tw.togreenangeltower2-第3章
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nts； shadowy figures that shouted and gesticulated。 Men dragged on their sword belts； cursing in confusion。 Mothers dragged screaming children out of their blankets and carried them into the open air。 All the pathways were full of terrified； milling campfolk。 Isgrimnur saw one old woman fall to her knees； crying； although she was only a few paces from where he stood； a long distance from the nearest flames。
〃Aedon save us！〃 said Josua。 〃Binabik； Strangyeard； call for buckets and waterskins； then take some of these mad…wandering folk and head for the river…we need water！ Better yet； pull down some of the oiled tents and see how much water you can carry in them！〃 He sprang away toward the conflagration； Isgrimnur hastened after him。
The flames were leaping high now； filling the night sky with a hellish orange light。 As he and Josua approached the fire； a flurry of dancing sparks sailed out； hissing as they caught in Isgrimnur's beard。 He beat them out； cursing。
Tiamak awakened and promptly threw up； then struggled to catch his breath。 His head was hammering like a Perdruinese church bell。
There were flames all around him； beating hot against his skin； sucking away the air。 In a blind panic； he dragged himself across the crisping grass of the tent floor toward what looked like a patch of cool darkness； only to find his face pushed up against some black； slippery fabric。 He struggled with it for a moment； dimly noting its strange resistance； then it flopped aside； exposing a white face buried in the black hood。 The eyes were turned up； and blood slicked the lips。 Tiamak tried to scream； but his mouth was full of burning smoke and his own bile。 He rolled away； choking。
Suddenly； something grabbed at his arm and he was yanked forward violently； dragged across the pale…skinned corpse and through a wall of flame。 For a moment he thought he was dead。 Something was thrown over him； and he was rolled and pummeled with the same swift violence that had carried him away； then whatever covered him was lifted and he found himself lying on wet grass。 Flames licked at the sky close beside him； but he was safe。 Safe！
〃The Wrannaman is alive；〃 someone said near him。 He thought he recognized the Sitha…woman's lilting tones； although her voice was now almost sharp with fear and worry。 〃Camaris dragged him out。 How the knight managed to stay awake after he had been poisoned I will never know； but he killed two of the Hikeda'ya。〃 There was an unintelligible response。
After he had lain in place for a few long moments； just breathing the clean air into his painful lungs； Tiamak rolled over。 Aditu stood a few paces away； her white hair blackened and her golden face streaked with grime。 Be neath her on the ground lay the forest woman Geloe； partially wrapped in a cloak； but obviously naked beneath it； her muscular legs shiny with dew or sweat。 As Tiamak watched； she struggled to sit up。
〃No； you must not；〃 Aditu said to her； then took a step backward。 〃By the Grove； Geloe； you are wounded。〃
With a trembling effort； Geloe lifted her head。 〃No；〃 she said。 Tiamak could barely hear her voice； a throaty whisper。 〃I am dying。〃
Aditu leaned forward； reaching out to her。 〃Let me help you。。。。〃
〃No！〃 Geloe's voice grew stronger。 〃No； Aditu； it is。。。 too late。 I have been stabbed 。。。 a dozen times。〃 She coughed and a thin trickle of something dark ran down her chin； glinting in the light of the burning tents。 Tiamak stared。 He saw what he took to be Camaris' feet and legs behind her； the rest of the knight's long form stretched out in the grass hidden by her shadow。 〃I must go。〃 Geloe tried to clamber to her feet but could not do so。
〃There might be something 。。。〃 Aditu began。
Geloe laughed weakly； then coughed again and spat out a gobbet of blood。 'Do you think I。。。 do not。。。 know？〃 she said。 〃I have been a healer for 。。。 a long time。〃 She held out a shaking hand。 〃Help me。 Help me up。〃
