tw.togreenangeltower2-第146部分

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nto　the　evening。

　　　　　　　They　sat　in　the　dining　hall；　filling　the　chairs　around　John's　Great　Table。　All　the　wall　sconces　held　torches；　and　candles　were　set　about　the　table　as　well；　so　that　the　long　room　was　full　of　light。
Miriamele　rose；　her　blue　gown　whispering　in　the　sudden　silence。　The　circlet　on　her　brow　caught　the　torchlight。
　　　　　　　〃Wele；　all。〃　Her　voice　was　soft　but　strong。　〃This　house　is　yours　and　always　will　be。　e　to　us　whenever　you　wish；　stay　as　long　as　you　like。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　be　sure　and　be　here　at　least　once　a　year；〃　Simon　said；　and　raised　his　cup。
Tiamak　laughed。　〃It　is　a　long　journey　for　some　of　us；　Simon；〃　he　said。　〃But　we　will　always　do　our　best。〃
Beside　him；　Isgrimnur　thumped　his　goblet　on　the　table。　He　had　been　making　healthy　inroads　into　the　supply　of　beer　and　wine。　〃He's　right；　Simon。　And　speaking　of　long　journeys；　I　don't　see　little　Binabik。〃
Simon　stood　up　and　put　his　arm　around　Miriamele's　shoulder；　pausing　for　a　moment　to　pull　her　close　and　brush　the　top　of　her　head　with　a　kiss。　〃Binabik　and　Sisqi　have　sent　a　bird　with　a　message。〃　He　smiled。　〃They　are　performing　the　Rite　of　Quickening…Sludig　knows　what　I'm　talking　about；　since　it　almost　got　us　all　killed…and　then　traveling　with　their　folk　down…mountain　to　Blue　Mud　Lake。　After　that；　they　will　e　to　visit　us　here。〃　Simon's　grin　widened。　〃Then；　next　year；　Sludig　and　I　will　be　off　to　visit　them　in　high　Mintahoq！〃
Sludig　nodded　his　head　vigorously　as　various　jests　were　made。　〃The　trolls　invited　me；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃First　what…do…they…call…it…'Croohok'…they　have　ever　asked。〃　He　raised　his　cup。　〃To　Binabik　and　Sisqi！　Long　life　and　many　children！〃
　　　　　　　The　toast　was　echoed。
〃Do　you　really　think　you　will　slip　off　on　such　an　adventure　without　me？〃　asked　Miriamele；　eyeing　her　husband。　〃Leave　me　home　to　do　all　the　work？〃
　　　　　　　〃Good　luck　trying　to　Gutrun　Miri；〃　Isgrimnur　chortled。　〃There's　a　woman　who's　already　traveled　more　of　the　world　than　you　have！〃
　　　　　　　Gutrun　elbowed　him。　〃Let　them　speak。〃
Isgrimnur　turned　and　kissed　her　cheek。　〃Of　course。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　will　go　together；〃　Simon　said　grandly。　〃We　will　make　it　a　royal　progress。〃
Miriamele　gave　him　a　sour　glance；　then　turned　to　Rachel　the　Dragon；　who　had　paused　in　the　hall's　far　doorway　to　quietly　berate　a　serving　lad。　Rachel's　eyebrows　had　shot　up　at　Simon's　offhand　remark。　Now　she　and　Miriamele　shared　a　look　of　disgusted　amusement。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　sort　of　trouble　that　will　be？〃　Miriamele　demanded。　〃To　take　the　whole　court　into　the　mountains　to　Yiqanuc？〃
　　　　　　　Simon　looked　around　the　hall　at　me　amused　faces　of　the　guests。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　red　beard　and　grinned。　〃I　am　not　quite　civilized　yet；　but　they　are　doing　their　best。〃　Miriamele　poked　his　ribs；　then　leaned　against　him　again。　He　lifted　his　goblet　high。　〃It　is　so　good　to　see　you　all。　Another　toast！　To　the　Prince's　pany！　Would　that　Josua　were　here　to　see　it…but　I　know　he　will　be　honored；　wherever　he　is！〃　The　rest　of　the　panions　laughed；　all　now　privy　to　the　secret。
Tiamak　stood。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　bring　word　from　。。。　an　absent　friend。　He　sends　his　great　love；　and　wishes　you　to　know　that　he；　his　wife；　and　their　children　are　well。〃　The　announcement　was　greeted　with　shouts　of　approval。
Isgrimnur　rose　abruptly；　teetering　a　little。　〃And　let　us　not　forget　to　drink　to　all　the　others　who　also　fought　and　fell　that　we　could　be　here；〃　he　cried。　〃All　of　them。〃　His　voice　shook　a　little。　〃God　preserve　their　souls。　May　we　never　forget　them！〃
　　　　　　　〃Amen！〃　cried　many　others。　When　the　cheers　fell　away；　there　was　a　long　moment　of　silence。
　　　　　　　〃Now　drink　up；〃　Miriamele　ordered。　〃But　keep　your　wits。　Sangfugol　has　promised　to　play　us　a　new　song。〃
