mck.harpistinthewind-第46节

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implications　of　power。　That's　why；　even　if　you　hated　me　for　it；　I　wanted　you　to　understand　Ghisteslwchlohm　and　how　he　destroyed　himself。　We　lived　so　peacefully　once；　in　these　great　cities。　They　were　open　to　every　change　of　wind。　Our　faces　changed　with　every　season；　we　took　knowledge　from　all　things：　from　the　silence　of　the　backlands　to　the　burning　ice　sweeping　across　the　northern　wastes。　We　did　not　realize；　until　it　was　too　late；　that　the　power　inherent　in　every　stone；　every　movement　of　water；　holds　both　existence　and　destruction。〃　He　paused；　no　longer　seeing　Morgon；　tasting　a　bitter　word。　〃The　woman　you　know　as　Eriel　was　the　first　of　us　to　begin　to　gather　power。　And　I　was　the　first　to　see　the　implications　of　power。。。　that　paradox　that　tempers　wizardry　and　pelled　the　study　of　riddlery。　So；　I　made　a　choice；　and　began　binding　all　earth…shapes　to　me　by　their　own　laws；　permitting　nothing　to　disturb　that　law。　But　I　had　to　fight　to　keep　the　land…law；　and　we　learned　what　war　is　then。　The　realm　as　you　know　it　would　not　have　lasted　two　days　in　the　force　of　those　battles。　We　razed　our　own　cities。　We　destroyed　one　another。　We　destroyed　our　children；　drew　the　power　even　out　of　them。　I　had　already　learned　to　master　the　winds；　which　was　the　only　thing　that　saved　me。　I　was　able　to　bind　the　power　of　the　last　of　the　Earth…Masters　so　they　could　use　little　beyond　the　power　they　were　born　to。　I　swept　them　into　the　sea　while　the　earth　slowly　healed　itself。　I　buried　our　children；　then。　The　Earth…Masters　broke　out　of　the　sea　eventually；　but　they　could　not　break　free　of　my　hold　over　them。　And　they　could　never　find　me；　because　the　winds　hid　me；　always。。。
　　　　　　　〃But　I　am　very　old；　and　I　cannot　hold　them　much　longer。　They　know　that。　I　was　old　even　when　I　became　a　wizard　named　Yrth　so　that　I　could　fashion　the　harp　and　the　sword　that　my　heir　would　need。　Ghisteslwchlohm　learned　of　the　Star…Bearer　from　the　dead　of　Isig；　and　he　became　one　more　enemy　lured　by　the　promise　of　enormous　power。　He　thought　that　if　he　controlled　the　Star…Bearer；　he　could　assimilate　the　power　the　Star…Bearer　would　inherit　and　bee　the　High　One　in　more　than　name。　It　would　have　killed　him；　but　I　did　not　bother　explaining　that　to　him。　When　I　realized　he　was　waiting　for　you；　I　watched　him　in　Lungold；　and　later　in　Erlenstar　Mountain。　I　took　the　shape　of　a　harpist　who　had　died　during　the　destruction　and　entered　his　service。　I　wanted　no　harm　to　e　to　you　without　my　consent。　When　I　found　you　at　last；　sitting　on　the　dock　at　Tol；　oblivious　of　your　own　destiny；　content　to　rule　Hed；　with　a　harp　in　your　hands　you　could　barely　play　and　the　crown　of　the　Kings　of　Aum　under　your　bed；　I　realized　that　the　last　thing　I　had　been　expecting　after　all　those　endless；　lonely　centuries　was　someone　I　might　love。。。〃　He　paused　again；　his　face　blurred　into　pale；　silvery　lines　by　Morgon's　tears。　〃Hed。　No　wonder　that　land　shaped　the　Star…Bearer　out　of　itself；　a　loving　Prince　of　Hed；　ruler　of　ignorant；　stubborn　farmers　who　believed　in　nothing　but　the　High　One　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　hardly　more　than　that　now。。。　ignorant　and　thick…skulled。　Have　I　destroyed　us　both　by　ing　here　to　find　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　This　is　the　one　place　no　one　would　expect　us　to　be。　But　we　have　little　time　left。　