ÓÑÇéÌáʾ£ºÈç¹û±¾ÍøÒ³´ò¿ªÌ«Âý»òÏÔʾ²»ÍêÕû£¬Çë³¢ÊÔÊó±êÓÒ¼ü¡°Ë¢Ð¡±±¾ÍøÒ³£¡ÔĶÁ¹ý³Ì·¢ÏÖÈκδíÎóÇë¸æËßÎÒÃÇ£¬Ð»Ð»£¡£¡ ±¨¸æ´íÎó
°ËÍòС˵Íø ·µ»Ø±¾ÊéĿ¼ ÎÒµÄÊé¼Ü ÎÒµÄÊéÇ© TXTÈ«±¾ÏÂÔØ ½øÈëÊé°É ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©

srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-µÚ5²¿·Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



the¡¡rattle¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡timber¡¡rattler¡¡was¡¡coiled¡¡less¡¡than¡¡a¡¡yard¡¡from¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡bare¡¡legs¡£¡¡Its¡¡head¡¡bobbed¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡searching¡¡for¡¡the¡¡perfect¡¡place¡¡to¡¡strike¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡recognized¡¡her¡¡terror¡¡now¡£¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡shout¡¡had¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡burst¡¡past¡¡his¡¡blood¡­caked¡¡lips£»¡¡he¡¡pushed¡¡himself¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡and¡¡started¡¡running¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hill¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡slope¡¡seemed¡¡interminably¡¡long£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡were¡¡hardly¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡sustain¡¡him¡£¡¡At¡¡each¡¡downward¡¡plunge£»¡¡his¡¡muscles¡¡gave£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡almost¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡his¡¡knees¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡child's¡¡irrefusable¡¡fear¡¡held¡¡him¡¡up¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡snake¡£¡¡He¡¡fixed¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡her¡¡bare¡¡shins£»¡¡concentrated¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡importance¡¡of¡¡reaching¡¡her¡¡before¡¡the¡¡rattler's¡¡fangs¡¡jabbed¡¡into¡¡her¡¡flesh¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡her¡¡was¡¡blurred¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sight£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡exist¡¡apart¡¡from¡¡her¡¡peril¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡each¡¡shrill¡¡cry£»¡¡she¡¡begged¡¡him¡¡to¡¡hurry¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡watching¡¡his¡¡footing¡£¡¡Before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡covered¡¡half¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡he¡¡tripped¡­pitched¡¡headlong¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hill£»¡¡tumbled¡¡and¡¡bounced¡¡over¡¡the¡¡rough¡¡rocks¡£¡¡For¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡he¡¡protected¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡his¡¡arms¡£¡¡But¡¡then¡¡his¡¡head¡¡smacked¡¡against¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡facet¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hillside¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stone£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡burying¡¡his¡¡face¡¡in¡¡darkness¡£¡¡The¡¡hard¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡it¡¡broke¡¡over¡¡him¡¡like¡¡a¡¡wave£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡himself¡¡plunging¡¡deep¡¡into¡¡the¡¡rock's¡¡granite¡¡essence¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡No£¡¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡No£¡¡¡Not¡¡now£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡fought¡¡it¡¡with¡¡every¡¡jot¡¡of¡¡his¡¡strength¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡surpassed¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡sank¡¡into¡¡it¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡drowning¡¡in¡¡stone¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡Two
¡¡¡¡Variol¡­son
¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡Mhoram¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡his¡¡private¡¡chambers¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡Revelstone¡£¡¡The¡¡unadorned¡¡gut¡­rock¡¡walls¡¡around¡¡him¡¡were¡¡warmly¡¡lit¡¡by¡¡small¡¡urns¡¡of¡¡graveling¡¡in¡¡each¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡aroma¡¡of¡¡newly¡¡broken¡¡earth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lore¡­glowing¡¡stones¡¡wrapped¡¡fortably¡¡around¡¡him¡£¡¡But¡¡still¡¡he¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡preternatural¡¡winter¡¡which¡¡was¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡land¡£¡¡Despite¡¡the¡¡brave¡¡hearth¡¡fires¡¡set¡¡everywhere¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Hirebrands¡¡and¡¡Gravelingases¡¡of¡¡Lord's¡¡Keep£»¡¡a¡¡bitter¡¡chill¡¡seeped¡¡noticeably¡¡through¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡granite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡Mhoram¡¡felt¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡sense¡¡its¡¡effect¡¡on¡¡the¡¡physical¡¡mood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Giant¡­wrought¡¡Keep¡£¡¡On¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡subliminal¡¡level£»¡¡Revelstone¡¡was¡¡huddling¡¡against¡¡the¡¡cold¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