df.therunelords-第106部分

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　Dunnwood；　the　hounds　baying　distantly；　faint　sounds　of　laughter　and　cries　of　the　hunt　issuing　from　the　lips　of　various　lords；　and　Erden　Geboren's　horn　sounding　above　all。
　From　his　horse's　back；　Gaborn's　father　stared　across　the　valley；　as　if　glimpsing　the　living　knights　camped　in　their　fields　for　the　first　time。　For　half　a　heartbeat；　his　mouth　opened　in　dismay；　as　if　he　recalled　the　things　of　his　mortal　life；　or　as　if　he'd　just　remembered　a　troubling　dream。　Then　his　eyes　cleared；　and　he　smiled　broadly。　The　mortal　world　concerned　him　no　longer。
　He　turned　his　horse；　galloped　into　the　woods。　Then　he　was　gone。
　Gone　forever；　Gaborn　realized；　until　I　can　join　him。
　Gaborn　found　himself　weeping；　not　in　pain　or　joy；　but　in　wonder。　Last　year　as　his　father　had　camped　with　him　during　his　hunt　in　the　Dunnwood；　his　father　had　said　that　the　kings　of　Mystarria　and　Heredon　did　not　need　to　fear　the　ghosts　of　the　Dunnwood。　Now　Gaborn　understood　why。
　We　are　the　ghosts　of　the　Dunnwood；　he　realized。
　Yet　as　the　great　horde　turned　and　began　disappearing　into　the　wood；　one　rider　remained。　Erden　Geboren　stared　off　toward　Gaborn　for　a　long　minute；　his　eyes　piercing；　then　spurred　his　horse　forward。
　He　sees　me。　He　sees　me；　Gaborn　realized；　and　his　heart　pounded　in　terror；　for　everyone　knew　that　to　attract　the　gaze　of　a　wight　brought　death。
　The　great　king　moved　as　if　in　a　dream；　crossing　the　downs　in　a　seeming　heartbeat；　so　that　only　seconds　later；　Erden　Geboren　himself　sat　in　his　saddle　above　Gaborn's　head；　staring　down。
　Gaborn　gazed　up　into　the　face　of　the　wight。　He　bore　his　shield；　and　wore　armor　of　green　leather。　His　helm　was　a　simple　round　thing　of　ancient　design。
　He　stared　deep　into　Gaborn's　eyes；　in　recognition。
　Gaborn　had　imagined　that　Erden　Geboren　would　be　young；　as　in　the　songs　of　old；　that　he　would　look　noble　and　brave。　But　he　was　an　aging　man；　well　past　his　prime。
　Erden　Geboren　pointed　to　the　ground　at　Gaborn's　feet；　and　Gaborn　looked　down；　to　see　where　he　pointed。
　As　Gaborn　did；　dry　oak　leaves　in　the　grass　began　to　rustle　and　stir　in　a　slight　breeze；　drawing　upward　as　if　in　a　whirlwind；　then　suddenly　rose　high　and　twined　their　stems　together；　then　lodged　in　his　fresh…bed　hair。
　All　around　the　downs；　the　men　and　women　of　Heredon　gasped　in　wonder。
　Erden　Geboren　had　crowned　Gaborn　with　the　circlet　of　leaves。　It　was　the　ancient　symbol　of　Mystarria；　the　sign　of　the　Earth　King。　Tonight　was　the　eve　of　Hostenfest。
　Yet　among　all　the　vast　throng　of　people　gathered　there；　only　one　man　dared　call　out　from　the　fields　below；　〃All　hail　the　new　King　of　the　Earth！〃
　Gaborn　looked　up　into　the　eyes　of　the　ghost　king；　Erden　Geboren；　and　suddenly　understood　something。　He　could　mand　these　spirits。　He　could　have　manded　them　all　along。　In　rage　Gaborn　said；　〃If　you　make　me　your　king；　then　I　order　you　and　your　legions　to　do　what　you　can　to　protect　these　woods。　Raj　Ahten　has　taken　many　lives　here。　See　that　he　takes　no　more。〃
　Erden　Geboren　nodded　solemnly；　then　turned　his　pale　horse　and　rode　over　the　fields；　his　great　charger　leaping　the　fences　and　hedgerows　as　he　retreated　into　the　Dunnwood。
　In　moments；　the　sounds　of　hunting　horns　rang　suddenly　loud；　and　then　faded　again　into　the　distance　as　the　wights　departed。
