uleg.thefarthestshore-第5部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ory　of　his　home。
　　When　the　meal　was　done；　they　drew　together　once　more　before　the　hearth；　some　sitting　and　some　standing；　and　there　was　a　little　silence。
　　〃Last　night；〃　the　Archmage　said；　〃we　met　in　council。　Long　we　talked；　yet　resolved　nothing。　I　would　hear　you　say　now；　in　the　morning　light；　whether　you　uphold　or　gainsay　your　judgment　of　the　night。〃
　　〃That　we　resolved　nothing；〃　said　the　Master　Herbal；　a　stocky；　dark…skinned　man　with　calm　eyes；　〃is　itself　a　judgment。　In　the　Grove　are　patterns　found；　but　we　found　nothing　there　but　argument。〃
　　〃Only　because　we　could　not　see　the　pattern　plain；〃　said　the　grey…haired　mage　of　Enlad；　the　Master　Changer。　〃We　do　not　know　enough。　Rumors　from　Wathort；　news　from　Enlad。　Strange　news；　and　should　be　looked　to。　But　to　raise　a　great　fear　on　so　little　a　foundation　is　unneedful。　Our　power　is　not　threatened　only　because　a　few　sorcerers　have　forgotten　their　spells。〃
　　〃So　say　I；〃　said　a　lean；　keen…eyed　man；　the　Master　Windkey。　〃Have　we　not　all　our　powers？　Do　not　the　trees　of　the　Grove　grow　and　put　forth　leaves？　Do　not　the　storms　of　heaven　obey　our　word？　Who　can　fear　for　the　art　of　wizardry；　which　is　the　oldest　of　the　arts　of　man？〃
　　〃No　man；〃　said　the　Master　Summoner；　deep…voiced　and　tall；　young；　with　a　dark　and　noble　face；　〃no　man；　no　power；　can　bind　the　action　of　wizardry　or　still　the　words　of　power。　For　they　are　the　very　words　of　the　Making；　and　one　who　could　silence　them　could　unmake　the　world。〃
　　〃Aye；　and　one　who　could　do　that　would　not　be　on　Wathort　or　Narveduen；〃　said　the　Changer。　〃He　would　be　here　at　the　gates　of　Roke；　and　the　end　of　the　world　would　be　at　hand！　We've　not　e　to　that　pass　yet〃
　　〃Yet　there　is　something　wrong；〃　said　another；　and　they　looked　at　him：　deep…chested；　solid　as　an　oaken　cask；　he　sat　by　the　fire；　and　the　voice　came　from　him　soft　and　true　as　the　note　of　a　great　bell。　He　was　the　Master　Chanter。　〃Where　is　the　king　that　should　be　in　Havnor？　Roke　is　not　the　heart　of　the　world。　That　tower　is；　on　which　the　sword　of　Erreth…Akbe　is　set；　and　in　which　stands　the　throne　of　Serriadh；　of　Akambar；　of　Maharion。　Eight　hundred　years　has　the　heart　of　the　world　been　empty！　We　have　the　crown；　but　no　king　to　wear　it。　We　have　the　Lost　Rune；　the　King's　Rune；　the　Rune　of　Peace；　restored　to　us；　but　have　we　peace？　Let　there　be　a　king　upon　the　throne；　and　we　will　have　peace；　and　even　in　the　farthest　Reaches　the　sorcerers　will　practice　their　arts　with　untroubled　mind；　and　there　will　be　order　and　a　due　season　to　all　things。〃
　　〃Aye；〃　said　the　Master　Hand；　a　slight；　quick　man；　modest　of　bearing　but　with　clear　and　seeing　eyes。　〃I　am　with　you；　Chanter。　What　wonder　that　wizardry　goes　astray；　when　all　else　goes　astray？　If　the　whole　flock　wander；　will　our　black　sheep　stay　by　the　fold？〃
　　At　that　the　Doorkeeper　laughed；　but　he　said　nothing。
