srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第39节
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〃Yes； High Lord。 Two hundred will join the Warmark's mand。〃
〃That is well。 Now I have another task for you。 Riders must be sent to every Stonedown and Woodhelven in the Center and South Plains； and in the hills beyond。 All the people who may live in the Despiser's path must be warned； and offered sanctuary at Trothgard if they choose to leave their homes。 And all who dwell along the southward march of the Warward must be asked for aid…food for the warriors； so that they may march more easily； carrying less。 Aliantha alone will not suffice for so many。〃
〃It will be done。 The Bloodguard will depart before moonset。〃
Elena nodded her approval。 〃No thanks can repay the Bloodguard。 You give a new name to unflawed service。 While people endure in the Land； you will be remembered for faithfulness。〃
Bowing slightly； the First Mark sat down。
The High Lord set the Staff of Law on the table before her； took her seat； and signed to Warmark Troy。 He took a deep breath； then got stiffly to his feet。 He was still groping； juggling。 But he had regained a grip on his situation； he was thinking clearly again。 Even as he started to speak； new ideas were ing into focus。
〃I'm not going to waste time apologizing for this mess I've gotten us into。 I built my strategy on the idea that we would get word of where Foul was marching in fifteen days。 Now we're five days short。 That's all there is to it。
〃Most of you know generally what I had in mind。 As far as I can learn； the Old Lords had two problems fighting Foul the simple attrition of doing battle all the way from Landsdrop； and the terrain。 The Center Plains favor whichever army is fresher and larger。 My idea was to let Foul get halfway here on his own； and meet him at the west end of the Mithil valley； where the Mithil River forms the south border of Andelain。 Then we would retreat southwest； luring Foul after us across to Doom's Retreat。 In all the legends； that's the place armies run to when they're routed。 But in fact it's a hell of a place to take on armies that are bigger and faster than you are。 The terrain…that bottleneck between the mountains gives a tremendous advantage to the side that gets there first…if it gets there in time to dig in before the enemy arrives。
〃Well； it was a nice idea。 Now we're in a different war。 We're five days short。 Foul will be through the Mithil valley ten days from now。 And he'll turn north； forcing us to fight him wherever he wants in the Center Plains。 If we have to retreat at all； we'll end up in Trothgard。〃
He paused for a moment； half expecting groans of dismay。 But most of the people simply watched him closely； and several of the Lords had confidence in their eyes。 Their trust touched him。 He had to swallow down a sudden lump in his throat before he could continue。
〃There's one way we can still do it。 It's going to be hell…but it's just about possible。〃
Then for an instant he faltered。 Hell was a mild word for what his warriors would have to endure。 How could he ask them to do it； when he was to blame for the miscalculation which made it necessary？ How…？
But Elena was watching him steadily。 From the beginning； she had supported his desire to mand the Warward。 And now he was the Warmark。 He； Hile Troy。 In a tone of anger at the extremity of what he was asking； he said； 〃Here it is。 First。 We have nine days。 I absolutely guarantee that Foul will hit the western end of the Mithil valley by the end of the ninth day from now。 That's one of the things not having any eyes is good for。 I can measure things like this。 All right？ Nine days。 We've got to get there before that and block the valley。
〃Morin； your two hundred Bloodguard have got to leave tonight。 Callindrill； you go with them。 On Ranyhyn you can get there in seven days。 You've got to stop Foul right there。
〃Borillar； how many of those big rafts have you got in the lake？〃
Surprised； Hearthrall Borillar answered； ‘Three；
Warmark。〃
〃How many warriors and horses can they carry？〃
Borillar glanced helplessly over at Quaan。 The Hiltmark replied； 〃Each raft will carry two Eoman and their Warhafts forty…two warriors and horses。 But the crowding will be dangerous。〃
〃If you ride a raft as far as Andelain； how fast can you get those Eoman to the Mithil valley？〃
〃If there is no mishap…in ten days。 Four days may be saved through the use of rafts。〃
〃All right。 We have twelve horse…mounted Eoward …two hundred forty Eoman。 Borillar； I need one hundred twenty of those rafts。 Quaan； you're in mand of this。 You've got to get all twelve mounted Eoward… and Verement…down to the Mithil valley as fast as possible…to help Callindrill and the Bloodguard keep Foul from ing through。 You've got to buy us the time we need。 Get on it。〃
