df.therunelords-第5部分

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　〃As　you　wish；　milord；〃　Borenson　said。　He　began　running　in　the　swift　way　that　only　those　who　had　taken　an　endowment　of　metabolism　could；　many　in　the　crowd　parted　before　the　big　warrior；　who　wound　his　way　gracefully　between　those　who　were　too　slow　or　clumsy　to　move　for　him。
　Gaborn　did　not　know　how　long　it　might　take　Borenson　to　fetch　the　woman；　so　he　wandered　back　to　the　shadows　thrown　by　the　inn。　His　Days　followed。　Together　they　stood；　annoyed　by　a　cloud　of　honeybees。　The　front　of　the　inn　here　had　an　〃aromatic　garden〃　in　the　northern　style。　Blue　morning…glory　seeds　were　sewn　in　the　thatch　of　the　roof；　and　a　riot　of　window　boxes　and　flowerpots　held　creeping　flowers　of　all　kinds：　palest　honeysuckle　dripped　golden　tears　along　the　walls；　mallow；　like　delicate　bits　of　pearl；　fluttered　in　the　gentle　breeze　above　the　snow…in…summer；　giant　mandevilla；　pink　as　the　sunrise；　was　nearly　strangled　by　the　jasmine。　And　interspersed　with　all　of　these　were　rose　vines；　climbing　every　wall；　splotches　of　peach。　Along　the　ground　were　planted　spearmint；　chamomile；　lemon　verbena；　and　other　spices。
　Most　northern　inns　were　decorated　with　such　flowers。　It　helped　mask　the　obnoxious　scents　of　the　market；　while　herbs　grown　in　these　gardens　could　be　used　for　teas　and　spices。
　Gaborn　stepped　back　into　the　sunlight；　away　from　the　heavy　perfume　of　the　flowers。　His　nose　was　too　keen　to　let　him　stay。
　Borenson　returned　in　a　few　moments　with　his　big　right　hand　resting　gently　on　Myrrima's　elbow；　as　if　to　catch　her　should　she　trip　on　a　cobblestone。　It　was　an　endearing　sight。
　When　the　two　stood　before　him；　Myrrima　bowed　slightly。　〃Milord　wished　to　speak　to　me？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃Actually；　I　was　more　interested　in　having　you　meet　Borenson；　my　body。〃　He　left　off　the　word　guard；　as　was　the　custom　in　Mystarria。　〃He　has　been　my　body　for　six　years　now；　and　is　captain　of　my　personal　guard。　He　is　a　good　man。　In　my　estimation；　one　of　the　finest　in　Mystarria。　Certainly　the　finest　soldier。〃
　Borenson's　cheeks　reddened；　and　Myrrima　glanced　up　at　the　big　guard；　smiling　discreetly；　gauging　him。　She　could　not　have　failed　to　notice　by　now　that　Borenson　had　an　endowment　of　metabolism　to　his　credit。　The　hastiness　of　his　speeded　reactions；　the　apparent　inability　to　rest；　were　sure　sign　of　it。
　〃Recently；　Borenson　was　promoted　to　the　rank　of　Baron　of　the　Realm；　and　given　title　to　a　land　and　manor　in。。。the　Drewverry　March。〃　Immediately　Gaborn　recognized　his　mistake。　To　give　such　a　large　holding　was　impetuous。　Yet　now　that　the　words　had　been　spoken。。。
　〃Milord；　I've　never　heard〃　Borenson　began　to　say；　but　Gaborn　waved　him　to　silence。
　〃As　I　say；　it　was　a　recent　promotion。〃　The　Drewverry　estate　was　a　major　holding；　more　land　than　Gaborn　would　normally　give　to　a　distinguished　soldier　for　a　life　of　service；　if　he'd　had　time　to　consider。　But　now；　Gaborn　reasoned；　this　sudden　act　of　generosity　would　only　make　Borenson　that　much　more　loyalas　if　Borenson's　loyalty　would　ever　waver。　〃In　any　event；　Myrrima；　as　you　can　see；　Borenson　spends　a　great　deal　of　time　in　my　service。　He　needs　a　wife　to　help　him　manage　his　holdings。〃
　The　look　of　surprise　on　Borenson's　face　was　a　joy　to　behold。　The　big　man　was　obviously　taken　by　this　northern　beauty；　and　Gaborn　had　all　but　ordered　them　to　marry。
