tw.togreenangeltower2-第119部分
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〃Binabik？〃 Miriamele stared for a moment； dumbfounded； then sprang to her feet and ran to him。 She caught him up in a hug that squeezed out a breathless laugh。 〃Mother of Mercy！ Binabik！ What are you doing？ How did you get here？〃
〃The dwarrows found me wandering on the stairs；〃 he said as she set him down。 〃I have been here a little time。 I did not want to wake you； but I am full of hunger； so I have been searching in the packs。。。。〃
〃There's a little trait…bread left； I think； and maybe some dried fruit。〃 She rummaged through her belongings。 〃I am so happy to see you…I didn't know what had bee of you！ That thing； that monk！ What happened？〃
〃I killed him…or perhaps I was releasing him。〃 Binabik shook his head。 〃I cannot say。 He was himself for a moment； and warned that the Norns were 。。。 what did he say？ 。。。 'false beyond believing'。〃 He took the piece of hard bread Miriamele offered。 〃I knew him as a man once； Simon and I met him in St。 Hoderund's ruins。 We were not being friends； Hengfisk and I…but to look into his eyes。。。 ！ Such a terrible thing should not be done to anyone。 Our enemies have much to be answering for。〃
〃What do you think of the dwarrows？ Did they tell you why they took me？〃 A thought occurred to her。 〃Are you a prisoner now； too？〃
〃I do not know if prisoner is being the correct word；〃 Binabik said thoughtfully。 〃Yes； Yis…fidri was telling me much when they found me； as we were making our way back to this place。 At least for a while he was。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃There are soldiers in the tunnels；〃 the troll replied。 〃And others； too…Norns； I think； although we did not see them as we did the soldiers。 But the dwarrows were certainly feeling them； and I do not think they were pretending for the benefit of me。 They were full of terror。〃
〃Norns？ Here？ But I thought they couldn't e to the castle！〃
Binabik shrugged。 〃Who can say？ It is their deathless master who is barred from this place； but I did not think it likely the living Norns would wish to enter here。 Still； if everything I have been thinking was truth was now proved false； it would no longer be a surprising thing to me。〃
Yis…fidri approached； then stooped and crouched beside them； the padded leather of his garments creaking。 Despite his kind； sad face； Miriamele thought that his long limbs gave him something of the appearance of a spider picking its way across a web。
〃Here is your panion safe； Miriamele。〃
〃I'm glad you found him。〃
〃And not a moment too soon did we e upon him。〃 Yis…fidri was clearly worried。 〃There are mortal men and Hikeda'ya swarming through the tunnels。 Only our skill in hiding the doorway to this chamber keeps us safe。〃
〃Do you plan to stay here forever？ That won't help anything。〃 The joy of Binabik's return had worn off a little； and now she felt desperation returning。 They were all trapped in an isolated cavern while the world around them seemed to be moving toward some terrible cataclysm。 〃Don't you feel what is happening？ All the rest of your folk felt it。〃
〃Of course we feel it。〃 For a moment Yis…fidri almost sounded angry。 〃We feel more than you。 We know these changes of old…we know what the Words of Making can do。 And the stones speak to us as well。 But we have no strength to stop what is happening； and if we call attention to ourselves； that will be the end。 Our freedom is of no use to anyone。〃
〃Words of Making。。。 ？〃 Binabik asked； but before he could finish his question； Yis…hadra appeared and spoke softly to her husband in the dwarrow tongue。 Miriamele looked past her to where the rest of the tribe huddled against the cavern's far wall。 They were clearly disturbed； eyes wide in the dim light； chattering quietly among themselves with much nodding and shaking of their large heads。
Yis…fidri's thin face wore a look of alarm。 〃Someone is outside；〃 he said。
〃Outside？〃 Miriamele pulled the pack closed。 〃What do you mean？ Who？〃
