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！
would have been different without your aid： you found Camaris' sword。 Also； the fire frightened them。 They knew they did not have much time； and that made them careless。 Otherwise； I think we would all be there still。〃 She indicated the burning tent。
Geloe's sacrifice。 Tiamak found his eyes filling with tears。 They stung。
She Who Waits to Take All Back； he prayed desperately； do not let her drift by！
He covered his face with his hands。 He did not want to think any more。
Josua ran faster。 When Isgrimnur caught him at last； the prince had already stopped to make sure that the fires were being mastered。 The original blaze had spread only a little way； catching perhaps a half…dozen other tents at most； and all but some in the first tent had escaped。 Sangfugol was one of them。 He stood； clothed only in a long shirt； and blearily watched the proceedings。
After assuring himself that everything possible was being done； Isgrimnur followed Josua to Camaris and the other two survivors； the Sitha…woman and little Tiamak； who were resting nearby。 They were all bloodied and singed； but Isgrimnur felt sure after looking them over quickly that they would all live。
〃Ah； praise merciful Aedon that you escaped。 Sir Camaris；〃 said Josua； kneeling at the side of the old knight。 〃I feared rightly that it might be your tent when we first saw the blaze。〃 He turned to Aditu； who seemed to have her wits about her； which could not quite be said of Camaris and the marsh man。 〃Who have we lost？ I am told there are bodies inside the tent still。〃
Aditu looked up。 〃Geloe； I fear。 She was badly wounded。 Dying。〃
〃God curse it！〃 Josua's voice cracked。 〃Cursed day！〃 He pulled a handful of grass and flung it down angrily。 With an effort； he calmed himself。 〃Is she still in there？ And who are the others？〃
〃They are none of them Geloe；〃 she said。 〃The three inside the tent are those you call Norns。 Geloe has gone to the forest。〃
〃What！〃 Josua sat back； stunned。 〃What do you mean； gone to the forest？ You said she was dead。〃
〃Dying。〃 Aditu spread her fingers。 〃She did not want us to see her last moments； I think。 She was strange； Josua…stranger than you know。 She went away。〃
〃Gone？〃
The Sitha nodded slowly。 〃Gone。〃
The prince made the sign of the Tree and bowed his head。 When he looked up； there were tears running on his cheek； Isgrimnur did not think they were caused by the smoke。 He； too； felt a shadow move over him as he thought of the loss of Geloe。 With so many pressing tasks he could not dwell on it now； but the duke knew from long experience in battle that it would strike him hard later。
〃We have been attacked in our very heart；〃 the prince said bitterly。 〃How did they get past the sentries？〃
〃The one I fought was dripping wet；〃 said Aditu。 〃They may have e down the river。〃
Josua swore。 〃We have been dangerously lax； and I am the worst miscreant。 I had thought it strange we had escaped the Norns' attentions so long； but my precautions were inadequate。 Were there more than those three？〃
〃I think there were no more；〃 Aditu replied。 〃And they would have been more than enough； but that we were lucky。 If Geloe and I had not guessed something was amiss； and if Tiamak had not somehow known and arrived when he did； this tale would have had a different ending。 I think they meant to lull Camaris； or at least to take him。〃
〃But why？〃 Josua looked at the old knight； then back to Aditu。
〃I do not know。 But let us carry him； and Tiamak； too； to some warm place。 Prince Josua。 Camaris has at least one wound； perhaps more； and Tiamak is burned； I think。〃
〃Aedon's mercy； you are right；〃 said Josua。 〃Thoughtless； thoughtless。 One moment。〃 He turned and called some of his soldiers together； then sent them off with orders for the sentries to search the camp。 〃We cannot be sure there were not more Norns or other attackers；〃 Josua said。 〃At the very least； we may find something to tell us how these came into our camp without being seen。〃
