tw.togreenangeltower2-第143部分

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　　　　　　　〃John　was　old　when　he　married　my　mother；　Efiathe　of　Hernysadharc；〃　Josua　said。　〃A　measure　of　the　distance　in　their　years　is　that　he　felt　no　qualms　about　giving　her　a　new　name；　Ebekah；　as　though　she　were　a　child。〃　He　frowned。　〃What　happened　after　that　is　not　particularly　surprising。　It　is　one　of　the　monest　and　oldest　stories　in　the　world；　although　I　do　not　doubt　she　loved　the　king　and　he　loved　her。　But　Camaris　was　her　special　protector；　a　young　man；　as　great　and　fabled　a　hero　as　John。　What　began　as　a　deep　respect　and　admiration　between　them　grew　into　something　more。
　　　　　　　〃Elias　was　John's　child；　but　I　was　not。　When　my　mother　died　birthing　me；　Camaris　went　mad。　What　could　he　think　but　that　his　sin　had　sentenced　his　beloved；　who　was　also　the　wife　of　his　closest　friend；　to　death？〃　The　prince　shook　his　head。　〃His　agony　was　such　that　he　gave　away　everything　he　had；　as　one　who　knows　he　will　die…　and　he　must　have　felt　he　was　dying；　since　every　breath；　every　moment；　was　so　full　of　pain　and　terrible　shame。　At　last　he　took　the　horn　Ti…tuno　and　went　in　search　of　the　Sithi；　perhaps　to　expiate　the　sin　of　participating　in　John's　persecution　of　them；　or　perhaps；　like　Elias；　he　hoped　the　wise　immortals　could　help　him　reach　his　beloved　beyond　death。　Whatever　the　aim　of　his　pilgrimage；　Amerasu　brought　him　secretly　to　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　for　reasons　of　her　own。　I　have　not　discovered　all　that　happened：　my　father　was　so　distraught　when　he　told　me　it　was　hard　to　make　sense　of　everything。
〃In　any　case；　Amerasu　met　with　him　and　took　the　horn　back；　perhaps　to　keep　it　for　him；　perhaps　because　it　had　belonged　to　her　lost　sons。　Exactly　what　passed　between　them　is　still　a　mystery　to　me；　but　apparently　whatever　she　told　him　was　no　fort。　My　father　left　the　forest　deeps；　still　grieving。　Soon　after；　when　his　despair　finally　outweighed　even　his　terror　of　the　sin　of　self…slaughter；　he　cast　himself　over　the　side　of　a　ship　into　the　Bay　of　Firannos。　He　survived　somehow…he　is　fearfully　strong；　you　know；　that　trait　his　blood　certainly　did　not　pass　on　to　me！…but　his　wits　were　shadowed。　He　wandered　through　the　southland；　begging；　living　in　the　wilderness；　subsisting　on　the　charities　of　others；　until　he　found　his　way　at　last　to　that　Kwanitupul　inn。　In　a　way；　I　suppose；　he　knew　peace　for　that　time；　despite　the　harshness　of　his　life　and　his　own　poor　wits。　Then；　after　two　score　years；　Isgrimnur　found　him；　and　soon　peace　was　taken　from　him　again。　He　awakened　with　the　old　horror　still　fresh　in　his　mind；　and　the　knowledge　he　had　tried　to　murder　himself　added　to　it。〃
〃Mother　of　Mercy'〃　Miriamele　said　feelingly。　〃That　unhappy　man！〃
　　　　　　　It　was　hard　for　Simon　to　enpass　the　breadth　of　the　old　knight's　suffering。　〃Where　is　he　now？〃
　　　　　　　Josua　shook　his　head。　〃I　do　not　know。　Wandering　once　more；　perhaps。　I　pray　he　did　not　try　to　drown　himself　again。　My　poor　father！　I　hope　that　the　demons　that　plague　him　are　weaker　now；　although　I　doubt　it。　I　will　find　him；　and　I　will　try　to　help　him　toward　some　kind　of　peace。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　that's　what　you're　going　to　do？〃　Simon　asked。　〃Look　for　Camaris？〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　looked　at　the　prince　sharply。　〃What　about　Vorzheva？〃
