df.therunelords-第7部分

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ly　neutral　of　political　affairs。　They　would　answer　no　questions。
　Iome　considered。　Corporal　Clewes　was　probably　right。　The　merchant　was　a　spy。　Her　father　had　his　own　spies　in　the　Indhopalese　Kingdoms。
　But　if　the　killer　was　a　spy；　it　might　be　impossible　to　prove。　Still；　he'd　killed　two　of　the　City　Guard；　and　wounded　Dreys；　a　sergeant　of　the　King's　Guardand　for　that；　by　all　rights；　the　merchant　should　die。
　But　in　Muyyatin　a　man　who　mitted　a　crime　in　a　drunken　stupor；　even　the　crime　of　murder；　could　not　be　executed。
　Which　meant　that　if　her　father　gave　the　death　sentence；　the　Muyyatinand　all　their　Indhopalese　kinsmen　would　bridle　at　the　injustice　of　the　execution。
　So　they　threatened　a　ban。
　Iome　considered　the　implications　of　such　a　ban。　The　Southern　traders　primarily　sold　spicespepper；　mace；　and　salt　for　curing　meats；　curry；　saffron；　cinnamon；　and　others　for　use　in　foods；　medicinal　herbs。　But　the　traders　brought　much　more：　alum　for　use　in　dyeing　and　tanning　hides；　along　with　indigo　and　various　other　dyes　needed　for　Heredon's　wool。　And　they　carried　other　precious　goodsivory；　silks；　sugar；　platinum；　blood　metal。
　If　these　traders　called　a　ban　on　the　fair；　they'd　deal　a　fearsome　blow　to　at　least　a　dozen　industries。　Even　worse；　without　the　spices　to　preserve　food；　Heredon's　poor　would　not　fare　well　through　the　winter。
　This　year's　Master　of　the　Fair；　Guildmaster　Hollickswho；　as　Master　the　Dyers'　Guild；　stood　to　lose　a　fortune　if　a　ban　succeededwas　suing　for　a　reconciliation。　Iome　didn't　like　Hollicks。　Too　often　he'd　asked　the　King　to　raise　the　import　taxes　on　foreign　cloth；　hoping　thus　to　holster　his　own　sales。　But　even　Hollicks　needed　the　merchandise　the　Indhopalese　brought　to　trade。
　Just　as　desperately；　the　merchants　here　in　Heredon　needed　to　sell　their　own　wool　and　linen　and　fine　steel　to　the　foreigners。　Most　of　the　bourgeois　traders　had　large　amounts　of　money　that　they　both　borrowed　and　loaned。　If　a　ban　were　enforced；　hundreds　of　wealthy　families　would　go　bankrupt。　And　it　was　the　wealthy　families　of　Heredon　who　paid　taxes　to　support　King　Sylvarresta's　knights。
　Indeed；　Sylvarresta　had　his　hand　in　dozens　of　trading　deals　himself。　Even　he　could　not　afford　a　ban。
　Iome's　blood　felt　as　if　it　would　boil。　She　tried　to　resign　herself　to　the　inevitable。　Her　father　would　be　forced　to　release　the　spy；　make　a　reconciliation。　But　she　would　not　like　it。
　For　in　the　long　run；　Iome　knew　full　well；　her　family　could　not　afford　such　reconciliation's：　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　Raj　Ahten；　the　Wolf　Lord　of　Indhopal；　made　war　against　the　bined　kingdoms　of　Rofehavan。　Though　traders　from　Indhopal　crossed　the　deserts　and　mountains　now；　next　yearor　the　year　afterthe　trading　would　have　to　stop。
　Why　not　stop　the　trading　now？　Iome　wondered。　Her　father　could　seize　the　merchandise　brought　by　the　foreign　caravansstarting　the　war　he'd　long　hoped　to　avert。
　But　she　knew　he　would　not　do　it。　King　Jas　Laren　Sylvarresta　would　not　start　a　war。　He　was　too　decent　a　man。
