df.therunelords-第48节
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The sun rose pink in the east； stirring a dawn chill as Gaborn and Rowan left the spice house； carrying small bales of parsley and peppermint。 A low mist was creeping up from the river； over the walls； making a blanket on the fields。 The rising sun dyed the blanket gold。
Gaborn stopped outside the door； tasted the mist。 It had an odd scent； the tang of sea salt where there should be none。 Almost he could imagine the cries of gulls in that mist； and ships sailing from harbor。 It made him long for home； but Gaborn thought he just imagined the odd scent。
The sounds of morning were like any other morning。 The cattle and sheep were still wandering about the city； and their bawling and baaing filled the air。 Jackdaws chatted noisily from their nests among the chimneys of houses。 The blacksmith's hammer rang； and from the cooking chamber in the Soldiers' Keep one could smell fresh loaves baking。 But overwhelming the sumptuous scent of food； even the sea mist； was the acrid stench of burned grasses。
Gaborn did not fear being spotted。 He and Rowan were dressed like moners； anonymous inhabitants of the castle。
Rowan led Gaborn up a fog…shrouded street； until they reached an old shack； a sort of hermitage on the steep side of the hill； near where the wizard's garden had stood。 Grapevines climbed the back wall of the shack。 It would take only a minor freeze to bring out the sweetness in the grapes。
Gaborn and Rowan filled their stomachs； unsure what other food they might get that day。 At the sound of coughing within the hermitage； Gaborn got up； prepared to leave。 Someone began thumping inside the cottage； hobbling on a cane。 It was but a matter of time before the occupant came outside and discovered them。
Gaborn pulled Rowan to her feet just as hunting horns sounded over the fields south of the castle。
This blare of horns was followed immediately by grunts and shrieks。 Gaborn climbed a little higher up the hill to look over the Outer Wall； to the mist…shrouded fields。 The river lay to the east； with fields beyond it。 The trees of the Dunnwood sat on a hill across the valley to the south。
At the edge of the wood on the south hill； Gaborn suddenly spotted movement in the fog： the glint of steel armor； peaked helmslances raised in the air。 Horsemen rode at the edge of the woods； cantering through the fog。
Before them raced a thousand nomen； black shadows who lumbered over the ground on all fours； shrieking and howling in terror。 The nomen fled toward the castle； half…blinded by daylight。
There； Gaborn saw a rider wearing the midnight…blue livery of House Orden； with the emblem of the green knight。
He could not fathom ithis father attacking the castle。
No！ he wanted to shout。
It was a suicide charge。 His father had brought a few men as a retinue。 They had e as a light escortmere decorationnot prepared for war！ They had no siege engines； no wizards or ballistas。
As Gaborn realized all this； he knew it hardly mattered。 His father believed that Gaborn was in Castle Sylvarresta and that the castle had fallen。 His father would do whatever he thought necessary to win back his son。
That recognition filled Gaborn with guilt and horror； the thought that his stubbornness； his stupidity； had suddenly put so many people's lives in jeopardy。
Though his father's soldiers had e as 〃mere decoration；〃 they did not fight like decorations。 The horses plunged downhill； churning the fog； their horsemen's axes were raised high overhead。 Gaborn saw nomen running； naked； fleeing the knights' axes。 They shrieked in horror； their yellow fangs gaping wide。 Some nomen turned； set their spear butts in the mud。
His father's knights surged forward on armored horses； lances shattering； axes falling； blood and mud and fur filling the air； along with the howls of nomen； the screams of the dying。
Hoofbeats thundered from the south。 Hundreds of voices rose in a shout； the battle cry of 〃Orden！ Brave Orden！〃
In answer； a tremendous roar came from the east。 A contingent of Frowth giants rushed over the fields on the far side of the river； making toward the Dunnwood from the eastern fieldseighty giants lumbering like moving hills in the fog。
Shouts arose from guards on the castle walls； the blare of horns as Raj Ahten's soldiers were called to battle； roused from their beds。 Gaborn feared Raj Ahten would send his own knights riding onto the battlefield。 House Orden had at most a contingent of two thousand men； unless his father had managed to summon reinforcements from one of Sylvarresta's minor keeps。
