df.therunelords-第74章

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and　blood　flew　from　his　mouth；　Gaborn　thought　it　was　a　tooth。
　〃How　dare　you！〃　King　Orden　said。　〃You　may　disagree　with　me；　and　belittle　me；　and　even　second…guess　me。　But　how　dare　you　fight　me！〃
　Rage　burned　in　Orden's　eyes。
　Then　his　mouth　opened　in　a　little　O　of　grief　at　what　he'd　done。　He　turned　away　and　walked　to　an　archery　slot；　stood　with　both　hands　on　the　stones　of　the　casement；　gazing　outside。
　〃Iome　and　her　father　were　under　my　protection；　bound　by　oath；〃　Gaborn　said　hastily；　realizing　that　he'd　just　broken　his　promise　to　Borenson。　He'd　told　Borenson　that　he'd　not　let　his　father　know　that　they'd　met。　Yet；　at　the　moment；　Gaborn　felt　so　betrayed　he　did　not　much　care　if　he　broke　his　word。　〃I'd　have　fought　him　for　them。　I　told　him　that　I　would　take　the　matter　up　with　you。〃　He　hoped　these　final　words　might　appease　his　father。
　Through　a　window；　Gaborn　could　hear　men　cheer。　More　troops　were　ing　into　the　castle；　gathering　for　battle。
　〃Your　actions　are　akin　to　treason；〃　King　Orden　muttered；　back　still　turned。　〃They　run　against　everything　I've　ever　taught　you。〃
　〃Yet　they　followed　precisely　the　desires　of　your　own　heart；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃You　ordered　your　friends'　deaths　with　your　lips；　but　could　not　consent　to　it　in　your　heart。〃
　〃How　can　you　think　to　know　my　heart？〃　Orden　said　distantly。
　〃I。。。just　do；〃　Gaborn　said。
　King　Orden　nodded　thoughtfully；　then　turned　and　gazed　at　Gaborn　a　long　moment；　at　war　with　himself。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　tried　to　sound　casual。　〃Then　I；　too；　rescind　the　order。　Thank　you；　Gaborn；　for　bringing　my　friend　back。。。〃
　Gaborn　sighed　in　relief。
　King　Sylvarresta　had　wandered　over　to　the　breakfast　table。　He　began　eating　from　plates；　pulling　off　huge　chunks　of　ham　with　both　fists。　Gaborn's　father　whispered；　〃But　I　fear　he　is　lost　to　me　still。〃
　〃Until　Raj　Ahten　is　dead；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃Then　you　will　win　back　your　friend；　and　I　will　win　my　wife。〃
　Gaborn　did　not　want　to　bear　this　news　now；　but　he　felt　it　was　important；　and　he　wanted　his　father　to　hear　it　from　him；　rather　than　hear　it　later　from　a　stranger。　He　fully　expected　another　blow。　〃Father；　I　told　you　that　I　took　an　oath　to　protect　Iome。　I　am　bound　to　her；　as　one　Oath…Bound　Lord　to　another。〃
　Gaborn's　father　looked　off　toward　the　hearth。　His　jaw　clenched。　He　seemed　dismayed　by　the　news；　but　his　voice　cracked　only　the　tiniest　bit　as　he　said；　〃Ah；　I　see。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time；　I　suppose。〃
　〃You　are　not　disappointed？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃Disappointed；　yes；〃　Orden　said；　〃but　not　surprised。　Though　I　cannot　help　but　say　that　you　picked　the　worst　possible　time　to　have　this　attack　of　conscience。〃
　〃But　you　are　not　angry？〃
　His　father　suppressed　a　chuckle。　〃Angry？　Hardly。　Dismayed；　perhaps。　Saddened。　But　how　can　I　be　angry？　My　only　friend　is　an　Oath…Bound　Lord。〃
　He　stood　a　moment　in　thought；　nodding　his　head。　〃But　still。。。I　feel　that　I've　lost　you。〃
　〃Once　we've　beaten　Raj　Ahten；　you　will　see　that　we've　lost　nothing；〃　Gaborn　said。
　〃You　make　it　sound　easy。〃
　〃With　forty　thousand　forcibles；　it　should　be。〃
　〃Ah；　so　Borenson　told　you　about　those？　Well；　we　have　the　forcibles；　now　we're　only　forty　thousand　people　shy　of　the　Dedicates　necessary　to　make　them　worthwhile。〃
　〃You　mean　you　haven't　begun　putting　them　to　use？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃I　have　them　hidden　still；　in　the　place　where　the　Duchess　hid　them；〃　Orden　said。　〃I've　used　only　a　handful。〃
　Gaborn　gasped；　felt　his　chest　constricting。　Without　Dedicates　there　was　only　one　way　his　father　could　hope　to　beat　Raj　Ahten。　〃A　serpent？　You've　created　a　serpent？　How　large？〃
