df.therunelords-第42部分

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　The　Duchess　had　said　it　was　the　house　servants　who　managed　the　revoltfew　soldiers。　So　her　soldiers　were　deador　drained　of　endowments。　Perhaps　it　was　not　a　trap。
　Raj　Ahten　had　trusted　his　own　men　to　hold　his　treasure　for　him　in　Longmonta　fine　castle；　with　stunning　defenses。　What　better　place　to　keep　so　many　forcibles？　And　from　there；　he　would　have　taken　forcibles　to　Castle　Sylvarresta；　to　drain　his　enemies。　Indeed；　he　probably　already　had　some　in　his　possession。
　King　Orden　read　on：
　I　trust　that　these　forcibles　shall　be　of　great　use　to　you　in　prosecuting　this　war。　Meanwhile；　an　occupying　army　approaches　from　the　south。　According　to　muniqués；　it　should　be　here　in　four　days。
　I've　sent　to　Groverman　and　Dreis；　requesting　aid。　I　believe　we　can　withstand　a　siege；　with　their　help。
　The　Wolf　Lord　left　me　no　palace　guard；　no　soldiers。　Those　who　have　given　endowments　are　vectored　to　Raj　Ahten　through　my　sons。
　Raj　Ahten　is　on　his　way　to　you　in　Castle　Sylvarresta。　I　do　not　believe　he　can　reach　you　until　the　night　before　Hostenfest。
　He　is　dangerous。　He　has　so　many　endowments　of　glamour；　he　shines　like　the　sun。　For　decades　now；　Longmont　has　been　home　to　many　vain　women；　each　hoping　to　be　more　beautiful　than　her　neighbor。　Their　beauty　is　all　vectored　through　me。
　I　will　not　uphold　your　enemies。
　In　two　days；　all　those　who　have　granted　endowments　in　Longmont　shall　die　by　my　hand。　It　grieves　me　that　I　must　kill　my　own　sons；　but　only　by　doing　so　can　I　revive　enough　troops　to　defend　the　city。
　I've　hidden　the　forcibles。　They　are　buried　beneath　the　turnip　field　at　Bredsfor　Manor。
　I　suspect　you　will　not　see　me　again；　not　alive。　I'm　placing　Captain　Cedrick　Tempest；　of　the　palace　guard；　in　temporary　mand　of　Longmont。
　My　husband　hangs　from　his　window　still；　his　own　intestines　serving　as　a　rope　for　his　neck。　I　will　not　cut　the　villain　down。　If　I　had　known　beforehand　of　his　treachery；　I'd　not　have　dealt　with　him　so　kindly。
　I　go　now；　to　sharpen　a　knife。　Should　I　fail；　you　know　what　to　do。
　Your　Devoted　Niece；
　The　Duchess　Emmadine　Ot　Laren
　Mendellas　Orden　finished　reading　the　letter；　heart　hammering；　then　laid　it　aside。　〃You　know　what　to　do。〃　The　age…old　cry　of　those　forced　to　serve　as　vectors：　Kill　me；　if　I　can't　kill　myself。
　King　Orden　had　often　met　the　Duchess。　She'd　always　struck　him　as　a　mousy　little　lady；　too　timid　for　grand　deeds。
　It　took　a　strong　woman　to　kill　herself；　her　children。　Yet　King　Orden　knew　that　there　was　a　time　when　one　could　follow　no　other　course。　So；　Raj　Ahten　had　vectored　the　soldiery　through　the　royal　family；　forced　them　to　grant　major　endowments；　so　the　soldiers　would　never　be　able　to　fight　again…unless　the　royal　family　was　slaughtered。
　The　Duchess　would　have　to　do　her　duty；　butcher　her　own　children　to　save　the　kingdom。　It　was　an　evil　trade。　King　Orden　only　hoped　his　own　son　did　not　fall　into　Raj　Ahten's　clutches。　Orden　imagined　that　he　had　the　strength　to　kill　his　own　son；　if　the　need　arose。
　But　he　dreaded　the　deed。
