tw.togreenangeltower2-第94章

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ired　of　the　painful　sound　of　their　creaking　by　the　time　his　journey　was　finished。
〃Here　we　say　farewell；〃　he　called　to　Isorn。　He　left　his　horse　in　the　care　of　one　of　the　soldiers　and　walked　through　the　snow　to　the　young　Rimmersman；　who　dismounted　and　embraced　him。
〃Farewell；　indeed。〃　Isorn　looked　to　the　cart　and　Maegwin's　shrouded　body。　〃I　cannot　tell　you　my　sorrow。　She　deserved　better。　So　do　you；　Eolair。〃
　　　　　　　The　count　gave　him　a　last　handclasp。　〃In　my　experience；〃　he　said　with　more　than　a　touch　of　bitterness；　〃the　gods　do　not　seem　to　care　much　what　their　servants　deserve…or　at　least　the　rewards　they　give　are　too　subtle　for　my　understanding。〃　He　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　〃But　enough。　She　is　dead；　and　all　the　lamenting　in　the　world；　all　the　railing　against　Heaven；　cannot　bring　her　back。　I　will　bury　her　with　her　loved　ones　and　then　I　will　help　Inahwen　and　the　rest　of　my　folk　do　what　they　can　to　rebuild。〃
〃And　after　that？〃
Eolair　shook　his　head。　〃I　think　that　depends　on　whether　the　Sithi　are　able　to　stop　Elias　and　his　ally。　I　hope　you　do　not　think　I　wish　you　ill　luck　if　I　say　that　we　may　keep　the　caves　of　the　Grianspog　prepared　in　case　we　need　them　again。〃
　　　　　　　Isorn　smiled　thinly。　〃You　would　be　a　fool　not　to。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you　will　go　with　them？　Your　own　people　will　be　looking　for　help；　now　that　Skali　is　gone。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。　But　I　must　find　my　family；　and　Josua。　My　wounds　have　healed　well　enough　that　I　can　ride；　so　I　will　go　with　the　Sithi。　The　only　mortal；　I　will　be。　It　will　get　lonely　on　the　way　to　Erchester。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　smiled。　〃The　way　that　Jiriki's　folk　ride；　I　do　not　think　it　will　be　a　long　journey。〃　He　looked　to　his　ragged　troop　of　men。　He　knew　that　they　preferred　crossing　the　blizzard…ridden　Frostmarch　to　any　more　travels　with　the　immortals。　〃But　if　things　go　in　such　a　way　that　the　men　of　Hernystir　are　needed；　send　word　to　Hernysadharc。　I　will　find　a　way　to　e。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。〃
〃Fare　you　well；　Isorn。〃
Eolair　turned　and　walked　back　toward　his　horse。　As　he　mounted；　Likimeya　and　Jiriki；　who　had　been　hanging　back；　rode　toward　them。
　　　　　　　〃Men　of　Hernystir。〃　Likimeya's　eyes　were　bright　beneath　her　black　helm。　〃Know　that　we　honor　you。　Not　since　the　days　of　Prince　Sinnach　have　your　folk　and　ours　fought　side　by　side。　Your　fallen　lie　with　our　own　dead；　both　here　and　in　your　home　country。　We　thank　you。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　wanted　to　ask　the　stern…faced　Sitha　what　value　there　had　been　in　the　deaths　of　four　score　Hernystiri；　but　this　was　not　the　time　to　remence　such　an　argument。　His　men　stood；　nervous　but　silent；　wanting　only　to　be　on　their　way。
　　　　　　　〃You　freed　Hernystir　from　a　great　scourge；〃　he　replied　dutifully。　There　were　observances　that　had　to　be　made。　〃We　thank　you　and　honor　you；　as　well。〃
　　　　　　　〃May　you　find　some　peace　at　the　end　of　your　journey；　Count　Eolair；〃　said　Jiriki。　His　dark　blade　Indreju　hung　at　his　hip。　He；　too；　was　armored　and　looked　every　bit　as　much　a　strange　warrior　god　as　his　mother。　〃And　when　you　find　it；　may　it　last。〃
　　　　　　　〃May　Heaven　preserve　you。〃　Eolair　swung　up　into　his　saddle；　then　waved　his　arm；　signaling　the　carter。　The　wheels　slowly　began　to　turn。　Maegwin's　shroud　rippled　in　the　stiff；　sharp　wind。
And　as　for　me；　he　thought；　may　the　gods　from　this　moment　leave　me　alone。　They　have　broken　my　people　and　my　life。　Let　them　now　turn　their　attention　elsewhere　so　we　can　begin　to　build　anew。
When　he　looked　back；　the　Rimmersman　and　the　Sithi　still　stood　motionless；　outlined　by　the　rising　sun。　He　raised　his　arm；　Isorn　returned　the　gesture　of　leavetaking。
　　　　　　　Eolair　looked　west　across　the　snows。　〃e；　my　countrymen；〃　he　called　to　his　tattered　band。　〃We　are　going　home。〃

26
