tw.thestoneoffarewell- 第177节

　　
　　Ingen　Jegger　stood　beneath　the　spreading　arms　of　a　black　hemlock；　unmindful　of　the　bitter　wind　or　the　frost　growing　in　his　close…cropped　beard。　But　for　the　impatient　life　in　his　pale　blue　eyes；　he　might　have　been　a　luckless　traveler；　frozen　to　death　waiting　for　a　morning's　warmth　that　came　too　late。
　　The　huge　white　hound　crouching　in　the　snow　at　his　feet　stirred；　then　made　an　inquiring　sound　like　the　scrape　of　rusty　hinges。
　　〃Hungry；　Niku'a？〃　A　look　almost　of　fondness　ran　across　Ingen's　taut　features。　〃Quiet。　Soon；　you　will　have　your　fill。〃
　　Motionless；　Ingen　watched　and　listened；　sifting　the　night　like　a　whiskered　beast　of　prey。　The　moon　crept　from　one　gap　in　the　overhanging　trees　to　another。　The　forest；　but　for　the　wind；　was　silent。
　　〃Ah。〃　Satisfied；　he　took　a　few　steps　and　shook　the　snow　from　his　cloak。　〃Now；　Niku'a。　Call　your　brothers　and　sisters。　Howl　up　the　Stormspike　pack！　It　is　time　for　the　last　chase。〃
　　Niku'a　leaped　up；　quivering　with　excitement。　As　if　it　had　understood　Ingen's　every　word；　the　great　hound　trotted　out　into　the　middle　of　the　clearing　before　settling　back　on　its　haunches　and　lifting　its　snout　to　the　sky。　Powerful　throat　muscles　convulsed；　and　a　coughing　howl　shattered　the　night。　Even　as　the　first　echoes　died；　Niku'a's　strident　voice　burst　out　again；　hacking　and　baying。　The　very　branches　of　the　trees　trembled。
　　They　waited；　Ingen's　gloved　hand　resting　on　the　dog's　wide　head。　Time　passed。　Niku'a's　cloudy　white　eyes　gleamed　as　the　moon　slid　along　between　the　trees。　At　last；　as　night's　coldest　hour　crept　in；　the　faint　cries　of　hounds　came　sweeping　down　the　wind。
　　The　belling　rose　until　it　filled　the　forest。　A　host　of　white　shapes　appeared　from　the　darkness；　filtering　into　the　clearing　like　four…legged　ghosts。　The　Stormspike　hounds　wove　in　and　out　among　the　tree　roots；　narrow；　sharkhke　heads　questing　and　sniffing。　Starlight　gleamed　on　muzzles　smeared　with　blood　and　spittle。　Niku'a　went　among　them；　nipping；　snarling；　until　at　last　the　whole　pack　crouched　or　lay　in　the　snow　around　Ingen　Jegger；　red　tongues　lolling。
　　The　Queen's　Huntsman　calmly　looked　over　his　strange　congregation；　then　picked　his　snarling；　dog…faced　helm　from　the　ground。
　　〃Too　long　have　you　been　roaming　free；〃　he　hissed；　〃harrying　the　forest　fringes；　stealing　babies　like　kennel　cubs；　running　down　foolish　travelers　for　the　joy　of　the　chase。　Now　your　master　has　e　back。　Now　you　must　do　what　you　were　bred　to　do。〃　The　milky　eyes　followed　him　as　he　moved　to　his　horse；　which　waited　with　supernatural　patience　beneath　the　hemlock。　〃But　this　time　I　will　lead；　not　you。　It　is　a　strange　chase；　and　Ingen　alone　has　been　taught　the　scent。〃　He　pulled　himself　up　into　the　saddle。　〃Run　silently。〃　He　lowered　the　helmet　onto　his　head；　so　that　hound　looked　at　hounds。　〃We　take　death　to　the　Queen's　enemies。〃
　　A　low　growling　rose　from　the　dogs　as　they　rose　and　came　together；　sliding　against　one　another；　snapping　at　each　other's　faces　and　tails　in　fierce　anticipation。　Ingen　spurred　his　horse　forward；　then　turned。　〃Follow！〃　he　cried。　〃Follow　to　death　and　blood！〃
　　He　passed　swiftly　from　the　clearing。　The　pack　ran　after；　voiceless　now；　silent　and　white　as　snowfall。
　　
　　Huddled　deep　in　his　cloak；　Isgrimnur　sat　in　the　bow　of　the　small　boat　and　watched　stubby　Sinetris　rowing　and　sniffling。　The　duke　wore　a　fixed　expression　of　grim　preoccupation；　in　part　because　he　found　the　boatman's　pany　extremely　unrewarding；　but　mostly　because　he　himself　hated　boats；　especially　small　boats　like　the　one　on　which　he　was　now　trapped。　Sinetris　had　spoken　truthfully　about　one　thing；　anyway：　this　was　no　time　to　be　on　the　water。　A　great　storm　was　flailing　the　entire　length　of　the　coast。　The　choppy　water　of　Firannos　Bay　constantly　threatened　to　swamp　them；　and　Sinetris　had　not　stopped　moaning　since　their　hull　had　first　touched　the　water　a　week　before；　some　thirty　leagues　northward。
　　The　duke　had　to　admit　that　Sinetris　was　a　talented　boatman；　if　only　in　the　defense　of　his　own　life。　The　Nabban…man　had　handled　his　craft　well　under　terrible　conditions。　If　only　he　would　stop　sniveling！　Isgrimnur　was　no　happier　about　the　conditions　for　their　journey　than　Sinetris　was；　but　he　would　be　damned　to　the　blackest　circle　of　Hell　before　he　made　a　fool　out　of　himself　by　showing　it。
