sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第23部分

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鈥渁ll　dead　and　past　the　final　gate；　save　one；　who　should　be。　you　know　who　i　mean。鈥�

for　a　moment；　this　news　seemed　to　return　touchstone　to　his　wooden　state。　he　sat　frozen；　only　the　slight　movement　of　his　chest　showing　continued　life。　then　tears　started　in　his　eyes；　and　his　head　slowly　fell　to　meet　his　upturned　hands。

mogget　watched　without　sympathy；　till　the　young　man鈥檚　back　ceased　its　heaving　and　the　harsh　in…drawn　gasps　between　sobs　became　calmer。

鈥渢here鈥檚　no　point　crying　over　it；鈥潯�the　cat　said　harshly。　鈥減lenty　of　people　have　died　trying　to　put　the　matter　to　rights。　four　abhorsens　have　fallen　in　this　century　alone；　trying　to　deal　with　the　dead；　the　broken　stones　and　the鈥攖he　original　problem。　my　current　abhorsen　certainly　isn鈥檛　lying　around　crying　her　eyes　out。　make　yourself　useful　and　help　her。鈥�

鈥渃an　i？鈥潯�asked　touchstone　bleakly；　wiping　his　face　with　the　blanket。

鈥渨hy　not？鈥潯�snorted　mogget。　鈥済et　dressed；　for　a　start。　there　are　some　things　aboard　here　for　you　as　well。　swords　and　suchlike。鈥�

鈥渂ut　i鈥檓　not　fit　to　wield　royal鈥斺��

鈥渏ust　do　as　you鈥檙e　told；鈥潯�mogget　said　firmly。

鈥渢hink　of　yourself　as　abhorsen鈥檚　sworn　swordhand；　if　it　makes　you　feel　better；　though　in　this　present　era；　you鈥檒l　find　mon　sense　is　more　important　than　honor。鈥�

鈥渧ery　well；鈥潯�touchstone　muttered；　humbly。

he　stood　up　and　put　on　the　underclothes　and　shirt；　but　couldn鈥檛　get　the　trousers　past　his　heavily　muscled　thighs。

鈥渢here鈥檚　a　kilt　and　leggings　in　one　of　the　chests　back　here；鈥潯�mogget　said；　after　watching　touchstone　hopping　around　on　one　leg；　the　other　trapped　in　too…tight　leather。

touchstone　nodded；　divested　himself　of　the　trousers；　and　clambered　up　through　the　hole；　taking　care　to　keep　as　far　away　from　mogget　as　possible。　halfway　up；　he　paused；　arms　braced　on　either　side　of　the　gap。

鈥測ou　won鈥檛　tell　her？鈥潯�he　asked。

鈥渢ell　who？　tell　what？鈥�

鈥渁bhorsen。　please；　i鈥檒l　do　all　i　can　to　help。　but　it　wasn鈥檛　intentional。　my　part；　i　mean。　please；　don鈥檛　tell　her鈥斺��

鈥渟pare　me　the　pleadings；鈥潯�said　mogget；　in　a　disgusted　tone。　鈥渋　can鈥檛　tell　her。　you　can鈥檛　tell　her。

the　corruption　is　wide　and　the　spell　rather　indiscriminatory。

hurry　up鈥攕he鈥檒l　be　back　soon。　i鈥檒l　tell　you　the　rest　of　our　current　saga　while　you　dress。鈥�

sabriel　returned　from　the　spring　feeling　healthier；　cleaner　and　happier。　she鈥檇　slept　well　and　the　morning鈥檚　ablutions　had　cleared　off　the　blood。

the　bruises；　swellings　and　sunburn　had　all　responded　well　to　her　herbal　treatments。　all　in　all；　she　felt　about　eighty　percent　normal；　rather　than　ten　percent　functional；　and　she　was　looking　forward　to　having　some　pany　at　breakfast　other　than　the　sardonic　mogget。　not　that　he　didn鈥檛　have　his　uses；　such　as　guarding　unconscious　or　sleeping　humans。　he鈥檇　also　assured　her　that　he　had　tested　the　charter　mark　on　the　figurehead…man；　finding　him　to　be　unsullied　by　free　magic；　or　necromancy。

