df.therunelords-第35节

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　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；　stood　uncertainly　for　a　moment；　then　bowed　slightly；　eyes　wary；　watching　the　Wolf　Lord。
　When　her　head　was　nearest　the　floor；　Raj　Ahten　leapt　forward；　his　body　a　blur；　and　drew　the　short　sword　from　his　sheath。
　Venetta's　crown；　snatched　from　her　head　by　Raj　Ahten's　blade；　went　flying；　rang　off　the　stone　ceiling。
　〃You　are　presumptuous！〃　Raj　Ahten　warned。
　Iome's　mother　watched　the　Wolf　Lord。　〃I　am　a　queen；　still；〃　she　said　in　her　own　defense。
　〃That　will　be　for　me　to　decide；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　He　drove　the　sword　through　the　cushion　of　the　Queen's　throne；　left　it　as　he　sat　back　down。　He　pulled　off　his　gauntlets；　tossed　them　beside　him　on　the　Queen's　throne。　He　clutched　the　arms　of　his　chair；　betraying　to　Iome　just　the　slightest　nervousness。　He　wanted　something　from　them。　Needed　something。　She　could　tell。
　〃I've　been　more　than　patient　with　you。　You；　Jas　Laren　Sylvarresta；　financed　knights　who　attacked　me　without　provocation。　I've　e　to　insure　that　such　attacks　cease。　I　require。。。an　acceptable　tribute。〃
　Iome's　father　said　nothing　for　a　moment。　Her　mother　knelt　near　the　throne。　〃What　would　you　have　of　us？〃　King　Sylvarresta　asked　at　last。
　〃Assurance；　that　you　will　never　fight　me　again。〃
　〃You　have　my　word；〃　Sylvarresta　said。　He　looked　up　now；　focused　all　his　attention　on　the　Wolf　Lord。
　Raj　Ahten　said　heavily。　〃I　thank　you。　Your　oath　is　not　a　thing　I　take　lightly。　You　have　been　an　honorable　lord　to　your　people；　Sylvarresta。　An　evenhanded　lord。　Your　realm　is　clean；　prosperous。　Your　people　have　many　endowments　to　give　me。　If　times　were　not　so　dark；　I　would　like　to　think　you　and　I　could　have　been　allies。　But。。。
　〃We　have　great　enemies　massing；　south　of　our　borders。〃
　〃Inkarrans？〃　Sylvarresta　asked。
　Raj　Ahten　waved　his　hands　in　dismissal。　〃Worse。　Reavers。　They　have　been　breeding　like　rabbits　for　thirty　years。　They've　laid　the　forests　of　Denham　bare。　They've　driven　the　nomen　from　their　sanctuaries　in　the　mountains。　In　another　season；　the　reavers　will　e　against　us。　I　intend　to　stop　them。　I'll　need　your　help；　the　help　of　all　the　Northern　kingdoms。　I　intend　to　take　control。〃
　Iome　felt　confused　by　this。　Apparently；　her　father　was　just　as　confused。　〃We　could　beat　them！〃　Sylvarresta　said。　〃The　Northern　kingdoms　would　unite　in　such　a　cause。　You　don't　need　to　prosecute　this　war　alone！〃
　〃And　who　would　lead　our　armies？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　〃You？　King　Orden？　Me？　You　know　better　than　that。〃
　The　heart　seemed　to　go　out　of　Iome's　father。　Raj　Ahten　was　right。　No　one　could　lead　the　Northern　kings。　There　were　too　many　political　divisions；　too　many　moral　strifes；　too　many　petty　jealousies　and　ancient　rivalries。　If　Orden　led　an　army　south；　someone　would　stay　to　attack　his　weakened　cities。
　Least　of　all　would　anyone　trust　Raj　Ahten；　the　Wolf　Lord。　For　hundreds　of　years；　the　Runelords　had　attacked　any　leader　who　sought　too　much　power；　who　grasped　too　far。　In　ancient　times；　certain　robbers；　greedy　for　any　power　they　could　get；　would　use　the　forcibles　to　take　endowments　from　wolves；　and　thus　became　known　as　Wolf　Lords。
　Men　who　des