tw.togreenangeltower2-第8节

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　　　　　　　Miriamele　was　surprisingly　strong　for　her　size；　although　when　Simon　thought　about　what　she　had　been　through　his　surprise　was　less。　She　was　quick　as　well；　with　good　balance；　although　she　tended　to　lean　too　far　forward；　a　habit　that　could　quickly　prove　fatal　in　an　actual　fight；　since　almost　any　opponent　would　be　larger　than　she　was　and　have　a　longer　reach。　All　in　all；　he　was　impressed。　He　sensed　that　he　would　quickly　run　out　of　new　things　to　tell　her；　and　then　it　would　just　be　practice　and　more　practice。　He　was　more　than　a　little　glad　they　were　sparring　with　long　sticks　instead　of　blades；　she　had　managed　during　the　course　of　the　morning　to　give　him　a　few　nasty　swipes。
　　　　　　　After　they　took　a　long　pause　for　water　and　a　rest；　they　changed　places：　Miriamele　instructed　Simon　in　the　care　of　the　bow；　paying　special　attention　to　keeping　the　bowstring　warm　and　dry。　He　smiled　at　his　own　impatience。　As　Miriamele　had　been　unwilling　to　sit　through　his　explanations　of　swordsmanship…much　of　it　taken　in　whole　cloth　from　Camaris'　teachings　to　him…he　himself　was　itching　to　show　her　what　he　could　do　with　a　bow　in　his　hand。　But　she　was　having　none　of　it；　and　so　the　remainder　of　the　afternoon　was　spent　learning　the　proper　draw。　By　the　time　shadows　grew　long；　Simon's　fingers　were　red　and　raw。　He　would　have　to　think　of　some　way　to　acquire　fingerleathers　like　Miriamele's　if　he　was　going　to　be　shooting　in　earnest。
　　　　　　　They　made　a　meal　for　themselves　with　bread　and　an　onion　and　a　little　jerked　meat；　then　saddled　the　horses。
〃Your　horse　needs　a　name；〃　Simon　told　her　as　he　fastened　Homefmder's　belly　strap。　〃Camaris　says　your　horse　is　part　of　you；　but　it's　also　one　of　God's　creatures。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　think　about　it；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　They　looked　one　last　time　around　the　camp　to　make　sure　they　had　left　no　trace　of　their　presence…they　had　buried　the　fire　ashes　and　raked　the　bent　grass　with　a　long　branch…then　rode　out　into　the　disappearing　day。

　　　　　　　〃There's　the　old　forest；〃　Simon　said；　pleased。　He　squinted　against　the　first　dawn　light。　〃That　dark　line；　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see　it。〃　She　headed　her　horse　off　the　road；　aiming　due　north。　〃We　will　go　as　far　toward　it　as　we　can　today　instead　of　stopping…I　am　going　to　break　my　own　rule　and　ride　in　daylight。　I'll　feel　safer　when　we're　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　aren't　going　back　to　Sesuad'ra？〃　Simon　asked。
　　　　　　　〃No。　We're　going　to　Aidheorte…for　a　while。〃
　　　　　　　〃We're　going　to　the　forest？　Why？〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　was　looking　straight　ahead。　She　had　thrown　her　hood　back；　and　the　sun　was　in　her　hair。　〃Because　my　uncle　may　send　people　after　me。　They　won't　be　able　to　find　us　if　we're　in　the　woods。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　remembered　all　too　well　his　experiences　in　the　great　forest。　Very　few　of　them　had　been　pleasant。　〃But　it　takes　forever　to　travel　through　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　won't　be　in　the　woods　long。　Just　enough　to　be　sure　that　no　one　finds　us。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　shrugged。　He　had　no　idea　where　exactly　she　wanted　to　go；　or　why；　but　she　had　obviously　been　planning。
