tw.togreenangeltower2-第144部分

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Sithi　gravely　and　sweetly　exchanged　farewells　with　them　all。
　　　　　　　Duke　Isgrimnur　pulled　himself　away　from　the　crowd　surrounding　the　immortals。　〃I'll　be　here　yet　a　while；　Simon；　Miriamele…even　after　Gutrun's　ship　es　from　Nabban。　But　we'll　have　to　leave　for　Elvritshalla　before　summer　begins；〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃There　will　be　an　ungodly　lot　of　work　to　do　there。　My　people　have　suffered　too　much。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　couldn't　hope　to　begin　here　without　you；　Uncle　Isgrimnur；〃　said　Miriamele。　〃Stay　as　long　as　you　can；　and　we　will　send　with　you　whatever　may　help　you。〃
The　duke　lifted　her　in　his　broad　arms　and　hugged　her。　〃I　am　so　happy　for　you；　Miriamele；　my　dear　one。　I　felt　like　such　a　damnable　traitor。〃
　　　　　　　She　smacked　at　his　arm　until　he　put　her　down。　〃You　were　trying　to　do　what　was　best　for　everyone…or　what　you　thought　was　best。　But　you　should　have　e　to　me　in　any　case；　you　foolish　man。　I　would　happily　have　stepped　aside　for　Simon；　or　you；　or　even　Qantaqa。〃　She　laughed　and　spun　in　a　circle；　dress　flaring。　〃But　now　I　am　happy；　Uncle。　Now　I　can　work。　We　will　put　things　to　rights。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　nodded；　a　melancholy　smile　nestling　in　his　beard。　〃I　know　you　will；　bless　you；〃　he　whispered。
There　was　a　piercing　shout　of　trumpets　and　a　rumble　from　the　crowd。　The　Sithi　were　mounting。　Simon　turned　and　lifted　his　hand。　Miriamele　pushed　in　beneath　his　arm；　pressing　against　him。　Jiriki；　at　the　head　of　the　pany；　stood　in　his　stirrups　and　raised　his　arm；　then　the　trumpets　called　again　and　the　Sithi　rode。　Light　from　the　dying　sun　gleaming　on　their　armor；　they　picked　up　speed；　within　moments　they　were　only　a　bright　cloud　moving　along　the　hillside　toward　the　east。　Snatches　of　their　song　hung　in　the　wind　behind　them。　Simon　felt　his　heart　leap　in　his　chest；　full　of　joy　and　sadness　both；　and　knew　the　sight　would　live　with　him　forever。
　　　　　　　After　a　long　and　reverent　quiet；　the　gathering　at　last　began　splitting　apart。　Simon　and　his　panions　started　to　wander　down　toward　Erchester。　A　great　bonfire　had　been　lit　in　Battle　Square；　and　already　the　streets；　so　long　deserted；　were　full　of　people。　Miriamele　dropped　behind　to　walk　with　Isgrimnur；　slowing　her　pace　to　his。　Simon　felt　a　touch　on　his　hand　and　looked　down。　Binabik　was　there；　Qantaqa　moving　beside　him　like　a　gray　shadow。
　　　　　　　〃I　wondered　where　you　were；〃　said　Simon。
〃My　farewells　to　the　Sithi…folk　were　being　said　this　morning；　so　Qantaqa　and　I　were　at　walking　along　the　Kynswood。　Some　squirrels　that　were　living　there　have　now　e　to　a　sad　end；　but　Qantaqa　is　feeling　very　cheerful。〃　The　troll　grinned。　〃Ah；　Simon…friend；　I　was　thinking　of　old　Doctor　Morgenes；　and　of　the　prideful　feeling　that　he　would　have　if　he　saw　what　is　happening　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　saved　us　all；　didn't　he？〃
〃Certain　it　is　that　his　planning　gave　us　the　only　chance　we　had。　We　were　being　tricked　by　Pryrates　and　the　Storm　King；　but　had　we　not　been　alerted；　Elias'　ravagings　would　have　been　worse。　Also；　the　swords　would　have　been　finding　other　bearers；　and　no　fighting　back　would　have　happened　in　the　tower。　No；　Morgenes　could　not　be　knowing　all；　but　he　did　what　no　other　could　have　done。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　tried　to　tell　me。　He　tried　to　warn　us　all　about　false　messengers。〃　Simon　looked　down　Main　Row　at　the　hurrying　figures　and　the　flicker　of　firelight。　〃Do　you　remember　the　dream　I　had　at　Geloe's　house？　I　know　that　was　him。　That　he　was　。。。　watching。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　know　what　happens　after　we　are　dying；〃　Binabik　said。　〃But　I　am　thinking　you　are　right。　Somehow；　Morgenes　was　watching　for　you。　You　were　being　like　a　family　for　him；　even　more　than　his　Scroll　League。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　always　miss　him。〃