Song　of　the　Red　Star

　　　　　　　〃Here；　drink。〃　The　troll　held　out　a　water　skin。　〃I　am　Binabik　of　Mintahoq。　Ookequk　was　my　master。　And　you　are　Padreic。　He　was　speaking　of　you　many　times。〃
　　　　　　　〃Padreic　is　dead；〃　the　monk　gasped。　He　took　a　sip　of　water；　letting　some　run　down　his　chin。　He　was　clearly　exhausted。　〃I　am　a　different　man　now。〃　He　put　up　a　trembling　hand　to　push　the　bowl　away。　〃By　all　the　gods；　old　and　new；　that　was　a　powerful　ward　on　the　door。　I　have　not　tried　to　defeat　such　a　thing　in　two　decades。　I　think　it　almost　killed　me。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Better　if　it　had；　perhaps。〃
　　　　　　　〃Listen　to　you！〃　Miriamele　cried。　〃You　appear　from　nowhere；　but　you　are　still　spouting　the　same　nonsense。　What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　　　　　　Cadrach　would　not　meet　her　eye。　〃I　followed　you。〃
〃Followed　me？　From　where？〃
〃All　the　way　to　Sesuad'ra…then　followed　after　you　when　you　fled。〃　He　looked　at　the　dwarrows；　who　had　closed　the　stone　door　and　now　stood　in　huddled　colloquy　at　the　far　end　of　the　cavern；　peering　at　the　newer　as　though　he　might　be　a　Norn　in　disguise。　〃And　there　they　are…the　domhaini。〃　He　grimaced。　〃I　thought　I　felt　their　clever　hand　in　that　door…ward；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure。　I　had　never　encountered　one　of　theirs　so　new…minted。〃
Miriamele　would　not　be　distracted。　〃What　are　you　doing　here；　Cadrach？　And　who　is　following　you？〃
The　monk　turned　his　gaze　down　to　his　own　hands；　which　were　clenched　in　the　folds　of　his　tattered　robe。　〃I　fear　I　have　brought　the　Norns　down　on　you　and　your　allies。　The　white　monsters　have　been　following　me　almost　since　I　descended　through　the　catabs。　I　have　been　hard…pressed　to　stay　ahead　of　them。〃
〃So　you　led　them　to　us？〃　Miriamele　still　did　not　know　what　she　felt　about　seeing　Cadrach　again。　Since　he　had　deserted　her　and　the　rest　of　the　pany　in　the　Lake　Thrithing；　she　had　done　her　best　to　put　him　out　of　her　mind。　She　still　felt　shame　about　the　argument　over　Tiamak's　parchment。
〃They　will　never　take　me　again；〃　the　monk　said　fervently。　〃If　I　had　not　been　able　to　force　the　door；　I　would　have　thrown　myself　down　the　Tan'ja　Stairs　before　falling　into　their　hands。〃
〃But　now　the　Norns　are　outside；　you　say；　and　the　cav…　ern　has　only　one　door　for　leaving；〃　Binabik　pointed　out。　〃This　is　not　much　good　you　have　done　for　yourself；　Cadrach　or　Padreic　or　whichever　name　you　now　wear。〃　Binabik　had　heard　many　stories　about　the　monk　from　her　and　from　Simon。　Miriamele　could　see　his　respect　for　what　the　Hernystirman　had　once　been　warring　with　distrust　of　anyone　who　could　betray　one　of　the　troll's　friends。　He　shrugged。　〃Chukku's　Stones！　Enough　of　talking。　Let　us　be　seeing　to　important　things　now。〃　He　rose　and　padded　across　the　cavern　toward　the　dwarrows。
〃Why　did　you　run　away；　Cadrach？　I　told　you　I　was　sorry　about　Tiamak's　parchment　。。。　about　all　that。〃
The　monk　finally　turned　his　eyes　to　hers。　His　gaze　was　curiously　flat。　〃Ah；　but　you　were　right；　Miriamele。　I　am　a　thief　and　a　liar　and　a　drunkard；　and　that　is　the　truth　of　many　years。　That　I　did　a　few　honest　deeds　does　not　change　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　do　you　always　say　such　things？〃　she　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　so　determined　to　see　the　worst　in　yourself？〃
The　look　on　his　face　became　something　almost　accusatory。　〃And　why　are　you　determined　to　see　the　best　in　me；　Miriamele？　You　imagine　that　you　know　all　about　the　world；　but　you　are　only　a　young　girl；　after　all　is　said　and　done。　There　are　limits　to　your　imagination；　to　your　understanding　of　how　black　a　place　the　world　truly　is。〃
Stung；　Miriamele　turned　away　and　busied　herself　looking　in　the　saddlebag。　He　had　only　been　back　a　few　moments；　and　already　she　wanted　to　strangle　him…yet　she　was　searching　diligently　for　something　to　feed　him。　
　　　　　　　I　suppose　I　might　as　well　keep　him　healthy　until　I　decide　to　kill　him。
