tw.togreenangeltower2-第24部分

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ir　host　Baron　Seriddan；　had　raised　his　goblet　to　his　lips　many　times；　but　had　not　yet　allowed　the　page　beside　him　to　refill　it。　The　duke　approved　of　Josua's　forbearance。　The　prince　was　not　much　of　a　drinker　at　the　best　of　times；　but　since　the　chance　of　dislodging　Benigaris　from　the　ducal　throne　might　rest　on　the　knife…edge　of　tonight's　doings；　it　was　doubly　important　that　Josua's　wits　be　sharp　and　his　tongue　cautious。
　　　　　　　As　he　surveyed　the　room；　the　duke　was　stopped　short　by　a　pale　glimmer　in　the　doorway；　far　across　the　room。　Squinting；　Isgrimnur　suddenly　smiled　deep　in　his　beard。　It　was　the　boy　Pasevalles；　who　had　doubtless　once　more　escaped　from　his　mother　and　her　ladies。　He　had　e；　Isgrimnur　had　no　doubt；　to　watch　Real　Knights　at　table。
　　　　　　　He　may　just　get　an　eyeful。
　　　　　　　Baron　Seriddan　Metessis　rose　from　his　seat　at　the　head　of　the　table　and　lifted　his　goblet。　Behind　him　a　blue　crane；　symbol　of　the　Metessan　House；　spread　its　long　wings　across　a　wall　banner。
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　salute　our　visitors；〃　the　baron　said。　He　smiled　ironically；　his　sun…browned；　bearded　face　wrinkling。　〃I　am　doubtless　a　traitor　already；　just　for　letting　you　inside　the　gates。　Prince　Josua…so　it　does　no　further　harm　to　drink　your　health。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　found　himself　liking　Seriddan；　and　respecting　him　more　than　a　bit。　He　little　resembled　the　duke's　fondly…held　image　of　an　effete　Nabbanai　baron：　his　thick　neck　and　seamed　peasant　face　made　Seriddan　look　more　a　genial　rogue　than　the　hereditary　master　of　a　great　fiefdom；　but　his　eyes　were　shrewd　and　his　manner　deceptively　self…mocking。　His　mand　of　Westerling　was　so　good　that　little　Pasevalles'　fluency　no　longer　seemed　surprising。
　　　　　　　After　the　glasses　were　drained；　Josua　rose　and　lifted　his　own　cup　to　thank　the　folk　of　Chasu　Metessa　for　their　hospitality。　This　was　greeted　by　polite　smiles　and　murmurs　of　approval　that　seemed　more　than　a　little　forced。　When　the　prince　sat　down；　the　whisper　of　table　talk　began　to　grow　once　more；　but　Seriddan　gestured　for　quiet。
　　　　　　　〃So；〃　he　said　to　Josua；　loud　enough　for　everyone　at　the　table　to　hear。　〃We　have　fulfilled　the　obligations　that　good　Aedonites　owe　to　their　fellows…and　some　would　say　we　have　done　far　more　than　that；　considering　you　appeared　in　our　lands　unasked　for；　and　with　an　army　at　your　back。〃　Above　the　smiling　mouth；　Seriddan's　stare　was　cool。　〃Will　we　see　your　heels　in　the　morning；　Josua　of　Erkynland？〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　suppressed　a　noise　of　surprise。　He　had　assumed　that　the　baron　would　send　the　lesser　folk　of　his　household　away　so　that　he　could　talk　to　the　prince　in　privacy；　but　apparently　Seriddan　had　other　ideas。
　　　　　　　Josua；　too；　was　taken　aback；　but　quickly　said：　〃If　you　hear　me　out　and　are　unmoved；　Baron；　you　will　indeed　see　our　heels　soon　after　sunrise。　My　people　are　not　camped　outside　your　walls　as　a　threat　to　you。　You　have　done　me　no　wrong；　and　I　will　do　you　none　either。〃
　　　　　　　The　baron　stared　at　him　for　a　long　moment；　then　turned　to　his　brother。　〃Brindalles；　what　do　you　think？　Does　it　not　seem　odd　that　an　Erkynlandish　prince　would　wish　to　pass　through　our　lands？　Where　might　he　be　going？〃
　　　　　　　The　brother's　thin　face　bore　many　similarities　to　the　baron's；　but　the　features　that　looked　roguishly　dangerous　on　Seriddan　seemed　merely　tired　and　a　trifle　unsettled　on　Brindalles。
