df.therunelords-第74节

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　an　arm　rolled　backward　a　pace。　Binnesman　threw　his　staff　to　the　ground　and　shouted；　〃Arise　now　from　the　dust；　my　champion！　Clothe　yourself　in　flesh。　I　call　your　true　name：　Foul　Deliverer；　Fair　Destroyer！〃
　There　was　a　clap　of　thunder　as　the　dust　of　the　earth　rushed　to　obey　his　mand；　flowing　toward　the　stones　and　wood；　rushing　like　water　or　a　low　fog。　Leaves　and　green　grass；　twigs　and　pebbles　were　all　swirling　into　the　mix。
　In　one　moment；　there　was　but　a　pile　of　refuse　strewn　on　the　ground　in　its　strange　pattern；　and　the　next　moment；　bones　and　sinew　formed。　Muscles　pulsed　and　stretched；　lungs　gasped　for　one　huge　breath。　Leaves　and　twigs　and　grass　were　woven　into　the　flesh；　mottling　its　body　with　a　strange　patina　of　greens　and　browns；　reds　and　yellows。
　It　all　happened　so　quickly　that　Jureem　could　not　really　discern　how　the　soil　flowed　up　to　give　the　being　shape　and　life。
　〃Foul　Deliver；　Fair　Destroyer〃　raised　a　hand；　incredibly　long；　as　flesh　formed。　At　first　it　seemed　only　a　creature　of　dust；　but　rapidly　the　skin　hardened；　shining　emerald　along　the　neck　and　back；　with　the　yellow　mottling　of　faded　leaves。
　He　makes　a　warrior；　Jureem　thought。　Hues　of　grass　and　the　white　of　pebbles　blossomed　on　the　warrior's　face　and　throat。
　The　warrior　struggled　up　to　its　knees；　neck　craning；　starlight　striking　its　eyes。　The　eyes　were　as　flat　and　dead　as　pebbles　from　a　river　bottom；　until　the　gleaming　starlight　caught　them　and　reflected；　then　they　began　glowing　brighter　and　brighter。　Fierce　intelligence　filled　those　eyesand　peace；　a　sense　of　peace　that　made　Jureem　yearn　to　be　somewhere　else；　something　else。
　Jureem　knew　the　meaning　of　this。。。creature。　Among　magicians；　many　sought　to　control　earth　powers。　The　most　acplished　of　these　were　the　Arrdun；　the　great　artificers　and　creators　of　magical　implements　among　the　arr。　pared　with　them；　human　Earth　Wardens　were　often　considered　weak；　for　few　Earth　Wardens　meddled　in　the　affairs　of　men；　and　those　who　did　took　centuries　to　mature。
　But　it　was　said　that　a　mature　Earth　Warden　was　among　the　most　fearsome　creatures　one　could　ever　encounter。
　And　the　sign　that　an　Earth　Warden　had　matured　came　when　he　called　forth　his　wyldea　creature　born　of　the　blood　and　bones　of　the　earth；　a　living　talisman　that　fought　for　its　master。　Eldehar　had　formed　a　giant　horse　to　ride　into　battle　against　the　Toth。　Eldehar　had　said　his　wylde　could　be　〃destroyed；　but　never　defeated。〃
　Jureem　did　not　understand　such　oblique　references　to　the　Earth　Wardens　and　their　wyldes。　Knowledge　of　them　had　faded　over　the　millennia。
　Now　as　the　wylde　formed；　everywhere；　a　terrible　wind　began　to　rise；　shrieking　about　the　treetops　high　in　the　glade；　whipping　through　Jureem's　hair。　It　had　e　fast　and　furiously；　a　veritable　storm。
　Then　the　warrior　began　to　grow　hairlong　green　hair　like　seaweed　that　flowed　down　its　back　and　over　its　shoulders；　covering　its　breasts。
　As　the　warrior　took　full　form；　Jureem　stood　astonished；　for　he　recognized　the　rounded　breasts；　the　feminine　curves　assuming　shape。
