tw.togreenangeltower2-第181部分
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erything that had happened。 〃I hid。 Then I came out。〃
Grinning； Jeremias grabbed her hand。 〃e with me。 There are people who will want to see you。〃
Protesting； although she did not quite know why… surely there was nothing better an old woman like her had to do…Rachel allowed herself to be led through the swirling crowds； right across Battle Square。 With Jeremias tugging at her until she wanted to ask him to let go； they passed so close to the bonfire that she could feel its heat down into her cold bones。 Within moments they had pushed through another knot of people and approached a line of armored soldiers who held them back with crossed pikes until Jeremias whispered something in the captain's ear。 The sentries then let them through。 Rachel had just enough strength to wonder what Jeremias had said； but too little breath to ask。
They stopped abruptly and Jeremias stepped past her toward a young woman sitting in the nearest of two tall chairs。 As he spoke to her； the woman turned her gaze toward Rachel and her lips curled in a slow smile。 The Mistress of Chambermaids stared at her in fascination。 Surely that was Miriamele； the king's daughter…but she looked so much older！ And she was beautiful； her fair hair curving around her face； shimmering in the fireglow。 She looked every inch a queen。
Rachel felt a kind of gratitude sweep over her。 Perhaps there would be some kind of order to life after all； at least a little。 But what concern could Miriamele； this radiant creature as exalted as an angel； have with an old servant？
Miriamele turned and said something to the man sitting back in the shadows of the chair beside hers。 Rachel saw him start； then clamber to his feet。
Merciful Rhiap； she thought。 He's so tall！ This must be that Snowlock； that one they all speak of。 Someone said his other name； what was it？
〃。。。 Seoman 。。。〃 she said aloud； staring at his face。 The beard； the scar； the streak of white in his hair…for a moment he was just a young man。 Then she knew。
〃Rachel！〃 In a few long steps he was before her。 He stared down at her for a moment； his lips trembling； then a wide grin broke across his face。 〃Rachel！〃 he said again。
〃Simon。。。 ？〃 she murmured。 The world had ceased to make any kind of sense。 〃You're 。。。 alive？〃
He bent down and grabbed her； squeezing hard。 He lifted her high in the air so that her feet wiggled above the ground。 〃Yes！〃 he laughed。 〃I'm alive！ God knows how； but I'm alive！ Oh； Rachel； you could never imagine what has happened； never； never； never！〃
He put her down but took both her hands in his。 She wanted to pull them free because tears were streaming down her cheeks。 Could this be？ Or had she finally gone mad？ But there he was； red hair； idiot grin； big as life… bigger than life！
〃Are you 。。。 Snowlock？〃
〃I am； I suppose！〃 He laughed again。 〃I am。〃 He let go for a moment； then draped an arm around her。 〃There is so much to tell you…but we have time now； nothing but time。〃 He lifted his head； shouting： 〃Quick！ This is Rachel！ Bring her wine； bring her food； get her a chair！〃
〃But what has happened？〃 She craned her neck to look up at him； impossibly tall； impossibly alive； but Simon for all that。 〃How can this be？〃
〃Sit；〃 he said。 〃I will tell you all。 And then we can begin the grand task。〃
She shook her head； dazed。 〃Grand task？〃
〃You were Mistress of Chambermaids 。。。 but you were always more。 You were like a mother to me； but I was too young and stupid to see it。 Now you shall have the honor you deserve； Rachel。 And if you want it； you shall be the mistress of the entire Hayholt。 Heaven knows； we need you。 An army of servants will attend you； troops of builders； panies of chambermaids； legions of gardeners。〃 He laughed； a man's loud laugh。 〃We will fight a war against the ruin we have made； and we will build the castle again。 We will make our home a beautiful place once more！〃 He gave her a squeeze and steered her toward where Miriamele and Jeremias waited； smiling。 〃You will be Rachel the Dragon； General of the Hayholt！〃
