srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第54节
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th his fears。 Sitting regally on Myrha's back in the gleam of day； she had too much presence； too much personal authority。 He could not deny or challenge her。 And while she was surrounded by so many people； he could not ask her his questions about Trell。 His apprehension was too personal to be aired so publicly。 He strove to occupy his mind with other things until he got a chance to talk to someone。
Deliberately； he scanned the pany of riders。 Standing by their Ranyhyn behind the Lords were twenty Bloodguard First Mark Morin； Terrel； Bannor； Ruel； Runnik； and fifteen others。 Obviously； Koral would remain with Lord Amatin at Revelwood。 In addition to them； the group included only five others： High Lord Elena； Lord Mhoram； Covenant； Troy；
and Trell。 When he saw the Gravelingas； Troy again felt a desire to speak to him。 The unconcealed wound of Trell's expression was taut with suspense； as if he awaited some decision from Elena with a degree of agony that surprised Troy。 But the Warmark refrained； despite his mounting anxiety。 The High Lord had begun to address Lord Amatin and Eldest Corimini。
〃My friends；〃 she said gravely； 〃I leave Revelwood in your care。 Ward it well！ The Tree and the Loresraat are the two great achievements of the new Lords…two symbols of our service。 If it may be done； they must be preserved。 Remember vigilance； and watch the Center Plains。 If war es upon you； you must not be taken unaware。 And remember that if Revelwood cannot be saved； the Lore still must be preserved； and Lord's Keep warned。 The Loresraat and the Wards must find safety in Revelstone at need。
〃Sister Amatin； these are great burdens。 But I place them in your hands without fear。 They do not surpass you。 And the help of Corimini the Eldest； and of Asuraka and Drinishok the Elders； is beyond price。 I do not believe that the Warward will fall in this war。 But you must be prepared for all chances； even the worst。 You will not fail。 This trust bees you。〃
Lord Amatin blinked back a moment of tears； and bowed silently to the High Lord。 Then Elena lifted her head to Revelwood； and projected her voice so that she could be heard in the Tree。
〃Friends！ rades！ Proud people of the Land！ There is war upon us。 Together we confront the test of death。 Now is the time of parting； when all the defenders of the Land must go to their separate tasks。 Do not desire to change your lot for another's。 All faith and service are equal； alike worthy and perilous； in this time of need。 And do not grieve at parting。 We go to the greatest glory of our age…we are honored by the chance to give our utmost for the Land。 This is the test of death； that at the last we may prove worthy of what we serve。
〃Be of good heart。 If the needs of this war go beyond your strength； do not despair。 Give all your
strength； and hold Peace； and do not despair。 Hold courage and faith high！ It is better to fall and die in Peace than to re…Desecrate the Land。
〃My friends； I am honored that I have shared life with you。〃
High in Revelwood； a strident voice cried； 〃Hail to the High Lord and the Staff of Law！〃 And all the people in the Tree and on the ground answered； 〃Hail！ Hail to the High Lord！〃
Elena bowed deeply to Revelwood； spreading her arms wide in the traditional gesture of farewell。 Then she turned Myrha toward the riders； and spoke to Lord Mhoram。
〃Now； Mhoram； my most trusted friend； you must depart。 You and Warmark Hile Troy must rejoin the Warward； to guide it into war。 I have decided。 I will leave you now； and follow Amok to the Seventh Ward of Kevin's Lore。〃
In spite of himself； Troy groaned； and clutched at Mehryl's mane as if to keep himself from falling。 But the High Lord took no notice of him。 Instead； she said to Mhoram； 〃You know that I do not do this to evade the burden of war。 But you also know that you are the more experienced and ready in battle。 And you know that the oute of the war may allow us no second opportunity to discover this Ward。 Yet the Ward may enable a victory which would otherwise be taken from us。 I cannot choose otherwise。〃
Lord Mhoram gazed at her intently for a time。 When he finally spoke； his voice was thick with suppressed appeals。 〃Beware； High Lord。 Even the Seventh Ward is not enough。〃
Elena met him squarely； but her own gaze appeared unfocused。 The other dimension of her sight was so pronounced that she did not seem to see him at all。 〃Perhaps it was not enough for Kevin Landwaster；〃 she replied softly； 〃but it will suffice for me。〃
