tw.togreenangeltower2-第156部分

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about　John；　about　the　Sithi；　everything。　I　thought　we　would　be　bringing　you　the　news；　but　something　in　your　face　told　me　you　had　already　discovered　it。〃
　　　　　　　Simon's　lips　quirked　in　an　odd　half…smile。　〃I　did。〃
〃So　you　know　that　you　are　of　the　blood　of　Eahlstan　Fiskerne；〃　Isgrimnur　forged　on；　〃last　king　of　Erkynland　in　the　centuries　before　Prester　John。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　founder　of　the　Scroll　League；〃　Binabik　added。
　　　　　　　〃And　the　one　who　truly　killed　the　dragon；〃　Simon　said　dryly。　〃What　of　it？〃　Despite　his　calm；　something　intense　and　powerful　moved　beneath　the　surface。　Isgrimnur　was　puzzled。
　　　　　　　Before　Isgrimnur　could　say　anything　more；　Jiriki　spoke。　〃I　am　sorry　I　could　not　tell　you　earlier　what　I　knew；　Seoman；　my　friend。　I　feared　it　could　only　burden　and　confuse　you；　or　perhaps　lead　you　to　take　dangerous　risks。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　understand；〃　Simon　said；　but　he　did　not　sound　pleased。　〃How　did　you　know？〃
〃Eahlstan　Fiskerne　was　the　first　mortal　king　after　the　fall　of　Asu'a　to　reach　out　to　the　Zida'ya。〃　The　sun　was　setting　outside；　and　the　sky　beyond　the　windows　was　turning　dark。　A　brisk　wind　coursed　through　the　throne　room　and　ruffled　some　of　the　banners　on　the　floor。　Jiriki's　white　hair　fluttered。　〃He　knew　us；　and　some　of　our　folk　came　at　times　to　meet　with　him　in　the　caverns　below　the　Hayholt…in　the　ruins　of　our　home。　He　feared　that　what　we　Zida'ya　knew　would　be　lost　forever；　and　even　that　we　might　turn　against　humankind　entirely　after　the　destruction　that　Fingil　had　wrought。　He　was　not　far　wrong。　There　has　been　little　love　for　mortals　among　my　folk。　There　was　also　little　love　for　immortals　among　Eahlstan's　own　kind。　But　as　the　years　of　his　reign　passed；　small　steps　were　taken；　small　confidences　exchanged；　and　a　delicate　trust　began　to　build。　We　who　were　involved　kept　it　a　secret。〃　Jiriki　smiled。　〃I　say　'we；'　but　I　myself　was　only　the　message…bearer；　running　errands　for　First　Grandmother；　who　could　not　let　her　continuing　interest　in　mortals　be　widely　known；　even　within　her　own　family。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　always　jealous　of　you；　Willow…Switch；〃　said　Aditu；　laughing。　〃So　young；　and　yet　with　such　important　tasks！〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　smiled。　〃In　any　case；　whatever　might　have　been　if　Eahlstan　had　lived　and　his　line　had　continued　did　not　e　to　pass。　The　fire…worm　Shurakai　came；　and　in　killing　it；　Eahlstan　was　himself　killed。　Whether　his　eventual　successor　John　knew　something　of　Eahlstan's　secret　dealings　with　us　and　feared　we　would　expose　John's　lie　that　he　was　the　dragon…slayer　or　there　was　some　other　reason　for　his　enmity　toward　us；　I　do　not　know。　But　John　set　out　to　drive　us　from　the　last　of　our　hiding　places。　He　did　not　find　them　all；　and　never　came　near　to　discovering　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　but　he　did　us　great　harm。　Almost　all　our　contact　with　mortals　ended　during　John's　life。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　folded　his　hands。　〃I　am　sorry　for　the　things　my　people　have　done。　And　I　am　glad　to　know　my　ancestor　was　such　a　man。〃
