df.therunelords-第73部分

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　〃That　is　right；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃So　you　are　familiar　with　the　old　scrolls。　Then　you　know　that　the　duskins　were　great　wizards。　Beside　such；　my　power　is　nothing。　Theirs　were　the　powers　of　deep　earthof　the　shaping　of　things；　of　preservation。　Mine　is　the　power　of　the　shallow　earthof　the　use　of　herbs　and　growing　things。
　〃Long　ago；　the　reaver　mages　made　war　on　the　Underworld；　slaughtering　the　duskins。　The　duskins　could　not　adequately　defend　themselves。　In　time　they　knew　they　would　be　destroyed；　and　that　the　reavers　would　also　seek　to　destroy　mankind。　So　they　sought　to　protect　us；　give　us　time　to　grow。　They　raised　the　obalin　of　the　Dunnwood；　channeled　life　into　them。
　〃In　time；　they　were　called　the　Seven　Standing　Stones。　With　eyes　of　stone　they　have　watched　the　deep　places　of　the　world　for　us。
　〃Often　have　the　obalin　whispered　to　our　kings；　warning　of　the　presence　of　reavers。　But　the　obalin's　voices　can　only　be　heard　by　those　attuned　to　the　Earth。　Thus；　among　men；　those　most　sensitive　to　earth　powers　have　been　chosen　as　kings。
　〃Surely；　you；　Raj　Ahten；　have　felt　urges　that　warned　you　to　send　your　warriors　to　battle　the　reavers。　You　have　been　adept　at　thwarting　them。　Until　now！　Now　the　childhood　of　mankind　is　past。　The　reaver　mages　of　the　Underworld　are　free！〃
　Raj　Ahten　stood　thoughtfully　through　Binnesman's　lesson。　〃I've　fought　reavers　well　enough　in　the　past。　But　I　fear　that　you　put　too　much　trust　in　your　stones。　The　duskins　never　imagined　the　Runelords；　nor　guessed　the　power　we　would　wield。　It　does　not　matter　that　a　stone　has　fallen　in　the　Dunnwood；　any　more　than　it　matters　that　a　leaf　has　fallen。〃
　Binnesman　said；　〃Do　not　speak　lightly　of　them。　The　obalin　were　more　than　mere　stone；　more　by　far。〃　He　looked　down　reverently。　〃But　you；　Raj　Ahten；　must　fear　the　reavers　that　infest　your　borders。　Perhaps　you　do　not　guess　the　full　extent　of　the　threat。　When　the　obalin　lived；　one　could　learn　much　by　touching　them。　Perhaps　here　is　something　you　did　not　know：　The　reavers　are　in　Kartish。〃
　In　Kartish　were　the　blood…metal　mines。　If　the　reavers　captured　them。。。
　Binnesman　continued；　〃In　your　gullibility　you've　allied　yourself　with　flameweavers；　for　they　are　strong　in　war。　But　it　is　no　accident　that　reavers　also　serve　fire。　Nor　was　it　an　accident　that　a　reaver　came　tonight　and　administered　a　deadly　wound　to　the　last　of　the　obalin　in　an　effort　to　hurry　the　end　of　man。〃
　Binnesman　turned　his　back　to　Raj　Ahten；　as　if　no　longer　concerned　with　him；　and　said；　〃Yet；　there　are　greater　powers　than　those　wielded　by　flame…weavers。〃
　Raj　Ahten　stepped　toward　Gaborn　cautiously；　as　if　he　considered　moving　in　to　attack。　Of　the　warriors　here；　only　Raj　Ahten　had　never　taken　an　endowment　from　a　dog。　Thus；　only　he　could　have　withstood　Binnesman's　dogbane。　Certainly；　the　wizard　and　his　rabble　were　no　match　for　Raj　Ahten。
　〃Hold；〃　Binnesman　said；　whirling。　〃Let　no　man　even　think　of　harming　another　on　this　ground。　This　place　is　strong　in　the　earth　power；　and　such　power　must　be　used　to　protect　life；　to　save　it。　Not　to　take　it。〃