　　　　　　　They　walked　along　for　a　while　without　speaking。　A　trio　of　children　ran　past；　one　of　them　trailing　a　strip　of　colorful　cloth　which　the　others；　laughing　and　shrieking；　tried　to　catch。
　　　　　　　〃I　must　go　soon　myself；〃　said　Binabik。　〃My　people　in　Yiqanuc　are　waiting；　wondering　no　doubt　what　has　happened　here。　And；　being　most　important；　Sisqinanamook　is　there；　also　waiting。　Like　you　and　your　Miriamele；　she　and　I　have　a　tale　that　is　long。　It　is　time　that　we　were　married　before　the　Herder　and　Huntress　and　all　the　folk　of　Mintahoq。〃　He　laughed。　〃Despite　everything；　I　am　thinking　her　parents　will　still　have　a　small　sadness　when　they　see　I　have　survived。〃
　　　　　　　〃Soon？　You're　going　soon？〃
The　troll　nodded。　〃I　must。　But　as　Jiriki　said　to　you；　we　will　have　many　more　meetings；　you　and　I。〃
Qantaqa　looked　at　them　for　a　moment；　then　trotted　ahead；　sniffing　the　ground。　Simon　kept　his　eyes　forward；　staring　toward　the　bonfire　as　though　he　had　never　seen　such　a　thing。　〃I　don't　want　to　lose　you；　Binabik。　You're　my　best　friend　in　the　world。〃
　　　　　　　The　troll　reached　up　and　took　his　hand。　〃All　the　more　reason　that　we　should　not　be　long　parted。　You　will　e　to　Yiqanuc　when　you　can…surely　there　is　being　a　need　for　the　first　Utku　embassy　ever　to　the　trolls'…and　Sisqi　and　I　will　e　to　see　you。〃　He　nodded　his　head　solemnly。　〃You　are　my　dearest　friend　also；　Simon。　Always　we　will　be　in　each　others'　hearts。〃
　　　　　　　They　walked　on　toward　the　bonfire；　hand　in　hand。

　　　　　　　Rachel　the　Dragon　wandered　through　Erchester；　her　hair　bedraggled；　her　clothes　tattered　and　soiled。　All　around；　people　ran　laughing　through　the　streets；　singing；　cheering；　playing　frivolous　games　as　though　the　city　were　not　falling　apart　around　them。　Rachel　could　not　understand　it。
　　　　　　　For　days　she　had　hidden　in　her　underground　sanctuary；　even　after　the　terrible　tremblings　and　shiftings　had　stopped。　She　had　been　convinced　that　the　world　had　ended　over　her　head；　and　felt　no　urge　to　leave　her　well…stocked　cell　to　see　demons　and　sorcerous　spirits　celebrating　in　the　ruins　of　her　beloved　Hayholt。　But　at　last　curiosity　and　a　certain　resolve　had　gotten　the　better　of　her。　Rachel　was　not　the　kind　of　woman　to　take　even　the　end　of　the　world　without　fighting　back。　Let　them　put　her　to　their　fiendish　tortures。　Blessed　Rhiap　had　suffered；　hadn't　she？　Who　was　Rachel　to　hesitate　before　the　example　of　the　saints？
　　　　　　　Her　first　blinking；　molelike　view　of　the　castle　seemed　to　confirm　her　worst　fears。　As　she　made　her　way　through　the　hallways；　through　the　ruins　of　what　had　been　her　home　and　her　greatest　pride；　her　heart　withered　in　her　breast。　She　cursed；　the　people　or　creatures　who　had　done　this；　cursed　them　in　a　way　that　would　have　made　Father　Dreosan　turn　pale　and　hurry　away。　Wrath　moved　through　her　like　a　tide　of　fire。
　　　　　　　But　when　she　had　finally　emerged　into　the　almost…deserted　Inner　Bailey；　it　was　to　discover　one　puzzlement　after　another。　Green　Angel　Tower　lay　in　a　shambles　of　stone；　and　the　destruction　and　fire…scorchings　of　recent　battle　were　everywhere；　but　the　few　folk　she　encountered　wandering　through　the　desolation　claimed　that　Elias　was　dead　and　that　everything　was　to　be　made　right　again。
