tg.stone of tears-第51部分

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　‘When　we　got　to　her　house；　I　asked　how　she　could　be　so　of　hers　still　on　her　face。　And　then　she　said；　‘Though　you　be　wild　of　spirit；　child；　you　have　worked　to　tame　it。　The　people　have　asked　for　your　oath；　and　you　have　given　it。　May　I　not　live　to　see　you　break　it。　You　owe　no　debt　beyond　that。　I　will　take　care　of　the　circle　and　see　to　Mathrin　Galliene。　You　will　wed　Pell。’　I　wept　into　the　hem　of　her　dress。’
　
　Adie　was　silent；　staring　into　the　fire；　lost　in　the　memories。　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Well；　did　you　wed　your　love？’
　
　‘Yes；’　she　whispered　in　her　soft　rasp。　She　took　the　spoon　off　its　hook　and　stirred　the　stew　while　Zedd　watched　her。　At　last；　she　hung　it　back　at　its　place。　‘For　three　months；　I　thought　life　be　beyond　bliss。’
　
　Her　mouth　worked　soundlessly　as　she　stared　into　nothingness。　Zedd　put　an　arm　around　her　shoulder　and　gently　led　her　back　to　the　table。　‘Sit；　Adie。　Let　me　bring　you　a　cup　of　tea。’
　
　She　was　still　sitting；　her　hands　folded　together　on　the　table；　staring　off；　when　he　returned　with　the　steaming　cups。　He　placed　one　in　her　thin　hands　as　he　sat　opposite　her。　He　didn’t　press　her　to　go　on　before　she　was　ready。
　
　At　last；　she　did。　‘One　day；　the　day　of　my　birth　and　nineteen　years；　Pell　and　I　had　taken　a　walk　in　the　country。　I　be　with　child。’　She　lifted　the　cup　in　both　hands　and　took　a　sip。　‘We　spent　the　day　walking　past　farms；　thinking　of　names　for　our　child；　holding　hands；　and　。。。　well；　you　know　the　foolishness　of　love　at　that　age。
　
　‘On　our　way　back；　we　had　to　walk　past　the　Choora　mill；　just　outside　of　town。　I　thought　it　strange　no　one　be　there。　Someone　always　be　at　the　mill。’　Adie　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment　and　then　took　another　sip　of　tea。　‘As　it　turned　out；　there　be　people　there。　The　Blood　of　the　Fold。　They　be　waiting　for　us。’
　
　Zedd　knew　of　them。　In　the　larger　cities　of　Nicobarese；　the　Blood　of　the　Fold　were　an　organized　corps　of　men　who　hunted　banelings；　rooted　out　evil；　as　they　saw　it。　In　other　lands；　there　were　men　like　them；　who　went　by　other　names；　but　they　were　the　same。　None　were　especially　picky　about　proof。　A　corpse　was　the　only　proof　they　need　show　of　their　job　well　done。　If　they　said　the　body　was　that　of　a　baneling；　then　it　was。　In　the　smaller　towns；　the　Blood　were　usually　selfappointed　toughs　and　thugs。　The　Blood　of　the　Fold　were　widely　feared。　With　good　reason。
　
　‘They　took　us　。。。’　Her　voice　broke；　but　only　that　once。。。。　‘into　separate　rooms　in　the　bottom　of　the　mill。　It　be　dark；　and　smelled　of　the　damp　stone　walls　and　grain　dust。　I　did　not　know　what　be　done　to　Pell。　I　be　almost　too　terrified　to　breathe。
　
　‘Mathrin　Galliene　said　Pell　and　I　be　banelings。　He　said　I　would　not　wed　as　I　should　have　because　I　wished　to　bring　the　Keeper’s　notice　to　Choora。　There　be　a　sickness；　a　fever；　in　the　country　that　summer；　and　it　brought　death　to　many　a　family。　Mathrin　Galliene　said　Pell　and　I　brought　the　sickness。　I　denied　it　be　so；　and　spoke　the　oath　to　show　proof。’　Adie　turned　the　cup　in　her　fingers　as　she　stared　at　it。
