mck.harpistinthewind-第42部分

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f　a　sea　or　a　mountain　had　loomed　before　him　that　his　mind　simply　could　not　enpass。　But　it　held　odd　moments　of　quiet；　a　still；　secret　lake　mirroring　many　things；　strange　stones　that　had　once　been　made　to　speak；　forests　haunted　with　pure　black　animals　so　shy　they　died　if　men　looked　upon　them；　acres　of　oak　woods　on　the　western　borders　whose　trees　remembered　the　first　vague　passage　of　men　into　Ymris。　These；　he　treasured。　The　High　One　had　given　him　no　more　of　his　mind　than　the　awareness　of　Ymris；　the　power　he　had　feared　in　the　falcon's　eyes　was　still　leashed　when　he　looked　into　them　again。
　　　　　　　It　was　dawn；　of　some　day；　and　Raederle　was　beside　him。　He　made　a　surprised　noise。　〃How　did　you　get　up　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　flew。〃
　　　　　　　The　answer　was　so　simple　it　seemed　meaningless　for　a　moment。　〃So　did　I。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　climbed　the　stairs。　I　flew　to　the　top。〃
　　　　　　　His　face　looked　so　blank　with　surprise　that　she　smiled。　〃Morgon；　the　High　One　let　me　e　in。　Otherwise　I　would　have　flown　around　the　tower　squawking　all　night。〃
　　　　　　　He　grunted　and　linked　his　fingers　into　hers。　She　was　very　tired；　he　sensed；　and　her　smile　faded　quickly；　leaving　something　disturbing　in　her　eyes。　The　High　One　was　standing　beside　one　of　the　windows。　The　blue…black　stone　was　rimed　with　the　first　light；　against　the　sky　the　harpist's　face　looked　weary；　the　skin　drawn　taut；　colorless　against　the　bones。　But　the　eyes　were　Yrth's；　light…filled；　secret。　Morgon　looked　at　him　for　a　long　time　without　moving；　still　enmeshed　in　his　peace；　until　the　changeless；　familiar　face　seemed　to　meld　with　the　pale　silver　of　the　morning。　The　High　One　turned　then　to　meet　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　He　drew　Morgon　to　his　side　without　a　gesture；　only　his　simple　wordless　desire。　Morgon　loosed　Raederle's　hand　and　rose　stiffly。　He　crossed　the　room。　The　High　One　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。
　　　　　　　Morgon　said；　〃I　couldn't　take　it　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Morgon；　the　power　you　sensed　is　in　the　Earth…Masters'　dead：　those　who　died　fighting　at　my　side　on　this　plain。　The　power　will　be　there　when　you　need　it。〃
　　　　　　　Something　in　Morgon；　deep　beneath　his　peace；　lifted　its　muzzle　like　a　blind　hound　in　the　dark；　scenting　at　the　High　One's　words。　〃And　the　harp；　and　the　sword？〃　He　kept　his　voice　tranquil。　〃I　barely　understand　the　power　in　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　will　find　uses　for　themselves。　Look。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　white　mist　of　vesta　along　the　plain；　beneath　the　low；　lumbering　cloud。　Morgon　gazed　down　at　them　incredulously；　then　leaned　his　face　against　the　cool　stone。　〃When　did　they　get　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃Last　night。〃
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　Astrin's　army？〃
　　　　　　　〃Half　of　it　was　trapped　between　Tor　and　Umber；　but　the　vanguard　made　it　through；　clearing　a　path　for　the　vesta　and　the　Morgol's　guard　and　Danan's　miners。　They　are　behind　the　vesta。〃　He　read　Morgon's　thoughts；　his　hand　tightened　slightly。　〃I　did　not　bring　them　here　to　fight。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　why？〃　he　whispered。
　　　　　　　〃You　will　need　them。　You　and　I　must　end　this　war　quickly。　That　is　what　you　were　born　to　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃How？〃
