df.therunelords-第118部分

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　Erden　Geboren　nodded　solemnly；　then　turned　his　pale　horse　and　rode　over　the　fields；　his　great　charger　leaping　the　fences　and　hedgerows　as　he　retreated　into　the　Dunnwood。
　In　moments；　the　sounds　of　hunting　horns　rang　suddenly　loud；　and　then　faded　again　into　the　distance　as　the　wights　departed。
　Everyone　stared　at　Gaborn；　utterly　silent。　Many　looked　troubled；　as　if　uncertain　what　had　happened；　or　unwilling　to　believe。　Others　merely　gaped　in　astonishment。　It　was　said　that　the　ancient　kings　manded　the　Dunnwood；　that　the　wood　served　them。　Gaborn　understood　now　that　it　was　the　ghosts　of　the　wood　that　had　served　his　forefathersand　now　Gaborn　had　dared　mand　them。
　Gaborn　almost　feared　to　breathe；　for　he　knew　that　whatever　he　said　this　day；　it　would　be　remembered　by　all。
　Iome　looked　up　at　Gaborn；　tears　glistening　in　her　eyes。　He　was　already　holding　her　hand；　but　now　she　squeezed　his　fingers　tightly；　her　right　hand　to　his　left。　And　she　raised　her　hand　high。
　Among　poor　people　in　both　their　kingdoms；　a　marriage　was　made　in　a　manner　similar　to　this：　the　man　and　woman　who　wanted　to　wed　would　stand　before　witnesses；　holding　hands　together；　while　a　friend　bound　them　at　the　wrist　with　a　white　ribbon。　Then　the　newlyweds　would　raise　their　hands　as　one；　for　all　to　see。
　So　everyone　understood　the　significance　of　her　gesture。　I　am　a　poor　woman；　who　wants　to　make　a　marriage。
　Gaborn　raised　her　hand　in　his　higher；　and　shouted　to　all　those　in　the　camp；　〃You　yourselves　saw　Sylvarresta　and　Orden　ride　together　now　as　they　did　in　life；　united　as　true　friends。　Seeing　as　death　cannot　divide　them；　let　our　people　not　be　divided！〃
　Everyone　in　the　camp　stood　quiet；　none　yet　daring　to　move。
　Duke　Mardon　stood　two　hundred　yards　downfield　from　them。　A　campfire　glowed　at　his　feet；　showing　his　face。　His　golden　goblet　had　recently　been　filled。　He　was　a　huge　man；　more　of　a　leader　than　any　other　in　Heredon。　A　lord　that　men　loved　and　looked　to。
　Now；　it　seemed　that　hundreds　of　eyes　turned　to　the　Duke；　seeking　sign　of　his　approval。
　Mardon　was　no　fool。　Perhaps　he　recognized　that　Heredon　needed　this　union。　Perhaps　he　had　time　to　consider　the　wealth　and　power　Mystarria　manded。　Perhaps　he　recognized　the　necessity　of　allying　himself　with　the　Earth　King。
　Yet　if　such　mercenary　thoughts　crossed　the　Duke's　mind；　they　did　not　show。　For　almost　immediately　he　raised　his　golden　goblet　in　salute　to　Gaborn；　and　a　broad　smile　creased　his　face。　He　called；　〃And；　milady；　what　say　you？〃
　Iome　clenched　Gaborn's　hand　tightly；　raised　it　higher。　She　turned　to　Gaborn　now；　and　looked　up　at　him；　the　starlight　shining　in　her　eyes。　〃For　Sylvarresta's　part；　I　accept。。。gladly。〃
　Duke　Mardon　shouted　and　raised　his　goblet　high。　〃It　seems　our　King　Sylvarresta　celebrates　Hostenfest　this　year　with　a　hunt　after　all！　Let　us　rejoice　for　him。。。and　for　his　daughter。　We　double　our　cause　for　celebration！〃　He　drained　the　cup　quickly；　and　tossed　it　far　into　the　night；　into　the　camps　of　his　troops；　to　be　the　prize　of　some　poor　soldier。
