df.therunelords-第79节

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　〃Iome　Sylvarresta；〃　Gaborn　said；　his　voice　distant；　highly　formal。　〃I　have　ridden　far　from　my　home　in　Mystarria　to　ask　you　a　question。　You　told　me　two　days　ago　that　your　answer　would　be　no。　But　I　wonder　if　you　would　reconsider？〃
　Iome's　heart　pounded；　and　she　thought　furiously。　She　had　nothing　to　offer　him。　Raj　Ahten　was　still　within　the　borders　of　her　country；　had　taken　her　beauty；　destroyed　the　heart　of　her　army。　Though　Gaborn　claimed　to　love　her；　she　feared　that　if　Raj　Ahten　lived；　Gaborn　would　never　see　her　natural　face　again；　but　would　instead　be　forced　to　gaze　on　this　ugly　mask　for　as　long　as　she　lived。
　She　had　nothing　to　give　him；　except　her　own　devotion。　How　could　that　hold　him？　As　a　princess　of　the　Runelords；　she'd　never　have　imagined　herself　in　this　position；　where　she　would　love　a　man　and　be　loved；　though　she　had　nothing　but　herself　to　offer。
　〃Do　not　ask　me　that；〃　Iome　said；　lips　trembling；　heart　racing。　〃I。。。cannot　consider　my　own　desires　in　this　matter。　But；　if　I　were　your　wife；　I'd　try　to　live　in　such　a　way　that　you　would　never　rue　the　bargain。　I'd　never　kiss　another　the　way　I　just　kissed　you　now。〃
　Gaborn　held　her；　fortably；　easily；　so　her　back　was　cupped　against　his　chest。　〃You　are　my　lost　half；　you　know；〃　Gaborn　whispered。
　Iome　leaned　back　against　him；　luxuriating　at　his　touch；　while　his　sweet　breath　tickled　her　neck。　She'd　never　believed　in　the　old　tales　which　said　that　each　person　was　made　of　but　half　a　soul；　doomed　to　constantly　seek　its　panion。　She　felt　it　now；　felt　truth　in　his　words。
　Playfully；　Gaborn　whispered　into　her　ear。　〃And　if　you　will　someday　have　me　as　your　husband；　I'll　try　to　live　in　such　a　way　that　you　will　never　think　me　too　much　a　gentleman。〃　He　wrapped　his　arms　around　her　shoulders；　hugged　her　tightly　and　let　her　lean　her　head　back　against　his　chest。　The　inside　of　his　left　wrist　rested　on　her　breast；　and　though　she　felt　aroused　by　his　touch；　she　no　longer　felt　wanton　or　embarrassed。
　This　is　how　it　should　be；　she　thoughthim　owning　me；　me　owning　him。　This　is　how　we　would　bee　one。
　She　felt　tired；　dreamy。　She　tried　to　imagine　what　it　would　be　like　in　Mystarria；　in　the　King's　Palace。　She　dared　to　dream。　She'd　heard　tales　of　it；　the　white　boats　on　the　great　gray　river；　floating　through　the　canals　in　the　city。　The　green　hills；　and　smell　of　sea　salt。　The　fog　rolling　in　each　dawn。　The　cries　of　gulls　and　endless　crashing　of　waves。
　Almost　she　could　imagine　the　King's　Palace；　a　great　bed　with　silk　sheets；　the　violet…colored　curtains　flying　through　the　open　windows；　and　herself　naked　beside　Gaborn。
　〃Tell　me　of　Mystarria；〃　Iome　whispered。　〃　'In　Mystarria　lagoons　lay　like　obsidian；　among　the　roots　of　the　cypress　trees。。。'　〃　she　quoted　an　old　song。　〃Is　it　like　that？〃
　Gaborn　sang　the　tune；　and　though　he　had　no　lute；　his　voice　was　lovely：
　〃In　Mystarria　lagoons　lay　like　obsidian；　among　the　roots　of　the　cypress　trees。　And　pools　are　so　black　they　reflect　no　sun；　as　they　silently　buoy　the　water　lilies。〃
