tw.togreenangeltower2-第59节

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　　　　　　　〃Both　Zida'ya　and　Hikeda'ya　continued　to　e　to　this　place　after　men　built　their　castle　here　at　Naglimund；〃　the　black…haired　Sitha　explained。　〃Our　presence　frightened　the　mortals；　though　they　saw　us　only　by　moonlight；　and　even　then　only　rarely。　The　man　the　Imperators　had　given　to　rule　over　the　locality　filled　the　fields　all　around　with　the　iron　that　gave　the　place　its　name：　Nail　Fort。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　knew　that　the　nails　were　there　to　keep　out　the　Peaceful　Ones…what　we　Hernystiri　call　your　folk；〃　said　Eolair；　〃but　since　it　was　built　in　the　era　when　your　people　and　ours　were　at　peace；　I　could　not　understand　why　the　place　should　have　needed　such　defenses。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　mortal　named　Aeswides　who　had　it　done　may　have　felt　a　certain　shame　that　he　had　trespassed　on　our　lands　in　building　this　keep　so　close　to　our　city　Da'ai　Chikiza；　on　me　far　side　of　those　hills；〃　Kuroyi　gestured　toward　the　east。　〃He　may　have　feared　that　we　would　some　day　e　and　take　the　place　back；　he　may　also　have　thought　that　those　of　our　folk　who　still　made　pilgrimage　to　this　place　were　spies。　Who　knows？　In　fact；　he　traveled　less　and　less　out　of　the　gates；　and　died　at　last　a　recluse…afraid；　it　was　said；　even　to　leave　his　own　well…guarded　chamber　for　terror　of　what　the　dreaded　immortals　might　do。〃　Kuroyi's　cool　smile　returned。　〃Strangely；　although　the　world　is　already　full　of　fearful　things；　mortals　seem　always　to　hunt　for　new　worries。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nor　do　we　relinquish　the　old　ones。〃　Eolair　returned　the　tall　Sitha's　smile。　〃For；　like　the　cut　of　a　man's　cloak；　we　know　that　the　tried　and　true　is　best　in　the　long　run。　But　I　doubt　you　have　brought　me　here　only　to　tell　about　what　some　long…dead　mortal　did。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　we　have　not；〃　Kuroyi　agreed。　〃Since　we　were　driven　from　the　land　at　a　time　when　we　considered　it　better　policy　not　to　interfere；　and　to　let　the　mortals　build　where　they　wished；　we　have　unanswered　questions　still　about　this　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　we　need　those　questions　answered　now；　Count　Eolair；〃　Likimeya　broke　in。　〃So　tell　us：　this　place　you　call　Naglimund…is　it　known　among　mortals　for　strangeness　of　any　kind？　Apparitions？　Odd　happenings？　Is　it　reputed　a　haunt　of　spirits　of　the　dead？〃；
　　　　　　　The　count　frowned　as　he　considered。　〃I　must　say　that　I　have　never　heard　anything　like　that。　There　are　other　places；　many　others；　some　within　a　league　of　my　birthplace；　of　which　I　could　tell　you　a　whole　night's　worth　of　tales。　But　not　Naglimund。　And　Prince　Josua　was　always　a　lover　of　odd　lore…I　feel　sure　that　if　there　were　such　stories；　it　would　have　been　his　pleasure　to　relate　them。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　sorry　to　force　you　to　tell　such　a　long　tale　yourself　for　so　little　result。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　still　think　it　likely　that　this　place　is　an　A…Genay'asu；〃　Jiriki　said。　〃We　have　thought　so　since　long　before　Asu'a　fell。　Here；　Count　Eolair；　you　look　thirsty。　Let　me　pour　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　Hernystirman　gratefully　accepted　another　cup　of　mulled　。。。　something；　whatever　it　was；　it　tasted　of　flowers　and　wanned　him　very　nicely。　