cspector.worldwithoutend-第12部分

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　Silence　stretched　out　between　us。　I　hadn't　seen　her　in　the　flesh　since　1941。
　
　〃So；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃You've　e。　And　the　hard　way；　too。〃
　〃Well；　we　can't　all　have　the　prerogatives　of　age。　I　wish　to　speak　to　Lady　Brane　Deign；〃　I　said。　〃She　rules　here　now。〃
　
　Alachia　smiled。　It　was　chilling。
　
　〃Power　is　a　fluid　thing；〃　she　said。　〃You'd　do　well　to　remember　that。〃
　
　Once　that　sort　of　remark　from　her　would　have　frightened　me。　But　that　was　far　in　the　past。　Now　there　was　a　larger　threat　at　work。　Not　just　to　me；　but　to　the　survival　of　the　world。　And　then；　I　was　older　now；　too。
　
　〃Perhaps　you　should　mind　your　own　advice；〃　I　said。　〃You've　let　so　much　pass　through　your　own　hands。〃
　〃Caimbeul；〃　she　said　brightly；　ignoring　my　last　remark。　〃How　good　it　is　to　see　you　again。　But　really；　you　need　to　improve　your　choice　of　panions。　You　know　what　they　say　about　the　pany　you　keep。〃
　
　She　slipped　past　me　and　took　his　arm；　leading　him　away　from　me　toward　the　castle。
　
　〃Do　e；　Aina；〃　she　called　over　her　shoulder。　〃We　mustn't　keep　Lady　Brane　waiting。〃
　
　I　watched　her　lead　him　into　the　night　until　all　I　saw　was　the　white　blur　of　her　dress。
　She　opens　her　eyes。　The　world　is　upside…down。　No；　it's　her　perspective　that's　off。　But　isn't　that　always　the　way　of　it？
　
　Sitting　up；　she　sees　that　she's　been　lying　on　the　ground。　The　fall　leaves　covering　her　rustle　and　slide　away；　revealing　her　naked　body。　How　she　came　to　be　here　in　this　wood　she　doesn't　remember。　But　she　thinks　she　should　know。
　
　Then　es　the　pain。
　
　It　burns　and　stings　like　a　thousand　hornets。　Her　skin　is　on　fire　and　she　cannot　stop　it。　As　she　looks　on；　small；　round　welts　appear　on　her　flesh。　Sharp　points　burst　through　the　welts；　puckering　the　skin。
　
　Thorns。
　No　mortal　being　could　have　traversed　the　path　to　　Lady　Brane　Deigh's　castle。　But　then；　it　wasn't　designed　for　mortals。　The　Sleagh　Meath　loved　any　thing　that　might　confuse　or　baffle　mortals　and　so　If　took　great　delight　in　the　corkscrew　turns；　disappearing　paths；　and　other　annoying　tricks　to　fool　the　unwary　traveler。
　
　But　I　had　seen　all　these　games　before。　The　Seelie　Court　was　but　another　incarnation　of　something　much　older　and　more　sinister。　How　many　of　them　remembered；　or　even　knew；　the　full　story？
　
　Politics　was　a　tricky　business；　and　I'd　done　my　best　to　stay　out　of　it　for　most　of　my　life。　But　now　it　seemed　I　had　no　choice。　I　was　the　only　one　who　appeared　to　be　willing　to　take　the　chance。　No；　I　was　the　only　one　willing　to　see　the　threat　of　the　Enemy　for　what　it　was…the　ruination　of　the　world。
　
　I　had　to　grasp　hold　of　this　thought　because　all　my　old　fears　came　back　to　me　in　this　place。　Once　I　foolishly　thought　that　power　would　protect　me　from　harm。　How　I　discovered　the　error　of　that　belief　is　another　tale。
　
　For　now；　I　kept　up　with　Alachia's　lead。　She　glided　over　the　rocks　as　though　they　weren't　there。　Each　turn　was　taken　with　a　casual　nonchalance；　and　all　the　while　I　could　hear　her　keeping　up　a　steady　banter　with　Caimbeul。
　
　I　knew　their　history　was　a　long　one；　and　I　wondered　if　she　knew　how　much　my　life　had　been　entwined　with　his。　And　how　far　back　it　extended。　Part　of　me　hoped　she　didn't　know；　relishing　the　secret。　And　a　part　wanted　her　to　know。　Wanted　her　to　know　that　even　when　she　wielded　so　much　power　that　most　of　my　people　trembled　before　her；　I　had　won　a　small　victory　over　her。
　
