tw.togreenangeltower2-第132章

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rd　Rachel　and　her　lips　curled　in　a　slow　smile。　The　Mistress　of　Chambermaids　stared　at　her　in　fascination。　Surely　that　was　Miriamele；　the　king's　daughter…but　she　looked　so　much　older！　And　she　was　beautiful；　her　fair　hair　curving　around　her　face；　shimmering　in　the　fireglow。　She　looked　every　inch　a　queen。
　　　　　　　Rachel　felt　a　kind　of　gratitude　sweep　over　her。　Perhaps　there　would　be　some　kind　of　order　to　life　after　all；　at　least　a　little。　But　what　concern　could　Miriamele；　this　radiant　creature　as　exalted　as　an　angel；　have　with　an　old　servant？
Miriamele　turned　and　said　something　to　the　man　sitting　back　in　the　shadows　of　the　chair　beside　hers。　Rachel　saw　him　start；　then　clamber　to　his　feet。
　　　　　　　Merciful　Rhiap；　she　thought。　He's　so　tall！　This　must　be　that　Snowlock；　that　one　they　all　speak　of。　Someone　said　his　other　name；　what　was　it？
　　　　　　　〃。。。　Seoman　。。。〃　she　said　aloud；　staring　at　his　face。　The　beard；　the　scar；　the　streak　of　white　in　his　hair…for　a　moment　he　was　just　a　young　man。　Then　she　knew。
　　　　　　　〃Rachel！〃　In　a　few　long　steps　he　was　before　her。　He　stared　down　at　her　for　a　moment；　his　lips　trembling；　then　a　wide　grin　broke　across　his　face。　〃Rachel！〃　he　said　again。
〃Simon。。。　？〃　she　murmured。　The　world　had　ceased　to　make　any　kind　of　sense。　〃You're　。。。　alive？〃
　　　　　　　He　bent　down　and　grabbed　her；　squeezing　hard。　He　lifted　her　high　in　the　air　so　that　her　feet　wiggled　above　the　ground。　〃Yes！〃　he　laughed。　〃I'm　alive！　God　knows　how；　but　I'm　alive！　Oh；　Rachel；　you　could　never　imagine　what　has　happened；　never；　never；　never！〃
He　put　her　down　but　took　both　her　hands　in　his。　She　wanted　to　pull　them　free　because　tears　were　streaming　down　her　cheeks。　Could　this　be？　Or　had　she　finally　gone　mad？　But　there　he　was；　red　hair；　idiot　grin；　big　as　life…　bigger　than　life！
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　。。。　Snowlock？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am；　I　suppose！〃　He　laughed　again。　〃I　am。〃　He　let　go　for　a　moment；　then　draped　an　arm　around　her。　〃There　is　so　much　to　tell　you…but　we　have　time　now；　nothing　but　time。〃　He　lifted　his　head；　shouting：　〃Quick！　This　is　Rachel！　Bring　her　wine；　bring　her　food；　get　her　a　chair！〃
　　　　　　　〃But　what　has　happened？〃　She　craned　her　neck　to　look　up　at　him；　impossibly　tall；　impossibly　alive；　but　Simon　for　all　that。　〃How　can　this　be？〃
　　　　　　　〃Sit；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　tell　you　all。　And　then　we　can　begin　the　grand　task。〃
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head；　dazed。　〃Grand　task？〃
〃You　were　Mistress　of　Chambermaids　。。。　but　you　were　always　more。　You　were　like　a　mother　to　me；　but　I　was　too　young　and　stupid　to　see　it。　Now　you　shall　have　the　honor　you　deserve；　Rachel。　And　if　you　want　it；　you　shall　be　the　mistress　of　the　entire　Hayholt。　Heaven　knows；　we　need　you。　An　army　of　servants　will　attend　you；　troops　of　builders；　panies　of　chambermaids；　legions　of　gardeners。〃　He　laughed；　a　man's　loud　laugh。　〃We　will　fight　a　war　against　the　ruin　we　have　made；　and　we　will　build　the　castle　again。　We　will　make　our　home　a　beautiful　place　once　more！〃　He　gave　her　a　squeeze　and　steered　her　toward　where　Miriamele　and　Jeremias　waited；　smiling。　〃You　will　be　Rachel　the　Dragon；　General　of　the　Hayholt！〃