　Everyone　stared　at　Gaborn；　utterly　silent。　Many　looked　troubled；　as　if　uncertain　what　had　happened；　or　unwilling　to　believe。　Others　merely　gaped　in　astonishment。　It　was　said　that　the　ancient　kings　manded　the　Dunnwood；　that　the　wood　served　them。　Gaborn　understood　now　that　it　was　the　ghosts　of　the　wood　that　had　served　his　forefathersand　now　Gaborn　had　dared　mand　them。
　Gaborn　almost　feared　to　breathe；　for　he　knew　that　whatever　he　said　this　day；　it　would　be　remembered　by　all。
　Iome　looked　up　at　Gaborn；　tears　glistening　in　her　eyes。　He　was　already　holding　her　hand；　but　now　she　squeezed　his　fingers　tightly；　her　right　hand　to　his　left。　And　she　raised　her　hand　high。
　Among　poor　people　in　both　their　kingdoms；　a　marriage　was　made　in　a　manner　similar　to　this：　the　man　and　woman　who　wanted　to　wed　would　stand　before　witnesses；　holding　hands　together；　while　a　friend　bound　them　at　the　wrist　with　a　white　ribbon。　Then　the　newlyweds　would　raise　their　hands　as　one；　for　all　to　see。
　So　everyone　understood　the　significance　of　her　gesture。　I　am　a　poor　woman；　who　wants　to　make　a　marriage。
　Gaborn　raised　her　hand　in　his　higher；　and　shouted　to　all　those　in　the　camp；　〃You　yourselves　saw　Sylvarresta　and　Orden　ride　together　now　as　they　did　in　life；　united　as　true　friends。　Seeing　as　death　cannot　divide　them；　let　our　people　not　be　divided！〃
　Everyone　in　the　camp　stood　quiet；　none　yet　daring　to　move。
　Duke　Mardon　stood　two　hundred　yards　downfield　from　them。　A　campfire　glowed　at　his　feet；　showing　his　face。　His　golden　goblet　had　recently　been　filled。　He　was　a　huge　man；　more　of　a　leader　than　any　other　in　Heredon。　A　lord　that　men　loved　and　looked　to。
　Now；　it　seemed　that　hundreds　of　eyes　turned　to　the　Duke；　seeking　sign　of　his　approval。
　Mardon　was　no　fool。　Perhaps　he　recognized　that　Heredon　needed　this　union。　Perhaps　he　had　time　to　consider　the　wealth　and　power　Mystarria　manded。　Perhaps　he　recognized　the　necessity　of　allying　himself　with　the　Earth　King。
　Yet　if　such　mercenary　thoughts　crossed　the　Duke's　mind；　they　did　not　show。　For　almost　immediately　he　raised　his　golden　goblet　in　salute　to　Gaborn；　and　a　broad　smile　creased　his　face。　He　called；　〃And；　milady；　what　say　you？〃
　Iome　clenched　Gaborn's　hand　tightly；　raised　it　higher。　She　turned　to　Gaborn　now；　and　looked　up　at　him；　the　starlight　shining　in　her　eyes。　〃For　Sylvarresta's　part；　I　accept。。。gladly。〃
　Duke　Mardon　shouted　and　raised　his　goblet　high。　〃It　seems　our　King　Sylvarresta　celebrates　Hostenfest　this　year　with　a　hunt　after　all！　Let　us　rejoice　for　him。。。and　for　his　daughter。　We　double　our　cause　for　celebration！〃　He　drained　the　cup　quickly；　and　tossed　it　far　into　the　night；　into　the　camps　of　his　troops；　to　be　the　prize　of　some　poor　soldier。
　That　action　more　than　any　other　finally　brought　a　cheer　from　the　camp；　and　endeared　Mardon　to　Gaborn　forever　after。
　　
　BOOK　5
　　　
　DAY　23　IN　THE　MONTH　OF　HARVEST
　ADVENT　OF　THE　EARTH　KING
　
　AFTERWORD
　　
　The　earth　powers　racked　Iome　on　the　evening　she　became　engaged　to　Gaborn；　making　her　desire　him　more　than　ever　before。　Perhaps　it　was　because　Gaborn　and　Binnesman　both　had　e　together；　flanking　her；　so　that　she　felt　herself　sandwiched　between　the　two；　buffeted　by　their　creative　energies。　Or　maybe　her　fatigue　left　her　more　open　to　his　magic　than　normally。
　Or　perhaps　it　was　because　she　could　feel　the　earth　power　growing　in　Gaborn；　quietly　transforming　him。
