df.therunelords-第83章
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ashed in red； the russet shades of leaves in autumn； as if the wizard were some color…changing chameleon on the wall of Raj Ahten's Southern palace。
Jureem gasped； realizing what had happened： The old wizard had given years of his life to that pile of sticks and bones at his feet。
The earth surged as if in gratitude for his gift； emitted a groaning sound； as of timbers moving。
If there were words in that noise； Jureem did not understand them。 But Binnesman listened； as if the earth spoke to him。 Then his manner became grave。
He struggled slowly to lift his staff； looking weary almost to death； then began to wave his staff in circles again； and sparks now flew up from it in a blazing cloud。 Binnesman chanted；
〃Dark flows your blood。 Bright knit are your bones。 Your heart is beating within the stone。 Day lights your eyes； and fills your mind with thoughts of teeth and claws that rend。〃
On the ground； the stones and horns and roots began to shiver and tremble。 The spars that formed the bones of an arm rolled backward a pace。 Binnesman threw his staff to the ground and shouted； 〃Arise now from the dust； my champion！ Clothe yourself in flesh。 I call your true name： Foul Deliverer； Fair Destroyer！〃
There was a clap of thunder as the dust of the earth rushed to obey his mand； flowing toward the stones and wood； rushing like water or a low fog。 Leaves and green grass； twigs and pebbles were all swirling into the mix。
In one moment； there was but a pile of refuse strewn on the ground in its strange pattern； and the next moment； bones and sinew formed。 Muscles pulsed and stretched； lungs gasped for one huge breath。 Leaves and twigs and grass were woven into the flesh； mottling its body with a strange patina of greens and browns； reds and yellows。
It all happened so quickly that Jureem could not really discern how the soil flowed up to give the being shape and life。
〃Foul Deliver； Fair Destroyer〃 raised a hand； incredibly long； as flesh formed。 At first it seemed only a creature of dust； but rapidly the skin hardened； shining emerald along the neck and back； with the yellow mottling of faded leaves。
He makes a warrior； Jureem thought。 Hues of grass and the white of pebbles blossomed on the warrior's face and throat。
The warrior struggled up to its knees； neck craning； starlight striking its eyes。 The eyes were as flat and dead as pebbles from a river bottom； until the gleaming starlight caught them and reflected； then they began glowing brighter and brighter。 Fierce intelligence filled those eyesand peace； a sense of peace that made Jureem yearn to be somewhere else； something else。
Jureem knew the meaning of this。。。creature。 Among magicians； many sought to control earth powers。 The most acplished of these were the Arrdun； the great artificers and creators of magical implements among the arr。 pared with them； human Earth Wardens were often considered weak； for few Earth Wardens meddled in the affairs of men； and those who did took centuries to mature。
But it was said that a mature Earth Warden was among the most fearsome creatures one could ever encounter。
And the sign that an Earth Warden had matured came when he called forth his wyldea creature born of the blood and bones of the earth； a living talisman that fought for its master。 Eldehar had formed a giant horse to ride into battle against the Toth。 Eldehar had said his wylde could be 〃destroyed； but never defeated。〃
Jureem did not understand such oblique references to the Earth Wardens and their wyldes。 Knowledge of them had faded over the millennia。
Now as the wylde formed； everywhere； a terrible wind began to rise； shrieking about the treetops high in the glade； whipping through Jureem's hair。 It had e fast and furiously； a veritable storm。
Then the warrior began to grow hairlong green hair like seaweed that flowed down its back and over its shoulders； covering its breasts。
As the warrior took full form； Jureem stood astonished； for he recognized the rounded breasts； the feminine curves assuming shape。
A woman。 A woman was forming； a tall and beautiful woman； with graceful curves； long hair； and clean limbs。
Jureem gasped。 The wylde shouted a cry that shook the earth as the wind struck； lifted her in the airso that she became a streak of green climbing high above the trees toward the south。 Then she was gone。
The glade became quiet。 The wind stilled。
Jureem stood； dumbfounded。 He did not know if this was what Binnesman had sought。 Had his wylde leapt away on some errand？ Had the wind carried her off？
Had it really even been a green woman？
Jureem's heart was pounding； and he stood breathless； overawed。 Confused。 He looked to his left and to his right； to see the reactions of the soldiers。 It had all happened so quickly。
Prince Orden's mount neighed in terror； reared back and pawed the air nervously。 To the horse it would have seemed that the green woman simply materialized at its feet。
〃Peace；〃 Binnesman said to the horse。 It calmed at his admonition； and Binnesman gazed steadily upward； where his creation had disappeared into the sky。
He appeared。。。crestfallen。
Something was wrong。 Binnesman had not expected the wylde to flee like this。
Now Binnesman was drained。 Weakened。 Old and hunched in his crimson robes。 If he'd planned for the wylde to fight for him； then the plan seemed to have gone horribly awry。 Binnesman hung his head and shook it in dismay。
〃Faagh；〃 Raj Ahten hissed。 〃What have you done； you old fool of a wizard？ Where is the wylde？ You promised me a weapon。〃
Binnesman shook his head。
〃Are you so inept？〃 Raj Ahten demanded。
Binnesman glanced at Raj Ahten； gave him a wary look。 〃It is not an easy thing to draw a wylde from the earth。 It has a mind of its own； and it knows the earth's enemies better than I。 Perhaps urgent matters call it elsewhere。〃
Binnesman held out a hand toward Raj Ahten's horse。 The three remaining horses all responded by moving toward him； and Jureem had to fight his mount a moment； to keep it from stepping forward。
〃What are you doing？〃 Raj Ahten asked。
Binnesman answered； 〃It is growing late。 It is time for the enemies of the earth to rest their eyes； and to dream of peace。〃
Jureem fought his horse and watched in wonder as； almost instantly； Raj Ahten and his soldiers fell asleep。 Most of them fell to the earth； snoring deeply； but Raj Ahten himself stood in place as he slept。
The old wizard looked at the sleeping warriors and whispered； 〃Beware； Raj Ahten。 Beware of Longmont。〃
Then he looked up； caught Jureem's eye。 〃You are still awake？ What a wonder！ You alone among them are not an enemy of earth。〃
Jureem fumbled for words； aghast to see his master thus subdued； astonished to see the old wizard and his charges still alive。
〃I。。。serve my master； but I wish the earth no harm。〃
〃You cannot serve both him and the earth；〃 Binnesman said； climbing up onto Raj Ahten's mount。 〃I know his heart now。 He would destroy the earth。〃
〃I am a king's man；〃 Jureem said； for he could think of nothing else to say。 His father had been a slave； and his father's father。 He knew how to serve a king； and how to serve well。
〃The Earth King is ing；〃 Binnesman said。 〃If you would serve a king； serve him。〃
With a nod； he indicated for Prince Orden and Iome to mount up。 King Sylvarresta was still a horse。
Binnesman gave Jureem a long look。 Then the wizard and his charges rode into the night； back up the road from which they'd e。
For a long time； Jureem sat a horse； watching as Raj Ahten slept。
The night seemed darker than any that Jureem could recall； though the stars were shining fierce enough。 〃A king is ing；〃 the pyromancer had warned before her death。 〃A king who can destroy you。〃
Not since Erden Geboren； two thousand years ago； had an Earth King risen in the land。 Now King Orden had e。 At Longmont； King Orden would be preparing for Raj Ahten's attack。
Jureem gazed down at the obalin。 Where once the Seven Stones had stood； now the creatures lay in ruin。 He wondered at this portent。 His heart pounded。 He felt the warm night air； tasted the mineral tang of earth scent。 Almost he turned to follow the wizard。 But the sound of the h
