srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第56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！


oresraat。
　It　was　an　immense　and　expansive　banyan。　Invoked　and　strengthened　by　the　new　knowledge　of　the　Second　Ward；　and　by　the　Staff　of　Law；　it　grew　to　the　height　of　a　mighty　oak；　sent　down　roots　as　thick　as　hawsers　from　boughs　as　broad　as　walkways…roots　which　formed　new　trunks　with　new　boughs　and　new　roots…and　spread　out　in　the　valley　until　the　central　core　of　the　first　tree　was　surrounded　by　six　others；　all　intergrown；　part　of　each　other；　the　fruit　of　one　seed。
　Once　these　seven　trunks　were　established；　the　shapers　of　the　tree　prevented　any　more　of　the　hanging　roots　from　reaching　the　ground；　and　instead　wove　the　thick　bundles　into　chambers　and　rooms…homes　and　places　of　study　for　the　students　and　teachers　of　the　Loresraat。　Three　of　the　outer　trees　had　been　similarly　woven　before　their　roots　found　the　soil；　and　so　now　their　trunks　contained　cavities　large　enough　for　meeting　halls　and　libraries。　On　the　sheltered　acres　of　ground　beneath　the　trees　were　gardens　and　practice　fields；　training　areas　for　the　students　of　both　Staff　and　Sword。　And　above　the　main　massive　limbs　of　the
　trees；　the　lesser　branches　had　been　trained　and　shaped　for　leaf…roofed　dwellings　and　open　platforms。
　Revelwood　was　a　thriving　city；　amply　supplied　by　the　fertile　lowlands　of　Trothgard；　and　the　Loresraat　was　busier　now　than　at　any　other　time　in　its　history。　The　Lorewardens　and　apprentices　of　the　Sword　and　Staff　did　all　the　work　of　the　city…all　the　cooking；　farming；　herding；　cleaning…but　they　were　not　its　only　inhabitants。　A　band　of　lillianrill　lived　there　to　care　for　the　tree　itself。　Visitors　came　from　all　over　the　Land。　Villages　sent　emissaries　to　seek　knowledge　from　the　Lorewardens；　Hirebrands　came　to　study　the　Tree；　and　Gravelingases　used　Revelwood　as　a　dwelling　from　which　to　visit　the　rock　gardens。　And　the　Lords　worked　there　to　keep　their　promises　to　the　Land。
　As　the　riders　looked　down　at　it；　its　broad；　glossy　leaves　caught　the　orange…red　fire　of　the　sun；　so　that　it　appeared　to　burn　proudly　above　the　shadows　spreading　down　the　valley。　The　pany　responded　to　the　sight　with　a　glad　hail。　Clapping　their　heels　to　their　mounts；　they　galloped　down　the　slope　toward　the　ford　of　the　Llurallin。
　In　the　time　when　Revelwood　was　being　grown；　the　Lords　had　been　mindful　of　its　defense。　They　had　made　only　two　fords　for　the　valley；　one　across　each　river。　And　the　ford　beds　were　submerged；　they　had　to　be　raised　before　they　could　be　used。　All　the　High　Lord's　pany　except　Covenant　had　the　necessary　knowledge　and　skill；　so　Troy　was　vaguely　surprised　when　Elena　halted　on　the　riverbank；　and　gravely　asked　Trell　to　open　the　ford。　Troy　understood　that　she　was　doing　the　Gravelingas　an　honor；　but　he　did　not　know　why。　Her　gesture　deepened　the　mystery　of　Trell。
　Without　meeting　her　gaze；　Trell　dismounted；　and　walked　to　the　Llurallin's　edge。　At　first；　he　did　not　appear　to　know　the　ford's　secret。　Troy　had　learned　a　few　quick　words　in　a　strange　language　and　two　gestures　to　raise　the　bed；　but　Trell　used　none　of　them。　He　stood　on　the　bank　as　if　he　were　presenting　himself　to　the　deep　current；　and　began　to　sing　a　rumbling；　cryptic　song。　The　rest　of　the　pany　watched　him　in　hushed　stillness。　Troy　could　not　grasp　the
　words　of　the　song；　but　he　felt　their　effect。　They　had　an　old；　buried；　cavernous　sound；　as　if　they　were　being　sung　by　the　bedrock　of　the　valley。　For　a　moment；　they　made　him　want　to　weep。
　But　soon　Trell's　singing　stopped。　In　silence；　he　lifted　his　arms…and　the　flat　rock　of　the　ford　stood　up　out　of　the　river　bottom。　It　broke　water　in　sections　with　channels　between　them　so　that　it　did　not　dam　the　current。　By　the　time　it　was　ready　for　crossing；　it　was　as　dry　as　if　it　had　never　been　submerged。
　With　his　head　bowed；　；　Trell　walked　back　to　his　mount。
　When　the　last　horse　had　crossed　the　river；　and　all　the　pany　was　within　the　valley；　the　ford　closed　itself　without　any　of　the　usual　signals。
　Troy　was　impressed。　Remembering　Trell's　attack　on　Covenant；　he　thought　that　the　Unbeliever　was　lucky　to　be　alive。　And　he　began　to　feel　that　he　would　be　well　advised　to　solve　the　riddle　of　Trell　before　he　left　Trothgard。
