tw.togreenangeltower2-第11部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃This is different。〃 He carefully slid the arrow back into his walking stick。 〃And there is more than my debt； Sisqi。 Both Simon and Miriamele are already in danger traveling alone in the wilderness； even more so if they go where I fear they do。 But they are also a risk to the rest of us。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 She was having trouble keeping the pain from her words。
〃If they are caught； they will eventually be taken to Pryrates； King Ellas' advisor。 You do not know him； Sisqi； but 1 do； at least from tales。 He is powerful； and reckless in his use of that power。 And he is cruel。 He will learn from them whatever they know about us； and Simon and Miriamele both know a great deal…about our plans； about the swords； everything。 And Pryrates will kill them； or at least Simon； in the getting of that knowledge。〃
〃So you are going to find them？〃 she asked slowly。
He hung his head。 〃I feel I must。〃
〃But why you？ Josua has an entire army！〃
〃There are reasons； my beloved。 e with me when I speak to Josua and you will hear the reasons。 You should be there； in any case。〃
She looked at him defiantly。 〃If you go after them； then I will go with you。〃
〃And who will keep our people safe in a strange land？〃 He gestured at the trolls moving below。 〃You at least speak some of the Westerling speech now。 We cannot both go and leave our fellow Qanuc altogether deaf and mute。〃
Tears were forming in Sisqi's eyes。 〃Is there no other way？〃
〃I cannot think of one；〃 he said slowly。 〃I wish I could。〃 His own eyes were damp as well。
〃Chukku's Stones！〃 she swore。 〃Are we to suffer everything we have suffered to be together； only to be separated again？〃 She squeezed his fingers tightly。 〃Why are you so straight…backed and honorable； Binabik of Mintahoq？ I have cursed you for it before； but never so bitterly。〃
〃I will e back to you。 I swear； Sisqinanamook。 No matter what befalls； I will e back to you。〃
She leaned forward； pushing her forehead against his chest； and wept。 Binabik wrapped his arms around her and held tightly； tears rolled down his cheeks as well。
〃If you do not e back；〃 she moaned； 〃may you never have a moment's peace until Time is gone。〃
〃I will e back；〃 he repeated； then fell silent。 They stayed that way for a long time； locked in a miserable embrace。
〃I cannot say I like this idea； Binabik；〃 said Prince Josua。 〃We can ill…afford to lose your wisdom…especially now； after Geloe's death。〃 The prince looked morose。 〃Aedon knows what a blow that has been to us。 I feel sick inside。 And we have not even a body to weep over。〃
〃And that is as she was wishing it；〃 Binabik said gently。 〃But； speaking about your first worry； it is my thinking that we can even less be suffering the loss of your niece and Simon。 I have made you know my fears about that。〃
〃Perhaps。 But what about discovering the use of the swords？ We still have much to learn。〃
〃I have little help left for giving to Strangyeard and Tiamak；〃 said the little man。 〃Nearly all of Ookequk's scrolls I have already made into Westerling。 Those few of them that are remaining still； Sisqi can be helping with them。〃 He indicated his betrothed； who sat silently beside him； her eyes red。 〃And then； I must also be saying with regret； when that task is being finished she will take the remaining Qanuc and return to our people。〃
Josua looked at Sisqi。 〃This is another great loss。〃
She bowed her head。
〃But you are many now；〃 Binabik pointed out。 〃Our people suffer； too； and these herdsmen and huntresses will be needed at Blue Mud Lake。〃
〃Of course；〃 said the prince。 〃We will always be grateful that your people came to our aid。 We will never forget； Binabik。〃 He frowned。 〃So you are determined to go？〃
The troll nodded。 〃There are many reasons it is seeming the best course to me。 It is also my fear that Miriamele hopes to get the sword Bright…Nail…perhaps with thinking she can hurry the end of this struggle。 That is frightening to me； since if Count Eolair's story was true； the dwarrows have already confessed to the minions of the Storm King that Minneyar is the sword that is resting now in your father's grave。〃
〃Which is likely the end of our hopes； in any case；〃 Josua said gloomily。 〃For if he knows that； why would Elias leave it there？〃
〃The Storm King's knowing and the knowing of your brother may not be the same thing；〃 Binabik observed。 〃It is not an unheard…of strangeness for allies to be hiding things from each other。 The Storm King may not be knowing that we also have this knowledge。〃 He smiled a yellow smile。 〃It is a thing of great plication； is it not？ Also； from the story that the old man Towser was so often telling…the story of how your brother acted when Towser was giving him the blade…it is possible that those who have the taint of Stormspike cannot bear its nearness。〃
〃It is a great deal to hope for；〃 Josua said。 〃Isgrimnur？ What do you make of all this？〃
The duke shifted on the low stool。 〃About which？ The swords； or the troll's going off after Miri and the boy？〃
〃Either。 Both。〃 Josua waved his hand wearily。
〃I can't say much about the swords； but what Binabik has to say makes a kind of sense。 As to the other 。。。〃 Isgrimnur shrugged。 〃Someone should go； that's clear。 I brought her back once； so I'll go again if you want； Josua。〃
〃No。〃 The prince shook his head firmly。 〃I need you here。 And I would not separate you from Gutrun yet again for the sake of my headstrong niece。〃 He turned to the troll。 〃How many men would you take； Binabik？〃
〃None； Prince Josua。〃
〃None？〃 The prince was astonished。 〃But what do you mean？ Surely it would be safer to take at least a few good men； as you did on the journey to Urmsheim？〃
Binabik shook his head。 〃I am thinking that Miriamele and Simon will not hide from me； but they would be hiding with certainness from mounted soldiers pursuing them。 Also； there are places Qantaqa and I can go that even riders of great skill； like Hotvig's Thrithings…men； cannot。 I can be more silent； too。 No； it is a better thing if I go by myself。〃
〃I do not like it；〃 Josua said； 〃and I can see that your Sisqi does not like it either。 But I will consider it； at least。 Perhaps it would be best…there is more of me than just an uncle's love that fears what might happen if Miriamele and Simon fall into my brother's hands。 Certainly something must be done。〃 He lifted his hand and rubbed at his temples。 〃Let me think on it a while。〃
〃With certainty。 Prince Josua。〃 Binabik stood。 〃But remember that even Qantaqa's wonderful nose cannot be tracking a scent that has been too long on the ground。〃 He bowed； as did Sisqi； then they turned and went out。
〃He is small…they both are；〃 Josua said reflectively。 〃But not only do I wish the trolls were not leaving； I wish I had a thousand more like them。
〃He's a brave one； that Binabik； right enough；〃 said Isgrimnur。 〃Seems sometimes as if that's all we have left。〃
Eolair watched the fly buzzing near his horse's head for some time。 The horse； but for an occasional ear…flick； seemed little bothered； but Eolair continued to stare。 There was not much else to look at while riding through this westernmost part of Hernystir on the fringes of the Frostmarch； and the fly also reminded him of something he could not quite summon to mind； but which was nevertheless bidding for his attention。 The Count of Nad Mullach watched the tiny black speck for some time before he finally realized why it seemed significant。
This is the first fly I've seen in a while…the first since the winter came down； I think。 It must be getting warmer。
This rather ordinary thought gave rise to a host of other； less usual speculations。
Could it be that somehow the tide has turned？ he wondered。 Could Josua and his people have acplished something that has diminished the Storm King's power and pushed back his magical winter？ He looked around at the small； tattered troop of Hernystiri that rode behind him； and at the great pany of Sithi who led them； their banners and armor ablaze with color。 Co
