df.therunelords-第69部分

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　The　trees　whipped　past。
　Gaborn　had　a　thousand　questions；　felt　as　many　uncertainties。　He　wished　to　speak　to　Binnesman。　But　for　now　he　held　back　his　questions。　In　Mystarria　it　was　considered　rude　to　interrogate　a　stranger　in　the　way　that　Gaborn　wanted　to　question　Binnesman　now。　Gaborn　had　always　thought　this　rule　of　civility　a　mere　custom；　formed　without　reason；　but　now　he　saw　that　it　was　more。
　By　asking　questions；　one　intruded　on　another's　Invisible　Domain。　At　the　very　least；　you　took　time　from　him。　And　information　often　had　its　own　value；　as　much　value　as　land　or　gold；　so　that　in　taking　it；　one　robbed　another。
　To　keep　from　musing　about　the　obalin　and　the　loss　of　Binnesman's　wylde；　Gaborn　concentrated　on　this　insight；　wondering　how　often　courtly　manners　were　rooted　in　man's　need　to　respect　the　Domains　of　others。　Certainly；　he　could　see　how　titles　and　gestures　of　respect　fit　into　the　larger　scheme。
　Yet　Gaborn's　thoughts　quickly　turned　away　from　such　matters；　and　instead　he　considered　what　he'd　seen。
　Gaborn　suspected　that　Binnesman　knew　far　more　about　the　dark　time　to　e　than　he　would　say　in　front　of　Raj　Ahten；　perhaps　far　more　than　he　could　say。　The　study　of　wizards　was　long　and　arduous；　and　Gaborn　had　once　heard　that　certain　basic　principles　could　only　be　understood　after　weeks　or　months　of　intent　study。
　After　long　minutes；　Gaborn　decided　that　there　were　some　things　one　should　not　ask　a　wizard。　What　price　had　Binnesman　paid　to　give　life　to　the　wylde？　Gaborn　wondered。
　Now　the　Earth　Warden　turned　from　the　road　and　picked　his　way　among　twisted　paths　here　under　the　shadowed　trees。　No　other　scout　could　have　made　his　way　in　such　maddening　darkness。　Gaborn　left　the　wizard　to　his　work　in　silence；　in　the　starlight；　for　an　hour；　until　they　came　upon　an　old　road。　From　there；　Binnesman　raced　the　horses　north；　until　suddenly　the　road　dropped　down　to　a　ridge　overlooking　the　broad　fields　outside　the　village　of　Trott；　twelve　miles　west　of　Castle　Sylvarresta。
　On　the　plain　below　lay　hundreds　of　multicolored　pavilions　from　the　hordes　of　Southern　traders　who　had　journeyed　north　for　Hostenfest　but　who　had　been　forced　to　vacate　the　fields　near　Castle　Sylvarresta　when　Raj　Ahten's　troops　laid　siege。
　Binnesman　called　the　horses　to　stop；　gazed　down　over　the　dark　fields。　The　grass　had　been　burned　white　by　the　late…summer　sun；　so　that　even　by　starlight　reflecting　off　the　grass　one　could　see。
　〃Look！〃　Iome　whispered。　Gaborn　followed　her　pointing　finger；　saw　something　dark　creeping　across　the　fields；　toward　the　pavilions　with　their　horses　and　mules　for　the　caravans。
　Nomen　were　down　there；　eighty　or　a　hundred；　creeping　toward　the　tents　on　their　bellies　to　hunt　for　food。　To　the　east；　along　the　ridge；　he　saw　several　large　boulders　move；　realized　that　a　trio　of　Frowth　giants　were　also　prowling　the　edge　of　the　forest。
　Hungry。　They　merely　hungered　for　meat。　Raj　Ahten　had　marched　the　giants　and　the　nomen　all　this　way；　and　they'd　survived　the　battle　at　dawn；　but　now　they　would　be　hungry。
　〃We'll　have　to　take　care；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃These　horses　need　to　graze　and　to　rest。　But　until　it's　safe；　maybe　we　should　ride　in　the　open　fields；　where　we　can't　be　surprised。〃　Gaborn　turned　his　mount　east；　to　head　back　toward　Castle　Sylvarresta。　From　there　he　could　take　the　Durkin　Hills　Road　south。　〃No；　we　should　go　west　from　here；〃　Iome　said。　〃West？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃The　bridge　at　Hayworth　is　out。　We　can't　run　the　horses　through　the　forest；　so　we　can't　go　near　Boar's　Ford。　Besides；　we　don't　want　to　run　into　Raj　Ahten's　army　in　the　dark。〃
