df.therunelords-第95部分

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　softest　blushing　rose；　a　rose　that　painted　the　fog　for　miles　around。
　But　when　he　reached　her　bedchamber；　she　had　only　smiled　at　his　request；　then　devised　other　entertainments。
　They'd　made　love　on　the　tiger…skin　rug　before　the　hearth。
　By　the　time　they　finished；　the　sun　had　been　up　for　hours。　The　poor　of　Mystarria　had　gathered　in　the　streets　before　the　castle　to　collect　the　winter's　alms。
　Thus　the　King　and　Queen　had　been　required　to　go　out　in　the　afternoon；　to　spend　the　remainder　of　the　day　riding　the　huge　wains　through　the　street；　where　they　passed　out　meat；　turnips；　dried　fruits；　and　silver　to　those　who　stood　in　need。
　Orden　and　his　wife　had　labored　hard；　stopping　often　to　exchange　smiles；　or　to　let　a　touch　linger。
　Orden　hadn't　thought　of　that　day　for　years；　though　every　sight；　sound；　and　smell　remained　perfect　in　his　memory。　With　twenty　endowments　of　wit；　Orden　could　relive　such　moments　at　will。　It　had　been　a　magic　day。　It　was　the　day；　he　discovered　weeks　later；　he'd　got　his　wife　with　her　first　child；　Gaborn。
　Ah；　how　he　longed　for　her　still。
　As　Orden　reached　the　top　of　the　Eyes　of　Tor　Loman；　the　light　reappeared　in　the　heavens；　and　he　stared　in　horror　to　see　the　monstrous　wall　of　fire　that　Raj　Ahten's　beasts　had　hurled　against　the　castle。　The　skies　were　painted　with　strange　powdersgray　and　black；　the　yellow　of　sulfur；　something　red。
　The　vast；　seething　green　wave　of　fire　seemed　to　roll　through　the　sky　slowly　from　this　distance；　at　the　pace　he　lived。　For　what　seemed　agonizing　minutes；　Orden　crawled　across　the　stone　steps。
　As　he　crawled；　Orden　wondered　why　Raj　Ahten　had　e　here。　Certainly　not　to　see　down　into　Longmont。　The　view　here　offered　nothing。
　No；　something　else　had　alarmed　the　Wolf　Lord。
　So　King　Orden　gazed　east；　saw　dust　rising　from　the　plains　as　if　they　were　aflame；　the　light　shining　from　shields。　An　army　marching　from　Castle　Groverman。
　Despite　the　immense　dust　cloud；　it　could　not　have　been　a　large　army；　Orden　knew。　Thirty　thousand　moners　e　to　his　aid；　marching　across　a　dusty　heath；　nothing　more。　They'd　be　no　match　for　Raj　Ahten's　Invincibles。
　But　Orden　knew　his　son　marched　at　the　head　of　that　army。　Certainly　Gaborn　would　not　be　fool　enough　to　attack　Raj　Ahten。　No；　this　had　to　be　a　ruse。　Orden　smiled。　Against　a　man　of　Raj　Ahten's　wit；　misinformation　could　be　a　potent　weapon。　His　son　was　fighting　as　best　he　could。
　In　almost　every　contest；　victory　came　to　those　who　refused　to　be　subdued。　The　Prince　was　not　cowed。
　A　good　ruse；　this；　Orden　told　himself。　Raj　Ahten　believes　Longmont　was　taken　days　ago。　Now　he　sees　an　army　e　to　smash　him。　King　Orden　only　hoped　the　ruse　would　work。
　And　a　darker　fear　crept　into　his　mind。　Certainly　Gaborn　would　not　attack；　would　he？　Would　he？
　Yes；　he　would；　Orden　realized。　If　he　believed　that　by　doing　so　he　could　save　his　father。　Didn't　I　tell　him　to　attack？　Orden　thought。　Didn't　I　tell　him　to　sweep　down　the　hill　with　his　knights？
　Orden　was　filled　with　dread。　This　was　a　boy　who　risked　himself　to　save　enemy　Dedicates。　This　was　a　boy　who　had　bee　an　Oath…Bound　Lord。
　Orden　didn't　doubt。　Though　he'd　die　in　the　attempt；　Gaborn　would　certainly　attack！
　At　that　moment；　the　great　wave　smashed　into　the　castle；　sent　pillars　of　fire　racing　into　the　sky。　Orden　could　see　the　horrible　damage　it　wrought；　men　flying　over　the　walls　like　flaming　birds；　could　see　giants　and　war　dogs；　Invincibles　and　archers　all　rushing　for　the　castle　gates。