　　　　　　　Cadrach　was　leaning　against　the　cavern　wall；　head　thrown　back　and　eyes　closed；　overe　with　exhaustion。　She　took　the　opportunity　to　look　him　over。　He　had　grown　even　thinner　since　he　had　abandoned　her　on　the　grasslands；　his　face　sagged；　the　skin　deprived　of　its　padding　of　flesh。　Even　in　the　pink　light　of　the　dwarrows'　stones；　the　monk　looked　gray。
　　　　　　　Binabik　returned。　〃Our　safeness　may　not　last　long。　Yis…fidri　is　telling　me　the　door…wards　will　never　be　as　strong　now　that　they　have　once　been　forced。　Not　all　the　Norns　are　being　masters　like　your　monkish　friend；　but　some　of　them　might　be。　And　even　if　none　of　them　can　open　it；　it　is　likely　that　Pryrates　will　not　be　prevented。〃
〃Masters？　What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Lore…masters。　Learned　in　the　Art…what　folk　who　are　not　Scrollbearers　sometimes　are　calling　magic。〃
　　　　　　　〃Cadrach　said　he　couldn't　do　magic　any　more。〃
Binabik　shook　his　head　in　bemusement。　〃Miriamele；　once　Padreic　of　Crannhyr　was　perhaps　the　most　adept　user　of　the　Art　in　all　of　Osten　Ard…although　that　was　in　part　being　so　because　other　Scrollbearers；　even　the　greatest；　Morgenes；　chose　not　to　risk　its　deepest　currents。　It　is　seeming　that　Cadrach　has　not　lost　his　skills；　either…how　else　did　he　force　the　dwarrows'　door？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　all　happened　so　fast。　I　suppose　I　hadn't　thought　about　it。〃　She　felt　a　brief　upsurge　of　hope。　Perhaps　fate　had　brought　the　monk　here　for　a　reason。
〃I　did　what　I　had　to；〃　Cadrach　said　abruptly。　Miriamele；　who　had　thought　he　was　asleep；　jumped。　〃The　White　Foxes　would　have　caught　me　in　a　few　more　moments。　But　I　am　not　what　I　was；　troll。　Working　the　Art　takes　discipline　and　hard　work。。。　and　peace。　I　have　been　a　stranger　to　those　things　for　many　years。〃　He　let　his　head　fall　back　against　the　cavern　wall。　〃Now　the　well　is　dry。　I　have　no　more　to　give。　Nothing。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　was　determined　to　have　answers。　〃You　still　have　not　explained　why　you　followed　me；　Cadrach。〃
　　　　　　　The　monk　opened　his　eyes。　〃Because　there　is　nothing　else。　The　world　holds　nothing　else　for　me。〃　He　hesitated；　then　looked　at　Binabik　angrily；　as　though　the　little　man　was　eavesdropping　on　something　he　had　no　right　to　hear。　The　words　came　slowly。　〃Because　。。。　because　you　were　kind　to　me；　Miriamele。　I　had　forgotten　what　it　feels　like。　I　could　not　go　with　you　to　face　the　questions；　the　looks；　the　disgust　of　all　those　others…Duke　Isgrimnur　and　the　rest…but　neither　could　I　let　go　of　that　small　touch　of　life　。。。　life　as　it　once　was。　I　could　not　let　go。〃　He　reached　up　with　both　hands　and　rubbed　at　the　skin　of　his　face；　then　laughed　wretchedly。　〃I　suppose　I　am　not　so　much　a　dead　man　as　I　thought。〃
〃Was　it　you　who　followed　Simon　and　me　in　the　forest？〃
〃Yes；　and　through　Stanshire　and　Falshire　as　well。　It　was　only　when　this　one　joined　you；〃　he　indicated　Binabik；　〃that　I　had　to　fall　farther　behind。　That　wolf　has　a　keen　nose。〃
〃You　were　not　much　help　when　the　Fire　Dancers　caught　us。〃
　　　　　　　Cadrach　only　shuddered。
〃So　you　followed　us　all　the　way　here？〃
〃I　lost　your　track　after　Hasu　Vale。　It　was　pure　luck　I　found　you　again。　If　you　had　not　e　to　Saint　Sutrin's；　where　I　had　found　a　sheltering　roof　courtesy　of　that　madman　Domitis；　I　think　we　would　never　have　met　again。〃　He　laughed　again；　harshly。　〃Think　on　that；　my　lady。　Your　luck　went　bad　when　you　entered　God's　house。〃
〃Enough　of　this。〃　Miriamele　was　losing　patience　with　Cadrach's　self…loathing。　〃You　are　here。　What　do　we　do　now？〃
　　　　　　　Before　the　monk　could　offer　any　suggestion；　Yis…fidri　came　shambling　up。　The　dwarrow　looked　mournfully　at　　Cadrach；　then　turned　to　Miriamele　and　Binabik。　〃This　man　is　right　in　one　thing。　Someone　else　is　now　outside　this　cavern。　The　Hikeda'ya　have　e。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　silence　as　the　words　sank　in。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　certain？〃　Miriamele　held　little　hope　they　were　wrong；　but　the　thought　of　being　hemmed