df.therunelords-第55节

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　So　it　was　that　Borenson　rode　up　to　the　gates　of　Castle　Sylvarresta；　reigned　his　horse　in　at　the　moat。　Smiling。
　On　the　charred　wall　above　the　ruined　gate　towers；　one　of　Raj　Ahten's　soldiers　waved　his　own　lance　overhead　three　times；　an　acceptance　of　Borenson's　request　for　truce；　then　waved　at　him；　beckoning　him　to　ride　into　the　castle。　The　drawbridge　was　down；　its　gears　and　chains　melted。　One　side　of　the　drawbridge　was　so　charred　it　had　a　hole　in　it　large　enough　to　let　a　man　ride　through。
　Borenson　stayed　where　he　was；　not　wanting　to　deliver　messages　in　private；　and　shouted；　〃I'm　in　no　mood　for　a　swim；　not　in　this　armor。　Raj　Ahten；　I　bear　a　message　for　you！　Will　you　face　me；　or　must　you　hide　behind　these　walls？〃
　It　seemed　madness　to　accuse　the　Wolf　Lord　of　cowardice；　but　Borenson　had　long　ago　decided　that　sanity　was　no　virtue　in　an　insane　world。
　In　twenty　seconds；　when　he　heard　no　response；　Borenson　shouted　again。　〃Raj　Ahten；　in　the　South　they　call　you　the　Wolf　Lord；　but　my　lord　says　you　are　no　wolf；　that　you　are　born　of　a　mon　whippet；　and　that　you　have　not　the　natural　affections　of　a　man；　but　instead　are　given　to　fondling　bitches。　What　say　you？〃
　Suddenly；　atop　the　wall；　stood　Raj　Ahten；　shining　like　the　sun；　the　white　owl's　wings　sweeping　wide　from　his　black　helm。　He　gazed　down；　imperious；　unperturbed　by　the　insults。
　〃Serve　me；〃　he　said　softly；　so　seductively　that　Borenson　almost　found　himself　leaping　from　his　horse；　to　fall　on　one　knee。
　But　he　recognized　the　use　of　Voice　immediately；　was　able　to　ignore　it。　A　captain　in　Orden's　guard　could　not　be　the　kind　of　man　easily　swayed　by　Voice。
　〃Serve　you；　the　one　who's　been　baying　from　these　walls　all　morning；　breathing　out　threats　to　my　lord？　You　must　be　mad！〃　Borenson　said。　He　spat　on　the　ground。　〃I　fear　there　is　no　profit　in　serving　you。　You　don't　have　long　to　live。〃
　〃You　claim　to　have　a　message？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　Borenson　thought　that　the　Wolf　Lord　seemed　too　eager　to　stem　the　tide　of　insults。
　Borenson　made　a　show　of　taking　a　long　gaze　at　the　soldiers　along　the　castle　walls。　Thousands　of　archers　were　there；　other　defenders　with　pike　and　sword。　And　on　the　wall…walks　behind　them　were　citizens　of　Castle　Sylvarrestacurious　boys；　eager　to　hear　his　message。　Some　farmers；　merchants；　and　tradesmen　stood　now　to　defend　the　walls　for　Raj　Ahten　as　vigorously　as　they　would　have　stood　to　defend　Sylvarresta　the　night　before。　Borenson　felt　acutely　aware　that　his　message　was　for　these　soldiers　and　townsmen　more　than　for　Raj　Ahten。　A　message　foretelling　doom　that　was　delivered　in　private　might　demoralize　a　single　leader。　The　same　message　delivered　before　an　army　could　subvert　an　entire　nation。
　〃Such　a　small　army；　to　be　trapped　so　far　from　home；〃　Borenson　said；　as　if　musing　to　himself。　Yet　he　threw　his　own　voice；　loud　enough　so　the　men　on　the　far　walls　could　hear。
　〃They　are　a　fine　army；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃Good　enough　for　the　likes　of　you。〃
　〃Indeed；〃　Borenson　countered。　〃I　do　mend　them。　Your　men　died　most　excellently　in　the　woods　this　morning。　They　fought　almost　as　well　as　expected。〃
