df.therunelords-第54部分

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　But　wait；　Raj　Ahten　had　it　nowthe　scent。　He　recalled　their　smell。　Held　it　in　his　mind。　Yes；　it　was　here　in　the　woods。　And　he'd　smelled　it　at　the　stable。　The　young　man　Raj　Ahten　had　seen　at　the　stable；　minutes　ago。
　Raj　Ahten　could　remember　everything　he'd　seen　in　years。　Now　he　tried　to　dredge　up　the　lad's　face；　to　see　him　there　in　the　stables。
　Instead；　he　saw　the　image　of　a　tree：　a　great　tree　in　the　heart　of　the　wood　at　dusk；　so　vast　that　its　swaying　branches　seemed　to　reach　up　and　capture　the　stars。
　It　was　so　peaceful　under　that　tree；　watching　it；　that　Raj　Ahten　raised　his　hands；　felt　the　warmth　of　the　starlight　touching　his　own　hands；　penetrating　them。
　He　longed　to　be　that　tree；　swaying　in　the　wind。　Unmoved；　unmovable。　Nothing　more　than　trunk　and　roots；　reaching　deep　into　the　soil；　tendrils　of　root　tickled　by　the　passing　of　countless　worms。　Breathing　deep。　The　birds　soaring　through　his　limbs；　nesting　in　the　crooks　of　branches；　pecking　at　grubs　and　mites　that　hid　in　the　folds　of　his　bark。
　Raj　Ahten　stood；　breath　suspended；　among　the　trees　of　the　forest；　looking　down　on　his　smaller　brothers；　tasting　the　wind　that　meandered　slowly　above　him　and　through　him。　All　cares　ceasing。　All　hopes　and　aspirations　fading。　A　tree；　so　peaceful　and　still。
　Ah；　to　stand　thus　forever！
　Fire　blossomed　in　his　trunk。
　Raj　Ahten　opened　his　eyes。　One　of　his　flameweavers　stood　glaring　at　him；　had　prodded　him　with　a　hot　finger。
　〃Milord；　what　are　you　doing？　You've　been　standing　here　for　five　minutes！〃
　Raj　Ahten　drew　a　deep　breath　of　surprise；　looked　at　the　trees　around　him；　suddenly　uneasy。　〃I。。。Gaborn　is　still　here　in　the　city；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　Yet　he　could　not　describe　the　boy；　could　not　see　his　face。　He　concentrated；　and　saw　in　rapid　succession　a　stone；　a　lonely　mountain；　a　gorge。
　Why　can　I　not　see　his　face？　Raj　Ahten　wondered。
　Then　he　looked　up　at　the　trees　around　him；　and　knew。　A　small　band　of　trees；　narrow　along　the　river。　A　finger　of　the　Dunnwood。　But　powerful；　nonetheless。　〃Set　fire　to　this　wood；〃　he　told　the　flameweaver。
　Raj　Ahten　raced　for　the　city　gates；　hoping　he　was　not　too　late。
　Sweat　poured　from　Gaborn's　face　as　he　urged　the　horses　through　the　lower　bailey。　Thousands　of　troops　clogged　the　gates。
　Five　hundred　knights　milled　outside　the　city　wall。　Their　warhorses　wore　the　finest　armor　Sylvarresta's　smiths　could　forge；　blackened　and　polished。　Another　thousand　archers　stood　ready　near　the　walls　with　bows　strung；　should　an　army　race　out　from　the　woods。
　Yet　the　fact　that　so　many　men　had　already　left　the　castle　did　not　ease　the　congestion。　Thousands　of　soldiers　did　not　travel　pletely　alonesquires；　cooks；　armorers；　tailors；　bearers；　fletchers；　prostitutes；　washwomen　all　thronged　the　streets。　Raj　Ahten　had　seven　thousand　soldiers　in　his　legion；　but　his　camp　contained　another　thousand　followers。　Armorers　dressed　the　horses　in　the　bailey。　Children　darted　about　underfoot。　Two　cows　had　run　down　the　Butterwalk　and　now　tramped　through　the　crowd。
　In　the　turmoil；　Gaborn　rode　from　the　castle；　trailing　Iome's　mount；　her　father's；　and　those　of　two　Days；　trying　to　keep　his　horse　from　kicking　and　biting　every　soldier　who　wore　the　red　wolves　of　Raj　Ahten　on　his　shield　or　surcoat。
　One　dark…faced　sergeant　grabbed　the　reins　of　Gaborn's　horse；　shouting；　〃Give　me　horse；　boy。　I　take　that　one！〃
