srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第59节

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　Abruptly；　a　rush　of　gratitude　filled　Troy's　throat；　and　he　had　to　clench　his　teeth　to　keep　from　grinning　foolishly。　To　meet　Mhoram's　trust；　he　whispered；　〃I　won't　let　you　down。〃
　But　later；　when　his　emotion　had　receded；　he　was　disconcerted　to　remember　how　many　such　promises　he　had　made。　They　seemed　to　expand　with　every　new　development　in　the　march。　His　speech　to　the　Warward　was　only　one　in　a　series　of　assertions。　Now　he　felt　that　he　had　given　his　personal　guarantee　of　success　to　practically　the　entire　Land。　He　had　maneuvered　him
　self　into　a　corner…a　place　where　defeat　and　betrayal　became　the　same　thing。
　The　simple　thought　of　failure　made　his　pulse　labor　vertiginously　in　his　head。
　If　this　was　the　kind　of　thinking　that　inspired　Covenant's　Unbelief；　then　Troy　could　see　that　it　made　a　certain　kind　of　sense。　But　he　had　a　savage　name　for　it；　he　called　it　cowardice。　He　forced　the　thought　down；　and　turned　his　attention　to　the　South　Plains。
　Away　from　the　mountains；　the　terrain　leveled　somewhat；　and　opened　into　broad　stretches　of　sharp；　hardy　grass　mottled　with　swaths　of　gray　bracken　and　heather　turning　purple　in　the　autumn。　It　was　not　a　generous　land…Troy　had　been　told　that　there　were　only　five　Stonedowns　in　all　the　South　Plains…but　its　unprofligate　health　was　vital　and　strong；　like　the　squat；　muscular　people　who　lived　with　it。　Something　in　its　austerity　appealed　to　him；　as　if　the　ground　itself　were　appropriate　for　war。　He　rode　it　steadily；　keeping　a　brisk　pace　while　conserving　Mehryl's　strength　for　the　hard　run　from　Kevin's　Watch　to　Doom's　Retreat。
　But　the　second　night；　his　confidence　suffered　a　setback。　Soon　after　moonrise；　Lord　Mhoram　sprang　suddenly　awake；　screaming　so　vehemently　that　Troy's　blood　ran　cold。　Troy　groped　toward　him　through　the　darkness；　but　he　struck　the　Warmark　down　with　his　staff；　and　started　firing　fierce　blasts　of　power　into　the　invulnerable　heavens　as　if　they　were　attacking　him。　A　madness　gripped　him。　He　did　not　stop　until　Terrel　caught　his　arms；　shouted　into　his　face；　〃Lord！　Corruption　will　see　you！〃
　With　an　immense　effort；　Mhoram　mastered　himself；　silenced　his　power。
　Then　Troy　could　see　nothing。　He　had　to　wait　in　blind　suspense　until　at　last　he　heard　Mhoram　breathe；　〃It　is　past。　I　thank　you；　Terrel。〃　The　Lord　sounded　utterly　weary。
　Troy　thronged　with　questions；　but　Mhoram　either　would　not　or　could　not　answer　them。　The　force　of　his　vision　left　him　dumb　and　quivering。　He　could　barely　pel　his　lips　to　form　the　few　words　he　spoke　to　reassure　Troy。
　The　Warmark　was　not　convinced。　He　demanded　a　light。　But　when　Ruel　built　up　the　campfire；　Troy　saw　the　garish　heat　of　torment　and　danger　in　Mhoram's　eyes。　It　stilled　him；　denied　his　offer　of　support　or　consolation。　He　was　forced　to　leave　the　Lord　alone　in　his　cruel；　oracular　pain。
　For　the　rest　of　the　night；　Troy　lay　awake；　waiting　anxiously。　But　when　dawn　came　and　his　sight　returned；　he　perceived　that　Mhoram　had　weathered　the　crisis。　The　fever　in　his　gaze　had　been　replaced　by　a　hard　gleam　like　a　warning　that　it　was　perilous　to　challenge　him…a　gleam　that　reminded　Troy　of　that　picture　in　the　Hall　of　Gifts　entitled　〃Lord　Mhoram's　Victory。〃
