tw.togreenangeltower2-第95章

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　　　　　　　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　in　the　cavern　with　the　corpse…faced　Norns　outside　was　dreadful。　The　White　Foxes　had　been　fearsome　enough　as　characters　in　her　uncle's　tales　of　the　fall　of　Naglimund；　but　on　the　hillside　above　Hasu　Vale　she　had　seen　them　for　herself。　She　never　wished　to　see　them　again…but　she　doubted　she　would　be　so　lucky。　Her　panic；　which　had　abated　with　the　surprise　of　Cadrach's　entrance；　now　returned。　She　was　suddenly　short　of　breath。　〃You're　certain　it's　the　Norns；　not　just　some　of　my　father's　soldiers？〃
〃This　man　we　did　not　expect；〃　said　Yis…fidri；　〃but　we　know　what　things　move　through　our　tunnels。　The　door　does　for　now　hold　them　out；　but　soon　that　may　change。〃　
　　　　　　　〃If　these　are　your　tunnels；　you　must　know　a　way　we　can　escape！〃
　　　　　　　The　dwarrow　said　nothing。
〃Perhaps　we　will　after　all　be　using　those　stones　we　gathered；〃　Binabik　said。　〃We　should　give　thought　to　trying　an　escape　before　more　of　our　enemies　arrive。〃　He　turned　to　Yis…fidri。　〃Can　you　tell　how　many　are　being　outside？〃
　　　　　　　The　dwarrow　fluted　what　sounded　like　a　question　to　his　wife。　After　listening　to　her　reply；　he　turned。　〃The　number　of　one　hand's　fingers；　perhaps。　But　that　will　not　be　true　for　long。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　few？〃　Miriamele　sat　up。　〃We　should　fight！　If　your　folk　wilt　help　us；　surely　we　can　defeat　so　few　of　them　and　escape！〃
　　　　　　　Yis…fidri　shrank　back；　plainly　uneasy。　〃I　have　told　you。　We　are　not　strong。　We　do　not　fight。〃
〃Listen　to　what　the　Tinukeda'ya　say。〃　Cadrach's　voice　was　cold。　〃Not　that　it　will　make　much　difference　soon；　but　I　for　one　prefer　to　await　the　end　here　rather　than　be　spitted　on　one　of　the　White　Foxes'　spears。〃
〃But　the　end　is　certain　if　we　wait。　At　least　if　we　try　to　escape；　there　is　a　chance。〃
〃There　is　no　chance　either　way；〃　the　monk　replied。　〃At　least　here；　we　can　make　our　peace　and　die　by　our　own　choice　when　it　suits　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot　believe　what　a　coward　you　are！〃　cried　Miriamele。　〃You　heard　Yis…fidri！　A　half…dozen　Norns　at　the　most！　That　is　not　the　end　of　the　world。　We　have　a　chance！〃
Cadrach　turned　to　her。　Sorrow　and　disgust　and　barely…concealed　fury　warred　in　his　expression。　〃It　is　not　the　Norns　that　I　fear；〃　he　said　finally。　〃But　it　is　the　end　of　the　world。〃
Miriamele　caught　something　unusual　in　his　tone；　something　beyond　even　his　ordinary　pessimism。　〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Cadrach？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　end　of　the　world；〃　he　repeated。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Lady；　if　you　and　I　and　this　troll　could　somehow　slaughter　every　Norn　in　the　Hayholt…every　Norn　in　Stormspike；　too…still　it　would　make　no　difference。　It　is　too　late　to　do　anything。　It　was　always　too　late。　The　world；　the　green　fields　of　Osten　Ard；　the　people　of　its　lands。。。　they　are　doomed。　And　I　have　known　it　since　before　I　met　you。〃　He　looked　up　imploringly。　〃Of　course　I　am　bitter；　Miriamele。　Of　course　I　am　almost　mad。　Because　I　know　beyond　doubt　that　there　is　no　hope。〃

　　　　　　　Simon　woke　from　cloudy；　chaotic　dreams　into　utter　darkness。　Someone　was　moaning　nearby。　Every　part　of　his　body　throbbed；　and　he　could　barely　move　his　wrists　and　ankles。　For　long　moments　he　was　certain　he　had　been　captured　and　was　bound　in　some　black　cell；　but　at　last　he　remembered　where　he　was。
〃Guthwulf？〃　he　croaked。　The　moans　continued；　unchanging。
　　　　　　　Simon　rolled　over　onto　his　stomach　and　crawled　toward　the　sounds。　When　his　swollen　fingers　encountered　something；　he　stopped　and　explored　clumsily　until　he　found　the　earl's　shaggy…bearded　face。　The　blind　man　was　blazing　with　fever。
　　　　　　　〃Earl　Guthwulf。　It's　Simon。　You　saved　me　from　the　wheel。〃
