df.therunelords-第44部分

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　were　cuffed；　and　that　a　short；　heavy　iron　chain　led　from　manacles　to　cuffs　to　neck。　Though　Binnesman　could　not　stand　upright；　the　bowed　stance　did　not　bother　him。　He'd　hunched　over　plants　for　so　many　years；　his　back　had　bee　stooped。
　〃Beware　of　him；　my　lord；〃　the　pyromancer　at　Raj　Ahten's　side　whispered。　〃He　has　great　power。〃
　〃Hardly；〃　Binnesman　chided。　〃You've　destroyed　my　garden；　the　work　of　master　gardeners　for　over　five　hundred　years。　The　herbs　and　spices　I'd　have　harvested　are　all　lost。　You　are　known　as　a　pragmatic　man；　Raj　Ahten。　Surely　you　know　these　were　things　of　no　small　benefit！〃
　Raj　Ahten　smiled　somewhat　playfully。　〃I'm　sorry　my　sorcerers　destroyed　your　garden。　But　we　haven't　destroyed　you；　have　we？　You　can　grow　another　garden。　I　have　some　fine　gardens；　near　my　villas　and　palaces　in　the　South。　Trees　from　the　far　corners　of　the　world；　rich　soil；　plentiful　water。〃
　Binnesman　shook　his　head。　〃Never。　I　can　never　have　another　garden　like　the　one　you　burned。　It　was　my　heart。　You　see。。。〃　He　clutched　at　his　robes。
　Raj　Ahten　leaned　forward。　〃I'm　sorry。　It　was　necessary　to　clip　your　wings；　Earth　Warden。〃　He　spoke　this　title　with　solemnity；　with　more　respect　than　he'd　shown　anyone　else　this　night。　〃And　yet；　Master　Binnesman；　I　truly　did　not　want　to　harm　you。　There　are　few　notable　Earth　Wardens　in　the　world；　and　I've　tested　the　efficacy　of　the　herbs　that　each　of　your　kind　grows；　studied　the　ointments　and　infusions　you　provide。　You；　Binnesman；　are　the　master　of　your　craft；　of　that　I　am　sure。　You　deserve　greater　honor　than　you　have　been　accorded。　You　should　be　serving　as　hearthmaster　in　the　Room　of　Earth　Powers　in　the　House　of　Understandingnot　that　fraud　Hoewell。〃
　Iome　marveled。　Even　in　far　Indhopal；　Raj　Ahten　knew　of　Binnesman's　work。　The　Wolf　Lord　seemed　almost　omniscient　to　her。
　Binnesman　watched　him　from　beneath　bushy　brows。　The　wrinkled　lines　of　Binnesman's　face　were　wise；　and　after　years　of　smiling；　made　him　look　kind　and　soft。　But　there　was　no　kindness　behind　his　eyes。　Iome　had　seen　him　smash　bugs　in　his　garden　with　that　calculating　gaze。　〃The　honors　of　men　do　not　interest　me。〃
　〃Then　what　does　interest　you？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　When　Binnesman　did　not　answer；　he　said　softly；　〃Will　you　serve　me？〃
　The　tone　of　voice；　the　subtle　inflections；　were　all　such　that　many　another　man　would　have　prostrated　themselves。
　〃I　serve　no　king；〃　Binnesman　answered。
　〃You　served　Sylvarresta；〃　Raj　Ahten　gently　reminded　him；　〃just　as　he　serves　me　now！〃
　〃Sylvarresta　was　my　friend；　never　my　master。〃
　〃You　served　his　people。　You　served　him　as　a　friend。〃
　〃I　serve　the　earth；　and　all　people　on　it；　Lord　Raj。〃
　〃Then　will　you　give　yourself　to　me？〃
　Binnesman　gave　him　a　scolding　look；　as　if　Raj　Ahten　were　a　child　caught　doing　wrong　when　he　knew　better。　〃Do　you　desire　my　service　as　a　man；　or　as　a　wizard？〃
　〃As　a　wizard。〃
　〃Then；　alas；　Lord　Raj；　I　cannot　take　a　vow　to　serve　you；　for　it　would　diminish　my　powers。〃
