srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第43部分
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Manethrall Rue returned the gesture； and added the traditional salute of farewell； touching the heels of her hands to her forehead； she bent forward and spread her arms wide as if baring her heart。 Together； the Lords answered her bow。 Then she turned and started up toward the high doors。 Covenant went with her； walking at her side awkwardly； as if he wanted and feared to take her arm。
At the top of the stairs； they stopped and faced each other。 Covenant looked at her with emotions that seemed to make the bone between his eyes bulge。 He had to strain to speak。 〃What can I…is there anything I can do…to make you Gay again？〃
〃You are young and I am old。 This journey has taken much from me。 I have few summers left。 There is nothing。〃
〃My time has a different speed。 Don't covet my life。〃
〃You are Covenant Ringthane。 You have power。 How should I not covet？〃
He ducked away from her gaze； and after a short pause she added； 〃The Ranyhyn still await your mand。 Nothing is ended。 They served you at Mount Thunder； and will serve you again…until you release them。〃 When she passed through the doors away from him； he was left staring down at his hands as if their emptiness pained him。
But after a moment he pulled himself up； and came back down the stairs to take his seat again。
For a time； there was silence in the Close。 The gathered people watched the Lords； and the Lords sat still； bending their minds in toward each other to meld their purpose and strength。 This had a calming effect on the assembly。 It was part of the mystery of being a Lord； and all the people of the Land； Stonedownor and Woodhelvennin； trusted the Lords。 As long as the Council was capable of melding and leadership； Revelstone would not be without hope。 Even Warmark Troy gained a glimpse of encouragement from this munion he could not share。
At last； the contact broke with an almost audible snap from Lord Verement； and the High Lord raised her head to the assembly。 〃My friends； warriors； servants of the Land；〃 she said； 〃now is the time of decision。 Deliberation and preparation are at an end。 War marches toward us； and we must meet it。 In this matter； the chief choice of action is upon Warmark Hile Troy。 He will mand the Warward； and
we will support it with our best strength； as the need of the Land demands。
〃But one matter pels us first…this Giant named Fleshharrower。 The question of this must be answered。〃
Roughly； Verement said； 〃The Stone does not explain。 It is not enough。 The Giants are strong…yes； strong and wise。 They would resist the Stone or evade it。〃
〃I agree；〃 said Loerya。 〃The Seareach Giants understand the peril of the Illearth Stone。 It is easier to believe that they have left the Land in search of their lost Home。〃
〃Without the Gildenlode？〃 Trevor countered unfortably。 〃That is unlikely。 And it is not it is not what Mhoram saw。〃
The other Lords turned to Mhoram； and after a moment he said； 〃No； it is not what I have seen。 Let us pray that I have seen wrongly…or wrongly understood what I have seen。 But for good or ill； this matter is beyond us at present。 We know that Korik and the Lords Hyrim and Shetra will do their uttermost for the Giants。 And we cannot send more of our strength to Seareach now； to ask how a Giant has been made to lead Lord Foul's army。 It is in my heart that we will learn that answer sooner than any of us would wish。〃
〃Very well；〃 the High Lord sighed。 〃I hear you。 Then let us now divide among ourselves the burdens of this war。〃 She looked around the Council； measuring each member against the responsibilities which lay ahead。 Then she said； 〃Lord Trevor…Lord Loerya…to you I mit the keeping of Revelstone。 It will be your task to care for the people made homeless by this war…to lay up stores and strengthen defenses against any siege that may e…to fight the last battle of the Land if we fail。 My friends； hear me。 It is a grim burden I give you。 Those who remain here may in the end require more strength than all others…for if we fall； then you must fight to the last without surrender or despair。 You will be in a strait place like that which drove High Lord Kevin to his Desecration。 I trust you to resist。 The Land must not be doomed in that way again。〃
Troy nodded to himself； her choice was a good one。 Lord Loerya would fight extravagantly； and yet would never take any action that would imperil her daughters。 And Lord Trevor would work far beyond his strength in the …conviction that he did not do as much as others could。 They accepted the High Lord's charge quietly； and she went on to other matters。
〃After the defense of Revelstone； our …concern must be for the Loresraat and Trothgard。 The Loresraat must be preserved。 And Trothgard must be held for as long as may be…as a sanctuary for the homeless； men or beasts…and as a sign that in no way do we bow to the Despiser。 Within the Valley of Two Rivers； Trothgard is defensible； though it will not be easy。 Lord Callindrill…Lord Amatin…this burden I place upon your shoulders。 Preserve Trothgard； so that the ancient name of Kurash Plenethor； Stricken Stone； will not bee the new name of our promise to the Land。〃
〃Just a minute；〃 Warmark Troy interrupted hesitantly。 〃That leaves just you； Mhoram； and Verement to go with me。 I think I'm going to need more than that。〃
Elena considered for a moment。 Then she said； 〃Lord Amatin； will you accept the burden of Trothgard alone？ Trevor and Loerya will give you all possible aid。〃
〃We fight a war；〃 Amatin replied simply。 〃It is bootless to protest that I do not suffice。 I must learn to suffice。 The Lorewardens will support me。〃
〃You will be enough；〃 responded the High Lord with a smile。 〃Very well。 Those Lords who remain Callindrill； Verement； Mhoram； and myself…will march with the Warward。 Two other matters； and then the Warmark will speak。 First Mark Morin。〃
〃High Lord。〃 Morin stood to receive her requests。
〃Morin； you are the First Mark。 You will mand the Bloodguard as your Vow requires。 Please assign to Warmark Troy every Bloodguard who can be spared from the defense of Revelstone。〃
〃Yes； High Lord。 Two hundred will join the Warmark's mand。〃
〃That is well。 Now I have another task for you。 Riders must be sent to every Stonedown and Woodhelven in the Center and South Plains； and in the hills beyond。 All the people who may live in the Despiser's path must be warned； and offered sanctuary at Trothgard if they choose to leave their homes。 And all who dwell along the southward march of the Warward must be asked for aid…food for the warriors； so that they may march more easily； carrying less。 Aliantha alone will not suffice for so many。〃
〃It will be done。 The Bloodguard will depart before moonset。〃
Elena nodded her approval。 〃No thanks can repay the Bloodguard。 You give a new name to unflawed service。 While people endure in the Land； you will be remembered for faithfulness。〃
Bowing slightly； the First Mark sat down。
The High Lord set the Staff of Law on the table before her； took her seat； and signed to Warmark Troy。 He took a deep breath； then got stiffly to his feet。 He was still groping； juggling。 But he had regained a grip on his situation； he was thinking clearly again。 Even as he started to speak； new ideas were ing into focus。
〃I'm not going to waste time apologizing for this mess I've gotten us into。 I built my strategy on the idea that we would get word of where Foul was marching in fifteen days。 Now we're five days short。 That's all there is to it。
〃Most of you know generally what I had in mind。 As far as I can learn； the Old Lords had two problems fighting Foul the simple attrition of doing battle all the way from Landsdrop； and the terrain。 The Center Plains favor whichever army is fresher and larger。 My idea was to let Foul get halfway here on his own； and meet him at the west end of the Mithil valley； where the Mithil River forms the south border of Andelain。 Then we would retreat southwest； luring Foul after us across to Doom's Retreat。 In all the legends； that's the place armies run to when they're routed。 But in fact it's a hell of a place to take on armies that are bigger and faster than you are。 The terrain…that bottleneck between the mountains gives a tremen
