mck.harpistinthewind-第24章

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she　was　shivering　badly。　She　took　her　gloves　off；　drew　his　windblown　fire　to　a　still　bright　blaze　with　her　hands。　Slowly　he　realized　how　long　it　had　been　since　they　had　spoken。
　　　　　　　〃Lungold；〃　he　whispered。　The　word　seemed　meaningless　in　the　tumult　of　the　wastes。　But　she　had　journeyed　out　of　the　world　to　find　him　here。　He　reached　through　the　fire；　laid　his　hand　against　her　face。　She　gazed　at　him　mutely　as　he　sat　back　again。　She　drew　her　knees　up；　huddled　in　her　furs　against　the　wind。
　　　　　　　〃I　heard　your　harping；〃　she　said。　He　touched　the　strings　soundlessly；　remembering。
　　　　　　　〃I　promised　you　I　would　harp。〃　His　voice　was　husky　with　disuse。　He　added　curiously；　〃Where　have　you　been？　You　followed　me　across　the　backlands；　you　were　with　me　in　Erlenstar　Mountain。　Then　you　vanished。〃
　　　　　　　She　stared　at　him　again；　he　wondered　if　she　were　going　to　answer。　〃I　didn't　vanish。　You　did。〃　Her　voice　was　suddenly　tremulous。　〃Off　the　face　of　the　realm。　The　wizards　have　been　searching　everywhere　for　you。　So　have　the　shape。。。　the　shape…changers。　So　have　I。　I　thought　maybe　you　were　dead。　But　here　you　are；　harping　in　this　wind　that　could　kill　and　you　aren't　even　cold。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　silent。　The　harp　that　had　sung　with　the　winds　felt　suddenly　chilled　under　his　hands。　He　set　it　on　the　ground　beside　him。　〃How　did　you　find　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　searched。　In　every　shape　I　could　think　of。　I　thought　maybe　you　were　with　the　vesta。　So　I　went　to　Har　and　asked　him　to　teach　me　the　vesta…shape。　He　started　to；　but　when　he　touched　my　mind；　he　stopped　and　told　me　he　did　not　think　he　had　to　teach　me。　So；　I　had　to　explain　that　to　him。　Then　he　made　me　tell　him　everything　that　had　happened　in　Erlenstar　Mountain。　He　said　nothing；　except　that　you　must　be　found。　Finally；　he　took　me　across　Grim　Mountain　to　the　vesta　herds。　And　while　I　travelled　with　them；　I　began　to　hear　your　harping　on　the　edge　of　my　mind；　on　the　edge　of　the　winds。。。　Morgon；　if　I　can　find　you；　so　can　others。　Did　you　e　out　here　to　learn　to　harp？　Or　did　you　just　run？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　just　ran。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　are　you。。。　are　you　planning　to　e　back？〃
　　　　　　　〃For　what？〃
　　　　　　　She　was　silent。　The　fire　flickered　wildly　in　front　of　her；　weaving　itself　into　the　wind。　She　stilled　it　again；　her　eyes　never　leaving　his　face。　She　moved　abruptly　to　his　side　and　held　him　tightly；　her　face　against　the　shaggy　fur　at　his　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃I　could　learn　to　live　in　the　wastes；　I　guess；〃　she　whispered。　〃It's　so　cold　here；　and　nothing　grows。。。　but　the　winds　and　your　harping　are　beautiful。〃
　　　　　　　His　head　bowed。　He　put　his　arm　around　her；　drawing　her　hood　back　so　that　he　could　feel　her　cheek　against　his。　Something　touched　his　heart；　an　ache　of　cold　that　he　finally　felt；　or　a　painful　stirring　of　warmth。
　　　　　　　〃You　heard　the　voices　of　the　shape…changers　in　Erlenstar　Mountain；〃　he　said　haltingly。　〃You　know　what　they　are。　They　know　all　languages。　They　are　Earth…Masters；　still　at　war；　after　thousands　of　years；　with　the　High　One。　And　I　am　bait　for　their　traps。　That's　why　they　never　kill　me。　They　want　him。　If　they　destroy　him；　they　will　destroy　the　realm。　If　they　cannot　find　me；　perhaps　they　will　not　find　him。〃　She　started　to　speak；　but　he　went　on；　his　voice　thawing；　harsher；　〃You　know　what　I　did　in　that　mountain。　I　was　angry　enough　to　murder；　and　I　shaped　myself　into　wind　to　do　it。　There　is　no　place　in　the　realm　for　anyone　of　such　power。　What　will　I　do　with　it？　I'm　the　Star…Bearer。　A　promise　made　by　the　dead　to　fight　a　war　older　than　the　names　of　the　kingdoms。　I　was　born　with　power　that　leaves　me　nameless　in　my　own　world。。。　and　with　all　the　terrible　longing　to　use　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　you　came　here　to　the　wastes；　where　you　would　have　no　reason　to　use　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　　　　　She　slid　a　hand　beneath　his　hood；　her　fingers　brushing　his　brow　and　his　scarred　cheekbone。　〃Morgon；〃　she　said　softly；　〃I　think　if　you　wanted　to　use　it；　you　would。　If　you　found　a　reason。　You　gave　me　a　reason　to　use　my　own　power；　at　Lungold　and　across　the　back…lands。　I　love　you；　and　I　will　fight　for　you。　Or　sit　here　with　you　in　the　wastes　until　you　drift　into　snow。　If　the　need　of　the　land…rulers；　all　those　who　love　you；　can't　stir　you　from　this　place；　what　can？　What　hurt　you　in　the　dark　at　Erlenstar　Mountain？〃
