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！
〃what does it mean if Naglimund is such a place？〃
〃We are not certain。 That is one of the things that worries us。〃 Jiriki sat down across from Eolair and raised a slim hand。 〃We had hoped that the Hikeda'ya came here only to pay their part of the bargain with Elias； and that they had remained here because it was a way station between Stormspike and the castle that stands on Asu'a's bones。〃
〃But you do not think that any longer。〃 It was a statement； not a question。
〃No。 Our cousins have fought too hard； long past the time when they could have gained anything from resisting。 This is not the final confrontation。 However much Utuk'ku has reason to hate us； it is not a blind anger： she would not throw away the lives of so many Cloud Children to hold a useless ruin。〃
Eolair had not heard much about the Norn Queen； Utuk'ku； but what he had was shuddersome。 〃So what does she want？ What do they want？〃
Jiriki shook his head。 〃They want to remain in Naglimund。 That is all we know for certain。 And it will be dreadful work to drive them out。 I fear for you and your remaining soldiers； Count Eolair。 I fear for all of us。〃
A horrible thought occurred to the Hernystirman。 〃Forgive me； since I know little of these things…although perhaps more now than I would have wished…but you said that these Beyonding places had something to do with the secrets of 。。。 of death？〃
〃All mysteries are one mystery until they are solved；〃 said Kuroyi。 〃We have tried to learn more about Death and Unbeing from the A…Genay'asu'e； yes。〃
'These Norns we are fighting are living creatures…but their master is not。 Could they be trying to bring the Storm King 。。。 back to life？〃
Eolair's question brought neither derisive laughter nor shocked silence。
〃We have thought on this。〃 Likimeya was blunt。 〃It cannot happen。〃
〃Ineluki is dead。〃 Kuroyi spoke more softly； but with equal firmness。 〃There are some things we know about only little； but death we know very well。〃 His lips twitched in a tiny； dry smile。 〃Very well； indeed。 Ineluki is dead。 He cannot return to this world。〃
〃But you told me he was in Stormspike；〃 Eolair said to Jiriki。 〃You said that the Norns do as he bids。 Are we at war against something imaginary？〃
〃It is indeed confusing； Count Eolair；〃 Jiriki replied。 〃Ineluki…although he is not truly Ineluki any more…has no more existence than a sort of dream。 He is an evil and vengeful dream； one that possesses all the craftiness that the Storm King had in life； as well as knowledge of the ultimate darknesses no living thing has ever had 。。。 but he is only a dream； for all of that。 Trust that I speak truly。 As we can travel on the Road of Dreams； and see and feel things there； so Ineluki can speak to his followers in Nakkiga through the Breathing Harp； which is one of the greatest of the Master Witnesses…although I would guess that Utuk'ku alone has the skill even to understand him。 So he is not a thing； Eolair； with an existence in this world。〃 He gestured to the walls of the tent。 〃He is not real； like this cloth is real； like the ground is real beneath our feet。 But that does not mean he cannot do great evil。。。 and Utuk'ku and her servitors are more than real enough。〃
〃Forgive me if I seem stubborn；〃 Eolair said； 〃but I have heard much tonight that is still confused in my head。 If Ineluki cannot return； then why are the Norns so eager to hold Naglimund？〃
〃That is the question we must answer；〃 said Jiriki。 〃Perhaps they hope to use the A…Genay'asu to make their master's voice clearer。 Perhaps they intend to tap its force in some other way。 But it is clear that they want this place very much。 One of the Red Hand is here。〃
〃The Red Hand？ The Storm King's servants？〃
〃His greatest servants； since like him they have passed through death and into the outer realms。 But they cannot exist in this world without an immense expenditure of power by him every moment they are embodied； for they are almost as much of a deadly contradiction as he is。 That is why when one of them attacked us in our fastness at Jao e…Tinukai'i； we knew that the time had e to take up arms。 Ineluki and Utuk'ku must have been desperate to expend so much force to silence Amerasu。〃 He paused。 Eolair stared； bewildered by the unfamiliar names。 〃I will explain this to you at a later time； Count Eolair。〃 Jiriki stood。 〃I am sure you are weary； and we have talked much of your sleeping time away。〃
〃But this Red Hand creature is here？ Have you seen it？〃
Jiriki pointed at the campfire。 〃Do you have to touch the flames to know that the fire is hot？ He is here； and that is why we have not been able to overe their most important defenses； why we must instead knock down stone walls and struggle with sword and spear。 A large portion of Ineluki's power is burning down in the heart of Naglimund's keep。 But for all his might； the Storm King has limits。 He is spread thin 。。。 so there must be some reason he wishes this place to remain in the hands of the Hikeda'ya。〃
Eolair stood； too。 The blur of strange ideas and names had begun to tell on him： he was indeed feeling the need for sleep。 〃Perhaps the Norns' task is something to do with the Red Hand； then；〃 the count said。 〃Perhaps 。。。〃
Jiriki's smile was sad。 〃We have cursed you with our own plague of 'perhaps；' Count Eolair。 We had hoped you would give us answers； but instead we have weighed you down with questions。〃
〃I have not been free of them since old King John died。〃 He stifled a yawn。 〃So this is nothing strange。〃 He laughed。 〃What a thing to say！ It is maddeningly strange。 But not unusual。 Not in these times。〃
〃Not in these times；〃 agreed Jiriki。
Eolair bowed to Likimeya； then nodded a farewell to stone…faced Kuroyi before walking out into the cold wind。 Thoughts were buzzing in his head like flies； but he knew that nothing useful could be done about any of them。 Sleep was what he needed。 Perhaps； if he was lucky； he would sleep right through the remainder of this gods…cursed siege。
Maegwin had quietly left her tent while the weary guard…he seemed a sad and ragged sort to have received Heaven's favor； but who was she to question the gods？…gossiped by the fire with one of his fellows。 Now she stood in the deep shadows of a copse of trees； not a hundred cubits downslope from the tumbled walls of Naglimund。 Above her loomed the silhouette of the blocky stone keep。 As she stared at it； wind sifted snow across her boots。
Scadach； she thought。 It is the Hole in Heaven。 But what lies beyond？
She had seen the demons that had e swarming through from the Outer Darkness…horrible corpse…white things and shaggy； monstrous ogres…and had watched the gods and a few dead mortal heroes fight with them。 It was clear that the gods wished this wound in heaven's flesh healed so that no more evil could creep in。 For a while it had seemed that the gods would win easily。 Now she was not so sure。
There was 。。。 something inside Scadach。 Something dark and hideously strong； something that was empty as a flame is empty； but that nevertheless had a kind of brooding life。 She co