tg.stone of tears-第58部分

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　CHAPTER　25
　
　The　horse　was　exhausted；　but　still　ran　with　wild　abandon。　Adie　held　a　tight　grip　on　Zedd’s　waist　as　he　leaned　over　the　horse’s　withers；　clutching　her　mane。　Muscles　bunched　and　flexed　rhythmically　beneath　him。　Trees　in　the　dense　forest　flashed　by　in　an　endless　blur。　The　horse　leapt　over　rocks　and　logs　without　pause。
　
　The　skrin　was　only　a　heartbeat　behind。　Being　taller　than　the　horse；　it　struck　branches　as　it　ran。　Zedd　could　hear　the　limbs　snap　and　splinter。　He　had　tried　felling　trees　across　the　way　right　behind　them；　but　it　didn’t　slow　the　bone　beast。　He　had　tried　tricks　and　spells　and　wizardry　of　every　sort。　None　had　worked；　but　he　refused　to　admit　defeat。　Admitting　defeat　established　a　mental　state　of　resignation　that　would　make　it　certain。
　
　‘I　fear　the　Keeper　has　us　this　time；’　Adie　called　at　his　back。
　
　‘Not　yet　he　doesn’t！　How　did　he　find　us？　The　bones　of　the　skrin　have　been　in　your　house；　hiding　you；　for　years！　If　they　have　been　hiding　you；　then　how　did　he　find　us？’
　
　She　had　no　answer。
　
　They　were　running　the　path　where　the　boundary　had　been；　headed　toward　the　Midlands。　Zedd　was　thankful　the　boundary　walls　were　no　longer　there；　or　they　could　have　inadvertently　run　into　the　underworld　by　now。　Boundary　or　not；　this　couldn’t　go　on　for　much　longer；　and　then　the　skrin　would　have　them。　Boundary　or　not；　the　underworld　would　have　them。　The　Keeper　would　have　them。
　
　Think；　he　ordered　himself。
　
　Zedd　was　using　magic　to　lend　strength　and　stamina　to　the　horse；　but　even　so；　heart；　lungs　and　sinew　could　not　endure　long　past　their　natural　limits。　He　was　nearly　as　weary　as　the　frightened　animal。　This　couldn’t　go　on　much　longer。
　
　He　had　to　stop　trying　to　slow　the　skrin；　and　put　his　mind　to　solving　the　problem。　But　that　could　be　a　dangerous　shift　in　tactics。　It　could　be　that　although　what　he　was　doing　wasn’t　stopping　the　skrin；　it　was　keeping　it　from　them。
　
　He　thought　he　saw　a　flash　of　green　light　to　the　left。　A　shade　of　green　he　had　seen　from　only　one　place：　the　boundary。　From　the　underworld。　Impossible；　he　thought。　The　horse’s　hooves　thundered　on。
　
　‘Adie！　Do　you　have　anything　with　you　that　the　skrin　would　recognize？’
　
　‘Like　what？’
　
　‘I　don’t　know！　Anything！　It　has　to　have　found　us　by　something。　Something　to　connect　us　to　the　underworld。’
　
　‘I　have　nothing。　It　must　have　found　us　by　the　bones　at　my　house。’
　
　‘But　the　bones　have　been　what　have　been　hiding　you！’
　
　There　was　no　mistaking　the　flash　of　green　light　this　time。　It　was　to　the　right。　Another　came　to　the　left。
　
　‘Zedd！　I　think　the　skrin　be　bringing　up　the　underworld；　to　force　us　into　it！’
　
　Bones。
　
　‘Can　it　do　that？’
　
　Her　voice　wasn’t　as　loud　this　time。　‘Yes。’
　
　‘Bags；’　he　muttered　into　the　cold　wind　at　his　face。
　
　Eerie　green　light　flickered　between　the　trees。　It　was　closer。　If　he　didn’t　think　of　something；　they　were　going　to　die。
　
　Think。
　
