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！
rock？〃
〃Sesuad'ra has been broken and worn over the eons of its existence；〃 Geloe answered。 〃Plants will ever find a way； and they themselves help to further break the stone until it is crumbled to a dirt scarcely less rich than found on a Hewenshire freeholding。 〃
Deornoth frowned slightly at this reference to his birthplace； then wondered how the wise woman knew of his father's farm。 He had certainly never mentioned it to her。
Soon they were walking in the sudden twilight of the hill's long shadow； whipped by a chilly wind。 The path that began at Sesuad'ra's base lay before them； hugging the hillside； a trampled cut of grass and moss overhung by trees and twining creepers。
〃And we are going up？〃 Duchess Gutrun asked in some consternation。 〃Up into this place？〃
〃Of course；〃 Geloe said； a touch of impatience in her rough voice。 〃It is the highest ground for leagues。 We have need of high ground just now。 Besides； there are other reasons…must I explain them all again？〃
〃No； Valada Geloe； please lead us；〃Josua said。 The prince seemed fired by some inner flame； his pale face alight with excitement。 〃This is what we have been searching for。 This is where we will begin the long road back。〃 His face slackened somewhat。 〃I do wonder； though； how Hotvig and his folk will feel about leaving their wagons below。 It is a pity there is no way to get them up the hill。〃
The wise woman waved her callused hand。 〃You worry too soon Step ahead and you will have a surprise。〃
They rode forward。 Beneath the straggling grass the path that wound up the hillside was as smooth as one of old Naglimund's hallways and wide enough for any wagon。
〃But how can this be？〃Josua asked。
〃You forget；〃 Geloe responded； 〃this is a Sithi place。 Beneath this bramble is the road they built。 It takes many； many centuries to destroy the handiwork of the Zida'ya。〃
Josua was not cheered。 〃I am amazed； but now I am even more worried。 What will keep our enemies from climbing as easily as we do？〃
Geloe snorted in disgust。 〃First； it is easier to defend a high place than to take it from below。 Secondly； the nature of the place itself is against it。 Third； and perhaps most importantly； our enemy's own rage may outsmart him and ensure our survival…at least for a while。〃
〃How so？〃 the prince demanded。
〃You will see。〃 Geloe spurred her horse up the path； Leieth bobbing on the saddle before her。 The child's wide brown eyes took in everything without any show of feeling。 Josua shrugged and followed。
Deornoth turned to see Vorzheva sitting upright on her horse； face set in lines of grim fear。 〃What is it； my lady？〃 he asked。 〃Is something amiss？。〃
She offered a nervous smile。 〃My people have hated and feared this valley forever。 Hotvig is a clan…man and would not show it； but he fears this place； too。 〃 She sighed shakily。 〃Now I must follow my husband up on this unnatural rock I am afraid。〃
For the first time since his prince had brought this odd woman to live in the castle at Naglimund； Deornoth felt his heart opening to her； filling with admiration。 〃We are all deathly afraid； my lady；〃 he said。 〃The rest of us are just not as honest as you。〃
He tapped gently with his heels at Vildalix's ribs and followed Vorzheva up the path。
The road was overhung with trailing vines and the tangled branches of trees； forcing the travelers to spend as much time ducking their heads as they did riding upright。 As they slowly circled out of the shadow； like ants walking the perimeter of a sundial； the mist that clung to the hill lent an unusual sparkle to the afternoon glow。
Deornoth thought that the smell of the place was what seemed strangest of all。 Sesuad'ra gave off a scent of timeless growth； of water and roots and damp earth in a place long undisturbed。 There was an air of peace here； of slow； careful thought； but also a disturbing sensation of watchfulness。 From time to time the stillness was broken by the trill of unseen birds whose songs were as somber and hesitant as children whis… pering in a high…ceilmged hall。
As the grassy meadow began to drop away below them； the travelers passed posts of standing stone； time…smoothed white shapes almost twice a man's height that had in their unrecognizable outlines some hint of movement； of life。 They passed the first as the path brought them around into direct sunlight for the first time。
〃Marking pillars。〃 Geloe called over her shoulder。 〃One for each of the moons in the year。 We'll pass a dozen every time we circle around the hill until we reach the summit。 They were carved to look like animals and birds once； I think。 〃
Deornoth stared at the rounded nob that might have been a head and wondered what beast it had once represented。 Weathered by wind and rain； it was now as shapeless as melted wax； faceless as the forgotten dead。 He shivered and make the sign of the Tree on his breast。
A little while later Geloe stopped and pointed downward toward the northwest part of the valley； where the rim of the old forest reached out almost to the very banks of the Stefflod。 The river was a tiny streak of quicksilver along the valley's emerald floor。
〃Just beyond the river；〃 she said； 〃do you see？〃 She gestured again at the forest's dark breakfront； which might have been a frozen sea…wave awaiting only spring's thaw before it swept across the low ground。 〃There； in the forest's fringe。 Those are the ruins of Enki…e…Shao'saye； which some say was the most beautiful city ever built in Osten Ard since the world began。〃
As his panions whispered and shaded their eyes； Deornoth moved to the edge of the path； squinting at the distant forest。 He saw nothing but what might have been a crumbled wall of lavender； a flash of gold。
〃There's not much to see；〃 he said quietly。
〃Not in this age；〃 Geloe replied。
Up they climbed as the day waned。 Each time they circled around to the hill's northern slope； ing out of shade into ever…decreasing afternoon light； they could see the spreading knot of blackness on the horizon。 The storm was moving in swiftly。 It had now swallowed the far borders of great Aldheorte； so that all the north seemed a gray uncertainty。
As they finished their twelfth circuit around the hill； passing the one hundred and forty…fourth of the marking pillars…a small enough diversion； but still Deornoth had kept score…the travelers emerged at last from the shadowing greenery； clambering up a final slope until they stood on the hill's windy summit。 The sun had fallen away into the west； only a reddish sliver remained。
The top of the hill was nearly flat and scarcely less wide than Sesuad'ra's base。 All around its perimeter jutted fingers of upright stone； not smoothed like the marking pillars； but great； raw standing stones； each as tall as four men； made of the same gray rock veined with white and pink that formed the hill。
In the center of the plateau； in the midst of a field of waving grass； stood a vast； low building of opalescent stone； tinged with the sunset's red glow。
At first it seemed a temple of some sort； like the great old buildings of Nabban from the days of the Imperium； but