　Poor　Chemoise！　Her　betrothed　lay　near　death；　and　would　not　be　avenged。
　The　girl　had　no　one。　Chemoise's　mother　had　died　young；　her　father；　a　Knight　Equitable；　had　been　taken　captive　six　years　ago　while　on　a　quest　to　Aven。
　〃Thank　you　for　the　news；〃　Iome　told　Corporal　Clewes。　〃I　will　discuss　this　matter　with　my　father。〃
　Iome　hurried　up　now　to　the　knot　of　soldiers。　Sergeant　Dreys　lay　on　a　pallet　in　the　green　grass。　An　ivory…colored　sheet　lay　over　Dreys；　pulled　up　almost　to　his　throat。　Blood　looked　as　if　it　had　been　poured　liberally　over　the　sheet；　and　it　frothed　from　the　corner　of　Dreys'　mouth。　His　pale　face　was　covered　in　sweat。　The　slant　of　the　morning　sunlight　left　him　in　shadows。
　Corporal　Clewes　had　been　right。　Iome　should　not　have　seen　this。　All　the　blood；　the　smell　of　punctured　guts；　the　impending　deathall　nauseated　her。
　A　few　children　from　the　castle　were　up　early　and　had　gathered　to　witness　the　sight。　They　looked　up　at　Iome；　shock　and　pain　in　their　eyes；　as　if　hoping　that　she　could　somehow　smile　and　set　this　whole　tragic　thing　aright。
　Iome　rushed　to　one　small　girl　of　nine；　Jenessee；　and　put　an　arm　around　the　girl；　then　whispered；　〃Please；　take　the　children　away　from　here。〃
　Shaking；　Jenessee　hugged　Iome　briefly；　then　did　as　told。
　A　physic　knelt　over　Dreys。　Yet　the　physic　seemed　in　no　hurry。　He　merely　studied　the　soldier。　When　he　saw　Iome；　saw　her　questioning　look；　the　physic　just　shook　his　head。　He　could　do　nothing
　〃Where　is　the　herbalist；　Binnesman？〃　Iome　asked；　for　the　wizard　was　this　physic's　superior　in　every　way。
　〃He's　gone…to　the　meadows；　gathering　costmary。　He　won't　be　back　until　tonight。〃
　Iome　shook　her　head　in　dismay。　It　was　a　terrible　time　for　her　master　physic　to　be　out　hunting　for　herbs　to　drive　spiders　from　the　castle。　Yet　she　should　have　known。　The　nights　were　growing　colder；　and　she　herself　had　plained　to　Binnesman　yesterday　about　spiders　seeking　warmth　in　her　rooms。
　〃I　fear　there　is　nothing　I　can　do；〃　the　physic　said。　〃I　dare　not　move　him　more；　for　he　bleeds　too　badly。　I　cannot　sew　the　wounds；　but　dare　not　leave　them　open。〃
　〃I　could　give　him　an　endowment；〃　Chemoise　whispered。　〃I　could　give　him　my　stamina。〃　It　was　an　offer　made　in　pure　love。　As　such；　Iome　would　have　wanted　to　honor　it。
　〃And　if　you　did；　would　he　thank　you　for　it？〃　the　physic　asked。　〃Should　you　die　next　time　the　fever　season　es　around；　he'd　rue　the　bargain。〃
　It　was　true。　Chemoise　was　a　sweet　girl；　but　she　showed　no　sign　of　having　more　stamina　than　anyone　else。　She　got　fevers　in　winter；　bruised　easily。　If　she　gave　her　stamina　to　Sergeant　Dreys；　she'd　be　weak　thereafter；　more　susceptible　to　plagues　and　ills。　She'd　never　be　able　to　bear　him　a　child；　carry　it　full…term。
　〃It's　only　his　endowments　of　stamina　that　have　kept　him　alive　this　long；〃　Chemoise　mused。　〃A　little　moreand　he　might　live。〃
　The　physic　shook　his　head。　〃Taking　an　endowment；　even　an　endowment　of　stamina；　gives　some　shock　to　the　system。　I　wouldn't　dare　try。　We　can　only　wait　and　see　if　he　strengthens。。。〃