　　　　　　　〃If　he　is　not　going　to　Nabban；〃　came　the　mild　reply；　〃he　must　be　planning　to　walk　straight　to　the　sea。〃　Brindalles'　smile　was　wan。　It　was　hard　to　think　that　such　a　diffident　man　could　be　the　father　of　bright…burning　Pasevalles。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　going　on　to　Nabban；〃　said　Josua。　〃That　is　no　secret。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　what　purpose　could　you　have　that　is　not　dangerous　to　me　and　dangerous　to　my　liege…lord；　Duke　Benigaris？〃　Seriddan　demanded。　〃Why　should　I　not　make　you　a　prisoner？〃
　　　　　　　Josua　looked　around　the　now…silent　room。　Chasu　Metessa's　most　important　residents　all　sat　at　the　long　table；　watching　with　rapt　attention。　〃Are　you　certain　you　wish　me　to　speak　so　openly？　〃
　　　　　　　Seriddan　gestured　impatiently。　〃I　will　not　have　it　said　that　I　misunderstood　you；　whether　I　let　you　pass　through　my　lands　or　hold　you　here　for　Benigaris。　Speak；　and　my　people　here　will　be　my　witnesses。〃
　　　　　　　〃Very　well。〃　Josua　turned　to　Sludig；　who　despite　having　drained　his　wine　cup　several　times　was　watching　the　proceedings　with　a　wary　eye。　〃May　I　have　the　scroll？〃
　　　　　　　As　the　yellow…bearded　Rimmersman　fumbled　in　the　pocket　of　his　cloak；　Josua　told　Seriddan；　〃As　I　said；　Baron：　we　go　to　Nabban。　And　we　go　in　hopes　of　removing　Benigaris　from　the　Sancellan　Mahistrevis。　In　part；　that　is　because　he　is　an　ally　of　my　brother；　and　his　fall　would　weaken　the　High　King's　position。　The　fact　that　Elias　and　I　are　at　war　with　each　other　is　no　secret；　but　the　reasons　why　are　less　well…known。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　think　they　are　important；〃　Seriddan　said　equably；　〃tell　them。　We　have　plenty　of　wine；　and　we　are　at　home。　It　is　your　little　army　that　may　or　may　not　be　leaving　with　the　dawn。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　tell　you；　because　I　would　not　ask　allies　to　fight　unknowing；〃　said　Josua。
　　　　　　　〃Hea！　Allies？　Fight！？〃　The　baron　scowled　and　sat　straighten。　〃You　are　walking　a　dangerous　road；　Josua　Lackhand。　Benigaris　is　my　liege…lord。　It　is　mad　even　to　contemplate　letting　your　people　pass；　knowing　what　I　know；　but　I　show　respect　for　your　father　by　letting　you　speak。　But　to　hear　you　talk　of　me　fighting　beside　you…madness！〃　He　waved　his　hand。　Some　two　dozen　armed　men；　who　had　been　standing　back　against　the　shadowed　walls　all　during　the　meal；　came　rustlingly　to　attention。
　　　　　　　Josua　did　not　flinch；　but　calmly　held　Seriddan's　eye。　〃As　I　said；〃　he　resumed；　〃I　will　give　you　the　reasons　that　Elias　must　be　driven　from　the　Dragonbone　Chair。　But　not　now。　There　are　other　things　to　tell　you　first。〃　He　reached　and　took　the　scroll　from　Sludig's　hand。　〃My　finest　knight；　Sir　Deornoth　of　Hewenshire；　was　at　the　battle　of　Bullback　Hill　when　Duke　Leobardis；　Benigaris'　father；　came　to　relieve　my　castle　at　Naglimund。〃
　　　　　　　〃Leobardis　chose　your　side；〃　Seriddan　said　shortly。　〃Benigaris　has　chosen　your　brother's。　What　the　old　duke　decided　does　not　affect　my　loyalty　to　his　son。〃　Despite　his　words；　there　was　a　certain　veiled　look　in　the　baron's　eyes；　watching　him；　Isgrimnur　suspected　Seriddan　might　just　wish　that　the　old　duke　were　still　alive　and　that　his　loyalty　could　be　more　fortable。　〃And　what　does　this　Sir　What…may…be…his…name　have　to　do　with　Metessa？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　more　than　you　can　know。〃　For　the　first　time　there　was　an　edge　of　impatience　in　Josua's　tone。
　　　　　　　Careful；　man。　Isgrimnur　tugged　anxiously　at　his　beard。　Don't　let　your　sorrow　over　Deornoth　betray　you。　We're　farther　along　than　I　had　thought　we　'd　be。　Seriddan's　listening；　anyway。