　Myrrima　studied　the　guard's　face　without　reserve；　as　if　noticing　for　the　first　time　the　strength　of　his　jaw；　the　imposing　bulge　of　muscle　beneath　his　jerkin。　She　did　not　love　him；　not　yet。　Perhaps　she　never　would。　This　was　an　arranged　marriage；　and　marrying　a　man　who　lived　his　life　twice　as　fast　as　you；　one　who　would　grow　old　and　die　while　you　floundered　toward　middle　age；　could　not　be　an　overwhelmingly　attractive　proposition。　Thoughtfully；　she　considered　the　virtues　of　the　match。
　Borenson　stood　dumbfounded；　like　a　boy　caught　stealing　apples。　His　face　told　that　he'd　considered　the　match；　hoped　for　it。
　〃I　told　you　I　thought　you'd　do　well　in　court；〃　Gaborn　said　to　Myrrima。　〃I'd　like　you　to　be　in　my　court。〃
　Certainly　the　woman　would　take　his　meaning。　No　Runelord　could　marry　her。　The　best　she　could　hope　for　would　be　some　merchant　prince；　burdened　by　adolescent　lust。
　Gaborn　offered　her　a　position　of　powermore　than　she　could　normally　hope　forwith　an　honorable　and　decent　man　whose　life　doomed　him　to　a　strange　and　lonely　existence。　It　was　no　promise　of　love；　but　then　Myrrima　was　a　pragmatic　woman　who　had　taken　the　beauty　of　her　sisters；　the　wisdom　of　her　mother。　Having　taken　these　endowments；　she　would　now　have　to　assume　responsibility　for　her　impoverished　kin。　She　knew　the　burden　of　power。　She'd　be　a　perfect　woman　to　hold　a　place　in　Mystarria。
　She　looked　up　into　Borenson's　eyes　for　a　long　moment；　face　and　mouth　suddenly　hard；　as　she　considered　the　offer。　Gaborn　could　see　that　now　that　the　proposal　was　made；　she　realized　what　a　momentous　decision　this　was。　Almost　imperceptibly；　she　nodded；　sealing　the　bargain。　Borenson　offered　none　of　the　hesitancy　that　Myrrima　had　found　with　Gaborn。　He　reached　out　and　took　her　slender　hand　in　both　fists。
　He　said；　〃You　must　understand；　fair　lady；　that　no　matter　how　sturdy　my　love　for　you　grows；　my　first　loyalty　will　always　be　to　my　lord。〃
　〃As　it　should　be；〃　Myrrima　said　softly；　with　a　slight　nod。　
　Gaborn's　heart　leapt。　I　have　won　her　love　as　surely　as　Borenson　shall；　he　thought。
　At　this　moment；　he　felt　strangeas　if　gripped　by　some　great　power。　It　seemed　he　could　feel　that　power；　like　a　buffeting　wind；　encirclinginvisible；　potent；　overawing。
　Gaborn's　pulse　raced。　He　glanced　around；　certain　the　source　of　this　emotion　must　have　a　causea　shifting　in　the　earth　in　preparation　for　a　quake；　an　approaching　thunderstorm。　But　he　saw　nothing　out　of　the　normal；　those　around　him　did　not　seem　troubled。
　Yet　he　could　feel。。。the　earth　preparing　to　move　beneath　his　feetthe　rocks　to　twist　or　breathe　or　shout。
　It　was　a　distinctly　odd　sensation。
　As　suddenly　as　the　rush　of　power　had　e；　it　dissipated。　Like　a　gust　of　wind　passing　over　a　meadow；　unseen；　but　subtly　disturbing　all　in　its　wake。
　Gaborn　wiped　perspiration　from　his　brow；　worried。　I've　e　a　thousand　miles　to　heed　a　distant；　unheard　call。　And　now　I　feel　this？
　It　seemed　madness。　He　asked　the　others；　〃Do　youdo　you　feel　anything？〃
　　
　Chapter　3
　OF　KNIGHTS　AND　PAWNS
　　
　When　Chemoise　got　news　that　her　betrothed　was　attacked　while　on　guard　duty；　gutted　by　some　spice　merchant；　it　was　as　if　the　dawn　sun　went　black；　losing　power　to　warm　her。　Or　it　was　as　if　she'd　turned　to　pale　clay；　her　flesh　losing　all　color；　no　longer　able　to　hold　her　spirit。
　Princess　Iome　Sylvarresta　watched　Chemoise；　her　Maid　of　Honor；　her　dearest　friend；　desperately　wishing　for　a　way　to　console　her。　If　Lady　Jollenne　had　been　here；　she'd　have　known　what　to　do。　But　the　matron　had　been　called　away　for　a　few　weeks　to　care　for　her　grandmother；　who'd　had　a　bad　fall。
