srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第51部分

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　The　fare　of　Revelwood　was　simple　but　excellent　it　made　up　in　convivial　gusto　what　it　lacked　in　plexity…and　all　the　Lords　and　Lorewardens　were　bountifully　supplied　with　meats；　rice；　cheeses；　bread；　fruit；　and　springwine。　Warmed　by　the　glow　of　Revelwood's　wele；　the　High　Lord's　pany　ate　with　enthusiasm；　talking　and　joking　all　the　while　with　their　hosts　and　the　busy　students。　Then；　when　the　eating　was　done；　High　Lord　Elena　presided　over　an　entertainment　which　the　students　had　prepared。　Champions　of　the　Sword　gave　demonstrations　of　gymnastics　and　blade　work；　and　the　apprentices　of　the　Staff　told　an　intricate　tale　which　they　had　distilled　from　the　ancient　Giantish　story　of　Bahgoon　the　Unbearable　and　Thelma　Twofist　who　tamed　him。　Troy　had　never　heard　it　before；　and　it　delighted　him。
　He　was　reluctant　to　lose　this　pleased　and　fortable　mood；　so　when　the　Lords　left　the　hall　with　the　Lorewardens　to　speak　with　them　concerning　the　tidings　which　Runnik　had　brought　from　Sarangrave　Flat；　Troy　did　not　acpany　them。　Instead；　he　accepted　Drinishok's　invitation；　and　went　to　spend　the　night　in　the　old　Sword…Elder's　home。
　High　in　one　of　the　outer　trees；　in　a　chamber　woven　of　leaves　and　branches；　he　and　Drinishok　sat　up　for　a　long　time；　drinking　springwine　and　discussing　the　war。　Drinishok　was　excited　by　the　prospect　of　the　battle；　and　he　avowed　that　only　Revelwood's　need　for　a　strong　defense　kept　him　from　marching　with　the　Warward。　As　always；　he　showed　a　swift　grasp　of　Troy's　ideas；　and　when　the　Warmark　finally　went　to　bed　the　only　immediate　blot　on　his　private　satisfaction　was　the　mystery　of　Trell。
　The　breeze　in　the　branches　lulled　him　into　a　fine　sleep；　and　he　awoke　early　the　next　morning　feeling　eager　for　the　new　day。　He　was　amused　but　not　surprised　to　find　that　his　host　was　up　and　away　before　him；　he　knew　the　rigorous　schedule　of　the　Loresraat。　He　bathed　and　dressed；　pulled　his　high　boots　over　his　black　leggings；　and　carefully　adjusted　his　headband　and　his　sunglasses。　After　a　quick　breakfast；　he　spent　a　few　moments　polishing　his　breastplate　and　his　gleaming　ebony　sword。　When　he　was　properly　appareled　as　the　Warmark　of　the　Lords'　Warward；　he　left　Drinishok's　chambers；　moved　to　the　central　tree；　and　started　up　it　toward　the　lookout　of　Revelwood。
　On　a　small　platform　in　the　uppermost　branches　of　the　Tree；　he　joined　the　two　students　on　watch　duty。　While　he　exchanged　pleasantries　with　them；　he　breathed　the　crisp　autumn　air　and　studied　the　whole　length　and　breadth　of　the　Valley　of　Two　Rivers。　In　the　west；　he　could　see　the　snow　crests　of　the　mountains。　He　was　not　being　cautious；　looking　for　danger。　He　loved　the　fertile　hills　of　Trothgard；　and　he　wanted　to　fix　them　in　his　mind　so　that　he　would　never　forget　them。　If　something　were　to　strike　him　down　during　the　ing　war；　he　wanted　to　be　sure　to　the　very　end；　death　or　blindness；　that　he　had　in　fact　seen　this　place。
　He　was　still　in　the　lookout　when　he　heard　the　signal　for　the　gathering　of　the　Loresraat。