〃No！〃 Mhoram protested。 〃The danger is too great。 Either this power did not meet Kevin's need in any way； or its peril was so great that he feared to use it。 Do not take this risk。〃
〃Have you seen it？〃 she asked。 〃Do you speak from vision？〃
With an effort； Mhoram forced himself to say； 〃I have not seen it。 But I feel it in my heart。 There will
be death because of it。 People will be slain。〃My friend； you are too careful of all risks but your
own。 If you held the Staff of Law in my place； you would follow Amok to the ends of the Earth。 And people will still be slain。 Mhoram； ask your heart…do you truly believe that the future of the Land can be won in war？ It was not so for Kevin。 I must not lose any chance which may teach me another way to resist the Despiser。〃
Mhoram bowed his head； too moved to make any answer。 In the silence； they melded their thoughts； and after a moment the strain in his face eased。 When he looked up again； he directed his gaze explicitly toward Covenant and Troy。 Softly； he said； 〃Then…if you must go…please do not go alone。 Take someone with you…someone who may be of service。〃
For one wild instant； Troy thought that the High Lord was going to ask him to go with her。 Despite his responsibilities to the Warward； his lips were already forming his answer…Yes…when she said； 〃That is my desire。 Ur…Lord Covenant； will you acpany me？ I wish to share。 this quest with you。〃
Awkwardly； as if her request embarrassed him； Covenant said； 〃Do you really think I'm going to be of service？〃
A gentle smile touched Elena's lips。 〃Nevertheless。〃
He stared into the expanse of her eyes for a moment。 Then； abruptly； he looked away and shrugged。 〃Yes。 I'll e。〃
Troy hardly heard the things that were said next the last formal speeches by Elena and Corimini； the Loresraat's brief song of encouragement； the exchange of farewells。 When the High Lord said a final word to him； he could barely bring himself to bow in answer。 With his Yes frozen on his lips； he watched the end of the ceremonies； and saw Elena and Covenant ride away together westward； acpanied only by Bannor and First Mark Morin。 He felt paralyzed in
the act of falling…crying； I'm going to lose you！ Lord Mhoram came close to him； and spoke。 But he did not move until he realized through his distress that Trell had not followed Covenant and the High Lord。
Suddenly； his restraint broke。 He spun urgently toward Trell； turned in time to see the Gravelingas yank his heavy fists out of his hair； snatch up the reins of his horse； and start away at a gallop toward the ford of the Llurallin north of Revelwood。
Troy went after him。 Mehryl flashed under the Tree； and caught up with Trell in the sunlight beyond the city。 Troy ordered the Gravelingas to stop； but Trell ignored him。 At once； the Warmark told Mehryl to halt Trell's mount。 Mehryl gave one short； manding whinny； and the horse stopped so sharply that Trell almost lost his seat。
When the Gravelingas forced his head up to meet Troy； his eyes ran with tears； and he panted as if he were being slowly suffocated。 But Troy had no more time to spare for considerateness。 〃What're you doing？〃 he rasped。 〃Where're you going？〃
〃Revelstone；〃 croaked Trell。 〃There is nothing for me here。〃
〃So？ We're going south…don't you know that？ You live in the South Plains； don't you？ Don't you want to help defend your home？〃 This was not what Troy wanted to ask； but he had not found the words for his real question。
〃No。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I cannot go back。 She is there…I cannot bear it。 After this！〃
As Trell panted his answer； Lord Mhoram rode up to them。 At once； he started to speak； but Troy cut him off with a savage gesture。 〃She？〃 the Warmark demanded。 〃Who？ Your daughter？〃 When Trell nodded dumbly； Troy said； 〃Wait a minute。 Wait a minute。〃 Things he did not know buffeted him； he had to find answers。 〃I don't understand。 Why don't you go back home…to your daughter？ She's going to need you。〃
〃Melenkurion！〃 Trell gasped。 〃I cannot！ How could
I look into her face…answer questions…after this？ Do not torment me！〃
〃Warmark！〃 Mhoram's voice was hard and dangerous…a warning； almost a threat。 〃Let him be。 Nothing that he can say will help you。〃
〃No！〃 Troy retorted。 〃I've got to know。 Trell； listen to me。 I have got to know。 Believe me； I understand how you feel about him。〃
Trell no longer seemed to hear Troy。 〃She chose！〃 he panted； 〃chose！〃 He heaved the words between his clenched teeth as if they were about to burst him。 〃She chose him…him！〃
〃Trell； answer me。 What were you doing out there yesterday？…at that grave？ Trell！〃
The word grave penetrated Trell's passion。 Abruptly； he wrapped his arms around his chest； hunched forward。 Through h
