cspector.worldwithoutend-第23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！


　and'saw　that　a　young　man　was　staring　at　us。
　
　I　froze；　for　a　moment　thinking　that　I　was　seeing　Aithne　Oakforest；　but　this　elf　was　too　young　to　be　Aithne。　On　second　glance　I　saw　the　differences　between　them。　The　slightly　petulant　mouth。　The　spoiled　expression　on　his　face。　The　bored　gaze。　He　had　some　of　his　father's　coloring　and　bone　structure；　but　the　hair　was　too　light　and　the　eyes　darker。　Still；　there　was　no　doubt　in　my　mind　that　this　was　Glasgian；　Aithne's　oldest　son。　Or　at　least　the　oldest　surviving　one。
　
　The　thought　of　Aithne's　son　pushed　the　breath　from　me。　That　I　could　still　feel　the　pain　of　this　moment；　even　after　all　this　time；　astounded　me。　And　I　knew　that　my　hopes　for　Aithne's　forgiveness　were　in　vain。
　
　I　felt　Caimbeul's　hand　on　my　elbow　and　heard　his　voice　in　my　ear　as　though　it　were　ing　from　a　long　way　off；　like　an　old…fashioned　radio　broadcast。　〃I　know　seeing　him　is　a　bit　of　a　shock；　Aina；〃　Caimbeui　said。　〃But　don't　let　it　throw　you。　He　isn't　Aithne；　and　he's　not　the　ghost　of　Hebhel　e　back　to　haunt　you。　Remember　what's　important　now。〃
　
　I　turned　toward　Caimbeui；　pulling　my　gaze　from　Glasgian。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said。　My　voice　was　reedy　and　thin　in　my　ears。　〃He　gave　me　such　a　start。〃
　
　〃Are　you　all　right；　Aina？〃　asked　Lofwyr。　〃You　look　positively　green。　Maybe　you　should　sit　down。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　more　firmly　this　time。　〃I　just　felt　a　little　strange　for　a　moment　there。〃
　
　Lofwyr　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　Glasgian。　〃Ah；　he　does　look　quite　like　his　father；　doesn't　he？　No　wonder　it　gave　you　a　start。　There's　no　love　lost　between　you　and　Aithne。　Is　there？
　
　〃I've　always　wondered　about　that。　It　seemed　so　strange。。。〃
　〃Perhaps　some　other　time；〃　said　Caimbeui　as　he　led　me　away　from　the　dragon。
　
　He　steered　me　about　the　perimeter　of　the　party；　keeping　up　a　steady　flow　of　nods　and　polite　remarks　as　we　strolled。
　
　〃Surehand　is　just　ahead；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　think　you're　up　to　meeting　with　him？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Of　course；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　just　a　momentary　lapse。〃
　
　Tilting　my　glass　then；　I　drank　the　rest　of　the　champagne　with　one　large　gulp。　A　waiter　passed　close　by　and　I　grabbed　another　glass　from　him。　How　I　wished　it　were　something　stronger。
　
　〃You　don't　suppose　Surehand　has　a　supply　of　Taengele　lying　about；　do　you？〃　I　asked。
　
　Caimbeui　gave　a　little　frown。　I　returned　it　and　he　knew　better　than　to　go　over　that　old　ground　with　me。　Oh；　I　knew　that　particular　demon　was　never　far　away；　but　I　didn't　succumb　to　it　anymore。
　
　〃I'm　certain　there　is　little　that　Lugh　denies　himself；〃　Caimbeui　said。　〃But　we　haven't　time　to　indulge　that　particular　vice　of　yours　right　now。〃
　
　I　downed　the　second　glass　and　got　a　small　headache　from　the　bubbles。
　
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said；　giving　him　a　grand　wave　of　my　hand。　〃Lead　on；　MacDuff。〃
　
　He　rolled　his　eyes；　but　said　nothing　as　he　took　my　hand　and　led　me　to　the　small　circle　where　Lugh　Surehand　stood。
　
　〃May　I　present　Aina　Sluage；　Lugh；〃　said　Caimbeui。
　
　I　extended　my　hand　and　Lugh　Surehand　brought　it　UP　to　his　Ups　and　kissed　it。　He　was　much　taller　than　I。　with　a　slender　build。　His　hair　was　dark　red；　almost　the　color　of　newly　turned　maple　leaves　in　fall。　His　eyes　were　green　as　summer　grass。
　
