df.therunelords-第56章

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　She　wondered　if　he　so　feared　that　road　south；　that　without　thought；　without　even　knowing；　he　turned　from　it。　Certainly；　if　King　Orden　felt　it　necessary　to　kill　Sylvarresta；　Gaborn　would　not　dissuade　him。　The　Prince　would　not　be　able　to　save　her。
　〃No；〃　he　said　quite　honestly；　frowning；　perplexed。　Then　he　sat　up　straight；　said；　〃Do　you　hear　that？〃
　Iome　listened；　held　her　breath。　She　expected　to　hear　the　baying　of　war　dogs；　or　cries　of　pursuit；　but　she　could　hear　nothing。　Only　wind　on　the　ridge　above　them；　suddenly　gusting　through　yellow　birch　leaves。
　〃I　hear　nothing；〃　Iome　admitted。　〃Your　ears　must　be　stronger　than　mine。〃
　〃Nolisten；　up　there　in　the　trees！　Can　you　hear　it？〃　He　pointed　to　the　ridge　above　them；　to　the　north　and　west。
　The　wind　suddenly　stilled；　the　leaves　quit　twisting。　Iome　strained　to　hear　somethingthe　snap　of　a　twig；　the　sound　of　stealthy　steps。　But　she　discerned　nothing。
　Gaborn　suddenly　stood　up　in　his　stirrups；　taller　in　the　saddle；　gazing　into　the　trees。
　〃What　did　you　hear？〃　Iome　whispered。
　〃A　voice；　in　the　trees；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃It　whispered。〃
　〃What？〃　Iome　urged　her　horse　forward；　studying　the　copse　he　spoke　of；　trying　to　see　it　from　a　different　angle。　But　she　could　see　nothingonly　the　white　bark　of　trees；　the　green　and　golden　leaves　fluttering；　and　the　shadows　deeper　within　the　grove。　〃What　did　it　say？〃
　〃I've　heard　it　three　times　today。　At　first　I　thought　it　called　my　name；　but　this　time　I　heard　it　clearly。　It　called　'Erden；　Erden　Geboren。'　〃
　A　chill　ran　down　Iome's　back。
　〃We're　too　far　west；〃　she　hissed。　〃There　are　wights　here。　They're　speaking　to　you。　We　should　go　south；　now；　before　it　gets　dark。〃　Darkness　would　not　e　for　another　three　hours；　but　they　had　e　too　close　to　the　Westwood。
　〃No！〃　Gaborn　said；　and　he　turned　to　Iome。　He　had　a　faraway　look　in　his　eyes；　as　one　half…asleep。　〃If　it　is　a　spirit；　it　wishes　us　no　harm！〃
　〃Perhaps　not；〃　Iome　whispered　fiercely；　〃but　it　is　not　worth　the　risk！〃　She　feared　the　wights；　her　father's　assurances　aside。
　Gaborn　gazed　back　at　Iome；　as　if　for　a　moment　he'd　forgotten　she　stood　there。　On　the　hill；　the　birch　leaves　shivered　again。　Iome　looked　toward　the　grove。　The　skies　were　drizzling；　a　slight　gray　rain　that　fell　evenly；　making　it　hard　to　see　deeply　into　the　grove。
　〃There；　it　es　again！〃　Gaborn　shouted。　〃Do　you　not　hear　it？〃
　〃I　hear　nothing；〃　Iome　admitted。