　Yet　he　could　not　feel　the　stirring　within　that　marked　the　death　of　a　Dedicate。　None　of　the　Dedicates　in　his　serpent　ring　burned　in　that　flame。　Surely　the　castle　would　fall。
　Deep　inside；　he　felt　an　overpowering　urge。　Strike。　Strike　now　as　best　you　can！
　Orden　recognized　that　he　himself　might　hold　the　key　to　insuring　that　this　great　fiasco　of　a　battle　served　some　higher　purpose。　The　men　in　the　castle　were　joined　in　a　serpent　ring；　and　if　the　castle　were　overrun；　the　men　in　the　ring　would　all　be　forced　to　fight；　none　drawing　metabolism　from　the　others。　Eventually　one　of　them　would　die；　and　a　serpent　would　form。　But　who　would　be　at　its　head？
　Certainly　not　that　idiot　Dreis；　Orden　hoped。
　No。　It　had　to　be　Shostag。　Formidable；　venerable　in　his　own　crude　way。　A　fierce　warrior。
　Orden　crawled　to　the　edge　of　the　observatory；　looked　down。
　The　Eyes　of　Tor　Loman　perched　on　the　edge　of　a　promontory；　and　on　the　west　edge；　huge　rocks　thrust　up　from　the　ground。　There；　Orden　thought。　I　will　hit　there。
　He　threw　himself　from　the　tower。　It　was　time　for　the　serpent　ring　to　break。　Now　let　Shostag　the　Axeman　earn　his　lands　and　title。　Let　Gaborn　live　to　inherit　his　birthright。
　And　let　me　return　to　the　arms　of　the　woman　I　love。
　With　so　many　endowments　of　metabolism；　Orden　seemed　to　fall　slowly；　almost　as　if　he　floated　to　his　death。
　　
　Chapter　53
　THE　FLUTTERING
　　
　A　pillar　of　fire　rose　into　the　far…off　skies　like　a　mushroom；　and　the　sound　of　thunder　rumbled　over　the　plain。
　Yet　Gaborn　felt　something　far　more　disturbingdistantly；　distantly　he　felt　a　single　heartbeat　flutter　and　fail。
　It　tore　him；　dismayed　him；　far　more　than　that　flash　of　light　or　the　groaning　of　the　earth。
　He　swayed　in　his　saddle；　whispered；　〃Father。〃
　Somehow；　somehow　Gaborn　feared　that　his　wish　to　strike　at　Raj　Ahten　had　caused　his　father's　death。
　It　had　not　been　the　will　of　the　earth　to　strike。　Gaborn　had　felt　no　pulsion　greater　than　his　own　anger。　Yet　he'd　given　the　mand。
　No；　Gaborn　thought。　I　don't　believe　it。　I　don't　believe　I　caused　it。　How　can　I　know　he's　dead　until　I've　seen　it？
　The　wizard　Binnesman　turned　to　Gaborn；　infinite　sadness　in　his　eye；　and　whispered；　〃You　called　for　your　father。　Is　he　gone；　then？〃
　〃I。。。don't　know；〃　Gaborn　said。
　〃Use　the　Earth　Sight。　Is　he　gone？〃
　Gaborn　felt　inside　himself；　tried　to　reach　out　to　his　father；　but　could　feel　nothing。　He　nodded。
　Binnesman　whispered　so　that　only　Gaborn　could　hear。　〃So　the　mantle　passes。　Until　now　you　have　been　but　a　prince。　Now　you　must　bee　a　king　in　deed。〃
　Gaborn　slumped　forward　in　his　saddle；　sick　to　his　heart。　〃What？　What　can　I　do？　How　can　I　stop　this？〃　Gaborn　asked。　〃If　I　am　Earth　King；　what　good　can　I　do？〃
　〃Much　good。　You　can　call　the　earth　to　your　aid；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃It　can　help　protect　you。　Hide　you。　You　only　need　to　learn　how　to　do　so。〃
　〃I　want　Raj　Ahten　dead；〃　Gaborn　said　blankly。
　〃The　earth　will　not　kill；〃　Binnesman　whispered。　〃Its　strength　lies　in　nurturing　life；　protecting。　And　Raj　Ahten　is　backed　by　other　Powers。　You　must　think；　Gaborn。　How　can　you　best　protect　your　people？　All　mankind　is　in　jeopardy；　not　just　these　few　at　Longmont。　Your　father　is　but　one　man；　and　I　fear　he　chose　to　place　himself　in　jeopardy。〃