　Suddenly　the　green　light　seemed　to　ignite　into　a　solid　wall　to　each　side。　It　made　a　thump　he　could　feel　deep　in　his　chest　when　it　arrived；　whole；　in　this　world。　The　horse　galloped　down　the　path　between　them。　The　way　between　the　walls　was　narrowing。
　
　Bones。
　
　Skrin　bones。
　
　‘Adie！　Give　me　the　necklace　around　your　neck！’
　
　The　luminous　green　walls　of　the　boundary　pressed　in　to　each　side。　They　were　out　of　time。　They　were　out　of　options。
　
　Adie　pulled　off　her　necklace　and　put　her　arm　around　him　again；　holding　out　the　bone　necklace。　Her　hand　was　slick　with　blood。　Zedd　yanked　his　own　necklace　over　his　head　and　snatched　hers　in　the　same　hand。
　
　‘If　this　doesn’t　work；　I’m　sorry；　Adie。　I　just　want　you　to　know　I’ve　enjoyed　sharing　time　with　you。’
　
　‘What　are　you　going　to　do？’
　
　‘Hold　tight！’
　
　The　green　walls　of　the　boundary　closed　together　ahead　of　them。　Zedd　held　the　horse　firmly　and　gave　her　a　silent　mand。
　
　She　dug　in　her　hooves　and　spun　around　to　a　halt　just　before　the　trail　ended　in　a　wall　of　the　underworld。
　
　Zedd　flung　the　two　necklaces　made　with　skrin　bone　into　the　green　light；　between　a　wide　gap　in　the　trees。
　
　The　skrin　was　upon　them。　Without　pause；　it　followed　the　necklaces　as　they　sailed　into　the　boundary；　into　the　green　light。　There　was　a　flash；　and　a　booming　clap；　like　a　lightning　strike；　as　the　skrin　went　through。
　
　The　green　light；　and　the　skrin；　flickered　and　were　gone。　The　dark　forest　was　silent　but　for　ragged　breathing。
　
　Adie　laid　her　head　wearily　against　his　back。　‘You　be　right；　old　man。　Your　life　be　one　act　of　desperation　after　another。’
　
　Zedd　patted　her　knee　before　sliding　off　the　sweaty　horse。　The　poor　animal　was　so　exhausted　it　was　at　the　brink　of　death。　Zedd　held　its　head　between　his　hands　and　gave　it　a　dose　of　strength；　and　his　sincere　thanks。　He　laid　the　side　of　his　face　against　her　nose　as　he　closed　his　eyes　and　gave　reassuring　strokes　to　her　cheeks　for　a　moment　before　going　to　check　on　Adie。
　
　Blood　still　oozed　from　the　wound　on　her　arm。　The　size　of　the　horse　made　Adie　appear　smaller　than　she　really　was。　Her　slumped　shoulders　and　hanging　head　didn’t　help　diminish　the　illusion。　She　didn’t　acknowledge　any　pain　as　Zedd　inspected　the　wound。
　
　‘I　be　a　fool；’　she　said。　The　whole　time　I　thought　I　be　hiding　under　the　Keeper’s　nose；　he　be　hiding　under　mine。　He　knew　where　I　be　the　whole　time。　All　these　years。’
　
　‘We　can　take　solace　in　the　fact　that　it　earned　him　no　profit。　He　has　wasted　his　investment。　Now　hold　still。　I　must　tend　to　this　wound。’
　
　There　be　no　time　for　that。　We　must　get　back　to　my　house。　I　must　get　my　bones。’
　
　‘I　said　be　still。’
　
　‘We　must　hurry。’
　
　Zedd　scowled　up　at　her。　‘We　will　go　back　when　I’m　finished；　but　the　horse　is　exhausted；　she　must　be　walked。　I’ll　walk　and　let　you　ride；　if　you　give　me　no　further　trouble。　Now　be　still　or　we　will　be　here　the　whole　night　quibbling。’
　