〃Their　home　is　burning！〃　Guthwulf　sounded　terrified。　〃They　cannot　run…there　are　strangers　with　black　iron　at　the　gates！〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　have　water　here？　Is　there　food？〃
He　felt　the　blind　man　struggle　to　sit　up。　〃Who's　there？　You　can't　take　it！　It　sings　for　me。　For　me！〃　Guthwulf　grabbed　at　something；　and　Simon　felt　a　cold　metal　edge　drag　painfully　along　his　forearm。　He　swore　and　lifted　the　arm　to　his　mouth；　tasting　blood。
Bright…Nail。　It　seemed　impossibly　strange。　This　over…　ridden　blind　man　has　Bright…Nail。
For　a　moment　he　considered　simply　pulling　it　from　Guthwutf's　weakened　grasp。　After　all；　how　could　this　madman's　need　outweigh　that　of　entire　nations？　But　even　more　troubling　than　the　idea　of　stealing　the　sword　from　a　sick　man　who　had　saved　his　life　was　the　fact　that　Simon　was　lost　without　light　somewhere　in　the　tunnels　beneath　the　Hayholt。　Unless　for　some　inprehensible　reason　the　blind　earl　kept　a　torch　or　lantern；　without　Guthwulf's　knowledge　of　this　maze　he　might　wander　forever　in　the　shadows。　What　good　would　Bright…Nail　be　then？
〃Guthwulf；　do　you　have　a　torch？　Flint　and　steel？〃
The　earl　was　murmuring　again。　Nothing　Simon　could　understand　seemed　useful。　He　turned　away　and　began　to　search　the　cavern　by　touch；　wincing　and　groaning　at　the　pain　each　movement　caused。
Guthwulf's　nesting　place　was　small；　scarcely　a　dozen　paces　wide…if　Simon　had　been　on　his　feet　and　pacing…in　either　direction。　He　felt　what　seemed　to　be　moss　growing　in　the　cracks　of　the　stone　beneath　him。　He　broke　some　off　and　smelled　it：　it　did　not　seem　to　be　the　same　plant　that　had　sustained　him　in　Asu'a's　ruined　halls。　He　put　a　little　on　his　tongue；　then　spat　it　out　again。　It　tasted　even　more　foul　than　the　other。　Still；　his　stomach　hurt　so　much　that　he　knew　he　would　be　trying　it　again　soon。
Except　for　the　various　rags　strewn　about　the　uneven　stone　floor；　Guthwulf　seemed　to　have　few　possessions。　Simon　found　a　knife　with　half　its　blade　snapped　off。　When　he　reached　to　tuck　it　into　his　belt；　he　suddenly　realized　he　did　not　have　one；　nor　any　other　clothes。
　　　　　　　Naked　and　lost　in　dark。　Nothing　left　of　Simon　but　Simon。
He　had　been　splashed　by　the　dragon's　blood；　but　afterward；　he　had　still　been　Simon。　He　had　seen　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　had　fought　in　a　great　battle；　had　been　kissed　by　a　princess…but　he　was　still　the　same　kitchen　boy；　more　or　less。　Now　everything　had　been　taken　from　him；　but　he　still　had　what　he　had　begun　with。
Simon　laughed；　a　dry；　hoarse　sound。　There　was　a　sort　of　freedom　in　having　so　little。　If　he　lived　to　the　next　hour；　it　would　be　a　triumph。　He　had　escaped　the　wheel。　What　more　could　anyone　do　to　him？
He　put　the　broken　knife　against　the　wall　so　he　could　find　it　again；　then　continued　his　search。　He　encountered　several　objects　he　could　see　no　purpose　for；　oddly　shaped　stones　that　felt　too　intricate　to　be　natural；　bits　of　broken　pottery　and　splintered　wood；　even　the　skeletons　of　some　small　animals；　but　it　was　only　as　he　reached　the　far　side　of　the　cavern　that　he　found　something　truly　useful。
His　numb；　stiffened　fingers　touched　something　wet。　He　snatched　his　hand　away；　then　slowly　reached　out　again。　It　was　a　stone　bowl　half　full　of　water。　On　the　ground　beside　it；　as　wonderful　as　any　miracle　from　the　Book　of　Aedon；　was　what　felt　like　a　lump　of　stale　bread。
Simon　had　the　bread　to　his　mouth　before　he　remembered　Guthwulf。　He　hesitated；　his　stomach　raging；　then　tore　a　piece　loose　and　dipped　it　in　the　water　and　put　it　in　his　mouth。　He　ate　two　more　small　pieces　the　same　way；　then　held　the　bowl　carefully　in　his　aching；　trembling　hand　and　crawled　to　where　Guthwulf　lay。　Simon　dipped　his　fingers　in　the　water　and　let　some　dribble　into　the　earl's　mouth；　he　heard　the　blind　man　swallow　thirstily。　Next　he　took　a　morsel　of　bread　and　moistened　it；　then　fed　it　to　his　ward。　Guthwulf　did　not　close　his　mouth；　and　seemed　unable　to　chew　or　swallow　it。　After　a　moment；　Simon　retrieved　it　and　ate　it　himself。　He　felt　exhaustion　creeping　over　him。
