df.therunelords-第87章
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u； the more powerfully the spell affects them。 I am amazed that Raj Ahten even knew that you were there in the glade。 Fire could have given him such power。 I did not realize that then； but I realize it now。〃
Gaborn thought about this。
〃You cannot take great security in this gift of invisibility；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Many evil men would do you harm； men who do not serve Fire。 And flameweavers of great power can pierce your disguise if they get close。〃
Gaborn remembered the flameweaver in Castle Sylvarresta； the way she'd looked at him in recognition； as if he were a sworn enemy。
〃I see。。。〃 he whispered。 〃I understand why Raj Ahten could not see me。 But why could I not see him？〃
〃What？〃 Binnesman said； his brows arching in surprise。
〃I had seen his face before； at the castle。 I know his helm； his armor。 Yet tonight his face was hidden from me； as mine was from him。 I looked at him and saw。。。multitudes of people； all bowing to worship。 People in flames。〃
Binnesman laughed long and hard。 〃Perhaps you were looking too deeply。 Tell me； what were you thinking when this vision appeared？〃
〃I simply wanted to see him as he was； beneath all those endowments of glamour。〃
〃Let me tell you a tale；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Many years ago； my master was an Earth Warden who served the animals of the forestthe harts and the birds and such。 They would e to him； and he would feed them or heal them as needed。
〃When I asked how he knew their needs； he seemed surprised。 'You can see it in their eyes；' he said。 As if that were all the answer。 Then he sent me away； out of his service； for he thought me unfit to be an Earth Warden。
〃You see； Gaborn； he had the gift of Earth Sight； of looking into the hearts of creatures and divining what they wanted； or needed； or loved。
〃I've never had that gift。 I cannot tell you how to use it； how it works。 Believe me； I wish I had your gift。〃
〃But I don't have such a gift〃 Gaborn objected。 〃I don't see into your heart； or Iome's。〃
〃Ah； but you were in a place of great earth power；〃 Binnesman said。 〃You do have the gift； though you do not know how to use it。 Study it out in your mind。 Practice it。 It will e to you； in time。〃
Gaborn wondered。 Wizards often said that they needed to 〃study things out。〃
〃Yet you have a greater duty now；〃 Binnesman said。 〃As Erden Geboren chose his loyal men to fight at his side； you must also begin to choose your followers。 It is an awesome responsibility。 Those you choose will be bound to you。〃
〃I know；〃 Gaborn said。 He had heard the legends； how Erden Geboren would choose those to fight at his side； and always he knew their hearts； knew when they faced danger； so that forever after； they never fought alone。
〃You must begin to choose。。。〃 Binnesman mused； looking off over the dark fields。
Gaborn studied the old man； wondering。 〃You never needed the gift of Earth Sight； did you？ Other Earth Wardens may serve the field mice and the snakesbut Earth manded you to serve man。。。in the dark time to e。〃
Binnesman stiffened； glanced at Gaborn。 〃I beg you never speak that thought aloud。 Raj Ahten is not the only lord who would seek my life if he guessed at what you know。〃
〃Never；〃 Gaborn said。 〃I will never tell。〃
〃Perhaps my old master was right；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Perhaps I do not。 serve the Earth well。。。〃
Gaborn knew that he thought of the loss of his wylde。 〃Is it lost to us； destroyed？〃
〃It is of the earth。 A mere fall will not kill it。 Yet； I。。。I worry for this creature。 It will have e naked from the earth。 It knows nothing； will be lost without me to teach and nourish it。。。And it is more powerful than anyone knows。 The blood of the Earth flows in its veins。〃
Gaborn asked。 〃Dangerous？ What can it do？〃
〃It is a focus for my power；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Just as water wizards draw power from the sea； or as flameweavers draw it from fire； I draw strength from the earth。 But some earth contains more elemental force than others。 For decades I have scoured the ground for just the right soils； just the right stones。 Then I called my wylde from them。〃
