srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第14部分

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at　possessed　him。　In　that　quiet；　kind　voice　of　his；　he　told　me　that　the　Land　would　die　if　you　didn't　save　it。
　〃Well；　I　don't　believe　that　Mhoram　or　no　A　Mhoram。　But　he　isn't　the　only　one。　High　Lord　Elena　eats；　drinks；　and　sleeps　Unbeliever。　Wild　magic　and　white　gold；　Covenant　Ringthane。　Sometimes　I　think　r　she's　obsessed。　She〃
　But　Covenant　could　not　remain　silent　any　longer。：　He　could　not　stand　to　be　held　responsible　for　so　much　mitment。　Roughly；　he　cut　in；　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　She　doesn't　even　know　you。〃
　〃No。　I　mean；　why　is　she　High　Lord…instead　of　Mhoram？〃
　〃What　does　it　matter？〃　said　Troy　irritably。　〃The　Council　chose　her。　A　couple　of　years　ago…when　Osondrea；　the　old　High　Lord；　died。　They　put　their；：　minds　together…you　must　have　noticed　when　you　were　here　before　how　the　Lords　can　pool　their　thoughts；　think　together…and　she　was　elected。〃　As　he　spoke；　the　irritation　faded　from　his　tone。　〃They　e　said　she　has　some　special　quality；　some　inner　mettle　that　makes　her　the　best　leader　for　this　war。　Maybe　I　don't　know　what　they　mean…but　I　know　she's　got　something。　She's　impossible　to　refuse。　I　would　fight　with　stew　forks　and　soup　spoons　against　Foul
　〃So　I　don't　understand　you。　You　may　be　the　last　man　alive　who's　seen　the　Celebration　of　Spring。　And　there　she　stands；　looking　like　all　the　allure　of　the　Land　put　together…practically　begging　you。　And　you！〃　Troy　struck　the　table　with　his　hand；　brandished　his　empty　sockets　at　Covenant。　〃You　refuse。〃
　Abruptly；　he　slapped　his　sunglasses　back　on；　and　flung　away　from　the　table　to　pace　the　room　again；　as　if　he　could　not　sit　still　in　the　face　of　Covenant's　perversity。
　Covenant　watched　him；　seething　at　the　freedom　of　Troy's　judgment…the　trust　he　placed　in　his　own　rectitude。　But　Covenant　had　heard　something　else　in　Troy's　voice；　a　different　explanation。　Probing　bluntly；　he　asked；　〃Is　Mhoram　in　love　with　her；　too？〃
　At　that；　Troy　spun；　pointed　a　finger　rigid　with　accusation　at　the　Unbeliever。　〃You　know　what　I　think？　You're　too　cynical　to　see　the　beauty　here。　You're　too　cheap。　You've　got　it　made　in　your　‘real'　world；　with　all　those　royalties　rolling　in。　So　what　if　you're　sick？　That　doesn't　stop　you　from　getting　rich。　ing　here　just　gets　in　the　way　of　hacking　out　more　best…sellers。　Why　should　you　fight　the　Despiser？　You're　just　like　him　yourself。〃
　Before　the　Warmark　could　go　on；　Covenant　rasped　thickly；　〃Get　out。　Shut　up　and　get　out。〃
　〃Forget　it。　I'm　not　going　to　leave　until　you　give　me　one…〃
　〃Get　out。〃
　〃…one　good　reason　for　the　way　you're　acting。　I'm　not　going　to　walk　away　and　let　you　destroy　the　Land　just　because　the　Lords　are　too　scrupulous　to　lean　on　you。〃
　〃That's　enough！〃　Covenant　was　on　his　feet。　His　hurt　blazed　up　before　he　could　catch　hold　of　himself。　〃Don't　you　even　know　what　a　leper　is？〃
　〃What　difference　does　that　make？　It's　no　worse　than　not　having　any　eyes。　Aren't　you　healthy　here？〃
　　Mustering　all　the　force　of　his　injury；　his　furious　grief；　Covenant　averred；　〃No！〃　He　waved　his　hands。
　〃Do　you　call　this　health？　It's　a　lie！〃
　That　cry　visibly　stunned　Troy。　The　black　assertion　of　his　sunglasses　faltered；　the　inner　aura　of　his　spirit　was　confused　by　doubt。　For　the　first　time；　he　looked：　like　a　blind　man。
　〃I　don't　understand；〃　he　said　softly。
　He　faced　the　onslaught　of　Covenant's　glare　for　a；　moment　longer。　Then　he　turned　and　left　the　room；　moving　quietly；　as　if　he　had　been　humbled。
