df.therunelords-第115节

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nd　it；　I　sometimes　find　myself　in　the　fields　behind　the　Room　of　the　Heart；　which　is　at　least　forty　miles　from　the　palace；　or　I　ride　through　those　fields　and　find　myself　by　a　pond　in　the　Dunnwood。　Is　this　significant？〃
　〃It　is　only　the　sign　of　an　organized　mind；　trying　to　make　sense　out　of　the　world；〃　his　Days　answered。
　〃Then　how　does　this　answer　my　question？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃In　your　dreams；　there　are　paths　you　fear　to　tread；〃　the　Days　answered。　〃Your　mind　shies　from　the　memory；　but　they　too　are　part　of　the　landscape　of　dream。　Do　you　remember　them；　also？〃
　Gaborn　did。　As　the　Days　spoke；　he　remembered　a　time　many　years　ago；　when　he'd　been　traveling　with　his　father　in　the　mountains；　and　his　father　had　wanted　him　to　ride　up　a　trail　through　a　steep；　narrow　ravine　of　black　stone；　where　cobwebs　hung　between　the　rock。　〃I　remember。〃
　His　Days　looked　at　Gaborn　with　slitted　eyes；　nodded　slightly。　〃Good；　then　you　are　a　man　of　courage；　for　only　men　of　courage　remember　that　place。　Someday　soon；　you　will　find　yourself　riding　through　your　dreams。　When　you　do；　take　that　trail；　and　see　where　it　leads　you。　Perhaps　then　you　will　have　the　answer　to　your　question。〃
　Gaborn　gazed　at　the　Days；　wondering。　It　was　a　trick；　he　knew；　to　tell　someone　what　to　do　in　their　dreams。　The　mind　would　do　as　instructed；　fulfill　the　mand。
　〃You　want　to　know　what　happened　to　me　over　the　past　three　days；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃Would　it　be　selfish；　if　I　kept　that　knowledge　to　myself？〃
　〃A　man　who　fancies　himself　to　be　the　servant　of　all；　should　never　give　in　to　a　selfish　desire；〃　the　Days　answered。
　Gaborn　smiled。　〃After　I　left　you；〃　he　said；　and　he　told　the　tale　in　full；　though　he　never　mentioned　the　Emir's　book。
　For　a　long　hour　Gaborn　related　his　tale；　and　as　he　did　so；　he　considered　his　new　responsibilities。　By　now；　his　father's　Dedicates　had　regained　their　endowments；　and　so　the　people　of　Mystarria　would　know　that　their　king　was　dead。　People　would　be　frantic　for　news。　Already；　little　boys　riding　their　graaks　would　be　on　their　way　to　Castle　Sylvarresta。　Gaborn　would　need　to　go　there；　send　letters　home。　Plan　his　war。
　Myrrima　herself　walked　over　the　hill　to　disturb　his　worrying；　her　hips　moving　like　boiling　waves　beneath　her　gray　silk。
　She　did　something　no　woman　had　ever　done　to　him。
　She　came　to　him；　put　a　hand　over　his　in　sympathy；　and　just　stroked　it；　staring　deep　into　his　face。　Few　women　had　ever　dared　touch　him　so　familiarly。
　〃Milord；〃　she　whispered；　〃I。。。Your　father　was　a　good　man。　As　deeply　as　he　loved；　so　shall　he　be　missed。　I　will　always。。。revere　his　memory。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃He　deserved　that。〃
　Myrrima　pulled　at　Gaborn's　hand；　and　said；　〃e　down　to　the　manor；　into　the　garden。　It　is　a　beautiful　garden。　It　will　ease　your　spirits　while　Borenson　and　I　fix　dinner。　Grapes　hang　on　the　vines；　and　vegetables　are　in　the　field。　I　found　hams　in　the　smokehouse。〃
　Gaborn　had　not　eaten　since　last　night。　He　nodded　wearily；　took　her　hand；　led　his　horse　down　to　the　manor。　Behind　them；　his　Days　rode　in　silence。