　Gaborn's　eyes　suddenly　blazed。　〃I　see　it！　I　see　now！〃　he　whispered　urgently。　〃　'Erden　Geboren'that　is　the　old　tongue　for　'Earthborn。'　The　woods　are　angry　with　Raj　Ahten。　He　has　abused　them。　But　I　am　Earthborn。　They　wish　to　protect　me。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Iome　asked。　By　claiming　to　be　Earthborn；　Gaborn　was　perhaps　saying　more　than　he　knew。　Erden　Geboren　was　the　last　great　king　of　Rofehavan　when　it　had　all　been　one　nation。　He　had　gifted　these　woods　to　his　warden；　Heredon　Sylvarresta；　after　his　brilliant　service　in　the　great　wars　against　the　reavers　and　the　wizards　of　Toth。　In　time　Iome's　own　forefathers　had　bee　called　kingsand　they　were　kings　in　their　own　right；　but　lesser　kings　than　those　who　came　from　the　loins　of　Geboren。　Over　the　sixteen　centuries　since　those　days；　Geboren's　blood　had　spread　widely　among　the　nobility　of　Rofehavan；　until　it　would　be　difficult　to　say　who　was　most　closely　linked　to　the　last　great　king。
　But　with　the　union　of　the　houses　of　Val　and　Orden；　Gaborn　could　certainly　contend　for　that　honorif　he　dared。　By　calling　himself　〃Earth…born；〃　was　Gaborn　suddenly　claiming　these　woods；　this　kingdom；　as　his　own？
　〃I　am　certain；〃　Gaborn　answered。　〃These　spiritsif　spirits　they　bewish　us　no　harm。〃
　〃No；　that's　not　what　I　want　to　know；〃　Iome　said。　〃How　can　you　be　certain　you　are　Earthborn？〃
　〃Binnesman　named　me　that；〃　Gaborn　said　easily；　〃in　his　garden。　Earth　asked　me　to　swear　an　oath　to　protect　it；　and　then　Binnesman　sprinkled　me　with　soil　and　pronounced　me　Earthborn。〃
　Iome's　jaw　dropped。　She'd　known　Binnesman　all　her　life。　The　old　herbalist　had　once　told　her　that　the　Earth　Wardens　used　to　grant　blessings　upon　new　kings；　anointing　them　with　the　dust　of　the　earth　they　were　sworn　to　protect。　But　this　ceremony　had　not　been　performed　for　hundreds　of　years。　According　to　Binnesman；　Earth　had　〃withdrawn　such　blessing〃　from　current　rulers。
　She　recalled　now　Binnesman's　words　in　her　father's　keep；　as　Raj　Ahten　questioned　the　old　wizard。　〃The　new　King　of　the　Earth　is　ing。〃　She'd　thought　Binnesman　spoke　of　King　Orden；　for　he'd　been　the　one　to　enter　her　father's　realm　on　the　day　the　stones　spoke。　Now　she　saw　that　it　was　not　the　old　king　whom　Earth　proclaimed：　it　was　Gaborn；　who　would　bee　king。。。
　Yet　Raj　Ahten　believed　Mendellas　Orden　was　the　king　his　pyromancers　envisioned　in　the　flames。　Mendellas　Orden　was　the　king　he　feared；　the　one　he　rode　to　Longmont　to　destroy。
　Suddenly　Iome　felt　so　faint　that　she　needed　to　dismount　before　she　fell　from　her　horse；　for　she　had　a　premonition；　a　fear　Mendellas　Orden　would　meet　Raj　Ahten　at　Longmont；　and　that　no　power　on　earth　could　save　King　Orden　in　that　battle。
　She　slid　from　her　saddle；　stood　a　moment　in　the　stream；　letting　cold　water　wash　her　ankles。　She　tried　to　think。　She　feared　going　to　Longmont；　for　she　knew　that　King　Orden　would　want　her　dead。　Yet　she　feared　not　going；　for　if　Binnesman　was　right；　then　the　only　way　Orden　might　be　saved　was　if　Gaborn　was　there　to　save　him。
　By　going　to　Longmont；　she　might　well　trade　her　life；　and　her　father's；　for　King　Orden'sa　man　whom　she'd　always　disliked。　Yet　even　if　she　did　not　like　the　man；　did　not　trust　him；　she　couldn't　let　him　die。
