df.therunelords-第49部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ke　the　sun；　his　voice　as　unperturbable　as　the　sea。
　All　night　long；　Raj　Ahten's　troops　had　been　marshaling　the　richest　of　the　local　merchants　into　the　keep；　seeking　tributes　of　gold　and　endowments。　The　people　gave　to　him　whatever　he　asked；　would　give　all　that　they　had。
　Thus；　Raj　Ahten　had　finally　heard　the　name　of　the　young　man　who　had　killed　his　giants；　his　outriders；　and　mastiffs　on　his　errand　to　warn　King　Sylvarresta　of　the　impending　invasion。　Even　now；　Raj　Ahten's　trackers　scoured　the　Dunnwood；　searching　for　young　Prince　Orden。
　King　Sylvarresta　sat　on　the　floor　at　Raj　Ahten's　feet。　His　neck　had　been　tied　to　the　foot　of　the　throne；　and　King　Sylvarresta；　with　all　the　naivete　of　a　kitten；　kept　pulling　at　the　rope；　trying　to　chew　it　in　half。　The　idea　of　untying　himself　did　not　occur　to　the　King。　Iome　watched　her　father　at　Raj　Ahten's　feet；　and　even　to　her；　Raj　Ahten　seemed　great。　His　glamour　so　affected　her　that　somehow　she　felt　it　fitting　that　her　father　should　be　there。　Other　kings　kept　dogs　or　great　cats　at　their　feet　as　pets。　But　Raj　Ahten　was　more　than　a　mon　leader。　He　deserved　to　have　kings　at　his　feet。
　At　Raj　Ahten's　side　stood　his　personal　guard；　two　counselors；　and　the　fifth　of　his　flameweavers；　a　woman　whose　very　presence　made　Iome　tremble；　for　she　could　sense　the　flameweaver's　power。　She　wore　a　midnight…blue　robe；　loosely　tied　over　her　naked　body。　And　she　stood　now　before　a　silver　brazier；　like　a　large　platter　on　a　pedestal；　on　which　she　had　placed　twigs　and　knots　of　fiery　wood。　The　green　flames　rose　some　three　or　four　feet　above　the　brazier。
　Once　that　night；　the　woman　had　looked　up　from　her　brazier；　her　eyes　shining　with　fierce　delight；　and　said　to　Raj　Ahten；　〃Good　news；　O　Shining　One；　your　assassins　seem　to　have　slaughtered　King　Gareth　Arrooley　of　Internook。　His　light　no　longer　shines　in　the　earth。〃
　On　hearing　this；　Iome　felt　awed。　So　Raj　Ahten　was　attacking　more　than　one　king　of　the　North。　She　wondered　at　the　depth　of　his　plans。　Perhaps　we　are　all　fools　pared　with　him；　she　thought；　as　ignorant　as　my　father　tied　at　Raj　Ahten's　feet。
　Now　Raj　Ahten　gazed　down　at　Binnesman　in　the　light　thrown　from　the　pyromancer's　brazier；　and　thoughtfully　scratched　at　his　beard。
　〃What　is　your　name？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked　the　wizard。
　Binnesman　looked　up；　〃My　name　is　Binnesman。〃
　〃Ah；　Binnesman。　I　know　your　work　well。　I've　read　your　herbals。〃　Raj　Ahten　smiled　at　him；　patiently；　glanced　up　at　the　pyromancer。　〃You　bring　him　in　chains？　I　would　not　have　it　so。　He　seems　harmless。〃
　The　flameweaver　beside　the　Wolf　Lord　gazed　at　Binnesman　as　if　in　a　trance；　eyes　unfocused；　staring　past　him；　as　if　she　sought　to　work　up　the　nerve　to　kill　him。
　〃Harmless　enough；　Your　Lordship；〃　Binnesman　answered　in　a　strong　voice。　Though　he　still　crouched　on　all　fours；　he　watched　the　Wolf　Lord　casually。
　〃You　may　rise；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。
　Binnesman　nodded；　struggled　to　his　feet；　though　his　chains　kept　him　bowed　so　he　could　not　raise　his　neck。　Now　Iome　could　see　more　clearly　that　he　wore　manacles　at　his　feet；　that　his　hands　were　cuffed；　and　that　a　short；　heavy　iron　chain　led　from　manacles　to　cuffs　to　neck。　Though　Binnesman　could　not　stand　upright；　the　bowed　stance　did　not　bother　him。　He'd　hunched　over　plants　for　so　many　years；　his　back　had　bee　stooped。
　〃Beware　of　him；　my　lord；〃　the　pyromancer　at　Raj　Ahten's　side　whispered。　〃He　has　great　power。〃
　〃Hardly；〃　Binnesman　chided。　〃You've　destroyed　my　garden；　the　work　of　master　gardeners　for　over　five　hundred　years。　The　herbs　and　spices　I'd　have　harvested　are　all　lost。　You　are　known　as　a　pragmatic　man；　Raj　Ahten。　Surely　you　know　these　were　things　of　no　small　benefit！〃
　Raj　Ahten　smiled　somewhat　playfully。　〃I'm　sorry　my　sorcerers　destroyed　your　garden。　But　we　haven't　destroyed　you；　have　we？　You　can　grow　another　garden。　I　have　some　fine　gardens；　near　my　villas　and　palaces　in　the　South。　Trees　from　the　far　corners　of　the　world；　rich　soil；　plentiful　water。〃
　Binnesman　shook　his　head。　〃Never。　I　can　never　have　another　garden　like　the　one　you　burned。　It　was　my　heart。　You　see。。。〃　He　clutched　at　his　robes。