　In　any　event；　she　felt　grateful　that　her　people　accepted　their　betrothal。　For　when　he　touched　her　that　evening　and　raised　her　hand；　she　felt　more　than　a　human　touch。　His　fingers　twined　together　with　hers；　like　two　vines　espaliered　together。　She　did　not　believe　any　longer　that　she　could　remain　separated　from　him。　She　did　not　believe　she　could　have　separated　again；　not　and　lived；　not　and　have　been　truly　alive。　If　anyone　had　tried　to　tear　her　from　him；　Iome　believed　wholeheartedly　that　she'd　simply　have　withered　and　died。
　That　night；　she　called　Sir　Borenson　to　her　to　bestow　her　judgment。
　To　his　credit；　Borenson　came　the　three　miles　without　plaint；　knelt　at　her　feet　on　hands　and　knees；　ready　once　again　to　offer　his　neck；　should　she　desire　it。　All　around　them　had　gathered　thousands　of　knights　and　warriors。　Feelings　among　them　were　mixed；　Iome　could　tell　from　their　faces。　Some　would　have　rent　the　man　alive。　Others　frowned　thoughtfully；　fearing　that　someday；　under　similar　circumstances；　they　might　find　themselves　in　his　position。
　She　could　have　outlawed　him；　stripped　him　of　rank　and　protection。　She　could　have　executed　him　on　the　spot。
　〃Sir　Borenson；〃　Iome　said；　〃you　have　grievously　injured　House　Sylvarresta。　Do　you　have　anything　to　say　in　your　own　behalf？〃
　Borenson　just　shook　his　head；　his　great　red　beard　swaying　above　the　dirt。　No。
　〃Then　I　will　speak　in　your　behalf；〃　Iome　said。　〃You　may　have　injured　House　Sylvarresta；　but　you　also　have　loved　it；　and　you　have　served　the　people　of　Heredon。〃
　Iome　sighed；　〃Yet　justice　demands　a　penalty。　In　ancient　times；　I　am　told；　an　act　such　as　yours　could　be　forgiven；　should　the　offending　knight　plete　an　'Act　Penitent。'　〃
　Iome　found　it　hard　to　breathe；　found　it　hard　to　speak　these　next　words；　though　the　idea　had　been　given　her　by　Binnesman；　and　it　had　seemed　adequate　at　the　time。　Now　she　wondered　if　it　was　too　much。　An　act　of　penitence　should　be　something　a　man　could　hope　to　acplish；　a　great　deed　that　would　try　his　soul　and　let　him　grow。　Not　a　deed　that　would　destroy　a　man。
　She　feared　her　sentence　would　break　Borenson。　〃I　sentence　you　to　go　south；　beyond　the　lands　of　Inkarra。　I　bid　you　find　Daylan　Hammer；　the　Sum　of　All　Men；　so　that　we　can　learn　how　best　to　defeat　Raj　Ahten。〃　An　astonished　gasp　issued　from　the　crowd　of　bystanders；　followed　quickly　by　whispers。
　Borenson　gave　a　little　cough　in　surprise；　looked　up　to　Iome；　then　to　Gaborn；　who　stood　at　her　side。
　〃How？　When？　I　meanI　am　under　oath　to　House　Orden。〃
　〃Then　I　release　you　from　all　oaths；　Sir　Borenson；〃　Gaborn　said；　〃until　your　Act　Penitent　is　plete。　You　shall　bee　a　Knight　Equitable；　answerable　only　to　yourself；　if　you　wish。〃
　〃If　I　wish？〃　He　seemed　to　consider。　He　would　have　to　travel　through　enemy　countries；　facing　countless　dangers；　in　some　vain　hope　of　finding　a　legend。　It　was　a　deed　that　might　take　a　man　a　lifetime。　Or　more。　Time；　for　a　man　with　endowments　of　metabolism；　could　pass　so　swiftly。
　Borenson　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　Myrrima。　If　he　accepted　Iome's　punishment；　he'd　have　to　leave　her　behind。　He　might　never　see　her　again。　Myrrima's　face　was　pale；　etched　with　fear。　As　a　signal　to　him；　she　nodded；　barely。
　〃I　accept　your　judgment；〃　Borenson　answered　uncertainly。　He　got　off　his　knees。
　He　no　longer　wore　the　livery　of　House　Orden；　and　therefore　had　no　need　to　strip　himself　of　it。　But　he　took　his　shield；　cut　the　bindings　behind　the　wood；　so　that　the　leather　covering　came　away；　with　its　painted　image　of　the　green　knight。　Beneath　the　leather　covering；　the　shield　was　only　blank　steel　riveted　to　a　frame　of　wood。
　〃When　will