df.therunelords-第24部分

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　Orden　was　powerful；　a　stubborn　king；　and　it　was　rumored　that　he　fought　well　in　battle。　For　two　decades　he'd　kept　the　Northern　kingdoms　united。　A　glance　from　him　would　cow　many　a　would…be　tyrant；　and　with　a　curt　word　he　could　insure　that　a　prince　would　fall　out　of　favor　with　his　own　father。
　Some　called　him　the　Kingmaker。　Others　called　him　the　Puppet　Master。　The　truth　was；　Orden　had　been　making　himself　into　a　man　of　heroic　proportions　for　a　reason。　Like　the　Runelords　of　old；　he　had　to　bee　more　than　human　because　his　enemies　were　more　than　human。
　〃Forgive　me　those　words；〃　Iome　said。　〃Your　father　did　not　deserve　such　chastisement　from　a　self…righteous　nine…year…old　girl。〃
　〃Forgive　it？〃　Prince　Gaborn　answered。　〃What　is　to　forgive？　I　agreed　with　you。　Perhaps　a　thousand　years　ago；　there　was　reason　for　our　ancestors　to　put　one　another　to　the　indignity　of　the　forcibles。　But　the　reaver　invasions　are　long　past。　The　only　reason　you　and　I　are　Runelords　is　because　we　were　born　into　this　'shameful　economy'！　I　was　so　intrigued　by　your　ment　that　I　asked　my　father　to　repeat　every　word　you　had　ever　uttered　in　his　presence；　and　the　conditions　under　which　they　were　spoken。
　〃So　he　began　recalling　things　you'd　said　since　the　time　you　were　three；　and　recited　anything　he　found　pertinent。〃
　He　gave　Iome　only　a　split　second　to　consider　the　implications。　King　Orden；　like　any　who　had　such　heavy　endowments　of　wit；　would　naturally　recall　everything　he'd　ever　seen；　every　word　he'd　ever　heard；　every　innocent　phrase。　With　his　endowments　of　hearing；　Orden　could　listen　to　a　whisper　three　rooms　away　through　the　thick　stone　walls　of　the　castle。　As　a　child；　Iome　hadn't　quite　understood　the　breadth　of　powers　a　mature　Runelord　held。　No　doubt；　she'd　spoken　many　things　that　she'd　never　have　wanted　King　Orden　to　hear。　And　he　remembered　it　all　faultlessly。
　〃I　see。。。〃　Iome　said。
　〃Don't　be　offended；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃You　didn't　embarrass　yourself。　My　father　reported　every　jest　you　made　to　Lady　Chemoise。〃　He　nodded　toward　the　maid。　Iome　felt　the　gesture　more　than　saw　it。　〃Even　as　a　child；　my　father　found　you　to　be　amusing；　generous。　I　wanted　to　meet　you；　but　I　had　to　wait　for　the　proper　time。　Last　year　I　came　to　Hostenfest　in　my　father's　retinue　so　I　could　look　on　you。。。〃
　〃I　sat　in　the　Great　Hall　and　watched　you　through　dinner；　and　elsewhere。　I　dare　say；　I　feared　my　stare　would　bore　a　hole　through　you。
　〃You　impressed　me；　Iome。　You　laid　siege　to　my　heart。　I　watched　those　who　sat　around　you；　the　serving　children　and　guards　and　Maids　of　Honor；　and　saw　how　they　craved　your　affection。　I　watched　the　next　morning　as　we　left；　how　a　flock　of　children　gathered　round　you　as　our　caravan　made　to　depart；　and　you　kept　the　young　ones　out　from　under　the　horses'　hooves。　You　are　well　loved　by　your　people；　and　you　give　love　freely　in　return。　In　all　the　Kingdoms　of　Rofehavan；　you　have　no　equal。　That　is　why　I've　e。　I'd　hoped　that　like　all　those　around　you；　I　too　might　have　the　hope　of　someday　sharing　your　affection。〃
