df.therunelords-第64部分

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　And　though　they　were　of　similar　design；　yet　they　were　not。　For　this　one's　head　lay　askew；　and　another's　leg　was　raised　in　the　air；　while　a　third　looked　as　if　it　were　trying　to　crawl　away。
　A　tremendous　blast　of　light　erupted　from　what　Gaborn　had　taken　to　be　a　huge　bouldera　beam　of　fire　that　struck　the　remaining　statue　at　its　feet。　Gaborn　saw　movement　as　the　boulder　took　a　step；　then　another　blast　struck　the　statue；　a　blast　of　frost　that　froze　the　air；　cracked　the　statue's　edges；　flaking　them　away。
　Before　that　single　statue；　a　reaver　mage　spun　to　meet　Gaborn。
　Binnesman　shouted；　〃Gaborn！　Beware！〃　though　Gaborn　could　not　see　the　old　wizard。
　Gaborn　first　saw　the　reaver's　head；　row　upon　row　of　crystalline　teeth　flashing　like　ice　in　the　starlight　as　its　jaws　gaped。
　It　bore　no　mon　ancestor　to　man；　looked　like　no　other　creature　to　walk　the　face　of　the　earth；　for　its　kind　had　evolved　in　the　underworld；　descended　from　organisms　that　formed　countless　ages　ago　in　deep　volcanic　pools。
　Gaborn's　first　impression　was　of　vastness。　The　reaver　stood　sixteen　feet　at　the　shoulder；　so　that　its　enormous　leathery　head；　the　width　and　length　of　a　small　wagon；　towered　above　him　though　Gaborn　rode　on　horseback。　It　had　no　eyes　or　ears　or　nose；　only　a　row　of　hairlike　sensors　that　skirted　the　back　of　its　head；　and　followed　the　line　of　its　jaw　like　a　great　mane。
　The　reaver　scrambled　quick　as　a　roach　on　four　huge　legs；　each　seemingly　made　only　of　blackened　bone；　that　held　its　slimy　abdomen　well　off　the　ground。　As　Gaborn　drew　near；　it　raised　its　massive　arms　threateningly；　holding　out　a　stalagmite　as　a　weapon；　a　long　rod　of　clear　agate。　Runes　of　fire　burned　in　that　rod。　Dire　symbols　of　the　flameweavers。
　Gaborn　did　not　fear　the　icy　rows　of　teeth；　or　the　deadly　claws　on　each　long　arm。　Reavers　are　fell　warriors；　but　reaver　mages　are　even　more　fell　sorcerers。
　Indeed；　the　whole　art　of　the　Runelords　had　developed　in　mimicry　of　the　reavers'　magic。　For　when　a　reaver　died；　others　of　its　kind　would　consume　the　body　of　the　dead；　absorb　its　knowledge；　its　strength；　and　its　accumulated　magic。
　And　of　all　reavers；　the　mages　were　most　fearsome；　for　they　had　amassed　powers　from　hundreds　of　their　dead。
　This　one　lunged　sideways；　and　Gaborn　heard　the　rasping　of　air　exhaled　from　the　vents　on　its　back　as　his　horse　charged。　He　detected　a　whispering　sound　in　that　exhalation；　the　chanting　of　a　spell。
　Gaborn　shouted；　putting　all　the　force　of　his　Voice　into　his　call。　He'd　heard　of　warriors　with　such　powerful　voices　that　they　could　stun　men　with　a　shout。
　Gaborn　had　no　such　gift。　But　he　knew　that　reavers　sensed　movementwhether　it　be　sound　or　vibrations　of　something　digging　beneath　their　feetand　he　hoped　his　shout　would　confuse　the　monster；　blind　it　as　he　charged。
　The　reaver　pointed　its　stalagmite　at　him；　hissed　vehemently；　and　a　coldness　pierced　Gaborn；　an　invisible　beam　that　stung　like　the　deepest　winter。　The　air　all　around　that　beam　turned　to　frost；　and　Gaborn　raised　his　small　shield。
　Legend　said　that　the　greatest　of　flameweavers'　spells　could　draw　the　heat　from　a　man；　just　as　flameweavers　could　draw　heat　from　a　fire　or　from　the　sunsuck　the　warmth　from　a　man's　lungs　and　heart；　leave　him　frozen　on　a　sunny　day。
　Yet　the　spell　was　so　plex；　required　such　concentration；　that　Gaborn　had　never　heard　of　a　flameweaver　who'd　mastered　it。