　The　garden　behind　the　manor　was　everything　Myrrima　had　promised。　The　snow　had　nearly　all　melted；　leaving　the　garden　wet；　fresh。　Rock　walls　covered　with　rose　and　wisteria　enclosed　the　garden；　herbs　and　pleasant　flowers　grew　all　about。
　A　wide　brook　meandered　through　the　lawn。　In　its　deep；　rocky　pools；　fat　trout　sunned　themselves　and　snapped　at　bees　that　buzzed　through　the　flowers　beside　the　water。
　Gaborn　walked　among　the　herbs　for　a　long　hour；　examining　plants。　It　was　not　as　marvelous　as　Binnesman's　garden　had　been；　nowhere　near　as　sprawling　and　wild　and　diverse。　Gaborn　had　a　little　knowledge　of　herb　lore；　as　much　as　most　princes　learned。　So　as　Gaborn　wandered　about；　he　could　not　help　but　find　things　he'd　need：　dogbane　growing　on　a　trellis　on　the　south　wall　of　the　manor；　a　bit　of　shepherd's　purse　for　stanching　wounds；　nightcap　poppy　to　help　him　sleep。　There　were　so　many　herbs；　and　Gaborn　did　not　know　what　to　do　with　them。
　He　was　so　involved　in　harvesting　the　root　of　mallow　to　treat　burns；　that　at　first　he　did　not　notice　when　Binnesman　arrived　just　before　dinner。
　〃Hello；〃　Binnesman　said　at　Gaborn's　back；　startling　him。　〃So；　you　gather　herbs　now？〃
　Gaborn　nodded；　afraid　that　to　a　master　herbalist　such　as　Binnesman；　his　efforts　would　seem　feeble。　Gaborn　knelt　near　the　aromatic；　serrated　leaves　by　the　ground；　and　suddenly　felt　unsure；　wondered　if　these　rose…pink　petals　really　were　mallow；　or　if　he'd　been　mistaken。
　Binnesman　only　nodded　kindly；　and　smiled；　then　knelt　beside　Gaborn　and　helped　him　dig。　〃The　root　of　mallow　is　best　for　burns　when　it　is　still　fresh；〃　he　said；　〃though　vendors　hawk　it　dried。　It　is　the　cooling　sap　that　you　need；　not　some　desiccated　twig。　But　a　dried　mallow　root；　once　soaked　in　water；　can　still　give　some　relief。〃
　Gaborn　stopped　digging；　but　Binnesman　urged　him　to　keep　on。　〃Look　to　the　tops　of　the　roots；　the　thickest　parts。　It's　good　that　you　do　this；　learn　which　parts　to　use。〃
　He　pulled　at　the　mallow；　then　broke　off　its　purplish…brown　root　for　Gaborn　to　see。　The　sap　oozed　onto　Binnesman's　fingers；　and　the　old　wizard　touched　the　cool　stuff　to　Gaborn's　forehead。　〃See？〃
　〃Yes；　I　see；〃　Gaborn　answered。
　There　was　an　unfortable　silence　between　them；　and　the　wizard　stared　into　Gaborn's　eyes。　Gaborn　could　see　flecks　of　green　in　the　old　man's　skin；　but　his　robes　had　gone　a　ruddy　flame；　the　color　of　maple　leaves　in　autumn。
　〃You　think　I　have　some　great　powers；〃　Binnesman　said；　〃but　it　is　only　the　power　that　es　from　serving　the　Earth。〃
　〃No；　your　herbs　are　far　more　potent　than　any　I've　seen　in　Mystarria；〃　Gaborn　said。
　〃Would　you　like　to　know　the　secret　of　it？〃　the　wizard　asked。
　Gaborn　nodded　dumbly；　hardly　daring　believe　the　wizard　would　tell　him。
　〃Plant　the　seeds　yourself；　My　King；〃　Binnesman　said；　〃in　soil　fertilized　and　turned　by　your　own　hands。　Water　them　with　your　own　sweat。　Serve　themfulfill　their　every　needand　they'll　serve　you　fully　in　return。　Few　men；　even　among　the　wise；　understand　the　great　power　one　can　gain　from　service。〃
