df.therunelords-第67章

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　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　Duchess's　battle　had　e　down　to　knife　work　in　here。
　A　pair　of　red　hounds　looked　up　curiously　as　Orden　entered；　thumped　their　tails　in　greeting。　They'd　been　sleeping　before　the　cold　fireplace。
　King　Orden　got　a　torch；　lit　it；　placed　it　under　the　kindling　in　the　fireplace。　Then　he　took　a　seat　by　the　fire；　ten　feet　from　Tempest's　own　chair。
　Tempest　looked　to　be　in　his　early　fifties；　though　it　was　impossible　to　tell。　A　man　with　endowments　of　metabolism　would　age　fast。　But　Mendellas　could　often　guess　a　warrior's　age　by　looking　in　his　eyes。　Even　with　endowments　of　metabolism；　some　men　maintained　a　look　of　innocence；　a　look　of　inexperience。　A　man's　eyes　stayed　younglike　his　teeth　and　his　mind　and　his　heartthough　his　skin　might　bee　spotted　and　wrinkled。
　But　Tempest's　brown　eyes　looked　full　of　pain；　battle；　and　fatigue。　Orden　could　tell　nothing　by　gazing　into　them。　Tempest's　eyes　looked　a　thousand　years　old。
　The　King　decided　to　lead　to　his　subject　tactfully。　〃I'm　curious　to　know　what　happened。　Raj　Ahten　obviously　garrisoned　soldiers　heregood　force　soldiers。　How　is　it　that　the　Duchess　defeated　them？〃
　Captain　Tempest　said；　〃Imust　base　my　report　on　hearsay。　I　myself　was　forced　to　give　an　endowment；　and　so　was　housed　in　the　Dedicates'　Keep　when　the　revolt　took　place。〃
　〃You　say　Raj　Ahten　'forced'　you　to　give　an　endowment？〃
　A　strange　look　came　over　Captain　Tempest；　one　of　revulsion　mingled　with　worship。　〃You　must　understand；　I　gave　myself　willingly。　When　Raj　Ahten　asked　for　my　endowment；　his　words　seemed　to　be　daggers　that　pierced　me。　When　I　looked　at　his　face；　it　seemed　more　beautiful　than　a　rose　or　the　sun　rising　over　a　mountain　lake。　He　seemed　beauty　itself；　everything　else　I've　ever　thought　noble　or　beautiful　seemed　a　dim　forgery。
　〃But　after　I　gave　the　endowment；　after　his　men　dragged　my　body　down　to　the　Dedicates'　Keep；　I　felt　as　if　I　awoke　from　a　dream。　I　realized　what　I'd　lost；　how　I'd　been　used。〃
　〃I　see；〃　King　Orden　said；　wondering　idly　how　many　endowments　of　glamour　and　Voice　Raj　Ahten　had；　that　he　could　gain　such　power　over　men。　〃So；　what　happened　here？　How　did　the　Duchess　manage　this　coup？〃
　〃I　am　not　certain；　for　I　was　weak　as　a　pup　in　the　Dedicates'　Keep；　and　could　not　stay　awake。　I　heard　only　snatches　of　reports。
　〃As　I　understand；　the　Duke　apparently　got　paid　to　let　Raj　Ahten　pass　through　the　Dunnwood。　But　he　dared　not　let　his　wife　know　of　the　payment；　and　so　kept　it　hidden　in　his　private　apartments；　not　daring　to　show　it。
　〃After　his　death；　when　the　Duchess　realized　that　he　must　have　been　paid　for　his　treason；　she　searched　his　private　apartments　and　found　some　hundred　forcibles。〃
　〃I　see；〃　King　Orden　said。　〃So　she　used　the　forcibles　to　furnish　some　assassins？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Tempest　answered。　〃When　Raj　Ahten　entered　the　city；　not　all　our　guard　was　in　the　keep。　Four　young　soldiers　were　in　the　wilds；　investigating　a　report　that　a　woodcutter　in　Greenton　had　spotted　a　reaver〃
　〃Have　you　had　many　reports　of　reavers　hereabouts？〃　Orden　asked；　for　this　was　important　news。
　〃No；　but　last　spring　we　tracked　a　trio　in　the　Dunnwood。〃
　Orden　thought。　〃How　large　were　the　tracks？〃
　〃Twenty　to　thirty　inches　long。〃
　〃Four…toed；　or　three…toed　tracks？〃
　〃Two　were　three…toed。　The　largest　was　four…toed。〃
　Orden　licked　his　lips；　found　his　mouth　suddenly　dry。　〃You　knew　what　that　meant；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Yes；　Your　Highness；〃　Captain　Tempest　said。　〃We　had　a　mating　triad。〃
　〃And　you　did　not　kill　them？　You　didn't　find　them？〃
　〃Sylvarresta　knew　of　it。　He　sent　hunters　after　them。〃
