読書案内/2920, Second Seed, v5 のバックアップ(No.4)

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2920. First Seed, v5 (栽培の月、5巻) † Edit

2920 栽培の月(5巻)
第一紀最後の年
カルロヴァック・タウンウェイ著

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10 Second Seed, 2920
The Imperial City Cyrodill		2920年 栽培の月10日
帝都 (シロディール)
Your Imperial Majesty, said the Potentate Versidue-Shaie, opening the door to his chamber with a smile. I have not seen you lately. I thought perhaps you were ... indisposed with the lovely Rijja.
She's taking the baths at Mir Corrup, the Emperor Reman III said miserably.
Please, come in.
I've reached the stage where i can only trust three people: you, my son the Prince, and Rijja, said the Emperor petulantly. My entire council is nothing but a pack of spies.
What seems to be the matter, your Imperial Majesty? asked the Potentate Versidue-Shaie sympathetically, drawing closed the thick curtain in his chamber. Instantly all sound outside the room was extinguished, echoing footsteps in the marble halls and birds in the springtide gardens.
I've discovered that a notorious poisoner, an Orma tribeswoman from Black marsh called Catchica Suvio while we were encamped there when my son was poisoned, before the battle at Bodrum. I'm sure she would have prefeerd to kill me, but the opportunity didn't present itself, The Emperor fumed. The Council suggests that we need evidence of her involvement before we prosecute.
Of course they would, said the Potentate thoughtfully. Particularly if one or more of them was in on the plot. I have a thought, your Imperial majesty.
Yes? said Reman impatiently. Out with it!
Tell the Council you're dropping the matter, and I will send out the Guard to track this Catchica down and follow her. We will see who her friends are, and perhaps get an idea of the scope of this plot on your Imperial Majesty's life.
Yes, said Reman with a satisfied frown. That's track this scheme to whomever it leads to.
Decidedly, Your Imperial Majesty, smiled the Potentate, parting the curtain ao the Emperor could leave. in the hallway outside was Versidue-Shaie's son, Savirien-Chorak. The boy bowed to the Emperor before entering the Potentate's chamber.
Are you in trouble, father? whispered the Akavir lad. I heard the Emperor found out about whatshername, the poisoner.
The great art of speechcraft, my boy, said Versidue-Shaie to his son. Is to tell them what they want to hear in a way that gets them to do what you want them to do. I need you to get a letter to catchica, and make certain that she understands that if she does not follow the instructions perfectly, she is risking her own life more than ours.		「殿下」と、支配者ヴェルシデュ・シャイエが自分の部屋の扉を開けながら笑顔で言った。「このところお目にかかりませんでしたね。ひょっとしたら殿下は・・・リッジャ様が愛らしすぎて具合が悪くなったのかと」
「彼女ならミル・コラップで風呂に入っている」と、皇帝レマン三世が惨めったらしい声で言った。
「どうぞお入りください」
「とうとう３人しか信じられないようなところまで来てしまった。お前と、我が皇太子とリッジャだ」と、いらただしそうにに皇帝が言った。「元老院は単なるスパイ集団だ」
「どうかなさいましたか、殿下？」と、支配者ヴェルシデュ・シャイエが同情した様子で言いながら、部屋の厚いカーテンを閉めた。大理石の廊下を歩く人の足音や春先の庭で鳴く鳥の声など、外からの物音はすべてすぐに遮断された。
ボドラムでの戦いが始まる前に我々が野営をしていた際、わしの息子に毒が盛られたことがあった。その時、ブラック・マーシュ出身のオルマの部族民でカッチカと呼ばれる悪名高い毒殺者が、ケイル・スヴィオで軍隊と一緒にいたという情報をつかんだのだ。本当はわしを殺したかったことは間違いないが、その機会がなかったんだろう」と、忌々しげに皇帝が言った。「だが彼女を告訴するならまず証拠を出すべきだと元老院は言っている」
「もちろんそうでしょうね」と、思いやりを示すように支配者が言った。「特に、もしその中の一人二人が自ら筋書きに加担していたとすれば。私に考えがあります、殿下」
「何だ？」と、待ちきれない様子でレマンが言った。「早く言いたまえ！」
「この件は撤回すると元老院に申し出てください。私は衛兵を派遣してカッチカの所在を突き止めさせ、尾行させます。彼女と共謀しているのが誰なのかが判明するでしょうし、殿下の命を狙うこの陰謀が果たしてどの程度の大きさのものなのかもつかめるでしょう」
「そうだな」と、満足げに眉を寄せてレマンが言った。「それは名案だ。相手が誰であろうと、そのやり方で突き止めよう」
「もちろんです、殿下」支配者は微笑みながら、皇帝が部屋を出られるようにカーテンを開けた。部屋の外の廊下にはヴェルシデュ・シャイエの息子、サヴィリエン・チョラックがいた。少年は皇帝に会釈をしてから支配者の部屋に入った。
「何か面倒なことにでもなってるの、お父さん？」と、アカヴィリの少年はささやいた。「皇帝が、ナントカっていう毒殺者の情報をつかんだって聞いたけど」
「話術の最大のコツは--」と、ヴェルシデュ・シャイエが息子に語りかけた。「こちらが相手にさせたいと思っていることを相手がしたくなるように仕向けながら、相手が聞きたがっている言葉を言ってあげることだ。お前には、カッチカに手紙を届けてもらいたい。そして、そこに書かれている指示に完全に従わなければ、命が危なくなるのはこちらよりもむしろ彼女の方だということをちゃんと理解していることを、確認してきて欲しい」
13 Second Seed, 2920
Mir Corrup, Cyrodill		2920年 栽培の月13日
ミル・コラップ (シロディール)
Rijja sank luxuriantly into the burbling hot spring, feeling her skin tingle like it was being rubbed by millions of little stones. The rock shelf over her head sheltered her from the missing rain, but let all the sunshine in, streaming in layers through the branches of the trees. It was an idyllic moment in an idyllic life, and when she was finished she knew that her beauty would be entirely restored. The only thing she needed was a drink of water. The bath itself, while wonderfully fragrant, tasted always of chalk.