　A　woman。　A　woman　was　forming；　a　tall　and　beautiful　woman；　with　graceful　curves；　long　hair；　and　clean　limbs。
　Jureem　gasped。　The　wylde　shouted　a　cry　that　shook　the　earth　as　the　wind　struck；　lifted　her　in　the　airso　that　she　became　a　streak　of　green　climbing　high　above　the　trees　toward　the　south。　Then　she　was　gone。
　The　glade　became　quiet。　The　wind　stilled。
　Jureem　stood；　dumbfounded。　He　did　not　know　if　this　was　what　Binnesman　had　sought。　Had　his　wylde　leapt　away　on　some　errand？　Had　the　wind　carried　her　off？
　Had　it　really　even　been　a　green　woman？
　Jureem's　heart　was　pounding；　and　he　stood　breathless；　overawed。　Confused。　He　looked　to　his　left　and　to　his　right；　to　see　the　reactions　of　the　soldiers。　It　had　all　happened　so　quickly。
　Prince　Orden's　mount　neighed　in　terror；　reared　back　and　pawed　the　air　nervously。　To　the　horse　it　would　have　seemed　that　the　green　woman　simply　materialized　at　its　feet。
　〃Peace；〃　Binnesman　said　to　the　horse。　It　calmed　at　his　admonition；　and　Binnesman　gazed　steadily　upward；　where　his　creation　had　disappeared　into　the　sky。
　He　appeared。。。crestfallen。
　Something　was　wrong。　Binnesman　had　not　expected　the　wylde　to　flee　like　this。
　Now　Binnesman　was　drained。　Weakened。　Old　and　hunched　in　his　crimson　robes。　If　he'd　planned　for　the　wylde　to　fight　for　him；　then　the　plan　seemed　to　have　gone　horribly　awry。　Binnesman　hung　his　head　and　shook　it　in　dismay。
　〃Faagh；〃　Raj　Ahten　hissed。　〃What　have　you　done；　you　old　fool　of　a　wizard？　Where　is　the　wylde？　You　promised　me　a　weapon。〃
　Binnesman　shook　his　head。
　〃Are　you　so　inept？〃　Raj　Ahten　demanded。
　Binnesman　glanced　at　Raj　Ahten；　gave　him　a　wary　look。　〃It　is　not　an　easy　thing　to　draw　a　wylde　from　the　earth。　It　has　a　mind　of　its　own；　and　it　knows　the　earth's　enemies　better　than　I。　Perhaps　urgent　matters　call　it　elsewhere。〃
　Binnesman　held　out　a　hand　toward　Raj　Ahten's　horse。　The　three　remaining　horses　all　responded　by　moving　toward　him；　and　Jureem　had　to　fight　his　mount　a　moment；　to　keep　it　from　stepping　forward。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　Binnesman　answered；　〃It　is　growing　late。　It　is　time　for　the　enemies　of　the　earth　to　rest　their　eyes；　and　to　dream　of　peace。〃
　Jureem　fought　his　horse　and　watched　in　wonder　as；　almost　instantly；　Raj　Ahten　and　his　soldiers　fell　asleep。　Most　of　them　fell　to　the　earth；　snoring　deeply；　but　Raj　Ahten　himself　stood　in　place　as　he　slept。
　The　old　wizard　looked　at　the　sleeping　warriors　and　whispered；　〃Beware；　Raj　Ahten。　Beware　of　Longmont。〃
　Then　he　looked　up；　caught　Jureem's　eye。　〃You　are　still　awake？　What　a　wonder！　You　alone　among　them　are　not　an　enemy　of　earth。〃
　Jureem　fumbled　for　words；　aghast　to　see　his　master　thus　subdued；　astonished　to　see　the　old　wizard　and　his　charges　still　alive。
　〃I。。。serve　my　master；　but　I　wish　the　earth　no　harm。〃
　〃You　cannot　serve　both　him　and　the　earth；〃　Binnesman　said；　climbing　up　onto　Raj　Ahten's　mount。　〃I　know　his　heart　now。　He　would　destroy　the　earth。〃
　〃I　am　a　king's　man；〃　Jureem　said；　for　he　could　think　of　nothing　else　to　say。　His　father　had　been　a　slave；　and　his　father's　father。　He　knew　how　to　serve　a　king；　and　how　to　serve　well。
