tw.togreenangeltower2-第131部分
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Simon laughed； a dry； hoarse sound。 There was a sort of freedom in having so little。 If he lived to the next hour； it would be a triumph。 He had escaped the wheel。 What more could anyone do to him？
He put the broken knife against the wall so he could find it again； then continued his search。 He encountered several objects he could see no purpose for； oddly shaped stones that felt too intricate to be natural； bits of broken pottery and splintered wood； even the skeletons of some small animals； but it was only as he reached the far side of the cavern that he found something truly useful。
His numb； stiffened fingers touched something wet。 He snatched his hand away； then slowly reached out again。 It was a stone bowl half full of water。 On the ground beside it； as wonderful as any miracle from the Book of Aedon； was what felt like a lump of stale bread。
Simon had the bread to his mouth before he remembered Guthwulf。 He hesitated； his stomach raging； then tore a piece loose and dipped it in the water and put it in his mouth。 He ate two more small pieces the same way； then held the bowl carefully in his aching； trembling hand and crawled to where Guthwulf lay。 Simon dipped his fingers in the water and let some dribble into the earl's mouth； he heard the blind man swallow thirstily。 Next he took a morsel of bread and moistened it； then fed it to his ward。 Guthwulf did not close his mouth； and seemed unable to chew or swallow it。 After a moment； Simon retrieved it and ate it himself。 He felt exhaustion creeping over him。
〃Later；〃 he told Guthwulf。 〃Later you will eat。 You will be well again； and so will I。 Then we will leave here。〃
Then I will take Bright…Nail to the tower。 That is what I took back my life to do。
〃The witchwood is in flames； the garden is burning。 。。。〃 The earl squirmed and twisted。 Simon moved the bowl away； terrified it might be spilled。 Guthwulf groaned。 〃Ruakha； ruakha Asu'a！〃
Even from a short distance away； Simon could feel his raging heat。
The man lay on the ground； his face pressed against the stone。 His clothes and skin were so dirty it was hard to see him。 'That's everything； master。 I swear it！〃
〃Get up。〃 Pryrates kicked him in the ribs； but not hard enough to break anything。 〃I can scarcely understand you。〃
He rose to his haunches； whiskered mouth quivering in fear。 〃That's all； master。 They run away。 Down watercourse。〃
〃I know that； fool。〃
The alchemist had given his soldiers no directions since they had returned from their fruitless search； and now they stood uneasily。 Inch's remains had been removed from the chains that turned Pryrates' tower top； they lay in an untidy heap beside the sluice。 It was obvious that most of the guardsmen wished they had been allowed to cover such of the overseer as had been recovered； but since they had received no order from Pryrates； they were studiously looking anywhere else。
〃And you do not know who these people were？〃
'〃Twas the blind man； master。 Some have seen him； but none ever catched him。 He takes things sometime。〃
A blind man living in the caverns。 Pryrates smiled。 He had a reasonably good idea who that might be。 〃And the other？ One of the foundrymen being punished； I take it？〃
〃That it was； master。 But Inch called him something else。〃
〃Something else？ What？〃
The man paused； his face a mask of terror。 〃Can't remember；〃 he whispered。
Pryrates leaned down until his hairless face was only a handbreadth from the man's nose。 〃I can make you remember。〃
The forge man froze like a serpent…tranced frog。 A small whimper escaped his throat。 〃I be trying； master；〃 he squeaked； then： 〃 'Kitchen Boy'！ Doctor Inch called him 'Kitchen Boy'！〃
Pryrates straightened up。 The man slumped； his chest heaving。
〃A kitchen boy；〃 the priest mused。 〃Could it be？〃 Suddenly he laughed； a rasping scrape of sound。 〃Perfect。 Of course it would be。〃 He turned to the soldiers。 〃There is nothing else for us to do here。 And the king has need of us。〃