Tears　trickled　down　her　cheeks。　〃Mooncalf；〃　she　said。

Afterword

　　　　　　　Tiamak　pushed　with　his　toe　at　the　lilypad。　The　part　of　the　moat　in　the　shadow　of　the　wall　was　quiet　but　for　the　hum　of　insects　and　the　splashing　of　Tiamak's　own　feet　dangling　in　the　water。
　　　　　　　He　was　watching　a　water　beetle　when　he　heard　footsteps　behind　him。
〃Tiamak！〃　Father　Strangyeard　sat　down　awkwardly　beside　him；　but　kept　his　sandaled　feet　out　of　the　moat。　〃I　heard　you　had　arrived。　How　good　it　is　to　see　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　Wrannaman　turned　and　clasped　the　archivist's　hand。　〃And　you；　dear　friend；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　astonishing　to　see　the　changes　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　great　deal　can　happen　in　a　year；〃　Strangyeard　laughed。　〃And　people　have　been　hard　at　work。　But　what　is　your　news　since　your　last　message？〃
　　　　　　　Tiamak　smiled。　〃Much。　I　found　the　remnants　of　my　townsmen；　scattered　mainly　through　other　villages　across　the　Wran。　Many　of　them　will　e　back　to　Village　Grove；　I　think；　now　that　the　ghants　have　retreated　to　the　deep　swamp。〃　His　smile　dwindled。　〃And　my　sister　still　does　not　believe　half　of　what　I　tell　her。〃
〃Can　you　blame　her？〃　asked　Strangyeard　gently。　〃I　can　scarcely　believe　the　things　I　saw　myself。〃
〃No；　I　do　not　blame　her。〃　Tiamak's　smile　returned。　〃And　I　have　finally　finished　Sovran　Remedys　of　the　Wranna　Healers。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tiamak；　my　friend！〃　Strangyeard　was　honestly　delighted。　〃But　that　is　wonderful！　I　am　hungry　for　it！　Is　there　a　chance　I　can　read　it　soon？〃
　　　　　　　〃Very　soon。　I　brought　it　with　me。　Simon　and　Miriamele　said　they　would　have　copies　made　here。　Four　writing…priests；　just　to　work　on　my　book！〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Who　would　ever　have　dreamed？〃
　　　　　　　〃Wonderful；〃　Strangyeard　said　again。　His　smile　was　mysterious。　〃e；　should　we　not　head　back？　I　think　ft　is　almost　time。〃
　　　　　　　Tiamak　nodded　and　reluctantly　pulled　his　feet　from　the　water。　The　lily　pad　floated　back　into　place。
〃I　have　heard　that　this　will　be　more　than　a　memorial；〃　the　Wrannaman　said　as　they　gazed　at　the　inplete　shell　of　stone；　littered　with　the　boards　and　covering　cloths　of　absent　workers；　that　rose　where　Green　Angel　Tower　had　stood。　〃That　there　will　be　archives　as　well。〃　He　turned　suddenly　to　look　at　his　friend。　〃Ah。　I　suspect　you　know　more　about　those　four　writing…priests　than　you　told　me。〃