Water! she cried to her servants. Water, Please!
A gaunt woman with rags tied over her eyes ran to her side and dropped a goatskin of water. Rijja was about to laugh at the woman's prudery -- she herself was not ashmed of her naked body -- but then she noticed through a crease in the rags that the old woman had no eyes at all. She was like one of those Orma tribesmen Rijja had heard about, but never met. Born without eyes, they were masters of their other senses. The Lord of Mir Corrup hired very exotic servants, she thought to herself.
In a moment, the woman was gone and forgotten. Rijja found it very hard to concentrate on anything but the sun and the water. She opened the cork, but the liquid within had a strange, metallic smell to it. Suddenly, she was aware that she was not alone.
Lady rijja, said the captain of the Imperial Guard. You are, I see, acquainted with Catchica?
I've never heard of her, stammered Rijja before becoming indignant. What are you doing here? This body is not for your leering eyes.
never heard of her, when we saw her with you not a minute ago, said the captain, picking up the goatskin and smelling it. Brought you neivous ichor, did she? To poison the Emperor with?
Captain, said one of the guards, running up to him quickly. We cannot find the Argonian. It is as if she disappeared into the woods.
Yes, they're good at that, said the captain. no matter though. We've got her contact at court. That should please his Imperial majesty. Seize her.
As the guards pulled the writhing naked woman from the pool, she screamed, I'm innocent! I don't know what this is all about, but I've done nothing! The Emperor will have your heads for this!
Yes, I imagine he will, smiled the captain. If he trust you.		リッジャはぶくぶくと泡を立てている温泉にゆったりと浸かり、無数の小さな石で肌がくすぐられているような感覚を味わっていた。頭の上に突き出している岩のおかげで霧雨は当たらず、日の光だけが木々の枝の間から筋となってたっぷりと降り注いでいた。それは牧歌的な生活におけるのどかなひとときであり、入浴後には自分の美しさがすっかり蘇っているはずだということを彼女は知っていた。唯一足りないものは一杯の水だった。温泉のお湯は匂いこそ素晴らしいが必ずチョークの味がした。
「水！」と、召使いに向かって叫んだ。「水をちょうだい！」
目隠しするように顔に布を巻いた、一人のやせこけた女がリッジャのそばに駆けてきてヤギ皮の水袋を落とした。そのあまりの慎み深さにリッジャは思わず笑い出しそうになった--自分が素っ裸でいることを恥ずかしいとは思っていなかったのだ--が、布の透き間から見えた老婆の顔にはそもそも瞳がないことに気がついた。話には聞いたことがあるが一度も会ったことはない、オルマの部族民のようだった。生まれつき目がない彼らは、それ以外の感覚がずば抜けて優れている。ミル・コラップの君主は召使いの雇用に関してずいぶんと異国趣味のようだと、リッジャはひそかに思った。
すぐに女は立ち去りその存在は忘れ去られた。そこにいると日の光と温泉のこと以外は何も集中して考える気になれないことをリッジャは感じていた。水袋のコルクを抜いてみたが、中の液体は妙に金属臭い匂いがした。気がつけば、そこにいるのは彼女一人ではなかった。
「リッジャ様」と、衛兵隊長が言った。「カッチカとお知り合いのご様子ですね？」
「知らないわ、そんな人」と、どもりながら言った。そして憤然とした様子で言葉を続けた。「ここで何してるの？ 私の身体は下品な視線にさらすためのものじゃないのよ」
「お知り合いではないとおっしゃる。ついさっきご一緒におられたようですが」と、言いながら隊長は水袋を拾い上げ匂いを嗅いだ。「ネイヴー・イコーを持ってきたようですね？ 皇帝に毒を盛るためですか？」
「隊長」と、駆け寄ってきた衛兵の一人が言った。「アルゴニアンの姿が見当たりません。どうやら森に消えたようです」
「ああ、連中にはお手のものだからな」と、隊長は言った。「だが問題はない。宮中の連絡係を見つけたからな。殿下もお喜びになるだろう。この女を捕まえろ」
身もだえする裸の女を衛兵たちが湯ぶねから引き上げると、彼女は叫んだ。「濡れ衣だわ！ 私は何も知らないし何もしていない！ 皇帝がこれを知ったら絞首刑になるわよ！」
「ああ、もちろんそうなるだろうな」隊長が微笑んだ。「皇帝がお前を信用されればの話だが」
21 Second Seed, 2920
Gideon, Black marsh		2920年 栽培の月21日
ギデオン (ブラックマーシュ)
The sow and Vulture tavern was the sort of out-of-the-way place that Zuuk favored for these sorts of interviews. besides himself and his companion, there were only a couple of old seadogs in the shadowy room, and they were more unconscious from drink than aware. The grime of the unwashed floor was something you felt rather than saw. Copious dust hung in the air unmoving in the aparse rays of dying sunlight.