〃None of the Gardenborn are easily seen by mortals…if they do not wish to be seen；〃 said Aditu。 〃May we take Camaris and Tiamak away now？〃
〃Of course。〃 Josua called two of the bucket carriers。 〃You men！ e and help us！〃 He turned to Isgrimnur。 〃Four should be enough to carry them； even though Camaris is large。〃 He shook his head。 〃Aditu is right…we have made these brave ones wait too long。〃
The duke had been in such situations before； and knew that too much haste was as…bad as too little。 〃I think we would be better to find something to carry them on；〃 he said。 〃If one of those outer tents has been saved from the fire； we might use it to make a litter or two。〃
〃Good。〃 Josua stood。 〃Aditu； I did not ask if you had wounds that needed tending。〃
〃Nothing I cannot care for myself； Prince Josua。 When these two have been seen to； we should gather those that you trust and talk。〃
〃I agree。 There is much to talk about。 We will meet at Isgrimnur's tent within the hour。 Does that suit you； Isgrimnur？〃 The prince turned aside for a moment； then turned back。 His face was haggard with grief。 〃I was thinking that we should find Geloe to e nurse them。。。 then I remembered。〃
Aditu made a gesture； fingers touching fingers before her。 'This is not the last time we shall miss her； I think。〃
〃It is Josua；〃 the prince called from outside the tent。 When he stepped inside； Gutrun still had the knife held before her。 The duchess looked fierce as an undenned badger； ready to protect herself and Vorzheva from whatever danger might show itself。 She lowered the dagger as Josua entered； relieved but still full of worry。
〃What is it？ We heard the shouting。 Is my husband with you？〃
〃He is safe； Gutrun。〃 Josua walked to the bed； then leaned forward and pulled Vorzheva to him in a swift embrace。 He kissed her brow as he released her。 〃But we have been attacked by the Storm King's minions。 We have lost only one； but that is a great loss。〃
〃Who？〃 Vorzheva caught his arm as he tried to straighten。
〃Geloe。〃
She cried out in grief。
〃Three Norns attacked Camaris；〃 Josua explained。 〃Aditu； Geloe； and the Wrannaman Tiamak came to his aid。 The Norns were killed； but Aditu says that Geloe took a fatal wound。〃 He shook his head。 〃I think she was the wisest of us all。 Now she is gone and we cannot replace her。〃
Vorzheva fell back。 〃But she was just here； Josua。 She came with Aditu to see me。 Now she is dead？〃 Tears filled her eyes。
Josua nodded sadly。 〃I came to see that you were safe。 Now I must go meet with Isgrimnur and the others to decide what this means； what we will do。〃 He stood； then bent and kissed his wife again。 〃Do not sleep…and keep your knife； Gutrun…until I can send someone here to guard you。〃
〃No one else was hurt？ Gutrun said that she saw fires。〃
〃Camaris' tent。 He seems to have been the only one attacked。〃 He began to move toward the door。
〃But Josua；〃 Vorzheva said； 〃are you sure？ Our camp is so big。〃
The prince shook his head。 〃I am sure of nothing； but we have not heard of any other attacks。 I will have someone here to guard you soon。 Now I must hurry； Vorzheva。〃
〃Let him go； Lady；〃 Gutrun told her。 〃Lie back and try to sleep。 Think of your child。〃
Vorzheva sighed。 Josua squeezed her hand； then turned and hastened from the tent。
Isgrimnur looked up as the prince strode into the light of the campfire。 The cluster of men waiting for the prince stepped back respectfully； letting him pass。 〃Josua 。。。〃 the duke began； but the prince did not let him finish。
〃I have been foolish； Isgrimnur。 It is not enough to have sentries running through the camp looking for signs of invading Norns。 Aedon's Blood； it took me long enough to realize it…Sludig！〃' he shouted。 〃Is Sludig somewhere nearby？〃
The Rimmersman stepped forward。 〃Here； Prince Josua。〃
