df.therunelords-第72节

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rising　from　beneath　him；　energizing　every　fiber　of　his　being。　Gaborn　knelt　to　remove　his　boots；　to　feel　the　sensation　more　fully。　The　earth　in　this　circle　had　a　strong　mineral　smell。　Though　enormous　oaks　grew　all　round；　taller　than　any　he'd　ever　seen；　none　stood　near　the　center　of　the　circleonly　a　few　low　bushes　with　white　berries。　The　earth　smelled　too　potent；　too　vigorous　for　anything　else　to　thrive。　Gaborn　pulled　off　his　boots；　sat　on　the　grass。
　Binnesman　stood　gazing　about；　like　a　warrior　surveying　his　battleground。　〃Do　not　be　afraid；〃　he　whispered。　〃This　is　a　place　of　great　power　for　Earth　Wardens。〃　Yet　he　did　not　sound　fully　confident。　He'd　been　battling　the　reaver　here；　and　had　been　losing。
　Binnesman　reached　into　the　pocket　of　his　robe；　drew　out　some　spade…shaped　dogbane　leaves；　crushed　and　threw　them。
　Up　the　ancient　road；　the　baying　of　war　dogs　came　fervently；　high　yips　echoing　through　the　limbs　of　ancient　oaks。　The　sound　sent　chills　down　Gaborn's　spine。
　He　sat；　head　spinning；　and　said；　〃I　heard　trees　calling　me　here。〃
　Binnesman　nodded。　〃I　asked　them　to。　And　I　placed　protective　spells　on　you；　to　keep　Raj　Ahten　from　following。　Though　at　such　a　distance；　they　did　little　good。〃
　〃Why　do　the　trees　name　me　wrong？〃　Gaborn　asked。　〃Why　do　they　call　me　Erden　Geboren？〃
　〃The　trees　here　are　old　and　forgetful；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃But　they　remember　their　king　still；　for　this　wood　held　allegiance　to　Erden　Geboren。　You　are　much　like　him。　Besides；　your　father　was　supposed　to　have　named　you　Erden　Geboren。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean；　'supposed　to　have　named'　me？〃
　Binnesman　said；　〃The　Lords　of　Time　once　said　that　when　the　seventh　stone　falls；　Erden　Geboren　would　e　again　to　the　stones　with　his　Earth　Warden　and　a　retinue　of　faithful　princes　and　kings；　there　to　be　crowned；　there　to　plan　for　the　end　of　their　age；　in　hope　that　mankind　might　survive。〃
　〃You　would　have　anointed　me　king？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃If　the　world　had　not　gone　wrong；〃　Binnesman　said。
　〃And　Raj　Ahten？〃
　〃Would　have　been　one　of　your　most　ardent　supporters；　in　a　more　perfect　world。　The　obalin　drew　him　here　tonight；　just　as　they　drew　you　and　King　Sylvarresta。〃　Binnesman　nodded　toward　the　fallen　creature　that　looked　like　a　statue。
　The　obalin；　these　creatures　had　been　called；　though　Gaborn　had　never　heard　the　term。
　〃Gaborn；　we　are　in　terrible　jeopardy。　Nothing　is　as　it　should　bethe　kings　of　all　Rofehavan　and　Indhopal　should　be　here　tonight。　Men　who　should　have　been　great　heroes　in　the　war　to　e　have　either　been　slain　or　now　lie　as　Dedicates　in　Raj　Ahten's　keeps。　All　the　Powers　shall　rage　in　this　war；　but　the　protectors　of　the　earth　are　few　and　weak。〃
　〃I　don't　understand；〃　Gaborn　said。
　〃I　will　try　to　make　it　clearer；　when　Raj　Ahten　arrives；〃　Binnesman　said。
　Of　a　sudden；　the　shadowy　forms　of　the　mastiffs　burst　from　beneath　the　trees；　their　baying　more　fervent。
　Men　and　a　few　horses　rushed　out　behind　the　dogs。　Only　three　men　rode　still。　The　other　mounts　had　succumbed　during　the　chase。　Twelve　soldiers　raced　beside　the　horses。　The　fact　that　these　twelve　men　had　run　so　long；　in　armor；　across　such　unforgiving　terrain；　made　Gaborn　nervous。　Such　warriors　would　be　terribly　powerful。
