epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第14章

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bey；　and　above　all；　to　you。　And　who　stood　in　your　way　but　my　father？　Yours；　not　the　saint's！　Show　me　a　better　reason　for　wanting　him　dead！　Did　any　ever　wish　to　lift　hand　against　him；　all　these　years！　Until　you　came　here　with　your　quest　for　Winifred's　relics？　Engelard's　disagreement　with　my　father　was　constant　and　understood；　yours　was　new　and　urgent。　Our　need　could　wait；　we're　young。　Yours　could　not　wait。　And　who　knew　better　than　you　at　what　hour　my　father　would　be　ing　through　the　forest　to　Gwytherin？　Or　that　he　would　not　change　his　mind？〃
　Father　Huw　spread　a　horrified　hand　to　hush　her　long　before　this；　but　she　would　not　be　hushed。　〃Child；　child；　you　must　not　make　such　dreadful　accusations　against　the　reverend　prior；　it　is　mortal　sin。〃
　〃I　state　facts；　and　let　them　speak；〃　snapped　Sioned。　〃Where's　the　offence　in　that？　Prior　Robert　may　point　out　the　facts　that　suit　him；　I　showed　you　the　others；　those　that　do　not　suit　him。　My　father　was　the　sole　obstacle　in　his　path；　and　my　father　has　been　removed。〃
　〃Child；　I　tell　you　every　soul　in　this　valley　knew　mat　your　father　was　ing　to　my　house；　and　the　hour　of　his　ing；　and　many　would　know　all　the　possible　ways；　far　better　than　any　of　these　good　brethren　from　Shrewsbury。　The　occasion　might　well　suit　another　grudge。　And　you　must　know　that　Prior　Robert　has　been　with　me；　and　with　Brother　Richard　and　Brother　Cadfael　here；　ever　since　morning　Mass。〃　And　Father　Huw　turned　in　agitated　supplication　to　Robert；　wringing　his　hands。　〃Father　Prior；　I　beg　you；　do　not　hold　it　against　the　girl　that　she　speaks　so　wildly。　She　is　in　grief…a　father　lost。。。。　You　cannot　wonder　if　she　turns　on　us　all。〃
　〃I　say　no　word　of　blame；〃　said　the　prior；　though　coldly。　〃I　gather　she　is　casting　doubts　upon　myself　and　my　panions；　but　doubtless；　you　have　answered　her。　Tell　the　young　woman；　in　my　name；　mat　both　you　and　others　here　can　witness　for　my　own　person；　for　all　this　day　I　have　been　within　your　sight。〃
　Grateful　for　at　least　one　certainty；　Huw　turned　to　repeat　as　much　to　Sioned　yet　again；　but　she　blazed　back　with　biting　promptness　and　force；　forgetting　all　restraints　in　the　need　to　confront　Robert　face　to　face；　without　the　tedious　intervention　of　interpreters。　〃So　you　may　have　been；　Father　Prior；〃　she　flashed　in　plain　English。　〃In　any　case　I　don't　see　you　as　likely　to　make　a　good　bowman。　But　a　man　who　would　try　to　buy　my　father's　pliance　would　be　willing　and　able　to　buy　some　more　pliable　person　to　do　even　this　work　for　him。　You　still　had　your　purse！　Rhisiart　spurned　it！〃
　〃Take　care！〃　thundered　Robert；　galled　beyond　the　limits　of　his　arduous　patience。　〃You　put　your　soul　in　peril！　I　have　borne　with　you　thus　far；　making　allowances　for　your　grief；　but　go　no　further　along　this　road！〃
　They　were　staring　upon　each　other　like　adversaries　in　the　lists　before　the　baton　falls；　he　very　tall　and　rigid　and　chill　as　ice；　she　light　and　ferocious　and　very　handsome；　her　coif　long　ago　lost　among　the　bushes；　and　her　sheaves　of　black　hair　loose　on　her　shoulders。　And　at　that　moment；　before　she　could　spit　further　fire；　or　he　threaten　more　imminent　damnation；　they　all　heard　voices　approaching　from　higher　up　among　the　woods；　a　man's　voice　and　a　girl's　in　quick；　concerned　exchanges；　and　ing　rapidly　nearer　with　a　light　threshing　of　branches；　as　though　they　had　caught　the　raised　tones　and　threatening　sounds　of　many　people　gathered　here　improbably　deep　in　the　forest；　and　were　hurrying　to　discover　what　was　happening。
　The　two　antagonists　heard　them；　and　their　concentration　on　each　other　was　shaken　and　disrupted。　Sioned　knew　them；　and　a　fleeting　shadow　of　fear　and　desperation　passed　over　her　face。　She　glanced　round　wildly；　but　there　was　no　help。　A　girl's　arm　parted　the　bushes　above　the　oval　where　they　stood；　and　Annest　stepped　through；　and　stood　in　astonishment；　gazing　round　at　the　inexplicable　gathering　before　her。
