tw.togreenangeltower2-第127部分
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nd fire； he might have led us out of the shadows of exile and back into the light of the living world again。 That was his dream。 But any great dream can flower into madness。〃 She was silent for a while。 〃Perhaps we must all learn to live with exile； Isgrimnur。 Perhaps we must all learn to live with smaller dreams。〃
Isgrimnur said nothing。 They stood for a while in the wind； silent but not unfortably so； before the duke turned and sought the warmth of the cabins。
Duchess Gutrun looked up in alarm when she felt the cold air。 〃Vorzheva！ Are you mad？ Bring those children away from the windows。〃
The Thrithings…woman； one child cradled in each arm； did not move。 Beyond the open window stretched Nabban； vast but strangely intimate； the city's famous hills made the houses and streets and buildings seem built almost on top of each other。 〃There is no harm in air。 On the grasslands； we live all our lives out in the open。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 Gutrun said crossly。 〃I've been there； Vorzheva； don't forget。 Those wagons are almost like houses。〃
〃But we only sleep in them。 Everything else…eating； singing； loving…we do beneath the sky。〃
〃And your men cut their cheeks with knives； too。 Does that mean you're going to do that to poor little Deornoth？〃 She bristled at the mere thought。
The Thrithings…woman turned and gave her panion an amused look。 〃You do not think the little one should wear scars？〃 She gazed at the male infant's sleeping face； then laid a finger along his cheek； pretending to consider it。 〃Oh； but they are so handsome to see。 。。 。〃 She darted a sideward glance； then burst out laughing at the Rimmerswoman's horror。 〃Gutrun！ You think I mean it for true！〃
〃Don't even say such things。 And bring those poor babies away from the window。〃
〃I am showing them the ocean where their father is。 But you； Gutrun； you are very angry and unhappy today。 Are you not well？〃
〃What is there to be happy about？〃 The duchess sank down again onto her chair and picked up her sewing； but only turned the cloth in her hands。 〃We are at war。 People are dying。 It is not even a week since we buried little Leieth！〃
〃Oh； I am sorry；〃 Vorzheva said。 〃I did not mean to be cruel。 You were very close to her。〃
〃She was just a child。 She suffered terrible things； may God grant her peace。〃
〃She did not seem to have any pain at the end。 That is something。 Did you think she would e awake； after all that time？〃
〃No。〃 The duchess frowned。 〃But that does not make the sadness less。 I hope I am not the one who must tell young Jeremias when he es back。〃 Her voice dropped。 〃If he es back。〃
Vorzheva looked at the older woman intently。 〃Poor Gutrun。 It is not just Leieth； is it？ You are frightened for Isgrimnur also。〃
〃My old fellow will e back well；〃 Gutrun muttered。 〃He always does。〃 She peered up at Vorzheva； who still stood before the open window； a sweep of ash…gray sky behind her。 〃But what of you； who feared so much for Josua？ Where is your worry？〃 She shook her head。 〃Saint Skendi protect us； I should not speak of such things。 Who knows what ill luck it could bring？〃
Vorzheva smiled。 〃Josua will e back to me。 I had a dream。〃
〃What do you mean？ Has all that nonsense of Aditu's turned your head？〃
〃No；〃 The Thrithings…woman looked down at her girl…child； Vorzheva's thick hair fell like a curtain； so that for a moment the faces of both mother and daughter were hidden。 〃But it was a true dream。 I know。 Josua came to me and said； 'I have what I always have wanted。' And he was at peace。 So I know that he will win； and he will e back to me。〃
Gutrun opened her mouth to say something； then shut it again。 Her face was fearful。 Quickly； while Vorzheva still gazed at little Derra； the duchess made the sign of the Tree。
Vorzheva shivered and looked up。 〃Perhaps you are right； Gutrun。 It is getting cold。 I will shut the windows。〃
The duchess levered herself up from her chair。 〃Nonsense。 I'll do it。 You take those little ones right back and get under the blankets。〃 She paused in front of the window。 〃Merciful Elysia；〃 she said。 〃Look。〃
