df.therunelords-第45部分

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adow。　Binnesman　stood　tall　and　straight；　glaring　at　Raj　Ahten　from　under　bushy　brows。　The　cuffs　and　manacles　he'd　worn　now　lay　at　his　feet；　still　firmly　locked。　It　was　as　if　his　limbs　had　merely　melted　through　them。
　Though　flameweavers　lay　dazed　and　wounded　at　Binnesman's　feet；　Iome　had　felt　nothing　during　the　attack。　A　flower　had　touched　her　face；　then　dropped　to　the　floor；　nothing　more。
　Raj　Ahten　stared　at　the　herbalist；　slightly　annoyed；　gripped　the　arms　of　the　throne。　〃What　have　you　done？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked　softly；　evenly；　in　the　starlight。
　〃I　will　not　suffer　your　flameweavers　to　kill　me；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I've　diminished　them　for　a　moment；　nothing　more。　Now；　you　will　excuse　me；　Your　Lordship。　I've　much　work　to　do。　You　wanted　herbs　for　your　armies？〃　Binnesman　turned　to　leave。
　〃Is　it　true　that　you　back　King　Orden？　Will　you　fight　beside　him？〃
　Binnesman　gave　the　Wolf　Lord　a　sidelong　glance；　shook　his　head　as　if　appalled。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　fight　you；〃　Binnesman　intoned　softly。　〃I　have　never　taken　a　man's　life。　You　are　asleep　to　the　powers　of　the　earth；　Raj　Ahten。　The　great　tree　of　life　arches　over　you；　and　the　leaves　of　it　whisper　to　you；　but　you　do　not　hear　them　rustle。　Instead；　you　merely　sleep　among　its　roots；　dreaming　of　conquest。
　〃Turn　your　thoughts　to　preservation。　Your　people　need　you。　I　have　great　hope　for　you；　Raj　Ahten。　I　would　call　you　friend。〃
　Raj　Ahten　studied　the　old　wizard　a　moment。　〃What　would　it　take　for　you　and　I　to　bee　friends？〃
　Binnesman　said；　〃Swear　an　oath　to　the　earth；　that　you　will　not　harm　it。　Swear　that　you　will　seek　to　preserve　a　seed　of　humanity　in　the　dark　season　to　e。〃
　〃And　what　do　you　mean　by　these　oaths？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　〃Divest　yourself　of　the　flameweavers　who　desire　to　consume　the　earth。　Value　lifeall　life；　plant　and　animal。　Eat　from　plants　without　destroying　them；　harvest　only　the　animals　you　need。　Waste　no　creature；　either　animal　or　man。　Turn　your　armies　back　from　this　war　you　have　initiated。　There　are　reavers　on　your　southern　borders。　Your　struggle　should　be　with　them。〃
　For　a　long　time；　Raj　Ahten　sat　on　the　throne；　simply　staring　at　Binnesman。　During　that　moment；　a　servant　rushed　in　with　a　fresh　lantern　from　the　anteroom；　so　that　it　illuminated　the　Wolf　Lord's　face。　He　appeared　thoughtful。
　Iome　could　see　the　longing　in　Raj　Ahten's　eyes；　and　almost　she　believed　he　would　take　the　oath。
　But　as　the　servant　drew　near　with　the　lantern；　it　seemed　to　Iome　that　Raj　Ahten's　resolve　flickered　like　the　tongues　of　the　fire。　〃I　swear；　to　protect　mankind　from　the　reaversfor　their　own　good；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃I。。。do　only　what　I　know　I　must〃
　〃You　do　nothing　of　the　sort！〃　Binnesman　shouted。　〃Listen　to　you：　You've　taken　so　many　endowments　of　Voice　that　when　you　talk；　you　convince　yourself　of　your　own　mad　arguments。　You　are　deluded！〃
　Iome's　heart　pounded；　for　she　suddenly　realized　that　Binnesman　was　right。　Raj　Ahten　was　swayed　by　the　sound　of　his　own　mad　Voice。　It　had　never　occurred　to　her　that　such　a　thing　might　happen。
