tw.togreenangeltower2-第48章

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　　　　　　　〃This　is　not　fair　to　the　mortal。〃　Kuroyi　spoke　with　an　emotionless　reserve　that　was　extreme　even　for　the　Sithi。
　　　　　　　〃He　deserves　to　know　more。　If　Zinjadu　had　lived；　she　could　tell　him。　Since　I　failed　my　old　friend　and　she　is　now　voyaging　with　the　Ancestors；　I　will　take　her　place　as　the　lore…giver。〃　He　turned　to　Likimeya。　〃If　Year…Dancing　House　approves；　of　course。〃
　　　　　　　Likimeya　made　a　wordless　musical　noise；　then　flicked　her　hand　in　permission。
　　　　　　　〃Jiriki　i…Sa'onserei　has　told　you　something　of　the　Road　of　Dreams；　Count　Eolair？〃　Kuroyi　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　he　has　told　me　a　little。　Also；　we　Hernystiri　still　have　many　stories　of　the　past　and　of　your　people。　There　are　those　living　among　us　who　claim　they　can　walk　the　Dream　Road；　just　as　you　taught　our　ancestors　to　do。〃　He　thought　sourly　of　Maegwin's　would…be　mentor；　the　scryer　Diawen：　if　some　Hernystiri　did　still　have　that　power；　it　had　little　to　do　with　good　sense　or　responsibility。
　　　　　　　〃Then　1　am　sure　he　has　spoken　of　the　Witnesses；　too…those　objects　that　we　use　to　make　the　journeying　easier。〃　Kuroyi　hesitated；　then　reached　into　his　milk…white　shirt　and　produced　a　round；　translucent　yellow　object　that　caught　the　firelight　like　a　globule　of　amber　or　a　ball　of　melted　glass。　〃This　is　one　such…my　own。〃　He　let　Eolair　look　for　a　moment；　then　tucked　the　thing　away　again。　〃Like　most　others；　it　is　of　no　use　in　these　strange　times…the　Dream　Road　is　as　impassable　as　a　road　of　this　world　might　be　in　a　terrible　blizzard。
　　　　　　　〃But　there　are　other　Witnesses；　too：　larger；　more　powerful　objects　that　are　not　moveable；　and　are　linked　to　the　place　where　they　are　found。　Master　Witnesses；　they　are　called；　for　they　can　look　upon　many　things　and　places。　You　have　seen　one　such。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Shard？〃
　　　　　　　Kuroyi　nodded　his　head　once。　〃In　Mezutu'a；　yes。　There　were　others；　although　most　are　now　lost　to　time　and　earth…changes。　One　lies　beneath　the　castle　of　your　enemy　King　Elias。〃
　　　　　　　〃Beneath　the　Hayholt？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　The　Pool　of　Three　Depths　is　its　name。　But　it　has　been　dry　and　voiceless　for　centuries。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　this　has　something　to　do　with　Naglimund？　Is　there　something　of　that　sort　here？〃
　　　　　　　Kuroyi　smiled；　a　narrow；　wintery　smile；　〃We　are　not　sure。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　understand；〃　the　count　said。　〃How　can　you　not　be　sure？〃
　　　　　　　The　Sitha　lifted　his　long…fingered　hand。　〃Peace；　Eolair　of　Nad　Mullach。　Let　me　finish　my　tale。　By　the　standards　of　the　Gardenborn　it　is　quite　short。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　shifted　slightly；　he　was　glad　for　the　firelight；　which　disguised　his　flush　of　embarrassment。　How　was　it　that　among　these　folk　he　was　as　easily　cowed　as　a　child…as　if　all　his　years　of　statecraft　had　been　forgotten？　〃My　apologies。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　have　always　been　in　Osten　Ard　certain　places；〃　Kuroyi　resumed；　〃which　act　much　like　Master　Witnesses　。。。　but　in　which　no　Master　Witness　seems　to　be　present。　That　is；　many　of　the　effects　are　there…in　fact；　sometimes　these　places　exhibit　more　powerful　results　than　any　Witness…but　no　object　can　be　found　which　is　responsible。　Since　we　first　came　to　this　land　long　ago；　we　have　studied　such　places；　thinking　that　they　might　answer　questions　we　have　about　the　Witnesses　and　why　they　do　what　they　do；　about　Death　itself；　even　about　the　Unbeing　that　made　us　flee　our　native　land　and　e　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃Forgive　me　for　interrupting　again；〃　said　Eolair；　〃but　how　many　of　these　places　exist？　And　where　are　they？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　know　of　only　a　handful　between　far　Nascadu　and　the　wastelands　of　the　white　north。　A…Genay'asu'e；　we　call　them…〃Houses　of　Traveling　Beyond〃　would　be　a　crude　rendering　in　your　tongue。　And　we　Gardenborn　are　not　the　only　ones　to　sense　the　power　of　these　places：　they　often　draw　mortals　as　well；　some　merely　seekers…after…knowledge；　some　god…maddened　and　dangerous。　What　mortals　call　Thisterborg；　the　hill　near　Asu'a；　is　one　such　spot。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　it。〃　Remembering　a　black　sled　and　a　team　of　misshapen　white　goats；　Eolair　felt　his　flesh　tighten。　〃Your　cousins　the　Norns　also　know　about　Thisterborg。　I　saw　them　there。〃
