df.therunelords-第76部分

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　Their　red　eyes　nearly　glowed　in　the　darkness；　and　their　thick　manes　made　them　look　somehow　wolfish。　They　snarled　and　loped　forward　on　short　legs；　sometimes　putting　a　knuckle　to　the　ground。
　For　a　moment；　Borenson　considered　letting　them　kill　him。
　But　instantly　an　image　of　Myrrima　formed　in　his　mind：　her　silk　dress　the　color　of　clouds；　the　mother…of…pearl　bs　in　her　dark　hair。　He　recalled　the　smell　of　her；　the　sound　of　her　laugh　when　he'd　kissed　her　roughly　outside　her　little　cottage。
　He　needed　her　now；　and　saw　the　nomen　as　mere　extensions　of　Raj　Ahten。　They　were　his　agents。　He'd　brought　them　here　to　kill；　and　though　Borenson's　men　had　driven　and　scattered　the　nomen　through　the　hills；　they　would　bee　a　scourge　on　this　land　for　months。
　It　did　not　matter　to　Raj　Ahten。　The　nomen　would　do　his　will　as　they　sought　to　feed　on　human　flesh。　They　would　do　all　the　killing　he'd　asked；　but　they'd　take　the　weak　firstthe　children　from　cradles；　the　women　at　their　wash。
　The　first　noman　rushed　Borenson；　hurled　its　spear　at　close　range；　so　that　the　stone　blade　shattered　against　Borenson's　mail。
　Quick　as　a　snake；　Borenson　drew　the　battle…axe　at　his　hip；　began　swinging。
　He　was　a　force　warrior　to　be　reckoned　with。　He　cleaved　the　arm　off　one　noman；　spun　and　hit　another　full　in　the　chest。
　He　began　smiling　as　he　did　so；　considered　each　move　in　the　battle。　It　was　not　enough　to　kill　the　nomen；　he　wanted　to　do　it　well；　to　turn　the　battle　into　a　dance；　a　work　of　art。　When　one　noman　rushed　him；　Borenson　slammed　his　left　mailed　fist　into　its　fangs；　then　grabbed　its　tongue　and　pulled。
　Another　tried　to　run。　Borenson　gauged　its　pace；　watched　the　bobbing　of　its　upright　ears；　and　threw　his　axe　with　all　his　might。　It　was　not　enough　to　split　the　beast's　skull；　he　wanted　to　do　it　perfectly；　to　hit　the　target　just　so；　so　the　bone　would　make　that　splitting　noise　and　part　like　a　melon。
　The　noman　went　down。　Only　two　stood；　rushing　him　as　a　pair；　spears　ready。　Without　his　endowments　of　sight；　Borenson　would　never　have　been　able　to　evade　those　black　spears。
　As　the　nomen　lunged；　Borenson　simply　slapped　the　speartips　away；　so　the　jabs　went　wide；　then　he　grabbed　a　spear；　launched　himself　forward　and　spun；　impaling　both　beasts　through　the　navel。
　Both　nomen　stood　in　shock；　pinned　together。
　When　he　finished；　Borenson　stepped　back　and　observed　the　nomen。　They　knew　they　would　die。　They　couldn't　heal　from　such　a　wound。　The　creature　in　back　fainted；　dragging　its　panion　to　its　knees。
　Borenson　walked　on；　considered　the　way　he'd　fought；　the　precise　movements。　His　deed　had　been　as　close　to　poetry　or　dance　as　he　could　achieve。
　He　began　laughing；　chuckling　a　throaty　rumble；　for　this　was　the　way　war　should　have　beenmen　fighting　for　their　lives。　A　good　man　struggling　to　protect　home　and　family。
　The　skirmish　itself　somehow　seemed　more　a　balm　for　his　troubles　than　the　rain。　Borenson　retrieved　his　axe　and　helm　and　hurried　to　his　horse；　running　through　the　downpour。
　I　will　not　wash　these　hands；　he　told　himself。　I　will　not　wash　my　face；　until　I　stand　before　my　prince　and　my　king　again；　so　they　can　see　what　they　have　done。
　Thus　Borenson　took　horse　and　began　racing　through　the　darkness。　Four　miles　down　the　road　east　of　town；　he　found　a　dead　knight　of　Orden；　took　the　man's　lance。