　Nor　could　she　sacrifice　her　own　father　for　Orden's　sake。
　Her　father　sat　now　on　his　horse；　staring　dumbly　into　the　stream；　oblivious　of　all　that　was　said　around　him。　Raindrops　spattered　him；　and　he　glanced　this　way　and　that；　trying　to　discern　what　had　hit　him。　Hopeless。　Hopelessly　lost　to　her。
　Gaborn　gazed　down　at　Iome；　as　if　worried　at　her　health；　and　she　realized　he　was　oblivious　of　her　dilemma。　Gaborn　hailed　from　Mystarria；　from　a　kingdom　near　the　ocean；　where　water　wizards　congregated。　He　had　no　knowledge　of　the　lore　of　Earth　Wardens。　He　had　no　idea　that　he'd　been　anointed　to　be　King　of　the　Earth。　He　had　no　idea　that　Raj　Ahten　feared　him；　would　kill　him；　if　only　Raj　Ahten　knew　Gaborn's　identity。
　Wind　gusted　on　the　hill　again；　Gaborn　listened　as　if　to　a　distant　voice。　A　few　minutes　ago；　she'd　wondered　if　Gaborn　was　mad。　Now　she　realized　that　something　marvelous　was　happening。　The　trees　spoke　to　him；　called　him；　for　purposes　neither　he　nor　she　understood。
　〃What　should　we　do　now；　milord！。〃　Iome　asked。　She　had　never　called　any　man　but　her　father　by　that　title；　never　submitted　to　another　king。　If　Gaborn　recognized　the　sudden　shift　in　their　relationship；　he　did　not　signal　it。
　〃We　should　go　west；〃　he　whispered。　〃Toward　the　heart　of　the　woods。　Deeper。〃
　〃Not　south？〃　Iome　asked。　〃Your　father　could　be　in　dangermore　danger　than　he　knows。　We　might　help　him。〃
　Gaborn　smiled　at　her　words。　〃You　worry　for　my　father？〃　he　said。　〃I　love　you　for　that；　Princess　Sylvarresta。〃　Though　he　said　the　words　lightly；　she　could　not　mistake　the　tone　of　his　voice。　He　indeed　felt　grateful；　and　he　loved　her。
　The　thought　made　her　shiver；　made　her　want　him　more　than　she'd　ever　wanted　a　man。　Iome　had　always　been　sensitive　to　magics；　knew　that　her　desire　for　Gaborn　was　born　of　the　earth　powers　growing　in　him。　He　was　not　handsome；　she　had　to　tell　herself。　Not　really　more　handsome　than　any　other　man。
　Yet　she　felt　drawn　to　him。
　How　could　he　love　me？　she　wondered。　How　could　he　love　this　face？　It　was　like　a　wall　between　them；　this　loss　of　glamour；　her　loss　of　self…respect　and　hope。　Yet　when　he　spoke　to　her；　when　Gaborn　assured　her　that　he　loved　her；　she　felt　warm　all　over。　She　dared　hope。
　Gaborn　frowned　in　thought；　said　softly。　〃No；　we　shouldn't　go　south。　We　need　to　follow　our　own　trackwest。　I　feel　the　spirits　drawing　me。　My　father　is　going　to　Longmont；　where　castle　walls　will　enfold　him。　Bone　of　the　earth。　The　earth　powers　can　preserve　him。　He's　safer　there　than　we　are　here。〃
　With　that；　he　urged　his　horse　forward；　reached　down　a　hand　to　help　lift　Iome　to　her　saddle。
　On　the　wind　came　the　sound　of　war　dogs　baying　in　the　far　hills。
　
　Chapter　26
　A　GIFT
　　
　For　long　hours　they　raced；　leaping　over　wind…fallen　aspens；　climbing　up　and　down　the　hills。　Iome　let　Gaborn　lead　the　way；　half　in　wonder　at　the　trails　he　chose。
