df.therunelords-第101章

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　King　Mendellas　Draken　Orden　cried　in　great　racking　sobs。　Orden's　sorrow　was　such　an　embarrassing　sight　that　the　two　dozen　lords　and　dignitaries　who　had　been　breakfasting　in　the　room　now　all　took　their　leave；　so　that　only　Iome；　King　Sylvarresta；　three　Days；　and　Gaborn　stood　in　the　room。
　For　the　barest　moment；　Gaborn　glanced　across　the　room；　saw　his　Days　and　felt　unfortable。　He　had　been　without　a　Days　for　nearly　half　a　week；　and　had　found　it　pleasant。
　Now　he　felt　like　an　ox　waiting　to　be　yoked。　The　small　fellow　nodded　politely；　and　Gaborn　knew　he　would　not　be　left　alone　again　for　a　while。　Another　Days　in　the　room　was　a　matronly　woman　in　her　forties；　a　woman　with　reddish　hair　going　silver。　She'd　have　been　Emmadine　Ot　Laren's　Days　when　the　Duchess　still　lived。　Now　she　nodded　a　greeting　at　Iome；　perhaps　all　the　formal　introduction　the　woman　would　ever　give；　yet　with　that　introduction　she　spoke　volumes：　I　am　assigned　to　you。
　So　the　Days　watched；　and　recorded。
　Gaborn　felt　grateful　that　the　Days　had　not　had　to　record　how　King　Orden　murdered　his　best　friend　in　his　hour　of　greatest　need。　Instead；　in　some　far　day　when　his　father　died　and　his　chronicles　were　penned；　it　would　be　told　how　Orden　hugged　Sylvarresta　and　sobbed　like　a　child。
　How　odd；　Gaborn　thought；　that　he　cries　no　tears　of　relief　at　seeing　me。
　Sylvarresta　let　King　Orden　hug　him　until　he　could　no　longer　withstand　the　power　in　the　King's　arms；　then　tried　to　pull　away。　Only　then　did　King　Orden　grasp　Sylvarresta's　biceps；　feel　the　lack　of　muscle　there。
　〃He's　lost　his　own　endowments？〃　Gaborn's　father　asked。
　Iome　nodded。
　Gaborn　added　angrily；　〃They　both　have。　Borenson　was　at　Castle　Sylvarresta　yesterday。　He　stayed　behind　when　we　left。　You　sent　him　to　kill　them；　didn't　you？〃
　Gaborn　watched　his　father's　eyes　as　he　considered　the　accusation。　Gaborn　had　foolishly　believedwhen　Borenson　had　said　that　he　was　under　orders　to　kill　Raj　Ahten's　Dedicatesthat　he　spoke　only　in　general　terms。　He　hadn't　imagined　that　one　man　alone　would　be　sent　to　kill　those　in　the　Dedicates'　Keep　at　Castle　Sylvarresta。
　Now　his　father's　expression　confirmed　it。　His　father　glanced　down；　but　recovered　quickly；　looking　sorrowful　instead　of　guilt…ridden。　Gaborn　gave　his　father　time　to　consider　the　implications。　All　the　Dedicates　in　Sylvarresta's　keep　had　died。　Even　if　Iome　and　the　King　had　bee　vectors　for　Raj　Ahten；　now　they　gave　him　almost　nothing；　only　their　own　endowments。
　〃So；〃　Gaborn's　father　asked；　〃did　Raj　Ahten　leave　all　his　Dedicates　behind　when　he　fled　Castle　Sylvarresta？〃
　〃Almost。　He　took　his　vectors〃　Gaborn　answered。　His　father　raised　a　brow。　〃But　I　managed　to　get　Iome　and　King　Sylvarresta　out。〃
　King　Orden　titled　his　head；　considering。　He　must　have　recognized　the　struggle　Gaborn　had　gone　through。　〃Iwonder。。。〃　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃。。。why　Borenson　would　let　these　two　go。　I　ordered　him　to　do　otherwise。〃
　〃I　countermanded　your　order；〃　Gaborn　said。
　His　father's　reaction　was　so　swift；　Gaborn　had　no　time　to　react。　His　father　lashed　out　and　slapped　Gaborn's　face　so　hard　that　when　spittle　and　blood　flew　from　his　mouth；　Gaborn　thought　it　was　a　tooth。
　〃How　dare　you！〃　King　Orden　said。　〃You　may　disagree　with　me；　and　belittle　me；　and　even　second…guess　me。　But　how　dare　you　fight　me！〃
　Rage　burned　in　Orden's　eyes。
　Then　his　mouth　opened　in　a　little　O　of　grief　at　what　he'd　done。　He　turned　away　and　walked　to　an　archery　slot；　stood　with　both　hands　on　the　stones　of　the　casement；　gazing　outside。
　〃Iome　and　her　father　were　under　my　protection；　bound　by　oath；〃　Gaborn　said　hastily；　realizing　that　he'd　just　broken　his　promise　to　Borenson。　He'd　told　Borenson　that　he'd　not　let　his　father　know　that　they'd　met。　Yet；　at　the　moment；　Gaborn　felt　so　betrayed　he　did　not　much　care　if　he　broke　his　word。　〃I'd　have　fought　him　for　them。　I　told　him　that　I　would　take　the　matter　up　with　you。〃　He　hoped　these　final　words　might　appease　his　father。
　Through　a　window；　Gaborn　could　hear　men　cheer。　More　troops　were　ing　into　the　castle；　gathering　for　battle。
　〃Your　actions　are　akin　to　treason；〃　King　Orden　muttered；　back　still　turned。　〃They　run　against　everything　I've　ever　taught　you。〃
