df.therunelords-第25节
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ven if Gaborn takes this oath as an act of love for mankind； is it not sheer folly？ Does Gaborn love his honor more than the lives of his people？
〃I hate you for that〃 was all that Iome could answer。
At that instant； a heavy beating of drums rose from the valley floor。 The sun was dipping below the horizon。 Two Frowth giants at the wood's edge pounded on heavy copper drums； and a dozen dappled gray horses spurred out from the gloom under the trees。 Their riders all wore black chain mail beneath yellow surcoats； with the red wolves of Raj Ahten upon their chests。 The foremost rider carried a green triangular pennant on a long' spear； a request for a parlay。
The others in the guard all bore axes and shields the color of copperan honor guard； with the emblem of the sword beneath the star of Indhopal upon their shields。
That is； all bore the same uniform but oneUpon the last horse in the group； in his black chain armor； his high helm with white snow owl's wings sweeping wide； Lord Raj Ahten rode himself； shield on one arm； a horseman's long…handled warhammer in the other。
Where he rode； it was as if light shone from him； as if he were one star in a black and empty night； or one lowly signal boat with its pyres lit upon the water。
Iome could not take her eyes from him。 Even at this distance； his glamour struck her breathless。 She could not distinguish his featuresfor at such a distance； he was nothing more than a tiny stick figure。 Yet she had the impression of great beauty； even from here。 And she knew that to look upon his face would be dangerous。
Iome admired his helm； with its sweeping white wings。 In her bedroom she kept two ancient helms of the toth。 What a fine addition it would make to my collection； she thought； with Raj Ahten's skull smiling out at me。
Behind Raj Ahten's forces came a more mon brown mare； the Wolf Lord's Days； struggling to catch up。 Iome wondered what secrets he could tell。。。
Down by the gates； her father's soldiers began shouting at one another in warning： 〃Beware the face！ Beware the face！〃
She looked at her own men on the walls； saw many of them fumbling with their arms。 Captain Derrow； who had many endowments of strength； ran along the parapet with a steel great bow that no other man in the kingdom could draw； hoping to send a few darts into Raj Ahten。
As if in answer to her soldiers' warnings； a swirling cloud of golden light formed above Raj Ahten； a whirlwind of embers that descended； drawing the eyes of many to his features。
It was some flameweavers' trick； Iome realized。 Raj Ahten wanted her people to look at him。
Iome did not fear Raj Ahten's visage from so far away。 She doubted that from here his glamour could muddy her judgment。
Raj Ahten hurried toward the city gates。 His warriors' horses issued forth in formation； rippling over the fields like a gale； for these were no mon beasts。 They were force stallions。 Herd leaders； that like their masters were transformed by the Runelords' art。 The sight of them； shooting over the darkening fields like cormorants skimming the sea； filled Iome's heart with wonder。 She'd never seen such fine force horses gallop in unison。 She'd never seen anything so magnificent。
Prince Orden ran to the top of the stairs； shouted down into the Dedicates' Keep； 〃King Sylvarresta； you are needed。 Raj Ahten seeks a parlay。〃
Iome's father cursed； began pulling on his armor。 It clattered as he dressed。
Behind Raj Ahten； beside the deserted farms that dotted the edge of the woods； Raj Ahten's troops began to emerge from the gloom。 Five flame…weavers； so close to being one with the elements that they could no longer wear clothes； shone like blazing beacons； clad in twisting tongues of green fire。 The dry grasses at their feet burst aflame。
As warriors moved out of the shadowed woods； the light blazing from the flameweavers suddenly reflected on polished armor； glinted from swords。
Among the thousands of warriors who began to advance； stranger things than flameweavers could he seen。
The shaggy Frowth giants； twenty feet tall at the brow； lumbered forward clumsily in their chain mail； clutching huge ironbound staves。 They struggled to keep from crushing Raj Ahten's swordsmen in their advance。
War dogs kept pace with the giants； huge beasts； mastiffs with runes branded into them。
Bowmen by the score。
And at the edge of the forest； black shadows flickered。 Furred creatures with dark manes hissed and growled； loping forward in a crouched gait on clawed knuckles； each bearing an enormous spear。 〃Nomen！〃 someone shouted。 〃Nomen from beyond Inkarra！〃
Nomen to scale the walls； scampering up the stone like monkeys。 Nomen with their sharp teeth and red eyes。
Iome had never seen onealive。 Only once had she seen an ancient； shedding pelt。 They were the stuff of legend。
Nomen。 No wonder Raj Ahten's army traveled by day only through the woods； attacked only at night。
It was all show of course。 Raj Ahten appearing in his glory with all his entourage。 The power of his army was astonishing； his wealth enormous。
You see me？ he was saying。 You Northerners squat here in your barren kingdom； never knowing how impoverished you are。 Behold the Wolf Lord of the South。 Behold my wealth。
But Iome's people were ready for battle。 She saw boys and old men shifting on the castle walls； gripping the hafts of their spears tighter； reaching over to make sure that the arrows placed beside them lay just so。 Her people would put up a battle。 Perhaps a battle that would be sung about in years to e。
Just then； Iome's father finished dressing； grabbed his weapons； and came bounding up the steps of the tower behind her。 His Days； an elderly scholar with white hair； hobbled behind as fast as possible。
Iome was not prepared for the change in her father。 In the past few hours； he'd taken sixty endowments from his people； had grown much in power。 He leapt up six stairs at a time； even while bearing his arms； wearing full armor。 He moved like a panther。
When he reached the top of the tower； the Frowth giants quit drumming； and Raj Ahten's army halted。 The untrained nomen growled and hissed in the distance； as if eager to do battle。
Lord Raj Ahten himself gave a shout； reigning in his stallion； and such was the power of his callfor he bore endowments of Voice from hundreds and hundreds of peoplethat his words carried clearly even this high on the citadel； even blowing on the wind。 He sounded kindly and pleasant； belying the threat inherent in his deeds。
〃King Sylvarresta； people of Heredon；〃 Raj Ahten called； his voice as fair as the tinkling of a bell； as resonant as a woodwind。 〃Let us be friendsnot batants。 I bear you no malice。 Look at my army〃 He spread his arms wide。 〃You cannot defeat it。 Look at me。 I am not your enemy。 Surely you will not force me to squat here in the cold tonight； while you dine beside your hearths？ Throw open your gates。 I will be your lord； and you will be my people。〃
His voice sounded so pleasant； so brimming with reason and gentleness； that had she been on the walls； Iome would have found it hard to resist。
Indeed； in that moment； she heard the gears to the main portcullis grind； and the drawbridge began to lower。
Iome's heart pounded。 She leaned forward； shouting 〃No！〃 astonished that some of her fool subjects； overwhelmed by a monster's glamour and Voice； were doing his bidding。
Beside her； King Sylvarresta also shouted； ordering his men to raise the bridge。 But they were far from the gates； so high up。 The sound of Orden's shout was muffled by the visor on his helm。 He pulled it up to call more clearly。
In keeping with her own feelings of anger； down at the gates； Captain Derrow let a bolt loose at the Wolf Lord。 Derrow's bolt flew with incredible speed； a blur of black iron that would have driven through any other man's armor。
But the speed and strength of Raj Ahten outmatched him。 The Runelord simply reached up and caught the bolt in midair。
Such speed。 Raj Ahten had done the unthinkable； taking so many endowments of metabolism。 Even from here； she saw that he must move five or 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 stone
