tw.togreenangeltower2-第31部分
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it was sprung。 Earl Fengbald of Falshire and several hundred knights came down a…horse from the woods at the top of Bullback Hill。
〃I saw Duke Leobardis and his son Benigaris at the outermost edge of the fighting； behind their men…at…arms。 As Fengbald's falcon…crest came down the hill。 I saw Benigaris draw his sword and stab his father in the neck； slaying him in the saddle so that Leobardis fell across his horse's withers； bleeding most piteously 。。。〃
At this last sentence； the silence abruptly dissolved into shocked cries and rebukes。 Several of Baron Seriddan's liege…men stood； shaking their fists in fury as though they would strike Josua down。 The prince only looked at them； still holding the parchment before him； then turned to Seriddan。 The baron had retained his seat； but his brown face had paled except for bright spots of color high on each cheek。
〃Silence！〃 he shouted； and glared at his followers until they sank back onto their benches； full of angry muttering。 Several of the women had to be helped from the room； they stumbled out as though they themselves had been stabbed； their intricate hats and veils suddenly as sad as the bright flags of a defeated army。 'This is an old story；〃 the baron said at last。 His voice was tight； but Isgrimnur thought there was more than rage there。
He feels the snare drawing closed。
Seriddan drained his goblet； then banged it down on the tabletop； making more than a few people jump。 〃It is an old tale；〃 he said again。 〃Often repeated； never proved。 Why should I believe it now？〃
〃Because Sir Deornoth saw it happen；〃 said Josua simply。
〃He is not here。 And I do not know that I would believe him if he were。〃
〃Deornoth did not lie。 He was a true knight。〃
Seriddan laughed harshly； 〃I have only your word on that； Prince。 Men will do strange things for king and country。〃 He turned to his brother。 〃Brindalles？ Have you heard any reason here tonight that I should not throw the prince and his followers into one of the locked cells beneath Chasu Metessa to wait for Benigaris' mercy？〃
The baron's brother sighed。 He held his two hands close together； touching at the fingertips。 〃I do not like this story； Seriddan。 It has an unpleasantly truthful ring； since those who prepared Leobardis for burial spoke wonderingly of the evenness of the wound。 But the word of any one man； even Prince Josua's knight； is not enough to condemn the Lord of Nabban。〃
Wit is not lacking in the family blood！ the Duke of Elvritshalla noted。 But on such hard…headed men must our luck ride。 Or fail。
〃There are others who saw Benigaris' terrible deed；〃 Josua said。 〃A few of them are still alive； although many died when Naglimund was conquered。〃
〃A thousand men would not be enough；〃 Seriddan spat。 〃Hea！ What； should the flower of Nabbanai nobility follow you…an Erkynlander and enemy of the High King… against the rightful heir to the Kingfisher House； on the strength of the writings of a dead man？〃 A murmur of agreement rose from Chasu Metessa's other inhabitants。 The situation was growing ugly。
〃Very well；〃 said Josua。 〃I understand。 Baron。 Now I will show you something that will convince you of the seriousness of my undertaking。 And it may also answer your fears about following an Erkynlander anywhere。〃 He turned and gestured。 A hooded man seated near Strangyeard at the shadowy end of the table abruptly rose。 He was very tall。 Several of the men…at…arms drew their swords； the hiss of emerging blades seemed to make the room grow cold。
Do not fail us； Isgrimnur prayed。
〃You said one thing that was not true； Baron；〃 Josua said gently。
〃Do you call me a liar？〃
〃No。 But these are strange days； and even a man as learned and clever as you cannot know everything。 Even were Benigaris not a patricide； he is not first claimant on his father's dukedom。 Baron； people of Metessa； here is the true master of the Kingfisher House 。 。 。 Camaris Benidrivis。〃
