srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第43部分

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'brought　more　of　it　to　her。　Only　when　all　the　great　horses　had　eaten　some　of　the　amanibhavam　did　the　Lords　allow　themselves　to　rest。
　Then　the　Bloodguard　turned　their　attention　to　the　task　of　building　a　raft。　The　only　trees　hardy　enough　to　grow　in　the　valley　were　teaks；　and　in　one　stand　nearby　three　of　the　tallest　were　dead。　Their　ironwood　trunks　showed　what　had　happened　to　them；　when　they　had　grown　above　a　certain　size；　their　roots　had　reached　down　deep　enough　to　touch　soil　soaked　by　the　river；　and　so　they　had　died。
　Using　hatchets　and　clingor　ropes；　the　Bloodguard　were　able　to　bring　down　these　three　trees。　Each　they　sectioned　into　four　logs　of　roughly　equal　length。　When　they　had　rolled　the　logs　down　to　the　dead　bank　of　the　Course；　they　began　lashing　them　together　with　clingor　thongs。
　The　task　was　slow　because　of　the　size　and　weight　of　the　ironwood　logs；　and　the　Bloodguard　worked　carefully　to　make　sure　that　the　raft　was　secure。　But　they　were　fifteen；　and　made　steady　progress。　Shortly　after　noon；　the　raft　was　plete。　After　they　had　prepared　several　steering　poles；　they　were　ready　to　continue　on　their　way。
　The　Lords　readied　themselves　also。　After　a　moment　of　melding；　they　bid　ceremonious　farewell　to　the
　Ranyhyn。　Then　they　came　down　to　the　banks　of　the　Defiles　Course　and　bid　Korik　launch　the　raft。
　Two　of　the　Bloodguard　fastened　ropes　to　the　raft　while　the　others　positioned　themselves　along　its　sides。　Together；　they　lifted　the　massive　ironwood　logs；　heaved　the　raft　into　the　river。　It　bucked　in　the　stiff　current；　but　the　two　ropes　secured　it。　Cerrin　and　Sill　leaped　out　onto　it　to　see　how　it　held　together。　When　they　gave　their　approval；　Korik　signed　for　the　Lords　to　precede　him。
　Lord　Shetra　sprang　down　to　the　raft；　and　at　once　set　about　wedging　her　staff　between　the　center　logs　so　that　she　could　use　its　power　for　a　rudder。　Lord　Hyrim　followed　her；　as　did　the　other　Bloodguard；　until　only　the　two　who　held　the　ropes　remained　on　the　bank。　Lord　Shetra　began　to　sing　quietly；　calling　up　the　Earthpower　through　her　staff。　When　she　was　ready；　she　nodded　to　Korik。
　At　his　mand；　the　last　two　Bloodguard　sprang　for　the　raft　as　the　current　ripped　it　away。
　The　raft　plunged；　swirled；　the　boiling　water　spun　it　out　into　the　middle　of　the　river。
　But　then　Lord　Shetra　caught　her　balance。　The　power　of　her　staff　took　hold　like　a　Gildenlode　rudder　in　the　hands　of　a　Giant。　The　raft　resisted　her；　but　slowly　it　became　steady。　She　piloted　it　down　the　torrent　of　the　stream；　and　in　moments　the　mission　rushed　out　of　the　valley　back　into　the　grasp　of　Sarangrave　Flat。
　Free　of　the　constriction　of　the　valley；　the　Defiles　Course　gradually　widened；　slowed。　Then　it　began　to　wind　and　spill　out　into　the　waterways　of　the　Sarangrave；　and　the　worst　of　the　current　was　past。
　For　the　rest　of　the　afternoon；　Lord　Shetra　remained　in　the　stern　of　the　raft；　guided　it　along　the　black　water。　The　riverbed　bent　and　twisted　as　the　Defiles　Course　became　more　and　more　woven　into　the　fabric　of　Sarangrave　Flat。　Side　currents　ran　into　and　away　from　the　main　stream；　and　rocky　eyots　topped　with　tufts　of　jungle　began　to　dot　the　river。　When　the　pace　of　the　Course　grew　sluggish；　she　used　her　staff　to
　propel　the　raft；　she　needed　headway　to　navigate　the　channels。　By　evening　she　was　greatly　weary。
