df.therunelords-第91节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Gaborn felt。。。strangely cognizant of their presence； embarrassed by it。 Still； when Iome left； he went to his father； put his arms around the man's shoulders； and cried。
〃Here now；〃 his father whispered； 〃why should a prince weep？〃
〃You're sending me on a fruitless mission；〃 Gaborn said。 〃I can feel it。 Something。。。is terribly wrong。〃 He did not know how to speak of it； but he felt that they needed to discuss thingswhat should happen if one of them died。 They'd spoken of this possibility many times over the years； after Gaborn's mother was murdered； other times since。 Yet this time； Gaborn felt a sense of inevitability。
What he really wanted； what he needed； was to say goodbye。
〃How can we know our fight is fruitless？〃 his father asked。 〃I can detain Raj Ahten until you return。
〃I'll put mounted knights in the bailey； ready to issue from the castle gate。 When Groverman's men e in； I want you to have them sweep in from the north side of the hill。 It's a gentle slope down。 It should give your lancers a great deal of benefit。 Then my knights will ride out to your side； and we'll have the old monster in a vise
〃But you must promise me one thing； Gaborn。 You will let me fight Raj Ahten personally。 I will be the serpent's head。 I alone am prepared for this fight。〃
〃Raj Ahten may be more dangerous than you know；〃 Gaborn said。 〃He seeks to bee the Sum of All Men。 He has so many endowments of stamina； you cannot kill him easily。 You will need to strike for the head； take off his head。〃
〃I surmised as much；〃 King Orden said； smiling down at his son。
Gaborn looked into his father's eyes； felt his heart lightened a bit。 The castle walls were growing thick with men； and this was a small castle； easily defensible。 With six thousand men on those walls； his father should be able to hold this castle even against Raj Ahten's Invincibles。
His father wasn't rushing headlong to his death。 He'd fight a measured battle。 Already the die had been cast。 As head of the serpent ring； his father would have to battle Raj Ahten。 In his heart； Gaborn knew that of all the men in the castle； his father was most qualified for this task。
Yet it hurt； it hurt terribly to know what might e； to let it e without saying goodbye。
〃Where is Binnesman？〃 Gaborn asked。 〃He can help protect you。〃
〃Sylvarresta's wizard？〃 Orden asked。 〃I haven't the slightest idea。〃
〃He said。。。he'd meet me here。 He called a wylde from the earth last night； and hopes to bring it into battle。 He is ing to Longmont。〃 Gaborn felt certain that Binnesman would e。
Gaborn hugged his father； leaned his forehead against the older man's cheek。 I've been anointed to bee King of this Earth； Gaborn thought。 It was said that Erden Geboren had been so sensitive to the earth powers； to life； that when one of his chosen friends was in danger； he could sense that man's fear。 When one of them died； he sensed the loss of that life。
Right now； Gaborn could smell danger around his father； and as he leaned against his father's face； he probed with his mind； sensed life there； like a lamp struggling to stay lit。 It was an odd sensation； one he'd never imagined before； and Gaborn wondered if he only imagined it now。
Yet Gaborn had ridden all last night。 In that time； he'd seen the world more clearly than ever before。 The eyebright still affected him； long after he thought its effects would diminish。 Perhaps it always would affect him。
It was but one change in him。 Something more wondrous was happening。 He suspected that if he only tried； he could see much farther； much deeper now。 He could use the Earth Sight。 He hugged his father tight； and closed his eyes； and with his heart； he sought to peer into King Orden。
For a long moment； he saw nothing； and he wondered if he really had seen into Raj Ahten's heart last night。
Then； as if at a great distance； a strange collage of sights and smells and sounds assaulted Gaborn。 First he saw the sea； the blue waves of the ocean rolling proud and strong under clear skies； the whitecaps rolling toward shore。 Gaborn's own mother and sisters and even himself rode in those waves； bobbing like seals in the water； and King Sylvarresta rode those waves； too。 Yet Gaborn's mother was larger than all the rest； as if she were a great walrus； while the others were mere harbor seals。 Gaborn tasted fresh pumpkin bread in his mouth； all covered with sunflower seeds； then washed it down with apple wine。 Distantly he heard the horns of the hunt。 As he listened； he sensed the motion of a horse running beneath him； then his chest seemed to swell wide in exultation as he looked out over the rooftops of the castle in Mystarria and heard the swell of people chanting 〃Orden； Orden； Orden。〃
