df.therunelords-第102部分

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d　marched　to　his　horse；　executing　the　order　without　plaint。
　Gaborn　went　to　Iome；　pulled　off　his　right　gauntlet；　and　let　his　hand　rest　on　her　shoulder。　She　seemed　so　slight；　so　frail　beneath　the　thin　cotton　of　her　dress。　He　could　not　imagine　that　she'd　hold　up　under　the　pressure　she　now　felt。
　She　no　longer　looked　as　beautiful　as　the　first　star　of　evening。　She　no　longer　looked　wretched。　Her　only　glamour　now　was　her　own；　and　Gaborn　could　not　have　loved　her　any　more　than　he　did　at　this　moment；　could　not　have　longed　to　hold　her　any　more　than　he　did　right　now。
　〃I　love　you；　you　know；〃　he　said。　Iome　nodded　once；　only　slightly。　〃I　came　to　Heredon　to　ask　for　your　hand；　milady。　I　want　you　still。　I'd　have　you　for　my　wife。〃　He　did　not　say　it　to　confirm　his　feelings　to　Iome。　He　said　it　only　for　the　benefit　of　her　people；　so　that　they　would　know。
　In　the　crowd；　several　people　hissed　at　the　proposal。　Some　cried　aloud；　〃No！〃
　Gaborn　could　see　he　wasn't　in　favor　at　this　moment。　These　people　didn't　know　how　he　had　schemed　and　fought　for　their　freedom。　They'd　witnessed　only　this　last　craven　deed。　He　would　not　win　their　hearts　this　day；　though　he　hoped　to；　in　time。
　Iome　reached　up　and　stroked　his　hand；　but　offered　no　words　of　fort。
　Gaborn　walked　to　the　top　of　the　hill；　where　his　horse　pawed　the　snow　in　an　effort　to　graze　on　the　sweet　grass　beneath；　then　followed　Borenson　south。
　At　his　back；　Gaborn's　Days　broke　from　the　crowd；　following　in　his　shadow。
　　
　Chapter　59
　THE　HEALER
　　
　As　Iome　sat　over　the　body　of　her　father；　she　wondered　if　she　could　even　live　another　day。　It　seemed　that　her　energy；　her　will　to　struggle；　had　been　drawn　out　from　her　as　pletely　as　her　beauty　had　been　drawn　out　two　days　before。
　She　stood　over　her　father's　body；　wanting　desperately　to　sleep　or　to　scream。　The　cold　snow　melted；　penetrating　her　thin　boots；　just　as　the　stout　wind　penetrated　her　thin　dress。
　Her　people　were　a　cold　fort。　They　knew　they　needed　a　lord　to　protect　them；　but　Iome　had　no　wit　with　which　to　guide　them；　no　glamour　to　inspire　them　to　follow；　no　brawn　or　skill　in　battle。
　Without　my　glamour；　they　see　through　me；　Iome　thought。　They　see　that　I　am　a　sham；　a　nothing。　All　Runelords　are　nothing；　without　their　Dedicates　to　fill　them　with　power；　make　them　substantial。
　As　she　shivered　on　the　hill；　Iome　found　that　her　people　offered　her　nothing　now。　No　one　brought　her　a　shawl　or　offered　a　shoulder　to　lean　on。
　None　dared　approach　her。　Perhaps　they　believed　she　needed　time　to　suffer　alone。
　But　Iome　was　no　good　at　suffering　alone。
　She　felt　confused。　Gaborn　had　not　ordered　her　father's　death。　He'd　struggled　mightily　to　keep　her　father　alive。　Yet；　somehow；　she　felt　betrayed。　Perhaps　it　was　because　he　did　not　grow　irate　at　Borenson。
　Had　Gaborn　taken　the　man's　wit；　or　his　head；　Iome　would　have　thought　Gaborn　cruel　and　hard。　Yet　part　of　her　felt　Borenson　deserved　some　unnamable　punishment。
　To　her　surprise；　it　was　the　wizard　Binnesman　who　first　came　to　her；　after　an　hour；　and　wrapped　a　blanket　over　her。　The　wizard　huddled　beside　her；　handed　her　some　warm　tea。
　〃Idon't　want　anything；〃　Iome　said。　It　was　true。　Her　throat　felt　tight；　her　stomach　in　knots。　〃I　just　need　sleep。〃　She　was　too　weary　to　even　look　up　at　him。
　〃Sometimes　rest　is　as　good　as　sleep；〃　Binnesman　said；　and　he　stood　watching　her。　〃I　put　lemon　balm　and　linden　blossoms　in　the　tea；　along　with　a　bit　of　chamomile　and　honey。〃