　Raj　Ahten's　eyes　blazed。　Borenson　had　succeeded　in　angering　him。　This　is　maybe　not　the　smartest　thing　I've　ever　done；　Borenson　told　himself。
　〃Enough　of　this；〃　Raj　Ahten　said。　〃Your　own　men　died　well；　too。　If　you　desire　a　contest　to　see　whose　men　die　best；　then　I　must　concede　that　your　men　will　win；　for　I　slaughtered　enough　of　them　today。　Now；　deliver　your　message。　Or　did　you　e　merely　to　try　my　patience？〃
　Borenson　raised　a　brow；　shrugged。　〃My　message　is　this。　Two　days　ago　King　Mendellas　Draken　Orden　took　the　castle　at　Longmont！〃
　He　waited　a　moment　for　this　news　to　sink　in；　then　added；　〃And　though　you　have　sent　occupying　forces　to　hold　that　piece　of　rock；　King　Orden　bids　me　to　let　you　know　that　your　reinforcements　have　been　slaughtered　to　the　man。〃
　This　news　shook　the　defenders　on　the　castle　walls。　Raj　Ahten's　men　were　gazing　at　one　another；　trying　to　consider　how　to　react。
　〃You　lie；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　evenly。
　〃You　accuse　me　of　lying？〃　Borenson　said；　using　his　own　gift　of　Voice　as　best　he　could；　trying　to　sound　righteous　and　indignant。　〃You　know　the　truth　of　it。　As　proof；　you　may　search　your　own　feelings。　This　morning　at　dawn；　King　Orden　put　to　death　all　in　Longmont　who　had　given　you　endowments。　You　felt　the　attack。　You　felt　his　retribution。　You　cannot　deny　it！
　〃And　now　I　shall　tell　you　how　it　was　done：　We　began　our　march　three　and　a　half　weeks　ago；〃　Borenson　said　honestly；　naming　the　time　since　he'd　left　Mystarria；　then　calculated　when　Raj　Ahten's　own　troops　would　have　set　march；　〃shortly　after　we　received　word　of　your　departure　from　the　South。
　〃At　the　time；　my　lord　King　Orden　sent　word　to　the　far　corners　of　Rofehavan；　setting　his　snare　for　a　pup　of　a　Wolf　Lord。　Now；　Raj　Ahten；　the　noose　has　your　neck；　and　shortly　you　shall　find　yourself　choking；　choking　on　your　greed！〃
　The　men　on　the　walls　began　talking；　looking　about　in　dismay；　and　Borenson　guessed　at　their　question。　〃You　wonder　how　my　lord　knew　that　you　would　attack　Heredon？〃　Borenson　shrugged。　〃My　lord　knows　many　things。　He　heard　of　your　plans　from　the　spies　who　serve　at　your　side。〃　Borenson　glanced　meaningfully　at　the　counselors　and　magicians　who　stood　beside　Raj　Ahten；　barely　suppressing　his　smile。　He　held　his　gaze　on　the　imperious…looking　Days　at　Raj　Ahten's　side。　Perhaps　Raj　Ahten　might　still　trust　these　men；　but　from　now　on；　Borenson　suspected　none　of　them　would　trust　each　other。
　Raj　Ahten　chuckled　at　Borenson's　ploy；　countered　with　words　that　struck　terror　in　Borenson's　heart。　〃So；　King　Orden　has　sent　you　to　get　word　of　his　son。　Don't　worry；　the　young　man　is　for　ransom。　What　does　Orden　propose　to　offer？〃
　Borenson　took　a　deep　breath；　glanced　at　the　castle　walls　in　desperation。　He'd　been　told　to　offer　a　ransom　for　a　nameless　friend；　so　that　Raj　Ahten　would　betray　the　names　of　those　he　held　captive。　But　Raj　Ahten　had　guessed　his　ploy。　Now；　Borenson　hoped　the　words　he　spoke　next　might　dishearten　the　Wolf　Lord　even　further。　〃I　was　told　to　offer　nothinguntil　I　have　inspected　the　Prince。〃
　Raj　Ahten　smiled　playfully。　〃If　King　Orden　cannot　keep　track　of　his　own　son；　I　shall　not　oblige　him。　Besides；　you　would　not　like　what　you　saw。〃
　Borenson　wondered。　This　game　was　being　plex；　more　plex　than　he　liked。　If　Raj　Ahten　really　had　Gaborn　prisoner；　then　he　should　not　have　hesitated　to　show　the　young　man。　Unless；　indeed；　he　had　killed　the　Prince。
　Yet；　if　Raj　Ahten　had　not　captured　the　Prince；　then　by　Borenson　admitting　that　he　needed　to　inspect　the　merchandise；　Borenson　had　revealed　to　the　Wolf　Lord　that　he；　too；　did　not　know　Gaborn's　whereabouts。
　Belatedly；　Borenson　realized　that　he　had　departed　from　the　script　King　Orden　had　written　for　him。　He　was　trying　too　hard　to　be　clever；　working　too　hard　to　go　his　lord　one　better。　By　doing　so；　he　might　well　have　jeopardized　his　whole　mission。
　His　face　burning　with　shame；　Borenson　turned　his　horse　around；　began　to　leave。　He　doubted　that　Raj　Ahten　would　let　him　go。　The　Wolf　Lord　had　to　be　terrified；　had　to　wonder　whether　King　Orden　had　captured　the　forcibles　in　Longmont。　Had　to　wonder　how　many　might　be　offered　in　ransom。
　〃Wait！〃　Raj　Ahten　called　at　Borenson's　back。
　Borenson　glanced　over　his　shoulder。
　〃What　will　you　offer　me；　if　I　show　you　the　Prince？〃
　Borenson　said　nothing；　for　at　the　moment　he　feared　to　speak；　so　he　just　urged　his　horse　to　walk　slowly　away。
　Borenson　rode　his　horse　a　hundred　yards；　fully　conscious　that　this　little　encounter　could　still　go　astray。　He　was　within　bowshot　of　the　castle；　and　Raj　Ahten's　wizards　manned　the　walls。　Raj　Ahten　would　not　let　him　escape　without　trying　to　wring　some　information　from　him。
　Yet　Borenson　asked　himself　once　again；　If　Raj　Ahten　has　the　Prince；　why　does　he　not　show　him？
　Borenson　turned　his　horse；　gazed　up　into　Raj　Ahten's　dark　eyes。　〃Gaborn　safely　reached　our　camp　last　night；〃　he　lied　bold…faced；　〃and　I　fear　that　I　can　no　longer　offer　any　ransom。　I　came　only　to　bring　that　message。〃
　Raj　Ahten　showed　no　emotion；　but　the　frightened；　self…consciously　determined　faces　of　his　counselors　spoke　volumes。　Borenson　felt　sure　he　had　guessed　correctly；　that　Raj　Ahten　did　not　have　the　Prince。　He　remembered　a　few　scouts　his　men　had　killed　last　night；　and　another　party　of　scouts　his　men　had　fought　deep　in　the　woods　an　hour　ago。　Why　else　would　so　many　of　Raj　Ahten's　troops　have　been　scouring　the　forest？
　〃However；〃　Borenson　continued；　〃House　Sylvarresta　is　an　old　and　valued　ally　to　my　lord。　I　can　offer　something　for　the　King's　family；　for　their　safe　return。〃
　〃What？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。
　Borenson　departed　further　from　the　script　Lord　Orden　had　posed　for　him。　〃A　hundred　forcibles　for　each　member　of　the　royal　family。〃
　Raj　Ahten　laughed　now；　laughed　with　relief　and　scorn。　Here　in　the　North；　where　blood　metal　had　been　so　scarce　the　past　ten　years；　three　hundred　forcibles　might　seem　a　princely　sum。　But　to　Raj　Ahten；　who　had　forty　thousand　forcibles　hidden　in　Longmont；　it　was　nothing。　Raj　Ahten　no　longer　believed　that　Orden　had　taken　Castle　Longmont；　just　as　Borenson　had　planned。
　〃Consider　the　offer　well；　before　you　laugh　me　to　scorn；〃　Borenson　said。　Now　it　was　time　to　put　the　Wolf　Lord　on　the　rack。　Borenson　s