Already£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡natural¡¡turnings¡¡of¡¡winter¡¡toward¡¡spring¡¡were¡¡a¡¡full¡¡cycle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡late¡£¡¡The¡¡middle¡¡night¡¡of¡¡spring¡¡was¡¡only¡¡fourteen¡¡days¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡ice¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Land¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Outside¡¡the¡¡wedge¡­shaped¡¡mountain¡¡plateau¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Keep£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡not¡¡much¡¡snow£»¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was¡¡too¡¡cold¡¡for¡¡snow¡£¡¡It¡¡blew¡¡at¡¡Revelstone¡¡on¡¡a¡¡jagged£»¡¡uncharacteristic¡¡wind¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡east£»¡¡kicking¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡skiff¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡across¡¡the¡¡foothills¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plateau£»¡¡blinding¡¡all¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Keep¡¡under¡¡deep¡¡inches¡¡of¡¡frost¡¡and¡¡immobilizing¡¡with¡¡ice¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡Furl¡¡Falls¡£¡¡Mhoram¡¡did¡¡not¡¡need¡¡to¡¡smell¡¡the¡¡Despite¡¡which¡¡hurled¡¡that¡¡wind¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡to¡¡know¡¡its¡¡source¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡came¡¡from¡¡Ridjeck¡¡Thome£»¡¡Foul's¡¡Creche¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chambers£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡elbows¡¡braced¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡table¡¡and¡¡his¡¡chin¡¡propped¡¡on¡¡one¡¡palm£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡that¡¡wind¡¡hissing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡background¡¡of¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡Ten¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡said¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible£»¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡weather¡¡patterns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡so¡¡wrenched¡¡apart¡£¡¡Even¡¡five¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡after¡¡he¡¡had¡¡had¡¡time¡¡to¡¡assess¡¡and¡¡reassess¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Staff¡¡of¡¡Law£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡doubted¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Illearth¡¡Stone¡¡could¡¡make¡¡Lord¡¡Foul¡¡so¡¡powerful¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡better£»¡¡understood¡¡more¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡Elena's¡¡battle¡¡with¡¡dead¡¡Kevin¡¡Landwaster¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡seven¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡The¡¡Staff¡¡of¡¡Law¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡destroyed¡¡in¡¡that¡¡struggle¡£¡¡Without¡¡the¡¡Staff's¡¡innate¡¡support¡¡for¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡order¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Earth£»¡¡one¡¡great¡¡obstacle¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡from¡¡the¡¡path¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Despiser's¡¡corrupting¡¡power¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Law¡¡of¡¡Death¡¡had¡¡been¡¡broken£»¡¡Elena¡¡had¡¡summoned¡¡Old¡¡Lord¡¡Kevin¡¡from¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡grave¡£¡¡Mhoram¡¡could¡¡not¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡measure¡¡all¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡implications¡¡of¡¡that¡¡rupture¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡blinked£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡gold¡­flecked¡¡eyes¡¡shifted¡¡into¡¡focus¡¡on¡¡the¡¡carving¡¡which¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡two¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡the¡¡flat¡¡blade¡¡of¡¡his¡¡nose¡£¡¡The¡¡bone¡¡of¡¡the¡¡carving¡¡gleamed¡¡whitely¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire¡­stones¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡marrowmeld¡¡sculpture£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡Elena's¡¡anundivianyajna¡¡work¡£¡¡Bannor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bloodguard¡¡had¡¡preserved¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡given¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Mhoram¡¡when¡¡they¡¡had¡¡e¡¡together¡¡on¡¡Gallows¡¡Howe¡¡in¡¡Garroting¡¡Deep¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡finely¡¡detailed¡¡bust£»¡¡a¡¡sculpting£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lean£»¡¡gaunt£»¡¡impenetrable¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡lines¡¡were¡¡tense¡¡with¡¡prophetic¡¡purpose¡£¡¡After¡¡Mhoram¡¡and¡¡the¡¡survivors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Warward¡¡had¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡Revelstone¡¡from¡¡Garroting¡¡Deep£»¡¡Bannor¡¡had¡¡explained¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