tw.togreenangeltower2-第11节

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s　to　the　Rimmersmen。　Many　of　the　fine　things　that　had　been　in　Eolair's　line　since　not　long　after　Sinnach's　alliance　with　the　Eri…king　were　destroyed　or　stolen；　and　so　were　many　objects　that　Eolair　himself　had　brought　back　from　his　travels　throughout　Osten　Ard。　Still；　he　had　consoled　himself；　the　walls　still　stood；　the　fields…under　a　blanket　of　snow…were　still　fertile；　and　the　wide　Baraillean；　unhindered　by　war　or　winter；　still　rushed　past　Nad　Mullach　on　its　way　to　Abaingeat　and　the　sea。
　　　　　　　The　count　had　mended　Gwynna　for　her　decision；　telling　her　that　had　he　been　in　residence　he　would　have　done　the　same。　She；　to　whom　the　sight　of　Skali's　outlanders　in　her　great　house　had　been　the　most　galling　thing　imaginable；　was　a　little　forted；　but　not　much。
　　　　　　　Those　outlanders；　perhaps　because　their　master　was　far　away　in　Hernysadharc；　or　perhaps　because　they　were　not　themselves　of　Skali's　savage　Kaldskryke　clan；　had　been　less　hateful　in　their　occupation　than　the　invaders　in　other　parts　of　Hernystir。　They　had　treated　their　conquered　prisoners　poorly；　and　had　plundered　and　smashed　to　their　hearts'　content；　but　had　not　indulged　in　the　kind　of　rape；　torture；　and　senseless　killing　that　had　marked　Skali's　main　army　as　it　drove　on　Hernysadharc。
　　　　　　　Still；　despite　the　parative　lightness　of　the　damage　to　his　ancestral　home；　as　he　rode　out　of　Nad　Mullach　Eolair　was　nevertheless　filled　with　a　sense　of　violation　and　shame。　His　forebears　had　built　the　castle　to　watch　over　their　bit　of　the　river　valley。　Now　it　had　been　attacked　and　defeated；　and　the　current　count　had　not　even　been　at　home。　His　servants　and　kin　had　been　forced　to　make　their　way　alone。
　　　　　　　I　served　my　king；　he　told　himself。　What　else　could　I　do？
　　　　　　　There　was　no　answer；　but　that　did　not　make　it　any　easier　to　live　with　the　memories　of　shattered　stone；　scorched　tapestries；　and　frightened；　hollow…eyed　people。　Even　should　both　war　and　spirit…winter　end　tomorrow；　that　harm　had　already　been　done。

　　　　　　　〃Would　you　like　something　more　to　eat；　my　lady？〃　Eolair　asked。
　　　　　　　He　could　not　help　wondering　what　Maegwin　in　her　madness　made　of　the　rather　poor　fare　that　had　been　their　lot　so　far　on　the　trip　toward　Naglimund。　Nothing　much　could　be　expected　of　a　war…ravaged　countryside；　of　course；　but　the　count　was　curious　how　hard　bread　and　leathery　onions　could　be　considered　food　fit　for　gods。
　　　　　　　〃No；　Eolair；　thank　you。〃　Maegwin　shook　her　head　and　smiled　gently。　〃Even　in　a　land　of　unending　pleasure；　we　must　rest　from　pleasure　occasionally。〃
　　　　　　　Unending　pleasure！　The　count　smiled　back　despite　himself。　It　might　not　be　bad　to　be　as　touched　as　Maegwin；　at　least　during　meals。
　　　　　　　A　moment　later　he　chided　himself　for　the　uncharitable　thought。　Look　at　her。　She's　like　a　child。　It's　not　her　fault…perhaps　it　was　the　blow　Skali　struck　her。　It　may　not　have　killed　her；　as　she　thinks；　but　it　might　have　disordered　her　brains。
　　　　　　　He　stared　at　her。　Maegwin　was　watching　the　sunset　with　evident　pleasure。　Her　face　seemed　almost　to　glow。
　　　　　　　What　is　that　term　they　use　in　Nabban？　〃Holy　fools。〃　That's　what　she　looks　like…someone　who　is　no　longer　of　the　earth。