〃In　any　case；〃　he　said　after　he　had　taken　a　few　sips；　〃what　does　it　mean　if　Naglimund　is　such　a　place？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　not　certain。　That　is　one　of　the　things　that　worries　us。〃　Jiriki　sat　down　across　from　Eolair　and　raised　a　slim　hand。　〃We　had　hoped　that　the　Hikeda'ya　came　here　only　to　pay　their　part　of　the　bargain　with　Elias；　and　that　they　had　remained　here　because　it　was　a　way　station　between　Stormspike　and　the　castle　that　stands　on　Asu'a's　bones。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　do　not　think　that　any　longer。〃　It　was　a　statement；　not　a　question。
　　　　　　　〃No。　Our　cousins　have　fought　too　hard；　long　past　the　time　when　they　could　have　gained　anything　from　resisting。　This　is　not　the　final　confrontation。　However　much　Utuk'ku　has　reason　to　hate　us；　it　is　not　a　blind　anger：　she　would　not　throw　away　the　lives　of　so　many　Cloud　Children　to　hold　a　useless　ruin。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　had　not　heard　much　about　the　Norn　Queen；　Utuk'ku；　but　what　he　had　was　shuddersome。　〃So　what　does　she　want？　What　do　they　want？〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　shook　his　head。　〃They　want　to　remain　in　Naglimund。　That　is　all　we　know　for　certain。　And　it　will　be　dreadful　work　to　drive　them　out。　I　fear　for　you　and　your　remaining　soldiers；　Count　Eolair。　I　fear　for　all　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　A　horrible　thought　occurred　to　the　Hernystirman。　〃Forgive　me；　since　I　know　little　of　these　things…although　perhaps　more　now　than　I　would　have　wished…but　you　said　that　these　Beyonding　places　had　something　to　do　with　the　secrets　of　。。。　of　death？〃
　　　　　　　〃All　mysteries　are　one　mystery　until　they　are　solved；〃　said　Kuroyi。　〃We　have　tried　to　learn　more　about　Death　and　Unbeing　from　the　A…Genay'asu'e；　yes。〃
　　　　　　　'These　Norns　we　are　fighting　are　living　creatures…but　their　master　is　not。　Could　they　be　trying　to　bring　the　Storm　King　。。。　back　to　life？〃
　　　　　　　Eolair's　question　brought　neither　derisive　laughter　nor　shocked　silence。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　thought　on　this。〃　Likimeya　was　blunt。　〃It　cannot　happen。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ineluki　is　dead。〃　Kuroyi　spoke　more　softly；　but　with　equal　firmness。　〃There　are　some　things　we　know　about　only　little；　but　death　we　know　very　well。〃　His　lips　twitched　in　a　tiny；　dry　smile。　〃Very　well；　indeed。　Ineluki　is　dead。　He　cannot　return　to　this　world。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　told　me　he　was　in　Stormspike；〃　Eolair　said　to　Jiriki。　〃You　said　that　the　Norns　do　as　he　bids。　Are　we　at　war　against　something　imaginary？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　indeed　confusing；　Count　Eolair；〃　Jiriki　replied。　〃Ineluki…although　he　is　not　truly　Ineluki　any　more…has　no　more　existence　than　a　sort　of　dream。　He　is　an　evil　and　vengeful　dream；　one　that　possesses　all　the　craftiness　that　the　Storm　King　had　in　life；　as　well　as　knowledge　of　the　ultimate　darknesses　no　living　thing　has　ever　had　。。。　but　he　is　only　a　dream；　for　all　of　that。　Trust　that　I　speak　truly。　As　we　can　travel　on　the　Road　of　Dreams；　and　see　and　feel　things　there；　so　Ineluki　can　speak　to　his　followers　in　Nakkiga　through　the　Breathing　Harp；　which　is　one　of　the　greatest　of　the　Master　Witnesses…although　I　would　guess　that　Utuk'ku　alone　has　the　skill　even　to　understand　him。　So　he　is　not　a　thing；　Eolair；　with　an　existence　in　this　world。〃　He　gestured　to　the　walls　of　the　tent。　〃He　is　not　real；　like　this　cloth　is　real；　like　the　ground　is　real　beneath　our　feet。　But　that　does　not　mean　he　cannot　do　great　evil。。。　and　Utuk'ku　and　her　servitors　are　more　than　real　enough。〃