〃And　Jeremias　will　sing　it。　He　has　been　practicing。〃　The　harper　looked　around。　〃I　don't　know　where　he　has　gotten　to。　It　is　annoying　to　have　the　singer　unprepared。〃
〃You　mean　some　singers　are　prepared？〃　Isgrimnur　laughed；　then　made　a　face　of　mock　fear　as　Sangfugol　waved　a　heel　of　bread　at　him　threateningly。
〃When　your　ears　are　other　than　stone；　Duke　Isgrimnur；〃　Sangfugol　replied　with　a　certain　frostiness；　〃then　you　can　make　jokes。〃
The　hall　had　fallen　back　into　merriment　and　general　conversation　when　Jeremias　appeared　at　Simon's　shoulder　and　whispered　something　in　his　ear。
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　said　Simon。　〃I　am　glad　he　came。　But　you；　Jeremias；　what　are　you　doing；　scuttling　around　like　a　servant？　They　are　expecting　you　to　sing　later。　Sit　down　here。　Miri　will　pour　you　some　wine。〃　He　got　up　and　forced　a　protesting　Jeremias　into　his　chair；　then　walked　toward　the　door。
In　the　entrance　hall；　a　somber　man　with　a　dark　horse…tail　of　hair　awaited　him；　still　wearing　traveling　clothes　and　a　cloak。
　　　　　　　〃Count　Eolair。〃　Simon　went　forward　to　clasp　the　Hernystirman's　hand。　〃I　hoped　you　would　e。　How　was　your　journey？〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　looked　at　him　keenly；　studying　him　as　though　they　had　never　met　before。　He　bent　his　knee。　〃Well　enough；　King　Seoman。　The　roads　are　still　not　good；　and　it　is　a　long　trip；　but　there　is　little　fear　of　bandits　anymore。　It　does　me　good　to　get　away　from　Hernysadharc。　But　you　know　of　rebuilding。〃
〃It　is　Simon；　please。　And　Queen　Inahwen？　How　is　she？〃
Eolair　nodded；　half…smiling。　〃She　sends　her　greetings。　But　we　will　play　those　tunes　later；　I　suppose；　when　Queen　Miriamele　and　others　can　hear　them…in　the　throne　room；　where　these　things　must　be　done。〃　He　looked　up　suddenly。　〃Speaking　of　throne　rooms；　was　that　not　the　Dragonbone　Chair　I　saw　in　the　courtyard　outside？　With　ivy　growing　upon　it？〃
　　　　　　　Simon　laughed。　〃Out　for　everyone　to　see。　Fear　not…a　little　wind　and　a　little　damp　won't　hurt　those　bones。　They　are　stronger　than　rock。　And　neither　Miri　nor　I　could　bear　to　sit　in　the　thing。〃
〃Some　children　were　playing　on　it。〃　Eolair　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　〃That　was　something　I　never　thought　to　see。〃
　　　　　　　〃To　the　castle　children；　it's　only　something　to　climb　on。　Although　they　were　a　little　worried　at　first。〃　He　extended　a　hand。　〃e；　let　me　take　you　in　and　give　you　something　to　drink　and　to　eat。〃
Eolair　hesitated。　〃Perhaps　I　would　be　better　off　finding　a　bed。　It　was　a　long　ride　today。〃
　　　　　　　Now　it　was　Simon's　turn　to　look　at　Eolair　carefully。　〃Forgive　me　if　I　am　speaking　out　of　turn；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　known　something　for　a　long　time　that　you　should　know　too。　I　would　have　waited　until　we　had　spoken　more；　you　and　I；　but　perhaps　it　would　be　best　to　tell　you　now。〃　He　took　a　breath。　〃I　met　Maegwin　before　she　died。　Did　you　know？　But　the　strange　thing　was　that　we　were　really　leagues　apart。〃
〃I　know　something　of　it；〃　said　the　Count　of　Nad　Mullach。　〃Jiriki　was　with　us。　He　tried　to　explain。　It　was　difficult　to　understand　what　he　meant。〃
　　　　　　　'There　will　be　much　to　talk　about　later；　but　here　is　the　one　thing　you　must　know。〃　Simon's　voice　dropped。　〃She　was　herself　at　the　last；　and　the　only　thing　she　regretted　leaving　was　you；　Count　Eolair。　She　loved　you。　But　by　giving　up　her　life　she　saved　me　and　freed　me　to　go　to　the　tower。　We　might　none　of　us　be　here　today…Erkynland；　Hernystir；　everything　else；　all　might　be　under　cold　shadows…were　it　not　for　her。〃
Eolair　was　silent　for　a　while；　his　face　expressionless。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said　at　last。　A　little　of　his　brittleness　seemed　to　have　gone。
　　　　　　　Simon　gently　took　his　arm。　〃Now　e；　please。　e　and　join　us。　Up　the　corridor　you　have　a　room　full　of　friends；　Eolair…some　of　them　you　don't　even　know　yet！〃
　　　　　　　He　led　the　count　toward　the　dining　hall。　Firelight　and　the　sound　of　laughing　voices　reached　out　to　wele　them。