df.therunelords-第57章

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　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　had　it。　If　he　knew　one　word；　he　could　learn　more。　He'd　experienced　his　〃wakening〃that　moment　when　the　connection　between　a　new　Dedicate　and　his　lord　became　firm；　when　the　bounds　of　an　endowment　solidified。
　In　time；　her　father　might　learn　her　name；　might　know　she　loved　him　desperately。　In　time　he　might　learn　to　control　his　bowels；　feed　himself。
　But　for　the　moment；　as　she　tried　to　pull　him　close；　he　saw　her　ruined　face；　cried　out　in　terror；　and　drew　away。
　King　Sylvarresta　was　strong；　so　much　stronger　than　her。　With　his　endowments；　he　easily　tore　from　her　grasp；　and　pushed　her　so　hard　that　she　feared　he'd　broken　her　collarbone。
　It　did　not　matter。　The　pain　did　not　diminish　her　joy。　Gaborn　rode　back　to　them；　leaned　over　on　his　mount；　and　took　King　Sylvarresta's　hand。　〃Here　now；　milord；　don't　be　afraid；〃　he　soothed。　He　pulled　the　King's　hand　toward　Iome；　put　the　King's　palm　on　the　back　of　her　hand；　let　him　pet　it。　〃See？　She's　nice。　This　is　Iome；　your　beautiful　daughter。〃
　〃Iome；〃　Iome　said。　〃Remember？　Do　you　remember　me？〃
　But　if　the　King　remembered　her；　he　did　not　show　it。　His　wide　eyes　were　full　of　tears。　He　stroked　her　hand；　but　for　the　moment　he　could　give　her　nothing　more。
　〃Iome；〃　Gaborn　whispered；　〃you　need　to　get　back　on　your　horse。　I　know　you　can't　hear　them；　but　mastiffs　are　howling　in　the　woods　behind　us。　We　don't　have　time　to　waste。〃
　Iome's　heart　pounded　so　hard　she　feared　it　would　stop。　Darkness　could　not　be　far　away。　The　rain　had　momentarily　halted。
　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　and　leapt　on　her　horse。　In　the　distance；　war　dogs　began　to　bay；　and　nearby　some　lone　wolf　raised　its　voice　in　answer。
　
　Chapter　27
　THE　UNFAVORED
　　
　In　the　shadows　of　the　birches；　Jureem　gazed　down　as　his　master's　Invincibles　took　a　moment　to　rest；　throwing　themselves　on　the　ground。　Beyond　this　ridge；　the　mountains　wrinkled　and　folded　like　crumpled　metal；　and　trees　grew　huge。　Gaborn　was　fleeing　into　the　darkest　heart　of　the　Dunnwood。
　Yet　Jureem　knew　enough　to　fear　this　region；　as　did　the　Invincibles。　Maps　showed　the　Westwood　only　as　a　blank；　and　at　its　center　was　a　crude　sketch　of　the　Seven　Standing　Stones　of　the　Dunnwood。　In　Indhopal；　it　was　said　that　the　universe　was　a　great　tortoise。　On　the　tortoise's　back　sat　the　Seven　Stones；　and　on　the　stones　rested　the　world。　A　silly　legend；　Jureem　knew；　but　intriguing。　For　ancient　tomes　said　that　millennia　ago；　the　duskins；　the　Lords　of　the　Underworld；　had　erected　the　Seven　Stones　to　〃uphold　the　world。〃
　The　Invincibles　searched　the　ground　under　the　birches　for　sign　of　Gaborn。　Somehow；　the　Prince's　scent　eluded　them；　and　now　the　mastiffs　stood　yapping　stupidly；　noses　high；　trying　to　catch　the　scent。
　It　should　not　have　happened。　Young　Prince　Orden　had　three　people　a　horse。　Their　scent　should　have　been　thick　in　the　air；　the　prints　of　the　horses'　hooves　deep　in　the　ground。　Yet　even　Raj　Ahten　could　not　smell　the　boy；　and　the　earth　was　so　dry　and　stony　that　it　could　not　hold　a　print。
　Most　of　Raj　Ahten's　men　were　already　unhorsed。　Twelve　horses　dead；　several　dogs　dead；　too。　The　men　who　ran　afoot　should　have　been　able　to　keep　up　with　Gaborn；　but　plained；　〃This　ground　is　too　hard。　We　can't　walk　on　it。〃
　An　Invincible　sat　on　a　log；　pulled　off　a　boot。　Jureem　saw　the　black　bruises　on　his　sole；　horrible　blisters　on　his　heels　and　toes。　These　rough　hills　had　killed　most　of　the　horses　and　dogs。　They'd　kill　men；　too。　So　far；　Jureem　was　lucky　enough　to　retain　a　mount；　though　his　butt　hurt　so　badly　he　dared　not　climb　off　his　horse　for　fear　he'd　never　get　back　on。　Even　worse；　he　feared　that　at　any　moment　his　own　horse　would　die。　Not　able　to　run　with　these　men；　he　would　be　abandoned　here　in　the　woods。