　　〃Then　to　you　all；〃　said　the　Archmage；　it　seems　that　there　is　nothing　very　wrong；　or　if；　there　is；　it　lies　in　this；　that　our　lands　are　ungoverned　or　ill…governed；　so　that　all　the　arts　and　high　skills　of　men　suffer　from　neglect。　With　that　much　I　agree。　Indeed　it　is　because　the　South　is　all　but　lost　to　peaceful　merce　that　we　must　depend　on　rumor；　and　who　has　any　safe　word　from　the　West　Reach；　save　this　from　Narveduen？　If　ships　went　forth　and　came　back　safely　as　of　old；　if　our　lands　of　Earthsea　were　well…knit；　we　might　know　how　things　stand　in　the　remote　places；　and　so　could　act。　And　I　think　we　would　act！　For；　my　lords；　when　the　Prince　of　Enlad　tells　us　that　he　spoke　the　words　of　the　Making　in　a　spell　and　yet　did　not　know　their　meaning　as　he　spoke　them；　when　the　Master　Patterner　says　that　there　is　fear　at　the　roots　and　will　say　no　more：　is　this　so　little　a　foundation　for　anxiety？　When　a　storm　begins；　it　is　only　a　little　cloud　on　the　horizon。〃
　　〃You　have　a　sense　for　the　black　things；　Sparrowhawk；〃　said　the　Doorkeeper。　〃You　ever　did。　Say　what　you　think　is　wrong。〃
　　〃I　do　not　know。　There　is　a　weakening　of　power。　There　is　a　want　of　resolution。　There　is　a　dimming　of　the　sun。　I　feel；　my　lords…　I　feel　as　if　we　who　sit　here　talking；　were　all　wounded　mortally；　and　while　we　talk　and　talk　our　blood　runs　softly　from　our　veins。。。〃
　　〃And　you　would　be　up　and　doing。〃
　　〃I　would；〃　said　the　Archmage。
　　〃Well；〃　said　the　Doorkeeper；　〃can　the　owls　keep　the　hawk　from　flying？〃
　　〃But　where　would　you　go？〃　the　Changer　asked；　and　the　Chanter　answered　him：　〃To　seek　our　king　and　bring　him　to　his　throne！〃
　　The　Archmage　looked　keenly　at　the　Chanter；　but　answered　only；　〃I　would　go　where　the　trouble　is。〃
　　〃South　or　west；〃　said　the　Master　Windkey。
　　〃And　north　and　east　if　need　be；〃　said　the　Doorkeeper。
　　〃But　you　are　needed　here；　my　lord；〃　said　the　Changer。　〃Rather　than　to　go　seeking　blindly　among　unfriendly　peoples　on　strange　seas；　would　it　not　be　wiser　to　stay　here；　where　all　magic　is　strong；　and　find　out　by　your　arts　what　this　evil　or　disorder　is？〃
　　〃My　arts　do　not　avail　me；〃　the　Archmage　said。
　　There　was　that　in　his　voice　which　made　them　all　look　at　him；　sober　and　with　uneasy　eyes。　〃I　am　the　Warder　of　Roke。　I　do　not　leave　Roke　lightly。　I　wish　that　your　counsel　and　my　own　were　the　same；　but　that　is　not　to　be　hoped　for　now。　The　judgment　must　be　mine：　and　I　must　go。〃
　　〃To　that　judgment　we　yield；〃　said　the　Summoner。
　　〃And　I　go　alone。　You　are　the　Council　of　Roke；　and　the　Council　must　not　be　broken。　Yet　one　I　will　take　with　me；　if　he　will　e。〃　He　looked　at　Arren。　〃You　offered　me　your　service；　yesterday。　Last　night　the　Master　Patterner　said；　‘Not　by　chance　does　any　man　e　to　the　shores　of　Roke。　Not　by　chance　is　a　son　of　Morred　the　bearer　of　this　news'　And　no　other　word　had　he　for　us　all　the　night。　Therefore　I　ask　you；　Arren；　will　you　e　with　me？〃
　　〃Yes；　my　lord；〃　said　Arren；　with　a　dry　throat。
　　〃The　prince；　your　father；　surely　would　not　let　you　go　into　this　peril；〃　said　the　Changer　somewhat　sharply；　and　to　the　Archmage；　〃The　lad　is　young　and　not　trained　in　wizardry。〃
　　〃I　have　years　and　spells　enough　for　both　of　us；〃　Sparrowhawk　said　in　a　dry　voice。　〃Arren；　what　of　your　father？〃
　　〃He　would　let　me　go。〃
　　〃How　can　you　know？〃　asked　the　Summoner。
