df.therunelords-第107部分

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ath　the　leather　covering；　the　shield　was　only　blank　steel　riveted　to　a　frame　of　wood。
　〃When　will　you　leave？〃　Gaborn　asked；　clapping　Borenson　on　the　back。
　Borenson　shrugged；　glanced　at　Myrrima。　〃Two　weeks；　four　at　the　most。　Before　the　mountains　fill　with　snow。〃
　After　he　has　had　time　to　wed；　Iome　realized。
　She　saw　the　calculating　gaze　that　Gaborn　gave；　knew　he　wanted　to　go　with　Borenson。
　But　Gaborn's　duties　would　hold　him　here　in　the　North。
　The　next　morning　at　dawn；　Gaborn　prepared　a　wagon　to　carry　the　bodies　of　the　kings　back　to　Castle　Sylvarresta。　There；　Sylvarresta　would　be　buried；　while　Gaborn's　father　would　be　embalmed　and　shipped　back　home　to　Mystarria。
　With　the　bodies；　Gaborn　secreted　ten　large　boxes　of　forcibles；　covered　in　soil　from　the　gardens　at　Bredsfor　Manor。
　Gaborn　oversaw　the　whole　affair。　The　camp　had　bee　busy　since　dawn；　with　thousands　of　warriors　striking　their　tents　in　preparation　to　leave；　others　still　ing　in　from　around　Heredon。
　When　Gaborn　had　finished　loading　the　bodies　and　checked　the　wagon's　wheels　and　undercarriage　to　see　if　they　could　hold　the　heavy　load；　he　got　up　to　find　that　a　small　crowd　had　gathered。　Locals　who　had　lived　here　at　Longmont。
　〃We　e　to　ask　you；〃　a　sturdy　farmer　said；　〃if　you'll　be　willing　to　take　our　endowments。〃
　〃Why　do　you　e　to　me？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃You'll　be　our　king；〃　a　young　man　in　the　crowd　spoke　up。
　〃You've　got　gold；〃　the　farmer　said。　〃You　can　pay。　We　don't　ask　much；　only　that　you　care　for　our　families；　keep　them　through　the　winter。　I'm　a　strong　man。　Been　working　all　my　life。　I　could　sell　you　my　brawn。　And　my　son　over　therenever　has　been　sick　a　day。　You　could　use　him。〃
　Gaborn　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃There　will　be　gold　enough　for　you　without　selling　your　endowments。〃　Gaborn　spoke　loudly；　so　that　all　the　crowd　could　hear。　〃I'll　need　men　to　rebuild　this　fortress。　I'll　pay　you　well　for　your　labor。　Bring　your　families　for　the　winter；　and　stay　in　the　buildings　that　still　stand。　Every　man　of　you　will　have　beef　for　your　children；　and　bread　in　your　bellies。〃　He　thought　to　promise　them　moreacorns　and　mushrooms；　deer　and　boar；　all　the　fruits　of　the　forest　and　of　the　fields。　〃You　can　work　some　days　for　me；　others　for　yourselves；　so　you　may　build　your　own　homes。　I　won't　buy　endowments　from　a　man　in　need。〃
　〃And　what　about　the　rest　of　us　who　want　you　to　fight　for　us？〃　an　older　man　asked。　〃I've　got　no　family。　I'm　too　old　to　swing　a　warhammer。　But　you　can　have　my　wits。　They're　sharp　as　ever。　I'll　fight　with　you　as　I　can。〃
　Gaborn　looked　out　over　the　crowd。　This　was　the　only　kind　of　man　he'd　be　willing　to　take　endowments　from；　a　man　who　knew　that　this　was　an　act　of　war；　that　giving　himself　was　a　mitment　to　be　made　in　deadly　earnest。　Yet　Gaborn　did　not　want　any　endowments；　thought　to　wait　before　taking　them　until　spring　or　some　far　future　day。　Still；　he　knew　that　Raj　Ahten　was　not　far　away；　and　might　still　send　assassins。　These　people　needed　a　lord；　and　Gaborn　needed　their　aid。
　〃How　many　of　the　rest　of　you　feel　as　this　man　does？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　As　one；　some　fifty　men　and　women　shouted；　〃I！〃
　That　day；　Gaborn　and　Iome　rode　with　five　hundred　lords　and　knights　back　to　Castle　Sylvarresta　on　force　horses。