　〃Raj　Ahten　told　me　to　keep　the　reins　myself；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃It's　for　Jureem。〃
　The　sergeant　drew　back　his　hand　as　if　the　words　burned　him；　eyed　the　horse　longingly。
　Gaborn　rode　through　the　press　of　bodies；　toward　the　throng　of　soldiers　gathering　on　the　blackened　grass　outside　Castle　Sylvarresta。　He　held　the　line　to　the　King's　horse　tightly；　glanced　back。
　The　idiot　king　smiled　at　everyone；　waving；　his　mouth　wide　with　joy。　Gaborn's　own　mount；　with　its　surly　nature；　waded　through　the　masses；　breaking　a　path　for　the　horses　that　followed。　Iome's　and　King　Sylvarresta's　Days　trailed　last。
　Near　the　blackened　gates；　everyone　sought　to　surge　across　the　damaged　drawbridge。　One　side　had　burned　through　from　the　elemental's　fires；　but　had　been　hastily　repaired。
　〃Make　way　for　the　King's　mounts！　'Ware　the　King's　mounts！〃　Gaborn　shouted。
　Gaborn　eyed　the　city　walls　as　he　passed　beneath　the　portal。　Archers　everywhere　guarded　the　outer　wall；　but　most　foot　soldiers　had　deserted　their　posts。
　Then；　suddenly；　he　passed　under　the　main　arch。　Gaborn　did　not　entirely　trust　the　ruined　bridge　to　hold　the　weight　of　both　his　people　and　their　horses。　A　few　planks　had　been　thrown　over　the　rent；　but　they　looked　flimsy；　so　he　dismounted；　had　Iome　do　the　same。　As　for　the　King；　he　left　the　man　mounted　and　cautiously　walked　each　horse　across；　then　entered　the　throng　of　soldiers　milling　about　in　the　charred　grass。
　Raj　Ahten's　soldiers　nervously　watched　the　hills；　anxious　to　be　on　their　way。　The　troops　bunched　together；　as　men　do　when　fearful。　The　sounds　of　King　Orden's　hunting　horns　less　than　an　hour　before　had　put　them　in　a　grim　mood。
　Iome　crossed　the　bridge；　and　Gaborn　helped　her　back　into　the　saddle；　then　led　her　mount　over　the　dirt　road；　holding　the　reins　to　his　own　horse；　as　if　he　were　but　a　stableman　delivering　the　animals。
　From　behind　him　came　a　sudden　motion。　A　strong　voice　shouted；　〃You；　Prince　Orden！〃
　Gaborn　leapt　a　horse；　with　a　kick　spurred　the　beast；　shouting；　〃Game　ho！〃　His　mount　surged　forward　so　hard　that　Gaborn　nearly　fell　from　the　saddle。
　He'd　taken　his　mounts　from　Sylvarresta's　hunting　stables；　trusting　they　were　trained　for　the　chase。　At　his　mand；　the　horses　ran　like　the　wind。　These　were　horses　bred　for　the　woods；　strong　of　leg；　deep　of　chest。
　Some　quick…thinking　soldier　leapt　in　Gaborn's　path；　battle…axe　half…drawn。　〃Strike！〃　Gaborn　shouted；　and　his　horse　leapt　and　lashed　out　with　a　forehoof；　dashing　the　warrior's　head　open　with　the　rim　of　its　iron　shoe。
　From　atop　the　castle　wall；　Raj　Ahten　cried；　〃Stop　them！　Hold　them！　Before　they　reach　the　woods！〃　His　voice　echoed　from　the　hills。
　Then　Gaborn　reached　the　fields；　with　Iome　shouting　and　racing　beside；　clutching　the　reins　to　her　father's　mount。
　Behind　them；　the　pair　of　Days　had　not　spurred　forward。　One　soldier　grabbed　the　King's　Days　by　the　hem　of　his　robe；　dragged　the　man　down　as　the　horse　bucked。　Three　others　joined　into　the　task。　Iome's　Days；　a　thin　woman　with　a　straight　mouth；　let　her　horse　dance　around　the　motion；　taking　the　rear。
　Dozens　of　knights　spurred　their　own　mounts；　heavy　warhorses　trained　for　bat。　Gaborn　did　not　fear　them。　Under　the　crushing　weight　of　their　own　armor　and　that　of　their　armored　riders；　the　horses　should　fall　behind。　But　they　were　still　force　horses；　with　supernatural　strength　and　endurance。
　Gaborn　glanced　back；　shouted　for　Iome　to　go　faster。　He　had　only　a　short　sword…not　much　to　fight　against　such　men。
