df.therunelords-第86部分

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　Raj　Ahten　had　moved　forward　a　hundred　yardsstill　out　of　easy　bowshot；　yet　once　again　he　stood　before　his　army。
　〃Orden　has　my　forcibles；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　in　answer　to　Binnesman's　earlier　query。　〃I　want　them　back！〃　The　sound　carried　well　over　the　fields。　Orden　could　hardly　believe　Raj　Ahten　spoke　from　so　far　away。
　The　old　wizard　smiled；　leaned　back　in　his　saddle；　as　if　to　rest。　On　the　green　across　the　field；　Raj　Ahten's　three　remaining　flameweavers　stood。　Each　began　giving　their　bodies　to　fire；　so　that　their　clothes　burst　into　flame　and　tendrils　flared　out　from　them；　yellow；　red；　and　blue。
　〃Why　is　it；〃　Binnesman　asked；　〃that　every　forcible　on　earth　must　be　yours？〃
　〃They　came　from　my　mines；〃　Raj　Ahten　said；　striding　forward；　his　face　alight　with　seductive　beauty。　〃My　slaves　dug　the　ore。〃
　〃As　I　recall；　the　Sultan　of　Hadwar　owned　those　minesuntil　you　slit　his　throat。　As　for　the　slaves；　they　were　someone's　sons　and　daughters　before　you　took　them。　Even　the　blood　metal　you　cannot　claimfor　it　is　only　the　crusty　remains　of　your　ancestors　who　died　long　ago　in　a　great　slaughter。〃
　〃Yet　I　claim　it　as　mine；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　softly；　〃and　no　man　can　stop　me。〃
　〃By　what　right？〃　Binnesman　called。　〃You　claim　the　whole　earth　as　your　own；　but　you　are　a　mere　mortal。　Must　death　force　you　to　release　all　that　you　claim　before　you　recognize　that　you　own　nothing？　You　own　nothing。　The　earth　nourishes　you　from　day　to　day；　from　breath　to　breath！　You　are　chained　to　it；　as　surely　as　your　slaves　are　chained　to　the　walls　of　your　mines。　Acknowledge　its　power　over　you！〃
　Binnesman　sighed；　glanced　up　to　Orden　on　the　castle　wall。　〃What　of　it；　King　Orden？　You　strike　me　as　a　fair…minded　man。　Will　you　give　these　forcibles　to　Raj　Ahten；　so　that　you　two　may　finish　with　this　squabbling？〃　Binnesman's　eyes　smiled；　as　if　he　expected　Orden　to　laugh。
　〃No；〃　Orden　said。　〃I'll　not　give　them。　If　he　wants　them；　he　must　e　against　me！〃
　Binnesman　clucked　his　tongue　as　if　he　were　an　old　woman；　scolding　a　child。　〃You　hear；　Raj　Ahten？　Here　is　a　man　who　dares　defy　you。　And　I　suspect　he　will　win。。。〃
　〃He　has　no　chance　against　me；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　with　dignity；　though　his　face　seemed　livid　with　rage。　〃You　lie。〃
　〃Do　I？〃　Binnesman　asked。　〃For　what　purpose　do　I　lie？〃
　〃You　seek　to　twist　us　all；　to　do　your　own　bidding。〃
　〃Is　that　how　you　see　it？　Life　is　preciousyours；　mine；　your　enemy's。　I　cherish　life。　Am　I　'twisting'　you　to　save　your　miserable　life？〃
　Raj　Ahten　did　not　answer；　but　only　studied　Binnesman　with　subdued　rage。
　Binnesman　said；　〃I've　e　before　you　twice　now。　I　warn　you　one　last　time；　Raj　Ahten：　Give　up　this　foolhardy　war！〃
　〃You　had　best　move　from　my　way；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃You　can't　stop　me。〃
　Binnesman　smiled。　〃No；　I　can't　stop　you。　But　others　can　stop　you。　The　new　King　of　the　Earth　has　been　ordained。　You　cannot　prevail　against　him。
　〃I　see　hope　for　House　Orden；　but　none　for　you。　I　did　not　e　here　to　beg　you　yet　again　to　join　my　cause；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I　know　you　will　not　join　me。〃
　〃But　hear　me　well：　I　speak　now　in　the　name　of　the　Power　I　serve：　Raj　Ahten；　the　Earth　that　gave　you　birth；　the　Earth　that　nurtured　you　as　a　mother　and　father；　now　rejects　you！　No　longer　will　it　nourish　or　protect　you。〃
