¡¶srdonaldson.theillearthwar¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

srdonaldson.theillearthwar- µÚ41½Ú


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡¡Lord¡¡Verement¡¡stiffened¡¡angrily£»¡¡but¡¡Elena¡¡controlled¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡glance£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡still¡¡softly¡¡and¡¡carefully£»¡¡to¡¡Rue£»¡¡¡¨In¡¡what¡¡way¡¡betrayed£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡the¡¡Ramen¡¡do¡¡not¡¡forget¡£¡¡In¡¡tales¡¡preserved¡¡in¡¡Manhome¡¡from¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡mighty¡¡Kelenbhrabanal£»¡¡we¡¡know¡¡Fangthane£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wars¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Lords¡£¡¡Always£»¡¡when¡¡Fangthane¡¡built¡¡his¡¡armies¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Lower¡¡Land£»¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Lords¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡battleground¡¡north¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Plains¡¡of¡¡Ra¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Roamsedge¡¡River£»¡¡and¡¡fought¡¡at¡¡Landsdrop£»¡¡to¡¡forbid¡¡Fangthane¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Upper¡¡Land¡£¡¡So¡¡the¡¡Ranyhyn¡¡were¡¡preserved£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡could¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡his¡¡teeth¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Plains¡¡of¡¡Ra¡¡while¡¡fighting¡¡the¡¡Lords¡£¡¡And¡¡in¡¡recognition£»¡¡the¡¡Ramen¡¡left¡¡their¡¡hills¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Lords¡£
¡¡¡¨But¡¡you¡­£¡¡¡Fangthane¡¡marches£»¡¡and¡¡your¡¡army¡¡is¡¡here¡£¡¡The¡¡Plains¡¡of¡¡Ra¡¡are¡¡left¡¡without¡¡defense¡¡or¡¡help¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨That¡¡was¡¡my¡¡idea¡£¡¨¡¡His¡¡impatience¡¡made¡¡Troy¡¡sound¡¡sharper¡¡than¡¡he¡¡intended¡£
¡¡¡¨For¡¡what¡¡reason£¿¡¨¡¡A¡¡dangerous¡¡challenge¡¡pulsed¡¡in¡¡her¡¡quiet¡¡tone¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡they¡¡were¡¡good¡¡reasons£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡responded¡£¡¡Impelled¡¡by¡¡an¡¡inner¡¡need¡¡to¡¡reassure¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡wrong£»¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡swiftly¡£¡¡¡¨Think¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡You're¡¡right¡­every¡¡time¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡¡that¡¡Foul¡¡has¡¡built¡¡up¡¡an¡¡army£»¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡him¡¡at¡¡Landsdrop¡£¡¡And¡¡every¡¡time£»¡¡they've¡¡lost¡£¡¡They've¡¡been¡¡pushed¡¡back¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡too¡¡many¡¡different¡¡ways¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Lower¡¡Land¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡have¡¡been¡¡too¡¡far¡¡from¡¡their¡¡supplies¡¡and¡¡support¡£¡¡Sure£»¡¡they¡¡put¡¡up¡¡a¡¡good¡¡fight¡­and¡¡that¡¡takes¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pressure¡¡off¡¡the¡¡Plains¡¡of¡¡Ra¡¡because¡¡Foul¡¡is¡¡occupied¡¡elsewhere¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡lose¡£¡¡Whole¡¡Eoward¡¡get¡¡hacked¡¡to¡¡pieces£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Warward¡¡has¡¡to¡¡retreat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡run¡¡just¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡alive¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡regroup¡¡and¡¡fight¡¡the¡¡same¡¡fight¡¡all¡¡over¡¡again£»¡¡farther¡¡west¡­closer¡¡to¡¡Revelstone¡£
¡¡¡¨And¡¡that's¡¡not¡¡all¡£¡¡This¡¡time£»¡¡Foul¡¡might¡¡be¡¡building¡¡his¡¡army¡¡farther¡¡north¡­in¡¡Sarangrave¡¡Flat¡¡north¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Defiles¡¡Course¡£¡¡He's¡¡never¡¡done¡¡that¡¡before¡£¡¡But¡¡back¡¡then¡¡the¡¡Giants¡¡always¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡north¡¡Sarangrave¡¡clear¡£¡¡This¡¡time¡¨¡­he¡¡winced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Giants¡­¡¨this¡¡time¡¡it's¡¡different¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡marched¡¡an¡¡army¡¡down¡¡to¡¡you¡¡while¡¡Foul¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡north¡¡of¡¡Mount¡¡Thunder¡¡toward¡¡Revelstone£»¡¡we'd¡¡be¡¡helpless¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡him¡¡from¡¡attacking¡¡the¡¡Keep¡£¡¡Revelstone¡¡might¡¡fall¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡made¡¡the¡¡decision¡£¡¡We¡¡wait¡¡here¡£
¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡get¡¡me¡¡wrong¡­we're¡¡not¡¡abandoning¡¡you¡£¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡is£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡you're¡¡in¡¡that¡¡much¡¡danger¡£¡¡Look£»¡¡suppose¡¡Foul¡¡has¡¡an¡¡army¡¡of¡¡fifty¡¡thousand¡¡or¡¡even¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡£¡¡How¡¡long¡¡is¡¡it¡¡going¡¡to¡¡take¡¡him¡¡to¡¡conquer¡¡the¡¡Plains¡¡of¡¡Ra£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨He¡¡will¡¡not£»¡¨¡¡Rue¡¡breathed¡¡between¡¡her¡¡teeth¡£
¡¡The¡¡Warmark¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡does£»¡¡it'll¡¡take¡¡him¡¡years¡£¡¡You're¡¡too¡¡good¡¡at¡¡hunting¡­he¡¡can't¡¡beat¡¡you¡¡on¡¡your¡¡own¡¡ground¡£¡¡You¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Ranyhyn¡¡will¡¡run¡¡circles¡¡around¡¡his¡¡troops£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡time¡¡they¡¡turn¡¡their¡¡backs£»¡¡you'll¡¡throttle¡¡a¡¡few¡¡score¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡outnumbers¡¡you¡¡fifty¡¡to¡¡one£»¡¡you'll¡¡just¡¡send¡¡the¡¡Ranyhyn¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡chipping¡¡away¡¡at¡¡him¡¡for¡¡God¡¡knows¡¡how¡¡long¡£¡¡He'll¡¡need¡¡years¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡Even¡¡assuming¡¡we¡¡are¡¡not¡¡attacking¡¡his¡¡rear¡£¡¡No£»¡¡until¡¡he's¡¡got¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡beaten£»¡¡he¡¡can't¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡tackle¡¡you¡£¡¡That's¡¡why¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡thinking¡¡all¡¡along¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡e¡¡north¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡stopped£»¡¡and¡¡faced¡¡Rue¡¡squarely¡¡with¡¡his¡¡argument¡£¡¡The¡¡recital¡¡of¡¡his¡¡reasoning¡¡calmed¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡his¡¡logic¡¡was¡¡sound¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Manethrall¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡acknowledge¡¡it¡£¡¡After¡¡considering¡¡his¡¡explanation¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡she¡¡sighed£»¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡very¡¡well¡£¡¡I¡¡see¡¡your¡¡reasons¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡like¡¡such¡¡ideas¡£¡¡You¡¡juggle¡¡risk¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Ranyhyn¡¡too¡¡freely¡£¡¨
¡¡Tiredly£»¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡Elena¡£¡¡¡¨Hear¡¡me£»¡¡High¡¡Lord£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡gray£»¡¡empty¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡speak¡¡my¡¡message£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡am¡¡weary¡¡and¡¡must¡¡rest£»¡¡e¡¡what¡¡may¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡journeyed¡¡here¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Shattered¡¡Hills¡¡which¡¡surround¡¡and¡¡defend¡¡Foul's¡¡Creche¡£¡¡I¡¡left¡¡that¡¡maimed¡¡place¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡great¡¡army¡¡issuing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Hills¡£¡¡It¡¡marched¡¡as¡¡straight¡¡as¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡sees¡¡toward¡¡Landsdrop¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡River¡¡Landrider¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡army¡¡dire¡¡and¡¡numberless¡­I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡guess¡¡its¡¡size£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wait¡¡to¡¡count¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡four¡¡Cords¡¡in¡¡my¡¡watch£»¡¡I¡¡fled¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡keep¡¡my¡¡word¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Lords¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡south¡¡way£»¡¡Troy¡¡breathed¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡At¡¡once£»¡¡his¡¡brain¡¡took¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡information£»¡¡concrete¡¡images¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spoiled¡¡Plains¡¡and¡¡Landsdrop¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡He¡¡began¡¡to¡¡calculate¡¡Lord¡¡Foul's¡¡progress¡£