You　crossed　Ymris　without　touching　the　land…law。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　dropped　his　hands。　〃I　didn't　dare；〃　he　said。　〃And　all　I　could　think　of　was　you。　I　had　to　find　you　before　the　Earth…Masters　found　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。　I　left　you　in　a　perilous　situation。　But　you　found　me；　and　I　hold　the　land…law　of　Ymris。　You'll　need　it。　Ymris　is　a　seat　of　great　power。　I　want　you　to　take　the　knowledge　from　my　mind。　Don't　worry；〃　he　added；　at　Morgon's　expression。　〃I　will　only　give　you　that　knowledge；　nothing　that　you　cannot　bear；　yet。　Sit　down。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　slid　back　slowly　onto　the　stones。　The　rain　had　begun　again；　blown　on　the　wind　through　the　openings　in　the　chamber；　but　he　was　not　cold。　The　harpist's　face　was　changing；　his　worn；　troubled　expression　had　eased　into　an　ageless　peace　as　he　contemplated　his　realm。　Morgon　looked　at　him；　drawing　hungrily　from　his　peace　until　he　was　enveloped　in　stillness　and　the　High　One's　touch　seemed　to　lay　upon　his　heart。　He　heard　the　deep；　shadowy　voice　again；　the　falcon's　voice。
　　　　　　　〃Ymris。。。　I　was　born　here　on　Wind　Plain。　Listen　to　its　power　beneath　the　rain；　beneath　the　cries　of　the　dead。　It　is　like　you；　a　fierce　and　loving　land。　Be　still　and　listen　to　it。。。〃
　　　　　　　He　grew　still；　so　still　he　could　hear　the　grass　bending　beneath　the　weight　of　the　rain　and　the　ancient　names　from　early　centuries　that　had　been　spoken　there。　And　then　he　became　the　grass。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　XIX
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　HE　DREW　HIMSELF　OUT　OF　YMRIS　SLOWLY；　HIS　HEART　thundering　to　its　long　and　bloody　history；　his　body　shaped　to　its　green　fields；　wild　shores；　strange；　brooding　forests。　He　felt　old　as　the　earliest　stone　hewn　out　of　Erlenstar　Mountain　to　rest　on　the　earth；　and　he　knew　far　more　than　he　had　ever　cared　to　know　of　the　devastation　the　recent　war　had　loosed　across　Ruhn。　He　sensed　great　untapped　power　in　Ymris　that　he　had　winced　away　from；　as　if　a　sea　or　a　mountain　had　loomed　before　him　that　his　mind　simply　could　not　enpass。　But　it　held　odd　moments　of　quiet；　a　still；　secret　lake　mirroring　many　things；　strange　stones　that　had　once　been　made　to　speak；　forests　haunted　with　pure　black　animals　so　shy　they　died　if　men　looked　upon　them；　acres　of　oak　woods　on　the　western　borders　whose　trees　remembered　the　first　vague　passage　of　men　into　Ymris。　These；　he　treasured。　The　High　One　had　given　him　no　more　of　his　mind　than　the　awareness　of　Ymris；　the　power　he　had　feared　in　the　falcon's　eyes　was　still　leashed　when　he　looked　into　them　again。
　　　　　　　It　was　dawn；　of　some　day；　and　Raederle　was　beside　him。　He　made　a　surprised　noise。　〃How　did　you　get　up　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　flew。〃
　　　　　　　The　answer　was　so　simple　it　seemed　meaningless　for　a　moment。　〃So　did　I。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　climbed　the　stairs。　I　flew　to　the　top。〃
　　　　　　　His　face　looked　so　blank　with　surprise　that　she　smiled。　〃Morgon；　the　High　One　let　me　e　in。　Otherwise　I　would　have　flown　around　the　tower　squawking　all　night。〃
