df.therunelords-第77章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
kings than those who came from the loins of Geboren。 Over the sixteen centuries since those days； Geboren's blood had spread widely among the nobility of Rofehavan； until it would be difficult to say who was most closely linked to the last great king。
But with the union of the houses of Val and Orden； Gaborn could certainly contend for that honorif he dared。 By calling himself 〃Earth…born；〃 was Gaborn suddenly claiming these woods； this kingdom； as his own？
〃I am certain；〃 Gaborn answered。 〃These spiritsif spirits they bewish us no harm。〃
〃No； that's not what I want to know；〃 Iome said。 〃How can you be certain you are Earthborn？〃
〃Binnesman named me that；〃 Gaborn said easily； 〃in his garden。 Earth asked me to swear an oath to protect it； and then Binnesman sprinkled me with soil and pronounced me Earthborn。〃
Iome's jaw dropped。 She'd known Binnesman all her life。 The old herbalist had once told her that the Earth Wardens used to grant blessings upon new kings； anointing them with the dust of the earth they were sworn to protect。 But this ceremony had not been performed for hundreds of years。 According to Binnesman； Earth had 〃withdrawn such blessing〃 from current rulers。
She recalled now Binnesman's words in her father's keep； as Raj Ahten questioned the old wizard。 〃The new King of the Earth is ing。〃 She'd thought Binnesman spoke of King Orden； for he'd been the one to enter her father's realm on the day the stones spoke。 Now she saw that it was not the old king whom Earth proclaimed： it was Gaborn； who would bee king。。。
Yet Raj Ahten believed Mendellas Orden was the king his pyromancers envisioned in the flames。 Mendellas Orden was the king he feared； the one he rode to Longmont to destroy。
Suddenly Iome felt so faint that she needed to dismount before she fell from her horse； for she had a premonition； a fear Mendellas Orden would meet Raj Ahten at Longmont； and that no power on earth could save King Orden in that battle。
She slid from her saddle； stood a moment in the stream； letting cold water wash her ankles。 She tried to think。 She feared going to Longmont； for she knew that King Orden would want her dead。 Yet she feared not going； for if Binnesman was right； then the only way Orden might be saved was if Gaborn was there to save him。
By going to Longmont； she might well trade her life； and her father's； for King Orden'sa man whom she'd always disliked。 Yet even if she did not like the man； did not trust him； she couldn't let him die。
Nor could she sacrifice her own father for Orden's sake。
Her father sat now on his horse； staring dumbly into the stream； oblivious of all that was said around him。 Raindrops spattered him； and he glanced this way and that； trying to discern what had hit him。 Hopeless。 Hopelessly lost to her。
Gaborn gazed down at Iome； as if worried at her health； and she realized he was oblivious of her dilemma。 Gaborn hailed from Mystarria； from a kingdom near the ocean； where water wizards congregated。 He had no knowledge of the lore of Earth Wardens。 He had no idea that he'd been anointed to be King of the Earth。 He had no idea that Raj Ahten feared him； would kill him； if only Raj Ahten knew Gaborn's identity。
Wind gusted on the hill again； Gaborn listened as if to a distant voice。 A few minutes ago； she'd wondered if Gaborn was mad。 Now she realized that something marvelous was happening。 The trees spoke to him； called him； for purposes neither he nor she understood。
〃What should we do now； milord！。〃 Iome asked。 She had never called any man but her father by that title； never submitted to another king。 If Gaborn recognized the sudden shift in their relationship； he did not signal it。
〃We should go west；〃 he whispered。 〃Toward the heart of the woods。 Deeper。〃
〃Not south？〃 Iome asked。 〃Your father could be in dangermore danger than he knows。 We might help him。〃
Gaborn smiled at her words。 〃You worry for my father？〃 he said。 〃I love you for that； Princess Sylvarresta。〃 Though he said the words lightly； she could not mistake the tone of his voice。 He indeed felt grateful； and he loved her。
