Chapter 12 ten

stardust * Sometimes we notice that we ignore big, obvious things as easily as we ignore small, trivial things, and the big things we ignore often cause problems. Tristan.Song En walked towards the gate of the stone wall from the elf fairyland. This was the second time since he was formed in his mother's womb eighteen years ago.Star limped beside him.The smells and sounds of his native town cluttered his mind and made his heart beat violently in his chest.As he approached, he nodded politely to the guard at the gate, recognizing them both.The young man was idly shifting feet, sipping a mug of what Tristan guessed was Mr. Pommus' best ale.The young man's name is Westan.Pippin, Tristan's former classmate but never his friend; the older man, smoking impatiently what appeared to be an extinct pipe, was Tristan's former employer at Mander and Brown's, Jerome Pippin.Ambers.Mr Brown.With their backs to Tristan and Yvani, they faced the village resolutely, as if they thought it a sin to observe the preparations going on in the pasture behind them.

Good night, Tristan said politely, Wistan.Mr Brown. The two men were startled.Weinstein slid the beer down the front of his jacket.Mr. Brown raised his stick and pointed it nervously at Tristan's chest.Wistan put down his ale, picked up his stick, and blocked the gate. Stay where you are!Mr Brown said.He gestured with his stick, as if Tristan was a wild animal that might pounce on him at any moment. Tristan laughed.Don't you recognize me?He asked, it's me, Tristan.song en. Tristan knew Mr. Brown was a senior guard, but he didn't let go of his stick.He looked Tristan up and down, from his scuffed brown boots to his mop of tangled hair.Then staring intently at Tristan's tanned face, he sneered unmoved: Even if you were that good-for-nothing Sohn, he said, I don't see any reason for you people to pass.Anyway, we guard Stonewall.

Tristan blinked.I also guarded the stone wall, and he pointed out that there is no rule against people passing in this direction.Just can't get out of town. Mr. Brown nodded slowly.Then he said, as if talking to an idiot: If you really were Tristan.Sung-eun is the only part I find controversial because you don't look like him at all and you don't talk like him.All the years you lived here, how many people came in through the stone wall from beyond the pasture? Whew, not one, as far as I know.Tristan said. Mr. Brown smiled the way Tristan used to deduct his wages all morning for being five minutes late.Quite right, he said, there was no ban because it just wouldn't happen.Anyway, no one can come in from the other side while I'm on duty.Well, get out of here!Be careful I hit you on the head with a stick!

Tristan freezes in astonishment: If you think you're giving me a hard time, oh, I've had it all, but at the last minute I was sacked by a self-centered and mean-spirited grocer, and a former The guy who copied my answers kicked him out and he started yelling, but Evanie touched his arm and said, "Forget it, Tristan."You shouldn't fight with your people. Tristan said nothing.Then he turned without a word, and together they walked up the grassy slope.Humans and creatures alike mingled around them, setting up booths, raising flags, and loading goods on carts.At this moment, a wave of something like nostalgia hit Tristan, but this nostalgia was made up of longing and despair in equal parts.These were probably his kind too, for he felt more like them than the pale townspeople of Stonewall in their worsted woolen jackets and flat-toed spiked boots.

They stopped to watch a small woman, almost as wide as she was tall, laboring to set up the booth.Without asking, Tristan went over to assist her, moving the heavy boxes from the trolley to the booth, climbing up the tall ladder to hang various pendants on the branches, and unloading the heavy glass jars (each a Filled with huge smudged black corks, sealed with silver-white wax, and filled with slowly swirling colored smoke), they lay on shelves.While he was working with the trafficker, Ivanie sat on a tree stump nearby and sang to them in a soft and clear voice.In addition to the songs of the stars in the sky, there are also some more popular songs that she heard and learned during the journey.

By the time Tristan and the little woman had finished setting up the booth for tomorrow, it was already time to light the lamps.The woman insisted on inviting them to dinner.Yvanie was barely able to convince the woman that she was not hungry; but Tristan was very flattering, ate everything the woman gave her, and drank the most of the bottle of sweet Canary in an uncharacteristic way, insisting that it tasted delicious. No stronger than freshly squeezed grape juice, it won't have any effect on him.Still, when the dumpy woman gave them the space behind the stroller to sleep, Tristan was so drunk that he fell asleep.

