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！
p startled； for his true name； Lebannen； meant the rowan tree。 But the Archmage had not said his name。 〃Your roots are deep；〃 he went on。 〃You have strength and you must have room； room to grow。 Thus I offer you； instead of a safe trip home to Enlad； an unsafe voyage to an unknown end。 You need not e。 The choice is yours。 But I offer you the choice。 For I am tired of safe places； and roofs； and walls around me。〃 He ended abruptly； looking about him with piercing； unseeing eyes。 Arren saw the deep restlessness of the man； and it frightened him。 Yet fear sharpens exhilaration； and it was with a leap of the heart that he answered； 〃My lord； I choose to go with you。〃
Arren left the Great House with his heart and mind full of wonder。 He told himself that he was happy； but the word did not seem to suit。 He told himself that the Archmage had called him strong； a man of destiny； and that he was proud of such praise； but he was not proud。 Why not？ The most powerful wizard in the world told him； 〃Tomorrow we sail to the edge of doom；〃 and he nodded his head and came： should he not feel pride？ But he did not。 He felt only wonder。
He went down through the steep； wandering streets of Thwil Town； found his ship's master on the Quays； and said to him； 〃I sail tomorrow with the Archmage； to Wathort and the South Reach。 Tell the Prince my father that when I am released from this service I will e home to Berila。〃
The ship's captain looked dour。 He knew how the bringer of such news might be received by the Prince of Enlad。 〃I must have writing about it from your hand； prince；〃 he said。 Seeing the justice in that； Arren hurried off …he felt that all must be done instantly… and found a strange little shop where he purchased inkstone and brush and a piece of soft paper； thick as felt； then he hurried back to the quays and sat down on the wharfside to write his parents。 When he thought of his mother holding this piece of paper； reading the letter； a distress came into him。 She was a blithe； patient woman； but Arren knew that he was the foundation of her contentment； that she longed for his quick return。 There was no way to fort her for his long absence。 His letter was dry and brief。 He signed with the sword…rune； sealed the letter with a bit of pitch from a caulking…pot nearby； and gave it to the ship's master。 Then； 〃Wait！〃 he said； as if the ship were ready to set sail that instant； and ran back up the cobbled streets to the strange little shop。 He had trouble finding it； for there was something shifty about the streets of Thwil； it almost seemed that the turnings were different every time。 He came on the right street at last and darted into the shop under the strings of red clay beads that ornamented its doorway。 When he was buying ink and paper he had noticed； on a tray of clasps and brooches； a silver brooch in the shape of a wild rose； and his mother was called Rose。 〃I'll buy that；〃 he said； in his hasty； princely way。
〃Ancient silverwork of the Isle of O。 I can see you are a judge of the old crafts；〃 said the shopkeeper； looking at the hilt …not the handsome sheath… of Arren's sword。 〃That will be four in ivory。〃
Arren paid the rather high price unquestioning； he had in his purse plenty of the ivory counters that serve as money in the Inner Lands。 The idea of a gift for his mother pleased him； the act of buying pleased him； as he left the shop he set his hand on the pommel of his sword； with a touch of swagger。
His father had given him that sword on the eve of his departure from Enlad。 He had received it solemnly and had worn it； as if it were a duty to wear it； even aboard ship。 He was proud of the weight of it at his hip； the weight of its great age on his spirit。 For it was the sword of Serriadh who was the son of Morred and Elfarran； there was none older in the world except the sword of Erreth…Akbe； which was set atop the Tower of the Kings in Havnor。 The sword of Serriadh had never been laid away or hoarded up； but worn； yet was unworn by the centuries； unweakened； because it had been forged with a great power of enchantment。 Its history said that it never had been drawn； nor ever could be drawn； except in the service of life。 For no purpose of bloodlust or revenge or greed； in no war for gain； would it let itself be wielded。 From it； the great treasure of his family； Arren had received his use…name： Arrendek he had been called as a child； 'the little Sword。'
He had not used the sword； nor had his father； nor his grandfather。 There had been peace in Enlad for a long time。
And now； in the street of the strange town of the Wizards' Isle； the sword's handle felt strange to him when he touched it。 It was awkward to his hand and cold。 Heavy； the sword hindered his walk； dragged at him。 And the wonder he had felt was still in him； but had gone cold。 He went back down to the quay； and gave the brooch to the ship's master for his mother； and bade him farewell and a safe voyage home。 Turning away he pulled his cloak over the sheath that held the old； unyielding weapon； the deadly thing he had inherited。 He did not feel like swaggering any more。 〃What am I doing？〃 he said to himself as he climbed the narrow ways； not hurrying now； to the fortress…bulk of the Great House above the town。 〃How is it that I'm not going home？ Why am I seeking something I don't understand； with a man I don't know？〃
And he had no answer to his questions。
Hort Town
In the darkness before dawn Arren dressed in clothing that had been given him； seaman's garb； wellworn but clean； and hurried down through the silent halls of the Great House to the eastern door； carven of horn and dragon's tooth。 There the Doorkeeper let him out and pointed the way that he should take； smiling a little。 He followed the topmost street of the town and then a path that led down to the boathouses of the School； south along the bay shore from the docks of Thwil。 He could just make out his way。 Trees； roofs； hills bulked as dim masses within dimness； the dark air was utterly still and very cold； everything held still； held itself withdrawn and obscure。 Only over the dark sea eastward was there one faint； clear line： the horizon； tipping momently toward the unseen sun。
