mck.harpistinthewind-第41章
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ng to all the notes of his harp。 〃Wind Tower。〃
〃What do you see？〃
〃I don't know。。。 a harp strung with wind。〃 As the winds died in his mind； he realized that he did not know who had asked the question。 The vision receded； leaving him with only words and the certainty that they somehow fit together。 〃The tower。 The starred harp。 Wind。〃
Har brushed a white weasel off his chair and sat down slowly。 〃Can you bind the winds as well as land…law？〃 he asked incredulously。
〃I don't know。〃
〃I see。 You haven't tried； yet。〃
〃I wouldn't know how to begin。〃 He added； 〃Once I shaped wind。 To kill。 That's all I know I can do。〃
〃When。。。〃 He checked； shaking his head。 The hall was very still； animals' eyes glowed among the rushes。 Yrth set his cup down with a small； distracting clink as it hit the edge of a tray。 Nun guided it for him。
〃Small distances；〃 he murmured ruefully。
〃I think；〃 the wolf…king said； 〃that if I start questioning you； it will be the longest riddle I have ever asked。〃
〃You already asked the longest riddle；〃 Morgon said。 〃Two years ago； when you saved my life in that blizzard and brought me into your house。 I'm still trying to answer it for you。〃
〃Two years ago； I gave you the knowledge of the vesta shape。 Now you have e back for knowledge of my land…law。 What will you ask of me next？〃
〃I don't know。〃 He drained his cup and slid his hands around the mouth of it。 〃Maybe trust。〃 He set the cup down abruptly； traced the flawless rim with his fingertips。 He was exhausted suddenly； he wanted to lay his head on the table among the plates and sleep。 He heard the wolf…king rise。
〃Ask me tomorrow。〃
Har touched him。 As he dragged his eyes open and stood up to follow the king out of the hall； he found nothing strange in the answer。
He slept dreamlessly until dawn beside Raederle in the warm； rich chamber Aia had prepared for them。 Then； as the sky lightened； vesta slowly crowded into his mind； forming a tight； perfect circle about him so that he could not move； and all their eyes were light； secret； blind。 He woke abruptly； murmuring。 Raederle groped for him； said something incoherent。 He waited until she was quiet again。 Then he got up soundlessly and dressed。 He could smell one last sweet pine log burning into embers from the silent hall； and he knew； somehow； that Har was still there。
The king watched him as he came into the hall。 He stepped quietly past small animals curled asleep beside the hearth and sat down beside Har。 The king dropped a hand on his shoulder； held him a moment in a gentle； fortable silence。
Then he said； 〃We'll need privacy or traders will spread rumors from here to Anuin。 They have been flocking to my house lately； asking me questions； asking Nun。。。〃
〃There's the shed in the back；〃 Morgon suggested； 〃where you taught me the vesta…shape。〃
〃It seems appropriate。。。 I'll wake Hugin； he can tend to our needs。〃 He smiled a little。 〃For a while； I thought Hugin might return to the vesta； he became so shy among men。 But since Nun came and told him everything she knew about Suth； I think he might turn into a wizard。。。〃 He was silent； sending a thought； Morgon suspected； through the quiet house。 Hugin wandered in a few moments later； bunking sleepily and bing his white hair with his fingers。 He stopped short when he saw Morgon。 He was big…boned and graceful like the vesta； his deep eyes still shy。 He stirred the rushes a little； flushing； looking like a vesta might if it were on the verge of smiling。
〃We need your help；〃 Har said。 Hugin's head ducked an acquiescence。 Then； gazing at Morgon； he found his tongue。
〃Nun said you battled the wizard who killed Suth。 That you saved the lives of the Lungold wizards。 Did you kill the Founder？〃 〃No。〃 〃Why not？〃
〃Hugin；〃 Har murmured。 Then he checked himself and looked at Morgon curiously。 〃Why not？ Did you spend all your passion for revenge on that harpist？〃
〃Har。。。〃 His muscles had tensed under Har's hand。 The king frowned suddenly。