　
　
　SIX：　The　High　Lord
　
　WHEN　evening　came；　Thomas　Covenant　sat　on　his　balcony　to　watch　the　sun　set　behind　the　Westron　Mountains。　Though　summer　was　hardly　past；　there　was　a　gleam　of　white　snow　on　many　of　the　peaks。　As；　the　sun　dropped　behind　them；　the　western　sky　shone　with　a　sharing　of　cold　and　fire。　White　silver　reflected；　from　the　snow　across　the　bottom　of　a　glorious　sky；　an　orange…gold　gallant　display　sailing　with　full　canvas‘　over　the　horizon。
　Covenant　watched　it　bleakly。　A　scowl　knotted　his　forehead　like　a　fist。　He　had　spent　the　afternoon　in　useless　rage；　but　after　a　time　his　anger　at　Troy　had　died　down　among　the　embers　of　his　protest　against　being　summoned　to　the　Land。　Now　he　felt　cold　at　heart；　desolate　and　alone。　The　resolve　he　had　expressed　to　Mhoram；　his　determination　to　survive；　seemed　pretentious…fey　and　anile。　And　the　frown。'　clenched　his　forehead　as　if　the　flesh　over　his　skull　refused　to　admit　that　it　had　been　healed。
　He　was　thinking　of　jumping　from　the　balcony。　To　quell　his　fear　of　heights；　he　would　have　to　wait　until；　the　darkness　of　the　night　was　plete；　and　he　could　no　longer　see　the　ground。　But　considered　in　that　way；　the　idea　both　attracted　and　repelled　him。　It　offended　his　leper's　training；　heaped　ridicule　on　everything　he　had　already　endured　to　cling　to　life。　It　spoke　of　a　defeat…　that　was　as　bitter　as　starkest　gall　to　him。　But　he　yearned　for　relief　from　his　dilemma。　He　felt　as　dry　as　a　wasteland；　and　rationalizations　came　easily。　Chiefest　of　these　was　the　argument　that　since　the　Land　was　not　real　it　could　not　kill　him；　a　death　here　would　only　force　him　back　into　the　reality　that　was　the　only　thing　in　which　he　could　believe。　In　his　aloneness；　he　could　not　tell　whether　that　argument　expressed　courage　or　cowardice。
　Slowly；　the　last　of　the　sun　fell　behind　the　mountains；　and　its　emblazonry　faded　from　the　sky。　Gloaming　spread　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　peaks；　dimming　the　plains　below　Covenant　until　he　could　only　discern　them　as　uneasy；　recumbent　shapes　under　the　heavens。　The　stars　came　out　and　grew　gradually　brighter；　as　if　to　clarify　trackless　space；　but　the　voids　between　them　were　too　great；　and　the　map　they　made　was　unreadable。　In　his　dusty；　unfertile　gaze；　they　seemed　to　twinkle　unconsolably。
　When　he　heard　the　polite　knock　at　his　door；　his　need　for　privacy　groaned　at　the　intrusion。　But　he　had　other　needs　as　well。　He　pushed　himself　to　go　answer　the　knock。
　The　stone　door　swung　open　easily　on　noiseless　hinges；　and　light　streamed　into　the　room　from　the　bright…lit　hall；　dazzling　him　so　that　for　a　moment　he　did　not　recognize　either　of　the　men　outside。　Then　one　of　…them　said；　〃Ur…Lord　Covenant；　we　bid　you　wele；〃　in　a　voice　that　seemed　to　bubble　with　good　humor。　Covenant　identified　Tohrm。
　〃Wele　and　true；〃　said　Tohrm's　panion　carefully；　as　if　he　were　afraid　he　would　make　a　mistake。　〃We　are　the　Hearthralls　of　Lord's　Keep。…　Please　accept　wele　and　fort。〃
　As　Covenant's　eyes　adjusted；　he　considered　the　two　men。　Tohrm's　panion　wore　a　gray…green　Woodhelvennin　cloak；　and　had　a　small　wreath　in　his　hair　the　mark　of　a　Hirebrand。　In　his　hands　he　carried　several　smooth　wooden　rods　for　torches。　Both　the　Hearthralls　were　clean…shaven；　but　the　Hirebrand　was　taller　and　slimmer　than　his　partner。　Tohrrn　had　the　stocky；　muscular　frame　of　a　Stonedownor；　and　he　wore　a　loam…colored　tunic　with　soft　trousers。　His　panion's　cloak　was　bordered　in　Lords'　blue；　he　had　blue　epaulets　woven　into　the　shoulders　of　his　tunic。　Cupped　in　each　of　his　hands　was　a　small；　covered；　stone　bowl。
