df.therunelords-第93章

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　no　glamour　to　inspire　them　to　follow；　no　brawn　or　skill　in　battle。
　Without　my　glamour；　they　see　through　me；　Iome　thought。　They　see　that　I　am　a　sham；　a　nothing。　All　Runelords　are　nothing；　without　their　Dedicates　to　fill　them　with　power；　make　them　substantial。
　As　she　shivered　on　the　hill；　Iome　found　that　her　people　offered　her　nothing　now。　No　one　brought　her　a　shawl　or　offered　a　shoulder　to　lean　on。
　None　dared　approach　her。　Perhaps　they　believed　she　needed　time　to　suffer　alone。
　But　Iome　was　no　good　at　suffering　alone。
　She　felt　confused。　Gaborn　had　not　ordered　her　father's　death。　He'd　struggled　mightily　to　keep　her　father　alive。　Yet；　somehow；　she　felt　betrayed。　Perhaps　it　was　because　he　did　not　grow　irate　at　Borenson。
　Had　Gaborn　taken　the　man's　wit；　or　his　head；　Iome　would　have　thought　Gaborn　cruel　and　hard。　Yet　part　of　her　felt　Borenson　deserved　some　unnamable　punishment。
　To　her　surprise；　it　was　the　wizard　Binnesman　who　first　came　to　her；　after　an　hour；　and　wrapped　a　blanket　over　her。　The　wizard　huddled　beside　her；　handed　her　some　warm　tea。
　〃Idon't　want　anything；〃　Iome　said。　It　was　true。　Her　throat　felt　tight；　her　stomach　in　knots。　〃I　just　need　sleep。〃　She　was　too　weary　to　even　look　up　at　him。
　〃Sometimes　rest　is　as　good　as　sleep；〃　Binnesman　said；　and　he　stood　watching　her。　〃I　put　lemon　balm　and　linden　blossoms　in　the　tea；　along　with　a　bit　of　chamomile　and　honey。〃
　He　pressed　the　hot　mug　into　her　hands；　and　Iome　drank。　She'd　learned　long　ago　that　Binnesman　knew　her　needs　better　than　she　did；　that　he　could　soothe　a　heart　as　easily　as　he　could　soothe　wounds。
　The　tea　seemed　to　loosen　her　tight　muscles；　unknot　her。　She　closed　her　eyes；　leaned　her　head　back；　marveling　at　its　effect。　The　tea　made　her　feel　almost　as　if　she'd　just　been　wakened　from　bed　a　few　moments　ago。　Yet　she　felt　a　deepseated　weariness　even　the　tea　could　not　touch；　a　tiredness　and　ache　close　to　the　bones。
　〃Oh；　Binnesman；　what　should　I　do？〃　Iome　asked。
　〃You　must　be　strong；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Your　people　need　you　to　be　strong　for　them。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　strong。〃
　Binnesman　said　nothing　in　answer；　only　put　his　gnarled　arms　around　her　shoulders　and　held　her；　as　her　father　had　when　she　was　a　child　and　she'd　awakened　from　an　evil　dream。
　〃Gaborn　would　help　you　be　strong；　if　you　would　let　him；〃　Binnesman　offered。
　〃I　know；〃　Iome　said。
　Down　below　her；　most　of　the　knights　had　begun　to　set　a　camp　in　the　fields。　The　thin　snow　had　melted　now；　and　the　night　would　not　be　cold。　But　only　part　of　the　castle　looked　serviceable。　The　Duke's　barracks　and　one　of　the　manor　houses　still　stood；　though　they　had　cracks　in　them。　By　no　means　could　the　castle　house　the　thousands　here；　but　some　knights　had　brought　squires　and　tentsenough　so　everyone　would　have　shelter　for　the　night。
　Yet　as　the　people　put　up　tents；　Iome　caught　many　distrustful　glances；　heard　grumbled　ments。　〃What　are　the　people　down　there　saying　about　Gaborn？〃
　〃The　usual　things。。。〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Rumor…mongering。〃
　〃What　kinds　of　things？〃　Iome　demanded。
　〃They　feel　you　should　have　reacted　more　strongly　to　your　father's　death。〃
　〃He　died　when　Raj　Ahten　took　his　wit。　There　was　nothing　left　of　my　father。〃
　〃You　are　made　of　stern　stuff；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃But　had　you　cried　and　demanded　Borenson's　death；　perhaps　your　people　would　feel　more。。。relieved。〃
　〃Relieved？〃
　〃Some　people　suspect　that　Gaborn　ordered　your　father's　death。〃
　〃Gaborn？　How　could　they　suspect　that？〃　Iome　asked；　astonished。　She　looked　downhill。　An　old　woman　bearing　a　load　of　sticks　from　the　woods　glanced　at　Iome；　suspicion　deep　in　her　eyes。
