tw.thestoneoffarewell-第107部分
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ion's neck; then led the balking animal to the prince。
Josua smiled as he looked the horse up and down; then boldly reached up and pulled at its lower lip; exposing the teeth。 The stallion shook his head and pulled away; but Josua grabbed the lip again。 After a few nervous head…shakes; the horse at last allowed himself to be examined; the only sign of anxiety his blinking eyes。 〃Well; he is certainly one we shall take east with us;〃 Josua said; 〃…although I doubt that will please Fikolmij。〃
〃It will not;〃 Hotvig said solemnly。 〃If his honor was not held up before all the clans; he would kill you just for ing near these horses This Vinyafod was one that Fikolmij demanded specially as part of Blehmunt's booty when Fikolmij became leader of the clans。〃
Josua nodded solemnly。 〃I don't want the March…thane so angry that he follows and murders us pledge or no pledge。 Deornoth; I give you leave to pick the rest。 I trust your eye better than mine。 We will take Vmyafod; that is certain…as a matter of fact; I think I will claim him for my own。 I am tired of limping from here to there。 But as I said; let us not cull the herd so thoroughly that we force Fikolmij to dishonor himself。 〃
〃I will choose carefully; sire。〃 Deornoth strode across the paddock。 The horsekeeper saw him ing and tried to sidle away; but Deornoth hooked the old man's elbow and began asking questions。 The keeper was hard…pressed to pretend he could not understand。
Josua watched with a faint smile on his face; shifting his balance from one foot to another to spare his aching body Hotvig watched the prince from the corner of his eye for a long time before he spoke。
〃You said you go east; Josua。 Why?〃
The prince looked at him curiously。 〃There are many reasons; some of which I cannot discuss。 But mostly it is because I must find a place to make a stand against mv brother and the evil that he has done。〃
Hotvig nodded his head with exaggerated seriousness。 〃It seems that you have kinsmen who feel as you do。〃
Josua's expression turned to puzzlement。 〃What do you mean?〃
〃There are others of your kind…other stone…dwellers…who have begun to settle east of here。 That is why Fikolmij brought us so far north of our usual grazing areas for this season; to make sure that the newers were not crossing onto our lands。〃 A grin crossed Hotvig's scarred face。 〃There were other reasons for our clan ing here; too。 The March…thane of the Meadow Thrithings tried to steal away some of our randwarders at the last Gathering of Clans; so Fikolmij wanted his people far away from the Meadow Thrithings。 Fikolmij is feared; but not well…loved。 Many wagons have already left the Stallion Clan。
Josua waved impatiently。 The bickering between the Thrithings clans was legendary。 〃What about the stone…dwellers you spoke of? Who are they?〃
Hotvig shrugged and fingered his braided beard。 〃Who can say? They came from the west…whole families; some traveling in carts as our people do; some on foot…but they were not our people; not Thrithings…men。 We heard of them from our outriders when we were at the second…to…last Gathering; but they passed through the north of the High Thrithings and were gone。〃
〃How many?〃
Again the Thrithings…man shrugged。 〃Stories say as many as in two or three of our small clans。〃
〃So; perhaps a hundred or two。。。〃 The prince seemed to momentarily escape his pain; for his face brightened as he pondered this news。
〃But that is not all; Prince Josua;〃 Hotvig said earnestly。 〃That was one group。 Other panies have trickled past since then。 I have myself seen two hand's worth or so all counted。 They are poor; though; and they have no horses; so we let them pass out of our lands。〃
〃You did not let my folk pass and we had not a pony between us。〃 Josua's smile was sardonic。
〃That is because Fikolmij knew it was you。 The randwarders had watched your people for several days。〃
Deornoth approached; the grumbling horsekeeper in tow。 〃I have chosen; Highness。 Let me show you。〃 He pointed to a long…legged bay。 〃Since you have picked red Vinyafod for your own; Prince Josua; I have selected this one for myself。 Vildalix is his name…Wild…shine。〃
〃He is splendid;〃 Josua said; laughing。 〃You see; Deornoth; I remembered what you said about Thrithings horses。 Now you have some; just as you asked。〃
Deornoth looked at Josua's bandages。 〃The price was too high; sire。〃 His eyes were sorrowful。
〃Show me the rest of our new herd;〃 said Josua。
Vorzheva came out to meet the prince as he and the others returned from the paddock。 Hotvig took one look at her face and slipped away。
〃You are foolish to be up walking!〃 The thane's daughter turned to Deornoth。 〃How could you keep him out so long? He is very unwell!〃
Deornoth said nothing; but only bowed。 Josua smiled。 〃Peace; Lady;〃 the prince said。 〃The fault is not Sir Deornoth's。 I wanted to see the horses; since I am most assuredly going to ride and not walk from here。〃 He chuckled ruefully。 〃Not that I could walk more than a furlong these days in any case; even if my life were in the balance。 But I will get stronger。〃