　　　　　　　The　High　One　was　silent。　Behind　his　tranquil；　indrawn　gaze；　Morgon　sensed　a　weariness　beyond　belief；　and　a　more　familiar　patience：　the　harpist's　reaching　for　Morgon's　understanding；　perhaps；　or　for　getting　beyond　his　understanding。　He　said　finally；　very　gently；　〃The　Prince　of　Hed　and　his　farmers　have　gathered　on　the　south　border　with　Mathom's　army。　If　you　need　to　keep　them　alive；　you'll　find　a　way。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　whirled。　He　crossed　the　chamber；　hung　out　a　south　window；　as　if　he　could　see　among　the　leafless　oaks　a　grim　battery　of　farmers　with　rakes　and　hoes　and　scythes。　His　heart　swelled　with　sudden　pain　and　fear　that　sent　tears　to　his　eyes。　〃He　left　Hed。　Eliard　turned　his　farmers　into　warriors　and　left　Hed。　What　is　it？　The　end　of　the　world？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　came　to　fight　for　you。　And　for　his　own　land。〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　He　turned　again；　his　hands　clenched；　but　not　in　anger。　〃He　came　because　you　wanted　him。　That's　why　the　Morgol　came；　and　Har：　you　drew　them；　the　way　you　draw　me；　with　a　touch　of　wind　at　the　heart；　a　mystery。　What　is　it？　What　is　it　that　you　aren't　telling　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　given　you　my　name。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　was　silent。　It　began　to　snow　lightly；　big；　random　flakes　scattered　on　the　wind。　They　caught　on　his　hands；　burned　before　they　vanished。　He　shuddered　suddenly　and　found　that　he　bad　no　inclination　left　for　questions。　Raederle　had　turned　away　from　them　both。　She　looked　oddly　isolated　in　the　center　of　the　small　chamber。　Morgon　went　to　her　side；　her　head　lifted　as　he　joined　her；　but　her　face　turned　away　from　him　to　the　High　One。
　　　　　　　He　came　to　her；　as　if　she　had　drawn　him；　the　way　he　drew　Morgon。　He　smoothed　a　strand　of　her　windblown　hair　away　from　her　face。　〃Raederle；　it　is　time　for　you　to　leave。〃
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head。　〃No。〃　Her　voice　was　very　quiet。　〃I　am　half　Earth…Master。　You　will　have　at　least　one　of　your　kind　fighting　for　you　after　all　these　centuries。　I　will　not　leave　either　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　in　the　eye　of　danger。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　chose　to　e。　To　be　with　those　I　love。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　silent；　for　a　moment　he　was　only　the　harpist；　ageless；　indrawn；　lonely。　〃You；〃　he　said　softly；　〃I　never　expected。　So　powerful；　so　beautiful；　and　so　loving。　You　are　like　one　of　our　children；　growing　into　power　before　our　war。〃　He　lifted　her　hand　and　kissed　it；　then　opened　it　to　the　small　angular　scar　on　her　palm。　〃There　are　twelve　winds；〃　he　said　to　Morgon。　〃Bound；　controlled；　they　are　more　precise　and　terrible　than　any　weapon　or　wizard's　power　in　the　realm。　Unbound；　they　could　destroy　the　realm。　They　are　also　my　eyes　and　ears；　for　they　shape　all　things；　hear　all　words　and　movements；　and　they　are　everywhere。。。　That　jewel　that　Raederle　held　was　cut　and　faceted　by　winds。　I　did　that　one　day　when　I　was　playing　with　them；　long　before　I　ever　used　them　in　our　war。　The　memory　of　that　was　mirrored　in　the　stone。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　telling　me？〃　His　voice　jerked　a　little。　〃I　can't　hold　the　winds。〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　Not　yet。　Don't　be　concerned；　yet。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　Morgon's　shoulders；　held　him　easily　again　within　his　stillness。　〃Listen。　You　can　hear　the　voices　of　all　the　winds　of　the　realm　in　this　chamber。　Listen　to　my　mind。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　opened　his　mind　to　the　High　One's　silence。　The　vague；　incoherent　murmurings　outside　the　walls　were　refracted　through　the　High　One's　mind　into　all　the　pure；　beautiful　tones　on　the　starred　harp。　The　harping　filled　Morgon's　heart　with　soft；　light　summer　winds；　and　the　deep；　wild　winds　that　he　loved；　the　slow；　rich　measures　matched　the　beat　of　his　blood。　He　wanted　suddenly　to　hold　the　harping　and　the　harpist　within　that　moment　until　the　white　winter　sky　broke　apart　once　more　to　light。
