tw.togreenangeltower2-第92章

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Eolair　took　a　step　backward。　〃She　did？　You　do　not　say　that　to　soothe　me；　as　a　parent　might　to　a　child？〃
　　　　　　　The　Sitha's　smooth　face　momentarily　showed　surprise。　〃Do　you　mean　tell　you　something　that　is　not　true；　deliberately？　No；　Eolair。　That　is　not　our　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　thought　of　me？　Poor　woman！　And　I　could　do　nothing　for　her。〃　The　count　felt　tears　returning；　but　made　no　attempt　to　hide　them。　〃This　is　no　favor；　Jiriki。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　was　not　meant　to　be。　These　are　things　you　deserve　to　know。　Now　I　must　ask　you　a　question。　There　is　a　young　mortal　named　Seoman　who　is　linked　to　Josua。　Do　you　know　him？　More　importantly；　did　Maegwin　know　him？〃
〃Seoman？〃　Eolair　was　bewildered　by　the　sudden　shift　of　the　conversation。　He　thought　for　a　moment。　〃There　was　a　young　knight　named　Simon；　tall；　red…haired…is　that　who　you　mean？　I　think　I　heard　some　call　him　Sir　Seoman。〃
〃That　is　him。〃
〃I　doubt　very　much　that　Maegwin　knew　him。　She　never　traveled　to　Erkynland；　and　I　believe　that　was　where　the　young　man　lived　before　running　away　to　serve　Josua。　Why？〃　Eolair　shook　his　head。　〃I　do　not　understand　this。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nor　do　I。　And　I　fear　what　it　might　mean。　But　in　those　last　moments；　it　seemed　Maegwin　thought　also　of　young　Seoman；　almost　as　though　she　had　seen　him　or　spoken　with　him。〃　Jiriki　frowned。　〃It　is　our　ill　luck　that　the　Dream　Road　is　so　murky　now；　so　unrewarding。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　glean　that　much。　But　something　is　happening　in　Asu'a…the　Hayholt…and　Seoman　will　be　there。　I　fear　for　him；　Count　Eolair。　He　is　。。。　important　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　that　is　where　you　are　going　anyway。　That　is　fortunate；　I　suppose。〃　Eolair　did　not　want　to　think　any　more。　〃I　wish　you　luck　finding　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you？　Even　if　Seoman　had　some　significance　for　Maegwin？　Even　if　she　had　some　message　from　him；　or　for　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　done　with　that…and　so　is　she。　I　will　take　her　back　to　Erkynland　to　be　buried　on　the　mountain　beside　her　father　and　brother。　There　is　much　to　do　to　rebuild　our　country；　and　I　have　been　absent　too　long。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　help　can　I　give　you？〃　Jiriki　asked。
　　　　　　　〃I　want　no　more　help。〃　Eolair　spoke　more　sharply　than　he　had　intended。　〃We　mortals　are　very　good　at　burying　our　dead。〃
　　　　　　　He　turned　and　walked　away；　pulling　his　cloak　tight　against　the　flurrying　snows。

　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　limped　out　onto　the　deck；　cursing　his　aching　body　and　his　halting　progress。　He　did　not　notice　the　shadowy　figure　until　he　had　nearly　stumbled　into　it。
　　　　　　　〃Greetings；　Duke　Isgrimnur。〃　Aditu　turned　and　regarded　him　for　a　moment。　〃Is　it　not　chill　weather　for　one　of　your　folk　to　be　out　in　the　wind？〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　hid　his　startlement　by　an　elaborate　readjustment　of　his　gloves。　〃Perhaps　for　the　southern　folk　like　Tiamak。　But　my　people　are　Rimmersmen；　my　lady。　We　are　hardened　to　the　cold。〃
　　　　　　　〃Am　I　your　lady？〃　she　said　with　amusement。　〃I　certainly　hold　no　mortal　title。　And　I　cannot　believe　that　Duchess　Gutrun　would　approve　of　any　other　meaning。〃
　　　　　　　He　grimaced；　and　was　suddenly　grateful　for　the　chill　wind　on　his　cheeks。　〃It　is　just　politeness；　my　la　。。。〃　He　tried　again。　〃I　find　it　difficult　to　call　by　their　first　name　someone　who　。。。　who　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Who　is　older　than　you　are？〃　She　laughed；　a　not　unpleasant　sound。　〃Another　problem　for　which　I　am　to　blame！　I　truly　did　not　e　to　you　mortals　to　disfort　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　really？　Older　than　me？〃　Isgrimnur　was　not　sure　if　it　was　a　polite　question…but　after　all；　she　had　brought　it　up。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　I　should　think　so　。。。　although　my　brother　Jiriki　and　I　are　both　accounted　quite　young　by　our　folk。　