　I　thought　he　might　have　looked　quite　at　home　in　Elizabethan　times　with　his　goatee　and　the　rakish　scar；　he　sported　on　his　neck。　I　knew　from　Caimbeui　that　it　was　an　old　injury；　one　that　ran　across　and　down　his　neck　and　across　his　shoulder。
　
　There　was　an　aura　of　mand　about　him；　though　？　I　thought　he　might　have　toned　it　down　somewhat　to　acmodate　the　temperaments　of　the　other　Elders。　I　suspected　that　Aithne；　Ehran；　and　the　others　would　never　tolerate　the　idea　that　they　were　being　led　by　anyone。
　
　〃Ah；　so　you　are　Aina；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　heard　so　many　things　about　you。　How　is　that　we　have　not　met　over　the　years？〃
　I　smiled　very　slowly　at　him。　〃My　misfortune；　no　doubt；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　always　been　cursed　with　bad　luck。〃
　〃No；　madam；　the　ill　fortune　was　mine；〃　he　murmured。　He　had　not　yet　released　my　hand。
　So　that　was　how　it　was　to　be。　All　so　very　polite　and　civilized；　until；　of　course；　the　knives　came　out。
　〃Would　you　like　a　tour　of　the　grounds？〃　Surehand　asked。
　〃Delighted；〃　I　said。　〃I　understand　they　are　most　impressive。〃
　
　I　let　him　pull　me　to　his　side　and　tucked　my　hand　into　the　crook　of　his　elbow。　〃I　am　curious；〃　he　said　as　he　led　me　away　from　the　small　circle　of　people　and　down　toward　his　great　house。　〃I　understand　you　knew　Goya。　I　have　always　been　a　great　admirer　of　his　work。　Tell　me；　was　he　mad　there　at　the　end？〃
　
　I　glanced　over　my　shoulder　at　Caimbeui；　but　he　was　already　engaged　in　conversation　with　a　pretty　young　woman　to　whom　we'd　just　been　introduced；　the　Countess　Teargan。　She　was　Surehand's　constant　panion；　and　even　Caimbeui　was　unable　to　aster…tain　the　nature　of　their　relationship。
　
　〃I　suppose　all　humans　go　mad　upon　realizing　that　they　will　die　soon；〃　I　said。　〃Isn't　that　their　great　misfortune？〃
　
　Surehand　glanced　at　me；　his　face　shrewd　for　a　moment　before　the　pleasant　mask　slipped　back　into　place。
　
　〃I　don't　believe　you　find　it　to　be；〃　he　said。　〃I've　always　found　that　peculiar　about　you。　You　seem　to　despise　your　immortal　state。〃
　
　〃Despise　is　a　bit　strong；〃　I　said　lightly。　〃I　find　the　proposition　a　bit　strange。　It　occurs　to　me　that　we　few　have　had　so　much　time；　yet　we　have　not　done　any　great　good　with　it。　And　often　we　have　done　such　harm　in　the　name　of　ourselves。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　we　are　beyond　such　notions　as　good　or　bad；〃　he　said。　We　were　crossing　the　broad　expanse　of　green　lawn。　Lawn　that　should　have　been　brown　this　time　of　year。
　
　〃But　isn't　that　the　very　problem？〃　I　asked。
　　〃So　you　concern　yourself　with　loftier　matters　than　　ours…is　that　it？〃　he　asked。　
　I　could　hear　the　edge　in　his　voice。
　　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I　only　know　that　my　choices　are　those　I　can　live　with　lay　to　day。〃
　
　
　We　reached　the　foot　of　the　wide　steps　leading　up　to　a　terrace　outside　the　house。　In　the　dim　light；　it　looked　gray…white　and　unreal。　As　though　it　were　some　creation　conjured　up　to　amaze。
　
　〃Yet　you　e　here　to　ask　for　my　help；〃　he　said　as　he　led　me　up　the　steps。　It　was　getting　colder；　and　I　shivered。　He　pulled　off　his　jacket　and　draped　it　over　my　shoulders。　It　smelled　of　orris　root；　tobacco；　and　musk。
　
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　news　that　I　believe　must　be　told　not　only　to　the　Elders；　but　to　the　world　at　large。〃
　
　Pushing　open　the　wide　glass　doors；　Surehand　gestured　for　me　to　enter　the　house。　Inside　it　was　dark　and　shadowy。　I　banged　my　knee　on　something　and　gave　a　little　yelp。　Instantly；　the　room　was　bathed　in　golden　light。
　
　〃It's　that　damn　ottoman；〃　he　said。　〃I　keep　telling　the　maids　not　to　leave　it　here；　but　they　never　listen。　Are　you　all　right？〃
