df.therunelords-第76章
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ame back out into a low wood of birch and oak； where the sun shone brightly。 But with these trees； the limbs often came low to the ground； and gorse grew thick beneath them； so the horses slowed。
Suddenly they leapt over a small ridge； into a wallow where a sounder of great boars lay resting beneath the shade of oaks。 The ground here looked as if it were plowed； the pigs had rooted for acorns and worms so much。
The boars squealed in rage to find the horses among them。 A huge boar； its back ing even with the shoulder of Iome's mount； stood and grunted； swinging its great curved tusks menacingly。
One moment her horse charged the boar； then the horse turned nimbly； almost throwing Iome from her saddle as she raced past the swine； headed downhill。
Iome turned to see if the boar would give chase。
But the force horses ran so swiftly； the pigs only grunted in surprise； then watched Iome depart from dark； beady eyes。
Gaborn rode down a ridge through the birches； to a small river； perhaps forty feet wide。 The river had a shallow； gravelly bottom。
On seeing this river； Iome knew she was totally lost。 She'd often ridden in the Dunnwood； but had kept to the eastern edge of the woods。 She'd never seen this river。 Was it the headwaters of the River Wye； or Fro Creek？ If it was Fro Creek； it should have been dry this time of year。 If it was the Wye； then they had wandered farther west over the past hour than even she'd imagined。
Gaborn urged the mounts into the water； let them stand for a moment to drink。 The horses sweated furiously； wheezing。 The runes branded on their necks showed that each mount had four endowments of metabolism； and others of brawn and stamina。 Iome did some quick mental calculations。 She guessed they had been running the horses for nearly two hours without food or water； but that was the equivalent of running a mon horse for eight。 A mon horse would have died three times over at such a furious pace。 From the way these mounts gasped and sweated； she wasn't sure they'd live through the ordeal。
〃We have to rest the horses；〃 Iome whispered to Gaborn。
〃Will our pursuers stop； do you think？〃 Gaborn asked。
Iome knew they wouldn't。 〃But our horses will die。〃
〃They're strong mounts；〃 Gaborn said； stating the obvious。 〃Those who hunt us will find that their horses will die first。〃
〃Can you be so sure？〃
Gaborn shook his head； uncertainly。 〃I only hope。 I'm wearing light chain； the armor of my father's cavalry。 But Raj Ahten's Invincibles have iron breastplateswith heavier gauntlets and greaves； and ring mail underneath。 Each of their horses must carry a hundred pounds more than the most heavily laden of our beasts。 Their mounts are fine animals for the desert； with wide hoovesbut narrow shoes。〃
〃So you think they will go lame？〃
〃I've chosen the rockiest ridges to jump our horses over。 I can't imagine their mounts will stay shod long。 Your horse has already lost a shoe。 If I'm any judge； half their animals are lame already。〃
Iome stared at Gaborn in fascination。 She hadn't noticed that her mount had lost a shoe； but now stared down into the water； saw that her mount favored its left front hoof。
〃You have a devious mind； even for an Orden；〃 she told Gaborn。 She meant it as a pliment； but feared it came out sounding like an insult。
He seemed to take no offense。 〃Battles such as ours are seldom won with arms；〃 he said。 〃They're won on a broken hoof or a rider's fall。〃 He looked down at his warhammer； resting across the pommel of his saddle like a rider's crop。 Then added huskily； 〃If our pursuers catch us； I'll turn to fight； try to let you escape。 But I tell you； I don't have either the weapons or the endowments to beat Raj Ahten's men。〃
She understood。 She desperately wanted to change the subject。 〃Where are you heading？〃
〃Heading？〃 he asked。 〃To Boar's Ford； then to Longmont。〃
She studied his eyes； half…hidden beneath his overlarge helm； to see if he lied or was merely mad。 〃Boar's Ford is southeast。 You've been heading northwest most of the past two hours。〃
〃I have？〃 he asked； startled。