　Binnesman　shouted；　〃Yetthere　is　time　to　change　your　mindbarely！　Divest　yourself　of　these　mad　notions。　Don't　dare　rob　these　people　and　call　yourself　good！〃
　He　turned　and　ambled　from　the　room；　looking　every　bit　the　bent　old　man。　Yet　he　walked　without　fear；　as　if；　Iome　thought；　he　had　conducted　the　interview；　as　if　he　had　dragged　Raj　Ahten　to　this　room　in　chains。
　Then　he　was　gone。
　Iome　watched　in　astonishment；　for　no　one　else　that　night　had　merely　chosen　to　leave　Raj　Ahten's　presence。　Iome　feared　that　Raj　Ahten　might　try　to　imprison　the　old　man；　or　drag　him　back　and　bully　him　into　service。
　But　the　Wolf　Lord　remained　thoughtful；　watched　the　dark　corridor　through　which　Binnesman　had　exited。
　Moments　later；　as　the　flameweavers　began　to　regain　consciousness；　a　guard　hurried　to　the　King's　chamber　to　announce　that　the　herbalist　had　just　been　spotted　outside　the　city　gates；　hobbling　across　the　fields　to　the　Dunnwood。　〃Our　bowmen　on　the　wall　could　have　shot　him；〃　the　guard　said；　〃but　we　did　not　know　your　will　in　this　matter。　The　nomen　are　camped　in　the　fields；　but　none　detained　him。　Shall　I　send　scouts　to　fetch　him　back？〃
　Raj　Ahten　frowned。　It　seemed　far　too　short　a　time　for　a　man　to　have　left　these　halls　and　escaped　the　castle。　And　it　was　equally　as　bizarre　that　none　of　Raj　Ahten's　highly　trained　soldiers　had　stopped　the　old　man。
　〃Did　he　reach　the　edge　of　the　forest？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　〃Aye；　milord。〃
　〃What　is　he　planning？〃　Raj　Ahten　wondered　aloud。　He　stood　swiftly；　pondering。　Then　added；　〃Send　a　party　of　hunters　to　find　himif　they　can。〃
　But　Iome　knew　it　was　too　late。　Binnesman　had　gained　the　woods；　the　Dunnwood；　the　ancient　forest；　a　focus　for　the　earth　powers。　Even　Raj　Ahten's　most　acplished　hunters　could　not　track　an　Earth　Warden　through　the　Dunnwood。
　　
　Chapter　15
　POETICS
　　
　Once　the　trackers　left；　Gaborn　made　his　way　alongside　the　mill；　carrying　Rowan。　For　a　young　man　with　three　endowments　of　brawn；　she　did　not　pose　much　of　a　burden；　and　Gaborn　realized　that　carrying　her　now　offered　an　added　benefit：　she　would　not　leave　her　scent　on　the　ground。
　It　is　hard　to　track　a　man　who　has　just　left　a　river。　His　body　oils　get　washed　away；　so　that　when　he　steps　on　dry　land；　he　is　harder　to　smell。　Gaborn　wanted　to　leave　only　his　small　traces　of　scent。
　As　he　struggled　up　the　incline；　out　of　the　millrace；　the　ferrin　saw　him　ing；　growled　in　fear；　and　scurried　for　cover。
　〃Food；　food；〃　he　whistled；　for　these　creatures　had　performed　him　a　service。　How　great　a　service；　they　would　never　know。　Gaborn　had　little　food　to　give；　but　as　he　reached　the　mill；　he　lifted　the　wooden　latch　on　the　front　door；　went　in。　A　hopper　above　the　grindstones　was　filled　with　wheat。　Gaborn　opened　the　hopper；　turned　to　look　behind　him。　The　ferrin　stood　just　outside　the　door；　eyes　wide　in　the　darkness。　One　little　gray…brown　ferrin　woman　was　wringing　her　paws　nervously；　sniffing　the　air。
　〃Food。　I　give；〃　he　whistled　softly。
　〃I　hear　you；〃　she　chirped　in　return。