　　　　　　　〃Eahlstan's　folk　scattered　before　the　wrath　of　the　dragon。　Eventually　they　settled　into　their　exile；　I　am　told；〃　Jiriki　said。　〃And　when　John　came　and　conquered；　all　hope　of　regaining　the　Hayholt　was　gone。　So　they　nursed　their　secret　and　went　on；　a　fishing　folk　living　close　to　the　waters　as　they　had　been　in　the　days　of　Eahlstan　Fiskerne's　ancestors。　But　Eahlstan's　ring　they　kept　in　the　royal　family；　and　passed　it　down　from　parent　to　child。　One　of　Eahlstan's　great…grandchildren；　a　scholar　like　his　forebear；　studied　the　old　Sithi　runes　from　one　of　Eahlstan's　treasured　scrolls；　then　had　the　motto　that　was　the　family's　pride…and　Prester　John's　secret　shame…　inscribed　upon　the　ring。　That　was　what　Morgenes　held　in　trust　for　you；　Seoman：　your　past。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　I'm　certain　he　would　have　told　me　some　day。〃　Simon　had　listened　to　Jiriki's　tale　with　poorly…hidden　tension。　Isgrimnur　stared；　looking　for　the　cracks　in　Simon's　nature　that　he　half…expected；　but　feared；　to　see。　〃But　what　has　it　to　do　with　anything　now？　All　the　royal　blood　in　the　world　did　not　make　me　less　of　a　dupe　for　Pryrates　and　the　Storm　King。　It's　a　pretty　tale；　no　more。　Half　the　noble　houses　in　Nabban　must　have　Imperators　in　their　history。　What　of　it？〃　His　jaw　was　set　belligerently。
　　　　　　　Several　of　the　pany　turned　to　Isgrimnur。　The　duke　moved　unfortably　on　the　step。　〃Erkynland　needs　a　ruler；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃The　Dragonbone　Chair　is　empty。〃　
　　　　　　　Simon's　mouth　opened；　then　closed；　then　opened　again。　〃And。。。　？〃　he　said　at　last。　He　stared　at　Isgrimnur　distrustfully。　〃Miriamele　is　in　good　health　and　has　only　a　few　wounds。　In　fact；　she　is　just　the　same　as　she　ever　was；〃…the　bitterness　in　his　voice　was　plain…〃so　surely　she　will　soon　be　able　to　rule。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　her　health　that　concerns　us；〃　said　the　duke　gruffly。　Somewhere；　this　conversation　had　gone　wrong；　Simon　was　acting　like　one　awakened　from　his　rightful　sleep　by　a　group　of　misbehaving　children。　〃It　is…damn　it；　it's　her　father！〃
　　　　　　　〃But　Elias　is　dead。　She　killed　him　herself。　With　the　White　Arrow　of　the　Sithi。〃　Simon　turned　to　Jiriki。　〃e　to　think　of　it；　since　that　arrow　certainly　saved　my　life；　I　suppose　we　have　evened　our　debt。〃
　　　　　　　The　Sitha　did　not　respond。　The　immortal's　face　was；　as　usual；　unrevealing；　but　something　in　his　posture　suggested　he　was　troubled。
　　　　　　　〃The　people　have　suffered　so　under　Elias　that　they　may　not　trust　Miriamele；〃　Isgrimnur　said。　〃It's　foolish；　I　know；　but　there　it　is。　If　Josua　had　lived；　they　might　have　weled　him　with　open　arms。　The　barons　know　the　prince　resisted　Elias　ever　since　he　began　to　go　bad；　that　he　suffered　terribly　and　fought　his　way　back　from　exile。　But　Josua　is　dead。〃
　　　　　　　〃Miriamele　did　all　those　things；　too！〃　Simon　cried　angrily。　〃This　is　nonsense！〃
〃We　know；　Simon；〃　said　Tiamak。　〃I　traveled　with　her　a　long　way。　Many　of　us　know　of　her　bravery。〃
〃Yes；　I　know　it；　too；〃　Isgrimnur　growled；　his　own　irritation　flaring。　〃But　what　is　true　does　not　matter　here。　She　fled　Naglimund　before　the　siege　started　and　she　did　not　reach　Sesuad'ra　until　after　Fengbald　had　been　defeated。　Then　she　vanished　again；　and　wound　up　in　the　Hayholt　with　her　father　at　the　very　ending。〃　He　grimaced。　〃And　there　are　tales；　doubtless　spread　by　that　whoreson　Aspitis　Preves；　that　she　was　his　doxy　while　he　served　Pryrates。　Rumors　are　flying。〃
