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."I will." He did not even glance at Questor to see if the wizard approved.Questor couldnot help him in this.He knew what it was that he had to do, and he knew that he had to do it alone.Besides, the River Master did not seem a bad sort, Abernathy's cryptic comments notwithstanding.The River Master dispatched his family with instructions to conduct Questor, Abernathy, and thekobolds to their lodgings.Then he turned to Ben."Would you like to see something of the village whilewe talk, High Lord?" he asked.It was more a suggestion than a question, but Ben nodded agreeably nevertheless.The River Masterbeckoned him down into one of the tunnels that cut beneath the amphitheater and he followedwordlessly.He had a last glimpse of Willow staring after him from the misty sunlight and then theshadows closed about.When he emerged at the far end of the tunnel, the River Master took him along a canal bank lined withflowerbeds and hedgerows, carefully trimmed and tended, into a park that bordered the perimeter of theamphitheater.There were children playing in the park, small darting forms of varying sizes and shapesGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlthat reflected the diversity of their parentage, their voices bright and cheerful in the comparative stillnessof the afternoon.Ben smiled wistfully.It had been a long time since he had listened to the sound ofchildren playing; except for their different appearance, they might have been the children of his ownworld.But, of course, this was his world now."I know that you have come to Elderew to ask my pledge to the throne, High Lord," the River Masterinformed him suddenly, his silver face a tight, expressionless mask.It seemed that his face never altered,reflecting nothing of his thoughts."I know, as well, that you went first to the Lords of the Greenswardwith this same request and that the request was refused." Ben glanced quickly at him, but the RiverMaster brushed the look aside with a shrug."Oh, you needn't be surprised that I know such things.HighLord.I am once and always of the fairy world, and I still have something of the magic I once wielded.Ihave eyes in most corners of the valley."He paused, digressing momentarily on the construction of the park and the canal system that ran throughElderew.Ben listened patiently, seeing that he meant to conduct the discussion at his own pace, contentto let him do so.They walked from the park into a grove of elm bordering the giant trees that were theframework of the village."I respect the initiative and the courage that you have shown in undertaking your journey to the peoplesof the valley, High Lord." The River Master returned now to the matter of Ben's visit."I believe you to bea stronger man than those who laid claim to the throne of Landover before.Your actions at Rhyndweirwould suggest that you are, in any case.I think you are also a straightforward and decisive man, so I willspare you the evasive maneuverings of diplomacy.I have considered your request  knowing what it is,as I have said  and I must reject it."They walked on in silence.Ben was stunned."May I ask why?" he said finally."I can see no advantage to granting it.""I would argue that you should see many advantages."The River Master nodded."Yes, I know.You would argue that there is strength in numbers  that acentral government would benefit the whole of the people of the land.You would argue that the peopleof the land cannot trust one another while there is no King.You would argue that we are threatened fromwithout by neighboring worlds and from within by the Mark and his demons.You would argue that theland is stricken with a blight that is caused by a failing of the magic that made her, and that eventually shewill die." He looked over."Have I correctly stated the arguments that you would make?"Ben nodded slowly."How would you answer them?""I would tell you a story." The River Master slowed and led Ben to a bench chiseled from a massiverock.They sat."The people of the lake country came from the fairy world, High Lord  most in a timelong since forgotten by everyone but us.We are a fairy people who choose to live in a world of humans.We have become mortals by choice, affected by time's passage where once we were virtually immortal.We are elementals  creatures of wood, earth, and water-sprites, nymphs, kelpies, naiads, pixies, anddozens more.We left the fairy world and claimed the lake country as our own [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]