df.therunelords-第66章
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Bridge； some thirty miles to the east。 It would take Raj Ahten's army far out of their way； but the Wolf Lord's soldiers would circumvent Orden's ambush。
Stevedore Hark found his heart pounding。 It was a long way for a fat old innkeeper to ride to get to Longmont； and there were no force horses in town。 He couldn't warn Orden that his ambush would fail。 He'd never make it riding through the woods at night。
Silently； he wished Orden well。
Chapter 33
TREACHERY
King Mendellas Draken Orden toured the defenses of Longmont in the failing light； considering how best to defend the rock。 It was an odd castle； with outer walls exceptionally tall； carved of granite from the hill Longmont squatted upon。 The fortress had no secondary or tertiary walls； as one found in a larger castle； such as at Sylvarresta。 It had no fine merchants' quarter； held only two defensible manors for minor barons； along with the keeps for the Duke； his soldiers； and his Dedicates。
But the walls were solid； protected by earth runes of bonding。
The tallest building in the keep was the graaks' aeriea merely functional building on a rock pinnacle that could nest up to six of the large reptiles。 One reached the aerie by means of narrow stone stairs that zigzagged along the east wall of the pinnacle。 The aerie was not meant to be defended。 It had no merlons archers could hide behind； no landings on the stairs where swordsmen had room to swing。 It held only a wide landing field atop the pinnacle for graaks； then six circular openings in nests above the field。
The dukes of Longmont had not raised graaks here in generations。 King Orden thought it a shame。 A hundred and twenty years past； several harsh winters came； and here in the north the graaks had frozen from cold。 During those same winters the Frowth giants had traveled from the north over the snow。 But when the winters warmed and the wild graaks flew up again from the south； the kings of Heredon hadn't tamed them； as their forefathers had。 When they sent messages； they trusted riders on force horses。
It seemed a shame to Orden。 A rich tradition had been lost。 In some small way； the nation became poorer for it。
The aeries were badly kept。 Stone watering troughs lay empty。 Gnawed bones lay about； leftovers from past feedings。
Over the years； Orden had sent messages north by graak； and some graaks had stopped here。 No one had ever cleaned the dung from the floors； now lime liberally covered the stone。 The stairs leading to the aerie were age…worn。 Vines of morning glory climbed from cracks in the rock； their blue flower petals open now to the evening sun。
But Orden found that one could see well from the landing field on the aerieeven down to the roofs of the Dedicates' Keep and Duke's Keep。 So he secreted six archers with steel bows there； ordering them to hide and watch； shooting only if Raj Ahten's forces made it through the gates。 He added a single swordsman to guard the steps。
In the semidarkness； he waited for his body servant to light a lantern； then by its light he toured the Dedicates' Keep。 From the outside； it looked to be an austere； grim keepa round tower that could hold a thousand Dedicates。 For windows； it had a handful of small slits in the stone。 Orden imagined few Dedicates ever stood in the full sunlight once they gave endowments。 To bee a Dedicate for the Duke； one virtually had to consign one's self to a prison。
But the interior of the Dedicates' Keep was surprisingly plush。 The walls were painted white； with images of blue roses or daisies stenciled along the small windowsills。 Each level in the tower had its own mon room； with beds arranged around the outer walls； and a fine hearth in the center。 Such rooms were devised so that at night a pair of caretakers might watch over a hundred or more Dedicates at once。 The rooms each had chessboards； fortable chairs to sit in； fresh rushes mingled with lavender on the floors。
King Orden worried for his son。 He still had no word of Gaborn's whereabouts。 Had the boy been killed？ Did he sit in Sylvarresta's keep； a Dedicate to Raj Ahten？ Perhaps he rested beside a warm fire； weak as a kitten； playing chess。 One could only hope。 One had to hope。 But Orden's hope was waning。
The Duke's Keep now cloistered less than a hundred Dedicates； all in a single room。 Orden calculated that it should have held at least five hundred to serve the fortress defenders。 But at least four hundred Dedicates had died in the fight to win back the castle。
The battle for freedom claimed that many victims。
Fortifications for the tower concentrated at its lowest level。 With great thoroughness； Orden inspected these defenses； for he hoped to fight Raj Ahten here； where he might have some advantage。
A portcullis opened to a guardroom where a dozen pikemen might keep watch。 The gears to the portcullis were kept some eighty feet back； in a separate room。 A pair of guards could be housed in the gear room。
Off from the gear room lay an armory and the Duke's treasury。 The armory was well stocked with arrows and ballista boltsmore than Orden would have imagined。 The arrows were bound into bundles of a hundred。 A quick guess told Orden that at least two hundred thousand arrows lay there； most newly fletched with gray goose feathersas if the Duke had been vigorously preparing for the end of the world。
The Duke's armor and that of his horse were gone； taken by one of Raj Ahten's Invincibles； no doubt。 Still； Raj Ahten's men had left a princely long swordfine Heredon spring steel； honed to a razor's edge。
