按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and ceremonial heart of God's House； when the monk pulled Miriamele over to a shadowed window alcove。
〃Put the candle down and e look；〃 he said quietly。 She wedged the taper m a crevice between two tiles and leaned forward。 The cold air struck her face like a slap。
〃What should I look at？〃 〃There； below。 Do you see all those men with torches？〃 He tried to point within the confines of the narrow window。 Miriamele could see at least a score of men in the courtyard below； amored and cloaked； bearing spears on their shoulders。
〃Yes；〃 she said slowly。 The soldiers did not appear to be doing much more than warming their hands at the courtyard fire…cairns。 〃So？〃
〃Those are from Duke Benigaris' household guard；〃 Cadrach said grimly。 〃Someone is expecting trouble tonight； and expecting it to be here。〃
〃But I thought soldiers were never allowed to bear arms in the Sancellan Aedonitis。〃 The spearpoints caught the torchlight like tongues of flame。
〃Ah； but Duke Benigaris himself is a guest here tonight； since he attended the lector's banquet。〃
〃Why didn't he go back to the Sancellan Mahistrevis？〃 She stepped away from the drafty window。 〃It's not very far。〃
〃An excellent question；〃 Cadrach replied； a sour smile playing over his shadow…striped face。 〃Why indeed？〃
Duke Isgrimnur tested Kvalnir's keen edge with his thumb and nodded with satisfaction。 He slipped his whetstone and jar of oil back into his bag。 There was something very calming about sharpening his sword。 A pity he had to leave it behind。 He sighed and wrapped it in rags once more； then pushed it underneath his pallet。
It wouldn't do to go see the lector carrying a sword； he thought； no matter how much better it'd make me feel。 I doubt his guards would take kindly to it。
Not that Isgrimnur was going to see the lector directly。 It was very unlikely that a strange monk would be allowed into the Shepherd of Mother Church's bedchamber； but Dinivan's chambers were close by。 The lector's secretary had no guards。 Also； Dinivan knew Isgrimnur and thought highly of him。 When the priest realized who his late…night visitor really was； he would listen carefully to what the duke had to say。
Still； Isgrimnur felt his stomach fluttering； as it had before countless battles。 That had been the reason he'd brought out his sword： Kvalnir hadn't been unsheathed more than twice since he'd left Naglimund； and certainly hadn't seen any duty that would have dulled her Dverning…forged blade； but honing his sword gave a man something to do when the waiting became difficult。 There was something in the air tonight； a queasy expectancy that reminded Isgrimnur of the shores of Clodu during the Battle of the Lakelands。
Even King John； blooded war…hawk that he was； had been nervous that night； knowing that ten thousand Thrithings…men waited somewhere in the darkness beyond the sentry fires； and knowing also that the plains…dwellers were no adherents of orderly dawn starting…times for battles or any other such conventions of civilized warfare。
Prester John had e to the fire that night； joining his young Rimmersman friend…Isgrimnur had not yet inherited his father's dukedom… for a jug of wine and a bit of conversation。 As they talked； the king had taken stone and polishing rag to fabled Bright…Nail。 They spent the night yarning away。 a little self…consciously at first； with many a pause to listen for unusual noises； then with increasing ease as dawn approached and it became obvious the Thrithings…men planned no nighttime raids。
John told Isgrimnur tales of his youth on Warinsten…which he described as an island of backward and superstition…plagued bumpkins… and of his early travels on the mainland of Osten Ard。 Isgrimnur was fascinated by these unexpected glimpses of the king's early life： Prester John was already nearly fifty years old as they sat by the fire at Lake Clodu； and to the young Rimmersman might as well have been king since the beginning of time。 But when asked about his legendary destruction of the red worm Shurakai； John had waved the question away like an irritating fly。 He proved no more willing to discuss how he had received Bright…Nail； saying that those stories were overtold and tiresome。
Now； forty years later； in a monk's cell at the Sancellan Aedonitis； Isgrimnur remembered and smiled。 John's nervous whetting of Bright… Nail was the closest the duke had ever seen his lord e to anything approaching fear…fear about bat； at least。
The duke snorted。 Now； with that good old man two years in his grave； here sat his friend Isgrimnur； moping about when there were tasks to be done for the good of John's kingdom。
Lord willing； Dinivan will he my herald。 He's a clever man。 He'll put Lector Ranessin on my side and we'll track Miriamele down。 He pulled his hood low on his head； then opened the doorway； letting the torchlight spill in from the corridor。 He recrossed the room to put out the candle。 It wouldn't do to have it fall over on his pallet and catch the place on fire。
Cadrach was being increasingly agitated。 They had been waiting inside Dinivan's study for some time； high above； the Clavean bell had just sounded the eleventh hour。
〃He is not returning； Princess； and I do not know where his private chambers are。 We must go。〃
Miriamele was peering into the lector's great audience hall through the curtain at the back of the secretary's work room。 Lit by only a single torch； the painted figures on the high ceiling seemed to swim in muddy water。 〃Knowing Dinivan； his private chambers are probably close to where he works；〃 she said。 The monk's worried tone made her feel a little superior once more。 〃He'll e back here。 He left all his candles burning； didn't he？ Why are you so worried？〃
Cadrach looked up from Dinivan's papers； which he had been surreptitiously examining。 〃I was at the banquet tonight。 1 saw Pryrates' face。 He is a man not accustomed to being balked。〃
〃How do you know that？ And what were you doing at the banquet？〃
〃Doing what was necessary。 Keeping an eye open。〃
Miriamele let the drapery slide back into place。 〃You are full of hidden talents； aren't you？ Where did you learn to open a door without a key； like you did to this room？〃
Cadrach looked stung。 〃You said you wanted to see him； my lady。 You insisted on ing here。 I thought it was better we came inside than stand around in the halls waiting for the lector's guards to go by； or one of the other priests who might want to know what we were doing in this part of the Sancellan。〃
〃Lock…pick； spy； kidnapper…unusual talents for a monk。〃
〃You may make fun if you wish； Princess。〃 He seemed almost ashamed。 〃1 have not had the life of my choice； or rather； I suppose； my choices have not been good ones。 But spare me your nasty jibes until we are out of here and safe。〃
She slid into Dinivan's chair and rubbed her cold hands together； fixing the monk with her best level gaze。 〃Where do you e from； Cadrach？〃
He shook his head。 〃I do not wish to talk of such things。 I grow increasingly doubtful that Dinivan will return。 We must go。〃
〃No。 And if you don't stop saying that； I will scream。 T