We　are　both　children　of　the　Exile；　born　since　Asu'a　fell。　To　some；　like　my　uncle　Khendraja'aro；　we　are　barely　even　real　people；　and　certainly　not　to　be　trusted　with　any　responsibility。〃　She　laughed　again。　〃Oh；　poor　Uncle。　He　has　seen　so　many　outrageous　things　happen　in　these　last　days…a　mortal　brought　to　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　the　breaking　of　the　Pact；　Zida'ya　and　humans　fighting　side　by　side　again。　I　fear　that　he　will　finish　his　present　duty　to　my　mother　and　Year…Dancing　House　and　then　simply　let　himself　die。　Sometimes　it　is　the　strongest　who　are　the　most　brittle。　Do　you　not　think　so？〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　nodded。　For　once；　he　understood　what　the　Sitha…woman　meant。　〃I　have　seen　that；　yes。　Sometimes　those　who　act　the　strongest　are　really　the　most　frightened。〃
Aditu　smiled。　〃You　are　a　very　wise　mortal；　Duke　Isgrimnur。〃
The　duke　coughed；　embarrassed。　〃I　am　a　very　old；　very　sore　mortal。〃　He　stared　out　across　the　choppy　bay。　〃And　tomorrow　we　make　landfall。　I　am　glad　we　have　been　able　to　shelter　here　in　the　Kynslagh…I　don't　think　most　of　us　could　have　taken　much　more　of　the　storms　and　the　kilpa　on　the　open　sea；　and　God　knows　I　hate　boats…but　I　still　don't　understand　why　Elias　has　not　lifted　a　hand　in　his　own　defense。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　has　not　yet；〃　Aditu　agreed。　〃Perhaps　he　feels　that　his　Hayholt　walls　are　defense　enough。〃
　　　　　　　〃Could　be。〃　Isgrimnur　voiced　the　fear　that　others　in　the　prince's　fleet　shared。　〃Or　perhaps　he　is　expecting　allies…the　kind　of　allies　he　had　at　Naglimund。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　could　also　be　true。　Your　people　and　my　people　have　both　wondered　much　about　what　is　intended。〃　She　shrugged；　a　sinuous　gesture　that　might　have　been　part　of　a　ritual　dance。　〃Soon　it　will　not　matter。　Soon　we　will　learn　first　hand；　as　I　think　you　say。〃
　　　　　　　They　both　fell　silent。　The　wind　was　not　strong；　but　its　breath　was　bitterly　cold。　Despite　his　rugged　heritage；　Isgrimnur　found　himself　pulling　his　scarf　higher　on　his　neck。
〃What　happens　to　your　fairy…folk　when　they　get　old？〃　Isgrimnur　asked　suddenly。　〃Do　they　just　get　wiser？　Or　do　they　turn　silly　and　mawkish；　as　some　of　ours　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃　'Old'　means　something　different　to　us；　as　you　know；〃　Aditu　replied。　〃But　the　answer　is：　there　are　as　many　different　answers　as　there　are　Zida'ya；　as　is　no　doubt　true　with　mortals。　Some　grow　increasingly　remote；　they　do　not　speak　to　anyone；　but　live　entirely　in　their　own　thoughts。　Others　develop　fondnesses　for　things　others　find　unimportant。　And　some　begin　to　brood　on　the　past；　on　wrongs　and　hurts　and　missed　chances。
　　　　　　　〃The　oldest　one　of　all；　the　one　you　call　the　Norn　Queen；　has　grown　old　in　that　way。　She　was　known　once　for　her　wisdom　and　beauty；　for　grace　beyond　measurement。　But　something　in　her　was　balked　and　grew　bent；　and　so　she　curled　inward　into　malice。　As　the　years　almost　beyond　counting　rolled　past；　all　that　was　once　admirable　became　twisted。〃　Aditu　had　suddenly　bee　serious　in　a　way　that　Isgrimnur　had　not　seen　before。　〃That　is　perhaps　the　greatest　sorrow　of　our　folk；　that　the　ruin　of　the　world　should　be　brought　about　by　two　who　were　among　the　greatest　of　the　Gardenborn。〃
　　　　　　　〃Two？〃　Isgrimnur　was　trying　to　reconcile　the　stories　he　had　heard　of　the　silver…masked　queen　of　ice　and　darkness　with　Aditu's　description。
　　　　　　　〃Ineluki　。。。　the　Storm　King。〃　She　turned　back　to　look　across　the　Kynslagh；　as　though　she　could　see　the　old　Asu'a　looming　beyond　the　darkness。　〃He　was　the　brightest…burning　flame　ever　kindled　in　this　land。　Had　the　mortals　not　e…had　your　own　ancestors　not　e；　Duke　Isgrimnur…and　attacked　our　great　house　with　iron　and　fire；　he　might　have　led　us　out　of　the　shadows　of　exile　and　back　into　the　light　of　the　living　world　again。　That　was　his　dream。　But　any　great　dream　can　flower　into　madness。〃　She　was　silent　for　a　while。　〃Perhaps　we　must　all　learn　to　live　with　exile；　Isgrimnur。　Perhaps　we　must　all　learn　to　live　with　smaller　dreams。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　said　nothing。　They　stood　for　a　while　in　the　wind；　silent　but　not　unfortably　so；　before　the　duke　turned　and　sought　the　warmth　of　the　cabins。