　But　there　was　no　more　time　to　wonder　over　such　childish　things…we　had　reached　the　gate　of　the　castle。
　
　Alachia　waved　and　the　gates　swung　silently　inward。　The　courtyard　was　bathed　in　the　light　from　thousands　of　floating　will…o'…the…wisps。　They　sluttored　around　us；　rising　and　falling　with　the　breeze。　It　was　like　walking　through　a　rain　of　stars。
　
　Then　we　were　moving　up　the　wide；　white；　marble　steps　leading　to　the　great　doors。　Made　of　oak　and　tall　as　a　two…story　house；　they　were　banded　in　brass　in　deference　to　the　faerie　hatred　of　iron。　As　the　doors　opened；　a　radiance　spilled　forth。　I　stepped　into　the　brilliance。
　
　The　great　hall　of　the　castle　dwarfed　any　I　had　seen　before　or　since。　This　was　no　mean　feat　given　what　I've　seen　in　my　time。　I　could　feel　the　magical　ener…gios　flowing　through　this　place。　The　magic　to　pull　Hy…Breasail　from　the　sea；　to　create　this　castle　upon　it；　to　gather　the　members　of　faerie　who　still　remained　here　on　Earth；　and　to　pull　back　those　who　had　left　for　other　planes。　An　impressive　feat　indeed。
　
　At　the　far　end　of　the　hall；　I　saw　a　group　of　elves。　Alachia　moved　toward　them　with　her　usual　single…mindedness。　As　she　approached；　the　group　parted　and　allowed　her　to　pass。　I　squeezed　in　just　as　they　closed　ranks　again。
　
　Standing　at　the　center　of　all　this　attention　was　a　tall　elf　wearing　a　black　leather　breast　plate　over　a　long　white　dress。　Her　fine　hair　was　bobbed　off　short；　one　side　shorn　away　so　short　I　could　see　the　fragile　shape　of　her　skull　beneath。　Her　skin　was　the　color　of　amber　and　I　saw　that　her　eyes　were　blue；　transparent　and　glittering　as　ice。　Though　she　was　only　as　tall　as　Alachia；　there　emanated　from　her　a　power　that　I　found　pelling。　The　same　sort　of　power　that　Alachia　had　once　wielded　so　many　lives　ago。　
　She　glanced　at　Alachia；　then　at　Caimbeui；　and　finaily；　at　me。
　
　〃Lady　Brane；　may　I　present　Aina　Sluage；〃　said　Caimbeui。　Alachia　shot　him　a　hateful　look；　but　didn't　say　anything。
　
　I　stepped　forward；　but　didn't　bow。　Though　I　knew　she　was　made　as　I；　she　was　only　a　child　pared　to　me。　Just　as　I　was　a　child　pared　to　Alachia。　And　even　if　she　did　hold　sway　over　this　court；　she　did　so　at　the　sufferance　of　myself　and　the　other　Elders。　So；　instead　of　bowing；　I　offered　her　my　hand。　For　a　moment；　I　thought　she　might　not　take　it；　but　then　her　smooth；　cool　hand　was　in　mine。　I　felt　an　odd　shock；　and　then　our　eyes　met。
　
　Yes；　she　was　fit　to　rule；　I　saw。　Though　I　had　abstained　from　participating　in　the　new　politics　between　the　Tirs；　I　was　glad　to　know　that　there　was　someone　strong　enough　to　deal　with　whatever　was　to　e。　The　only　question　was：　Could　I　convince　her　that　the　threat　was　real？
　
　〃I　have　heard　your　name；〃　Lady　Brane　said。　Her　voice　was　sweet　as　summer　wine。　〃When　I　was　younger　I　almost　thought　you　were　a　ghost；　invented　to　scare　children。〃
　
　So　that　was　to　be　the　way　of　it。　Well；　I'd　handled　worse　in　my　time；。
　
　She　released　my　hand；　then　beckoned　me　to　her　side　as　she　turned　to　leave　the　group。　I　heard　the　murmuring　of　the　others　as　we　passed；　but　I　ignored　it。　Alachia's　face　was　even　paler　than　normal　and　I　saw　her　eyes　narrow　as　we　passed。　Good；　I　thought。　Let　her　worry　a　bit。　I　suspected　the　nature　of　the　poison　she　had　managed　to　spread　about　me　while　I　was　gone　worrying　about　more　important　matters。
　
　〃You've　created　quite　a　stir；〃　she　said。　〃Calling　up　the　Hunt's　horses。　A　most　impressive　feat。　And；　from　what　I　understand；　only　you　and　Harlequin　were　present。〃
　
