Chapter 9 seven

buggy sign * Xing Xing came to the mouth of the cliff, wet all over, trembling, pitiful.She is worried about unicorns.During the previous day's journey, there was no food for the unicorn, as the forest was no longer grass or ferns but gray rocks and stunted thorny bushes.The unicorn's hooves are not hoofed, so they are not suitable for walking on stone roads; its back is not used for carrying people, so its steps are getting slower and slower. As they marched, the stars cursed the day they fell into this dank and unfriendly world.The world seemed so benign and welcoming when viewed from above, but it was all over.Now, she hated everything in the world but the unicorn; but she was sore and unwell from the ride, and she would probably be happier without the unicorn.

After a day of torrential rain, the lights of the inn were the most pleasant sight she had ever seen on earth.Watch the road, watch the road.Raindrops pattered on the stones.The unicorn stopped fifty yards from the inn, and refused to go any further.The door of the hotel was open, and the warm golden light illuminated the gray world. Ah dear.From the open door came the sound of welcome. The star stroked the unicorn's wet neck and spoke softly to it.But it didn't move, like a gray ghost, frozen in the hotel lights. do you want to come in, dear?Or are you going to stand in the rain?The woman's friendly voice was practical but caring, warming the stars and comforting her.If you want something to eat, we can get you something to eat.There's a fire burning in the fireplace, and there's enough hot water to fill a tub and melt the cold in your bones.

I need help getting in my leg, the stars say Ouch, poor little thing.The woman said, I'll get my husband Billy to carry you in.There is hay and fresh water in the stall for your animal to enjoy. When the woman approached, the unicorn stood on guard in panic.Whoops, whoops, dear.I won't get too close.Anyway, it's been years since I was young enough to touch a unicorn.It has been many years since I saw such a unicorn in this area last time The unicorn nervously followed the woman into the stall, keeping her distance.It went to the innermost stable of the stable and lay down on the dry straw; Xingxing groped its way down its back, very wet and pitiful.

Billy was a gruff fellow with a white beard.He didn't talk much, just carried Xingxing into the hotel, and let her sit on the three-legged stool, facing the crackling and burning firewood. Poor little darling.The innkeeper's wife had followed in, and said: Look at you, wet as a nix!Look at the puddle of mud under your feet, and what has become of your beautiful clothes!You must have soaked your bones She sent her husband away and helped the stars take off the dripping wet clothes and hang them on the rack by the fire.Water dripped on the hot bricks by the fireplace, hissing and evaporating.

There was a tin tub in front of the fire, and the innkeeper's wife had a paper screen around it.What kind of bath water do you like?She asked eagerly, warmer?hotter?Or do you want to burn your whole body red? I have no idea.said the stars.She was naked save for a silver chain with topaz at her waist; and she was dizzy from a succession of strange events.Because I never took a shower. never washed?The hotel owner's wife looked surprised.Bite, you poor little baby!Oh, let's not make the water too hot then.If you want more hot water, just call me, there's still on the kitchen stove.When you're done bathing, I'll bring you some mulled wine with spices, and delicious roasted turnips.

Before Xingxing could explain that she would neither eat nor drink, the woman hurried away, leaving Xingxing sitting in the tin tub.Her broken leg was bound between the splints and leaned out of the water on a three-legged stool.At first, the water was too hot, but as she got used to the heat, she relaxed.And, for the first time since falling from the sky, she felt full of joy. Good boy, said the innkeeper's wife, coming back, how do you feel now? Much better, thank you.said the stars. Where is your heart?How is your heart feeling?the woman asked. my heart?It was a strange question, but the woman seemed genuinely concerned.feel happier.Relatively relaxed.It's not that painful anymore.

OK, that's good.Let's let it heat up inside you, huh?Burn with joy in your body. Under your care, my heart will surely burn and glow with joy.said the stars. The innkeeper's wife bent down and stroked the star's chin.What a cute little boy, you speak so well.She smiled dotingly, brushed her gray hair with one hand, and hung a thick towel-made robe on the edge of the screen.This is for you to wear after taking a shower.Oh, no, take it easy, dear!This robe will fit you well and be very warm.Besides, your beautiful dress won't be dry for a while.When you want to get out of the tub, call us and I will come to help you.Then she leaned over, lightly touched Xing Xing's breasts with cold fingers, smiled slightly, and said: A strong and good heart.

(There are still good people in this ignorant and backward world,) Xing Xing thought so.She felt warm and content.The rain was pattering outside, and the wind was blowing across the mountain cliffs, but in this chaise hotel, everything was so warm and comfortable. The hotel owner's wife finally helped Xing Xing out of the bathtub with the help of the dumbfounded daughter.The topaz on the silver chain around Star's waist gleamed in the firelight until both the jade and Star's body were hidden under a thick toweling robe. Here, my little dear, said the innkeeper's wife, come here and make yourself comfortable.She helped Xingxing to the long wooden table, and at the end of the table stood a meat cleaver and a dagger, both with a bone handle and a black glass blade.Xing Xing limped to the table with his body crooked, and sat down on the bench.

There was a gust of wind outside, and green, blue, and white flames sprang from the furnace.Then, a low rumbling voice sounded outside the hotel, drowning out the roar of the storm.Receive guests!food!liquor!fire!Where is the groom? Billy, the owner of the hotel, and his daughter didn't move, they just looked at the woman in red, as if waiting for her order.She curled her lips and said: You can wait.wait a moment.You can't go anywhere after all, my little dear?The last words were spoken to the stars.Can't rely on your leg; can't go until the rain dies down, eh? I can't express in words how grateful I am for your hospitality.Xing Xing said with emotion without pretense.

Of course you appreciate it.While speaking, the woman in red touched the two black knives anxiously and impatiently, as if she couldn't wait to do something.We've got plenty of time when these troublesome guys are gone, huh? ★ After Tristan embarked on a journey into fairyland, the lights of the small hotel were the best and happiest thing he had ever seen.Bomus growled for his help, and he untied the worn-out horses and let them walk one by one into the barn next to the hotel.A white horse was sleeping in the furthest stable, but Tristan was too busy to stop and look. He knew (some strange corner of his mind, knew things he had never seen, knew the direction and distance of places he had never been) that the stars were close at hand, and he was comforted and nervous.He knew that all the horses were more tired and hungrier than he.His dinner can wait.That way, he guessed, his conflict with the stars could wait.I have to take care of the horses, he told Bermus, or they will catch a cold.

The tall man reached out and placed a large hand on Tristan's shoulder.Good guy.I'll send the waiter to bring you some hot ale. Tristan was busy brushing and cleaning the hooves, thinking of the stars.What is he going to say?What will the stars say?He was brushing the last horse when the dull-looking maid brought a mug of steaming wine. Put the wine there, he told the waitress, and I'll drink it as soon as my hands are empty.The maid put the wine on the harness box and went out without saying a word. At this moment, the horse in the last stable stood up and began kicking at the door. Good, good, cried Tristan, hey, calm down, I'll see if I can find hot oats and bran for you. There was a large rock on the inside of the stallion's front hooves, and Tristan carefully picked it out. (Madame,) He intends to say so, (Please accept my most sincere and humble apology.), (Sir,) The stars may reply, (I accept it wholeheartedly. Now, let us go to your village together and send me to Your true love, as a token of your love for her) His contemplation was interrupted by a loud bang, and a tall white horse (but he realized at once that it was not a horse) kicked down the stable door, its horns hanging low, and rushed at him recklessly. . Tristan threw himself on the straw on the barn floor and put his head in his hands. After a while, he looked up.The unicorn stopped before the big wine glass, lowered its head and plunged its horn into the mulled wine. Tristan stood up awkwardly.The glass of wine was steaming and bubbling, and he remembered now (from a long-forgotten fairy tale), that it was said that the horn of a unicorn could test poison?he whispered.The unicorn looked up, looked into Tristan's eyes, and he knew it was true.His heart pounded hard in his chest.Around the tavern, the wind shrieked like a mad witch. Tristan ran to the door of the stall, then stopped to think.Fumbling in the pocket of his jacket, he found what was left of the candle's wax, on which a dry coppery leaf was still burning.He carefully tore the leaf off the wax block, held it to his ear, and listened to what the leaf said. ★ Would you like some wine, my lord?Bomus walked into the small hotel, and the middle-aged woman in red asked. No, he said, I have a personal superstition that as long as I haven't seen my brother's cold body lying in front of me, I'll only drink my own wine and eat what I get, all on my own.If you don't object, I will do the same here.Of course, I'll pay you like I drank your wine.You don't mind if I defrost my own bottle by the fire?Well, I have a traveling companion, a young man, who is looking after the horses.He didn't swear like that, and I'm sure if you send him a mug of hot ale, it'll take the chill out of his bones The maid bowed to him and hurried into the kitchen. So, dear host, said Bermus to the white-bearded innkeeper, how is your bed in such a remote place?Do you have any straw mats?Is there a stove in the room?I noticed a tub in front of your fireplace, and it made me happier.If there is clean hot water, I want to take a shower later.But at most I will pay a small silver coin to take a bath, remember. Bomus took off his dripping black robe and hung it by the fire; next to him was Xingxing's blue dress, which was still wet.He turned and saw the young lady sitting at the long table.Another guest?He said it was a pleasure to meet you in this nasty weather, miss.At this moment, there was a loud noise from the stall next door.Something must have disturbed the horses.Bomus said with concern. Maybe it was thunder.said the hotel owner's wife. Well, maybe.Focus on another thing, says Bermus.He walked towards the star, looked deeply into the star's eyes, and stayed there for several seconds.You he hesitated.Then, say with confidence: You have my father's stone.You have the source of power in Stormwind. The girl raised her eyes and glared at him with sky blue eyes.That being the case, she said, come and ask me.So I can put an end to this stupid thing. The innkeeper's wife hurried over and stood in front of the table.I can't let you disturb the other guests right now, dear.she said sternly to Bermus. Bermuth's eyes fell on the knife on the wooden table.He knew the two knives; there were many old scrolls in the cellars of Stormwind, and the two knives were drawn on the scrolls, and their names were recorded on them.They are ancient things, having existed since the First Age. The front door of the inn slammed open. Bermus!Tristan yelled and ran in.They want to poison me! Lord Bermuth reached for his short sword, but before he could find it, the Enchanted Queen had already picked up the longest blade, drew the blade, and slashed it across his throat in a graceful motion. Everything happened too fast for Tristan.He came in, saw the stars and Lord Bermuth, and the innkeeper and his strange family, and then the blood spurted out in the firelight like a crimson fountain. catch him!The woman in the red robe yelled, grab that little guy! Billy and the waitress ran to Tristan; at that moment, the unicorn also rushed into the hotel. Tristan threw himself aside.The unicorn stood upright on its hind legs, and a gust of wind kicked up its sharp hooves, kicking the little maid away. Billy ducked his head and lunged at the unicorn as if to butt his forehead.The unicorn also bowed his head, and Billy the innkeeper tragically ended his life. so stupid!The innkeeper's wife screamed violently.She began to attack the unicorn, holding a knife in each hand, and the blood stained her right hand and forearm as red as the robes on her body. Tristan threw himself on his hands and knees and crawled towards the fireplace.In his left hand he held the little block of wax, only a tiny bit of the candle that had brought him here.He squeezed blocks of wax with his hands until they became soft enough to change shape. This method works best.Tristan said to himself.He wanted the tree to know what he was talking about. Behind him, the unicorn screamed in pain. Tristan tore a strap from his jacket and wrapped it in wax. What happened?Xing Xing asked, and she also crawled towards Tristan on all fours. I just can't figure it out.he admitted. At this time, the witch wailed, and it turned out that the unicorn pierced her shoulder violently with its horn.The unicorn lifted her off the ground, and triumphantly intended to throw her to the ground, where she would die horribly under his sharp hoofs.Although the Witch was caught, she turned suddenly and thrust the longer point of volcanic glass into the unicorn's eye and deep into the skull. The beast lay dead on the wooden floor of the inn, blood streaming from its sides, eyes, and gaping mouth.It hit its knees first, then it fell completely, and the life was gone.Its mottled tongue protruded pathetically from its lifeless mouth. The Magic Queen pulled the unicorn's horn out of her body, clutched her injured shoulder tightly with one hand, and grabbed the large meat cleaver with the other, and stood up staggeringly. She scanned the room and suddenly saw Tristan and Xingxing huddled by the fire.Slowly, painfully, she staggered towards them, meat cleaver in hand, grin on her face. The fiery golden heart of a star at peace is far better than the flickering heart of a frightened little star.she said to the two.Her voice was strangely detached and calm, coming from a face splattered with blood.But even a frightened star heart is far better than nothing. Tristan took Xingxing's hand in his right.stand up.he said to the stars. I can't stand up.Xing Xing answered very simply. Stand up, or we will die.As Tristan told her, he got up too.Xingxing nodded, leaned awkwardly against him, and tried to stand up. Stand up, or you will die?The Witch repeated, Oh, you will all die, children, standing or sitting.It's all the same to me.She took another step towards the two of them. Now.said Tristan, clutching Star's arm in one hand and his makeshift candle in the other: Now, go! He flung his left hand into the stove. The pain and the burning made him scream, and the Magic Queen glared at him like madness personified. His improvised candle wick lit with a steady blue flame, and the world began to glow faintly around them.Please go away, he begged the stars, don't leave me. Star took an awkward step. They left the tavern behind, the Enchanted Queen's roar ringing in their ears. They came underground, candlelight flickering on the dank crypt walls.They took another shambling step and came to the moonlit desert covered with white sand.Taking the third step, they are high above the world, looking down at the hills, trees, and rivers far below their feet. Just then, the last bit of wax gradually melted from Tristan's hands, and he could barely bear the burning pain, and the last flame burned out forever.