tw.togreenangeltower2-第67部分
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Binabik looked at her but did not speak。 〃But you do not have to e with me。〃 Disliking the sound of her voice； she added： 〃It might be better if you don't。 Maybe if Simon finds his way out he will e to this place。 Someone should wait for him。 And anyway； this is not your duty； Binabik。 He's my father； but he's your enemy。〃
The troll shook his head。 〃When we e to the place at which no back…turning can happen； then I will decide。 This is not seeming a safe spot to me for waiting。〃 He looked briefly over to the distant Hayholt； in the evening light the castle was only a blackness that contained no stars。 〃But perhaps I could stay hidden somewhere with Qantaqa and e at certain times to look。〃 He made an open…handed gesture。 〃Still； it is too soon for such thinking。 I do not even know what plan you have made for your castle entrance。〃 He turned and waved toward the invisible keep。 〃You may have some way for persuading your father the king； but you would not be taken to him if you present yourself at the gate； I am thinking。 And if Pryrates is receiving you； he may decide it is of more convenience for you to be dead and not interfere with his plans for your father。 You would bee vanished。〃
Miriamele twitched involuntarily。 〃I am not stupid； Binabik； no matter what my uncle and others may think。 I have some ideas of my own。〃
Binabik spread his palms。 〃I do not think you are anything like being stupid； Miriamele。 I am not knowing anyone who thinks that。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 She got to her feet and walked across the damp grass toward her pack。 Rain was ing down in a light mist。 After rummaging in the bag； she found the bundle she had sought and carried it back to the small fire。 〃I spent a long time on Sesuad'ra making these。〃
Binabik unrolled the bundle； then slowly smiled。 〃Ah。〃
〃And I copied them onto hides as well；〃 she said with more than a little pride； 〃because I knew they would last that way。 I saw those scrolls you and Sis 。。。 Sis 。。。〃
〃Sisqinanamook；〃 Binabik said； frowning over the skins。 〃Or 'Sisqi' is easier for lowlander tongues。〃 His face went blank for a moment； then his features resumed life and he looked up at Miriamele。 〃So you copied the maps that Count Eolair was bringing。〃
〃I did。 He said that they were of the old dwarrow tunnels。 Simon came out of the castle through them； so I thought that might be a way to get back in without being caught。〃
〃It is not all being tunnels。〃 Binabik stared at the meandering lines drawn on the skins。 〃The old Sithi castle is beneath the Hayholt； and it was of great largeness。〃 He squinted。 〃These are not easy for reading； these maps。〃
〃I wasn't sure what any of it meant； so I copied it all； even the little drawings and marks on the side；〃 Miriamele said humbly。 〃I only know that these are the right maps because I asked Father Strangyeard。〃 She felt a sudden bite of fear。 〃They are the right maps； aren't they？〃
Binabik nodded slowly； black hair bouncing against his forehead。 〃They are looking like maps of this place； indeed…see； there is what you call the Kynslagh。〃 He pointed to a large curving crescent at the edge of the topmost map。 〃And this must be Swertclif which lies beneath us even now。〃
Miriamele leaned forward to look； following Binabik's small finger with eager attention。 A moment later； she felt a wash of intense sadness。 〃If that's where we are； the spot where Simon fell through has no tunnels。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 Binabik sounded genuinely unsure； 〃But all maps and charts are being made at particular times； Miriamele。 Just as likely it is that other tunnels have been made since the drawing of this thing。〃
〃Elysia； Mother of Mercy； I hope that's true。〃
〃So where was Simon emerging from his tunnels？〃 Binabik asked。 〃I seem to have a memory that it was。。。〃
〃In the lien…yard； just on the other side of the wall from Erchester；〃 Miriamele finished for him。 〃I saw him there； but he ran away when I called to him。 He thought I was a ghost。〃
〃There are many tunnelings that seem to emerge around that place。 But these were made long before Erchester and the rest were being built。 I am doubting these landmarks still remain。〃 He looked up as Qantaqa returned from her hunting； her shaggy pelt pearled with rain。
〃I think I know more or less where he must have e up；〃 Miriamele said。 〃We can look； anyway。〃
〃That we will do。〃 Binabik stretched。 〃Now； one more night we will be sleeping in this place。 Then down to the horses。〃