she鈥檇　expected　the　man　to　still　be　asleep；　so　she　felt　a　faint　frisson　of　surprise　and　suspense　when　she　saw　a　figure　standing　by　the　ship鈥檚　bow；　　facing　the　other　way。　for　a　second；　her　hand　twitched　to　her　sword；　then　she　saw　mogget　nearby；　precariously　draped　on　the　ship鈥檚　rail。

she　approached　nervously；　her　curiosity　tempered　by　the　need　to　be　wary　of　strangers。　he　looked　different　dressed。　older　and　somewhat　intimidating；　particularly　since　he　seemed　to　have　scorned　her　plain　clothing　for　a　kilt　of　gold…striped　red；　with　matching　leggings　of　redstriped　gold；　disappearing　into　turned…down　thigh　boots　of　russet　doeskin。　he　was　wearing　her　shirt；　though；　and　preparing　to　put　on　a　red　leather　jerkin。　it　had　detachable；　lace…up　sleeves；　which　seemed　to　be　giving　him　some　problems。

two　swords　lay　in　three…quarter　scabbards　near　his　feet；　stabbing　points　shining　four　inches　out　of　the　leather。　a　wide　belt　with　the　appropriate　hooks　already　encircled　his　waist。

鈥渃urse　these　laces；鈥潯�he　said；　when　she　was　about　ten　paces　away。　a　nice　voice；　quite　deep；　but　currently　frustrated　and　peaking　with　temper。

鈥済ood　morning；鈥潯�said　sabriel。

he　whirled　around；　dropping　the　sleeves；　almost　ducking　to　his　swords；　before　recovering　to　transform　the　motion　into　a　bow；　culminating　in　a　descent　to　one　knee。

鈥済ood　morning；　milady；鈥潯�he　said　huskily；　head　bowed；　carefully　not　meeting　her　gaze。　she　saw　that　he鈥檇　found　some　earrings；　large　gold　hoops　clumsily　pushed　through　pierced　lobes；　for　they　were　bloodied。　apart　from　them；　all　she　could　see　was　the　top　of　his　curly…haired　head。

鈥渋鈥檓　not　鈥榤ilady；鈥欌�潯�said　sabriel；　wondering　which　of　miss　prionte鈥檚　etiquette　principles　applied　to　this　situation。　鈥渕y　name　is　sabriel。鈥�

鈥渟abriel？　but　you　are　the　abhorsen；鈥潯�the　man　said　slowly。　he　didn鈥檛　sound　overly　bright；　sabriel　thought；　with　sinking　expectations。

perhaps　there　would　be　very　little　conversation　at　breakfast　after　all。

鈥渘o；　my　father　is　the　abhorsen；鈥潯�she　said；　with　a　stern　look　at　mogget；　warning　him　not　to　interfere。　鈥渋鈥檓　a　sort　of　stand…in。　it鈥檚　a　bit　plicated；　so　i鈥檒l　explain　later。　what鈥檚　your　name？鈥�

he　hesitated；　then　mumbled；　鈥渋　can鈥檛　remember；　milady。　please；　call　me　。　。　。　call　me　touchstone。鈥�

鈥渢ouchstone？鈥潯�asked　sabriel。　that　sounded　familiar；　but　she　couldn鈥檛　place　it　for　a　moment。

鈥渢ouchstone？　but　that鈥檚　a　jester鈥檚　name；　a　fool鈥檚　name。　why　call　you　that？鈥�

鈥渢hat鈥檚　what　i　am；鈥潯�he　said　dully；　without　inflection。

鈥渨ell；　i　have　to　call　you　something；鈥潯�sabriel　continued。　鈥渢ouchstone。　you　know；　there　is　the　tradition　of　a　wise　fool；　so　perhaps　it鈥檚　not　so　bad。　i　guess　you　think　you鈥檙e　a　fool　because　you鈥檝e　been　imprisoned　as　a　figurehead鈥攁nd　in　death；　of　course。鈥�

