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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Seven trade…ships were moored under the moonlight carrying light cargoes of fine cloth and spices。 Morgon； his mind weltering with names； faces； memories out of the brains of the dead； watched the ranks slowly bee half…visible on the shadowy docks。 They were mounted； armed； silent； waiting to board。 The city was dark behind them； the black fingers of masts in the harbor rose with the swell of the tide to touch the stars and withdrew。 The gathering of the dead had been acplished in a dreamlike silence； under the eyes of Duac and Bri Corbett and the fascinated； terrified skeleton crews on the ships。 They were just ready to board when a horse thudded down the dock； breaking Morgon's concentration。 He gazed at Raederle as she dismounted； wondering why she was not still asleep； his mind struggling with her presence as he was drawn back slowly into the night of the living。 There was a single dock lamp lit near them； it gave her hair； slipping out of its jewelled pins； a luminous； fiery sheen。 He could not see her face well。
〃I'm ing with you to Hed；〃 she said。 His hand moved out of the vivid backwash of centuries to turn her face to the light。 The annoyance in it cleared his mind。
〃We discussed it；〃 he said。 〃Not on these ships full of wraiths。〃
〃You and my father discussed it。 You forgot to tell me。〃
He ran his wrist across his forehead； realizing he was sweating。 Bri Corbett was leaning over the side of the ship near them； an ear to their voices； one eye on the tide。 〃Lord；〃 he called softly； 〃if we don't leave soon； there'll be seven ships full of the dead stuck in the harbor until morning。〃
〃All right。〃 He stretched to ease the burning knots of tension in his back。 Raederle folded her arms； he caught a pin falling out of her hair。 〃It would be best if you ride up through Hel to meet me in Caithnard。〃
〃You were going to ride with me。 Not sail with wraiths to Hed。〃
〃I can't lead an army of the dead by land to Caithnard and load them there at the docks under the eye of every trader！〃
'That's not the point。 The point is： However you are going to Hed； I'm going with you。 The point is： You were going to sail straight to Hed and leave me waiting for you at Caithnard。〃
He stared at her。 〃I was not；〃 he said indignantly。
〃You would have thought of it；〃 she said tersely； 〃halfway there； leaving me safe and foresworn at Caithnard。 I have a pack on my horse； I'm ready to leave。〃
〃No。 Not a four day journey by sea with me and the dead of An。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃No。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃No。〃 His hands were clenched； shadows wedged beneath the bones of his taut face as he gazed at her。 The lamplight was exploring her face as he had explored it the past days。 Light gathered in her eyes； and he remembered that she had stared into the eyes of a skull and had outfaced dead kings。 〃No；〃 he repeated harshly。 〃I don't know what trail of power the dead will leave across the water。 I don't know。。。〃
〃You don't know what you're doing。 You don't know how safe you will be； even in Hed。〃
〃Which is why I will not take you on these ships。〃
〃Which is why I am going with you。 At least I am born to understand the sea。〃
〃And if it tears apart the wood beneath you and scatters planks and spice and the dead into the waves； what will you do？ You'll drown； because no matter what shape I take； I won't be able to save you； and then what will I do？〃
She was silent。 The dead ranked behind her seemed to be looking at him with the same distant； implacable expression。 He turned suddenly； his hands opening and closing again。 He caught the mocking eyes of one of the kings and let his mind grow still。 A name stirred shadows of memory behind the dead eyes。 The wraith moved after a moment； blurring into air and darkness； and entered the ship。
He lost all sense of time again； as he filled the seven trade…ships with the last of their cargo。 Centuries murmured through him； mingling with the slap of water and the sounds of Duac and Raederle talking in some far land。 Finally； he reached the end of names and began to see。
The dark； silent vessels were growing restless in the tide。 Ship…masters were giving subdued orders； as if they feared their voices might rouse the dead。 Men moved as quietly across the decks； among the mooring cables。 Raederle and Duac stood alone on the empty dock； silently； watching Morgon。 He went to them； feeling a salt wind that had not been there before drying the sweat on his face。
