srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第48章

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　He　faced　the　Warward　with　his　back　to　the　sunrise；　and　when　he　could　discern　their　faces　through　his　mist；　he　began。　〃My　friends；〃　he　shouted；　〃hear　me！　I'm　going　to　go　to　Kevin's　；Watch　to　find　out　what　Foul　is　doing；　so　this　will　probably　be　my　last　chance　to　talk　to　you　before　the　fighting　starts。　And　I　want　to　give　you　fair　warning。　We've　been　taking　it　pretty　easy　for　the　past　twenty…two　days。　But　now　the　soft　part　is　over。　We're　going　to　have　to　start　earning　our　pay。〃
　He　risked　this　bleak　joke　apprehensively。　If　the　warriors　understood　him；　they　might　relax　a　bit；　shed　some　of　their　pain　and　care；　draw　closer　to　each　other。　But　if　they　heard　derogation　in　his　words；　if　they　were　affronted　by　his　grim　humor…then　they　were　lost　to　him。
　He　felt　an　immense　relief　and　gratitude　when　he　saw　that　many　of　the　warriors　smiled。　A　few　even　laughed　aloud。　Their　response　made　him　feel　suddenly　and　beautifully　in　harmony　with　them…in　tune　with　his　army；　the　instrument　of　his　will。　At　once；　he　was　confident　again　of　his　mand。
　Briskly；　he　went　on；　〃As　you　know；　we're　only　five　days　from　Doom's　Retreat。　We　have　almost　exactly　forty…eight　leagues　left　to　go。　After　what　you've　already　done；　you　should　be　able　to　do　this　in　your　sleep。　But　still　there　are　a　few　things　I　want　to　say　about　it。
　〃First；　you　should　know　that　you've　already　acplished　more　than　any　other　army　in　the　history　of　the　Land。　No　other　Warward　has　ever　marched　this　far　this　fast。　So　every　one　of　you　is　already　a　hero。　I'm　not　bragging…facts　are　facts。　You　are　already　the　best。
　〃But　heroes　or　not；　our　job　isn't　done　until　we've
　won。　That's　why　we're　going　to　Doom's　Retreat。　It's　a　perfect　place　for　a　trap…once　we　get　there；　we　can　handle　an　army　five　times　our　size。　And　just　getting　there…just　pulling　Foul's　army　south　like　this…we've　already　saved　scores　of　Stonedowns　and　Woodhelvens　in　the　Center　Plains。　For　most　of　you；　that　means　we've　saved　your　homes。〃
　He　paused；　hoping　to　let　his　own　confidence　reach　into　the　hearts　of　the　warriors。　Then　he　said；　〃But　we　have　got　to　get　to　the　Retreat　in　time。　That　is　where　Hiltmark　Quaan　expects　to　find　us。　He　and　his　Eoward　are　fighting　like　hell　to　give　us　these　five　more　days。　If　we　don't　reach　the　Retreat　before　they　do；　they　will　all　die。
　〃It's　going　to　be　close。　But　I　can　tell　you　for　a　fact　that　the　Hiltmark　has　already　bought　three　of　those　five　days　for　us。　You　all　saw　that　storm　six　days　ago。　You　know　what　it　was…an　attack　on　the　Hiltmark's　Eoward。　That　means　that　six　days　ago　he　was　still　holding　Foul's　army　in　the　Mithil　valley。　And　you　know　Hiltmark　Quaan。　You　know　he　won't　let　a　mere　two　days　get　between　us　and　victory。
　〃It　is　going　to　be　close。　We're　not　going　to　get　much　rest。　But　once　we're　in　the　Retreat；　I'm　not　afraid　of　the　oute。〃
　At　this；　the　Hafts　raised　a　cheer　to　answer　Troy's　bravado；　and　he　stood　silently　in　the　ovation　with　his　head　bowed；　accepting　it　only　because　the　courage　in　the　shout；　the　courage　of　his　army；　overwhelmed　him。　When　the　cheering　subsided；　and　the　Warward　became　silent　again；　he　said　thickly　into　the　stillness；　〃My　friends；　I'm　proud　of　you　all。〃
　Then　he　turned　and　almost　ran　from　the　hill。
　Lord　Mhoram　followed　him　as　he　sprang　onto　Mehryl's　back。　Acpanied　by　Ruel；　Terrel；　and　eight　other　Bloodguard；　the　two　men　galloped　away　from　the　Warward。　Troy　set　a　hard　pace　until　his　army　was　out　of　sight　in　the　hills　behind　him。　Then　he　eased　Mehryl　back　to　a　gait　which　would　cover　the　distance　to　Mithil　Stonedown　and　the　base　of　Kevin's　Watch　in　three　days。　With　Mhoram　at　his　side；　he　cantered　eastward　over　the　rumpled　Plains。
　After　a　time；　the　Lord　said　quietly；　〃Warmark　Troy；　you　have　moved　them。〃