　The　Lord　offered　no　explanation。　In　silence　they　rode　away　into　the　third　day。
　On　the　horizon　ahead；　Troy　could　make　out　the　thin；　black　finger　of　Kevin's　Watch；　though　the　valley　of　Mithil　Stonedown　was　still　twenty…two　leagues　distant。　After　the　strain　of　the　night；　he　was　under　even　more　pressure　than　before　to　climb　the　Watch　and　see　Lord　Foul's　army。　In　that　sight　he　would　find　the　fate　of　his　battle　plan。　But　he　did　not　drive　the　Ranyhyn　beyond　their　best　traveling　gait。　So　the　valley　was　already　full　of　evening　shadows　when　he　and　Mhoram　reached　the　Mithil　River；　and　followed　it　upstream　into　the　Southron　Range。
　Through　his　personal　haze；　he　caught　only　one　glimpse　of　Mithil　Stonedown。　From　the　top　of　a　heavy　stone　bridge　across　the　river；　he　looked　southward　along　the　east　bank；　and　dimly　made　out　a　dark；　round　cluster　of　stone　huts。　Then　the　last　penetration　of　his　sight　faded；　and　he　had　to　ride　into　the　village　on　trust。
　When　Troy　and　his　panions　had　dismounted　within　the　round；　open　center　of　the　Stonedown；　Lord　Mhoram　spoke　quietly　to　the　people　who　came　out　to　greet　him。　Soon　the　Stonedownors　were　joined　by　a　group　of　five；　bearing　with　them　a　wide　bowl　of　graveling。　They　placed　it　on　a　dais　in　the　center　of　the　circle；　where　its　warm　glow　and　fresh　loamy　smell
　spread　all　around　them。　The　light　enabled　Troy　to　see　dimly。
　The　group　of　five　included　three　women　and　two　men。　Four　of　them　were　white…haired；　aged；　and　dignified；　but　one　man　appeared　just　past　middle　age。　His　thick　dark　hair　was　streaked　with　gray；　and　over　his　short；　powerful　frame　he　wore　a　traditional　brown　Stonedownor　tunic；　with　a　curious　pattern　resembling　crossed　lightning　on　his　shoulders。　He　had　a　permanently　twisted　bitter　expression；　as　if　something　had　broken　in　him　early　in　life；　turning　all　the　tastes　of　his　experience　sour。　But　despite　his　bitterness　and　his　relative　youth；　his　panions　deferred　to　him。　He　spoke　first。
　〃Hail；　Mhoram　son　of　Variol；　Lord　of　the　Council　of　Revelstone。　Hail；　Warmark　Hile　Troy。　Be　wele　in　Mithil　Stonedown。　I　am　Triock　son　of　Thuler；…　first　among　the　Circle　of　elders　of　Mithil　Stonedown。　It　is　not　our　custom　to　question　our　guests　before　hospitality　has　cleansed　the　weariness　of　their　way。　But　these　are　perilous　times。　A　Bloodguard　brought　us　tidings　of　war。　What　need　calls　you　here？〃
　〃Triock；　your　wele　honors　us；〃　replied　Lord　Mhoram。　〃And　we　are　honored　that　you　know　us。　We　have　not　met。〃
　〃That　is　true；　Lord。　But　I　studied　for　a　time　in　the　Loresraat。　The　Lords；　and　the　friends　of　the　Lords〃　…he　nodded　to　Troy…〃were　made　known　to　me。〃
　〃Then；　Triock；　elders　and　people　of　Mithil　Stonedown；　I　must　tell　you　that　there　is　indeed　war　upon　the　Land。　The　army　of　the　Gray　Slayer　marches　in　the　South　Plains；　to　do　battle　with　the　Warward　of　Revelstone　at　Doom's　Retreat。　We　have　e　so　that　Warmark　Troy。　may　climb　Kevin's　Watch；　and　study　the　movements　of　the　foe。〃
