srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第38部分

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　As　the　Lords　took　their　places；　the　inhabitants　of　the　Keep　began　to　appear　at　the　south　wall。　In　a　rush；　they　thronged　the　balconies　and　ramparts；　filled　the　windows；　crowded　out　onto　the　edge　of　the　plateau。　Their　voices　rolled　expectantly。
　Leaving　Amorine　with　the　army；　Warmark　Hile　Troy　rode　back　up　the　hill　to　take　his　place　with　the　Lords　while　Trevor　and　Loerya　busied　themselves　around　the　tall　flagpole　atop　the　tower。　His　blood　suddenly　stirred　with　eagerness；　and　he　wanted　to　shout　some　kind　of　war　cry；　hurl　some　fierce　defiance　at　the　Despiser。
　When　Trevor　and　Loerya　were　ready；　they　waved　to　High　Lord　Elena。　At　their　signal；　she　clapped　Myrha　with　her　heels；　and　galloped　away　from　her　mounted　panions。　A　short　distance　away；　between　the　wall　of　the　Keep　and　the　main　body　of　the　Warward；　she　halted。　Swinging　Myrha　in　a　tight　circle　with　the　Staff　of　Law　raised　high　over　her　head；　she　shouted　to　the　warriors　and　the　inhabitants　of　Revelstone；　〃Hail！〃　Her　clear　cry　echoed　off　the　cliff　like　a　tantara；　and　was　answered　at　once　by　one　thrilling　shout　from　a　myriad　of　voices：
　〃Hail！！〃
　〃My　friends；　people　of　the　Land！〃　she　called　out　to　them；　〃the　time　has　e。　War　is　upon　us；　and　we　march　to　meet　it。　Hear　me；　all！　I　am　the　High　Lord；　holder　of　the　Staff　of　Law…sworn　and　dedicate　to　the　services　of　the　Land。　At　my　will；　we　march　to　do　battle　with　the　Gray　Slayer…to　pit　our　strength　against　him　for　the　sake　of　the　Earth。　Hear　me！　It　is　I；　Elena　daughter　of　Lena；　who　say　it：　do　not　fear！　Be　of　strong　heart　and　bold　hand。　If　it　lies　within　our　power；　we　will　prevail！〃
　As　she　held　high　the　Staff；　she　caught　the　early　sunlight。　Her　hair　shone　about　her　like　an　anadem；　and　the　golden　Ranyhyn　bore　her　up　like　an　offering　to　the　wide　day。　For　a　moment；　she　had　a　look　of　immolation；　and　Troy　almost　choked　on　the　fear　of　losing　her。　But　there　was　nothing　sacrificial　in　the　upright
　peal　of　her　voice　as　she　addressed　the　people　of　Revelstone。
　〃Do　not　mistake。　This　peril　is　severe…the　gravest　danger　of　our　age。　It　may　be　that　all　we　have　ever　seen　or　heard　or　felt　will　be　lost。　If　we　are　to　live…if　the　Land　is　to　live…we　must　wrest　life　from　the　Despiser。　It　is　a　task　that　surpassed　the　Old　Lords　who　came　before　us。
　〃But　I　say　to　you；　do　not　fear！　The　ing　battle　is　our　great　test；　our　soul　measure。　It　is　our　opportunity　to　repudiate　utterly　the　Desecration　which　destroys　what　it　loves。　It　is　our　opportunity　to　shape　courage　and　service　and　faith　out　of　the　very　rock　of　doom。　Even　if　we　fall；　we　will　not　despair。
　〃Yet　I　do　not　believe　that　we　shall　fall。〃　Taking　the　Staff　in　one　hand；　　she　thrust　it　straight　toward　the　heavens；　and　a　bright　flame　burst　from　its　end。　〃Hear　me；　all！〃　she　cried。　〃Hear　the　Dedication　in　Time　of　War！〃　Then　she　opened　her　throat　and　began　to　sing　a　song　that　pulsed　like　the　stalking　of　drums。
　Friends！　rades！　Proud　people　of　the　Land！　There　is　war　upon　us；　blood　and　pain　and　killing　are　at　hand。　Together　we　confront　the　test　of　death。
　Friends　and　rades；　remember　Peace！　Repeat　the　Oath　with　every　breath。　Until　the　end　and　Time's　release；　we　bring　no　fury　or　despair；　no　passion　of　hatred；　spite；　or　slaughter；　no　Desecration　to　the　service　of　the　Land。　We　fight　to　mend；　anneal；　repair　to　free　the　Earth　of　detestation；　for　health　and　home　and　wood　and　stone；　for　beauty's　fragrant　bloom　and　gleam；　and　rivers　clear　and　fair　we　strike；　nor　will　we　cease；　let　fall　our　heads　to　ash　and　dust；　lose　faith　and　heart　and　hope　and　bone。