　Those　lagoons　were　said　to　be　the　homes　of　water　wizards　and　their　daughters；　the　nymphs。　Iome　said；　〃Your　father's　wizards；　I've　never　met　them。〃
　〃They　are　weak　wizards。　Most　of　them　have　not　even　grown　their　gills。　The　most　powerful　water　wizards　live　out　in　the　deep　ocean；　not　near　land。〃
　〃But　they　influence　your　people；　all　the　same。　It's　a　stable　country。〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Gaborn　said；　〃we　in　Mystarria　are　always　seeking　equanimity。　Very　stable。　Some　might　say　boring。〃
　〃Don't　speak　ill　of　it；〃　Iome　said。　〃Your　father　is　tied　to　the　water。　I　can　tell。　He　has　a　way　of。。unteracting　instabilities。　Did　he　bring　one　of　his　wizards？　I'd　like　to　meet　one。〃
　Iome　imagined　that　he　would；　that　if　he'd　brought　soldiers　to　parade　about　and　display　his　power；　he　might　have　brought　one　of　the　water　wizards。　She　hoped　such　a　wizard　might　help　fight　Raj　Ahten　at　Longmont。
　〃First　of　all；　they　aren't　'his'　wizards；　any　more　than　Binnesman　could　be　your　wizard〃
　〃But　did　he　bring　one　in　his　retinue？〃
　〃Almost；〃　Gaborn　said；　and　she　could　tell　he　wanted　the　wizards'　help；　too。　Water　wizards；　unlike　Earth　Wardens；　could　be　counted　on　to　meddle　in　the　affairs　of　mankind　on　a　regular　basis。　〃But　it's　a　long　journey；　and　there　isn't　much　water　on　the　plains　of　Fleeds。。。〃
　Gaborn　began　to　talk　to　her　then　about　his　life　in　Mystarria；　the　great　campus　of　the　House　of　Understanding　with　its　many　Rooms　spread　out　all　over　the　city　of　Aneuve。　Some　Rooms　were　great　halls；　where　thousands　came　to　hear　lectures　and　participate　in　discussions。　Others　were　cozy；　more　like　the　mon　room　in　a　fine　inn；　where　scholars　sat　beside　roaring　fires　in　winter；　like　the　hearthmasters　of　old；　and　taught　lessons　while　sipping　hot　rum。。。
　Iome　woke　with　a　start　as　Gaborn　shifted　his　weight　beneath　her；　shook　her　shoulder　gently。
　〃e；　my　love；〃　he　whispered。　〃We　must　go。　It's　been　nearly　two　hours。〃
　Rain　drifted　from　the　cloudy　skies。　Iome　looked　around。　The　tree　above　them　provided　surprisingly　good　shelter；　but　Iome　marveled　that　no　rain　had　spattered　her　or　wakened　her　earlier。　She　wondered　how　she'd　slept　at　all；　but　recognized　now　that　Gaborn　had　used　the　power　of　his　Voice　to　lull　her　to　sleep；　speaking　softer　and　softer；　in　a　singsong　cadence。
　Her　father　sat　beside　her；　wide　awake；　reaching　out　to　grasp　at　some　imaginary　thing。　He　chuckled　softly。
　Catching　butterflies。
　Iome's　face；　hands；　body　all　felt　numb。　Her　mind　was　waking；　but　not　her　limbs。　Gaborn　helped　her　rise；　unsteadily。　She　wondered　at　how　to　best　care　for　her　father。　Raj　Ahten　has　turned　me　into　an　old　woman；　filled　with　worries；　and　my　father　into　a　child；　Iome　thought。
　Fiercely；　she　suddenly　wished　that　her　father　could　stay　this　way；　could　hold　on　to　the　innocence　and　wonder　that　he　had　now。　He'd　always　been　a　good　man；　but　a　worried　one。　In　a　way；　Raj　Ahten　had　given　her　father　a　freedom　he'd　never　known。
　〃The　horses　have　rested；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃The　roads　are　getting　muddy；　but　we　should　make　good　time。〃
　Iome　nodded；　recalled　how　she　had　kissed　Gaborn　a　few　hours　ago；　and　suddenly　her　mind　was　awake；　swimming　once　again；　and　all　that　had　happened　yesterday　now　seemed　a　dream。