The thought made her shiver； made her want him more than she'd ever wanted a man。 Iome had always been sensitive to magics； knew that her desire for Gaborn was born of the earth powers growing in him。 He was not handsome； she had to tell herself。 Not really more handsome than any other man。
Yet she felt drawn to him。
How could he love me？ she wondered。 How could he love this face？ It was like a wall between them； this loss of glamour； her loss of self…respect and hope。 Yet when he spoke to her； when Gaborn assured her that he loved her； she felt warm all over。 She dared hope。
Gaborn frowned in thought； said softly。 〃No； we shouldn't go south。 We need to follow our own trackwest。 I feel the spirits drawing me。 My father is going to Longmont； where castle walls will enfold him。 Bone of the earth。 The earth powers can preserve him。 He's safer there than we are here。〃
With that； he urged his horse forward； reached down a hand to help lift Iome to her saddle。
On the wind came the sound of war dogs baying in the far hills。
Chapter 26
A GIFT
For long hours they raced； leaping over wind…fallen aspens； climbing up and down the hills。 Iome let Gaborn lead the way； half in wonder at the trails he chose。
Time became a blurall the trees losing definition； time losing focus。
At one point； Gaborn pointed out that Iome's father seemed to be riding better。 As if some portion of his memories had opened； and he recognized once again how to sit light in a saddle。
Iome wasn't so sure。 Gaborn stopped the horses in a stream； and her father watched a fly buzz around his head as Gaborn asked time and again； 〃Can you ride？ If I cut your hands loose from the saddle； will you hold on？〃
King Sylvarresta made no answer。 Instead； he looked up into the sky and began squinting at the sun； making a noise like； 〃Gaaaagh。 Gaaaaagh。〃
Gaborn turned to Iome。 〃He could be saying yes。〃
But when Iome looked into her father's eyes； she saw no light in them。 He wasn't answering； just making senseless noise。
Gaborn pulled out a knife； reached down； and slit the ropes that held King Sylvarresta's hands to the pommel of the saddle。
King Sylvarresta seemed mesmerized by the knife； tried to grab it。
〃Don't touch the blade；〃 Gaborn said。 Her father grabbed it anyway； cut himself； and just stared at his bleeding hand in wonder。 It was a small cut。
〃Hold on to the pommel of the saddle；〃 Gaborn told King Sylvarresta； then wrapped the King's hand around the pommel。 〃Keep holding on。〃
〃Do you think it will work？〃 Iome asked。
〃I don't know。 He's holding it tight enough now。 He might stay on the horse。〃
Iome felt torn between the desire to have her father safely tied to the saddle； and the desire to let him be free； unencumbered。
〃I'll watch him；〃 Iome said。 They let the horses forage for sweet grass alongside a hill for a few moments。 Distant thunder was snarling over the mountains； and Iome became lost in thought。 A thin rain began to fall。 A golden butterfly flew near her father's mount； and caught his eye。 He watched after it a moment； held out a hand toward it as it flew off into the shadowed woods。
Moments later； they headed into the forest； into the deep gloom。 The trees gave shelter from the brief rain showers。 For another hour they rode； as the darkness deepened； until they reached some old trail in a burn。
There； as they rode； another monarch butterfly flew up out of some weeds。 Iome's father reached for it； called out。
〃Halt！〃 Iome shouted； leaping from her saddle。 She ran to her father； who sat askew； listening to his force horse breathe； lamely reaching a hand out。
〃Bu…er…fly！〃 he shouted； grasping at the golden monarch that flashed ahead； as if racing the horses。 〃Bu…er…fly！ Bu…er…fly！〃 Tears streamed from her father's eyes； tears of joy。 If there was any pain behind those tears； any recognition of what he'd lost； Iome could not see it。 These were tears of discovery。
Iome's heart pounded。 She grabbed her father's face； tried to pull him close。 She'd hoped he would regain some wit； enough to talk。 Now he had it。 If he knew on