　To　Jureem's　surprise；　Raj　Ahten　halted　in　his　advance；　sheathed　his　weapon。　Yet　as　Jureem　considered；　he　realized　that　the　wizard's　words　had　held　a　pelling　tone。　〃Let　no　man　even　think　of　harming　another　on　this　ground。。。〃
　Binnesman　held　Raj　Ahten　with　his　eyes。　〃You　say　you　want　my　help　in　fighting　the　reavers。　Very　well。　I　will　help　you；　if　you　will　join　me。　Give　up　your　forcibles。　Join　us　in　our　quest　to　serve　the　earth；　Raj　Ahten。　Let　its　powers　sustain　you。〃
　Raj　Ahten　countered　the　offer：　〃Convince　King　Orden　to　give　the　forcibles　back　into　my　hands。　Then　we　shall　see。。。〃
　Sadly；　Binnesman　shook　his　head。　〃You　would　not　join　us　even　then；　I　believe。　You　do　not　want　so　much　to　fight　the　reavers　as　you　want　the　glory　that　would　e　from　defeating　them。〃
　Gaborn　stepped　forward　and　said　earnestly。　〃Raj　Ahten；　please；　listen　to　reason。　The　earth　needs　you。　Serve　the　earth；　as　I　do。　I　am　sure　that　if　I　talk　to　my　father；　we　can　work　out　a　plan。　We　can　divide　the　forcibles　among　both　nations；　so　that　none　need　fear　the　other。。。〃
　Gaborn　stood；　trembling；　as　if　afraid　to　offer　even　this　much。　Obviously　the　young　man　doubted　his　ability　to　carry　off　such　a　scheme。　Yet　he　seemed　so　earnest；　every　bit　as　earnest　as　the　wizard。
　Raj　Ahten　dismissed　Gaborn's　offer　without　a　reply　and　said　to　Binnesman；　〃You　are　right。　I　will　not　join　you；　Earth　Wardennot　because　I　seek　honor；　but　because　you　serve　the　snakes　and　field　mice　as　much　as　you　do　mankind。　I　do　not　trust　you。　Our　affairs　matter　nothing　to　you。〃　When　he　spoke　of　snakes　and　field　mice；　Raj　Ahten　glanced　contemptuously　toward　young　Prince　Orden。
　〃Ah；　but　the　affairs　of　men　matter　very　much　to　me；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃In　my　estimation；　men　may　be　no　greater　than　field　mice；　but　certainly　men　are　no　less。〃
　Raj　Ahten　said　in　a　seductive　voice；　〃Then　serve　me。〃
　Binnesman　leapt　up　on　a　fallen　obalin　with　all　the　energy　of　a　young　man。　He　stared　down　among　the　tiny　white　flowers　that　shone　in　the　starlight；　there　among　the　circle　of　stones；　and　with　a　motion　bade　Prince　Orden　and　the　others　to　step　back。
　He　said　to　Raj　Ahten。　〃You　seek　to　use　me　as　a　weapon；　but　it　is　given　to　me　only　to　protect。　You　lack　faith　in　the　power　that　I　serve。　Here　then。　Let　me　show　you　a　weapon。。。〃
　Jureem　thought　that　the　wizard　would　uncover　some　staff　of　power　that　lay　hidden　in　the　grass；　or　perhaps　some　ancient　unbreakable　sword。
　Binnesman's　manner　suddenly　became　somber；　and　he　swung　his　staff　above　his　head　in　three　slow　arcs；　then　reached　down　and；　with　its　tip；　pointed　a　few　feet　ahead。
　Suddenly　a　long　swath　of　grass　tore　its　roots　away　from　the　ground。
　There；　on　the　dark　earth；　Jureem　could　discern　what　looked　like　bones；　as　if　something　had　died　here　in　ages　past；　and　had　lain　rotting　under　the　ground。
　But　as　he　peered　closer；　Jureem　saw　that　these　were　not　bonesmerely　stones　and　sticks　and　roots　that　had　been　hidden。　They　appeared　to　be　laid　out　in　the　form　of　a　man。　Jureem　saw　it　first　as　Binnesman　drew　near　a　stone　shaped　like　a　head。　Yellowed　boars'　tusks　were　arranged　around　the　stone　skull；　like　enormous　teeth。　There　were　dark　holes　in　the　stone；　as　if　for　eyes。
