tw.togreenangeltower2-第128章

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　　　　　　　〃I　was　always　jealous　of　you；　Willow…Switch；〃　said　Aditu；　laughing。　〃So　young；　and　yet　with　such　important　tasks！〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　smiled。　〃In　any　case；　whatever　might　have　been　if　Eahlstan　had　lived　and　his　line　had　continued　did　not　e　to　pass。　The　fire…worm　Shurakai　came；　and　in　killing　it；　Eahlstan　was　himself　killed。　Whether　his　eventual　successor　John　knew　something　of　Eahlstan's　secret　dealings　with　us　and　feared　we　would　expose　John's　lie　that　he　was　the　dragon…slayer　or　there　was　some　other　reason　for　his　enmity　toward　us；　I　do　not　know。　But　John　set　out　to　drive　us　from　the　last　of　our　hiding　places。　He　did　not　find　them　all；　and　never　came　near　to　discovering　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　but　he　did　us　great　harm。　Almost　all　our　contact　with　mortals　ended　during　John's　life。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　folded　his　hands。　〃I　am　sorry　for　the　things　my　people　have　done。　And　I　am　glad　to　know　my　ancestor　was　such　a　man。〃
　　　　　　　〃Eahlstan's　folk　scattered　before　the　wrath　of　the　dragon。　Eventually　they　settled　into　their　exile；　I　am　told；〃　Jiriki　said。　〃And　when　John　came　and　conquered；　all　hope　of　regaining　the　Hayholt　was　gone。　So　they　nursed　their　secret　and　went　on；　a　fishing　folk　living　close　to　the　waters　as　they　had　been　in　the　days　of　Eahlstan　Fiskerne's　ancestors。　But　Eahlstan's　ring　they　kept　in　the　royal　family；　and　passed　it　down　from　parent　to　child。　One　of　Eahlstan's　great…grandchildren；　a　scholar　like　his　forebear；　studied　the　old　Sithi　runes　from　one　of　Eahlstan's　treasured　scrolls；　then　had　the　motto　that　was　the　family's　pride…and　Prester　John's　secret　shame…　inscribed　upon　the　ring。　That　was　what　Morgenes　held　in　trust　for　you；　Seoman：　your　past。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　I'm　certain　he　would　have　told　me　some　day。〃　Simon　had　listened　to　Jiriki's　tale　with　poorly…hidden　tension。　Isgrimnur　stared；　looking　for　the　cracks　in　Simon's　nature　that　he　half…expected；　but　feared；　to　see。　〃But　what　has　it　to　do　with　anything　now？　All　the　royal　blood　in　the　world　did　not　make　me　less　of　a　dupe　for　Pryrates　and　the　Storm　King。　It's　a　pretty　tale；　no　more。　Half　the　noble　houses　in　Nabban　must　have　Imperators　in　their　history。　What　of　it？〃　His　jaw　was　set　belligerently。
　　　　　　　Several　of　the　pany　turned　to　Isgrimnur。　The　duke　moved　unfortably　on　the　step。　〃Erkynland　needs　a　ruler；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃The　Dragonbone　Chair　is　empty。〃　
　　　　　　　Simon's　mouth　opened；　then　closed；　then　opened　again。　〃And。。。　？〃　he　said　at　last。　He　stared　at　Isgrimnur　distrustfully。　〃Miriamele　is　in　good　health　and　has　only　a　few　wounds。　In　fact；　she　is　just　the　same　as　she　ever　was；〃…the　bitterness　in　his　voice　was　plain…〃so　surely　she　will　soon　be　able　to　rule。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　her　health　that　concerns　us；〃　said　the　duke　gruffly。　Somewhere；　this　conversation　had　gone　wrong；　Simon　was　acting　like　one　awakened　from　his　rightful　sleep　by　a　group　of　misbehaving　children。　〃It　is…damn　it；　it's　her　father！〃
　　　　　　　〃But　Elias　is　dead。　She　killed　him　herself。　With　the　White　Arrow　of　the　Sithi。〃　Simon　turned　to　Jiriki。　〃e　to　think　of　it；　since　that　arrow　certainly　saved　my　life；　I　suppose　we　have　evened　our　debt。〃
　　　　　　　The　Sitha　did　not　respond。　The　immortal's　face　was；　as　usual；　unrevealing；　but　something　in　his　posture　suggested　he　was　troubled。
　　　　　　　〃The　people　have　suffered　so　under　Elias　that　they　may　not　trust　Miriamele；〃　Isgrimnur　said。　〃It's　foolish；　I　know；　but　there　it　is。　If　Josua　had　lived；　they　might　have　weled　him　with　open　arms。　The　barons　know　the　prince　resisted　Elias　ever　since　he　began　to　go　bad；　that　he　suffered　terribly　and　fought　his　way　back　from　exile。　But　Josua　is　dead。〃
　　　　　　　〃Miriamele　did　all　those　things；　too！〃　Simon　cried　angrily。　〃This　is　nonsense！〃