Inch's henchman stared at the alchemist's back。 His lips moved as he worked up the nerve to speak。 〃Master？〃
Pryrates turned slowly。 〃What？〃
〃Now 。。。 now that Doctor Inch be dead 。 。。 well； who do you wish to 。。。 to take charge here？ Here in king's forge？〃
The priest looked sourly at the grizzled； ash…blackened man。 〃Sort that out yourselves。〃 He gestured at the waiting soldiers； marking out half of the score of men。 〃You lot will stay here。 Do not bother protecting Inch's cronies…I should not have left him in charge of this place so long。 I want you only to make sure that wheel stays in the water。 Too many important things are driven by it to risk a second occurrence of a folly like this。 Remember： if that wheel stops turning again； I will make you very； very sorry。〃
The designated guards took up positions along the edge of the watercourse； the rest of the soldiers filed out of the forge。 Pryrates' stopped in the doorway to look back。 Under the impassive gaze of the guardsmen。 Inch's chief henchman was quickly being surrounded by a tightening ring of grim forge workers。 Pryrates laughed quietly and let the door crunch shut。
Josua sat up； startled。 The wind was howling fiercely； and the shape in the tent's door loomed giant…size。
〃Who is there？〃
Isgrimnur； who had been nodding during the long silence； snorted in surprise and fumbled for Kvalnir's hilt。
〃I cannot stand it any longer。〃 Sir Camaris swayed in the doorway like a tree in a strong wind。 〃God save me； God save me 。。。 I hear it even in my waking hours now。 In the darkness it is all there is。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 Josua rose and went to the tent flap。 〃You are not well； Camaris。 e； sit down here beside the fire。 This is no weather to be out wandering。〃
Camaris shook off his hand。 〃I must go。 It is time。 I can hear the song so clearly。 It is time。〃
〃Time for what？ Go where？ Isgrimnur； e help me。〃
The duke struggled to his feet； wheezing at the pain of stiff muscles and still…tender ribs。 He took Camaris by the arm and found the muscles tight as wet knots。
He is terrified！ By the Ransomer； what has done this to him？
〃e； sit。〃 Josua urged him toward a stool。 〃Tell us what ails you。〃
The old knight abruptly pulled away and took a few staggering steps backward out into the snow。 Thorn's long scabbard bumped against his leg。 〃They are catling； each to each。 They need。 The blade will go where it will go。 It is time。〃
Josua followed him out onto the hillside。 Isgrimnur； puzzled and worried； limped after； pulling his cloak tight against the wind。 The Kynslagh lay below； a dark expanse beyond the blanketing white。 〃I cannot understand you； Camaris；〃 the prince called over the wind。 〃What is it the time for？〃
〃Look！〃 The old man threw up an arm； pointing into the murk of storm clouds。 〃Do you not see？〃
Isgrimnur； like Josua； looked upward to the sky。 A dull spot of ember…red burned there。 〃The Conqueror Star？〃 he asked。
〃They feel it。 It is time。〃 Camaris took another retreating step； wobbling as though he might at any moment tumble backward down the hill。 〃God grant me strength； I can resist it no longer。〃
Josua caught the duke's eye； silently asking his help。 Isgrimnur walked forward and he and the prince again grasped Camaris' arms。 〃e in from the cold；〃 Josua begged。
Sir Camaris yanked himself free…his strength never ceased to astonish Isgrimnur…and for a moment his hand strayed to Thorn's silver…wrapped hilt。
〃Camaris！〃 Isgrimnur was shocked。 〃You would draw blade against us！？ Your friends！？〃
The old man stared at him for a moment； his eyes curiously unfocused。 Then； slowly； the duke saw his tension ease。 〃God help me； it is the sword。 It sings to me。 It knows where it wants to go。 Inside。〃 He gestured limply toward the dark bulk of the Hayholt。
〃And we will take you there…and the sword； too。〃
Josua was calm。 〃But there is the simple matter of breaching the walls that we must deal with first。〃
〃There are other ways；〃 said Camaris； but his wild energy had faded。 He allowed himself to be led into Josu
