srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第60章

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d　Staff…Elder　Asuraka　to　their　main　library。　In　moments；　Troy；　Covenant；　and　Bannor　were　the　only　people　left　in　the　bowl。
　Troy　felt　that　he　should　speak　with　Covenant；　there　were　things　that　he　needed　to　understand。　But　he　feared　that　he　would　not　be　able　to　keep　his　temper；　so　he　also　moved　away；　leaving　Bannor　to　help　Covenant　struggle　off　the　net。　He　wanted　to　talk　to　the　High　Lord；　ask　her　why　she　had　made　such　a　foolhardy　offer　to　Amok。　But　he　was　not　in　mand　of　his　emotions。　He　climbed　out　of　the　viane；　and　strode　away　along　one　of　the　boughs　toward　Drinishok's　quarters。
　In　the　Sword…Elder's　larder；　he　ate　a　little　bread　and　meat；　and　drank　quantities　of　springwine　in　an　；effort　to　dissipate　the　dark　sensation　of　foreboding　which　Amok　had　given　him。　The　idea　that　Elena　might　wander　off　somewhere　with　the　youth；　hunting　for　a　cryptic　and　probably　useless　power　when　she　was　desperately　needed　elsewhere；　made　him　grind　his　teeth　in　frustration。　His　heart　groaned　with　a　prescience　that　told　him　he　was　going　to　lose　her。　The　Land　was　going　to　lose　her。　Searching　for　balance；　he　consumed　a　great　deal　of　springwine。　But　it　did　not　steady　him；　his　brain　reeled　as　if　dangerous　winds　…were　buffeting　him。
　Early　in　the　afternoon；　he　went　in　search　of　the　Lords；　but　one　of　the　Lorewardens　soon　told　him　that　they　were　closeted　with　Asuraka；　studying　the　lomillialor　munication　rods。　So　he　descended　to　the　ground；　whistled　for　Mehryl；　and　rode　away　from　Revelwood　with　Ruel　at　his　side。　He　wanted　to　visit　the　grave　of　the　student　who　had　summoned　him　to　the　Land。
　Covenant　had　said；　It　isn't　you　they've　got　faith　in　at　all。　It's　the　student　who　summoned　you。　Troy　needed　to　think　about　that。　He　could　not　simply　shrug　it　away。　One　reason　he　distrusted　Covenant　was　because　the　Unbeliever　had　first　been　called　by　Drool
　Rockworm　at　Lord　Foul's　behest。　Did　the　nature　of　the　summoner　have　any　connection　to　the　worth　of　the　one　summoned？
　Furthermore；　Covenant　had　referred　to　that　student　strangely；　as　if　he　knew　something　about　…the　young　man　Troy　did　not　know。
　Troy　went　to　the　place　of　his　summons　hoping　that　its　physical　context；　its　concrete　location　in　Trothgard；　would　ease　his　vague　fears　and　forebodings。　He　needed　to　regain　his　self…confidence。　He　knew　he　could　not　challenge　Elena's　decision　to　follow　Amok　if　he　did　not　believe　in　himself。
　But　when　he　reached　the　site　of　the　grave；　he　found　Trell　there。　The　big　Gravelingas　knelt　by　the　grassy　mound　as　if　he　were　praying。　When　he　heard　Troy's　approach；　…he　raised　his　head　suddenly；　and　his　face　was　so　swollen　with　grief　that　it　struck　Troy　momentarily　dumb。　He　could　think　of　no　reason　why　Trell　Gravelingas　should　be　here　grieving。
　Before　Troy　could　collect　his　thoughts　to　ask　for　an　explanation；　Trell　jumped　up　and　hastened　away　toward　his　mount；　which　he　had　tethered　nearby。
　〃Trell…！〃　Troy　started　to　call　after　him；　but　Ruel　interposed　flatly；　〃Warmark；　let　him　go〃
　Troy　turned　in　surprise　toward　the　Bloodguard。　Ruel's　visage　was　as　passionless　as　ever；　but　something　in　the　way　his　eyes　followed　Trell　seemed　to　express　an　unwonted　sympathy。　Carefully　Troy　said；　〃Why？　I　don't　understand。〃
　〃That　you　must　ask　the　High　Lord；〃　Ruel　replied　without　inflection。
　〃I'm　asking　you！〃　the　Warmark　snapped　before　he　could　control　his　irritation。
　〃Nevertheless。〃
　With　an　effort；　Troy　mastered　himself。　Ruel's　mien　said　as　plainly　as　words　that　he　was　acting　on　the　High　Lord's　instructions；　and　that　nothing　which　did　not　threaten　her　life　could　induce　him　to　disobey　her。　〃All　right；〃　Troy　said　stiffly。　〃I'll　do　that。〃　Turning　Mehryl；　he　trotted　after　Trell's　galloping　mount　back　toward　Revelwood。
　But　when　he　reentered　the　Valley　of　Two　Rivers
　and　approached　the　Tree；　he　found　Drinishok　waiting　impatiently　for　him。　The　Lords　had　announced　that　they　would　leave　Revelwood　the　next　morning；　and　the　Sword…Elder　wanted　Troy　to　discuss　the　defense　of　the　city　with　all　the　Lorewardens　and　students　of　the　Sword。　This　was　a　responsibility　which　Troy　could　not　ignore；　so　while　his　private　fog　turned　to　dusk　and　then　to　night　blindness；　he　addressed　the　assembled　discipline　of　the　Sword。　He　did　not　even　try　to　see　what　he　was　talking　about；　he　went　into　the　strategy　of　the　Valley　from　memory。
