sabriel (the abhorsen trilogy)_加斯·尼克斯-第26部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



wide　shoulders　and　a　muscular　build　had　deceived　her　for　a　moment；　but　there　was　a　middleaged　woman　before　her；　eyes　shut；　throat　cut；　short　brown　hair　caked　with　sea　salt　and　blood。

鈥渢he　village　healer；鈥潯�said　mogget；　indicating　a　bracelet　on　her　wrist　with　his　nose。　sabriel　pushed　the　rope　bindings　aside　for　a　better　look。　the　bracelet　was　bronze　with　inlaid　charter　marks　of　greenstone。　dead　marks　now；　for　blood　dried　upon　the　bronze；　and　no　pulse　beat　in　the　skin　under　the　metal。

鈥渟he　was　killed　three　or　four　days　ago；鈥�

sabriel　announced。　鈥渢he　stone　was　broken　at　the　same　time。鈥�

touchstone　looked　back　at　her　and　nodded　grimly；　then　resumed　watching　the　houses　opposite。　his　swords　hung　loosely　in　his　hands；　but　sabriel　noticed　that　his　entire　body　was　tense；　like　a　pressed　jack…in…the…box；　ready　to　spring。

鈥渨hoever　。　。　。　whatever　。　。　。　killed　her　and　broke　the　stone；　didn鈥檛　enslave　her　spirit；鈥�

sabriel　added　quietly；　as　if　thinking　to　herself。

鈥渋　wonder　why？鈥�

neither　mogget　nor　touchstone　answered。

for　a　moment；　sabriel　considered　asking　the　woman　herself；　but　her　impetuous　desire　for　journeys　into　death　had　been　soundly　dampened　by　recent　experience。　instead；　she　cut　the　woman鈥檚　bonds；　and　arranged　her　as　best　she　　could；　ending　up　with　a　sort　of　curled…up　sleeping　position。

鈥渋　don鈥檛　know　your　name；　healer；鈥潯�sabriel　whispered。　鈥渂ut　i　hope　you　go　quickly　beyond　the　final　gate。　farewell。鈥�

she　stood　back　and　drew　the　charter　marks　for　the　funeral　pyre　above　the　corpse；　whispering　the　names　of　the　marks　as　she　did　so鈥攂ut　her　fingers　fumbled　and　words　went　awry。　the　baleful　influence　of　the　broken　stone　pressed　against　her；　like　a　wrestler　gripping　her　wrists；　clamping　her　jaw。　sweat　beaded　on　her　forehead；　and　pain　shot　through　her　limbs；　her　hands　shaking　with　effort；　tongue　clumsy；　seeming　swollen　in　her　suddenly　dry　mouth。

then　she　felt　assistance　e；　strength　flowing　through　her；　reinforcing　the　marks；　steadying　her　hands；　clearing　her　voice。　she　pleted　the　litany；　and　a　spark　exploded　above　the　woman；　became　a　twisting　flame；　then　grew　to　a　fierce；　white…hot　blaze　that　spread　the　length　of　the　woman鈥檚　body；　totally　consuming　it；　to　leave　only　ash；　light　cargo　for　the　sea　winds。

the　extra　strength　came　through　touchstone鈥檚　hand；　his　open　palm　lightly　resting　on　her　shoulder。

as　she　straightened　up；　the　touch　was　lost。

when　sabriel　turned　around；　touchstone　was　just　drawing　his　right…hand　sword；　eyes　fixed　on　the　houses鈥攁s　if　he鈥檇　had　nothing　to　do　with　helping　her。

鈥渢hank　you；鈥潯�said　sabriel。　touchstone　was　a　strong　charter　mage；　perhaps　as　strong　as　she　was。　this　surprised　her；　though　she　couldn鈥檛　think　why。　he鈥檇　made　no　secret　of　being　a　charter　mage鈥攕he鈥檇　just　assumed　he　would　only　know　a　few　of　the　more　fighting…related　marks　and　spells。　petty　magics。

鈥渨e　should　move　on；鈥潯�said　mogget；　prowling　backwards　and　forwards　in　agitation；　carefully　avoiding　the　fragments　from　the　broken　stone。

鈥渇ind　a　boat；　and　put　to　sea　before　nightfall。鈥�

鈥渢he　harbor　is　that　way；鈥潯�touchstone　added　quickly；　pointing　with　his　sword。　both　he　and　the　cat　seemed　very　keen　to　leave　the　area　around　the　broken　stone；　thought　sabriel。　but　then；　so　was　she。　even　in　bright　daylight；　it　seemed　to　dull　the　color　around　it。　the　lawn　was　already　more　yellow　than　green；　and　even　the　shadows　looked　thicker　and　more　abundant　than　they　should。　she　shivered；　remembering　cloven　crest　and　the　thing　called　thralk。