　Then　four　of　the　Bloodguard　took　up　the　poles　and　began　thrusting　the　raft　through　twilight　into　night；　where　only　their　dark…familiar　eyes　could　see　well　enough　to　keep　the　raft　moving　safely。　Lord　Shetra　ate　the　meal　Hyrim　prepared　for　her　over　a　small　lillianrill　fire；　then　dropped　into　slumber　despite　the　stink　and　spreading　dampness　of　the　river。
　But　at　dawn　she　returned　to　work；　plying　the　Defiles　Course　with　her　staff。
　However；　Lord　Hyrin　soon　came　to　her　aid。　Alternately　they　propelled　the　raft　throughout　the　day；　and　at　night　they　rested　while　the　Bloodguard　used　their　poles。　In　this　way；　the　mission　traveled　down　the　Defiles　Course　until　the　evening　of　the　twelfth　day。　During　the　days；　the　sky　was　clear；　and　the　sunlight　was　full　of　butterflies。　The　raft　made　good　progress。
　But　that　night　dark　clouds　hid　the　moon；　and　rain　soaked　the　Lords；　damaging　their　sleep。　When　Korik　called　to　them　in　the　last　blackness　before　dawn；　they　both　threw　off　their　blankets　at　once　and　came　to　their　feet。
　Korik　pointed　into　the　night。　In　the　darkness　of　a　jungled　islet　ahead　of　the　raft；　there　was　a　faint　light。　It　flickered　and　waned　like　a　weak　fire　on　wet　wood；　but　revealed　nothing。
　As　the　raft　approached　the　eyot；　the　Lords　stared　at　it。　Then　Shetra　whispered；　〃That　is　a　made　light。　It　is　not　natural　to　the　Sarangrave。〃
　The　Bloodguard　agreed。　None　of　the　Flat's　lightbearing　animals　or　insects　were　abroad　in　the　rain。
　〃Pull　in　to　the　islet；〃　Shetra　breathed。　〃We　must　see　the　maker　of　this　light。〃
　Korik　gave　the　orders。　The　Bloodguard　at　the　poles　moved　the　raft　so　that　it　floated　toward　the　head　of　the　islet。　When　it　was　within　ten　yards　of　the　edge；　Doar　and　Pren　slipped　into　the　water。　They　swam　to　the　eyot；　then　faded　up　into　the　underbrush。　The　steersmen　swung　the　raft　so　that　it　floated　downstream　within　jumping　distance　of　the　bank。
　The　islet　was　long　and　narrow。　As　the　mission
　floated　by　almost　within　reach　of　the　low…hanging　branches；　the　light　came　into　clearer　view。　It　was　a　thin　flame…a　weak　flickering　like　the　burn　of　a　torch。　But　it　revealed　nothing　around　it　except　the　tree　shadows　which　passed　between　it　and　the　raft。
　When　the　raft　was　some　distance　past　it；　the　light　went　out。　Both　the　Lords　started；　raised　their　staffs；　but　they　said　nothing。　The　steering　Bloodguard　leaned　on　their　poles　until　one　side　of　the　raft　nudged　the　bank。　Almost　at　once；　Doar　and　Pren　leaped　out　onto　the　logs；　bearing　between　them　the　battered　form　of　a　man。
　Immediately；　the　steersmen　sent　the　raft　swinging　out　into　the　main　channel。　Lord　Hyrim　bent　to　light　a　lillianrill　rod。
　In　the　rain　the　torch　shone　dimly；　but　it　revealed　the　man。　His　face　and　limbs　were　streaked　with　dirt　and　grime；　clotted　with　the　blood　of　numerous　small　wounds；　cuts；　and　scratches。　Surrounded　by　dirt　and　blood；　the　whites　of　his　eyes　glistened。　His　clothes；　like　the　wounds　and　mud　on　him；　spoke　of　a　long　struggle　to　survive　the　Flat。　The　remains　of　a　uniform　hung　about　him　in　shreds。
　Only　one　piece　of　his　apparel　was　intact。　He　wore　a　scarred　metal　breastplate；　yellow　under　the　filth；　with　one　black　diagonal　insignia　across　it。
　〃By　the　Seven！〃　Lord　Shetra　said。　〃A　Warhaft！〃
　She　caught　hold　of　the　man's　shoulders。　But　then　she　recoiled　as　if　the　man　had　burned　her。　〃Melenkurion！　Warhaft；〃　she　cried；　〃what　has　been　done　to　you？　Your　flesh　is　ice！〃
　The　man　gave　no　sign　that　he　heard　her。　He　stood　where　Doar　and　Pren　had　placed　him；　and　his　head　hung　to　one　side。　His　breathing　was　shallow。　He　did　not　move　in　any　way；　except　to　blink　his　eyes　at　long　intervals。
