df.therunelords-第20部分

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　could　be　so　innocent。　Once；　Sergeant　Dreys　had　teased　her；　saying；　〃Chemoise；　believes　sword　fighting　is　much　like　carving　a　duck；　the　only　difference　being　that　you　don't　eat　your　foe　after　you　slice　him　up。〃
　Chemoise　took　Iome's　hands；　urged　her　up　the　steps；　until　they　stood　in　the　sunlight。　After　the　coolness　of　the　shadowed　keep；　the　warmth　of　the　sunlight　felt　good。
　When　she　reached　the　top；　Chemoise　waved　toward　the　prince　in　introduction。　〃Princess　Iome　Sylvarresta；　may　I　have　the　honor　to　present　Prince　Gaborn　Val　Orden。〃
　Iome　did　not　look　at　the　Prince。　Instead　she　looked　out　over　the　battlements。　Chemoise　scurried　to　the　far　side　of　the　tower；　some　forty　paces　off；　to　give　Iome　and　the　Prince　some　privacy。
　To　Iome's　surprise；　the　young　soldiers　who　manned　the　catapults　followed　Chemoise；　affording　even　more　privacy。　Iome　glanced　down　at　the　catapults；　noted　the　metal　shot　in　the　weapons'　baskets。　These　catapults　had　never　fired　on　invaders　before。　The　only　time　she'd　seen　them　used　was　on　feast　days；　when　her　father　fired　loaves　of　bread；　sausages；　and　tangerines　out　over　the　castle　walls　to　the　peasants。
　Iome's　Days　stayed　only　a　dozen　paces　away。　She　said；　〃Prince　Sylvarresta；　your　Days　is　currently　in　your　father's　pany。　I　will　act　as　recorder　in　his　stead；　for　this　portion　of　your　chronicles。〃
　The　Prince　said　nothing　to　the　Days；　though　Iome　heard　his　cloak　rustle；　as　if　he　nodded。
　Iome　still　did　not　look　in　the　Prince's　direction。　Instead　she　hurried　to　the　far　side　of　the　tower；　sat　on　a　merlon；　and　gazed　out　over　the　autumn　fields　at　her　father's　kingdom。
　Iome　found　herself　trembling　slightly。　She　did　not　want　to　face　Gaborn；　dared　not　face　him。　He　was；　after　all；　a　Runelord；　the　son　of　a　very　powerful　Runelord；　and　would　likely　be　handsome　beyond　telling。　She　did　not　want　appearances　to　spoil　her　perceptions　of　him。　So　she　looked　away；　beyond　the　castle　walls。
　Still；　when　Gaborn　gave　a　sigh　of　appreciation　for　her　beauty；　it　drew　a　tight　smile　from　Iome's　lips。　She　felt　certain　he　had　seen　finer　women　in　the　South。
　A　slight　wind　stirred；　a　breeze　that　carried　the　scent　of　cooking　fires　up　from　the　Great　Hall。　Iome　shifted　from　her　perch　on　the　merlon；　sending　flakes　of　rock　to　plunge　eighty　feet　below。　Cocks　crowed　in　the　evening　light；　and　just　within　the　outer　fortress　walls；　cows　bawled；　calling　their　milkers。
　Thatch…roofed　stone　houses　dotted　the　brown　fields　outside　the　castle。　And　from　here　she　could　see　several　villages　north　and　east　along　the　River　Wye。　But　the　fields　and　villages　were　utterly　empty。
　The　farmers；　merchants；　and　servants　had　all　gathered　with　the　soldiers　in　their　black…and…silver　livery　on　the　city　walls。　Boys　and　old　men　alike　stood　poised　with　bows　and　spears。　A　few　local　merchants；　creeping　along　the　wall…walks；　hawked　pastries　and　chicken　as　if　this　were　the　fair；　and　they　were　all　watching　the　tournaments。
　Down　at　the　Outer　Wall；　carts；　barrels；　and　crates　lay　piled　against　the　city　gates。　If　Raj　Ahten　broke　down　the　gate；　the　trash　would　trap　his　men　there　in　the　inner　court；　where　her　father's　bowmen　could　do　some　damage。
　It　was　nearing　dusk。　Crows　and　pigeons　circled　over　the　oak　and　ash　forests　to　the　south。　Raj　Ahten's　armies　disturbed　the　birds；　kept　them　from　roosting。