　　　　　　　Duchess　Gutrun　looked　up　in　alarm　when　she　felt　the　cold　air。　〃Vorzheva！　Are　you　mad？　Bring　those　children　away　from　the　windows。〃
　　　　　　　The　Thrithings…woman；　one　child　cradled　in　each　arm；　did　not　move。　Beyond　the　open　window　stretched　Nabban；　vast　but　strangely　intimate；　the　city's　famous　hills　made　the　houses　and　streets　and　buildings　seem　built　almost　on　top　of　each　other。　〃There　is　no　harm　in　air。　On　the　grasslands；　we　live　all　our　lives　out　in　the　open。〃
〃Nonsense；〃　Gutrun　said　crossly。　〃I've　been　there；　Vorzheva；　don't　forget。　Those　wagons　are　almost　like　houses。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　we　only　sleep　in　them。　Everything　else…eating；　singing；　loving…we　do　beneath　the　sky。〃
〃And　your　men　cut　their　cheeks　with　knives；　too。　Does　that　mean　you're　going　to　do　that　to　poor　little　Deornoth？〃　She　bristled　at　the　mere　thought。
　　　　　　　The　Thrithings…woman　turned　and　gave　her　panion　an　amused　look。　〃You　do　not　think　the　little　one　should　wear　scars？〃　She　gazed　at　the　male　infant's　sleeping　face；　then　laid　a　finger　along　his　cheek；　pretending　to　consider　it。　〃Oh；　but　they　are　so　handsome　to　see。　。。　。〃　She　darted　a　sideward　glance；　then　burst　out　laughing　at　the　Rimmerswoman's　horror。　〃Gutrun！　You　think　I　mean　it　for　true！〃
〃Don't　even　say　such　things。　And　bring　those　poor　babies　away　from　the　window。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　showing　them　the　ocean　where　their　father　is。　But　you；　Gutrun；　you　are　very　angry　and　unhappy　today。　Are　you　not　well？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is　there　to　be　happy　about？〃　The　duchess　sank　down　again　onto　her　chair　and　picked　up　her　sewing；　but　only　turned　the　cloth　in　her　hands。　〃We　are　at　war。　People　are　dying。　It　is　not　even　a　week　since　we　buried　little　Leieth！〃
〃Oh；　I　am　sorry；〃　Vorzheva　said。　〃I　did　not　mean　to　be　cruel。　You　were　very　close　to　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　was　just　a　child。　She　suffered　terrible　things；　may　God　grant　her　peace。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　did　not　seem　to　have　any　pain　at　the　end。　That　is　something。　Did　you　think　she　would　e　awake；　after　all　that　time？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　The　duchess　frowned。　〃But　that　does　not　make　the　sadness　less。　I　hope　I　am　not　the　one　who　must　tell　young　Jeremias　when　he　es　back。〃　Her　voice　dropped。　〃If　he　es　back。〃
Vorzheva　looked　at　the　older　woman　intently。　〃Poor　Gutrun。　It　is　not　just　Leieth；　is　it？　You　are　frightened　for　Isgrimnur　also。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　old　fellow　will　e　back　well；〃　Gutrun　muttered。　〃He　always　does。〃　She　peered　up　at　Vorzheva；　who　still　stood　before　the　open　window；　a　sweep　of　ash…gray　sky　behind　her。　〃But　what　of　you；　who　feared　so　much　for　Josua？　Where　is　your　worry？〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃Saint　Skendi　protect　us；　I　should　not　speak　of　such　things。　Who　knows　what　ill　luck　it　could　bring？〃
　　　　　　　Vorzheva　smiled。　〃Josua　will　e　back　to　me。　I　had　a　dream。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？　Has　all　that　nonsense　of　Aditu's　turned　your　head？〃
〃No；〃　The　Thrithings…woman　looked　down　at　her　girl…child；　Vorzheva's　thick　hair　fell　like　a　curtain；　so　that　for　a　moment　the　faces　of　both　mother　and　daughter　were　hidden。　〃But　it　was　a　true　dream。　I　know。　Josua　came　to　me　and　said；　'I　have　what　I　always　have　wanted。'　And　he　was　at　peace。　So　I　know　that　he　will　win；　and　he　will　e　back　to　me。〃
Gutrun　opened　her　mouth　to　say　something；　then　shut　it　again。　Her　face　was　fearful。　Quickly；　while　Vorzheva　still　gazed　at　little　Derra；　the　duchess　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree。
　　　　　　　Vorzheva　shivered　and　looked　up。　〃Perhaps　you　are　right；　Gutrun。　It　is　getting　cold。　I　will　shut　the　windows。〃
　　　　　　　The　duchess　levered　herself　up　from　her　chair。　〃Nonsense。　I'll　do　it。　You　take　those　little　ones　right　back　and　get　under　the　blankets。〃　She　paused　in　front　of　the　window。　〃Merciful　Elysia；〃　she　said。　〃Look。〃
　　　　　　　Vo