　〃How　does　he　do　it？〃　Raj　Ahten　wondered　aloud。　They'd　followed　Gaborn　for　six　hours；　astonished　at　how　the　Prince　eluded　them。　Each　time；　it　had　been　in　a　stand　of　birches。　Each　time；　they'd　lost　Gaborn's　scent　pletely；　had　to　circle　the　trees　until　he　reached　pine。　Yet　it　was　getting　harder　and　harder　to　find　the　Prince's　trail。
　〃Binnesman；〃　Jureem　said。　〃Binnesman　has　put　some　Earth　Warden's　spell　on　the　Prince；　hiding　him。〃　Gaborn　was　leading　them　all　somewhere　they　did　not　want　to　go。
　One　of　Raj　Ahten's　captains；　Salim　al　Daub；　spoke　with　a　soft；　womanly　voice。　〃O　Light　of　the　Earth；〃　he　said　solemnly；　〃perhaps　we　had　better　relinquish　this　fruitless　chase。　The　horses　are　dying。　Your　horse　will　die。〃
　Raj　Ahten's　magnificent　horse　did　show　signs　of　fatigue；　but　Jureem　hardly　imagined　it　would　die。
　〃Besides；〃　Salim　said；　〃this　is　not　natural。　The　ground　everywhere　we　walk　is　harder　than　stone；　yet　the　Prince's　horse　runs　over　it　like　the　wind。　Leaves　fall　in　his　path；　hiding　his　trail。　Even　you　cannot　smell　him　anymore。　We　are　too　near　the　heart　of　the　haunted　wood。　Can't　you　hear　it？〃
　Raj　Ahten　fell　silent；　and　his　beautiful　face　went　impassive　as　he　listened。　He　had　endowments　of　hearing　from　hundreds　of　men；　he　turned　his　ear　to　the　woods；　closed　his　eyes。
　Jureem　imagined　that　his　master　could　hear　his　men　rustling　about；　the　beats　of　their　hearts；　the　drawing　of　their　breaths；　the　strangling　noises　their　stomachs　made。
　Beyond　that。。。must　be　silence。　A　pure；　profound　silence　all　across　the　dark　valleys　below。　Jureem　listened。　No　birds　called；　no　squirrels　chattered。　A　silence　so　deep　that　it　was　as　if　the　very　trees　held　their　breath　in　anticipation。
　〃I　hear；〃　Raj　Ahten　whispered。
　Jureem　could　feel　the　power　of　these　woods；　and　he　wondered。　His　master　feared　to　attack　Inkarra　because　it；　too；　harbored　ancient　powersthe　powers　of　the　arr。　Yet　here　in　the　north　the　people　of　Heredon　lived　beside　this　wood　and　apparently　did　not　harvest　the　power；　or　did　not　mune　with　it。　Their　ancestors　had　been　a　part　of　these　woods；　but　now　the　northerners　were　sundered　from　the　land；　and　had　forgotten　what　they　once　knew。
　Or　maybe　not。　Gaborn　was　aided　by　the　wood。　Raj　Ahten　had　lost　the　boy's　trail；　lost　it　hopelessly。
　Now　Raj　Ahten　turned　his　head　to　the　northwest；　and　looked　out　over　the　valleys。　The　sun　shone　briefly　on　Raj　Ahten　as　he　gazed　at　a　deep　valley；　far　below。
　The　heart　of　the　silence　seemed　to　lie　there。
　〃Gaborn　is　heading　down　there；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　with　certainty。
　〃O　Great　Brightness；〃　Salim　begged。　〃Haroun　asks　that　you　leave　him　here。　He　feels　the　presence　of　malevolent　spirits。　Your　flameweavers　attacked　the　forest；　and　the　trees　want　retribution。〃
　Jureem　did　not　know　why　this　annoyed　his　master　so。　Perhaps　it　was　because　Salim　asked　him。　Salim　had　long　been　a　fine　guard；　but　a　failed　assassin。　He'd　fallen　from　Raj　Ahten's　favor。
　Raj　Ahten　rode　to　Haroun；　a　trusted　man　who　sat　on　a　log；　his　shoes　off；　rubbing　his　maimed　feet。　〃You　wish　to　stay　behind？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　〃If　you　please；　Great　One；〃　the　wounded　man　asked。
　Before　Haroun　could　move；　Raj　Ahten　drew　a　dagger；　leaned　over　and　planted　it　through　his　eye。　Haroun　gasped　and　tried　to　stand；　then　tripped　backward　over　a　log；　gagging。
　Jureem　and　the　Invincibles　stared　at　their　lord　in　fear。
　Raj　Ahten　asked；　〃Now；　who　else　among　you　would　like　to　stay　behind？〃
　　
　Chapter　28
　AT　THE　SEVEN　STANDING　STONES
　　
　Gaborn　rode　full…tilt；　and　though　his　mount　was　one　of　the　strongest　hunters　in　Mystarria；　in　the　afternoon　he　felt　it　giving　way　beneath　him。