bone¡¡sculpture¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡fact£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡explained¡¡it¡¡in¡¡unaccustomed¡¡detail¡£¡¡His¡¡habitual¡¡Bloodguard¡¡reticence¡¡had¡¡given¡¡way¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡prolixity£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fullness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡description¡¡had¡¡provided¡¡Mhoram¡¡with¡¡a¡¡first¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fundamental¡¡alteration¡¡which¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Bloodguard¡£¡¡And¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡that¡¡description¡¡had¡¡led¡¡circuitously¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡change¡¡in¡¡Mhoram's¡¡own¡¡life¡£¡¡By¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡logic¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡put¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Lord's¡¡power¡¡of¡¡prevision¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡seer¡¡and¡¡oracle¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Council¡¡of¡¡Lords¡£¡¡Because¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned£»¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡no¡¡more¡¡glimpses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡¡in¡¡dreams£»¡¡read¡¡no¡¡more¡¡hints¡¡of¡¡distant¡¡happenings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡The¡¡secret¡¡knowledge¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gained¡¡so¡¡intuitively¡¡from¡¡the¡¡marrowmeld¡¡sculpture¡¡had¡¡blinded¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡his¡¡prescience¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡done¡¡other¡¡things¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡afflicted¡¡him¡¡with¡¡more¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡felt¡¡before¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡had¡¡partly¡¡estranged¡¡him¡¡from¡¡his¡¡fellow¡¡Lords£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sense£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡estranged¡¡him¡¡from¡¡all¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Revelstone¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡the¡¡halls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Keep£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sympathy¡¡and¡¡pain¡¡and¡¡doubt¡¡and¡¡wonder¡¡of¡¡their¡¡glances¡¡that¡¡they¡¡perceived¡¡his¡¡separateness£»¡¡his¡¡voluntary¡¡isolation¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡suffered¡¡more¡¡from¡¡the¡¡breach¡¡which¡¡now¡¡obtained¡¡between¡¡him¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Lords¡­¡¡Callindrill¡¡Faer¡­mate£»¡¡Amatin¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Matin£»¡¡Trevor¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Groyle£»¡¡and¡¡Loerya¡¡Trevor¡­mate¡£¡¡In¡¡all¡¡their¡¡work¡¡together£»¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡intercourse¡¡of¡¡their¡¡daily¡¡lives£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡melding¡¡which¡¡was¡¡the¡¡great¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡Lords£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡that¡¡sickening¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡apart£»¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡For¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡told¡¡them¡¡his¡¡secret¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡told¡¡them£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡justification¡¡for¡¡his¡¡silence¡¡except¡¡dread¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Intuitively£»¡¡by¡¡steps¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡articulate£»¡¡Elena's¡¡marrowmeld¡¡sculpture¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡him¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ritual¡¡of¡¡Desecration¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡in¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡to¡¡last¡¡him¡¡a¡¡lifetime¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡Bannor¡¡had¡¡wanted¡¡him¡¡to¡¡have¡¡this¡¡knowledge¡¡and¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡utter¡¡it¡¡directly¡£¡¡The¡¡Bloodguard¡¡Vow¡¡had¡¡restricted¡¡Bannor¡¡in¡¡so¡¡many¡¡ways¡£¡¡But¡¡during¡¡the¡¡single¡¡year¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tenure¡¡as¡¡First¡¡Mark£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡expressed¡¡more¡¡than¡¡any¡¡Bloodguard¡¡before¡¡him¡¡his¡¡solicitude¡¡for¡¡the¡¡survival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lords¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡Mhoram¡¡winced¡¡unconsciously¡¡at¡¡the¡¡memory¡£¡¡The¡¡secret¡¡he¡¡now¡¡held¡¡had¡¡been¡¡expensive¡¡in¡¡more¡¡ways¡¡than¡¡one¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡hope¡¡in¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡because¡¡it¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡quintessential¡¡failure¡¡which