tw.togreenangeltower2-第38章

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　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　intruders　to　pass。
　　　　　　　An　hour　after　sunset　they　made　camp　beneath　a　rocky　overhang；　but　the　acmodations　were　far　less　pleasant　than　the　dry　and　secret　cave。　When　the　rains　came　and　water　ran　streaming　down　the　hillside；　Simon　and　the　others　were　forced　to　huddle　as　far　back　under　the　overhang　as　they　could。　The　horses；　appearing　none　too　pleased；　were　tethered　at　the　front　where　they　were　intermittently　lashed　by　rain。　Simon　hoped　that　since　horses　often　stood　in　fields　during　bad　weather；　they　would　not　suffer　too　badly；　but　he　felt　obscurely　guilty。　Surely　Homefinder；　a　knight's　panion；　deserved　better　treatment？
　　　　　　　After　she　hunted；　Qantaqa　came　and　curled　herself　against　all　three　of　them　as　they　huddled　in　a　row；　making　up　with　the　warmth　she　provided　for　the　strong　smell　of　damp　wolf　that　filled　the　shelter。　They　fell　asleep　at　last；　then　awakened　at　dawn；　stiff　and　sore。　Binabik　did　not　want　to　light　a　fire　in　such　an　exposed　place；　so　they　ate　a　little　dried　meat　and　some　berries　the　troll　gathered；　then　set　out　again。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　difficult　day's　traveling；　the　hillsides　and　dales　slippery　with　mud　and　wet　moss；　the　rain　blowing　up　in　sudden　squalls　that　lashed　them　with　water　and　slapped　branches　into　their　faces；　when　the　rain　ceased；　the　mist　crept　back　in；　hiding　treacherous　pitfalls。　Their　progress　was　achingly　slow。　Still；　Simon　was　impressed　that　his　trollish　friend　could　find　a　Way　at　all　with　no　sun　visible　and　the　road　far　away　and　out　of　sight。
　　　　　　　Sometime　after　noon　Binabik　led　them　along　the　hillside　past　the　outskirts　of　the　town　of　Hasu　Vale　itself。　It　was　difficult　to　make　out　much　more　through　the　close…knit　trees　than　the　shapes　of　some　rough　houses；　and…when　the　mist　was　momentarily　cleared　by　a　stiff　wind…the　snaking　course　of　the　road；　a　dark　streak　some　furlongs　away。　But　the　town　seemed　just　as　muted　and　lifeless　as　the　forest：　nothing　but　gray　mists　rose　around　the　smoke　holes　of　the　cottages；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　people　or　animals。
　　　　　　　〃Where　has　everyone　gone？〃　Miriamele　asked。　〃I　have　been　here。　It　was　a　lively　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃Those　Fire　Dancers；〃　Simon　said　grimly。　〃They've　scared　everyone　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃Or　perhaps　it　is　the　things　with　which　the　Fire　Dancers　have　been　making　celebration　on　the　hilltops　at　night；〃　Binabik　pointed　out。　〃It　is　not　necessary；　I　am　thinking；　to　see　those　things；　as　you　two　were　seeing；　to　know　that　something　is　wrong。　It　is　a　feeling　in　the　air。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　nodded。　Binabik　was　right。　This　entire　area　felt　much　like　Thisterborg；　the　haunted　hill　between　the　forest　and　Erchester；　the　place　where　the　Anger　Stones　stood　。。。　the　place　where　the　Norns　had　given　Sorrow　to　King　Elias。。。。
　　　　　　　He　did　not　like　thinking　about　that　horrible　night；　but　for　some　reason　the　memory　suddenly　seemed　important。　Something　was　pulling　at　him；　scattered　thoughts　that　wanted　to　be　fit　together。　The　Norns。　The　Red　Hand。　Thisterborg。。。。
　　　　　　　〃What's　that？〃　Miriamele　cried　in　alarm。　Simon　jumped。　Homefinder　startled　beneath　him　and　slipped　a　little　in　the　mud　before　finding　her　footing。
　　　　　　　A　dark　shape　had　appeared　in　the　mist　before　them；　gesticulating　wildly。　Binabik　leaned　forward　against　Qantaqa's　neck　and　squinted。　After　a　long；　tense　moment；　he　smiled。　〃It　is　nothing。　A　rag　caught　by　the　wind。　Someone's　lost　shin；　I　am　thinking。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　squinted；　too。　The　troll　was　correct。　It　was　a　tattered　bit　of　clothing　wrapped　around　a　tree；　the　sleeves　fluttering　in　the　wind　like　pennants。
　　　　　　　Miriamele　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree；　relieved。
　　　　　　　They　rode　on。　The　town　vanished　into　the　thick　greenery　behind　them　as　quickly　and　pletely　as　if　the　wet；　silent　woods　had　swallowed　it。

