df.therunelords-第50章

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　〃Fire　consumes；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Certainly；　when　you　surround　yourself　with　so　many　flameweavers；　you　too　must　feel　their　tug；　their　desire　to　consume。　It　has　you　in　its　sway。〃
　Raj　Ahten　casually　leaned　back　on　the　throne。　〃Fire　also　enlightens　and　reveals；〃　he　said。　〃It　warms　us　in　the　cold　night。　In　the　right　hands；　it　can　be　a　tool　for　good；　even　for　healing。　The　Bright　Ones　and　the　Glories　are　creatures　of　the　flame。　Life　es　from　fire；　as　well　as　from　the　earth。〃
　〃Yes；　it　can　be　a　tool　for　good。　But　not　now。　Not　in　the　age　to　e。　Certainly　no　beings　of　the　greater　light　will　e　do　your　bidding；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I　think　that　you　would　do　better　to　rid　yourself　of　these。。。forces。〃　He　waved　casually　at　the　flameweavers。　〃Other　wizards　would　serve　you　better。〃
　〃So　you　will　serve　me？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　〃You　will　supply　my　armies　with　your　herbs　and　ointments？〃　He　smiled；　and　that　smile　seemed　to　light　the　room。　Certainly　Binnesman　will　help　him；　Iome　thought。
　〃Herbs　for　the　sick　and　the　wounded？〃　Binnesman　asked。　〃I　can　do　this　in　good　conscience。　But　I　do　not　serve　you。〃
　Raj　Ahten　nodded；　clearly　disappointed。　Binnesman's　devotion　would　have　been　a　great　boon。
　〃Milord；〃　the　flameweaver　hissed；　glancing　from　brazier　to　Raj　Ahten；　〃he　is　not　truthful。　He　does　serve　a　king！　I　see　a　man　in　my　flames；　a　faceless　man　with　a　crown！　A　king　is　ing；　a　king　who　can　destroy　you！〃
　Raj　Ahten　studied　the　herbalist；　leaning　even　closer　in　his　chair；　the　green　flames　from　the　brazier　licking　the　side　of　his　face。　〃My　pyromancer　sees　a　vision　in　the　flames；〃　he　whispered。　〃Tell　me；　Binnesman；　has　the　earth　granted　you　such　visions？　Is　there　a　king　who　can　destroy　me？〃
　Binnesman　stood　straighter；　folded　his　arms。　His　fists　were　clenched。　〃I　am　no　friend　of　the　Time　Lords；　to　know　the　future。　I　don't　gaze　into　polished　stones。　But　you　have　made　many　enemies。〃
　〃But　is　there　a　king　whom　you　serve？〃
　Binnesman　stood　for　a　long　moment；　deep　in　thought；　his　brows　furrowed；　Iome　almost　believed　that　the　old　herbalist　would　not　answer；　but　then　he　began　to　mutter；　〃Wood　and　stone；　wood　and　stone；　these　are　but　my　flesh　and　bone。　Metal；　blood；　wood　and　stone；　these　I　own；　these　I　own。〃
　〃What？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked；　though　surely　he　could　not　have　failed　to　hear　the　old　man。
　〃I　serve　no　man。　But；　Your　Lordship；　a　king　is　ing；　a　king　of　whom　the　earth　approves。　Fourteen　days　ago；　he　set　foot　in　Heredon。　I　know　this　only　because　I　heard　the　stones　whisper　it　in　the　night；　as　I　slept　in　the　fields。　A　voice　called　to　me；　plain　as　a　lark；　The　new　King　of　the　Earth　is　ing。　He　is　in　the　land。'　〃
　〃Kill　him！〃　the　flameweavers　all　began　shouting　at　this　revelation。　〃He　serves　your　enemy。〃
　Raj　Ahten　tried　to　silence　their　yammering　with　an　upraised　hand；　and　asked；　〃Who　is　this　Earth　King？〃　His　eyes　blazed。　The　flameweavers　kept　calling　for　Binnesman's　death；　Iome　feared　that　Raj　Ahten　would　grant　their　boon。　The　light　in　their　eyes　increased；　and　the　woman　at　the　brazier　raised　her　fist；　let　it　burst　into　flame。　In　a　moment；　Raj　Ahten's　desires　would　not　matter。　The　flameweavers　would　kill　Binnesman。
　In　an　effort　to　save　the　herbalist；　Iome　shouted；　〃It's　Orden。　King　Orden　crossed　our　border　two　weeks　ago！〃
　At　that　very　moment；　the　chains　holding　Binnesman　dropped　away；　both　hand　and　foot；　and　Binnesman　unclenched　his　fists；　tossed　something　into　the　air
　Yellow　flower　petals；　withered　roots；　and　dry　leaves　that　fluttered　in　the　green　light。
　The　flameweavers　shrieked　in　dismay　and　fell　back；　as　if　blasted　by　the　weight　of　the　flowers。
　The　brazier　snuffed　out。　Indeed；　all　the　lanterns　in　the　audience　chamber　winked　out　at　once；　so　that　the　only　light　in　the　room　was　early…morning　starlight；　shining　in　from　the　oriels。
　When　her　eyes　adjusted；　Iome　looked　around；　mystified。　The　flame…weavers　had　all　fallen　backward　from　Binnesman　as　if　struck　by　lightning。　They　lay　stunned；　gazing　without　seeing；　whimpering　in　pain。
　The　room　had　suddenly　filled　with　a　clean；　pungent　scent；　as　if　a　wind　had　carried　with　it　the　air　of　a　distant　meadow。　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