　The　garish　dogs　with　their　red　masks　and　fierce　collars　raced　up　to　within　a　hundred　feet　of　the　fallen　stones；　then　snarled　and　leapt　as　if　they'd　confronted　a　wall。　The　mastiffs　looked　like　shadows　thrown　by　a　flickering　fire。　They　would　not　e　near　Binnesman's　dogbane。　Some　began　racing　around　the　fallen　stones。
　〃Quiet！〃　Binnesman　said　to　the　dogs。　The　fierce　mastiffs　cringed　and　tucked　the　stumps　of　their　tails　between　their　legs；　daring　not　even　to　whimper。
　Jureem　followed　his　master　to　the　circle　of　fallen　stones。　His　stallion　sweated；　drenched；　as　if　it　had　swum　a　river。　The　horse's　lungs　worked　like　bellows。　It　would　not　have　survived　another　ten　miles　of　this　chase。
　Jureem　felt　half…astonished　to　see　Prince　Orden's　horses　still　alive；　limping　among　the　fallen　statues。
　A　strange　scent　filled　the　airsmoke　and　ice　and　dust。
　Raj　Ahten　stared　hard　at　Gaborn；　his　glance　askew；　as　if　looking　for　something　in　particular。
　Something　odd　was　going　on；　Jureem　realized。　All　of　the　Seven　Standing　Stones　lay　fallen；　like　half…formed　menmisshapen；　as　if　in　their　death　throes。　The　scents　of　smoke　and　ice　said　that　a　battle　had　been　fought　here。　Binnesman　was　wounded；　dirt　and　blood　on　his　face。
　Overhead；　a　soft　wind　blew。　The　enormous　oaks　creaked　in　the　slow　wind；　waving　at　the　stars。　Pale　light　glowed　within　the　circle　of　fallen　stones。
　The　Earth　Warden　stood　scrutinizing　Raj　Ahten's　men　from　beneath　bushy　brows；　starlight　glowing　on　his　wispy　beard。　Confident。　Dirty　and　bloodied。　Still；　the　wizard　seemed　too　confident。　Jureem　wished　that　his　master's　flameweavers　were　here。　It　had　been　a　mistake　to　enter　these　woods　without　them。
　Raj　Ahten　finally　slipped　from　the　back　of　his　weary　mount；　stood　holding　the　animal's　reins。　He　smiled。　〃Prince　Orden；〃　Raj　Ahten　called　in　his　most　seductive　voice　while　his　men　finished　circling　their　quarry。　〃Your　running　es　to　an　end。　You　need　not　fear　me。　You　need　not　run　any　longer。　e；　my　friend。〃
　Jureem　felt　the　overawing　draw　of　that　voice。　Surely　the　Prince　would　e　to　the　Great　Light　now。
　But　the　Prince　stood　fast。
　〃Princess；　you；　at　least；　would　not　refuse　me？〃　the　Great　One　asked。
　Jureem　felt　gratified　to　see　Iome　sway　on　her　feet；　pelled　to　draw　closer。
　〃No　one　will　e　with　you；〃　Binnesman　said；　stepping　in　front　of　her。
　〃You　cannot　draw　near；　Raj　Ahtenany　more　than　can　your　dogs；　or　your　warriors。〃　Binnesman　menacingly　crushed　leaves　in　his　hand。
　Dogbane。　Even　when　it　was　not　in　the　hands　of　an　Earth　Warden；　dogbane　was　as　potent　at　driving　away　dogs　as　Solomon's　Seal　was　at　frightening　off　cobras。　Raj　Ahten's　men　began　backing　from　the　statues。　The　dogbane　would　not　kill　them。　Yet　their　dogs'　noses　feared　the　scent。
　〃Why　have　you　e　here？〃　Raj　Ahten　demanded　of　Binnesman。　〃This　is　none　of　your　affair。　Leave　now；　and　no　one　will　harm　you。〃
　〃More　importantly；〃　Binnesman　said；　〃why　have　you　e　here？　You　are　a　king　of　men。　Did　you　hear　the　trees　calling？〃
　〃I　heard　nothing；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。