　
　Zedd　touched　her　hand。　‘Drink；　Adie。　It　will　help　you。’　He　had　put　a　pinch　of　cloud　leaf　into　her　tea；　to　help　relax　her。
　
　She　took　a　long　swallow。　‘Mathrin　Galliene　said　Pell　and　I　be　banelings；　and　the　graveyard　be　full　of　the　proof　of　that。　He　said　he　wanted　only　for　Pell　and　I　to　tell　the　truth；　to　confess。　The　other　men　of　the　Blood　be　growling　like　hounds　around　a　rabbit；　ready　to　tear　us　apart。　I　be　terrified　for　Pell。
　
　As　they　beat　me；　I　knew　they　would　be　doing　worse　to　him；　to　make　him　name　me　a　baneling。　Nothing　be　better　for　the　Blood　than　to　have　someone　name　a　loved　one　as　a　baneling。　They　would　not　listen　when　I　denied　it。’　She　looked　up　into　his　eyes。　‘They　would　not　listen。’
　
　‘Anything　you　said；’　Zedd　offered　quietly；　‘would　have　made　no　difference；　Adie。　It　wouldn’t　have　mattered。　When　you　are　in　a　leghold　trap；　reasoning　with　the　steel　does　no　good。’
　
　She　nodded。　‘I　know。’　Her　face　was　a　calm　mask　over　a　thunderhead。　‘I　could　have　stopped　it；　had　I　used　the　gift；　but　it　be　against　everything　I　be　taught；　believed。　It　be　as　if　using　the　gift　would　prove　to　myself　that　what　the　men　said　be　true。　I　felt　it　would　have　been　blasphemy　against　the　Creator。　I　be　as　helpless　while　the　men　beat　me　as　if　I　did　not　have　the　gift。’
　
　She　drained　the　tea　from　her　cup。　‘Even　as　I　screamed；　I　could　hear　Pell’s　screams　echoing　from　another　room。’
　
　Zedd　went　to　the　fire　and　brought　the　pot　back；　filling　her　cup　again。　‘It　wasn’t　your　fault；　Adie。　Don’t　blame　yourself。’
　
　She　flicked　a　glance　up　at　him　as　he　poured　himself　another　cup。　They　wanted　me　to　name　Pell　as　a　baneling。　I　told　them　I　would　not；　that　they　could　kill　me；　but　they　could　not　make　me　say　that　it　be　so。
　
　‘Mathrin　bent　close　to　me；　put　his　face　close　to　mine。　In　my　head；　I　can　still　see　his　smile。　He　said；　‘I　believe　you；　girl。　But　it　doesn’t　matter；　because　it　not　be　you　we　want　to　name　the　baneling。　It　be　Pell　we　want　to　speak　the　name　of　the　baneling。　It　be　you　we　want　Pell　to　name。　You　be　the　bane…ling。’
　
　Then　the　men　held　me　down。　Mathrin　tried　to　pour　something　down　my　throat。　It　burned　my　mouth。　He　held　my　nose。　It　be　swallow　or　drown。　I　wished　to　drown；　but　I　swallowed　without　wanting　to。　It　burned　my　throat　like　swallowing　fire。　I　could　not　speak。　I　could　not　make　a　sound。　I　could　not　even　scream。　No　sound　be　there。　Only　burning　pain。　More　pain　than　I　had　ever　known。’　She　took　a　sip　of　tea；　as　if　to　soothe　her　throat。
　
　Then　the　men　took　me　in　the　room　with　Pell　and　tied　me　to　a　chair　in　front　of　him。　Mathrin　held　me　by　my　hair　so　I　could　not　move。　It　broke　my　heart　to　see　what　they　had　done　to　my　Pell。　His　face　be　white　as　snow。　They　had　cut　off　most　of　his　fingers；　one　knuckle　at　a　time。’　Her　own　fingers　tightened　around　her　cup　as　she　stared　into　the　vision。
　
　‘Mathrin　told　Pell　that　I　had　confessed　that　Pell　be　a　baneling。　Pell’s　eyes　be　big；　looking　at　me。　I　tried　to　scream　that　it　not　be　true；　but　no　sound　came。　I　tried　to　shake　my　head　that　it　not　be　true；　but　Mathrin　held　me　so　I　could　not。