〃So。。。it is nothing more than dirt and stones？〃 Gaborn asked。
〃No；〃 Binnesman said； 〃it is more than that。 I cannot control it； it is as alive as you or I。 The wylde chose its shape from my mind。 I tried to envision a warrior to fight the reavers； a green knight like the one who served your forefathers。 Yet even in that； I could not control it。〃
〃We will have to send word；〃 Gaborn said； 〃ask people to help us search for it。〃
Binnesman smiled weakly； pulled a blade of wheat from the ground and chewed at its succulent end。
〃So Raj Ahten is lost to us；〃 Binnesman mused。 〃I'd hoped for better。〃
Leading her own mount out back； Iome found Gaborn and the wizard beside a trough； feeding the horses； which ate as only force horses can； chewing so rapidly she feared for them。
Iome left Gaborn and Binnesman to tend the beasts while she took her father to the creek and washed him in the clear water。 He had soiled himself near the Seven Stones； and she'd never had time to care for him。
When at last Gaborn came to her； leaving the horses in Binnesman's able care； Iome had her father dried and in fresh clothes； and he lay at the edge of the orchard； using a tree root for a pillow； snoring contentedly。
It seemed an unmon； yet peaceful sight。 Iome's father was a Runelord； with several endowments of stamina； and others of brawn。 Only once in her life had she known him to sleep； and then only for half an hour。 Yet she wondered if from time to time he might have slept beside her mother。 Certainly； Iome knew； at times he'd lain beside her mother as he pondered the kingdom's problems； long into the night。
But sleep？ Almost never。
The long day must have worn her father out。
Gaborn took a seat beside Iome； both of them leaning their backs against the same tree。 He took a plum from the pile near her hand； and ate。
Clouds were beginning to scud in again； darkening the sky； and the wind gusted from the south。 It was like that in Heredon in the fall。 Weak fronts of cloud passed overhead in bursts； with storms that rarely lasted more than an hour or three。
Binnesman brought the mounts down to the stream。 The horses all quenched their thirst； then stopped drinking at Binnesman's mand。 Afterward； some grazed in the short grass at the edge of the stream； most just slept on their feet。
Yet Raj Ahten's great mount stood by the water； restless； matching Binnesman's mood。 After a few moments； Binnesman said； 〃I must leave you now； but I will meet you at Longmont。 Ride fast； and there is little on this earth that you need fear。〃
〃I am not worried；〃 Gaborn answered。 Binnesman's uncertain look suggested that he disagreed； that he felt Gaborn should be concerned。 Yet Gaborn had spoken courageously only to ease the wizard's mind。
Binnesman mounted the big warhorse that had belonged to Raj Ahten。 〃Try to get some rest。 You can only let the animals sleep for an hour or two。 By midnight； Raj Ahten will be free to e after you againthough I shall lay a spell to protect you。〃
Whispering some words； Binnesman pulled a sprig of some herb from the pocket of his robe。 He rode forward； dropped it on Gaborn's lap。 Parsley。
He said； 〃Keep it。 It will absorb your scent； hide it from Raj Ahten and his soldiers。 And before you leave here； Gaborn； pluck a single hair from your head and tie it in seven knots。 Should Raj Ahten chase you then； he'll find himself wandering in circles。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Iome and Gaborn said。 Binnesman turned his great steed and galloped off in the dark； heading south。
Iome felt tired； dreadfully tired。 She glanced around for a soft spot of ground to lay her head on。 Gaborn reached out； took her shoulder； guided her toward him； so she could rest her head in his lap。 It was a surprising gesture。 Intimate。
She lay there； closed her eyes； and listened to him eat a plum。 His stomach made surprising noises； and she couldn't quite feel fortable。
Gaborn reached down； gently stroked her chin； her hair。 She'd have thought his touch would feel。。。reassuring； right。 But it didn't。
Instead it made her nervous。 Partly； she feared rejection。 Though he'd said he loved her； she d
