srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第40节

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voices。　He　hardly　saw　them。　〃But　Mhoram　said…〃
　　　　But　Mhoram　had　said　that　the　Bloodguard　were　lost。
　　　　〃Ur…Lord　Covenant。〃　Banner　inclined　his　head　in　a　slight　bow。　〃Pardon　my　error。　You　are　well　disguised。〃
　　　　〃Disguised？〃　Covenant　had　no　conception　of　what　Banner　was　talking　about。　Mhoram's　pain　had　carried　so　much　conviction。　Numbly；　he　glanced　downward　as　if　he　expected　to　find　two　fingers　missing　from　Banner's　right　hand。
　　　　〃A　Stonedownor　jacket。　Sandals。　A　Giant　for　a　panion。〃　Banner's　impassive　eyes　held　Covenant's　face。　〃And　you　stink　of　infection。　Only　your　countenance　may　be　recognized。〃
　　　　〃Recognized。〃　Covenant　could　not　stop　himself。　He　repeated　the　word　because　it　was　the　last　thing　Banner　had　said。　Fighting　for　self…control；　he　croaked；　〃Why　aren't　you　with　the　Lords？〃
　　　　〃The　Vow　was　Corrupted。　We　no　longer　serve　the　Lords。〃
　　　　Covenant　gaped　at　this　answer　as　if　it　were　nonsense。　Confusion　befogged　his　prehension。　Had　Mhoram　said　anything　like　this？　He　found　that　his　knees　were　trembling　as　if　the　ground　under　him　had　shifted。　No　longer　serve　the　Lords；　he　repeated　blankly。　He　did　not　know　what　the　words　meant。
　　　　But　then　the　sounds　of　Lena's　struggle　penetrated　him。　〃You　have　harmed　him；〃　she　gasped　fiercely。　〃Release　me！〃
　　　　He　made　an　effort　to　pull　himself　together。　〃Let　her　go；〃　he　said　to　Banner。　〃Don't　you　understand　who　she　is？〃
　　　　〃Did　the　Giant　speak　truly？〃
　　　　〃What？　Did　he　what？〃　Covenant　almost　lapsed　back　into　his　stupor　at　the　jolt　of　this　distrust。　But　for　Lena's　sake　he　took　a　deep　breath；　resisted。　〃She　is　the　mother　of　High　Lord　Elena；''　he　grated。　〃Tell　them　to　let　her　go。〃
　　　　Banner　glanced　past　Covenant　at　Lena；　then　said　distantly；　〃The　Lords　spoke　of　her。　They　were　unable　to　heal　her。〃　He　shrugged　slightly。　〃They　were　unable　to　heal　many　things。〃
　　　　Before　Covenant　could　respond；　the　Bloodguard　signaled　to　his　panions。　A　moment　later；　Lena　was　at　Covenant's　side。　From　somewhere　in　her　robes；　she　produced　a　stone　knife　and　brandished　it　between　Bannor　and　Covenant。　〃If　you　have　harmed　him；　〃she　fumed；　〃I　will　take　the　price　of　it　from　your　skin；　old　man。〃
　　　　The　Bloodguard　cocked　an　eyebrow　at　her。　Covenant　reached　for　her　arm　to　hold　her　back；　but　he　was　still　too　staggered　to　think　of　a　way　to　calm　her；　reassure　her。　〃Lena；〃　he　murmured　ineffectively；　〃Lena。〃　When　Foamfollower　joined　them；　Covenant's　eyes　appealed　to　the　Giant　for　help。
　　　　〃Ah；　my　Queen；〃　Foamfollower　said　softly。　〃Remember　your　Oath　of　Peace。〃
　　　　〃Peace！〃　Lena　snapped　in　a　brittle　voice。　〃Speak　to　them　of　Peace。　They　attacked　the　Unbeliever。〃
　　　　〃Yet　they　are　not　our　enemies。　They　are　the　Ramen。〃
　　　　She　jerked　incredulously　to　face　the　Giant。　〃Ramen？　The　tenders　of　the　Ranyhyn？〃
　　　　Covenant　stared　as　well。　Ramen？　He　had　unconsciously　assumed　that　Banner's　panions　were　other　Bloodguard。　The　Ramen　had　always　secretly　hated　the　Bloodguard　because　so　many　Ranyhyn　had　died　while　bearing　the　Bloodguard　in　battle。　Ramen　and　Bloodguard？　The　ground　seemed　to　lurch　palpably　under　him。　Nothing　was　as　he　believed　it　to　be；　everything　in　the　Land　would　either　astound　or　appall　him；　if　only　he　were　told　the　truth。