　No　doubt　Sylvarresta　would　have　told　Orden　of　the　reavers。　We　might　have　hunted　more　than　boars　this　year；　Orden　thought。　Yet　this　news　bothered　him；　for　he'd　heard　other　troubling　reports　of　reavers　moving　through　the　mountains　along　the　borders　of　Mystarriawar　bands　of　nines　and　eighty…ones。　Not　since　his　great…grandfather's　day　had　he　heard　so　many　reports。　And　on　his　journey　north；　while　traveling　through　Fleeds；　Queen　Herin　the　Red　mentioned　problems　with　reavers　killing　her　horses。　But　Orden　had　not　expected　the　depredations　to　extend　so　far　north。
　〃So；〃　Orden　said；　〃you　had　soldiers　on　patrol　when　Raj　Ahten　took　possession。。。〃
　〃Right。　They　stayed　out　of　the　city；　until　Raj　Ahten　left。　They　saw　the　Duke　hanged；　so　they　sent　a　note　to　the　Duchess；　asking　her　orders。　She　sent　her　facilitator　into　town　with　the　forcibles；　and　the　soldiers　took　endowments　from　whomever　would　grant　them；　until　they　had　enough　to　attack。〃
　〃So　they　performed　an　escalade？〃　Orden　asked。
　〃Hardly。　They　entered　casually　enough；　after　Raj　Ahten　left。　They　played　at　being　candlemakers　and　weavers；　bringing　in　goods　to　display　to　the　Duchess。　But　they　hid　daggers　beneath　the　candles；　and　chain　mail　beneath　folds　of　cloth。
　〃Raj　Ahten　had　only　two　hundred　loyal　soldiers　here；　and　those　young　ladswell；　they　handled　the　situation。〃
　〃Where　are　they　now？〃
　〃Dead；〃　Captain　Tempest　said；　〃all　dead。　They　broke　into　the　Dedicates'　Keep　and　killed　half　a　dozen　vectors。　That's　when　the　rest　of　us　joined　the　fray。　It　wasn't　easy。〃
　Orden　nodded　thoughtfully。
　〃Captain　Tempest；　I　suppose　you　know　why　my　men　and　I　have　e？〃　It　was　a　delicate　subject；　but　Orden　needed　to　know　if　Tempest　had　captured　the　forcibles；　moved　them　from　Bredsfor　Manor。　Though　he'd　sent　a　man　to　find　them；　Orden　didn't　want　to　be　kept　waiting；　especially　if　he　waited　only　for　bad　news。
　The　captain　stared　up　at　him；　incurious。　〃You　heard　we　were　under　attack？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Orden　said；　〃but　that　is　not　why　I　came。　All　of　Heredon　is　under　attack；　and　I'd　have　preferred　to　bend　my　efforts　to　freeing　Castle　Sylvarresta。　I　came　for　the　treasure。〃
　〃Treasure？〃　Captain　Tempest　asked。　His　eyes　widened。　Almost；　Orden　believed　the　man　knew　nothing　about　it。　But　he　didn't　quite　trust　that　response。　Tempest　was　working　too　hard　to　control　his　emotions；　to　show　no　reaction。
　〃You　know　what　I'm　talking　about？〃
　〃What　treasure？〃　Tempest　asked；　with　no　hint　of　deception　in　his　eyes。
　Had　the　Duchess　kept　the　existence　of　the　forcibles　hidden　even　from　her　own　aide…de…camp？　Orden　had　expected　so；　had　hoped　so。
　〃You　knew　the　Duke　was　a　forger；　didn't　you？〃　Orden　asked。　He　let　just　a　little　of　the　power　of　his　Voice　slide　into　the　question；　in　a　tone　that　would　elicit　guilt。
　〃No！〃　Tempest　protested；　but　his　eyes　flickered；　and　his　pupils　contracted。
　The　dishonest；　miserable　cur；　Orden　thought。　The　man　lies　to　me　now。　When　I　asked　about　treasure；　he　thought　I　spoke　of　the　gold　blanks　in　the　treasury。　Truly；　he　had　not　heard　of　Raj　Ahten's　forcibles。　That　interested　Orden。
　So　the　Duchess　had　not　trusted　Tempest。　Which　meant　Orden　could　not　trust　him；　either。
　King　Orden　forged　ahead　with　a　half…truth。　〃King　Sylvarresta　sent　a　message；　saying　the　Duchess　had　overthrown　Raj　Ahten's　forces　here；　and　she　had　hidden　or　buried　a　treasure　here　in　the　castle。　Have　you　seen　signs　of　digging　hereabout？　Has　anyone　recovered　the　treasure？〃
　Tempest　shook　his　head；　eyes　wide。　Orden　felt　sure　Tempest's　men　would　be　digging　within　the　hour。
　〃Who　did　the　Duchess　trust　most？　Who　would　she　have　had　bury　the　treasure？〃
　〃The　chamberlain；〃　Tempest　said　quickly。
　〃Where　is　he　now？〃
　〃Gone！　He　left　the　castle　shortly　after　the　uprising。　HeI　haven't　seen　him　since！〃　From　the　tone　of　Tempest's　voice；　he　seemed　worried　that　the　chamberlain　had　made　off　with　the　treasure。
