tw.togreenangeltower2-第110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！
〃Well argued； Count；〃 Josua laughed。 〃And quite true； as far as it goes。 But it is also' said that you are perhaps the wealthiest man in Osten Ard。 Is it the result of your vigilance on Perdruin's behalf？〃
Streawe drew himself up straighter。 〃What I have is none of your business。 I understood you sought me as an ally； not to insult me。〃
〃Spare me your false dignity； my good Count。 I find it hard to believe that calling you wealthy is an insult。 But you are right about one thing： we wish to speak with you about certain matters of mutual interest。〃
The count bobbed his head solemnly。 〃That is better to hear。 Prince Josua。 You know that I support you…remember the note I sent with my man Lenti！…and I am anxious to speak about ways that I can help you。〃
〃That we can help each other； you mean。〃 Josua raised his hand to still Streawe's protest。 〃Please； Count； let us avoid the usual dancing。 I am in a fierce hurry。 There； I have given up a bargaining token already by telling you so。 Now please do not waste our time with false protestations of this or that。〃
The old man's lips pursed and his eyes narrowed。 〃Very well； Josua。 I find myself oddly interested。 What do you want？〃
〃Ships。 And sailors to man them。 Enough to ferry our armies to Erkynland。〃
Surprised； Streawe waited a moment before replying。 〃You intend to set sail for Erkynland now？ After fighting fiercely for weeks to take Nabban； and with the worst storm in years sweeping down on us out of the north even as we speak？〃 He gestured toward the shuttered windows； outside； the wind wailed across the Sancelline Hill。 〃It was so cold last night that the water froze in the Hall of Fountains。 The Clavean Bell barely rang over God's house； it was so icy。 And you wish to go to sea？〃
Isgrimnur felt a clutch of shock at the count's mention of the bell。 Josua turned for a moment and caught the Rimmersman's eye； warning him not to speak。 Obviously he； too； remembered Nisses' prophetic poem。
〃Yes； Streawe；〃 said the prince。 〃There are storms and storms。 We must brave some to survive others。 I will take ship as soon as I can。〃
The count lifted his hands； showing open； empty palms。 〃Very well； you know your own business。 But what would you have me do？ Perdruin's ships are not warships； and they are all at sea。 Surely Nabban's great fleet is what you need； not my trading vessels。〃 He gestured to the throne。 〃Camaris is master of the Kingfisher House now。〃
〃But you are master of the docks；〃 Josua replied。 〃As Benigaris said； he thought you were his prisoner； but all the time you were gnawing him away from within。 Did you use some of that gold they say fills the catabs below your house on Sta Mirore？ Or something more subtle…rumors； stories。。。 ？〃 He shook his head。 〃It matters not。 The thing is； Streawe； you can help us or hinder us。 I wish to discuss with you your price； whether in power or gold。 There is provisioning to do as well。 I want those ships loaded and on their way in seven days or less。〃
〃Seven days？〃 The count showed surprise for the second time。 〃That will not be easy。 And you have heard about the kilpa； have you not？ They are running like quinis…fish…but quinis…fish do not pull sailors over the rails and eat them。 Men are reluctant to go to sea in these dark days。〃
〃So we have started the bargaining？〃 Josua asked。 〃Granted and granted。 Times are difficult。 What do you want； power or gold？〃
Abruptly； Streawe laughed。 〃Yes； we have started bargaining。 But you underestimate me； Josua； or you undervalue your own coffers。 You have something that might be more use to me than either gold or power…something that in fact brings both in its train。〃
〃And what is that？〃
The count leaned forward。 〃Knowledge。〃 He sat up； a slow smile spreading across his face。 〃So now I have given you a bargaining token in return for your earlier gift。〃 The count rubbed his hands in barely restrained enjoyment。 〃Let us speak in earnest； then。〃
Isgrimnur groaned softly as Josua sat down beside Perdruin's master。 Despite the prince's stated hurry； it was indeed going to be a plicated dance。 This was clearly something Streawe enjoyed too much to do quickly； and something Josua took too seriously to be rushed through。 Isgrimnur turned to look at Camaris； who had been silent during the whole discussion。 The old knight was staring at the shuttered windows as if they were an intricately absorbing picture； his chin resting on his hand。 Isgrimnur made another noise of pain and reached for his beer。 He sensed a long evening ahead。
Miriamele's fear of the dwarrows was dwindling。 She was beginning to remember what Simon and others had told her of Count Eolair's journey to Sesuad'ra。 The count had met dwarrows…he called them domhaini…in the mines below Hernystir's mountains。 He had called them friendly and peaceful； and that seemed to be true： except for snatching her from the stairs； they had not harmed her。 But they still would not let her go。
〃Here。〃 She gestured to the saddlebags。 〃If you are so certain that something I am carrying is harmful； or dangerous； or 。。。 or whatever； search for yourselves。〃
As the dwarrows conferred in anxious； chiming voices； Miriamele considered escape。 She wondered if dwarrows ever slept。 But where had they brought her？ How could she find her way out； and where would she go then？ At least she still had the maps； although she doubted she could read them as efficiently as Binabik had。
Where was Binabik？ Was he alive？ She felt almost ill as she remembered the grinning thing that had attacked the troll。 Another friend was lost somewhere in the shadows。 The little man had been right…this had been a foolish journey。 Her own stubbornness had perhaps brought death to her two closest friends。 How could she live with that knowledge？
By the time the dwarrows had finished their discussion； Miriamele did not much care what they had decided。 Gloom had settled on her； sapping her strength。
〃We will search among your possessions； by your leave；〃 Yis…fidri said。 〃In respect of your customs； my wife Yis…hadra only will touch them。〃
Miriamele was bemused by the dwarrow's circumspection。 What did they think she had brought down into the earth； the dainty small…clothes of a castle…dwelling princess？ Tiny； fragile keepsakes？ Scented notes from admirers？
Yls…hadra approached timidly and began to examine the contents of the saddlebags。 Her husband came and kneeled beside Miriamele。 〃We are sorely grieved that things should be thus。 It is truly not our way…never have we pressed our will by force on another。 Never。〃 He seemed desperate to convince her。
〃I still do not understand the danger you fear。〃
〃It was the place you and your two panions walked。 It is 。。。 it is…there are no words that I know in mortal tongues to explain。〃 He flexed his long fingers。 〃There are 。。。 powers； things which have been sleeping。 Now they awaken。 The tower stairwell in which you climbed is a place where these forces are strong。 Every day they bee stronger。 We do not yet understand what is happening； but until we do； nothing must happen which might upset the balance。。。。〃
Miriamele waved for him to stop。 〃Slowly； Yis…fidri。 I am trying to understand。 First of all； that。。。 thing that attacked us on the stairs was not a panion of ours。 Binabik seemed to recognize him； but I have never seen him before。〃
Yis…fidri shook his head； agitated。 〃No； no； Miriamele。 Be not insulted。 We know that what your friend fought was no panion…it was a walking hollowness full of Unbeing。 Perhaps it was a mortal man once。 No； I meant that panion who followed a little behind you。〃
〃Behind us？ There were only two of us。 Unless 。。。〃 Her heart skipped。 Could it have been Simon； searching for his friends？ Had he only been a short distance away when she had been taken？ No； that would be too cruel！
〃Then you were followed；〃 Yis…fidri said firmly。 〃For good or ill； we cannot say。 We just know that three mortals were upon the stairs。〃
Miriamele shook her head； unable to think about it。 Too much confusion was piled atop too much