〃Not if you stand in the cold。〃 Vorzheva leveled her sharp…eyed glance at Deornoth as if daring him to argue。 She took Josua's arm; adjusting her pace to his halting strides; and together all three went back toward the camp。
The prince's pany was still housed m the bull run。 Fikolmij had snarled that just because he had lost a wager was no reason that he must treat miserable stone…dwellers like clansmen; but several of the more high…minded Thrithings…folk had brought blankets and ropes and tent stakes。 Fikolmij was not a king while the people lending assistance to the former prisoners gave the March…thane's camp a wide berth; neither were they ashamed or afraid to go against his wishes。
Led by practical Duchess Gutrun; Josua's people had quickly made of these contributions a secure shelter; closed on three sides and double…roofed with blankets of heavy wool。 This served to keep out the worst of the cold rains; which seemed to increase m strength daily。
Above the Thrithings the gray…black sky hung threateningly close; as though the very grasslands had been lifted up by giant hands。 This spell of bad weather; which had lasted nearly a week straight and off and on for over a month; would have been unusual even in early spring。 It was now high summer; however; and the people of the Stallion Clan were openly worried。
〃e; my lady;〃Josua said as they reached the enclosure。 〃Let you and I walk a little while longer。〃
〃You should not walk more!〃 Vorzheva said indignantly。 〃Not with your wounds! You must sit and have some hot wine。〃
〃Nevertheless;〃 Josua said firmly; 〃let us walk。 I will look forward to the wine。 Deornoth; if you would pardon us。。。?〃
Deornoth nodded and bowed; turning at the gate in the bull run fence。 He watched the prince's laborious progress for a moment before he went inside。
Josua's victory over Utvart had brought certain amenities。 Like his lady; the prince had exchanged his rags for newer garb; and now wore the soft leather breeches; boots; and baggy…sleeved wool shirt of a randwarder; a bright scarf knotted across his brow in place of his princely diadem。 Vorzheva wore a voluminous gray dress; rolled and belted at the hips in the Thrithings manner to lift the hem above the wet grass; leaving visible her thick woolen leggings and low boots。 She had discarded her white bride…band。
〃Why do you take me away from the others to talk?〃 Vorzheva demanded。 Her defiant tone was belied by apprehensive eyes。 〃What do you say that must be hidden?〃
〃Not hidden;〃 Josua said; twining his arm around hers。 〃1 only wished to speak where we would not be interrupted。〃
〃My people do not hide things;〃 she said。 〃We cannot; since we live so close。〃
Josua nodded his head。 〃I only wished to say that I am sorry; Lady; very sorry。〃
〃Sorry?〃
〃Yes。 I have treated you badly; as I admitted in your father's wagon。 I have not given you the respect you deserve。〃
Vorzheva's face twisted; somewhere between joy and anguish。 〃Ah; still you do not understand me; Prince Josua of Erkynland。 I do not care for respect; not if that is all you give me。 I want your attention。 I want your heart! If you give me that; then you can give to me all the 。。。 the not…respect 。。。〃
Quietly: 〃Disrespect。〃
〃。 。 。 All the disrespect you want。 Do not treat me like you do the farmers who e to you for justice。 I do not want your careful thinking; your measuring; your talking; talking; talking。。。〃 An angry tear was quickly wiped away。 〃Just give your heart; you damned stone…dweller!〃
They stopped; standing in wind…rippled grass to their knees。 〃I try;〃 he said。
〃No; you do not;〃 she hissed bitterly。 〃You have that other woman's face in your heart; your brother's wife。 Men! You are all little boys; you keep old loves m your heart like polished stones you have found。 How can I fight a dead woman!? I cannot grab her; I cannot slap her; I cannot drive her away or follow you when you go to her!〃 She stood breathing heavily; her legs wide…set as though braced for battle。 Her hands dropped to her stomach and her look changed。 〃But you did not give her a child。 You gave one to me。〃
Josua looked helplessly at her pale face; at the rosy flush of her checks and her cloud of black hair。 。A movement caught his eye: a rabbit; emerging from a thatch of tall grass; stopped for a moment and rose on its hindquarters to look around。 Its dark; round eye touched his。 A moment later it sprang forward and was gone; a thin gray shadow skimming the meadow。
〃You have done nothing wrong; Lady;〃 he said。 〃Nothing but attach yourself to a brooding ghost of a man。〃 He smiled sadly; then laughed。 〃But in a way; I suppose; I have been reborn。 I have been allowed to live when surely I ought to have died; so I must take that as an omen and see my life differently。 You will bear our child; and we will be married when we reach the Stone of Farewell。〃
A touch of indignation returned to Vorzheva's dark eyes。 〃We will be married here; before my people;〃 she said firmly。 〃We are betrothed: now they will see and stop s