A tremendous swelling sensation rose in Gaborn's chest； a sense of love and warmth； as if all the tender feelings he'd ever felt rolled into one great burst。
Gaborn could see more clearly today than ever before。 He could see into his father's heart； and these were the things his father loved： the sea； his family； pumpkin bread and apple wine； the hunt； and to please his people。
At this insight； Gaborn pulled back； suddenly feeling guilty。 Why am I doing this？ he wondered。 Looking into his father's soul was somehow embarrassing； an act of voyeurism。
Clearly； Gaborn recalled his duty； remembered the tales of what Erden Geboren had done when choosing warriors。 Gaborn feared for his father； wished to do all that he could to protect him in this； his darkest hour。
You will fight today； Gaborn whispered within himself； but I will fight beside you。
Chapter 41
SELECTING A SACRIFICE
The race from the Seven Stones to meet up with his army was long and hard； even for Raj Ahten。 A Runelord with endowments of stamina and metabolism can run faster than other men； and far longer； but it requires energy。 Even a Runelord cannot run forever。
So it was that Raj Ahten reached his army well before dawn； but the toll was heavy。 In jogging well over a hundred miles in armor； with no food； he lost some twenty pounds of fat。 The sweat stormed off him in waves； so that even though he stopped frequently to drink from streams and puddles； he'd lost another ten pounds of water。 The pounding to his kidneys and bones left him weakened。 It was not the condition he would have chosen to fight in。
As Raj Ahten traveled； he found signs that his army； which had forged ahead； was faltering。 Dozens of horses had fallen by the roadside； still in their armor。 Another dozen foot soldiers had succumbed during the march。 He found Frowth giants and mastiffs lying senseless by pools； wheezing； overheated from their run。
When he reached his troops； he did not mind that his men had been delayed by the ruined bridge at Hayworth； for the delay had cost them but four hours。 Four hours he spent resting and eating as he rode the remainder of the way to Longmont。
All the way； he worried。 Jureem's betrayal and running off into the night； the portents at the Seven Stonesboth weighed on him。 Yet Raj Ahten discounted them。 He wanted but one thing from Longmont： his forcibles。 Once he had them； he would have time to consider other matters。
His men made such good time that he called a halt for an hour； in the city of Martin Cross； so his men could rummage through the houses and barns for food。
Shortly after dawn； thirty miles from Longmont； his outriders reported that a contingent of several hundred knights was fleeing before their army； men riding under a dozen banners。 Knights Equitable from Castle Dreis and estates thereabouts。
Raj Ahten felt tempted to give chase in earnest； but knew that his men were now ill equipped for a race。
So he took his time riding to Longmont； resting on the way。 At ten in the morning； he rounded the big bend in the hills and spotted Castle Longmont on its promontory； some two miles distant。
His outriders climbed a hill to get a clearer view； then called down a report。 〃General Vishtimnu hasn't arrived yet； O Great Light。〃
Raj Ahten did not worry。 With over six thousand men and giants； he could hold Longmont until reinforcements arrived。 In fact； he could set up the siege engines and begin pounding the castle within hours； while waiting for Vishtimnu's advent。
Orden had not bothered to raise Longmot's hoardingstimber frames that could protect the castle's roofs from missiles。 With Raj Ahten's flame…weavers； the hoardings would have simply bee fuel for a grand blaze。
So the bombardment would begin soon。 If Raj Ahten had to wait a day for reinforcements； his men could begin working on mantelets and shelters； siege towers and belfries。 There were plenty of stone fences around that could be dismantled； either to help fortify entrenchments or to hurl as missiles。 But Raj Ahten did not want to try to build a city here at the foot of Longmont while waiting out some elaborate siege。 The longer he camped here； regardless of what fortifications he managed to erect； the longer the kings of Rofehavan would have to mount a counterattack。 No； he'd not set a great siege。
Not when he had so many Invincibles； so many weapons magical and mundane that he could employ。
Damn your meddling ways； King Orden； Raj Ahten thought。 I will roust you f
