tw.togreenangeltower2-第13章
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Eolair nodded； then bowed toward Likimeya； who lowered her chin briefly in acknowledgment。 None of the other Sithi gave him much more attention than a flick of feline eyes。 〃We will be there soon；〃 he said。
〃A few days；〃 agreed Jiriki。 〃We Zida'ya are not used to fighting against a castle held by enemies…I do not think we have done it since the last evil days back in Venyha Do'sae。 Are there any among your folk who know Josua's stronghold well； or about such fighting？ We have many questions。〃
〃Siege warfare？〃 said Eolair uncertainly。 He had thought that the frighteningly petent Sithi would have prepared for this long before。 〃There are a few of my men who have fought as mercenaries in the Southern Islands and the Lakeland wars； but not many。 Hernystir itself has been peaceful during most of our lifetimes。 As to Naglimund 。。。 I suppose that I know it best of any Hernystirman still living。 I have spent much time there。〃
〃e and sit with us。〃 Jiriki gestured to an open place near Chekai'so。
Black…haired Kuroyi said something in the liquid Sithi tongue as Eolair seated himself on the ground。 Jiriki showed a hint of a smile。 〃Kuroyi says that surely the Norns will e out and fight us before the walls。 He believes that the Hikeda'ya would never hide behind stone laid by mortals when the Zida'ya have e to resolve things at last。〃
〃I know nothing of the 。。。 of those we call Norns；〃 Eolair said carefully。 〃But I cannot imagine that if their purpose is as deadly earnest as it seems； they will give up the advantage of a stronghold like Naglimund。〃
〃I believe you are correct；〃 said Jiriki。 〃But it is hard to convince many of my people that。 It is hard enough for most of us to believe that we go to war with the Hikeda'ya； let alone that they might hide within a fortress and drop stones on us as mortal armies do。〃 He said something in the Sithi speech to Kuroyi； who replied briefly； then fell silent； his eyes cold as bronze plates。 Jiriki next turned to the others。
〃It is impolite for us to speak in a language Count Eolair does not know。 If anyone does not feel fortable speaking Hernystiri or Westerling； I will be happy to render your words for the count's understanding。〃
〃Mortal tongues and mortal strategies。 We will all have to learn；〃 Likimeya said abruptly。 〃It is a different age。 If the rules of mortals now make the world spin； then we must learn those rules。〃
〃Or decide whether it is possible to live in such a world。〃 Zinjadu's voice was deep yet strangely uninflected； as though she had learned Westerling without ever having heard it spoken。 〃Perhaps we should let the Hikeda'ya have this world of mortals that they seem to desire。〃
〃The Hikeda'ya would destroy the mortals even more readily than they would destroy us；〃 Jiriki said calmly。
〃It is one thing；〃 spoke up Yizashi Grayspear； 〃to fulfill an ancient debt； as we have just done at M'yin Azoshai。 Besides； those were mortals we routed； and the descendants of bloody Fingil's ship…men besides。 It is another thing to go to war with other Gardenborn to aid mortals to whom we owe no such debt…including those who hunted us long after we lost Asu'a。 This Josua's father was our enemy！〃
〃Then does the hatred never end？〃 Jiriki replied with surprising heat。 〃Mortals have short lives。 These are not the ones who warred on our scattered folk。〃
〃Yes； the lives of mortals are short；〃 said Yizashi dispassionately。 〃But their hatreds run deep； and are passed from parents to children。〃
Eolair was beginning to feel distinctly unfortable but did not think the time was right for him to speak up。
〃It is possible that you forget； noble Yizashi；〃 said Jiriki； 〃that it was the Hikeda'ya themselves who brought this war to us。 It was they who invaded the sanctity of the Yasira。 It was truly Utuk'ku's hand…not that of the mortal catspaw who wielded the dagger…which slew First Grandmother。〃
Yizashi did not reply。
〃There is little point in this；〃 Likimeya said。 Eolair could not help noticing how the depths of Likimeya's eyes cast the light back； glowing orange as the stare of a torchlit wolf。 〃Yizashi； I asked you and these others； the House of Contemplation； the House of Gathering； all the houses； to honor your debts to the Grove。 You agreed。 And we are set upon our course because we need to thwart Utuk'ku Seyt…Hamakha's plans； not just repay an old debt or avenge Amerasu's murder。〃
Black…browed Kuroyi spoke up。 〃The mortals have a saying； I am told。〃 His voice was measured and eerily musical； his Hernystiri somehow over…precise。 〃 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend 。。。 for a little while。' Silvermask and her kin have chosen one set of mortals to be their allies； so we will choose those mortals' enemies to be our allies。 Utuk'ku and her minions have also broken the Pact of Sesuad'ra。 I find no shame in fighting beside Sudhoda'ya until the issue is settled。〃 He raised his hand as though to ward off questions； but the circle was pletely still。 〃No one has said I must love these mortal allies： I do not； and feel sure that I will not； whatever happens。 And if I live until these days end； I will return to my high house in hidden Anvi'janya； for I have long been surfeited with the pany of others； whether mortal or Gardenborn； But until then； I will do as I have promised to Likimeya。〃
There was a long pause after Kuroyi had finished。 The Sithi again sat in silence； but Eolair had the feeling that some issue was in the air； some tension that sought resolution。 When the quiet had gone on so long that he was beginning to wonder again whether he should leave； Likimeya lifted her hands and spread them flat in the air before her。
〃So；〃 she said。 〃Now we must think about this Naglimund。 We must consider what we will do if the Hikeda'ya do not e out to fight。〃
The Sithi began to discuss the uping siege as though there had been no dispute over the honorability of fighting beside mortals。 Eolair was puzzled but impressed by their civility。 Each person was allowed to speak as long as he wished and no one interrupted。 Whatever dissension there had been…and although Eolair found the immortals difficult to faThorn； he had no doubt there had been true disagreement…now seemed vanished： the debate over Naglimund； although spirited； was calm and ap…
parently free of resentment。
Perhaps when you live so long； Eolair thought； you learn to exist by such rules…learn you must exist by such rules。 Forever is a long time to carry grudges； after all。
More at ease now； he entered the discussion…hesitantly at first； but when he saw that his opinion was to be given due weight he spoke openly and confidently about Naglimund； a place he knew almost as well as he knew the Taig in Hernysadharc。 He had been there many times： Eolair had often found that Josua's was a useful ear for introducing things into the court of his father； King John Presbyter。 The prince was one of the few people the Count of Nad Mullach knew who would listen to an idea on its own merits； then support it if he found it good； regardless of whether it benefited him。
They talked long； eventually the fire burned down to glowing coals。 Likimeya produced one of the crystal globes from her cloak and set it on the ground before her where it gradually grew bright； soon it cast its cool lunar glow all around the circle。
Eolair met Isorn on his way back from the council of the Sithi。
〃Ho； Count；〃 the young Rimmersman said。 〃Out for a stroll？ I have a skin of wine here…from your own Nad Mullach cellars； I think。 Let's find Ule and share it。〃
〃Gladly。 1 have had a strange evening。 Our allies 。。。 Isorn； they are like nothing and no one I have ever seen。〃
〃They are the Old Ones； and heathen on top of it；〃 Isorn said blithely； then laughed。 〃Apologies； Count。 I sometimes forget that you Hernystiri are 。。。〃
〃Also heathens？〃 Eolair smiled faintly。 〃No offense was taken。 I have grown used to being the outsider； the odd one； during my years in Aedonite courts。 But I have never felt so much the odd man as I did tonight。〃
〃The Sithi may be different from us； Eolair； but they