　By　the　time　they　reached　Adie’s　house；　dawn　was　breaking；　offering　a　cold；　weak　light。　It　was　a　sad　sight。　The　skrin　had　torn　the　place　to　splinters。　Adie　disregarded　the　leaning；　holed　walls　as　she　rushed　inside；　stepping　over　debris；　picking　up　bones；　holding　them　in　the　crook　of　her　other　arm；　as　she　worked　her　way　toward　the　corner　where　they　had　last　seen　the　round；　carved　bone。
　
　Zedd　was　inspecting　the　ground　outside　when　he　heard　her　calling　to　him。
　
　‘e　help　me　find　the　round　bone；　wizard。’
　
　He　stepped　over　a　fallen　beam。　‘I　don’t　expect　you　will　find　it。’
　
　She　pushed　a　board　aside。　‘It　be　here　somewhere。’　She　stopped；　looking　back　over　her　shoulder。　‘What　do　you　mean；　you　don’t　expect　we　will　find　it？’
　
　‘Someone　has　been　here。’
　
　She　looked　around　at　the　ruin。　‘You　be　sure？’
　
　Zedd　waved　his　arm　vaguely　toward　where　he　had　been　studying　the　ground。　‘I　saw　a　footprint；　over　there。　It　isn’t　ours。’
　
　She　let　the　bones　in　her　arm　drop　to　the　floor。　‘Who？’　。　He　laid　his　hand　on　a　beam　that　hung　from　the　ceiling；　its　end　resting　on　the　floor。　‘I　don’t　know；　but　someone　has　been　here。　It　looks　to　be　a　woman’s　boot；　but　it　isn’t　yours。　I　suspect　she　will　have　taken　the　round　bone。’
　
　Adie　pawed　through　the　rubble　in　the　corner；　searching。　At　last　she　stopped。　‘You　be　right；　old　man。　The　bone　be　gone。’　She　turned；　seeming　to　inspect　the　very　air　with　her　white　eyes。　‘Banelings；’　she　hissed。　‘You　be　wrong　about　the　Keeper　wasting　his　effort。’
　
　‘I　fear　you’re　right。’　Zedd　brushed　his　hand　clean　on　the　side　of　his　leg。　‘We　had　better　get　away　from　here。　Far　away。’
　
　Adie　leaned　toward　him；　her　voice　low　but　firm。　‘Zedd；　we　must　have　that　bone。　It　be　important　for　the　veil。’
　
　‘She　has　covered　her　trail　with　magic。　I　don’t　have　any　idea　where　she　went。　I　only　saw　one　footprint。　We　must　be　away　from　here；　the　Keeper　might　expect　us　to　return。　I’ll　cover　our　trail；　so　no　one　will　know　where　we’re　going。’
　
　‘You　be　so　sure　about　that？　The　Keeper　seems　to　know　where　we　be；　and　sends　his　minions　for　us　at　will。’
　
　‘He　tracked　us　by　the　necklaces　we　wore。　He　will　be　blind　to　us　for　the　time　being。　But　we　must　get　away　from　here。　He　may　have　eyes　watching；　the　same　eyes　that　took　the　bone。’
　
　Her　head　sunk　lower　as　she　closed　her　eyes。　‘Forgive　me；　Zedd；　for　endangering　you　so。　For　being　a　fool。’
　
　‘Nonsense。　No　one　knows　everything。　You　can’t　expect　to　walk　through　life　without　stepping　in　the　muck　now　and　again。　The　important　thing　is　to　maintain　your　footing　when　you　do；　and　not　fall　on　your　face　and　make　it　worse。’
　
　‘But　that　bone　be　important！’
　
　‘It’s　gone。　We　can　do　nothing　about　it　now。　At　least　we　foiled　the　Keeper；　he　didn’t　get　us。　But　we　must　be　away　from　here。’
　
　Adie　bent　to　pick　up　the　bones　she　had　dropped。　‘I　will　hurry。’
　
　‘We　can’t　take　anything；　Adie；’　he　said　quietly。
　
　She　straightened。　‘I　must　take　my　bones。　Some　of　them　be　important。　Some　have　powerful　magic。’
　
　Zedd　took　up　her　thin　hand。　Adie；　the　Keeper　knew　where　we　were　by　one　of　the　bones。　He’s　been　watching　you。　We　can’t　know　if　he　would　recognize　any　of　these；　too。　We　must　leave　them；　but　we　can’t　risk　having　someone　else　taking　them；　they　must　be　destroyed。’