　〃I　curse　the　ground　you　walk　upon；　that　it　will　no　longer　give　you　sustenance！　The　stones　of　the　earth　shall　trouble　you。　Accursed　be　your　flesh；　your　bone；　your　sinew。　Let　your　arms　be　weakened。　Cursed　be　the　fruit　of　your　loins；　that　you　leave　no　issue。　Cursed　be　those　who　band　themselves　with　you；　that　they　too　shall　suffer　your　lot！〃
　〃I　warn　you：　Leave　this　land！〃
　The　Earth　Warden　spoke　with　such　force　that　Orden　expected　some　signthe　ground　to　sway　and　tremble　or　swallow　Raj　Ahten；　or　for　stones　to　drop　from　the　sky。
　But　the　downs　looked　the　same　as　ever；　the　sun　still　shone　bright。
　Earth　does　not　kill；　Orden　knew。　It　does　not　destroy。　And　Orden　could　see　that　Binnesman　had　no　wylde　to　back　him；　no　power　to　effect　some　astonishing　curse。
　Or　perhaps；　in　time；　the　effects　of　the　wizard's　curse　would　be　seen。　Such　curses　were　never　given　lightly；　and　old　wives'　tales　warned　that　they　were　the　most　potent　form　of　magic。　If　that　were　true；　Orden　almost　pitied　Raj　Ahten。
　Yet；　for　the　moment；　nothing　happened。　Orden　shouted　a　warning。　〃Binnesman；　leave　this　battle。　You　can　do　nothing　more。〃
　Binnesman　turned　up　and　looked　at　Orden；　and　there　was　such　a　look　of　anger　there　in　the　wizard's　eyes　that　Orden　stepped　back　a　pace。
　As　if　Binnesman；　too；　suddenly　recognized　the　danger；　he　turned　his　mount　west；　toward　the　Dunnwood；　and　fled。
　　
　Chapter　45
　THE　CAVILING　CAVALIER
　　
　Castle　Groverman　lay　on　a　shallow；　sandy　mound　on　Mangon's　Heath；　just　where　Wind　River　made　a　slow　turn。　It　was　not　the　stoutest　castle　in　Heredon；　nor　the　largest；　but　as　Iome　rode　across　the　plains　that　morning；　it　seemed　the　most　beautiful；　with　its　sprawling　grounds；　its　palatial　towers；　and　its　vast　gates。　The　morning　sun　shone　golden　on　the　heather　and　on　the　yellow　sandstone　of　the　castle；　so　it　gleamed　like　something　molten。
　Iome；　her　father；　Gaborn；　and　the　three　Days　swept　over　the　heather；　racing　past　herds　of　half…wild　horses　and　cattle　that　startled　away　each　time　they　crossed　a　line　of　hills。
　Iome　knew　this　place　only　from　maps　and　tomes　and　conversations。　Groverman　came　to　her　father's　castle　for　the　Council　of　Lords　each　fall　and　winter；　but　she'd　never　seen　his　home。　For　centuries　the　lords　of　Groverman　had　governed　this　land；　supplying　Heredon　with　force　horses　and　beef。　Iome's　father　did　not　keep　large　stables　in　his　own　castlenot　like　the　extensive　stables　at　Groverman。　Here；　on　the　green　banks　of　Wind　River；　the　horses　grew　fat　and　frolicked；　until　the　lord's　horsemen　brought　them　to　the　King's　stables　and　introduced　the　foals　to　the　herd　leaders。
　The　herd　leaders　were　spirited。　A　herd　leader；　once　given　endowments　of　strength　and　metabolism；　would　dominate　any　wild　horse。　The　wild　foals　were　used　as　Dedicates；　for　these　horses　stood　most　in　awe　of　the　herd　stallions；　and　could　therefore　best　be　counted　on　to　provide　attributes。
　Thus　Castle　Groverman　had　grown　to　be　an　important　fortress；　for　this　was　the　Dedicates'　Keep　for　the　horses　that　supplied　Sylvarresta's　messengers　and　soldiers。
　But　this　late　in　the　fall；　it　was　also　a　busy　center　for　merce。　The　local　vassals　and　villeins　herded　cattle　in　for　the　fall　slaughter。　Tomorrow　was　the　first　day　of　Hostenfest；　a　time　of　celebration　before　the　last　of　the　fall　labors。　A　week　from　today；　when　the　feasting　ended；　the　fatted　beeves　would　be　driven　all　across　Heredon　for　slaughter　on　Tolfest；　in　the　twenty…fifth　day　of　the　Month　of　Leaves；　before　the　winter　snows　set　in。