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Foamfollower　replied　to　Lena。　And　now　Covenant　recognized　the　Ramen　for　himself。　Eight　of　them；　men　and　women；　stood　around　him。　They　were　lean；　swift　people；　with　the　keen　faces　of　hunters；　and　skin　so　deeply　tanned　from　their　years　in　the　open　air　that　even　this　winter　could　not　pale　them。　Except　for　their　scanty　robes；　their　camouflage；　they　dressed　in　the　Ramen　fashion　as　Covenant　remembered　it…short　shifts　and　tunics　which　left　their　legs　and　arms　free；　bare　feet。　Seven　of　them　had　the　cropped　hair　and　roped　waists　characteristic　of　Cords；　and　the　eighth　was　marked　as　a　Manethrall　by　the　way　his　fighting　thong　tied　his　long　black　hair　into　one　strand；　and　by　the　small；　woven　circlet　of　yellow　flowers　on　the　crown　of　his　head。
　　　　Yet　they　had　changed；　they　were　not　like　the　Ramen　he　had　known　forty…seven　years　ago。　The　easiest　alteration　for　him　to　see　was　in　their　attitude　toward　him。　During　his　first　visit　to　the　Land；　they　had　looked　at　him　in　awed　respect。　He　was　the　Ringthane；　the　man　to　whom　the　Ranyhyn　had　reared　a　hundred　strong。　But　now　their　proud；　severe　faces　regarded　him　with　asperity　backed　by　ready　rage；　as　if　he　had　violated　their　honor　by　mitting　some　nameless　perfidy。
　　　　But　that　was　not　the　only　change　in　them。　As　he　scrutinized　the　unpromising　eyes　around　him；　he　became　conscious　of　a　more　significant　difference；　something　he　could　not　define。　Perhaps　they　carried　themselves　with　less　confidence　or　pride；　perhaps　they　had　been　attacked　so　often　that　they　had　developed　a　habitual　flinch；　perhaps　this　ratio　of　seven　Cords　to　one　Manethrall；　instead　of　three　or　four　to　one；　as　it　should　have　been；　indicated　a　crippling　loss　of　life　among　their　leaders；　the　teachers　of　the　Ranyhyn…lore。　Whatever　the　reason；　they　had　a　haunted　look；　an　aspect　of　erosion；　as　if　some　subliminal　ghoul　were　gnawing　at　the　bones　of　their　courage。　Studying　them；　Covenant　was　suddenly　convinced　that　they　endured　Bannor；　even　followed　him；　because　they　were　no　longer　self…sure　enough　to　refuse　a　Bloodguard。
　　　　After　a　moment；　he　became　aware　that　Lena　was　speaking；　more　in　confusion　than　in　anger　now。　〃Why　did　you　attack　us？　Can　you　not　recognize　the　Unbeliever？　Do　you　not　remember　the　Rockbrothers　of　the　Land？　Can　you　not　see　that　I　have　ridden　Ranyhyn？〃
　　　　〃Ridden！〃　spat　the　Manethrall。
　　　　〃My　Queen；〃　Foamfollower　said　softly；　〃the　Ramen　do　not　ride。〃
　　　　〃As　for　Giants；〃　the　man　went　on；　〃they　betray。〃
　　　　〃Betray？〃　Covenant's　pulse　pounded　in　his　temples；　as　if　he　were　too　close　to　an　abyss　hidden　in　the　snow。
　　　　〃Twice　now　Giants　have　led　Fangthane's　rending　armies　north　of　the　Plains　of　Ra。　These　'Rockbrothers'　have　sent　fangs　and　claws　in　scores　of　thousands　to　tear　the　flesh　of　Ranyhyn。　Behold！〃　With　a　swift　tug；　he　snatched　his　cord　from　his　hair　and　grasped　it　taut　like　a　garrote。　〃Every　Ramen　cord　is　black　with　blood。〃　His　knuckles　tightened　as　if　he　were　about　to　leap　at　the　Giant。　〃Manhome　is　abandoned。　Ramen　and　Ranyhyn　are　scattered。　Giants！〃　He　spat　again　as　if　the　very　taste　of　the　word　disgusted　him。
