srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第22部分

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ts。〃　Both　Lords　replied　with　smiles；　but　where　his　was　both　surprised　and　proud；　hers　was　calm；　confident。
　Elena　concluded；　〃Beyond　them　is　Lord　Amatin　daughter　of　Matin。　Only　a　year　ago　she　passed　the　tests　of　the　Sword　and　Staff　at　the　Loresraat；　and　joined　the　Council。　Now　her　work　is　with　the　schools　of　Revelstonethe　teaching　of　the　children。〃　In　her　turn；　Lord　Amatin　bowed　gravely。　She　was　slight；　serious；　and　hazel…eyed；　and　she　watched　Covenant　as　if　she　were　studying　him。
　After　a　pause；　the　High　Lord　began　the　ritual　ceremonies　of　weling　the　Unbeliever　to　Lord's　Keep；　but　she　stopped　short　when　Lord　Mhoram　entered　the　Close。　He　came　through　one　of　the　private　doors　behind　the　Lords'　table。　There　was　weariness　in　his　step　and　febrile　concentration　in　his　eyes；　as　if　he　had　spent　all　night　wrestling　with　darkness。　In　his　fatigue；　he　needed　his　staff　to　hold　himself　steady　as　he　took　his　seat　at　Elena's　left。
　All　the　Lords　watched　him　as　he　sat　there；　breathing　vacantly；　and　a　wave　of　support　flowed　from　their　minds　to　his。　Slowly；　their　silent　help　strengthened　him。　The　hot　glitter　faded　from　his　gaze；　and　he　began　to　see　the　faces　around　him。
　〃Have　you　met　success？〃　Elena　asked　softly。　〃Can　you　withdraw　the　krill？〃
　〃No。〃　Mhoram's　lips　formed　the　word；　but　he　made　no　sound。
　〃Dear　Mhoram；〃　she　sighed；　〃you　must　take　greater　care　of　yourself。　The　Despiser　marches　against　us。　We　will　need　all　your　strength　for　the　ing　war。〃
　Through　his　weariness；　Mhoram　smiled　his　crooked；　humane　smile。　But　he　did　not　speak。
　Before　Covenant　could　muster　the　resolve　to　ask　Mhoram　what　he　hoped　to　acplish　with　the　krill；　the　main　doors　of　the　Close　opened；　and　Warmark　Troy　strode　down　the　stairs　to　the　table。　Hiltmark　Quaan　came　behind　him。　While　Troy　went　to　sit　opposite　Covenant；　Quaan　made　his　way　to　join　Morin；
　Tohrm；　and　Borillar。　Apparently；　Troy　and　Quaan　had　just　e　from　the　Wayward。　They　had　not　taken　the　time　to　set　aside　their　swords；　and　their　scabbards　clashed　dully　against　the　stone　as　they　seated　themselves。
　As　soon　as　they　were　in　their　places；　High　Lord　Elena　began。　She　spoke　softly；　but　her　clear　voice　carried　perfectly　throughout　the　Close。　〃We　are　gathered　thus　without　forewarning　because　a　stranger　has　e　to　us。　Growl；　the　stranger　is　in　your　care。　Tell　us　of　him。〃
　Growl　was　one　of　the　Bloodguard。　He　arose　from　his　seat　near　the　broad　stairs　of　the　chamber；　and　faced　the　High　Lord　impassively　to　make　his　report。　〃He　passed　us。　A　short　time　ago；　he　appeared　at　the　gate　of　Revelstone。　No　scout　or　sentry　saw　his　approach。　He　asked　if　the　Lords　were　within。　When　he　was　answered；　he　replied　that　the　High　Lord　wished　to　question　him。　He　is　not　as　other　men。　But　he　bears　no　weapon；　and　intends　no　ill。　We　chose　to　admit　him。　He　awaits　you。〃
　In　a　sharp　voice　like　the　barking　of　a　hawk；　Lord　Verement　asked；　〃Why　did　the　scouts　and　sentries　fail？〃
　〃The　stranger　was　hidden　from　our　eyes；〃　Growl　replied　levelly。　〃Our　watch　did　not　falter。〃　His　unfluctuating　tone　seemed　to　assert　that　the　alertness　of　the　Bloodguard　was　beyond　question。
　〃That　is　well；〃　said　Verement。　〃Perhaps　one　day　the　whole　army　of　the　Despiser　will　appear　unnoticed　at　our　gates；　and　we　will　still　be　sleeping　when　Revelstone　falls。〃
　He　was　about　to　say　more；　but　Elena　interposed　firmly；　〃Bring　the　stranger　now。〃