　　　　　　　Kuroyi　did　not　seem　surprised。　〃We　Gardenborn　have　been　interested　in　these　sites　since　long　before　the　families　parted。　The　Hikeda'ya；　like　us；　have　made　many　attempts　to　harness　the　might　of　such　places。　But　their　power　is　as　wild　and　unpredictable　as　the　wind。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　pondered。　〃So　there　is　not　a　Master　Witness　here　at　Naglimund；　but　rather　one　of　these　things；　a　。。。　Beyonding　House？　I　cannot　remember　the　words　in　your　tongue。〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　looked　toward　his　mother；　smiling　and　nodding　with　what　almost　looked　like　pride。　Eolair　felt　a　flash　of　annoyance；　was　a　mortal　who　could　listen　and　reason　such　a　surprise　to　them？
　　　　　　　〃An　A…Genay'asu。　Yes；　that　is　what　we　believe；〃　said　Kuroyi。　〃But　it　came　to　our　attention　late；　and　there　was　never　a　chance　to　find　out　before　the　mortals　came。〃
　　　　　　　〃Before　the　mortals　came　with　their　iron　spikes。〃　Likimeya's　soft　voice　was　like　the　hiss　that　preceded　a　whip…crack。　Surprised　by　her　vehemence；　Eolair　looked　up；　then　just　as　quickly　turned　his　gaze　back　to　Kuroyi's　more　placid　face。
　　　　　　　〃Both　Zida'ya　and　Hikeda'ya　continued　to　e　to　this　place　after　men　built　their　castle　here　at　Naglimund；〃　the　black…haired　Sitha　explained。　〃Our　presence　frightened　the　mortals；　though　they　saw　us　only　by　moonlight；　and　even　then　only　rarely。　The　man　the　Imperators　had　given　to　rule　over　the　locality　filled　the　fields　all　around　with　the　iron　that　gave　the　place　its　name：　Nail　Fort。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　knew　that　the　nails　were　there　to　keep　out　the　Peaceful　Ones…what　we　Hernystiri　call　your　folk；〃　said　Eolair；　〃but　since　it　was　built　in　the　era　when　your　people　and　ours　were　at　peace；　I　could　not　understand　why　the　place　should　have　needed　such　defenses。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　mortal　named　Aeswides　who　had　it　done　may　have　felt　a　certain　shame　that　he　had　trespassed　on　our　lands　in　building　this　keep　so　close　to　our　city　Da'ai　Chikiza；　on　me　far　side　of　those　hills；〃　Kuroyi　gestured　toward　the　east。　〃He　may　have　feared　that　we　would　some　day　e　and　take　the　place　back；　he　may　also　have　thought　that　those　of　our　folk　who　still　made　pilgrimage　to　this　place　were　spies。　Who　knows？　In　fact；　he　traveled　less　and　less　out　of　the　gates；　and　died　at　last　a　recluse…afraid；　it　was　said；　even　to　leave　his　own　well…guarded　chamber　for　terror　of　what　the　dreaded　immortals　might　do。〃　Kuroyi's　cool　smile　returned。　〃Strangely；　although　the　world　is　already　full　of　fearful　things；　mortals　seem　always　to　hunt　for　new　worries。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nor　do　we　relinquish　the　old　ones。〃　Eolair　returned　the　tall　Sitha's　smile。　〃For；　like　the　cut　of　a　man's　cloak；　we　know　that　the　tried　and　true　is　best　in　the　long　run。　But　I　doubt　you　have　brought　me　here　only　to　tell　about　what　some　long…dead　mortal　did。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　we　have　not；〃　Kuroyi　agreed。　〃Since　we　were　driven　from　the　land　at　a　time　when　we　considered　it　better　policy　not　to　interfere；　and　to　let　the　mortals　build　where　they　wished；　we　have　unanswered　questions　still　about　this　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　we　need　those　questions　answered　now；　Count　Eolair；〃　Likimeya　broke　in。　〃So　tell　us：　this　place　you　call　Naglimund…is　it　known　among　mortals　for　strangeness　of　any　kind？　Apparitions？　Odd　happenings？　Is　it　reputed　a　haunt　of　spirits　of　the　dead？〃；