　　　　　　　On　the　tongues　of　these；　and　of　many　others　she　met　as　she　went　down　into　Erchester；　were　the　names　of　Miriamele；　the　king's　daughter；　and　someone　called　Snowlock。　These　two；　it　was　said…he　a　great　hero　of　battles　in　the　east；　a　dragon…slayer　and　warrior…had　thrown　down　the　High　King。　Soon　they　would　be　married。　All　would　soon　be　made　right。　That　was　the　refrain　on　every　tongue：　all　would　be　made　right。
Rachel　had　snorted　to　herself…only　those　who　had　never　had　the　responsibilities　she　had　would　think　this　a　task　that　could　take　less　than　years…but　she　could　not　help　feeling　curiosity　and　a　faint　flickering　of　hope。　Perhaps　better　days　were　ing。　The　folk　she　met　said　Pryrates　had　died；　too；　burned　to　death　somehow　in　the　great　tower。　So　a　measure　of　justice　had　been　done　at　least。　Rachel's　losses　had　finally　been　avenged；　however　tardily。
And　perhaps；　she　had　thought；　Guthwulf　could　be　saved　and　brought　up　again　from　darkness。　He　deserved　a　happier　fate　than　to　wander　forever　while　the　world　aboveground　returned　to　something　like　order。
Kind　folk　in　Erchester　had　fed　her　from　their　own　meager　stores　and　given　her　a　place　to　sleep。　And　all　evening　she　had　heard　the　stories　of　Princess　Miriamele　and　the　hero　Snowlock；　the　warrior　princeling　with　the　dragon…scar。　Perhaps；　she　had　considered；　when　things　were　calm　again　she　would　offer　her　services　to　the　new　rulers。
　　　　　　　Surely　a　young　woman　tike　Miriamele；　if　she　had　been　brought　up　at　all　well；　would　understand　the　need　for　order。　Rachel　did　not　think　that　her　heart　would　ever　entirety　be　in　her　work　again；　but　felt　sure　she　had　something　to　offer。　She　was　old；　but　there　might　still　be　use　for　her。
　　　　　　　Rachel　the　Dragon　looked　up。　While　her　thoughts　had　been　meandering；　her　feet　had　led　her　down　to　the　fringes　of　Battle　Square；　where　a　bonfire　had　been　lit。　As　much　as　possible　had　been　made　of　scant　provisions；　and　a　feast　of　sorts　had　been　laid　in　the　middle　of　the　square。　The　remnants　of　Erchester's　citizenry　milled　about；　shouting；　singing；　dancing　around　the　fire。　The　clamor　was　almost　deafening。　Rachel　accepted　a　piece　of　dried　fruit　from　a　young　woman；　then　wandered　over　to　a　shadowy　corner　to　eat　it。　She　sat　down　against　the　wall　of　a　shop　and　watched　the　carryings…on。
A　young　man　passed　her；　and　his　eye　caught　hers　for　a　moment。　He　was　thin　and　his　face　was　sad。　Rachel　squinted。　Something　about　him　was　familiar。
　　　　　　　He　seemed　to　have　the　same　thought；　for　he　wheeled　and　walked　back　toward　her。　〃Rachel？〃　he　asked。　〃Aren't　you　Rachel；　the　Mistress　of　Chambermaids？〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　at　him；　but　could　summon　no　name。　Her　head　was　full　of　the　noise　of　people　on　the　roofs　shouting　down　to　friends　in　the　square。　〃I　am；〃　she　said。　〃I　was。〃
　　　　　　　He　stepped　forward　suddenly；　frightening　her　a　little；　and　put　his　arms　around　her。　〃Don't　you　remember　me？〃　he　asked。　〃I'm　Jeremias！　The　chandler's　boy！　You　helped　me　escape　from　the　castle。〃
〃Jeremias；〃　she　said；　patting　his　back　softly。　So　he　had　lived。　That　was　a　good　thing。　She　was　happy。　〃Of　course。〃
　　　　　　　He　stepped　back　and　looked　at　her。　〃Have　you　been　here　all　along？　No　one　has　seen　you　in　Erchester。〃
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head；　a　little　surprised。　Why　should　anyone　have　been　looking　for　her？　〃I　had　a　room　。。。　a　place　I　found。　Under　the　castle。〃　She　raised　her　hands；　unable　to　explain　everything　that　had　happened。　〃I　hid。　Then　I　came　out。〃
　　　　　　　Grinning；　Jeremias　grabbed　her　hand。　〃