　Lowering　campfires　burned　out　there　under　the　woods；　so　that　the　hills　below　her　seemed　to　seethe　with　smoke；　the　trees　glowing　with　flame。　Iome　could　not　guess　how　large　Raj　Ahten's　army　might　be；　hidden　among　the　trees。
　But　signs　of　the　invaders　were　everywhere：　A　spy　balloon　in　the　shape　of　a　graak　had　launched　from　the　forest；　manned　by　two　of　Raj　Ahten's　men。　It　had　been　tethered　four　hundred　feet　in　the　air　for　nearly　two　hours。　Along　the　wide　banks　of　the　River　Wye；　which　wound　through　this　realm　in　a　broad　ribbon；　two　thousand　warhorses　were　tied　in　a　dark　line；　kept　by　a　hundred　or　so　knights　and　squires　who　seemed　unconcerned　about　the　possibility　of　an　attack。　Spearmen　and　shaggy　Frowth　giants　stood　watch。　Deeper　in　the　forest；　Iome　could　hear　the　sound　of　axes　falling　as　Raj　Ahten's　men　cut　trees　for　scaling　ladders　and　siege　engines。　Indeed；　every　moment　or　two；　a　tree　would　shiver　and　topple；　leaving　a　hole　in　the　forest's　canopy。
　So　many　men；　so　huge　an　army　ing　from　the　south。　Iome　still　marveled　that　they'd　heard　no　advance　word。　The　Duke　of　Longmont　should　have　sent　warning。　He　should　have　known　of　the　army's　movements。　One　could　only　hope　that　Raj　Ahten　had　found　a　way　to　move　without　Longmot's　notice。　If　that　were　true；　Longmont　could　send　his　knights　to　aid　their　king；　once　they　discovered　the　siege。　But　Iome　smelled　treachery　in　the　air；　and　feared　that　Longmont　would　send　no　aid。
　Prince　Orden　cleared　his　throat；　politely　begging　Iome's　attention。　〃This　should　have　been　a　fairer　meeting　between　us；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　gentle。　〃I'd　hoped　to　bring　joyful　news　to　your　kingdom；　not　tales　of　invasion。〃
　As　if　his　proposal　would　have　been　joyful！　She　suspected　that　her　wiser　vassals　would　have　mourned　the　match；　even　though　they'd　see　the　necessity　of　tying　Heredon　to　Mystarria；　the　richest　kingdom　in　Rofehavan。
　〃I　thank　you　for　your　hasty　ride；〃　Iome　said。　〃It　was　good　of　you　to　risk　it。〃
　Prince　Orden　stepped　to　her　side　and　looked　out　over　the　edge　of　the　tower。　〃How　long；　do　you　think；　before　they　mount　an　attack？〃　He　sounded　detached；　too　tired　to　think。　A　curious　boy　fascinated　by　the　prospect　of　battle。
　〃By　dawn；〃　she　said。　〃They　won't　want　anyone　slipping　from　the　castle；　so　they'll　strike　soon。〃　Considering　the　renowned　strength　of　Raj　Ahten's　troopsthe　giants　and　mages　and　his　legendary　swordsmentomorrow；　her　father's　kingdom　would　likely　fall。
　Iome　glanced　at　Gaborn's　back　profile　from　the　corner　of　her　eye；　a　young　man　who　would　have　broad　shoulders　when　he　got　his　full　growth。　He　had　long　dark　hair。　He　wore　a　clean　blue　traveling　cloak；　a　narrow　saber。
　She　averted　her　gaze；　not　desiring　to　see　more。　Broad…shouldered；　like　his　father。　Of　course　he　will　be　stunning。　After　all；　he　draws　glamour　from　his　subjects。
　Not　like　Iome。　While　some　Runelords　drew　glamour　heavily　from　their　subjects；　appropriating　great　resplendence　to　mask　an　imperfect　countenance；　Iome　had　been　blessed　with　some　natural　beauty。　When　she　was　but　a　mere　infant；　two　fair　maids　had　stepped　forward；　offering　to　endow　the　princess　with　their　own　glamour；　and　her　parents　had　accepted　in　Iome's　behalf。　But　once　Iome　was　old　enough　to　understand　what　the　endowments　cost　her　subjects；　she　had　refused　further　gifts。
　〃I　would　not　stand　so　close　to　the　wall；〃　Iome　said　to　Gaborn。　〃You　don't　want　to　be　seen。〃
　〃By　Raj　Ahten？〃　Gaborn　asked。　〃What　would　he　see　from　here？　A　young　man　talking　to　a　maid　on　the　tower　wall？〃