　He　pressed　the　hot　mug　into　her　hands；　and　Iome　drank。　She'd　learned　long　ago　that　Binnesman　knew　her　needs　better　than　she　did；　that　he　could　soothe　a　heart　as　easily　as　he　could　soothe　wounds。
　The　tea　seemed　to　loosen　her　tight　muscles；　unknot　her。　She　closed　her　eyes；　leaned　her　head　back；　marveling　at　its　effect。　The　tea　made　her　feel　almost　as　if　she'd　just　been　wakened　from　bed　a　few　moments　ago。　Yet　she　felt　a　deepseated　weariness　even　the　tea　could　not　touch；　a　tiredness　and　ache　close　to　the　bones。
　〃Oh；　Binnesman；　what　should　I　do？〃　Iome　asked。
　〃You　must　be　strong；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Your　people　need　you　to　be　strong　for　them。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　strong。〃
　Binnesman　said　nothing　in　answer；　only　put　his　gnarled　arms　around　her　shoulders　and　held　her；　as　her　father　had　when　she　was　a　child　and　she'd　awakened　from　an　evil　dream。
　〃Gaborn　would　help　you　be　strong；　if　you　would　let　him；〃　Binnesman　offered。
　〃I　know；〃　Iome　said。
　Down　below　her；　most　of　the　knights　had　begun　to　set　a　camp　in　the　fields。　The　thin　snow　had　melted　now；　and　the　night　would　not　be　cold。　But　only　part　of　the　castle　looked　serviceable。　The　Duke's　barracks　and　one　of　the　manor　houses　still　stood；　though　they　had　cracks　in　them。　By　no　means　could　the　castle　house　the　thousands　here；　but　some　knights　had　brought　squires　and　tentsenough　so　everyone　would　have　shelter　for　the　night。
　Yet　as　the　people　put　up　tents；　Iome　caught　many　distrustful　glances；　heard　grumbled　ments。　〃What　are　the　people　down　there　saying　about　Gaborn？〃
　〃The　usual　things。。。〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Rumor…mongering。〃
　〃What　kinds　of　things？〃　Iome　demanded。
　〃They　feel　you　should　have　reacted　more　strongly　to　your　father's　death。〃
　〃He　died　when　Raj　Ahten　took　his　wit。　There　was　nothing　left　of　my　father。〃
　〃You　are　made　of　stern　stuff；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃But　had　you　cried　and　demanded　Borenson's　death；　perhaps　your　people　would　feel　more。。。relieved。〃
　〃Relieved？〃
　〃Some　people　suspect　that　Gaborn　ordered　your　father's　death。〃
　〃Gaborn？　How　could　they　suspect　that？〃　Iome　asked；　astonished。　She　looked　downhill。　An　old　woman　bearing　a　load　of　sticks　from　the　woods　glanced　at　Iome；　suspicion　deep　in　her　eyes。
　〃So　he　could　marry　you；　take　over　your　kingdom。　Some　people　think　that　the　fact　that　you　let　him　live　is　ample　proof　that　he　has　you　fooled；　and　that　now　you　are　about　to　swoon　into　his　foul　clutches。〃
　〃Who　would　say　such　things？　Who　would　even　think　such　things？〃　Iome　asked。
　〃Do　not　blame　them；〃　Binnesman　smiled　at　her。　〃It　is　only　natural。　They　have　been　deeply　hurt　these　past　few　days；　and　suspicion　es　easily。　Trust　es　much　harder；　and　it　takes　time。〃
　Iome　shook　her　head；　dumbfounded。　〃Is　it　safe　for　Gaborn　here？　He's　not　in　danger？〃
　〃As　it　stands；〃　Binnesman　said；　〃I　think　some　people　in　this　valley　pose　a　threat；　yes。〃
　〃You　must　go　warn　him　to　stay　away！〃　Iome　said。　She　realized　that　she'd　been　hoping　for　Gaborn　to　e　back　tonight；　that　she　could　not　stand　the　thought　of　being　away　from　him。　〃Tell　him。。。tell　him　we　cannot　see　each　other；　that　it's　dangerous。　Maybe　in　time。。。a　few　months。〃　Iome　found　herself　shaking　at　the　thought；　tormented。
　A　few　months　seemed　an　eternity。　Yet　in　another　month　or　two　the　snows　would　begin　to　fly　in　earnest。　Travel　between　their　kingdoms　would　bee　difficult。
