tw.thestoneoffarewell-第48部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


like　to　say　that　I　trust　my　fellow　priests　with　my　life；　and　I　suppose　I　do；　but　I　have　lived　and　worked　here　too　long　to　trust　tongues　not　to　wag。　I　did　bring　you　some　cleaner　robes。〃　He　gestured　to　a　bundle　of　garments　lying　on　a　stool；　beside　a　basin　of　water　that　steamed　faintly。
　　〃So　if　you　are　ready　and　have　finished　breaking　your　fast；　let　us　be　off。〃　He　stood；　waiting　expectantly。
　　Miriamele　stared　at　the　clothes　for　a　moment；　then　back　at　Father　Dinivan；　whose　face　wore　a　distracted　half…frown。　〃Could　you　turn　around；〃　she　asked　at　last；　〃so　I　can　change？〃
　　Father　Dinivan　gaped　for　a　moment；　then　blushed　furiously；　much　to　Miriamele's　secret　amusement。　〃Princess；　forgive　me！　How　could　I　be　so　discourteous？　Forgive　me；　I　will　leave　at　once。　I　will　be　back　for　you　soon。　My　apologies。　I　am　thinking　of　so　many　other　things　this　morning。〃　He　backed　out　of　the　room；　closing　the　door　carefully　behind　him。
　　When　he　was　gone；　Miriamele　laughed　and　rose　from　bed。　She　shucked　the　old　robes　over　her　head　and　washed　herself；　shivering；　noting　with　more　interest　than　dismay　how　sun…browned　her　hands　and　wrists　had　bee。　They　were　like　a　barge…man's　hands；　she　thought　with　some　satisfaction。　How　her　ladies…in…waiting　would　wince　if　they　could　see　her！
　　The　water　was　warm；　but　the　chamber　itself　was　cold；　so　when　she　finished　she　hurriedly　pulled　on　the　clean　clothes。　Running　her　hands　through　her　short…cropped　hair；　she　considered　washing　it；　too；　but　de…　cided　against　it；　thinking　of　the　drafty　corridors。　The　cold　reminded　her　of　young　Simon；　walking　somewhere　in　the　chilly　north。　In　an　impulsive　moment　she　had　given　him　her　favorite　blue　scarf；　a　favor　that　now　seemed　pitifully　inadequate。　Still；　she　had　meant　it　well。　It　was　too　thin　to　keep　him　warm；　but　perhaps　it　would　help　him　remember　the　frightening　journey　they　had　survived　together。　Perhaps　he　would　take　heart。
　　She　found　Dinivan　in　the　hall　outside；　trying　his　best　to　look　patient。　Back　in　his　familiar　home；　the　priest　seemed　like　a　war…horse　awaiting　battle；　full　of　trembling　need　to　go；　to　do。　He　took　her　elbow　and　led　her　gently　down　the　corridor。
　　〃Where　is　Cadrach？〃　she　asked。　〃Is　he　going　with　us　to　see　the　lector？〃
　　Dinivan　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　not　sure　of　him　anymore。　I　said　that　I　think　there　is　no　great　harm　in　him；　but　I　also　think　he　is　a　man　who　has　given　in　to　many　weaknesses。　That　is　sad；　because　the　man　he　once　was　would　have　been　valuable　counsel　indeed。　Still；　I　thought　it　best　to　expose　him　to　no　temptations。　He　is　having　a　pleasant　meal　with　some　of　my　brother　priests。　He　will　be　quietly　and　discreetly　watched。〃
　　〃What　was　Cadrach？〃　she　asked；　craning　her　head　to　stare　at　the　ceiling…high　tapestries　that　lined　the　corridor；　scenes　of　Aedon's　Elevation；　the　Renunciation　of　Saint　Vilderivis；　the　chastising　of　Imperator　Crexis。　She　thought　of　these　frozen　figures；　eyes　wide　and　white…rimmed；　and　of　all　the　centuries　they　had　hung　here　while　the　world　spun　on。　Would　her　uncle　and　father　someday　be　the　subjects　of　murals　and　tapestries；　long　after　she　and　all　she　knew　were　dust？
　　〃Cadrach？　He　was　a　holy　man；　once；　and　not　just　in　dress。〃　Dinivan　appeared　to　consider　for　a　moment　before　speaking　again。　〃We　will　speak　of　your　panion　another　time；　Princess；　if　you　will　pardon　my　rudeness　Now　you　might　be　thinking　of　what　things　you　would　tell　the　lector。〃
