　a　few　minutes…I　was　smashed　beneath　my　horse　in　Nabban；　did　you　know？　But　I　am　not　finished　yet！　We　will　all　break　fast　together。　Aedon　has　blessed　us　this　morning。〃

　　　　　　　The　afternoon　had　turned　dark　and　the　wind　had　risen；　clawing　at　the　walls　of　the　tent。　Silent　Sithi　had　put　out　shining　globes　of　light　which　were　now　warming　into　full　brightness　like　small　suns。
　　　　　　　Duke　Isgrimnur　was　beginning　to　feel　restless。　His　back　was　giving　him　no　peace；　and　he　had　been　sitting　propped　on　cushions…and　how　did　a　war　party　of　Sithi　manage　to　carry　cushions；　he　could　not　help　wondering…so　long　that　he　did　not　think　he　could　rise　to　his　feet　without　help。　Even　the　presence　of　Isorn　sitting　nearby　was　not　enough　to　keep　his　thoughts　from　turning　sour。
　　　　　　　The　Sithi　had　destroyed　Skali　and　his　men…that　was　the　first　news　Isorn　had　given　him。　The　immortals　had　brought　the　Thane　of　Kaldskryke's　head　back　to　Hernysadharc　in　a　sack。　Isgrimnur　knew　he　should　rejoice　that　the　man　who　had　stolen　his　dukedom　and　brought　so　much　unhappiness　to　Rimmersgard　and　Hernystir　was　dead；　but　he　felt　mostly　his　own　age　and　infirmity；　as　well　as　a　certain　angry　shame。　The　revenge　he　had　sworn　so　loudly　at　Naglimund　had　been　taken　by　someone　else。　If　he　regained　Elvritshalla；　it　would　be　because　the　Sithi　had　earned　it　for　him。　That　did　not　sit　well。　The　unhappy　duke　was　having　trouble　paying　attention　to　the　things　that　seemed　to　fascinate　Josua　and　the　immortals。
　　　　　　　〃All　this　talk　of　Houses　and　Stars　is　very　well；〃　he　said　crossly；　〃but　what　exactly　are　we　going　to　do？〃　He　folded　his　arms　across　his　broad　chest。　Someone　had　to　hasten　things　along。　These　Sithi　were　like　an　army　of　golden…eyed　Josuas；　seemingly　content　to　talk　and　ponder　until　The　Day　of　Weighing…Out…but　the　reality　of　the　Hayholt　would　not　go　away。　〃We