srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第58节

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rriors　for　strength　in　battle　will　be　severe。　Should　not　this　aid　be　kept　until　that　time？〃
　〃No。〃　Troy　tried　to　make　Mhoram　hear　the　depth　of　his　conviction。　〃The　time　is　now。　They　need　strength　now…in　case　they　have　to　fight　before　they　get　to　the　Retreat。　Or　in　case　they　have　to　run　to　get　there　in　time。　We　don't　know　what's　happening　to　Quaan。　And　after　tonight　you　won't　get　another　chance　until　after　the　fighting's　already　started。〃
　〃How　so？〃　the　Lord　asked　carefully。
　〃Because　I'm　leaving　in　the　morning。　I'm　going　to　Kevin's　Watch…I　want　to　get　a　look　at　Foul's　army。　I　have　to　know　exactly　how　much　time　Quaan　is　giving　us。　And　you're　ing　with　me。　You're　the　one　who　knows　how　to　use　that　High　Wood　munication　rod。''
　Mhoram　appeared　surprised。　〃Leave　the　Warward？〃　he　asked　quickly；　softly。　〃Now？　Is　that　wise？〃
　Troy　was　sure。　〃I've　got　to　do　it。　I've　been…ignorant　too　long。　Now　I've　got　to　know。　From　here　on　we　can't　afford　to　let　Foul　surprise　us。　And　I'm〃…he　grimaced　at　the　fog…〃I'm　the　only　one　who　can　see　far　enough　to　tell　what　Foul's　doing。〃　After　a　moment；　he　added；　〃That's　why　they　call　it　Kevin's　Watch。　Even　he　needed　to　know　what　he　was　getting　into。〃
　Abruptly；　the　Lord　passed　a　hand　over　the　strain　in　his　face；　and　nodded。　〃Very　well。　It　will　be　done。　Here　is　the　aid　which　can　be　given。　Each　of　the　Gravelingases　bears　with　him　a　small　quantity　of　hurtloam。　And　the　Hirebrands　have　a　rare　wood　dust
　which　they　name　rillinlure。　I　had　hoped　to　save　such　aids　for　use　in　healing　battle　wounds。　But　they　will　be　placed　in　the　food　tonight。　Pray　that　they　will　suffice。〃　Without　further　question；　he　turned　away　to　give　his　instructions　to　the　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases。
　Soon　these　men　were　moving　throughout　the　camp；　placing　either　hurtloam　or　rillinlure　in　each　cooking　pot。　Each　pot　received　only　a　pinch；　each　warrior　ate　only　a　minute　quantity。　But　the　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases　knew　how　to　extract　the　most　benefit　from　the　wood　dust　and　loam。　With　songs　and　invocations；　they　made　their　gift　to　the　warriors　strong　and　efficacious。　Shortly　after　eating；　the　warriors　began　to　fall　asleep；　many　of　them　simply　dropped　to　the　ground　and　lost　consciousness。　For　the　first　time　in　the　long　damage　of　the　march；　several　of　them　smiled　at　their　dreams。
　When　Mhoram　returned　to　Warmark　Troy　after　the　meal；　he　was　almost　smiling　himself。
　Then　Troy　began　to　give　First　Haft　Amorine　her　instructions　for　the　battle　of　Doom's　Retreat。　After　they　had　discussed　food　and　the　final　stages　of　the　march；　they　talked　about　the　Retreat　itself。　In　spite　of　his　assurances；　she　viewed　that　place　with　dread。　In　all　the　wars　of　the　Land；　that　was　the　place　to　which　armies　fled　when　all　their　hopes　had　been　destroyed。　Grim　old　legends　spoke　of　the　ravens　which　nested　high　in　the　sides　of　the　narrow　defile；　above　the　piled　scree　and　boulders　of　the　edgescawing　for　the　flesh　of　the　defeated。
　　But　Troy　had　never　doubted　this　part　of　his　plan。