　〃So　he　could　marry　you；　take　over　your　kingdom。　Some　people　think　that　the　fact　that　you　let　him　live　is　ample　proof　that　he　has　you　fooled；　and　that　now　you　are　about　to　swoon　into　his　foul　clutches。〃
　〃Who　would　say　such　things？　Who　would　even　think　such　things？〃　Iome　asked。
　〃Do　not　blame　them；〃　Binnesman　smiled　at　her。　〃It　is　only　natural。　They　have　been　deeply　hurt　these　past　few　days；　and　suspicion　es　easily。　Trust　es　much　harder；　and　it　takes　time。〃
　Iome　shook　her　head；　dumbfounded。　〃Is　it　safe　for　Gaborn　here？　He's　not　in　danger？〃
　〃As　it　stands；〃　Binnesman　said；　〃I　think　some　people　in　this　valley　pose　a　threat；　yes。〃
　〃You　must　go　warn　him　to　stay　away！〃　Iome　said。　She　realized　that　she'd　been　hoping　for　Gaborn　to　e　back　tonight；　that　she　could　not　stand　the　thought　of　being　away　from　him。　〃Tell　him。。。tell　him　we　cannot　see　each　other；　that　it's　dangerous。　Maybe　in　time。。。a　few　months。〃　Iome　found　herself　shaking　at　the　thought；　tormented。
　A　few　months　seemed　an　eternity。　Yet　in　another　month　or　two　the　snows　would　begin　to　fly　in　earnest。　Travel　between　their　kingdoms　would　bee　difficult。
　She　wouldn't　see　Gaborn　again　before　spring。　Five　months　or　six　at　the　soonest。
　Iome　nearly　collapsed　in　on　herself　at　the　thought。　Yet　it　would　be　best　for　both　of　them　to　take　this　slowly；　to　give　her　people　time　to　see。　No　other　prince　would　want　her；　no　one　would　take　a　wife　who　had　been　an　enemy's　Dedicate。
　Now　that　her　father　and　King　Orden　were　dead；　within　a　few　weeks　the　chronicles　of　their　deeds　would　begin　to　be　slowly　distributed　by　the　Days；　a　volume　here；　a　volume　there。　Perhaps　when　the　truth　came　out；　Iome's　people　would　think　better　of　Gaborn。
　Yet　another　problem　presented　itself。　Iome's　Maid　of　Honor；　Chemoise；　would　be　heavy　with　child　by　the　time　Iome　saw　Gaborn　again。　If　Iome's　people　disapproved　of　her　match　with　Orden；　how　would　Gaborn　s　people　feel　about　her？
　Ostensibly；　Gaborn　had　e　here　seeking　a　union　because　the　wealth　and　security　of　Heredon　were　to　have　been　a　boon　to　Mystarria。　But　Raj　Ahten　had　taken　the　wealth；　made　a　mockery　of　Heredon's　castles；　stolen　away　the　Princess's　beauty。
　Iome　had　nothing　to　offer　but　her　affection。　And　she　knew　that　affection　es　cheaply。
　She　still　hoped　that　Gaborn　might　love　her。　She　feared　that　she　deluded　herself　in　even　hoping　for　a　union　with　him。　It　seemed　foolish；　like　the　child's　fable　of　the　lazy　man　who　planned　to　get　rich　someday　by　discovering　that　rain　had　washed　dirt　off　a　pot　of　gold　that　lay　hidden　in　his　fields。
　Surely；　in　the　months　to　e；　Gaborn　would　e　to　see　that　she　had　nothing　to　offer；　would　reconsider。　Though　he　spoke　of　loving　her；　surely　he'd　see　that　love　was　not　reason　enough　to　unite　their　kingdoms。
　As　Iome　considered　these　things；　Binnesman　nodded　kindly；　worry　on　his　face；　lost　in　his　own　private　musings。　He　studied　her　from　under　bushy　brows。　〃So　you　want　me　to　warn　Gaborn　away。　Do　you　have　any　more　messages　for　him？〃
　〃None；〃　Iome　said。　〃Except。。。there　is　the　matter　of　Borenson。〃
　〃What　of　him？〃　Binnesman　asked。
　〃I。。。don't　know　what　to　do　about　him。　He　killed　my　father；　a　king。　Such　a　deed　cannot　go　unpunished。　Yet　his　guilt　is　almost　more　than　he　can　bear。　To　lay　further　punishment　upon　him　would　be　cruel。〃
　Binnesman　said；　〃There　was　a　time　when　knights　who　inadvertently　erred　were　given　a　second　chance。。。〃
　　
　Chapter　60
　A　TREASURE　FOUND
　　
　In　the　House　of　Understanding；　in　the　Room　of　the　Heart；　Gaborn　had　learned　that　there　are　dreams　and　memories　so　disturbing　the　mind　cannot　hold　them。
　As　Gaborn　rode　in　silence　on　the　road　south　to　Bredsfor　Manor；　he　caught　up　to　Borenson；　watched　his　knight's　face；　and　wondered　if　the　man　would　break。
　Time　and　time　again；　Borenson's　head　would　nod；　his　lips　quivering　as　if　he　were　about　to　say　something　unspeakable。　Yet　each　time　he　raised　his　head；　his　eyes　would　be　a　little　clearer；　a　little　brighter；　his　gaze　a　little　steadier。