　
　I　flopped　down　on　the　ottoman　and　pulled　my　skirt　up　to　look　at　the　damage。　It　was　minor；　but　I　could　tell　there　would　be　a　bruise　the　next　day。
　
　〃It's　nothing；〃　I　said　as　I　smoothed　my　skirt　back　down。　〃Is　it　safe　to　talk　here？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　he　replied。　〃The　house　and　grounds　are　swept　on　a　regular　basis　for　any　sort　of　bugging…　magical　or　otherwise。　I'm　curious；　though。　You　are　here　with　Harlequin。　Surely　you　know　he　is　at　odds　with　Ehran。〃
　
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。　〃But　his　relationship　with　you　is　still　intact。　And　I　have　much　more　severe　problems　among　the　Elders　of　this　Tir　myself。　Aithne　and　Alachia；　for　example。　From　whom　I　suspect　you　have　received　much　of　your　information　about　me。〃
　
　He　dropped　into　a　chair　opposite　me　and　looked　me　over。
　
　〃You　are　both　not　at　all　what　they　described　and　quite　like　their　descriptions；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃But　I'm　not　so　foolish　as　to　acquire　all　my　information　from　only　two　sources…and　those　with　grudges；　no　less。〃
　
　〃And　what　have　you　found？〃　I　asked。　My　ego　speaking；　no　doubt。
　
　Surehand　settled　into　his　chair；　then　propped　his　feet　next　to　me　on　the　ottoman。
　
　〃You　have　stayed　out　of　political　dealings　for　most　of　this　cycle。　You　disapprove　of　the　way　we've　been　handling　matters　thus　far；　According　to　Aithne；　who　rarely　allows　any　mention　of　your　name；　you　are　worse　than　any　nightmare。〃
　
　That　stung；　ing　from　someone　else。　So　he　hated　me　enough　still　to　try　and　sabotage　me　at　every　turn。　Well；　perhaps　it　was　no　more　than　I　deserved。
　
　〃Ah；〃　I　said。
　〃Aithne　always　did　have　a　way　with　words。〃；　Lugh　Surehand　laughed。　It　was　deep　and　rusty；　as　though　he　didn't　use　it　often。
　〃Alachia　underestimates　you；〃　he　said。　〃She　said　you　had　little　wit。〃
　I　shrugged。　〃Alachia　underestimates　anyone　who　doesn't　automatically　worship　her…or　those　who　cannot　be　led　around　by　portions　of　their　anatomy
　〃I　know　little　of　the　animosity　between　the　three　of　you。　Aithne　refuses　to　speak　of　it；　and　Alachia　holds　it　out　like　a　trinket；　then　snatches　it　away　when　one　gets　too　close。〃
　
　I　smoothed　the　velvet　of　my　gown　across　my　knees。　In　the　warm　light　it　took　on　a　deep　silver　cast。　Anything　to　distract　me　from　memories　of　the　past。
　
　〃Do　you　know　the　story　of　Scheherazade？〃　I　asked。
　
　For　a　moment；　Surehand　looked　startled；　but　I　knew　he　would　quickly　replace　that　with　his　usual　bland　expression。　I　wasn't　disappointed。　And　it　occurred　to　me　that　for　all　his　show　of　calmness　and　balance；　he　was　really　quite　formidable。　After　all；　he　had　managed　to　remain　High　Prince　since　the　founding　of　Tir　Taimgire。　With　all　the　political　intrigue　so　rife　among　the　Elders；　he　should　have　been　ousted　long　ago。　But　here　he　was　in　plete　control　of　the　Tir。
　
　〃She　was　married　to　a　sultan。　He　killed　every　other　wife　he　took　after　only　one　night　with　her；〃　began　Surehand。　〃On　the　first　night　of　Scheherazade's　marriage　to　him；　she　refused　to　lay　with　him；　in…sifting　instead　that　she　would　tell　him　a　story。　Each　night　continued　after　the　first　the　same　way。　She　kept　him　spellbound　with　her　wit　and　stories。　It　con…tinned　thus　for　a　thousand　nights。
　
　〃At　the　end　of　the　thousand　nights；　the　sultan　had　fallen　in　love　with　Scheherazade　and　couldn't　bring　himself　to　kill　her。　Thus　was　she　spared。〃
　
　I　clapped　my　hands　softly　together。
　〃Bravo；〃　I　said。　〃Nicely　told。　You　will　go　far　should　you　ever　bee　the　wife　of　a　sultan。〃
　〃Am　I　to　tak