the　harbor　lay　on　the　northern　side　of　the　　bluff；　reached　by　another　series　of　steps　in　the　rocky　hill；　or　in　the　case　of　cargo；　via　one　of　the　shear…legged　hoists　that　lined　the　edge　of　the　bluff。　long　wooden　jetties　thrust　out　into　the　clear　blue…green　water；　sheltered　under　the　lee　of　a　rocky　island；　a　smaller　sibling　of　the　village　bluff。　a　long　breakwater　of　huge　boulders　joined　island　and　shore；　pleting　the　harbor鈥檚　protection　from　wind　and　wave。

there　were　no　boats　moored　in　the　harbor；　tied　up　to　the　jetties；　or　at　the　harbor　wall。　not　even　a　dinghy；　hauled　up　for　repair。　sabriel　stood　on　the　steps；　looking　down；　mind　temporarily　devoid　of　further　plans。　she　just　watched　the　swirl　of　the　sea　around　the　barnacled　piles　of　the　jetties；　the　moving　shadows　in　the　blue；　marking　small　fish　schooling　about　their　business。

mogget　sat　near　her　feet；　sniffing　the　air；　silent。

touchstone　stood　higher；　behind　her；　guarding　the　rear。

鈥渨hat　now？鈥潯�asked　sabriel；　generally　indicating　the　empty　harbor　below；　her　arm　moving　with　the　same　rhythm　as　the　swell；　in　its　perpetual　tilt　against　wood　and　stone。

鈥渢here　are　people　on　the　island；鈥潯�mogget　said；　eyes　slitted　against　the　wind。　鈥渁nd　boats　　tied　up　between　the　two　outcrops　of　rock　on　the　southwest。鈥�

sabriel　looked；　but　saw　nothing；　till　she　extracted　the　telescope　from　the　pack　on　touchstone鈥檚　back。　he　stood　pletely　still　while　she　ferreted　around；　silent　as　the　empty　village。　playing　wooden　again；　sabriel　thought；　but　she　didn鈥檛　really　mind。　he　was　being　helpful；　without　metaphorically　tugging　his　forelock　every　few　minutes。

through　the　telescope；　she　saw　that　mogget　was　right。　there　were　several　boats　partly　hidden　between　two　spurs　of　rock；　and　some　slight　signs　of　habitation：　a　glimpse　of　a　washing　line；　blown　around　the　corner　of　a　tall　rock；　the　momentary　sight　of　movement　between　two　of　the　six　or　seven　ramshackle　wooden　buildings　that　nestled　on　the　island鈥檚　south…western　side。

shifting　her　gaze　to　the　breakwater；　sabriel　followed　its　length。　as　she鈥檇　half　expected；　there　was　a　gap　in　the　very　middle　of　it；　where　the　sea　rushed　through　with　considerable　force。　a　pile　of　timber　on　the　island　side　of　the　breakwater　indicated　that　there　had　once　been　a　bridge　there；　now　removed。

鈥渋t　looks　like　the　villagers　fled　to　the　island；鈥�

she　said；　shutting　the　telescope　down。　鈥渢here鈥檚　a　gap　in　the　breakwater；　to　keep　running　water　between　the　island　and　shore。　an　ideal　defense　against　the　dead。　i　don鈥檛　think　even　a　mordicant　would　risk　crossing　deep　tidal　water鈥斺��

鈥渓et鈥檚　go　then；鈥潯�muttered　touchstone。　he　sounded　nervous　again；　jumpy。　sabriel　looked　at　him；　then　above　his　head；　and　saw　why　he　was　nervous。　clouds　were　rolling　in　from　the　southeast；　behind　the　village鈥攄ark　clouds；　laden　with　rain。　the　air　was　calm；　but　now　she　saw　the　clouds；　sabriel　recognized　it　was　the　calm　before　heavy　rain。　the　sun　would　not　be　guarding　them　for　very　much　longer　and　night　would　be　an　early　guest。

without　further　urging；　she　set　off　down　the　steps；　down　to　the　harborside；　then　along　to　the　breakwater。　touchstone　followed　more　slowly；　turning　every　few　steps　to　watch　the　rear。　mogget　did　likewise；　his　small　cat…face　continually　looking　back；　peering　up　at　the　houses。

behind　them；　shutters　inched　open　and　fleshless　eyes　watched　from　the　safety　of　shadows；　watched　the　trio　marching　out　to　the　breakwater；　still　washed　in　harsh　sunlight；　flanked　by　swiftmoving　waves　of　terrible　water。　rotten；　corroded　　teeth　ground　and　gnashed　in　skeletal　mouths。

farther　back　from　the　windows；　shadows　darker　than　ones　ever　cast　by　light　whirled　in　frustration；　anger鈥攁nd　fear。　they　all　knew　who　had　passed。

one　such　shadow；　selected　by　lot　and　pelled　by　its　peers；　gave　up　its　existence　in　life　with　a　silent　scream；　vanishing　into　death。　their　master　was　many；　many　leagues　away；　and　the　quickest　way　to　reach　him　lay　in　death。　of　course；　message　delivered；　the　messenger　would　fall　through　the　gates　to　a　final　demise。　but　the　master　didn鈥檛　care　about　that。

