tw.togreenangeltower2-第6章
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and fretting。〃
Prince Josua stepped through the door； unhappiness etched on his face。 〃Is there not enough gone wrong？ The guard said someone was sick。 Vorzheva？ Are you well？〃
〃It is not me； Josua。 The little girl Leieth； she cannot be wakened。〃
Duke Isgrimnur stumped in。 〃A damned long ride and no sign of Miriamele；〃 he growled。 〃We can only hope that Hotvig and his Thrithings…men have better luck than we did。〃
〃Miriamele？〃 Vorzheva asked。 〃Has something happened to her； also？〃
〃She has ridden off with young Simon；〃 Josua said grimly。
〃This is a cursed night；〃 Vorzheva groaned。 〃Why does this all happen？〃
〃To be fair； I don't think it was the lad's idea。〃 Isgrimnur bent and put his arm about his wife's shoulders； then kissed her neck。 〃He left a letter which said he would try to bring her back。〃 The duke's eyes narrowed。 〃Why is the girl here？ Was she hurt in the fire？〃
〃I brought her；〃 Jeremias said miserably。 〃Duchess Gutrun asked me to look after her tonight。〃
〃I didn't want her underfoot with Vorzheva so sick。〃 Gutrun could not entirely hide her own disfort。 〃And it was just for a while； when Geloe was going to meet with you men。〃
〃I was with her all evening；〃 Jeremias explained。 〃After she was asleep； I fell asleep； too。 I didn't mean to。 I was just tired。〃
Josua turned and looked at the young man kindly。 〃You did nothing wrong to fall asleep。 Go on。〃
〃I woke up when everyone was shouting about the fire。 I thought Leieth would be frightened； so I went over to let her know I was still there。 She was sitting up with her eyes open； but I don't think she heard a word I said。 Then she fell back and her eyes closed； like she was sleeping。 But I couldn't wake her up！ I tried for a long time。 Then I brought her here to see if Duchess Gutrun could help。〃 As Jeremias finished； he was on the verge of tears。
〃You did nothing wrong； Jeremias；〃 the prince repeated。 〃Now； I need you to do something for me。〃
The young man caught； his breath on the verge of a sob。 〃W…What； your Highness？〃
〃Go to Isgrimnur's tent and see if Binabik has returned。 The troll knows something of healing。 We will have him look at young Leieth。〃
Jeremias； only too glad to have something useful to do； hurried out。
〃In truth；〃 Josua said； 〃I no longer know what to think of all that has happened tonight…but I must admit that I am very fearful for Miriamele。 Damn her forwardness。〃 He clutched Vorzheva's blanket in his fingers and twisted it in frustration。
There had been no change in Leieth's condition when Jeremias returned with Binabik and Aditu。 The little man inspected the girl closely。
〃I have seen her being like this before；〃 he said。 〃She is gone away somewhere； to the Road of Dreams or some other place。〃
〃But surely she has never been tike this for so long；〃 Josua said。 〃I cannot help but think it has something to do with the night's happenings。 Could the Norn poison have made her this way； Aditu？〃
The Sitha kneeled beside Binabik and lifted the little girl's eyelids； then laid her slim fingers below Leieth's ear to feel how swiftly her heart beat。 〃I do not think so。 Surely this one；〃 she indicated Jeremias； 〃would also have been struck if the Kei…vishaa had spread so far。〃
〃Her lips are moving！〃 Jeremias said excitedly。 〃Look！〃
Although she stilt lay as if deeply asleep； Leieth's mouth was indeed opening and closing as though she would speak。
〃Silence。〃 Josua leaned closer； as did most of the others in the room。
Leieth's lips worked。 A whisper of sound crept out。 〃。。。hear me 。。。〃
〃She said something！〃 Jeremias exulted； but was stilled by a look from the prince。
〃。。。I will speak anyway。 I am fading。 I have only a short time left。〃 The voice that issued from the little girl's mouth； though thin and breathy； had a familiar cadence。
〃。。。There is more to the Norns than we suspect； I think。 They play some double game 。。。 Tonight was not a feint； but something even more subtle 。。。〃