　
　‘Pell　told　them　he　did　not　believe　them。　They　cut　off　another　finger。　They　told　him　they　only　do　it　because　I　named　him。　Only　do　it　on　my　word。　Pell　kept　his　eyes　on　me　as　he　shook；　and　kept　telling　them　he　did　not　believe　them。　They　told　Pell　I　had　told　them　I　wished　him　to　be　killed　because　he　be　a　baneling。　Still　Pell　said　he　did　not　believe　them。　He　said　he　loved　me。
　
　Then　he　told　Pell　I　had　named　him　a　baneling；　and　that　if　it　not　be　so；　I　could　deny　it　and　they　would　let　us　both　go　free。　He　told　Pell　that　I　had　promised　I　would　not　deny　it　because　he　be　a　baneling；　and　I　wanted　him　to　die　for　it。　Pell　screamed　for　me　to　tell　them。　Screamed　for　me　to　deny　it。　He　screamed　my　name；　screamed　for　me　to　say　something。
　
　‘I　tried；　but　I　could　say　nothing。　My　throat　be　fire。　My　voice　did　not　work。　Mathrin　held　me　by　my　hair；　I　could　not　move。　Pell’s　eyes　be　big　as　he　stared　at　me。　As　I　sat　silent。
　
　Then　Pell　spoke　to　me。　‘How　could　you　do　that　to　me；　Adie？　How　could　you　name　me　a　baneling？’　Then　he　cried。
　
　‘Mathrin　asked　him　to　name　me　a　baneling。　He　said　that　if　he　did；　they　would　believe　him　over　me；　because　I　had　the　gift；　and　he　would　be　freed。　Pell　whispered；　‘I　will　not　say　that　of　her　to　save　my　life。　Even　though　she　has　betrayed　me。’　Those　words　broke　my　heart。’
　
　As　she　stared　off　at　nothing；　Zedd　noticed　a　candle　on　the　counter　behind　her　melt　into　a　puddle。　He　could　feel　the　waves　of　power　radiating　from　her。　He　realized　he　was　holding　his　breath。　He　eased　it　out。
　
　‘Mathrin　cut　Pell’s　throat；’　she　said　simply。　‘He　severed　Pell’s　head　and　held　it　before　me。　He　said　he　wanted　me　to　see　what　following　the　Keeper　had　brought　on　Pell。　He　said　it　be　the　last　thing　he　wanted　me　to　ever　see。　The　men　held　my　head　back　and　pulled　my　eyes　open。　Mathrin　poured　the　burning　liquid　in　them。
　
　‘I　be　blinded。
　
　‘In　that　moment；　something　happened　inside　me。　My　Pell　was　gone；　he　died　thinking　I　had　betrayed　him；　my　life　was　about　to　end。　I　suddenly　realized　how　it　be　my　own　fault；　for　holding　to　an　oath。　The　life　of　my　love；　for　an　ignorant　oath；　for　a　foolish　superstition。　Nothing　mattered　anymore；　everything　be　gone　to　me。
　
　‘I　turned　the　gift　loose；　turned　the　rage　loose。　I　broke　my　oath　not　to　use　the　gift　to　harm　another。　I　could　not　see；　but　I　could　hear；　I　could　hear　their　blood　hit　the　stone　walls。　I　struck　out　wildly。　I　shredded　every　living　thing　in　that　room；　be　it　man　or　mouse。　I　could　not　see；　so　I　simply　struck　at　any　life　I　could　feel。　I　could　not　tell　if　any　had　escaped。　In　a　way；　I　be　glad　to　be　blind；　or　seeing　what　I　be　doing；　I　might　have　stopped　before　I　finished。
　
　‘When　all　be　still；　dead；　I　felt　my　way　around　the　room；　counting　the　bodies。　One　be　missing。
　
　‘I　crawled　to　my　grandmother　Lindel’s。　How　I　made　my　way；　I　cannot　imagine；　except　to　think　the　gift　guided　me。　When　she　saw　me；　she　be　furious。　She　pulled　me　to　my　feet　and　demanded　to　know　if　I　had　broken　my　oath。’
　