〃Send soldiers through the camp to see if everyone is accounted for； especially those of our party who might be at risk。 Binabik and Strangyeard were with me until the fire started； but that does not mean they are safe still。 It is late in the day for me to realize this might have been a diversion。 And my niece； Miriamele…send someone to her tent immediately。 And Simon； too； although he may be with Binabik。〃 Josua frowned。 〃If they wanted Camaris； it seems likely it was about the sword。 Simon carried it for a while； so perhaps there is some danger to him as well。 Damn me for my slow wits。〃
Isgrimnur made a throat…clearing noise。 〃I already sent Freosel to look after Miriamele； Josua。 I knew you would want to see Lady Vorzheva as soon as you could and I thought it should not wait。〃
〃Thank you； Isgrimnur。 I did go to her。 She and Gutrun are fine。〃 Josua scowled。 〃But I am shamed you have had to do my thinking。〃
Isgrimnur shook his head。 〃Let's just hope the princess is safe。〃
〃Freosel has been sent after Miriamele；〃 Josua told Sludig。 〃That is one less to hunt for。 Go and see to the rest now。 And post two guards at my tent； if you would。 I will think better knowing that someone is watching over Vorzheva。〃
The Rimmersman nodded。 He mandeered a large portion of the soldiers who were milling aimlessly around Isgrimnur's camp and went off to do as he had been bid。
〃And now；〃 Josua said to Isgrimnur； 〃we wait。 And think。〃
Before the hour was too much older； Aditu reappeared； Father Strangyeard and Binabik were with her。 They had gone with the Sitha to make sure Camaris and Tiamak were resting fortably in the care of one of New Gadrinsett's healing…women…and also； apparently； to talk； for they were all three deep in conversation when they reached Isgrimnur's tent。
Aditu told Josua and the rest all the details of the night's events。 She spoke calmly； but Isgrimnur could not help noticing that； although she chose her words with as much care as ever； the Sitha seemed profoundly troubled。 She and Geloe had been friends； he knew： apparently the Sithi felt grief just as mortals did。 He liked her better for it； then dismissed the thought as unworthy。 Why should immortals not take hurt like humans？ From what Isgrimnur knew； they had certainly suffered at least as much。
〃So。〃 Josua sat back and looked around the circle。 〃We have found no trace of anyone else being attacked。 The question is； why did they single out Camaris？〃
〃There must be something to this Three Swords rhyme after all；〃 said Isgrimnur。 He didn't like such things： they made him feel as though the ground beneath his feet was unsolid； but that seemed to be the kind of world he found himself in。 It was hard not to yearn for the clean edge that
things had when he was younger。 Even the worst of matters； like war； terrible as it was； had not been so shot through with strange sorceries and mysterious enemies。 'They must have been after Camaris because of Thorn。〃
〃Or perhaps it was Thorn alone they were seeking for；〃 Binabik said soberly。 〃And Camaris was not of the most importance。〃
〃I still do not understand how they were able almost to overe him；〃 Strangyeard said。 〃What is that poison you spoke of； Aditu？〃
〃Kei…vishaa。 In truth； it is not just a poison： we Gardenborn use it in the Grove when it is time to dance the year's end。 But it can also be wielded to bring a long； heavy sleep。 It was brought from Venyha Do'sae； my people used it when they first came here； to remove dangerous animals…some of them huge creatures。。。 whose like have long passed from Osten Ard…from the places where we wished to build our cities。 When I smelted it； I knew that something was wrong。 We Zida'ya have never used it for anything except the year…dancing ceremonies。〃
〃How is it used there？〃 the archivist asked； fascinated。
Aditu only lowered her eyes。 〃I am sorry； good Strangyeard； but that is not for me to say。 I perhaps should not have mentioned it at all。 I am tired。〃
〃We have no need to pry into your people's rituals；〃 said Josua。 〃And we have more important things to speak of； in any case。〃 He turned an irritated look on Strangyeard； who hung his head。 〃It is enough tha