〃Later；〃　he　told　Guthwulf。　〃Later　you　will　eat。　You　will　be　well　again；　and　so　will　I。　Then　we　will　leave　here。〃
　　　　　　　Then　I　will　take　Bright…Nail　to　the　tower。　That　is　what　I　took　back　my　life　to　do。
〃The　witchwood　is　in　flames；　the　garden　is　burning。　。。。〃　The　earl　squirmed　and　twisted。　Simon　moved　the　bowl　away；　terrified　it　might　be　spilled。　Guthwulf　groaned。　〃Ruakha；　ruakha　Asu'a！〃
Even　from　a　short　distance　away；　Simon　could　feel　his　raging　heat。

　　　　　　　The　man　lay　on　the　ground；　his　face　pressed　against　the　stone。　His　clothes　and　skin　were　so　dirty　it　was　hard　to　see　him。　'That's　everything；　master。　I　swear　it！〃
　　　　　　　〃Get　up。〃　Pryrates　kicked　him　in　the　ribs；　but　not　hard　enough　to　break　anything。　〃I　can　scarcely　understand　you。〃
　　　　　　　He　rose　to　his　haunches；　whiskered　mouth　quivering　in　fear。　〃That's　all；　master。　They　run　away。　Down　watercourse。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that；　fool。〃
　　　　　　　The　alchemist　had　given　his　soldiers　no　directions　since　they　had　returned　from　their　fruitless　search；　and　now　they　stood　uneasily。　Inch's　remains　had　been　removed　from　the　chains　that　turned　Pryrates'　tower　top；　they　lay　in　an　untidy　heap　beside　the　sluice。　It　was　obvious　that　most　of　the　guardsmen　wished　they　had　been　allowed　to　cover　such　of　the　overseer　as　had　been　recovered；　but　since　they　had　received　no　order　from　Pryrates；　they　were　studiously　looking　anywhere　else。
〃And　you　do　not　know　who　these　people　were？〃
'〃Twas　the　blind　man；　master。　Some　have　seen　him；　but　none　ever　catched　him。　He　takes　things　sometime。〃
A　blind　man　living　in　the　caverns。　Pryrates　smiled。　He　had　a　reasonably　good　idea　who　that　might　be。　〃And　the　other？　One　of　the　foundrymen　being　punished；　I　take　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃That　it　was；　master。　But　Inch　called　him　something　else。〃
　　　　　　　〃Something　else？　What？〃
　　　　　　　The　man　paused；　his　face　a　mask　of　terror。　〃Can't　remember；〃　he　whispered。
　　　　　　　Pryrates　leaned　down　until　his　hairless　face　was　only　a　handbreadth　from　the　man's　nose。　〃I　can　make　you　remember。〃
　　　　　　　The　forge　man　froze　like　a　serpent…tranced　frog。　A　small　whimper　escaped　his　throat。　〃I　be　trying；　master；〃　he　squeaked；　then：　〃　'Kitchen　Boy'！　Doctor　Inch　called　him　'Kitchen　Boy'！〃
　　　　　　　Pryrates　straightened　up。　The　man　slumped；　his　chest　heaving。
〃A　kitchen　boy；〃　the　priest　mused。　〃Could　it　be？〃　Suddenly　he　laughed；　a　rasping　scrape　of　sound。　〃Perfect。　Of　course　it　would　be。〃　He　turned　to　the　soldiers。　〃There　is　nothing　else　for　us　to　do　here。　And　the　king　has　need　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　Inch's　henchman　stared　at　the　alchemist's　back。　His　lips　moved　as　he　worked　up　the　nerve　to　speak。　〃Master？〃
　　　　　　　Pryrates　turned　slowly。　〃What？〃
　　　　　　　〃Now　。。。　now　that　Doctor　Inch　be　dead　。　。。　well；　who　do　you　wish　to　。。。　to　take　charge　here？　Here　in　king's　forge？〃
　　　　　　　The　priest　looked　sourly　at　the　grizzled；　ash…blackened　man。　〃Sort　that　out　yourselves。〃　He　gestured　at　the　waiting　soldiers；　marking　out　half　of　the　score　of　men。　〃You　lot　will　stay　here。　Do　not　bother　protecting　Inch's　cronies…I　should　not　have　left　him　in　charge　of　this　place　so　long。　I　want　you　only　to　make　sure　that　wheel　stays　in　the　water。　Too　many　important　things　are　driven　by　it　to　risk　a　second　occurrence　of　a　folly　like　this。　Remember：　if　that　wheel　stops　turning　again；　I　will　make　you　very；　very　sorry。〃
　　　　　　　The　designated　guards　took　up　positions　along　the　edge　of　the　watercourse；　the　rest　of　the　soldiers　filed　out　of　the　forge。　Pryrates'　stopped　in　the　doorway　to　look　back。　Under　the　impassive　gaze　of　the　guardsmen。　Inch's　chief　henchman　was　quickly　being　surrounded　by　a　tightening　ring　of　grim　forge　workers。　Pryrates　la