You have experience in heavy combat? asked Zuuk. The reward is good for this assignment, but the risks are great as well.
Certainly I have combat experience, replied Miramor haughtily. I was at the battle of Bodrum just two months ago. If you do your part and get the Emperor to ride through Dozsa Pass with a minimal escort on the day and the time we7ve discussed, I'll do my part. Just be certain that he's not going to slaughter every carvan that passes through contains Emperor reman.
Zuuk smiled, and Miramor looked at himself in the Kothringi's reflective face. He liked the way he looked: the consummate confident professional.
Agreed, said Zuuk. And then you shall have the rest of your gold.
Zuuk placeed the large chest onto the table between them. he stood up.
Wait a few minutes before leaving, said Zuuk. I don't want you following me. Your employers wish to maintain their anoymity, if by chance you are caught and tortured.
Fine by me, said Miramor, ordering more grog.
Zuuk rode his mount through the cramped labyrinthine streets of Gideon, and both he and his horse were happy to pass through the gates into the country. The main road to Gastle Giovese was flooded as it was every year in springtide, but Zuuk knew a shorter way over the hills. Riding fast under trees dropping with moss and treacherous slime-coated rocks, he arrived at the castle gates in two hour's time. He washed no time in climbing to Tavia's cell at the top of the higest tower.
What did you think of him? asked the Empress.
He's a fool, replied Zuuk. But that's what we want for this sort of assignment.
30 Second Seed, 2920
Thurzo Fortress, Cyrodill
Rijja screamed and screamed and screamed. Within her cell, her only audience was the giant gray stones, crusted with moss but still stuedy. the guards outside were deaf to her as they were deaf to all prisoners. The Emperor, miles away in the Imperial City, had likewise been deaf to her cries of innocence.
She screamed knowing well that no one would likely hear her ever again.
31 Second Seed, 2920
Kavas Rim Pass, Cyrodill
It had been days, weeks since Turala had seen another human face, Cyrodill or Dunmmer. As she trod the road, she thought to herself how strange it was that such an uninhabited place as Cyrodill had become the Imperial province, seat of an Empire. Even the Bosmer in Valenwood must have more popilated forestes than this Hearthland wood.
She thought back, Was it a month ago, two, when she crossed the border from Morrowind into Cyrodill? It had been much colder then, but other tahn that, she had no sense of time. The guards had been brusque, but as she was carrying no weaponry, they elected to let her through. Since then, she had seen a few caravans, even shared a meal with some adventures camping for the night, but met no one who would give her a ride to a town.
turala stripped off her shawl and dragged it behind her. For a moment, she thought she heard someone behind her and spun around. No one was there. Just a bird perched on a branch making a sound like laughter.
She walked on, and then stopped. Something was happening. The child had been kicking in her belly for some time now, but this was a different kind of spasm. With a groan, she of the path, collapsing into the grass. Her child was coming.
she lay on her back and pushed, but she could barely see with her tears of pain and frustration. how had it come to this? Giving birth in the wilderness, all by herself, to a child whose father was the Duke of Mournhold? Her scream of rage and agony shook the birds from the trees.
The bird that been laughing at her earlier flew down to the road. She blinked, and the bird was gone and in its place, a naked Elf man stood, not as dark as a Dunmmer, but not as pale as the Altmer. she knew at once it was an Ayleid, a Wild Elf. turala screamed, but the man held her down. After a few of struggle, she felt a release, and then fainted away.
When she awake, it was to the sound of a baby crying. the child had been cleaned and was lying by her side. Turala picked up her baby girl, and for the first time that year, felt tears of happiness stream down her face.
She whispered to the trees, Thank you and began walking with babe in her arms down the road to the west.
The year Is Continued Mid year.
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