srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第76章

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ld　see　Mhoram　acutely。　What　he　saw　reassured　him。　The
　Lord's　eyes　gleamed　with　hazardous　potentials；　and　the　bones　of　his　skull　had　an　indomitable　hue。　The　contrast　to　his　own　weakness　humbled　Troy。　He　turned　away　to　look　out　over　the　Plains　again。　The　ponderous　movement　of　Lord　Foul's　hordes　continued　as　before；　and　at　the　sight　he　felt　a　resurgence　of　panic。　But　he　held　onto　his　power　of　mand；　gripped　it　to　keep　his　shame　at　bay。　Finally；　he　said；　〃All　right。　Let's　get　going。　Tull；　you'd　better　go　back　to　the　Stonedown。　Have　the　Ranyhyn　brought　as　far　up　the　trail　as　possible。　We've　got　a　long　run　ahead　of　us。〃
　〃Yes；　Warmark；〃　Tull　left　the　Watch　soundlessly。
　〃Now；　Mhoram。　You　had　the　right　idea。　Amorine　has　got　to　be　warned。　She　has　got　to　get　to　the　Retreat　ahead　of　Quaan。〃　It　occurred　to　him　that　Quaan　might　not　be　alive；　but　he　forced　that　fear　down。　〃I　don't　care　how　she　does　it。　She's　got　to　have　that　ambush　ready　when　the　riders　arrive。　If　she　doesn't…〃　He　had　to　lock　his　jaw　to　keep　his　voice　from　shaking。　〃Can　you　municate　that？〃　He　shuddered　to　think　of　the　warriors'　plight。　After　a　twenty…five…day　march；　they　would　have　to　run　the　last　fifty　miles　only　to　learn　that　their　ordeal　was　not　done。　Pushing　himself　around　to　face　Mhoram；　he　demanded；　〃Well？〃
　Mhoram　had　already　taken　the　lomillialor　rod　from　his　robe；　and　was　lashing　it　across　his　staff　with　a　clingor　thong。　As　he　secured　the　rod；　he　said；　〃My　friend；　you　should　leave　the　Watch。　You　will　be　safer　below。〃
　Troy　acquiesced　without　question。　He　gazed　at　the　armies　once　more　to　be　sure　that　he　had　gauged　their　relative　speeds　accurately；　then　wished　Lord　Mhoram　good　luck；　and　started　the　descent。　The　stairs　felt　slippery　under　his　hands　and　feet；　but　he　was　reassured　by　Ruel's　presence　right　below　him。　Soon　he　stood　on　the　ledge　at　the　base　of　the　Watch；　and　stared　up　into　the　blue　sky　toward　Lord　Mhoram。
　After　a　pause　that　seemed　unduly　long　to　Troy's　quickening　sense　of　urgency；　he　heard　snatches　of　song　from　atop　the　shaft。　The　song　mounted　into　the
　air；　then　abruptly　fell　silent。　At　once；　flame　erupted　around　Lord　Mhoram。　It　engulfed　the　whole　platform　of　the　Watch；　and　it　filled　the　air　with　an　impression　of　reverberation；　as　if　the　cliff　face　echoed　a　protracted　and　inaudible　shriek。　The　noiseless　ululation　made　Troy's　ears　burn；　made　him　ache　to　cover　them　and　hide　his　head；　but　he　forced　himself　to　withstand　it。　He　did　not　take　his　gaze　off　the　Watch。
　The　echoing　was　mercifully　brief。　Moments　after　its　last　vibration　had　faded；　Terrel　came　down　the　stair；　half　carrying　Mhoram。
　Troy　was　afraid　that　the　Lord　had　damaged　himself。　But　Mhoram　only　suffered　from　a　sudden　exhaustion　…the　price　of　his　exertion。　All　his　movements　were　weak；　unsteady；　and　his　face　dripped　with　sweat；　but　he　managed　a　faint　smile　for　Troy。　〃I　would　not　care　to　be　Callindrill's　foe；〃　he　said　wanly。　〃He　is　strong。　He　sends　riders　to　Amorine。〃
　〃Good。〃　Troy's　voice　was　gruff　with　affection　and　relief。　〃But　if　we　don't　get　to　Doom's　Retreat　before　midafternoon　tomorrow；　it'll　be　wasted。〃
　Mhoram　nodded。　He　braced　himself　on　Terrel's　shoulder；　and　stumbled　away　along　the　ledge　with　Troy　and　Ruel　behind　him。
　They　made　slow　progress　at　first　because　of　Mhoram's　fatigue；　but　before　long　they　reached　a　small；　pine…girdled　valley　plentifully　grown　with　aliantha。　A　breakfast　of　treasure…berries　rejuvenated　Lord　Mhoram；　and　after　that　he　moved　more　swiftly。
　Behind　Mhoram　and　Terrel；　with　Ruel　at　his　back；　Troy　traveled　on　an　urgent　wind；　a　pressure　for　haste；　that　threatened　to　bee　a　gale。　He　was　eager　to　reach　the　Ranyhyn。　When　they　met　Tull　and　the　other　Bloodguard　on　their　way　up　the　trail；　he　mounted　Mehryl　at　once；　and　hurried　the　Ranyhyn　into　a　brisk　trot　back　toward　Mithil　Stonedown。
　He　intended　to　ride　straight　past　the　village　to　the　Plains；　where　the　Ranyhyn　could　run。　However；　as　he　and　his　panions　approached　the　Stonedown；　he　saw　the　Circle　of　elders　waiting　beside　the　trail。　Reluctantly；　he　stopped　and　saluted　them。
