ggk.asongforarbonne-第9部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


prey　to　the　terrors　of　precisely　the　sort　of　place　where　they　were　now。　Had　he　not　been　so　anxious　not　to　lose　face　among　the　other　corans　and　his　baron　and　the　big；　capable；　grimly　sardonic　northern　mercenary　Mallin　had　brought　to　lead　and　train　them；　Luth　would　certainly　have　found　a　way　to　back　out　of　the　mission　when　he　was　named　for　it。
　　He　should　have；　he　thought　dismally。　Whatever　status　that　withdrawal　would　have　cost　him　was　as　nothing　pared　to　how　he'd　be　diminished　and　mocked　because　of　what　had　happened　tonight。　Who　would　ever　have　thought　that　simple　piety；　a　prayer　of　thanks　to　holy　Rian　herself；　could　get　a　person　into　so　much　trouble？　How　should　a　high　country　man　know　how　bizarrely　far　sound…a　murmured　prayer！…could　carry　at　sea？　And　Hirnan　had　hurt　him　with　that　pincer…like　grip　of　his。　The　oldest　coran　was　a　big　man；　almost　as　big　as　the　bearded　northerner；　and　his　fingers　had　been　like　claws　of　iron。　Hirnan　should　have　known　better；　Luth　thought；　trying　to　summon　some　sense　of　outrage　at　how　unfair　all　of　this　was　turning　out　to　be。
　　He　jumped　sideways　again；　stumbled；　and　almost　fell。　He　was　grappling　for　his　sword　when　he　realized　that　it　was　Vanne　who　had　e　up　to　him。　He　tried；　with　minimal　success；　to　turn　the　motion　into　one　of　alertly　prudent　caution。　Vanne；　his　face　blandly　expressionless；　gestured　and　Luth　bent　his　head　towards　him。
　　〃I'm　going　down　to　check　on　them　again；〃　the　other　coran　said；　as　Luth　had　despairingly　known　he　would。　〃Remember；　a　corfe　whistle　if　you　need　me。　I'll　do　the　same。〃　Mutely；　trying　to　keep　his　own　expression　from　shaping　a　forelorn　plea；　Luth　nodded。
　　Moving　easily；　Vanne　negotiated　the　plateau；　grasped　the　rope　and　slipped　over　the　side。　Luth　watched　the　line　jerk　for　a　few　moments　and　then　go　slack　as　Vanne　reached　the　rocks　at　the　bottom。　He　walked　over　to　the　tree　that　Maffour　had　tied　the　rope　to　and　knelt　to　run　a　practised　eye　over　the　knot。　It　was　fine；　Luth　judged；　it　would　continue　to　hold。
　　He　straightened　and　stepped　back。　And　bumped　into　something。
　　His　heart　lurching；　he　spun　around。　As　he　did；　as　he　saw　what　had　e；　all　the　flowing　blood　in　his　veins　seemed　to　dry　up　and　change　to　arid　powder。　He　pursed　his　lips　and　tried　to　whistle。　Like　a　corfe。
　　No　sound　came　out。　His　lips　were　dry；　as　bone；　as　dust；　as　death。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　scream　but　closed　it　silently　and　quite　suddenly　as　a　curved；　jewelled；　inordinately　long　dagger　was　lifted　and　held　to　his　throat。
　　The　figures　on　the　plateau　were　robed　in　silk　and　satin；　dyed　crimson　and　silver；　as　for　a　ceremony。　They　were　mostly　women；　at　least　eight　of　them；　but　there　were　two　men　besides。　It　was　a　woman；　though；　who　held　the　crescent…shaped　blade　to　his　throat。　He　could　tell　from　the　swell　of　her　body　beneath　her　robe；　even　though　she　was　masked。　They　were　all　masked。　And　the　masks；　every　one　of　them；　were　of　predatory　animals　and　birds。　Wolf　and　hunting　cat；　owl　and　hawk；　and　a　silver…feathered　corfe　with　golden　eyes　that　glittered　in　the　moonlight。
　　〃e；〃　said　the　priestess　with　the　blade　to　Luth　of　Castle　Baude；　her　voice　cold　and　remote；　the　voice　of　a　goddess　at　night。　A　goddess　of　the　Hunt；　in　her　violated　sanctuary。　She　wore　a　wolf　mask；　Luth　saw；　and　then　he　also　realized　that　the　ends　of　the　gloves　on　her　hands　were　shaped　like　the　claws　of　a　wolf。　〃Did　you　truly　think　you　would　not　be　found　and　known？〃　she　said。
