df.therunelords-第35章
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lans 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 had been forced to give endowments to a Wolf Lord in the Southern Wastes。 His father's friends had rescued him from his fatewith a sword。
Borenson could never know how much giving this order hurt。 King Orden felt determined that his men would never know： Gaborn's great heart might well have earned him a death sentence。
King Orden clapped the big warrior on the shoulder in sympathy。 Borenson was trembling。 It would be a hard thing to go from being Gaborn's sworn protector to his assassin。 〃You heard me right。 When Raj Ahten gets your message； he will race to Longmont； to meet me in battle。 He will have hundreds of Dedicates in Castle Sylvarresta by dawnDedicates that he won't he able to carry south in such a hurry； Dedicates that he won't he able to properly guard。
〃I want you to go into the Dedicates' Keep at Castle Sylvarresta； once Raj Ahten leaves； and slaughter everyone left within。〃
The big warrior's grin had now faded pletely。
〃You understand that this must be done。 My life； your life； the lives of everyone in Mystarriaeveryone you've ever known and lovedmight well depend on it。
〃We can show no weakness。 We can show no mercy。〃
From a pouch at his hip； King Orden withdrew a small ivory flask。 Captured inside were mists from the fields of Mystarria。 Orden's water wizards had said that the flask contained enough mist to hide an army should the need arise。 Borenson's army might need such a mist。 He handed the artifact to Borenson； and wondered if he should also give the man his golden shield。 It had a powerful spell of water warding in it。 Orden had brought it as a betrothal gift to Sylvarresta。 Now； he considered that he might need that shield himself。
Orden wondered。 He did not want to kill Sylvarresta。 Yet if Sylvarresta succumbed to Raj Ahten； then it became Orden's duty。 The Kings of Rofehavan needed to know that no one could give endowments to the Wolf Lord。 No one would be permitted to do so and live。 Not even Orden's best friend。
〃We will do what we must to our friends； our kin；〃 King Orden said to himself as much as to Borenson； 〃if they serve the enemy。 That is our duty。 This is war。〃
Chapter 14
A WIZARD IN CHAINS
Shortly before dawn； the sounds of many clanking chains preceded Binnesman into the King's audience hall； then the guards dragged the herbalist in to face Raj Ahten； as Iome watched。
She shuddered and hid in a darkened corner； afraid somehow that Binnesman would spot her； would loathe her very existence。 In the past few hours； she'd had time to inspect the rune of power branded into the skin of her breast。 It was a plex thing； a horrid thing that tried to draw far more than mere beauty from her。 It tried to draw her pride； her hope。
Though she fought the influence of the rune； though she denied this boon to Raj Ahten； still she felt less than human。 A mere rag in the corner； something that cringed and watched。
Legend said that long ago； the facilitator Phedrosh had created a rune of will； a symbol that sapped the strength of mind from its victims。 Had Raj Ahten had such a magic symbol built into the rune that had branded Iome； she'd not have been able to deny him。
Now she felt grateful that Phedrosh had destroyed that rune of power and the secret of its making； before he fled to Inkarra。
As Binnesman was dragged to the room； his shackles rattled。 Strong irons bound Binnesman neck to foot； hand to hand。 Two guards merely lugged him across the plank floor； threw him at Raj Ahten's feet。
Four of the Wolf Lord's flameweavers walked beside the herbalist； all hairless； dark of skin。 Three young…looking men and a single woman； all with that peculiar dancing light in their eyes that only flameweavers have。 The male flameweavers had donned saffron silk robes； the woman a crimson mantle。
As the woman drew near； in the lead； Iome could feel the heat of her skin； a dry heat； as if her flesh were a warming stone to put in a bed on a cold night。
Iome felt the woman's powers in another way： a feverish lust came with her； mingled with a curious intellectual arousal。 This lust was nothing like the earthy sensuality that Iome felt in Binnesman's presencea desire to bear children； to feel small lips suckling at her breast。 No； the flameweavers carried a consuming need to rape； to take； an undirected rage all finely controlled by keen intellect。
Poor Binnesman looked a dirty wreck。 He was covered from head to foot in grimy ash； yet his sky…blue eyes showed no fear as he looked up。
You should fear； Iome thought。 You should。 No one could withstand Raj Ahten； the light in his face； the power of his voice。 In the past few hours； she'd seen things she could not have imagined： Two hundred of her father's guard had granted endowments。 Most needed little persuasion。 A look at Raj Ahten's face； an encouraging word； and they gave themselves。
Few even thought of resisting。 Captain Derrow； of the palace guard； asked to forbear swearing fealty to Raj Ahten； saying he was oath…bound to serve House Sylvarresta。 He therefore begged to serve as a guard in the Dedicates' Keep； pointing out that other great houses would now send assassins to dispatch Sylvarresta。 Raj Ahten agreed； but only on the condition that Derrow give a lesser endowment； one of hearing。
Another who begged no boon faced rougher treatment。 Captain Ault refused the Wolf Lord entirely； had cursed him and wished him death。
Raj Ahten had heard the reviling with patience and a smile； but afterward； the woman in crimson had taken the captain's hand； tenderly。 Then her eyes flashed in laughter as the captain burst into flames from toe to head and just stood； screaming and writhing as the fires consumed his flesh； melted his armor。 The room had echoed with his shrieks。 The odor of charred flesh and hair clung to the walls of the room even now。
Ault's blackened corpse was placed downstairs at the entry to the King's Keep。
So humbly now the people of Castle Sylvarresta came to stand before their new lord and give obeisance。 Raj Ahten spoke calmly to them； his face shining like the sun； his voice as unperturbable as the sea。
All night long； Raj Ahten's troops had been marshaling the richest of the local merchants into the keep； seeking tributes of gold and endowments。 The people gave to him whatever he asked； would give all that they had。
Thus； Raj Ahten had finally heard the name of the young man who had killed his giants； his outriders； and mastiffs on his errand to warn King Sylvarresta of the impending invasion。 Even now； Raj Ahten's trackers scoured the Dunnwood； searching for young Prince Orden。
King Sylvarresta sat on the floor at Raj Ahten's feet。 His neck had been tied to the foot of the throne； and King Sylvarresta； with all the naivete of a kitten； kept pulling at the rope； trying to chew it in half。 The idea of untying himself did not occur to the King。 Iome watched her father at Raj Ahten's feet； and even to her； Raj Ahten seemed great。 His glamour so affected her that somehow she felt it fitting that her father should be there。 Other kings kept dogs or great cats at their feet as pets。 But Raj Ahten was more than a mon leader。 He deserved to have kings at