鈥渋n　death！鈥潯�exclaimed　touchstone。　he　looked　up　and　his　grey　eyes　met　sabriel鈥檚。　surprisingly；　he　had　a　clear；　intelligent　gaze。　perhaps　there　is　some　hope　for　him　after　all；　she　thought；　as　she　explained：　鈥測our　spirit　was　somehow　preserved　just　beyond　the　border　of　death；　and　your　body　preserved　as　the　wooden　figurehead。　both　necromantic　and　free　magic　would　have　been　involved。　very　powerful　magic；　on　both　counts。

i　am　curious　as　to　why　it　was　used　on　you。鈥�

touchstone　looked　away　again；　and　sabriel　sensed　a　certain　shiftiness；　or　embarrassment。

she　guessed　that　the　forthing　explanation　would　be　a　half…truth；　at　best。

鈥渋　don鈥檛　remember　very　well；鈥潯�he　said；　slowly。

鈥渢hough　things　are　ing　back。　i　am　。　。　。　i　was　。　。　。　a　guardsman。　the　royal　guard。　there　was　some　sort　of　attack　upon　the　queen　。　。　。

an　ambush　in　the鈥攁t　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。

i　remember　fighting；　with　blade　and　charter　magic鈥攚e　were　all　charter　mages；　all　the　guard。　i　thought　we　were　safe；　but　there　was　treachery　。　。　。　then　。　。　。　i　was　here。　i　don鈥檛　know　how。鈥�

sabriel　listened　carefully；　wondering　how　much　of　what　he　said　was　true。　it　was　likely　that　his　memory　was　impaired；　but　he　possibly　was　a　royal　guard。　perhaps　he　had　cast　a　diamond　of　protection　。　。　。　that　could　have　been　why　his　enemies　could　only　imprison　him；　rather　than　kill。　but；　surely　they　could　have　waited　till　it　failed。　why　the　bizarre　method　of　imprisonment？　and；　most　importantly；　how　did　the　figurehead　manage　to　get　placed　in　this　most　protected　of　places？　she　filed　all　these　questions　for　later　investigation；　for　another　thought　had　struck　her。　if　he　really　was　a　royal　guard；　the　queen　he　had　guarded　must　have　been　dead　and　gone　for　at　least　two　hundred　years　and；　with　her；　everyone　and　everything　he　knew。

鈥測ou　have　been　a　prisoner　for　a　long　time；鈥潯�she　said　gently；　uncertain　about　how　to　break　the　news。　鈥渉ave　you　。　。　。　i　mean　did　you　。　。　。　well；　　what　i　mean　is　it鈥檚　been　a　very　long　time鈥斺��

鈥渢wo　hundred　years；鈥潯�whispered　touchstone。

鈥測our　minion　told　me。鈥�

鈥測our　family　。　。　。鈥�

鈥渋　have　none；鈥潯�he　said。　his　expression　was　set；　as　immobile　as　the　carved　wood　of　the　previous　day。　carefully；　he　reached　over　and　drew　one　of　his　swords；　offering　it　to　sabriel　hilt…first。

鈥渋　would　serve　you；　milady；　to　fight　against　the　enemies　of　the　kingdom。鈥�

sabriel　didn鈥檛　take　the　sword；　though　his　plea　made　her　reflexively　reach　out。　but　a　moment鈥檚　thought　closed　her　open　palm；　and　her　arm　fell　back　to　her　side。　she　looked　at　mogget；　who　was　watching　the　proceedings　with　unabashed　interest。