　〃Hail；　Warmark　Troy；〃　Terass　Slen…mate　replied。
　〃Hail；　Lord　Mhoram。　We　have　heard　some　of　the　tidings　of　war；　and　know　that　you　must　make　haste。　But　Triock　son　of　Thuler　would　speak　with　you。〃
　As　Terass　introduced　him；　Triock　stepped　forward。
　〃Hail；　elders　of　Mithil　Stonedown；〃　Mhoram　responded。　〃Our　thanks　again　for　your　hospitality。　Triock　son　of　Thuler；　we　will　hear　you。　But　speak　swiftly…time　presses　heavily　upon　us。〃
　〃It　is　no　great　matter；〃　said　Triock　stiffly。　〃I　wish　only　to　seek　pardon　for　my　earlier　conduct。　I　have　reason　for　distress；　as　you　know。　But　I　kept　my　Oath　of　Peace　at　Atiaran　Trell…mate's　behest；　at　a　time　when　I　sorely　wished　to　break　it。　I　have　no　wish　to　dishonor　her　courage　now。
　〃It　was　my　hope。　that　Trell　Gravelingas　would　stay　with　the　High　Lord…to　protect　her。〃　He　said　this　defiantly；　as　if　he　expected　Mhoram　to　reprimand　him。　〃Now　he　is　not　with　her…and　I　am　not　with　her。　My　heart　fears　this。　But　if　it　were　possible；　I　would　take　back　my　harshness　to　you。〃
　〃There　is　no　need　for　pardon；〃　Mhoram　answered。　〃My　own　weak　faith　provoked　you。　But　I　must　tell　you　that　I　believe　Thomas　Covenant　to　be　a　friend　of　the　Land。　The　burden　of　his　crime　hurts　him。　I　believe　he　will　seek　atonement　at　the　High　Lord's　side。〃
　He　paused；　and　Triock　bowed　in　a　way　that　said　he　accepted　the　Lord's　words　without　being　convinced。　Then　Mhoram　went　on；　〃Triock　son　of　Thuler；　please　accept　a　gift　from　me…in　the　name　of　the　High　Lord；　who　is　loved　by　all　the　Land。〃　Reaching　into　his　robe；　he　brought　out　his　lomillialor　rod。　〃This　is　High　Wood；　Triock。　You　have　been　in　the　Loresraat；　and　will　know　some　of　its　uses。　I　will　not　use　it　again。〃　He　said　this　with　a　resolution　that　surprised　Troy。　〃And　you　will　have　need　of　it。　I　am　called　seer　and　oracle…I　speak　from　knowledge；　though　the　need　itself　is　closed　to　me。　Please　accept　it…for　the　sake　of　the　love　we　share…and　as　expiation　for　my　doubt。〃
　Triock's　eyes　widened；　and　the　twisting　of　his　face　relaxed　briefly。　Troy　caught　a　glimpse　of　what　Triock　might　have　looked　like　if　his　life　had　not　been　blighted。
　In　silence；　he　accepted　the　rod　from　Lord　Mhoram's　hands。　But　when　he　held　the　High　Wood；　his　old　bitterness　gripped　his　features　again；　and　he　said　dourly；　〃I　may　find　a　use　which　will　surprise　you。〃　Then　he　bowed；　and　the　other　elders　bowed　with　him；　freeing　Mhoram　and　Troy　to　be　on　their　way。
　Troy　threw　them　a　salute；　and　took　his　opportunity。　He　had　no　time　to　spare　for　Mhoram's　strange　gift；　or　for　Triock's　brooding　promises。　Instead；　he　clapped　Mehryl　with　his　heels。　and　led　his　panions　out　of　the　valley　of　Mithil　Stonedown　at　a　gallop。
　In　a　short　time；　they　rounded　the　western　spur　of　the　mountains；　and　swung　out　into　the　Plains。　As　Troy　scanned　his　panions；　he　was　surprised　to　see　that　Tull's　mount　could　keep　up　the　pace。　This　Ranyhyn　had　been　ridden　through　danger　at　cruel　speeds　for　the　past　eight　days；　and　the　strain　had　wounded　its　gait。　But　it　was　a　Ranyhyn；　its　head　was　up；　its　eyes　were　proud；　and　its　matted　mane　jumped　on　its　neck　like　a　flag　gallantly　struggling　to　unfurl。　For　a　moment；　Troy　understood　why　the　Ramen　did　not　ride。　But　he　made　no　concessions　to　the　Ranyhyn's　fatigue。　Throughout　the　day；　he　kept　his　pany　running　like　rapid　thunder　into　the　west。
　He　ached　to　join　his　warriors；　to　share　the　fight　and　the　desperation　with　them；　to　show　them　the　one　way　in　which　they　might　be　able　to　steal　a　victory　out　of　the　teeth　of　Lord　Foul's　army。　Only　an　exigent　need　for　sleep　forced　him　to　stop　during　part　of　the　night。
　Ruel　awakened　him　before　dawn；　and　he　rode　on　again　along　the　base　of　the　Southron　Range。　When　daylight　returned　his　vision　to　him；　he　could　see　the　cliffs　near　Doom's　Retreat　ahead。　Now　his　direct　route　to　the　Retreat　would　take　him　angling　rapidly　closer　to　the　vanguard　of　Lord　Foul's　army。　But　he　kept　his　heading。　Near　that　horde　of　kresh　and　ur…viles；　he　would　find　whatever　was　left　of　the　mounted　Eoward。
　He　caught　sight　of　Quaan's　force　sooner　than　he　had　expected。　The　Hiltmark　must　have　taken　his　riders　on　a　southward　curve　toward　the　Retreat　to　keep　their　pursuers　as　far　as　possible　from　the　march　of　th