　Doom's　Retreat　was　an　ideal　place　for　a　small　army
　to　fight　a　large　one。　The　enemy　could　be　lured　into　the
　canyon　and　beaten　in　segments。　〃That's　the　beauty　of
　it；〃　Troy　said　confidently。　〃This　is　one　time　when
　we're　going　to　turn　Foul's　tables　on　him　we're　going
　to　take　a　curse；　and　make　it　into　a　blessing。　Once
　Quaan　arrives；　we'll　have　the　upper　hand。　Foul　may
　not　even　know　we're　there　until　it's　too　late　for　him。
　But　even　if　he　does；　he'll　still　have　to　fight　us。　He
　can't　afford　to　turn　his　back　on　us。　All　you　have　to
　
　do；〃　he　added；　〃is　keep　up　the　pace　for　five　more　days。〃
　Amorine's　blunt　scowl　reminded　him　just　how　impossible　those　five　days　might　be。　But　in　the　morning；　he　felt　that　he　had　been　justified。　Thanks　to　the　roborant　of　the　rillinlure　and　hurtloam；　his　warriors　met　the　call　of　dawn　with　renewed　resolution　in　their　eyes　and　something　like　strength　in　their　limbs。　When　he　climbed　a　nearby　hill　to　speak　to　them；　they　crowded　around　him；　and　gave　a　cheer　that　made　his　chest　tight　with　pride。　He　wanted　to　embrace　them　all。
　He　faced　the　Warward　with　his　back　to　the　sunrise；　and　when　he　could　discern　their　faces　through　his　mist；　he　began。　〃My　friends；〃　he　shouted；　〃hear　me！　I'm　going　to　go　to　Kevin's　；Watch　to　find　out　what　Foul　is　doing；　so　this　will　probably　be　my　last　chance　to　talk　to　you　before　the　fighting　starts。　And　I　want　to　give　you　fair　warning。　We've　been　taking　it　pretty　easy　for　the　past　twenty…two　days。　But　now　the　soft　part　is　over。　We're　going　to　have　to　start　earning　our　pay。〃
　He　risked　this　bleak　joke　apprehensively。　If　the　warriors　understood　him；　they　might　relax　a　bit；　shed　some　of　their　pain　and　care；　draw　closer　to　each　other。　But　if　they　heard　derogation　in　his　words；　if　they　were　affronted　by　his　grim　humor…then　they　were　lost　to　him。
　He　felt　an　immense　relief　and　gratitude　when　he　saw　that　many　of　the　warriors　smiled。　A　few　even　laughed　aloud。　Their　response　made　him　feel　suddenly　and　beautifully　in　harmony　with　them…in　tune　with　his　army；　the　instrument　of　his　will。　At　once；　he　was　confident　again　of　his　mand。
　Briskly；　he　went　on；　〃As　you　know；　we're　only　five　days　from　Doom's　Retreat。　We　have　almost　exactly　forty…eight　leagues　left　to　go。　After　what　you've　already　done；　you　should　be　able　to　do　this　in　your　sleep。　But　still　there　are　a　few　things　I　want　to　say　about　it。
　〃First；　you　should　know　that　you've　already　acplished　more　than　any　other　army　in　the　history　of　the　Land。　No　other　Warward　has　ever　marched　this　far　this　fast。　So　every　one　of　you　is　already　a　hero。　I'm　not　bragging…facts　are　facts。　You　are　already　the　best。
　〃But　heroes　or　not；　our　job　isn't　done　until　we've
　won。　That's　why　we're　going　to　Doom's　Retreat。　It's　a　perfect　place　for　a　trap…once　we　get　there；　we　can　handle　an　army　five　times　our　size。　And　just　getting　there…just　pulling　Foul's　army　south　like　this…we've　already　saved　scores　of　Stonedowns　and　Woodhelvens　in　the　Center　Plains。　For　most　of　you；　that　means　we've　saved　your　homes。〃
