df.therunelords-第18部分
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Great Hall； all the dogs had been taken outside； so bones were left cluttering the platein a most beastly and uncivilized pileuntil the serving children removed them。
Yet one more thing came to Gaborn's attention。 At first he'd thought it a custom of the North； but soon realized it was only a custom of Iome。 In all realms that Gaborn knew of； table servants were not allowed to eat until the King and his guests finished dining。 Since the feast lasted from noon until long in the nightwith entertainment provided between courses by minstrels and jesters and games of skillthe servants； of course； wouldn't eat until near midnight。
So as the King and his guests dined； the serving children stared longingly at the puddings and capons。
Gaborn had eaten greedily； clearing his platea show of respect for the lord's fare。 But soon he saw that Iome left a bite or two of food on each plate； and Gaborn wondered if he'd erred in his manners。 He studied Iome： as her serving girl； a child of perhaps nine； would bring each plate； one could see the longing on the girl's face。
Iome would smile and thank the girl； as if she were some lord or lady bestowing a favor instead of a mere servant。 Then Iome would gaze at the serving girl's face； gauging how savory the child thought the dish。 If the girl liked the food well； Iome would leave a few bites； and the girl would snatch them from the plate as she headed for the kitchens。
So Gaborn felt surprised when Iome hardly touched a stuffed partridge in orange sauce； but ate a plate of cold spiced cabbages as if it were a delicacy。
It was not until the fourth course that Gaborn noticed that his own serving boy； a lad of four； had been steadily growing more pale at the thought that he might not get a bite to eat till midnight。
When the boy brought a trencher of rich beef stewed in wine； shallots； and walnuts； Gaborn waved it away； letting the child rush off and nibble while the food was yet warm。
To Gaborn's surprise； King Sylvarresta noted his action and stared hard at Gaborn； as if Gaborn had given insult。 Gaborn marked the look well。
However； when Iome did the same thing not five seconds later； pletely unaware of Gaborn's faux pas or her father's reaction to it； Sylvarresta sat chewing his beef thoughtfully； then addressed his daughter in a loud voice； 〃Is the food not to your liking； precious？ Perhaps the cooks could be brought in and beaten； if they have offended you？〃
Iome blushed at the jest。 〃I。。。nothe food is too good； milord。 I fear I am a bit full。 The cooks should be mended； rather than reprimanded。〃
King Sylvarresta laughed； gave Gaborn a sly wink。 Though Gaborn had not yet declared himself； the King's wink had said； You two are alike。 I would wele the match。
But； in fact； from his few glimpses； Gaborn had decided that perhaps he was not worthy of Iome。 Her serving girl's eyes had shone with too much love for Iome； and when those around her spoke； they held a tone of mingled affection and respect that bordered on reverence。 Though Iome was herself only a girl of sixteen at the time； those who knew her best did not merely love her： they treasured her。
When Gaborn had prepared to leave Heredon； his father had taken him to speak privately with King Sylvarresta。
〃So；〃 King Sylvarresta had said。 〃You've e to visit my realm at last。〃
〃I'd have e before；〃 Gaborn said； 〃but my schooling prevented it。〃
〃You will e again next year；〃 King Sylvarresta said。 〃More openly； I hope。〃
〃Indeed； milord；〃 Gaborn answered。 His heart had pounded as he added； 〃I look forward to it。 There is a matter between us； milord； that we must discuss。〃
Gaborn's father had reached out and touched Gaborn's elbow； warning him to be silent； but Sylvarresta merely laughed； his gray eyes wise and knowing。 〃Next year。〃
〃But it is an important matter；〃 Gaborn urged。
With a look of warning； King Sylvarresta said； 〃You are overeager； young man。 You e seeking my greatest treasure。 Perhaps it shall be yours。 But I will not mand my daughter in this matter。 You must win her。 Next year。〃
The winter had seemed long and cold； gray and lonely。 It felt odd now for Gaborn to be ing north； seeking to win the love of a woman he'd never spoken to。
As he reflected； the twang of a bowstring roused him； followed by a brilliant burning in the flesh of his right arm as an arrow scraped his skin。
Gaborn gouged his heels into the flanks of his mount。 It leapt forward so swiftly that Gaborn fell back and barely was able to cling on as the horse raced under the trees。