　　　　　　　〃The　sky　of　heaven　is　more　beautiful　than　I　would　have　imagined；〃　she　said　dreamily。　〃I　wonder　if　perhaps　it　is　our　own　sky；　but　we　see　it　now　from　the　other　side。〃
　　　　　　　And　even　were　there　some　cure；　Eolair　wondered　suddenly；　what　right　have　I　to　take　this　away　from　her？　The　thought　was　shocking；　like　cold　water　dashed　in　his　face。　She　is　happy…happy　for　the　first　time　since　her　father　went　off　to　war　and　his　death。　She　eats；　she　sleeps；　she　talks　to　me　and　others　。。。　even　if　most　of　it　is　arrant　nonsense。　How　would　she　be　better　off　if　she　came　back　to　her　senses　in　this　dreadful　time？
　　　　　　　There　was　no　answer　to　that；　of　course。　Eolair　took　a　deep　breath；　fighting　off　the　weariness　that　assailed　him　when　he　was　with　Maegwin。　He　stood　and　walked　to　a　patch　of　melting　snow　nearby；　washed　his　bowl；　then　returned　to　the　tree　where　Maegwin　sat；　staring　out　across　the　rolling　fields　of　grass　and　gray　snow　toward　the　ruddy　western　sky。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　going　to　talk　to　Jiriki；〃　he　told　her。　〃Will　you　be　well　here？〃
　　　　　　　She　nodded；　a　half…smile　tilting　her　lips。　〃Certainly；　Count　Eolair。〃
　　　　　　　He　bowed　his　head　and　left　her。

　　　　　　　The　Sithi　were　seated　upon　the　ground　around　Likimeya's　fire。　Eolair　stopped　some　distance　away；　marveling　at　the　strangeness　of　the　sight。　Although　close　to；　a　dozen　of　them　sat　in　a　wide　circle；　no　one　spoke：　they　merely　looked　at　each　other　as　though　they　carried　on　some　wordless　conversation。　Not　for　the　first　time；　the　Count　of　Nad　Mullach　felt　the　hairs　on　the　back　of　his　neck　rise　in　superstitious　wonder。　What　strange　allies！
　　　　　　　Likimeya　still　wore　her　mask　of　ashes。　Heavy　rains　had　swept　down　on　the　traveling　army　the　day　before；　but　her　strange　face…painting　seemed　just　as　it　had　been；　which　made　the　count　suspect　that　she　renewed　it　each　day。　Seated　across　from　her　was　a　tall；　narrow…featured　Sitha…woman；　thin　as　a　priest's　staff；　with　pale　sky…blue　hair　drawn　up　atop　her　head　in　a　birdlike　crest。　It　was　only　because　Jiriki　had　told　him　that　Eolair　knew　that　this　stern　woman；　Zinjadu；　was　even　older　than　Likimeya。
　　　　　　　Also　seated　at　the　fire　was　Jiriki's　red…haired；　green…garbed　uncle　Khendraja'aro；　and　Chekai'so　Amber…Locks；　whose　shaggy　hair　and　surprisingly　open　face…Eolair　had　even　seen　this　Sitha　smile　and　laugh…made　him　seem　almost　human。　On　either　side　of　Jiriki　sat　Yizashi；　whose　long　gray　witchwood　spear　was　twined　about　with　sun…golden　ribbons；　and　Kuroyi；　who　was　taller　than　anyone　else　in　the　entire　pany；　Sithi　or　Hernystiri；　and　so　pale　and　cold…featured　that　but　for　his　tar…black　hair　he　might　have　been　a　Norn。　There　were　others；　too；　three　females　and　a　pair　of　males　that　Eolair　had　seen　before；　but　whose　names　he　did　not　know。
　　　　　　　He　stood　unfortably　for　some　time；　uncertain　of　whether　to　stay　or　go。　At　last；　Jiriki　looked　up。　〃Count　Eolair；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　just　thinking　about　Naglimund。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　nodded；　then　bowed　toward　Likimeya；　who　lowered　her　chin　briefly　in　acknowledgment。　None　of　the　other　Sithi　gave　him　much　more　attention　than　a　flick　of　feline　eyes。　〃We　will　be　there　soon；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃A　few　days；〃　agreed　Jiriki。　〃We　Zida'ya　are　not　used　to　fighting　against　a　castle　held　by　enemies…I　do　not　think　we　have　done　it　since　the　last　evil　days　back　in　Venyha　Do'sae。　Are　there　any　among　your　folk　who　know　Josua's　stronghold　well；　or　about　such　fighting？　We　have　many　questions。〃
