df.therunelords-第93节

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　〃What's　taking　them　so　long？〃　an　archer　on　the　castle　walls　asked；　a　farm　boy　who　knew　nothing　of　war。　They'd　been　waiting　an　hour。　In　that　time；　Raj　Ahten's　men　had　not　sought　to　parlay。　They　did　not　seem　to　want　to　attack。
　King　Orden　began　to　pace　the　walls；　past　men　who　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder；　four　deep。　He　watched　with　mounting　nervousness　as　Raj　Ahten　set　his　forces；　laid　his　siege。
　〃I　do　not　like　that　chanting；〃　Captain　Holmon　said　softly　in　Orden's　ear。　〃Raj　Ahten　has　endowments　enough　without　it。　We　would　be　better　off　if　we　got　this　battle　under　way；　before　their　reinforcements　arrive。〃
　〃How？〃　Orden　asked。　〃Mount　a　charge？〃
　〃We　can　goad　the　old　dog　into　battle。〃
　Orden　nodded　to　Captain　Holmon。　〃Sound　your　horn；　then。　Call　Raj　Ahten　to　a　parlay。　I　want　him　out　here；　within　bowshot。〃
　　
　Chapter　43
　THE　SPARK
　　
　The　facilitators　had　just　finished　granting　endowments　of　metabolism　from　nine　of　Raj　Ahten's　men　to　Salim　when　the　horns　sounded；　calling　for　a　parlay。
　The　facilitators　looked　at　Raj　Ahten；　curiously。
　〃Finish　it；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　to　his　chief　facilitator。　He'd　stripped　from　his　armor；　and　sat　on　a　cushion；　awaiting　the　endowment。
　He　listened　with　rising　excitement　as　the　facilitator　sang　the　familiar　words　to　the　chants。　Salim　shrieked　in　pain　while　the　forcible　burned　his　flesh；　adding　to　the　scent　of　charred　fat　and　burning　hair　that　filled　the　Pavilion。
　To　take　an　endowment；　to　feel　the　kiss　of　the　forcibles；　gave　profound　delight。　It　was　like　making　love　to　a　beautiful　woman。　But　to　take　an　endowment　from　someone　who　already　had　received　many　endowments；　to　bine　that　euphoria　over　and　over　againthat　gave　unspeakable　ecstasy。　By　the　time　Salim　had　taken　his　endowments　from　eleven　menmen　who　had　all　received　endowments　of　their　ownhe　had　bined　nearly　forty　endowments　of　metabolism；　all　waiting　to　burst　free　into　Raj　Ahten　at　once。
　Seldom　did　Raj　Ahten　receive　such　great　pleasure。
　He　was　sweating　with　anticipation　by　the　time　the　facilitator　drew　the　forcible　away　from　Salim；　held　its　glowing　tip　high；　and　danced　across　the　room；　painting　the　air　inside　the　tent　with　ribbons　of　sulfurous　light。
　When　the　tip　of　the　forcible　touched　the　skin　beneath　Raj　Ahten's　nipple；　the　Wolf　Lord　shuddered　with　such　unspeakable　ecstasy　that　he　could　barely　contain　it。　He　fell　to　the　floor；　his　body　racked　by　waves　of　pure　pleasure；　and　he　cried　out　as　if　in　orgasm。　Only　his　many　endowments　of　stamina　allowed　him　to　survive　the　pleasure。　For　several　moments；　he　blacked　out。
　When　he　woke；　the　facilitators　knelt　over　him　nervously。　Raj　Ahten's　sweaty　skin　shivered。　He　looked　up　at　his　men。
　〃My　lord；　are　you　well？〃　Facilitator　Hepolus　asked。　The　words　slurred；　as　if　he　spoke　very　slowly。　The　whole　world　seemed　strange　and　exotic；　as　if　in　some　liquid　dream。　The　men　around　him　moved　slowly；　and　the　air　felt　heavy；　thick。
　Raj　Ahten　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　body；　took　care　not　to　leap　up　too　quickly。
　Long　ago；　he'd　learned　that　when　one　takes　an　endowment　of　metabolism；　it　affects　the　hearing。　Not　only　do　people　around　you　speak　and　move　very　slowly；　but　the　entire　way　that　sound　is　perceived　is　affected。　High　pitches　bee　lower；　while　low　pitches　bee　almost　inaudible。　To　reply　to　a　question　in　a　manner　that　others　could　understand　required　both　patience　and　great　control　of　Voice。
　〃I　am　well；〃　Raj　Ahten　answered　with　care。
　The　facilitators　glanced　around　meaningfully；　moving　with　such　seeming　deliberation　they　looked　like　old；　old　men。