　But　Binnesman　shook　his　head。　〃There　are　runes　of　concealment　all　about　this　place。　Powerful　runes。　No　man　could　have　found　it　alone。　Some　greater　Power　drew　you。〃　He　nodded　knowingly；　and　his　tone　broached　no　argument。
　〃Perhaps。。。I　did　hear　a　whisper；　Earth　Warden；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃But　it　was　very　faint；　like　the　voices　of　the　dead。〃
　〃That　is　good。　You　are　strong　in　the　earth　powers；　and　only　they　can　preserve　us。　The　end　of　an　age　is　upon　us。　If　our　people　are　to　survive；　we　must　hold　council。　Earth　called　you；　Rah　Ahten；　just　as　it　calls　to　kings　you　have　enslaved。　Can　you　hear　it　now？〃　Binnesman　stood　at　ease；　gazing　deep　into　Raj　Ahten's　eyes。
　〃I　feel　it；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃This　place　is　strong　in　the　Power　that　you　serve。〃
　Binnesman　leaned　on　his　staff。　The　light　of　fireflies　shone　on　his　face；　which　had　an　odd　tint；　a　metallic　sheen。　Perhaps　Binnesman　had　once　been　human；　but　his　devotion　to　Earth　had　leached　him　of　some　of　that　humanity。　Jureem　realized　that　the　wizard　was　perhaps　as　alien　to　mankind　as　any　Frowth　or　ferrin。
　〃And　what　of　you？〃　Binnesman　asked。　〃Could　you　serve　this　Power？　Could　you　serve　something　greater　than　yourself？〃
　〃Why　should　I？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　〃My　flameweavers　ask　me　time　and　again　to　give　myself　into　greater　service　to　their　Fires。　But　why　should　I？　The　Powers　do　not　serve　man。〃
　Binnesman　cocked　his　head；　as　if　listening　deeply　to　Raj　Ahten's　words。　〃But　they　dooft　times；　when　our　purposes　agree。　And　they　serve　in　return　those　who　serve　them。〃
　〃Grudgingly　they　return　service；　when　they　serve　at　all。〃
　Binnesman　nodded。　〃I　am　troubled　by　your　lack　of　faith。〃
　Raj　Ahten　responded；　〃As　I　am　troubled　by　your　abundance　of　faith。〃
　Binnesman　raised　a　bushy　brow。　〃I　never　sought　to　trouble　you。　If　I　have　offended；　I　beg　forgiveness。〃
　Raj　Ahten　cocked　his　head　to　the　side；　studied　young　Gaborn。　〃Tell　me；　Earth　Warden；　what　spell　is　this；　that　I　cannot　see　the　Prince；　but　instead　see　rocks　or　trees　when　I　look　at　him？　Such　a　spell　would　serve　me　well。〃
　Jureem　wondered　at　such　a　strange　question；　for　the　Prince　seemed。。。visible　enough　to　him。　He　wore　no　mask　or　cloak。
　〃It　is　a　small　thing；　this　spell；〃　Binnesman　answered。　〃But　you　asked　another　question　of　me　but　a　moment　ago。　You　asked　why　I　had　led　you　here。　And　I　confess　that　I　did　lead　you。　Now　I　have　something　I　want　of　you。〃
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　Binnesman　said；　waving　to　the　stones　that　lay　about；　〃These　are　the　Seven　Standing　Stones　of　the　Dunnwood。　Doubtless　you　know　of　them。　Perhaps　you　even　know　what　a　dire　portent　it　is　that　they　have　fallen。〃　He　spoke　sadly；　as　if　he　felt　great　loss。
　〃I　see　them；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃In　your　tongue　they　are　the　obalin。　In　mine　they　are　called　the　Coar　Tangyasithe　Stones　of　Vigilance；　or　so　the　old　scrolls　name　them。　It　is　said　that　the　duskins　fashioned　the　watchers　to　protect　mankind。〃
　〃That　is　right；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃So　you　are　familiar　with　the　old　scrolls。　Then　you　know　that　the　duskins　were　great　wizards。　Beside　such；　my　p