　As　the　Bloodguard　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　swung　open　the　high　wooden　doors；　Amatin　asked　the　High　Lord；　〃Does　this　stranger　e　at　your　request？〃
　〃No。　But　I　do　now　wish　to　question　him。〃
　Covenant　watched　as　two　more　Bloodguard　came　into　the　Close　with　the　stranger　between　them。　He　was　slim；　simply　clad　in　a　cream…colored　robe；　and　his　movements　were　light；　buoyant。　Though　he　was　nearly
　as　tall　as　Covenant；　he　seemed　hardly　old　enough　to　have　his　full　growth。　There　was　a　sense　of　boyish　laughter　in　the　way　his　curly　hair　bounced　as　he　came　down　the　steps；　as　if　he　were　amused　by　the　precautions　taken　against　him。　But　Covenant　was　not　amused。　With　the　new　dimension　of　his　sight；　he　could　see　why　Growl　had　said　that　the　boy　was　〃not　as　other　men。〃　Within　his　young；　fresh　flesh　were　bones　that　seemed　to　radiate　oldness…not　age…they　were　not　weak　or　infirm…but　rather　antiquity。　His　skeleton　carried　this　oldness；　this　aura　of　time；　as　if　he　were　merely　a　vessel　for　it。　He　existed　for　it　rather　than　in　spite　of　it。　The　sight　baffled　Covenant's　perceptions；　made　his　eyes　ache　with　conflicting　impressions　of　dread　and　glory　as　he　strained　to　prehend。
　When　the　boy　reached　the　floor　of　the　Close；　he　stepped　near　to　the　graveling　pit；　and　made　a　cheerful　obeisance。　In　a　high；　young　voice；　he　exclaimed；　〃Hail；　High　Lord！〃
　Elena　stood　and　replied　gravely；　〃Stranger；　be　wele　in　the　Land…wele　and　true。　We　are　the　Lords　of　Revelstone；　and　I　am　Elena　daughter　of　Lena；　High　Lord　by　the　choice　of　the　Council；　and　holder　of　the　Staff　of　Law。　How　may　we　honor　you？〃
　〃Courtesy　is　like　a　drink　at　a　mountain　stream。　I　am　honored　already。〃
　〃Then　will　you　honor　us　in　turn　with　your　name？〃
　With　a　laughing　glance；　the　boy　said；　〃It　may　well　e　to　pass　that　I　will　tell　you　who　I　am。〃
　〃Do　not　game　with　us；〃　Verement　cut　in。　〃What　is　your　name？〃
　〃Among　those　who　do　not　know　me；　I　am　named　Amok。〃
　Elena　controlled　Verement　with　a　swift　look；　then　said　to　the　youth；　〃And　how　are　you　named　among　those　who　know　you？〃
　〃Those　who　know　me　have　no　need　of　my　name。〃
　〃Stranger；　we　do　not　know　you〃　An　edge　came　into　her　quiet　voice。　〃These　are　times　of　great　peril　in　the　Land；　and　we　can　spend　neither　time　nor　delicacy　with　you。　We　require　to　know　who　you　are。〃
　〃Ah；　then　I　fear　I　cannot　help　you；〃　replied　Amok　with　an　impervious　gaiety　in　his　eyes。
　For　a　moment；　the　Lords　met　his　gaze　with　stiff　silence。　Verement's　thin　lips　whitened；　Callindrill　frowned　thoughtfully；　and　Elena　faced　the　boy　with　low　anger　flushing　her　cheeks；　though　her　eyes　did　not　lose　their　odd；　dislocated　focus。　Then　Lord　Amatin　straightened　her　shoulders　and　said；　〃Amok；　where　is　your　home？　Who　are　your　parents？　What　is　your　past？〃
　Lightly；　Amok　turned　and　gave　her　an　unexpected　bow。　〃My　home　is　Revelstone。　I　have　no　parents。　And　my　past　is　both　wide　and　narrow；　for　I　have　wandered　everywhere；　waiting。〃
　A　surge　ran　through　the　Council；　but　no　one　interrupted　Amatin。　Studying　the　boy；　she　said；　〃Your　home　is　Revelstone？　How　can　that　be？　We　have　no　knowledge　of　you。〃
　〃Lord；　I　have　been　away。　I　have　feasted　with　the　Elohim；　and　ridden　Sandgorgons。　I　have　danced　with　the　Dancers　of　the　Sea；　and　teased　brave　Kelenbhrabanal　in　his　grave；　and　traded　apothegms　with　the　Gray　Desert。　I　have　waited。〃