〃Siege　warfare？〃　said　Eolair　uncertainly。　He　had　thought　that　the　frighteningly　petent　Sithi　would　have　prepared　for　this　long　before。　〃There　are　a　few　of　my　men　who　have　fought　as　mercenaries　in　the　Southern　Islands　and　the　Lakeland　wars；　but　not　many。　Hernystir　itself　has　been　peaceful　during　most　of　our　lifetimes。　As　to　Naglimund　。。。　I　suppose　that　I　know　it　best　of　any　Hernystirman　still　living。　I　have　spent　much　time　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃e　and　sit　with　us。〃　Jiriki　gestured　to　an　open　place　near　Chekai'so。
Black…haired　Kuroyi　said　something　in　the　liquid　Sithi　tongue　as　Eolair　seated　himself　on　the　ground。　Jiriki　showed　a　hint　of　a　smile。　〃Kuroyi　says　that　surely　the　Norns　will　e　out　and　fight　us　before　the　walls。　He　believes　that　the　Hikeda'ya　would　never　hide　behind　stone　laid　by　mortals　when　the　Zida'ya　have　e　to　resolve　things　at　last。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　nothing　of　the　。。。　of　those　we　call　Norns；〃　Eolair　said　carefully。　〃But　I　cannot　imagine　that　if　their　purpose　is　as　deadly　earnest　as　it　seems；　they　will　give　up　the　advantage　of　a　stronghold　like　Naglimund。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　believe　you　are　correct；〃　said　Jiriki。　〃But　it　is　hard　to　convince　many　of　my　people　that。　It　is　hard　enough　for　most　of　us　to　believe　that　we　go　to　war　with　the　Hikeda'ya；　let　alone　that　they　might　hide　within　a　fortress　and　drop　stones　on　us　as　mortal　armies　do。〃　He　said　something　in　the　Sithi　speech　to　Kuroyi；　who　replied　briefly；　then　fell　silent；　his　eyes　cold　as　bronze　plates。　Jiriki　next　turned　to　the　others。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　impolite　for　us　to　speak　in　a　language　Count　Eolair　does　not　know。　If　anyone　does　not　feel　fortable　speaking　Hernystiri　or　Westerling；　I　will　be　happy　to　render　your　words　for　the　count's　understanding。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mortal　tongues　and　mortal　strategies。　We　will　all　have　to　learn；〃　Likimeya　said　abruptly。　〃It　is　a　different　age。　If　the　rules　of　mortals　now　make　the　world　spin；　then　we　must　learn　those　rules。〃
　　　　　　　〃Or　decide　whether　it　is　possible　to　live　in　such　a　world。〃　Zinjadu's　voice　was　deep　yet　strangely　uninflected；　as　though　she　had　learned　Westerling　without　ever　having　heard　it　spoken。　〃Perhaps　we　should　let　the　Hikeda'ya　have　this　world　of　mortals　that　they　seem　to　desire。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Hikeda'ya　would　destroy　the　mortals　even　more　readily　than　they　would　destroy　us；〃　Jiriki　said　calmly。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　one　thing；〃　spoke　up　Yizashi　Grayspear；　〃to　fulfill　an　ancient　debt；　as　we　have　just　done　at　M'yin　Azoshai。　Besides；　those　were　mortals　we　routed；　and　the　descendants　of　bloody　Fingil's　ship…men　besides。　It　is　another　thing　to　go　to　war　with　other　Gardenborn　to　aid　mortals　to　whom　we　owe　no　such　debt…including　those　who　hunted　us　long　after　we　lost　Asu'a。