　　　　　　　Strangyeard　nodded　and　blushed。　〃That　is　my　news；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃I　helped　draw　the　plans。　It　will　be　magnificent；　Tiamak。　A　place　of　learning　where　nothing　will　be　lost　or　hidden。　And　I　will　have　many　assistants　to　help　me。〃　He　smiled　and　stared　across　the　grounds。　Two　slow…moving　figures　made　their　way　through　the　building　site　and　passed　through　the　recently　pleted　doorway　into　the　shadowed　interior。　〃Most　likely　my　eye　will　be　so　bad　by　the　time　the　thing　is　finished…if　God　has　not　yet　called　me；　that　is…that　I　won't　be　able　to　see　it。　But　that　does　not　worry　me。　I　see　it　already。〃　He　tapped　his　head　and　his　gentle　smile　grew　wider。　〃Here。　And　it　is　wonderful；　my　friend；　wonderful。〃
Tiamak　took　the　priest's　arm。　They　made　their　way　across　the　grounds　of　the　Inner　Bailey。
〃As　I　said；　it　is　astonishing　to　see　the　changes。〃　The　marsh　man　looked　up　at　the　castle's　hodgepodge　of　roofs；　almost　all　patched　now；　gleaming　in　the　late　afternoon　sun。　Higher　up；　a　scaffolding　had　been　erected　over　the　dome　of　the　chapel。　A　few　workmen　moved　across　it；　tying　things　down　for　the　night。　Tiamak's　gaze　roved　to　the　far　side　of　the　Inner　Bailey　wall　and　he　paused。　〃Hjeldin's　Tower…it　has　no　windows　in　it　any　more。　They　were　red；　were　they　not？〃
　　　　　　　〃Pryrates'　tower　。　。　。　and　storehouse。〃　Strangyeard　sketched　the　Tree　on　his　breast。　〃Yes。　Fire　will　be　put　to　it；　I　expect；　then　it　will　be　leveled　to　the　ground。　It　has　been　sealed　a　long　time；　but　no　one　is　in　much　of　a　hurry　to　go　inside；　and　Simon…King　Seoman；　I　suppose　I　should　say；　although　that　still　sounds　faintly　strange　to　me…wants　the　entrance　to　the　catabs　beneath　sealed　as　well。〃　The　archivist　shook　his　head。　〃You　know　I　think　knowledge　is　precious；　Tiamak。　But　I　have　not　objected　to　any　part　of　that　plan。〃
The　Wrannaman　nodded。　〃I　understand。　But　let　us　talk　of　more　pleasant　things。〃
〃Yes。〃　Strangyeard　smiled　again。　〃Speaking　of　such；　I　have　e　by　a　fascinating　object…part　of　the　castellain's　account　book　from　the　time　of　Sulis　the　Apostate。　Someone　found　it　when　they　were　cleaning　up　the　Chancelry。　There　are　some　astonishing　things　in　it；　Tiamak…just　astonishing！　I　think　we　just　have　time　to　stop　by　my　chamber　and　get　it　on　our　way　to　the　dining　hall。〃
〃Let　us　go　then；　by　all　means；〃　Tiamak　said；　grinning；　but　as　he　fell　in　beside　the　archivist；　he　turned　for　a　last　look　at　Hjeldin's　Tower　and　its　empty　windows。

　　　　　　　〃You　see；〃　Isgrimnur　said　softly。　〃They　have　covered　it　with　fine　stone；　just　as　Miriamele　said。〃
　　　　　　　Gutrun　wiped　at　her　face　with　the　scarf。　〃Read　it　to　me。〃
The　duke　squinted　down　at　the　slab　set　into　the　floor。　The　place　was　open　to　the　sky；　but　the　light　was　fading　fast。　〃Isorn；　son　of　Isgrimnur　and　Gutrun；　Duke　and　Duchess　of　Elvritshalla。　Bravest　of　men；　beloved　of　God　and　all　who　knew　him。〃　He　straightened　up；　determined　not　to　cry。　He　would　be　strong　for　his　lost　child。　〃Bless　you；　son；〃　he　whispered。
〃He　must　be　so　lonely；〃　Gutrun　said；　her　voice　quavering。　〃So　cold　in　the　ground。〃