　On　the　castle　walls；　many　archers　had　great　bows　made　of　steel　that　could　shoot　five　hundred　yards。　Dozens　of　them　nocked　arrows。　At　such　a　distance；　no　one　could　fire　accurately；　but　a　lucky　shot　could　kill　as　easily　as　a　skillful　one。
　His　horse　galloped　so　fluidly；　he　felt　as　if　it　were　a　creature　of　wind；　e　to　life　beneath　him；　hooves　pounding　a　four…beat。　The　stallion　raised　his　ears　forward；　raised　his　tail　in　contentment；　grateful　to　be　free　of　the　stable；　grateful　to　race　over　the　ground　like　a　storm。
　The　woods　seemed　to　rush　toward　Gaborn。
　An　arrow　whipped　past　Gaborn's　neck；　grazed　the　ear　of　his　mount。
　Behind　him；　a　horse　screamed　in　pain；　and　Gaborn　glanced　back　to　see　it　stumble；　an　arrow　in　its　neck。　Iome's　Days　rode　the　mount；　her　thin　mouth　an　O　of　surprise。　She　somersaulted　over　the　horse's　head；　a　black　arrow　in　her　back　as　she　fell　headlong　into　the　charred　field。
　Half　a　dozen　bowmen　had　let　fly；　the　arrows　sailing　toward　Gaborn　in　a　long　arc。　Gaborn　shouted；　〃Right；　ho！〃　As　one；　all　three　remaining　chargers　veered；　dodging　from　beneath　the　arrows'　trajectory。
　〃Bowmen；　cease　fire！〃　Raj　Ahten　raged。　His　fool　archers　were　going　to　kill　his　Dedicates。
　Five　dozen　knights　raced　over　blackened　fields；　pocked　with　dead　nomen　and　Frowth；　toward　the　near　hills　where　burned　trees　raised　twisted　limbs。　If　the　knights　did　not　catch　the　Prince　before　he　entered　the　woods；　Raj　Ahten　suspected　Gaborn　would　find　safety　among　King　Orden's　troops。
　As　if　to　confirm　Raj　Ahten's　suspicions；　a　lone　war　horn　sounded　from　the　woodsa　high；　lonely　cryfrom　the　peak　of　the　first　hill。　A　signal　for　Orden's　men　to　charge。
　Who　knew　how　many　knights　lurked　there？
　Beside　Raj　Ahten；　two　flameweavers　ran　to　the　top　of　the　wall。　The　hairless　men　leapt　beside　him；　the　heat　of　their　bodies　rising　fierce　as　an　inferno。
　Raj　Ahten　merely　pointed。　He　could　not　see　the　boy's　face。　Even　when　Gaborn　turned；　for　some　reason　he　could　not　focus　on　the　boy's　face。　But　he　knew　the　back；　the　form。　〃Rahjim；　see　the　young　man　who　is　falling　behind；　preparing　to　fight？　Burn　him。〃
　A　satisfied　light　shone　from　the　flameweaver's　dark　eyes。　Rahjim　exhaled　nervously；　smoke　issued　from　his　nostrils。　〃Yes；　O　Great　One。〃
　Rahjim　drew　a　rune　of　fiery　power　in　the　air　with　his　finger；　then　raised　a　hand　high；　grasped　for　half　a　second　toward　the　sun　shining　high　in　the　sky。　The　heavens　suddenly　darkened　as　he　gathered　sunlight　into　fibers；　threads　like　molten　silk；　and　brought　them　all　twisting　down　in　ropes　of　energy；　to　focus　in　his　handuntil　his　palm　filled　with　molten　flames。
　Rahjim　held　the　fire　for　a　portion　of　a　secondlong　enough　to　gather　a　proper　focus。　He　threw　with　his　might。
　Gaborn　fell　forward　as　a　blast　of　wind　and　energy　smashed　his　back；　felt　a　sudden　burning。　He　wondered　if　an　arrow　had　hit　him；　realized　that　his　surcoat　was　afire。
　One　of　Raj　Ahten's　knights　raced　his　horse　beside　Iome；　trying　to　grab　her　reins。
　Gaborn　ripped　the　dirty；　rotting　cloth　that　covered　him；　tossed　the　blazing　thing　in　the　air　just　in　time　to　watch　the　rag　burst　into　flame。　He　fancied　that　only　the　mud　on　the　cloak　had　kept　him　from　burning　in　that　precious　half…second。　The　garment　fell　over　the　face　of　Iome's　pursuer's　warhorse；　catching　on　the　horse's　helm。　It　almost　looked　to　be　a　magician's　trick。
　The　horse　whinnied　in　terror；　stumbled；　threw　its　rider。
　Gaborn　glanced　over　his　back。　He　was　now　hundreds　of　yards　from　the　f