srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第58部分

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　But　Covenant　did　not　look　as　if　he　were　being　honored。　He　sat　with　an　awkward　stiffness；　as　if　the　point　of　a　knife　were　pressed　against　his　spine。
　After　the；　last　song　was　done；　Corimini　gazed　at　Covenant　in　silence；　giving　the　Unbeliever　a　chance　to　speak。　But　the　glare　which　Covenant　returned　almost　made　the　Eldest　wince。　He　turned　away；　and　said；　〃High　Lord　Elena；　Lord　Mhoram；　Lord　Amatin；　Warmark　Troy；　be　wele　in　the　viane　of　Revelwood。　We　are　the　Loresraat；　the　seekers　and　servants　of　Kevin's　Lore。　We　gather　to　honor　you…and　to　offer　you　the　help　of　all　our　knowledge　in　the　name　of　the　approaching　war。　The　preservation　of　Land　and　Lore　is　in　your　hands；　as　the　mystery　of　Land　and　Lore　is　in　ours。　If　there　is　any　way　in　which　we　may　aid　you；　only　speak　of　it；　and　we　will　put　forth　all　our　strength　to　meet　the　need。〃
　With　a　deep　bow；　High　Lord　Elena　replied　formally；　〃The　gathering　of　the　Loresraat　honors　us；　and　I　am　honored　to　speak　before　the　people　of　Revelwood。〃　Troy　thought　that　he　had　rarely　seen　her　look　more　radiant。　〃Eldest；　Elders；　Lorewardens；　students　of　the　Sword　and　Staff；　friends　of　the　Land　my　friends；　in　the　name　of　all　the　Lords；　I　thank　you。　We　will　never　be　defeated　while　such　faithfulness　is　alive　in　the　Land。
　〃My　friends；　there　are　matters　of　which　I　would　speak。　I　do　not　speak　of　the　danger　that　war　brings　to　Revelwood。　The　Lore　of　the　Sword　will　not　neglect　your　defense。　And　Lord　Amatin　will　remain　with　you；　to　do　all　that　a　Lord　may　do　to　preserve　the　Valley　of　Two　Rivers。〃
　A　cheer　started　up　on　the　edges　of　the　bowl；　but　she　stopped　it　with　a　manding　glance；　and　went　on；　〃More；　I　do　not　speak　of　Stonedowns　and　Woodhelvens　which　will　be　destroyed　by　war…or　of　people　made　homeless。　I　know　that　the　dispossessed　of　this　war　will　find　here　all　fort　and　relief　and　restitution　that　human　hearts　may　ask　or　give。　This　is　sure；　and　requires　no　urging。
　〃More；　I　do　not　speak　of　any　need　for　mastery　of　Kevin's　Lore。　You　have　given　your　best　strength；　and　have　achieved　much。　You　will　give　and　achieve　more。　All　these　matters　are　secure　in　your　fidelity。
　〃But　there　are　two　questions　of　which　I　must　speak。〃　A　change　in　the　cadence　of　her　voice　showed　that　she　was　approaching　the　heart　of　her　reasons　for　ing　to　Revelwood。　〃The　second　concerns　a　stranger　who　has　visited　Lord's　Keep。　But　the　first　is　one　which　was　presented　to　you　a　year　ago…at　the　request　of　Warmark　Hile　Troy。〃　She　offered　Troy　a　chance　to　speak；　but　he　declined　with　a　shake　of　his　head；　and　she　continued；　〃It　is　our　hope　that　the　Loresraat　has　discovered　a　way　to　speak　and　hear　messages　across　distances。　The　Warmark　believes　that　such　a　way　will　be　of　great　value　in　this　war。〃
　Cormini's　look　of　satisfaction　revealed　his　answer　before　he　spoke　it。　〃High　Lord；　we　have　learned　a　way。〃　Troy's　heart　surged　at　the　news；　and　he　gripped　the　handle　of　his　sword。　His　battle　plan　appeared　suddenly　flawless。　He　was　grinning　broadly　as　the　Eldest　went　on；　〃Several　of　our　best　students　and　Lorewardens　have　devoted　themselves　to　this　need。　And　they　were　aided　by　Hirebrands　of　the　lillianrill。　With　the　Hirebrands　and　two　students；　Staff…Elder　Asuraka　learned　that　messages　may　be　spoken　and　heard　through　lomillialor；　the　High　Wood　of　the　lillianrill。　The　task　is　difficult；　and　requires　strength
　but　it　will　not　surpass　any　Lord　accustomed　to　the　Earthpower。〃　Nodding　at　the　Staff…Elder；　he　said；　〃Asuraka　will　teach　the　knowledge　to　you。　We　have　prepared　three　lomillialor　rods　for　this　purpose。　More　we　could　not　do；　for　the　High　Wood　is　very　rare。〃
　Lomillialor。　Troy　had　heard　of　it。　It　was　the　lillianrill　parallel　to　orcrest…a　potent　white　wood　descended　from　the　One　Tree　from　which　Berek　Halfhand　had　formed　the　Staff　of　Law。　The　Hirebrands　used　it…as　the　Gravelingases　used　orcrest…to　give　the　test　of　truth。　Lomillialor　was　said　to　be　a　sure　test　of…　fidelity…if　the　one　tested　did　not　far　surpass　the　strength　of　the　tester。　Some　of　the　old　tales　of　Covenant's　first　visit　to　the　Land　said　that　the　Unbeliever　had　passed　a　test　of　truth　given　to　him　at　Soaring　Woodhelven。