　　　　　　　They　camped　that　evening　in　a　sheltered　gully　at　the　base　of　the　valley's　western　slope。　Binabik　seemed　preoccupied；　Simon　and　Miriamele　were　both　quiet。　They　ate　an　unsatisfying　meal　and　made　some　small　talk；　then　everyone　took　refuge　in　the　darkness　and　the　need　to　sleep。
　　　　　　　Simon　again　felt　the　awkward　distance　that　existed　now　between　himself　and　Miriamele。　He　still　did　not　quite　know　what　to　feel　about　the　things　she　had　told　him。　She　was　no　maiden；　and　it　was　by　her　own　choice。　That　was　painful　enough；　but　the　way　she　had　told　him；　the　manner　in　which　she　had　lashed　out　at　him　as　though　to　punish；　was　even　more　infuriatingly　confusing。　Why　was　she　so　kind　to　him　sometimes；　so　hateful　at　others？　He　would　have　liked　to　believe　that　she　was　playing　the　e…hither；　go…away　games　that　young　court　women　were　taught　to　play　with　men；　but　he　knew　her　too　well：　Miriamele　was　not　one　for　that　kind　of　frippery。　The　only　solution　that　he　could　find　to　this　puzzle　was　that　she　truly　wanted　him　for　a　friend；　but　was　afraid　that　Simon　wanted　more。
　　　　　　　I　do　want　more；　he　thought　miserably。　Even　if　I　won't　ever　have　it。
　　　　　　　He　did　not　fall　asleep　for　a　long　time；　but　instead　lay　listening　to　the　water　pattering　through　the　leaves　to　the　forest　floor。　Huddled　beneath　his　cloak；　he　probed　at　his　unhappiness　as　he　might　at　a　wound；　trying　to　find　out　how　much　pain　came　with　it。

　　　　　　　By　the　middle　of　the　next　afternoon　they　climbed　out　of　the　valley；　leaving　Hasu　Vale　behind。　The　forest　still　stretched　out　at　their　right　hands　like　a　great　green　blanket；　vanishing　only　at　the　horizon。　Before　them　was　the　hilly　grass　country　that　lay　between　the　Old　Forest　Road　and　the　headlands　at　Swertclif。
　　　　　　　Simon　could　not　help　wishing　that　this　journey　with　Binabik　and　Miriamele　could　be　more　like　the　first　heady　days　they　had　traveled　together　after　leaving　Geloe's　lake　house；　so　many　months　ago。　The　troll　had　been　full　of　songs　and　silliness　during　that　journey；　even　the　princess…pretending　then　to　be　the　servant　girl　Marya…had　seemed　excited　and　happy　to　be　alive。　Now　the　three　of　them　went　forward　like　soldiers　marching　toward　a　battle　they　did　not　expect　to　win；　each　immersed　in　private　thoughts　and　fears。
　　　　　　　The　empty；　rolling　country　north　of　the　Kynslagh　did　not　inspire　much　cheer　in　any　case。　It　was　fully　as　dreary　and　lifeless　as　Hasu　Vale；　equally　as　wet；　but　did　not　afford　the　hiding　places　and　security　to　be　found　in　the　densely　forested　valley。　Simon　felt　that　they　were　terribly　exposed；　and　could　not　help　marveling　at　the　astonishing　courage…or　stupidity；　or　both…of　walking　virtually　unarmed　into　the　High　King's　gateyard。　If　there　were　left　any　scrap　of　the　panions　or　their　tale　when　these　dark　times　had　someday　passed；　surely　it　would　make　a　wonderful；　unbelievable　song！　Some　future　Shem　Horsegroom；　perhaps；　might　tell　some　wide…eyed　scullion：　〃Do　ye　listen；　lad；　whilst　I　tell　ye　of　Brave　Simon　and　his　friends；　them　who　rode　open…eyed　and　empty…handed　into　the　very　Jaws　of　Darkness。。。。〃
　　　　　　　Jaws　of　Darkness。　Simon　liked　that。　He　had　heard　that　in　a　song　of　Sangfugol's。
　　　　　　　He　suddenly　thought　of　what　that　darkness　really　meant…the　things　he　had　seen　and　felt；　the　dreadful；　clutching　shadows　waiting　beyond　the　light　and　warmth　of　life…and　his　skin　went　shudderingly　cold　from　head　to　foot。

　　　　　　　It　took　them　two　days　to　ride　across　the　hilly　meadow…lands；　two　days　of　mist　and　frequent　cold　rains。　No　matter　which　direction　they　traveled；　the　winds　seemed　always　to　be　blowing　into　their　faces。　Simon　sneezed　the　entirety　of　the　first　night　and　felt　warm　and　unstable　as　melting　candle　wax。　He　was　a　bit　recovered　by　morning。
　　　　　　　In　mid…afternoon　of　the　second　day；　the　headlands　of　Swertclif　appeared　before　them；　the　raw　edge　of　the　high；　rocky　hill　on　whose　summit　the　Hayholt　perched。　As　he　stared　into　the　twilight；　Simon　thought　he　could　see　an　impossibly　slim　white　line　looming　beyond　Swertclif's　naked　face。
　　　　　　　It　was　Green　Angel　Tower；　visible　even　though　it　stood　the　better　part　of　a　league　beyond　the　nearest　side　of　the　hill。
　　　　　　　Simon　felt　something　tingle　up　his　back；　lifting　the　hairs　on　the　nape　of　his　neck。　The　tower；　the　great　shining　spike　that　the　Sithi　had　built　when　the　castle　was　theirs；　the　tower　where　Ineluki　had　lost　his　earthly　life…it　was　waiting；　still　waiting。　But　it　was　also　the　site　of　Simon's　own　boyhood