〃You have；〃 she said。 〃I thought perhaps you were trying to deceive even Borenson。 Are you afraid to take us to Longmont？ Are you trying to protect me from your father？〃
Iome felt frightened。 She was suspicious of Borenson； had not trusted the way he looked at her。 He'd wanted to kill her； felt it was his duty。 She feared he would attack her Dedicates； though Gaborn did not seem to worry about it。 And when Borenson had said that he needed to watch Raj Ahten's troops； Iome had felt obligated to accept his explanation。 Still； a worm of doubt burrowed in her skull。
〃Protect you from my father？〃 Gaborn asked； sounding only half…surprised at the accusation。 〃No。〃
Iome did not know how to phrase her next question； but she spoke softly。 〃He will want us dead。 He will see it as a necessity。 He'll kill my father； and if he can't kill the woman that serves as my vector to Raj Ahten； he will want to kill me。 Is that why you turn away from the path south？〃
She wondered if he so feared that road south； that without thought； without even knowing； he turned from it。 Certainly； if King Orden felt it necessary to kill Sylvarresta； Gaborn would not dissuade him。 The Prince would not be able to save her。
〃No；〃 he said quite honestly； frowning； perplexed。 Then he sat up straight； said； 〃Do you hear that？〃
Iome listened； held her breath。 She expected to hear the baying of war dogs； or cries of pursuit； but she could hear nothing。 Only wind on the ridge above them； suddenly gusting through yellow birch leaves。
〃I hear nothing；〃 Iome admitted。 〃Your ears must be stronger than mine。〃
〃Nolisten； up there in the trees！ Can you hear it？〃 He pointed to the ridge above them； to the north and west。
The wind suddenly stilled； the leaves quit twisting。 Iome strained to hear somethingthe snap of a twig； the sound of stealthy steps。 But she discerned nothing。
Gaborn suddenly stood up in his stirrups； taller in the saddle； gazing into the trees。
〃What did you hear？〃 Iome whispered。
〃A voice； in the trees；〃 Gaborn said。 〃It whispered。〃
〃What？〃 Iome urged her horse forward； studying the copse he spoke of； trying to see it from a different angle。 But she could see nothingonly the white bark of trees； the green and golden leaves fluttering； and the shadows deeper within the grove。 〃What did it say？〃
〃I've heard it three times today。 At first I thought it called my name； but this time I heard it clearly。 It called 'Erden； Erden Geboren。' 〃
A chill ran down Iome's back。
〃We're too far west；〃 she hissed。 〃There are wights here。 They're speaking to you。 We should go south； now； before it gets dark。〃 Darkness would not e for another three hours； but they had e too close to the Westwood。
〃No！〃 Gaborn said； and he turned to Iome。 He had a faraway look in his eyes； as one half…asleep。 〃If it is a spirit； it wishes us no harm！〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 Iome whispered fiercely； 〃but it is not worth the risk！〃 She feared the wights； her father's assurances aside。
Gaborn gazed back at Iome； as if for a moment he'd forgotten she stood there。 On the hill； the birch leaves shivered again。 Iome looked toward the grove。 The skies were drizzling； a slight gray rain that fell evenly； making it hard to see deeply into the grove。
〃There； it es again！〃 Gaborn shouted。 〃Do you not hear it？〃
〃I hear nothing；〃 Iome admitted。
Gaborn's eyes suddenly blazed。 〃I see it！ I see now！〃 he whispered urgently。 〃 'Erden Geboren'that is the old tongue for 'Earthborn。' The woods are angry with Raj Ahten。 He has abused them。 But I am Earthborn。 They wish to protect me。〃
〃How do you know？〃 Iome asked。 By claiming to be Earthborn； Gaborn was perhaps saying more than he knew。 Erden Geboren was the last great king of Rofehavan when it had all been one nation。 He had gifted these woods to his warden； Heredon Sylvarresta； after his brilliant service in the great wars against the reavers and the wizards of Toth。 In time Iome's own forefathers had bee called kingsand they were kings in their own right； but lesser kings than those who came from the loins of Geboren。 Over the sixteen centuries since those days； G