　　　　　　　They　rode　on　toward　the　distant　line　of　the　forest。
　　　　　　　They　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　Aldheorte　late　in　the　afternoon。　The　sun　had　sunk　toward　the　horizon；　the　grassy　hills　were　painted　with　slanting　light。
　　　　　　　Simon　supposed　they　would　stop　and　make　camp　in　the　thin　vegetation　of　the　forest's　outer　edge…after　all；　they　had　now　been　riding　steadily　since　the　evening　before；　almost　a　day　straight；　with　only　a　few　short　naps　stolen　along　the　way…but　Miriamele　was　determined　to　get　well　in；　safe　from　accidental　discovery。　They　rode　through　the　increasingly　close…leaning　trees　until　riding　was　no　longer　practical；　then　led　the　horses　another　quarter　of　a　league。　When　the　princess　at　last　found　a　site　that　was　to　her　liking；　the　forest　was　in　the　last　glow　of　twilight；　beneath　the　thick　tree　canopy　the　world　was　all　muted　shades　of　blue。
　　　　　　　Simon　dismounted　and　hurriedly　started　a　fire。　When　that　was　crackling　healthily；　they　made　camp。　Miriamele　had　picked　the　site　in　part　because　of　a　small　streamlet　that　trickled　nearby。　As　she　searched　for　the　makings　of　a　meal；　he　walked　the　horses　over　to　the　water　to　drink。
　　　　　　　Simon；　after　a　full　day　spent　almost　entirely　in　the　saddle；　found　himself　strangely　wakeful；　as　though　he　had　forgotten　what　sleep　was。　After　he　and　Miriamele　had　fed　themselves；　they　sat　beside　the　fire　and　talked　about　everyday　matters；　although　more　by　Miriamele's　choice　than　Simon's。　He　had　other　things　on　his　mind；　and　thought　it　strange　that　she　should　so　earnestly　discuss　Josua　and　Vorzheva's　ing　child　and　ask　for　more　stories　about　the　battle　with　Fengbald　when　there　were　so　many　questions　still　unanswered　about　their　present　journey。　At　last；　frustrated；　he　held　up　his　hand。
〃Enough　of　this。　You　said　you　would　tell　me　where　we　are　going；　Miriamele。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　into　the　flames　for　a　while　before　speaking；　〃That's　true；　Simon。　I　have　not　been　fair；　I　suppose；　to　bring　you　so　far　on　trust　alone。　But　I　didn't　ask　you　to　e　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　hurt；　but　tried　not　to　show　it。　〃I'm　here；　though。　So　tell　me…where　are　we　going？〃
　　　　　　　She　took　a　deep　breath；　then　let　it　out。　〃To　Erkynland。〃
　　　　　　　He　nodded。　'I　guessed　that。　It　wasn't　hard；　listening　to　you　at　the　Rand。　But　where　in　Erkynland？　And　what　are　we　going　to　do　there？〃
　　　　　　　〃We're　going　to　the　Hayholt。〃　She　looked　at　him　intently；　as　if　daring　him　to　disagree。
　　　　　　　Aedon　have　mercy　on　us；　Simon　thought。　Out　loud；　he　said：　〃To　get　Bright…Nail？〃　Although　it　was　madness　even　to　consider　it；　there　was　a　certain　excitement　to　the　thought。　He…with　help；　admittedly…had　found　and　secured　Thorn；　hadn't　he？　Perhaps　if　he　brought　back　Bright…Nail　as　well；　he　would　be　。。。　He　didn't　even　dare　to　think　the　words；　but　a　sudden　picture　came　to　him…he；　Simon；　a　sort　of　knight…of…knights；　one　who　could　even　court　princesses。。。。
　　　　　　　He　pushed　the　picture　back　into　the　depths。　There　was　no　such　thing；　not　really。　And　he　and　Miriamele　would　never　e　back　from　such　a　foolhardy　venture　in　any　case。　'To　try　to　save　Bright…Nail？〃　he　asked　again。
　　　　　　　Miriamele　was　still　looking　at　him　intently。　〃Perhaps。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps？〃　He　scowled。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　I　would　tell　you　where　we　were　going；〃　she　responded。　〃I　didn't　say　I　would　tell　you　everything　in　my　head。〃