〃We　know；　Simon；〃　said　Tiamak。　〃I　traveled　with　her　a　long　way。　Many　of　us　know　of　her　bravery。〃
〃Yes；　I　know　it；　too；〃　Isgrimnur　growled；　his　own　irritation　flaring。　〃But　what　is　true　does　not　matter　here。　She　fled　Naglimund　before　the　siege　started　and　she　did　not　reach　Sesuad'ra　until　after　Fengbald　had　been　defeated。　Then　she　vanished　again；　and　wound　up　in　the　Hayholt　with　her　father　at　the　very　ending。〃　He　grimaced。　〃And　there　are　tales；　doubtless　spread　by　that　whoreson　Aspitis　Preves；　that　she　was　his　doxy　while　he　served　Pryrates。　Rumors　are　flying。〃
〃But　some　of　those　things　are　true　of　me；　too。　Am　I　a　traitor？〃
〃Miriamele　is　not　a　traitor。　God　knows…and　I　know。〃　
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　glared　at　him。　〃But　after　what　her　father　has　done；　she　may　not　be　trusted。　The　people　want　someone　on　the　throne　they　can　trust。〃
　　　　　　　〃Madness！〃　Simon　slapped　his　hands　against　his　thighs；　then　turned　to　the　Sithi。　He　seemed　ready　to　burst。　〃What　do　you　two　think　of　this？〃　he　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃We　do　not　concern　ourselves　in　these　kind　of　mortal　affairs；〃　Jiriki　said　a　little　stiffly。
〃You　are　our　friend；　Seoman；〃　Aditu　added。　〃Whatever　we　can　do　for　you　to　help　you　in　this　time；　we　will。　However；　we　also　have　only　respect　for　Miriamele；　though　we　know　her　but　little。〃
Simon　turned　to　the　troll。　〃Binabik？〃　
　　　　　　　The　little　man　shrugged。　〃I　cannot　say。　Isgrimnur　and　the　rest　of　you　must　be　making　decisions　to　settle　it　yourselves。　You　and　Miriamele　are　both　my　friends。　If　you　are　wishing　advice　later；　Simon；　we　will　take　Qantaqa　off　for　walking　and　we　will　speak。〃
　　　　　　　〃Speak　about　what？　People　telling　lies　about　Miriamele？〃
Isgrimnur　cleared　his　throat。　〃He　means　he　will　talk　to　you　about　accepting　the　crown　of　Erkynland。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　turned　back　to　stare　at　the　duke。　This　time；　for　all　his　newfound　maturity；　the　young　man　could　not　hide　any　of　his　feelings。　〃You　are　。。。　you　are　offering　me　the　throne？〃　he　asked　derisively；　incredulously。　〃This　is　madness！　Me？　A　kitchen　boy！〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　could　not　help　smiling。　〃You　are　much　more　than　a　kitchen　boy。　Your　deeds　are　already　filling　up　songs　and　stories　everywhere　between　here　and　Nabban。　Wait　until　the　Battle　in　the　Tower　is　added　to　the　tally。〃
〃Aedon　preserve　me；〃　Simon　said　in　disgust。
　　　　　　　〃But　there　are　more　important　things。〃　The　duke　grew　serious。　〃You　are　well…liked　and　well…known。　Not　only　did　you　battle　a　dragon；　you　fought　bravely　for　Sesuad'ra　and　Josua；　and　people　remember　that。　And　now　we　can　tell　them　that　you　have　the　blood　of　Saint　Eahlstan　Fiskerne；　one　of　the　most　beloved　men　ever　to　hold　a　throne。　In　fact；　it　if　weren't　true；　I　would　be　tempted　to　make　it　up。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　it　doesn't　mean　anything？〃　Simon　exploded。　〃Don't　you　think　I've　thought　about　it？　I've　been　doing　nothing　but　thinking　since　the　moment　I　realized。　I　am　a　scullion　who　was　taught　by　a　very　wise；　very　kind　man。　I　have　been　lucky　in　my　friends。　I　have　been　caught　up　in　terrible　things；　I　did　what　I　had　to；　and　I　lived　through　it。　None　of　that　has　anything　to　do　with　who　my　great…great…however…many…greats…grandfather　was！〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　waited　a　few　moments　after　Simon　finished；　letting　some　of　the　youth's　anger　pass。　〃But　don't　you　see；〃　the　duke　said　gently；　〃it　doesn't　matter　whether　it　changes　anything　or　not。　As　I　said；　I　don't　think　it　really　matters　much　if　it's　true　or　not。　Dror's　red　mallet；　Simon；　Prester　John's　story　was　a　myth…a　lie！　I've　had　to　struggle　with　that　discovery　myself　in　the　last　few　days。　But　does　it　make　him　any　less　a　king？　People　need　to　believe　something　whether　you　want　them　to　or　not。　If　you　don't　give　them　things　to　believe；　they　will　make　things　up。