The tall figure at the end of the table pushed back his hood； revealing a snowfall of white hair and a face full of sadness and grace。
〃What。。。 ？〃 The baron was utterly confused。
〃Heresy！〃 shouted a confused landowner； stumbling to his feet。 〃Camaris； he is dead！〃
One of the remaining women screamed。 The man beside her slumped forward onto the table in a drunken faint。
Camaris touched his hand to his breast。 〃I am not dead。〃 He turned to Seriddan。 〃Grant me forgiveness； Baron； for abusing your hospitality in this manner。〃
Seriddan stared at the apparition； then rounded on Josua。 〃What madness is this？！ Do you mock me； Erkynlander？〃
The prince shook his head。 〃It is no mockery； Seriddan。 This is indeed Camaris。 I thought to reveal him to you in private； but the chance did not e。〃
〃No。〃 Seriddan slapped his hand on the table。 〃I cannot believe it。 Camaris…sa…Vinitta is dead…lost years ago； drowned in the Bay of Firannos。〃
〃I lost only my wits； not my life；〃 the old knight said gravely。 〃I lived for years with no memory of my name or my past。〃 He drew a hand across his brow。 His voice shook。 〃I sometimes wish I had never been given either back again。 But I have。 I am Camaris of Vinitta； son of Benidrivis。 And if it is my last act； I will avenge my brother's death and see my murdering nephew removed from the throne in Nabban。〃
The baron was shaken； but still seemed unconvinced。 His brother Brindalles said： 〃Send for Eneppa。〃
Seriddan looked up； his eyes bright； as though he had been reprieved from some awful sentence。 〃Yes。〃 He turned to one of his men…at…arms。 〃Fetch Eneppa from the kitchen。 And tell her nothing； on pain of your life。〃
The man went out。 Watching his departure； Isgrimnur saw that little Pasevalles had disappeared from the doorway。
The folk remaining at table whispered excitedly； but Seriddan no longer seemed to care。 While he waited for his man to return； he downed another goblet of wine。 Even Josua； as if he had given something a starting push and could no longer control it； allowed himself to finish his own cup。 Camaris remained standing at the foot of the table； a figure of imposing stolidity。 No one in the room could keep their eyes off him for long。
The messenger returned with an old woman in tow。 She was short and plump； her hair cut short； her simple dark dress stained with flour and other things。 She stood anxiously before Seriddan； obviously fearing some punishment。
〃Stand still； Eneppa；〃 the baron said。 〃You have done nothing wrong。 Do you see that old man？〃 He pointed。 〃Go and look at him and tell me if you know him。〃
The old woman sidled toward Camaris。 She peered up at him； starting a little when he looked down and met her eyes。 〃No； my lord Baron；〃 she said at last。 Her Westerling was awkward。
〃So。〃 Seriddan crossed his arms before his chest and leaned back； an angry little smile on his face。
〃Just a moment；〃 Josua said。 〃Eneppa； if that is your name； this is no one you have seen in recent days。 If you did know him； it was long ago。〃
She turned her frightened…rabbit face from the prince back to Camaris。 She appeared ready to turn from him just as quickly the second time； then something caught at her。 She stared。 Her eyes widened。 Abruptly； her knees bent and she sagged。 Swift as thought； Camaris caught her and kept her from falling。
〃Ulimor Camaris？〃 she asked in Nabbanai； weeping。 〃Veveis？〃 There followed a torrent in the same language。 Seriddan's angry smile vanished； replaced by an expression that was almost ically astonished。
〃She says that they told her I had drowned；〃 Camaris said。 〃Can you speak Westerling； good woman？〃 he asked her quietly。 〃There are some here who do not understand you。〃
Eneppa looked at him as he steadied her； then let her go。 She was dazed； crumpling the skirt of her dress in her gnarled fingers。 〃He 。。。 he is Camaris。 Duos preterate！ Have 。。。 have the dead e back to us again？〃
〃Not the dead； Eneppa；〃 said Josua。 〃Camaris lived； but lost his wits for many years。〃
〃But although I know your face； my good woman；〃 the old knight said wondering
