df.therunelords-第6部分

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be　to　my　lord。〃
　〃As　it　should　be；〃　Myrrima　said　softly；　with　a　slight　nod。　
　Gaborn's　heart　leapt。　I　have　won　her　love　as　surely　as　Borenson　shall；　he　thought。
　At　this　moment；　he　felt　strangeas　if　gripped　by　some　great　power。　It　seemed　he　could　feel　that　power；　like　a　buffeting　wind；　encirclinginvisible；　potent；　overawing。
　Gaborn's　pulse　raced。　He　glanced　around；　certain　the　source　of　this　emotion　must　have　a　causea　shifting　in　the　earth　in　preparation　for　a　quake；　an　approaching　thunderstorm。　But　he　saw　nothing　out　of　the　normal；　those　around　him　did　not　seem　troubled。
　Yet　he　could　feel。。。the　earth　preparing　to　move　beneath　his　feetthe　rocks　to　twist　or　breathe　or　shout。
　It　was　a　distinctly　odd　sensation。
　As　suddenly　as　the　rush　of　power　had　e；　it　dissipated。　Like　a　gust　of　wind　passing　over　a　meadow；　unseen；　but　subtly　disturbing　all　in　its　wake。
　Gaborn　wiped　perspiration　from　his　brow；　worried。　I've　e　a　thousand　miles　to　heed　a　distant；　unheard　call。　And　now　I　feel　this？
　It　seemed　madness。　He　asked　the　others；　〃Do　youdo　you　feel　anything？〃
　　
　Chapter　3
　OF　KNIGHTS　AND　PAWNS
　　
　When　Chemoise　got　news　that　her　betrothed　was　attacked　while　on　guard　duty；　gutted　by　some　spice　merchant；　it　was　as　if　the　dawn　sun　went　black；　losing　power　to　warm　her。　Or　it　was　as　if　she'd　turned　to　pale　clay；　her　flesh　losing　all　color；　no　longer　able　to　hold　her　spirit。
　Princess　Iome　Sylvarresta　watched　Chemoise；　her　Maid　of　Honor；　her　dearest　friend；　desperately　wishing　for　a　way　to　console　her。　If　Lady　Jollenne　had　been　here；　she'd　have　known　what　to　do。　But　the　matron　had　been　called　away　for　a　few　weeks　to　care　for　her　grandmother；　who'd　had　a　bad　fall。
　Iome；　her　Days；　and　Chemoise　had　been　up　at　dawn；　sitting　near　the　huge；　U…shaped　storyteller's　stone　in　the　Queen's　topiary　garden；　reading　the　latest　romance　poems　by　Adalle；　when　Corporal　Clewes　broke　in　on　their　reverie。
　He　told　the　news：　A　scuffle　with　a　drunken　merchant。　An　hour　or　more　past。　Cat's　Alley。　Sergeant　Dreys。　Fought　nobly。　Near　death。　Slit　from　crotch　to　heart。　Called　for　Chemoise　as　he　fell。
　Chemoise　took　the　news　stoically；　if　statues　can　be　said　to　be　stoic。　She　sat　stiffly　on　the　stone　bench；　her　hazel　eyes　unfocused；　her　long；　wheat…colored　hair　stirring　in　the　wind。　She'd　been　weaving　a　chain　of　daisies　as　Iome　read。　Now　she　laid　them　in　her　lap；　on　a　skirt　of　coral…colored　chiffon。　Sixteen　and　heartbroken。　She　was　to　have　married　in　ten　days。
　Yet　she　dared　not　show　her　emotions。　A　proper　lady　should　be　able　to　bear　such　news　lightly。　She　waited　for　Iome's　permission　to　go　to　her　fiancée。　Thank　you；　Clewes；〃　Iome　said　when　the　corporal　continued　standing　at　attention。　〃Where　is　Dreys　now？〃
　〃We　laid　him　out　on　the　mon；　outside　the　King's　Tower。　I　didn't　want　to　move　him　any　farther。　The　others　are　laid　out　down　by　the　river。〃
　〃The　others？〃　Iome　asked。　She　was　sitting　beside　Chemoise；　now　she　took　the　girl's　hand。　It　had　gone　cold；　so　cold。