　Chemoise　nodded。　She　knelt；　cleaned　the　blood　bubbling　from　the　corner　of　Drey's　lips　with　the　corner　of　her　gray　skirt。　Dreys　breathed　hard；　filling　his　lungs　with　air　as　if　each　breath　would　be　his　last。
　Iome　marveled。　〃Has　he　been　gasping　like　this　long？〃
　The　physic　shook　his　head；　almost　imperceptibly；　so　that　Chemoise　would　not　see　him　answer。　Dreys　was　dying。
　They　watched　over　him　thus　for　a　long　hour；　with　Dreys　gasping　more　fiercely　for　each　failing　breath；　until；　finally；　he　opened　his　eyes。　He　looked　up　as　if　waking　from　a　troubled　sleep。
　〃Where？〃　he　gasped；　gazing　into　Chemoise's　face。
　〃Where　is　the　book？〃　one　of　the　Castle　Guard　asked。　〃We　got　itgave　it　to　the　King。〃
　Iome　wondered　what　the　guard　was　speaking　about。　Then　blood　gurgled　from　Dreys'　mouth；　and　he　arched　his　back；　reaching　toward　Chemoise；　grasping　her　hand。
　His　breathing　stopped　altogether。
　Chemoise　grabbed　the　sergeant's　head　roughly；　bent　low　and　whispered　fiercely；　〃I　wanted　to　e。　I　wanted　to　see　you　this　morning。。。〃
　Then　Chemoise　burst　into　tears。　The　guards　and　physic　all　moved　away；　leaving　her　a　few　moments　to　speak　some　final　words　of　love；　in　case　his　spirit　had　not　yet　fled　the　dying　body。　When　she　finished；　she　stood。
　Only　Corporal　Clewes　still　waited　at　her　back。　He　drew　his　battle…axe；　saluted　smartly；　touching　the　cross　formed　by　the　blades　to　the　bill　of　his　iron　cap。　He　did　not　salute　to　Iome；　but　to　Chemoise。
　He　sheathed　his　axe　and　said　softly；　repeating　his　earlier　tale；　〃He　called　for　you　as　he　fell；　Chemoise。〃
　Chemoise　startled　at　a　thought；　looked　up　at　Corporal　Clewes　and　said；　〃A　small　miraclethat。　Most　men；　when　so　struck；　only　manage　to　gasp　once　before　they　piddle　on　themselves。〃
　She　wielded　the　truth　like　an　open　palm；　striking　back　at　the　man　who　had　brought　her　the　bad　news。　Then　she　added　more　mildly；　〃But　thank　you；　Corporal　Clewes；　for　a　kind　fantasy　to　ease　a　lady's　pain。〃
　The　corporal　blinked　twice；　turned　away；　heading　toward　the　Guards'　Keep。
　Iome　put　her　hand　on　Chemoise's　back。　〃We'll　get　some　rags；　clean　him　for　burial。〃
　Chemoise　stared　up　at　her；　eyes　going　wide；　as　if　she'd　just　remembered　something　important。　〃No！〃　she　said。　〃Let　someone　else　clean　him。　It　doesn't　matter。　He'shis　spirit　isn't　in　there。　e　on；　I　know　where　it　is！〃
　Chemoise　raced　down　the　street　toward　the　King's　Gate。
　She　led　Iome　and　her　Days　downhill　through　the　markets；　then　past　the　Outer　Gate　to　the　moat。　The　fields　beyond　the　moat　were　already　filling　with　traders　e　for　the　fair；　Southerners　in　their　bright　silk　tents　of　cardinal；　emerald；　and　saffron。　The　Pavilions　sat　arrayed　on　the　south　hill；　up　against　the　edge　of　the　forest；　where　thousands　of　mules　and　horses　from　the　caravans　were　tethered。
　Past　the　moat；　Chemoise　turned　left　and　followed　an　overgrown　trail　beside　the　water　to　a　copse　on　the　east　side　of　the　castle。　A　channel　had　been　dug　from　the　River　Wye　to　fill　the　moat；　this　copse　sat　between　the　channel　and　river。
　From　this　little　rise；　one　could　see　upstream　the　four　remaining　arches　of　the　old　stone　bridge；　spanning　a　river　that　glinted　like　beaten　silver。　Beyond　the　old　bridge　stood　the　new　bridgeone　whose　stonew