　Gaborn　stood　before　her　a　moment；　then　grabbed　her　roughly；　briefly　kissed　her　lips；　convincing　her　she　recalled　everything　from　this　evening　only　too　well。
　She　felt　weak　and　weary；　but　they　rode　through　the　night；　let　the　horses　run；　Binnesman　had　left　them　a　spare　mount　from　Raj　Ahten's　men；　so　they　stopped　to　change　horses　every　hour；　letting　each　beast　take　a　turn　at　rest。
　They　blew　through　villages　like　the　wind；　and　as　they　rode；　Iome　had　the　most　vivid　memory　of　a　dream　she'd　dreamt　as　she　lay　in　Gaborn's　arms：　She'd　dreamed　she　stood　on　the　aerie　tower　north　of　the　Dedicates'　Keep　in　her　father's　castle；　where　the　graaks　would　land　when　skyriders　sometimes　came　in　summer；　bearing　messages　from　the　South。
　In　her　dream；　Raj　Ahten's　armies　moved　through　the　Dunnwood；　shaking　the　trees；　flameweavers　clothed　only　in　robes　of　living　fire。　She　could　glimpse　the　armies　only　in　flashesnomen　with　black　hides　creeping　in　the　shadows　under　the　trees；　knights　in　saffron　and　crimson　surcoats　riding　armored　chargers　through　the　wood。　And　Raj　Ahten　stood；　so　proud　and　beautiful　at　the　edge　of　the　trees；　gazing　at　her。
　She'd　been　terrified　in　her　dream；　had　watched　her　people；　the　peasants　of　Heredon；　racing　to　the　safety　of　the　castle。　The　hills　to　the　north；　east；　and　west　were　full　of　thempeasants　in　brown　tunics　and　thick　boots；　hunched　and　running　for　cover。　Hefty　women　with　babes　in　tow；　men　pushing　wheelbarrows　full　of　turnips。　Boys　driving　calves　with　sticks。　An　old　woman　with　sheaves　of　wheat　tied　to　her　back。　Young　lovers　with　dreams　of　immortality　in　their　eyes。
　All　of　them　raced；　seeking　cover。
　But　Iome　knew　the　castle　could　not　protect　her　people。　Its　walls　would　never　hold　back　Raj　Ahten。
　So　she　pursed　her　lips　and　blew　with　all　her　might；　blew　to　the　west；　then　to　the　east；　then　to　the　south。　Her　breath　came　out　smelling　of　lavender；　and　it　purpled　the　air。　Every　person　it　touched；　everyone　she　breathed　upon　in　all　the　kingdom；　turned　to　white　thistledown；　white　thistledown　that　bobbed　and　swirled　in　every　small　eddy　of　wind；　then　suddenly　caught　in　a　great　gust　and　went　floating　high　and　away　over　the　oaks　and　birches　and　alders　of　the　Dunnwood。
　Last　of　all；　Iome　breathed　on　herself　and　upon　Gaborn；　who　stood　beside　her；　so　they　too　turned　to　thistledown　and　went　flying　high　over　the　Dunnwood；　gazing　down　at　the　autumn　leaves；　all　golden　and　flame　and　earthy　brown。
　She　watched　as　Raj　Ahten's　armies　burst　from　under　the　trees　with　a　shout；　soldiers　waving　battle…axes　and　spears　toward　her　castle。　No　one　stood　to　oppose　them。
　Desolation。　Raj　Ahten　might　have　hoped　to　win　something；　but　all　he　would　inherit　would　be　desolation。
　As　her　horse　carried　Iome　south　through　the　night；　she　felt　as　if　she　flew；　leaving　the　world　behind。　Until　just　after　midnight；　when　a　sudden　dizziness　swept　over　her；　and　she　looked　up　to　see　her　father；　too；　weaving　in　his　saddle。　Grief　struck　her　as　she　recognized　what　was　happening。
　At　Castle　Sylvarresta；　someoneBorenson；　she　suspectedhad　begun　to　slaughter　her　Dedicates。