¡¡¡¨But¡¡some¡¡enemy¡¡knew¡¡my¡¡purpose¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡pursued¡£¡¡A¡¡black¡¡wind¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡it¡¡fearsome£»¡¡abominable¡¡creatures¡¡fell¡¡like¡¡birds¡¡of¡¡prey¡£¡¡My¡¡Cords¡¡were¡¡lost¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡escape¡­yet¡¡I¡¡was¡¡driven¡¡far¡¡from¡¡my¡¡way£»¡¡north¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mange¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sarangrave¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡peril¡¡was¡¡great¡£¡¡Yet¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡waiting¡¡army¡¡of¡¡friends¡¡or¡¡Lords¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Upper¡¡Land¡¡to¡¡help¡¡the¡¡Ranyhyn¡£¡¡A¡¡shadow¡¡came¡¡over¡¡my¡¡heart¡£¡¡Almost¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡aside¡¡from¡¡my¡¡purpose£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡to¡¡a¡¡fate¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡devising¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡contended¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Sarangrave£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lives¡¡of¡¡my¡¡Cords¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡vain¡£
¡¡¡¨Over¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡battleground£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rich¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡Andelain£»¡¡then¡¡across¡¡a¡¡stern¡¡plain¡¡south¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡forest¡¡like¡¡unto¡¡Morinmoss£»¡¡but¡¡darker¡¡and¡¡more¡¡slumberous¡­thus¡¡I¡¡made¡¡my¡¡way£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡your¡¡idea¡¡might¡¡have¡¡its¡¡chance¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡my¡¡message¡£¡¡Ask¡¡what¡¡questions¡¡you¡¡will£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡release¡¡me£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡must¡¡rest¡£¡¨
¡¡With¡¡quiet¡¡dignity£»¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡arose£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡Staff¡¡of¡¡Law¡¡before¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨Manethrall¡¡Rue£»¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡is¡¡measureless¡¡in¡¡your¡¡debt¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡paid¡¡a¡¡grim¡¡price¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡your¡¡word¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡will¡¡do¡¡our¡¡uttermost¡¡to¡¡honor¡¡that¡¡cost¡£¡¡Please¡¡hear¡¡me¡£¡¡We¡¡could¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Ranyhyn¡¡and¡¡their¡¡Ramen¡£¡¡To¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡we¡¡would¡¡cease¡¡to¡¡be¡¡what¡¡we¡¡are¡£¡¡Only¡¡one¡¡belief¡¡has¡¡kept¡¡us¡¡from¡¡your¡¡side¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡in¡¡our¡¡hearts¡¡that¡¡this¡¡is¡¡the¡¡final¡¡war¡¡against¡¡Fangthane¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡fall£»¡¡there¡¡will¡¡be¡¡none¡¡left¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡again¡£¡¡And¡¡we¡¡have¡¡not¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Lords¡£¡¡What¡¡force¡¡we¡¡have¡¡we¡¡must¡¡use¡¡cunningly¡£¡¡Please¡¡do¡¡not¡¡harden¡¡your¡¡heart¡¡against¡¡us¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡pay¡¡many¡¡prices¡¡to¡¡match¡¡your¡¡own¡£¡¨¡¡Holding¡¡the¡¡Staff¡¡at¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡she¡¡bent¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡a¡¡Ramen¡¡bow¡£
