df.therunelords-第39章
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He wants you to believe that。 It is only a trick； a practiced use of Voice。 He loves only the power his people give。 Yet she found it difficult to cling to her skepticism。
〃Let us go to your throne room；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃You've given me no choice in the matter but to e settle our differences。 It grieves me that we must discuss。。。terms of surrender。〃
King Sylvarresta nodded； kept his head bent。 Perspiration dotted his brow。 Iome's breathing came easier。 They would talk。 Only talk。 She dared hope for leniency。
With a glance from Raj Ahten； his guards rode into the Dedicates' Keep； leading his horse into the courtyard； while Raj Ahten headed down the road toward the King's Keep。
Iome followed behind her father； numb。 Her slippered feet did not like the rough paving stones。 Chemoise stayed behind； following the wagon into the bailey of the Dedicates' Keep； holding her father's hand； whispering words of reassurance to Eremon Vottania Solette。
Iome； her father； and the three Days all followed Raj Ahten through the walled market； the richest street of Heredon； past the fine shops where silver and gems； china and fine cloth were sold； down to the King's Tower。
The lanterns in the tower had already been lit。 It was； Iome had to admit； an ugly tower。 A huge square block； six stories tall； with nothing in the way of adornment but the granite statues of past kings that circled its base。 The statues themselves were enormous things； each sixteen feet tall。 Along the gutters atop the tower were carved minstrels and dancing gargoyles； but the figures were so small that one could not see them well from the ground。
Iome wanted to run； to dart into an alley and try to hide behind one of the cows that had bedded there for the night。 Her heart hammered so badly。
When she crossed the threshold into the King's Keep； she nearly fainted。 Her father held her hand； helped her keep standing。 Iome wanted to vomit； but found herself following her father up the broad staircases； five stories； until they reached the King's chambers。
Raj Ahten led them through the audience room； into the huge throne room。 The King's and Queen's thrones were made of lacquered wood； with cushions covered in scarlet silk。 Gold filigree adorned the leaves carved into the thrones' arms and feet； and adorned the headboards。 They were unimposing ornaments。 Sylvarresta had better thrones stored in the attic； out the room itself was enormous； with two sets of full…length oriel windows that looked north； south； and west over the kingdom。 Two lanterns burned at each side of the throne； and a small fire danced in the huge hearth。 The Wolf Lord took a seat on the King's throne； seeming fortable in his armor。
He nodded at King Sylvarresta。 〃I trust my cousin Venetta is well？ Go and fetch her。 Take a moment to freshen up。 We will hold audience when you are more fortable。〃 He waved at Sylvarresta's armor； an order for him to remove it。
King Sylvarresta nodded； not a sign of acknowledgment； more a bending of the neck in submission； then went to the royal apartments。 Iome was so frightened； she followed him rather than go to her own room。
Neither the King's Days nor Iome's followed。 The Days chronicled every public movement of their lords； but even they did not dare defile the sanctity of the Runelords' bedchamber。
Instead； Raj Ahten's Days held a convocation with the Days of the royal family in an ancient alcove outside the bedchamber； where guards and servants often waited for their lord。 There； the Days stood speaking briefly in code。 It was often thus when Days from opposing kingdoms met。 Iome understood none of their code； and simply closed the bedroom door on their chatter。
In the King's bedchamber； Queen Venetta Sylvarresta sat in a chair； dressed in her finest robes and regalia； staring out the windows to the south。 Her back was to the door。 She'd been painting her nails with a clear lacquer。
She was vain； with ten endowments of glamourmuch more beautiful than Iome。 Venetta had black hair and an olive plexion； like Raj Ahten'sboth darker than Iome's。 The diadems in Venetta's crown could not match the casual loveliness of her face。 Her scepter lay across her lap； a gold column with pearls embedded in a ball at one end。
〃So；〃 she sighed without turning； 〃you've lost our kingdom。〃 She sounded more hurt than Iome had ever heard her。
Iome's father pulled off his armored gauntlets； tossed them on the huge； four…poster bed。
〃I told you you'd lose it；〃 Queen Sylvarresta said。 〃You were too soft to hold it。 It was only a matter of time。〃 More painful words； unlike anything Iome had ever heard her mother say before。 Unlike； Iome felt sure； anything she'd ever said。
King Sylvarresta unstrapped his helm； threw it next to the gauntlets； then worried at the pins on his vambraces。 〃I'll not regret what I've done；〃 he said。 〃Our people grew up in relative peace。〃
〃Without allies； without a strong king to protect them；〃 Iome's mother said。 〃How much peace could you have really given them？〃
The bitterness in the words stunned Iome。 Her mother had always seemed calm； austere； a quiet support to her husband。
〃We gave them the best I could；〃 her father answered。
〃And they love us little enough in return。 If you were more of a lord； they would rise up in your defense。 Your people would fight beside you； beyond all hope。〃
Iome helped her father remove his pauldrons； then the rebrace from his upper arms。 Within a moment； he had his breastplate on the bed。 Only then did Iome notice how her father was laying out the armor； like a man of steel； lying facedown； suffocating in the deep feather mattress。
Venetta was right。 King Sylvarresta never got the respect； the admiration he deserved。 An Oath…Bound Runelord should have drawn followers； should have had the respect of his people。
Instead； those people who gave endowments went to foreign kings； like King Orden； where they could sell their attributes at a higher price。
A king like Sylvarresta seldom got the support he needed； unless a Wolf Lord like Raj Ahten came along。 Only when confronted with a usurper who won his endowments through blackmail would good people flock to the banner of a king like Sylvarresta。
Of course； that is why Raj Ahten attacks here first； Iome realized； when he could have laid waste other kingdoms closer by。
〃Did you hear me； milord？〃 Venetta said。 〃I'm belittling you。〃
〃I hear you；〃 Lord Sylvarresta said； 〃and I love you still。〃
Iome's mother turned then； her face full of tears of love； her mouth tight in pain。 She looked to be a young woman。 Just as a faithful dog in great pain will snap at the master who tries to save it； Iome's mother had snapped at her father； and now Iome saw the regret there。
〃I love you； forever；〃 Venetta said。 〃You're a thousand times more the king than my wicked cousin could ever be。〃
King Sylvarresta pulled off his chain； stood in his leather jerkin。 He glanced pointedly at Iome； and she left the room； gave her parents their privacy。
She dared not go out through the hall； into the throne room。 Not with Raj Ahten there。 So she waited in the alcove outside her father's door； and listened to the Days talk excitedly。 In ancient times； guards and servants would have been stationed here during the night； but King Sylvarresta had never wanted either。 Still； the small room with its benches was large enough to hold Iome and the Days。
Several long minutes later； Iome's mother and father exited their room。 Her mother was still in her regalia； her father wore a lordly robe and a determined expression。
As her mother passed； she said to Iome； 〃Remember who you are。〃 Her mother intended to play the role of queen to the very end。
Iome followed them； back into the audience chamber。 To her surprise； two of the Raj Ahten's Invincibles had joined him。 They stood to either side of the throne。 The three of them made an imposing sight。
King Sylvarresta came forward； to the end of the crimson carpet before the throne。 He knelt on one knee； bowed his head。 〃Jas Laren Sylvarresta； at your service； Lord。 And I present my wife； your dear cousin Venetta Moshan Sylvarresta； as requested。〃
Queen Sylvarresta watched her husband bow；
