srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第27章

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the　Staff　of　Law　lay　on　the　stone　before　her。　To　her　right　sat　two　men；　then　two　women。　Verement　was　on　her　left　beyond　two　empty　seats。　Eight　Bloodguard　sat　behind　them　in　the　first　row　of　the　gallery；　but　the　rest　of　the　Close　was　empty。　Only　First　Mark　Morin　and　the　Hearthralls　Tohrm　and　Borillar　occupied　their　positions　in　back　of　the　High　Lord。
　An　expectant　hush　hung　over　the　chamber。　For　an　instant；　Covenant　half　expected　Elena　to　announce　the　start　of　the　war。
　Bannor　guided　him　to　a　seat　at　the　Lords'　table　one　place　down　from　Lord　Verement。　The　Unbeliever　settled　himself　in　the　stone　chair；　rubbing　the　stubble　of　his　new　beard　with　one　hand　as　if　he　expected　the　Council　to　know　what　it　meant。　The　eyes　of　the　Lords　were　on　him；　and　their　gaze　made　him　unfortable。　He　felt　strangely　ashamed　of　the　fact　that　his　fingertips　were　alive　to　the　touch　of　his　whiskers。
　〃Ur…Lord　Covenant；〃　the　High　Lord　said　after　a　moment；　〃while　we　await　Lord　Mhoram　and　Warmark　Troy；　we　should　make　introduction。　We　have　been　remiss　in　our　hospitality。　Let　me　present　to　yon　those　of　the　Council　whom　you　do　not　know。〃
　Covenant　nodded；　glad　of　anything　that　would　turn　her　disturbing　eyes　away　from　him；　and　she　began　on　her　left。　〃Here　is　Lord　Verement　Shetra…mate；　whom　you　have　seen。〃　Verement　glowered　at　his　hands；　did　not　glance　at　Covenant。
　Elena　turned　to　her　right。　The　man　next　to　her　was　tall　and　broad；　he　had　a　wide　forehead；　a　watchful　face　draped　with　a　warm　blond　beard；　and　an　expression　of　habitual　gentleness。　〃Here　is　Lord　Callindrill　Faer…mate。　Faer　his　wife　is　a　rare　master　of　the　ancient　suru…pa…maerl　craft。〃　Lord　Callindrill　smiled　half　shyly　at　Covenant；　and　bowed　his　head。
　〃At　his　side；〃　the　High　Lord　went　on；　〃are　the　Lords　Trevor　and　Loerya。〃　Lord　Trevor　was　a　thin　man　with　an　air　of　uncertainty；　as　if　he　were　not　sure　that　he　belonged　at　the　Lords'　table；　but　Lord　Loerya
　his　wife　looked　solid　and　matronly；　conscious　that　she　contained　power。　〃They　have　three　daughters　who　gladden　all　our　hearts。〃　Both　Lords　replied　with　smiles；　but　where　his　was　both　surprised　and　proud；　hers　was　calm；　confident。
　Elena　concluded；　〃Beyond　them　is　Lord　Amatin　daughter　of　Matin。　Only　a　year　ago　she　passed　the　tests　of　the　Sword　and　Staff　at　the　Loresraat；　and　joined　the　Council。　Now　her　work　is　with　the　schools　of　Revelstonethe　teaching　of　the　children。〃　In　her　turn；　Lord　Amatin　bowed　gravely。　She　was　slight；　serious；　and　hazel…eyed；　and　she　watched　Covenant　as　if　she　were　studying　him。
　After　a　pause；　the　High　Lord　began　the　ritual　ceremonies　of　weling　the　Unbeliever　to　Lord's　Keep；　but　she　stopped　short　when　Lord　Mhoram　entered　the　Close。　He　came　through　one　of　the　private　doors　behind　the　Lords'　table。　There　was　weariness　in　his　step　and　febrile　concentration　in　his　eyes；　as　if　he　had　spent　all　night　wrestling　with　darkness。　In　his　fatigue；　he　needed　his　staff　to　hold　himself　steady　as　he　took　his　seat　at　Elena's　left。
　All　the　Lords　watched　him　as　he　sat　there；　breathing　vacantly；　and　a　wave　of　support　flowed　from　their　minds　to　his。　Slowly；　their　silent　help　strengthened　him。　The　hot　glitter　faded　from　his　gaze；　and　he　began　to　see　the　faces　around　him。
　〃Have　you　met　success？〃　Elena　asked　softly。　〃Can　you　withdraw　the　krill？〃
　〃No。〃　Mhoram's　lips　formed　the　word；　but　he　made　no　sound。
　〃Dear　Mhoram；〃　she　sighed；　〃you　must　take　greater　care　of　yourself。　The　Despiser　marches　against　us。　We　will　need　all　your　strength　for　the　ing　war。〃
　Through　his　weariness；　Mhoram　smiled　his　crooked；　humane　smile。　But　he　did　not　speak。
　Before　Covenant　could　muster　the　resolve　to　ask　Mhoram　what　he　hoped　to　acplish　with　the　krill；　the　main　doors　of　the　Close　opened；　and　Warmark　Troy　strode　down　the　stairs　to　the　table。　Hiltmark　Quaan　came　behind　him。　While　Troy　went　to　sit　opposite　Covenant；　Quaan　made　his　way　to　join　Morin；
　Tohrm；　and　Borillar。　Apparently；　Troy　and　Quaan　had　just　e　from　the　Wayward。　They　had　not　taken　the　time　to　set　aside　their　swords；　and　their　scabbards　clashed　dully　against　the　stone　as　they　seated　themselves。
