df.therunelords-第108节
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When the defenders of Longmont were disarmed； their armor taken； fewer than four hundred men remained。 To Raj Ahten's pleasure； the others had all died； either in battle or from his shout。
On the castle walls； the salamanders stood a moment； gazing longingly at the prisoners。 But with the battle won and no more prey to be had； they began to waver； until their fiery forms became a mere shimmering heat； and were gone back to the netherworld from whence they had been drawn。
For a long moment； Raj Ahten merely stood； surveying the scene； tasting his victory。
He addressed the survivors simply。 〃I need information。 To the man who supplies an answer first； I'll grant life。 The rest of you shall die。 Here is my question： Where are my forcibles？〃
To their credit； most of the knights refused to answer。 Some shouted curses； but half a dozen shouted variations of 〃Gone！ Orden sent them away！〃
Six men tried to purchase their lives。 Some had blood trickling from ears。 Some wept。 Some were young men who had never faced danger。 Others were family men； perhaps； who worried for the welfare of wives and children。 Raj Ahten recognized a captain who had been made a Dedicate just days before； but he did not know the captain's name。 One silver…haired old fellow； Raj Ahten imagined； was just a coward。
Raj Ahten called them forward； led them to the drawbridge while his Invincibles moved in for the slaughter。
〃You six men；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃One of you has saved your life； but I do not know yet who among you shall live。 Perhaps one shall live； perhaps all。。。〃 He knew full well who had spoken firstthe old coward。 But he dared not admit it。 He needed them all to answer； needed to learn if his source spoke truthfully。 〃So； I must ask you another question。 Where did he send my forcibles？〃
〃We don't know。 His guards rode off without telling；〃 the men answered in unison。
Two men had been slow to answer。 Raj Ahten lunged forward with his saber； cut them down； perhaps with too much enthusiasm。 He'd feared that the forcibles would be gone； that this attack had been a waste of his time。
〃The odds narrow；〃 he whispered viciously。 The four remaining men watched in terror。 Beads of sweat formed on their brows。 〃Tell me； when did the forcibles leave？〃
Two more men hesitated。 The captain said； 〃Just after Orden's men arrived。〃
A fourth man nodded silent agreement； eyes blazing； being suddenly disheartened。 The older fellow； the coward。 He'd been too late to speak； he knew。
Raj Ahten slaughtered two more men； left only the last two soldiers。 The captain still wore the colors of Longmont。 Perhaps the man would make a valuable spy。 The older coward was dressed in pigskins； a gamy fellow of the woods。 Raj Ahten suspected that he did not really know his answers firsthand； and so was forced to merely concur。
〃Where is Gaborn Orden？〃 Raj Ahten asked。 The man in pigskins had no answer。 Raj Ahten could see it in his face。
〃He rode into the castle at dawn； then rode out again just after；〃 the captain of Longmont answered。
From the castle； the last agonized cries of dying prisoners sounded； the grunting and screams。 The old man in pigskins cringed； knowing he would be next； while the captain sweated heavily； panting。
The captain had that inward gaze that men of conscience get when doing evil。 Raj Ahten did not trust him to answer another question honestly。 You could only push a man so far。
Raj Ahten stepped forward； slashed the old fellow who wore pigskins in half。
He considered killing the captain of Longmont。 He had not wanted to leave any witness to tell the secret of his magic powders； or to reveal his battle tactics。 It would be a small matter to gut the fellow。
Yet the captain might serve a greater purpose。 By telling how Raj Ahten had destroyed the walls of Longmont with a mere battle cry； this lone survivor would spread fear across the kingdoms of the North。
All the Northern castles； all the proud fortresses that had stood for thousands of years as men battled the Toth and the nomen and each otherall were useless now。 Death traps。
The men of the North should know。 They should be prepared to surrender。
〃I'm most grateful；〃 Raj Ahten told the captain。 〃You've won your life。 You served as my Dedicate once。 Now you shall serve me again。 I want you to tell others what happened here。 When men ask how you survived the battle； tell them： Raj Ahten left me to testify of his power。〃
The soldier nodded weakly。 His legs shook。 The captain wouldn't be able to stand much longer。 Raj Ahten put a hand on his shoulder； and asked casually； 〃Do you have a family； children？〃