〃What's wrong with the child？〃 Gutrun said nervously。 〃She's never spoken before…and she sounds wrong。〃
〃That is Geloe speaking。〃 Aditu spoke calmly； as though she identified a familiar figure ing up the road。
〃What？〃 The duchess made the Tree sign； her eyes wide with fear。 〃What witchcraft is this？〃
The Sitha leaned close to Leieth's ear。 〃Geloe？'' she said。 〃Can you hear me？〃
If it was the wise woman； she did not seem to hear her friend's voice。 〃。。。 Remember what Simon dreamed 。。。 the false messenger。〃 There was a pause。 When the voice resumed it was quieter； so that all in the room held their breath in an effort not to obscure a word。 〃。。。 I am dying。 Leieth is here with me somehow； in this 。。。 dark place。 I have never understood her pletely； and this is strangest of all。 I think I can speak through her mouth； but I do not know if anyone is listening。 My time is short。 Remember： beware a false messenger。。。。。〃
There was another long； silent interval。 When everyone was certain that they had heard the last； Leieth's lips moved again； 'I am going now。 Do not mourn me。 I have had a long life and did what I wished to do。 If you would remember me； remember that the forest was my home。 See that it is respected。 I will try to send Leieth back； although she does not want to leave me。 Farewell。 Remember 。。。〃
The voice faded。 The little girl again lay like one dead。
Josua looked up。 His eyes were bright with tears。 〃To the last；〃 he said； almost in anger； 〃she tried to help us。 Oh； God the Merciful； she was a brave soul。〃
〃An old soul；〃 Aditu said quietly； but did not elaborate。 She seemed shaken。
Though they sat around the bedside in heavy； mournful silence for some time； Leieth did not stir any more。 Geloe's absence seemed even more powerful； more devastating than it had earlier in the evening。 Other eyes besides Josua's filled with tears of sorrow and fear as the realization of the pany's loss settled in。 The prince began to speak quietly of the forest woman； praising her bravery； wit； and kindness； but no one else seemed to have the heart to join in。 At last he sent them all off to rest。 Aditu； saying that she felt no need to sleep； stayed to watch over the child in case she awakened in the night。 Josua lay down fully dressed beside his wife； ready for whatever calamity might befall next。 Within moments； he had fallen into a deep； exhausted slumber。
In the morning； the prince awakened to discover Aditu still watching over Leieth。 Wherever the child's spirit had journeyed with Geloe； it had not yet returned。
Not long afterward； Hotvig and his men rode into camp； weary and empty…handed。
2
Ghost Moon
Simon and Miriamele rode in near…silence； the princess leading as they made their way down into the valley on the far side of the hills。 After they had gone a league or more； Miriamele turned them north so that they were riding back along the same track the pany had taken on its way to Gadrinsett。
Simon asked her why。
〃Because there are already a thousand fresh hoofprints here；〃 Miriamele explained。 〃And because Josua knows where I'm going； so it would be stupid to head straight that way in case they find out we've left tonight。〃
〃Josua knows where we're going？〃 Simon was disgruntled。 〃That's more than I do。〃
〃I'll tell you about it when we're far enough that you can't ride back in one night；〃 she said coolly。 〃When I'm too far away for them to catch me and bring me back。〃
She would not answer any more questions。
Simon squinted at the bits of refuse that lined the wide； muddy track。 A great army of people had crossed this way twice now； along with several other smaller parties that had made their way to Sesuad'ra and New Gadrinsett； Simon thought it would be a long time before the grass grew on this desolated swath again。
I suppose that's where roads e from； he thought； and grinned despite his weariness。 I never thought about it before。 Maybe someday it will be a real king's road； with set stones and inns and way stations