　As　soon　as　they　were　in　their　places；　High　Lord　Elena　began。　She　spoke　softly；　but　her　clear　voice　carried　perfectly　throughout　the　Close。　〃We　are　gathered　thus　without　forewarning　because　a　stranger　has　e　to　us。　Growl；　the　stranger　is　in　your　care。　Tell　us　of　him。〃
　Growl　was　one　of　the　Bloodguard。　He　arose　from　his　seat　near　the　broad　stairs　of　the　chamber；　and　faced　the　High　Lord　impassively　to　make　his　report。　〃He　passed　us。　A　short　time　ago；　he　appeared　at　the　gate　of　Revelstone。　No　scout　or　sentry　saw　his　approach。　He　asked　if　the　Lords　were　within。　When　he　was　answered；　he　replied　that　the　High　Lord　wished　to　question　him。　He　is　not　as　other　men。　But　he　bears　no　weapon；　and　intends　no　ill。　We　chose　to　admit　him。　He　awaits　you。〃
　In　a　sharp　voice　like　the　barking　of　a　hawk；　Lord　Verement　asked；　〃Why　did　the　scouts　and　sentries　fail？〃
　〃The　stranger　was　hidden　from　our　eyes；〃　Growl　replied　levelly。　〃Our　watch　did　not　falter。〃　His　unfluctuating　tone　seemed　to　assert　that　the　alertness　of　the　Bloodguard　was　beyond　question。
　〃That　is　well；〃　said　Verement。　〃Perhaps　one　day　the　whole　army　of　the　Despiser　will　appear　unnoticed　at　our　gates；　and　we　will　still　be　sleeping　when　Revelstone　falls。〃
　He　was　about　to　say　more；　but　Elena　interposed　firmly；　〃Bring　the　stranger　now。〃
　As　the　Bloodguard　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　swung　open　the　high　wooden　doors；　Amatin　asked　the　High　Lord；　〃Does　this　stranger　e　at　your　request？〃
　〃No。　But　I　do　now　wish　to　question　him。〃
　Covenant　watched　as　two　more　Bloodguard　came　into　the　Close　with　the　stranger　between　them。　He　was　slim；　simply　clad　in　a　cream…colored　robe；　and　his　movements　were　light；　buoyant。　Though　he　was　nearly
　as　tall　as　Covenant；　he　seemed　hardly　old　enough　to　have　his　full　growth。　There　was　a　sense　of　boyish　laughter　in　the　way　his　curly　hair　bounced　as　he　came　down　the　steps；　as　if　he　were　amused　by　the　precautions　taken　against　him。　But　Covenant　was　not　amused。　With　the　new　dimension　of　his　sight；　he　could　see　why　Growl　had　said　that　the　boy　was　〃not　as　other　men。〃　Within　his　young；　fresh　flesh　were　bones　that　seemed　to　radiate　oldness…not　age…they　were　not　weak　or　infirm…but　rather　antiquity。　His　skeleton　carried　this　oldness；　this　aura　of　time；　as　if　he　were　merely　a　vessel　for　it。　He　existed　for　it　rather　than　in　spite　of　it。　The　sight　baffled　Covenant's　perceptions；　made　his　eyes　ache　with　conflicting　impressions　of　dread　and　glory　as　he　strained　to　prehend。
　When　the　boy　reached　the　floor　of　the　Close；　he　stepped　near　to　the　graveling　pit；　and　made　a　cheerful　obeisance。　In　a　high；　young　voice；　he　exclaimed；　〃Hail；　High　Lord！〃
　Elena　stood　and　replied　gravely；　〃Stranger；　be　wele　in　the　Land…wele　and　true。　We　are　the　Lords　of　Revelstone；　and　I　am　Elena　daughter　of　Lena；　High　Lord　by　the　choice　of　the　Council；　and　holder　of　the　Staff　of　Law。　How　may　we　honor　you？〃
　〃Courtesy　is　like　a　drink　at　a　mountain　stream。　I　am　honored　already。〃
　〃Then　will　you　honor　us　in　turn　with　your　name？〃
　With　a　laughing　glance；　the　boy　said；　〃It　may　well　e　to　pass　that　I　will　tell　you　who　I　am。〃
　〃Do　not　game　with　us；〃　Verement　cut　in。　〃What　is　your　name？〃
　〃Among　those　who　do　not　know　me；　I　am　named　Amok。〃
　Elena　controlled　Verement　with　a　swift　look；　then　said　to　the　youth；　〃And　how　are　you　named　among　those　who　know　you？〃
　〃Those　who　know　me　have　no　need　of　my　name。〃
　〃Stranger；　we　do　not　know　you〃　An　edge　came　into　her　quiet　voice。　〃These　are　times　of　great　peril　in　the　Land；　and　we　can　spend　neither　time　nor　delicacy　with　you。　We　require　to　know　who　you　are。〃
　〃Ah；　then　I　fear　I　cannot　help　you；〃　replied　Amok　with　an　impervious　gaiety　in　his　eyes。
　For　a　moment；　the　Lords　met　his　gaze　with　stiff　silence。　Verement's　thin　lips　whitened；　Callindrill　frowned　thoughtfully；　and　Elena　faced　the　boy　with　low　anger　flushing　her　cheeks；　though　her　eyes　did　not　lose　their　odd；　dislocated　focus。　Then　Lord　Amatin　straightened　her　shoulders　and　said；　〃Amok；　where　is　your　home？　Who　are　your　parents？　What　is　your　past？〃
　Lightly；　Amok　turned　and　gave　her　an　unexpected　bow。　〃My　home　is　Revelstone。　I　have　no　parents。　And　my　past　i