　King　Orden　turned　over　the　letter；　read　the　date。　Harvest　19。　Written　almost　two　days　past；　over　a　hundred　miles　away。
　The　Duchess　hadn't　expected　Raj　Ahten　to　reach　Castle　Sylvarresta　until　tomorrow。　So　she　planned　to　kill　herself　at　dawn；　before　the　occupying　army　arrived。
　A　pity　she　hadn't　killed　herself　this　morning。　Her　sacrifice　might　have　done　King　Sylvarresta　some　good。
　Orden　quickly　scrawled　letters　to　the　Duke　of　Groverman　and　the　Earl　of　Dreisthe　lords　with　castles　closest　to　Longmontbegging　them　both　to　send　aid　while　at　the　same　time　requesting　it　from　neighbors。　Though　the　Duchess　had　already　sought　aid　from　those　lords；　Orden　feared　that　her　messengers　might　have　met　the　same　fate　as　the　man　he'd　found　on　the　road。　To　be　certain　that　Dreis　and　Groverman　came；　he　said　bluntly　that　Raj　Ahten　had　left　a　hoard　of　treasure　at　Longmont。
　〃Borenson？〃　King　Orden　called　when　he　finished。　The　captain　was　sitting　on　the　rocks　above　him；　just　a　few　feet　below　the　tangled　limbs　of　the　graaks'　nest。
　〃What　is　it；　milord？〃　he　asked；　scrambling　down　to　Mendellas'　side。
　〃I　have　a　job　for　you；　a　dangerous　job。〃
　〃Good！〃　Borenson　said；　his　voice　full　of　cheer。　Borenson　dropped　beside　the　King　in　the　starlight。　He　was　a　full　head　taller　than　the　King；　his　red　hair　spilling　down　from　under　his　helm；　over　his　shoulders。　It　wasn't　right　for　vassals　to　be　so　large。　He　watched　the　King　expectantly。
　〃I'm　taking　five　hundred　men　south；　to　Castle　Longmontright　now。　A　thousand　more　will　follow　at　dawn。　I　want　you　to　take　five　hundred　men　with　you　now。　Our　scouts　tell　me　that　a　few　thousand　nomen　are　in　the　woods　at　Castle　Sylvarresta。　If　you　ride　hard；　you　can　meet　them　at　dawn；　outside　the　castle；　and　let　the　men　practice　their　archery。
　〃Keep　your　forces　in　the　woods。　The　Wolf　Lord　won't　dare　send　reinforcements　from　the　castle　if　he　can't　guess　your　number。　If　he　should　attack；　retreat　gracefully；　heading　for　Longmont。　At　noon；　your　men　will　retreat　to　Longmont　in　any　case。
　〃It　seems　that　the　Duchess　of　Longmont　has　her　hands　full。　Raj　Ahten　took　her　castle；　stole　endowments　from　hundreds　of　her　people。　At　dawn　she　plans　to　kill　herself；　and　anyone　else　who　is　a　Dedicate　to　Raj　Ahten。　And　it　seems　that　she's　captured　a　great　treasure。　So　I　must　go　to　relieve　her　of　it。　I'll　want　you　to　keep　the　Wolf　Lord　off　my　back。〃
　King　Orden　considered　his　next　move。　He　knew　these　woods　well；　had　hunted　the　Dunnwood　many　times　over　the　past　twenty　years。　He　needed　to　use　that　knowledge　to　his　advantage。
　〃I　will　be　destroying　the　bridge　at　Hayworth；　for　all　the　good　it　will　do。　So　you　will　send　your　men　to　Boar's　Fordto　that　narrow　canyon　below　the　ford。　There　they　will　sit　in　ambush。　When　Raj　Ahten's　troops　e　through；　your　men　will　attackpush　boulders　on　them　from　above；　loose　arrows；　set　the　east　end　of　the　canyon　ablaze。　But　don't　let　your　men　draw　sword　unless　you　have　to。　Your　troops　will　then　race　for　Longmont。　You　understand？　Your　only　purpose　is　to　harry　the　Wolf　Lord；　to　cause　damage；　to　nibble　at　the　edge　of　his　defenses；　to　slow　his　journey。〃