¡¡A¡¡faint¡¡smile¡¡flickered¡¡across¡¡Rue's¡¡lips¡­amusement¡¡at¡¡Elena's¡¡approximation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fluid¡¡Ramen¡¡salute¡­and¡¡she¡¡returned¡¡it¡¡to¡¡show¡¡how¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be¡¡done¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡also¡¡said¡¡among¡¡the¡¡Ramen¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡are¡¡courteous¡£¡¡Now¡¡I¡¡know¡¡it¡£¡¡Ask¡¡your¡¡questions¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡answer¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡reseated¡¡herself¡£¡¡Troy¡¡was¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡speak£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡give¡¡him¡¡permission¡£¡¡To¡¡Manethrall¡¡Rue¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨One¡¡question¡¡is¡¡first¡¡in¡¡my¡¡heart¡£¡¡What¡¡of¡¡Andelain£¿¡¡Our¡¡scouts¡¡report¡¡no¡¡evil¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡have¡¡not¡¡your¡¡eyes¡£¡¡Are¡¡the¡¡Hills¡¡free¡¡of¡¡wrong£¿¡¨
¡¡A¡¡surge¡¡of¡¡frustration¡¡bunched¡¡the¡¡muscles¡¡of¡¡Troy's¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡eager£»¡¡urgent£»¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡probing¡¡the¡¡Manethrall¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡tact¡¡of¡¡Elena's¡¡inquiry¡£¡¡The¡¡Andelainian¡¡Hills¡¡rode¡¡through¡¡Ramen¡¡legend¡¡like¡¡an¡¡image¡¡of¡¡paradise£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡ease¡¡Rue's¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡them¡£
¡¡In¡¡response£»¡¡her¡¡grim¡¡bitterness¡¡relaxed¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡tears¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡over¡¡the¡¡slight¡¡smile¡¡on¡¡her¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡Hills¡¡are¡¡free£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡simply¡£
¡¡A¡¡glad¡¡murmur¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡the¡¡Close£»¡¡and¡¡several¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lords¡¡nodded¡¡in¡¡satisfaction¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡not¡¡something¡¡about¡¡which¡¡a¡¡Manethrall¡¡could¡¡be¡¡mistaken¡£¡¡The¡¡High¡¡Lord¡¡sighed¡¡her¡¡gratitude¡£¡¡When¡¡she¡¡freed¡¡the¡¡Warmark¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡his¡¡questions£»¡¡she¡¡did¡¡so¡¡with¡¡a¡¡look¡¡that¡¡urged¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡gentle¡£
¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡Troy¡¡said£»¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡His¡¡heart¡¡labored¡¡with¡¡anxiety£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡ignored¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡Foul's¡¡army¡£¡¡I¡¡accept¡¡that¡£¡¡But¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡know¡¡how¡¡much¡¡head¡¡start¡¡he¡¡has¡£¡¡Exactly¡¡how¡¡many¡¡days¡¡ago¡¡did¡¡you¡¡see¡¡his¡¡army¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡Shattered¡¡Hills£¿¡¨
¡¡The¡¡Manethrall¡¡did¡¡not¡¡need¡¡to¡¡count¡¡back¡£¡¡She¡¡replied¡¡promptly£»¡¡¡¨Twenty¡¡days¡¨
¡¡For¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡the¡¡Warmark¡¡regarded¡¡her¡¡eyelessly¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡his¡¡sunglasses£»¡¡stunned¡¡into¡¡silence¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡whispered£»¡¡¡¨Twenty¡¡days£¿¡¨¡¡His¡¡brain¡¡reeled¡£¡¡¡¨Twenty£¿¡¨¡¡With¡¡a¡¡violence¡¡that¡¡wrenched¡¡his¡¡heart£»¡¡his¡¡image¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Despiser's¡¡army¡¡surged¡¡forward¡¡thirty¡­five¡¡leagues¡­five¡¡days¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡counted¡¡on¡¡receiving¡¡word¡¡of¡¡Lord¡¡Foul's¡¡movements¡¡in¡¡fifteen¡¡days¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡Ramen£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡to¡¡a¡¡league¡¡how¡¡far¡¡a¡¡Manethrall¡¡could¡¡travel¡¡in¡¡a¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡my¡¡God¡£¡¨¡¡Rue¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡Revelstone¡¡in¡¡fifteen¡¡days¡£
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡five¡¡days¡¡short¡£¡¡Five¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü