df.therunelords-第57节
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needed before he could bee the Sum of All Men。
Jureem prided himself on being a man who was not easily deceived。 He strongly suspected that Borenson had told an intricate tale based on some truth； twisted together liberally with lies。 Yet as Jureem considered the message Borenson had brought； it was damnably difficult to know where the truth ended and the lies began。
After only a few moments on the castle wall； Raj Ahten looked to his side； at Jureem。 〃My counselors； let us walk；〃 he said。 The Wolf Lord seldom sought advice from Jureem or Feykaald anymore。 Certainly his master was worried。
They came down from the city wall； walking along the steps； and had not gone far before they were out of the crowd； heading up a small rise toward the stables。
〃Feykaald；〃 the Wolf Lord asked the oldest of his counselors。 〃What think you： Does King Orden have his son？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Feykaald hissed。 〃The messenger was too startled； too frightened； when you first mentioned the ransom。 That messenger was full of lies。 He spoke not a word of truth。〃
〃I agree that Orden does not yet have his son； but though the messenger's manner showed him to be a liar； he spoke some truth。〃
〃He does not have his son；〃 Jureem agreed； replaying every nuance of the messenger's voice； every expression。
〃Granted；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃What of Longmont？〃
〃He could not have conquered it；〃 Feykaald spat quickly。
〃He has done so；〃 Raj Ahten said； his voice not betraying the concern that this must have caused。 Jureem's heart nearly froze at the thought。
〃O Greatest of Lights；〃 Jureem said； 〃I must argue with you。 The messenger's demeanor clearly indicated that this； too； was a lie。 Orden must be a fool； to send such a poor liar on such an errand！〃
〃It is not the messenger's demeanor that convinced me；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃I felt a dizziness at dawn。 Virtue left me。 Many hundreds of Dedicates died； and their endowments are lost。 Of that I am sure。〃
To lose so many endowments was a deep blow； a fearsome cut。 Yet it did not terrify Jureem。 In distant lands to the south； Raj Ahten's facilitators worked assiduously to find new Dedicates for him。 These were men with great glamour and powers of Voice； who could lure others into Raj Ahten's service； put the forcibles to them。 Raj Ahten was in a constant state of flux； gaining in strength and wit and glamour and stamina at an astonishing rate。 Jureem no longer knew how many thousands served as his lord's Dedicates。 He knew only that his lord grew in power； day by day。 Jureem could not yet see what his lord would bee； when he became the Sum of All Men。
But this morning he had suffered a blow。
In a day or two； Raj Ahten's occupying armies would arrive； a hundred thousand strong； and lay siege。 Orden could not have anticipated so large an occupying force。
At the same time； three armies would enter the kingdom of Orwynne to the west； and King Theros Val Orwynne； upon seeing that he was caught in a vise； would have little choice but to either surrender or dig in for a siege。 He would not be able to send aid to Orden in Longmont。
Meanwhile； saboteurs in Fleeds had begun poisoning the grain stock to the stables of High King Connel； preventing the horse clans from mounting their fierce cavalry attacks。
No； Orden had to be terrified。 So he was sending this little yapping messenger to bark at Raj Ahten。
〃Perhaps；〃 Jureem said； 〃Orden has taken Longmont； but he cannot hold it。〃 Yet if Raj Ahten was right； if Longmont had fallen； and this messenger had managed to feign dishonesty through his whole speech； was it yet possible that in every matter he had spoken the truth？
Now Raj Ahten said the thing Jureem dreaded most。 〃Do we have a spy in our midst？〃
Jureem considered； could see no other way to explain how Orden had known that Raj Ahten planned to attack Heredon。 Nor could Orden have known about the forcibles hidden in Longmont； or known that the garrison was undermanned。
Immediately； Jureem worried that he himself might have been the problem。 Had he spoken of these things to any of his lovers？ Had he spoken before any servants or strangers？ A careless word to the wrong person？
It could have been me； Jureem thought。 He'd confided his fears about leaving Longmont undermanned to one of his lovers； a horseman who bred fine stallions。 But had he mentioned that the forcibles would be there？ No。 He had not spoken of them。
Jureem looked to his side。 Feykaald had been with Raj Ahten for many years。 Jureem trusted the man。 As for the flameweavers； they cared nothing for Raj Ahten。 They served the elemental fires； and would follow Raj Ahten only so long as he promised them war； promised to feed their master。
So Jureem did not worry that these men were spies。 True； it could be that one of the captains was a spy。 But how？ How could even a spy have notified Orden of the opportunity at Longmont on such short notice？
No； it was the Days； the tall man with graying hair and chiseled； imperious features who most worried Jureem。 He could have aided Orden in this battle。 Only he。
Jureem dreaded this moment； had long suspected it would e。 The Days claimed they were neutral； that they never aided any lord against another。 To do so would have been to interfere in the affairs of men； an action that the Days said the Lords of Time would not tolerate。 So they merely recorded eventsbut Jureem had heard too many rumors； too many hints at unscrupulous dealings in the past。 For years； Raj Ahten had grown in power until he reached the point where Jureem suspected that the Days would unite against him。
In their own way； Jureem believed the Days were far more of a threat than the irrepressible Knights Equitable。
The Days； of course； knew Raj Ahten's actions。 The Days knew well in advance that Raj Ahten planned to attack Longmont； knew he'd left the castle without a sufficient garrison。 The Days' twin； the man or woman who shared his mind in the monastery to the north； of course knew what had e to pass。 And anything learned by one Days could swiftly be relayed to many。
It was all Jureem could do to keep from whirling now and gutting the Days。
〃I think； we are betrayed； my lord；〃 Jureem said； glancing at the Days。 〃Though I know not how。〃 His master was watching； had seen the covert accusation。
Yet what could the master do？ If Jureem accused the Days falsely； and slew him； he might make matters worse。 All of the Days would then openly fight Raj Ahten； betray his secrets into every ear。
On the other hand； if Jureem did not slay the Days； then a spy would remain in the camp。
Raj Ahten stopped。
〃What will we do now？〃 Feykaald asked； wringing his little hands。 They stuck out from his turquoise silk robes like twisted knots from a tree limb。
〃What do you think we should do？〃 Raj Ahten asked。 〃You are my counselor； Feykaald。 So counsel me。〃
〃We should send a message；〃 Feykaald whispered； 〃to General Suh； and divert his armies to us for reinforcement； instead of having him attack Orwynne。〃
Feykaald was old； tough； and full of experience。 He'd lived long by being careful。 But Jureem knew that Raj Ahten often desired less…cautious counsel。 The Wolf Lord had grown in power by listening to Jureem。
He leaned his ear to Jureem。 〃And what would you do？〃
Jureem bowed his head。 He spoke carefully as he thought aloud。 〃Forgive me； O Blessed Light； if in this matter； I do not seem so alarmed。〃 He flashed a distrustful glance at Feykaald。 〃It may be true that King Orden has captured your forcibles； but who will he use them on？ You have already stripped endowments from everyone who was worthy at Longmont。 Orden cannot use the local populace。 Which means he would have to take endowments only from his warriorsan unfortunate proposition； for with each endowment he took to himself； he would weaken his own army。〃
〃So you propose？〃
〃Go to Longmont and take your forcibles back！〃 It was； of course； the only possible answer。 Raj Ahten could ill afford to wait for reinforcements。 It would only give Orden time to either slip away with the treasure or draw reinforcements himself。
Raj Ahten smiled at this answer。 It was risky； Jureem knew。 Perhaps Orden wanted to draw them out of Castle Sylvarresta for an ambush。 But all life was a risk。 And Raj Ahten could ill afford to do nothing。
The Master had taken six endowments of metabolism。 In doing so； he was able to thwart the assassins who came after him time and again。
But taking such endowments carried a great danger； the promise of an early death。 Metabolism could serve as a weapon against its owner。 Indeed； in one case； according to legend； a Dedicate who gave a great king metabolism was kidnapped by the King's enemies。 Then； the enemies gave hundreds of endowments of metabolism to the Dedicate； making him a vector； so that the King died of old age in a matter of weeks。 For this reason； Raj Ahten had vectored all his metabolism through a single Dedicate； a man he always kept near to his side； in case he needed to slay the man and break his own link。
Few kings ever dared take more than one or two endowments of metabolism。 With six； Raj Ahten could run six times the speed of another man。
But he also aged six times faster。 And though Ju