　〃The　Earth　King　is　ing；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃If　you　would　serve　a　king；　serve　him。〃
　With　a　nod；　he　indicated　for　Prince　Orden　and　Iome　to　mount　up。　King　Sylvarresta　was　still　a　horse。
　Binnesman　gave　Jureem　a　long　look。　Then　the　wizard　and　his　charges　rode　into　the　night；　back　up　the　road　from　which　they'd　e。
　For　a　long　time；　Jureem　sat　a　horse；　watching　as　Raj　Ahten　slept。
　The　night　seemed　darker　than　any　that　Jureem　could　recall；　though　the　stars　were　shining　fierce　enough。　〃A　king　is　ing；〃　the　pyromancer　had　warned　before　her　death。　〃A　king　who　can　destroy　you。〃
　Not　since　Erden　Geboren；　two　thousand　years　ago；　had　an　Earth　King　risen　in　the　land。　Now　King　Orden　had　e。　At　Longmont；　King　Orden　would　be　preparing　for　Raj　Ahten's　attack。
　Jureem　gazed　down　at　the　obalin。　Where　once　the　Seven　Stones　had　stood；　now　the　creatures　lay　in　ruin。　He　wondered　at　this　portent。　His　heart　pounded。　He　felt　the　warm　night　air；　tasted　the　mineral　tang　of　earth　scent。　Almost　he　turned　to　follow　the　wizard。　But　the　sound　of　the　horses'　hooves　was　lost　in　the　night。
　He　stared　at　his　master。
　For　years　Jureem　had　given　his　all　to　the　Great　One；　had　followed　his　every　whim。　He　had　struggled　to　be　a　good　servant。　Now；　he　looked　into　his　own　heart　and　began　to　wonder　why。
　There　was　a　time；　a　decade　ago；　when　Raj　Ahten　had　talked　often　of　consolidating　forces；　of　uniting　the　kings　of　the　South　under　a　single　banner　to　repel　the　attacks　of　reavers。　Somehow；　over　the　years；　the　dream　had　changed；　bee　twisted。
　The　〃Great　Light；〃　Jureem　had　called　him；　as　if　Raj　Ahten　were　a　Bright　One　or　a　Glory　from　the　netherworld。
　Jureem　turned　his　own　horse。
　I　am　the　weakest　man　here；　he　told　himself。　Yet　perhaps　Orden　will　accept　my　service。
　I　will　be　branded　a　traitor；　Jureem　thought。　If　I　leave　now；　Raj　Ahten　will　believe　that　I　am　the　spy　who　warned　Orden　where　to　find　the　forcibles。
　Jureem　considered。　So　be　it。　If　I　am　branded　a　traitor；　I　will　bee　one。　He　had　many　secrets　that　he　could　divulge。　And　if　he　left　Raj　Ahten's　service；　then　it　meant　that　the　Wolf　Lord　would　still　have　a　spy　in　his　midst。
　He　will　expect　me　to　head　south；　to　Longmont；　Jureem　thought。　And　in　time　I　will　head　south；　to　seek　out　Orden。　But　for　tonight；　I　will　head　north　to　find　a　barn　or　a　shed　to　sleep　in。
　He　felt　weary　to　the　bone；　and　had　no　strength　for　a　long　ride。　He　rode　hard　into　the　night。
　
　BOOK　4
　　
　DAY　22　IN　THE　MONTH　OF　HARVEST
　A　DAY　OF　SLAUGHTER
　
　Chapter　30
　DEATH　ES　TO　THE　HOUSE　OF　A　FRIEND
　　
　Wind　gusted　from　the　southeast；　carrying　the　smell　of　rain；　dark　clouds　rushed　behind　it；　covering　the　forest。　Borenson　heard　distant　thunder；　but　he　could　also　hear　neighing　on　the　wind　that　afternoon；　smell　horses。　Raj　Ahten's　troops　were　marching　over　the　blackened　hills。
　It　had　been　but　half　an　hour　since　Gaborn　mounted　his　horse；　and　with　a　nod；　Borenson　wished　them　good　speed。　In　a　moment　Gaborn；　Iome；　and　King　Sylvarresta　spurred　up　the　ash…covered　hill；　into　the　shelter　of　the　woods。　A　few　snaps　of　branches　and