〃We know not。 But someone is outside the hidden door to this chamber； trying to get in。〃 He flapped his hands anxiously。 〃It is not mortal soldiers； for whoever it is； they have some power over things…we shielded that door to the limits of the Tinukeda'ya's art。〃
'The Norns？〃 Miriamele breathed。
〃We know not！〃 Yis…fidri stood and put his thin arm around Yis…hadra。 〃But we must hope that even though they have found the door； they cannot force it。 There is nothing more we can do。〃
〃There must be another way out； isn't there？〃
Yis…fidri hung his head。 〃We took a risk。 Hiding two doors makes both of them more vulnerable； and we feared to expend too much Art when things are so unbalanced。。。〃
〃Mother of Mercy！〃 Miriamele cried。 Anger fought with hopeless terror inside her。 〃So we're trapped。〃 She turned to Binabik。 〃God help us； what choice do we have？〃
The troll looked tired。 〃Are you asking if we will fight？ Of course。 The Qanuc are not giving their lives away。 Mindunob inik yat； we say…'my home will be your tomb。' 〃 His laugh was grim。 〃But with certainty； even the fiercest troll would rather find a way to keep his cave without himself dying。〃
〃I found my knife；〃 said Miriamele； drumming her fingers nervously on her leg。 She struggled to keep her voice steady。 Trapped！ They were trapped with no way out； and the Norns were at the door！ 〃Merciful Elysia； I wish I'd brought a bow。 I only have Simon's White Arrow； but I'm sure he would approve if I feathered a Norn with it。 I suppose I can use it to stab someone。〃
Yis…fidri looked at them in disbelief。 〃You could not save yourself from the Hikeda'ya with a bow and a whole quiver full of Vindaomeyo's most perfect arrows； let alone with only a knife。〃
〃I don't think we will save ourselves；〃 Miriamele snapped。 〃But we have e too far to let them take us as though we were frightened children。〃 She took a breath to calm herself。 〃You are strong； Yis…fidri…I felt it when you carried me off。 Surely you won't just let them kill you？〃
〃It is not our way； fighting；〃 Yis…hadra spoke up。 〃We have never been the strong ones…not strong that way。〃
〃Then stay back。〃 Inwardly； Miriamele thought she sounded like the worst kind of boastful tavern brawler； but it was already hard enough to think about what might be ing。 Just looking at the trembling； terrified dwarrows sapped her resolve； and the fear that lay beneath felt like a hole into which she might tumble and fall forever。 〃Take us to the door。 Binabik； let's at least pick up some stones。 The good Lord knows this place is full of them。〃
The huddled dwarrows watched them with distrust； as though the very act of preparing a resistance made them almost as dangerous as the enemy outside。 Miriamele and Binabik quickly gathered a pile of stones； then Binabik broke down his walking…stick and placed the knife section in his belt； then readied the blowpipe。
〃Better to use this first。〃 He pushed a dart into the tube。 〃Perhaps a death they cannot see will make them a little more slow for ing in。〃
The doorway appeared to be only another section of the striated cavern wall； but as Miriamele and the troll stood before it； a faint silvery line began to creep up the stone。
〃Ruyan guide us！〃 Yis…fidri said miserably。 〃They have breached the wards！〃 There was a chorus of fearful noises from his fellow。
The silver gleam crept up the rock face； then coursed across the length of a man's reach and started down again。 When a whole section was bounded by a thread of light； the stone inside the glow slowly began to swivel inward； scraping as it moved against the cavern floor。 Miriamele watched its ponderous movement with terrified fascination； trembling in every limb。
〃Do not step to the front of me；〃 whispered Binabik。 〃I will tell you when it is safe for moving。〃
The door ground to a halt。 As a figure appeared in the narrow opening； Binabik raised his blowpipe to his mouth。 The dark shape tottered and fell forward。 The dwarrows moaned in fear。
〃You hit him！〃 Miriamele exulted。 She hefted a rock； ready to try for the next one through while Binabik loaded another dart 。。。 but no one else moved into the doorway。
'They're
