tw.togreenangeltower2-第98章

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its　is　arrived？〃
Cadrach　shrugged。　〃Who　can　know？　Pryrates　has　walked　strange　paths　and　learned　hidden　things。〃
As　her　shock　lessened　a　little；　Miriamele　felt　her　rage　at　the　monk　return；　battening　on　her　fear。　〃How　can　you　sit　there　so　smugly？　If　you　did　not　betray　me　and　all　I　care　about；　it　was　not　for　lack　of　trying。　I　suppose　he　set　you　free　then　to　spy　some　more？　Is　that　why　you　arranged　to　acpany　me　from　Naglimund？　I　thought　you　were　just　using　me　to　further　your　own　greed　。。　。〃　as　she　thought　about　it；　despair　seized　her；　〃but　。。。　but　you　were　working　for　Pryrates！〃　She　turned　away；　unable　to　look　at　Cadrach　any　longer。
　　　　　　　〃No；　my　lady！〃　Amazingly；　he　sounded　hurt　and　upset。　〃No；　he　did　not　release　me…and　I　did　not　serve　him　again。〃
〃If　you　expect　me　to　believe　that；〃　she　said　with　cold　hatred；　〃you　are　truly　mad。〃
〃Is　there　more　to　your　tale？〃　The　tentative　respect　Binabik　had　earlier　shown　the　monk　had　curdled　into　sour　practicality。　〃Because　we　are　still　trapped　here；　still　in　danger　that　is　most　dreadful…although　there　is　little　else　we　can　do；　I　am　thinking；　until　the　Norns　prove　they　can　force　the　dwarrows'　door。〃
〃There　is　a　little　more。　No；　Miriamele；　Pryrates　did　not　release　me。　As　I　told　you；　he　had　proved　that　I　was　worthless　to　him。　I　told　you　this　much　of　the　truth　when　we　were　in　the　landing　boat…I　was　not　even　worth　more　tortures。　Someone　clubbed　me；　then　I　was　tossed　away　like　offal　dumped　behind　a　rich　man's　house。　Except　I　was　not　left　for　dead　out　in　the　Kynswood　as　I　told　you　before。　Rather；　I　was　dumped　into　a　pit　in　the　catabs　that　run　beneath　Hjeldin's　Tower　。。。　and　that　is　where　I　awoke。　In　darkness。〃
He　paused；　as　though　this　memory　was　even　more　painful　than　the　ghastly　things　he　had　already　told。　Miriamele　said　nothing。　She　was　furious　and　yet　empty。　If　Cadrach's　tale　was　true；　then　perhaps　there　really　was　no　hope。　If　Pryrates　was　as　powerful　as　this…if　he　had　a　strategem　to　constrain　even　the　Storm　King　to　his　will…　then　should　Miriamele　somehow　find　her　father　and　convince　him　to　end　the　war；　the　red　priest　would　still　find　some　method　to　have　things　his　own　way。
　　　　　　　No　hope。　It　was　strange　to　think　about。　As　unlikely　as　their　chances　had　seemed；　Josua　and　his　allies　had　always　had　the　slim　hope　of　the　swords　to　cling　to。　If　that　was　gone　。　。　。　Miriamele　felt　dizzy。　It　seemed　she　had　walked　through　a　familiar　door　only　to　find　a　chasm　yawning　just　beyond　the　threshold。
〃I　was　alive；　but　wounded　and　dazed。　I　was　in　a　terrible　place…no　living　man　should　have　to　visit　the　black；　black　places　beneath　Pryrates'　tower。　And　to　go　upward　would　mean　escaping　through　the　tower；　past　Pryrates　himself。　I　could　not　imagine　succeeding　at　that。　The　only　tiny　scrap　of　luck　I　had　was　that　he　likely　thought　me　dead。　So　I　went　。。。　another　way。　Down。〃
　　　　　　　Cadrach　had　to　pause　for　a　long　moment　and　wipe　the　sweat　from　his　pale　face。　It　was　not　particularly　warm　in　the　cavern。
　　　　　　　〃When　we　were　in　the　Wran；〃　he　suddenly　said　to　Miriamele；　〃I　could　not　force　myself　to　go　down　into　the　ghants'　nest。　That　was　because　it　was　too　much　like。。。　like　going　into　the　tunnels　below　Hjeldin's　Tower。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　were　here　before？〃　She　stared　at　him；　her　attention　unwillingly　held。　〃Here　beneath　the　castle？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　but　not　in　the　places　you　have　been；　the　places　I　have　followed　you。〃　He　wiped　at　his　forehead　again。　〃Ransomer　preserve　me；　I　wish　my　escape　had　been　through　the　parts　of　this　vast　maze　you　saw！　The　way　I　came　was　far　worse。〃　He　tried　to　find　words　but　gave　up。　〃Far；　far　worse。〃