　　　　　　　He　was　silent。　The　winds　roared　out　of　the　night；　a　vast　chaos　converging　upon　a　single　point　of　light。　They　had　no　faces；　no　language　he　could　understand。　He　whispered；　gazing　at　them；　〃The　High　One　cannot　speak　my　name；　any　more　than　a　slab　of　granite　can。　We　are　bound　in　some　way；　I　know。　He　values　my　life；　but　he　does　not　even　know　what　it　is。　I　am　the　Star…Bearer。　He　will　give　me　my　life。　But　nothing　else。　No　hope；　no　justice；　no　passion。　Those　words　belong　to　men。　Here　in　the　wastes；　I　am　threatening　no　one。　I　am　keeping　myself　safe；　the　High　One　safe；　and　the　realm　untroubled　by　a　power　too　dangerous　to　use。''
　　　　　　　〃The　realm　is　troubled。　The　land…rulers　put　more　hope　in　you　than　they　do　in　the　High　One。　You　they　can　talk　to。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　I　made　myself　into　a　weapon　for　Earth…Masters　to　battle　with；　not　even　you　would　recognize　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe。　You　told　me　a　riddle　once；　when　I　was　afraid　of　my　own　power。　About　the　Herun　woman　Arya；　who　brought　a　dark；　frightening　animal　she　could　not　name　into　her　house。　You　never　told　me　how　it　ended。〃
　　　　　　　He　stirred　a　little。　〃She　died　of　fear。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　animal？　What　was　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃No　one　knew。　It　wailed　for　seven　days　and　seven　nights　at　her　grave；　in　a　voice　so　full　of　love　and　grief　that　no　one　who　heard　it　could　sleep　or　eat。　And　then　it　died；　too。〃
　　　　　　　She　lifted　her　head；　her　lips　parted；　and　he　remembered　a　moment　out　of　a　dead　past：　he　sat　in　a　small　stone　chamber　at　Caithnard；　studying　riddles　and　feeling　his　heart　twist　with　joy　and　terror　and　sorrow　to　their　unexpected　turnings。　He　added；　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　not。　You　would　know。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　silent　again。　He　shifted　so　that　her　head　lay　in　the　crook　of　his　shoulder；　and　his　arms　circled　her。　He　laid　his　cheek　against　his　hair。　〃I'm　tired；〃　he　said　simply。　〃I　have　answered　too　many　riddles。　The　Earth…Masters　began　a　war　before　history；　a　war　that　killed　their　own　children。　If　I　could　fight　them；　I　would；　for　the　sake　of　the　realm；　but　I　think　I　would　only　kill　myself　and　the　High　One。　So　I'm　doing　the　only　thing　that　makes　any　sense　to　me。　Nothing。〃
　　　　　　　She　did　not　answer　for　a　long　time。　He　held　her　quietly；　watching　the　fire　spark　a　silvery　wash　across　her　cloak。　She　said　slowly；　〃Morgon；　there　is　one　more　riddle　maybe　you　should　answer。　You　stripped　all　illusions　from　Ghisteslwchholm；　you　named　the　shape…changers；　you　woke　the　High　One　out　of　his　silence。　But　there　is　one　more　thing　you　have　not　named；　and　it　will　not　die。。。〃　Her　voice　shook　into　silence。　He　felt　suddenly；　through　all　the　bulky　fur　between　them；　the　beat　of　her　heart。
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　The　word　was　a　whisper　she　could　not　have　heard；　but　she　answered　him。
　　　　　　　〃In　Lungold；　I　talked　to　Yrth　in　crow…shape。　So　I　did　not　know　then　that　he　is　blind。　I　went　to　Isig；　searching　for　you；　and　I　found　him　there。　His　eyes　are　the　color　of　water　burned　by　light。　He　told　me　that　Ghisteslwchlohm　had　blinded　him　during　the　destruction　of　Lungold。　And　I　didn't　question　that。　He　is　a　big；　gentle；　ancient　man；　and　Danan's　grandchildren　followed　him　all　over　the　mountain　while　he　was　searching　for　you　among　the　stones　and　trees。　One　evening　Bere　brought　a　harp　he　had　made　to　the　hall　and　asked　Yrth　to　play　it。　He　laughed　a　little　and　said　that　though　he　had　been　known　once　as　the　Harpist　of　Lungold；　he　hadn't　touched　a　harp　for　seven　centuries。　But　he　played　a　little。。。　And；　Morgon；　I　knew　that　harping。　It　was　the　same　awkward；　tentative　harping　that　haunted　you　down　Trader's　Road　and　drew　you　into　Ghisteslwchlohm's　power。〃