　Zedd　leaned　forward。　‘But　you　couldn’t　speak。　How　did　you　answer？’
　
　Adie　smiled　a　small；　cold　smile。　‘I　picked　her　up　by　the　throat；　with　the　power　of　the　gift；　and　slammed　her　against　the　wall。　I　walked　up　to　her　and　nodded　my　head。　I　squeezed　her　throat　in　anger。　She　fought　me。　She　fought　me　with　all　her　power。　But　I　be　stronger；　much　stronger。　I　never　knew　until　that　moment　that　the　gift　be　different　in　different　people。　She　be　as　helpless　as　a　stick　doll。
　
　‘But　I　could　not　hurt　her；　as　much　as　I　wished　to　for　her　asking　that　question　before　any　other。　I　released　her　and　sagged　to　the　floor；　I　could　stand　no　longer。　She　came　to　me　and　began　tending　to　my　wounds。　She　told　me　I　had　done　wrong；　by　breaking　my　oath；　but　that　what　was　done　to　me　was　a　more　grievous　wrong。
　
　‘I　never　feared　Grandmother　Lindel　again。　Not　because　she　be　helping　me；　but　because　I　had　broken　the　oath；　I　be　beyond　the　laws　I　had　been　taught；　and　because　I　knew　I　was　stronger　than　she。　From　that　day　on；　she　be　afraid　of　me。　I　think　she　helped　me　because　she　wanted　me　well；　so　I　could　leave。
　
　‘A　few　days　later；　Grandmother　Lindel　came　home　to　tell　me　that　she　had　been　called　before　the　king’s　circle　and　questioned。　She　said　all　the　men　at　the　mill；　all　the　Blood　of　the　Fold；　be　dead；　except　Mathrin。　He　had　escaped。　She　told　the　circle　she　had　not　seen　me。　They　believed　her；　or　said　they　did　because　they　did　not　want　to　confront　her　and　additionally　a　sorceress　who　had　killed　that　many　men　in　such　a　shocking　manner；　so　they　let　her　go　about　her　business。’
　
　Some　of　the　tension　seemed　to　ease　from　her　shoulders。　She　studied　the　teacup　a　moment　and　then　took　another　sip。　She　held　the　cup　out　for　him　to　warm。　Zedd　poured　a　little　more。　He　idly　wished　he　had　put　some　of　the　powdered　cloud　leaf　in　his　own　tea。　He　didn’t　think　that　was　the　end　of　the　story。
　
　‘I　lost　my　child；’　Adie　said　in　a　soft　rasp。
　
　Zedd　looked　up。　‘I’m　sorry；　Adie。’
　
　She　looked　up　to　meet　his　eyes。　‘I　know。’　She　took　one　of　his　hands　in　both　hers　after　he　set　down　the　kettle。　‘I　know。’　She　took　her　hands　back。　‘My　throat　healed。’　She　touched　her　fingers　lightly　to　her　neck；　then　knitted　them　together。　‘But　it　left　me　with　a　voice　like　dragging　iron　over　rock。’
　
　He　smiled　at　her。　‘I　like　your　voice。　Iron　fits　the　rest　of　you。’
　
　The　ghost　of　a　smile　passed　across　her　face。　‘My　eyes；　though；　did　not　grow　better。　I　be　blind。　Grandmother　Lindel　not　be　as　strong　as　me；　but　she　be　old；　and　had　seen　many　a　trick　with　the　gift。　She　taught　me　to　see　without　my　eyes。　She　taught　me　to　see　with　the　gift。　It　not　be　the　same　as　eyes；　but　in　some　ways；　it　be　better。　In　some　ways；　I　see　more。
　
　‘After　I　be　healed；　Grandmother　Lindel　wanted　me　to　leave。　She　not　be　fond　of　living　with　one　who　had　broken　the　oath；　even　though　I　be　of　her　blood。　She　feared　I　would　bring　trouble。　Whether　from　the　Keeper；　for　breaking　my　oath；　or　from　the　Blood　of　the　Fold；　she　did　not　know；　but　she　feared　trouble　would　e　because　of　me。’
　