　And　Soaring　Woodhelven　had　later　been　destroyed。
　As　Troy　got　up　to　join　Elena　in　thanking　the　Loresraat　for　what　it　had　achieved；　he　looked　over　to　see　how　Covenant　took　Corimini's　news。
　For　some　reason；　the　Unbeliever　was　on　his　feet。　Swaying　uncertainly；　afraid　of　falling；　he　muttered；　〃Lomillialor。　The　test　of　truth。　Are　you　going　to　trust　that？〃
　A　hot　retort　leaped　into　Troy's　mouth；　but　something　about　Covenant's　appearance　silenced　it。　Troy　blocked　his　sight　with　his　hand；　adjusted　his　sunglasses；　then　looked　again。　The　strangeness　was　still　there。
　Covenant's　chest　seemed　to　ripple　like　roiled　water。　He　was　solid；　but　something　disturbed　the　center　of　his　chest；　making　it　waver　like　a　mirage。
　Troy　had　seen　an　effect　like　this　once　before。　He　glanced　quickly　away　toward　the　High　Lord。　She　regarded　him　with　a　question　in　her　face。　Nothing　distorted　her。　The　rippling　touched　no　one　else　in　the　viane。　And　even　Covenant　seemed　unaware　of　it。　But　the　Bloodguard　around　the　bowl　stood　as　if　at　attention；　and　Bannor　held　himself　at　Covenant's　side　with　a　coiled　poise　that　belied　his　blank　expression。
　Then　Troy　saw　the　area　of　distortion　detach　itself　from　Covenant　and　float　lazily　toward　the　High　Lord。
　The　other　time　he　had　seen　it；　it　had　appeared　so　briefly；　with　such　evanescence；　that　he　had　finally　disregarded　it　as　a　trick　of　his　vision；　a　misconception。　But　now　he　knew　what　it　was。
　He　bowed　deliberately　to　Corimini。　〃Forgive　the　interruption。　I　forget　what　I　was　going　to　say。〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　addressed　Elena。　He　hoped　that　she　would　understand　him　through　the　careful　nonchalance　of　his　tone。　〃Why　don't　you　go　ahead？　There　was　something　else　you　wanted　to　talk　to　the　Loresraat　about。〃　While　he　spoke；　he　took　a　few　steps　in　her　direction；　as　if　this　were　a　natural　expression　of　deference。　On　the　edges　of　his　sight；　he　watched　the　mirage　float　toward　her。
　He　turned　to　get　closer　to　it。
　He　faced　Covenant　in　a　way　that　allowed　him　to　take　two　more　steps；　and　remarked　pointedly；　〃You　know；　it　just　might　turn　out　that　that　white　gold　of　yours　has　been　good　for　something　after　all。〃　Some　of　his　excitement　forced　its　way　into　his　tone。
　The　next　instant；　he　sprang　into　motion。　He　took　three　rapid　strides；　and　threw　himself　at　the　roiling　distortion　in　the　air。
　It　tried　to　evade　him；　but　he　caught　it　in　time。　He　hit　it　with　a　jarring　impact；　and　toppled　to　the　net　with　it　in　his　arms。
　It　struggled…he　could　feel　invisible　arms　and　legs　…but　he　kept　his　grip。　He　tightened　his　hold　until　the　form　stopped　resisting　and　lay　still。　When　he　heaved　himself　to　his　feet；　he　lifted　the　light；　limp　weight　easily　in　his　arms。
　〃All　right；　my　friend；〃　he　gritted　at　it。　〃Show　yourself。　Or　shall　I　ask　the　High　Lord　to　tickle　your　ribs　with　the　Staff　of　Law？〃
　Covenant　was　staring　at　Troy　as　if　the　Warmark　had　lost　his　mind。　But　Lord　Amatin　watched　him　avidly；　and　the　High　Lord　moved　forward　as　if　to　support　his　threat。
　A　peal　of　high；　young　laughter　rang　out。　〃Ah；　very　well；〃　said　a　bodiless　voice　bubbling　with　gaiety。　〃I　am　captured。　You　have　surprising　vision。　Release　me　…I　will　not　escape。〃
　The　air　swirled　suddenly；　and　Amok　became　visible　in　Troy's　grasp。　He　was　the　same　incongruously　ancient　youth　who　had　appeared　before　the　Council　of　Lords　in　Revelstone。
　〃Hail；　High　Lord！〃　he　said　cheerfully。　When　Troy　let　go　of　him；　he　bowed　humorously　to　her；　then　turned　and　repeated　his　bow　to　his　captor。　〃Hail；　Warmark！　You　are　perceptive…but　rough。　Is　this　the　hospitality　of　Revelwood？〃　Glee　filled　his　voice；　effaced　any　reproof　in　his　words。　〃Your　strength　was　not　needed。　I　am　here。〃　。
　〃By　hell；〃　Covenant　muttered。　〃By　hell。〃
　〃Indeed？〃　said　Amok　with　a　boyish　grin　that　seemed　to　light　up　the　laughing　curls　of　his　hair。　〃Well；　that　is　not　for　me　to　say。　But　I　am　well　made。　You　bear　the　white　gold。　It　is　for　your　sake　that　I　have　returned。〃
　All　the　people　of　Revelwood　had　surged　to　their　feet　when　Amok　appeared；　and　the　Lorewardens　now　stood　in　a　ready　circle　around　the　Warmark　and　his　captive。　Both　Corimini　and　Asuraka　were　confu