df.therunelords-第74章
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n into a dire melancholy that made him sit beside the fire； stroking his beard with his fingers； wondering at his own plans。
How many times had he eaten at this inn on his trips to visit Sylvarresta？ How often had he feasted on the bounty of these woods？ How often had he thrilled to the baying of the hounds as they chased the great boars； taken joy in the toss of the javelin as he rode a pig down？
The innkeeper's hospitality； the fineness of the meal； somehow made King Orden feel。。。desolate。
Five years past； while Mendellas Orden hunted here； an assassin had broken into his keep； had slain his wife in her bed； with a newborn babe。 It had been only six months since two daughters died in a previous attack。 The murder of King Orden's wife and babe sparked outrage。 Yet the killer was never apprehended。 Trackers followed his trail； lost the assassin in the mountains south of Mystarria。 He could have been escaping southeast into Inkarra； or he could have headed southwest to Indhopal。
Orden had guessed Indhopal or Muyyatin。 But he could not have struck out blindly at his neighbors； without proof。
So he'd waited； and waited； for assassins to strike again； to e for him personally。
They never did。
Orden had lost a part of himself； he knew。 He'd lost his wife； the one love of his life。 He'd never remarried； planned never to remarry。 If one cannot replace a lost hand or a leg； how can one hope to replace half of himself？
For years now； he'd acutely felt the pain。 With so many endowments of wit； he could perfectly recall her tone of voice； her face。 In his dreams Corette yet walked and spoke with him。 Often when he woke on a cold winter's morning； he felt surprised to find that her soft flesh was not cupping him； trying to drink his warmth； the way she had when still alive。
He found it hard to describe the sense of loss he felt。 King Orden had once tried to express it to himself。
He did not feel that he had lost his future； that his life was at an end。
His son was his future。 King Orden would continue； go on without his wife； if the Powers so willed it。
Nor did he feel he had lost his past； for Orden could remember perfectly the taste of Corette's kisses on the night of their wedding； the way she cried in joy when she first suckled Gaborn。
No； it was the present he had lost。 The opportunity to be with his wife； to love her； to spend each waking moment in her pany。
Yet as King Orden sat in the Dwindell Inn； eating roast off a fine china platter； he became keenly aware that something new had been ripped from him。
His past was gone。 All of his good memories would soon bee unbearable。 King Sylvarresta was not dead yet； so far as Orden knew； but sometime this evening； Borenson would try to carry out his orders。 Orden would be forced to kill the man he most loved and admired。 It was a foul thing； a bitter seasoning to a fine meal。
Perhaps Stevedore Hark understood what he felt； for the innkeeper got a thin stew cooking for some of the men； then came to sit a few moments at Orden's feet； miserating。
〃We heard the news last night from Castle Sylvarresta；〃 he whispered。 〃Bad news。 The worst of my life。〃
〃Aye； the worst in several lifetimes；〃 Orden grunted； looking at the old innkeeper。 Stevedore had gotten a few more white hairs in his sideburns this year。 Indeed； his hair was more white now than grizzled。
It was said that each year； the Time Lords would ring a silver bell； and at the ringing of the bell； all who heard it would age a year。 For those whom the Time Lords disliked； a bell might be rung more than once； while those whom the Time Lords favored might not have such a bell rung in their presence at all。
The Time Lords had not favored Stevedore Hark this year。 His eyes looked puffy。 From lack of sleep？ No； the man would not have slept last night； after such tragic news。
〃Do you think you can dislodge the monster？〃 Stevedore asked。 〃He has you outnumbered。〃
〃I hope to dislodge him；〃 Mendellas said。
〃If you do； then you will be our king；〃 the innkeeper said flatly。
King Orden had not considered the possibility。 〃No； your royal family is intact。 If House Sylvarresta falls； the Countess of Arens is next in title。〃
〃Not likely。 People won't follow her。 She's married in Seward； too far away to rule。 If you win back Heredon； the people will want no one but you for their lord。〃
Orden's heart skipped at the thought。 He'd always loved the woods； the hills of Heredon。 He'd loved the clean； friendly people； the sparkling air。 〃I'll drive Raj Ahten out；〃 Orden said。 He knew it wouldn't be enough to drive Raj Ahten from this land。 He'd have to go further。 A Wolf Lord cannot be whipped like a pup。 He must be slaughtered； like a mad dog。
In his mind's eye； King Orden saw the war unfold before him； realized he'd have to prepare to head south； to strike Deyazz and Muyyatin and Indhopal e spring； from there sweep south into Khuram and Dharmad and the kingdoms beyond。
Until all Raj Ahten's Dedicates lay dead； and the Wolf Lord himself could be slain。
If he won this war； there would lands to plunder。 He cared nothing for most of the Southern kingdoms； but he would take one thing： the blood…metal mines of Kartish； south of Indhopal。
King Orden changed the conversation； talked with the innkeeper of days past； of hunts with Sylvarresta。 Orden joked； 〃If the day should e that I'm king of Heredon； I suppose I'll have to invite you on my next hunt。〃
〃Indeed； I fear it is the only way you will keep me from poaching； Your Highness；〃 Stevedore Hark laughed； then slapped the King on the back； a touch so familiar that no one in Mystarria would have dared anything similar。
But Orden imagined that Sylvarresta had been slapped on the back by friends many times。 He was that kind of man。 The kind who did not have to be cold and distant to be kingly。
〃It is agreed then； my friend；〃 Orden said。 〃You will e on my next hunt。〃 Orden changed the subject。 〃Now； tonight； Raj Ahten's army should e here and find that the bridge is out。 I ask a favor of you。 Remind them that Boar's Ford is shallow enough to cross。〃
〃Well； that's where they'd naturally go； isn't it？〃 Hark asked。
〃They're strangers to this land；〃 Orden said。 〃Their spies may only have marked bridges on their maps。〃
〃You have a surprise in mind？〃 Hark asked。 Orden nodded。 〃Then I'll tell them。〃
On that note the innkeeper went back to work。 Soon after； the rain let up； and King Orden took his leave of the inn； ready to set back out on the march。
He checked to make certain that the bridge at Hayworth was down； its huge beams and planks all safely stored； then let his men and horses finish their own brief meal。
His captains had purchased grain for the horses； and kegs of ale were opened for his troops。 Though his men lost an hour in their ride； they felt much invigorated afterward。
So they set out on the road； much renewed； racing all the faster for Longmont。
They proceeded through the Durkin Hills for the rest of the afternoon； marching near the mountains to reach Longmont before sunset。
Castle Longmont sat on a steep； narrow hill among some downs； and had a cheery little town to its south and west。 It was not huge； as castles go； but the walls rose incredibly high。 The machicolations atop the walls were sturdily wrought。 Archers could shoot through the machicolations or drop oil or stones on attackers from any part of the wall with little fear of reprisal。
The stonework on the walls was phenomenal。 Many stones weighed twelve to fourteen tons； yet the stones fit together so cleanly； a man was hard…pressed to find a fingerhold。
Many considered Longmont unscalable。 No one had ever achieved a successful escalade of the outer walls。 The castle had fallen once； five hundred years earlier； when sappers managed to dig beneath the west wall； so that it collapsed。
Other than that； the castle had never been taken。
So as the troops neared Longmont； King Orden found himself longing for its safety。 He felt unprepared for the scene of destruction before him。
The village at the base of the castle had been destroyedhundreds of homes； barns； and warehouses； all burned to their foundation stones。 Smoke curled up f