　Zedd　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　stretching　his　tense　muscles　a　bit。　‘And　did　trouble　e？’
　
　‘Oh；　yes；’　Adie　hissed；　raising　her　eyebrows　as　she　leaned　forward。　‘Trouble　came。　Mathrin　Galliene　brought　them：　twenty　Blood　of　the　Fold。　Ones　paid　by　the　Crown。　Professionals。　Battle…hard　men；　big　men；　grim…faced；　savage　men；　all　pretty　on　horseback　in　neat　ranks　with　swords；　shields；　and　banners；　every　spear　held　just　so；　at　the　same　angle。　All　pretty　in　their　chain　mail　and　polished　breastplates　shining　with　the　embossed　crest　of　the　Crown；　and　all　wearing　helmets　with　red　plumes　that　flicked　as　they　rode。　Every　horse　white。
　
　‘I　stood　on　the　porch　and　watched　with　the　eyes　of　the　gift　as　they　spread　rank　before　me　with　perfect　precision；　like　they　be　performing　for　the　king　himself。　Every　horse　put　every　foot　the　same；　stopping　in　a　line　at　the　lifting　of　a　finger　from　the　mander。　They　be　spread　out　before　me；　ready；　eager；　to　do　their　grisly　duty。　Mathrin　waited　behind　them　on　his　horse；　watching。　The　mander　called　out　to　me；　‘You　be　under　arrest　as　a　baneling；　and　are　to　be　executed　as　such。’’
　
　Adie　lifted　her　head　from　the　specters　of　her　memory；　her　eyes　meeting　Zedd’s。　‘I　thought　of　Pell。　My　Pell。’
　
　Her　expression　hardened　into　an　iron　mask。　‘Not　one　sword　cleared　a　scabbard；　not　one　spear　be　leveled；　not　one　foot　touched　the　ground；　before　they　died。　I　swept　the　line；　from　left　to　right；　one　man　at　a　time；　everything　I　had；　into　each　in　turn；　quick　as　a　thought。　Thump　thump　thump。　Every　one；　except　the　mander。　He　sat　still　and　stone…faced　upon　his　white　horse　as　men　in　armor　crashed　to　the　ground　to　each　side　of　him。
　
　‘When　it　be　finished；　when　the　last　shield　had　clattered　into　silence；　I　met　his　eyes。　‘Armor；’　I　told　him；　‘be　of　no　use　against　a　true　baneling。　Or　a　sorceress。　It　only　be　of　use　against　innocent　people。’　Then　I　told　him　he　was　to　deliver　a　message　to　the　king　for　me；　from　one　sorceress　named　Adie。　In　a　calm；　firm　voice；　he　asked　the　message。　I　said；　‘Tell　him　that　if　he　sends　another　of　the　Blood　of　the　Fold　to　take　me；　it　will　be　the　last　living　order　he　ever　gives。’　He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　without　a　hint　of　emotion　in　his　cold　eyes；　and　then　he　turned　his　horse　and　walked　it　away　without　looking　back。’
　
　Her　gaze　sank　to　the　table。　‘My　grandmother　turned　her　back　to　me。　She　told　me　to　leave　the　shelter　of　her　roof　and　never　to　return。’
　
　A　little　wince　touched　Zedd’s　face　before　he　caught　it；　at　the　thought　of　a　sorceress　with　enough　power　to　kill　men　in　that　fashion。　It　was　exceedingly　rare　for　a　sorceress　to　be　that　strong　in　the　gift。　‘What　of　Mathrin？　You　didn’t　kill　him？’
　
　She　shook　her　head。　A　humorless　smile　played　across　her　lips。
　
　‘No。　I　took　him　with　me。’
　
　‘Took　him　with　you？’
　
　‘I　bonded　him　to　me。　Bonded　his　life　to　mine。　Bonded　him　so　that　he　always　knew　where　I　be；　and　so　that　every　new　moon　he　was　pelled　to　e　to　me；　no　matter　where　I　be；　no　matter　what　he　wished。　He　had　to　follow　me；　at　least　close　enough　so　that　he　could　e　to　me　every　new　moon。’