　〃She's　right；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Let　Iome　lead　you。〃　His　voice　sounded　tired。　Gaborn　wondered　how　much　his　spell…casting　had　drained　him。
　〃West　is　the　only　wayover　the　Trummock　Hills　Road；〃　Iome　said。　〃It's　safe。　The　forest　does　not　encroach　on　the　road。　My　father's　men　cut　it　back。〃
　Binnesman　let　the　horses　rest　a　few　moments。　As　one；　the　group　dismounted；　stretched　their　legs；　adjusted　the　girths　on　their　mounts。
　〃e；〃　Binnesman　said　all　too　soon。　〃We　have　a　few　hours　until　Raj　Ahten　awakens。　Let　us　make　good　use　of　them。〃　He　urged　them　downhill；　into　the　plains。　Though　the　horses　were　hungry　and　the　grass　here　grew　high；　it　was　also　dry　and　without　seed；　worthless　fodder。
　They　rode　slowly　along　a　dirt　road　for　half　an　hour；　and　here　at　last　they　felt　at　ease　enough　to　talk；　to　make　plans。
　〃My　horse　will　be　the　fastest　over　these　roads；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃If　you　do　not　mind；　I　will　ride　ahead。　I　will　be　needed　at　Longmont；　and　I　hope　to　find　my　wylde　there。〃
　〃Do　you　think　it　is　there？〃　Iome　asked。
　〃I　really　can't　be　sure；〃　Binnesman　answered；　and　seemed　to　want　to　say　no　more。
　The　pany　soon　reached　a　weathered　farmhouse　beside　a　winding　stream。　The　farm　had　a　small　orchard　behind　it；　and　a　sloping　barn　for　a　few　pigs。　It　looked　as　if　the　peasant　who　lived　here　feared　attack；　for　a　lantern　had　been　set　in　a　plum　tree　out　front；　another　out　by　the　door　to　the　pig　shed。
　The　farmer　should　be　afraid；　Gaborn　realized。　This　hut　was　isolated；　without　benefit　of　neighbors　for　a　mile。　And　giants　and　nomen　were　prowling　the　fields　tonight。
　Iome's　father　rode　his　steed　up　to　the　lantern；　sat　staring　at　it；　mesmerized；　as　if　he'd　never　seen　one　before。
　Then　Gaborn　realized　that　the　King　probably　never　had　seen　one；　at　least　not　that　he　remembered。　The　whole　world　would　seem　new　to　him；　like　a　vivid　and　fascinating　dream；　something　he　lived　through　but　never　prehended。
　Gaborn　also　rode　up　beneath　the　lantern；　so　his　face　could　easily　be　seen；　then　called　to　the　door。　In　a　moment；　an　old　turnip　of　a　woman　cracked　the　door　enough　to　frown　at　him。　She　seemed　frightened　by　so　many　riders。
　〃May　we　have　some　water　and　feed　for　the　horses？〃　Gaborn　asked。　〃And　some　food　for　ourselves？〃
　〃At　this　time　of　night？〃　the　old　woman　grumbled。　〃Not　if　you　was　the　King！〃　She　slammed　the　door。
　Gaborn　felt　surprised　at　this；　looked　at　Iome　for　a　reaction。　Binnesman　smiled；　Iome　laughed　softly；　went　up　to　the　plum　tree；　then　picked　half　a　dozen　of　the　large　violet　fruits。　Gaborn　saw　movement　inside　the　house　as　the　woman　tried　to　peer　out　the　window；　but　she　had　no　fine　window　of　glass；　only　a　piece　of　scraped　hide；　which　let　her　see　nothing　but　shadows。
　〃Leave　them　plums！〃　she　shouted　from　inside。
　〃How　about　if　we　take　all　the　plums　we　can　carry；　and　leave　a　gold　coin　instead？〃　Gaborn　called　out。
　Quick　as　a　flash；　the　old　woman　was　at　the　door　again。　〃You　have　money？〃
　Gaborn　reached　into　the　pouch　at　his　waist；　pulled　out　a　coin；　tossed　it　to　the　woman。　Her　hand　darted　from　the　doorpost　to　catch　the　coin。　She　closed　the　door　while　she　bit　the　coin；　then　cracked　the　door　again　to　shout；　more　cordially；　〃There's　grain　in　the　pig　shed。　Good　oats。　Take　as　much　as　you　want。　And　the　plums。〃