Aditu's face； which for a moment had seemed as stricken as any mortal's； grew solemn。 She took Geloe's hand； then leaned forward and clasped her other arm as well。 The wise woman slowly rose to her feet； she swayed； but Aditu supported her；
〃I must 。。。 go。 I do not wish to die here。〃 Geloe pushed away from Aditu and took a few staggering steps。 The cloak fell away； exposing her nakedness to the leaping firelight。 Her skin was slick with sweat and great
smears of blood。 〃I will go back to my forest。 Let me go while I still can。〃
Aditu hesitated a moment longer； then stepped back and lowered her head。 〃As you wish； Valada Geloe。 Farewell； Ruyan's Own。 Farewell。。。 my friend。 Sinya'a du…n'sha e…d'treyesa inro。〃
Trembling； Geloe raised her arms； then took another step。 The heat from the flames seemed to grow more intense； for Tiamak； where he lay； saw Geloe begin to shimmer。 Her outline grew insubstantial； then a cloud of shadow or smoke seemed to appear where she stood。 For a moment； the very night seemed to surge inward toward the spot； as though a stitch had been taken in the fabric of the Wrannaman's vision。 Then the night was whole again。
The owl circled slowly for a moment where Geloe had been； then flew off； close above the wind…tossed grasses。 Its movements were stiff and awkward； and several times it seemed that it must lose the wind and fall tumbling to the earth； but its lurching flight continued until the night sky had swallowed it。
His head still full of murk and painful clangor； Tiamak slumped back。 He was not sure what he had seen； but he knew that something terrible had happened。 A great sadness lurked just out of his reach。 He was in no hurry to bring it closer。
What had been the thin sound of voices in the distance became a raucous shouting。 Legs moved past him； the night seemed suddenly full of movement。 There was a rush and sizzle of steam as someone threw a pail of water into the flames of what had been Camaris' tent。
A few moments later he felt Aditu's strong hands under his arms。 〃You will be trampled； brave marsh man；〃 she said into his ear； then pulled him farther away from the conflagration； into the cool darkness beside some tents untouched by the blaze。 She left him there； then returned shortly with a water skin。 The Sitha pressed it against his cracked lips until he understood what it was； then left him to drink…which he did； greedily。
A dark shadow loomed； then abruptly sank down beside him。 It was Camaris。 His silvery hair； like Aditu's； was scorched and blackened。 Haunted eyes stared from his ash…smeared face。 Tiamak handed him the water skin； then prodded him until he lifted it to his lips。
〃God have mercy on us 。。 。〃 Camaris croaked。 He stared dazedly at the spreading fires and the shouting mob that was trying to douse them。
Aditu returned and sat down beside them。 When Camaris offered her the water skin； she took it from him and downed a single swallow before handing it back。
〃Geloe。。。 ？〃 Tiamak asked。
Aditu shook her head。 〃Dying。 She has gone away。〃
〃Who 。。。〃 It was still hard to speak。 Tiamak almost did not want to； but he suddenly felt a desire to know； to have some reasons with which to balance off the terrible events。 He also needed something…words if nothing else…to fill the emptiness inside of him。 He took the skin bag from Camaris and moistened his throat。 〃Who was it。。。 ？〃
〃The Hikeda'ya；〃 she said； watching the efforts to quell the flames。 〃The Norns。 That was Utuk'ku's long arm that reached out tonight。〃
〃I 。。。 I tried to 。。。 to call for help。 But I couldn't。〃
Aditu nodded。 〃Kei…vishaa。 It is a sort of poison that floats on the wind。 It kills the voice for a time； and also brings sleep。〃 She looked at Camaris； who had leaned back against the tent wall that sheltered them。 His head was thrown back； his eyes closed。 〃I do not know how he stood against it for the time he did。 If he had not； we would have been too late。 Geloe's sacrifice would have been for nothing。〃 She turned to the Wrannaman。 〃You； too； Tiamak。 Things would have been different without your aid： you found Camaris' sword。 Also； the fire frightened the