　Gaborn　suspected　Borenson　would　forget　his　deeds；　given　a　week　or　a　month。　He　might　claim　that　some　other　knight　had　slaughtered　Sylvarresta；　or　that　the　good　king　had　died　in　battle　or　fallen　from　a　horse。
　Gaborn　hoped　Borenson　would　forget。　They　rode　in　silence。　Gaborn's　Days　coughed　from　time　to　time；　as　if　he　were　developing　a　cold。
　After　twenty　long　minutes　of　this；　Borenson　turned；　and　on　the　surface　his　manners　seemed　almost　carefree；　the　pain　had　retreated　so　deeply。　But　it　was　there；　lying　far　within。　〃Milord；　I　was　up　above　the　Duke's　lodge　a　bit　ago；　and　I　saw　the　tracks　of　a　reaver。　A　big　female。　May　I　have　your　leave　to　hunt　her　tonight？〃
　It　was　an　obvious　jest。　〃Not　without　me；〃　Gaborn　said；　musing。　〃Last　autumn；　I　came　to　the　Dunnwood　to　hunt　boars。　This　year　we　shall　hunt　reavers。　Perhaps　Groverman　will　ride　with　us。　What　think　you？〃
　〃Hah；　not　bloody　likely；〃　Borenson　spat。　〃Not　after　what　I've　done！〃
　Immediately；　Borenson's　eyes　looked　troubled　again；　and　Gaborn　sought　to　turn　his　thoughts。　〃Tell　you　what；　if　we　kill　a　reaver；　you　get　to　eat　the　ears；〃　Gaborn　jested。　To　eat　the　ears　of　the　first　boar　of　the　hunt　was　a　great　honor。　But　reavers　had　no　ears；　and　no　part　of　a　reaver　was　edible。　〃Or　at　least　I'll　cut　off　a　patch　of　hide　shaped　like　an　ear。〃
　〃Oh；　you　are　too　generous；　milord；〃　Borenson　chortled　like　some　peasant　woman　in　the　marketplace；　heaping　unearned　praise　on　a　noble。　〃Oh；　you're　so　gracious。　All　you　lords　are　so。。。er；　well；　lordly；　if　you　catch　my　meaning。〃
　〃Well；　uh；　thank　you；　dear　lady；〃　Gaborn　said；　affecting　a　stodgy　accent　much　like　that　of　the　Marquis　of　Ferecia；　a　noted　poser。　He　raised　his　nose　in　the　air；　just　as　the　Marquis　would；　then　used　the　full　powers　of　his　Voice　to　imitate　the　Marquis'　accent。　〃A　blessing　on　you　and　your　hovel　and　all　your　snot…nosed　prodigy；　dear　lady。　And　please　don't　e　any　nearer；　or　I　think　I　might　sneeze。〃
　Borenson　laughed　deeply　at　the　jest；　for　the　Marquis　often　sneezed　when　dirty　peasants　got　too　near　his　person。　His　threats　of　illness　kept　peasants　away；　so　that　the　Marquis　would　not　have　to　tolerate　the　scent　of　their　poverty。
　It　was　a　grim　sort　of　humor；　but　it　was　the　best　Gaborn　could　manage　at　the　moment；　and　it　eased　Borenson's　spirits　somewhat。　Gaborn　almost　hoped　that　someday　things　between　them　would　be　as　they　had　been　before。
　Two　weeks　ago；　Gaborn　had　ridden　into　Heredon　with　hardly　a　care。　Now　he　felt　the　weight　of　the　whole　world　landing　squarely　on　his　shoulders。　Deep　in　his　heart；　he　knew　nothing　could　ever　be　the　same。
　They　crossed　the　downs　for　several　miles；　riding　over　the　rolling　hills。
　The　clouds　began　to　break；　and　the　afternoon　sun　began　melting　the　snow。　A　mile　from　Longmont；　farmhouses　still　stood　along　the　road；　stone　cottages　whose　thatch　roofs　had　not　been　torched。　All　the　animals　were　gone　from　their　pens　and　the　fruit　had　been　harvested；　giving　the　place　an　eerie　sense　of　emptiness；　but　the　shelters　still　stood。
　Then　they　crossed　a　hill　and　saw　Bredsfor　Manor　nestled　in　a　cozy　vale；　a　long　building　of　gray　stone　with　two　wings　fanning　out。　Behind　it　lay　barns　and　dovecotes；　carriage　houses；　servants'　quarters；　and　walled　gardens。　A　circular　drive　curved　among　the　flower　beds　and　topiaries　before　the　manor；　A　deep　brook　cut　through　the　vale；　and　a　white　bridge　spanned　the　brook　farther　down　the　road。
　On　the　steps　of　the　manor　sat　a　woman　in　cloud…colored　silk；　her　dark　hair　cascading　over　her　left　shoulder。
　Myrrima　gazed　up　at　them；　stood　nervously。　Her　beauty　had　not　diminished　in　the　past　few　days。　Gaborn　had　almost　forgotten　how　lovely　she　looked；　how　inviting。
　Borenson　spurred　his　horse　and　charged　down