df.therunelords-第77节
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ngry and the grass here grew high； it was also dry and without seed； worthless fodder。
They rode slowly along a dirt road for half an hour； and here at last they felt at ease enough to talk； to make plans。
〃My horse will be the fastest over these roads；〃 Binnesman said。 〃If you do not mind； I will ride ahead。 I will be needed at Longmont； and I hope to find my wylde there。〃
〃Do you think it is there？〃 Iome asked。
〃I really can't be sure；〃 Binnesman answered； and seemed to want to say no more。
The pany soon reached a weathered farmhouse beside a winding stream。 The farm had a small orchard behind it； and a sloping barn for a few pigs。 It looked as if the peasant who lived here feared attack； for a lantern had been set in a plum tree out front； another out by the door to the pig shed。
The farmer should be afraid； Gaborn realized。 This hut was isolated； without benefit of neighbors for a mile。 And giants and nomen were prowling the fields tonight。
Iome's father rode his steed up to the lantern； sat staring at it； mesmerized； as if he'd never seen one before。
Then Gaborn realized that the King probably never had seen one； at least not that he remembered。 The whole world would seem new to him； like a vivid and fascinating dream； something he lived through but never prehended。
Gaborn also rode up beneath the lantern； so his face could easily be seen； then called to the door。 In a moment； an old turnip of a woman cracked the door enough to frown at him。 She seemed frightened by so many riders。
〃May we have some water and feed for the horses？〃 Gaborn asked。 〃And some food for ourselves？〃
〃At this time of night？〃 the old woman grumbled。 〃Not if you was the King！〃 She slammed the door。
Gaborn felt surprised at this； looked at Iome for a reaction。 Binnesman smiled； Iome laughed softly； went up to the plum tree； then picked half a dozen of the large violet fruits。 Gaborn saw movement inside the house as the woman tried to peer out the window； but she had no fine window of glass； only a piece of scraped hide； which let her see nothing but shadows。
〃Leave them plums！〃 she shouted from inside。
〃How about if we take all the plums we can carry； and leave a gold coin instead？〃 Gaborn called out。
Quick as a flash； the old woman was at the door again。 〃You have money？〃
Gaborn reached into the pouch at his waist； pulled out a coin； tossed it to the woman。 Her hand darted from the doorpost to catch the coin。 She closed the door while she bit the coin； then cracked the door again to shout； more cordially； 〃There's grain in the pig shed。 Good oats。 Take as much as you want。 And the plums。〃
〃A blessing on you and your tree；〃 Binnesman called out； 〃three years' good harvest。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Gaborn shouted； bowing low。 He and Binnesman led the horses round back while Iome fed her father plums from the tree。
Gaborn opened the shed； found a burlap bag of oats； and began to dump them in a worn wooden trough to feed the horses。 As he did； he was painfully aware that the wizard sat quietly on his horse； watching Gaborn。
〃You have questions for me；〃 Binnesman said。
Gaborn dared not ask the most pressing questions first。 So he said easily； 〃Your robes have gone red。〃
〃As I told you they would；〃 Binnesman answered。 〃In the spring of his youth； an Earth Warden must grow in his power； tend it and nurture it。 In the green summer of his life； he matures and ripens。 But I am in the autumn of my life； and now must bring forth my harvest。〃
Gaborn asked； 〃And what happens in the winter？〃
Binnesman smiled up at him discreetly。 〃We will not speak of that now。〃
Gaborn picked a question that had troubled him more。 〃Why could Raj Ahten not see me？ He thought there was a spell upon me。〃
Binnesman chuckled。 〃In my garden； when Earth drew a rune on your forehead； it was a symbol of power that I； in my weakness； dared not try。 You are invisible now； Gabornat least； you're invisible to your enemies。 Those who serve Fire cannot see you； but see instead your love for the land。 The closer they e to you； the more powerfully the spell affects them。 I am amazed that Raj Ahten even knew that you were there in the glade。 Fire could have given him such power。 I did not realize that then； but I realize it now。〃
Gaborn thought about this。
〃You cannot take great security in this gift of invisibility；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Many evil men would do you harm； men who do not serve Fire。 And flameweavers of great power can pierce your disguise if they get close。〃
Gaborn remembered the flameweaver in Castle Sylvarresta； the way she'd looked at him in recognition； as if he were a sworn enemy。
