srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第52部分

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　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　confusedly　questioning　the　High　Lord。　But　Elena　deferred　to　Lord　Amatin。　Stepping　into　the　circle；　Amatin　asked　Amok；　〃How　so？〃
　Amok　replied；　〃Lord；　the　white　gold　surpasses　my　purpose。　I　felt　the　sign　of　readiness　when　the　krill　of　Loric　came　to　life。　I　went　to　Revelstone。　There　I　learned　that　the　krill　was　not　awakened　by　the　Lords　of　Kevin's　Lore。　I　feared　that　I　had　erred。　But　now　I　have　traveled　the　Land；　and　seen　the　peril。　And　I　have　learned　of　the　white　gold；　which　awakened　Loric's　krill。　This　shows　the　wisdom　of　my　creation。　Though　the　conditions　of　my　life　are　not　met；　I　see　the　need；　and　I　appear。〃
　〃Are　you　changed？〃　said　Amatin。　〃Will　you　give　us　your　knowledge　now？〃
　〃I　am　who　I　am。　I　respect　the　white　gold；　but　I　am　unchanged。〃
　〃Who　is　he？〃　Corimini　insisted。
　By　answering　the　Eldest；　High　Lord　Elena　provided　Amatin　with　a　moment　in　which　to　prepare　herself。　〃He　is　Amok；　the　waiting　bearer　of　knowledge。
　He　was　made　by　High　Lord　Kevin　to…to　answer　certain　questions。　It　was　Kevin's　thought　that　when　those　who　came　after　him　had　mastered　the　krill；　they　would　be　ready　for　Amok's　knowledge。　But　we　have　not　mastered　the　krill。　We　do　not　know　the　questions。〃
　At　this；　a　breath　of　astonishment　blew　through　the　Loresraat。　But　Troy　could　see　that　the　Lorewardens　immediately　understood　the　situation　better　than　he　did。　Their　eyes　gleamed　with　possibilities　he　did　not　prehend。
　At　a　nod　from　Corimini；　the　two　Elders；　Asuraka　and　Drinishok；　entered　the　circle　and　stood　on　either　side　of　Lord　Amatin；　placing　their　knowledge　at　her　service。　She　acknowledged　them；　then　raised　her　studious　face　to　Amok　and　said；　〃Stranger；　who　are
　you？〃
　〃Lord；　I　am　what　you　see；〃　Amok　responded　cryptically。　〃Those　who　know　me　have　no　need　for　my　name。〃
　〃Who　made　you？〃
　〃High　Lord　Kevin　son　of　Loric　son　of　Damelon　son　of　Berek　Heartthew　the　Lord…Fatherer。〃
　〃Why　were　you　made？〃
　〃I　wait。　And　I　answer。〃　The　boy's　open　grin　seemed　to　mock　the　incorrectness　of　Amatin's　questions。
　Irritated　by　Amok's　riddling；　Drinishok　interposed；　〃Boy；　do　you　bear　knowledge　that　belongs　to　the　Warlore？〃
　Amok　laughed。　〃Old　man；　I　was　old　when　the　grandsire　of　your　grandsire's　grandsire　was　a　babe。　Do　I　appear　to　be　a　warrior？〃
　〃I　care　nothing　for　age；〃　the　Sword…Elder　snapped。　〃You　behave　as　a　child。〃
　〃I　am　what　I　am。　I　behave　as　I　was　made　to　behave。〃
　When　Lord　Amatin　spoke　again；　she　emphasized　her　words　intently。　〃Amok；　what　are　you？〃
　Without　hesitation；　Amok　replied；　〃I　am　the　Seventh　Ward　of　High　Lord　Kevin's　Lore。〃
　His　answer　threw　a　stunned　silence　over　the　whole　gathering。　Both　Elders　gasped；　and　Corimini　had　to
　brace　himself　on　Elena's　shoulder。　A　burst　of　wild　emotion　shot　across　Elena's　face。　Mhoram's　eyes　crackled　with　sudden；　visionary　fire。　And　Lord　Amatin　gaped…amazed　or　appalled　at　what　she　had　uncovered。　Even　Troy；　who　had　not　devoted　his　whole　life　to　the　mysteries　of　the　Wards；　felt　abruptly　unbalanced；　as　if　his　precarious　perch　had　been　jolted　by　something　inscrutable。　Then　a　ragged　cheer　sprang　up　among　the　students。　The　Lorewardens　pressed　eagerly　forward；　as　if　they　wanted　to　verify　Amok's　existence　by　touching　him。　And　through　the　clamor；　Troy　heard　High　Lord　Elena　exclaim；　〃By　the　Seven！　We　are　saved！〃
　Covenant　also　heard　her。　〃Saved？〃　he　rasped　across　the　din。　〃You　don't　even　know　what　the　Seventh　Ward　is。
　Elena　ignored　him。　She　beamed　grateful　congratulations　to　Lord　Amatin；　then　raised　her　arms　to　quiet　the　assembly。　When　some　degree　of　order　had　returned　to　the　viane；　she　said；　〃Amok；　you　are　indeed　well　made。　You　chose　wisely　in　returning　to　us。　Now　the　Despiser　does　not　overpower　us　as　much　as　he　may　think。〃
　With　an　effort；　old　Corimini　forced　himself　to　remember　his　long　experience　with　the　unattainability　of　the　Wards。　In　a　thin　voice；　he　quavered；　〃But　still　we　do　not　know　the　questions　to　unlock　this　knowledge。〃
　〃We　will　find　them；〃　Elena　responded。　Sharp　determination　thrummed　in　her　voice。
　After　a　pause　to　steady　herself；　Lord　Amatin　returned　to　her　inquiry。　〃Amok；　the　Wards　which　we　have　found　contain　various　knowledges　on　many　subjects。　It