　But　he　could　do　nothing　immediately。　The　last　twilight　was　ebbing　out　of　the　valley　as　if　the　river　currents　carried　the　light　away；　and　he　had　to　concentrate　to　keep　a　grip　on　his　own　location。　The　Lorewardens　lit　torches；　but　torchlight　could　not　take　the　place　of　the　sun。　Focusing　himself　sternly；　he　rode　between　Lord　Mhoram　and　Ruel　across　the　valley　toward　Revelwood。
　The　High　Lord's　pany　was　met　on　the　ground　near　the　Tree　by　a　weling　group　of　Lorewardens。　They　greeted　the　Lords　with　solemn　dignity；　and　embraced　their　rades　who　returned　from　visiting　Lord's　Keep。　To　Warmark　Troy；　whom　they　knew　well；　they　gave　a　special　wele。　But　when　they　caught　sight　of　Covenant；　they　all　turned　toward　him。　Squaring　their；　shoulders　as　if　to　meet　an　inspection；　they　saluted　him；　and　said　together；　〃Hail；　white　gold　wielder！…you　who　are　named　ur…Lord　Thomas　Covenant；　Unbeliever　and　Ringthane。　Be　wele　in　Revelwood！　You　are　the　crux　and　pivot　of　our　age　in　the　Land…the　keeper　of　the　wild　magic　which　destroys　peace。　Honor　us　by　accepting　our　hospitality。〃
　Troy　expected　some　disforting　sarcasm　from　Covenant。　But　the　Unbeliever　replied　in　a　gruff；　embarrassed　voice；　〃Your　hospitality　honors　me。〃
　The　Lorewardens　bowed　in　answer；　and　their　leader　stepped　forward。　He　was　an　old；　wrinkled　man　with　hooded　eyes　and　a　stooped　posture…the　result　of　decades　of　back…bending　study。　His　voice　had　a　slight　tremor　of　age。　〃I　am　Corimini；〃　he　said；　〃the　Eldest　of　the　Loresraat。　I　speak　for　all　the　seekers　of　the　Lore；　both　Sword　and　Staff。　The　accepting　of　a　gift　returns　honor　to　the　giver。　Be　wele。〃　As　he　spoke；　he　held　out　his　hand　to　help　Covenant　dismount。
　But　Covenant　either　misunderstood　the　gesture　or　went　beyond　it　intuitively。　Instead　of　swinging　off　his　mount；　he　brusquely　pulled　his　wedding　band　from　his　left　hand　and　dropped　it　into　Corimini's　extended　palm。
　The　Eldest　caught　his　breath；　a　look　of　astonishment　widened　his　eyes。　Almost　at　once；　he　turned　to　show　the　ring　to　the　other　Lorewardens。　With　muted　awed　murmurings　of　invocation　like　low　snatches　of　prayer；　they　crowded　around　Corimini　to　gaze　at　the　white　gold；　and　to　handle　it　with　fingers　that　trembled。
　But　their　touches　were　brief。　Shortly　Corimini　returned　to　Covenant。　The　Eldest's　eyes　were　damp　with　emotion；　and　his　hand　shook　as　he　passed　the　ring　back　up　to　the　Unbeliever。　〃Ur…Lord　Covenant；〃　he　said　with　a　pronounced　quaver；　〃you　exceed　us。　We　will　need　many　generations　to　repay　this　honor。　mand　us；　so　that　we　may　serve　you。〃
　〃I　don't　need　service；〃　Covenant　replied　bluntly。　〃I　need　an　alternative。　Find　some　way　to　save　the　Land　without　me。〃
　〃I　do　not　wholly　understand　you；〃　said　Corimini。　〃All　our　strength　is　bent　toward　the　preservation　of　the　Land。　If　that　may　aid　you　also；　we　will　be　pleased。〃　Facing　the　pany　of　the　Lords　more　generally；　he　went　on；　〃Will　you　now　enter　Revelwood　with　us？　We　have　prepared　food　and　pleasure　for　you。〃
　High　Lord　Elena　made　a　gracious　answer；　and　dropped　lightly　from　Myrha's　back。　The　rest　of　the
　riders　promptly　dismounted。　At　once；　a　group　of　Students　hurried　out　of　the　shadows　of　the　Tree　to　take　charge　of　the　horses。　Then　the　pany　was　escorted　through　the　ring　of　trunks　toward　the　central　tree。　Many　lights　had　appeared　throughout　Revelwood；　and　their　bined　illumination　ameliorated　the　dimness　of　Troy's　sight。　He　was　able　to　walk　confidently　with　the　Lords；　and　to　look　up　with　fondness　into　the　branches　of　the　familiar　city。　In　some　ways；　he　felt　more　at　home　here　than　in　Lord's　Keep。　In　Revelwood　he　had　learned　to　see。　。
　And　he　felt　that　Revelwood　also　suited　the　High　Lord。　The　two　were　inextricably　linked　for　him。　He　was　gratified　by　her　just　preeminence；　her　glow　of　gentle　authority；　and　her　easy　grace　as　she　swung　up　the　wide　ladder　of　the　central　trunk。　Under　her　influence；　he　found　the　fortitude　to　give　Covenant　a　word　of　encouragement　when　the　Unbeliever　balked　at　climbing　into　the　Tree。
　〃You　don't　understand；〃　Covenant　responded　vaguely。　〃I'm　afraid　of　heights。〃　With　a　look　of　rigid　trepidation；　he　forced　his　hands　to　the　rungs　of　the　ladder。