　　　　　　　〃Forgive　me　if　I　seem　stubborn；〃　Eolair　said；　〃but　I　have　heard　much　tonight　that　is　still　confused　in　my　head。　If　Ineluki　cannot　return；　then　why　are　the　Norns　so　eager　to　hold　Naglimund？〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　the　question　we　must　answer；〃　said　Jiriki。　〃Perhaps　they　hope　to　use　the　A…Genay'asu　to　make　their　master's　voice　clearer。　Perhaps　they　intend　to　tap　its　force　in　some　other　way。　But　it　is　clear　that　they　want　this　place　very　much。　One　of　the　Red　Hand　is　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Red　Hand？　The　Storm　King's　servants？〃
　　　　　　　〃His　greatest　servants；　since　like　him　they　have　passed　through　death　and　into　the　outer　realms。　But　they　cannot　exist　in　this　world　without　an　immense　expenditure　of　power　by　him　every　moment　they　are　embodied；　for　they　are　almost　as　much　of　a　deadly　contradiction　as　he　is。　That　is　why　when　one　of　them　attacked　us　in　our　fastness　at　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　we　knew　that　the　time　had　e　to　take　up　arms。　Ineluki　and　Utuk'ku　must　have　been　desperate　to　expend　so　much　force　to　silence　Amerasu。〃　He　paused。　Eolair　stared；　bewildered　by　the　unfamiliar　names。　〃I　will　explain　this　to　you　at　a　later　time；　Count　Eolair。〃　Jiriki　stood。　〃I　am　sure　you　are　weary；　and　we　have　talked　much　of　your　sleeping　time　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　this　Red　Hand　creature　is　here？　Have　you　seen　it？〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　pointed　at　the　campfire。　〃Do　you　have　to　touch　the　flames　to　know　that　the　fire　is　hot？　He　is　here；　and　that　is　why　we　have　not　been　able　to　overe　their　most　important　defenses；　why　we　must　instead　knock　down　stone　walls　and　struggle　with　sword　and　spear。　A　large　portion　of　Ineluki's　power　is　burning　down　in　the　heart　of　Naglimund's　keep。　But　for　all　his　might；　the　Storm　King　has　limits。　He　is　spread　thin　。。。　so　there　must　be　some　reason　he　wishes　this　place　to　remain　in　the　hands　of　the　Hikeda'ya。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　stood；　too。　The　blur　of　strange　ideas　and　names　had　begun　to　tell　on　him：　he　was　indeed　feeling　the　need　for　sleep。　〃Perhaps　the　Norns'　task　is　something　to　do　with　the　Red　Hand；　then；〃　the　count　said。　〃Perhaps　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki's　smile　was　sad。　〃We　have　cursed　you　with　our　own　plague　of　'perhaps；'　Count　Eolair。　We　had　hoped　you　would　give　us　answers；　but　instead　we　have　weighed　you　down　with　questions。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　not　been　free　of　them　since　old　King　John　died。〃　He　stifled　a　yawn。　〃So　this　is　nothing　strange。〃　He　laughed。　〃What　a　thing　to　say！　It　is　maddeningly　strange。　But　not　unusual。　Not　in　these　times。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　in　these　times；〃　agreed　Jiriki。
　　　　　　　Eolair　bowed　to　Likimeya；　then　nodded　a　farewell　to　stone…faced　Kuroyi　before　walking　out　into　the　cold　wind。　Thoughts　were　buzzing　in　his　head　like　flies；　but　he　knew　that　nothing　useful　could　be　done　about　any　of　them。　Sleep　was　what　he　needed。　Perhaps；　if　he　was　lucky；　he　would　sleep　right　through　the　remainder　of　this　gods…cursed　siege。

　　　　　　　Maegwin　had　quietly　left　her　tent　while　the　weary　guard…he　seemed　a　sad　a