He came to the boathouse steps。 No one was there； nothing moved。 In his bulky sailor's coat and wool cap he was warm enough； but he shivered； standing on the stone steps in the darkness； waiting。
The boathouses loomed black above black water； and suddenly from them came a dull； hollow sound； a booming knock； repeated three times。 Arren's hair stirred on his scalp。 A long shadow glided out onto the water silently。 It was a boat； and it slid softly toward the pier。 Arren ran down the steps onto the pier and leapt down into the boat。
〃Take the tiller；〃 said the Archmage； a lithe； shadowy figure in the prow； 〃and hold her steady while I get the sail up。〃
They were out on the water already； the sail opening like a white wing from the mast； catching the growing light。 〃A west wind to save us rowing out of the bay； that's a parting gift from the Master Windkey； I don't doubt。 Watch her； lad； she steers very light！ So then。 A west wind and a clear dawn for the Balance…Day of spring。〃
〃Is this boat Lookfar？〃 Arren had heard of the Archmage's boat in songs and tales。
〃Aye；〃 said the other； busy with ropes。 The boat bucked and veered as the wind freshened； Arren set his teeth and tried to keep her steady。
〃She steers very light； but somewhat willful； lord。〃
The Archmage laughed。 〃Let her have her will； she is wise also。 Listen； Arren；〃 and he paused； kneeling on the thwart to face Arren； 〃I am no lord now； nor you a prince。 I am a trader called Hawk； and you're my nephew； learning the seas with me； called Arren； for we hail from Enlad。 From what town？ A large one； lest we meet a townsman。〃
〃Temere； on the south coast？ They trade to all the Reaches。〃
The Archmage nodded。
〃But；〃 said Arren cautiously； 〃you don't have quite the accent of Enlad。〃
〃I know。 I have a Gontish accent；〃 his panion said； and laughed； looking up at the brightening east。 〃But I think I can borrow what I need from you。 So we e from Temere in our boat Dolphin； and I am neither lord nor mage nor Sparrowhawk； but… how am I called？〃
〃Hawk； my lord。〃
Then Arren bit his tongue。
〃Practice； nephew；〃 said the Archmage。 〃It takes practice。 You've never been anything but a prince。 While I have been many things； and last of all； and maybe least； an Archmage。。。 We go south looking for emmelstone； that blue stuff they carve charms of。 I know they value it in Enlad。 They make it into charms against rheums； sprains； stiff necks； and slips of the tongue。〃
After a moment Arren laughed； and as he lifted his head； the boat lifted on a long wave； and he saw the rim of the sun against the edge of the ocean； a flare of sudden gold； before them。
Sparrowhawk stood with one hand on the mast； for the little boat leapt on the choppy waves； and facing the sunrise of the equinox of spring he chanted。 Arren did not know the Old Speech； the tongue of wizards and dragons； but he heard praise and rejoicing in the words； and there was a great striding rhythm in them like the rise and fall of tides or the balance of the day and night each succeeding each forever。 Gulls cried on the wind； and the shores of Thwil Bay slid past to right and left； and they entered on the long waves； full of light； of the Inmost Sea。
From Roke to Hort Town is no great voyage； but they spent three nights at sea。 The Archmage had been urgent to be gone； but once gone； he was more than patient。 The winds turned contrary as soon as they were away from the charmed weather of Roke； but he did not call a magewind into their sail； as any weatherworker could have done； instead； he spent hours teaching Arren how to manage the boat in a stiff headwind； in the rock…fanged sea east of Issel。 The second night out it rained； the rough； cold rain of March； but he said no spell to keep it off them。 On the next night； as they lay outside the entrance to Hort Harbor in a calm； cold； foggy darkness； Arren thought about this； and reflected that in the short time he had known him； the Archmage had done no magic at all。
He was a peerless sailor； though。 Arren had learned more in three days' sailing with him than in ten years of boating and racing on Berila Bay。 And mage and sailor are not so far apart； both work with the powers of sky and sea； and bend great winds to the uses of their hands； bringing near what was remote。 Archmage or Hawk the sea…trader； it came to much the same thing。
He was a rather silent man； though perfectly goodhumored。 No clumsiness of Arren's fretted him； he was panionable； there could be no better shipmate； Arren thought。 But he would go into his own thoughts and be silent for hours on end； and then when he spoke there was a harshness in his voice； and he would look right through Arren。 This did not weaken the love the boy felt for him； but maybe it lessened liking somewhat； it was a little awesome。 Perhaps Sparrowhawk felt this； for in that foggy night off the shores of Wathort he began to talk to Arren； rather haltingly； about himself。 〃I do not want to go among men again tomorrow；〃 he said。 〃I've been pretending that I am free。。。 That nothing's wrong in the world。 That I'm not Archmage； not even sorcerer。 That I'm Hawk of Temere； without responsibilities or privileges； owing nothing to anyone。。。〃 He stopped and after a while went on； 〃Try to choose carefully； Arren； when the great choices must be made。 When I was young； I had to choose between the life of being and the life of doing。 And I leapt at the latter like a trout to a fly。 But each deed you do； each act； binds you to itself and to its consequences； and makes you act again and yet again。 Then very seldom do you e upon a space； a time like this； between act and act； when you may stop and simply be。 Or wonder who； after all； you are。〃
How could such a man； thought Arren； be in doubt as to who and what he was？ He had believed such doubts were reserved for the young； who had not done anything yet。
The boat rocked in the great； cool darkness。
〃That's why I like the sea；〃 said Sparrowhawk's voice in that darkness。
Arren understood him； but his own though