It was a clear and cold night.Sitting next to the sleeping man, who was her captor and now her traveling companion, Xing Xing did not know where her hatred had gone.She doesn't want to sleep at all. The blades of grass rustled behind her.A dark-haired woman stood beside her, staring down at Tristan with her. There was still a part of him that belonged to the dormouse.said the brunette.Her ears were pointy, cat-like, and she looked only a little older than Tristan.Sometimes I wonder, did she turn people into animals, or did she discover the beast in us and unleash it?Maybe part of my nature is being a colorful bird.I've thought a lot about this matter, but I still haven't come to any conclusion.

Tristan muttered something incomprehensible in his sleep, and moved in his sleep.Then he started snoring softly. The woman walked around Tristan and sat down beside him.He seemed to be in good spirits.she said. Yes, Xingxing admitted, I think he has good intentions. I remind you, said the woman, if you leave this land and go yonder she gestured towards Stonewall with a thin arm that gleamed with silver chains.For all I know, you'll become what you're supposed to be in that world: a cold, inorganic thing falling from the sky. Star shuddered, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she passed Tristan's sleeping body and touched the silver chains that wrapped around the woman's wrists and ankles.The beginning of the chain was hidden far behind the bushes.

You'll get used to this stuff sooner or later.said the woman. Are you used to it?Really? Violet eyes looked deep into blue eyes, then turned away.Fake. The stars let go of the chains.He once chained me with a chain much like this one.Then he let me go and I ran away from him.But he found me, and bound me with an obligation far stronger than any chain. The April breeze blew across the meadows and made the bushes and trees sigh with chill.The woman with the cat ears shook back the curls from her face and said: You have a more important obligation, don't you?You own something that doesn't belong to you and it must be returned to its rightful owner.

Xingxing tightened his lips and asked: Who are you? I tell you.I am the bird in the caravan.The woman said, I know who you are, and I also know why the witch never knew you were there.I know who is looking for you and why she needs you.I also know the source of that topaz you wear around your waist with a silver chain.Knowing this, and knowing what kind of thing you are, I understand what obligations you have.She bent down and gently brushed the hair off Tristan's face with her slender fingers.The sleeping young man didn't move or respond. I guess I don't trust you, and I don't trust you.said the stars.A nocturnal bird was calling above them, and it sounded very lonely in the dark.

When I was a bird, look at the topaz you wore around your waist.The woman said and stood up again.When you were bathing in the river, I noticed and recognized you. how come?Xing Xing asked, how do you recognize it? But the dark-haired woman just shook her head, took one last look at the young man sleeping soundly on the grass, and then walked back along the same path.Then she disappeared into the night. Tristan's hair slid stubbornly down his face again.Xing Xing bent down, gently brushed his hair aside, and let his fingers rub against his cheek.He continued to sleep. ★ Shortly after sunrise, Tristan was awakened by a large American badger.The American Badger walked on hind legs, wore an old light purple silk robe, and breathed in Tristan's ear with his nose, until he opened his eyes sleepily, and then said self-righteously, "Your name is Song En?"Is Tristan your name? Um?Tristan said.There was a foul smell in his mouth, and his mouth felt parched and covered with coating.He still wanted to sleep for a few more hours. They're asking about you, said the Badger, over the gate.It seems that a young lady wants to speak to you privately. Tristan sat up, grinning widely.Xing Xing was fast asleep, he shook Xing Xing's shoulder.Xingxing opened his sleepy blue eyes and said, "Why? Good news, he said to the stars, you remember Victoria.Forrester, right?I may have mentioned her name once or twice during my travels. Remember, she said, you seem to have said it. Oh, he said, I'm going to see her.She's at the gate.He paused.Eh, um, you should probably stay here.I don't want her to misunderstand or something. Xing Xing turned around, covered his head with his arms, and said nothing more.Tristan thought she must have gone back to sleep.He put on his boots, washed his face and mouth in the meadow stream, and hurried across the meadow towards town. The Stonewall guards this morning were the Reverend Mellors of the parish and Mr. Pommus, the proprietor of the inn.Between them stood a young lady, with her back to the pasture.Victoria!Tristan cried out in delight; but then the young lady turned, and he saw that the woman was not Victoria.forest. (He suddenly remembered that Victoria had gray eyes, and he was glad he did. They were gray. How could he let himself forget?) The young lady was wearing a pretty hat and shawl, though she saw Choi Tears welled up in Tristan's eyes, but Tristan couldn't tell who she was. Tristan!She said, it's really you!They said it was you!Ai!Tristan!how can you do thisOh, how can you do this?He realized who this young lady was who had blamed him. Louisa?He said to his sister, when I was away, you really grew up.From a yellow-haired girl to an elegant young lady. She pulled a lace-trimmed linen handkerchief from her sleeve and blew her nose vigorously.And you, she said to him, wiping her face with a handkerchief, have become a disheveled and disheveled gypsy during the journey.But I think you look fine, which is a good thing.Come on, here.Impatient, she motioned her brother to come to her through the gate in the stone wall. But Stonewall, he said, gave the innkeeper and the vicar a slightly nervous look. Oh, and about that, Wistan and Mr. Brown got together at the Seventh Magpie's bar after their shift last night, and Wistan happened to be talking about a bum they met who claimed to be you, and how they got in the way his way.your way.When the news reached his father's ears, he immediately walked quickly to the seventh magpie, scolded them both, and scolded them for what they did.I can't believe it's him. Some of us are in favor of having you come back this morning, said the priest, and some of us think you should be kept till noon. But whoever wants you to wait didn't have their turn at Stonewall this morning, said Mr. Pommus, and he's got plenty of gossip to point out when I show up at the food stand someday.Still, it's good to see you back.Come here quickly.He held out his hand as he spoke, and Tristan shook his hand warmly, as well as the priest's. Tristan, said the priest, I think you must have seen many strange sights on your journey. Tristan thought about it for a while and said: I think I must have read a lot. You must come to the vicarage next week, the vicar said, we will prepare tea, you can tell me well.Come as soon as you're settled, huh?Tristan, who had always been in awe of priests, could only nod his head. Lu Yisha sighed exaggeratedly, and began to walk briskly towards the seventh magpie.Tristan ran down the cobblestones, catching up to her before walking beside her. I am so happy to see you again, my dear sister.He said. Talk like none of us worried about you.She said unhappily, you are wandering outside!And you didn't even wake me up to say goodbye.Father misses you like crazy, you are not home at Christmas, after we eat goose and pudding, father takes out red wine to toast to friends who are not there, mother chokes like a baby, and of course I cry too, Then Dad blows his nose in his best handkerchief, and Grandpa and Granny insist on setting off Christmas crackers and reading cheerful sayings, but somehow that just adds insult to injury.Let's just put it this way, Tristan, you really ruined our Christmas. Excuse me, said Tristan, what are we doing now?where are we going? We're going to the seventh magpie, Louisa said. I should have thought of something so obvious.Mr. Bomius says you can use his drawing room.Someone is there waiting to talk to you.After entering the bar, she said no more.Tristan recognized some of them, some nodded or smiled at him, some were expressionless.He followed Louisa through the crowd and up the narrow stairs behind the bar, the planks creaking under their feet. Louisa glared at Tristan angrily, with trembling lips, she suddenly stretched out her arms and hugged him tightly, Tristan could barely breathe in surprise.Then, without saying another word, she walked down the wooden ladder and left. He knocked on the door of the reception room and walked in.The room was decorated with some unusual items, antique statues and small things like clay jugs.On the wall hung a stick entwined with ivy leaves, which was actually dark metal, hammered to look like ivy.Decor aside, this room could be any bachelor's parlor that's too busy to sit down.The furniture here includes a small chaise longue and a low table with a leather-covered Lawrence.Stern's speech is very old.There is also a piano and some leather armchairs in the room, Victoria.Forrester sat in one of the armchairs. Tristan walked towards her slowly and firmly, and knelt in front of her as he had once knelt to her in the dirt of a country lane. Oh please don't.Victoria said uneasily, please get up.Why don't you sit there, in that chair, please?right.much better.The morning sun streamed in through the lace curtains above, and fell from behind on her chestnut hair, framing her face against a golden background.Look at you, she said, you've become a man.And your hands.what happened to your hand? I was burned, he said, by the fire. She didn't answer anything at first, just staring at Tristan.Then she sat back in her armchair, looked at the sticks on the wall ahead, or perhaps at some quaint statue of Mr. Pommus, and said: Tristan, there are a few things I must tell you, but none of them It is easy to speak.I would appreciate it if you would keep quiet until I have this opportunity to finish my sentence.Well, first, and probably most importantly, I must apologize to you.It was my stupid, idiotic actions that sent you on this journey.I thought you were joking no it's not a joke.I thought you were too timid and childish to practice your exaggerated naivety.Only when you left and the days went by and you never came back did I realize you were serious, but then it was too late, too late. I live every day thinking that I might send you to your death. She stared straight ahead as she spoke, and Tristan had a feeling that slowly turned into a certainty that she'd said the words in her head a hundred times in his absence.That's why she doesn't allow herself to talk; it's hard enough for Victoria, she won't be able to handle it if it's made to stray from the script. I'm not being fair to you, my poor little clerk But you're not a clerk anymore, are you?Because I thought your quest was just stupid in every way. She paused, and gripped the wooden armrests of the chair with both hands so hard that the knuckles turned red at first, and then turned white.Ask me why I refused to kiss you that night, Tristan.song en. You have the right not to kiss me, Tristan said, I'm not here to break your heart, Vicky.I didn't help you find the stars to make you unlucky. She turned her head to one side.So you actually found the star we saw that night? Oh yes, said Tristan, now that the stars are back in the pasture, I have done what you asked me to do. So do something else for me now.Ask me why I refused to kiss you that night.After all, I kissed you when we were little. All right, Vicky.Why didn't you kiss me that night? Because she said, when she spoke, her voice relaxed greatly, as if unconsciously relaxed.The day before we saw the shooting star, Robert proposed to me.That evening, when I saw you, I wanted to visit him in the store, talk to him, and tell him that I accepted and that he should go to my father to propose marriage. Robert?Tristan asked, feeling dizzy. Robert.Mander.You work in his shop. Mr Mander?Tristan repeats, you and Mr. Mander? Exactly.Victoria looks him squarely now, and then you take my word for it and run and bring me the stars back, and I don't go a day without feeling like I've done something stupid and bad.Because I promise if you bring back the stars, I will marry you.There are days, Tristan, I really don't know which is worse, the one where you get killed in that land over there for loving me, or the one where your madness succeeds, come back with the stars, and declare me is your bride.Well, of course, some people around here told me not to be so sad, that you'd have to go to that land over there, of course, that's in your nature, that's where you came from in the first place.But, for some reason, in my heart, I just know that I did something wrong, and one day you will come back and claim compensation from me. Do you hate Mr Mander?Tristan quickly grabbed the only thing he was sure he understood and asked. She nodded and lifted her head so that her beautiful chin was facing Tristan.But I've promised you, Tristan.I will keep my word, and I have told Robert about it.I'm responsible for what you've been through and even your poor, burnt left hand.If you want me, I'm yours. Honestly, he said, I think I'm responsible for everything I do, not you.Though I miss a soft bed from time to time, I don't regret it at all, and I will never look at the Dormouse in the same way again.But you didn't promise to marry me if I came back with the stars, Vicky. don't i? No.You promised to give me what I want. Victoria sat upright, looking down at the floor.Blushes appeared on the fair cheeks, as if they had been slapped.Did you ask her to start talking, but Tristan interrupted. No, he said, in fact, not what you think.You say that whatever I want, you will give me. right. Then he paused, then I want you to marry Mr Mander.I want you to get married as soon as possible, if there is time, why not this week?I want you both to be the happiest man and woman ever. Victoria suddenly shook, and breathed a deep sigh of relief.Then look at him.Are you serious?she asked. Marry him with my blessing and we'll be even.Tristan said that the stars probably think so too. There was a knock on the door.Is everything okay inside?A man's voice shouted. All is well, said Victoria, come in, Robert.Do you remember Tristan.Song Eun, huh? Good morning, Mr Mander.said Tristan, shaking Mr. Mander's hand.Mr. Mander's hands were sweaty.I heard that you are getting married soon.Allow me to offer my congratulations. Mr. Mander grinned as if he had a toothache.Then he held out a hand to Victoria, who rose from her chair. If you want to see the star, Miss Forrester Tristan said, but Victoria shook her head. I'm glad you're home safely, Mr. Song En.I believe you will come to our wedding, right? I'm sure nothing makes me happier than being there.Tristan said, though he was pretty sure that wasn't the case. ★ Never heard of the Seventh Magpie being so crowded before breakfast on a normal day, but today was market day, Stonewall townspeople and strangers packed into the pub for lamb ribs, bacon, mushrooms , fried eggs and blood sausage, the plates are piled up like a mountain. Denstein.Song En waits for Tristan in the bar.When he saw his son, he stood up and walked towards him, hugged his son's shoulders tightly, and said nothing.So you came back unscathed.he said, with pride in his voice. Tristan wondered if he had grown taller while he was gone, he remembered his father seemed taller.Hello, father, he said, I hurt my hand a little. Your mother is waiting for you with breakfast, go back to the farm.Denstein said. It would be great to have breakfast, Tristan admitted, and of course it would be great to see his mother again.We still need to talk.He still had what Victoria said in his mind. You seem to have grown taller, his father said, and it's time for you to go to the barber.He drank the wine in his cup, left the seventh magpie with his son, and walked into the morning light. The two Song Ens climbed over the fence and entered Denstein's pasture.As they walked past the pasture where Tristan had played as a child, Tristan brought up the thing that had disturbed him, the question of his own origin.For a long way back to the farmhouse, his father answered him as honestly as he could, telling his own story as if he were recounting a story that had happened to someone else long ago.A love story. They went back to Tristan's old house, where his sister was waiting for him, and there was a steaming breakfast on the table and on the stove, all lovingly prepared for him by the woman he always believed to be his mother . ★ After adjusting the last crystal flower on the small stall, Mrs. Schmeler looked at the market with disgust.It was not long after noon before customers started walking around.No one has stopped by her stall yet. Every nine years, there are fewer people every time.She said, not that I want to say, this market will soon be nothing but memories.I think there are other bazaars and other markets.This market is about to run out of energy.In another forty or fifty years, at most sixty years, it will be gone forever. Perhaps, said her violet-eyed servant, but it has nothing to do with me.This is the last fair I will attend. Mrs. Schmeler glared at her.I thought I'd dealt with your rudeness long ago. Nothing rude, said her slave, see.She lifted up the silver chains that bound her.It glistened in the sun, but thinned, and had never been more transparent, and parts looked not like silver but like smoke. What good did you do?Bits of saliva spurted from between the old woman's lips. I didn't do anything, I did what I should have done eighteen years ago.I was bound to be your slave until the day when the moon lost her daughter and there were two Mondays in a week.My time with you is almost over. ★ After three o'clock in the afternoon, the star sat in the pasture next to Mr. Pommus's little wine and food stand.She kept staring at the stone-walled gate and the village beyond, and she always declined offers from stall customers who offered to buy her wine or ale, or to eat a good, fatty bratwurst. Honey, are you waiting for someone?In this slow-paced afternoon, a young woman with a beautiful and pleasant face asked. I don't know, said the star, maybe. young man.If I'm not mistaken, it's a cute guy like you. Star nodded.Somehow.she says. I am Victoria, said the young woman, Victoria.forest. My name is Evanie.She looked at Victoria from head to toe, and from foot to top again.Then, she said, you are Victoria.forest.You are very famous. Do you mean the wedding?Victoria said, with pride and joy in her eyes. wedding, eh?Yvani asked.A hand crawled around his waist, touched the topaz on the silver chain, bit his lip and stared at the gate in the stone wall. You poor little thing!He is so hateful that he made you wait for him like this!Victoria said, why don't you go to him through the gate? It was because of the stars that he opened his mouth and stopped again.Well, she said, maybe I'll come over.The sky above them was strewn with long gray and white clouds, with occasional blue ones peeking out.I wish my mother came out, said the star, I want to say goodbye to her first.She stood up awkwardly. But Victoria didn't want her new friend to leave so easily, and she chatted about marriage notices, marriage certificates, and certain special licenses that only the Archbishop could issue, and how lucky she was that Robert knew the Archbishop.Her wedding seemed to be scheduled for six days later at noon. Then Victoria called out to a respectable gentleman with graying sideburns, smoking a black cigar, and grinning as though he had a toothache.This is Robert, she said, and Robert, this is Evanie.She is waiting for her boyfriend.Yvani, this is Robert.Mander.Next Friday at noon, I will be Victoria.Mander.Darling, maybe you could use this in your wedding breakfast speech to make a fuss of both Mondays appearing on Fridays at the same time! ① Annotation: Mande is the transliteration of Monday. Mr Mander puffed on his cigar and told his fiancée he would seriously consider the idea. Well, Yvani chooses her words carefully, you're not marrying Tristan.Song En? no.Victoria said. Oh, said the star, very good.Then she sat down again. ★ She was still sitting there a few hours later when Tristan returned through the Stonewall gate.Tristan looked a little distracted, but brightened up when he saw her.Hello, he said, help the stars stand up, how are you doing while you wait for me? It is nothing special.she says. I'm sorry, said Tristan, but I thought I should take you to town. No, said the star, you should not.I can only live in fairyland.If I entered your world, I would be just a cold iron stone falling from the sky, with pits and pits on the surface. But I almost took you with me!Tristan said dumbfounded, I tried it last night. Yes, she said, that only proves that you are a fool, a fool, and a pig. Big head.Tristan suggested, you used to like to call me stupid.And idiots. Oh, she said, you're the sum of those things and worse.How can you make me wait for you like this?I thought something terrible had happened to you. I'm so sorry, Tristan said to her, I won't leave you again. Well, she said seriously, you won't. So Tristan took her hand.They walked around the market hand in hand.A gust of wind flapped the canvas tents and flags, and the icy rain fell on them.They sheltered from the rain under the awning of a bookstall, surrounded by other people and creatures.The book stall owner dragged a whole box of books in to make sure it wouldn't get wet. Fish scale sky, fish scale sky, it doesn't take long to get wet and it doesn't take long to dry.A man in a black silk top hat spoke to Tristan and Yvani.He was buying a small red leather-bound book from the bookstall owner. Tristan smiled and nodded. The rain seemed to be getting lighter, so he and Ivanie continued walking. I bet this is the only kind of thank you I can get from them.The tall man in the top hat said to the bookstall owner.The boss didn't understand what he was talking about at all, so he ignored him. I say goodbye to my family.As they walked, Tristan spoke to the stars.With my father, and with my mother, maybe I should say she was my father's wife.And say goodbye to my sister Louisa.I don't think I will go back again.Now we just need to figure out how to get you back to heaven again.Maybe I should go with you. You wouldn't like being in the sky, Star assured him, and then I'll treat you as not with Victoria.Forrester is married. Tristan nodded.Not married anymore.he said. I met her, Xing Xing said, did you know that she has a baby? What?Tristan asked in shock and surprise. I guess she doesn't know either.About a month, maybe two months. Oh My God.How do you know? This time it was Xingxing's turn to shrug and say, "I'm glad to know you didn't want to marry Victoria.forest. Me too.he admitted. The rain began to fall again, but they did not seek shelter.Tristan held her hand tightly.You know, she said, a star and a mortal In fact, only half mortal.Tristan helped. Everything I ever thought about who and what I was about myself was a lie.Or rather unreal.You can't imagine how amazing that feeling of relief was. Whatever you are, she said, I'm just going to point out that we'll probably never have kids.That's it. Tristan looked at the stars, smiled, and said nothing.Holding Xingxing's upper arm with both hands, he stood in front of her, looking down at her. Just letting you know is enough.Xingxing said, and leaned forward. They kiss for the first time in the icy spring rain, but neither of them know it's raining.Tristan's heart was pounding in his chest, as if there wasn't enough room in his chest for all the joy he harbored.He opened his eyes and kissed the stars.Her sky-blue eyes also looked deeply into Tristan's eyes, and Tristan could see from her eyes that there was no boundary between them. ★ The silver chains were now nothing but smoke and steam.For a moment it floated in the air, and then a gust of wind and rain blew it away without a trace. Hey, the black curly-haired woman stretched her body like a cat and said with a smile, my hard labor is over and now I'm even with you. The old woman looked at her helplessly.But what should I do?I am very old.I can't manage this little stall by myself.What an evil and stupid whore you are to abandon me like this. Your problems have nothing to do with me, said her former slave, but I will never again be called a whore, or a slave, or anything other than my own name.I am Lady Oona, the firstborn and only daughter of the eighty-first Lord of Stormhold.The sentence and the spell you used to bind me are over.Now, you must apologize to me and call me by the right name, or I will happily devote the rest of my life to hunting you down and destroying everything you love and everything you have become. They looked at each other, and then the old woman turned away first. Well, I must apologize for calling you a whore earlier, Lady Oona.Every word she said was like bitter sawdust, spit out angrily from her mouth. Lady Oona nodded.very good.Now that my time with you is over, I think you should pay me for my services.she says.These things have their own laws.Everything has a law. ★ The rain was still falling in gusts, and before it could lure people out of their makeshift shelters, another gust of rain fell on their heads.Tristan and Yvani sat around the campfire, wet and happy, among a mishmash of creatures and people. Tristan asked if anyone knew the little hairy man he'd met on his travels, and described him as well as he could.A few people said they had met him before, but no one saw him at this fair. He found that his hands seemed to have a will, twisting and twisting in Xing Xing's wet hair.He couldn't figure out why it took him so long to realize how much he cared about her, so he told her the truth.The stars called him an idiot, but he declared that a man could be called an idiot, and he couldn't ask for it. So, where are we going after the market?Tristan asked the stars. I don't know, she said, but I still have an obligation to fulfill. Have it? Yes, she said, the topaz I showed you.I have to give it to the right person.The last time that man appeared, the hotel owner's wife cut his throat, so the jade is still in my hand.Wish I could give it away. A woman's voice said over Tristan's shoulder: Tell her what she asked her to bring, Tristan.song en. He turned his head and looked into a pair of eyes the color of violets in the prairie.You are the bird in the witch's caravan.he said to the woman. You were a Dormouse then, my son.said the woman, and I am the bird.But now I am back in shape, and my servitude is over.Ask Ivany for something on her.You have this right. He turns to the stars.Yvani? Xingxing nodded and waited for him. Evanie, would you please give me what you brought? She looked a little bewildered, then reached inside her robes, groping carefully, and brought out a large topaz stone attached to a broken silver chain. This is your grandfather's.The woman said to Tristan, You are the last male descendant of the line of Stormcastle.Hang it around your neck. Tristan hung up the silver chain.當他把銀鍊的兩端碰在一起，兩端結合，修復得像未曾斷過一樣。這可真不錯。崔斯坦半信半疑地說。 這是暴風堡的力量之源，他的母親說，沒有人能夠反對這一點。你有暴風堡的血統，而你的舅舅都死了。你將會成為優秀的暴風堡勳爵。 崔斯坦只是迷惑地瞪著她。但是我不希望成為什麼地方的勳爵，他對母親說，也不想統治什麼東西。或許只想統治我情人的心吧。他執起星星的手，微笑著貼在胸前。 女人不耐煩地輕輕拍動耳朵。這十八年來，崔斯坦．宋恩，我沒有命令你做過一件事。現在，我第一個又小又簡單的要求，我請你幫的最小最小的忙，你卻拒絕了我。那麼，我問你，崔斯坦，這是你對待母親的方式嗎？ 不是的，母親。Tristan said. very good.她平靜了一點，繼續說道：我認為你們年輕人有自己的家，而你也有工作是好事。你知道，如果這不適合你，你可以離開。那裡可沒有銀鎖鍊把你綁在暴風堡的寶座上。 崔斯坦覺得安心多了。伊凡妮比較不那麼在意，因為她知道銀鎖鍊會以各種形式和大小出現；她也知道剛開始和崔斯坦一起生活便與他的母親爭辯，是相當不智的。 請問我有這個榮幸知道該如何稱呼您嗎？伊凡妮問道，不確定自己是否說得有點誇張。崔斯坦的母親很得意，於是伊凡妮知道這麼說不算誇張。 我是暴風堡的烏娜女勳爵。她說，把手伸進掛在側邊的小袋子，拿出一朵玻璃做的玫瑰，閃爍的火光中，顏色深紅得幾乎成了黑色。這是我的報酬，她說，六十多年的苦役啊。給我這個讓她惱怒異常，但律法就是律法，如果她不結清的話，就會喪失法力和其他東西。現在，我打算用這朵花交換一頂轎子帶我們回暴風堡，因為我們必須非常優雅地抵達。哦，我多想念暴風堡啊。我們一定要有轎夫和騎馬侍從，也許再帶隻大象大象的氣勢多麼不凡，沒有比大象開道，更能強調滾到路邊去了 No.Tristan said. No?his mother said. 不，崔斯坦又說了一次，母親，如果妳喜歡，妳應當乘轎子，和大象，和駱駝或那一類的動物。但我和伊凡妮要走自己的路過去，用我們自己的速度旅行。 烏娜女勳爵深吸一口氣。伊凡妮判斷自己最好不要在現場參與爭執，於是她站起來跟他們說她需要散散步，很快就會回來，不會遊蕩得太遠。崔斯坦用懇求的眼光看著她，但伊凡妮搖了搖頭：他得吵贏這場架，如果自己不在場，他的爭論會比較有力。 她瘸著走過愈來愈暗的市集，在一個傳出音樂和掌聲的帳篷旁暫停，光線如溫暖的金黃色蜂蜜流洩而出。她聽著音樂，想著自己的心事。就在那裡，有個駝背的白髮老太婆，瞎掉的一隻眼上覆著淡灰藍色的翳膜。老太婆蹣跚地走向星星，請她稍微停下來聊聊。 聊什麼呢？星星問道。 因為年齡和時間，老太婆的個子縮得和小孩子差不多高，她用顫抖且關節腫大的雙手，拄著跟自己一樣高也一樣彎的枴杖。她用完好的眼睛與渾濁的藍眼朝上瞪著星星說：我來帶走妳的心。 Yeah?星星問道。 欸，老太婆說，我在登山崖口差一點點就得手了。她在回憶中從喉嚨深處發出咯咯的笑聲。Do you remember?她背上有個像駝峰似的大袋子。象牙色的螺旋角從袋子裡伸了出來，伊凡妮知道自己曾看過這獸角。 那是妳嗎？星星問矮小的女人，妳，帶著刀子？ Um.it is me.但我把為這趟旅行準備的青春都揮霍光了。每使用一次魔法，我的青春就消失一點，我從來沒有像現在這麼衰老過。 如果妳敢碰我，星星說，哪怕只是一根手指碰到我，妳都會後悔莫及。 等妳到了我的年紀，老太婆說，妳就會明白後悔的種種。妳也會明白，從長遠來看，這裡或那裡多後悔一點並沒有什麼不同。她用力吸氣。她的長袍曾經是紅的，但似乎已歷經多次縫補和收捲，多年下來也褪色了。袍子從一邊肩膀上垂落，露出一道起皺的疤痕，看起來像是千百年前的舊傷。我想知道為什麼我在腦中再也找不到妳。妳還在，真的，但妳就像鬼影子，像一道輕煙。不久前妳燒傷了，妳的心燒傷了，在我腦中就像一場銀色的火。但小旅館那晚過後，它就變得零碎又模糊，現在根本不存在了。 伊凡妮對這個想置自己於死地的生物，除了憐憫外，沒有其他情緒，於是她說：有沒有可能，妳想尋找的心已經不再屬於我了呢？ 老太婆咳了起來。她整個身體搖搖晃晃，又因乾嘔而抽搐。 星星等她平靜下來，才說：我已經把我的心給別人了。 那個男孩？在小旅館裡那個？跟獨角獸一起的？ right. 妳應該讓我帶回去給我和妹妹。這樣我們就可以再次恢復青春，順利活到世界的下一紀。妳那小男友會讓妳心碎，要不就是把妳的心糟蹋或弄丟。他們都是這樣。 話雖如此，星星說，他擁有我的心。我希望妳空手回去時，妳的妹妹不會對妳太殘忍。 就在這時，崔斯坦向伊凡妮走來，執起她的手，向老太婆點了點頭。都解決了，他說，沒什麼要擔心的了。 那轎子呢？ 哦，母親會乘轎子。我答應她，我們遲早會抵達暴風堡，但我們在途中可以慢慢來。我想我們應該買兩匹馬，好好欣賞風景。 你母親同意了？ 最後才同意的。他愉快地說，總之，很抱歉打斷妳們了。 我們差不多說完了。伊凡妮說，轉身面對矮小的老太婆。 我的妹妹會很殘忍，非常殘忍，年老的魔法女王說道，不過，我很感激妳的祝願。妳的心真好，孩子。可惜那不是我的心。 星星彎下身，親吻老太婆皺巴巴的臉頰，感覺到她臉上粗糙的毛髮刮擦著自己柔軟的嘴唇。 於是星星和她的真愛朝石牆走去。那個老母雞是誰啊？崔斯坦問道，她看起來有點面熟。no problem? 沒有問題，她對崔斯坦說，她只是我在路上認識的一個人罷了。 他們身後的市集混雜著燈籠、燭光、魔法火光和閃閃發光的精靈仙子等各色光線，就像從夜空中降落人世的一場夢。在他們面前，越過了牧草地，在目前無人守衛的石牆閘口另一邊，就是石牆鎮。油燈、煤氣燈和燭光從鎮上房屋的窗口流洩而出。但對崔斯坦來說，就像天方夜譚裡的世界般遙遠不可理解。 他知道這是他最後一次（當時他確知是如此）望著石牆鎮的燈光。他目不轉睛看了好一會兒，一句話都沒說，墜落的星星在他身旁。然後他轉過身，兩人一起朝東方走去。