　　　　　　　He　lifted　her　face　between　his　hands。　He　was　feeling　the　wind　suddenly；　scoring　all　his　bones　with　time。　〃What　are　you　telling　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。　But　how　many　blind　harpists　who　cannot　harp　can　there　be　in　the　world？〃
　　　　　　　He　took　a　breath　of　wind；　it　burned　through　him　like　cold　fire。　〃He's　dead。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　he's　challenging　you　out　of　his　grave。　Yrth　harped　to　me　that　night　so　that　I　would　carry　the　riddle　of　his　harping　to　you；　wherever　in　the　realm　you　were。''
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　But　I　know　that　he　wants　to　find　you。　And　that　if　he　was　a　harpist　named　Deth　who　travelled　with　you；　as　Yrth　did；　down　Trader's　Road；　then　he　spun　riddles　so　secretly；　so　skillfully；　that　he　blinded　even　Ghisteslwchlohm。　And　even　you；　the　Riddle…Master　of　Hed。　I　think　maybe　you　should　name　him。　Because　he　is　playing　his　own　silent；　deadly　game；　and　he　may　be　the　only　one　in　this　realm　who　knows　exactly　what　he　is　doing。〃
　　　　　　　〃Who　in　Hel's　name　is　he？''　He　was　shivering　suddenly；　uncontrollably。　〃Deth　took　the　Black　of　Mastery　at　Caithnard。　He　was　a　riddler。　He　knew　my　name　before　I　did。　I　suspected　once　that　he　might　be　a　Lungold　wizard。　I　asked　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　did　he　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　said　he　was　the　High　One's　harpist。　So　I　asked　him　what　he　was　doing　in　Isig　while　Yrth　made　my　harp；　a　hundred　years　before　he　was　born。　He　told　me　to　trust　him。　Beyond　logic；　beyond　reason；　beyond　hope。　And　then　he　betrayed　me。〃　He　drew　her　against　him；　but　the　wind　ran　between　them　like　a　knife。　〃It's　cold。　It　was　never　this　cold　before。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　does　he　want？　Is　he　an　Earth…Master；　playing　his　own　solitary　game　for　power？　Does　he　want　me　alive　or　dead？　Does　he　want　the　High　One　alive　or　dead？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。　You're　the　riddler。　He's　challenging　you。　Ask　him。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　silent；　remembering　the　harpist　on　Trader's　Road　who　had　drawn　him　without　a　word；　with　only　a　halting；　crippled　harping　out　of　the　night　into　Ghisteslwchlohm's　hands。　He　whispered；　〃He　knows　me　too　well。　I　think　whatever　he　wants；　he　will　get。〃　A　gust　struck　them；　smelling　like　snow；　gnawing　icily　at　his　face　and　hands。　It　drove　him　to　his　feet；　breathless；　bunded；　full　of　a　sudden；　helpless　longing　for　hope。　When　he　could　see　again；　he　found　that　Raederle　had　already　changed　shape。　A　vesta　shod　and　crowned　with　gold　gazed　at　him　out　of　deep　purple　eyes。　He　caressed　it；　its　warm　breath　nuzzled　at　his　hands。　He　rested　his　brow　against　the　bone　between　its　eyes。　〃All　right；〃　he　said　with　very　little　irony；　〃I　will　play　a　riddle…game　with　Deth。　Which　way　is　Isig？〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　She　led　him　there　by　sunlight　and　starlight；　south　across　the　wastes；　and　then　eastward　down　the　mountains　of　the　pass　until　at　the　second　dawn　he　saw　the　green　face　of　Isig　Mountain　rising　beyond　the　Ose。　They　reached　the　king's　house　at　dusk；　on　a　wild；　grey　autumn　day。　The　high　peaks　were　already　capped　with　snow；　the　great　pines　around　Harte　sang　in　the　north　wind。　The　travellers　changed　out　of　vesta…shape　when　they　reached　Kyrth　and　walked　the　winding　mountain　road　to　Harte。　The　gates　were　barred　and　guarded；　but　the　miners；　armed　with　great　broadswords　tempered　in　Danan's　forge　fires；　recognized　them　and　let　them　in。
　　　　　　　Danan　and　Vert　and　half　a　dozen　children　left　their　supper　to　meet　them　as　they　entered　the　house。　Danan；　robed　in　fur　against　the　cold；　gave　them　a　bear's　bulky　embrace　and　sent　children　and　se