　Clewes　was　an　old　soldier　to　have　such　a　low　station。　His　trim　beard　was　stiff　as　oat　stubble。　It　poked　out　from　under　the　broken　strap　of　his　iron　pikeman's　cap。
　〃Aye；　Princess；〃　he　said；　remembering　to　address　Iome　properly　for　the　first　time　since　he'd　intruded　into　the　garden。　〃Two　of　the　City　Guard　died　in　the　fight。　Poll　the　Squire　and　Sir　Beauman。〃
　Iome　turned　to　Chemoise。　〃Go　to　him；〃　she　said。
　The　girl　needed　no　further　urging。　She　leapt　up　and　ran　down　the　path　through　the　topiaries　to　the　little　wooden　Bailey　Gate；　opened　it　and　disappeared　round　the　stone　wall。
　Iome　dared　not　stay　long　in　the　corporal's　presence　alone；　with　no　one　other　than　the　Days；　who　stood　quietly　a　few　paces　off。　It　would　not　be　proper。　But　she　had　questions　to　ask　him。
　Iome　stood。
　〃You're　not　going　to　look　at　the　sergeant；　are　you；　Princess？〃　Clewes　asked。　He　must　have　caught　the　anger　in　her　eye。　〃I　meanit's　a　messy　sight。〃
　〃I've　seen　injured　men　before；〃　she　said　stoically。　She　looked　out　of　the　garden；　over　the　city。　The　garden；　a　small　patch　of　grass　with　trimmed　hedges　and　a　few　shaped　shrubs；　sat　within　the　King's　Wall；　the　second　of　the　three　walls　within　the　city。　From　here；　she　could　see　four　of　the　King's　Guards　on　the　wall…walk；　behind　the　parapet。　Beyond　that；　to　the　east；　lay　the　city　market；　just　within　the　castle's　Outer　Wall。　The　streets　in　the　market　below　were　a　jumbleroofs　of　slate；　some　covered　with　a　layer　of　sand　and　lead；　forming　narrow　chasms　above　the　rocky　streets。　Smoke　rose　from　cooking　fires　here　and　there。　Fourteen　minor　lords　had　estates　within　the　city　walls。
　Iome　studied　the　area　where　Cat's　Alley　could　be　found；　a　narrow　market　street　just　off　the　Butterwalk。　The　merchants'　wattle　houses　there　were　painted　in　shades　of　cardinal；　canary；　and　forest　green；　as　if　such　bright　colors　could　deny　the　general　decrepitude　of　buildings　that　had　been　settling　on　their　crooked　foundations　for　five　hundred　years。
　The　city　looked　no　different　today　than　it　had　yesterday。　She　could　see　Orly　rooftops；　no　sign　of　murderers。
　Yet　beyond　the　castle　walls；　beyond　the　farms　and　haycrofts；　in　the　ruddy　hills　of　the　Dunnwood　to　the　south　and　west；　dust　rose　in　small　clouds　along　the　roads　for　miles。　People　were　traveling　to　the　fair　from　distant　kingdoms。　Already；　dozens　of　colorful　silk　pavilions　had　been　set　out　before　the　castle　gates。　In　the　next　few　days；　the　population　of　the　city　would　soar　from　ten　thousand　to　four　or　five　times　that　number。
　Iome　looked　back　at　the　corporal。　Clewes　seemed　like　a　cold　man　to　have　been　sent　to　carry　such　ill　news。　Blood　had　been　everywhere　after　the　fight。　That　much　Iome　could　see。　Crimson　smeared　the　corporal's　boots；　stained　the　silver　boar　embroidered　into　the　black　of　his　livery。　The　corporal　himself　must　have　carried　Sergeant　Dreys　up　to　the　mon。
　〃So　the　fellow　killed　two　men　and　wounded　a　third；〃　Iome　said。　〃A　heavy　loss；　for　a　mere　brawl。　Did　you　dispatch　the　spice　merchant　yourself？〃　If　he　had；　she　decided；　the　corporal　would　get　a　reward。　Perhaps　a　jeweled　pin。