　It　was　the　narrowness　of　the　track…no　more　than　the　shadow　of　a　deer…path　in　the　grass…and　the　abruptness　with　which　she　had　halted　that　gave　Sioned　her　one　chance。　She　took　it　valiantly。　〃Go　back　home；　Annest；〃　she　said　loudly。　〃I　am　ing　with　pany。　Go　and　prepare　for　guests；　quickly；　you'll　have　little　time。〃　Her　voice　was　high　and　urgent。　Annest　had　not　yet　lowered　her　eyes　to　the　ground；　and　grass　and　shadows　veiled　Rhisiart's　body。
　The　effort　was　wasted。　Another　hand；　large　and　gentle；　was　laid　on　Annest's　shoulder　while　she　hesitated；　and　moved　her　aside。　〃The　pany　sounds　somewhat　loud　and　angry；〃　said　a　man's　voice；　high　and　clear；　〃so；　with　your　leave；　Sioned；　we'll　all　go　together。〃
　Engelard　put　the　girl　aside　between　his　hands；　as　familiarly　and　serenely　as　a　brother　might　have　done；　and　stepped　past　her　into　the　clearing。
　He　had　eyes　for　no　one　but　Sioned；　he　walked　towards　her　with　the　straight　gait　of　a　proprietor；　and　as　he　came　he　took　in　her　stiff　erectness；　and　fixed　face　of　fire　and　ice　and　despair；　and　his　own　face　mirrored　everything　he　saw　in　her。　His　brows　drew　together；　his　smile；　taut　and　formidable　to　begin　with；　vanished　utterly；　his　eyes　burned　bluer　than　cornflowers。　He　passed　by　Prior　Robert　as　though　he　had　not　even　been　there；　or　not　alive；　a　stock；　a　dead　tree　by　the　path。　He　put　out　his　hands；　and　Sioned　laid　her　hands　in　them；　and　for　an　instant　closed　her　eyes。　There　was　no　frowning　him　away　now；　he　was　here　in　the　midst；　quite　without　defences。　The　circle；　not　all　inimical　but　all　hampering；　was　closing　round　him。
　He　had　her　by　the　hands　when　he　saw　Rhisiart's　body。
　The　shock　went　into　him　as　abruptly　as　the　arrow　must　have　gone　into　Rhisiart；　stopping　him　instantly。　Cadfael　had　him　well　in　view；　and　saw　his　lips　part　and　whisper　soundlessly：　〃Christ　aid！〃　What　followed　was　most　eloquent。　The　Saxon　youth　moved　with　loving　slowness；　shutting　both　Sioned's　hands　into　one　of　his；　and　with　his　freed　right　hand　stroked　softly　over　her　hair；　down　temple　and　cheek　and　chin　and　throat；　all　with　such　mastered　passion　that　she　was　soothed；　as　he　meant；　while　he　had　barely　stopped　shaking　from　the　shock。
　He　folded　an　arm　about　her；　holding　her　close　against　his　side；　and　slowly　looked　all　round　the　circle　of　watching　faces；　and　slowly　down　at　the　body　of　his　lord。　His　face　was　bleakly　angry。
　〃Who　did　this？〃
　He　looked　round；　seeking　the　one　who　by　rights　should　be　spokesman；　hesitating　between　Prior　Robert；　who　arrogated　to　himself　authority　wherever　he　came；　and　Father　Huw；　who　was　known　and　trusted　here。　He　repeated　his　demand　in　English；　but　neither　of　them　answered　him；　and　for　a　long　moment　neither　did　anyone　else。　Then　Sioned　said；　with　clear；　deliberate　warning：　〃There　are　some　here　are　saying　that　you　did。〃
　〃I？〃　he　cried；　astonished　and　scornful　rather　than　alarmed；　and　turned　sharply　to　search　her　face；　which　was　intent　and　urgent。
　Her　lips　shaped　silently：　〃Run！　They're　blaming　you！〃
　It　was　all　she　could　do；　and　he　understood；　for　they　had　such　a　link　between　them　that　meanings　could　be　exchanged　in　silence；　in　a　look。　He　measured　with　a　quick　glance　the　number　of　his　possible　enemies；　and　the　spaces　between　them；　but　he　did　not　move。　〃Who　accuses　me？〃　he　said。　〃And　on　what　ground？　It　seems　to　me　I　might　rather　question　all　of　you；　whom　I　find　standing　here　about　my　lord's　dead　body；　while　I　have　been　all　day　out　with　the　cows；　beyond　Bryn。　When　I　got　home　Annest　was　anxious　because　Sioned　had　not　returned；　and　the　sheep　boy　told　her　there　was　no　service　at　Vespers　at　the　church。　We　came　out　to　look　for　you；　and　found　you　by　the　noise　you　were　making　among　you。　And　I　ask　again；　and　I　will　know　before　ever　I　give　up：　Who　did　this？〃