　〃There　is　nothing　more？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃My　plants　grew　to　serve　the　people　of　this　land。　You　saw　how　I　dunged　them　with　human　waste。　I　used　dung　from　many　people；　over　many　generations。　So　the　plants　serve　these　people。
　〃We　are　all。。。intertwined。　Man；　plant；　earth；　sky；　fire；　water。　We　are　not　many　things；　but　one　thing。　And　when　we　recognize　that　we　are　all　but　one　thing；　then　we　begin　to　tap　into　that　One　Greater　Powerthe　munion。〃
　Binnesman　fell　silent　and　watched　Gaborn　intently。　〃Do　you　understand？〃
　As　he　considered；　Gaborn　thought　he　began　to　apprehend　what　Binnesman　tried　to　say；　but　he　did　not　know　if　he　could　prehend　it　yet。
　〃There　are　gardens　in　Mystarria；〃　Gaborn　said；　for　lack　of　any　other　response。　〃I'll　speak　to　my　gardeners；　learn　what　seeds　I　have　to　plant。　I　should　be　able　to　get　many　kinds　of　seeds；　at　the　House　of　Understanding。〃
　〃May　I　see　your　gardens？〃　Binnesman　asked。　〃Perhaps　I　could　advise　you　on　matters　of　their　cultivation。〃
　〃I'd　like　that；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃But　you've　spent　your　life　here。　Won't　you　stay　in　the　Dunnwood？〃
　〃To　what　purpose？〃　Binnesman　asked。　〃The　Seventh　Stone　has　fallen。　The　last　of　the　obalin　is　dead。　I've　nothing　more　to　learn　from　it；　and　can　no　longer　serve　it。　My　garden　is　destroyed。〃
　〃Your　wylde。　What　of　it？〃
　〃I　searched　for　it　all　this　afternoon；　listened　to　the　trees　and　grass。　If　it　walks　the　earth；　it　does　so　far　from　here。　I　will　search　for　it　in　Fleeds　and　farther　south；　until　I　find　it。　Perhaps　in　Mystarria。〃
　〃But　the　woods？〃
　〃Are　beautiful　indeed；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I　will　miss　them。　Now　you　are　my　king。　I　will　follow　you。〃
　It　had　such　an　odd　sound；　this　exclamation　of　devotion。　To　Gaborn's　knowledge；　no　Earth　Warden　had　ever　claimed　fealty　to　a　king。　Wizards　were　solitary　beings；　living　outside　the　bounds　of　mon　men。
　〃It　will　be　terrible；　won't　it？〃　Gaborn　asked。　〃The　war。　I　feel　it　ing。　I　feel。。。a　shifting　under　the　earth。　Energies　stirring。〃
　Binnesman　merely　nodded。　Gaborn　looked　down；　noticed　that　the　old　wizard　stood　barefoot；　though　a　few　dollops　of　snow　still　hid　among　the　leaves　in　the　garden。
　Gaborn　said　now　the　thing　that　had　been　haunting　him　all　afternoon。　〃I　claimed　him　with　my　whole　heart。　I　claimed　my　father。　I　tried　to　protect　him；　and　I　tried　to　serve　himjust　as　I　claimed　Sylvarresta　and　Chemoise's　father　and　Rowan。　Yet　I　failed　them。　They're　all　deadseeds　of　mankind　that　I　chose　to　save。　Tell　me；　Binnesman；　what　more　must　I　do？〃
　The　wizard　studied　Gaborn　frankly。　〃Don't　you　understand；　milord？　It　is　not　enough　simply　to　want　them。　You　must　serve　them　with　your　whole　mind；　your　whole　will。〃
　Gaborn　wondered　deep　in　his　heart　what　he　needed　to　do；　and　in　answer　he　felt　a　terrifying　sense　of　distress；　a　sense　that　the　whole　world　was　rocking；　shifting　under　his　feet；　and　he　had　nothing　to　cling　to。　Certainly　he'd　loved　his　father　and　Sylvarresta；　had　struggled　to　keep　both　kings　alive。
　〃It　is　my　fault　that　Raj　Ahten　still　lives；〃　Gaborn　mused。　〃I　spun　too　thin　a　web　to　catch　such　a　large　fly。〃　Gaborn　smiled　at　the　image。
　Yet　there　was　something　more　he　needed　to　do；　something　he　could　not　quite　grasp　or　voice。　Gaborn　was　so　new　in　hi