He said to Duac； 〃Thank you。 I don't know how grateful Eliard is going to be； but it's the best protection I can think of for Hed； and it will set my mind at ease。 Tell Mathom。。。 tell him。。。〃 He hesitated； groping。 Duac dropped a hand on his shoulder。
〃He knows。 Just be careful。〃
〃I will be。〃 He turned his head； met Raederle's eyes。 She did not move or speak； but she bound him wordless； lost again in memories。 He broke their silence as if he were breaking a spell。 〃I'll meet you at Caith…nard。〃 He kissed her and turned quickly。 He boarded the lead ship。 The ramp slid up behind him； Bri Corbett stood beside an open hatch。
He said worriedly as Morgon climbed down the ladder into the listless hold； 〃You'll be all right among the dead？〃
Morgon nodded without speaking。 Bri closed the hatch behind him。 He stumbled a little around bolts of cloth and found a place to sit on sacks of spice。 He felt the ship ease away from the dock； away from Anuin toward the open sea。 He leaned against the side of the hull； heard water spray against the wood。 The dead were silent； invisible around him； their minds growing quiescent as they sailed away from their past。 Morgon found himself trying to trace their faces suddenly out of the total darkness。 He drew his knees up； pushed his face against his arms and listened to the water。 A few moments later； he heard the hatch open。
He drew a long； silent breath and loosed it。 Lamplight flickered beyond his closed eyes。 Someone climbed down the ladder； found a path through the cargo； and sat down beside him。 Scents of pepper and ginger wafted up around him。 The hatch dropped shut again。
He lifted his head； said to Raederle； who was no more than her breathing and the faint smell of sea air； 〃Are you planning to argue with me for the rest of our lives？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said stiffly。
He dropped his head back against his knees。 After a while he drew one arm free； shaped her wrist in the dark； and then her fingers。 He gazed back at the night； holding her scarred left hand in both his hands against his heart。
III
THEY ARRIVED IN HED FOUR NIGHTS LATER。 SIX OF the trade…ships had turned westward in the channel to wait at Caithnard； Bri took his ship to Tol。 Morgon； worn out from listening for disaster； was startled out of a catnap by the hull scudding a little against the dock。 He sat up； tense； and heard Bri curse someone amiably。 The hatch opened； lamplight blinded him。 He smelled earth。
His heart began to pound suddenly。 Beside him； Raederle； half…buried in furs； lifted her head sleepily。
〃You're home；〃 Bri said； smiting behind the tight； and Morgon got to his feet； climbed up onto the deck。 Tol was a handful of houses scattered beyond the moon…shadow flung by the dark cliffs。 The warm； motionless air smelled familiarly of cows and grain。
He hardly realized he had spoken until Bri； dousing the tight； answered； 〃On the lee side of midnight。 We got here sooner than I expected。〃
A wave curled lazily onto the beach； spread a fretwork of silver as it withdrew。 The shore road wound bone…white away from the dock to disappear into the cliff shadow。 Morgon picked out the faint line above the cliff where it appeared again； to separate pastures and fields until it stopped at the doorstep of Akren。
His hands tightened on the railing； he stared； blind； back at the twisted road that had brought him to Hed on a ship full of the dead； and the shore road to Akren seemed suddenly little more than one more twist into shadows。
Raederle said his name； and his hands loosened。 He heard the ramp thud onto the dock。 He said to Bri； 〃I'll be back before dawn。〃 He touched the outline of the ship…master's shoulder。 〃Thank you。〃
He led Raederle off the dock； past the dreaming fishermen's houses and the worn； beached boats with gulls sleeping on them。 He found his way by memory up the shadows to the top of the cliff。 The fields flowed smoothly under the moonlight； swirled around hillocks and dips； to converge from every direction around Akren。 The night was soundless； listening； he heard the slow； placid breathing of cows and the faint whimper of a dog dreaming。 There was a light gleaming at Akren； Morgon thought from the porch； but as they drew closer； he realized it came from within the house。 Raederle walked silently beside him； her eyes flickering over field walls； bean rows； half…ripe wheat。 She broke her silence finally as they drew near enough to Akren to see the tiles of the roof slanting against the stars。
〃Such a small house；〃 she said； surprised。 He nodded。
〃Smal