〃Hush。〃　Isgrimnur　put　his　arm　around　her。　〃Isorn　is　not　here；　you　know　that。　He　is　in　a　better　place。　He　would　laugh　to　see　us　fret　so。〃　He　tried　to　make　his　words　firm。　It　did　no　good　to　question；　to　worry。　〃God　has　rewarded　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。〃　Gutrun　sniffed。　〃But；　Isgrimnur；　I　still　miss　him　so！〃
　　　　　　　He　felt　his　eyes　misting　and　cursed　quietly；　then　hastily　made　the　Tree　sign。　〃I　miss　him；　too；　wife。　Of　course。　But　we　have　our　others　to　think　of；　and　Elvritshalla…not　to　mention　two　godchildren　down　in　Kwanitupul。〃
〃Godchildren　I　cannot　even　brag　about！〃　she　said　in…　dignantly；　then　laughed　and　shook　her　head。
　　　　　　　They　stood　a　while　longer；　until　the　light　had　vanished　and　the　stone　slab　had　fallen　into　shadow。　Then　they　went　out　again　into　the　evening。

　　　　　　　They　sat　in　the　dining　hall；　filling　the　chairs　around　John's　Great　Table。　All　the　wall　sconces　held　torches；　and　candles　were　set　about　the　table　as　well；　so　that　the　long　room　was　full　of　light。
Miriamele　rose；　her　blue　gown　whispering　in　the　sudden　silence。　The　circlet　on　her　brow　caught　the　torchlight。
　　　　　　　〃Wele；　all。〃　Her　voice　was　soft　but　strong。　〃This　house　is　yours　and　always　will　be。　e　to　us　whenever　you　wish；　stay　as　long　as　you　like。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　be　sure　and　be　here　at　least　once　a　year；〃　Simon　said；　and　raised　his　cup。
Tiamak　laughed。　〃It　is　a　long　journey　for　some　of　us；　Simon；〃　he　said。　〃But　we　will　always　do　our　best。〃
Beside　him；　Isgrimnur　thumped　his　goblet　on　the　table。　He　had　been　making　healthy　inroads　into　the　supply　of　beer　and　wine。　〃He's　right；　Simon。　And　speaking　of　long　journeys；　I　don't　see　little　Binabik。〃
Simon　stood　up　and　put　his　arm　around　Miriamele's　shoulder；　pausing　for　a　moment　to　pull　her　close　and　brush　the　top　of　her　head　with　a　kiss。　〃Binabik　and　Sisqi　have　sent　a　bird　with　a　message。〃　He　smiled。　〃They　are　performing　the　Rite　of　Quickening…Sludig　knows　what　I'm　talking　about；　since　it　almost　got　us　all　killed…and　then　traveling　with　their　folk　down…mountain　to　Blue　Mud　Lake。　After　that；　they　will　e　to　visit　us　here。〃　Simon's　grin　widened。　〃Then；　next　year；　Sludig　and　I　will　be　off　to　visit　them　in　high　Mintahoq！〃
Sludig　nodded　his　head　vigorously　as　various　jests　were　made。　〃The　trolls　invited　me；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃First　what…do…they…call…it…'Croohok'…they　have　ever　asked。〃　He　raised　his　cup。　〃To　Binabik　and　Sisqi！　Long　life　and　many　children！〃
　　　　　　　The　toast　was　echoed。
〃Do　you　really　think　you　will　slip　off　on　such　an　adventure　without　me？〃　asked　Miriamele；　eyeing　her　husband。　〃Leave　me　home　to　do　all　the　work？〃
　　　　　　　〃Good　luck　trying　to　Gutrun　Miri；〃　Isgrimnur　chortled。　〃There's　a　woman　who's　already　traveled　more　of　the　world　than　you　have！〃
　　　　　　　Gutrun　elbowed　him。　〃Let　them　speak。〃
Isgrimnur　turned　and　kissed　her　cheek。　〃Of　course。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　will　go　together；〃　Simon　said　grandly。　〃We　will　make　it　a　roy