　His　mount　could　not　equal　Gaborn's　fine　hunter。　But　the　road　was　clear；　if　somewhat　muddy；　and　on　a　night　like　this；　with　rain　to　cool　them；　Borenson's　horse　could　run　forever。
　So　Borenson　raced　over　the　hills　until　the　rain　stopped　and　the　clouds　dispelled　and　stars　shone　bright　and　clean。
　He'd　planned　to　head　to　Longmont。　But　when　the　road　branched　both　east　and　south；　the　fey　mood　was　still　on　him；　and　he　suddenly　turned　east；　toward　Bannisferre。
　Dawn　found　him　riding　over　green　fields　that　held　no　sign　of　war；　through　vineyards　twenty　miles　north　of　Bannisferre　where　young　women　stooped　to　fill　baskets　of　ripe　grapes。
　He　stopped　in　such　a　field　and　ate；　found　the　grapes　dripping　with　water　from　the　night's　rain；　they　tasted　as　succulent　as　the　first　grape　must　have　tasted　to　the　first　man　who　ate　it。
　The　river　here　was　wide；　a　broad　silver　ribbon　gleaming　beneath　the　green　fields。　Borenson　had　thought　last　night　to　leave　himself　bloody；　but　now　he　did　not　want　Myrrima　to　see　him　this　way；　to　ever　guess　what　he'd　done。
　He　went　down　to　the　river　and　swam；　naked；　unmindful　of　the　pig　farmers　who　herded　animals　past　on　the　road。
　When　the　sun　dried　him；　Borenson　put　on　his　armor；　but　threw　his　bloodied　surcoat　into　the　water；　letting　the　river　carry　away　the　image　of　the　green　knight　on　the　blue　field。
　Surely；　he　thought；　Raj　Ahten's　troops　have　reached　Longmont。　I'm　so　far　behind　them；　I'm　too　late　to　join　the　battle。　In　truth；　he　no　longer　cared。　No　matter　what　the　oute　at　Longmont；　he　planned　to　renounce　his　lord。
　In　assassinating　innocent　Dedicates；　men　and　women　who　had　mitted　no　crime　but　that　of　loving　a　good　and　decent　king；　Borenson　had　done　more　than　any　master　had　a　right　to　ask。　So　now　he'd　renounce　his　vows　to　Orden；　bee　a　Knight　Equitable。　Of　his　own　free　will　he'd　fight　as　he　deemed　best。
　Borenson　went　on　to　a　pear　tree　beside　an　abandoned　farm；　and　climbed；　taking　the　fattest　pears　from　the　topsame　for　himself；　some　for　Myrrima　and　her　family。
　From　the　treetop　he　saw　something　interesting：　over　a　rise　lay　deep　pools　with　steep　sides　beneath　a　grove　of　willow　trees；　pools　as　blue　as　the　sky。　Yellow　willow　leaves　had　fallen　into　water　in　great　drifts；　floating　over　the　surface。　But　also　on　the　pools　were　roses　bobbing；　red　and　white。
　A　wizard　lives　there；　Borenson　realized；　dully。　A　water　wizard；　and　people　have　thrown　roses　into　the　water；　seeking　its　blessings。
　He　climbed　quickly　down　from　the　tree；　ran　over　the　rise　to　the　still　waters；　and　approached　solemnly；　hopefully。　He　had　no　roses　or　flowers　to　sweeten　the　wizard's　water；　but　he　had　pears　that　it　might　eat。
　So　he　went　to　the　edge　of　the　pool；　where　the　willow　roots　twisted　down　a　gravel　bank；　and　there　he　sat　on　a　broad　black　root。　The　crisp　leaves　of　the　trees　above　him　blew　in　a　small　breeze；　rustling；　and　Borenson　called　for　long　minutes；　〃O　wizard　of　the　water；　lover　of　the　sea；　O　wizard　of　the　water；　hear　my　plea。〃
　But　the　surface　of　the　pool　remained　unperturbed；　and　he　saw　nothing　in　the　shining　pool　but　water　striders　that　skated　over　its　flat　surface　and　a　few　brown　newts　that　floated　beneath；　watching　him　from　golden　eyes。
　In　despair；　he　began　to　wonder　if　the　wizard　had　died　long　ago；　and　people　still　sweetened　the　pools　in　hopes　that　someday　another　might　e。　Or　if　this　was　a　haunted　place；　and　the　local　girls　threw　roses　in　the　water　to　placate　someone　who　had　drowned。