　　　　　　　The　harping　stilled。　He　could　not　speak；　he　did　not　want　the　High　One　to　move。　But　the　arm　around　his　shoulders　shifted；　the　High　One　gripped　him　gently；　facing　him。
　　　　　　　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　a　battle　on　our　hands。　I　want　you　to　find　Heureu　Ymris。　This　time；　I'll　warn　you：　when　you　touch　his　mind；　you　will　spring　a　trap　set　for　you。　The　Earth…Masters　will　know　where　you　are　and　that　the　High　One　is　with　you。　You　will　ignite　war　again　on　Wind　Plain。　They　have　little　mind…power　of　their　own：　I　keep　that　bound；　but　they　hold　Ghisteslwchlohm's　mind；　and　they　may　use　his　powers　of　wizardry　to　try　to　hurt　you。　I'll　break　any　bindings　he　forges。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　turned　his　head；　looked　at　Raederle。　Her　eyes　told　him　what　he　already　knew：　that　nothing　he　could　say　or　do　could　make　her　leave　them。　He　bent　his　head　again；　in　silent　acquiescence　to　her　and　to　the　High　One。　Then　he　let　his　awareness　venture　beyond　the　silence　into　the　damp　earth　around　the　tower。　He　touched　a　single　blade　of　grass；　let　his　mind　shape　it　from　hair　roots　to　tip。　Rooted　also　within　the　structure　of　land…law　in　Heureu's　mind；　it　became　his　link　with　the　King　of　Ymris。
　　　　　　　He　sensed　a　constant；　nagging　pain；　a　turmoil　of　helpless　anger　and　despair；　and　heard　a　distant；　hollow　drag　and　ebb　of　the　sea。　He　had　learned　every　shape　of　cliff　and　stone　boring　out　of　the　shores；　and　he　recognized　the　strip　of　Meremont　coast。　He　smelled　wet　wood　and　ashes；　the　king　lay　in　a　half…burned　fisher's　hut　on　the　beach；　no　more　than　a　mile　or　two　from　Wind　Plain。
　　　　　　　He　started　to　glance　up；　to　speak。　Then　the　sea　flooded　over　him；　spilled　through　all　his　thoughts。　He　seemed　to　stare　down　a　long；　dark　passageway　into　Ghisteslwchlohm's　alien；　gold…flecked　eyes。
　　　　　　　He　felt　the　startled　recognition　in　the　bound　mind。　Then　a　mind…hold　raked　at　him；　and　the　wizard's　eyes　burned　into　him；　searching　for　him。　The　mind…hold　was　broken；　he　reeled　back　away　from　it。　The　High　One　gripped　his　shoulder；　holding　him　still。　He　started　to　speak　again；　but　the　falcon's　eyes　stopped　him。
　　　　　　　He　waited；　shaken　suddenly　by　the　pounding　of　his　heart。　Raederle；　bound　to　the　same　waiting；　seemed　remote　again；　belonging　to　another　portion　of　the　world。　He　wanted　desperately　to　speak；　to　break　the　silence　that　held　them　all　motionless　as　if；　they　were　carved　of　stone。　But　he　seemed　spellbound；　choiceless；　an　extension　of　the　High　One's　will。　A　movement　streaked　the　air；　and　then　another。　The　dark；　delicately　beautiful　Earth…Master；　whom　Morgon　knew　as　Eriel；　stood　before　them；　and　beside　her；　Ghisteslwchlohm。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment；　the　High　One　checked　the　power　gathered　against　him。　There　was　astonishment　and　awe　in　the　woman's　eyes　as　she　recognized　the　harpist。　The　wizard；　face　to　face　with　the　High　One；　whom　he　had　been　searching　for　so　long；　nearly　broke　the　hold　over　his　mind。　A　faint　smile　touched　the　falcon's　eyes；　icy　as　the　heart　of　the　northern　wastes。
　　　　　　　〃Even　death；　Master　Ohm；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　riddle。〃
　　　　　　　A　rage　blackened　Ghisteslwchlohm's　eyes。　Something　spun　Morgon　across　the　chamber。　He　struck　the　dark　wall；　it　gave　under　him；　and　he　fell　into　a　luminous；　blue…black　mist　of　illusion。　He　heard　Raederle's　cry；　and　then　a　crow　streaked　across　his　vision。　He　caught　at　it；　but　it　fluttered　away　between　his　hands。　A　mind　gripped　his　mind。　The　binding　was　instantly　broken。　A　power　he　did　not　feel　flashed　at　him　and　was　swallowed。　He　saw　Ghisteslwchlohm's　face　again；　blurred　in　the　strange　light　He　felt　a　wrench　at　his　side；　and　he　cried　out；　though　he　did　not　know　what　had　b