　Iome；　her　Days；　and　Chemoise　had　been　up　at　dawn；　sitting　near　the　huge；　U…shaped　storyteller's　stone　in　the　Queen's　topiary　garden；　reading　the　latest　romance　poems　by　Adalle；　when　Corporal　Clewes　broke　in　on　their　reverie。
　He　told　the　news：　A　scuffle　with　a　drunken　merchant。　An　hour　or　more　past。　Cat's　Alley。　Sergeant　Dreys。　Fought　nobly。　Near　death。　Slit　from　crotch　to　heart。　Called　for　Chemoise　as　he　fell。
　Chemoise　took　the　news　stoically；　if　statues　can　be　said　to　be　stoic。　She　sat　stiffly　on　the　stone　bench；　her　hazel　eyes　unfocused；　her　long；　wheat…colored　hair　stirring　in　the　wind。　She'd　been　weaving　a　chain　of　daisies　as　Iome　read。　Now　she　laid　them　in　her　lap；　on　a　skirt　of　coral…colored　chiffon。　Sixteen　and　heartbroken。　She　was　to　have　married　in　ten　days。
　Yet　she　dared　not　show　her　emotions。　A　proper　lady　should　be　able　to　bear　such　news　lightly。　She　waited　for　Iome's　permission　to　go　to　her　fiancée。　Thank　you；　Clewes；〃　Iome　said　when　the　corporal　continued　standing　at　attention。　〃Where　is　Dreys　now？〃
　〃We　laid　him　out　on　the　mon；　outside　the　King's　Tower。　I　didn't　want　to　move　him　any　farther。　The　others　are　laid　out　down　by　the　river。〃
　〃The　others？〃　Iome　asked。　She　was　sitting　beside　Chemoise；　now　she　took　the　girl's　hand。　It　had　gone　cold；　so　cold。
　Clewes　was　an　old　soldier　to　have　such　a　low　station。　His　trim　beard　was　stiff　as　oat　stubble。　It　poked　out　from　under　the　broken　strap　of　his　iron　pikeman's　cap。
　〃Aye；　Princess；〃　he　said；　remembering　to　address　Iome　properly　for　the　first　time　since　he'd　intruded　into　the　garden。　〃Two　of　the　City　Guard　died　in　the　fight。　Poll　the　Squire　and　Sir　Beauman。〃
　Iome　turned　to　Chemoise。　〃Go　to　him；〃　she　said。
　The　girl　needed　no　further　urging。　She　leapt　up　and　ran　down　the　path　through　the　topiaries　to　the　little　wooden　Bailey　Gate；　opened　it　and　disappeared　round　the　stone　wall。
　Iome　dared　not　stay　long　in　the　corporal's　presence　alone；　with　no　one　other　than　the　Days；　who　stood　quietly　a　few　paces　off。　It　would　not　be　proper。　But　she　had　questions　to　ask　him。
　Iome　stood。
　〃You're　not　going　to　look　at　the　sergeant；　are　you；　Princess？〃　Clewes　asked。　He　must　have　caught　the　anger　in　her　eye。　〃I　meanit's　a　messy　sight。〃
　〃I've　seen　injured　men　before；〃　she　said　stoically。　She　looked　out　of　the　garden；　over　the　city。　The　garden；　a　small　patch　of　grass　with　trimmed　hedges　and　a　few　shaped　shrubs；　sat　within　the　King's　Wall；　the　second　of　the　three　walls　within　the　city。　From　here；　she　could　see　four　of　the　King's　Guards　on　the　wall…walk；　behind　the　parapet。　Beyond　that；　to　the　east；　lay　the　city　market；　just　within　the　castle's　Outer　Wall。　The　streets　in　the　market　below　were　a　jumbleroofs　of　slate；　some　covered　with　a　layer　of　sand　and　lead；　forming　narrow　chasms　above　the　rocky　streets。　Smoke　rose　from　cooking　fires　here　and　there。　Fourteen　minor　lords　had　estates　within　the　city　walls。
　Iome　studied　the　area　where　Cat's　Alley　could　be　found；　a　narrow　market　street　just　off　the　Butterwalk。　The　merchants'　wattle　houses　there　were　painted　in　shades　of　cardinal；　canary；　and　forest　green；　as　if　such　bright　colors　could　deny　the　general　decrepitude　of　buildings　that　had　been　settling　on　their　crooked　foundations　for　five　hundred　years。
　The　city　looked　no　different　today　than　it　had　yesterday。　She　could　see　Orly　rooftops；　no　sign　of　murderers。
　Yet　beyond　the　castle　walls