tw.togreenangeltower2-第5部分
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who might be at risk。 Binabik and Strangyeard were with me until the fire started； but that does not mean they are safe still。 It is late in the day for me to realize this might have been a diversion。 And my niece； Miriamele…send someone to her tent immediately。 And Simon； too； although he may be with Binabik。〃 Josua frowned。 〃If they wanted Camaris； it seems likely it was about the sword。 Simon carried it for a while； so perhaps there is some danger to him as well。 Damn me for my slow wits。〃
Isgrimnur made a throat…clearing noise。 〃I already sent Freosel to look after Miriamele； Josua。 I knew you would want to see Lady Vorzheva as soon as you could and I thought it should not wait。〃
〃Thank you； Isgrimnur。 I did go to her。 She and Gutrun are fine。〃 Josua scowled。 〃But I am shamed you have had to do my thinking。〃
Isgrimnur shook his head。 〃Let's just hope the princess is safe。〃
〃Freosel has been sent after Miriamele；〃 Josua told Sludig。 〃That is one less to hunt for。 Go and see to the rest now。 And post two guards at my tent； if you would。 I will think better knowing that someone is watching over Vorzheva。〃
The Rimmersman nodded。 He mandeered a large portion of the soldiers who were milling aimlessly around Isgrimnur's camp and went off to do as he had been bid。
〃And now；〃 Josua said to Isgrimnur； 〃we wait。 And think。〃
Before the hour was too much older； Aditu reappeared； Father Strangyeard and Binabik were with her。 They had gone with the Sitha to make sure Camaris and Tiamak were resting fortably in the care of one of New Gadrinsett's healing…women…and also； apparently； to talk； for they were all three deep in conversation when they reached Isgrimnur's tent。
Aditu told Josua and the rest all the details of the night's events。 She spoke calmly； but Isgrimnur could not help noticing that； although she chose her words with as much care as ever； the Sitha seemed profoundly troubled。 She and Geloe had been friends； he knew： apparently the Sithi felt grief just as mortals did。 He liked her better for it； then dismissed the thought as unworthy。 Why should immortals not take hurt like humans？ From what Isgrimnur knew； they had certainly suffered at least as much。
〃So。〃 Josua sat back and looked around the circle。 〃We have found no trace of anyone else being attacked。 The question is； why did they single out Camaris？〃
〃There must be something to this Three Swords rhyme after all；〃 said Isgrimnur。 He didn't like such things： they made him feel as though the ground beneath his feet was unsolid； but that seemed to be the kind of world he found himself in。 It was hard not to yearn for the clean edge that
things had when he was younger。 Even the worst of matters； like war； terrible as it was； had not been so shot through with strange sorceries and mysterious enemies。 'They must have been after Camaris because of Thorn。〃
〃Or perhaps it was Thorn alone they were seeking for；〃 Binabik said soberly。 〃And Camaris was not of the most importance。〃
〃I still do not understand how they were able almost to overe him；〃 Strangyeard said。 〃What is that poison you spoke of； Aditu？〃
〃Kei…vishaa。 In truth； it is not just a poison： we Gardenborn use it in the Grove when it is time to dance the year's end。 But it can also be wielded to bring a long； heavy sleep。 It was brought from Venyha Do'sae； my people used it when they first came here； to remove dangerous animals…some of them huge creatures。。。 whose like have long passed from Osten Ard…from the places where we wished to build our cities。 When I smelted it； I knew that something was wrong。 We Zida'ya have never used it for anything except the year…dancing ceremonies。〃
〃How is it used there？〃 the archivist asked； fascinated。
Aditu only lowered her eyes。 〃I am sorry； good Strangyeard； but that is not for me to say。 I perhaps should not have mentioned it at all。 I am tired。〃
