df.therunelords-第107章

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　Silently；　Orden　cursed　himself。　When　he'd　seen　Raj　Ahten　fall　from　the　arrow；　he'd　hesitated。　He　could　have　gone　then；　rushed　down　to　attack　the　Wolf　Lord　and　lopped　off　his　head。　Instead；　he'd　let　his　hopes　soar；　had　thought　for　one　breathtaking　moment　that　the　Wolf　Lord　would　succumb　from　the　poison。　Then　the　opportunity　to　strike　was　gone。
　Now　this。
　Orden　studied　the　herbalist　as　he　rode　across　the　green　grass　on　a　great　force　horse；　felt　bemused。　Earth　Wardens　seldom　meddled　in　the　affairs　of　men。　But　this　one；　it　appeared；　was　fool　enough　to　try　to　stop　a　war。
　Though　Orden　had　not　seen　Binnesman　in　a　year；　the　old　wizard　had　changed　much。　He　wore　robes　in　the　colors　of　autumn　forestscarlets　with　bits　of　tan　and　gold。　His　brown　hair　had　turned　the　color　of　ice。　But　his　back　was　unbowed。　He　looked　older；　yet　vigorous。
　On　the　battlefield　before　him　stood　Raj　Ahten's　Invincibles；　archers　by　the　thousands；　giants　in　armor；　and　mastiffs　with　leather　helms　and　fierce　collars。
　Binnesman　rode　his　mount　before　the　castle　gates。
　Orden　felt　strange；　expectant；　filled　with　vast　reserves　of　energy。　Twenty…one　warriors　hid　in　various　cellars；　closets；　and　rooms　throughout　Castle　Longmont。　Each　man；　bearing　arms　and　armor；　was　curled　in　a　ball；　waiting　for　the　moment　when　Orden　would　draw　upon　their　metabolism。　Orden　could　feel　their　energy　course　through　him。　His　blood　seemed　to　burn；　as　if　he　were　a　pot　ready　to　boil。
　Across　the　battlefield；　Raj　Ahten's　men　stood　under　the　trees；　bristling　at　the　way　the　battle　had　gone。　Raj　Ahten　strode　toward　Binnesman；　his　motions　almost　a　blur。
　〃Raj　Ahten；〃　the　old　wizard　grumbled；　straightening　his　back　to　gaze　at　the　Wolf　Lord　from　beneath　bushy　brows；　〃why　do　you　insist　on　attacking　these　people？〃
　Raj　Ahten　answered　calmly；　〃It　is　no　concern　to　you；　Earth　Warden。〃
　Binnesman　said；　〃Oh；　but　it　is　my　concern。　I've　spent　the　night　riding　through　the　Dunnwood；　listening　to　the　talk　of　trees　and　birds。　Do　you　know　what　I've　learned？　I　have　news　that　pertains　to　you。〃
　Raj　Ahten　had　moved　forward　a　hundred　yardsstill　out　of　easy　bowshot；　yet　once　again　he　stood　before　his　army。
　〃Orden　has　my　forcibles；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　in　answer　to　Binnesman's　earlier　query。　〃I　want　them　back！〃　The　sound　carried　well　over　the　fields。　Orden　could　hardly　believe　Raj　Ahten　spoke　from　so　far　away。
　The　old　wizard　smiled；　leaned　back　in　his　saddle；　as　if　to　rest。　On　the　green　across　the　field；　Raj　Ahten's　three　remaining　flameweavers　stood。　Each　began　giving　their　bodies　to　fire；　so　that　their　clothes　burst　into　flame　and　tendrils　flared　out　from　them；　yellow；　red；　and　blue。
　〃Why　is　it；〃　Binnesman　asked；　〃that　every　forcible　on　earth　must　be　yours？〃
　〃They　came　from　my　mines；〃　Raj　Ahten　said；　striding　forward；　his　face　alight　with　seductive　beauty。　〃My　slaves　dug　the　ore。〃
　〃As　I　recall；　the　Sultan　of　Hadwar　owned　those　minesuntil　you　slit　his　throat。　As　for　the　slaves；　they　were　someone's　sons　and　daughters　before　you　took　them。　Even　the　blood　metal　you　cannot　claimfor　it　is　only　the　crusty　remains　of　your　ancestors　who　died　long　ago　in　a　great　slaughter。〃
　〃Yet　I　claim　it　as　mine；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　softly；　〃and　no　man　can　stop　me。〃
　〃By　what　right？〃　Binnesman　called。　〃You　claim　the　whole　earth　as　your　own；　but　you　are　a　mere　mortal。　Must　death　force　you　to　release　all　that　you　claim　before　you　recognize　that　you　own　nothing？　You　own　nothing。　The　earth　nourishes　you　from　day　to　day；　from　breath　to　breath！　You　are　chained　to　it；　as　surely　as　your　slaves　are　chained　to　the　walls　of　your　mines。　Acknowledge　its　power　over　you！〃
　Binnesman　sighed；　glanced　up　to　Orden　on　the　castle　wall。　〃What　of　it；　King　Orden？　You　strike　me　as　a　fair…minded　man。　Will　you　give　these　forcibles　to　Raj　Ahten；　so　that　you　two　may　finish　with　this　squabbling？〃　Binnesman's　eyes　smiled；　as　if　he　expected　Orden　to　laugh。
　〃No；〃　Orden　said。　〃I'll　not　give　them。　If　he　wants　them；　he　must　e　against　me！〃
　Binnesman　clucked　his　tongue　as　if　he　were　an　old　woman；　scolding　a　child。　〃You　hear；　Raj　Ahten？　Here　is　a　man　who　dares　defy　you。　And　I　suspect　he　will　win。。。〃
　〃He　has　no　chance　against　me；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　with　dignity；　though　his　face　seemed　livid　with　rage。　〃You　lie。〃
　〃Do　I？〃　Binnesman　asked。　〃For　what　purpose　do　I　lie？〃
　〃You　seek　to　twist　us　all；　to　do　your　own　bidding。〃
　〃Is　that　how　you　see　it？　Life　is　preciousyours；　mine；　your　enemy's。　I　cherish　life。　Am　I　'twisting'　you　to　save　your　miserable　life？〃
　Raj　Ahten　did　not　answer；　but　only　studied　Binnesman　with　subdued　rage。
　Binnesman　said；　〃I've　e　before　you　twice　now。　I　warn　you　one　last　time；　Raj　Ahten：　Give　up　this　foolhardy　war！〃
　〃You　had　best　move　from　my　way；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃You　can't　stop　me。〃
　Binnesman　smiled。　〃No；　I　can't　stop　you。　But　others　can　stop　you。　The　new　King　of　the　Earth　has　been　ordained。　You　cannot　prevail　against　him。
　〃I　see　hope　for　House　Orden；　but　none　for　you。　I　did　not　e　here　to　beg　you　yet　again　to　join　my　cause；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I　know　you　will　not　join　me。〃
　〃But　hear　me　well：　I　speak　now　in　the　name　of　the　Power　I　serve：　Raj　Ahten；　the　Earth　that　gave　you　birth；　the　Earth　that　nurtured　you　as　a　mother　and　father；　now　rejects　you！　No　longer　will　it　nourish　or　protect　you。〃
　〃I　curse　the　ground　you　walk　upon；　that　it　will　no　longer　give　you　sustenance！　The　stones　of　the　earth　shall　trouble　you。　Accursed　be　your　flesh；　your　bone；　your　sinew。　Let　your　arms　be　weakened。　Cursed　be　the　fruit　of　your　loins；　that　you　leave　no　issue。　Cursed　be　those　who　band　themselves　with　you；　that　they　too　shall　suffer　your　lot！〃
　〃I　warn　you：　Leave　this　land！〃
　The　Earth　Warden　spoke　with　such　force　that　Orden　expected　some　signthe　ground　to　sway　and　tremble　or　swallow　Raj　Ahten；　or　for　stones　to　drop　from　the　sky。
　But　the　downs　looked　the　same　as　ever；　the　sun　still　shone　bright。
　Earth　does　not　kill；　Orden　knew。　It　does　not　destroy。　And　Orden　could　see　that　Binnesman　had　no　wylde　to　back　him；　no　power　to　effect　some　astonishing　curse。
　Or　perhaps；　in　time；　the　effects　of　the　wizard's　curse　would　be　seen。　Such　curses　were　never　given　lightly；　and　old　wives'　tales　warned　that　they　were　the　most　potent　form　of　magic。　If　that　were　true；　Orden　almost　pitied　Raj　Ahten。
　Yet；　for　the　moment；　nothing　happened。　Orden　shouted　a　warning。　〃Binnesman；　leave　this　battle。　You　can　do　nothing　more。〃
　Binnesman　turned　up　and　looked　at　Orden；　and　there　was　such　a　look　of　anger　there　in　the　wizard's　eyes　that　Orden　stepped　back　a　pace。
　As　if　Binnesman；　too；　suddenly　recognized　the　danger；　he　turned　his　mount　west；　toward　the　Dunnwood；　and　fled。
　　
　Chapter　45
　THE　CAVILING　CAVALIER
　　
　Castle　Groverman　lay　on　a　shallow；　sandy　mound　on　Mangon's　Heath；　just　where　Wind　River　made　a　slow　turn。　It　was　not　the　stoutest　castle　in　Heredon；　nor　the　largest；　but　as　Iome　rode　across　the　plains　that　morning；　it　seemed　the　most　beautiful；　with　its　sprawling　grounds；　its　palatial　towers；　and　its　vast　gates。　The　morning　sun　shone　golden　on　the　heather　and　on　the　yellow　sandstone　of　the　castle；　so　it　gleamed　like　something　molten。
　Iome；　her　father；　Gaborn；　and　the　three　Days　swept　over　the　heather；　racing　past　herds　of　half…wild　horses　and　cattle　that　startled　away　each　time　they　crossed　a　line　of　hills。
　Iome　knew　this　place　only　from　maps　and　tomes　and　conversations。　Groverman　came　to　her　father's　castle　for　the　Council　of　Lords　each　fall　and　winter；　but　she'd　never　seen　his　home。　For　centuries　the　lords　of　Groverman　had　governed　this　land；　supplying　Heredon　with　force　horses　and　beef。　Iome's　father　did　not　keep　large　stables　in　his　own　castlenot　like　the　extensive　stables　at　Groverman。　Here；　on　the　green　banks　of　Wind　River；　the　horses　grew　fat　and　frolicked；　until　the　lord's　horsemen　brought　them　to　the　King's　stables　and　introduced　the　foals　to　the　herd　leaders。
　The　herd　leaders　were　spirited。　A　herd　leader；　once　given　endowments　of　strength　and　metabolism；　would　dominate　any　wild　horse。　The　wild　foals　were　used　as　Dedicates；　for　these　horses　stood　most　in　awe　of　the　herd　stallions；　and　could　therefore　best　be　counted　on　to　provide　attributes。
　Thus　Castle　Groverman　had　grown　to　be　an　important　fortress；　fo