　〃How　so？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　〃I've　vowed　to　serve　the　earth；　and　no　other；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I　serve　the　trees　in　their　hour　of　need；　as　well　as　the　fox　and　the　hare。　I　serve　men　with　no　greater　and　no　less　devotion　than　I　serve　other　creatures。　But　if　I　break　my　vow　to　serve　the　earth；　if　I　seek　instead　to　serve　you；　my　powers　would　perish。
　〃You　have　many　men　who　will　serve　you；　or　who　will　serve　themselves　in　your　interest；　Raj　Ahten。　Content　yourself　with　them。〃
　Iome　wondered　at　Binnesman's　words。　He　lied　now；　she　knew。　He　did　serve　men　more　than　animals。　He'd　once　told　her　it　was　his　weakness；　this　peculiar　devotion　to　mankind。　In　his　eyes；　it　made　him　unworthy　of　his　master。　Iome　feared　that　Raj　Ahten　would　see　through　the　lies；　punish　Binnesman。
　The　Wolf　Lord's　beautiful　face　was　untroubled；　and　it　seemed　to　Iome　to　be　full　of　kindness。
　Binnesman　said　softly　to　Raj　Ahten；　〃You　understand；　as　a　Runelord；　you　must　care　for　your　Dedicates；　or　else　in　time　they　would　starve　or　sicken。　If　they　died；　you　would　lose　the　powers　you　draw　from　them。〃
　〃The　same　principles　apply　to　me。。。or　to　your　flameweavers。　See　how　they　feed　the　fire；　knowing　they　will　gain　strength　from　it　in　return？〃
　〃Milord；〃　the　flameweaver　at　Raj　Ahten's　side　whispered；　〃let　me　kill　him。　The　flames　show　that　he　is　a　danger。　He　helped　Prince　Orden　escape　from　his　garden。　He　supports　your　enemies。　The　light　within　him　is　against　you。〃
　Raj　Ahten　touched　the　flameweaver's　hand；　calming　her；　asking；　〃Is　it　so？　Did　you　help　the　Prince　escape？〃
　Don't　answer　him；　Iome　wanted　to　shout。　Don't　answer。
　But　Binnesman　merely　shrugged。　〃He　had　a　wound。　I　tended　it；　as　I　would　if　he　were　a　rabbit　or　a　crow。　Then　I　pointed　his　way　into　the　Dunnwood；　so　he　could　hide。〃
　〃Because？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　〃Because　your　soldiers　want　him　dead；〃　the　herbalist　answered。　〃I　serve　life。　Your　life；　your　enemy's　life。　I　serve　life；　as　surely　as　you　serve　death。〃
　〃I　do　not　serve　death。　I　serve　mankind；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　calmly。　His　eyes　hardly　narrowed；　but　his　face　suddenly　seemed　harder；　more　passionless。
　〃Fire　consumes；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Certainly；　when　you　surround　yourself　with　so　many　flameweavers；　you　too　must　feel　their　tug；　their　desire　to　consume。　It　has　you　in　its　sway。〃
　Raj　Ahten　casually　leaned　back　on　the　throne。　〃Fire　also　enlightens　and　reveals；〃　he　said。　〃It　warms　us　in　the　cold　night。　In　the　right　hands；　it　can　be　a　tool　for　good；　even　for　healing。　The　Bright　Ones　and　the　Glories　are　creatures　of　the　flame。　Life　es　from　fire；　as　well　as　from　the　earth。〃
　〃Yes；　it　can　be　a　tool　for　good。　But　not　now。　Not　in　the　age　to　e。　Certainly　no　beings　of　the　greater　light　will　e　do　your　bidding；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃I　think　that　you　would　do　better　to　rid　yourself　of　these。。。forces。〃　He　waved　casually　at　the　flameweavers。　〃Other　wizards　would　serve　you　better。〃
　〃So　you　will　serve　me？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　〃You　will　supply　my　armies　with　your　herbs　and　ointments？〃　He　smiled；　and　that　smile　seemed　to　light　the　room。　Certainly　Binnesman　will　help　him；　Iome　thought。