Almost as quickly as that fear of Raj Ahten's counterattack arose； it was assuaged。 Gaborn heard shouts at the southern gates； the clanking of gears as Raj Ahten's troops hurried to raise the drawbridge。 The fog in the valley was so thick； Gaborn could not see if any nomen made it over the bridge。
Raj Ahten could not counterattack now。 He could not be certain what size force House Orden had brought。 If he attacked； he might find himself ambushed by a force so large he could never withstand it。 It was； after all； a mon tactic to try to lure a castle's defenders out by feigning an inadequate force。
A contrary wind blew from the east； and the fog suddenly thickened。 Gaborn could see nothing more of the battle。 Even the giants disappeared in the mist。
Yet he heard horses neigh in terror； the battle cries of House Orden。 On the hill across the valley； horns soundedtwo short blasts； one long。 An order to regroup。
〃e on！〃 Gaborn told Rowan； and he took her hand。 Together they raced up the streets； uphill toward the King's Keep。
The city was in chaos。 Raj Ahten's troops were throwing on armor； rushing to man the city walls。
As Gaborn and Rowan ran to the King's Gate； the soldiers were lowering the portcullis leading into the business district。 They ordered Gaborn back。
Five hundred of Raj Ahten's troops rushed down from the King's Keep； trying to reach the Outer Walls。 A small herd of startled cattle dashed this way and that before them； seeking escape。
In the confusion； Gaborn and Rowan shouldered their bales of spices； raced through the portcullis into the market。
The market district was undefended。 Raj Ahten's men had not yet formed a plan for resisting attack。 None of his soldiers had been posted to specific turrets。 Watching the walls； Gaborn saw dozens of soldiers rush to the catapults； others manning the towers at each corner of the castlebut Raj Ahten's troops spread themselves thin。 Some rushed for the Outer Wall； others tried to nail down defenses in the Dedicates' Keep。
Practically no one manned the second wall of the city's defenses； the King's Wall。
From the plain belowmingled with the screams of nomen； the neighing of horses as they died； the roars of giantsthe knights of House Orden broke into song； their deep voices celebrating the glory of war。
Gaborn's father had always insisted that each of his personal guard have three endowments of Voice； so that orders could be easily shouted across the battlefields。 Their death song erupted from the fog； shook the very stones of Castle Sylvarresta； reverberated from hill to hill。 It was a song to strike terror in the hearts of foe：
〃Bring your honor； swing your sword；
You mighty men of Orden。
Reap your foes in fields of gore；
You bloody men of Orden！〃
There were the sounds of horses neighing and dyingso many horses。 Gaborn did not understand why the horses screamed until he realized that Raj Ahten's horses were still tethered on the far hill。 His father's troops were slaughtering the Wolf Lord's mounts。
Gaborn and Rowan stopped on the cobbled street； a hundred yards beneath the King's Keep； and stood gazing over the fog…covered greens； trying to see the battle。 Gaborn was suddenly aware of several men rushing past。
He turned just as a burly soldier pushed him aside； shouting； 〃Out of the way！〃
And there； racing past in black scale mail； the white owl's wings sweeping wide from his black helm； came Raj Ahten with his personal guard； counselors； and Days。 Three weary flameweavers ran at his side。
Gaborn almost reached to draw his sword； to strike at the Wolf Lord； but knew it would be foolish。 He turned away； the blood in his face rising in anger。
Raj Ahten ran past Gaborn at arm's length； issuing orders to his guard in Indhopalese： 〃Ready your men and horses！ You flameweaversto the walls。 Send lines of fire from here to the woods； so that we can see into that fog。 I'll lead the counterattack！ Damn that insolent Orden！〃
〃It is an unnatural fog；〃 his flameweaver worried。 〃A water wizard's fog。〃
〃Rahjim； don't tell me you fear some young water wizard who hasn't even grown his gills yet？〃 Raj Ahten scoffed。 〃I expect more from you。 This fog will work against Orden as much as work for him。〃
The wizard shook his head woefully。 〃Some Power fights us！ I feel it！〃
Gaborn could have reached out and touched the Wolf Lord； could have lopped off his head； yet had done nothing。
The enormity of the lost opportunity weighed on Gaborn。 As Raj Ahten and his troops hurried down Market Street； Gaborn fumbled to draw his sword。
〃No！〃 Rowan hissed； grabbing his wrist； pressing the blade back into its sheath。
She was r
