srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第89节
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s daughter。 Lord Foul； the Warward； even this quest itself； were insubstantial to him。 He watched Elena； listened to her； felt her presence at all times。 When she was in the mood to talk； he questioned her readily； and when she was not he gave her silence。 And in every mood he was grateful to her； poignantly moved by the offer she had made…the offer he had refused。
He could not help being conscious of the fact that she was not equally content。 She had not made her offer lightly； and seemed unwilling to understand his refusal。 But the sorrow of having given her pain only sharpened his attentiveness toward her。 He concentrated on her as only a man deeply familiar with loneliness could。 And she was not blind to this。 After the first few days of their mountain trek； she again relaxed in his pany； and her smiles expressed a frankness of affection which she had not permitted herself before。 Then he felt that he was in harmony with her； and he traveled with her gladly。 At times he chirruped to his horse as if he enjoyed riding it。
But in the days that followed； a change slowly came over her…a change that had nothing to do with him。 As time passed…as they journeyed nearer to the secret location of the Seventh Ward…she became increasingly occupied by the purpose of her quest。 She questioned Amok more often； interrogated him more tensely。 At times； Covenant could see in the elsewhere stare of her eyes that she was thinking of the war…a duty from which she had turned asideand there were occasional flashes of urgency in her voice as she strove to ask the questions that would unlock Amok's mysterious knowledge。
This was a burden that Covenant could not help her bear。 He knew none of the crucial facts himself。 The days passed； the moon expanded to its full； then declined toward its last quarter； but she made no progress。 Finally； his desire to assist her in some way led him to speak to Bannor。
In a curious way； he felt unsafe with the Bloodguard…not physically； but emotionally。 There was a tension of disparity between himself and Bannor。 The Haruchai's stony gaze had the magisterial air of a man who did not deign to utter his judgment of his panions。 And Covenant had other reasons to feel unfortable with Bannor。 More than once； he had made Bannor bear the brunt of his own bootless outrage。 But he had nowhere else to turn。 He was entirely useless to Elena。
Since his days in Revelstone； he had been alert to a fine shade of discrepancy in the Bloodguard's attitude toward Amok…a discrepancy which had been verified but not explained in Revelwood。 However； he did not know how to approach the subject。 Extracting information from Bannor was difficult； the Bloodguard's habitual reserve baffled inquiry。 And Covenant was determined to say nothing which might sound like an offense to Bannor's integrity。 Bannor had already proved his fidelity in the Wightwarrens under Mount Thunder。
Covenant began by trying to find out why the Bloodguard had seen fit to send only Bannor and Morin to protect the High Lord on her quest。 He was acutely aware of his infacility as he remarked； 〃I gather you don't think we're in any great danger on this trip。〃
〃Danger； ur…Lord？〃 The repressed lilt of Bannor's pronunciation seemed to imply that anyone protected by the Bloodguard did not need to think of danger。
〃Danger；〃 Covenant repeated with a touch of his old asperity。 〃It's a mon word these days〃
Bannor considered for a moment； then said； 〃These are mountains。 There is always danger。〃
〃Such as？〃
〃Rocks may fall。 Storms may e。 Tigers roam these low heights。 Great eagles hunt here。 Mountains〃 Covenant seemed to hear a hint of satisfaction in Bannor's tone…〃are perilous。〃
〃Then why… Bannor； I would really like to know why there are only two of your Bloodguard here。〃
〃Is there need for more？〃
〃If we're attacked by tigers； or whatever？ Or
what if there's an avalanche？ Are two of you enough？〃
〃We know mountains；〃 Bannor replied flatly。 〃We suffice。〃
This assertion was not one that Covenant could contradict。 He made an effort to approach what he wanted to know in another way； though the attempt took him onto sensitive ground…terrain he would rather have avoided。 〃Bannor； I feel as if I'm slowly getting to know you Bloodguard。 I can't claim that I understand…but I can at least recognize your devotion。 I know what it looks like。 Now I get the feeling that something is going on here…something…inconsistent。 Something I don't recognize。