　Several　of　the　Lords　stirred；　and　a　gleam　came　into　Loerya's　eyes；　as　if　she　recognized　something　potent　in　Amok's　words。　They　all　watched　him　closely　as　Amatin　said；　〃Yet　everything　that　lives　has　ancestry；　forebearers　of　its　own　kind。　Amok；　what　of　your　parentage？〃
　〃Do　I　live？〃
　〃It　appears　not；〃　Verement　growled。　〃Nothing　mortal　would　try　our　patience　so。〃
　〃Peace；　Verement；〃　said　Loerya。　〃There　is　grave　import　here。〃　Without　taking　her　eyes　off　Amok；　she　asked；　〃Are　you　alive？〃
　〃Perhaps。　While　I　have　purpose；　I　move　and　speak。　My　eyes　behold。　Is　this　life？〃
　His　answer　confused　Lord　Amatin。　Thinly；　as　if　her　uncertainty　pained　her；　she　said；　〃Amok；　who　made　your〃
　Without　hesitation；　Amok　replied；　〃High　Lord
　Kevin　son　of　Loric　son　of　Damelon　son　of　Berek　Heartthew　the　Lord…Fatherer。〃
　A　silent　clap　of　surprise　echoed　in　the　Close。　Around　the　table；　the　Lords　gaped　in　astonishment。　Then　Verement　smacked　the　stone　with　the　flat　of　his　hand；　and　barked；　〃By　the　Seven！　This　whelp　mocks　us。
　〃I　think　not；〃　answered　Elena。
　Lord　Mhoram　nodded　wearily；　and　sighed　his　agreement。　〃Our　ignorance　mocks　us。〃
　Quickly；　Trevor　asked；　〃Mhoram；　do　you　know　Amok？　Have　you　seen　him？〃
　Lord　Loerya　seconded　the　question；　but　before　Mhoram　could　gather　his　strength　to　respond；　Lord　Callindrill　leaned　forward　to　ask；　〃Amok；　why　were　you　made？　What　purpose　do　you　serve？〃
　〃I　wait；〃　said　the　boy。　〃And　I　answer。〃
　Callindrill　accepted　this　with　a　glum　nod；　as　if　it　proved　an　unfortunate　point；　and　said　nothing　more。　After　a　pause；　the　High　Lord　said　to　Amok；　〃You　bear　knowledge；　and　release　it　in　response　to　the　proper　questions。　Have　I　understood　you　aright？〃
　In　answer；　Amok　bowed；　shaking　his　head　so　that　his　gay　hair　danced　like　laughter　about　his　head。
　〃What　knowledge　is　this？〃　she　inquired。
　〃Whatever　knowledge　you　can　ask　for；　and　receive　answer。〃
　At　this；　Elena　glanced　ruefully　around　the　table。　〃Well；　that　at　least　was　not　the　proper　question；〃　she　sighed。　〃I　think　we　will　need　to　know　Amok's　knowledge　before　we　can　ask　the　proper　questions：〃
　Mhoram　looked　at　her　and　nodded。
　〃Excellent！〃　Verement's　retort　was　full　of　suppressed　ferocity。　〃So　ignorance　increases　ignorance；　and　knowledge　makes　itself　unnecessary。〃
　Covenant　felt　the　force　of　Verement's　sarcasm。　But　Lord　Amatin　ignored　it。　Instead；　she　asked　the　youth；　〃Why　have　you　e　to　us　now？〃
　〃I　felt　the　sign　of　readiness。　The　krill　of　Loric　came　to　life。　That　is　the　appointed　word。　I　answer　as　I　was　made　to　do。〃
　As　he　mentioned　the　krill；　Amok's　inner　cradled　glory　and　dread　seemed　to　bee　more　visible。　The　sight　gave　Covenant　a　pang。　Is　this　my　fault；　too？　he　groaned。　What　have　I　gotten　myself　into　now？　But　the　glimpse　was　mercifully　brief；　Amok's　boyish　good　humor　soon　veiled　it　again。
　When　it　was　past；　Lord　Mhoram　climbed　slowly　to　his　feet；　supporting　himself　on　his　staff　like　an　old　man。　Standing　beside　the　High　Lord　as　if　he　were　speaking　for　her；　he　said；　〃Then　you　have…　Amok；　hear　me。　I　am　seer　and　oracle　for　this　Council。　I　speak　words　of　vision。　I　have　not　seen　you。　You　have　e　too　soon。　We　did　not　give　life　to　the　krill。　That　was　not　our　doing。　We　lack　the　lore　for　such　work。〃
　Amok's　face　became　suddenly　grave；　almost　frightened；　showing　for　the　first　time　some　of　the　antiquity　of　his　skull。　〃Lack　the　lore？　Then　I　have　erred。　I　have　misserved　my　purpose。　I　must　depart；　I　will　do　great　harm　else。〃
　Quickly；　he　turned；　slipped　with　deceptive　speed　between　the　Bloodguard；　and　darted　up　the　stairs。
　When　he　was　halfway　to　the　doors；　everyone　in　the　Clo