Tears trickled down her cheeks。 〃Mooncalf；〃 she said。
Afterword
Tiamak pushed with his toe at the lilypad。 The part of the moat in the shadow of the wall was quiet but for the hum of insects and the splashing of Tiamak's own feet dangling in the water。
He was watching a water beetle when he heard footsteps behind him。
〃Tiamak！〃 Father Strangyeard sat down awkwardly beside him； but kept his sandaled feet out of the moat。 〃I heard you had arrived。 How good it is to see you。〃
The Wrannaman turned and clasped the archivist's hand。 〃And you； dear friend；〃 he said。 〃It is astonishing to see the changes here。〃
〃A great deal can happen in a year；〃 Strangyeard laughed。 〃And people have been hard at work。 But what is your news since your last message？〃
Tiamak smiled。 〃Much。 I found the remnants of my townsmen； scattered mainly through other villages across the Wran。 Many of them will e back to Village Grove； I think； now that the ghants have retreated to the deep swamp。〃 His smile dwindled。 〃And my sister still does not believe half of what I tell her。〃
〃Can you blame her？〃 asked Strangyeard gently。 〃I can scarcely believe the things I saw myself。〃
〃No； I do not blame her。〃 Tiamak's smile returned。 〃And I have finally finished Sovran Remedys of the Wranna Healers。〃
〃Tiamak； my friend！〃 Strangyeard was honestly delighted。 〃But that is wonderful！ I am hungry for it！ Is there a chance I can read it soon？〃
〃Very soon。 I brought it with me。 Simon and Miriamele said they would have copies made here。 Four writing…priests； just to work on my book！〃 He shook his head。 〃Who would ever have dreamed？〃
〃Wonderful；〃 Strangyeard said again。 His smile was mysterious。 〃e； should we not head back？ I think ft is almost time。〃
Tiamak nodded and reluctantly pulled his feet from the water。 The lily pad floated back into place。
〃I have heard that this will be more than a memorial；〃 the Wrannaman said as they gazed at the inplete shell of stone； littered with the boards and covering cloths of absent workers； that rose where Green Angel Tower had stood。 〃That there will be archives as well。〃 He turned suddenly to look at his friend。 〃Ah。 I suspect you know more about those four writing…priests than you told me。〃
Strangyeard nodded and blushed。 〃That is my news；〃 he said proudly。 〃I helped draw the plans。 It will be magnificent； Tiamak。 A place of learning where nothing will be lost or hidden。 And I will have many assistants to help me。〃 He smiled and stared across the grounds。 Two slow…moving figures made their way through the building site and passed through the recently pleted doorway into the shadowed interior。 〃Most likely my eye will be so bad by the time the thing is finished…if God has not yet called me； that is…that I won't be able to see it。 But that does not worry me。 I see it already。〃 He tapped his head and his gentle smile grew wider。 〃Here。 And it is wonderful； my friend； wonderful。〃
Tiamak took the priest's arm。 They made their way across the grounds of the Inner Bailey。
〃As I said； it is astonishing to see the changes。〃 The marsh man looked up at the castle's hodgepodge of roofs； almost all patched now； gleaming in the late afternoon sun。 Higher up； a scaffolding had been erected over the dome of the chapel。 A few workmen moved across it； tying things down for the night。 Tiamak's gaze roved to the far side of the Inner Bailey wall and he paused。 〃Hjeldin's Tower…it has no windows in it any more。 They were red； were they not？〃
〃Pryrates' tower 。 。 。 and storehouse。〃 Strangyeard sketched the Tree on his breast。 〃Yes。 Fire will be put to it； I expect； then it will be leveled to the ground。 It has been sealed a long time； but no one is in much of a hurry to go inside； and Simon…King Seoman； I suppose I should say； although that still sounds faintly strange to me…wants the entrance to the catabs beneath sealed as well。〃 The archivist shook his head。 〃You know I think knowledge is precious； Tiamak。 But I have not objected to any part of that plan。〃
The Wrannaman nodded。 〃I understand。 But let us talk of mor
