df.therunelords-第132部分

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　At　Gaborn's　side；　a　cold　wind　stirred；　a　chill　that　smote　him　to　the　bone；　so　powerful　and　frightening　was　it。
　Fear　gripped　him；　made　him　terrified　to　blink　or　twitch。　To　do　so　would　surely　kill　him；　Gaborn　felt。　So　he　stood；　frozen；　until　he　recalled　his　father's　words。　〃No　prince　of　Mystarria　need　fear　the　spirits　of　the　Dunnwood。〃
　He　looked　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　to　see　the　ghost　of　King　Sylvarresta　rise　from　the　corpse　there　on　its　pallet。　Sylvarresta　bent　at　the　waist；　sitting　up；　and　gazed　longingly　across　the　field；　to　the　men　of　the　great　hunt。
　Then　he　reached　over　and　shook　King　Orden's　shoulders；　rousing　him　as　if　from　a　deep　slumber；　so　that　he；　too；　awoke。
　The　kings　rose　together　and　seemed　to　call　across　the　valley。　Though　their　lips　moved；　they　spoke　no　words　that　Gaborn　could　hear；　yet　a　strange　moaning　issued　over　the　downs。
　Across　the　far　valley　came　a　quick　response。　Two　ladies　rode　out　of　that　distant　crowd；　emerging　fifty　yards　from　the　edge　of　the　wood；　each　of　them　leading　a　saddled　horse。
　Gaborn　recognized　them。　One　woman　was　the　Queen　Venetta　Sylvarresta；　and　the　other　was　Gaborn's　own　mother。
　They　smiled　radiantly；　and　seemed　to　be　talking　as　if　neither　had　a　care　in　the　world。　Grand。　Happy。
　King　Sylvarresta　and　King　Orden　took　each　other's　hands　and　walked　casually　down　the　field　as　they　used　to　when　they　were　but　young　men。　Sylvarresta　seemed　to　be　telling　a　long　joke；　and　Orden　laughed　at　him　heartily；　shaking　his　head。　Their　voices　carried　on　the　wind　as　an　odd　twitter；　the　words　escaping　Gaborn。
　They　moved　with　deceptive　swiftness；　these　ghosts；　like　deer　leaping　through　the　grass。　In　but　a　handful　of　steps；　King　Orden　and　King　Sylvarresta　both　met　their　wives；　and　kissed　them　in　greeting；　then　mounted　their　own　steeds。
　All　across　the　fields；　other　knights　rose　to　join　the　hunt。　Men　from　the　fallen　castle。　Chemoise's　father　appeared　at　the　base　of　the　oak；　hurried　across　the　fields　to　the　great　throng。
　As　the　knights　and　kings　all　joined　the　great　hunt；　the　wraiths　behind　them　all　turned　away；　began　riding　back　into　the　Dunnwood；　the　hounds　baying　distantly；　faint　sounds　of　laughter　and　cries　of　the　hunt　issuing　from　the　lips　of　various　lords；　and　Erden　Geboren's　horn　sounding　above　all。
　From　his　horse's　back；　Gaborn's　father　stared　across　the　valley；　as　if　glimpsing　the　living　knights　camped　in　their　fields　for　the　first　time。　For　half　a　heartbeat；　his　mouth　opened　in　dismay；　as　if　he　recalled　the　things　of　his　mortal　life；　or　as　if　he'd　just　remembered　a　troubling　dream。　Then　his　eyes　cleared；　and　he　smiled　broadly。　The　mortal　world　concerned　him　no　longer。
　He　turned　his　horse；　galloped　into　the　woods。　Then　he　was　gone。
　Gone　forever；　Gaborn　realized；　until　I　can　join　him。
　Gaborn　found　himself　weeping；　not　in　pain　or　joy；　but　in　wonder。　Last　year　as　his　father　had　camped　with　him　during　his　hunt　in　the　Dunnwood；　his　father　had　said　that　the　kings　of　Mystarria　and　Heredon　did　not　need　to　fear　the　ghosts　of　the　Dunnwood。　Now　Gaborn　understood　why。
　We　are　the　ghosts　of　the　Dunnwood；　he　realized。
　Yet　as　the　great　horde　turned　and　began　disappearing　into　the　wood；　one　rider　remained。　Erden　Geboren　stared　off　toward　Gaborn　for　a　long　minute；　his　eyes　piercing；　then　spurred　his　horse　forward。
　He　sees　me。　He　sees　me；　Gaborn　realized；　and　his　heart　pounded　in　terror；　for　everyone　knew　that　to　attract　the　gaze　of　a　wight　brought　death。
　The　great　king　moved　as　if　in　a　dream；　crossing　the　downs　in　a　seeming　heartbeat；　so　that　only　seconds　later；　Erden　Geboren　himself　sat　in　his　saddle　above　Gaborn's　head；　staring　down。
　Gaborn　gazed　up　into　the　face　of　the　wight。　He　bore　his　shield；　and　wore　armor　of　green　leather。　His　helm　was　a　simple　round　thing　of　ancient　design。
　He　stared　deep　into　Gaborn's　eyes；　in　recognition。
　Gaborn　had　imagined　that　Erden　Geboren　would　be　young；　as　in　the　songs　of　old；　that　he　would　look　noble　and　brave。　But　he　was　an　aging　man；　well　past　his　prime。
　Erden　Geboren　pointed　to　the　ground　at　Gaborn's　feet；　and　Gaborn　looked　down；　to　see　where　he　pointed。