　〃You've　got　it　backward；〃　replied　Troy　in　a　voice　gruff　with　emotion。　〃They　did　it　to　me。〃
　〃No；　my　friend。　They　have　bee　very　loyal　to　you。〃
　〃They're　loyal　people。　They…all　right；　yes；　I　know　what　you　mean。　They're　loyal　to　me。　If　I　ever　let　them　down…if　I　even　make　any　normal　human　mistakes　they're　going　to　feel　betrayed。　I　know。　I've　focused　too　much　of　their　courage　and　hope　on　myself；　on　my　plans。　But　if　it　gets　them　to　Doom's　Retreat　in　time；　the　risk'll　be　worth　it。〃
　Lord　Mhoram　assented　with　a　nod。　After　a　pause；　he　said；　〃But　you　have　done　your　part。　My　friend；　I　must　tell　you　this。　When　I　first　understood　your　intention　to　march　toward　Doom's　Retreat　at　such　a　pace；　I　felt　the　task　to　be　impossible。〃
　〃Then　why　did　you　let　me　do　it？〃　flared　Troy。　〃Why　wait　until　now　to　say　anything？〃
　〃Ah；　Warmark；〃　returned　the　Lord；　〃everything　that　passes　unattempted　is　impossible。〃

　At　this；　Troy　turned　on　Mhoram。　But　when　he　met　the　Lord's　probing　gaze；　he　realized　that　Mhoram　would　not　have　raised　such　a　question　gratuitously。　Forcing　himself　to　relax；　he　said；　〃You　don't　actually　expect　me　to　be　satisfied　with　an　answer　like　that。〃
　〃No；〃　the　Lord　replied　simply。　〃I　speak　only　to　express　my　appreciation　for　what　you　have　done。　I　trust　you。　I　will　follow　your　lead　in　this　war　into　any　peril。〃
　Abruptly；　a　rush　of　gratitude　filled　Troy's　throat；　and　he　had　to　clench　his　teeth　to　keep　from　grinning　foolishly。　To　meet　Mhoram's　trust；　he　whispered；　〃I　won't　let　you　down。〃
　But　later；　when　his　emotion　had　receded；　he　was　disconcerted　to　remember　how　many　such　promises　he　had　made。　They　seemed　to　expand　with　every　new　development　in　the　march。　His　speech　to　the　Warward　was　only　one　in　a　series　of　assertions。　Now　he　felt　that　he　had　given　his　personal　guarantee　of　success　to　practically　the　entire　Land。　He　had　maneuvered　him
　self　into　a　corner…a　place　where　defeat　and　betrayal　became　the　same　thing。
　The　simple　thought　of　failure　made　his　pulse　labor　vertiginously　in　his　head。
　If　this　was　the　kind　of　thinking　that　inspired　Covenant's　Unbelief；　then　Troy　could　see　that　it　made　a　certain　kind　of　sense。　But　he　had　a　savage　name　for　it；　he　called　it　cowardice。　He　forced　the　thought　down；　and　turned　his　attention　to　the　South　Plains。
　Away　from　the　mountains；　the　terrain　leveled　somewhat；　and　opened　into　broad　stretches　of　sharp；　hardy　grass　mottled　with　swaths　of　gray　bracken　and　heather　turning　purple　in　the　autumn。　It　was　not　a　generous　land…Troy　had　been　told　that　there　were　only　five　Stonedowns　in　all　the　South　Plains…but　its　unprofligate　health　was　vital　and　strong；　like　the　squat；　muscular　people　who　lived　with　it。　Something　in　its　austerity　appealed　to　him；　as　if　the　ground　itself　were　appropriate　for　war。　He　rode　it　steadily；　keeping　a　brisk　pace　while　conserving　Mehryl's　strength　for　the　hard　run　from　Kevin's　Watch　to　Doom's　Retreat。
　But　the　second　night；　his　confidence　suffered　a　setback。　Soon　after　moonrise；　Lord　Mhoram　sprang　suddenly　awake；　screaming　so　vehemently　that　Troy's　blood　ran　cold。　Troy　groped　toward　him　through　the　darkness；　but　he　struck　the　Warmark　down　with　his　staff；　and　started　firing　fierce　blasts　of　power　into　the　invulnerable　heavens　as　if　they　were　attacking　him。　A　madness　gripped　him。　He　did　not　stop　until　Terrel　caught　his　arms；　shouted　into　his　face；　〃Lord！　Corruption　will　see　you！〃
　With　an　immense　effort；　Mhoram　mastered　himself；　silenced　his　power。
　Then　Troy　could　see　nothing。　He　had　to　wait　in　blind　suspense　until　at　last　he　heard　Mhoram　breathe；　〃It　is　past。　I　thank　you；　Terrel。〃　The　Lord　sounded　utterly　weary。
　Troy　thronged　with　questions；　but　Mhoram　either　would　not　or　could　not　answer　them。　The　force　of　his　vision　left　him　dumb　and　quivering。　He　could　barely　pel　his　lips　to　form　the　few　words　he　spoke　to　reassure　Troy。