　　No；　Luth　wanted　frantically　to　say。　No；　I　never　thought　we　could　do　this。　I　was　sure　we　would　be　caught。
　　He　said　nothing。　The　capacity　for　speech　seemed　to　have　left　him；　silence　lying　like　a　weight　of　stones　on　his　chest。　In　terror；　his　brain　going　numb；　Luth　felt　the　blade　caress　his　throat　almost　lovingly。　The　priestess　gestured　with　a　clawed　hand；　in　response；　Luth's　feet；　as　if　of　their　own　will；　led　him　stumbling　into　the　night　forest　of　Rian。　There　were　scented　priestesses　of　the　goddess　all　about　him　as　he　went；　women　masked　like　so　many　creatures　of　prey；　clad　in　soft　robes　of　silver　and　red　amid　the　darkness　of　the　trees；　with　the　pale　moon　lost　to　sight；　like　hope。
　　ing　back　through　the　forest；　Blaise　felt　the　same　rippling　sensation　as　before　through　the　soles　of　his　boots；　as　if　the　earth　here　on　the　island　had　an　actual　pulse；　a　beating　heart。　They　went　faster　now；　having　done　what　they　had　e　to　do；　aware　that　the　priestess　by　the　garden　might　be　missed　and　found　at　any　time。　Blaise　had　dropped　back　to　let　Hirnan；　carrying　the　unconscious　poet；　guide　them　once　more；　with　a　sense　of　direction　seemingly　unerring　in　the　darkness　of　the　woods。
　　They　left　the　forest　path　and　began　to　twist　their　way　north　again　through　the　densely　surrounding　trees；　small　branches　and　leaves　crackling　underfoot　as　they　went。　No　moonlight　fell　here；　but　they　had　their　night　vision　now；　and　they　had　been　this　way　before。　Blaise　recognized　an　ancient；　contorted　oak；　an　anomalous　sight　in　a　strand　of　pine　and　cedar。
　　Shortly　afterwards　they　came　out　of　the　woods　onto　the　plateau。　The　moon　was　high　overhead；　and　Maffour's　rope　was　still　tied　around　the　tree；　their　pathway　down　to　the　sea　and　escape。
　　But　neither　Vanne　nor　Luth　was　anywhere　to　be　seen。
　　His　pulse　prickling　with　a　first　premonitory　sense　of　disaster；　Blaise　strode　quickly　to　the　edge　of　the　plateau　and　looked　down。
　　The　sailboat　was　gone；　and　the　two　bound　clerics　with　it。　Their　own　skiff　was　still　there；　and　Vanne's　body　was　lying　in　it。
　　Beside　Blaise；　Maffour　swore　violently　and　made　his　way　swiftly　down　the　rope。　He　sprang　over　the　boulders　and　into　the　skiff；　bending　quickly　over　the　man　lying　there。
　　He　looked　up。　〃He's　all　right。　Breathing。　Unconscious。　I　can't　see　any　sign　of　a　blow。〃　There　was　wonder　and　the　first　edge　of　real　apprehension　in　his　voice。
　　Blaise　straightened；　looking　around　the　plateau　for　a　sign　of　Luth。　The　other　corans　stood　in　a　tight　cluster　together；　facing　outwards。　They　had　drawn　their　swords。　There　was　no　sound　to　be　heard；　even　the　forest　seemed　to　have　gone　silent；　Blaise　realized；　with　a　tingling　sensation　along　his　skin。
　　He　made　his　decision。
　　〃Hirnan；　get　him　into　the　skiff。　All　of　you　go　down　there。　I　don't　know　what's　happened　but　this　is　no　place　to　linger。　I'm　going　to　take　a　fast　look　around；　but　if　I　can't　see　anything　we'll　have　to　go。〃　He　glanced　quickly　up　at　the　moon；　trying　to　judge　the　hour　of　night。　〃Get　the　skiff　free　and　give　me　a　few　moments　to　look。　If　you　hear　me　do　a　corfe　cry　start　rowing　hard　and　don't　wait。　Otherwise；　use　your　judgment。〃
　　Hirnan　looked　briefly　as　if　he　would　protest　but　said　nothing。　With　Evrard　of　Lussan　slung　over　his　shoulder　like　a　sack　of　grain；　he　made　his　way　to　the　rope　and　down。　The　other　corans　began　following。　Blaise　didn't　wait　to　see　them　all　descend。　With　the　awareness　of　danger　like　a　tangible　presence　within　him；　he　drew　his　sword　and　stepped　alone　into　the　woods　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　plateau　from　where　they'd　entered　and　returned。
