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！
While some men teach that good and evil are defined by the Powers or by wise kings in authority； or change according to time and circumstance； the Days say that the knowledge of good and evil is born into us； and that the just laws of mankind are written on our hearts。 They teach that the three domains are the sole medium by which mankind defines good and evil。
If any man violates our domain； if he seeks to deprive us of our birthright； we call him 〃evil。〃 If any man seeks to take our property or life； if he attacks our family or honor or munity； if he strives to rob us of free will； we can justly protect ourselves。
On the other hand； the Days define goodness as the voluntary enlarging of another's domain。 If you give me money or property； if you bestow upon me honor or invite me to be your friend； if you give time in my service； then I define you as good。
The teachings of the Daysthey are so different in implication from what I learned from my fathers。 My father taught that the Powers had ordained me to be lord of my realm。 As was my right； I could take any man's property； any woman's love； for these things I owned。
Now I am confused。 I hold to what my father taught； yet feel in my heart that I am wrong to do so。
I fear； my old friend； that we are under judgment by the Days； and that this diagram shows the rod by which we are measured。 I do not know how they intend to manipulate usfor by their own measure； they would be evil to slay us。
Some books say that the Glories paired the lords with the Days； but in ancient times； the Days were called 〃the Guardians of Dreams。〃 So I wonder： Is it possible that the Days seek to manipulate us in some strange way？ Do they manipulate our hopes and aspirations？ Most particularly； they write the chronicles of our lives； but are the chronicles true？ Did the heroes we aspire to emulate even exist？ Were such men heroes even by their own standards？ Or do the Days seek to manipulate truth for purposes we cannot guess？
So； I have secretly written this chronicle and sent it to you。 I am growing old。 I will not live long。 When I die and the Days write the tale of my life； I wish you to pare the two chronicles； to see what you can find。 What part of my life story will the Days omit？ What part will they embellish？
Farewell； My Brother in Righteousness
Gaborn read the document several times。 The teachings of the Days did not seem particularly profound。 Indeed； they seemed rather obvious and straightforward； though Gaborn had never encountered their like。 Gaborn could see no reason why they should be kept secret； particularly from the Runelords。
Still； the Emir had guarded these writings； had feared some unnamable retribution。
Yet Gaborn knew that； sometimes； small things could be powerful。 As a child of five； he'd often tried to lift the huge halberds that his father's guards bore in the portcullis。 At that age； he'd been given his first endowment of brawn； and immediately had gone out and discovered that he could lift the halberd and swing it with ease。 A single endowment of strength had seemed a great thing。 Now； as a Runelord； he knew that it was nothing。 Yet he wondered at these teachings。 They seemed simple； yet he knew that the Days were anything but simple。 An odd devotion； taken to an extreme； could have profound effects on a personin just the same way that a simple love of food led to obesity and death。
Gaborn had seldom wondered if he was good。 In reading these teachings from the Room of Dreams； he wondered if it was possible to be a 〃good〃 Runelord by the Days' standards。 Those who gave endowments usually regretted it； in time。 Yet once the gift was given； it could not be returned。 At that point； any endowment that the Runelord held would be considered a violation by the Days。
Gaborn wondered if there might be some acceptable circumstance when it was all right for a person to grant an endowment。 Perhaps if two men desired to bine their strength to fight a great evil。 But this could only happen if he and his Dedicate were one in heart。
Yet at the center of the Days' teachings lay a concept he could barely apprehend： Every man is a lord。 Every man is equal。
Gaborn was descended from Erden Geboren himself； who gave and took life； whom Earth itself had ordained king。 If the Powers favored one man above another； then men could not be considered equal。 Gaborn wondered where the balance lay； felt as if he stood poised at the edge of receiving a revelation。
He had always thought himself a rightful lord over his people。 Yet； he was also their servant。 It was the Runelord's duty to protect his vassals； to shield them with his own life。
