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！
ers； when he held them up to catch the light； were black with blood。
A long； damp tunnel led down through the hillside。 A narrow； torchlit staircase ran through it； half a thousand mossy； centuried steps that snaked down through the very heart of Sta Mirore； from Count Streawe's great house to a small； hidden dock。 Miriamele guessed that the tunnel had been the salvation of many an earlier nobleman； forced to flee his stately quarters by night when the peasantry became unexpectedly frisky or turned disputatious about the rights of the privileged。
After the end of a foot…wearying journey under the watchful eyes of Lenti and another of the count's closed…faced servants； Miriamele and Cadrach found themselves standing on a stone landing beneath an overhanging arch of cliff； the slate…colored harbor waters spread before them like a disheveled carpet； just below； a small rowboat bobbed at the end of its painter。
A few moments later Streawe himself arrived by another path； carried down the winding cliff roads in his carved and becurtained litter by four brawny men wearing sailors' garb。 The old count wore a heavy cloak and muffler against the night fog。 Miriamele thought that the sallow light of dawn made him look ancient。
〃So；〃 he said； waving for his bearers to lower him to the stone platform； 〃our time together is at an end。〃 He smiled ruefully。 〃I feel a deep regret at letting you go…not least because the Victor of Naglimund； your beloved father Elias； would pay much for your safe return。〃 He shook his head and coughed。 〃Still； I am a honorable man； and an obligation unpaid is a ghost unshriven； as we say here in Perdruin。 Say hello to my friend when you meet him。 Extend my regards。〃
〃You haven't told us who this 'friend' is；〃 Miriamele said tightly。 〃The one to whom we are being given。〃
Streawe waved his hand dismissively。 〃If he wishes you to know his true name； he will tell you himself。〃
〃And you will be setting us across to Nabban on the open sea in this tiny little isgbahta；〃 Cadrach growled； 〃…this fishing boat？〃
〃It is scarcely a stone's throw；〃 the count said。 〃And you will have Lenti and Alespo along to protect you from kilpa and such。〃 He indicated the two servants with a wave of his trembling hand。 Lenti was chewing sullenly at something。 〃You don't think I would let you go alone； do you？〃 Streawe smiled。 〃How could I ever be sure you would reach my friend and resolve my debt？〃
He waved for his servants to lift the litter。 Miriamele and Cadrach were herded into the pitching boat； squeezed side by side into the tiny bow。
〃Do not think unkindly of me； Miriamele and Padreic； I beg you；〃 Streawe called as his servants wrestled him back up the slippery stairs。 〃My little island must maintain a delicate balance； a very delicate balance。 Sometimes the adjustments seem cruel。〃 He pulled the curtain closed before him。
The one whom Streawe had called Alespo untied the rope and Lenti reached out with his oar to push the little wooden boat away from the dock。 As they drifted slowly away from the light of the dockside lanterns； Miriamele felt her heart sinking。 They were going to Nabban； a place that now held little hope for her。 Cadrach； her only ally； had been sullenly quiet since they had been reunited…and what name had Streawe called him？ Where had she heard that before？ Now she herself was being sent to some unknown friend of Count Streawe's； a pawn in some sort of strange business arrangement。 And everyone； from the local nobles to the humblest peasant； seemed to know her affairs better than she did herself。 What else could go wrong？
Miriamele let out a sigh of grief and frustration。 Lenti； seated across from her； stiffened。 〃Don't try anything； now；〃 he growled。 〃I have a knife。〃
5
Singing Man's House
SIMON slapped a hand against the cold stone wall of the cave and felt a strange satisfaction at the pain。 〃Bleeding Usires！〃 he swore。 〃Bleeding Usires； Usires bleeding on the Tree！〃 He raised an arm to strike the wall again； but instead dropped it to his side and dug furiously at his breeches…leg with his fingernails。
〃Calm y'rself； boy；〃 Haestan said。 〃Was naught we c'do。〃
〃I won't let them kill him！〃 He turned to Haestan imploringly。 〃And Geloe said we must go to the Stone of Farewell。 I don't even know where that is！〃
Haestan shook his head unhappily。 〃Whatever this stone may be。 I've not understood ye right since fell down and struck y'r head this afternoon。 Y've been talkin' moon…mad。 But about th' troll an' Rimmersman…what can we do？〃
〃I don't know！〃 Simon barked。 He put out his aching hand to lean against the wall。 The night wind keened beyond the door…flap。 〃Free them；〃 he said at last。 〃Free them both…Binabik and Sludig。〃 The tears he had felt himself holding back were gone。 He suddenly felt cold…minded
and full of strength。
Haestan started to reply； then checked himself。 He looked at the youth's trembling fists and the livid scar striping his cheek。 〃How； then？〃 he asked quietly。 〃Two 'gainst a mountain？〃
Simon stared furiously。 〃There must be a way！〃
〃Th'only rope trolls took with Binabik's pack。 Down a deep hole they are； lad。 With guards 'round。〃
After a long moment； Simon turned and slid down to sit on the cave floor； pushing away the sheepskin rug to bring himself as close as possible to the unforgiving rock。
〃We can't just let them die； Haestan。 We can't。 Binabik said his people would throw them from the cliffs。 How can they be such 。 。 。 such
demons！？〃
Haestan squatted and poked the coals with his knife。 〃I've no understanding of heathens and suchlike；〃 the bearded guardsman said。 〃They be tricksy folk。 Why should they prison them and give us freedom…an' leave our weapons besides？〃
〃Because we've got no rope；〃 Simon said bitterly； and shivered。 He was finally beginning to feel the cold。 〃Besides； even if we killed the guards； what good would it do us？ They'd throw us down the mountain as well； and no one would ever take Thorn back to Josua。〃 He thought。 〃Perhaps we could steal some rope？〃
Haestan looked doubtful。 〃In darkness； in a strange place？ Like as not we'd just rouse guards an' get spear…stabbed。〃
〃Damnation and sin！ We must do something； Haestan！ Are we cowards？ We can't just stand by。〃 A sharp wind stabbed in past the door curtain。 He hugged his arms tight around his chest。 〃At the very least； I'm going to have that Herder's rotten little head off。 Then they can kill me； too； and I won't care。〃
The guardsman smiled sadly。 〃Ah； boy； y'r talkin' stupid。 Said y'rself someone must take that black sword t'Prince Josua。〃 He indicated cloth…wrapped Thorn lying beside the cavern wall。 〃If the sword be not taken t'prince； Ethelbearn and Grimmric died for naught。 That'd be cruel shame。 Too many hopes； slender 'uns though may be； rest on yon blade。〃 Haestan chuckled。 〃 'Sides； lad； d'ye think they'd spare one if th' other killed their king？ Y'r bound t'get me killed； too。〃 Haestan poked at the fire again。 〃No； no； ye be green yet an' don't understand th' world。 Ye've not been in war； lad； like me…not seen what I have。 Didn't I see two of my fell