鈥渨hat　have　you　told　him；　mogget？鈥潯�she　asked；　suspicion　wreathing　her　words。

鈥渢he　state　of　the　kingdom；　generally　speaking；鈥�

replied　the　cat。　鈥渞ecent　events。　our　descent　here；　more　or　less。　your　duty　as　abhorsen　to　remedy　the　situation。鈥�

鈥渢he　mordicant？　shadow　hands？　gore　crows？　the　dead　adept；　whoever　it　may　be？鈥�

鈥渘ot　specifically；鈥潯�said　mogget；　cheerfully。　鈥渋　thought　he　could　presume　as　much。鈥�

鈥渁s　you　see；鈥潯�sabriel　said；　rather　angrily；　鈥渕y　鈥榤inion鈥櫋�has　not　been　totally　honest　with　you。　i　was　raised　across　the　wall；　in　ancelstierre；　so　i　have　very　little　idea　about　what　is　going　on。　i　have　huge　gaps　in　my　knowledge　of　the　old　kingdom；　including　everything　from　geography　to　history　to　charter　magic。　i　face　some　dire　enemies；　probably　under　the　overall　direction　of　one　of　the　greater　dead；　a　necromantic　adept。　and　i鈥檓　not　out　to　save　the　kingdom；　just　to　find　my　father；　the　real　abhorsen。　so　i　don鈥檛　want　to　take　your　oath　or　service　or　anything　like　that；　particularly　as　we鈥檝e　only　just　met。　i　am　happy　for　you　to　acpany　us　to　the　nearest　approximation　of　civilization；　but　i　have　no　idea　what　i　will　be　doing　after　that。　and；　please　remember　that　my　name　is　sabriel。　not　milady。　not　abhorsen。　now；　i　think　it鈥檚　time　for　breakfast。鈥�

with　that；　she　stalked　over　to　her　pack；　and　started　getting　out　some　oatmeal　and　a　small　cooking　pot。

touchstone　stared　after　her　for　a　moment；　then　picked　himself　up；　attached　his　swords；　put　on　the　sleeveless　jerkin；　tied　the　sleeves　to　his　belt　and　wandered　off　to　the　nearest　clump　of　trees。

mogget　followed　him　there；　and　watched　him　pick　up　dead　branches　and　sticks　for　a　fire。

鈥渟he　really　did　grow　up　in　ancelstierre；鈥潯�said　the　cat。　鈥渟he　doesn鈥檛　realize　refusing　your　oath　is　an　insult。　and　it鈥檚　true　enough　about　her　ignorance。

that鈥檚　one　of　the　reasons　she　needs　your　help。鈥�

鈥渋　can鈥檛　remember　much；鈥潯�said　touchstone；　snapping　a　branch　in　half　with　considerable　ferocity。

鈥渆xcept　my　most　recent　past。　everything　else　is　like　a　dream。　i鈥檓　not　sure　if　it鈥檚　real　or　not；　learned　or　imagined。　and　i　wasn鈥檛　insulted。　my　oath　isn鈥檛　worth　much。鈥�

鈥渂ut　you鈥檒l　help　her；鈥潯�said　mogget。　it　wasn鈥檛　a　question。

鈥渘o；鈥潯�said　touchstone。　鈥渉elp　is　for　equals。　i鈥檒l　serve　her。　that鈥檚　all　i鈥檓　good　for。鈥�

as　sabriel　feared；　there　was　little　conversation　over　breakfast。　mogget　went　off　in　search　of　his　own；　and　sabriel　and　touchstone　were　hindered　by　the　sole　cooking　pot　and　single　spoon；　so　they　took　it　in　turns　to　eat　half　the　porridge。　even　allowing　for　this　difficulty；　touchstone　was　unmunicative。　sabriel　started　asking　a　lot　of　questions；　but　as　his　standard　response　was；　鈥渋鈥檓　sorry；　i　can鈥檛　remember；鈥潯�she　soon　gave　up。

鈥渋　don鈥檛　suppose　you　can　remember　how　t