The world went dark。 Gaborn's mind blanked from pain。 He couldn't imagine where the bowshot had e from。 He'd smelled no one； heard no warning。
Almost immediately he passed a thick knot of trees。 A darkly cowled rider there was tossing down his horse bow； drawing a curved scimitar from the sheath at his back。 As Gaborn passed； he saw only the frantic； killing gleam in the man's eye； the taper of his grizzled goatee。。 Then Gaborn's horse raced past； leapt a fallen tree； and became a blur in the starlight。 Gaborn pulled himself upright in the saddle； dizzy with pain； feeling blood flow liberally from the gash on his arm。 Three inches to the left； and the arrow would have punched into a lung。
Behind him； his attacker howled like a wolf and began his pursuit。 The answering howls of dogs came from off to Gaborn's rightwar dogs that would catch his scent。
For a long hour he rode over hills； not stopping to stanch his wound。 He'd been at the rear of the army； trying to circle behind their scouts。 Now he sought to evade pursuit by rushing ahead of the hosts to the west； striking deep into the heart of the wood。 As he got farther away； the stars dimmed； as if high clouds obscured their light； and he found it hard to keep to any trail。
So； hoping his pursuers would think he'd fled； Gaborn veered back toward the main force of the army； directly into danger。 For he still had not been able to learn the number and types of their forces。
When the starlight suddenly came bright； he heard the sounds of the army in the woods belowbranches snapping； iron…shod feet tramping in the night。 His horse rested near the crest of a ridge； in a sheltered grotto that let him look down over a long bed of ferns。
Dogs began baying in the distance behind him。 They'd discovered his ruse。
Gaborn sat tall in his saddle； looking down into the dark。 He'd veered in front of the army。 A mile ahead he could see a break in the woodsa wide swale that would have been a frozen lake in the winter。 But the waters had receded over the summer； leaving only tall grasses。
There； in the grasses； Gaborn saw a sudden light as Raj Ahten's flame…weavers stepped from beneath the shelter of the pinesfive people； naked but for the red flames that licked their hairless skins； strode boldly across the swale。 Behind and around them Gaborn saw something elsecreatures that loped over the grass； black shadows darker than those thrown by the pines。 They were roughly man…shaped； but often seemed to fall to all fours； running on their knuckles。
Apes？ Gaborn wondered。 He'd seen such creatures brought north as curiosities。 Raj Ahten had Frowth giants and flameweavers in his retinue； along with Invincibles and war dogs。 Gaborn thought it might be possible to grant endowments to apes； turn them into warriors。
But instinctively Gaborn knew that these creatures were nothing he'd ever seen。 Larger than apes。 Nomen； perhapscreatures recalled only in ancient tales。 Or maybe some new horror in the earth。 Thousands of them issued from the woods； a dark tide of bodies。
Frowth giants waded among them； and Raj Ahten's Invincibles rode behind in armor that flashed in the starlight。
Far below to the west； war dogs howled and snarled； following Gaborn's blood scent。 Gaborn glimpsed a dog on the trail in the starlighta huge mastiff with an iron collar and a leather mask to protect its face and eyes。 The pack leader。 It would be branded with runes of power； to let it run faster and farther than its brothers； smell Gaborn more easily； and plot with the supernatural cunning of its kind。
Gaborn couldn't escape the pack； not with that dog alive。
He nocked an arrow； the last in his quiver。 The grizzled mastiff raced up the path at incredible speed； its back and head showing from time to time as it leapt through low ferns。 With endowments of strength and metabolism； such dogs could cover miles in minutes。
Gaborn watched its progress； gauged where it would exit the ferns below him。 The mastiff burst from the ferns a hundred yards down； snarling in rage； its mask making it look skeletal in the starlight。
The beast was only fifty yards away when Gaborn loosed his arrow。 It flew to its mark； striking the dog's leather mask； then ricocheted over its head。
The mastiff raced forward。
Gaborn didn't have time to clear his saber from its scabbard。
The mastiff leapt。 Gaborn saw its jaws gaping； the huge nick in its forehead where the arrow had pierced the leather； scraped away flesh。
Gaborn threw himself back in the saddle。 The mastiff jumped and brushed past Gaborn's chest； the spikes on its collar slashing Gaborn's robe； drawing blood on his chest。
The stallion whinnied in terro