　　Almost　immediately　he　picked　up　a　scent。　Not　of　hunting　cat　or　bear；　nor　of　fox　or　badger　or　boar。　What　he　smelled　was　the　drifting　fragrance　of　perfume。　It　was　strongest　to　the　west；　away　from　where　they　had　gone。
　　Blaise　knelt　to　study　the　forest　floor　in　the　near…blackness。　He　wished　Rudel　were　with　him　now；　for　a　great　many　reasons；　but　in　part　because　his　friend　was　the　best　night　tracker　Blaise　had　ever　known。
　　One　didn't　have　to　be　expert；　though；　to　realize　that　a　pany　of　people　had　passed　here　only　a　short　time　before；　and　that　most　if　not　all　of　them　had　been　women。　Blaise　swore　under　his　breath　and　stood　up；　peering　into　the　darkness；　uncertain　of　what　to　do。　He　hated　like　death　to　leave　a　man　behind；　but　it　was　clear　that　a　large　number　of　priests　and　priestesses　were　somewhere　ahead　of　him　in　the　woods。　A　few　moments；　he　had　told　Hirnan。　Could　he　jeopardize　the　others　in　an　attempt　to　find　Luth？
　　Blaise　drew　a　deep　breath；　aware　once　again　now　of　that　pulsing　in　the　forest　floor。　He　knew　he　was　afraid；　only　a　plete　fool　would　not　be　afraid　now。　Even　so；　there　was　a　core　truth　at　the　root　of　all　of　this　for　Blaise　of　Gorhaut；　a　very　simple　one：　one　did　not　leave　a　panion　behind　without　an　attempt　at　finding　him。　Blaise　stepped　forward　into　the　darkness；　following　the　elusive　scent　of　perfume　in　the　night。
　　〃mendable；〃　a　voice　said；　immediately　in　front　of　him。　Blaise　gasped　and　levelled　his　blade；　peering　into　blackness。　〃mendable；　but　extremely　unwise；〃　the　voice　went　on　with　calm　authority。　〃Go　back。　You　will　not　find　your　fellow。　Only　death　awaits　you　past　this　point　tonight。〃
　　There　was　a　rustling　of　leaves　and　Blaise　made　out　the　tall；　shadowy　form　of　a　woman　in　the　space　in　front　of　him。　There　were　trees　on　either　side　of　her；　as　if　framing　a　place　to　stand。　It　was　very　dark；　much　too　black　for　him　to　see　her　face；　but　the　note　of　assured　mand　in　her　voice　told　its　own　grim　story　about　what　had　happened　to　Luth。　She　hadn't　touched　Blaise；　though；　no　others　had　leaped　forth　to　attack。　And　Vanne　had　been　unharmed　in　the　skiff。
　　〃I　would　be　shamed　in　my　own　eyes　if　I　left　and　did　not　try　to　bring　him　out；〃　Blaise　said；　still　trying　to　make　out　the　features　of　the　woman　in　front　of　him。
　　He　heard　her　laughter。　〃Shamed；〃　she　echoed；　mockingly。　〃Do　not　be　too　much　the　fool；　Northerner。　Do　you　truly　think　you　could　have　done　any　of　this　had　we　not　permitted　it？　Will　you　deny　feeling　the　awareness　of　this　wood？　Do　you　actually　believe　you　moved　unknown；　unseen？〃
　　Blaise　swallowed　with　difficulty。　His　levelled　sword　suddenly　seemed　a　hapless；　even　a　ridiculous　thing。　Slowly　he　lowered　it。
　　〃Why？〃　he　asked。　〃Why；　then？〃
　　Her　laughter　came　again；　deep　and　low。　〃Would　you　know　my　reasons；　Northerner？　You　would　understand　the　goddess　on　her　own　Island？〃
　　My　reasons。
　　〃You　are　the　High　Priestess；　then；〃　he　said；　shifting　his　feet；　feeling　the　earth's　deep　pulsing　still。　She　said　nothing。　He　swallowed　again。　〃I　would　only　know　where　my　man　has　gone。　Why　you　have　taken　him。〃
　　〃One　for　one；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃You　were　not　consecrated　to　this　place；　any　of　you。　You　came　here　to　take　a　man　who　was。　We　have　allowed　this　for　reasons　of　our　own；　but　Rian　exacts　a　price。　Always