　We　strike　until　the　Land　is　clean　of　wrong　and　pain；　and　we　have　kept　our　trust。　Let　no　great　whelm　of　evil　wreak　despair！　Remember　Peace：　brave　death！　We　are　the　proud　preservers　of　the　Land！
　As　she　finished；　she　turned　Myrha；　faced　the　watchtower。　From　the　Staff　of　Law；　she　sent　crackling　into　the　sky　a　great；　branched　lightning　tree。　At　this　sign；　Lord　Loerya　threw　her　bundle　into　the　air；　and　Lord　Trevor　pulled　strongly　on　the　lines　of　the　flagpole。　The　defiant　war…flag　of　Revelstone　sprang　open　and　snapped　in　the　mountain　wind。　It　was　a　huge　oriflamme；　twice　as　tall　as　the　Lords　who　raised　it；　and　it　was　clear　blue；　the　color　of　High　Lord's　Furl；　with　one　stark　black　streak　across　it。　As　it　flapped　and　fluttered；　a　mighty　cheer　rose　up　from　the　Warward；　and　was　repeated　on　the　thronged　wall　of　Revelstone。
　For　a　moment；　High　Lord　Elena　kept　the　Staff　blazing。　Then　she　silenced　her　display　of　power。　As　the　shouting　subsided；　she　looked　at　the　group　of　riders；　and　called　firmly；　〃Warmark　Hile　Troy！　Let　us　begin！〃
　At　once；　Troy　sent　Mehryl　prancing　toward　the　Warward。　When　he　was　alone　in　front　of　the　riders；　he　saluted　his　second…in…mand；　and　said　quietly；　to　control　his　excitement；　〃First　Haft　Amorine；　you　may　begin。〃
　She　returned　his　salute；　swung　her　mount　toward　the　army。
　〃Warward！〃　she　shouted。　〃Order！〃
　With　a　wide　surge；　the　warriors　came　to　attention。
　〃Drummers　ready！〃
　The　pace…beaters　raised　their　sticks。　When　she　thrust　her　right　fist　into　the　air；　they　began　their　beat；　pounding　out　together　the　rhythm　Troy　had　taught　them。
　〃Warriors；　march！〃
　As　she　gave　the　mand；　she　pulled　down　her　fist。　Nearly　sixteen　thousand　warriors　started　forward　to。　the　cadence　of　the　drums。
　Troy　watched　their　precision　with　a　lump　of　pride　in　his　throat。　At　Amorine's　side；　he　moved　with　his　army　down　the　road　toward　the　river。
　The　rest　of　the　riders　followed　close　behind　him。　Together；　they　kept　pace　with　the　Warward　as　it　marched　westward　under　the　high　south　wall　of　Revelstone。
　
　
　THIRTEEN：　The　Rock　Gardens　of　the　Maerl
　
　TOGETHER；　the　riders　and　the　marching　Warward　passed　down　the　road　to　the　wide　stone　bridge　which　crossed　the　White　River　a　short　distance　south　of　the　lake。　As　they　mounted　the　bridge；　they　received　a　chorus　of　encouraging　shouts　from　the　horsemen　and　raft　builders　at　the　lake；　but　Warmark　Troy　did　not　look　that　way。　From　the　top　of　the　span；　he　gazed　downriver：　there　he　could　see　the　last　rafts　of　Hiltmark　Quaan's　first　two　Eoward　moving　around　a　curve　and　out　of　sight。　They　were　only　a　small　portion　of　Troy's　army；　but　they　were　crucial。　They　were　risking　their　lives　in　accordance　with　his　mands；　and　the　fate　of　the　Land　went　with　them。　In　pride　and　trepidation；　he　watched　until　they　were　gone；　on　their　way　to　receive　the　measure　of　bloodshed　he　had　assigned　to　them。　Then　he　rode　on　precariously　across　the　bridge。
　Beyond　it；　the　road　turned　southward；　and　began　winding　down　away　from　the　Keep's　plateau　toward　the　rough　grasslands　which　lay　between　Revelstone　and　Trothgard。　As　he　moved　through　the　foothills；
　Troy　counted　the　acpanying　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases；　to　be　sure　that　the　Warward　had　its　full　plement　of　support　from　the　lillianrill　and　rhadhamaerl。　In　the　process；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　an　extra　Gravelingas　mounted　and　traveling　behind　the　group　of　riders。
