df.therunelords-第29章
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r six times as fast as a mon man。 Living at such speed； he'd age and die in a matter of years。 But before then； he might well conquer the world。
〃Here now；〃 he called； sounding reasonable。 〃We'll have no more of that。〃 Then with great force； with a sound of gentleness that slid past all of Iome's defenses； Raj Ahten manded； 〃Throw down your weapons and your armor。 Give yourselves to me。〃
Iome leapt to her feet； found herself grasping for her poniard； ready to toss it over the walls。 Only Gaborn's hand； which reached to stop her； kept her from dropping the weapon over the wall。
Immediately she regretted it； saw how foolish it had been； and she glanced at her father； afraid at how angry he might be。 She saw him struggling； struggling； to keep from tossing his own warhammer over the tower wall。
For half a heartbeat she stood； terrified of how her people might respond to Raj Ahten's voice and glamour； fearing that those closer to the monster would be fooled。
With a shout； as if in celebration； her people began tossing bows and weapons over castle walls。 Swords and fouchards clattered on the stones beside the moat； along with helms and shields。 The ballistas on the south wall crashed to the water； raising a plume of spray。 From here； the sound of her people cheering was almost deafening； as if Raj Ahten had e as their savior； not their destroyer； and in that moment； the city gates opened wide。
Several of House Sylvarresta's most loyal soldiers began to struggle； hoping to close the gates。 Captain Derrow swung his steel bow as a weapon； fending off townsmen。 A few warriors with great heart but lesser gifts never made it from their posts at the walls。 As soon as they shouted in defiance； those standing nearby grabbed them。 Brawls broke out。 Iome saw several of the city guards get tossed over the walls to their deaths。
From here； Iome could not see the beauty of Raj Ahten's face。 From here； surely the wind diminished the sweetness of his voice。
From here on the castle wall； even though Iome could prehend how her city was lost； she could not quite believe what she saw with her own eyes。
She was stunned。 She found herself shaken more than she could have imagined。
The drawbridge came down。 The portcullis lifted。 The inner gate opened。
Without one enemy loss； Castle Sylvarresta fell。
Amid cheers； Raj Ahten rode into the inner court； just inside the great wall； while Iome's people tossed aside the carts and barrels that littered the area； and chickens flew up out of the Wolf Lord's path。
How could I have been so blind？ Iome wondered。 How could I have not seen the danger？
Only moments before； Iome had hoped that her father and King Orden would be able to withstand Raj Ahten。
How simpleminded I am。
From beside her； Iome's father shouted； calling across the distance； calling for his men to surrender。 He did not want to watch them die。
The stiff evening wind carried away his words。
In shock； Iome glanced at her father's face； saw him pale and shaken； beaten； beaten； and utterly hopeless。
My father's voice is as dry and insubstantial as ash blowing in the wind； Iome thought。 He is nothing before Raj Ahten。 We are all nothing。 She'd never imagined this。
Raj Ahten leaned forward in his saddle； moving ever so lightly。 From so far away； his face was no larger in her field of vision than a sparkling bit of quartz sand glittering on a beach； she imagined him beautiful。 He seemed young。 He seemed fair。 He wore his armor more lightly than another man might wear his clothes； and Iome watched him in wonder。 It was rumored that he had endowments of brawn from thousands of men。 If not for fear of breaking his bones； he could leap the walls； slice through an armored man as if slicing through a peach。
In battle he would be nearly invincible。 With his endowments of witdrained from hundreds of sages and generalsno swordsman could take him by surprise。 His endowments of metabolism would let him move through the courtyard； dodging between startled guards； an unstoppable blur。 With enough endowments of stamina； he could withstand almost any blow in battle。
For all intents and purposes； Raj Ahten was no longer even a human。 He'd bee a force of nature。
One intent on subduing the world。
He needed no army to back him； no force elephants or shaggy Frowth giants to batter down the palace gates。 No nomen to scale the walls。 No flameweavers to set the city's roofs aflame。
They were all minor terrors； distractions。 Like the ticks that infested a giant's fur。
〃We can't fight；〃 her father whispered。 〃Sweet mercy； we can't fight。〃
Beside her； Gaborn's breath came ragged； and he moved so close that Iome could feel the warmth of him beside her face。
Iome felt disconnected from her body as she simply watched the events unfold below。 People were running to the courtyard； trying to press close to the new lord； their Lord； who would destroy them all。
Iome feared Raj Ahten as she feared death； yet she also found that she weled him。 The power of his Voice made her wele him。
Prince Gaborn Val Orden said softly； 〃Your people don't have the will to resist。 My regrets to House Sylvarrestato your father； and to youfor the loss of your kingdom。〃
Thank you；〃 Iome said； her voice weak； far away。
Gaborn turned to King Sylvarresta。 〃My lord； is there anything I can…〃 Gaborn was looking at Iome。 Perhaps he hoped to take her from here； to take her away。
Iome's father turned to the Prince； still in shock。 〃Do？ You are but a boy？ What could you possibly do？〃
Iome's mind raced。 She wondered if Gaborn could help her escape。 But； no； she couldn't imagine it。 Raj Ahten would know she was in the castle。 The royals were marked。 If Gaborn tried to free her； Raj Ahten would hunt them down。 The most Gaborn might acplish would be to save himself。 Raj Ahten did not know that Prince Orden was on the grounds。
Apparently； King Sylvarresta reached the same conclusion。 〃If you can make it from the castle； give my regards to your father。 Tell him I regret that we won't hunt together again。 Perhaps he can avenge my people。〃
Her father reached under his breastplate； pulled out a leather pouch that held a small book。 〃One of my men was murdered while trying to bring this to me。 It contains writings from the Emir of Tuulistan。 Much of the end of it is only philosophical ramblings and poetrybut it contains some accounts of Raj Ahten's battles。
〃I believe the Emir wanted me to learn something from it； but I have yet to figure out what。 Will you see that it gets to your father？〃
Gaborn took the leather pouch； pocketed it。
〃Now； Prince Orden； you had better leave； before Raj Ahten learns you're here。 Considering the present state of my loyal subjects； it won't be long till he finds out。〃
〃Then with regrets； I take my leave。〃 Gaborn bowed to the King。
To Iome's surprise； Gaborn stepped forward； kissed her cheek。 She was astonished to find how hard her heart beat in response to his touch。 Gaborn stared keenly at her； whispered in a fierce tone； 〃Keep heart。 Raj Ahten uses people。 He does not destroy them。 I am your protector。 I will return for you。〃
He turned smartly and hurried to the stairs； running so softly she did not hear his feet scuff the stone。 If not for the racing of her heart and the warmth on her cheek where he'd kissed her； she almost would have thought she'd imagined him。
Captain Ault stepped in behind Gaborn and followed him down into the bailey。
How will he escape； she wondered； with Raj Ahten's guards watching the city？
She glanced down at his retreating back； at his blue cloak flapping； as Gaborn made his way through the throng of the blind； the deaf； the idiots and other crippled Dedicates of House Sylvarresta。 He was not tall。 Perhaps a young man could escape the castle without regard。
How odd； she considered； her thoughts still disjointed； to think I love him。 She almost dared hope that they really might wed。
But of course； Prince Orden had to save himself； and she had nothing to offer him。 Dully； she realized that this day could not have turned out any other way。
Perhaps we are both more pragmatic than we want to believe； she wondered。
〃Goodbye； my lord；〃 she whis