　As　Jureem　studied；　he　saw　that　other　stones　made　up　the　bones　of　hands；　the　horns　of　oxen　splayed　out　from　them　like　claws。
　But　if　these　stones　and　pieces　of　tree　limb　formed　the　skeleton　of　a　man；　then　it　was　a　strange　man。　Tendrils　of　roots　lay　among　the　stones　and　spars；　forming　odd　networks；　like　veins　running　through　the　huge　skeleton。
　Binnesman　raised　his　staff。　The　oaks　along　the　hills　suddenly　seemed　to　hiss。　Wind　stirred　the　high　branches；　so　that　leaves　seemed　to　give　voice。　Yet　here　in　the　glade；　the　air　was　perfectly　still。
　Terror　filled　Jureem；　for　he　could　feel　earth　power　rising；　as　if　at　some　unspoken　request；　from　the　stone　beneath　the　ground；　filling　this　little　field。
　Binnesman　again　waved　his　staff　high　in　slow　circles　as　he　chanted；
　〃War　is　brooding。　Peace　is　gone；　here　upon　the　glade。　Earth　is　breathing。　Life　is　born；　from　covenants　long　made。''
　Binnesman　stopped　moving　his　staff　about；　and　stared　hard　at　the　pile　of　stones　and　wood。　He　breathed　heavily；　as　if　speaking　these　few　words　had　cost　him　dear。
　The　cadence　of　the　chant　was　lost　as　Binnesman　stared　fixedly　at　the　ground。　He　whispered　to　the　dirt；　〃I've　served　the　earth；　and　always　shall。　My　life　I　give。　Grant　life　to　my　creation。　Grant　a　portion　of　the　life　I　lost。〃
　In　that　moment；　a　strange　and　horrifying　transformation　occurred。　A　light；　the　color　of　emerald；　began　glowing　brightly　in　Binnesman's　chest；　became　a　brilliant　ball　that　exploded　from　him　and　smote　the　ground　before　him　like　a　meteorite。
　In　that　moment；　in　an　infinite　moment；　Binnesman　screamed　in　pain　and　clutched　his　staff；　suddenly　leaning　against　it　to　hold　him　upright。　The　fireflies　on　the　staff　all　flew　up　and　buzzed　about；　so　that　Jureem　could　see　the　wizard　easily。
　Binnesman's　hair；　which　had　been　a　nutty　brown　with　streaks　of　gray；　suddenly　turned　silver　in　the　starlight。　He　leaned　on　the　staff　like　a　bent　old　man。　His　green　cloak　in　that　moment　became　washed　in　red；　the　russet　shades　of　leaves　in　autumn；　as　if　the　wizard　were　some　color…changing　chameleon　on　the　wall　of　Raj　Ahten's　Southern　palace。
　Jureem　gasped；　realizing　what　had　happened：　The　old　wizard　had　given　years　of　his　life　to　that　pile　of　sticks　and　bones　at　his　feet。
　The　earth　surged　as　if　in　gratitude　for　his　gift；　emitted　a　groaning　sound；　as　of　timbers　moving。
　If　there　were　words　in　that　noise；　Jureem　did　not　understand　them。　But　Binnesman　listened；　as　if　the　earth　spoke　to　him。　Then　his　manner　became　grave。
　He　struggled　slowly　to　lift　his　staff；　looking　weary　almost　to　death；　then　began　to　wave　his　staff　in　circles　again；　and　sparks　now　flew　up　from　it　in　a　blazing　cloud。　Binnesman　chanted；
　〃Dark　flows　your　blood。　Bright　knit　are　your　bones。　Your　heart　is　beating　within　the　stone。　Day　lights　your　eyes；　and　fills　your　mind　with　thoughts　of　teeth　and　claws　that　rend。〃
　On　the　ground；　the　stones　and　horns　and　roots　began　to　shiver　and　tremble。　The　spars　that　formed　the　bones　of　an　arm　rolled　backward　a　pace。　Binnesman　threw　his　st