rz.signoftheunicorn-第26章

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et　it。。。
　As　there　is　not；　I　plete　the　stroke；　delivering　the　blow　with　the　full　force　of　my　right　arm；　high　upon　that　lethal　device　of　moonlight　and　fire；　blackness　and　smoothness；　near　to　the　point　where　it　is　joined　with　him。
　With　an　evil　tearing　at　my　shoulder；　the　arm　es　away　from　Benedict　and　grows　still。。。　We　both　fall。
　〃Get　up！　By　the　unicorn；　Corwin；　get　up！　The　sun　is　rising！　The　city　will　e　apart　about　you！〃
　The　floor　beneath　me　wavers　to　and　from　a　misty　transparency。　I　glimpse　a　light…scaled　expanse　of　water。　I　roll　to　my　feet；　barely　avoiding　the　ghost's　rush　to　clutch　at　the　arm　he　has　lost。　It　clings　like　a　dead　parasite　and　my　side　is　hurting　again。。。
　Suddenly　I　am　heavy　and　the　vision　of　ocean　does　not　fade。　I　begin　to　sink　through　the　floor。　Color　returns　to　the　world；　wavering　stripes　of　pink。　The　Corwin…spurning　floor　parts　and　the　Corwin…killing　gulf　is　opened。。。
　I　fall。。。
　〃This　way；　Corwin！　Now！〃
　Random　stands　on　a　mountaintop　and　reaches　for　me。　I　extend　my　hand。。。
　
　
　Chapter　11
　
　。。。　And　frying　pans　without　fires　are　often　far　between。。。
　We　untangled　ourselves　and　rose。　I　sat　down　again　immediately；　on　the　bottommost　stair。　I　worked　the　metal　hand　loose　from　my　shoulder　…　no　blood　there；　but　a　promise　of　bruises　to　e　…　then　cast　it　and　its　arm　to　the　ground。　The　light　of　early　morning　did　not　detract　from　its　exquisite　and　menacing　appearance。
　Ganelon　and　Random　stood　beside　me。
　〃You　all　right；　Corwin？〃
　〃Yes。　Just　let　me　catch　my　breath。〃
　〃I　brought　food；〃　Random　said。　〃We　could　have　breakfast　right　here。〃
　〃Good　idea。〃
　As　Random　began　unpacking　provisions；　Ganelon　nudged　the　arm　with　the　toe　of　his　boot。
　〃What　the　hell；〃　he　asked；　〃is　that？〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃I　lopped　it　off　the　ghost　of　Benedict；〃　I　told　him。　〃For　reasons　I　do　not　understand；　it　was　able　to　reach　me。〃
　He　stooped　and　picked　it　up；　studied　it。
　〃A　lot　lighter　than　I　thought　it　would　be；〃　he　observed。　He　raked　the　air　with　it。　〃You　could　do　quite　a　job　on　someone；　with　a　hand　like　that。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　He　worked　the　fingers。
　〃Maybe　the　real　Benedict　could　use　it。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　I　said。　〃My　feelings　are　quite　mixed　when　it　es　to　offering　it　to　him；　but　possibly　you're　right。。。〃
　〃How's　the　side？〃
　I　prodded　it　gently。
　〃Not　especially　bad；　everything　considered。　I'll　be　able　to　ride　after　breakfast；　so　long　as　we　take　it　nice　and　easy。〃
　〃Good。　Say；　Corwin；　while　Random　is　getting　things　ready；　I　have　a　question　that　may　be　out　of　order；　but　it　has　been　bothering　me　all　along。〃
　〃Ask　it。〃
　〃Well；　let　me　put　it　this　way：　I　am　all　for　you；　or　I　would　not　be　here。　I　will　fight　for　you　to　have　your　throne；　no　matter　what。　But　every　time　talk　of　the　succession　occurs；　someone　gets　angry　and　breaks　it　off　or　the　subject　gets　changed。　Like　Random　did；　while　you　were　up　there。　I　suppose　that　it　is　not　absolutely　essential　for　me　to　know　the　basis　of　your　claim　to　the　throne；　or　that　of　any　of　the　others；　but　I　cannot　help　being　curious　as　to　the　reasons　for　all　the　friction。〃
　I　sighed；　then　sat　silent　for　a　time。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said　after　a　while；　and　then　I　chuckled。　〃All　right。　If　we　cannot　agree　on　these　things　ourselves；　I　would　guess　that　they　must　seem　pretty　confused　to　an　outsider。　Benedict　is　the　eldest。　His　mother　was　Cymnea。　She　bore　Dad　two　other　sons；　also　…　Osric　and　Finndo。　Then　…　how　does　one　put　these　things？　…　Faiella　bore　Eric。　After　that；　Dad　found　some　defect　in　his　marriage　with　Cymnea　and　had　it　dissolved　…　ab　initio；　as　they　would　say　in　my　old　shadow　…　from　the　beginning。　Neat　trick；　that。　But　he　was　the　king。〃
　〃Didn't　that　make　all　of　them　illegitimate？〃