　〃Yet　they　followed　precisely　the　desires　of　your　own　heart；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃You　ordered　your　friends'　deaths　with　your　lips；　but　could　not　consent　to　it　in　your　heart。〃
　〃How　can　you　think　to　know　my　heart？〃　Orden　said　distantly。
　〃I。。。just　do；〃　Gaborn　said。
　King　Orden　nodded　thoughtfully；　then　turned　and　gazed　at　Gaborn　a　long　moment；　at　war　with　himself。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　tried　to　sound　casual。　〃Then　I；　too；　rescind　the　order。　Thank　you；　Gaborn；　for　bringing　my　friend　back。。。〃
　Gaborn　sighed　in　relief。
　King　Sylvarresta　had　wandered　over　to　the　breakfast　table。　He　began　eating　from　plates；　pulling　off　huge　chunks　of　ham　with　both　fists。　Gaborn's　father　whispered；　〃But　I　fear　he　is　lost　to　me　still。〃
　〃Until　Raj　Ahten　is　dead；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃Then　you　will　win　back　your　friend；　and　I　will　win　my　wife。〃
　Gaborn　did　not　want　to　bear　this　news　now；　but　he　felt　it　was　important；　and　he　wanted　his　father　to　hear　it　from　him；　rather　than　hear　it　later　from　a　stranger。　He　fully　expected　another　blow。　〃Father；　I　told　you　that　I　took　an　oath　to　protect　Iome。　I　am　bound　to　her；　as　one　Oath…Bound　Lord　to　another。〃
　Gaborn's　father　looked　off　toward　the　hearth。　His　jaw　clenched。　He　seemed　dismayed　by　the　news；　but　his　voice　cracked　only　the　tiniest　bit　as　he　said；　〃Ah；　I　see。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time；　I　suppose。〃
　〃You　are　not　disappointed？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃Disappointed；　yes；〃　Orden　said；　〃but　not　surprised。　Though　I　cannot　help　but　say　that　you　picked　the　worst　possible　time　to　have　this　attack　of　conscience。〃
　〃But　you　are　not　angry？〃
　His　father　suppressed　a　chuckle。　〃Angry？　Hardly。　Dismayed；　perhaps。　Saddened。　But　how　can　I　be　angry？　My　only　friend　is　an　Oath…Bound　Lord。〃
　He　stood　a　moment　in　thought；　nodding　his　head。　〃But　still。。。I　feel　that　I've　lost　you。〃
　〃Once　we've　beaten　Raj　Ahten；　you　will　see　that　we've　lost　nothing；〃　Gaborn　said。
　〃You　make　it　sound　easy。〃
　〃With　forty　thousand　forcibles；　it　should　be。〃
　〃Ah；　so　Borenson　told　you　about　those？　Well；　we　have　the　forcibles；　now　we're　only　forty　thousand　people　shy　of　the　Dedicates　necessary　to　make　them　worthwhile。〃
　〃You　mean　you　haven't　begun　putting　them　to　use？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃I　have　them　hidden　still；　in　the　place　where　the　Duchess　hid　them；〃　Orden　said。　〃I've　used　only　a　handful。〃
　Gaborn　gasped；　felt　his　chest　constricting。　Without　Dedicates　there　was　only　one　way　his　father　could　hope　to　beat　Raj　Ahten。　〃A　serpent？　You've　created　a　serpent？　How　large？〃
　〃A　serpent　ring；〃　he　answered　easily；　trying　to　soothe　Gaborn。　〃Twenty…two　men；　most　with　at　least　two　endowments　of　metabolism。　Most　of　the　same　men　you　just　saw　here；　leaving　this　room。〃
　A　moment　before；　King　Orden　had　said　he　felt　he'd　lost　his　son。　It　seemed　an　overreaction　to　Gaborn's　announcement。　Now　Gaborn　saw　that　in　all　likelihood　his　father　was　right。　One　way　or　another；　they　were　lost　to　each　other。　In　time；　the　serpent　ring　would　be　broken；　and　only　then　would　Gaborn　learn　how　great　a　sacrifice　his　father　had　made　this　day。
　Yet　his　father's　announcement　explained　why　he　did　not　grow　angry　when　Gaborn　told　him　of　his　oath。　His　father　was　withdrawing；　pulling　away　from　Gaborn。
　King　Orden　licked　his　lips。　〃I　plan　to　kill　Raj　Ahten　for　you；　today；　myself。　A　wedding　present；　let's　call　it。　I'll　make　his　head　a　wedding　present　for　you；　Gaborn。　And　my　friend　will　have　his　wits　back。〃
　〃How？　How　many　troops　do　you　have？〃　Gaborn　asked。
　〃Six　thousand；　more　or　less；〃　Orden　answered。　He　went　to　the　window；　looked　out；　spoke　thoughtfully。　〃We　had　riders　from　Groverman　this　morning。　He　refused　us　aid。　Instead　he's　fortifying　his　own　keep。　Only　a　few　men　have　e　from　him；　some　Knights　Equitable　who　couldn't　support　him　in　his　cowardice。
　〃It's　too　badwe'd　had　high　hopes。　Groverman　is　a　fine　man；　a　sensible　man；　really。　He's　doing　what　I'd　do；　fortify　my　keep。〃
　Gaborn　smiled。　〃Your　keep　is　in　Mystarria；　twelve　hundred　miles　from　here。　You　would　not　turn　your　back　on　a　friend。〃
　King　Orden　gave　Gaborn　a　sidelong　look。　〃I　want　you　to　take　Io