　Time　became　a　blurall　the　trees　losing　definition；　time　losing　focus。
　At　one　point；　Gaborn　pointed　out　that　Iome's　father　seemed　to　be　riding　better。　As　if　some　portion　of　his　memories　had　opened；　and　he　recognized　once　again　how　to　sit　light　in　a　saddle。
　Iome　wasn't　so　sure。　Gaborn　stopped　the　horses　in　a　stream；　and　her　father　watched　a　fly　buzz　around　his　head　as　Gaborn　asked　time　and　again；　〃Can　you　ride？　If　I　cut　your　hands　loose　from　the　saddle；　will　you　hold　on？〃
　King　Sylvarresta　made　no　answer。　Instead；　he　looked　up　into　the　sky　and　began　squinting　at　the　sun；　making　a　noise　like；　〃Gaaaagh。　Gaaaaagh。〃
　Gaborn　turned　to　Iome。　〃He　could　be　saying　yes。〃
　But　when　Iome　looked　into　her　father's　eyes；　she　saw　no　light　in　them。　He　wasn't　answering；　just　making　senseless　noise。
　Gaborn　pulled　out　a　knife；　reached　down；　and　slit　the　ropes　that　held　King　Sylvarresta's　hands　to　the　pommel　of　the　saddle。
　King　Sylvarresta　seemed　mesmerized　by　the　knife；　tried　to　grab　it。
　〃Don't　touch　the　blade；〃　Gaborn　said。　Her　father　grabbed　it　anyway；　cut　himself；　and　just　stared　at　his　bleeding　hand　in　wonder。　It　was　a　small　cut。
　〃Hold　on　to　the　pommel　of　the　saddle；〃　Gaborn　told　King　Sylvarresta；　then　wrapped　the　King's　hand　around　the　pommel。　〃Keep　holding　on。〃
　〃Do　you　think　it　will　work？〃　Iome　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。　He's　holding　it　tight　enough　now。　He　might　stay　on　the　horse。〃
　Iome　felt　torn　between　the　desire　to　have　her　father　safely　tied　to　the　saddle；　and　the　desire　to　let　him　be　free；　unencumbered。
　〃I'll　watch　him；〃　Iome　said。　They　let　the　horses　forage　for　sweet　grass　alongside　a　hill　for　a　few　moments。　Distant　thunder　was　snarling　over　the　mountains；　and　Iome　became　lost　in　thought。　A　thin　rain　began　to　fall。　A　golden　butterfly　flew　near　her　father's　mount；　and　caught　his　eye。　He　watched　after　it　a　moment；　held　out　a　hand　toward　it　as　it　flew　off　into　the　shadowed　woods。
　Moments　later；　they　headed　into　the　forest；　into　the　deep　gloom。　The　trees　gave　shelter　from　the　brief　rain　showers。　For　another　hour　they　rode；　as　the　darkness　deepened；　until　they　reached　some　old　trail　in　a　burn。
　There；　as　they　rode；　another　monarch　butterfly　flew　up　out　of　some　weeds。　Iome's　father　reached　for　it；　called　out。
　〃Halt！〃　Iome　shouted；　leaping　from　her　saddle。　She　ran　to　her　father；　who　sat　askew；　listening　to　his　force　horse　breathe；　lamely　reaching　a　hand　out。
　〃Bu…er…fly！〃　he　shouted；　grasping　at　the　golden　monarch　that　flashed　ahead；　as　if　racing　the　horses。　〃Bu…er…fly！　Bu…er…fly！〃　Tears　streamed　from　her　father's　eyes；　tears　of　joy。　If　there　was　any　pain　behind　those　tears；　any　recognition　of　what　he'd　lost；　Iome　could　not　see　it。　These　were　tears　of　discovery。
　Iome's　heart　pounded。　She　grabbed　her　father's　face；　tried　to　pull　him　close。　She'd　hoped　he　would　regain　some　wit；　enough　to　talk。　Now　he　h