The Days thought all men were lords？ Did this mean that no man was a moner？ Did Gaborn really have no rights to lordship？
For the past few days he'd wondered if he was a good prince。 He'd floundered at the question； but he'd had no clear definition for good。 So Gaborn began to test the Days' teachings； to consider their implications。
As Gaborn lay on the cellar floor； the Days' teachings began to alter the way he would think forever after。
Gaborn wondered how he could protect himself without violating another's Domains。 He saw from the diagram that the outer ring； the ring of Invisible Domains； detailed realms that were often fuzzy。 Where does my body space end and another man's begin？
Perhaps； Gaborn wondered； there was an approved list of reactions。 If someone violated your Invisible Domains； you should warn him about it。 Simply speak to him。 But if he violated your munal Domains； if； say； he sought to ruin your reputation； you would take your case to others； publicly confront that person。
Yet if a person sought to violate your Visible Domains； if they sought to kill you or steal your property； Gaborn could see no other recourse but to take up arms。
Perhaps that was the answer。 Inevitably； it seemed to him； each type of Domain became more intimate as you moved from the outer circle toward the center。 Thus； protecting that more intimate Domain required a more forceful response。
But would it be good to do so？ Where did goodness fit in here？ A measured response seemed appropriate； just； but the diagram suggested to Gaborn that justice and virtue were not the same。 A good man would enlarge the Domain of others； not merely protect his own Domains。 Thus； when administering justice； one had to choose： Is it better to be a just man at this moment； or a good one？
Do I give to the man who robs me？ Praise the man who belittles me？
If Gaborn sought to be good； he could do little else。 But if he sought to be a protector for his people； was that not also good？ And if he sought to protect his people； he could not afford to be virtuous。
The Days' teachings seemed muddling。 Perhaps； he thought； the Days hide these teachings from the Runelords out of passion。 By。 the Days' standards； it is a hard thing for a man to be virtuous。 Raj Ahten seeks my realm。 By their standards； if I were good； perhaps I would give it to him。
Yet that seemed wrong。 Perhaps it is a greater virtue for a Runelord to be just and equitable？
He began to wonder if even the Days understood the implications of their diagram。 Perhaps it was not three circles of Domains； but more。 Perhaps if he rearranged the individual types within the Domains； forming nine circles； he could better gauge how to react to an attempt at invasion for each。
He considered Raj Ahten。 The Wolf Lord violated men's Domains at every level。 He took their wealth and their homes； destroyed families； murdered； raped； and enslaved。
Gaborn needed to protect himself； his people； from this beast who would ravage the world。 But he could not simply frighten Raj Ahten away； could not bully the man or reason with him or cow him by denouncing him to the people。
The only thing Gaborn could do to save his people would be to find a way to kill Raj Ahten。
Gaborn listened closely； asking Earth if that was its will； but felt no responseno shaking of the earth； no burning in his heart。
At the moment； Gaborn could not touch the Wolf Lord。 Raj Ahten was too powerful。 Still； Gaborn thought he might spy on Raj Ahten； maybe discover how best to wound him。 Perhaps Raj Ahten had prized Dedicates he carried with him； or perhaps a certain counselor drove the Wolf Lord relentlessly in pursuit of conquest。 Slaying a counselor could acplish much。
Gaborn might discover such things。 But he'd have to get close； first。 He'd need to find a way into the inner circles of the castle。
Gaborn wondered if Earth would approve。 Should I fight Raj Ahten？ By doing this； would I violate my oath？
It seemed a good plan； daring； to spy on the Wolf Lord and learn his weakness。 Gaborn had already established some cover in the Dedicates' Keep； as Aleson the Devotee。
Gaborn judged that if he and Rowan went to the gate of the Dedicates' Keep just after dawn； after Raj Ahten's night guard changed； and took some odd items of spice with them； perhaps they could gain entry。 All that night； he lay awake； considering。。。
The sun rose pink in the east； stirring a dawn chill as Gaborn and Rowan left the spice house； carrying small bales of parsley and peppermint。 A low mist was creeping up from the rive