df.therunelords-第133章

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　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　bellies。〃　He　thought　to　promise　them　moreacorns　and　mushrooms；　deer　and　boar；　all　the　fruits　of　the　forest　and　of　the　fields。　〃You　can　work　some　days　for　me；　others　for　yourselves；　so　you　may　build　your　own　homes。　I　won't　buy　endowments　from　a　man　in　need。〃
　〃And　what　about　the　rest　of　us　who　want　you　to　fight　for　us？〃　an　older　man　asked。　〃I've　got　no　family。　I'm　too　old　to　swing　a　warhammer。　But　you　can　have　my　wits。　They're　sharp　as　ever。　I'll　fight　with　you　as　I　can。〃
　Gaborn　looked　out　over　the　crowd。　This　was　the　only　kind　of　man　he'd　be　willing　to　take　endowments　from；　a　man　who　knew　that　this　was　an　act　of　war；　that　giving　himself　was　a　mitment　to　be　made　in　deadly　earnest。　Yet　Gaborn　did　not　want　any　endowments；　thought　to　wait　before　taking　them　until　spring　or　some　far　future　day。　Still；　he　knew　that　Raj　Ahten　was　not　far　away；　and　might　still　send　assassins。　These　people　needed　a　lord；　and　Gaborn　needed　their　aid。
　〃How　many　of　the　rest　of　you　feel　as　this　man　does？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　As　one；　some　fifty　men　and　women　shouted；　〃I！〃
　That　day；　Gaborn　and　Iome　rode　with　five　hundred　lords　and　knights　back　to　Castle　Sylvarresta　on　force　horses。
　At　each　village　and　town；　they　slowed　their　movements　and　let　the　heralds　announce　their　presence：　the　Earth　King；　Gaborn　Val　Orden；　and　his　bride…to…be；　Iome　Sylvarresta。　By　now；　the　word　of　the　rise　of　an　Earth　King　had　been　shouted　along　almost　every　road　in　Heredon；　and　was　making　its　way　through　the　neighboring　countries　of　Fleeds　and　South　Crowthen；　besides。
　And　before　the　King　and　Queen　rode　the　wizard　Binnesman；　with　an　oak　branch　in　his　hand。
　At　every　village；　the　children　stared　in　awe　and　grinned　at　Gaborn；　the　young　king。　The　wooden　effigies　of　the　Earth　King　all　adorned　the　doors　and　windows　of　every　house；　and　the　faces　of　the　children　were　all　filled　with　joy；　for　this　day　marked　more　than　the　defeat　of　Raj　Ahten。　This　was　the　first　day　of　Hostenfest；　and　finally；　after　1629　years；　a　new　Earth　King　walked　the　land；　one　who　could　bless　his　people　as　did　the　great　king　of　old。
　And　though　children　greeted　Gaborn　in　awe