　〃A　serpent　ring；〃　he　answered　easily；　trying　to　soothe　Gaborn。　〃Twenty…two　men；　most　with　at　least　two　endowments　of　metabolism。　Most　of　the　same　men　you　just　saw　here；　leaving　this　room。〃
　A　moment　before；　King　Orden　had　said　he　felt　he'd　lost　his　son。　It　seemed　an　overreaction　to　Gaborn's　announcement。　Now　Gaborn　saw　that　in　all　likelihood　his　father　was　right。　One　way　or　another；　they　were　lost　to　each　other。　In　time；　the　serpent　ring　would　be　broken；　and　only　then　would　Gaborn　learn　how　great　a　sacrifice　his　father　had　made　this　day。
　Yet　his　father's　announcement　explained　why　he　did　not　grow　angry　when　Gaborn　told　him　of　his　oath。　His　father　was　withdrawing；　pulling　away　from　Gaborn。
　King　Orden　licked　his　lips。　〃I　plan　to　kill　Raj　Ahten　for　you；　today；　myself。　A　wedding　present；　let's　call　it。　I'll　make　his　head　a　wedding　present　for　you；　Gaborn。　And　my　friend　will　have　his　wits　back。〃
　〃How？　How　many　troops　do　you　have？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃Six　thousand；　more　or　less；〃　Orden　answered。　He　went　to　the　window；　looked　out；　spoke　thoughtfully。　〃We　had　riders　from　Groverman　this　morning。　He　refused　us　aid。　Instead　he's　fortifying　his　own　keep。　Only　a　few　men　have　e　from　him；　some　Knights　Equitable　who　couldn't　support　him　in　his　cowardice。
　〃It's　too　badwe'd　had　high　hopes。　Groverman　is　a　fine　man；　a　sensible　man；　really。　He's　doing　what　I'd　do；　fortify　my　keep。〃
　Gaborn　smiled。　〃Your　keep　is　in　Mystarria；　twelve　hundred　miles　from　here。　You　would　not　turn　your　back　on　a　friend。〃
　King　Orden　gave　Gaborn　a　sidelong　look。　〃I　want　you　to　take　Iome　and　King　Sylvarresta；　now；　and　get　away　from　here。　Go　to　Castle　Groverman。　It　should　be　well　defended。〃
　〃I　think　not；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃I'm　tired　of　running。〃
　〃And　if　I　order　you　to　do　it？〃　his　father　asked。　〃I'm　not　divided　on　this　matter。　My　heart　and　my　mind　both　agree。〃
　〃No；〃　Gaborn　said　more　firmly。　His　father　had　always　tried　to　protect　him。　Now　he　saw　that　his　father　would　continue　to　do　so；　even　if　it　cost　his　own　life。　But　Gaborn　was　a　Runelord；　and　though　his　endowments　were　few；　they　were　over　a　broad　spectrum。　With　wit　and　grace　and　stamina；　he　could　fight　in　a　battle　like　this　better　than　any　mon　soldier。　Besides；　he'd　trained　a　good　deal　in　tactics　and　swordplay。　
　As　the　son　of　a　king；　he'd　learned　to　defend　himself；　though　he　doubted　he'd　be　much　of　a　match　for　one　of　Raj　Ahten's　Invincibles。
　Iome　grabbed　the　sleeve　of　Gaborn's　tunic；　whispered　fiercely。　〃Do　as　your　father　says！　Take　me　to　Groverman。　When　we　reach　him；　I　will　order　him　to　fight！〃
　With　a　sinking　feeling；　Gaborn　realized　she　was　right。　Groverman's　castle　stood　little　more　than　thirty　miles　away。　If　he　ran　the　horses；　he　could　be　there　within　a　couple　of　hours。
　〃Do　as　she　asks；〃　Orden　said。　〃Perhaps　it　would　help。　Groverman　has　been　gathering　his　forces。　He　may　have　ten　thousand　defenders　on　his　walls　by　now。〃
　Gaborn　knew　he　would　have　to　do　it；　would　have　to　take　Iome　to　Groverman。　Yet　he'd　be　five　hours　or　more　at　the　task。　He　wouldn't　be　able　to　return　here　before　noon。　By　then　Raj　Ahten's　troops　would　have　reached　Longmont；　their　siege　would　be　set。
　If　Raj　Ahten's　hundred　thousand　reinforcements　arrived；　Gaborn　wouldn't　be　able　to　dislodge　the　Wolf　Lord。
　〃Iome；〃　Gaborn　asked；　〃may　my　father　and　I　speak　alone　for　a　moment？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Iome　said；　and　she　left。　King　Sylvarresta　remained　in　the　room；　eating　at　the　tables。　Gaborn's　and　his　father's　Days　also　stayed。
　Gaborn　felt。。。strangely　cognizant　of　their　presence；　embarrassed　by　it。　Still；　when　Iome　left；　he　went　to　his　father；　put　his　arms　around　the　man's　shoulders；　and　cried。
　〃Here　now；〃　his　father　whispered；　〃why　should　a　prince　weep？〃
