srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第38节
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oes fear so belittle us？ Look！ Look at her。 If you have not heard the truth in her voice； then look at her now。 Remember your Oath of Peace； and look at her。 By the Seven！ What evil do you see？ No…I will hear no protestations that ill can be disguised。 We are in the Close of Revelstone。 This is the Council of Lords。 No Raver could utter falsehood and betrayal here。 If there were any wrong in the Manethrall； you would have known it。〃
When she saw that she had mastered the assembly； she continued more quietly。 〃My friends； we are more than this。 I do not know the meaning of Manethrall Rue's tidings。 Perhaps the Despiser has captured and broken a Giant through the power of the Illearth Stone。 Perhaps he can create… ill wights in any semblance he desires； and showed a false Giant to Rue； knowing how the tale of a betraying Rockbrother would harm us。 We must gain answers to these questions。 But here stands Manethrall Rue of the Ramen； exhausted in the acplishment of a help which we can neither match nor repay。 Cleanse your hearts of all thought against her。 We must not do such injustice。〃
〃Right。〃 Troy heaved himself to his feet。 His brain was working again。 He was ashamed of his weakness …and； by extension； ashamed of his Hafts as well。 Belatedly； he remembered that the Lords Callindrill and Amatin had been unable to breach Sarangrave Flat and yet Rue had survived it； so that she could e to warn Revelstone。 And he did not like to think that Covenant had behaved better than he。 〃You're right。〃 He faced the Ramen squarely。 〃Manethrall； my Hafts and I owe you an apology。 You deserve better…especially from us。〃 He put acid in his tone for the ears of the Hafts。 〃War puts burdens on people without caring whether they're ready for them or not。〃
He did not wait for any reply。 Turning toward Quaan； he said； 〃Hiltmark…my thanks for keeping your head。 Let's make sure that nothing like this happens again。〃 Then he sat down and withdrew behind his sunglasses to try to think of some way to salvage his battle plans。
Quaan manded； 〃Rest！〃 The Hafts reseated themselves； looking abashed…and yet in some way more determined than before。 That seemed to mark the end of an ugliness。 Manethrall Rue and ur…Lord Covenant sagged； leaned tiredly toward each other as if for support。 The High Lord started to speak； but Rue interrupted her in a low voice： 〃I want no more apologies。 Release me。 I must rest。〃
Elena nodded sadly。 〃Manethrall Rue； go in Peace。 All the hospitality Revelstone can provide is yours for as long as you choose to stay。 We do not take the service you have done us lightly。 But please hear me。 We have never taken the Ramen lightly。 And the value of the Ranyhyn to all the Land is beyond any measure。 We do not forget。 Hail； Manethrall！ May the bloom of amanibhavam never fail。 Hail； Ramen！ May the Plains of Ra be forever swift under your feet。 Hail； Ranyhyn！ Tail of the Sky； Mane of the World。〃 Once again； she bowed to Rue in the Ramen fashion。
Manethrall Rue returned the gesture； and added the traditional salute of farewell； touching the heels of her hands to her forehead； she bent forward and spread her arms wide as if baring her heart。 Together； the Lords answered her bow。 Then she turned and started up toward the high doors。 Covenant went with her； walking at her side awkwardly； as if he wanted and feared to take her arm。
At the top of the stairs； they stopped and faced each other。 Covenant looked at her with emotions that seemed to make the bone between his eyes bulge。 He had to strain to speak。 〃What can I…is there anything I can do…to make you Gay again？〃
〃You are young and I am old。 This journey has taken much from me。 I have few summers left。 There is nothing。〃
〃My time has a different speed。 Don't covet my life。〃
〃You are Covenant Ringthane。 You have power。 How should I not covet？〃
He ducked away from her gaze； and after a short pause she added； 〃The Ranyhyn still await your mand。 Nothing is ended。 They served you at Mount Thunder； and will serve you again…until you release them。〃 When she passed through the doors away from him； he was left staring down at his hands as if their emptiness pained him。
But after a moment he pulled himself up； and came back down the stairs to take his seat again。
For a time； there was silence in the Close。 The gathered people watched the Lords； and the Lords sat still； bending their minds in toward each other to meld their purpose and strength。 This had a calming effect on the assembly。 It was part of the mystery of being a Lord； and all the people of the Land； Stonedownor and Woodhelvennin； trusted the Lords。 As long as the Council was capable of melding and leadership； Revelstone would not be without hope。 Even Warmark Troy gained a glimpse of encouragement from this munion he could not share。