　At　each　village　and　town；　they　slowed　their　movements　and　let　the　heralds　announce　their　presence：　the　Earth　King；　Gaborn　Val　Orden；　and　his　bride…to…be；　Iome　Sylvarresta。　By　now；　the　word　of　the　rise　of　an　Earth　King　had　been　shouted　along　almost　every　road　in　Heredon；　and　was　making　its　way　through　the　neighboring　countries　of　Fleeds　and　South　Crowthen；　besides。
　And　before　the　King　and　Queen　rode　the　wizard　Binnesman；　with　an　oak　branch　in　his　hand。
　At　every　village；　the　children　stared　in　awe　and　grinned　at　Gaborn；　the　young　king。　The　wooden　effigies　of　the　Earth　King　all　adorned　the　doors　and　windows　of　every　house；　and　the　faces　of　the　children　were　all　filled　with　joy；　for　this　day　marked　more　than　the　defeat　of　Raj　Ahten。　This　was　the　first　day　of　Hostenfest；　and　finally；　after　1629　years；　a　new　Earth　King　walked　the　land；　one　who　could　bless　his　people　as　did　the　great　king　of　old。
　And　though　children　greeted　Gaborn　in　awe　and　joy；　the　elders　more　often　waved　with　tearstained　faces。　For　some　of　them　understood　what　a　dire　portent　it　was　that　an　Earth　King　once　again　walked　in　the　land。　Hard　times　were　upon　them；　harder　than　any　known　before。
　As　Gaborn　passed　one　inn；　the　innkeeper　went　to　the　effigy　by　his　door；　tore　off　its　fine　crown　of　braided　oak　branches；　and　brought　it　to　Gaborn　to　wear。　After　that；　as　a　token　of　submission；　at　every　home　the　people　tore　the　crowns　of　oak　leaves　from　the　effigies　by　their　doors；　tossed　them　at　Gaborn's　feet；　along　with　flowers。
　And　though　the　people　could　not　understand　the　significance　of　what　he　did；　as　Gaborn　passed　each　such　humble　home；　time　and　again　he　would　gaze　into　the　face　of　some　stout　farmer　or　his　wife　and　children；　staring　far　away；　as　if　looking　deep　into　them　or　through　them。　Then　he　would　smile　secretively　and　raise　his　left　hand　in　blessing；　calling　out　gently；　〃I　choose　you。　I　choose　each　of　youfor　the　Earth。　May　the　Earth　hide　you。　May　the　Earth　heal　you。　May　the　Earth　make　you　its　own！〃
　As　he　spoke；　he　groaned　within　himself；　for　he　could　not　bear　the　thought　that　any　might　be　lost。　Thus　he　began　to　gather　the　seeds　of　mankind；　choosing　for　himself　an　entire　nation。
　The　troop　had　not　gone　twenty　miles　when　the　soldiers　began　to　notice　that　every　oak　tree　in　the　forest　seemed　to　have　dropped　its　leaves　during　the　night；　for　surely　the　leaves　had　still　been　on　the　trees　when　they'd　passed　the　evening　before。
　When　they　remarked　about　it　to　the　wizard；　Binnesman　told　them；　〃This　the　oaks　do　in　respect　for　their　new　king。〃　And　they　found　it　was　true。　Every　oak　in　all　the　Dunnwood　had　dropped　its　leaves　in　a　single　night。
　Yet　on　that　track；　Gaborn　found　what　seemed　to　him　to　be　an　even　greater　wonder。　For　as　he　rode；　a　man　came　out　of　the　woods；　riding　a　great　imperial　warhorse　and　wearing　a　robe　of　gold　silk。　A　fat　man；　old　and　dark　of　skin。　He　tossed　a　jeweled　dagger　to　the　ground；　and　Gaborn　recognized　Raj　Ahten's　counselor　from　the　Seven　Standing　Stones。
　〃All　hail　the　King　of　Earth；〃　the　man　said　in　a　thick　accent；　folding　his　hands　beneath　his　chin　and　bowing　his　head。
　〃I　know　your　face；〃　Gaborn　said。
　〃My　life　is　forfeit；　if　you　wish　to　take　it；〃　the　counselor　said。　〃Or；　if　you　wish；　I　will　serve　you。　My　name　is　Jureem。〃
　Gaborn　stared　into　the　man's　face　a　moment。　〃For　long；　the　servants　of　Fire　have　bedazzled　you。　How　can　I　trust　you？〃
　〃I　was　a　slave；　the　son　of　a　slave；〃　Jureem　said。　〃My　father　believed　that　a　good　servant　was　the　best　of　men；　and　a　good　servant　would　anticipate　his　lord's　needs。　If　you　have　not　done　so　already；　I　bid　you　send　messengers　to　Indhopal；　bearing　the　news　that　an　Earth　King　has　risen　in　Heredon；　and　that　Raj　Ahten　flees　before　him。　Tell　the　people　also　that　Raj　Ahten　fights　the　earth　powers　in　his　attempt　to　bring　down　the　Kingdoms　of　Rofehavan。〃
