tw.togreenangeltower2-第176部分
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pose we have evened our debt。〃
The Sitha did not respond。 The immortal's face was； as usual； unrevealing； but something in his posture suggested he was troubled。
〃The people have suffered so under Elias that they may not trust Miriamele；〃 Isgrimnur said。 〃It's foolish； I know； but there it is。 If Josua had lived； they might have weled him with open arms。 The barons know the prince resisted Elias ever since he began to go bad； that he suffered terribly and fought his way back from exile。 But Josua is dead。〃
〃Miriamele did all those things； too！〃 Simon cried angrily。 〃This is nonsense！〃
〃We know； Simon；〃 said Tiamak。 〃I traveled with her a long way。 Many of us know of her bravery。〃
〃Yes； I know it； too；〃 Isgrimnur growled； his own irritation flaring。 〃But what is true does not matter here。 She fled Naglimund before the siege started and she did not reach Sesuad'ra until after Fengbald had been defeated。 Then she vanished again； and wound up in the Hayholt with her father at the very ending。〃 He grimaced。 〃And there are tales； doubtless spread by that whoreson Aspitis Preves； that she was his doxy while he served Pryrates。 Rumors are flying。〃
〃But some of those things are true of me； too。 Am I a traitor？〃
〃Miriamele is not a traitor。 God knows…and I know。〃
Isgrimnur glared at him。 〃But after what her father has done； she may not be trusted。 The people want someone on the throne they can trust。〃
〃Madness！〃 Simon slapped his hands against his thighs； then turned to the Sithi。 He seemed ready to burst。 〃What do you two think of this？〃 he demanded。
〃We do not concern ourselves in these kind of mortal affairs；〃 Jiriki said a little stiffly。
〃You are our friend； Seoman；〃 Aditu added。 〃Whatever we can do for you to help you in this time； we will。 However； we also have only respect for Miriamele； though we know her but little。〃
Simon turned to the troll。 〃Binabik？〃
The little man shrugged。 〃I cannot say。 Isgrimnur and the rest of you must be making decisions to settle it yourselves。 You and Miriamele are both my friends。 If you are wishing advice later； Simon； we will take Qantaqa off for walking and we will speak。〃
〃Speak about what？ People telling lies about Miriamele？〃
Isgrimnur cleared his throat。 〃He means he will talk to you about accepting the crown of Erkynland。〃
Simon turned back to stare at the duke。 This time； for all his newfound maturity； the young man could not hide any of his feelings。 〃You are 。。。 you are offering me the throne？〃 he asked derisively； incredulously。 〃This is madness！ Me？ A kitchen boy！〃
Isgrimnur could not help smiling。 〃You are much more than a kitchen boy。 Your deeds are already filling up songs and stories everywhere between here and Nabban。 Wait until the Battle in the Tower is added to the tally。〃
〃Aedon preserve me；〃 Simon said in disgust。
〃But there are more important things。〃 The duke grew serious。 〃You are well…liked and well…known。 Not only did you battle a dragon； you fought bravely for Sesuad'ra and Josua； and people remember that。 And now we can tell them that you have the blood of Saint Eahlstan Fiskerne； one of the most beloved men ever to hold a throne。 In fact； it if weren't true； I would be tempted to make it up。〃
〃But it doesn't mean anything？〃 Simon exploded。 〃Don't you think I've thought about it？ I've been doing nothing but thinking since the moment I realized。 I am a scullion who was taught by a very wise； very kind man。 I have been lucky in my friends。 I have been caught up in terrible things； I did what I had to； and I lived through it。 None of that has anything to do with who my great…great…however…many…greats…grandfather was！〃
Isgrimnur waited a few moments after Simon finished； letting some of the youth's anger pass。 〃But don't you see；〃 the duke said gently； 〃it doesn't matter whether it changes anything or not。 As I said； I don't think it really matters much if it's true or not。 Dror's red mallet； Simon； Prester John's story was a myth…a lie！ I've had to struggle with that discovery myself in the last few days。 But does it make him any less a king？ People need to believe something whether you want them to or not。 If you don't give them things to believe； they will make things up。
〃Right now they are frightened of the future。 Most of the world we know is in a shambles； Simon。 And the survivors are wary of Miriamele because of who she is and because of uncertainty about what she's done…and because she's a young woman； to speak bluntly。 The barons want a man； someone strong but not too strong； and they want no civil wars over a reigning queen's choice of husbands。〃 Isgrimnur reached out to touch Simon's arm； but decided against it and drew his hand back。 〃Listen to me。 The people who followed Josua love you； Simon； almost as much as they loved the prince。 More in some ways； perhaps。 You know and I know that what blood flows in you makes no difference…it's all red。 But your people need to believe in something； and they are cold and hurting and homeless。〃
Simon stared at him。 Isgrimnur could not help feeling the force of the young man's rage。 He had grown indeed。 He would be a formidable man…no； he was so already。
〃And for such tricks you would have me betray Miriamele？〃 Simon demanded。
〃Not betray；〃 Isgrimnur said。 〃I will give you a few days to think about it； then I will go and put it to her myself。 We will bury our dead tomorrow； and the people will see us all together。 That will be enough for now。〃 The duke shook his head。 〃I'm not going to lie to her； Simon…that's not my way…but I wanted you to have a chance to hear me first。〃 He suddenly felt immensely sorry for the young man。
He probably thought he would have a chance to lick his wounds in peace…and he's got plenty of them。 We all do。
〃Think about it； Simon。 We need you…all of us。 It will be hard enough for me to pull my own dukedom together； not to mention what will happen to young Varellan； orphaned in Nabban； and whoever still remains in Hernystir。 We need at least the appearance of the High King's Ward again； and someone the people trust sitting on the throne at the Hayholt。〃
He rose from the low stair； trying not to show how much his back hurt； bowed stiffly to Simon…which in itself was an odd sensation…and stumped away across the throne room； leaving the rest of the circle in silence。 He could feel Simon's eyes on his back。
God help me； Isgrimnur thought as he emerged into the twilight。 I need a rest。 A long rest。
He looked up from the fire at the sound of footsteps。 〃Binabik？〃
She moved forward into the light。 Despite the cool spring night and the patches of still unmelted snow； her feet were bare。 Her cloak fluttered in the breeze that swept down the hillside from the Hayholt。
〃I couldn't sleep；〃 she said。
For a moment Simon hesitated。 He had not expected anyone； least of all her。 After the day…long memorial for Josua； Camaris； Isorn； and the other dead； Binabik had gone off to spend the evening with Strangyeard and Tiamak； leaving Simon alone to sit before his tent and think。 Her arrival seemed a thing he might have dreamed while staring into the campfire。
〃Miriamele。〃 He clambered awkwardly to his feet。 〃Princess。 Sit down； please。〃 He gestured to a stone near
the fire。
She sat； drawing her cloak close around her。 〃Are you well？〃 she asked at last。
〃I'm 。 。 。〃 He paused。 〃I don't know。 Things are strange。〃
She nodded。 〃It's hard to believe it's finished。 It's hard to believe they're all gone forever。〃
He moved unfortably； not certain if she spoke of friends or enemies。 〃There are still lots of things to be done。 People are scattered； the world has been turned upside…down。 。 。 。〃 Simon waved his hand vaguely。 〃There's lots to do。〃
Miriamele leaned forward； stretching her hands toward the fire。 Simon watched the light play across her delicate features and felt his heart clutch hopelessly。 All the royal blood in the world might run in his veins； rivers of it； but it did not matter if she did not care for him。 During all of today's rites for the fallen； she had not once met his eyes。 Even their friendship se