〃I see。。。〃 he whispered。 〃I understand why Raj Ahten could not see me。 But why could I not see him？〃
〃What？〃 Binnesman said； his brows arching in surprise。
〃I had seen his face before； at the castle。 I know his helm； his armor。 Yet tonight his face was hidden from me； as mine was from him。 I looked at him and saw。。。multitudes of people； all bowing to worship。 People in flames。〃
Binnesman laughed long and hard。 〃Perhaps you were looking too deeply。 Tell me； what were you thinking when this vision appeared？〃
〃I simply wanted to see him as he was； beneath all those endowments of glamour。〃
〃Let me tell you a tale；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Many years ago； my master was an Earth Warden who served the animals of the forestthe harts and the birds and such。 They would e to him； and he would feed them or heal them as needed。
〃When I asked how he knew their needs； he seemed surprised。 'You can see it in their eyes；' he said。 As if that were all the answer。 Then he sent me away； out of his service； for he thought me unfit to be an Earth Warden。
〃You see； Gaborn； he had the gift of Earth Sight； of looking into the hearts of creatures and divining what they wanted； or needed； or loved。
〃I've never had that gift。 I cannot tell you how to use it； how it works。 Believe me； I wish I had your gift。〃
〃But I don't have such a gift〃 Gaborn objected。 〃I don't see into your heart； or Iome's。〃
〃Ah； but you were in a place of great earth power；〃 Binnesman said。 〃You do have the gift； though you do not know how to use it。 Study it out in your mind。 Practice it。 It will e to you； in time。〃
Gaborn wondered。 Wizards often said that they needed to 〃study things out。〃
〃Yet you have a greater duty now；〃 Binnesman said。 〃As Erden Geboren chose his loyal men to fight at his side； you must also begin to choose your followers。 It is an awesome responsibility。 Those you choose will be bound to you。〃
〃I know；〃 Gaborn said。 He had heard the legends； how Erden Geboren would choose those to fight at his side； and always he knew their hearts； knew when they faced danger； so that forever after； they never fought alone。
〃You must begin to choose。。。〃 Binnesman mused； looking off over the dark fields。
Gaborn studied the old man； wondering。 〃You never needed the gift of Earth Sight； did you？ Other Earth Wardens may serve the field mice and the snakesbut Earth manded you to serve man。。。in the dark time to e。〃
Binnesman stiffened； glanced at Gaborn。 〃I beg you never speak that thought aloud。 Raj Ahten is not the only lord who would seek my life if he guessed at what you know。〃
〃Never；〃 Gaborn said。 〃I will never tell。〃
〃Perhaps my old master was right；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Perhaps I do not。 serve the Earth well。。。〃
Gaborn knew that he thought of the loss of his wylde。 〃Is it lost to us； destroyed？〃
〃It is of the earth。 A mere fall will not kill it。 Yet； I。。。I worry for this creature。 It will have e naked from the earth。 It knows nothing； will be lost without me to teach and nourish it。。。And it is more powerful than anyone knows。 The blood of the Earth flows in its veins。〃
Gaborn asked。 〃Dangerous？ What can it do？〃
〃It is a focus for my power；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Just as water wizards draw power from the sea； or as flameweavers draw it from fire； I draw strength from the earth。 But some earth contains more elemental force than others。 For decades I have scoured the ground for just the right soils； just the right stones。 Then I called my wylde from them。〃
〃So。。。it is nothing more than dirt and stones？〃 Gaborn asked。
〃No；〃 Binnesman said； 〃it is more than that。 I cannot control it； it is as alive as you or I。 The wylde chose its shape from my mind。 I tried to envision a warrior to fight the reavers； a green knight like the one who served your forefathers。 Yet even in that； I could not control it。〃
〃We will have to send word；〃 Gaborn said； 〃ask people to help us search for it。〃
Binnesman smiled weakly； pulled a blade of wheat from the ground and chewed at its succulent end。
〃So Raj Ahten is lost to us；〃 Binnesman mused。 〃I'd hoped for better。〃
Leading her own mount out back； Iome found Gaborn and the wizard beside a trough； feeding the horses； which ate as only force horses can； chewing so rapidly she feared for them。
Iome left Gaborn and Binnesman to tend the beasts while she took her father to the creek and washed him in the clear water。 He had soiled himself near the Seven Stones； and she'd never had time to care for him。
When at last Gaborn came to her； leaving the horses in Binnesman's able care； Iome had her fa