　Raj　Ahten　leaned　forward。　〃I'm　sorry。　It　was　necessary　to　clip　your　wings；　Earth　Warden。〃　He　spoke　this　title　with　solemnity；　with　more　respect　than　he'd　shown　anyone　else　this　night。　〃And　yet；　Master　Binnesman；　I　truly　did　not　want　to　harm　you。　There　are　few　notable　Earth　Wardens　in　the　world；　and　I've　tested　the　efficacy　of　the　herbs　that　each　of　your　kind　grows；　studied　the　ointments　and　infusions　you　provide。　You；　Binnesman；　are　the　master　of　your　craft；　of　that　I　am　sure。　You　deserve　greater　honor　than　you　have　been　accorded。　You　should　be　serving　as　hearthmaster　in　the　Room　of　Earth　Powers　in　the　House　of　Understandingnot　that　fraud　Hoewell。〃
　Iome　marveled。　Even　in　far　Indhopal；　Raj　Ahten　knew　of　Binnesman's　work。　The　Wolf　Lord　seemed　almost　omniscient　to　her。
　Binnesman　watched　him　from　beneath　bushy　brows。　The　wrinkled　lines　of　Binnesman's　face　were　wise；　and　after　years　of　smiling；　made　him　look　kind　and　soft。　But　there　was　no　kindness　behind　his　eyes。　Iome　had　seen　him　smash　bugs　in　his　garden　with　that　calculating　gaze。　〃The　honors　of　men　do　not　interest　me。〃
　〃Then　what　does　interest　you？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　When　Binnesman　did　not　answer；　he　said　softly；　〃Will　you　serve　me？〃
　The　tone　of　voice；　the　subtle　inflections；　were　all　such　that　many　another　man　would　have　prostrated　themselves。
　〃I　serve　no　king；〃　Binnesman　answered。
　〃You　served　Sylvarresta；〃　Raj　Ahten　gently　reminded　him；　〃just　as　he　serves　me　now！〃
　〃Sylvarresta　was　my　friend；　never　my　master。〃
　〃You　served　his　people。　You　served　him　as　a　friend。〃
　〃I　serve　the　earth；　and　all　people　on　it；　Lord　Raj。〃
　〃Then　will　you　give　yourself　to　me？〃
　Binnesman　gave　him　a　scolding　look；　as　if　Raj　Ahten　were　a　child　caught　doing　wrong　when　he　knew　better。　〃Do　you　desire　my　service　as　a　man；　or　as　a　wizard？〃
　〃As　a　wizard。〃
　〃Then；　alas；　Lord　Raj；　I　cannot　take　a　vow　to　serve　you；　for　it　would　diminish　my　powers。〃
　〃How　so？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　〃I've　vowed　to　serve　the　earth；　and　no　other；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I　serve　the　trees　in　their　hour　of　need；　as　well　as　the　fox　and　the　hare。　I　serve　men　with　no　greater　and　no　less　devotion　than　I　serve　other　creatures。　But　if　I　break　my　vow　to　serve　the　earth；　if　I　seek　instead　to　serve　you；　my　powers　would　perish。
　〃You　have　many　men　who　will　serve　you；　or　who　will　serve　themselves　in　your　interest；　Raj　Ahten。　Content　yourself　with　them。〃
　Iome　wondered　at　Binnesman's　words。　He　lied　now；　she　knew。　He　did　serve　men　more　than　animals。　He'd　once　told　her　it　was　his　weakness；　this　peculiar　devotion　to　mankind。　In　his　eyes；　it　made　him　unworthy　of　his　master。　Iome　feared　that　Raj　Ahten　would　see　through　the　lies；　punish　Binnesman。
　The　Wolf　Lord's　beautiful　face　was　untroubled；　and　it　seemed　to　Iome　to　be　full　of　kindness。
　Binnesman　said　softly　to　Raj　Ahten；　〃You　understand；　as　a　Runelord；　you　must　care　for　your　Dedicates；　or　else　in　time　they　would　starve　or　sicken。　If　they　died；　you　would　lose　the　powers　you　draw　from　them。〃
　〃The　same　principles　apply　to　me。。。or　to　your　flameweavers。　See　how　they　feed　the　fire；　knowing　they　will　gain　strength　from　it　in　return？〃
　〃Milord；〃　the　flameweaver　at　Raj　Ahten's　side　whispered；　〃let　me　kill　him。　The　flames　show　that　he　is　a　danger。　He　helped　Prince　Orden　escape　from　his　garden。　He　supports　your　enemies。　The　light　within　him　is　against　you。〃
　Raj　Ahten　touched　the　flameweaver's　hand；　calming　her；　asking；　〃Is　it　so？　Did　you　help　the　Prince　escape？〃
　Don't　answer　him；　Iome　wanted　to　shout。　Don't　answer。
　But　Binnesman　merely　shrugged。　〃He　had　a　wound。　I　tended　it；　as　I　would　if　he　were　a　rabbit　or　a　crow。　Then　I　pointed　his　way　into　the　Dunnwood；　so　he　could　hide。〃
　〃Because？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　〃Because　your　soldiers　want　him　dead；〃　the　herbalist　answered。　〃I　serve　life。　Your　life；　your　enemy's　life。　I　serve　life；　as　surely　as　you　serve　death。〃
　〃I　do　not　serve　death。　I　serve　mankind；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　calmly。　His　eyes　hardly　narrowed；　but　his　face　suddenly　seemed　harder；　more　passionless。
　〃Fire　consumes；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Certainly；　when　you　surround　yourself　with　so　many　flameweavers；　you　too　must　feel　thei