　He　paused；　hoping　to　let　his　own　confidence　reach　into　the　hearts　of　the　warriors。　Then　he　said；　〃But　we　have　got　to　get　to　the　Retreat　in　time。　That　is　where　Hiltmark　Quaan　expects　to　find　us。　He　and　his　Eoward　are　fighting　like　hell　to　give　us　these　five　more　days。　If　we　don't　reach　the　Retreat　before　they　do；　they　will　all　die。
　〃It's　going　to　be　close。　But　I　can　tell　you　for　a　fact　that　the　Hiltmark　has　already　bought　three　of　those　five　days　for　us。　You　all　saw　that　storm　six　days　ago。　You　know　what　it　was…an　attack　on　the　Hiltmark's　Eoward。　That　means　that　six　days　ago　he　was　still　holding　Foul's　army　in　the　Mithil　valley。　And　you　know　Hiltmark　Quaan。　You　know　he　won't　let　a　mere　two　days　get　between　us　and　victory。
　〃It　is　going　to　be　close。　We're　not　going　to　get　much　rest。　But　once　we're　in　the　Retreat；　I'm　not　afraid　of　the　oute。〃
　At　this；　the　Hafts　raised　a　cheer　to　answer　Troy's　bravado；　and　he　stood　silently　in　the　ovation　with　his　head　bowed；　accepting　it　only　because　the　courage　in　the　shout；　the　courage　of　his　army；　overwhelmed　him。　When　the　cheering　subsided；　and　the　Warward　became　silent　again；　he　said　thickly　into　the　stillness；　〃My　friends；　I'm　proud　of　you　all。〃
　Then　he　turned　and　almost　ran　from　the　hill。
　Lord　Mhoram　followed　him　as　he　sprang　onto　Mehryl's　back。　Acpanied　by　Ruel；　Terrel；　and　eight　other　Bloodguard；　the　two　men　galloped　away　from　the　Warward。　Troy　set　a　hard　pace　until　his　army　was　out　of　sight　in　the　hills　behind　him。　Then　he　eased　Mehryl　back　to　a　gait　which　would　cover　the　distance　to　Mithil　Stonedown　and　the　base　of　Kevin's　Watch　in　three　days。　With　Mhoram　at　his　side；　he　cantered　eastward　over　the　rumpled　Plains。
　After　a　time；　the　Lord　said　quietly；　〃Warmark　Troy；　you　have　moved　them。〃
　〃You've　got　it　backward；〃　replied　Troy　in　a　voice　gruff　with　emotion。　〃They　did　it　to　me。〃
　〃No；　my　friend。　They　have　bee　very　loyal　to　you。〃
　〃They're　loyal　people。　They…all　right；　yes；　I　know　what　you　mean。　They're　loyal　to　me。　If　I　ever　let　them　down…if　I　even　make　any　normal　human　mistakes　they're　going　to　feel　betrayed。　I　know。　I've　focused　too　much　of　their　courage　and　hope　on　myself；　on　my　plans。　But　if　it　gets　them　to　Doom's　Retreat　in　time；　the　risk'll　be　worth　it。〃
　Lord　Mhoram　assented　with　a　nod。　After　a　pause；　he　said；　〃But　you　have　done　your　part。　My　friend；　I　must　tell　you　this。　When　I　first　understood　your　intention　to　march　toward　Doom's　Retreat　at　such　a　pace；　I　felt　the　task　to　be　impossible。〃
　〃Then　why　did　you　let　me　do　it？〃　flared　Troy。　〃Why　wait　until　now　to　say　anything？〃
　〃Ah；　Warmark；〃　returned　the　Lord；　〃everything　that　passes　unattempted　is　impossible。〃

　At　this；　Troy　turned　on　Mhoram。　But　when　he　met　the　Lord's　probing　gaze；　he　realized　that　Mhoram　would　not　have　raised　such　a　question　gratuitously。　Forcing　himself　to　relax；　he　said；　〃You　don't　actually　expect　me　to　be　satisfied　with　an　answer　like　that。〃
　〃No；〃　the　Lord　replied　simply。　〃I　speak　only　to　express　my　appreciation　for　what　you　have　done。　I　trust　you。　I　will　follow　your　lead　in　this　war　into　any　peril。〃
　Abruptly；　a　rush　of　gratitude　filled　Troy's　throat；　and　he　had　to　clench　his　teeth　to　keep　from　grinning　foolishly。　To　meet　Mhoram's　trust；　h