　After　long　minutes　of　sitting　on　the　willow　root；　and　calling　with　no　results；　Borenson　closed　his　eyes；　just　smelling　the　sweet　water；　thinking　of　home；　of　Mystarria；　of　the　peaceful　healing　waters　in　the　pools　of　Derra　where　madmen　might　go　to　bathe；　and　have　their　troubling　thoughts　and　memories　washed　from　them。
　As　he　lay　thinking　of　that　place；　he　realized　that　a　cold　root　was　brushing　his　ankle；　and　thought　to　move　his　foot；　when　suddenly　the　root　wrapped　round　his　foot；　squeezed　tenderly。
　He　looked　down。　At　the　water's　edge；　just　beneath　the　waves；　was　a　girl　of　ten；　skin　as　pale　blue　and　flawless　as　ceramics；　hair　of　silver。　She　stared　up　at　him　from　beneath　the　water　with　eyes　as　wide　and　green　as　all　the　seas；　and　her　eyes　were　unblinking；　pletely　motionless。　Only　the　crimson　gill　slits　at　her　throat　pulsed　slightly　as　she　breathed。
　She　withdrew　her　hand　from　his　foot；　instead　reached　underwater　and　grasped　at　the　willow　roots。
　An　undine。　Too　young　to　be　of　great　power。
　〃I　brought　you　a　pear；　sweet　one；　if　you　will　have　it；〃　Borenson　said。
　The　undine　did　not　answer；　only　stared　up　at　him　and　through　him　with　soulless　eyes。
　I　killed　girls　your　age　last　night；　Borenson　wanted　to　tell　her；　wanted　to　cry。
　I　know；　her　eyes　said。
　I　will　never　have　peace；　Borenson　whispered　wordlessly。
　I　could　give　you　peace；　the　undine's　eyes　said。
　But　Borenson　knew　she　lied；　that　she'd　pull　him　down　into　the　waves；　give　him　love；　and　that　while　she　loved　him；　he　could　survive　beneath　the　pools。　But　in　time　she'd　forget　about　him；　and　he　would　drown。　She　could　give　him　only　a　brief　few　days　of　pleasure　before　death。
　I　wish　that；　like　you；　I　could　be　one　with　the　water；　and　know　peace；　Borenson　thought。　He　remembered　the　great　seas　of　home；　the　white　breakers　rolling　over　a　green　as　deep　as　aged　copper。
　The　undine's　eyes　went　wide　at　his　memories　of　the　sea；　and　a　smile　formed　on　her　lips；　as　if　grateful　for　the　vision。
　Then　he　took　one　of　his　golden　pears；　reached　down　to　the　water；　gave　it　to　the　undine。
　She　reached　for　it　with　a　wet；　slender　blue　hand；　with　long　nails　of　silver；　but　then　grasped　his　wrist　and　pulled　herself　up　enough　so　that　she　could　kiss　his　lips。
　The　move　was　unexpected；　quick　as　a　fish　jumping　for　a　fly；　and　Borenson　felt　her　lips　brush　his　for　only　a　moment。
　He　placed　the　pear　in　her　hand　and　left；　and　for　a　long　hour　afterward　he　could　not　quite　remember　what　pain　had　brought　him　to　that　pool；　with　roses　of　red　and　white　bobbing　among　the　golden　leaves。
　He　managed　to　find　his　mount；　then　rode　at　leisure；　letting　the　horse　graze　as　it　walked；　soon　enough　he　reached　the　little　meadow　outside　Bannisferre　where　Myrrima's　cottage　lay　among　the　wild　daisies。
　Blue　smoke　curled　up　from　a　cooking　fire；　and　one　of　Myrrima's　ugly　sistersInette；　he　recalled　her　namestood　feeding　grain　to　the　scrawny　black　chickens　at　the　front　door。
　As　he　rode　up；　Inette　looked　up　at　him；　a　smile　on　her　ruined　face。　The　smile　quickly　faded。　〃You　all　right？〃
　〃No；〃　Borenson　said。　〃Where's　Myrrima？〃
　〃A　messenger　came　through　town；〃　Inette　said。　〃Troops　are　gathering。　Lord　Orden　is　at　Longmont。　SheMyrrima　left　last　night。　Many　of　the　boys　from　town　have　gone　to　fight。〃
　All　the　ease　of　heart　he'd　felt　for　the　past　hour　now　drained　from　him。　〃To　Longmont！〃　Borenson　shouted。　〃Why？〃
　〃She　wants　to　be　with　you！〃　Inette　answered。
　〃Thisthis　won't　be　a　picnic　or　a　day　at　the　fair！〃　Borenson　shouted。
　〃She　knows；〃　Inette　whispered。　〃Butyo