　She　wouldn't　see　Gaborn　again　before　spring。　Five　months　or　six　at　the　soonest。
　Iome　nearly　collapsed　in　on　herself　at　the　thought。　Yet　it　would　be　best　for　both　of　them　to　take　this　slowly；　to　give　her　people　time　to　see。　No　other　prince　would　want　her；　no　one　would　take　a　wife　who　had　been　an　enemy's　Dedicate。
　Now　that　her　father　and　King　Orden　were　dead；　within　a　few　weeks　the　chronicles　of　their　deeds　would　begin　to　be　slowly　distributed　by　the　Days；　a　volume　here；　a　volume　there。　Perhaps　when　the　truth　came　out；　Iome's　people　would　think　better　of　Gaborn。
　Yet　another　problem　presented　itself。　Iome's　Maid　of　Honor；　Chemoise；　would　be　heavy　with　child　by　the　time　Iome　saw　Gaborn　again。　If　Iome's　people　disapproved　of　her　match　with　Orden；　how　would　Gaborn　s　people　feel　about　her？
　Ostensibly；　Gaborn　had　e　here　seeking　a　union　because　the　wealth　and　security　of　Heredon　were　to　have　been　a　boon　to　Mystarria。　But　Raj　Ahten　had　taken　the　wealth；　made　a　mockery　of　Heredon's　castles；　stolen　away　the　Princess's　beauty。
　Iome　had　nothing　to　offer　but　her　affection。　And　she　knew　that　affection　es　cheaply。
　She　still　hoped　that　Gaborn　might　love　her。　She　feared　that　she　deluded　herself　in　even　hoping　for　a　union　with　him。　It　seemed　foolish；　like　the　child's　fable　of　the　lazy　man　who　planned　to　get　rich　someday　by　discovering　that　rain　had　washed　dirt　off　a　pot　of　gold　that　lay　hidden　in　his　fields。
　Surely；　in　the　months　to　e；　Gaborn　would　e　to　see　that　she　had　nothing　to　offer；　would　reconsider。　Though　he　spoke　of　loving　her；　surely　he'd　see　that　love　was　not　reason　enough　to　unite　their　kingdoms。
　As　Iome　considered　these　things；　Binnesman　nodded　kindly；　worry　on　his　face；　lost　in　his　own　private　musings。　He　studied　her　from　under　bushy　brows。　〃So　you　want　me　to　warn　Gaborn　away。　Do　you　have　any　more　messages　for　him？〃
　〃None；〃　Iome　said。　〃Except。。。there　is　the　matter　of　Borenson。〃
　〃What　of　him？〃　Binnesman　asked。
　〃I。。。don't　know　what　to　do　about　him。　He　killed　my　father；　a　king。　Such　a　deed　cannot　go　unpunished。　Yet　his　guilt　is　almost　more　than　he　can　bear。　To　lay　further　punishment　upon　him　would　be　cruel。〃
　Binnesman　said；　〃There　was　a　time　when　knights　who　inadvertently　erred　were　given　a　second　chance。。。〃
　　
　Chapter　60
　A　TREASURE　FOUND
　　
　In　the　House　of　Understanding；　in　the　Room　of　the　Heart；　Gaborn　had　learned　that　there　are　dreams　and　memories　so　disturbing　the　mind　cannot　hold　them。
　As　Gaborn　rode　in　silence　on　the　road　south　to　Bredsfor　Manor；　he　caught　up　to　Borenson；　watched　his　knight's　face；　and　wondered　if　the　man　would　break。
　Time　and　time　again；　Borenson's　head　would　nod；　his　lips　quivering　as　if　he　were　about　to　say　something　unspeakable。　Yet　each　time　he　raised　his　head；　his　eyes　would　be　a　little　clearer；　a　little　brighter；　his　gaze　a　little　steadier。
　Gaborn　suspected　Borenson　would　forget　his　deeds；　given　a　week　or　a　month。　He　might　claim　that　some　other　knight　had　slaughtered　Sylvarresta；　or　that　the　good　king　had　died　in　battle　or　fallen　from　a　horse。
　Gaborn　hoped　Borenson　would　forget。　They　rode　in　silence。　Gaborn's　Days　coughed　from　time　to　time；　as　if　he　were　developing　a　cold。
　After　twenty　long　minutes　of　this；　Borenson　turned；　and　on　the　surface　his　manners　seemed　almost　carefree；　the　pain　had　retreated　so　deeply。　But　it　was　there；　lying　far　within。　〃Milord；　I　was　up　above　the　Duke's　lodge　a　bit　ago；　and　I　saw　the　tracks　of　a　reaver。　A　big　female。　May　I　have　your　leave　to　hunt　her