　He　felt　that　spell's　touch　now；　and　threw　himself　sideways　in　his　saddle；　dropped　in　a　running　dismount　as　his　horse　raced　ahead。　The　chill　struck　him　to　the　bone；　left　him　gasping　as　he　rushed　behind　his　charger；　let　its　body　shield　his　attack。
　〃No！　Go　back！〃　Binnesman　cried　from　somewhere　behind　the　ring　of　fallen　statues。
　Gaborn　inhaled　deeply　as　he　advanced　on　the　monster。　The　reaver　carried　no　scent。　Reavers　never　do；　for　they　mimic　the　scent　of　the　soil　around　them。
　Yet　the　reaver　mage　rasped　now；　in　terrible　fury。　The　air　hissed　from　the　anterior　of　its　long　body。
　Gaborn's　horse　staggered　beneath　the　beam　of　cold；　and　Gaborn　leapt　over　the　falling　beast；　rushed　the　reaver　at　stomach　level；　swinging　his　warhammer　with　all　his　might。
　The　reaver　mage　tried　to　step　back；　tried　to　impale　him　with　its　staff。　Gaborn　dodged　the　blow　and　swung　at　its　shoulder；　buried　the　warhammer　deep　into　the　reaver's　leathery　gray　hide。　He　quickly　pulled　the　spike　free　and　swung　a　second　time；　hoping　to　plunge　deeper　into　the　wound；　when　suddenly　the　reaver　smashed　the　agate　rod　down　at　him。
　Gaborn's　hammer　hit　its　great　paw；　pierced　a　talon；　and　the　iron　T　of　his　hammer　smashed　into　the　reaver's　blazing　rod。　The　agate　staff　shattered　along　its　entire　length；　and　flame　leapt　in　the　reaver's　paw；　a　hot　flash　that　erupted　with　explosive　force；　cracking　the　wooden　haft　of　the　warhammer。
　Iome　rode　in　behind　Gaborn　now；　shouting　at　the　monster；　and　King　Sylvarresta's　horse　danced　to　its　left。　The　tumult　and　the　horses　circling　round　distracted　the　beast；　so　that　it　swung　its　great　maw　one　way；　then　the　other。
　What　happened　next；　Gaborn　did　not　see；　for　at　that　second；　the　reaver　chose　to　fleerunning　over　the　top　of　him　so　that　its　huge　abdomen　knocked　him　backward。
　Gaborn　hit　the　ground；　the　wind　knocked　from　him　as　the　reaver　scrambled　away。　Gaborn　wondered　if　he'd　die　from　the　blow。　As　a　boy　in　tilting　practice；　he'd　once　fallen　from　his　saddle；　and　a　fully　armored　warhorse　had　trampled　him。　The　reaver　far　outweighed　the　warhorse。
　Gaborn　heard　ribs　crack。　Lights　flashed　before　his　eyes；　and　he　had　the　sense　of　falling；　of　swirling　like　a　leaf　into　some　deep　and　infinite　chasm。
　When　he　regained　consciousness；　his　teeth　were　chattering。　He　smelled　some　sweet　leaves　beneath　his　nose；　and　Binnesman　had　reached　down　beneath　Gaborn's　ring　mail；　was　rubbing　him　with　healing　soils　and　whispering；　〃The　earth　heal　you；　the　earth　heal　you。〃
　When　the　soil　touched　him；　Gaborn's　flesh　seemed　to　warm。　He　still　felt　terribly　cold；　frozen　to　the　bone；　but　the　soil　worked　like　a　warming　press；　easing　each　wound。
　〃Will　he　live？〃　Iome　asked。
　Binnesman　nodded。　〃Here；　the　healing　earth　is　very　powerful。　Seehe　opens　his　eyes。〃
　Gaborn's　eyes　fluttered。　He　stared；　unprehending。　His　eyes　could　not　focus。　He　tried　to　look　at　Binnesman；　but　it　required　so　much　effort。
　The　old　wizard　stood　over　Gaborn；　leaning　on　a　wooden　staff。　He　looked　horrible。　Grime　and　blood　smeared　his　face。　His　clothing　smelled　charred；　yet　when　his　right　hand　brushed　Gaborn；　it　felt　deathly　cold。
　The　reaver　had　tried　to　kill　Binnesman；　too。
　There　was　a　look　about　the　wizard。　He　trembled；　as　if　in　pain　and　shock。　Horror　showed　in　every　line　of　his　face。
　The　single　standing　statue　was　throbbing　with　light。　Great　icy　blasts　had　chipped　away　corners　of　it；　cracked　it。　Gaborn　lay　for　a　moment。　He　felt　a　bitter　chill　in　the　air。　The　sorceries　of　the　reaver　mage。
