df.therunelords-第97章
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〃Then you know how difficult it is；〃 Orden said； 〃to sleep at nights afterward。 You know how it is to look another man in the eye as you seize his very existence。 Guilt。 Guilt is the price we pay for leading our people。
〃I killed my first man when I was twelve；〃 Orden added。 〃Some mad farmer who tried to cudgel me。 I've killed some twenty men in battle since。
〃My wife。。。grew distant over the affair； cold and unresponsive。 You would think they'd love you better for it； but the women imagine that a little blood on your hands makes you grow more callous and cruel。 It stains the soul； so。 Of course； I am no Raj Ahten。。。Who knows how many men he has personally killed。 Two thousand； ten？〃
〃Yes； the guilt。。。〃 the Earl mused。 〃Nasty business； that。〃
Orden could see the slow wheels of the Earl's mind begin to creep； as he wakened the man's fears。 Orden was not at all concerned with guilt。 He needed only to remind this fool how many men had died at Raj Ahten's hands。 〃It does stain a man's soul。〃 Now the Earl had a way out of battle。 He could flee it in the name of righteousness； rather than fear。
〃Very well； they are your forcibles；〃 the Earl said。 〃Perhaps you should be the serpent's head。〃
〃Thank you； milord；〃 King Orden said。 〃I will try to serve with honor。〃
〃But I will be next in line。〃
〃Actually；〃 King Orden said； 〃I hoped to reserve that spot for another； the captain of my guard。 A very formidable fighter。〃
〃Ah； aha！〃 Dreis said。 Now that he was considering it； he did not seem at all certain he wanted to fight this battle。 〃Well； perhaps that would be best。〃
〃But we can reserve the spot after him for you； milord；〃 Orden said。 He knew that he did not have to reserve a place of honor for this ninpoop。 Once Dreis gave his endowment to the captain； Orden would be free to put the Duke anywhere in the serpent。 Someplace close to the middle would be nice。
〃Very well； then；〃 Dreis said in a tone of dismissal。 Then he made it clear to his servants that he was not to be disturbed before dawn； for he would need his sleep。
So King Orden went back to the battlements and fretted and watched for signs of aid； signs of trouble。 He put his far…seers； men with many endowments of sight； on the highest pinnacle of the graak's aerie； then sent scouts out to keep watch on the hills and roads both east and west for sign of Raj Ahten's occupying army。
But they caught no wind of it。
Instead； hour by hour； all through the night； men came riding in to give aidthree hundred more farmers from the area around Castle Dreis； all with longbows； they had no armor； but wore woolen vests that might keep out a poorly sent shaft。 Borenson's regiment came racing in near dawneighty warriors who bore many wounds from yesterday's battle。
They told how Raj Ahten's troops never showed for the ambush at Boar's Ford。 Said they'd heard no word of Gaborn。
From the west came a regiment of two hundred lancers on force horses from out of Castle Jonnick； men who'd ridden when they heard Castle Sylvarresta had fallen； then had neared it only to hear that a battle would be fought at Longmont。
From the east； Knights Equitable trickled in from freeholds； a dozen here； fifty there。 Mostly they were older men who had nothing to lose； or young men still naive enough to believe that war is glorious。 All of these added to the fifteen hundred knights and archers that the Earl of Dreis had brought in； and the two thousand from Groverman。
Then there were the farmers' sons and the merchants out of towns that bordered the woods。 Boys with grim faces； some armed with nothing but an axe or a scythe。 Young men from the cities who were dressed in finery； who bore light swords that had too much gold in the baskets of their ornate hilts。
Orden did not relish the arrival of such moners； hardly counted them as defenders。 Yet he dared not deny them the right to fight。 This was their land to protect； not his。
As each little troop rode between the twin fires burning along the road before the castle gates； men on the walls would shout in triumph and blow their horns； calling 〃Hail Sir Freeman！〃 or 〃Hail Brave Barrows！〃
Orden knew men's devices； could name most knights by glancing at their shields。 But one rider who came in near dawn both mystified and excited him。
Almost last to ride in that night was a huge fellow； big as a bear； riding a black； swaybacked donkey as fast as it would trot。 He bore no coat of arms； only a round shield with a huge spike in it； and he wore a squat helm from which a single cow's horn curled。 He had no mail but a thick coat of pig's hide； and his only weapon； beside the dagger on his belt； was a huge axe with an iron handle some six feet long； which rested across the pommel of his saddle。 With him rode fifty men as grungy as himselfmen with longbows and axes。 Outlaws。
The knights on Longmot's walls hesitated to name this warrior and his band； though they could not help but recognize him。 Shostag the Axeman。 For twenty years； Shostag and his outlaws had been a scourge to every Runelord along the Solace Mountains。
It was said that he was a Wolf Lord of the old school； that he'd taken many endowments from dogs。 As Shostag neared the castle gates； King Orden watched the downs behind him； saw the fleeting gray shadows of wolves race nervously through the starlight along the hedgerows； leaping stone fences。
Shostag stopped a hundred yards from the gates with his henchmen； among the last ruins of the burned city。 Even in the near…total darkness； the firelight showed his face to be dirty and unshaven； his every manner vile。 He spat in the ashes； looked up to the battlements； stared Orden in the eye。
Shostag asked； 〃I saw your signal fires。 I hear you want a Runelord dead。 Are we invited to this festivity？〃
Orden was not certain he trusted the man。 The Axemen might well turn on him； wreaking havoc within the castle's walls at the battle's climax。
〃I'd be honored to fight beside men of your。。。reputed skill；〃 King Orden answered。 He could not afford to turn down any aid； even from the Axeman。
Shostag cleared his throat； hawked on the ground。 〃If me and my boys kill this fellow for you； I'll want a pardon。〃
Orden nodded。
〃I'll want a title and lands； same as any other lord。〃
Orden considered。 He had an estate in the dark forests on the borders of Lonnock。 It was a gloomy swamp； infested with bandits and mosquitoes。 The estate had lain idle now for three years； waiting for the right man。 Shostag would either clear the bandits from the woods； or he'd let them join him。
〃I can promise an estate in Mystarria； if King Sylvarresta cannot do better。〃
〃I'll take it；〃 Shostag grunted； waved his men in。
Two hours before dawn； Orden still had seen no sign of Gaborn or Borenson； had heard no word。 Another messenger brought news that the Duke of Groverman would offer more aid from neighboring castles； but couldn't reach Longmont before dusk。
Of course； Raj Ahten will get here first； Orden realized。
Groverman did right by maintaining his own hold until he was sure it could be defended； regardless of the promise of treasure。
So it seemed that no more aid would e。 Though his scouts had not yet warned him of Raj Ahten's approach； Orden expected it within an hour or two。
The very fact that he hadn't yet received word of Gaborn worried King Orden。 Hour by hour； his hopes for his son's well…being dwindled； until he felt it vain to hope。 Surely Raj Ahten had captured him。
And the Wolf Lord would have either killed him or taken the boy's endowments。
So Orden took his forcibles； lined up his volunteers； and let the facilitator for the Earl of Dreis sing the ancient spells that made the forcibles glow； creating ribbons of light as man after man gave up metabolism。
Last of all； Orden gave his own endowment； pleting the serpent ring。 It was a desperate act。
With a heavy heart and fewer than six thousand men； Orden closed his gates at dawn and waited for the gathering conflict。 He'd left a few scouts outside the walls to bring advance word of any sighting of Raj Ahten's troops； but had no more hopes of reinforcements。
He gave one last speech； calling on the full powers of his Voice to cut ac