　　　　〃Yet　you　know　me；〃　Foamfollower　said　to　Bannor。　〃You　know　that　I　am　not　one　of　the　three　who　fell　to　the　Ravers。〃
　　　　Bannor　shrugged　nonmittally。　〃Two　of　the　three　are　dead。　Who　can　say　where　those　Ravers　have　gone？〃
　　　　〃I　am　a　Giant；　Bannor！''　Foamfollower　insisted　in　a　tone　of　supplication；　as　if　that　fact　were　the　only　proof　of　his　fidelity。　〃It　was　I　who　first　brought　Thomas　Covenant　to　Revelstone。〃
　　　　Bannor　was　unmoved。　〃Then　how　is　it　that　you　are　alive？〃
　　　　At　this；　Foamfollower's　eyes　glinted　painfully。　In　a　thin　tone；　he　said；　〃I　was　absent　from　Coercri…when　my　kindred　brought　their　years　in　Seareach　to　an　end。〃
　　　　The　Bloodguard　cocked　an　eyebrow；　but　did　not　relent。　After　a　moment；　Covenant　realized　that　the　resolution　of　this　impasse　was　in　his　hands。　He　was　in　no　condition　to　deal　with　such　problems；　but　he　knew　he　had　to　say　something。　With　an　effort；　he　turned　to　Bannor。　〃You　can't　claim　you　don't　remember　me。　You　probably　have　nightmares　about　me；　even　if　you　don't　ever　sleep。〃
　　　　〃I　know　you；　ur…Lord　Covenant。〃　As　he　spoke；　Bannor's　nostrils　flared　as　if　they　were　offended　by　the　smell　of　illness。
　　　　〃You　know　me；　too；〃　Covenant　said　with　mounting　urgency　to　the　Manethrall。　〃Your　people　call　me　Ringthane。　The　Ranyhyn　reared　to　me。〃
　　　　The　Manethrall　looked　away　from　Covenant's　demanding　gaze；　and　for　an　instant　the　haunted　look　filled　his　face　like　an　ongoing　tragedy。　〃Of　the　Ringthane　we　do　not　speak；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃The　Ranyhyn　have　chosen。　It　is　not　our　place　to　question　the　choices　of　the　Ranyhyn。〃
　　　　〃Then　back　off！〃　Covenant　did　not　intend　to　shout；　but　he　was　too　full　of　undefined　fears　to　contain　himself。　〃Leave　us　alone！　Hellfire！　We've　got　enough　trouble　as　it　is。〃
　　　　His　tone　brought　back　the　Manethrall's　pride。　Severely；　the　man　asked；　〃Why　have　you　e？〃
　　　　〃I　haven't　'e。'　I　don't　want　to　be　here　at　all。〃
　　　　〃What　is　your　purpose？〃
　　　　In　a　voice　full　of　mordant　inflections；　Covenant　said；　〃I　intend　to　pay　a　little　visit　to　Foul's　Creche。〃
　　　　His　words　jolted　the　Cords；　and　their　breath　hissed　through　their　teeth。　The　Manethrall's　hands　twitched　on　his　weapon。
　　　　A　flare　of　savage　desire　widened　Bannor's　eyes　momentarily。　But　his　flat　dispassion　returned　at　once。　He　shared　a　clear　glance　with　the　Manethrall；　then　said；　〃Ur…Lord；　you　and　your　panions　must　acpany　us。　We　will　take　you　to　a　place　where　more　Ramen　may　give　thought　to　you。''
　　　　〃Are　we　your　prisoners？〃　Covenant　glowered。
　　　　〃Ur…Lord；　no　hand　will　be　raised　against　you　in　my　presence。　But　these　matters　must　be　given　consideration。〃
　　　　Covenant　glared　hard　into　Bannor's　expressionlessness；　then　turned　to　Foamfollower。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　　　　〃I　do　not　like　this　treatment；''　Lena　interjected。　''Saltheart　Foamfollower　is　a　true　friend　of　the　Land。　Atiaran　my　mother　spoke　of　all　Giants　with　gladness。　And　you　are　the　Unbeliever；　the　bearer　of　white　gold。　They　show　disrespect。　Let　us　le