　The　stallion　wheezed　for　breath。　Its　ears　drooped；　lying　almost　flat。　Serious　signs　of　fatigue。　Now；　when　it　leapt　a　tree　or　jumped　some　gorse；　it　did　so　recklessly；　letting　brambles　scrape　its　hind　legs；　setting　its　feet　loosely。　If　Gaborn　did　not　stop　soon；　the　horse　would　injure　itself。　In　the　past　six　hours；　he'd　traveled　over　a　hundred　miles；　circling　south；　then　heading　back　northwest。
　Gaborn　felt　certain　Raj　Ahten's　scouts　must　have　begun　to　lose　mounts　by　now。　He　could　hear　but　two　or　three　dogs　baying。　Even　Raj　Ahten's　war　dogs　had　grown　weary　of　the　chase。　Weary　enough；　he　hoped；　to　make　mistakes。
　He　rode　on；　leading　Iome　through　a　narrow　gorge。　Night's　shadows　were　falling。
　He　could　see　quite　well　here。　As　if　the　eyebright　administered　the　night　before　had　not　yet　worn　off。　This　amazed　him；　for　he'd　expected　it　to　lose　its　effect　long　ago。
　He　felt　thoroughly　lost；　had　no　idea　where　he'd　managed　to　end　up；　yet　it　was　with　a　light　heart　that　he　raced　down　into　a　deep　ravine；　covered　in　pine。
　Here　he　found　something　he'd　never　expected　to　encounter　so　far　into　the　Dunnwoodan　ancient　stone　road。　Pine　needles　had　fallen　on　it　over　the　ages；　and　trees　grew　up　through　the　middle　of　it。　Yet　all　in　all；　as　he　headed　deeper　into　the　gorge；　the　path　could　be　tracked。
　It　seemed　a　decidedly　odd　road；　too　narrow　for　even　a　narrow　wagon；　as　if　it　were　made　to　be　trod　by　smaller　feet。
　Iome　must　not　have　expected　this　road；　either；　for　she　watched　it　with　wide　eyes；　looking　this　way　and　that。　In　the　darkness；　her　pupils　dilated。
　The　woods　grew　silent　as　they　rode　for　the　next　half…hour；　and　the　trees　grew　immense。　The　trio　descended　from　the　pines　into　a　grove　of　vast　oaks；　trees　larger　than　Gaborn　had　ever　seen　or　imagined；　spreading　wide　over　their　heads；　the　oak　boughs　creaking　softly　in　the　night。
　Even　the　lowest　branches　rose　eighty　feet　overhead。　Old　man's　beard　clung　to　those　boughs　in　vast　curtains；　thirty　and　forty　feet　long。
　On　the　hill　beside　him；　in　the　trees；　Gaborn　saw　lights　winking　among　the　boles　of　trees。　Tiny　holes　had　been　dug　beneath　a　rock　shelf。　A　ferrin　warrior　rushed　before　the　light；　his　tail　whipping。
　Wild　ferrin；　living　off　acorns　and　mushrooms。　Some　inhabited　caves　up　there；　others　lived　in　the　hollows　of　great　oaks。　Gaborn　saw　lights　from　their　lamps　among　the　immense　roots　and　boles。　City　ferrin　seldom　built　fires；　since　those　attracted　men　who　would　dig　the　ferrin　out　of　their　burrows。　Somehow；　the　presence　of　wild　ferrin　forted　Gaborn。
　He　strained　his　ears；　listening　for　sign　of　pursuit；　but　all　he　could　hear　was　a　river；　somewhere　off　to　his　right；　rushing　down　the　ravine。
　Still　the　trail　descended。
　The　trees　grew　old　and　more　vast。　Few　plants　thrived　beneath　these　treesno　gorse　or　winding　vine　maple。　Instead　the　soft　ground　was　covered　in　deep　moss；　unmarred　by　footprints。
　Yet　as　they　traveled；　Iome　cried　out；　pointed　deeper　into　the　woods。　Far　back　under　the　shadows；　a　gray　form　squatteda　heavyset；　beardless　man；　watching　them　from　enormous　eyes。
　Gaborn　called　out　to　the　old　fellow；　but　he　faded　like　a　mist　before　the　sun。
　〃A　wight！〃　Iome　cried。　〃The　ghost　of　a　duskin。〃
　Gaborn　had　never　seen　a　duskin。　No　human　living　ever　had。　But　this　looked　nothing　like　the　ghost　of　a　manit　was　too　squat；　too　rounded。
　〃If　it　is　the　spirit　of　a　duskin；　then　all　is　well；〃　Gaborn　said；　trying　to　put　a　good　face　on　it。　〃They　served　our　ancestors。〃
　Yet　Gaborn　did　not　believe　for　a　moment　that　all　was　well。　He　spurred　his　horse　onward　a　bit　faster。
　〃Wait！〃　Iome　called。　〃We　can't　go　forward。　I've　heard　of　this　place。　There　is　an　old　duskin　road　leading　down　to　the　Seven　Standing　Stones。〃
　Gaborn　flinched　at　this　news。
　The　Seven　Standing　Stones　lay　at　the　heart　of　the　Dunnwood；　formed　the　center　of　its　power。