　〃No；　milady。　Uh；　we　busted　him　up　a　bit；　but　he's　still　alive。　He's　from　Muyyatin。　A　fellow　named　Hariz　al　Jwabala。　We　didn't　dare　kill　him。　We　wanted　to　question　him。〃　The　corporal　scratched　the　side　of　his　nose；　displeased　at　having　left　the　trader　alive。
　Iome　began　to　stroll　toward　the　Bailey　Gate；　wanting　to　be　with　Chemoise。　With　a　nod；　she　indicated　that　the　corporal　should　follow；　as　did　her　Days。
　〃I　see。。。〃　Iome　mused；　unsettled。　A　rich　merchant　then；　from　a　suspect　nation。　e　to　the　city　for　next　week's　fair。　〃And　what　was　a　spice　trader　from　Muyyatin　doing　in　Cat's　Alley　before　dawn？〃
　Corporal　Clewes　bit　his　lip；　as　if　unwilling　to　answer；　then　said　coldly；　〃Spying；　if　you　ask　me。〃　His　voice　choked　with　rage；　and　now　he　took　his　eyes　from　the　stone　gargoyle　up　on　the　keep's　wall；　where　he'd　been　staring；　and　briefly　glanced　at　Iome；　to　see　her　reaction。
　〃I　do　ask　you；〃　Iome　said。　Clewes　fumbled　to　unlatch　the　gate；　let　Iome　and　her　Days　through。
　〃We've　checked　the　inns；〃　Corporal　Clewes　said。　〃The　merchant　didn't　drink　at　any　of　them　last　night；　or　else　he'd　have　been　escorted　from　the　merchants'　quarter　at　ten　bells。　So　he　couldn't　have　gotten　drunk　in　the　city　walls；　and　I　doubt　he　was　drunk　at　all。　He's　got　rum　on　his　breath；　but　precious　little　of　it。　Besides；　there　was　no　reason　for　him　to　be　creeping　through　the　streets　at　night；　unless　he's　spying　out　the　castle　walls；　trying　to　count　the　guard！　So　when　he　gets　caught；　what　does　he　do？　He　feigns　drunk；　and　waits　for　the　guards　to　closethen；　out　with　the　knife！〃　Clewes　slammed　the　gate　shut。
　Just　around　the　rock　wall；　Iome　could　see　into　the　bailey。　A　dozen　of　the　King's　Guard　stood　there　in　a　knot。　A　physic　knelt　over　Sergeant　Dreys；　and　Chemoise　stood　over　them；　shoulders　hunched；　arms　crossed　tightly　across　her　chest。　An　early…morning　mist　was　rising　from　the　green。
　〃I　see；〃　Iome　whispered；　heart　pounding。　〃Then　you　are　interrogating　the　man？〃　Now　that　they　were　in　the　public　eye；　Iome　stopped　by　the　wall。　
　〃I　wish　we　could！〃　Corporal　Clewes　said。　〃I'd　put　a　coal　to　his　tongue　myself！　But　right　now；　all　the　traders　from　Muyyatin　and　Indhopal　are　in　an　uproar。　They're　calling　for　Jwabala's　release。　Already　they're　threatening　to　post　a　ban　on　the　fair。　And　now　it's　got　the　Master　of　the　Fair　in　a　fright：　Guildmaster　Hollicks　has　gone　to　the　King　himself；　demanding　the　merchant's　release！　Can　you　believe　it？　A　spy！　He　wants　us　to　release　a　murdering　spy！〃
　Iome　took　the　news　in；　surprised。　It　was　extraordinary　that　Hollicks　would　seek　audience　with　the　King　just　after　dawn；　extraordinary　that　the　Southern　merchants　would　threaten　a　ban。　All　of　this　spoke　of　large　matters　spinning　wildly　out　of　control。
　She　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　Her　Days；　a　tiny　woman　with　dark　hair　and　a　perpetually　clenched　jaw；　was　listening。　Standing　quietly　just　outside　the　gate；　petting　a　lanky　yellow　kitten　that　she　held。　Iome　could　read　no　reaction　on　the　Days'　face。　Perhaps　the　Days　already　knew　who　this　spy　was；　knew　who　sent　him。　Yet　the　Days　always　claimed　to　remain　pletely　neutral　of　political　affairs。　They　would　answer　no　questions。
　Iome　considered。　Corporal　Clewes