　〃That　is　correct；〃　I　said。　〃There　are　those　of　us　。。。　who　are　of　an　age。。。　who　have　found　such　things　to　be。。。　within　our　grasp。〃　I　looked　around　for　Caimbeui；　surprised　to　see　him　hanging　back。　It　was　so　unlike　him。
　
　She　stared　ahead；　leading　me　toward　the　back　of　the　hall。　I　caught　the　scent　of　her　perfume。　A　plex　scent：　grasses；　sandalwood；　and　a　few　other　notes　of　which　I　couldn't　be　certain。　Elusive。
　
　〃And　why　did　you　call　the　Chasse　Artu？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　have　been　away　a　long　time；〃　I　said。　〃I　needed　to　find　the　Court。〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　replied。　〃I　thought　as　much。　No　other　way　would　have　found　us　so　quickly。　We　have　been　careful　for　a　while　now。　But　you　e　to　us　with　the　toss　of　a　spell　so　powerful　it　would　take　half　my　court　to　cast　it。　I　see　some　of　what　I've　heard　is　true。〃
　
　We　had　e　to　the　back　half　of　the　hall。　A　great　feast　was　laid　out。　Row　after　row　of　tables　were　cov…erect　with　white　linen；　fine　gold　eating　utensils；　and　bone　china。　Garlands　of　flowers　were　swagged　onto　the　tablecloths。　Most　of　the　tables　were　filled　with　members　of　the　Sleagh　Meath　and　Awakened　elves。　
　Invisible　hands　served　and　took　away　platters　of　food　and　jugs　of　wine。
　
　Lady　Brane　led　me　to　a　raised　table　in　the　center　of　all　the　others。　She　took　a　seat　and　motioned　me　to　take　mine　next　to　her。　As　I　sat　down；　I　noticed　Caimbeui　finding　a　place　down　at　Alachia's　end　of　the　table　and　I　wondered　how　best　to　approach　the　reason　for　my　visit。　I　didn't　know　precisely　what　lies　Alachia　had　spread　about　me。　My　cup　was　filled　with　wine；　and　food　appeared　on　my　plate。　I　didn't　eat。　Couldn't。
　
　Lady　Brane；　however；　was　having　no　such　problems。　She　drank　heavily　from　her　cup　and　tucked　away　the　feast　like　she'd　been　starving　for　a　year。　All　this　was　done　with　a　grace　and　delicacy　that　made　it　look　like　the　most　delightful　thing　I'd　ever　witnessed。
　
　〃You　aren't　eating；〃　she　said　with　a　little　frown。　〃Is　the　food　not　to　your　liking？〃
　
　I　pushed　a　pea　with　my　fork　and　shook　my　head。　〃No；　thank　you。　I'm　not　hungry。　Lady　Brane；〃　I　said。　〃I　am　not　a　threat　to　the　Seelie　Court；　nor　to　you。〃
　
　She　turned　and　looked　at　me；　her　expression　unreadable。
　
　〃And　what　makes　you　think　I　find　you　threatening？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　just　assumed　that　you　had　been　told。。。　things；〃　I　said。　Good；　Aina；　I　thought；　stick　your　foot　in　it　right　off。
　
　She　picked　up　a　pear　and　bit　into　it。　I　could　smell　the　sweet　aroma　of　it。　It　took　her　a　few　moments　to　finish　off　the　pear。　Daintily；　she　dabbed　at　her　mouth　with　a　napkin　before　speaking　again。
　
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　heard　stories。　From　sev…oral　sources。　You　have　not　endeared　yourself　to　many　of　the　Elders。　But　there　are　other；　more　powerful；　voices　who　seem　to　value　you。　So；　I　decided　I　should　see　for　myself　what　sort　of　creature　you　are。〃
　
　〃What　sort　of　creature？〃　I　said。　〃That　hardly　sounds　impartial。　Unlike　Alachia；　the　politics　of　men　have　little　interest　for　me。　But　your　court　deals　with　matters　that　do　concern　me。　Magic　and　mysticism　have　long　been　intertwined　for　our　people。〃
　
　She　shrugged。　〃Perhaps　some　of　what　I've　heard　does　concern　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　proud　of　being　an　elf　and　I　am　proud　of　our　Tir。　It　has　e　to　my　attention　that　you　have　chosen　others　over　your　own　kind　in　past　disputes。〃
　
　Alachia's　fine　Italian　hand　at　work；　no　d