　At　once；　he　took　leave　of　the　two　students；　and　started　down　the　Tree。　Shortly；　he　reached　the　wide；　roofless　bowl　of　the　gathering　place。　High　in　the　city；　on　a　frame　of　four　heavy　boughs　radiating　from　the　central　trunk；　the　shapers　of　Revelwood　had　woven
　an　immense　net　of　banyan　roots　and　hung　it　around　the　central　trunk。　It　formed　a　wide　basin　supported　by　the　four　boughs　and　anchored　by　the　roots　themselves　in　each　of　the　six　outer　trees。　The　result　was　the　viane；　a　meeting　place　large　enough　for　half　the　population　of　the　city。　People　sat　on　the　roots　and　dangled　their　feet　through　the　gaps　of　the　net。
　These　gaps　were　rarely　larger　than　a　foot　square；　but　they　made　the　viane　；an　uneasy　experience　for　novices。　However；　the　people　of　Revelwood　moved　and　even　ran　lightly　over　the　net。　Warmark　Troy；　with　a　blind　man's　alert；　careful　feet；　was　able　to　walk　confidently　away　from　the　central　trunk　to　join　Drinishok　and　the　other　Sword　Lorewardens　where　they　stood　partway　up　one　side　of　the　bowl。
　Lord　Amatin　was　already　there；　talking　intently　with　a　cluster　of　Staff　Lorewardens　and　advanced　students。　Most　of　the　Bloodguard　were　stationed　around　the　edge　of　the　net；　and　past　them　came　a　steady　flow　of　Revelwood's　inhabitants。　As　Troy　joined　Drinishok；　he　caught　sight　of　Lord　Mhoram　moving　across　the　bowl　toward　Amatin。　If　the　viane　caused　Mhoram　any　anxiety；　he　did　not　show　it；　he　strode　boldly　from　root　to　root　with　his　staff　held　in　the　crook　of　his　arm。
　Soon　High　Lord　Elena　arrived　in　the　pany　of　the　Staff…Elder；　Asuraka。　Troy　was　taken　slightly　aback；　he　had　expected　her　to　be　with　Corimini；　the　Eldest　of　the　Loresraat。　But　when　Corimini　entered　the　bowl；　he　brought　with　him　ur…Lord　Covenant。　Troy　saw　what　had　happened。　The　Loresraat　ranked　Covenant　above　Elena；　and　so　the　highest　honor　of　Revelwood's　hospitality；　the　invitation　of　the　Eldest；　had　gone　to　the　Unbeliever。　This　nettled　Troy；　he　did　not　like　to　see　the　High　Lord　slighted　in　favor　of　Covenant。　But　he　consoled　himself　by　watching　the　sick　look　with　which　Covenant　regarded　the　net　and　fall　below　it。
　Shortly　all　the　Lorewardens　were　in　their　places。　The　sides　of　the　viane；　and　the　branches　overhead；　thronged　with　the　people　of　Revelwood。　Covenant　clung　to　a　root　over　one　of　the　supporting　boughs；　and　Bar　or　crouched　protectively　near　him。
　The　Lords　and　Warmark　Troy　sat　in　a　fanned　group　with　the　Elder　Lorewardens；　facing　south；　and　Corimini　stood　before　them；　looking　out　over　the　assembly　with　a　dignified　mien。　When　all　the　people　were　still；　hushed　and　expectant；　he　began　the　…ceremonies　of　the　meeting。
　He　and　the　High　Lord　exchanged　traditional　salutations；　and　sang　to　each　other　the　ritual　invocations　which　they　considered　appropriate　to　the　purpose　of　the　meeting。　Their　stately　alternation　spun　a　mood　of　reverent　seriousness　over　the　viane；　wrapped　all　the　people　together　as　if　it　were　weaving　them　into　the　grim　and　wondrous　history　of　the　Land。　Under　the　influence　of　the　ceremonies；　Troy　was　almost　able　to　forget　that　half　of　what　was　said　and　sung　was　intended　to　honor'　the　white　gold　wielder。
　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…E