　〃He　must　have　brave　sight；　if　he　can　see　so　far　though　it　is　said　that　High　Lord　Kevin　viewed　all　the　Land　from　his　Watch。　But　that　is　not　our　concern。　Please　accept　the　wele　of　Mithil　Stonedown。　How　may　we　serve　you？〃
　Smiling；　Mhoram　answered；　〃A　hot　meal　would　be
　a　rich　wele。　We　have　eaten　camp　food　for　many　days。〃
　At　this；　another　of　the　elders　stepped　forward。　〃Lord　Mhoram；　I　am　Terass　Slen…mate。　Our　home　is　large；　and　Slen　my　husband　is　proud　of　his　cooking。　Will　you　eat　with　us？〃
　〃Gladly。　Terass　Slen…mate。　You　honor　us。〃
　〃Accepting　a　gift　honors　the　giver；〃　she　returned　gravely。　Acpanied　by　the　other　elders；　she　led　Mhoram　and　Troy　out　of　the　center　of　the　Stonedown。　Her　home　was　a　wide；　flat　building　which　had　been　formed　out　of　one　prodigious　boulder。　Within；　it　was　bright　with　graveling。　After　several　ceremonious　introductions；　Troy　and　Lord　Mhoram　found　themselves　seated　at　a　long　stone　table。　The　meal　that　Slen　set　before　them　did　full　justice　to　his　pride。
　When　all　the　guests　had　eater；　their　fill；　and　the　stoneware　dishes　and　pots　had　been　cleared　away；　Lord　Mhoram　offered　to　answer　the　questions　of　the　elders。　Terass　began　by　asking　generally　about　the　war；　but　before　she　had　gone　far　Triock　interrupted　her。
　〃Lord；　what　of　High　Lord　Elena？　Is　she　well？　Does　she　fight　in　this　war？〃
　Something　abrupt　in　Triock's　tone　irritated　Troy；　but　he　left　the　answers　m　Mhoram。　The　Lord　replied。。　〃The　High　Lord　is　well。　She　hat　uncovered　knowledge　of　one　of　the　hidder　Ward。　of　Kevin's　Tore；　and　has　gone　in　quest　of　the　Ward　itself　〃　He　Rounded　cautious；　as　if　he　had　some　reason。　to　distrust　Triock。
　〃And　what　of　Thomas　Covenant　the　Unbeliever？　The　Bloodguard　said　that　he　has　returned　to　the　Land〃
　〃He　has　returned〃
　〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Triock。　He　seemed　aware　of　Mhoram's　caution。　〃And　what　of　Trell　Atiaran…mate？　For　many　years　he　was　the　Gravelingas　of　Mithil　Stonedown。　How　does　he　meet　the　need　of　this　war？〃
　〃He　is　in　Revelstone；　where　his　skills　serve　the　defense　of　the　Keep。〃
　At　once；　Triock's　attitude　changed。　〃Trell　is　not　with　the　High　Lord？〃　he　demanded　sharply。
　〃No。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　For　a　moment；　Lord　Mhoram　searched。　Triock's　face。　Then　he　said　as　if　he　were　taking　a　risk；　〃UrLord　Thomas　Covenant；　Unbeliever　and　Ringthane；　rides　with　the　High　Lord。〃
　〃With　her？〃　Triock　cried；　springing　to　his　feet。　〃Trell　permitted　this？〃　He　glared　bitterly　at　Mhoram；　then　spun　away　and　flung　out　of　the　house。
　His　vehemence　left　an　awkward　silence　in　the　room；　and　Terass　spoke　quietly　to　ease　it。　〃Please　do　not　be　offended；　Lord。　His　life　is　full　of　trouble。　It　may　be　that　you　know　part　of　his　tale。〃
　Mhoram　nodded；　assured　Terass　that　he　was　not　offended。　But　Triock's　conduct　disturbed　Warmark　Troy；　it　reminded　him　vividly　of　Trell。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　bluntly。　〃What　business　is　the　High　Lord　of　his？〃
　〃Ah；　Warmark；〃　Terass　said；　sadly；　〃he　would　not　thank　me　for　speaking　of　it。　I…〃
　A　sharp　glance　from　Mhoram　silenced　her。　Troy　turned　toward　Mhoram；　but　the　Lord　did　not　meet　his　gaze。　〃Before　ur…Lord　Covenant's　first　summoning　to　the　Land；〃　Mhoram　said　carefully；　〃Triock　was　in