Vorzheva turned。 〃What？〃
〃It's snowing。〃
〃You would think we were stopping for a visit to a local shrine；〃 Sangfugol observed。 〃That these were boatloads of pilgrims。〃
Tiamak was huddled with the harper and Strangyeard on a windy； snow…clad slope east of Swertclif。 Below them； landing boats bounced Josua's army across the choppy Kynslagh toward the shore； the prince and the martial arm of his household were at the landing site； overseeing the plex enterprise。
〃Where is Elias？〃 Sangfugol demanded。 〃Aedon's Bones； his brother is landing an army on his doorstep。 Where is the king？〃
Strangyeard winced ever so slightly at the oath。 〃You sound as though you want him to e！ We know where the High King is； Sangfugol。〃 He gestured toward the Hayholt； a cluster of spiky shadows almost hidden by whirling snow。 〃Waiting。 But we do not know why。〃
Tiamak sank deeper into his cloak。 His bones felt frozen。 He could understand that the prince might not want them underfoot； but surely they could have found a place to stay out of the way that was less exposed to the wind and snow？
At least I have drylander breeches now。 But I still do not want to end my days here； in this cold place。 Please let me see my Wran again。 Let me go to the Wind Festival one more time。 Let me drink too much fern beer and play snatch…the…feather。 I don't want to die here and be unburned and unremembered。
He shivered and tried to slough off such glum thoughts。 〃Has the prince sent scouts toward the castle？〃
Sangfugol shook his head； pleased to be knowledgeable。 〃Not in close。 I heard him tell Isgrimnur that stealth was useless； since the king must have seen us ing days ago； and heard of it long before that。 Now that he has made sure Elias has no soldiers hidden in Erchester…soldiers！ No one is there but dogs and rats！…Josua will send outriders ahead when the pany moves up to set the siege。〃
As the harper went on to explain how； in his estimation； the prince should go about deploying his forces； Tiamak saw someone slogging up the hill through the snow。
〃Look！〃 Father Strangyeard pointed。 〃Who is that？〃 〃It's young Jeremias。〃 Sangfugol was a little nettled to be interrupted。 〃Been driven out like the rest of us； I suppose。〃
Tiamak！〃 Jeremias called。 〃e with me！ Hurry！〃 〃Goodness！〃 Strangyeard fluttered his hands。 〃Perhaps they've found something important！〃 Tiamak was already standing。 〃What is it？〃 〃Josua says e quickly。 The Sitha…woman is sick。〃
〃Shall we e； Tiamak？〃 Strangyeard asked。 〃No； I am sure you would rather not be crowded。 And what help or fort could I give to one of the Sithi？〃
The Wrannaman started down the hill； leaning into the wind。 As the snow crunched beneath his feet； he was again grateful for Sangfugol's loan of boots and breeches； although both were too large。
I am in a strange place； he marveled。 A strange time。 A marsh man wading through the snows of Erkynland to help one of the Sithi。 It must be They Who Watch and Shape who have drunk too much fern beer。
Aditu had been taken to a makeshift shelter； a cloth cargo cover that had been stretched across the bottom branches of a tree on a rise above the shoreline。 Josua and Sludig and a few of the soldiers stood by awkwardly； hunched beneath the low roof。 〃Sludig found her；〃 the prince said。 〃I feared she had surprised some of my brother's spies； but there are no marks of violence upon her and Sludig said he saw no signs of struggle。 No one heard anything； either； although she was only a hundred
paces up from the shore。〃 He frowned worriedly。 〃It is like Leieth after Geloe died。 She is sleeping； but will not wake。〃
Tiamak stared at the Sitha's face。 With her eyes closed she appeared nearly human。 〃I did little for Leieth；〃 he said； 〃and I have no idea what effect my herbs would have on one of the immortals。 I do not know what I can do for Aditu。〃
Josua made a gesture of helplessness。 〃At least see that she is fortable。〃
〃Did you see anything that might have caused it