　〃Herbs　for　the　sick　and　the　wounded？〃　Binnesman　asked。　〃I　can　do　this　in　good　conscience。　But　I　do　not　serve　you。〃
　Raj　Ahten　nodded；　clearly　disappointed。　Binnesman's　devotion　would　have　been　a　great　boon。
　〃Milord；〃　the　flameweaver　hissed；　glancing　from　brazier　to　Raj　Ahten；　〃he　is　not　truthful。　He　does　serve　a　king！　I　see　a　man　in　my　flames；　a　faceless　man　with　a　crown！　A　king　is　ing；　a　king　who　can　destroy　you！〃
　Raj　Ahten　studied　the　herbalist；　leaning　even　closer　in　his　chair；　the　green　flames　from　the　brazier　licking　the　side　of　his　face。　〃My　pyromancer　sees　a　vision　in　the　flames；〃　he　whispered。　〃Tell　me；　Binnesman；　has　the　earth　granted　you　such　visions？　Is　there　a　king　who　can　destroy　me？〃
　Binnesman　stood　straighter；　folded　his　arms。　His　fists　were　clenched。　〃I　am　no　friend　of　the　Time　Lords；　to　know　the　future。　I　don't　gaze　into　polished　stones。　But　you　have　made　many　enemies。〃
　〃But　is　there　a　king　whom　you　serve？〃
　Binnesman　stood　for　a　long　moment；　deep　in　thought；　his　brows　furrowed；　Iome　almost　believed　that　the　old　herbalist　would　not　answer；　but　then　he　began　to　mutter；　〃Wood　and　stone；　wood　and　stone；　these　are　but　my　flesh　and　bone。　Metal；　blood；　wood　and　stone；　these　I　own；　these　I　own。〃
　〃What？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked；　though　surely　he　could　not　have　failed　to　hear　the　old　man。
　〃I　serve　no　man。　But；　Your　Lordship；　a　king　is　ing；　a　king　of　whom　the　earth　approves。　Fourteen　days　ago；　he　set　foot　in　Heredon。　I　know　this　only　because　I　heard　the　stones　whisper　it　in　the　night；　as　I　slept　in　the　fields。　A　voice　called　to　me；　plain　as　a　lark；　The　new　King　of　the　Earth　is　ing。　He　is　in　the　land。'　〃
　〃Kill　him！〃　the　flameweavers　all　began　shouting　at　this　revelation。　〃He　serves　your　enemy。〃
　Raj　Ahten　tried　to　silence　their　yammering　with　an　upraised　hand；　and　asked；　〃Who　is　this　Earth　King？〃　His　eyes　blazed。　The　flameweavers　kept　calling　for　Binnesman's　death；　Iome　feared　that　Raj　Ahten　would　grant　their　boon。　The　light　in　their　eyes　increased；　and　the　woman　at　the　brazier　raised　her　fist；　let　it　burst　into　flame。　In　a　moment；　Raj　Ahten's　desires　would　not　matter。　The　flameweavers　would　kill　Binnesman。
　In　an　effort　to　save　the　herbalist；　Iome　shouted；　〃It's　Orden。　King　Orden　crossed　our　border　two　weeks　ago！〃
　At　that　very　moment；　the　chains　holding　Binnesman　dropped　away；　both　hand　and　foot；　and　Binnesman　unclenched　his　fists；　tossed　something　into　the　air
　Yellow　flower　petals；　withered　roots；　and　dry　leaves　that　fluttered　in　the　green　light。
　The　flameweavers　shrieked　in　dismay　and　fell　back；　as　if　blasted　by　the　weight　of　the　flowers。
　The　brazier　snuffed　out。　Indeed；　all　the　lanterns　in　the　audience　chamber　winked　out　at　once；　so　that　the　only　light　in　the　room　was　early…morning　starlight；　shining　in　from　the　oriels。
　When　her　eyes　adjusted；　Iome　looked　around；　mystified。　The　flame…weavers　had　all　fallen　backward　from　Binnesman　as　if　struck　by　lightning。　They　lay　stunned；　gazing　without　seeing；　whimpering　in　pain。
　The　room　had　suddenly　filled　with　a　clean；　pungent　scent；　as　if　a　wind　had　carried　with　it　the　air　of　a　distant　meadow。　Binnesman　stood　tall　and　straight；　glaring　at　Raj　Ahten　from　under　bushy　brows。　The　cuffs　and