Orden studied its hilt。 The name of Stroehorn was branded into it； an artificer of exceptional skill some fifty years pasta veritable Maker。
The Indhopalese； who'd never worn anything but leather mail in battle till fifty years ago； didn't value Northern armor or swords。 In the desert； heavy ring mail or plate was too hot to fight in。 So men there had worn lacquered leather armor； and instead of the heavy blades of the North fought with curved scimitars。 The curved blades maximized the cutting edge of the sword； so that a single strike could slice through a man's body。 Against lightly armored opponents； curved scimitars proved to be elegant； graceful weapons。 But when a scimitar's edge met ring mail； the blade quickly dulled or bent。
For fighting a man in ring； one needed a thick Northern blade； with its straight edge and hard steel。 These could pierce armor with a lunge； or could chop through small rings。
Seeing this fine sword abandoned here in the armory gave Orden hope。 Raj Ahten marshaled a great number of troops。 He might terrify； but he fought in an unfamiliar clime； with inferior Southern steel。 How would his desert troops fare e winter？
Eight hundred years ago； the kings of Indhopal had sent gifts of spices； ointments； and silk； along with pet peacocks and tigers； to Orden's ancestors； in hopes of opening trade。 In return； Orden's forefather sent back a gift of horses； gold； fine furs； and wool； along with Northern spices。
The kings of Indhopal spurned the gifts。 The furs and wool seemed overburdensome in warm lands； the spices unsatisfactory。 The horseswhich they thought of inferior qualitywere fit only for use as draft animals。
But they loved the gold； enough to send the caravans。
So Orden had to wonder how the Indhopalese would acclimate。 Perhaps they'd not learn the value of wool or fur until half of them froze。 Perhaps they'd spurn mounts bred for Northern mountains； just as they spurned Northern steel。
Last of all； Orden inspected the treasury。 The Duke had stocked it with a surprising amount of gold blanks； used for striking coin。 King Orden studied the stampswhich bore Sylvarresta's image on the front and the Seven Stones on the back。
It seemed odd that the Duke should be striking coins。 A balancing scale sat on the floor； and Orden took a golden coin from his own pocket； placed it on one pan of the scale； then placed the Duke's blank on the other pan of the scale。
The blank was light。 Whether it had been shaved too small； or whether it was light because the gold had been mixed with zinc or tin； King Orden could not tell。
But it was clear that the Duke of Longmont had been a counterfeiter before he'd turned traitor。 〃Scurvy…infested dog！〃 Orden muttered。
〃Milord？〃 one of his captains asked。
〃Go cut down the carcass of the Duke of Longmont。 Cut through the intestines that keep him hanging from the keep； then fling the corpse into the moat。〃
〃Milord？〃 the captain asked。 It seemed a singularly disrespectful way to treat the dead。
〃Do it！〃 Orden said。 〃The man doesn't deserve another night of royal hospitality。〃
〃Yes； milord；〃 the captain answered； rushing off。
After touring the Dedicates' Keep； Orden decided not to tour the others in the castle。 The manors for the Duke and his lords seemed paltry。 Orden saw no sense in guarding them。
Besides； it would be better to concentrate his men on the outer walls。 Longmont was so narrow that an archer on the east wall could shoot the hundred yards to the west wall； which meant that if enemy soldiers managed to breach one wall； numerous defenders could still fire on them。
Fifteen hundred men； maybe sixteen hundred。 That was all King Orden had at the moment。 He'd sent messengers to Groverman and Dreis； hoped for reinforcements。 Perhaps Borenson would return with most of his army intact。
But they would have to get here soon。 Reinforcements that did not arrive before dawn would not get in。
King Orden had finished inspecting the Dedicates' Keep when Captain Cedrick Tempest； the Duchess's aide…de…camp； came to meet him； followed by a Days； a plump woman of middle age。 Captain Tempest was a stout man； with thick curly brown hair cropped close。 He carried his helm in hand； a sign of respect； but did not bow on meeting King Orden。 For a flicker of a second； Orden felt slighted； then realized this man was acting lord of the castle。 As such； by right； he did not need to bow。
Instead； Tempest reached out to shake hands at the wrist； as an equal。 〃Your Highness； we are happy to receive you； and offer you and your men such forts as we can。 But I fear there may be a battle soon。 Raj Ahten has an army advancing from the south。〃
〃I know；〃 Orden said。 〃We'd like to fight beside you。 I've sent to Groverman and Dreis； begging reinforcements； but I suspect they'll hesitate to honor a request from a foreign king。〃
〃The Duchess also sent for reinforcements；〃 Tempest said。 〃We should soon see what it gains us。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Orden said； watching the man's eyes。
This was the worst news。 If no help had e yet； it meant Dreis and Groverman； on hearing of the invasion； had chosen to fortify their own positions rather than send aid。 One could hardly blame them。
After a moment Orden asked； 〃May we speak privately？〃
Tempest nodded discreetly； together they walked into the Duke's Keep； climbed a flight of stairs。 Orden's men waited outside。 Only Orden's and his son's Days followed him into the room； with the matronly Days who followed Tempest at their heels。
In the great room； blood still smeared the floors from a fierce battle。 Wood chairs lay in splinters； a gore…covered axe lay on the floor； along with a pair of long daggers。
The