　Fair　words。　Iome　wondered　furiously。　King　Orden　always　brought　a　dozen　or　two　retainers　to　the　Great　Hall　for　dinner。　It　was　only　right　that　those　who　participated　in　the　hunt　share　in　the　prize　boar；　served　at　the　height　of　the　feast。　Iome　tried　to　recall　the　faces　of　those　men：　several　wore　the　scars　of　the　forcibles；　and　were　therefore　lesser　lords　in　their　own　right。　Prince　Gaborn　would　have　been　one　of　them。　And　he　would　be　young。
　Yet；　to　a　man；　Orden's　guards　and　retainers　were　older；　more　trusted　men。　Orden　was　wise　enough　to　know　that　the　best　fighters　were　seldom　spry　youths　bursting　with　enthusiasm　at　the　thought　of　swinging　a　battle…axe　or　sword。　No；　the　best　were　old；　masters　of　technique　and　strategy　who　often　stood　their　ground　in　a　battle；　seeming　to　hardly　move；　slashing　and　thrusting　with　deadly　economy。
　Orden　had　had　no　young　men　in　his　retinue。　Except。。。for　one　she　recalled：　a　shy　boy　who'd　sat　at　the　far　end　of　the　tablesa　handsome　boy　with　straight　hair　and　piercing　blue　eyes　that　twinkled　with　intelligence；　though　he　gaped　at　his　surroundings　like　some　moner。　Iome　had　thought　him　merely　a　trusted　body　servant；　perhaps　a　squire　in　training。
　Surely　that　mon　youth　could　not　have　been　a　prince　of　the　Runelords！　The　very　thought　left　her　unsettled；　made　her　heart　pound。　Iome　turned　to　look　at　Prince　Orden；　to　verify　her　suspicions。
　And　laughed。　He　stood；　a　plain　young　man　with　a　straight　back；　dark　hair；　and　those　clear　blue　eyes。　He'd　filled　out　in　a　year。　Iome　could　hardly　contain　her　surprise。　He　was。。。nothing　much　to　look　at。　He　had　no　more　than　one　or　two　endowments　of　glamour。
　Gaborn　smiled；　charmed　at　her　mirth。　〃Having　seen　me　now；　and　knowing　my　reasons　for　ing；〃　he　said；　〃had　I　asked　your　hand　in　marriage；　would　you　have　given　it？〃
　From　the　core　of　her　heart；　Iome　answered　sincerely；　〃No。〃
　Gaborn　stepped　back　as　if　she'd　slapped　him；　as　if　her　rejection　were　the　last　thing　he'd　expected。　〃How　so？〃
　〃You're　a　stranger。　What　do　I　know　of　you？　How　could　I　love　someone　I　don't　know？〃
　〃You　would　learn　my　heart；〃　Gaborn　answered。　〃Our　fathers　desire　a　political　union；　but　I　desired　a　union　of　like　minds　and　like　hearts。　You　will　find；　Lady　Sylvarresta；　that　you　and　I　are。。。one　in　many　matters。〃
　Iome　laughed　lightly。　〃Honestly；　Prince　Orden；　if　you　had　e　seeking　only　the　realm　of　Heredon；　perhaps　I　could　have　given　it　to　you。　But　you　would　have　asked　for　my　heart；　and　that　I　could　not　promise　to　a　stranger。〃
　〃As　I　feared；〃　Gabon　said　honestly。　〃Yet　you　and　I　are　strangers　only　by　accident。　Had　we　lived　nearer　one　another；　I　think　we　could　have　forged　a　love。　Could　I　not　persuade　you；　give　you　a　gift　that　might　change　your　mind？〃
　〃There's　nothing　I　desire；〃　Iome　said；　then　her　heart　pounded。　Raj　Ahten's　armies　stood　at　her　gate。　She　wanted　him　gone。　She　realized　she'd　spoken　too　quickly。
　〃There　is　something　you　desire；　though　you　don't　know　it；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃You　live　here；　tucked　away　in　your　castle　near　the　woods；　and　you　say　there　is　nothing　you　want。　Yet　certainly　you　must　be　afraid。　There　was　a　time　when　all　Runelords　were　like　your　father；　men　bound　by　oath　to　serve　their　fellows；　men　who　took　no　endowment　but　that　which　was　freely　given。