　　　　　　　〃Worse？　Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　Cadrach　shook　his　head。　〃I　will　not　tell　you。　There　are　many　ways　in　and　out　of　here；　and　not　all　of　them　are　。。。　normal。　I　will　speak　no　further　on　it；　and　if　you　could　glimpse　even　a　piece　of　what　I　saw；　you　would　thank　me　for　not　telling　you。〃　He　shivered。　〃But　it　felt　like　years　that　I　was　below　the　ground；　and　I　saw　and　heard　and　felt　things　。。。　things　that　。。　。〃　He　stopped；　shaking　his　head　again。
〃Don't　tell　us；　then。　I　don't　believe　you；　in　any　case。　How　could　you　escape　unnoticed？　You　said　that　Pryrates　could　find　you；　could　summon　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　had…I　still　have…some　little　smatterings　of　the　Art　left　to　me。　I　was　able　to　draw　a　。。。　a　sort　of　fog　over　me。　I　have　kept　it　since。　That　is　why　you　were　not　summoned　to　Sesuad'ra　as　Tiamak　and　the　others　were。　They　could　not　find　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why　didn't　that　shield　you　from　Pryrates　before；　when　he　summoned　you…when　you　couldn't　run　away　and　had　to　spy　and　sneak　for　him　like　the　worst　sort　of　traitor　in　the　world？〃　She　was　disgusted　with　herself　for　being　drawn　back　into　a　discussion。　She　was　even　angrier　that　she　had　ever　wasted　her　trust　and　concern　on　someone　who　could　do　what　the　monk　had　done。　She　had　defended　him　to　the　world；　but　it　was　she　who　had　been　the　fool。　He　was　a　traitor　through　and　through。
　　　　　　　〃Because　he　thinks　I　am　dead！〃　Cadrach　almost　shouted。　〃If　he　knew　I　lived；　he　would　find　me　soon　enough。　He　would　blow　my　poor　shielding　fog　away　like　a　strong　wind　and　I　would　be　naked；　and　helpless。　By　all　the　gods　old　and　new；　Miriamele；　why　do　you　think　I　was　so　determined　to　get　off　Aspitis'　ship？　As　I　slowly　came　to　realize　that　he　was　one　of　Pryrates'　servitors　I　could　think　of　nothing　but　that　he　might　tell　his　master　I　still　lived。　Aedon　save　us；　why　do　you　think　when　we　met　him　again　on　the　Lakelands　I　begged　you　to　kill　him？〃　He　mopped　more　sweat　from　his　face。　〃I　can　only　guess　that　Pryrates　did　not　recognize　the　name　'Cadrach；'　although　I　had　used　it　before。　But　I　have　used　many　names…even　that　red…robed　demon　could　not　know　them　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　you　were　making　your　way　to　freedom　through　the　tunnels；〃　Binabik　prompted。　〃Kikkasut！　This　place　is　indeed　like　our　Mintahoq　cave…city…most　that　is　important　happens　beneath　the　rock。〃
　　　　　　　〃Freedom？〃　Cadrach　almost　sneered。　〃How　could　any…　one　be　free　who　lived　with　the　knowledge　I　did？　Yes；　I　finally　made　my　way　up　from　the　very　deepest　depths；　I　think　I　was　quite　mad　by　then。　I　headed　north；　away　from　Pryrates　and　the　Hayholt；　although　at　the　time　I　had　no　idea　of　where　I　would　go。　I　wound　up　finally　in　Naglimund；　thinking　that　I　would　be　safest　in　a　place　sworn　to　oppose　Elias　and　his　chief　counselor。　But　it　was　soon　apparent　that　Naglimund；　too；　would　be　attacked　and　thrown　down；　so　I　took　up　the　Lady　Vorzheva's　offer　to　acpany　Miriamele　south。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　said　you　were　not　free　because　of　the　knowledge　you　had；〃　said　Miriamele　slowly。　〃But　you　did　not　share　that　knowledge　with　anyone。　That　is　perhaps　the　most　wretched　deed　of　all　you　have　done；　Cadrach。　Fear　of　Pryrates　might　make　you　do　terrible　things；　but　to　be　free　of　him　and　still　say　nothing…while　the　rest　of　us　have　pondered　and　struggled　and　suffered　and　died　。。。〃　She　shook　her　head；　trying　to　make　her　words　reflect　the　chilly　contempt　she　felt。　〃That　I　cannot　forgive。〃
　　　　　　　He　looked　at　her　without　flinching。　〃Now　you　truly　know　me；　Princess　Miriamele。〃　
　　　　　　　A　long　silence　fell；　broken　only　by　the　faint　singsong　of　the　dwarrows　muttering　among　themselves。　Binabik　was　the　one　who　ended　it。　〃We　have　talked　enough　of　these　things。　And　I　need　time　for　pondering　on　what　Cadrach　has　said。　But　something　there　is　that　is　clear：　Josua　and　the　others　search　for　Bright…Nail；　and　they　have　Thorn　already。　They　plan　to　bring　them　here　if　they　can；　but　they　are　knowing　nothing　of　what　this　one　says　of　Pryrates。　If　we　were　having　no　other　reason　for　surviving　and　escaping；　we　now　have　one　that　is　large。〃　He　made　a　close…fisted　gesture。　〃But　what　is　outside　our　door　is　the　first　thing　that　will　prevent　us。　How　will　we　be　making　an　escape？〃