Hiltmark Quaan spoke a word to the Hafts； and twelve of them jumped up to form ranks behind him as he hastened out of the Close。 Borillar looked at the High Lord with an expression of indecision； but she nodded to him。 Rubbing his hands nervously as if to warm them； he left the chamber； taking all the lillianrill with him。
〃Second；〃 Troy said。 〃The rest of the Warward will march straight south from here to Doom's Retreat。 That's something less than three hundred leagues。〃 He called the remaining Hafts to their feet； and addressed them directly。 〃I think you should explain this to your mands。 We've got to get to Doom's Retreat in twenty…eight days。 And that's only enough if the Hiltmark can do everything I've got in mind for him。 Tell your Eoward…ten leagues a day。 That's going to be the easy part of this war。〃
In the back of his mind； he was thinking； Ten leagues a day for twenty…eight days。 Good God！ Half of them will be dead before we reach the South Plains。
For a moment； he studied the Hafts； trying to judge their mettle。 Then he said； 〃First Haft Amorine。〃
The First Haft stepped forward； and responded；
〃Warmark。〃 She was a short； broad； dour woman with blunt features which appeared to have been molded in a clay too hard and dry for detailed handiwork。 But she was a seasoned veteran of the Warward…one of the few survivors of the Eoman which Quaan had manded on the Quest for the Staff of Law。
〃Ready the Warward。 We march at dawn。 Pay special attention to the packs。 Make them as light as possible。 Use all the rest of the horses for cartage if you have to。 If we don't make it to Doom's Retreat in time； Revelstone won't have any use for the last few hundred horses。 Get started。〃
First Haft Amorine gave a stern mand to the Hafts。 Saluting the Lords together； they moved out of the Close behind her。
Troy watched until they were gone； and the doors were shut after them。 Then he turned to the High Lord。 With an effort； he forced himself to say； 〃You know I've never manded a war before。 In fact； I've never manded anything。 All I know is theory just mental exercises。 You're putting a lot of faith in me。〃
If she felt the importance of what he said； she gave no sign。 〃Do not fear； Warmark；〃 she replied firmly。 〃We see your value to the Land。 You have given us no cause to doubt the rightness of your mand。〃
A rush of gratitude took Troy's voice away from him。 He saluted her； then sat down and braced his arms on the table to keep himself from trembling。
A moment later； High Lord Elena said to the remaining assembly； 〃Ah； my friends； there is much to be done； and the night will be all too short for our need。 This is not the time for long talk or exhortation。 Let us all go about our work at once。 I will speak to the Keep； and to the Warward； at dawn。
〃Hearthrall Tohrm。〃
〃High Lord；〃 Tohrm responded with alacrity。
〃I think that there are ways in which you may make the rafts more stable； safer for horses。 Please do so。 And send any of your people who may be spared to assist Hearthrall Borillar in the building。
〃My friends； this war is upon us。 Give your best strength to the Land now。 If mortal flesh may do it； we must prevail。〃 She drew herself erect； and flourished the Staff。 〃Be of good heart。 I am Elena daughter of Lena； High Lord by the choice of the Council； and wielder of the Staff of Law。 My will mands。 I speak in the presence of Revelstone itself。〃 Bowing to the assembly； she swept from the Close through one of the private doors； followed variously by the other Lords。
The chamber emptied rapidly as the people hurried away to their tasks。 Troy stood and started toward the stairs。 But on the way； Covenant accosted him。 〃Actually；〃 Covenant said as if he were telling Troy a secret； 〃it isn't you they've got faith in at all。 Just as they don't have faith in me。 It's the student who summoned you。 That's whom they've staked their faith on。〃
〃I'm busy；〃 Troy said stiffly。 〃I've got things to do。 Let me go。〃
〃Listen！〃 Covenant demanded。 〃I'm trying to warn you。 If you could hear it。 It's going to happen to you； too。 One of these days； you're going to run out of people who'll march their hearts out to make your ideas work。 And then you'll see that you put them through all that for nothing。 Three…hundred…league marches blocked valleys…your ideas。 Paid for and wasted。 All your fine tactics won't be worth a rusty damn。
〃Ah； Troy；〃 he sighed wearily。 〃All this responsibility is going to make another Kevin Landwast