　The　Warmark　was　not　convinced。　He　demanded　a　light。　But　when　Ruel　built　up　the　campfire；　Troy　saw　the　garish　heat　of　torment　and　danger　in　Mhoram's　eyes。　It　stilled　him；　denied　his　offer　of　support　or　consolation。　He　was　forced　to　leave　the　Lord　alone　in　his　cruel；　oracular　pain。
　For　the　rest　of　the　night；　Troy　lay　awake；　waiting　anxiously。　But　when　dawn　came　and　his　sight　returned；　he　perceived　that　Mhoram　had　weathered　the　crisis。　The　fever　in　his　gaze　had　been　replaced　by　a　hard　gleam　like　a　warning　that　it　was　perilous　to　challenge　him…a　gleam　that　reminded　Troy　of　that　picture　in　the　Hall　of　Gifts　entitled　〃Lord　Mhoram's　Victory。〃
　The　Lord　offered　no　explanation。　In　silence　they　rode　away　into　the　third　day。
　On　the　horizon　ahead；　Troy　could　make　out　the　thin；　black　finger　of　Kevin's　Watch；　though　the　valley　of　Mithil　Stonedown　was　still　twenty…two　leagues　distant。　After　the　strain　of　the　night；　he　was　under　even　more　pressure　than　before　to　climb　the　Watch　and　see　Lord　Foul's　army。　In　that　sight　he　would　find　the　fate　of　his　battle　plan。　But　he　did　not　drive　the　Ranyhyn　beyond　their　best　traveling　gait。　So　the　valley　was　already　full　of　evening　shadows　when　he　and　Mhoram　reached　the　Mithil　River；　and　followed　it　upstream　into　the　Southron　Range。
　Through　his　personal　haze；　he　caught　only　one　glimpse　of　Mithil　Stonedown。　From　the　top　of　a　heavy　stone　bridge　across　the　river；　he　looked　southward　along　the　east　bank；　and　dimly　made　out　a　dark；　round　cluster　of　stone　huts。　Then　the　last　penetration　of　his　sight　faded；　and　he　had　to　ride　into　the　village　on　trust。
　When　Troy　and　his　panions　had　dismounted　within　the　round；　open　center　of　the　Stonedown；　Lord　Mhoram　spoke　quietly　to　the　people　who　came　out　to　greet　him。　Soon　the　Stonedownors　were　joined　by　a　group　of　five；　bearing　with　them　a　wide　bowl　of　graveling。　They　placed　it　on　a　dais　in　the　center　of　the　circle；　where　its　warm　glow　and　fresh　loamy　smell
　spread　all　around　them。　The　light　enabled　Troy　to　see　dimly。
　The　group　of　five　included　three　women　and　two　men。　Four　of　them　were　white…haired；　aged；　and　dignified；　but　one　man　appeared　just　past　middle　age。　His　thick　dark　hair　was　streaked　with　gray；　and　over　his　short；　powerful　frame　he　wore　a　traditional　brown　Stonedownor　tunic；　with　a　curious　pattern　resembling　crossed　lightning　on　his　shoulders。　He　had　a　permanently　twisted　bitter　expression；　as　if　something　had　broken　in　him　early　in　life；　turning　all　the　tastes　of　his　experience　sour。　But　despite　his　bitterness　and　his　relative　youth；　his　panions　deferred　to　him。　He　spoke　first。
　〃Hail；　Mhoram　son　of　Variol；　Lord　of　the　Council　of　Revelstone。　Hail；　Warmark　Hile　Troy。　Be　wele　in　Mithil　Stonedown。　I　am　Triock　son　of　Thuler；…　first　among　the　Circle　of　elders　of　Mithil　Stonedown。　It　is　not　our　custom　to　question　our　guests　before　hospitality　has　cleansed　the　weariness　of　their　way。　But　these　are　perilous　times。　A　Bloodguard　brought　us　tidings　of　war。　What　need　calls　you　here？〃
　〃Triock；　your　wele　honors　us；〃　replied　Lord　Mhoram。　〃And　we　are　honored　that　you　know　us。　We　have　not　met。〃
　〃That　is　true；　Lord。　But　I　studied　for　a　time　in　the　Loresraat。　The　Lords；　and　the　friends　of　the　Lords〃　…he　nodded　to　Troy…〃were　made　known　to　me。〃
　〃Then；　Triock；　elders　and　people　of　Mithil　Stonedown；　I　must　tell　you　that　there　is　indeed　war　upon　the　Land。　The　army　of　the　Gray　Slayer　marches　in　the　South　Plains；　to　do　battle　with　the　Warward　of　Revelstone　at　Doom's　Retreat。　We　have　e　so　that　Warmark　Troy。　may　climb　Kevin's　Watch；　and　study　the　movements　of　the　foe。〃
　〃He　must　have　brave　sight；　if　he　can　see　so　far　though　it　is　said　that　High　Lord　Kevin　viewed　all　the　Land　from　his　Watch。　But　that　is　not　our　con