　　Arren　did　not　know　where　he　was　being　required　to　go；　nor　when；　nor　why。　He　was　bewildered　and　abashed　by　these　grave；　honest；　terrible　men。　If　he　had　had　time　to　think　he　could　not　have　said　anything　at　all。　But　he　had　no　time　to　think；　and　the　Archmage　had　asked　him；　〃Will　you　e　with　me？〃
　　〃When　my　father　sent　me　here　he　said　to　me；　‘I　fear　a　dark　time　is　ing　on　the　world；　a　time　of　danger。　So　I　send　you　rather　than　any　other　messenger；　for　you　can　judge　whether　we　should　ask　the　help　of　the　Isle　of　the　Wise　in　this　matter；　or　offer　the　help　of　Enlad　to　them。'　So　if　I　am　needed；　therefore　I　am　here。〃
　　At　that　he　saw　the　Archmage　smile。　There　was　great　sweetness　in　the　smile；　though　it　was　brief。　〃Do　you　see？〃　he　said　to　the　seven　mages。　〃Could　age　or　wizardry　add　anything　to　this？〃
　　Arren　felt　that　they　looked　on　him　approvingly　then；　but　with　a　kind　of　pondering　or　wondering　look；　still。　The　Summoner　spoke；　his　arched　brows　straightened　to　a　frown：　〃I　do　not　understand　it；　my　lord。　That　you　are　bent　on　going；　yes。　You　have　been　caged　here　five　years。　But　always　before　you　were　alone；　you　have　always　gone　alone。　Why；　now；　panioned？〃
　　〃I　never　needed　help　before；〃　said　Sparrowhawk；　with　an　edge　of　threat　or　irony　in　his　voice。　〃And　I　have　found　a　fit　panion。〃　There　was　a　dangerousness　about　him；　and　the　tall　Summoner　asked　him　no　more　questions；　though　he　still　frowned。
　　But　the　Master　Herbal；　calm…eyed　and　dark　like　a　wise　and　patient　ox；　rose　from　his　seat　and　stood　monumental。　〃Go；　my　lord；〃　he　said；　〃and　take　the　lad。　And　all　our　trust　goes　with　you。〃
　　One　by　one　the　others　gave　assent　quietly；　and　by　ones　and　twos　withdrew；　until　only　the　Summoner　was　left　of　the　seven。　〃Sparrowhawk；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　not　seek　to　question　your　judgment。　Only　I　say：　If　you　are　right；　if　there　is　imbalance　and　the　peril　of　great　evil；　then　a　voyage　to　Wathort；　or　into　the　West　Reach；　or　to　world's　end；　will　not　be　far　enough。　Where　you　may　have　to　go；　can　you　take　this　panion；　and　is　it　fair　to　him？〃
　　They　stood　apart　from　Arren；　and　the　Summoner's　voice　was　lowered；　but　the　Archmage　spoke　openly：　〃It　is　fair。〃
　　〃You　are　not　telling　me　all　you　know；〃　the　Summoner　said。
　　〃If　I　knew；　I　would　speak。　I　know　nothing。　I　guess　much。〃
　　〃Let　me　e　with　you：
　　〃One　must　guard　the　gates。〃
　　〃The　Doorkeeper　does　that…〃
　　〃Not　only　the　gates　of　Roke。　Stay　here。　Stay　here；　and　watch　the　sunrise　to　see　if　it　be　bright；　and　watch　at　the　wall　of　stones　to　see　who　crosses　it　and　where　their　faces　are　turned。　There　is　a　breach；　Thorion；　there　is　a　break；　a　wound；　and　it　is　this　I　go　to　seek。　If　I　am　lost；　then　maybe　you　will　find　it。　But　wait。　I　bid　you　wait　for　me。〃　He　was　speaking　now　in　the　Old　Speech；　the　language　of　the　Making；　in　which　all　true　spells　are　cast　and　on　which　all　the　great　acts　of　magic　depend；　but　very　seldom　is　it　spoken　in　conversation；　except　among　the　dragons。　The　Summoner　made　no　further　argument　or　protest；　but　bowed　his　tall　head　quietly　both　to　the　Archmage　and　to　Arren　and　departed。
　　The　fire　crackled　in　the　hearth。　There　was　no　other　sound。　Outside　the　windows　the　fog