　　　　　　　He　grunted　and　linked　his　fingers　into　hers。　She　was　very　tired；　he　sensed；　and　her　smile　faded　quickly；　leaving　something　disturbing　in　her　eyes。　The　High　One　was　standing　beside　one　of　the　windows。　The　blue…black　stone　was　rimed　with　the　first　light；　against　the　sky　the　harpist's　face　looked　weary；　the　skin　drawn　taut；　colorless　against　the　bones。　But　the　eyes　were　Yrth's；　light…filled；　secret。　Morgon　looked　at　him　for　a　long　time　without　moving；　still　enmeshed　in　his　peace；　until　the　changeless；　familiar　face　seemed　to　meld　with　the　pale　silver　of　the　morning。　The　High　One　turned　then　to　meet　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　He　drew　Morgon　to　his　side　without　a　gesture；　only　his　simple　wordless　desire。　Morgon　loosed　Raederle's　hand　and　rose　stiffly。　He　crossed　the　room。　The　High　One　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。
　　　　　　　Morgon　said；　〃I　couldn't　take　it　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Morgon；　the　power　you　sensed　is　in　the　Earth…Masters'　dead：　those　who　died　fighting　at　my　side　on　this　plain。　The　power　will　be　there　when　you　need　it。〃
　　　　　　　Something　in　Morgon；　deep　beneath　his　peace；　lifted　its　muzzle　like　a　blind　hound　in　the　dark；　scenting　at　the　High　One's　words。　〃And　the　harp；　and　the　sword？〃　He　kept　his　voice　tranquil。　〃I　barely　understand　the　power　in　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　will　find　uses　for　themselves。　Look。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　white　mist　of　vesta　along　the　plain；　beneath　the　low；　lumbering　cloud。　Morgon　gazed　down　at　them　incredulously；　then　leaned　his　face　against　the　cool　stone。　〃When　did　they　get　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃Last　night。〃
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　Astrin's　army？〃
　　　　　　　〃Half　of　it　was　trapped　between　Tor　and　Umber；　but　the　vanguard　made　it　through；　clearing　a　path　for　the　vesta　and　the　Morgol's　guard　and　Danan's　miners。　They　are　behind　the　vesta。〃　He　read　Morgon's　thoughts；　his　hand　tightened　slightly。　〃I　did　not　bring　them　here　to　fight。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　why？〃　he　whispered。
　　　　　　　〃You　will　need　them。　You　and　I　must　end　this　war　quickly。　That　is　what　you　were　born　to　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃How？〃
　　　　　　　The　High　One　was　silent。　Behind　his　tranquil；　indrawn　gaze；　Morgon　sensed　a　weariness　beyond　belief；　and　a　more　familiar　patience：　the　harpist's　reaching　for　Morgon's　understanding；　perhaps；　or　for　getting　beyond　his　understanding。　He　said　finally；　very　gently；　〃The　Prince　of　Hed　and　his　farmers　have　gathered　on　the　south　border　with　Mathom's　army。　If　you　need　to　keep　them　alive；　you'll　find　a　way。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　whirled。　He　crossed　the　chamber；　hung　out　a　south　window；　as　if　he　could　see　among　the　leafless　oaks　a　grim　battery　of　farmers　with　rakes　and　hoes　and　scythes。　His　heart　swelled　with　sudden　pain　and　fear　that　sent　tears　to　his　eyes。　〃He　left　Hed。　Eliard　turned　his　farmers　into　warriors　and　left　Hed。　What　is　it？　The　end　of　the　world？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　came　to　fight　for　you。　And　for　his　own　land。〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　He　turned　again；　his　hands　clenched；　but　not　in　anger。　〃He　came　because　you　wanted　him。　That's　why　the　Morgol　came；　and　Har：　you　drew　them；　the　way　you　draw　me；　with　a　touch　of　wind　at　the　heart；　a　mystery。　What　is　it？　What　is　it　that　you　aren't　telling　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　given　you　my　name。〃
　　　　　　　Morgon　was　silent。　It