the　gap　in　the　breakwater　proved　to　be　at　least　fifteen　feet　wide；　and　the　water　was　twice　sabriel鈥檚　height；　the　sea　surging　through　with　a　rough　aggression。　it　was　also　covered　by　archers　from　the　island；　as　they　discovered　when　an　arrow　struck　the　stones　in　front　of　them　and　skittered　off　into　the　sea。

instantly；　touchstone　rushed　in　front　of　sabriel；　and　she　felt　the　flow　of　charter　magic　from　him；　his　swords　sketching　a　great　circle　in　the　air　in　front　of　them　both。　glowing　lines　followed　the　swords鈥櫋�path；　till　a　shining　circle　hung　in　the　air。

four　arrows　curved　through　the　air　from　the　island。　one；　striking　the　circle；　simply　vanished。

the　other　three　missed　pletely；　striking　stones　or　sea。

鈥渁rrow　ward；鈥潯�gasped　touchstone。　鈥渆ffective；　but　hard　to　keep　going。　do　we　retreat？鈥�

鈥渘ot　yet；鈥潯�replied　sabriel。　she　could　feel　the　dead　stirring　in　the　village　behind　them　and　she　could　also　see　the　archers　now。　there　were　four　of　them；　two　pairs；　each　behind　one　of　the　large；　upthrust　stones　that　marked　where　the　breakwater　joined　the　island。　they　looked　young；　nervous　and　were　already　proven　to　be　of　little　threat。

鈥渉old！鈥潯�shouted　sabriel。　鈥渨e　are　friends！鈥�

there　was　no　reply；　but　the　archers　didn鈥檛　loose　their　nocked　arrows。

鈥渨hat鈥檚　the　village　leader鈥檚　title鈥攗sually；　i　mean？　what　are　they　called？鈥潯�sabriel　whispered　hurriedly　to　touchstone；　once　again　wishing　she　knew　more　about　the　old　kingdom　and　its　customs。

鈥渋n　my　day　。　。　。鈥潯�touchstone　replied　slowly；　his　swords　retracing　the　arrow　ward；　attention　mostly　on　that；　鈥渋n　my　day鈥攅lder鈥攆or　this　size　of　village。鈥�

鈥渨e　wish　to　speak　with　your　elder！鈥潯�shouted　sabriel。　she　pointed　at　the　cloud…front　advancing　behind　her；　and　added；　鈥渂efore　darkness　falls！鈥�

鈥渨ait！鈥潯�came　the　answer；　and　one　of　the　archers　scampered　back　from　the　rocks；　up　towards　the　buildings。　closer　to；　sabriel　realized　they　were　probably　boathouses　or　something　like　that。

the　archer　returned　in　a　few　minutes；　an　older　man　hobbling　over　the　rocks　behind　him。　the　other　three　archers；　seeing　him；　lowered　their　bows　and　returned　shafts　to　quivers。　touchstone；　seeing　this；　ceased　to　maintain　the　arrow　ward。　it　hung　in　the　air　for　a　moment；　then　dissipated；　leaving　a　momentary　rainbow。

the　elder　was　named　in　fact；　as　well　as　title；　they　saw；　as　he　limped　along　the　breakwater。　long　white　hair　blew　like　fragile　cobwebs　around　his　thin；　wrinkled　face；　and　he　moved　with　the　deliberate　intention　of　the　very　old。　he　seemed　unafraid；　perhaps　possessed　of　the　disinterested　courage　of　one　already　close　to　death。

鈥渨ho　are　you？鈥潯�he　asked；　when　he　reached　the　gap；　standing　above　the　swirling　waters　like　some　prophet　of　legend；　his　deep　orange　cloak　flapping　around　him　from　the　rising　breeze。

鈥渨hat　do　you　want？鈥�

sabriel　opened　her　mouth　to　answer；　but　　touchstone　had　already　started　to　speak。　loudly。

鈥渋　am　touchstone；　sworn　swordsman　for　the　abhorsen；　who　stands　before　you。　are　arrows　your　wele　for　such　folk　as　we？鈥�

the　old　man　was　silent　for　a　moment；　his　deep…set　eyes　focused　on　sabriel；　as　if　he　could　strip　away　any　falsity　or　illusion　by　sight　alone。

sabriel　met　his　gaze；　but　out　of　the　corner　of　her　mouth　she　whispered　to　touchstone。

鈥渨hat　makes　you　think　you　can　speak　for　me？　wouldn鈥檛　a　friendly　approach　be　better？　and　since　when　are　you　my　sworn鈥斺��

she　stopped；　as　the　old　man　cleared　his　throat　to　speak　and　spat　into　the　water。　for　a　moment；　she　thought　that　this　was　his　response；　but　as　neither　the　archers　nor　touchstone　reacted；　it　was　obviously　of　no　account。

鈥渢hese　ar