　〃What　did　he　look　like？〃
　〃A　thin　fellow；　like　a　willow　switch；　with　blond　hair　and　no　beard。〃
　The　very　messenger　Orden　had　found　slain。　So　the　Duchess　had　sent　the　message　to　Sylvarresta　using　the　man　who'd　hidden　the　forcibles；　then　told　no　one　else　about　them。　Captain　Tempest　might　be　a　fine　soldier；　capable　of　defending　the　castle；　but　he　was　obviously　dishonest。　Knowledge　of　the　treasure　would　have　tempted　him；　and　the　Duchess　had　not　wanted　to　let　her　king　get　betrayed　again。
　This　news　filled　King　Orden　with　sadness；　a　heaviness。　Such　a　waste；　that　a　fine　king　like　Sylvarresta　could　suffer　from　such　disloyalty。　A　whole　nation　promised。
　If　a　fine　man　like　Sylvarresta　was　so　little　loved　by　his　lords；　Orden　wondered；　how　can　I　trust　my　own　vassals？
　〃Thank　you；　Captain　Tempest；〃　King　Orden　said；　in　a　tone　of　dismissal。
　〃Oh；　and　Captain；〃　Orden　added；　as　Tempest　hesitated　in　the　doorway；　strapping　on　his　helm；　〃relief　will　e　from　Groverman　and　Dreis；　as　soon　as　they　make　arrangements。　I　sent　a　message　asking　for　aid；　and　I　told　them　of　the　treasure。　The　armies　of　the　North　will　gather　here！〃
　Tempest　nodded；　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief；　departed。　The　matronly　Days　followed　him　out。
　Orden　sat　for　a　long　hour　in　the　darkness；　in　a　chair　carved　of　dark　walnut；　finely　wroughttoo　finely。　The　chiseled　emblems　of　feasting　men　on　its　backboard　dug　into　his　flesh。　One　could　not　rest　in　these　chairs。
　So　Orden　stoked　the　fire　in　the　fireplace；　threw　in　a　couple　of　shattered　chairs　for　fuel；　then　lay　on　a　bearskin；　petting　the　Duke's　hunting　hounds；　who　batted　the　floor　with　their　tails；　reveling　in　his　affection。
　His　Days　had　been　standing　in　a　corner；　forgotten。　Now　the　man　came　and　sat　in　one　of　the　unfortable　chairs。　Gaborn's　Days　remained　in　the　corner。
　Orden　had　not　lain　on　the　floor　with　a　dog　since　he　was　a　boy。　He　remembered　the　first　time　he'd　e　to　Longmont　with　his　father。　He'd　been　nine　years　old；　on　his　way　home　from　his　first　big　hunt；　a　hundred　men　in　his　retinue。　It　was　in　the　fall；　at　Hostenfest；　of　course；　where　he'd　met　a　young　prince　with　long　amber　hair　and　narrow　shoulders。
　Sylvarresta。　Prince　Mendellas　Orden's　first　friend。　His　only　true　friend。　Orden　had　had　soldiers　who　schooled　him　in　the　arts　of　war；　and　he'd　made　alliances　with　fawning　sons　of　minor　nobles　who　might　have　liked　him　but　who　always　seemed　too　much　aware　how　their　inherited　stations　forever　separated　them　from　a　prince。
　Even　the　other　princes　had　treated　Orden　with　too　much　deferencealways　aware　that　his　realm　was　richer　and　larger　than　any　other。
　It　was　only　Sylvarresta　whom　Mendellas　could　trust。　Sylvarresta　would　tell　him　if　some　hat　made　him　look　stupid　instead　of　stylish；　or　would　laugh　at　him　when　he　missed　a　quintain　with　his　lance。　Only　Sylvarresta　ever　dared　tell　him　when　he　was　wrong。
　King　Orden　found　himself　breathing　hard。　I　am　wrong　now；　he　realized。　Wrong　to　have　sent　Borenson　to　kill　Raj　Ahten's　Dedicates。
　What　if　Borenson　kills　Sylvarresta？　Could　I　ever　forgive　myself？　Or　will　I　have　to　bear　the　scar　of　it　for　the　rest　of　my　life；　as　a　badge　of　this　war？
　Other　kings　had　borne　such　scars；　Orden　told　himself。　Others　had　been　forced　to　slaughter　friends。　As　a　child；　Orden　had　begrudged　the　men　who　killed　his　own　grandfather。　Now　he　knew　that　too　often；　guilt　became　the　price　of　leadership。
　〃Days？〃　King　Orden　whispered　to　the　man　who　sat　at　his　back。
　〃Yes；　Your　Lordship；〃　his　Days　answered。
　〃What　news　have　you　of　my　son？〃　He　had　known　the　man　all　his　life；　had　never　considered　the　Days　a　friend　or　confidant。　Yet　he　also　admired　the　man　as　a　scholar。
　〃To　speak　of　it　would　violate　my　most　sacred　oaths；　milor