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！
f age； only a tightness in the line of her jaw and mouth； a brittleness to her features as though the skin was stretched close against the bone。 Her eyes were glorious with ancient knowledge and imprisoned memory。 Her high cheekbones and smooth forehead made her look like a statue。。。
A statue。。。？ His thoughts were a jumble； but Simon knew he had seen a statue that looked like this woman。。。 he had seen such a face 。 。 。 seen it in 。。。 in 。。。
〃Please answer me；〃 she said。 〃I e to you a second time。 Do not ignore me again！ Please forget your ancient grievances； however justified。 Ill will has stood too long between our house and that of Ruyan Ve。 Now we have a mon enemy。 I need your help！〃
Her voice was faint in his head； as though it echoed down a long corridor； but even so； she wielded a manding power…like Valada Geloe's； but in some way deeper； smoother； with none of the witch woman's rough but reassuring edges。 This one was as different from Geloe as the forest…woman herself was from Simon。
〃I do not have the strength I once wielded；〃 the woman pleaded。 〃And what little I have may be needed against the Shadow in the North…and you must know of that shadow。 Tinukeda'yei！ Children of the Garden； please answer！〃 The woman's voice faded on an imploring note。 There was a long moment of silence； but if reply was made； Simon did not hear it。 Suddenly； the flake…gold eyes seemed to see him for the first time。 The musical voice abruptly took on a note of suspicion and concern。 〃Who is this？ A mortal child？〃
Frozen in alarm； Simon said nothing。 The face in the mirror stared； then Simon could feel something reaching out to him through the mist； a force as diffuse but powerful as the sun hidden behind clouds。
〃Tell me。 Who are you？〃
Simon tried to answer； not because he wanted to； but because it was impossible not to try with such pelling words echoing in his head。 Something prevented him。
〃You are traveling in places not meant for you；〃 the voice said。 〃You do not belong here。 Who are you？〃
He struggled； but found that something was throttling his responses as surely as fingers on his throat would choke off words。 The face before him rippled as a pallid blue light began to shine through it； fraying the image of the beautiful old woman。 A wave of cold passed through him that； it seemed； might turn his very innards to black ice。
A new voice spoke； harsh； chilling。
〃Who is he？ He is a meddler； Amerasu。〃
The first face was now entirely gone。 A gleam of silver swam upward through the mirror's gray depths。 A face appeared； all gleaming metal； expressionless and immobile。 He had seen that face on the Dream Road and had felt the same sick dread。 He knew the name： Utuk'ku； Queen of the Norns。 Try as he might to look away； he could not。 He was held in an unshakable grip。 Utuk'ku's eyes were invisible in the mask's black depths； but he felt their stare on his face like freezing breath。
〃The manchild is a meddler。〃 Each word came sharp and cold as an icicle。 〃As are you； granddaughter。 And meddlers will not prosper when the Storm King es。。。〃
The thing in the silver mask laughed。 Simon felt hammerblows of frost against his heart。 A poisonous cold began climbing inexorably upward； from fingers to hand； to arm。 Soon it would reach his face； like a deadly kiss from silvery； frost…glittering lips。。。
Simon dropped the mirror； tumbling after it。 The ground seemed a league away； the fall endless。 Somebody was screaming。 He was screaming。
Sludig helped Simon to his feet； where he swayed； panting。 After a moment he shook off the Rimmersman's hands。 He felt wobbly； but wanted to stand on his own。 The trolls had gathered around and were muttering among themselves； clearly confused。
〃What has happened； Simon？〃 Binabik asked； pushing his way through to his side。 〃Are you hurt by something？〃 Sisqi； still holding Binabik's hand； stared up at the strange lowlander as though trying to read his malady in his eyes。
〃I saw faces in Jiriki's mirror；〃 Simon said； shivering uncontrollably。
Sisqi held up his cloak； which he took gratefully。 〃One of them was the Norn Queen。 She could see me； too； I think。〃
Binabik spoke to the other ram…riders； gesturing with his hands。 They turned and wandered back to the fire。 Stocky Snenneq waved his spear at the sky as though taunting an enemy。
Binabik fixed Simon with his brows。 〃Tell it to me。〃
Simon related all that had happened from the moment he first lifted the mirror。 As he described the first face Binabik frowned in concentration； but when the recitation was finished the troll only shook his head。
〃The Norn Queen we are knowing all too well；〃 Binabik growled。 〃It was her hunters who arrowed me at Da'ai Chikiza and I have not been forgetting that gift。 But thinking of who the other might be； I have unsureness。 You say that Utuk'ku called her 'granddaughter'？〃
〃I think so。 And the Norn Queen called her something else； too。 A name…but I can't remember it。〃 Some of the details； once spoken aloud； were not so sure in his mind as they had been moments before。
〃Then it is someone of one of the ruling houses； Sithi or Norn。 If Jiriki were now with us； he would be knowing in an instant who it was and what her words meant。 You say she seemed to be at pleading with someone？〃
〃I think so。 But Binabik； Jiriki told me that the mirror was nothing but a mirror now！ He said the magic was gone； unless I wanted to call him…and I didn't try to call him！ I truly didn't！〃
〃Calm； Simon； is how you must be。 I am having no doubts of what you say。 Jiriki himself may have misunderstood the nature of the mirror's powers…or； it is being possible； many things may be changing just since Jiriki has gone from us。 In either way； I think it best you are leaving the mirror； or at the least not using it more。 That is a suggestion； only…it is your gift to do as you like。 Remember； please； it may bring danger for all。〃
Simon looked at the mirror； which lay facedown on the rock。 He picked it up and brushed dust from its surface without looking at it； then slid it into his cloak pocket。 〃I won't leave it；〃 he said； 〃because it was a gift。 Also； we may need Jiriki someday。〃 He patted it。 The frame was still warm。 〃But I won't use it until then。〃
Binabik shrugged。 〃The deciding is yours。 e back to the fire and make yourself warm。 Tomorrow we are riding with dawn's appearance。〃
After an early start； the ragged troop reached Blue Mud Lake in the late afternoon of the following day。 Nestled among the foothills of Sikkihoq； the lake was a dark blue mirror； flat as the glass in Simon's pocket； fed by two cataracts that spilled from the icy heights。 The noise of their falling was deep and sonorous as the breathing of gods。
As the party crossed through the last pass above the lake and the quiet rumble of the water rose； the trolls reined up their mounts。 The wind had abated。 The steaming breath of rams and riders hung in the air。 Simon could see fear written in every trollish face。
〃What's wrong？〃 he asked nervously； expecting at any moment to hear the bellowing voices of giants。
〃I think they had hoped Binabik was