Simon　irritatedly　picked　up　a　stick　and　broke　it　in　half；　then　dumped　the　pieces　into　the　firepit。　〃　'S'　Bloody　Tree；　Miriamele；〃　he　growled；　〃why　are　you　doing　this？　You　said　I　was　your　friend；　but　then　you　treat　me　like　a　child。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　treating　you　like　a　child；〃　she　said　hotly。　〃You　insisted　on　ing　with　me。　Good。　But　my　errand　is　my　own；　whether　I　am　going　to　get　the　sword　or　heading　back　to　the　castle　to　get　a　pair　of　shoes　that　I　left　behind　by　mistake。〃
　　　　　　　Simon　was　still　angry；　but　he　couldn't　suppress　a　bark　of　laughter。　〃You　probably　are　going　back　for　shoes　or　a　dress　or　something。　That　would　be　just　my　luck…to　get　killed　by　the　Erkynguard　in　the　middle　of　a　war　for　trying　to　steal　shoes。〃
　　　　　　　A　little　of　Miriamele's　annoyance　had　dissipated。　〃You　probably　stole　enough　things　and　got　away　with　it　when　you　were　living　at　the　Hayholt。　It　will　only　be　fair。〃'
　　　　　　　〃Stole？　Me？〃
　　　　　　　〃From　the　kitchens；　constantly。　You　told　me　yourself；　although　I　knew　it　already。　And　who　was　it　who　stole　the　sexton's　shovel　and　put　it　in　the　gauntlet　of　that　armor　in　the　Lesser　Hall；　so　that　it　looked　like　Sir　Whoever　was　going　out　to　dig　a　privy　pit？〃
　　　　　　　Surprised　she　had　remembered；　Simon　let　out　a　quiet；　pleased　chortle。　〃Jeremias　did　that　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　dragged　him　into　it；　you　mean。　Jeremias　would　never　have　done　something　like　that　without　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　did　you　know　about　that？〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　gave　him　a　disgusted　look。　〃I　told　you；　you　idiot；　I　followed　you　around　for　weeks。〃
〃You　did；　didn't　you。〃　Simon　was　impressed。　〃What　else　did　you　see　me　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃Mostly　sneak　off　and　sit　around　mooning　when　you　were　supposed　to　be　working；〃　she　snapped。　〃No　wonder　Rachel　had　to　pinch　your　ears　blue。〃
　　　　　　　Offended；　Simon　straightened　his　back。　〃I　only　sneaked　off　to　have　some　time　to　myself。　You　don't　know　what　it's　tike　living　in　the　servants'　quarters。〃
　　　　　　　Miriamele　looked　at　him。　Her　expression　was　suddenly　serious；　even　sad。　〃You're　right。　But　you　don't　know　what　it　was　like　being　me；　either。　There　certainly　wasn't　much　chance　to　be　off　by　myself。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe；〃　Simon　said　stubbornly。　〃But　I'll　bet　the　food　was　better　in　your　part　of　the　Hayholt。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　was　the　same　food；〃　she　shot　back。　〃We　just　ate　it　with　clean　hands。〃　She　looked　pointedly　at　his　ashblackened　fingers。
　　　　　　　Simon　laughed　aloud。　〃Ah！　So　the　difference　between　a　scullion　and　a　princess　is　clean　hands。　I　hate　to　disappoint　you；　Miriamele；　but　after　spending　a　day　up　to　my　elbows　in　the　washing　tub；　my　hands　were　very　clean。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　at　him　mockingly。　〃So　then　I　suppose　there　is　no　difference　between　the　two　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。〃　Simon　grew　suddenly　unfortable　with　the　discussion；　it　was　moving　into　painful　territory。　〃I　don't　know；　Miriamele。〃
　　　　　　　Sensing　that　something　had　changed；　she　fell　silent。
　　　　　　　Insects　were　creaking　music