　〃You're　sending　me　on　a　fruitless　mission；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃I　can　feel　it。　Something。。。is　terribly　wrong。〃　He　did　not　know　how　to　speak　of　it；　but　he　felt　that　they　needed　to　discuss　thingswhat　should　happen　if　one　of　them　died。　They'd　spoken　of　this　possibility　many　times　over　the　years；　after　Gaborn's　mother　was　murdered；　other　times　since。　Yet　this　time；　Gaborn　felt　a　sense　of　inevitability。
　What　he　really　wanted；　what　he　needed；　was　to　say　goodbye。
　〃How　can　we　know　our　fight　is　fruitless？〃　his　father　asked。　〃I　can　detain　Raj　Ahten　until　you　return。
　〃I'll　put　mounted　knights　in　the　bailey；　ready　to　issue　from　the　castle　gate。　When　Groverman's　men　e　in；　I　want　you　to　have　them　sweep　in　from　the　north　side　of　the　hill。　It's　a　gentle　slope　down。　It　should　give　your　lancers　a　great　deal　of　benefit。　Then　my　knights　will　ride　out　to　your　side；　and　we'll　have　the　old　monster　in　a　vise
　〃But　you　must　promise　me　one　thing；　Gaborn。　You　will　let　me　fight　Raj　Ahten　personally。　I　will　be　the　serpent's　head。　I　alone　am　prepared　for　this　fight。〃
　〃Raj　Ahten　may　be　more　dangerous　than　you　know；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃He　seeks　to　bee　the　Sum　of　All　Men。　He　has　so　many　endowments　of　stamina；　you　cannot　kill　him　easily。　You　will　need　to　strike　for　the　head；　take　off　his　head。〃
　〃I　surmised　as　much；〃　King　Orden　said；　smiling　down　at　his　son。
　Gaborn　looked　into　his　father's　eyes；　felt　his　heart　lightened　a　bit。　The　castle　walls　were　growing　thick　with　men；　and　this　was　a　small　castle；　easily　defensible。　With　six　thousand　men　on　those　walls；　his　father　should　be　able　to　hold　this　castle　even　against　Raj　Ahten's　Invincibles。
　His　father　wasn't　rushing　headlong　to　his　death。　He'd　fight　a　measured　battle。　Already　the　die　had　been　cast。　As　head　of　the　serpent　ring；　his　father　would　have　to　battle　Raj　Ahten。　In　his　heart；　Gaborn　knew　that　of　all　the　men　in　the　castle；　his　father　was　most　qualified　for　this　task。
　Yet　it　hurt；　it　hurt　terribly　to　know　what　might　e；　to　let　it　e　without　saying　goodbye。
　〃Where　is　Binnesman？〃　Gaborn　asked。　〃He　can　help　protect　you。〃
　〃Sylvarresta's　wizard？〃　Orden　asked。　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea。〃
　〃He　said。。。he'd　meet　me　here。　He　called　a　wylde　from　the　earth　last　night；　and　hopes　to　bring　it　into　battle。　He　is　ing　to　Longmont。〃　Gaborn　felt　certain　that　Binnesman　would　e。
　Gaborn　hugged　his　father；　leaned　his　forehead　against　the　older　man's　cheek。　I've　been　anointed　to　bee　King　of　this　Earth；　Gaborn　thought。　It　was　said　that　Erden　Geboren　had　been　so　sensitive　to　the　earth　powers；　to　life；　that　when　one　of　his　chosen　friends　was　in　danger；　he　could　sense　that　man's　fear。　When　one　of　them　died；　he　sensed　the　loss　of　that　life。
　Right　now；　Gaborn　could　smell　danger　around　his　father；　and　as　he　leaned　against　his　father's　face；　he　probed　with　his　mind；　sensed　life　there；　like　a　lamp　struggling　to　stay　lit。　It　was　an　odd　sensation；　one　he'd　never　imagined　before；　and　Gaborn　wondered　if　he　only　imagined　it　now。
　Yet　Gaborn　had　ridden　all　last　night。　In　that　time；　he'd　seen　the　world　more　clearly　than　ever　before。　The　eyebright　still　affected　him；　long　after　he　thought　its　effects　would　diminish。　Perhaps　it　always　would　affect　him。
　It　was　but　one　change　in　him。　Something　more　wondrous　was　happening。　He　suspected　that　if　he　only　tried；　he　could　see　much　farther；　much　deeper　now。　He　could　use　the　Earth　Sight。　He　hugged　his　father　tight；　and　closed　his　eyes；　and　with　his　heart；　he　sought　to　peer　into　King　Orden。
　For　a　long　moment；　he　saw　nothing；　and　he　wondered　if　he　really　had　seen　into　Raj　Ahten's　heart　last　night。
　Then；　as　if　at　a　great　distance；　a　strange　collage　of　sights　and　smells　and　sounds　assaulted　Gaborn。　First　he　saw　the　sea；　the　blue　waves　of　the　ocean　rolling　proud　and　strong　under　clear　skies；　the　whitecaps　rolling　toward　shore。　Gaborn's　own　mother　and　sisters　and　even　himself　rode　in　those　waves；　bobbing　like　seals　in　the　water；　and　King　Sylvarresta　rode　those　waves；　too。　Yet　Gaborn's　mother　was　larger