At last； the contact broke with an almost audible snap from Lord Verement； and the High Lord raised her head to the assembly。 〃My friends； warriors； servants of the Land；〃 she said； 〃now is the time of decision。 Deliberation and preparation are at an end。 War marches toward us； and we must meet it。 In this matter； the chief choice of action is upon Warmark Hile Troy。 He will mand the Warward； and
we will support it with our best strength； as the need of the Land demands。
〃But one matter pels us first…this Giant named Fleshharrower。 The question of this must be answered。〃
Roughly； Verement said； 〃The Stone does not explain。 It is not enough。 The Giants are strong…yes； strong and wise。 They would resist the Stone or evade it。〃
〃I agree；〃 said Loerya。 〃The Seareach Giants understand the peril of the Illearth Stone。 It is easier to believe that they have left the Land in search of their lost Home。〃
〃Without the Gildenlode？〃 Trevor countered unfortably。 〃That is unlikely。 And it is not it is not what Mhoram saw。〃
The other Lords turned to Mhoram； and after a moment he said； 〃No； it is not what I have seen。 Let us pray that I have seen wrongly…or wrongly understood what I have seen。 But for good or ill； this matter is beyond us at present。 We know that Korik and the Lords Hyrim and Shetra will do their uttermost for the Giants。 And we cannot send more of our strength to Seareach now； to ask how a Giant has been made to lead Lord Foul's army。 It is in my heart that we will learn that answer sooner than any of us would wish。〃
〃Very well；〃 the High Lord sighed。 〃I hear you。 Then let us now divide among ourselves the burdens of this war。〃 She looked around the Council； measuring each member against the responsibilities which lay ahead。 Then she said； 〃Lord Trevor…Lord Loerya…to you I mit the keeping of Revelstone。 It will be your task to care for the people made homeless by this war…to lay up stores and strengthen defenses against any siege that may e…to fight the last battle of the Land if we fail。 My friends； hear me。 It is a grim burden I give you。 Those who remain here may in the end require more strength than all others…for if we fall； then you must fight to the last without surrender or despair。 You will be in a strait place like that which drove High Lord Kevin to his Desecration。 I trust you to resist。 The Land must not be doomed in that way again。〃
Troy nodded to himself； her choice was a good one。 Lord Loerya would fight extravagantly； and yet would never take any action that would imperil her daughters。 And Lord Trevor would work far beyond his strength in the …conviction that he did not do as much as others could。 They accepted the High Lord's charge quietly； and she went on to other matters。
〃After the defense of Revelstone； our …concern must be for the Loresraat and Trothgard。 The Loresraat must be preserved。 And Trothgard must be held for as long as may be…as a sanctuary for the homeless； men or beasts…and as a sign that in no way do we bow to the Despiser。 Within the Valley of Two Rivers； Trothgard is defensible； though it will not be easy。 Lord Callindrill…Lord Amatin…this burden I place upon your shoulders。 Preserve Trothgard； so that the ancient name of Kurash Plenethor； Stricken Stone； will not bee the new name of our promise to the Land。〃
〃Just a minute；〃 Warmark Troy interrupted hesitantly。 〃That leaves just you； Mhoram； and Verement to go with me。 I think I'm going to need more than that。〃
Elena considered for a moment。 Then she said； 〃Lord Amatin； will you accept the burden of Trothgard alone？ Trevor and Loerya will give you all possible aid。〃
〃We fight a war；〃 Amatin replied simply。 〃It is bootless to protest that I do not suffice。 I must learn to suffice。 The Lorewardens will support me。〃
〃You will be enough；〃 responded the High Lord with a smile。 〃Very well。 Those Lords who remain Callindrill； Verement； Mhoram； and myself…will march with the Warward。 Two other matters； and then the Warmark will speak。 First Mark Morin。〃
〃High Lord。〃 Morin stood to receive her requests。
〃Morin； you are the First Mark。 You will mand the Bloodguard as your Vow requires。 Please assign to Warmark Troy every Bloodguard who can be spared from the defense of Revelstone。〃
〃Yes； High Lord。 Two hundred will join the Warmark's mand。〃
〃That is well。 Now I have another task for you。 Riders must be sent to every Stonedown and Woodhelven in the Cent