¡¡had¡¡plagued¡¡the¡¡new¡¡Lords¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beginning¡­from¡¡the¡¡days¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Ward¡¡of¡¡Kevin's¡¡Lore¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Giants£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡sworn¡¡the¡¡Oath¡¡of¡¡Peace¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡were¡¡used£»¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡unlock¡¡the¡¡power¡¡which¡¡had¡¡remained¡¡sealed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Wards¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡best¡¡efforts¡¡of¡¡so¡¡many¡¡generations¡¡of¡¡Lords¡¡and¡¡students¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Loresraat¡£¡¡It¡¡promised¡¡mastery¡¡of¡¡Kevin's¡¡Lore¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡even¡¡show¡¡ur¡­Lord¡¡Thomas¡¡Covenant¡¡how¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡magic¡¡in¡¡his¡¡white¡¡gold¡¡¡¡¡¡ring¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Mhoram¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡the¡¡very¡¡thing¡¡which¡¡made¡¡Kevin's¡¡Lore¡¡powerful¡¡for¡¡good¡¡also¡¡made¡¡it¡¡powerful¡¡for¡¡ill¡£¡¡If¡¡Kevin¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Loric¡¡had¡¡not¡¡had¡¡that¡¡particular¡¡capacity¡¡for¡¡power£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡Desecrate¡¡the¡¡Land¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡Mhoram¡¡shared¡¡his¡¡knowledge£»¡¡any¡¡Lord¡¡who¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡reinvoke¡¡the¡¡Ritual¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡rely¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡instinctive¡¡distrust¡¡of¡¡life¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡knowledge¡¡violated¡¡the¡¡Oath¡¡of¡¡Peace¡£¡¡To¡¡his¡¡horror£»¡¡Mhoram¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡perceive¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Oath¡¡itself¡¡was¡¡the¡¡essential¡¡blindness£»¡¡the¡¡incapacity¡¡which¡¡had¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡new¡¡Lords¡¡from¡¡penetrating¡¡to¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡Kevin's¡¡Lore¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡first¡¡new¡¡Lords£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡Oath£»¡¡articulated¡¡their¡¡highest¡¡ideal¡¡and¡¡deepest¡¡mitment¡¡by¡¡forswearing¡¡all¡¡violent£»¡¡destructive¡¡passions£»¡¡all¡¡human¡¡instincts¡¡for¡¡murder¡¡and¡¡ravage¡¡and¡¡contempt¡­when¡¡they¡¡had¡¡bound¡¡themselves¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Oath£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡unwittingly¡¡numbed¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡basic¡¡vitality¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Lords'¡¡power¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡Mhoram¡¡feared¡¡to¡¡share¡¡his¡¡secret¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡strength¡¡which¡¡could¡¡only¡¡be¡¡used¡¡if¡¡the¡¡wielders¡¡denied¡¡the¡¡most¡¡basic¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡their¡¡lives¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡weapon¡¡which¡¡could¡¡only¡¡be¡¡used¡¡by¡¡a¡¡person¡¡who¡¡had¡¡cast¡¡down¡¡all¡¡defenses¡¡against¡¡despair¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡temptation¡¡to¡¡use¡¡that¡¡weapon¡¡would¡¡be¡¡strong£»¡¡perhaps¡¡irrefusable¡£¡¡Mhoram¡¡did¡¡not¡¡need¡¡oracular¡¡dreams¡¡to¡¡foresee¡¡the¡¡peril¡¡which¡¡Lord¡¡Foul¡¡the¡¡Despiser¡¡was¡¡preparing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡defenders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Land¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡frigid¡¡winter¡¡wind¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Trothgard¡¡was¡¡already¡¡under¡¡attack¡£¡¡The¡¡siege¡¡of¡¡Revelwood¡¡was¡¡under¡¡way¡¡even¡¡while¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡his¡¡private¡¡quarters£»¡¡staring¡¡morosely¡¡at¡¡a¡¡marrowmeld¡¡sculpture¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡taste¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡mouth¡¡the¡¡desperation¡¡which¡¡had¡¡led¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡Kevin¡¡to¡¡Kiril¡¡Threndor¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Ritual¡¡of¡¡Desecration¡£¡¡Power¡¡was¡¡dreadful¡¡and¡¡treacherous¡£¡¡When¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡great¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡acplish¡¡its¡¡wielder's¡¡desires£»¡¡it¡¡turned¡¡against¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡which¡¡held¡¡it¡£¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡Elena's¡¡fate¡¡only¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡lesson¡¡of¡¡Kevin¡¡Landwaster£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡possessed¡¡far¡¡more¡¡power¡¡than¡¡the¡¡new¡¡Lords¡¡could¡¡ever¡¡hope¡¡for£»¡¡now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Staff¡¡of¡¡Law¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡his¡¡might¡¡had¡¡achieved¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡his¡¡own¡¡ineluctable¡¡despair¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ruin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Land¡£¡¡Mhoram¡¡feared¡¡to¡¡share¡¡that¡¡danger¡¡by¡¡revealing¡¡his¡¡secret¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡appalled¡¡to¡¡think¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡such¡¡peril¡¡himself¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡this¡¡withholding¡¡of¡¡knowledge¡¡ran¡¡against¡¡every¡¡grain¡¡of¡¡his¡¡character¡£¡¡He¡¡believed¡¡intensely¡¡that¡¡the¡¡refusal¡¡to¡¡share¡¡knowledge¡¡demeaned¡¡both¡¡the¡¡denier¡¡and¡¡the¡¡denied¡£¡¡By¡¡keeping¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡prevented¡¡Callindrill¡¡and¡¡Amatin¡¡and¡¡Trevor¡¡and¡¡Loerya¡¡and¡¡every¡¡Lorewarden¡¡or¡¡student¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Staff¡¡from¡¡finding¡¡within¡¡themselves¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡to¡¡refuse¡¡Desecration£»¡¡he¡¡placed¡¡himself¡¡falsely¡¡in¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡a¡¡judge¡¡who¡¡had¡¡weighed¡¡them¡¡and¡¡found¡¡them¡¡wanting¡£¡¡For¡¡this¡¡reason¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡he¡¡had¡¡argued¡¡passionately¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Council's¡¡decision¡¡to¡¡withhold¡¡from¡¡Hile¡¡Troy¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡Elena's¡¡parentage¡£¡¡That¡¡decision¡¡had¡¡lessened¡¡Troy's¡¡control¡¡over¡¡his¡¡own¡¡fate¡£¡¡Yet¡¡how¡¡could¡¡he£»¡¡Mhoram£»¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡responsibility¡¡of¡¡sharing¡¡his¡¡secret¡¡if¡¡that¡¡sharing¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Land's¡¡destruction£¿¡¡Better¡¡that¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡should¡¡be¡¡done¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Despiser¡¡than¡¡by¡¡a¡¡Lord¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡abrupt¡¡knock¡¡at¡¡his¡¡door£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Enter£»¡¨¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡expecting¡¡a¡¡message£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡knock¡¡who¡¡his¡¡visitor¡¡was¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡up¡¡from¡¡his¡¡contemplation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sculpture¡¡as¡¡Warmark¡¡Quaan¡¡strode¡¡into¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡and¡¡presented¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Quaan¡¡remained¡¡silent£»¡¡and¡¡Mhoram¡¡sensed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Warmark¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡his¡¡gaze¡£¡¡With¡¡an¡¡inward¡¡sigh£»¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡In¡¡Quaan's¡¡age¡­¡¡and¡¡sun¡­weathered¡¡face£»¡¡he¡¡read¡¡that¡¡the¡¡news¡¡was¡¡not¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡hoped¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mhoram¡¡did¡¡not¡¡offer¡¡Quaan¡¡a¡¡seat£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Warmark¡¡preferred¡¡to¡¡stand¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡sat¡¡together¡¡often¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡£¡¡After¡¡all¡¡the¡¡experiences¡¡they¡¡had¡¡shared£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡old¡¡rades¡­though¡¡Quaan£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡younger¡¡than¡¡Mhoram£»¡¡looked¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡older¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡frequently¡¡found¡¡Quaan's¡¡blunt£»¡¡soldierly¡¡candor¡¡soothing¡£¡¡Quaan¡¡was¡¡a¡¡follower¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sword¡¡who¡¡had¡¡no¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡know¡¡any¡¡secrets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Staff¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Despite¡¡his¡¡seventy¡¡years£»¡¡Quaan¡¡carried¡¡proudly¡¡the¡¡insignia¡¡of¡¡his¡¡office£º¡¡the¡¡yellow¡¡breastplate¡¡with¡¡its¡¡twin¡¡black¡¡diagonal¡¡slashes£»¡¡the¡¡yellow¡¡headband£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ebony¡¡sword¡£¡¡His¡¡gnarled¡¡hands¡¡hung¡¡at¡¡his¡¡sides¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡snatch¡¡up¡¡weapons¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment¡£¡¡But¡¡his¡¡pale¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡disquieted¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mhoram¡¡met¡¡the¡¡Warmark's¡¡gaze¡¡steadily¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡my¡¡friend£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨High¡¡
·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨2£© ²È£¨3£©
δÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ÎÂÜ°Ìáʾ£º ο´Ð¡ËµµÄͬʱ·¢±íÆÀÂÛ£¬Ëµ³ö×Ô¼ºµÄ¿´·¨ºÍÆäËüС»ï°éÃÇ·ÖÏíÒ²²»´íŶ£¡·¢±íÊéÆÀ»¹¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±Àø£¬ÈÏÕæдԭ´´ÊéÆÀ ±»²ÉÄÉΪ¾«ÆÀ¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ´óÁ¿½ð±Ò¡¢»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±ÀøŶ£¡