srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第24章

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king　stone　slabs　which　could　close　inward　to　seal　the　entrance　pletely　led　to　a　tunnel　under　the　tower。　The　tunnel　opened　into　the　courtyard；　and　the　entrance　from　the　courtyard　to　the　Keep　was　defended　by　another　set　of　gates　as　massive　and　solid　as　the　first。　The　main　Keep　was　joined　to　the　tower　by　a　series　of　wooden　crosswalks　suspended　at　intervals　above　the　court；　but　the　only　ground…level　access　to　the　tower　was　through　two　small　doors　on　either　side　of　the　tunnel。　Thus　any　enemy　who　acplished　the　almost　impossible　task　of　breaking　the　outer　gates　would　then　have　to　attempt　the　same　feat　at　the　inner　gates　while　under　attack　from　the　battlements　of　both　the　watchtower　and　the　main　Keep。
　The　courtyard　was　paved　with　flagstones　except　in　the　center；　where　an　old　Gilden　tree　grew；　nourished　by　springs　of　fresh　water。　Lord　Hyrim；　Bannor；　and　Covenant　found　the　rest　of　the　mission　there　beside
　the　tree；　under　the　waning　darkness　of　the　sky。　Dawn　had　begun。
　Shivering　in　the　crisp　air；　Covenant　looked　around　the　court。　In　the　light　which　reflected　from　within　the　Keep；　he　could　see　that　all　the　people　near　the　tree　were　Bloodguard　except　for　one　Lord；　a　tall　woman。　She　stood　facing　into　Revelstone；　Covenant　could　see　her　clearly。　She　had　stiff；　iron…gray　hair　that　she　wore　cropped　short；　and　her；　face　was　like　the　face　of　a　hawk…keen　of　nose　and　eye；　lean　of　cheek。　Her　eyes　held　a　sharp　gleam　like　the　hunting　stare　of　a　hawk。　But　behind　the　gleam；　Covenant　discerned　something　that　looked　like　an　ache　of　desire；　a　yearning　which　she　could　neither　satisfy　nor　repress。
　Lord　Hyrim　greeted　her　panionably；　but　she　ignored　him；　stared　back　into　the　Keep　as　if　she　could　not　bear　to　leave　it。
　Behind　her；　the　Bloodguard　were　busy　distributing　burdens；　packing　their　supplies　into　bundles　with　clingor　thongs。　These　they　tied　to　their　backs　so　that　their　movements　would　not　be　hampered。　Soon　one　of　them…Covenant　recognized　Korik…stepped　forward　and　announced　to　Lord　Hyrim　that　he　was　ready。
　〃Ready；　friend　Korik？〃　Hyrim's　voice　had　a　jaunty　sound。　〃Ah；　would　that　I　could　say　the　same。　But；　by　the　Seven！　I　am　not　a　man　suited　for　great　dangers　I　am　better　made　to　applaud　victories　than　to　perform　them。　Yes；　that　is　where　my　skills　lie。　Were　you　to　bring　me　a　victory；　I　could　drink　a　pledge　to　it　which　would　astound　you。　But　this…riding　at　speed　across　the　Land；　into　the　teeth　of　who　knows　what　ravenous　perils…！　Can　you　tell　us　of　these　perils；　Korik？〃
　〃Lord？〃
　〃I　have　given　this　matter　thought；　friend　Korik　you　may　imagine　how　difficult　it　was　for　me。　But　I　see　that　the　High　Lord　gave　this　mission　into　your　hands　for　good　reason。　Hear　what　I　have　thought…efforts　like　mine　should　not　be　wasted。　Consider　this。　Of　all　the　people　of　Revelstone；　only　the　Bloodguard　have　known　the　Land　before　the　Desecration。　You　have　known　Kevin　himself。　Surely　you　know　far　more　of　him　than　do　we。　And　surely；　also；　you　know　far　more　of　the　Despiser。　Perhaps　you　know　how　he　wages　war。　Perhaps　you　know　more　than　Lord　Callindrill　could　tell　us　of　the　dangers　which　lie　between　us　and　Seareach。〃
　Korik　shrugged　slightly。
　〃It　is　in　my　heart；〃　Hyrim　went　on；　〃that　you　can　measure　the　dangers　ahead　better　than　any　Lord。　You　should　speak　of　them；　so　that　we　may　prepare。　It　may　be　that　we　should　not　risk　Grimmerdhore　or　the　Sarangrave；　but　should　rather　ride　north　and　around；　despite　the　added　length　of　days。〃
　〃The　Bloodguard　do　not　know　the　future。〃　Korik's　tone　was　impassive；　yet　Covenant　heard　a　faint　stress　on　the　word　know。　Korik　seemed　to　use　that　word　in　a　different　sense　than　Hyrim　did；　a　larger　or　more　prophetic　sense。
　And　the　Lord　was　unsatisfied。　〃Perhaps　not。　But　you　did　not　share　Kevin's　reign　and　learn　nothing。　Do　you　fear　we　cannot　endure　the　knowledge　you　bear？〃
　〃Hyrim；　you　forget　yourself；〃　Lord　Shetra　cut　in　abruptly。　〃Is　this　your　respect　for　the　keepers　of　the　Vow？〃
