tw.togreenangeltower2-第41部分

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ymore　survive　without　the　Storm　King。　The　sword　Sorrow　is　a　thing　of　great　power；　a　strong；　strong　thing。　Perhaps　if　it　is　taken　from　him；　he　will　go　sliding　into　madness。〃　
　　　　　　　Miriamele's　eyes　welled　with　tears；　but　her　expression　remained　grim。　〃I　am　not　trying　to　take　the　sword　from　him；　Binabik。　Only　to　tell　him　that　things　have　gone　too　far。　My　father…my　real　father…would　not　have　wanted　so　much　harm　to　e　from　his　love　for　my　mother。　Everything　that　has　happened　since　must　be　the　work　of　others。〃
　　　　　　　Binabik　raised　his　hands　again；　this　time　in　resignation。　
　　　　　　　〃If　you　have　guessed　the　reasons　for　his　madness；　for　this　war；　for　his　pact　with　the　Storm　King。　And　if　he　can　be　hearing　you。　But　as　I　told　you；　I　cannot　stop　your　journey。　I　can　only　acpany　you　to　help　keep　you　from　harm。〃
　　　　　　　〃You're　going　to　e　with　us？〃　Simon　asked。　He　was　very　pleased　and　strangely　relieved　to　think　that　someone　else　would　share　what　felt　like　a　heavy　burden。
　　　　　　　The　troll　nodded；　but　his　smile　was　long　gone。　〃Unless'　you　are　to　be　returning　with　me　to　Josua；　Simon？　That　might　be　reason　for　not　going　on。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　stay　with　Miriamele；〃　he　pronounced　firmly。　〃I　gave　my　oath　as　a　knight。〃
　　　　　　　〃Even　though　I　didn't　ask　for　it；〃　said　Miriamele。
　　　　　　　Simon　felt　a　moment's　angry　pain；　but　remembered　the　Canon　of　Knighthood　and　mastered　himself。　〃Even　though　you　didn't　ask　for　it；〃　he　repeated；　glowering　at　her。　Despite　the　terrible　times　they　had　shared；　she　seemed　determined　to　hurt　him。　〃I　still　have　my　duty。　And；〃　he　said　to　Binabik；　〃if　Miriamele　is　going　to　the　Hayholt；　I'm　going　to　Swertclif。　Bright…Nail　is　there；　and　Josua　needs　it。　But　I　can't　think　of　any　way　to　get　into　the　castle　to　get　Sorrow；〃　he　added　reflectively。
　　　　　　　Binabik　sat　back　and　let　loose　a　weary　sigh。　〃So　Miriamele　is　going　to　the　Hayholt　to　plead　with　her　father　for　stopping　the　war；　and　you　are　going　there　to　be　rescuing　one　of　the　Great　Swords；　just　your　single　knightly　self？〃　He　leaned　forward　suddenly　and　dragged　the　stirring　stick　through　me　mixture　simmering　in　the　pot。　〃Are　you　hearing　how　like　younglings　you　sound？　I　was　thinking　you　were　both　wiser　after　your　many　dangers　and　almost…dyings　than　to　take　such　things　on　yourselves。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　a　knight；〃　said　Simon。　〃I'm　not　a　child　any　more；　Binabik。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　just　meaning　that　the　damage　you　can　be　doing　is　greater；〃　the　troll　said；　but　his　tone　was　almost　conciliatory；　as　though　he　knew　he　could　not　win　the　argument。　〃e；　let　us　be　eating。　This　is　still　a　happy　meeting；　even　if　the　times　are　those　of　unhappiness。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　was　relieved　to　have　the　argument　end。　〃Yes；　let's　eat。　And　you　still　haven't　told　us　how　you　found　us。〃
　　　　　　　Binabik　gave　the　stew　another　stir；　〃That　and　other　news　when　you　have　been　eating　your　food；〃　was　all　he　said。

　　　　　　　When　the　sound　of　contented　chewing　had　slowed　a　little；　Binabik　licked　his　fingers　and　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Now　that　your　stomachs　at　least　are　full；　and　we　are　safe；　there　is　grim　news　that　needs　telling。〃
　　　　　　　As　Simon　and　Miriamele　sat　in　growing　horror；　the　troll　described　the　Norns'　attack　on　the　camp　and　its　aftermath。
　　　　　　　〃Geloe　dead？〃　Simon　felt　as　though　the　earth　was　eroding　beneath　him；　soon　there　would　be　nowhere　safe　left　to　stand。　〃Curse　them！　They　are　demons！　I　should　have　been　there！　A　knight　of　the　prince！。。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　perhaps　true　you　should　both　have　been　there；〃　Binabik　said　gently；　〃or　at　least　that　you　two　should　not　have　left。　But　you　could　have　done　nothing；　Simon。　Everything　was　happening　with　great　suddenness　and　silence；　and　only　one　target　there　was。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　shook　his　head；　furious　with　himself。
　　　　　　　〃And　Leieth。〃　Miriamele　nibbed　away　tears。　〃That　poor　child…she　has　had　nothing　but　pain。〃
　　　　　　　After　they　had　sat　in　mournful　silence　for　a　while；　Binabik　spoke　again。　〃Let　me　now　be　speaking　of　a　less　sad　thing…how　I　was　finding　you。　In　truth；　there　is　not　a　great　deal　for　telling。　Qantaqa　it　was　who　did　the　most　of　the　tracking。　She　has　a　cunning　nose。　My　only　fear　would　be　that　we　would　fall　too　far　behind…horses　are　traveling　faster　than　wolves　over　long　distances…and　that　the　smells　would　grow　too　old。　But　our　luck　held。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　following　you　into　the　edge　of　Aldheorte　Forest；　and　there　things　grew　muddled　for　some　time。　I　had　the　most　worry　that　we　would　lose　you　in　that　place；　since　it　was　slow　going；　and　then　it　was　raining；　too。　But　clever　Qantaqa　managed　to　keep　your　trail。〃
　　　　　　　〃Was　it　you；　then？〃　Simon　asked　suddenly。　〃Were　you　the　one　who　was　skulking　around　our　camp　in　the　forest？〃
　　　　　　　The　troll　looked　puzzled。　〃I　am　not　thinking　it　was。　When　did　this　thing　happen？〃
　　　　　　　Simon　described　the　mysterious　lurker　who　had　approached　the　camp　and　then　retreated　into　darkness。
Binabik　shook　his　head。　〃It　was　not　me。　I　would　not　have　been　talking　to　myself；　although　perhaps　I　might　have　been　saying　words　to　Qantaqa。　But　I　am　promising　you；〃　he　drew　himself　up　proudly；　〃Qanuc　do　not　make　so　much　noise。　Especially　in　the　forest　at　night。　Very　concerned　with　not　being　a　meal　for　something　large；　we　Qanuc　are。〃　He　paused。　〃And　the　time　is　wrong；　also。　We　would　have　been　a　day　or　two　days　at　least　behind　you　then。　No；　it　was　doubtless　one　of　the　things　you　were　guessing；　a　bandit　or　a　forest　cotsman。〃　Still；　he　considered　for　a　few　moments　before　continuing　with　his　tale。
　　　　　　　〃In　any　manner；　Qantaqa　and　I　followed　you。　We　were　forced　to　make　our　hunting　secret…I　had　no　wish　for　riding　Qantaqa　into　a　large　town　like　Stanshire…so　I　could　only　have　hope　that　you　were　ing　out　of　these　places　again。　We　wandered　about　on　the　outskirts　of　the　large　settlements　trying　to　find　your　track。　Several　times　I　thought　that　I　had　made　it　too　difficult　for　Qantaqa's　scenting；　but　always　she　found　you　again。〃　He　scratched　his　head；　contemplating。　〃I　suppose　that　if　you　had　not　emerged；　I　would　have　then　been　forced　to　go　searching　for　you。　I　am　glad　I　did　not　need　to　do　that　thing…I　would　have　had　to　leave　Qantaqa　out　in　the　wildlands；　and　I　would　have　myself　been　an　easy　target　for　Fire　Dancers　or　frightened　villagers　who　had　never　been　seeing　a　troll。〃　He　smiled　slyly。　〃The　people　of　Stanshire　and　Falshire　have　still　not　seen　a　troll。〃
　　　　　　　〃When　did　you　find　us？〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　think　on　it；　Simon；　you　will　be　guessing　very　easily。　I　had　no　reason　to　hide　from　you；　so　I　would　have　been　greeting　you　as　soon　as　I　came　upon　you…unless　some　reason　there　was　not　to。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　considered。　〃Because　we　were　with　someone　you　didn't　know？〃
　　　　　　　The　troll　nodded；　satisfied。　〃Exactly。　A　young　man　and　woman　may　be　traveling　in　Erkynland　and　speaking　to　strangers　without　too　much　attention。　A　troll　may　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　it　must　have　been　when　we　were　with　that　man　and　woman…the　Fire　Dancers。　We　met　other　people；　but　we　were　alone　each　time　afterward。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　I　came　upon　you　here　in　Hasu　Vale…I　had　been　making　camp　in　this　very　cave　the　night　before…and　followed　you　and　that　pair　up　into　the　hills。　Qantaqa　and　I　were　watching　all　from　the　trees。　We　saw　the　Fire　Dancers。〃　He　frowned。　〃They　have　bee　numerous　and　unafraid…by　spying　on　other　travelers　along　the　road　and　listening　to　their　gossip　I　was　learning　that。　So　I　saw　what　these　Fire　Dancers　did；　and　when　they　were　taking　you　to　the　hilltop；　I　freed　your　horses　and　followed。〃　He　grinned；　pleased　with　his　own　cleverness。
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；　Binabik；〃　Miriamele　said。　Some　of　her　earlier　frosty　manner　had　disappeared。　〃I　haven't　said　that　yet。〃
　　　　　　　He　smiled　and　shrugged。　〃We　all　are　doing　what　we　can　when　we　are　able。　As　I　was　once　before　telling　Simon；　we　three　have　saved　each　other's　lives　enough　times　that　the　tallying　is　no　longer　important。〃　As　he　picked　up　a　hank　of　moss　and　began　to　scrub　his　bowl；　Qantaqa　strode　silently　into　the　cavern。　Her　fur　was　wet；　she　shook　herself；　sending　a　fine　spray　of　droplets　everywhere。
　　　　　　　〃Ah。〃　Binabik　placed　the　bowl　on　the　floor　before　the　wolf。　〃You　may　be　performing　this　task；　then。〃　As　Qantaqa's　pink　tongue　scoured　out　the　last　bits　of　stew；　the　troll　stood　up。　〃So；　that　is　the　telling。　Now；　if　we　are　going　carefully；　I　think　we　can　leave　this　place　today。　We　will　stay　away　from　the　road　until　Hasu　Vale　is　being　safely　behind。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　Fire　Dancers　won't　find　us？〃　Miriamele　asked。
　　　　　　　〃After　the　last　night's　doings；　I　am　doubting　that　there　are　many　left；　or　that　they　are　wishing　to　do　much　of　anything　but　hide。　I　am　thinking　that　the　Storm　King's　servant　gave　them　as　much　fright　as　it　gave　to　you。〃　He　bent　to　begin　picking　up。　〃And　now　their　chieftain　is　dead。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　was　one　of　your　black…tipped　darts；〃　Simon　said；　remembering　Maefwaru's　puzzled　expression　as　he　clutched　at　his　throat。
　　　　　　　〃It　was。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　sorry。〃　Simon　went　to　tie　up　his　bedroll。　〃Not　sorry　at　all。　So　you're　really　going　to　e　with　us。〃
　　　　　　　Binabik　thumped　his　chest　with　the　heel　of　his　hand。　〃I　am　not　believing　what　you　do　is　wise　or　good。　But　I　cannot　be　letting　you　go　off　when　I　might　be　able　to　help　you　survive。〃　He　frowned；　pondering。　〃I　wish　there　was　some　way　for　sending　a　message　back　to　the　others。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　remembered　the　trolls　in　Josua's　camp；　and　especially　Sisqi；　the　loved　one　Binabik　must　have　left　behind　to　e　here。　The　magnitude　of　the　little　man's　sacrifice　struck　him　and　he　was　suddenly　ashamed。　Binabik　was　right：　Simon　and　Miriamele　were　behaving　like　wayward　children。　But　one　look　at　the　princess　convinced　him　that　she　could　no　more　be　talked　out　of　this　than　the　waves　could　be　argued　out　of　crashing　onto　the　beach…and　he　could　not　imagine　himself　leaving　her　to　face　her　fate　alone。　Like　Binabik；　he　was　trapped。　He　sighed　and　picked　up　the　bedroll。

　　　　　　　Either　Binabik　was　a　good　guide　or　the　Fire　Dancers　had；　in　fact；　given　up　looking　for　them。　They　saw　nothing　living　during　their　afternoon's　journey　through　the　damp；　thick…forested　hills　of　Hasu　Vale　except　for　a　few　jays　and　a　single　black　squirrel。　The　woods　were　densely　crowded　with　trees　and　ground　plants；　and　every　trunk　was　blanketed　in　spongy　moss；　but　the　land　still　seemed　strangely　inactive；　as　though　everything　that　lived　there　slept　or　waited　silently　for　the　i