　　〃How　far　to　Kwanitupul？〃　he　shouted　over　the　noise　of　wind　and　waves。　
　　〃Haifa　day；　master　monk；〃　Sinetris　called　back；　eyes　red　and　streaming。　〃We　will　stop　soon　to　sleep；　then　we　can　be　there　by　midday　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Sleep！〃　Isgnmnur　roared。　〃Are　you　mad？　It　is　not　even　dark　yet！　Besides；　you　will　only　try　to　sneak　away　again；　and　this　time　I　will　not　be　so　merciful。　If　you　cease　your　self…pitying　nonsense　and　work；　you　can　sleep　in　a　bed　tonight！〃
　　〃Please；　holy　brother！〃　Sinetns　almost　shrieked。　〃Do　not　force　me　to　row　in　darkness！　We　will　run　onto　the　rocks。　Our　only　beds　will　be　down　among　the　kilpa！〃
　　〃Don't　hand　that　superstitious　nonsense　to　me。　I'm　paying　you　well　and　I　am　in　a　hurry。　If　you　are　too　weak　or　sore；　let　me　take　those　paddles　for　a　while。〃
　　The　oarsman；　wet　and　cold；　still　managed　a　convincing　look　of　wounded　pride。　〃You！　You　would　have　us　under　the　water　in　a　moment！　No；　you　cruel　monk；　if　Sinetris　must　die；　let　it　be　with　his　oars　in　his　hand；　as　befits　a　Firannos　boatman。　If　Sinetris　must　be　torn　from　his　home　and　the　bosom　of　his　family　and　sacrificed　to　the　whims　of　a　monster　in　the　robes　of　a　priest；　if　he　must　die　。　。　let　it　be　as　a　guild…man！〃
　　Isgrimnur　groaned。　〃Let　it　be　with　his　mouth　closed；　for　a　change。　And　keep　paddling！　〃
　　〃Rowing；〃　Sinetris　replied　frostily；　then　burst　into　tears　once　more。
　　
　　It　was　past　midnight　when　the　first　stilt…houses　of　Kwanitupul　came　into　view。　Sinetris；　whose　plaining　had　faded　at　last　to　a　low；　self…pitying　murmur；　nosed　the　boat　into　the　great　network　of　canals。　Isgrimnur；　who　had　briefly　fallen　asleep；　rubbed　his　eyes　and　craned　his　head；　looking　around。　Kwanitupul's　ramshackle　warehouses　and　inns　were　all　dusted　with　a　thin　coating　of　snow。
　　If　I　doubted　that　the　world　had　gone　topsy…turvy；　Isgrimnur　thought　bemusediy；　here　is　all　the　proof　I　need：　a　Rimmersman　taking　a　leaky　boat　to　sea　in　a　storm；　and　snow　in　the　southland…in　high　summer。　Can　any　doubt　the　world　has　run　mad？
　　Madness。　He　remembered　the　hideous　death　of　the　lector　and　felt　his　stomach　gurgle。　Madness…or　something　else？　It　was　a　strange　coincidence　that　Pryrates　and　Benigaris　should　both　be　in　the　house　of　Mother　Church　on　such　a　dreadful　night。　Only　a　stroke　of　rare　luck　had　brought　Isgrimnur　to　Dinivan　in　time　to　hear　the　priest's　last　words；　and　perhaps　to　salvage　something　from　this　grim　pass。
　　He　had　escaped　from　the　Sancellan　Aedonitis　only　moments　before　Benigaris；　Duke　of　Nabban；　had　ordered　his　guardsmen　to　bar　all　doors。　Isgrimnur　could　not　have　afforded　capture…even　if　he　had　not　been　immediately　recognized；　his　story　would　not　have　held　up　long。　Hiafmansa　Eve；　the　night　of　the　lector's　murder；　had　been　a　bad　night　to　be　an　unfamiliar　guest　at　the　Sancellan。
　　〃Do　you　know　of　a　place　here　called　Pelippa's　Bowl？〃　he　asked　aloud。　〃I　think　it　is　an　inn　or　a　hostel。〃
　　〃I　have　never　heard　of　the　place；　master　monk；〃　Sinetris　said　gravely。　〃It　sounds　like　a　low　establishment；　one　in　which　Sinetris　would　not　be　seen。〃　Now　that　they　had　reached　the　relatively　still　waters　of　the　canals；　the　boatman　had　reassumed　much　of　his　dignity。　Isgrimnur　decided　he　liked　him　better　when　he　sniveled。
　　 〃By　the　Tree；　we　will　never　find　it　at　night。　Take　me　to　some　inn　you　know；　then　I　must　get　something　under　my　belt。〃
　　Sinetris　steered　the　little　craft　down　a　series　of　crisscrossing　canals　to　the　city's　tavern　district。　Things　seemed　quite　lively　here　despite　the　late　hour；　the　boardwalks　lined　with　garish　cloth　lanterns　that　swung　in　the　wind；　the　alleyways　full　of　drunken　revelers。
　　〃This　is　a　fine　inn；　holy　brother；〃　Sinetris　said　as　they　glided　to　a　stop　at　the　dock　stairs　of　a　well…lit　establishment。　〃There　is　wine　to　be　had；　and　food。〃　Sinetris；　feeling　bold　now　that　their　journey　had　ended　safely；　gave　Isgrimnur　a　chummy；　gap…toothed　smile。　〃And　women；　too。〃　His　smile　grew　un