　〃Ah；　sister　Shetra；　you　misunderstand。　My　respect　for　the　Bloodguard　is　unbounded。　How　could　I　feel　otherwise　about　men　sworn　beyond　any　human　oath　to　keep　me　alive？　Now　if　they　were　to　promise　me　good　food；　I　would　be　totally　in　their　debt。　But　surely　you　see　where　we　stand。　The　High　Lord　has　given　this　mission　into　their　hands。　If　the　peril　we　ride　to　meet　so　blithely　forces　them　to　the　choice；　the　Bloodguard　will　pursue　the　mission　rather　than　defend　us。〃
　For　a　moment；　Lord　Shetra　fixed　Hyrim　with　a　hard　glance　like　an　expression　of　contempt。　But　when　she　spoke；　her　voice　did　not　impugn　him。　〃Lord　Hyrim；　you　are　not　blithe。　You　believe　that　the　survival　of　the　Giants　rides　on　this　mission；　and　you　seek　to　conceal　your　fear　for　them。〃
　〃Melenkurion　Skyweir！〃　Hyrim　growled　to　keep　himself　from　laughing。　〃I　seek　only　to　preserve　my　fine　and　hard…won　flesh　from　inconsiderate　assault。　It　would　bee　you　to　share　such　a　worthy　desire。〃
　〃Peace；　Lord。　I　have　no　heart　for　jesting；〃　sighed
　Shetra；　and　turned　away　to　resume　her　study　of　Revelstone。
　Lord　Hyrim　considered　her　in　silence　briefly；　then　said　to　Korik；　〃Well；　she　has　less　body　to　preserve　than　I　have。　It　may　be　that　fine　spirit　is　reserved　for　neglected　flesh。　I　must　speak　of　this　with　the　Giants　if　we　reach　them。〃
　〃We　are　the　Bloodguard；〃　answered　Korik　flatly。　〃We　will　gain　Seareach。〃
　Hyrim　glanced　up　at　the　night　sky；　and　said　in　a　soft；　musing　tone；　〃Summon　or　succor。　Would　that　there　were　more　of　us。　The　Giants　are　vast；　and　if　they　are　in　need　the　need　will　be　vast。〃
　〃They　are　the　Giants。　Are　they　not　equal　to　any　need？〃
　The　Lord　flashed　a　look　at　Korik；　but　did　not　reply。　Soon　he　moved　to　Shetra's　side；　and　said　quietly；　〃e；　sister。　The　journey　calls。　The　way　is　long；　and　if　we　hope　to　end　we　must　first　begin。〃
　〃Wait！〃　she　cried　softly；　like　the　distant　scream　of　a　bird。
　Hyrim　studied　her　for　another　moment。　Then　he　came　back　to　Covenant。　In　a　whisper　so　low　that　Covenant　could　hardly　hear　it；　the　Lord　said；　〃She　desires　to　see　Lord　Verement　her　husband　before　we　go。　Theirs　is　a　sad　tale；　urLord。　Their　marriage　is　troubled。　Both　are　proud…　Together　they　made　the　journey　to　the　Plains　of　Ra　to　offer　themselves　to　the　Ranyhyn。　And　the　Ranyhyn…ah；　the　Ranyhyn　chose　her；　but　refused　him。
　〃Well；　they　choose　in　their　own　way；　and　even　the　Ramen　cannot　explain　them。　But　it　has　made　a　difference　between　these　two。　Brother　Verement　is　a　worthy　man…yet　now　he　has　reason　to　believe　himself　unworthy。　And　sister　Shetra　can　neither　accept　nor　deny　his　self…judgment。　And　now　this　mission…　Verement　should　rightly　go　…in　my　place；　but　the　mission　requires　the　speed　and　endurance　of　the　Ranyhyn。　For　her　sake　alone；　I　would　wish　that　you　might　go　in　her　stead。〃
　〃I　don't　ride　Ranyhyn；〃　Covenant　replied　unsteadily。
　〃They　would　e　to　your　call；〃　answered　Hyrim。　Again　Covenant　could　not　respond；　he　feared　that　this　was　true。　The　Ranyhyn　had　pledged　themselves　to　him；　and　he　had　not　released　them。　But　he　could　not　ride　one　of　the　great　horses。　They　had　reared　to　him　out　of　fear　and　loathing。　Again　he　had　nothing　to　offer　Hyrim　but　the　look　of　his　silent　indecision。
　Moments　later；　he　heard　movement　in　the　throat　of　the　Keep　behind　him。　Turning；　he　saw　two　Lords　striding　out　toward　。the　courtyard…High　Lord　Elena　and　a　man　he　had　not　met。
　Elena's　arrival　made　him　quail；　at　once；　the　air　seemed　to　be　full　of　wings；　vulturine　implications。　But　the　man　at　her　side　also　pelled　his　attention。　He　knew　immediately　that　this　was　Lord　Verement。　The　man　resembled　Shetra　too　much　to　be　anyone　else。　He　had　the　same　short　stiff　hair；　the　same　hawklike　features；　the　same　bitter　taste　in　his　mouth。　He　moved　toward　her　as　if　he　meant　to　throw　himself　at　her。
　But　he　stopped　ten　feet　away。　His　eyes　winced　away　from　her　sharp　gaze；　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　look　at　her　directly。　In　a…　low　voice；　he　said；　〃Will　you　go？〃
　〃You　know　that　I　must。〃
　They　fell　silent。　Heedless　of　the　fact　that　they　were　being　observed；　they　stood　apart　from　each　other。　Some　test　of　will　that　needed　no　utterance　hung　between　them。　For　a　time；　they　remained　still；　as　if　refusing　to　make　any　gestures　which　might　be　interpreted　as　promise　or　abdication。
　〃He　did　not　wish　to　e；〃　Hyrim　whispered　to　Covenant；　〃but　the