　〃Raj　Ahten　has　dozens　of　far…seers　in　his　band。　Surely　they　will　know　a　princess　when　they　see　herand　a　prince。〃
　〃Such　a　fair　princess　would　not　be　hard　to　spot；〃　Gaborn　agreed；　〃but　I　doubt　that　any　of　Raj　Ahten's　men　would　give　me　a　second　glance。〃
　〃You　wear　the　device　of　Orden；　do　you　not？〃　Iome　asked。　If　Gaborn　believed　that　Raj　Ahten's'　men　would　not　recognize　a　prince　by　his　countenance　alone；　she　would　not　gainsay　him。　Still；　she　imagined　the　green　knight　embroidered　on　his　cloak。　〃Better　not　to　have　it　spotted　within　these　walls。〃
　Gaborn　chuckled　mirthlessly。　〃I'm　wearing　one　of　your　soldiers'　cloaks。　I　won't　give　my　presence　away。　Not　before　my　father　arrives。　If　history　is　any　guide；　this　could　be　a　long　siege。　Castle　Sylvarresta　has　not　fallen　in　eight　hundred　years。　But　you　need　only　hold　out　three　daysat　the　most。　Only　three　days！〃
　Prince　Orden　sounded　confident。　She　wanted　to　believe　him；　to　believe　that　the　bined　forces　of　her　father's　men　with　King　Orden's　soldiers　could　turn　back　the　giants　and　sorcerers　of　Raj　Ahten。　Orden　would　raise　a　cry；　call　for　help　from　Heredon's　lords　as　he　came。
　Despite　the　eighty…foot　height　of　the　castle's　outer　walls；　despite　the　depth　of　Castle　Sylvarresta's　moat；　despite　the　archers　and　ballisteers　on　the　walls　and　the　caltrops　hidden　in　the　grassy　fields；　beating　Raj　Ahten　seemed　too　much　to　hope。　His　reputation　was　that　terrifying。　〃King　Orden　is　a　pragmatic　man。　Will　he　even　e？　Surely　he　would　not　throw　his　life　away　to　protect　Castle　Sylvarresta？〃
　Gaborn　took　offense　at　her　tone。　〃He　may　be　pragmatic　about　some　things；　but　not　where　friendship　is　concerned。　Besides；　fighting　here　is　the　right　thing　to　do。〃
　Iome　considered。　〃I　see。。。Of　course；　why　should　your　father　fight　at　home；　watch　his　own　people　bleed　and　die；　watch　his　own　castle　walls　crumble；　when　he　could　make　as　good　a　defense　here？〃
　Gaborn　nearly　growled　in　answer；　〃For　twenty　years　my　father　has　traveled　here　for　Hostenfest。　Do　you　know　how　much　envy　that　has　aroused　elsewhere？　He　could　have　celebrated　at　homeor　elsewherebut　he　es　here！　My　father　may　visit　other　kings　for　political　reasons；　but　only　one　does　he　name　'friend。'　〃
　Iome　had　only　a　vague　idea　what　other　kings　thought　of　her　father。　None　of　it　seemed　good。　〃A　softhearted　fool；〃　they　called　him。　As　an　Oath…Bound　Lord；　he'd　sworn　never　to　take　endowments　from　his　own　people　unless　they　were　freely　given。　Her　father　could　have　bought　endowmentsmany　a　man　might　sell　the　use　of　his　eyes　or　voice。　But　Sylvarresta　would　not　lower　himself　to　purchasing　another's　attributes。　Of　course；　her　father　would　never　consider　strong…arming　or　blackmailing　men　for　endowments。　He　was　not　a　Wolf　Lord；　not　Raj　Ahten。
　But　Gaborn's　father　was　another　matter。　Orden　was　a　self…proclaimed　〃pragmatist〃　when　it　came　to　taking　endowmentsa　man　who　took　endowments　freely　offered　but　who；　as　a　younger　man；　had　also　engaged　in　the　dubious　act　of　purchasing　endowments。　He　seemed　to　Iome　to　verge　on　being　more　than　pragmatic。　He　seemed　morally　suspect。　He　was　too　successful　at　winning　the　trust　of　lesser　men；　he　purchased　endowments　far　too　cheaply　and　too　often；　both　for　himself　and　his　troops。　Indeed；　Gaborn's　father　was　said　to　personally　hold　over　a　hundred　endowments。
　Yet；　even　then；　Iome　knew　that　Gaborn's　father；　King　Orden；　was　no　Raj　Ahten。　He'd　never　〃forced　a　peasant's　gift；〃　collecting　some　poor　farmer's　brawn　in　lieu　of　back　taxes。　He'd　never　won　a　maid