　　　　　　　The　count　frowned　as　he　considered。　〃I　must　say　that　I　have　never　heard　anything　like　that。　There　are　other　places；　many　others；　some　within　a　league　of　my　birthplace；　of　which　I　could　tell　you　a　whole　night's　worth　of　tales。　But　not　Naglimund。　And　Prince　Josua　was　always　a　lover　of　odd　lore…I　feel　sure　that　if　there　were　such　stories；　it　would　have　been　his　pleasure　to　relate　them。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　sorry　to　force　you　to　tell　such　a　long　tale　yourself　for　so　little　result。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　still　think　it　likely　that　this　place　is　an　A…Genay'asu；〃　Jiriki　said。　〃We　have　thought　so　since　long　before　Asu'a　fell。　Here；　Count　Eolair；　you　look　thirsty。　Let　me　pour　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　Hernystirman　gratefully　accepted　another　cup　of　mulled　。。。　something；　whatever　it　was；　it　tasted　of　flowers　and　wanned　him　very　nicely。　〃In　any　case；〃　he　said　after　he　had　taken　a　few　sips；　〃what　does　it　mean　if　Naglimund　is　such　a　place？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　not　certain。　That　is　one　of　the　things　that　worries　us。〃　Jiriki　sat　down　across　from　Eolair　and　raised　a　slim　hand。　〃We　had　hoped　that　the　Hikeda'ya　came　here　only　to　pay　their　part　of　the　bargain　with　Elias；　and　that　they　had　remained　here　because　it　was　a　way　station　between　Stormspike　and　the　castle　that　stands　on　Asu'a's　bones。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　do　not　think　that　any　longer。〃　It　was　a　statement；　not　a　question。
　　　　　　　〃No。　Our　cousins　have　fought　too　hard；　long　past　the　time　when　they　could　have　gained　anything　from　resisting。　This　is　not　the　final　confrontation。　However　much　Utuk'ku　has　reason　to　hate　us；　it　is　not　a　blind　anger：　she　would　not　throw　away　the　lives　of　so　many　Cloud　Children　to　hold　a　useless　ruin。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　had　not　heard　much　about　the　Norn　Queen；　Utuk'ku；　but　what　he　had　was　shuddersome。　〃So　what　does　she　want？　What　do　they　want？〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　shook　his　head。　〃They　want　to　remain　in　Naglimund。　That　is　all　we　know　for　certain。　And　it　will　be　dreadful　work　to　drive　them　out。　I　fear　for　you　and　your　remaining　soldiers；　Count　Eolair。　I　fear　for　all　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　A　horrible　thought　occurred　to　the　Hernystirman。　〃Forgive　me；　since　I　know　little　of　these　things…although　perhaps　more　now　than　I　would　have　wished…but　you　said　that　these　Beyonding　places　had　something　to　do　with　the　secrets　of　。。。　of　death？〃
　　　　　　　〃All　mysteries　are　one　mystery　until　they　are　solved；〃　said　Kuroyi。　〃We　have　tried　to　learn　more　about　Death　and　Unbeing　from　the　A…Genay'asu'e；　yes。〃
　　　　　　　'These　Norns　we　are　fighting　are　living　creatures…but　their　master　is　not。　Could　they　be　trying　to　bring　the　Storm　King　。。。　back　to　life？〃
　　　　　　　Eolair's　question　brought　neither　derisive　laughter　nor　shocked　silence。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　thought　on　this。〃　Likimeya　was　blunt。　〃It　cannot　happen。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ineluki　is　dead。〃　Kuroyi　spoke　more　softly；　but　with　equal　firmness。　〃There　are　some　things　we　know　about　only　little；　but　death　we　know　very　well。〃　His　lips　twitched　in　a　tiny；　dry　smile。　〃Very　well；　indeed。　Ineluki　is　dead。　He　cannot　return　to　this　world。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　told　me　he　was　in　Stormspike；〃　Eolair　said　to　Jiriki。　〃You　said　that　the　Norns　do　as　he　bids。　Are　we　at　war　against　something　imaginary？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　indeed　confusing；　Count　Eolair；〃　Jiriki　replied。　〃Ineluki…although　he　is　not　truly　Ineluki　any　more…has　no　more　existence　than　a　sort　of　dream。　He　is　an　evil　and　vengeful　dream；　one　that　possesses　all　the　craftiness　that　the　Storm　King　had　in　life；　as　well　as　knowledge　of　the　ultimate　darknesses　no　living　thing　has　ever　had　。。。　but　he　is　only　a　dream；　for　all　of　that。　Trust　that　I　speak　truly。　As　we　can　travel　on　the　Road　of　Dreams；　and　see　and　feel　things　there；　so　Ineluki　can　speak　to　his　followers　in　Nakkiga　through　the　Breathing　Harp；　which　is　one　of　the　greatest　of　the　Master　Witnesses…although　I　would　guess　that　Utuk'ku　alone　has　the　skill　even　to　understand　him。　So　he　is　not　a　thing；　Eolair；　with　an　existence　in　this　world。〃　He　gestured　to　the　walls　of　the　tent。　〃He　is　not　real；　like　this　cloth　i