　〃I　want　Raj　Ahten　dead！　Now！〃　Gaborn　shouted；　not　at　Binnesman；　but　to　the　earth　that　had　promised　to　protect　him。　Yet　he　knew　the　earth　was　not　at　fault。　Gaborn　had　felt　a　premonition　that　his　father　was　in　jeopardy。　Yet　he　had　not　heeded　that　warning；　had　not　pulled　his　father　from　Longmont。
　Gaborn　felt　ill　to　his　heart。
　He　was　twenty　miles　from　Longmont。　His　force　horse　could　cover　that　distance　in　less　than　half　an　hour。　But　if　he　did；　what　would　it　gain　him？　He'd　lose　his　life。
　He　considered　spurring　his　horse　on；　anyway。
　Beside　him；　Iome　seemed　to　read　his　thoughts。　She　touched　his　knee　with　her　hand。　〃Don't；〃　she　whispered。　〃Don't　go。〃
　Gaborn　looked　at　the　ground。　At　his　horse's　feet；　gray…green　grasshoppers　flew　up　in　fright；　fat　grasshoppers；　sluggish　at　the　end　of　the　autumn。
　〃Can　we　help　them　at　Longmont；　do　you　think？〃　Gaborn　asked　Binnesman。
　The　wizard　shrugged。　Worry　lined　his　face。　〃You　help　their　cause　even　now；　with　this　ruse。　But　do　you　mean；　can　you　defeat　Raj　Ahten？　Not　with　these　troops。　The　battle　goes　ill　for　Longmontas　it　would　for　you；　should　you　attack　too　soon。　Your　strength　lies　not　in　slaughter；　but　as　a　defender。　Let　your　men　kick　up　more　dust　as　they　walk。　Then　we　will　see　what　happens。。。〃
　They　rode　on　in　palpable　silence　for　two　long　minutes。　All　that　time；　Gaborn　felt　torn；　fey。　He　blamed　himself　for　his　father's　death；　for　the　death　of　Rowan；　for　the　deaths　of　all　the　Dedicates　at　Castle　Sylvarresta。　Such　a　toll；　such　a　heavy　price　the　world　was　paying　for　his　weakness。　For　he　felt　sure　that　if　he　were　stronger；　if　he　had　just　done　something　different；　turned　left　when　he'd　turned　right；　he　could　have　saved　them　all。
　A　strange　noise　began　to　rumble　across　the　plainsa　single　note；　a　cry　like　none　Gaborn　had　ever　heard　or　thought　to　imagine。　It　rolled　over　the　plains　like　a　distant　shout。
　Raj　Ahten's　death　cry！　he　thought。
　But　almost　immediately；　it　was　followed　by　another　such　cry；　echoing　over　the　heath。
　Binnesman's　mount　kicked　and　raised　its　ears；　just　as　heavy　wet　drops　of　sleet　began　to　splash　over　the　ground。　With　an　ache　in　his　heart；　Gaborn　watched　the　wizard　spur　his　horse　toward　Longmont；　and　wished　he　could　follow。
　〃e；　Gaborn；　bring　your　army！〃　Binnesman　shouted。　〃The　earth　is　in　pain！〃
　Then　he　sawthe　sleet　ahead　had　begun　to　fall　in　great　sheets　from　the　sky；　watering　the　heath。　No　far…seer　would　be　able　to　pierce　the　oning　deluge。　If　Gaborn's　ruse　had　not　worked　already；　it　could　have　no　further　effect。
　With　a　shout；　Gaborn　raised　his　fist；　called　the　charge。
　　
　Chapter　54
　SHOSTAG
　　
　Shostag　the　Axeman　hid　in　the　Duke's　cellars　when　he　felt　the　quickening。　A　sense　of　profound　energy　tingled　through　every　inch　of　his　skin；　and　he　leapt　into　action。
　So　Orden　had　died。　Shostag　wondered　how　it　had　happened。
　Shostag　had　outwitted　dozens　of　Runelords　in　his　short　life。　He　was　not　a　man　of　deep　understanding　or　broad　study；　but　he　kept　his　eyes　open；　reached　decisions　fast。　Most　people　assumed　that　because　fat　covered　his　bearlike　muscles；　he　was　also　dull…witted。　Not　so。
　As　he　clutched　his　huge　double…headed　axe；　he　raced　up　the　steps　and　burst　through　the　cellar　doors。　He　did　so　with　calculated　efficiency；　hitting　doors　no　more　quickly　than　if　he'd　run　full…tilt。　He　even　slipped　the　bar　from　a　door　as　he　exited；　so　the　door　burst　open　from　the　impact　of　his　blow。
　Then　he　raced　through　the　buttery　of　the　Duke's　kitchens；　out　the　kitchen　doors；　and　to　the　green　before　the　great　hall。
　Hundreds　of　Raj　Ahten's　Invincible