　Gaborn　slowly　walked　past　them；　left　the　ferrin　just　outside　the　door。　They　waited；　blinking　at　him　nervously；　afraid　to　enter　the　mill　with　him　watching。
　Gaborn　hurried　up　the　trail　to　the　castle；　under　the　trees；　then　crept　along　the　tree　line　until　he　reached　the　small　stream　that　wound　through　the　pussy　willows。
　Here；　he　slogged　through　the　marshes　quietly。　The　sky　was　red　on　the　hill　now；　and　the　archer　on　the　city　wall　stood　out　bright　against　the　sky。　He　was　watching　the　fire；　Binnesman's　garden　burning。　Ashes　drifted　slowly　through　the　air。
　Gaborn　crept　through　the　willows；　up　to　the　city　wall；　unseen。　At　the　wall；　he　set　Rowan　down　and　squirmed　under　first；　through　the　cold　water；　then　waited　for　Rowan。　She　wriggled　beneath　the　wall；　teeth　gritted　in　pain　at　the　touch　of　the　icy　water。　She　staggered　up　to　her　knees；　inside　the　castle　gate；　then　pitched　forward　in　a　faint。
　He　caught　her；　laid　her　in　the　grass　beside　the　stream。　He　took　off　his　dirty　cloak；　wrapped　it　around　her　for　what　little　warmth　it　could　give；　then　began　making　his　way　through　the　streets。
　It　was　an　odd　sensation；　walking　that　street。　Binnesman's　garden　was　afire；　the　flames　shooting　now　eighty　feet　into　the　air。　The　castle　was　alive　with　people　shouting；　running　to　and　fro；　afraid　the　fire　would　spread。
　On　the　street　leading　to　the　stables；　dozens　of　people　raced　past　Gaborn；　many　of　them　carrying　buckets　to　the　stream　so　that　they　could　douse　the　thatch　roofs　of　cottages；　protecting　them　from　falling　cinders。
　Yet　of　all　the　people　who　passed　Gaborn；　none　asked　his　name　or　sought　to　learn　why　he　carried　an　unconscious　woman。　Is　Earth　protecting　me；　he　wondered；　or　is　this　such　a　mon　sight　this　night　that　no　one　notices？
　Gaborn　found　the　spice　cellars　from　Rowan's　description。　It　was　a　fair…sized　building；　something　of　a　warehouse　whose　back　was　dug　into　the　hill。　A　loading　dock　by　the　wide　front　doors　was　just　the　height　of　a　wagon。
　Gaborn　cautiously　opened　the　front　door　into　an　antechamber。　The　scents　of　spices　assailed　himdrying　garlic　and　onions；　parsley　and　basil；　lemon　balm　and　mint；　geranium；　witch　hazel；　and　a　hundred　others。　The　cook's　son　was　supposed　to　be　sleeping　here。　A　pallet　lay　in　a　corner　with　a　blanket　over　it；　but　Gaborn　saw　no　sign　of　the　boy。　On　a　night　like　tonight；　with　soldiers　in　town　and　a　huge　fire　burning；　the　boy　was　probably　out　watching　the　sights　with　friends。
　A　wall　of　stone　and　mortar　stood　on　the　far　side　of　the　antechamber。　Gaborn　carried　Rowan　to　it；　opened　it　wide。　A　huge　chamber　was　behind　the　door。　A　lantern　hung　by　the　wall；　burning　low；　next　to　a　flask　of　oil　and　a　couple　of　spare　lanterns。　Gaborn　poured　oil　into　a　lantern　and　lit　the　wick　so　that　it　burned　brightly；　then　gaped。
　Gaborn　had　known　that　the　King　dealt　in　spices；　but　hadn't　guessed　how　much。　The　chamber　was　filled　to　the　brim　with　crates　and　sacks。　Off　to　the　left　were　mon　culinary　spices　in　huge　bins；　enough　to　supply　the　city　through　the　year。　Ahead　were　smaller　casks　of　Binnesman's　medicinal　herbs　and　oils；　ready　for　shipment。　To　the　far　right　lay　thousands　of　bottles　of　wine；　along　with　casks　of　ale；　whiskey；　and　rum。　The　chamber　must　have　reached　back　a　hundred　feet　into　the　sid