The man nodded； burst into tears； and turned away。
〃What is your name？〃
〃Cedrick Tempest；〃 the young man cried。
Raj Ahten smiled。 〃How many children； Cedrick？〃
〃Three。。。girls and a boy。〃
Raj Ahten nodded appreciatively。 〃You think yourself a coward； Cedrick Tempest。 You think yourself disloyal。 But today； you were loyal to your children； yes？ 'Children are gems； and he who has many is rich indeed。' You will live for them？〃
Cedrick nodded vigorously。
〃There are many kinds of heroes； many forms of loyalty；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃Do not regret your decision。〃
He turned to walk back to his pavilion on the hill； stopped to clean the gore from the blade of his scimitar on a dead man's cape。 He considered his next move。 His forcibles were goneto Mystarria； perhaps； or any of a hundred keeps。 His reinforcements were late。 An army was marching on him。
Yet he had a new weapon； one that might yet win the day； beyond all hope or expectation。
The men closest to Raj Ahten had taken great damage from his cry； as did men with but a few endowments of stamina。 Raj Ahten dared not use his weapon too near his own men。 Which meant that if he sought to kill Gaborn by the power of his Voice； he'd have to stand alone。
A few small flakes of snow began to fall from the leaden skies； swirling at his feet。 He had not noticed how cold it had bee。
He studied the damage to Castle Longmont from outside。 Cracks had broken the walls； splitting the stone in numerous places。 Massive walls of black stone nearly a hundred feet tall still loomed above him。 The foundation stones were thirty feet thick； fourteen feet wide； twelve feet tall。 Each stone weighed thousands of tons。 This fortress had stood for centuries； indomitable。 He'd seen the wards of earth…binding on its gates。
His flameweavers' most powerful spells could hardly pierce the walls。 His catapults hadn't chipped them。 Yet his voice had rent some of the massive foundation stones。
Even Raj Ahten marveled。 It was not clear yet what he was being。 He'd taken Castle Sylvarresta with nothing more than the power of his glamour。 Now he found that his Voice was being a potent； dazzling weapon。
In his realms to the south； Dedicates died from moment to moment； while new ones were recruited。 The configuration of his attributes was always in flux。 But of one thing he felt certain： More endowments were being added than were lost。 He was being added upon。 Being the Sum of All Men。
Perhaps now was the time to face this young foolthe Earth King and his armies。 Raj Ahten glowered。
He turned and gave a great roar； threw his voice against the near wall。 〃I am mightier than the earth！〃
Longmont crackedthe whole southern wall shuddered。 Cedrick Tempest fell； too； running from the gate； clutching his helm； curling in on himself when he could run no more。
To Raj Ahten's dismay； the upper half of the Duke's Keep crumbled to the left。 Some of his men screamed within the castle as the building collapsed on them。 It was as if the wards of earth power that bound the castle crumbled； leaving the keep in ruin。
At the same time； on the hill behind him； Raj Ahten heard a branch crack。
He turned； glimpsed the great oak by his pavilion。 The trunk of the great oak snapped。。。and half of the tree crashed through the roof of his Dedicates' wagon。
In that moment； Raj Ahten felt a dozen small deaths； the dizzying breathlessness that acpanied the loss of virtue。
The world slowed terrifyingly。 For long years； Raj Ahten had brought his wagon with him。 In it he bore Dervin Feyl； a man who had bequeathed Raj Ahten an endowment of metabolism many years back； had bee a vector。
Dervin had just died； along with the Dedicate who vectored glamour to Raj Ahten； and several other minor men。
Raj Ahten marveled at his sudden sluggishness。 Did my Voice smite the tree； or does Earth seek to punish me？ he wondered。
Did the earth strike at me？ He had no way to answer the question。 Yet it mattered a great deal。 The wizard Binnesman had cursed him； seemingly with no effect。 Had the wizard's curse weakened that tree？
Or had his own Voice been his downfall？
Such a small blow。 Yet so profoundly effective。
Raj Ahten wondered； but at that moment； it no longer mattered。 Raj Ahten； despite his victory at Longmont； stood defeated。 Though he had the wit and grace and brawn of thousands； without his speed he'd bee a 〃warrior of unfortunate proportion。〃 Even a mon soldier； some boy without endowments； might be able to slaughter him。
If Gaborn came against him with the speed of even five men and endowments of stamina from