〃What is it？ Are you wraith…driven？ Yrth told me last night how the harpist died。〃
Morgon shook his head wordlessly。 〃You're a riddler；〃 he said abruptly。 〃You tell me。 I need help。〃
Har's mouth tightened。 He rose； telling Hugin； 〃Bring food； wine； firewood to the shed。 And pallets。 When Raederle of An wakes； let her know where we are。 Bring her。〃 He added a little impatiently as the boy flushed scarlet； 〃You've talked to her before。〃
〃I know。〃 He was smiling suddenly。 Under Har's quizzical eye； he sobered and began to move。 〃I'll bring her。 And everything else。〃
They spent that day and the next nine nights together in the smokey； circular shed behind the king's house。 Morgon slept by day。 Har； seemingly inexhaustible； kept his court by day。 Morgon； pulling out of Har's mind each dawn； found Raederle beside him； and Hugin； and sometimes Nun； knocking her ashes into the fire。 He rarely spoke to them； waking or sleeping； his mind seemed linked to Har's； forming trees； ravens； snow…covered peaks； all the shapes deep in the wolf…king's mind that were bound to his awareness。 Har gave him everything and demanded nothing during those days。 Morgon explored Osterland through him； forming his own binding of awareness with every root； stone； wolf pup； white falcon； and vesta in the land。 The king was full of odd wizardry； Morgon discovered。 He could speak to owls and wolves； he could speak to an iron knife or arrowtip and tell it where to strike。 He knew the men and animals of his land as he knew his own family。 His land…law extended even into the edges of the northern wastes； where he had raced vesta for miles across a desert of snow。 He was shaped by his own law； the power in him tempered Morgon's heart with ice； and then with fire； until he seemed one more shape of Har's brain； or Har a reflection of his own power。
He broke loose from Har then； rolled onto a pallet； and fell asleep。 Like a land…heir； he dreamed Har's memories。 With a restless； furious intensity； his dreams spanned centuries of history； of rare battles； of riddle…games that lasted for days and years。 He built Yrye； heard the wizard Suth give him five strange riddles for his keeping； lived among wolves； among the vesta； fathered heirs； dispensed judgment and grew so old he became ageless。 Finally； the rich； feverish dreams came to an end； he drew deeply into himself； into a dreamless night。 He slept without moving until a name drifted into his mind。 Clinging to it； he brought himself back into the world。 He blinked awake； found Raederte kneeling beside him。
She smiled down at him。 〃I wanted to find out if you were alive or dead。〃 She touched his hand； his fingers closed around hers。 〃You can move。〃
He sat up slowly。 The shed was empty； he could hear the winds outside trying to pick apart the roof。 He tried to speak； his voice would not e for a moment。 〃How long。。。 how long did I sleep？〃
〃Har said over two thousand years。〃
〃Is he that old？〃 He stared at nothing a little； then leaned over to kiss her。 〃Is it day or night？〃
〃It's noon。 You've slept nearly two days。 I missed you。 I only had Hugin to talk to most of the tune。〃
〃Who？〃
Her smile deepened。 〃Do you remember my name？〃
He nodded。 〃You are a two…thousand…year…old woman named Raederle。〃 He sat quietly； holding her band； putting the world into shape around him。 He stood up finally； she slid an arm around him to steady him。 The wind snatched the door out of his hand as he opened it。 The first flakes of winter snow swirled and vanished in the winds。 They shattered the silence in his mind； whipped over him； persistent； icy； shaping him back out of his dreams。 He ran across the yard with Raederle； into the warmth of the king's dark house。
Har came to him that evening as he lay beside the fire in his chamber。 He was remembering and slowly absorbing the knowledge he had taken。 Raederle had left him alone； deep in his thoughts。 Har； entering； brought bun out of himself。 Their eyes met across the fire in a peaceful； wordless