　　〃What　does　he　want　to　know？〃
　　〃Everything。〃　Dinivan　smiled；　the　harried　edge　to　his　voice　softening。　〃The　lector　wishes　to　know　everything　about　everything。　He　says　it　is　because　the　weight　and　responsibility　of　Mother　Church　are　upon　his　shoulders　and　his　decisions　must　be　informed　ones…but　I　think　that　he　is　also　a　very　curious　fellow。〃　He　laughed。　〃He　knows　more　about　book…keeping　than　most　of　the　Writing…Priests　in　the　Sancellan　chancelry；　and　I　have　heard　him　talk　for　hours　about　milking　with　a　Lakelands　farmer。〃　Dinivan's　expression　became　more　serious。　〃But　these　are　truly　grave　times。　As　I　said　before；　some　of　my　sources　of　knowledge　cannot　be　revealed　even　to　the　lector；　so　your　words　and　the　witness　of　your　own　eyes　will　be　of　great　help　in　telling　him　things　he　must　know。　You　need　fear　to　tell　him　nothing。　Ranessin　is　a　wise　man。　He　knows　more　of　what　spins　the　world　than　anyone　else　I　know　〃
　　To　Miriamele；　the　walk　though　the　dark　corridors　of　the　Sancellan　Aedonitis　seemed　to　take　an　hour。　But　for　the　tapestries　and　the　occasional　flock　of　priests　hurrying　by；　each　corridor　seemed　identical　to　the　last；　so　that　before　long　she　was　hopelessly　lost。　The　great　stone　hallways　were　also　damp　and　poorly　lit。　When　they　at　last　reached　a　large　wooden　door；　delicately　carved　with　a　spreading　Tree；　she　was　grateful　that　their　journey　had　ended。
　　Dinivan；　about　to　push　the　door　open；　stopped。　〃We　should　continue　to　exercise　caution；〃　he　said；　leading　her　to　a　smaller　door　a　few　ells　down　the　corridor。　He　pushed　this　open　and　they　went　through　into　a　small　chamber　hung　with　velvet　cloth。　A　fire　burned　in　a　brazier　against　the　wall。　The　wide　table　that　filled　much　of　the　room　was　scattered　with　parchments　and　heavy　books。　The　priest　left　Miriamele　to　warm　her　hands　before　the　flames。
　　〃I　will　return　in　a　moment；〃　he　said；　pushing　aside　a　curtain　in　the　wall　beside　the　table。　When　the　curtain　fell　back；　he　was　gone。　
　　When　her　fingers　were　tingling　satisfactorily；　she　left　the　brazier　to　examine　some　of　the　parchments　lying　unrolled　on　the　table。　They　seemed　quite　uninteresting；　full　of　numbers　and　descriptions　of　property　boundaries。　The　books　were　uniformly　religious；　except　for　one　strange　volume　full　of　woodcuts　of　strange　creatures　and　unfathomable　ceremonies　that　lay　open　atop　the　rest。　As　she　flipped　carefully　through　the　pages；　she　found　one　that　had　been　marked　with　a　ribbon　of　cloth　It　was　a　crude　illustration　of　an　antlered　man　with　staring　eyes　and　black　hands。　Terrified　people　huddled　at　the　horned　one's　feet；　above　his　head；　a　single　dazzling　star　hung　in　a　black　sky。　The　eyes　seemed　to　stare　out　of　the　page　and　directly　into　her　own。
　　Sa　Astridan　Condicciles；　she　read　from　the　caption　below　the　picture。　The　Conqueror　Star。
　　A　fit　of　shivering　came　over　her。　The　picture　chilled　her　in　a　way　that　the　Sancellan's　dank　corridors　never　could。　It　seemed　something　she　had　seen　in　a　nightmare；　or　a　story　told　her　in　childhood　whose　evil　she　only　now　recognized。　Miriamele　hastily　restored　the　book　to　its　original　position　and　moved　away；　rubbing　her　fingers　up　and　down　her　cloak　as　though　she　had　touched　something　unclean。
　　Soft　voices　were　ing　from　behind　the　arras　through　which　Dinivan　had　disappeared。　She　moved　closer；　straining　to　make　out　the　words；　but　they　were　too　faint。　She　cautiously　pulled　the　hanging　aside　to　expose　a　silver　of　light　from　the　room　beyond