　〃In　Orwynne；　two　hundred　thousand　troops　have　laid　siege　to　the　capital。　They　have　orders　to　simply　hold　the　capital；　draw　off　defenders；　so　that　no　aid　may　e　here　to　Heredon。〃
　〃In　your　own　homeland　of　Mystarria；　three　of　your　southern　castles　will　have　fallen　by　now。　I　will　tell　you　the　names　of　the　lords　who　hold　those　keeps。　I　believe　Raj　Ahten　will　not　return　home；　but　will　instead　flee　to　one　of　those　strongholds　to　advance　his　conflict。〃
　〃I　will　tell　you　also　the　castles　where　Raj　Ahten　has　hidden　his　Dedicates；　and　give　you　the　names　and　descriptions　of　his　most　important　vectors。〃
　〃Whatever　my　lord　desires；　that　will　I　give。　For　I；　too；　will　now　serve　the　earth。〃
　〃Great　is　the　battle　you　have　won；　milord；　but　I　promise　you；　it　is　only　the　beginning。〃
　Gaborn　wondered　at　all　of　this。　〃So　you　think　that　if　I　spread　dissent　in　his　homelands；　Raj　Ahten　will　be　forced　to　retreat？〃
　Jureem　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　thinking　very　much　that　he　will　not　retreat；　but　such　news　will　distract　him。　I　am　thinking；　O　Great　Light；　that　I　can　be　of　some　small　help　to　win　this　war；　if　you　let　me。　I　offer　myself　as　your　good　servant。〃
　〃Your　life　is　your　own；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃I　keep　no　slaves；　though　I　accept　your　service。〃
　For　long　the　two　men　rode　together　that　day；　plotting　war。
　As　for　Gaborn；　there　was　great　celebration　when　he　reached　Castle　Sylvarresta　that　night。　Riders　had　gone　ahead　to　announce；　the　King　and　Queen；　and　after　King　Sylvarresta　was　laid　in　a　tomb　beside　his　wife；　a　great　feast　took　place。
　Late　in　the　night；　some　thousand　knights　rode　hard　to　the　castle；　soldiers　out　of　Orwynne。　Old　fat　King　Orwynne　himself　rode　at　their　head。
　Orwynne　broke　into　tears　at　the　sight　of　Gaborn；　and　bowed　at　Gaborn's　knee。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　sobbing。
　〃What　have　I　done　to　merit　such　thanks？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃Yesterday　evening；　my　castles　were　besieged　by　two　hundred　thousand　of　Raj　Ahten's　troops；　and　I　thought　all　was　lost。　But　at　your　mand；　aid　came　to　us。〃
　Gaborn　did　not　want　to　hear　the　rest；　how　the　spirits　had　issued　from　the　Dunnwood；　what　they　had　done。　But　he　had　to　know。
　〃All　of　Raj　Ahten's　men；　lost？〃
　〃Every　man　within　sight　of　the　woods；〃　Orwynne　said　triumphantly。
　At　this　news；　many　in　the　Great　Hall　cheered；　but　Gaborn　bid　them　to　silence。　〃There　is　no　triumph　in　the　deaths　of　these　men；〃　Gaborn　murmured。　〃By　their　deaths　we　are　all　diminished。　We　will　need　such　men；　in　the　dark　time　to　e。〃
　That　night；　Gaborn　could　not　sleep。　He　went　out　into　Binnesman's　garden。　The　trees　and　grasses　were　but　gnarled　ash。　Yet　beneath　him　he　could　feel　lifeseeds　and　roots　already　beginning　to　stir。　Though　fire　had　burned　this　place；　e　spring　it　would　once　again　bee　a　riot　of　life。
　On　the　plains　of　Fleeds；　far　from　the　borders　of　the　Dunnwood；　Raj　Ahten's　troops　raced　south　for　a　day　before　they　met　the　remains　of　Vishtimnu's　army；　bivouacked　near　a　pinnacle　of　rock。
　The　Clan　Lords　of　Fleeds　had　discovered　the　army　moving　through　the　wilderness；　had　feared　that　it　had　e　to　attack　the　stronghold　at　Tor　Billius；　so　they　had　surrounded　the　army；　then　slain　some　eighty　thousand　men。
　Raj　Ahten　broke　the　enemy　lines。　As　he　appeared　before　the　clan