　　　　　　　〃Right　now　they　are　frightened　of　the　future。　Most　of　the　world　we　know　is　in　a　shambles；　Simon。　And　the　survivors　are　wary　of　Miriamele　because　of　who　she　is　and　because　of　uncertainty　about　what　she's　done…and　because　she's　a　young　woman；　to　speak　bluntly。　The　barons　want　a　man；　someone　strong　but　not　too　strong；　and　they　want　no　civil　wars　over　a　reigning　queen's　choice　of　husbands。〃　Isgrimnur　reached　out　to　touch　Simon's　arm；　but　decided　against　it　and　drew　his　hand　back。　〃Listen　to　me。　The　people　who　followed　Josua　love　you；　Simon；　almost　as　much　as　they　loved　the　prince。　More　in　some　ways；　perhaps。　You　know　and　I　know　that　what　blood　flows　in　you　makes　no　difference…it's　all　red。　But　your　people　need　to　believe　in　something；　and　they　are　cold　and　hurting　and　homeless。〃
Simon　stared　at　him。　Isgrimnur　could　not　help　feeling　the　force　of　the　young　man's　rage。　He　had　grown　indeed。　He　would　be　a　formidable　man…no；　he　was　so　already。
　　　　　　　〃And　for　such　tricks　you　would　have　me　betray　Miriamele？〃　Simon　demanded。
〃Not　betray；〃　Isgrimnur　said。　〃I　will　give　you　a　few　days　to　think　about　it；　then　I　will　go　and　put　it　to　her　myself。　We　will　bury　our　dead　tomorrow；　and　the　people　will　see　us　all　together。　That　will　be　enough　for　now。〃　The　duke　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　not　going　to　lie　to　her；　Simon…that's　not　my　way…but　I　wanted　you　to　have　a　chance　to　hear　me　first。〃　He　suddenly　felt　immensely　sorry　for　the　young　man。
He　probably　thought　he　would　have　a　chance　to　lick　his　wounds　in　peace…and　he's　got　plenty　of　them。　We　all　do。　
　　　　　　　〃Think　about　it；　Simon。　We　need　you…all　of　us。　It　will　be　hard　enough　for　me　to　pull　my　own　dukedom　together；　not　to　mention　what　will　happen　to　young　Varellan；　orphaned　in　Nabban；　and　whoever　still　remains　in　Hernystir。　We　need　at　least　the　appearance　of　the　High　King's　Ward　again；　and　someone　the　people　trust　sitting　on　the　throne　at　the　Hayholt。〃
He　rose　from　the　low　stair；　trying　not　to　show　how　much　his　back　hurt；　bowed　stiffly　to　Simon…which　in　itself　was　an　odd　sensation…and　stumped　away　across　the　throne　room；　leaving　the　rest　of　the　circle　in　silence。　He　could　feel　Simon's　eyes　on　his　back。
　　　　　　　God　help　me；　Isgrimnur　thought　as　he　emerged　into　the　twilight。　I　need　a　rest。　A　long　rest。

　　　　　　　He　looked　up　from　the　fire　at　the　sound　of　footsteps。　〃Binabik？〃
　　　　　　　She　moved　forward　into　the　light。　Despite　the　cool　spring　night　and　the　patches　of　still　unmelted　snow；　her　feet　were　bare。　Her　cloak　fluttered　in　the　breeze　that　swept　down　the　hillside　from　the　Hayholt。
〃I　couldn't　sleep；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　Simon　hesitated。　He　had　not　expected　anyone；　least　of　all　her。　After　the　day…long　memorial　for　Josua；　Camaris；　Isorn；　and　the　other　dead；　Binabik　had　gone　off　to　spend　the　evening　with　Strangyeard　and　Tiamak；　leaving　Simon　alone　to　sit　before　his　tent　and　think。　Her　arrival　seemed　a　thing　he　might　have　dreamed　while　staring　into　the　campfire。
〃Miriamele。〃　He　clambered　awkwardly　to　his　feet。　〃Princess。　Sit　down；　please。〃　He　gestured　to　a　stone　near
the　fire。
　　　　　　　She　sat；　drawing　her　cloak　close　around　her。　〃Are　you　well？〃　she　asked　at　last。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　。　。　。〃　He　paused。　〃I　don't　know。　Things　are　strange。〃
She　nodded。　〃It's　hard　to　believe　it's　finished。　It's　hard　to　believe　they're　all　gone　forever。〃
He　moved　unfortably；　not　certain　if　she　spoke　of　friends　or　enemies。　〃There　are　still　lots　of　things　to　be　done。　People　are　scattered；　the　world　has　been　turned　upside…down。　。　。　。〃　Simon　waved　his　hand　vaguely。　〃There's　lots　to　do。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　leaned　forward；　stretching　her　hands　toward　the　fire。　Simon　watched　the　light　play　across　her　delicate　features　and　felt　his　heart　clutch　hopelessly。　All　the　royal　blood　in　the　world　might　run　in　his　veins；　rivers　of　it；　but　it　did　not　matter　if　she　did　not　care　for　him。　During　all　of　today's　rites　for　the　fallen；　she　had　not　once　met　his　eyes。　Even