　　It　seemed　to　be　the　lector's　audience　room；　for　it　was　ornate　beyond　anything　she　had　seen　since　the　entry　chamber　which　she　had　sleepily　traversed　the　night　before。　The　ceilings　were　high；　painted　with　hundreds　of　scenes　from　the　Book　of　the　Aedon。　The　windows　were　slices　from　the　gray　morning　sky。　Behind　a　chair　at　the　room's　center　hung　a　great　azure　banner　embroidered　with　the　Pillar　and　Tree　of　Mother　Church。
　　Lector　Ranessin；　a　slender　man　in　a　tall　hat；　was　sitting　on　the　chair　listening　to　a　fat　man　who　wore　the　tentlike　golden　robes　of　an　escritor。　Dinivan　stood　to　one　side；　scuffing　his　foot　back　and　forth　impatiently　m　the　deep　carpet。
　　〃。。。　But　that　is　the　point；　Your　Sacredness；〃　the　fat　one　said；　his　face　shiny；　his　tone　beautifully　measured。　〃Of　all　times　to　avoid　offending　the　High　King。。。　well；　he　is　not　in　the　most　receptive　mood　just　now。　We　must　think　carefully　of　our　lofty　position；　as　well　as　the　welfare　of　all　who　look　to　Mother　Church　for　moderation　and　good　influence。〃　He　pulled　a　small　box　from　his　sleeve　and　popped　something　into　his　mouth　His　round　cheeks　flattened　briefly　as　he　sucked　at　it。
　　〃I　understand；　Velligis；〃　the　lector　responded；　raising　his　hand　with　a　gentle　smile。　〃Your　counsel　is　always　good。　I　am　eternally　grateful　that　God　brought　us　together。〃
　　Velligis　tilted　his　round　head　in　a　bow　of　acknowledgment。
　　〃Now；　if　you　will　be　so　good；〃　Ranessm　continued；　〃I　really　should　give　some　time　to　poor　Dinivan　here。　He　has　been　riding　for　days　and　I　am　anxious　for　his　news。〃
　　The　escritor　dropped　to　his　knees…not　an　easy　feat　for　a　man　his　size…and　kissed　the　hem　of　the　lector's　blue　robe。　〃If　you　need　me　for　anything。　Your　Sacredness；　I　will　be　in　the　chancelry　until　afternoon　〃　He　rose　and　left　the　room　in　a　graceful　waddle；　prying　another　sugar…sweet　from　his　box。
　　〃Are　you　truly　grateful　God　brought　you　together？〃　Dinivan　asked　with　a　smile。
　　The　lector　nodded。　〃Indeed。　Velligis　is　a　living　reminder　to　me　of　why　men　should　not　take　themselves　seriously。　He　means　well；　but　he　is　so　blessedly　pompous。〃
　　Dinivan　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　willing　to　believe　he　means　well；　but　his　advice　is　criminal。　If　there　is　ever　a　time　when　Mother　Church　must　show　herself　a　living　force　for　good；　this　is　the　time。〃
　　〃I　know　your　feelings；　Dinivan；〃　the　lector　said　gently。　〃But　this　is　not　a　time　in　which　decisions　may　be　hastily　made；　lest　they　be　repented　later　at　tragic　length。　Did　you　bring　the　princess？〃
　　Ranessin's　secretary　nodded。　〃I'll　fetch　her。　I　left　her　in　my　work…　room。〃　He　turned　and　headed　across　the　Audience　Chamber。　Miriamele　hurriedly　dropped　the　hanging　back　into　place；　when　Dinivan　came　through；　she　was　standing　before　tlie　brazier　once　more。
　　〃e　with　me；〃　he　said。　〃The　lector　is　free　now。〃
　　When　she　reached　the　chair；　Miriamele　curtseyed；　then　kissed　Ranessin's　hem。　The　old　man　reached　down　a　surprisingly　strong　hand　and　helped　her　to　her　feet。
　　〃Please；　sit　beside　me。〃　he　said　as　he　gestured　for　Dinivan　to　bring　her　a　chair。　〃On　second　thought；〃　he　told　his　secretary；　〃fetch　one　for　yourself　as　well。〃
　　While　Dinivan　was　getting　the　chairs；　Miriamele　had　her　first　chance　to　look　at　the　lector。　She　had　not　seen　him　for　over　a　year；　but　he　seemed　little　different。　His　thin　gray　hair　hung　down　beside　his　pale；　handsome　face。　His　eyes　were　as　alert　as　a　child's；　with　an　air　almost　of