Josua　nodded　and　smiled。　〃I　will　search　for　my　father；　but　only　after　my　wife　and　children　are　safe。　There　is　much　to　be　done；　and　it　will　be　almost　impossible　for　me　to　do　any　of　it　here　in　Erkynland　where　I　am　known。〃　He　laughed　quietly。　〃You　see；　I　am　imitating　Duke　Isgrimnur　and　letting　my　beard　grow　to　better　my　disguise。〃　The　prince　rubbed　his　chin。　〃So　tonight　I　ride　south。　Soon　old　Count　Streawe　will　have　a　late…night　visitor。　He　owes　me　a　favor　。。。　of　which　I　will　remind　him。　If　anyone　can　spirit　Vorzheva　and　the　two　children　out　of　the　Nabbanai　court；　it　will　be　Perdruin's　devious　master。　And　he　will
enjoy　the　sport　of　it　more　than　any　payment　I　could　ever　make　him。　He　loves　secrets。〃
〃The　dead　prince's　wife　and　heirs　disappearing。〃　Simon　could　not　resist　a　smile　of　his　own。　〃That　will　make　for　a　few　stories　and　songs！〃
　　　　　　　〃So　it　will。　And　I'm　sure　I　will　hear　them　and　laugh。〃　He　reached　over　and　squeezed　Simon's　arm；　then　leaned　farther　to　embrace　Miriamele；　who　clung　to　him　for　a　long　moment。　〃Now　it　is　time　for　me　to　go。　Vinyafod　is　waiting。　It　will　be　dawn　soon。〃
　　　　　　　Dreamlike　as　the　conversation　was；　as　the　whole　night　had　been；　Simon　was　suddenly　unwilling　to　let　Josua　go。　〃But　if　you　find　Camaris；　and　if　you　have　Vorzheva　with　you；　what　then？〃
The　prince　paused。　'The　southland　will　need　at　least　one　more　Scrollbearer　besides　Tiamak；　I　believe…if　the　League　will　have　me。　And　I　can　think　of　nothing　I　would　like　better　than　to　put　all　the　cares　of　battle　and　judgment　behind　me　to　read　and　think。　Perhaps　Streawe　can　help　me　purchase　Pelippa　's　Bowl；　and　I　will　be　the　landlord　of　a　quiet　inn　at　Kwanitupul。　An　inn　where　friends　will　always　be　wele。〃
〃So　you　are　truly　going？〃　asked　Miriamele。
　　　　　　　〃Truly。　I　have　been　given　the　gift　of　freedom…a　gift　I　had　never　expected　to　receive。　I　would　be　ungrateful　indeed　to　turn　my　back　on　it。〃　He　stood　up。　〃It　was　very　strange　to　hear　my　funeral　rites　spoken　at　the　Hayholt　today。　Everyone　should　have　such　a　chance　while　they　still　live…it　gives　one　much　to　think　about。〃　He　smiled。　〃Let　me　have　a　few　hours'　start　at　least；　but　then　tell　Isgrimnur；　and　whatever　others　can　be　trusted；　that　I　live。　They　will　be　wondering　about　the　disappearance　of　Vinyafod　in　any　case。　But　do　tell　Isgrimnur　soon。　It　pains　me　greatly　to　think　of　my　old　friend　mourning　for　me：　the　loss　of　his　son　is　burden　enough。　I　hope　he　will　understand　what　I　do。〃
Josua　moved　toward　the　tent　flap。　〃And　you　two；　your　adventures　are　only　beginning；　I　think…although　I　hope　those　to　e　are　happier。〃　He　blew　out　the　candle　and　the　tent　was　dark　again。　〃Just　as　I　would　be　a　fool　not　to　take　what　I　have　been　given；　Simon；　you　will　be　a　fool　indeed　if　you　do　not　marry　my　niece…and　Miriamele；　you　will　be　a　fool　if　you　do　not　take　him。　The　two　of　you　have　much　work　to　do；　and　many　things　to　set　right；　but　you　are　young　and　strong；　and　you　have　been　given　a　schooling　like　none　the　world　has　ever　seen。　May　God　bless　you　both；　and　good　luck。　I　will　be　watching　you。　You　will　both　be　in　my　prayers。〃
　　　　　　　The　tent　flap　lifted。　Stars　glimmered　above　Josua's　shoulder；　then　all　was　dark　again。
　　　　　　　Simon　settled　back；　his　head　whirling。　Josua　alive！　Camaris　the　prince's　father！　And　he；　Simon；　with　a　princess　lying　beside　him。　The　world　was　unimaginably　strange。
〃So？〃　Miriamele　asked　suddenly。
〃What？〃　He　held　his　breath；　worried　by　the　tone　of　her　voice。
〃You　heard　my　uncle；〃　she　said。　〃Are　you　going　to　marry　me？　And　what's　this　about　the　blood　of　Eahlstan？　Have　you　been　hiding　something　from　me　all　this　time　to　pay　me　back　for　my　serving…girl　disguise？〃
He　exhaled。　〃I　only　found　out　myself　yesterday。〃'　