　　　　　　　As　if　he　heard　his　old　friend's　silent　thought；　Josua　paused　and　took　a　breath。　〃Forgive　me；　Baron　Seriddan。　I　understand　your　loyalty　to　the　Kingfisher　House。　I　only　wish　to　tell　you　things　you　deserve　to　know；　not　tell　you　where　your　duties　lie。　I　want　to　read　you　Deornoth's　words　about　what　happened　near　Bullback　Hill。　They　were　written　down　by　Father　Strangyeard　。。。〃　the　prince　pointed　to　the　archivist；　who　was　trying　to　make　himself　unobtrusive　down　near　the　long　table's　far　end；　〃and　sworn　to　before　that　priest　and　God　Himself。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　reading　some　piece　of　parchment？〃　Seriddan　asked　impatiently。　〃If　this　man　has　a　story　to　tell；　why　does　he　not　e　here　before　us？〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　Sir　Deornoth　is　dead；〃　said　Josua。　〃He　died　at　the　hands　of　Thrithings　mercenaries　King　Elias　sent　against　me。〃
　　　　　　　At　this　there　was　a　small　stir　in　the　room。　The　Thrithings…folk　were　objects　of　both　contempt　and　fear　to　the　outland　baronies　of　Nabban…contempt　because　the　Nabbanai　thought　them　little　more　than　savages；　fear　because　when　the　Thrithings…men　went　into　one　of　their　periodic　raiding　frenzies；　outland　fiefdoms　such　as　Metessa　bore　the　greatest　part　of　the　suffering。
　　　　　　　〃Read。〃　Seriddan　was　clearly　angry。　Isgrimnur　thought　that　the　canny　baron　might　already　sense　the　snare　into　which　his　own　cleverness　had　delivered　him。　He　had　hoped　to　deal　with　the　odd　and　difficult　situation　of　the　prince　by　forcing　Josua　to　speak　his　treason　in　front　of　many　witnesses。　Now　the　baron　must　sense　that　Josua's　words　might　not　be　so　easily　dismissed。　It　was　an　awkward　spot。　But　even　now；　Metessa's　master　did　not　disperse　the　other　folk　sitting　at　table：　he　had　made　his　gambit　and　he　would　live　with　it。　The　Duke　of　Elvritshalla　found　himself　appreciating　the　man　anew。
　　　　　　　〃I　had　Deornoth　tell　his　story　to　our　priest　before　the　battle　for　New　Gadrinsett；〃　Josua　said。　〃What　he　saw　was　important　enough　that　I　did　not　wish　to　chance　it　might　die　with　him；　as　there　seemed　little　likelihood　we　would　survive　that　fight。〃　He　held　up　the　scroll；　unrolling　it　with　the　stump　of　his　right　wrist。　〃I　will　read　only　the　part　that　I　think　you　need　to　hear；　but　I　will　gladly　give　the　whole　thing　to　you。　Baron；　so　that　you　may　read　it　at　your　ease。〃
　　　　　　　He　paused　for　a　moment；　then　began。　The　listeners　along　the　table　leaned　forward；　greedy　for　more　strangeness　on　what　was　already　a　night　that　would　be　discussed　in　Metessa　for　a　long　time。
　　　　　　　〃。　。　。　When　we　came　upon　the　field；　the　Nabbanai　had　ridden　after　Earl　Guthwulf　of　Utanyeat　and　his　men　of　the　Boar　and　Spears；　who　were　falling　back　with　great　swiftness　to　the　slope　of　Bullback　Hill。　Duke　Leobardis　and　three　hundred　knights　came　at　them　in　such　a　wise　as　to　pass　between　Utanyeat　and　the　High　King's　army；　which　was　still　some　way　distant；　as　we　thought。　
　　　　　　　〃Prince　Josua；　fearing　that　Leobardis　would　be　delayed　too　long　and　that　thus　the　king　could　e　against　him　in　the　unprotected　open　lands　south　of　Naglimund；　brought　many　knights　out　of　the　castle　to　save　Nabban　from　the　king；　and　also　perhaps　to　capture　Utanyeat；　who　was　the　greatest　of　King　Elias'　generals。　Josua　himself　led　us；　and　Isorn　Isgrimnurson　and　a　score　of　Rimmersmen　were　with　us　too。
　　　　　　　〃When　we　struck　against　the　side　of　the　Boar　and　Spears；　we　at　first　did　bring　them　great　woe；　for　they　were　outnumbered　manyfold。　But　Guthwulf　and　the　king　had　prepared　a　trap；　and　soon　it　was　sprung。　Earl　Fengbald　of　Falshire　and　several　hundred　knights　came　down　a…horse　from　the　woo