〃Here we are climbing through the mountains； where anything could happen。 We're following Amok who knows where； even though we've got next to no idea what he's doing； never mind why he's doing it。 And you're satisfied that the High Lord is safe when she's only got two Bloodguard to protect her。 Didn't you learn anything from Kevin？〃
〃We are the Bloodguard；〃 answered Bannor stolidly。 〃She is safe…as safe as may be。〃
〃Safe？〃 Covenant protested。
〃A score or a hundredscore Bloodguard would not make her more safe。〃
〃I admire your confidence。〃
Covenant winced at his own sarcasm； paused for a moment to reconsider his questions。 Then he lowered his head as if he meant to batter Bannor's resistance down with his forehead； and said bluntly； 〃Do you trust Amok？〃
〃Trust him； ur…Lord？〃 Bannor's tone hinted that the question was inane in some way。 〃He has not led us into hazard。 He has chosen a good way through the mountains。 The High Lord elects to follow him。 We do not ask for more。〃
Still Covenant felt the lurking presence of something unexplained。 〃I tell you； it doesn't fit；〃 he rasped in irritation。 〃Listen。 It's a little late in the day for these inconsistencies。 I've sort of given up…they don't
do me any good anymore。 If it's all the same to you； I'd rather hear something that makes sense。
〃Bannor； you… Bear with me。 I can't help noticing it。 First there was something I don't understand； somethingout of pitch…about the way you Bloodguard reacted to Amok when he came to Revelstone。 You… I don't know what it was。 Anyway； at Revelwood you didn't exactly jump to help Troy when he caught Amok。 And after that…only two Bloodguard！ Bannor； it doesn't make sense。〃
Bannor was unmoved。 〃She is the High Lord。 She holds the Staff of Law。 She is easily defended。〃
That answer foiled Covenant。 It did not satisfy him； but he could think of no way around it。 He did not know what he was groping for。 His intuition told him that his questions were significant； but he could not articulate or justify them in any utile way。 And he reacted to Bannor's trenchant blankness as if it were some kind of touchstone； a paradoxically private and unavoidable criterion of rectitude。 Bannor made him aware that there was something not altogether honest about his own acpaniment of the High Lord。
So he withdrew from Bannor； returned his attention to Elena。 She had had no better luck with Amok； and her air of escape as she turned toward Covenant matched his。 They rode on together； hiding their various anxieties behind light talk of mutual miseration。
Then； during the eleventh evening of their sojourn in the mountains； she expressed an opinion to him。 As if the guess were hazardous； she said； 〃Amok leads us to Melenkurion Skyweir。 The Seventh Ward is hidden there。〃 And the next day…the eighteenth since they had left Revelwood； and the twenty…fifth since the War Council of the Lords…the rhythm of their trek was broken。
The day dawned cold and dull； as if the sunlight were clogged with gray cerements。 A troubled smell shrouded the air。 Torn fragments of wind flapped back and forth across the camp as Elena and Covenant ate their breakfast； and far away they could hear a flat； detonating sound like the retort of balked canvas on
unlashed spars。 Covenant predicted a storm。 But the First Mark shook his head in flat denial； and Elena said； 〃This is not the weather of storms。〃 She glanced warily up at the peaks as she spoke。 〃There is pain in the air。 The Earth is afflicted。〃
〃What's happening？〃 A burst of wind scattered Covenant's voice； and he had to repeat his question at a shout to make himself heard。 〃Is Foul going to hit us here？〃
The wind shifted and lapsed； she was able to answer normally。 〃Some ill has been performed。 The Earth has been assaulted。 We feel its revulsion。 But the distance is very great； and time has passed。 I feel no peril directed toward us。 Perhaps the Despiser does not know what we do。〃 In the next breath； her voice hardened。 〃But he has used the Illearth Stone。 Smell the air！ There has been malice at work in the Land〃
Covenant began to sense what she meant。 Whatever amassed these clouds and roiled this wind was not the impassive natural violence of a storm。 The air seemed to carry inaudible shrieks and hints of rot； as if it were blowing through the aftermath of an atrocity。 And on a subliminal level； almost indiscernible； the high bluff crags seemed to be shuddering。
The atmosphere made him feel a need for haste。 But though her face was set in grim lines； the High Lord did not hurry。 She finished her meal； then carefully packed the food and graveling away before calling to Myrha。 When she mounted； she summoned Amok。
He appeared before her almost at once； and gave her a cheerful