〃We have no need to pry into your people's rituals；〃 said Josua。 〃And we have more important things to speak of； in any case。〃 He turned an irritated look on Strangyeard； who hung his head。 〃It is enough that we know how they were able to attack Camaris without his raising an alarm。 We are lucky that Tiamak had the presence of mind to set the lent ablaze。 From now on； we will be absolutely rigid in the arrangement of our camp。 All who are in any way at risk will set their tents close together in the very center； so we all sleep within sight of each other。 I blame myself for indulging Camaris' wish for solitude。 I have taken my responsibilities too lightly。〃
Isgrimnur frowned。 〃We must all be more careful。〃
As the council turned to talk of what other precautions should be taken； Freosel appeared at the fireside。 〃Sorry； Highness； but the princess be not anywhere 'round her tent； nor did anyone see her since early。〃
Josua was clearly upset。 〃Not there？ Aedon preserve us； was Vorzheva right？ Did they e for the princess after all？〃 He stood up。 〃I cannot sit here while she may be in danger。 We must search the entire camp。〃
〃Sludig is doing that already；〃 said Isgrimnur gently。 〃We will only confuse things。〃
The prince slumped down again。 〃You are right。 But it will be hard to wait。〃
They had barely resumed the discussion when Sludig returned； his face grim。 He handed Josua a piece of parchment。 〃This was in young Simon's tent。〃
The prince read it quickly； then flung it down on the ground in disgust。 A moment later he stooped for it； then handed it to the troll； his face stiff and angry。 〃I am sorry； Binabik； I should not have done that。 It seems to be for you。〃 He stood。 〃Hotvig？〃
〃Yes； Prince Josua。〃 The Thrithings…man also stood。
〃Miriamele has gone。 Take as many of your riders as you can quickly find。 The chances are good that she has headed toward Erkynland； so do most of your searching west of the camp。 But do not ignore the possibility that she might go some other way to throw us off before she turns back to the west。〃
〃What？〃 Isgrimnur looked up in surprise。 〃What do you mean； gone？〃
Binabik looked up from the parchment。 'This was written by Simon。 It is seeming that he has gone with her； but he also says he will try to bring her back。〃 The troll's smile was thin and obviously forced。 〃There is some question in my head about who is leading who。 I am doubting Simon will convince her for ing back very soon。〃
Josua gestured impatiently。 〃Go； Hotvig。 God only knows how long they have been gone。 As a matter of fact； since you and your riders are the fastest horsemen we have here； go west； leave the other part of the search to the rest of us。〃 He turned to Sludig。 〃We will ride around the camp； making our circle wider each time。 I will saddle Vinyafod。 Meet me there。〃 He turned to the duke。 〃Are you ing？〃
〃Of course。〃 Silently； Isgrimnur cursed himself。 I should have known something was ing； he thought。 She has been so quiet； so sad； so distant since we came here。 Josua hasn't seen the change as I have。 But even if she thinks we should have marched on Erkynland； why would she go on her own？ Fool of a headstrong child。 And Simon。 I thought better of that boy。
Already unhappy at the thought of a night in the saddle and what it would do to his sore back； Isgrimnur grunted and rose to his feet。
〃Why won't she wake up！？〃 Jeremias demanded。 〃Can't you do something？〃
〃Hush； boy； I'm doing what I can。〃 Duchess Gutrun bent and felt Leieth's face again。 〃She is cool； not feverish。〃
〃Then what's wrong with her？〃 Jeremias seemed almost frantic。 〃I tried to wake her for a long time； but she just lay there。〃
〃Let me give another cover for her；〃 Vorzheva said。 She had made room in the bed for the girl to lie beside her； but Gutrun had disallowed it； frightened that Leieth had some sickness which Vorzheva might catch。 Instead； Jeremias had carefully set the girl's limp form on a blanket upon the ground。
〃You just lie still and I'll worry about the child；〃 the duchess told her。 〃This is altogether too much noise and fretting。〃
Prince Josua stepped through the door； unhappiness etched on his face。 〃Is t