　
　Her　mouth　worked　for　a　moment　before　she　found　words。　‘I　will　not　leave　them。　They　be　important。　They　were　extremely　difficult　to　obtain。　It　took　me　years　to　find　some　of　them。　The　Keeper　could　not　have　marked　them。　He　could　not　know　the　trouble　I　went　to。’
　
　Zedd　patted　her　hand。　Adie；　he　wouldn’t　have　placed　one　he　wanted　you　to　have；　to　mark　you；　right　in　your　path。　He　would　have　made　you　struggle　for　it；　so　you　would　value　it　and　keep　it　close。’
　
　She　yanked　her　hand　back。　‘Then　he　could　have　marked　anything！’　She　pointed。　‘How　do　you　know　this　horse　was　not　given　by　a　baneling？’
　
　Zedd　gave　her　a　level　look。　‘Because　it　was　not　the　one　offered。　I　took　another。’
　
　Tears　welled　up　in　her　eyes。　‘Please；　Zedd；’　she　whispered。　‘They　be　mine。　They　be　how　I　was　going　to　reach　my　Pell。’
　
　‘I　will　help　you　get　your　message　to　your　Pell。　I　have　given　you　my　word；　but　this　is　not　the　way　to　do　it；　it　hasn’t　worked　yet。　I’ll　help　you　find　a　new　way。’
　
　She　limped　a　step　closer　to　him。　‘How？’
　
　He　regarded　her　stricken　face　with　sympathy。　‘I　have　a　way　to　bring　spirits　through　the　veil　for　a　brief　time；　to　speak　with　them。　Even　if　I　can’t　bring　Pell　through；　I　might　be　able　to　get　a　message　to　him。　But　Adie；　you　must　listen　to　me；　we　can’t　do　it　now。　We　must　wait　until　the　veil　is　closed。’
　
　Her　trembling　fingers　touched　his　arm。　‘How？　How　can　such　a　thing　be　done？’
　
　‘It　can　be　done。　That　is　all　you　must　know。’
　
　‘Tell　me。’　Her　ringers　tightened　on　his　arm。　‘I　must　know　you　speak　the　truth。　I　must　know　it　can　be　done。’
　
　He　weighed　the　decision　a　long　moment。　He　had　used　the　wizard’s　rock　his　father　had　given　him　to　call　the　spirits　of　his　father　and　mother　to　himself；　but　they　had　told　him　explicitly　not　to　call　them　again　until　this　was　finished；　or　they　would　risk　tearing　the　veil　apart。　Using　the　rock　in　such　a　fashion　was　dangerous　even　in　the　best　of　times；　and　he　had　been　cautioned　not　to　do　it　except　in　the　gravest　circumstances。
　
　Opening　a　path　to　the　spirits　was　always　a　great　risk。　You　never　knew　what　you　could　be　letting　through；　unintended。　Enough　dark　things　were　getting　through　without　his　helping　them。
　
　Even　though　Adie　was　a　sorceress；　this　use　of　the　wizard’s　rock　was　not　for　her　to　know。　It　was　a　secret；　like　many　others；　that　wizards　must　keep。　His　heart　felt　heavy　with　that　responsibility。
　
　‘You　will　have　to　trust　my　word　that　it　can　be　done。　I’ve　given　my　word　that　I’ll　help　you；　and　when　it　is　safe；　I’ll　try。’
　
　Her　fingers　still　dug　urgently　into　his　arm。　‘How　can　such　a　thing　be？　Are　you　sure？　How　could　you　know　such　a　thing？’
　
　He　straightened　his　shoulders。　‘I’m　a　wizard　of　the　First　Order。’
　
　‘But　are　you　sure？’
　
