tw.togreenangeltower2-第93部分

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auga　said　that　the　sword　Sorrow　was　made　by　Ineluki　himself。〃
〃Speak　not　his　name！〃　Several　of　the　other　dwarrows　looked　up　and　chimed　a　few　unsettled　words　which　Yis…fidri　answered　before　turning　back　to　Miriamele。　〃Speak　not　his　name。　He　is　closer　than　he　has　been　in　centuries。　Do　not　call　his　attention！〃
　　　　　　　It's　like　being　in　a　whole　cave　full　of　Strangyeards；　thought　Miriamele。　They　seem　afraid　of　everything。　Still；　Binabik　had　said　much　the　same　thing。　〃Very　well。　I　won't　say　。。。　his　name。　But　that　story　is　not　what　I　was　told。　A　learned　man　said　that　。。。　he　。。。　made　it　himself　in　the　forges　of　Asu'a。〃
　　　　　　　The　dwarrow　sighed。　〃Indeed。　We　were　the　smiths　of　Asu'a…or　at　least　some　of　our　people　were　。。。　some　who　had　not　fled　our　Zida'ya　masters；　but　who　were　still　Navigator's　Children　for　all　that；　still　as　like　to　us　as　two　chunks　of　ore　from　the　same　vein。　They　all　died　when　the　castle　fell。〃　Yis…fidri　chanted　a　brief　lament　in　the　dwarrow　tongue；　his　wife　Yis…hadra　echoed　him。　〃He　used　the　Hammer　that　Shapes　to　forge　it…our　Hammer…　and　the　Words　of　Making　that　we　taught　to　him。　It　might　as　well　have　been　our　own　High　Smith's　hand　that　crafted　it。　In　that　terrible　instant；　wheresoever　we　were；　scattered　across　the　world's　face。。。　we　felt　Sorrow's　making。　The　pain　of　it　is　with　us　still。〃　He　fell　silent　for　a　long　time。　'That　the　Zida'ya　allowed　such　a　thing。〃　he　said　at　last；　〃is　one　of　the　reasons　we　have　turned　away　from　them。　We　were　so　sorely　diminished　by　that　one　act　that　we　have　ever　since　been　crippled。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　Thorn？〃
　　　　　　　Yis…fidri　nodded　his　heavy　head。　〃The　mortal　smiths　of　Nabban　tried　to　work　the　star…stone。　They　could　not。　Certain　of　our　people　were　sought　out　and　brought　secretly　to　the　Imperator's　palace。　These　kin　of　ours　were　thought　by　most　mortals　to　be　only　strange　folk　who　watched　the　oceans　and　kept　the　ships　safe　from　harm；　but　a　small　number　knew　that　the　old　lore　of　Making　and　Shaping　ran　deep　in　all　the　Tinukeda'ya；　even　those　who　had　chosen　to　remain　with　the　sea。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tinukeda'ya？〃　It　took　a　moment　to　sink　in。　〃But　that's　what　Gan　Itai　。。。　those　are　Niskies！〃
〃We　are　all　Ocean　Children；〃　said　the　dwarrow　gravely。　〃Some　decided　to　stay　near　the　sea　which　forever　separates　us　from　the　Garden　of　our　birth。　Others　chose　more　hidden　and　secretive　ways；　like　the　earth's　dark　places　and　the　task　of　shaping　stone。　You　see；　unlike　our　cousins　the　Zida'ya　and　Hikeda'ya；　we　Children　of　the　Navigator　can　shape　ourselves　just　as　we　shape　other　things。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　was　dumbfounded。　〃You're　。。。　you　and　the　Niskies　are　the　same？〃　Now　she　understood　the　phantom　of　recognition　that　had　troubled　her　upon　first　seeing　Yis…fidri。　There　was　something　in　his　bones；　in　his　way　of　moving；　that　reminded　her　of　Gan　Itai。　But　they　looked　so　different！
　　　　　　　〃We　are　not　the　same　any　more。　The　act　of　shaping　ourselves　takes　generations；　and　it　changes　more　than　just　our　outward　seeming。　But　much　does　not　change。　The　Dawn　Children　and　Cloud　Children　are　our　cousins…but　the　sea…watchers　are　our　sisters　and　brothers。〃　
　　　　　　　Miriamele　sat　back；　trying　to　grasp　what　she　had　been　told。　〃So　you　and　the　Niskies　are　the　same。　And　Niskies　forged　Thorn。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃You　are　saying；　then；　that　you　can　feel　all　the　Great　Swords…even　more　strongly　than　you　felt　the　White　Arrow？〃　A　sudden　thought　came　to　her。　〃Then　you　must　know　where　Bright…Nail　is…the　sword　that　was　called　Minneyar！〃
