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！
t was senseless trying to judge them by their faces and even voices。 〃Has she spoken any words to you？〃 Kira'athu asked suddenly。
Eolair watched as Maegwin's fingers clawed at the blanket； scrabbling for something that was not there。 〃She has spoken； yes； but I could not hear her well。 And what I did hear was only babble。 There were no words in it I recognized。〃
The Sitha raised a silvery eyebrow。 〃I thought I heard 。。。〃 She turned to look at her ward； whose mouth now moved soundlessly。
〃Thought you heard what？〃
〃The speech of the Garden。〃 Kira'athu spread her hands； curving the fingers to meet the thumbs。 〃What you would call Sithi speech。〃
〃It is possible that she learned some in the time we have all traveled and fought together。〃 Eolair moved closer。 It tugged at his heart to see Maegwin's hands searching restlessly。
〃It is possible；〃 the healer agreed。 〃But it seemed spoken as the Zida'ya would speak it 。。。 almost。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Eolair was confused and more than a little irritated。
Kira'athu rose。 〃Forgive me。 I should speak to Jiriki and Likimeya about it rather than trouble you。 And it matters little； in any case； I think。 I am sorry； Count Eolair。 I wish I could give you happier news。〃
He sat down on the ground at Maegwin's side。 〃It is not your fault。 You have been very kind。〃 He reached out his hand so Maegwin could grip it； but her cold fingers moved skittishly away。 〃Bagba bite me； what does she want？〃
〃Is there something she usually carries with her or wears about her neck？〃 Kira'athu asked。 〃Some amulet or other thing that gives her fort？〃
〃I can think of nothing like that。 Perhaps she needs water。〃
The Sitha shook her head。 〃I have given her to drink。〃
Eolair leaned down and began fumbling absently in the saddlebags that contained the strew of Maegwin's belongings。 He took out a scarf of warm wool and pressed it into her hands； but Maegwin only held it a moment before pushing it away。 Her hands began to search again as she murmured wordlessly in her throat。
Desperate to give Maegwin some kind of fort； he began to pull other things out of the bags； placing them one at a time beneath her fingers…a bowl； a wooden bird that had apparently e from the Taig's Hall of Carvings； even the hilt of a sheathed knife。 Eolair was not very happy to find this last。 Afraid that with her mind clouded she might do herself an injury； he had forbidden her to bring it from Hernysadharc。 Maegwin had apparently flouted his orders。 But none of these things； nor the other small objects he gave to her； seemed to soothe her。 She pushed them away； the movements of her hands angry and abrupt as a small child's； although her face was still empty。
His fingers closed on something heavy。 He lifted it out and stared at the chunk of cloudy stone。
〃What is that？〃 Kira'athu was surprisingly sharp。
〃It was a gift from the dwarrows。〃 He lifted it so she could see its face。 〃See； Yis…fidri carved Maegwin's name upon it…or so he told me。〃
Kira'athu took the stone from him and turned it in her slender fingers。 〃That is indeed her name。 Those are the craft…runes of the Tinukeda'ya。 Dwarrows； do you say？〃
Eolair nodded。 〃I led Jiriki to their place in the earth； Mezutu'a。〃 He took the stone back and held it； weighing it； watching the firelight bee confused in its depths。 〃I did not know she had this with her。〃
Maegwin suddenly moaned； a deep sound that made the count flinch。 He turned hurriedly to the bed。 She made another sound which seemed to have words in it。
〃Lost；〃 Kira'athu murmured； moving closer。
Eolair's heart clenched。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃That is what she said。 She is speaking in the Garden…tongue。〃
The count stared at Maegwin's furrowed brow。 Her mouth moved again； but no sound came but a wordless hiss； her head whipped from side to side upon the pillow。 Suddenly； her hands reached out and scrabbled at Eolair's。 When he released the stone to take them； she snatched it from him and pulled it against her breasts。 Her feverish writhing subsided and she fell silent。 Her eyes were still closed； but she seemed to have fallen back into a more peaceful sleep。
Eolair watched； dumbfounded。 Kira'athu bent over her and touched her brow； then smelled her breath。
〃Is she well？〃 the count asked finally。
〃She is no closer to us。 But she has found a little rest for a while。 I think that stone was what she sought。〃
〃But why？〃
〃I do not know。 I will speak to Likimeya and her son； and anyone else who might have some knowledge。 But it changes nothing； Eolair。 She is the same。 Still； perhaps where she walks； on the Dream Road or elsewhere； she is less afraid。 That is something。〃
She pulled the blanket up over Maegwin's hands； which now clasped the dwarrow…stone as though it were a part of her。
〃You should rest yourself； Count Eolair。〃 The Sitha moved to the doorway。 〃You will be no good to her if you fall ill as well。〃
A breath of cold air moved through the tent as the flap opened and closed。
Isgrimnur watched Lector Velligis leave the throne room。 The huge man's litter was carried by eight grimacing guards； and was led out； as it had been led in； by a procession of priests bearing sacred objects and smoking censers。 Isgrimnur thought they resembled a traveling fair on its way to a new village。 Spared kneeling by his injuries； he had watched the new lector's performance from a chair against the wall。
Camaris； for all his noble look； appeared unfortable on the high ducal throne。 Josua； who had kneeled beside the chair while Lector Velligis offered his blessing； now rose。
〃So。〃 The prince dusted his knees with his hand。 〃Mother Church recognizes our victory。〃
〃What choice did Mother Church have？〃 Isgrimnur growled。 〃We won。 Velligis is one of those who always puts his money on the favorite…any favorite。〃
〃He is the lector； Duke Isgrimnur；〃 said Camaris sternly。 〃He is God's minister on earth。〃
〃Camaris is right。 Whatever he was before； he has been elevated to the Seat of the Highest。 He deserves our respect。〃
Isgrimnur made a noise of disgust。 〃I'm old and I hurt and I know what I know。 I can respect the Seat without loving the man。 Did taking the Dragonbone Chair make your brother a good king？〃
〃No one ever claimed a kingship made its possessor infallible。〃
'Try telling that to most kings；〃 snorted Isgrimnur。
〃Please。〃 Camaris raised his hand。 〃No more。 This is a wearisome day； and there is more yet to be done。〃
Isgrimnur looked at the old knight。 He did look tired； in a way that the duke had never seen。 It would have seemed that freeing Nabban from his brother's killer should have brought Camaris joy； but instead it seemed to have sapped the life from him。
It's as if he knows he's done one of the things he's meant to do…but only one。 He wants to rest； but he can't yet。 The duke thought he finally understood。 I've wondered why he was so strange； so distant。 He does not wish to live。 He is only here because he believes God