〃But　some　of　those　things　are　true　of　me；　too。　Am　I　a　traitor？〃
〃Miriamele　is　not　a　traitor。　God　knows…and　I　know。〃　
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　glared　at　him。　〃But　after　what　her　father　has　done；　she　may　not　be　trusted。　The　people　want　someone　on　the　throne　they　can　trust。〃
　　　　　　　〃Madness！〃　Simon　slapped　his　hands　against　his　thighs；　then　turned　to　the　Sithi。　He　seemed　ready　to　burst。　〃What　do　you　two　think　of　this？〃　he　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃We　do　not　concern　ourselves　in　these　kind　of　mortal　affairs；〃　Jiriki　said　a　little　stiffly。
〃You　are　our　friend；　Seoman；〃　Aditu　added。　〃Whatever　we　can　do　for　you　to　help　you　in　this　time；　we　will。　However；　we　also　have　only　respect　for　Miriamele；　though　we　know　her　but　little。〃
Simon　turned　to　the　troll。　〃Binabik？〃　
　　　　　　　The　little　man　shrugged。　〃I　cannot　say。　Isgrimnur　and　the　rest　of　you　must　be　making　decisions　to　settle　it　yourselves。　You　and　Miriamele　are　both　my　friends。　If　you　are　wishing　advice　later；　Simon；　we　will　take　Qantaqa　off　for　walking　and　we　will　speak。〃
　　　　　　　〃Speak　about　what？　People　telling　lies　about　Miriamele？〃
Isgrimnur　cleared　his　throat。　〃He　means　he　will　talk　to　you　about　accepting　the　crown　of　Erkynland。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　turned　back　to　stare　at　the　duke。　This　time；　for　all　his　newfound　maturity；　the　young　man　could　not　hide　any　of　his　feelings。　〃You　are　。。。　you　are　offering　me　the　throne？〃　he　asked　derisively；　incredulously。　〃This　is　madness！　Me？　A　kitchen　boy！〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　could　not　help　smiling。　〃You　are　much　more　than　a　kitchen　boy。　Your　deeds　are　already　filling　up　songs　and　stories　everywhere　between　here　and　Nabban。　Wait　until　the　Battle　in　the　Tower　is　added　to　the　tally。〃
〃Aedon　preserve　me；〃　Simon　said　in　disgust。
　　　　　　　〃But　there　are　more　important　things。〃　The　duke　grew　serious。　〃You　are　well…liked　and　well…known。　Not　only　did　you　battle　a　dragon；　you　fought　bravely　for　Sesuad'ra　and　Josua；　and　people　remember　that。　And　now　we　can　tell　them　that　you　have　the　blood　of　Saint　Eahlstan　Fiskerne；　one　of　the　most　beloved　men　ever　to　hold　a　throne。　In　fact；　it　if　weren't　true；　I　would　be　tempted　to　make　it　up。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　it　doesn't　mean　anything？〃　Simon　exploded。　〃Don't　you　think　I've　thought　about　it？　I've　been　doing　nothing　but　thinking　since　the　moment　I　realized。　I　am　a　scullion　who　was　taught　by　a　very　wise；　very　kind　man。　I　have　been　lucky　in　my　friends。　I　have　been　caught　up　in　terrible　things；　I　did　what　I　had　to；　and　I　lived　through　it。　None　of　that　has　anything　to　do　with　who　my　great…great…however…many…greats…grandfather　was！〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　waited　a　few　moments　after　Simon　finished；　letting　some　of　the　youth's　anger　pass。　〃But　don't　you　see；〃　the　duke　said　gently；　〃it　doesn't　matter　whether　it　changes　anything　or　not。　As　I　said；　I　don't　think　it　really　matters　much　if　it's　true　or　not。　Dror's　red　mallet；　Simon；　Prester　John's　story　was　a　myth…a　lie！　I've　had　to　struggle　with　that　discovery　myself　in　the　last　few　days。　But　does　it　make　him　any　less　a　king？