　‘Adie；　you　must　take　my　word。　I　don’t　give　it　lightly。　I’m　not　sure　it　will　work；　but　I　believe　it　may。　Right　now　the　important　thing　is　to　use　what　we　know；　what　you　and　I　know；　to　stop　the　Keeper　from　tearing　the　veil。　It　would　be　wrong　to　use　what　I　know　for　selfish　reasons　and　thus　endanger　the　safety　of　everyone　else。　Maintaining　the　veil　requires　a　delicate　balance　of　forces；　this　could　disturb　it。　It　could　even　be　that　such　a　use　would　tear　the　veil。’
　
　She　took　her　hand　from　his　arm　and　wiped　a　stray　strand　of　gray　hair　from　her　face。　‘Forgive　me；　Zedd。　You　be　right。　I　have　studied　the　cusp　between　the　worlds　for　most　of　my　life。　I　should　know　better。　Forgive　me。’
　
　He　smiled　as　he　hugged　her　around　her　shoulders。　‘I’m　gratified　that　you　hold　your　vows　to　be　so　important。　It　means　that　you　are　a　person　of　honor。　There’s　no　better　ally　than　a　person　of　honor。’
　
　She　looked　around　her　shattered　home。　‘It　just　be　that　。。。　I　have　spent　my　life　gathering　these　things。　I　have　been　their　caretaker　for　so　long。　Others　have　entrusted　them　to　me。’
　
　Zedd　walked　her　out　of　the　rubble。　‘Others　have　invested　their　trust　in　you　to　use　the　gift　you　were　given　to　protect　those　without　power。　They　are　the　ones　who　wrote　the　prophecies。　You　have　been　brought　to　this　point　for　a　reason。　That’s　the　trust　you　must　keep。’
　
　She　nodded；　rubbing　a　thin　hand　on　his　back　as　they　walked　away　from　the　remains　of　her　home。
　
　‘Zedd；　I　think　several　other　bones　be　missing；　too。’
　
　‘I　know。’
　
　They　be　dangerous　in　the　wrong　hands。’
　
　‘I　know　that　too。’
　
　‘Then　what　do　you　plan　to　do　about　it？’
　
　‘I　plan　to　do　what　the　prophecies　say　is　the　only　thing　that　gives　us　a　chance　at　closing　the　veil。’
　
　‘And　what　be　that；　old　man？’
　
　‘Helping　Richard。　We　must　find　a　way　to　help　him；　for　the　prophecies　say　he　is　the　only　one　who　can　close　the　veil。’
　
　Neither　looked　back　as　fire　roared　to　life；　roiling　and　racing　through　the　ruins；　dancing　through　the　bones。
　
　
　CHAPTER　26
　
　Queen　Cyrilla　held　her　head　high。　She　refused　to　acknowledge　how　much　the　coarse　fingers　of　the　brutes　who　held　her　were　hurting　her　arms。　She　didn’t　resist　as　they　walked　her　down　the　filthy　corridor。　Resistance　was　hopeless；　anyway；　and　would　bring　her　no　aid。　She　would　conduct　herself　now　as　always：　with　dignity。　She　was　the　queen　of　Galea。　She　would　endure　with　dignity　what　was　to　e。　She　would　not　show　her　terror。
　
　Besides；　it　was　not　what　was　being　done　to　her　that　mattered。　It　was　what　was　going　to　happen　to　the　Galean　people　that　grieved　her。
　
　And　what　had　already　happened。
　
　Nearly　one　hundred　score　of　the　Galean　guard　had　been　murdered　before　her　eyes。　Who　could　have　foreseen　that　they　would　be　set　upon　in　this；　of　all　places：　on　neutral　ground？　That　a　few　had　escaped　was　no　solace。　They；　too；　would　probably　be　hunted　down　and　killed。
　
　She　hoped　that　her　brother；　Prince　Harold；　had　been　among　those　who　had　escaped。　If　he　had　gotten　away；　perhaps　he　could　rally　a　defense　against　the　worse　slaughter　that　was　yet　to　e。
　
　The　brutal　hands　on　her　arms　brought　her　to　a　halt　next　to　a　hissing　to