　That　action　more　than　any　other　finally　brought　a　cheer　from　the　camp；　and　endeared　Mardon　to　Gaborn　forever　after。
　　
　BOOK　5
　　　
　DAY　23　IN　THE　MONTH　OF　HARVEST
　ADVENT　OF　THE　EARTH　KING
　
　AFTERWORD
　　
　The　earth　powers　racked　Iome　on　the　evening　she　became　engaged　to　Gaborn；　making　her　desire　him　more　than　ever　before。　Perhaps　it　was　because　Gaborn　and　Binnesman　both　had　e　together；　flanking　her；　so　that　she　felt　herself　sandwiched　between　the　two；　buffeted　by　their　creative　energies。　Or　maybe　her　fatigue　left　her　more　open　to　his　magic　than　normally。
　Or　perhaps　it　was　because　she　could　feel　the　earth　power　growing　in　Gaborn；　quietly　transforming　him。
　In　any　event；　she　felt　grateful　that　her　people　accepted　their　betrothal。　For　when　he　touched　her　that　evening　and　raised　her　hand；　she　felt　more　than　a　human　touch。　His　fingers　twined　together　with　hers；　like　two　vines　espaliered　together。　She　did　not　believe　any　longer　that　she　could　remain　separated　from　him。　She　did　not　believe　she　could　have　separated　again；　not　and　lived；　not　and　have　been　truly　alive。　If　anyone　had　tried　to　tear　her　from　him；　Iome　believed　wholeheartedly　that　she'd　simply　have　withered　and　died。
　That　night；　she　called　Sir　Borenson　to　her　to　bestow　her　judgment。
　To　his　credit；　Borenson　came　the　three　miles　without　plaint；　knelt　at　her　feet　on　hands　and　knees；　ready　once　again　to　offer　his　neck；　should　she　desire　it。　All　around　them　had　gathered　thousands　of　knights　and　warriors。　Feelings　among　them　were　mixed；　Iome　could　tell　from　their　faces。　Some　would　have　rent　the　man　alive。　Others　frowned　thoughtfully；　fearing　that　someday；　under　similar　circumstances；　they　might　find　themselves　in　his　position。
　She　could　have　outlawed　him；　stripped　him　of　rank　and　protection。　She　could　have　executed　him　on　the　spot。
　〃Sir　Borenson；〃　Iome　said；　〃you　have　grievously　injured　House　Sylvarresta。　Do　you　have　anything　to　say　in　your　own　behalf？〃
　Borenson　just　shook　his　head；　his　great　red　beard　swaying　above　the　dirt。　No。
　〃Then　I　will　speak　in　your　behalf；〃　Iome　said。　〃You　may　have　injured　House　Sylvarresta；　but　you　also　have　loved　it；　and　you　have　served　the　people　of　Heredon。〃
　Iome　sighed；　〃Yet　justice　demands　a　penalty。　In　ancient　times；　I　am　told；　an　act　such　as　yours　could　be　forgiven；　should　the　offending　knight　plete　an　'Act　Penitent。'　〃
　Iome　found　it　hard　to　breathe；　found　it　hard　to　speak　these　next　words；　though　the　idea　had　been　given　her　by　Binnesman；　and　it　had　seemed　adequate　at　the　time。　Now　she　wondered　if　it　was　too　much。　An　act　of　penitence　should　be　something　a　man　could　hope　to　acplish；　a　great　deed　that　would　try　his　soul　and　let　him　grow。　Not　a　deed　that　would　destroy　a　man。
　She　feared　her　sentence　would　break　Borenson。　〃I　sentence　you　to　go　south；　beyond　the　lands　of　Inkarra。　I　bid　you　find　Daylan　Hammer；　the　Sum　of　All　Men；　so　that　we　can　learn　how　best　to　defeat　Raj　Ahten。〃　An　astonished　gasp　issued　from　the　crowd　of　bystanders；　followed　quickly　by　whispers。
　Borenson　gave　a　little　cough　in　surprise；　looked　up　to　Iome；　then　to　Gaborn；　who　stood　at　her　side。
　〃How？　When？　I　meanI　am　under　oath　to　House　Orden。〃