　〃A　blessing　on　you　and　your　tree；〃　Binnesman　called　out；　〃three　years'　good　harvest。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Gaborn　shouted；　bowing　low。　He　and　Binnesman　led　the　horses　round　back　while　Iome　fed　her　father　plums　from　the　tree。
　Gaborn　opened　the　shed；　found　a　burlap　bag　of　oats；　and　began　to　dump　them　in　a　worn　wooden　trough　to　feed　the　horses。　As　he　did；　he　was　painfully　aware　that　the　wizard　sat　quietly　on　his　horse；　watching　Gaborn。
　〃You　have　questions　for　me；〃　Binnesman　said。
　Gaborn　dared　not　ask　the　most　pressing　questions　first。　So　he　said　easily；　〃Your　robes　have　gone　red。〃
　〃As　I　told　you　they　would；〃　Binnesman　answered。　〃In　the　spring　of　his　youth；　an　Earth　Warden　must　grow　in　his　power；　tend　it　and　nurture　it。　In　the　green　summer　of　his　life；　he　matures　and　ripens。　But　I　am　in　the　autumn　of　my　life；　and　now　must　bring　forth　my　harvest。〃
　Gaborn　asked；　〃And　what　happens　in　the　winter？〃
　Binnesman　smiled　up　at　him　discreetly。　〃We　will　not　speak　of　that　now。〃
　Gaborn　picked　a　question　that　had　troubled　him　more。　〃Why　could　Raj　Ahten　not　see　me？　He　thought　there　was　a　spell　upon　me。〃
　Binnesman　chuckled。　〃In　my　garden；　when　Earth　drew　a　rune　on　your　forehead；　it　was　a　symbol　of　power　that　I；　in　my　weakness；　dared　not　try。　You　are　invisible　now；　Gabornat　least；　you're　invisible　to　your　enemies。　Those　who　serve　Fire　cannot　see　you；　but　see　instead　your　love　for　the　land。　The　closer　they　e　to　you；　the　more　powerfully　the　spell　affects　them。　I　am　amazed　that　Raj　Ahten　even　knew　that　you　were　there　in　the　glade。　Fire　could　have　given　him　such　power。　I　did　not　realize　that　then；　but　I　realize　it　now。〃
　Gaborn　thought　about　this。
　〃You　cannot　take　great　security　in　this　gift　of　invisibility；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Many　evil　men　would　do　you　harm；　men　who　do　not　serve　Fire。　And　flameweavers　of　great　power　can　pierce　your　disguise　if　they　get　close。〃
　Gaborn　remembered　the　flameweaver　in　Castle　Sylvarresta；　the　way　she'd　looked　at　him　in　recognition；　as　if　he　were　a　sworn　enemy。
　〃I　see。。。〃　he　whispered。　〃I　understand　why　Raj　Ahten　could　not　see　me。　But　why　could　I　not　see　him？〃
　〃What？〃　Binnesman　said；　his　brows　arching　in　surprise。
　〃I　had　seen　his　face　before；　at　the　castle。　I　know　his　helm；　his　armor。　Yet　tonight　his　face　was　hidden　from　me；　as　mine　was　from　him。　I　looked　at　him　and　saw。。。multitudes　of　people；　all　bowing　to　worship。　People　in　flames。〃
　Binnesman　laughed　long　and　hard。　〃Perhaps　you　were　looking　too　deeply。　Tell　me；　what　were　you　thinking　when　this　vision　appeared？〃
　〃I　simply　wanted　to　see　him　as　he　was；　beneath　all　those　endowments　of　glamour。〃
　〃Let　me　tell　you　a　tale；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Many　years　ago；　my　master　was　an　Earth　Warden　who　served　the　animals　of　the　forestthe　harts　and　the　birds　and　such。　They　would　e　to　him；　and　he　would　feed　them　or　heal　them　as　needed。
　〃When　I　asked　how　he　knew　their　needs；　he　seemed　surprised。　'You　can　see　it　in　their　eyes；'　he　said。　As　if　that　were　all　the　answer。　Then　he　sent　me　away；　out　of　his　service；　for　he　thought　me　unfit　to　be　an　Earth　Warden。
　〃You　see；　Gaborn；　he　had　the　gift　of　Earth　Sight；　of　looking　into　the　hearts　of　creatures　and　divining　what　they　wanted；　or　needed；　or　loved。
　〃I've　never　had　that　gift。　I　cannot　tell　you　how　to　use　it；　how　it　works。　Believe　me；　I　wish　I　had　your　gift。〃
　〃But　I　don't　have　such　a　gift〃　Gaborn　objected。　〃I　don't　see　into　your　heart；　or　Iome's。〃
　〃Ah；　but　you　were　in　a　place　of　great　eart