　Distant　war　dogs　bayed。　Binnesman　whispered；　〃Gaborn？〃
　The　statue　seemed　to　waver；　and　the　aged　half…human　face　carved　into　it　glanced　down　at　him。　Gaborn　thought　his　eyes　were　failing。　But　at　that　moment；　the　light　within　the　statue　died；　turning　black；　like　a　candle　snuffed　out。
　A　great　splitting　sound　tore　the　air。
　〃No！　Not　yet！〃　Binnesman　cried；　looking　up　toward　the　standing　stone。
　As　if　in　defiance　of　his　plea；　the　great　stone　rent　in　two　and　tumbled；　the　head　of　it　landing　almost　at　Gaborn's　feet。　The　ground　groaned；　as　if　the　earth　might　shake　apart。
　Gaborn's　thoughts　came　sluggishly。　He　gazed　at　the　huge　statue；　but　ten　feet　from　him；　listened　to　war　dogs　baying。
　The　Seven　Stones　have　fallen；　he　realized。　The　stones　that　hold　up　the　earth。　〃What？　Happening？〃　Gaborn　gasped。
　Binnesman　looked　into　Gaborn's　eye；　and　said　softly；　〃It　may　be　the　end　of　the　world。〃
　
　Chapter　29
　A　WORLD　GONE　WRONG
　　
　Binnesman　leaned　over　Gaborn；　peering　at　his　wounds。　〃Light；〃　he　grumbled。　A　wan　green　light　began　emanating　from　his　staffnot　firelight；　but　the　glow　of　hundreds　of　fireflies　that　had　gathered　on　its　knob。　Some　flew　up；　circled　Binnesman's　face。
　Gaborn　could　see　the　old　man　clearly　now。　His　nose　was　blooded；　and　mud　plastered　his　cheek。　He　did　not　look　severely　wounded；　but　he　was　clearly　distraught。
　Binnesman　smiled　grimly　at　Gaborn　and　Iome；　bent　his　ear；　listening　to　the　baying　dogs　in　the　woods。　〃e；　my　friends。　Get　inside　the　circle；　where　we'll　be　safer。〃
　Iome　seemed　to　need　no　prodding。　She　grabbed　the　reins　of　hers　and　her　father's　horse；　pulled　both　mounts　round　the　fallen　statues。
　Gaborn　rolled　to　his　knees；　felt　his　sore　ribs。　It　pained　him　to　breathe。　Binnesman　offered　Gaborn　his　shoulder；　and　Gaborn　hobbled　into　the　circle　of　stones。
　His　horse　had　already　gone　in；　stood　nibbling　at　the　short　grass；　favoring　its　right　front　leg。　Gaborn　was　grateful　that　it　had　survived　the　reaver's　spell。
　Yet　he　felt　reticent　to　enter　that　circle。　He　sensed　earth　power。　It　was　olda　terrible　place；　he　felt　sure；　to　those　who　did　not　belong。
　〃e；　Earthborn；〃　Binnesman　said。
　Iome　walked　rigidly；　watching　her　feet；　apparently　unnerved　by　the　power　that　emanated　from　below。　Gaborn　could　feel　it；　palpable　as　the　touch　of　sunlight　on　his　skin；　rising　from　beneath　him；　energizing　every　fiber　of　his　being。　Gaborn　knelt　to　remove　his　boots；　to　feel　the　sensation　more　fully。　The　earth　in　this　circle　had　a　strong　mineral　smell。　Though　enormous　oaks　grew　all　round；　taller　than　any　he'd　ever　seen；　none　stood　near　the　center　of　the　circleonly　a　few　low　bushes　with　white　berries。　The　earth　smelled　too　potent；　too　vigorous　for　anything　else　to　thrive。　Gaborn　pulled　off　his　boots；　sat　on　the　grass。
　Binnesman　stood　gazing　about；　like　a　warrior　surveying　his　battleground。　〃Do　not　be　afraid；〃　he　whispered。　〃This　is　a　place　of　great　power　for　Earth　Wardens。〃　Yet　he　did　not　sound　fully　confident。　He'd　been　battling　the　reaver　here；　and　had　been　losing。
　Binnesman　reached　into　the　pocket　of　his　robe；　drew　out　some　spade…shaped　dogbane　leaves；　crushed　and　threw　them。
　Up　the　ancient　road；　the　baying　of　war　dogs　came　fervently；　high　yips　echoing　through　the　limbs　of　ancient　oaks。　The　sound　sent　chills　down　Gaborn's　spine。
　He　sat；　head　spinning；　and　said；　〃I　heard　trees　calling　me　here。〃
　Binnesman　nodded。　〃I　asked　them　to。　And　I　placed　protective　spells