　〃Well；　it　left　their　status　less　certain。　Osric　and　Finndo　were　more　than　a　little　irritated；　as　I　understand　it；　but　they　died　shortly　thereafter。　Benedict　was　either　less　irritated　or　more　politic　about　the　entire　affair。　He　never　raised　a　fuss。　Dad　then　married　Faiella。〃
　〃And　that　made　Eric　legitimate？〃
　〃It　would　have；　if　he　had　acknowledged　Eric　as　his　son。　He　treated　him　as　if　he　were；　but　he　never　did　anything　formal　in　that　regard。　It　involved　the　smoothing…over　process　with　Cymnea's　family；　which　had　bee　a　bit　stronger　around　that　time。〃
　〃Still；　if　he　treated　him　as　his　own。。。〃
　〃Ah！　But　he　later　did　acknowledge　Llewella　formally。　She　was　born　out　of　wedlock；　but　he　decided　to　recognize　her；　poor　girl。　All　of　Eric's　supporters　hated　her　for　its　effect　on　his　status。　Anyway；　Faiella　was　later　to　bee　my　mother。　I　was　born　safely　in　wedlock；　making　me　the　first　with　a　clean　claim　on　the　throne。　Talk　to　one　of　the　others　and　you　may　get　a　different　line　of　reasoning；　but　those　are　the　facts　it　will　have　to　be　based　on。　Somehow　it　does　not　seem　quite　as　important　as　it　once　did；　though；　with　Eric　dead　and　Benedict　not　really　interested。。。　But　that　is　where　I　stand。〃
　〃I　see　…　sort　of；〃　he　said。　〃Just　one　more　thing；　then。。。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Who　is　next？　That　is　to　say；　if　anything　were　to　happen　to　you。。。？〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃It　gets　even　more　plicated　there；　now。　Caine　would　have　been　next　with　him　dead；　I　see　it　as　swinging　over　to　Clarissa's　brood　…　the　redheads。　Bleys　would　have　followed；　then　Brand。〃
　〃Clarissa？　What　became　of　your　mother？〃
　〃She　died　in　childbirth。　Deirdre　was　the　child。　Dad　did　not　remarry　for　many　years　after　mother's　death。　When　he　did；　it　was　a　redheaded　wench　from　a　far　southern　shadow。　I　never　liked　her。　He　began　feeling　the　same　way　after　a　time　and　started　fooling　around　again。　They　had　one　reconciliation　after　Llewella's　birth　in　Rebma；　and　Brand　was　the　result。　When　they　were　finally　divorced；　he　recognized　Llewella　to　spite　Clarissa。　At　least；　that　is　what　I　think　happened。〃
　〃So　you　are　not　counting　the　ladies　in　the　succession？〃
　〃No。　They　are　neither　interested　nor　fit。　If　I　were；　though；　Fiona　would　precede　Bleys　and　Llewella　would　follow　him。　After　Clarissa's　crowd；　it　would　swing　over　to　Julian；　Gerard；　and　Random；　in　that　order。　Excuse　me　…　count　Flora　before　Julian。　The　marriage　data　is　even　more　involved；　but　no　one　will　dispute　the　final　order。　Let　it　go　at　that。〃
　〃Gladly；〃　he　said。　〃So　now　Brand　gets　it　if　you　die；　right？〃
　〃Well。。。　He　is　a　self…confessed　traitor　and　he　rubs　everybody　the　wrong　way。　I　do　not　believe　the　rest　of　them　would　have　him；　as　he　stands　now。　But　I　do　not　believe　he　has　by　any　means　given　up。〃
　〃But　the　alternative　is　Julian。〃　I　shrugged。
　〃The　fact　that　I　do　not　like　Julian　does　not　make　him　unfit。　In　fact；　he　might　even　be　a　very　effective　monarch。〃
　〃So　he　knifed　you　for　the　chance　to　prove　it；〃　Random　called　out。　〃e　on　and　eat。〃
　〃I　still　don't　think　so；〃　I　said；　getting　to　my　feet　and　heading　for　the　food。　〃First；　I　don't　see　how　he　could　have　gotten　to　me。　Second；　it　would　have　been　too　damned　obvious。　Third；　if　I　die　in　the　near　future　Benedict　will　have　the　real　say　as　to　the　succession。　Everyone　knows　that。　He's　got　the　seniority；　he's　got　the　wits；　and　he's　got　the　power。　He　could　simply　say；　for　example。　The　hell　with　all　this　bickering；　I　am　backing　Gerard；　and　that　would　be　it。〃
　〃What　if　he　decided　to　reinterpret　his　own　status　and　take　it　himself？〃　Ganelon　asked。
　We　seated　ourselves　on　the　ground　and　took　the　tin　dishes　Random　had　filled。
　〃He　could　have　had　it　long　before　this；　had　he　wanted　it；〃　I　said。　〃There　are　several　ways　of　regarding　the　offspring　of　a　void　marriage；　and　the　most　favorable　one　would　be　the　most　likely　in　his　case。　Osric　and　Finndo　rushed　to　judgment；　taking　the　worst　view。　Benedict　knew　better。　He　just　waited。　So。。。　It　is　possible。　Unlikely；　though。　I'd　say。〃