　Trell。
　The　powerful　Gravelingas　kept　to　the　back　of　the　group；　but　he　made　no　attempt　to　hide　his　face　or　his　presence。　The　sight　of　him　gave　Troy　a　twinge　of　anxiety。　He　stopped　and　waited　for　the　High　Lord。　Motioning　the　other　riders　past　him；　he　said　to　Elena　in　a　low　voice；　〃Did　you　know　that　he's　ing　with　us。　Is　it　all　right　with　you？〃　High　Lord　Elena　met　him　with　a　questioning　look　which　he　answered　by　nodding　toward　Trell。
　Covenant　had　stopped　with　Elena；　and　at　Troy's　nod　he　turned　to　look　behind　him。　When　he　saw　the　Gravelingas；　he　groaned。
　Most　of　the　riders　were　past　Elena；　Troy；　and　Covenant　now；　and　Trell　could　clearly　see　the　three　watching　him。　He　halted　where　he　was…still　twenty…five　yards　away…and　returned　Covenant's　gaze　with　a　raw；　bruised　stare。
　For　a　moment；　they　all　held　their　positions；　regarded　each　other　intently。　Then　Covenant　cursed　under　his　breath；　gripped　the　reins　of　his　horse；　and　moved　up　the　road　toward　Trell。
　Bannor　started　after　the　Unbeliever；　but　High　Lord　Elena　stopped　him　with　a　quick　gesture。　〃He　needs　no　protection；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Do　not　affront　Trell　with　your　doubt。〃
　Covenant　faced　Trell；　and　the　two　men　glared　at　each　other。　Then　Covenant　said　something。　Troy　could　not　hear　what　he　said；　but　the　Gravelingas　answered　it　with　a　red…rimmed　stare。　Under　his　tunic；　his　broad　chest　heaved　as　if　he　were　panting。　His　reply　was　inaudible　also。
　There　was　violence　in　Trell's　limbs；　struggling　for　action；　Troy　could　see　it。　He　did　not　understand　Elena's　assertion　that　Covenant　was　safe。　As　he　watched；　he　whispered　to　her；　〃What　did　Covenant　say？〃
　Elena　responded　as　if　she　could　not　be　wrong；　〃The　ur…Lord　promises　that　he　will　not　harm　me。〃
　This　surprised　Troy。　He　wanted　to　know　why　Covenant　would　try　to　reassure　Trell　in　that　way；　but　he　could　not　think　of　a　way　to　ask　Elena　what　the　connection　was　between　her　and　Trell。　Instead；　he　asked；　〃What's　Trell's　answer？〃
　〃Trell　does　not　believe　the　promise。〃
　Silently；　Troy　congratulated　Trell's　mon　sense。
　A　moment　later；　Covenant　jerked　his　horse　into　motion；　and　came　trotting　back　down　the　road。　His　free　hand　pulled　insistently　at　his　beard。　Without　looking　at　Elena；　he　shrugged　his　shoulders　defensively　as　he　said；　〃Well；　he　has　a　good　point。〃　Then　he　urged　his　mount　into　a　canter　to　catch　up　with　the　rest　of　the　riders。
　Troy　wanted　to　wait　for　Trell；　but　the　High　Lord　firmly　took　him　with　her　as　she　followed　Covenant。　Out　of　respect　for　the　Gravelingas；　Troy　did　not　look　back。
　But　when　the　Warward　broke　march　at　midday　for　food　and　rest；　Troy　saw　Trell　eating　with　the　other　rhadhamaerl。
　By　that　time；　the　army　had　wound　out　of　the　foothills　into　the　more　relaxed　grasslands　west　of　the　White　River。　Troy　gauged　the　distance　they　had　covered；　and　used　it　as　a　preliminary　measure　of　the　pace　he　had　set　for　the　march。　So　far；　the　pace　seemed　right。　But　many　factors　influenced　a　day's　march。　The　Warmark　spent　part　of　the　afternoon　with　First　Haft　Amorine；　discussing　how　to　match　the　frequency　and　duration　of　rest　halts　with　such　variables　as　the　terrain；　the　distance　already　traversed；　and　the　state　of　the　supplies。　He　wanted　to　prepare　her　for　his　absences。
　He　was　glad　to　talk　about　his　battle　plan；　he　felt　proud　of　it；　as　if　it　were　a　work　of　objective　beauty。　Traditionally；　beaten　people　fled　to　Doom's　Retreat；　but　h