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