　〃Then　…　in　the　normal　course　of　affairs　…　if　anything　happened　to　you；　it　could　still　be　very　much　in　the　air？〃
　〃Very　much。〃
　〃But　why　was　Caine　killed？〃　Random　asked。　Then；　between　mouthfuls；　he　answered　his　own　question。　〃So　that　when　they　got　you；　it　would　swing　over　to　Clarissa's　kids　immediately。　It　has　occurred　to　me　that　Bleys　is　probably　still　living；　and　he　is　next　in　line。　His　body　was　never　found。　My　guess　is　this：　He　trumped　off　to　Fiona　during　your　attack　and　returned　to　Shadow　to　rebuild　his　forces；　leaving　you　to　what　he　hoped　would　be　your　death　at　the　hands　of　Eric。　He　is　finally　ready　to　move　again。　So　they　killed　Caine　and　tried　for　you。　If　they　are　really　allied　with　the　black…road　horde；　they　could　have　arranged　for　another　assault　from　that　quarter。　Then　he　could　have　done　the　same　thing　you　did　…　arrive　at　the　last　hour；　turn　back　the　invaders；　and　move　on　in。　And　there　he　would　be；　next　in　line　and　first　in　force。　Simple。　Except　that　you　survived　and　Brand　has　been　returned。　If　we　are　to　believe　Brand's　accusation　of　Fiona　…　and　I　see　no　reason　why　we　should　not　…　then　it　follows　from　their　original　program。〃
　I　nodded。
　〃Possibly；〃　I　said。　〃I　asked　Brand　just　those　things。　He　admitted　their　possibility；　but　he　disavowed　any　knowledge　as　to　whether　Bleys　was　still　living。　Personally；　I　think　he　was　lying。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃It　is　possible　that　he　wishes　to　bine　revenge　for　his　imprisonment　and　the　attempt　on　his　life　with　the　removal　of　the　one　impediment；　save　for　myself；　to　his　own　succession。　I　think　he　feels　that　I　will　be　expended　in　a　scheme　he　is　evolving　to　deal　with　the　black　road。　The　destruction　of　his　own　cabal　and　the　removal　of　the　road　could　make　him　look　pretty　decent；　especially　after　all　the　penance　he　has　had　thrust　upon　him。　Then；　maybe　then；　he　would　have　a　chance　…　or　thinks　that　he　would。〃
　〃Then　you　think　Bleys　is　still　living；　too？〃
　〃Just　a　feeling；〃　I　said。　〃But　yes；　I　do。〃
　〃What　is　their　strength；　anyway？〃
　〃An　endorsement　of　higher　education；〃　I　said。　〃Fiona　and　Brand　paid　attention　to　Dworkin　while　the　rest　of　us　were　off　indulging　our　assorted　passions　in　Shadow。　Consequently；　they　seem　to　have　obtained　a　better　grasp　of　principles　than　we　possess。　They　know　more　about　Shadow　and　what　lies　beyond　it；　more　about　the　Pattern；　more　about　the　Trumps　than　we　do。　That　is　why　Brand　was　able　to　send　you　his　message。〃
　〃An　interesting　thought。。。〃　Random　mused。　〃Do　you　think　they　might　have　disposed　of　Dworkin　after　they　felt　they　had　learned　enough　from　him？　It　would　certainly　help　to　keep　things　exclusive；　if　anything　happened　to　Dad。〃
　〃That　thought　had　not　occurred　to　me；〃　I　said。
　And　I　wondered；　could　they　have　done　something　that　had　affected　his　mind？　Something　that　left　him　as　he　was　when　last　I　had　seen　him？　If　so；　were　they　aware　that　he　was　possibly　still　living；　somewhere？　Or　might　they　have　assumed　his　total　destruction？
　〃Yes；　an　interesting　thought；〃　I　said。　〃I　suppose　that　it　is　possible。〃
　The　sun　inched　its　way　upward；　and　the　food　restored　me。　No　trace　of　Tir…na　Nog'th　remained　in　the　morning's　light。　My　memories　of　it　had　already　taken　on　the　quality　of　images　in　a　dim　mirror。　Ganelon　fetched　its　only　other　token；　the　arm；　and　Random　packed　it　away　along　with　the　dishes。　By　daylight；　the　first　three　steps　looked　less　like　stairs　and　more　like　jumbled　rock。
　Random　gestured　with　his　head。　〃Take　the　same　way　back？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　and　we　mounted。
　We　had　e　by　way　of　a　trail　that　wound　about　Kolvir　to　the　south。　It　was　longer　but　less　rugged　than　the　route　across　the　crest。　I'd　a　hu