　But　when　he　was　done；　he　found　that　he　had　lost　his　chance　to　talk　to　the　Lords。　In　the　darkness；　he　seemed　to　lack　courage　as　well　as　vision。　After　his　lecture；　he　went　to　Drinishok's　home；　and　shared　a　meal　full　of　indigestible　lumps　of　silence　with　the　Sword…Elder。　Then　he　went　to　bed　early；　he　could　not　endure　any　more　of　the　blurred　half…sight　of　torches。　Drinishok　respected　his　mood；　and　left　him　alone。　In　blind　isolation；　he　stared　uselessly　into　the　darkness；　and　tried　to　recover　his　balance。　He　felt　certain　that　he　was　going　to　lose　Elena。
　He　ached　to　talk　to　her；　to　dissuade　her；　cling　to　her。　But　the　next　morning；　when　all　the　riders　gathered　with　their　mounts　just　after　dawn　on　the　south　side　of　the　great　Tree；　he　found　that　he　could　not　confront　the　High　Lord　with　his　fears。　Sitting　regally　on　Myrha's　back　in　the　gleam　of　day；　she　had　too　much　presence；　too　much　personal　authority。　He　could　not　deny　or　challenge　her。　And　while　she　was　surrounded　by　so　many　people；　he　could　not　ask　her　his　questions　about　Trell。　His　apprehension　was　too　personal　to　be　aired　so　publicly。　He　strove　to　occupy　his　mind　with　other　things　until　he　got　a　chance　to　talk　to　someone。
　Deliberately；　he　scanned　the　pany　of　riders。　Standing　by　their　Ranyhyn　behind　the　Lords　were　twenty　Bloodguard　First　Mark　Morin；　Terrel；　Bannor；　Ruel；　Runnik；　and　fifteen　others。　Obviously；　Koral　would　remain　with　Lord　Amatin　at　Revelwood。　In　addition　to　them；　the　group　included　only　five　others：　High　Lord　Elena；　Lord　Mhoram；　Covenant；　Troy；
　and　Trell。　When　he　saw　the　Gravelingas；　Troy　again　felt　a　desire　to　speak　to　him。　The　unconcealed　wound　of　Trell's　expression　was　taut　with　suspense；　as　if　he　awaited　some　decision　from　Elena　with　a　degree　of　agony　that　surprised　Troy。　But　the　Warmark　refrained；　despite　his　mounting　anxiety。　The　High　Lord　had　begun　to　address　Lord　Amatin　and　Eldest　Corimini。
　〃My　friends；〃　she　said　gravely；　〃I　leave　Revelwood　in　your　care。　Ward　it　well！　The　Tree　and　the　Loresraat　are　the　two　great　achievements　of　the　new　Lords…two　symbols　of　our　service。　If　it　may　be　done；　they　must　be　preserved。　Remember　vigilance；　and　watch　the　Center　Plains。　If　war　es　upon　you；　you　must　not　be　taken　unaware。　And　remember　that　if　Revelwood　cannot　be　saved；　the　Lore　still　must　be　preserved；　and　Lord's　Keep　warned。　The　Loresraat　and　the　Wards　must　find　safety　in　Revelstone　at　need。
　〃Sister　Amatin；　these　are　great　burdens。　But　I　place　them　in　your　hands　without　fear。　They　do　not　surpass　you。　And　the　help　of　Corimini　the　Eldest；　and　of　Asuraka　and　Drinishok　the　Elders；　is　beyond　price。　I　do　not　believe　that　the　Warward　will　fall　in　this　war。　But　you　must　be　prepared　for　all　chances；　even　the　worst。　You　will　not　fail。　This　trust　bees　you。〃
　Lord　Amatin　blinked　back　a　moment　of　tears；　and　bowed　silently　to　the　High　Lord。　Then　Elena　lifted　her　head　to　Revelwood；　and　projected　her　voice　so　that　she　could　be　heard　in　the　Tree。
　〃Friends！　rades！　Proud　people　of　the　Land！　There　is　war　upon　us。　Together　we　confront　the　test　of　death。　Now　is　the　time　of　parting；　when　all　the　defenders　of　the　Land　must　go　to　their　separate　tasks。　Do　not　desire　to　change　your　lot　for　another's。　All　faith　and　service　are　equal；　alike　worthy　and　perilous；　in　this　time　of　need。　And　do　not　grieve　at　parting。　We　go　to　the　greatest　glory　of　our　age…we　are　honored　by　the　chance　to　give　our　utmost　for　the　Land。　This　is　the　test　of　death；　that　at　the　last　we　may　prove　worthy　of　what　we　serve。
　〃Be　of　good　heart。　If　the　needs　of　this　war　go　beyond　your　strength；　do　not　despair。　Give　all　your
　strength；　and　hold　Peace；　and　do　not　despair。　Hold　courage　and　faith　high！　It　is　better　to　fall　and　die　in　Peace　than　to　re…Desecrate　the　Land。
　〃My　friends；　I　am　honored　that　I　have　shared　life　with　you。〃
　High　in　Revelwood；　a　strident　voice　cried；　〃Hail　to　the　High　Lord　and　the　Staff　of　Law！〃　And　all　the　people　in　the　Tree　and　on　the　ground　a