〃I hope they've had enough to eat。 We didn't expect to leave them this long。〃
〃I can be promising you that if they were finishing the grass； the next thing they chewed through would be the leather traces that held them。 The horses will not suffer for want of finding food； but we may not be finding the horses。〃
Miriamele shrugged。 〃As you are always saying； there's nothing we can do about it until we get there。〃
〃I say it because it has a great truthfulness；〃 Binabik replied gravely。
Rachel the Dragon knew what she would find； but her resignation did not make it less of a blow。 For the eighth day in a row； the food and water she had put out were untouched。
Offering a sad prayer for patience to Saint Rhiappa； Rachel gathered up those things that would not keep and put them in her sack。 She would eat the small apple and the bit of hardening bread tonight。 She replaced the neglected offerings with fresh ones； then lifted the lid on the bowl of water to make sure it was still clean and drinkable。
She frowned。 Where was that poor man Guthwulf？ She hated to think of him wandering blind in the darkness； unable to find his way back to the regular meals that she had been providing him。 She was half…tempted to go and look for him…had in fact roamed a little wider than normal in the last few days…but knew that it would be inviting trouble。 The farther down into these tunnels she went； the greater the chance that she would fall and hit her head； or tumble into a hole。 Then she would be helpless。 She might worry about blind Guthwulf； but no one at all was worrying about old Rachel。
These thoughts made her frown deepen。 Just as such things might happen to her； so might they have happened to Guthwulf。 He might be only a few furlongs away； lying injured。 The thought of someone needing her care when she could not give it was like an itch inside of her； a hot frustration。 Once she had been the mistress of all the castle servants； a queen of sorts； now she could not even do what was necessary for one poor sightless madman。
Rachel shouldered her bag and stumped back up the stairs； heading toward her hidden sanctuary。 When she had pulled aside the tapestry and pushed the door inward on its well…oiled hinges； she lit one of her lanterns and looked around。 In a way； it was almost restful living in such a solitary fashion： the place was so small it was easy to keep clean； and since only she came there； she knew that everything was done in just the right way。
Rachel set the lamp on the stool she used as a table and pulled her chair next to it； wincing。 The damp was in her bones tonight； and her extremities ached。 She did not feel much like sewing； but there was little else to do； and it was still at least an hour before the time she would go to bed。 Rachel was determined not to lose her routine。 She had always been one to wake up just moments before the horn blare of the night sentries giving over duty to the ing watch； but these days only her morning trip upstairs to get water from the room with an outside window helped her retain a connection with the world beyond。 She did not want anything to strain the tenuous contact with her old life； so she would sew for at least an hour before she allowed herself to lie down； no matter how her fingers cramped。
She took out her knife and cut the apple into small sections。 She ate it carefully； but when she was finished her teeth and gums hurt； so she dipped the heel of bread into her water cup to soften before she ate it。 Rachel grimaced。 Everything hurt tonight。 There was a storm ing； that seemed sure…her bones told her。 It didn't seem fair。 There had only been a few days in the past week when she had actually been able to see sunlight out of the window upstairs； and now even that was to be snatched away。
Rachel found her needlework hard going。 Her mind kept flittering away； something that normally would not have affected her stitchery at all； but which tonight was causing her to stop for long moments between every few movements of the needle。
What would things have been like if Pryrates hadn 't e？ she wondered。
Elias might not have been a wonderful king like his sainted father； but he was strong and shrewd and capable。 Perhaps he would have outgrown his churlishness and his bad panions； the castle would have remained in her control； the long tables snowy with their spotless cloths； the flagstones swept and mopped to a high gleam。 The chambermaids would be working industriously…under Rachel's stern gaze； everyone worked industriously。 Well； almost everyone 。。。
Yes； Simon。 If the red priest hadn't e to blight t
