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！
〃Gadrinsett；〃 Josua repeated。 〃Gathering…place。〃
〃Not that anyone's gathering anything。〃 She made a face。 〃Just can't go any farther。〃
〃And why is that？〃 Josua asked。
The woman ignored this last question； looking the prince up and down once more in a calculating manner。 〃Here；〃 she said at last； 〃if you want food and you'll pay for it； I might be able to do something for you。 Show me your money first。〃
Josua showed her a handful of cintis and quints…pieces that he had brought in his purse out of Naglimund。 The woman shook her head。
〃Can't take the bronze。 Some folk farther along the river might trade for the silver； so I'll take a chance on one o' them。 D'you have aught else to trade？ Leather straps from broken saddle？ Buckles？ Extra clothes？〃 She looked at Josua's outfit and smirked。 〃No； I doubt you've got extra clothes。 e on then； I'll give you some soup and you can tell me any news。〃 She waved to her friend…who had remained at a safe distance； watching the whole exchange open…mouthed…then led them back through the cluster of huts。
The woman's name was Ielda； and although she mentioned several times that her man might return at any moment； Deornoth guessed that this was mostly to forestall any thoughts of robbery that three strangers might have； he saw no sign of any living husband around her camp； which centered around an outdoor fire and small； rickety cottage。 She did have several children； their genders somewhat blurred by dirt and evening darkness。 These came out to watch the prince and his friends with the same wide…eyed attention they might have given to a snake swallowing a frog。
After receiving a quinis…piece； which immediately vanished into her dress； Ielda poured them each a bowl of thin soup； then procured from somewhere a jar of beer that she said her man had brought with him from Falshire where they had previously lived。 Seeing that jar hardened in Deornoth's mind the notion that her husband was dead： what man could live in this Godforsaken hole； yet leave beer so long undrunk？
Josua thanked her gravely。 The three of them passed the jar around several times before thinking to ask Ielda if she would like some herself。 She accepted with a gracious nod and took several healthy swallows。 Her children discussed this among themselves in a strange pidgin language consisting mostly of grunts； a few recognizable words； and repeated cuffings to the head and shoulders。
The pleasures of pany and conversation soon began to work on Ielda。 Reserved at first； before long she was holding forth quite knowl… edgeably on everything there was to know about Gadrinsett and her fellow squatters。 Untutored； she nevertheless had a sly wit； and although the travelers were chiefly interested in finding the way to their destination… Geloe's instructions had not been very precise…they found themselves enjoying Ielda's imitations other various neighbors。
Like many of Gadrinsett's other inhabitants； Ielda and her family had fled Falshire when Fengbald and the Erkynguard had burned down the city's wool district…a punishment for the resistance of the wool mer… chants' guild to one of Elias' less popular proclamations。 Ielda also ex… plained that Gadrinsett was even larger than Josua's folk had first guessed； it continued for a way down the valley； she said； but the hills loomed high enough that the camp fires at the far end were blocked from view。
The reason it was the stopping place for so many； Ielda said； was that the land beyond the spot where the Stefflod and Ymstrecca joined was ill…omened and dangerous。
〃Full of fairy…rings it is；〃 she said earnestly； 〃and there are mounds where spirits dance at night。 That's why those folk that live in the Thrithings leave us in peace…they wouldn't live here anyway。〃 Her voice dropped and her eyes grew large。 〃One great hill there is where witches meet； full of terrible warlock…stones…worse even than Thisterborg by Erchester； if you've heard tell of that evil place。 Not far from it is a city where devils once lived； an unholy； unnatural city。 Terrible magicks is what that land across the river's full of…some women here have had children stolen away。 One had a changeling left in return； pointed ears and all！〃
〃That warlock…hill sounds a fearsome place indeed；〃 Josua said； an expression of great seriousness on his long face。 When the woman looked down at her lap； where she was mixing flour and water in a bowl； he caught Deornoth's gaze and winked。 〃Where is it？〃
Ielda pointed into the darkness。 〃Straight that way； up the Stefflod。 You're wise to avoid it。〃 She stopped； frowning。 〃And where are you going； sirs？〃
Deornoth chimed in before Josua could speak。 〃Actually； we are traveling knights who hope to lend our swords to a grand task。 We have heard that Prince Josua； the younger son of High King John the Presbyter； has e here into the eastern lands； where he plots the overthrow of his wicked brother； King Elias。〃 Trying not to smile； Deornoth ignored Josua's irritated gestures。 〃We have e to join that noble cause。〃
Ielda； who had stopped kneading the dough for a moment to stare； made a snorting noise and resumed her labor。 〃Prince Josua？ Here on the grasslands？ That's a clever joke。 Not that I wouldn't like to see something done。 Things just haven't been right since old Prester John died； bless him。〃 She made a stern face； but her eyes suddenly gleamed wetly。 〃It's been hard for us all； so hard 。。。〃
She stood abruptly and laid out the flattened balls of dough on a clean heated stone at the edge of the fire； they began to quietly sizzle。 〃I'm just going to see my friend；〃 Ielda said； 〃and find out if she has a bit more beer we can borrow。 I won't tell her what you said about the prince； because she'd just laugh。 Watch those cakes close now while I go…they're for the children to eat in the morning。〃 She got up and walked out of the circle of firelight； dabbing at her eyes with a dirty shawl。
〃What kind of foolishness is this； Deornoth？〃 Josua asked crossly。
〃But did you hear？ People like this are waiting for you to do something。 You are their prince。〃 It seemed so obvious。 Surely Josua could see？
〃Prince of what？ Prince of ruins； prince of empty lands and grass？ I have nothing to offer these folk。。。 yet。〃 He got up and walked to the edge of the camp。 Ielda's children peered out at him； a cluster of white… rimmed eyes gleaming in the darkened doorway。
〃But how will you gain anything without folk to follow you？〃 Isorn asked。 〃Deornoth is right。 If Fengbald now knows where we are； it is only a matter of time until Elias brings his full anger to bear on us。〃
〃Suspicion may keep these people away from the Stone of Farewell； but it will not keep Earl Guthwulf and the High King's army at bay；〃 said Deornoth。
〃If the king on the Dragonbone Chair is going to bring his armies down on us；〃 Josua replied hotly； throwing his hand up in a gesture of frustration； 〃a few hundred Gadrinsett…folk will be no more than feathers in a gale against them。 That is all the more reason not to drag them in。 We few at least can vanish into Aldheorte once more if we must； but these folk cannot。〃
〃Again we plan to