　With　the　beef　came　horsemen；　driving　in　the　summer's　foals。　The　fields　around　Castle　Groverman　had　thus　bee　a　maze　of　stockyards　and　tents。
　On　seeing　it；　Iome's　heart　sank。
　She'd　been　outraged　to　learn　that　Duke　Groverman　refused　aid　to　Longmont。　It　had　seemed　a　small　and　evil　gesture；　not　in　keeping　with　the　graciousness　and　courage　expected　from　the　lords　of　Heredon。
　But　now　Iome　saw　that　Groverman　might　not　go　to　Longmont；　with　good　reason。　Outside　the　castle；　people　and　animals　crowded　the　groundsthe　horsemen　and　cattlemen；　merchants　for　the　festival；　refugees　from　Longmont；　plus　some　refugees　who'd　left　their　own　unprotected　villages。
　The　refugees　from　Longmont　broke　tome's　heart。　They　huddled　on　the　banks　of　Wind　Riverwomen；　babes；　men。　For　most　of　them；　only　blankets　slung　over　poles　would　shelter　them　from　the　snows　this　winter。　Groverman　had　generously　allowed　the　refugees　to　camp　near　the　castle　walls；　protected　from　the　winds　that　swept　these　plains。
　Still；　it　looked　as　if　a　town　of　rags　had　sprung　up　by　the　river；　a　town　inhabited　by　ragged　people。　Silver…haired　men　puttered　aimlessly；　as　if　only　waiting　for　winter　so　they　could　freeze。　Women　wrapped　their　babes　in　thick　woolen　blankets　and　kept　them　tucked　under　their　arms；　having　nothing　better　than　their　bodies　and　cloth　to　warm　the　children。
　From　the　sounds　of　coughing　as　she　passed　through　this　crowd；　it　looked　as　if　plagues　would　soon　sweep　the　camp。
　Iome　estimated　that　between　refugees；　the　inhabitants　of　Castle　Groverman；　and　those　who　had　e　for　the　fair；　some　thirty　thousand　people　had　gathered。　A　vast　throng；　not　easily　protected。
　And　Groverman's　walls；　for　some　reason；　were　not　as　thick　with　knights　as　Iome　would　have　expected。　So　Groverman　must　be　exerting　all　his　influence　to　care　for　his　people。
　All　this　Iome　saw　as　she　rode　past　corrals　filled　with　red　cattle；　through　the　broad　streets。　Everyone　stared　at　Gaborn　as　he　entered　the　city。　Groverman　was　not　used　to　entertaining　soldiers　who　wore　the　livery　of　the　green　knight。　The　trio　of　Days　who　rode　behind　signaled　that　this　was　an　important　procession；　regardless　of　how　ragged　Iome　and　her　father　looked。
　At　the　castle　gate；　four　guards　stopped　them。　〃You　have　another　message　for　milord？〃　one　guard　asked　Gaborn；　ignoring　Iome　and　her　father。
　〃Yes；〃　Gaborn　said　softly；　〃please　tell　His　Lordship　that　Prince　Gaborn　Val　Orden　begs　his　audience；　and　that　he　has　e　in　pany　with　King　Jas　Laren　Sylvarresta；　and　the　Princess　Iome。〃
　The　guards　gaped　at　the　news；　stood　staring　at　Iome's　mud…stained　robes。　King　Sylvarresta　did　not　look　kingly；　not　with　his　endowments　stripped。　In　fact；　Iome　imagined　she　and　her　father　were　the　saddest…looking　pair　on　the　road。
　So　Iome　tried　to　sit　all　the　more　proudly；　high　in　the　saddle。　It　cost　her　dearly；　for　she　could　ill　bear　the　stares　of　the　guards。
　Behold　the　horror　of　your　princess；　a　sad　voice　whispered　in　her　mind。　She　desired　to　cringe　and　hide　her　face；　as　some　Dedicates　did　after　giving　glamour。　Yet　Iome　steeled　herself　for　the　guards'　inspection；　still　fighting　the　power　of　the　rune　Raj　Ahten's　men　had　branded　into　her　flesh。
　The　guards　studied　the　three　Days　who　rode；　as　if　to　verify　his　claim。　Two　men　bumped　into　each　other　in　their　rush　to　fetch　Duke　Groverman。
　The　Duke　hurried　into　the　broad　courtyard　of　his　estate；　his　richly　embroidered　robes　flapping　in　the　wind。　Azurite　and　pearls　were　bound　into　the　leather　trim　of　his　ocher　cloak。　His　Days　hurried　behind。
　〃Here　now！　What's　this？