　Borenson　was　smiling　even　wider；　grinning　like　a　maniac　by　now。　It　was　practically　a　suicide　mission。　Orden　wondered　why　that　proposition　delighted　him。　Did　the　man　wish　for　death；　or　was　it　merely　the　deadly　challenge　that　thrilled　him？
　〃Unfortunately；　you　may　not　be　with　your　troops。〃
　〃I　won't？〃　Borenson's　smile　faltered。
　〃No；　I　have　something　more　reckless　in　mind　for　you。　Tomorrow　at　noon；　while　your　troops　retreat　toward　the　ambush；　I　want　you；　personallyand　you　aloneto　ride　into　Castle　Sylvarresta；　to　deliver　a　message　to　Raj　Ahten。〃
　Borenson　began　grinning　again；　but　it　was　not　the　crazed；　reckless　grin　he'd　had　before。　Instead；　he　seemed　more　determined。　Beads　of　sweat　began　to　form　on　his　brow。
　〃Be　surly；　abuse　Raj　Ahten　as　best　you　know　how。　Tell　him　that　I've　captured　Longmont。　Crow　about　it。　As　proof　of　my　deed；　tell　him　that　I　killed　his　Dedicates　there　at　dawn〃
　Borenson　swallowed　hard。
　〃Make　him　believe　that　I　have　taken　forty　thousand　of　his　forcibles　into　my　possession；　and　that　I've　put　them　to　good　use。　Tell　him　that　I　will　sell。。。five　thousand　of　them　back　to　him。　Tell　him　that　he　knows　the　price。〃
　〃Which　is？〃　Borenson　asked。
　〃Don't　name　it；〃　Orden　answered。　〃If　he　has　my　son；　then　he　will　offer　my　son。　If　he　does　not　have　my　son；　then　he　will　think　you　speak　of　King　Sylvarresta's　family；　and　he　will　offer　the　King。
　〃No　matter　what　hostage　is　offered；　check　on　the　condition　of　the　hostage　before　you　leave。　See　if　Raj　Ahten　has　forced　Gabornor　King　Sylvarrestainto　giving　an　endowment。　I　suspect　he　will　use　the　royal　family　as　vectors　for　major　endowments。　In　fifteen　hours；　he　could　easily　take　hundreds　of　such　endowments。　If　so；　then　you　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃Pardon　me？〃　Borenson　asked。　
　〃You　heard　right。　You　know　what　to　do。〃
　Borenson　laughed；　almost　a　coughing　sound；　but　there　was　no　longer　a　smile　on　his　face；　no　longer　a　gleam　of　delight　in　his　eye。　His　face　had　gone　all　hard；　impassive；　and　his　voice　carried　a　tone　of　disbelief。　〃You　would　have　me　kill　King　Sylvarresta；　or　your　son？〃
　Overhead；　one　of　the　huge　graaks　called　out；　swept　low。　There　was　a　time　in　Orden's　life　when　he　had　been　small　enough　to　ride　one　of　the　huge　reptiles。　When　he'd　weighed　fifty　pounds；　at　the　age　of　six；　his　father　had　let　him　take　long　journeys　on　the　backs　of　tamed　graaks　with　the　other　skyriders；　over　the　mountains　to　the　far　kingdom　of　Dzerlas　in　Inkarra。　Only　boys　with　endowments　of　strength　and　wit　and　stamina　and　grace　could　take　such　journeys。
　But　when　King　Orden's　son；　Gaborn；　became　a　skyrider　in　his　turn；　Mendellas　never　let　Gaborn　take　a　far　journey。　He'd　tried　hard　to　protect　his　son。　He'd　loved　the　boy　too　much。　He'd　hoped　the　lad　would　have　time　to　grow；　gain　some　maturitya　modity　all　too　rare　among　Runelords；　who　were　often　forced　of　necessity　to　take　endowments　of　metabolism；　grow　old　far　before　their　time。　There　were　things　that　King　Orden　still　needed　to　teach　his　son；　arts　of　diplomacy　and　strategy　and　intrigue　that　could　not　be　learned　in　the　House　of　Understanding。
　Moreover；　Orden's　own　father　had　been　captured　when　he　was　but　a　boy；　and　then