　　　　　　　Yis…fidri　smiled　sadly。　〃Yes；　although　your　King　John　hung　it　with　many　prayers　and　relics　and　other　mortal　magicks；　perhaps　in　the　hope　of　concealing　its　true　nature。　But　you　know　your　own　arms　and　hands。　Princess　Miriamele；　do　you　not？　Would　you　know　them　any　the　less　if　they　were　still　joined　to　you；　but　were　clothed　in　some　other　mortal's　jacket　and　gloves？〃
　　　　　　　It　was　strange　to　think　of　her　magnificent　grandfather　working　so　hard　to　hide　Bright…Nail's　heritage。　Was　he　ashamed　of　owning　such　a　weapon？　Why？　〃If　you　know　these　swords　so　well；　can　you　tell　me　where　Bright…Nail　is　now？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot　say；　'it　is　such　and　such　a　place；'　no。　But　it　is　somewhere　near。　Somewhere　within　a　few　thousand　paces。〃
　　　　　　　So　it　was　either　in　the　castle　or　the　under…castle；　Miriamele　decided。　That　didn't　help　much；　but　at　least　her　father　had　not　had　it　thrown　in　the　ocean　or　carried　off　to　Nascadu。　〃Did　you　e　here　because　you　knew　the　swords　were　here？〃
〃No。　We　were　fleeing　other　things；　routed　from　our　city　in　the　north。　We　knew　already　that　two　of　the　swords　were　here；　but　that　meant　little　to　us　at　that　time：　we　fled　away　through　our　tunnels　and　they　led　us　here。　It　was　only　as　we　drew　close　to　Asu'a　that　we　came　to　understand　that　other　forces　were　also　at　work。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　so　now　you're　caught　between　the　two　and　don't　know　which　way　to　run。〃　She　said　it　with　more　than　a　little　disapproval；　but　knew　even　so　that　what　the　dwarrows　faced　was　much　like　her　own　situation。　She；　too；　was　driven　by　things　bigger　than　herself。　She　had　fled　her　father；　trying　to　put　the　entire　world　between　the　two　of　them。　Now　she　had　risked　her　life　and　the　lives　of　her　friends　to　e　back　and　find　him；　but　feared　what　might　happen　if　she　succeeded。　Miriamele　pushed　the　useless　thoughts　away。　〃Forgive　me；　Yis…fidri。　I'm　tired　of　sitting　for　so　long；　that's　all。〃
　　　　　　　It　had　been　good　to　rest　the　first　day；　despite　her　anger　over　her　imprisonment；　but　now　she　was　aching　to　be　on　her　way；　to　move；　to　do　something；　whatever　that　might　be。　Otherwise；　she　was　trapped　with　her　thoughts。　They　made　painful　pany。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　truly　sorry；　Miriamele。　You　may　walk　as　much　as　you　wish　here。　We　have　tried　to　give　you　all　that　you　need。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　fortunate　for　them　that　she　had　the　packs　that　held　the　remaining　provisions；　she　reflected。　If　she　had　been　forced　to　subsist　on　the　dwarrows'　food…fungi　and　small；　unpleasant　burrowing　creatures…she　would　be　a　much　less　congenial　prisoner。　〃You　cannot　give　me　what　I　need　as　long　as　I　am　held　captive；〃　she　said。　〃Nothing　can　change　that；　no　matter　what　you　say。〃
〃It　is　too　perilous。〃
Miriamele　bit　back　an　angry　reply。　She　had　already　tried　that　approach。　She　needed　to　think。

　　　　　　　Yis…hadra　scraped　at　a　bit　of　the　cavern　wall　with　a　curved；　flat…ended　tool。　Miriamele　could　not　quite　tell　what　Yis…fidri's　wife　was　doing；　but　she　seemed　to　be　enjoying　it：　the　dwarrow　was　singing　quietly　beneath　her　breath。　The　more　Miriamele　listened；　the　more　the　song　fascinated　her。　It　was　scarcely　louder　than　a　whisper；　but　it　had　something　in　it　of　the　power　and　plexity　of　Gan　Itai's　kilpa…singing。　Yis…hadra　sang　in　rhythm　with　the　movement　of　her　long；　graceful　hands。　Music　and　movement　together　made　one　singular　thing。　Miriamele　sat　beside　her　for　some　time；　transfixed。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　building　something？〃　she　asked　during　a　lull　in　the　song。
The　dwarrow　looked　up。　A　smile　stretched　her　odd　face。　〃This　s'h'rosa　here…this　piece　of　stone　that　runs　through　the　other　stone　。。。〃　she　indicated　a　darker　streak；　barely　visible　in　the　glow　of　the　rose　crystal。　〃It　wishes　to　。。。　e　out。　To　be　seen。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　shook　her　head。　〃It　wishes　to　be　seen？〃　
　　　　　　　Yis…hadra　pursed　her　wide　mouth　thoughtfully。　〃I　do　not　have　your　tongue　well。　It　。。。　needs？　Needs　to　e　out？〃
　　　　　　　Like　gardeners；　Miriamele　thought　bemusedly。　Tending　the　stone。
　　　　　　　Aloud；　she　said：　〃Do　you　carve　things？　All　the　ruins　of　Asu'a　I've　seen　are　covered　with　beautiful　carvings。　Did　the　dwarrows　do　that？〃
　　　　　　　Tis…hadra　made　an　indecipherable　gesture　with　curled　fingers。　〃We　prepared　some　of　the　walls；　then　the　Zida'ya　created　pictures　there。　But　in　other　places；　we　gave　care　to　the　stone　ourselves；　helping　it。。。　bee。　When　Asu'a　was　built；　Zida'ya　and　Tinukeda'ya　still　worked　side　by　side。〃　Her　tone　was　mournful。　〃Together　we　made　wonderful　things。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　I　saw　some　of　them。〃　She　looked　around。　〃Where　is　Yis…fidri？　I　need　to　talk　to　him。〃
Yis…hadra　appeared　embarrassed。　〃Is　it　I　have　said　something　bad？　I　cannot　speak　your　tongue　as　I　can　the　tongue　of　the　mortals　of　Hernystir。　Yis…fidri　speaks　more　well　than　I。〃
〃No。〃　Miriamele　smiled。　〃Nothing　bad　at　all。　But　he　and　I　were　talking　about　something；　and　I　want　to　talk　to　him　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ah。　He　will　e　back　in　a　little　time。　He　has　left　this　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　I'll　just　watch　you　work；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　　　　　　　Yis…hadra　returned　the　smile。　〃No。　I　will　tell　you　something　about　the　stone；　if　you　like。　Stones　have　stories。　We　know　the　stories。　Sometimes　I　think　we　know　their　stories　better　than　our　own。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　sat　down　with　her　back　against　the　wall。　Yis…hadra　continued　with　her　task；　and　as　she　did　so；　she　talked。　Miriamele　had　never　thought　much　about　rocks　and　stone；　but　as　she　listened　to　the　dwarrow's　low；　musical　voice；　she　saw　for　the　first　time　that　they　were　in　a　way　living　things；　like　plants　and　animals…or　at　least　they　were　to　Yis…hadra's　kind。　The　stones　moved；　but　that　movement　took　eons。　They　changed；　but　no　living　thing；　not　even　the　Sithi；　walked　alive　beneath　the　sky　long　enough　to　see　that　change。　The　dwarrow…folk　studied　and　cultivated；　and　even　in　a　way　loved；　the　bones　of　the　earth。　　They　admired　the　beauty　of　glittering　gems　and　shining　metals；　but　they　also　valued　the　layered　patience　of　sandstone　and　the　boldness　of　volcanic　glass。　Every　one　of　them　had　its　own　tale；　but　it　took　a　certain　kind　of　vision　and　wisdom　to　understand　the　slow　stories　that　stones　told。　Yis…fidri's　wife；　with　her　huge　eyes　and　careful　fingers；　knew　them　well。　Miriamele　found　herself　oddly　touched　by　this　strange　creature；　and　for　a　while；　listening　to　Yis…hadra's　slow；　joyful　speech；　she　forgot　even　her　own　unhappiness。

　　　　　　　Tiamak　felt　a　hand　close　around　his　arm。　
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　you？〃　Father　Strangyeard's　voice　sounded　querulous。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　shouldn't　either　of　us　be　out　on　deck；〃　the　archivist　said。　〃Sludig　will　be　angry。〃
〃Sludig　would　be　right；〃　Tiamak　said。　〃The　kilpa　are　all　around　us。〃　But　still　he　did　not　move。　The　closed　quarters　of　the　ship's　cabin　had　been　making　it　hard　to　think；　and　the　ideas　that　were　moving　at　the　edge　of　his　mind　seemed　too　important　to　lose　just　because　of　a　fear　of　the　sea…creature