　As　Gaborn　did；　dry　oak　leaves　in　the　grass　began　to　rustle　and　stir　in　a　slight　breeze；　drawing　upward　as　if　in　a　whirlwind；　then　suddenly　rose　high　and　twined　their　stems　together；　then　lodged　in　his　fresh…bed　hair。
　All　around　the　downs；　the　men　and　women　of　Heredon　gasped　in　wonder。
　Erden　Geboren　had　crowned　Gaborn　with　the　circlet　of　leaves。　It　was　the　ancient　symbol　of　Mystarria；　the　sign　of　the　Earth　King。　Tonight　was　the　eve　of　Hostenfest。
　Yet　among　all　the　vast　throng　of　people　gathered　there；　only　one　man　dared　call　out　from　the　fields　below；　〃All　hail　the　new　King　of　the　Earth！〃
　Gaborn　looked　up　into　the　eyes　of　the　ghost　king；　Erden　Geboren；　and　suddenly　understood　something。　He　could　mand　these　spirits。　He　could　have　manded　them　all　along。　In　rage　Gaborn　said；　〃If　you　make　me　your　king；　then　I　order　you　and　your　legions　to　do　what　you　can　to　protect　these　woods。　Raj　Ahten　has　taken　many　lives　here。　See　that　he　takes　no　more。〃
　Erden　Geboren　nodded　solemnly；　then　turned　his　pale　horse　and　rode　over　the　fields；　his　great　charger　leaping　the　fences　and　hedgerows　as　he　retreated　into　the　Dunnwood。
　In　moments；　the　sounds　of　hunting　horns　rang　suddenly　loud；　and　then　faded　again　into　the　distance　as　the　wights　departed。
　Everyone　stared　at　Gaborn；　utterly　silent。　Many　looked　troubled；　as　if　uncertain　what　had　happened；　or　unwilling　to　believe。　Others　merely　gaped　in　astonishment。　It　was　said　that　the　ancient　kings　manded　the　Dunnwood；　that　the　wood　served　them。　Gaborn　understood　now　that　it　was　the　ghosts　of　the　wood　that　had　served　his　forefathersand　now　Gaborn　had　dared　mand　them。
　Gaborn　almost　feared　to　breathe；　for　he　knew　that　whatever　he　said　this　day；　it　would　be　remembered　by　all。
　Iome　looked　up　at　Gaborn；　tears　glistening　in　her　eyes。　He　was　already　holding　her　hand；　but　now　she　squeezed　his　fingers　tightly；　her　right　hand　to　his　left。　And　she　raised　her　hand　high。
　Among　poor　people　in　both　their　kingdoms；　a　marriage　was　made　in　a　manner　similar　to　this：　the　man　and　woman　who　wanted　to　wed　would　stand　before　witnesses；　holding　hands　together；　while　a　friend　bound　them　at　the　wrist　with　a　white　ribbon。　Then　the　newlyweds　would　raise　their　hands　as　one；　for　all　to　see。
　So　everyone　understood　the　significance　of　her　gesture。　I　am　a　poor　woman；　who　wants　to　make　a　marriage。
　Gaborn　raised　her　hand　in　his　higher；　and　shouted　to　all　those　in　the　camp；　〃You　yourselves　saw　Sylvarresta　and　Orden　ride　together　now　as　they　did　in　life；　united　as　true　friends。　Seeing　as　death　cannot　divide　them；　let　our　people　not　be　divided！〃
　Everyone　in　the　camp　stood　quiet；　none　yet　daring　to　move。
　Duke　Mardon　stood　two　hundred　yards　downfield　from　them。　A　campfire　glowed　at　his　feet；　showing　his　face。　His　golden　goblet　had　recently　been　filled。　He　was　a　huge　man；　more　of　a　leader　than　any　other　in　Heredon。　A　lord　that　men　loved　and　looked　to。
　Now；　it　seemed　that　hundreds　of　eyes　turned　to　the　Duke；　seeking　sign　of　his　approval。
　Mardon　was　no　fool。　Perhaps　he　recognized　that　Heredon　needed　this　union。　Perhaps　he　had　time　to　consider　the　wealth　and　power　Mystarria　manded。　Perhaps　he　recognized　the　necessity　of　allying　himself　with　the　Earth　King。
　Yet　if　such　mercenary　thoughts　crossed　the　Duke's　mind；　they　did　not　show。　For　almost　immediately　he　raised　his　golden　goblet　in　salute　to　Gaborn；　and　a　broad　smile　creased　his　face。　He　called；　〃And；　milady；　what　say　you？〃
　Iome　clenched　Gaborn's　hand　tightly；　raised　it　higher。　She　turned　to　Gaborn　now；　and　looked　up　at　him；　the　starlight　shining　in　her　eyes。　〃For　Sylvarresta's　part；　I　accept。。。gladly。〃
　Duke　Mardon　shouted　and　raised　his　goblet　high。　〃It　seems　our　King　Sylvarresta　celebrates　Hostenfest　this　year　with　a　hunt　after　all！　Let　us　rejoice　for　him。。。and　for　his　daughter。　We　double　our　cause　for　celebration！〃　He　drained　the　cup　quickly；　and　tossed　it　far　into　the　night；　into　the　camps　of　his　troops；　to　be　the　prize　of　some　poor　soldier。
　That　action　more　than　any　other　finally　brought　a　cheer　from　the　camp；　and　endeared　Mardon　to　Gaborn　forever　after。
　　
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