　But　Shetra　did　not　wait　for　answers。　〃Hyrim；〃　she　said；　〃this　man　is　freezing！〃　She　snatched　up　her　blanket；　threw　it　over　him。　Lord　Hyrim　built　his　torch　into　a　fire。　There　he　boiled　a　stoneware　pot　of　water　until　it　was　clean；　while　Shetra　seated　the　man　by　the
　fire。　She　took　hold　of　his　head　to　force　some　springwine　between　his　lips。
　The　cold　of　his　flesh　blistered　her　fingers。
　She　and　Hyrim　wrapped　their　hands　in　blankets　for　protection；　then　laid　the　man　down　by　the　fire　and　stripped　him　of　his　rags。　They　washed　him　with　boiling　water。　When　he　was　clean；　Lord　Shetra　drew　a　stone　vial　of　hurtloam　from　her　robe；　and　spread　some　of　the　healing　mud　over　the　worst　of　his　wounds。
　Dawn　came　through　the　rain。　In　the　light；　the　Bloodguard　saw　the　result　of　the　Lords'　work。　The　man's　skin　looked　like　the　flesh　of　a　corpse：　On　his　wounds；　the　hurtloam　lay　impotent。　The　cold　in　him　was　uneased。
　Yet　he　breathed　and　blinked。　When　the　Lords　covered　him　and　lifted　him　into　a　sitting　posture；　he　squeezed　his　eyes；　and　water　began　to　run　from　them　like　tears。　It　spread　out　over　his　cheeks　and　formed　beads　of　ice　in　his　beard。
　〃By　the　Seven。　By　the　Seven！〃　Lord　Shetra　moaned。　〃He　is　dead；　and　yet　he　lives。　What　has　been　done　to　him？〃
　Lord　Hyrim　made　no　answer。
　After　a　time；　Korik　spoke　for　the　Bloodguard。　〃He　is　Hoerkin；　a　Warhaft　of　the　Warward。　He　manded　the　First　Eoman　of　the　Tenth　Eoward。　The　High　Lord　sent　his　mand　to　seek　out　the　Giants　in　Seareach。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Hyrim　murmured。　〃I　remember。　When　his　Eoman　did　not　return；　the　High　Lord　sent　Callindrill　and　Amatin　to　attempt　the　Sarangrave。　Twenty…one　warriors…Warhaft　Hoerkin　and　his　mand…all　lost。　Callindrill　and　Amatin　found　no　trace。〃
　Lord　Shetra　addressed　herself　to　the　man。　〃Hoerkin。　Warhaft　Hoerkin。　Do　you　hear　me？　Speak！　I　am　Shetra　Verement…mate；　Lord　of　the　Council　of　Revelstone。　I　adjure　you　to　speak。〃
　At　first；　Hoerkin　did　not　respond。　Then　his　jaw　moved；　and　a　low　noise　came　from　his　mouth。
　〃I　am　ahamkara；　the　Door。　I　am　sent…〃
　His　voice　trailed　off　into　the　flow　of　his　tears。
　〃Sent？　Door？〃　Shetra　said。　〃Hoerkin；　speak！〃
　The　Warhaft　did　not　seem　to　hear。　He　sat　in　silence；　while　his　tears　formed　clusters　of　ice　in　his　beard。
　Then　Lord　Hyrim　manded；　〃Ahamkara；　answer！〃
　Hoerkin　swallowed；　and　spoke。
　〃I　am　ahamkara；　the　Door。　I　am　sent　to　bear　witness　to…to…〃
　He　faltered；　but　resumed　a　moment　later。
　〃I　am　sent　to　bear　witness　to　the　downfall　of　Giants。〃
　For　all　the　Bloodguard；　Korik　said；　〃You　lie！〃　And　Lord　Shetra　sprang　on　Hoerkin。　Regardless　of　the　pain；　she　gripped　his　face　between　her　hands；　and　shouted；　〃Despiser！〃
　He　gave　a　cry　and　tore　himself　from　her　grasp。　Huddling　with　his　face　against　the　logs　of　the　raft；　he　sobbed　like　a　child。
　Appalled；　Shetra　backed　away　from　him。　At　Lord　Hyrim's　side；　she　stopped　and　waited。　Long　moments　passed　before　Hoerkin　moved。　Then　he　pushed　himself　up　into　his　former　posture。　Still　his　tears　ran　down　into　his　beard。
　〃…the　downfall　of　Giants。　There　were　three；　brothers　of　one　birth。　Omen　of　the　；end。　They　serve　Satansheart　Soulcrusher。〃
　He　stopped　again。
　After　a　moment；　Korik　said；　〃This　cannot　be。　It　is　impossible。　The　Giants　of　Seareach　are　the　Rockbrothers　of　the　Land。〃
　Hoerkin　did　not　respond。　Staring　at　the　logs　of　the　raft；　he　sat　like　dead　clay。　B