　〃We　are　all　asking　that；〃　said　Father　Huw。　〃Son；　there's　no　man　here　has　accused　you。　But　there　are　things　that　give　us　the　right　to　question　you；　and　a　man　with　nothing　on　his　conscience　won't　be　ashamed　or　afraid　to　answer。　Have　you　yet　looked　carefully　at　the　arrow　that　struck　Rhisiart　down？　Then　look　at　it　now！〃
　Frowning；　Engelard　drew　a　step　nearer；　and　looked　indeed；　earnestly　and　bitterly　at　the　dead　man；　only　afterwards　at　the　arrow。　He　saw　the　flutter　of　deep　blue；　and　gasped。
　〃This　is　one　of　mine！〃　He　looked　up　with　wild　suspicion　at　them　all。　〃Either　that；　or　someone　has　copied　my　mark。　But　no；　this　is　mine；　I　know　the　trim；　I　fletched　it　new　only　a　week　or　so　ago。〃
　〃He　owns　it　his？〃　demanded　Robert；　following　as　best　he　could。　〃He　admits　it？〃
　〃Admit？〃　flashed　Engelard　in　English。　〃What　is　there　to　admit？　I　say　it！　How　it　was　brought　here；　who　loosed　it；　I　know　no　more　than　you　do；　but　I　know　the　shaft　for　mine。　God's　teeth！〃　he　cried　furiously；　〃do　you　think　if　I　had　any　hand　in　this　villainy　I　should　leave　my　mark　flaunting　in　the　wound？　Am　I　fool　as　well　as　outlander？　And　do　you　think　I　would　do　anything　to　harm　Rhisiart？　The　man　who　stood　my　friend　and　gave　me　the　means　of　living　here　when　I'd　poached　myself　out　of　Cheshire？〃
　〃He　refused　to　consider　you　as　a　suitor　for　his　daughter；〃　Bened　said　almost　reluctantly；　〃whatever　good　he　did　for　you　otherwise。〃
　〃So　he　did；　and　according　to　his　lights；　rightly　so。　And　I　know　it；　knowing　as　much　as　I've　learned　of　Wales；　and　even　if　I　did　smart　under　it；　I　knew　he　had　reason　and　custom　on　his　side。　Never　has　he　done　anything　I　could　plain　of　as　unfair　to　me。　He　stood　much　arrogance　and　impatience　from　me；　e　to　that。　There　isn't　a　man　in　Gwynedd　I　like　and　respect　more。　I'd　as　soon　have　cut　my　own　throat　as　injured　Rhisiart。〃
　〃He　knew　and　knows　it；〃　said　Sioned；　〃and　so　do　I。''
　〃Yet　the　arrow　is　yours；〃　said　Huw　unhappily。　〃And　as　for　reclaiming　or　disguising　it；　it　may　well　have　been　that　speedy　flight　after　such　an　act　would　be　more　important。〃
　〃If　I　had　planned　such　an　act；〃　said　Engelard；　〃though　God　forbid　I　should　ever　have　to　imagine　a　thing　so　vile；　I　could　as　easily　have　done　what　some　devil　has　done　now　to　me；　and　used　another　man's　shaft。〃
　〃But；　son；　it　would　be　more　in　keeping　with　your　nature；〃　the　priest　pursued　sadly；　〃to　mit　such　a　deed　without　planning；　having　with　you　only　your　own　bow　and　arrows。　Another　approach；　another　quarrel；　a　sudden　wild　rage！　No　one　supposes　this　was　plotted　beforehand。〃
　〃I　had　no　bow　with　me　all　this　day。　I　was　busy　with　the　cattle；　what　should　I　want　with　a　bow？〃
　〃It　will　be　for　the　royal　bailiff　to　enquire　into　all　possible　matters　concerning　this　case；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　resolutely　reclaiming　the　dominance　among　them。　〃What　should　be　asked　at　once　of　this　young　man　is　where　he　has　been　all　this　day；　what　doing；　and　in　whose　pany。〃
　〃In　no　man's　pany。　The　byres　behind　Bryn　are　in　a　lonely　place；　good　pasture　but　apart　from　the　used　roads。　Two　cows　dropped　their　calves　today；　one　around　noon；　the　second　not　before　late　afternoon；　and　that　was　a　hard　birth；　and　gave　me　trouble。　But　the　young　things　are　there　alive　and　on　their　legs　now；　to　testify　to　what　I've　been　doing。〃
　〃You　left　Rhisiart　at　his　fields　along　the　way？〃
　〃I　did；　and　went　straight　on　to　my　own　work。　And　have　not　seen　him　again　until　now。〃
　〃And　did　you　speak　with　any　man；　there　at　the　byres？　Can　anyone　testify　as　to　where　you　were；　at　any　time　during　the　day？〃　No　one　was　likely　to　try　and　wrest　the　initiative　from　Robert　now。　Engelard　looked　round　him　quickly；　measuring　chances。　Annest　came　forward　silently；　and　took　her　stand　bes