　　　　　　　After　a　long　silence；　she　said：　〃You　haven't　answered　my　other　question。〃　She　took　his　face　and　pulled　it　near　hers；　running　her　finger　along　the　sensitive　ridge　of　his　scar。　〃You　said　you　would　never　leave　me；　Simon。　Now　are　you　going　to　do　what　Josua　told　you　to　do？〃
　　　　　　　For　answer；　he　laughed　helplessly　and　kissed　her。　Her　arms　curled　around　his　neck。

　　　　　　　They　had　gathered　on　the　grassy　hillside　beneath　the　Nearulagh　Gate。　The　great　portal　lay　in　ruins；　birds　fluttered　above　the　stones；　quarreling　shrilly。　Beyond　the　rubble　the　setting　sun　glinted　from　the　wet　roofs　of　the　Hayholt。　The　Conqueror　Star　made　a　faint　red　smear　in　the　northernmost　er　of　the　darkening　heavens。
Simon　and　Miriamele　stood　arm　in　arm；　surrounded　by　friends　and　allies。　The　Sithi　had　e　to　say　farewell。
〃Jiriki。〃　Simon　gently　disengaged　himself　from　Miriamele　and　stepped　forward。　〃I　meant　what　I　said　before；　although　I　said　it　in　childish　bad　temper。　Your　arrow　is　gone；　burned　away　when　the　Storm　King　vanished。　Any　debt　between　us　is　gone；　too。　You　have　saved　my　life　enough　times。〃
The　Sitha　smiled。　〃We　will　start　afresh；　then。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　you　didn't　have　to　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　mother　and　the　others　will　recover　more　quickly　in　their　homes。〃　Jiriki　gazed　at　the　banners　of　his　people　ranged　along　the　hillside；　their　bright　clothes。　〃Look　on　that。　I　hope　you　will　remember。　The　Dawn　Children　may　never　be　gathered　again　in　one　place。〃　
　　　　　　　Miriamele　stared　down　at　the　waiting　Sithi　and　their　bold；　impatient　horses。　〃It　is　beautiful；〃　she　said。　〃Beautiful。〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　smiled　at　her；　then　turned　back　to　Simon。　〃So　it　is　time　for　my　folk　to　go　back　to　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　but　you　and　I　will　see　each　other　before　long。　Do　you　remember　I　told　you　once　that　it　took　no　magical　wisdom　to　say　we　would　meet　again？　I　will　say　it　once　more；　Seoman　Snowlock。　The　story　is　not　ended。〃
〃All　the　same；　I　will　miss　you…we　will　miss　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　may　be　that　things　will　be　better　in　days　to　e　between　my　folk　and　yours；　Seoman。　But　it　will　not　happen　swiftly。　We　are　an　old　people；　slow　to　change；　and　most　mortals　still　fear　us…not　without　reason　after　what　the　Hikeda'ya　have　done。　Still；　I　cannot　but　hope　that　something　has　indeed　changed　forever。　We　Dawn　Children；　our　day　is　past；　but　perhaps　now　we　will　not　simply　disappear。　Perhaps　when　we　are　gone　there　will　be　something　of　us　left　behind　beside　our　ruins　and　a　few　old　stories。〃　He　clasped　Simon's　hand　and　then　drew　him　forward　until　they　embraced。
Aditu　followed　her　brother；　light…footed　and　smiling。　〃Of　course　you　will　e　to　see　us；　Seoman。　And　we　will　e　to　you；　too。　You　and　I　have　many　a　game　of　shent　yet　to　play。　I　fear　to　see　what　clever　new　strategies　you　will　have　learned。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　laughed。　〃I'm　sure　you　fear　my　shent…playing　the　way　you　fear　deep　snow　and　high　walls…not　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　She　kissed　him；　then　went　to　Miriamele　and　kissed　her　too。　〃Be　kind　and　patient　with　each　other；〃　the　Sitha　said；　eyes　bright。　〃Your　days　will　be　long　together。　Remember　these　moments　always；　but　do　not　ignore　the　sad　times；　either。　Memory　is　the　greatest　of　gifts。〃
　　　　　　　Many　others；　some　who　would　stay　to　help　in　the　rebuilding　of　Erchester　and　the　Hayholt　and　remain　for　the　coronation；　others　soon　to　return　to　their　own　cities　and　people；　clustered　around。　The　Sithi　gravely　and　sweetly　exchanged　farewells　with　them　all。
　　　　　　　Duke　Isgrimnur　pulled　himself