　　　　　　　〃Or　have　we　already　lost　the　chance　listening　to　Brother　Cadrach's　tale　of　treachery？〃　Miriamele　took　a　breath。　〃There　were　a　handful　of　Norns　before…how　long　before　there　is　an　army？〃　
　　　　　　　Binabik　looked　at　Cadrach；　but　the　monk　had　lowered　his　face　into　his　hands。　
　　　　　　　〃We　must　make　an　attempt　at　escaping。　If　only　one　of　us　can　survive　to　bear　the　tale；　then　still　it　will　be　a　victory。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　even　if　all　is　lost；〃　Miriamele　said；　〃there　will　be　some　Norns　who　will　not　be　around　to　see　it。　I　would　settle　for　even　a　victory　like　that。〃　She　meant　it；　she　realized…and　with　that　realization；　a　part　of　her　seemed　to　turn　cold　and　lifeless。

27
Hammer　of　　Pain

　　　　　　　〃Prince　Jiriki。　At　last　we　meet。〃　Josua　bowed；　then　extended　his　left　hand；　the　manacle　he　wore　as　a　remembrance　of　imprisonment　was　a　shadow　on　his　wrist。　The　Sitha　made　a　strangely…jointed　bow　of　his　own；　then　reached　out　his　hand　to　clasp　Josua's。　Isgrimnur　could　not　help　marveling　at　such　a　strange　scene。
〃Prince　Josua。〃　The　new…risen　sun　turned　both　Jiriki's　white　hair　and　the　snow　faintly　golden。　〃Young　Seoman　told　me　much　about　you。　Is　he　here？〃
Josua　frowned。　〃He　is　not；　to　my　regret。　There　is　much　to　say…much　to　tell　you；　and　much　we　hope　you　can　tell　us。〃　He　looked　up　at　the　looming　walls　of　the　Hayholt；　falsely　weling　in　the　dawn　light。　〃I　am　not　surewhich　of　us　should　say　to　the　other：　'Wele　home。'　〃
The　Sitha　smiled　coldly。　〃This　is　not　our　home　any　more；　Prince　Josua。〃
〃And　I　am　not　sure　it　is　mine；　either。　But　e；　it　is　foolish　to　stand　in　the　snow。　Will　you　e　and　break　your　fast　with　us？〃
Jiriki　shook　his　head。　〃Thanks　to　you　for　your　courtesy；　but　I　think　not　yet。〃　He　looked　back　at　the　milling　Sithi；　who　had　fanned　out　across　the　hillside　and　were　rapidly　setting　up　camp；　the　first　colorful　tents　blooming　like　snowfiowers。　〃My　mother　Likimeya；　I　think；　speaks　with　my　sister；　I；　too；　would　like　to　spend　a　short　time　with　Aditu。　If　you　would　be　kind　enough　to　e　to　my　mother's　tent　by　the　time　the　sun　is　above　the　treeline；　bringing　those　of　your　household　you　deem　necessary；　we　will　begin　to　talk。　There　is；　as　you　said；　much　to　tell。〃
The　Sitha　gave　a　sort　of　graceful　salute；　bowed　again；　then　turned　and　moved　away　across　the　snow。
〃That's　cheek；〃　Isgrimnur　muttered。　〃Making　you　e　to　them。〃
〃It　was　their　castle　first。〃　Josua　laughed　quietly。　〃Even　if　they　do　not　wish　to　reclaim　it。〃
Isgrimnur　grunted。　〃As　long　as　they　help　us　put　the　bastards　out；　I　suppose　we　can　go　to　their　house　for　a　visit。〃　He　squinted。　〃Now　who's　that？〃
A　solitary　rider　had　crested　the　hilltop　behind　the　Sithi　encampment。　He　was　taller　and　more　solidly…built　than　the　immortals；　but　he　slumped　wearily　in　the　saddle。
〃God　be　praised！〃　Isgrimnur　breathed；　then　shouted　for　joy。　〃Isorn！　Hah；　Isorn！〃　He　waved　his　arms。　The　rider　looked　up；　then　spurred　his　horse　down　the　hill。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　Father；〃　he　said　after　he　had　dismounted　and　received　a　backbreaking　embrace　from　the　duke；　〃I　cannot　tell　you　how　good　it　is　to　see　you。　This　brave　Hernystiri　mount；〃　he　patted　his　gray　horse；　〃kept　up　with　the　Sithi　almost　all　the　way　from　Naglimund。　They　ride　so　fast！　But　we　fell　behind　at　the　end。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　matter；　no　matter；〃　Isgrimnur　chortled。　〃I　only　wish　your　mother　was　not　behind　in　Nabban。　Bless　you；　son；　it　makes　my　heart　glad　to　see　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Indeed；〃　said　Josua。　〃You　are　a　happy　sight。　What　of　Eolair？　What　of　Hernystir？　Jiriki　said　but　little。〃
　　　　　　　Isorn　made　a　weary　bow。　〃Everything　I　can　tell　you　I　will；　Josua。　Is　there　something　to　eat　here？　And　somewhat