tw.togreenangeltower2-第109章
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n'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 wishes him to finish the tasks before him。 Clearly any questioning of God's will； even the infallibility of the lector； was difficult for Camaris。 He thinks of himself as a dead man。 Isgrimnur suppressed a shudder。 It was one thing to yearn for rest； for release； but another to feel that one was already dead。 The duke wondered momentarily whether Camaris might； more than any of them； understand the Storm King。
〃Very well；〃 Josua was saying。 'There is one person left we must see。 I will speak to him； Camaris； if you do not mind。 I have been thinking about this for some time。〃
The old knight waved his hand； uncaring。 His eyes were like ice chips beneath his thick brows。
Josua signaled a page and the doors were thrown open。 As Count Streawe's litter was carried in； Isgrimnur sat back and picked up the mug of beer he had hidden behind his chair。 He took a long sip。 Outside it was afternoon； but the chamber's ceiling…high windows were barred against the storm that lashed the seas beneath the palace； and torches burned in the wall sconces。 Isgrimnur knew that the room was painted in delicate colors of sea and sand and sky； but in the torchlight all was muddy and indistinct。
Streawe was lifted from his litter and his chair was set down at the base of the throne。 The count smiled and bowed his head。 〃Duke Camaris。 Wele back to your rightful home。 You have been missed； my lord。〃 He swiveled his white head。 〃And Prince Josua and Duke Isgrimnur。 I am honored that you have summoned me。 This is noble pany。〃
〃I am not a duke； Count Streawe；〃 said Camaris。 〃I have taken no title； but only revenged my brother's death。〃
Josua stepped forward。 〃Do not mistake his modesty； Count。 Camaris does rule here。〃
Streawe's smile broadened； deepening the wrinkles around his eyes。 Isgrimnur thought he looked like the most grandfatherly grandfather that God ever made。 He wondered if the count practiced before a looking glass。 〃I am glad you took my advice。 Prince Josua。 As you see； there were indeed many folk unhappy with Benigaris' rule。 Now there is joy in Nabban。 As I came up from the docks； people were dancing in the public square。〃
Josua shrugged。 〃That is more to do with the fact that Baron Seriddan and the others have sent their troops into the town with money to spend。 This city did not suffer much because of Benigaris； difficult as times are。 Patricide or no； he seems to have ruled fairly well。〃
The count eyed him for a moment； then appeared to decide a different approach was warranted。 Isgrimnur found himself enjoying the show。 〃No；〃 Streawe said slowly； 〃you are correct there。 But people know； don't you think？ There was a sense that things were not right； and many rumors that Benigaris had slain his father…your dear brother； Sir Camaris…to achieve the throne。 There were problems that were certainly not all Benigaris' fault； but there was also much unrest。〃
〃Unrest which you and Pryrates both helped to kindle； then fanned the flames。〃
Perdruin's ruler looked genuinely shocked。 〃You link me with Pryrates！？〃 For a moment his courtly mask fell away； showing the angry； iron…willed man beneath。 〃With that red…cloaked scum？ If I could walk； Josua； we would cross swords for that。〃
The prince stared at him coldly for a moment； then his face softened。 〃I do not say you and Pryrates worked in concert； Streawe； but that you each exploited the situation for your own ends。 Very different ends； I'm sure。〃
〃If that is what you meant； then I name myself guilty and throw myself on the mercy of the throne。〃 The count seemed mollified。 〃Yes； I work in the ways I can to protect my island's interests。 I have no armies to speak of； Josua； and I am always prey to the whims of my neighbors。 'When Nabban rolls over in its sleep；' it is said in Ansis Pellipe； 'Perdruin falls out of bed。'〃
〃Well argued； Count；〃 Josua laughed。 〃And quite true； as far as it goes。 But it is also' said that you are perhaps the wealthiest man in Osten Ard。 Is it the result of you