　〃Then　I　release　you　from　all　oaths；　Sir　Borenson；〃　Gaborn　said；　〃until　your　Act　Penitent　is　plete。　You　shall　bee　a　Knight　Equitable；　answerable　only　to　yourself；　if　you　wish。〃
　〃If　I　wish？〃　He　seemed　to　consider。　He　would　have　to　travel　through　enemy　countries；　facing　countless　dangers；　in　some　vain　hope　of　finding　a　legend。　It　was　a　deed　that　might　take　a　man　a　lifetime。　Or　more。　Time；　for　a　man　with　endowments　of　metabolism；　could　pass　so　swiftly。
　Borenson　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　Myrrima。　If　he　accepted　Iome's　punishment；　he'd　have　to　leave　her　behind。　He　might　never　see　her　again。　Myrrima's　face　was　pale；　etched　with　fear。　As　a　signal　to　him；　she　nodded；　barely。
　〃I　accept　your　judgment；〃　Borenson　answered　uncertainly。　He　got　off　his　knees。
　He　no　longer　wore　the　livery　of　House　Orden；　and　therefore　had　no　need　to　strip　himself　of　it。　But　he　took　his　shield；　cut　the　bindings　behind　the　wood；　so　that　the　leather　covering　came　away；　with　its　painted　image　of　the　green　knight。　Beneath　the　leather　covering；　the　shield　was　only　blank　steel　riveted　to　a　frame　of　wood。
　〃When　will　you　leave？〃　Gaborn　asked；　clapping　Borenson　on　the　back。
　Borenson　shrugged；　glanced　at　Myrrima。　〃Two　weeks；　four　at　the　most。　Before　the　mountains　fill　with　snow。〃
　After　he　has　had　time　to　wed；　Iome　realized。
　She　saw　the　calculating　gaze　that　Gaborn　gave；　knew　he　wanted　to　go　with　Borenson。
　But　Gaborn's　duties　would　hold　him　here　in　the　North。
　The　next　morning　at　dawn；　Gaborn　prepared　a　wagon　to　carry　the　bodies　of　the　kings　back　to　Castle　Sylvarresta。　There；　Sylvarresta　would　be　buried；　while　Gaborn's　father　would　be　embalmed　and　shipped　back　home　to　Mystarria。
　With　the　bodies；　Gaborn　secreted　ten　large　boxes　of　forcibles；　covered　in　soil　from　the　gardens　at　Bredsfor　Manor。
　Gaborn　oversaw　the　whole　affair。　The　camp　had　bee　busy　since　dawn；　with　thousands　of　warriors　striking　their　tents　in　preparation　to　leave；　others　still　ing　in　from　around　Heredon。
　When　Gaborn　had　finished　loading　the　bodies　and　checked　the　wagon's　wheels　and　undercarriage　to　see　if　they　could　hold　the　heavy　load；　he　got　up　to　find　that　a　small　crowd　had　gathered。　Locals　who　had　lived　here　at　Longmont。
　〃We　e　to　ask　you；〃　a　sturdy　farmer　said；　〃if　you'll　be　willing　to　take　our　endowments。〃
　〃Why　do　you　e　to　me？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃You'll　be　our　king；〃　a　young　man　in　the　crowd　spoke　up。
　〃You've　got　gold；〃　the　farmer　said。　〃You　can　pay。　We　don't　ask　much；　only　that　you　care　for　our　families；　keep　them　through　the　winter。　I'm　a　strong　man。　Been　working　all　my　life。　I　could　sell　you　my　brawn。　And　my　son　over　therenever　has　been　sick　a　day。　You　could　use　him。〃
　Gaborn　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃There　will　be　gold　enough　for　you　without　selling　your　endowments。〃　Gaborn　spoke　loudly；　so　that　all　the　crowd　could　hear。　〃I'll　need　men　to　rebuild　this　fortress。　I'll　pay　you　well　for　your　labor。　Bring　your　families　for　the　winter；　and　stay　in　the　buildings　that　still　stand。　Every　man　of　you　will　have　beef　for　your　children；　and　bread　in　your　b