　〃Now；　here　we　are；　cornered。　Raj　Ahten　is　at　your　gates。　All　around　you；　the　kings　of　the　North　call　themselves　'pragmatists；'　and　have　given　themselves　to　the　pursuit　of　gain；　telling　themselves　that　in　the　end　they　will　not　bee　like　Raj　Ahten。
　〃You　see　the　fallacy　of　their　arguments。　You　saw　my　father's　weakness　when　you　were　little　more　than　a　child。　He　is　a　great　man；　but　he　has　vices；　as　do　we　all。　Perhaps　he　has　been　able　to　remain　good　in　part　because　people　like　you　sometimes　spoke　up；　sometimes　warned　him　to　beware　of　greed。
　〃And　so　I　have　a　gift　for　you；　Princess　Sylvarresta；　a　gift　I　give　freely；　asking　nothing　in　return。〃
　He　strode　forward；　took　her　hand。　Iome　imagined　that　he　would　place　something　in　her　palm；　a　precious　stone　or　a　love　poem。
　Instead；　Gaborn　took　her　hand　in　his；　and　she　felt　the　calluses　on　his　palm；　felt　the　warmth　of　his　hand。
　He　knelt　before　her　and　whispered　an　oath；　an　oath　so　ancient　that　few　now　understood　the　language　of　it；　an　oath　so　crippling　that　almost　no　Runelord　ever　dared　speak　it：
　〃This　oath　I　take　in　your　presence；　and　my　life　will　bear　witness　in　every　point：〃
　〃I；　a　Runelord；　swear　to　serve　as　your　protector。　I；　your　Runelord；　am　your　servant　above　all。　I　promise　now　that　I　will　never　take　an　endowment　by　force；　nor　by　deception。　Nor　will　I　purchase　such　from　those　in　need　of　wealth。　Instead；　if　any　man　stands　in　need　of　gold；　I　will　give　it　freely。　Only　those　who　would　join　me　as　I　battle　evil　may　serve　as　my　Dedicates。〃
　〃As　the　mist　rises　from　the　sea；　so　does　it　return。〃
　He　had　sworn　the　vow　of　the　Oath…Bound　Runelords；　an　oath　normally　spoken　to　vassals；　but　given　also　to　underlords　or　to　friendly　monarchs　that　one　intended　to　defend。　It　was　not　an　oath　spoken　lightly　to　one　person。　Rather；　it　was　a　covenant；　declaring　a　way　of　life。　The　very　thought　made　Iome　feel　faint。
　With　Raj　Ahten　battling　the　North；　the　House　of　Orden　would　need　all　its　strength。　For　Gaborn　to　speak　that　oath　now；　in　her　hearing；　wassuicidal。
　Iome　had　never　expected　such　greatness　of　heart　from　House　Orden。　To　live　the　oath　would　prove　hard　beyond　bearing。
　She'd　not　have　done　the　same。　She　was　too。。。pragmatic。
　Iome　stood　gaping　for　just　a　moment；　realizing　that　if　he　had　sworn　that　oath　to　her　under　fairer　skies；　she　would　have　thought　well　of　him。　But　to　speak　the　oath　now；　under　these　conditions。。。was　irresponsible。
　She　looked　to　her　Days；　to　see　the　girl's　reaction。　The　young　woman's　eyes　were　wide；　the　thinnest　show　of　surprise。
　Iome　looked　back　to　Gaborn's　face；　found　herself　wanting　to　memorize　it；　to　hold　this　moment　in　her　memory。
　An　hour　is　not　enough　time　to　fall　in　love；　but　an　hour　is　all　they　had　that　day。　Gaborn　had　won　her　heart　in　far　less　time；　and　shown　Iome　her　own　heart　more　clearly　in　the　process。　He　had　seen　that　she　loved　her　people；　and　it　was　true。　Yet　she　had　to　wonder：　Even　if　Gaborn　takes　this　oath　as　an　act　of　love　for　mankind；　is　it　not　sheer　folly？　Does　Gaborn　love