　Covenant　scrutinized　Tohrm's　face。　The　Hearthrall's　nimble　eyes　and　swift　smile　were　soberer　than　Covenant　remembered　them；　but　still　essentially　unchanged。　Like　Mhoram；　he　did　not　show　enough　years　to　account　for　the　full　forty。
　〃I　am　Borillar；〃　Tohrm's　panion　recited；　〃Hirebrand　of　the　lillianrill　and　Hearthrall　of　Lord's　Keep。　This　is　Tohrm；　Gravelingas　of　the　rhadhamaerl　and　likewise　Hearthrall　of　Lord's　Keep。　Darkness　withers　v　the　heart。　We　have　brought　you　light。〃
　But　as　Borillar　spoke；　a　look　of　concern　touched　Tohrm's　face；　and　he　said；　〃Ur…Lord；　are　you　well？〃
　〃Well？〃　Covenant　murmured　vaguely。
　〃There　is　a　storm　on　your　brow；　and　it　gives　you　‘　pain。　Shall　I　call　a　Healer？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Ur…Lord　Covenant；　I　am　in　your　debt。　I　am　told　that　at　the　hazard　of　your　life　you　rescued　my　old　friend　Birinair　from　beyond　the　forbidding　fire　under　Mount　Thunder。　That　was　bravely　done…though　it　came　too　late　to　save　his　life。　Do　not　hesitate　to　ask　of　me。　For　Birinair's　sake；　I　will　do　all　in　my　power　for　you。〃
　Covenant　shook　his　head。　He　knew　he　should　correct　Tohrm；　tell　him　that　he　had　braved　that　fire　in　an　effort　to　immolate　himself；　not　to　save　Birinair。　But　he　lacked　the　courage。　Dumbly；　he　stepped　aside　and　let　the　Hearthralls　into　his　rooms。
　Borillar　immediately　set　about　lighting　his　torches；　he　moved　studiously　to　the　wall　sockets　as　if　he　were　trying　to　create　a　good；　grave　impression。　Covenant　watched　him　for　a　moment；　and　Tohrm　said　with　a　covered　smile；　〃Good　Borillar　is　in　awe　of　you；　ur…Lord。　He　has　heard　the　legends　of　the　Unbeliever　from　his　cradle。　And　he　has　not　been　Hearthrall　long。　His　former　master　in　the　lillianrill　lore　resigned　this　post　to　oversee　the　pletion　of　the　Gildenlode　keels　and　rudders　which　they　have　been　devising　for　the　Giants　…as　High　Lord　Loric　Vilesilencer　promised。　Borillar　feels　himself　untimely　thrust　into　responsibility。　My　old　friend　Birinair　would　have　called　him　a　whelp〃
　〃He's　young；〃　Covenant　said　dully。　Then　he　turned　to　Tohrm；　forced　himself　to　ask　the　question　which　most　concerned　him。　〃But　you…you're　too　young。　You　should　be　older。　Forty　years。〃
　〃Ur…Lord；　I　have　seen　fifty…nine　summers。　Forty…one　have　passed　since　you　came　to　Revelstone　with　the　Giant；　Saltheart　Foamfollower。〃
　〃But　you're　not　old　enough。　You　don't　look　more　than　forty　now。〃
　〃Ah；〃　said　Tohrm；　grinning　broadly；　〃the　service　of　our　lore；　and　of　Revelstone；　keeps　us　young。　Without　us；　these　brave　Giant…wrought　halls　would　be　dark；　and　in　winter…to　speak　truly…they　would　be　cold。　Who　could　grow　old　on　the　joy　of　such　work？〃
　Happily；　he　moved　off；　set　one　of　his　pots　on　the　table　in　the　sitting　room；　and　another　in　the　bedroom　by　the　bed。　When　he　uncovered　the　pots；　the　warm　glow　of　the　graveling　joined　the　fight　of　the　torches；　and　gave　the　illumination　in　the　suite　a　richer　and　somehow　kinder　cast。
　Tohrm　breathed　the　graveling's　aroma　of　newly　broken　earth　with　a　glad　smile。　He　finished　while　his　panion　was　lighting　the　last　of　his　torches　in　the　bedroom。　Before　Borillar　could　return　to　the　sitting　room；　the　older　Hearthrall　stepped　close　to　Covenant　and　whispered；　〃Ur…Lord；　say　a　word　to　good　Borillar。　He　will　cherish　it。〃
　A　moment　later；　Borillar　walked　across　the　room　to　stand　stiffly　by　the　door。　He　looked　like　a　resolute　acolyt