　Raj　Ahten　waved　at　Salim；　lying　on　the　carpets　within　the　tent。　〃Move　my　vector　to　the　Dedicates'　wagon。　Place　guards　to　watch　these　others。〃
　Raj　Ahten　currently　had　forty…two　endowments　of　metabolism。　With　so　many；　if　he　tried　to　walk　at　an　average　pace；　he'd　travel　at　over　a　hundred　and　forty　miles　per　hour。　If　the　air　stood　still；　his　movement　alone　would　make　it　feel　as　if　he　pressed　through　a　hurricane。
　With　forced　slowness　he　pulled　on　his　scale　mail；　donned　his　helm。　He　accidentally　moved　too　fast　while　fastening　his　helm；　so　that　his　left　pinky　finger　snapped　under　unexpected　pressure。　It　healed　instantly　in　a　crooked　position。
　Raj　Ahten　broke　it　again；　pulled　it　straight；　let　it　heal。
　He　ambled　slowly　outside　the　tent；　tried　to　appear　as　natural　as　ever。
　On　the　battlements　of　Castle　Longmont；　above　the　gate；　King　Orden's　men　waved　the　green　flag　of　parlay。
　Between　a　pair　of　giants　who　stood　like　a　wall；　eleven　Invincibles　had　already　mounted　imperial　horses；　prepared　to　act　as　Raj　Ahten's　honor　guard。　A　footman　held　the　twelfth　horse　for　him。
　Raj　Ahten　ambled　to　his　horse；　nodded　toward　his　flameweavers；　giving　them　their　signal。
　Then　he　forced　himself　to　sit　very　still　as　the　horse　galloped　toward　Longmot's　gates。
　It　was　an　odd　situation。　As　the　horse　ran；　Raj　Ahten　often　found　himself　momentarily　thrust　into　the　air；　but　those　moments　stretched　out　interminably；　so　that　for　half　of　the　short　ride；　it　seemed　he　was　airborne；　just　floating　above　the　ground。
　He　had　not　gone　far　when　a　shimmering　nimbus　took　shape　above　his　head；　courtesy　of　the　flameweavers；　a　scintillating　golden　light　that　emitted　brief　sparks　of　titanium　white。
　In　the　glimmering　light　he　gazed　steadfastly　at　the　wide　eyes　of　the　defenders　on　the　castle　walls。
　The　knights　were　grim　men；　skeptical。　Not　the　soft　city　folk　he'd　seen　at　Castle　Sylvarresta。　Many　of　them　clutched　their　weapons　fiercely；　and　it　seemed　a　thousand　bowmen　on　the　walls　nocked　their　bows；　drew　arrows　full。　Their　eyes　shone　with　calculation。
　〃People　of　Longmont；〃　Raj　Ahten　called；　modulating　so　that　he　spoke　slowly；　sliding　all　the　power　of　his　Voice　into　the　words；　so　that　he'd　seem　like　a　man　of　peace　and　reason。
　On　the　castle　walls；　Orden　clenched　his　fists；　calling；　〃Shoot！〃
　In　slow　motion；　the　hail　of　arrows　descended；　a　black　wall　of　arrows　and　bolts　from　steel　longbows　and　ballistas。
　Raj　Ahten　tried　to　sit　still　in　his　saddle；　tried　not　to　overreact　as　bolts　sped　toward　him。　He　could　dodge　them　or　push　them　aside；　as　needed。
　The　arrows　hurtled　toward　him　in　a　deadly　rain；　and　Raj　Ahten　glanced　to　each　side。　The　knights　in　his　honor　guard　were　raising　their　shields；　dismayed　by　this　act　of　premeditated　butchery。
　He　did　not　have　time　to　save　them。
　As　the　first　arrow　sped　to　him；　he　grabbed　for　it；　thinking　to　knock　it　from　the　air。　But　when　his　mailed　fist　slapped　the　arrow；　such　was　the　velocity　and　momentum　at　which　both　his　hand　and　the　arrow　traveled；　that　the　wooden　shaft　snapped　in　two。　The　head　of　the　arrow　veered　toward　his　chest；　and　Raj　Ahten　had　to　grab　for　it　again　quickly；　catch　it　in　his　hand。
　At　that　moment；　the　deadly　rain　of　arrows　slammed　into　his　knights；　their　mounts。
　A　huge　iron　ballista　bolt　unseated　the　knight　next　to　him；　and　the　Wolf　Lord　was　forced　to　raise　his　small　shield；　knock　away　more　arrows　that　sang　through　the　air　toward　him。
　A　shaft　struck　between　the　plates　of　his　horse's　armor；　sliding　into　its　ribs；　and　the　mount　began　to　stagger。　It　stepped　on　a　caltrop　and　let　its　feet　give　way。
　Suddenly　Raj　Ahten　found　himself　flying　through　the　air；　seemingly　in　slow　motion；　unhorsed；　grabbing　and　kicking　arrows　from　his　path；　twisting　so　that　a　shaft　broke　against　his　vambrace　rather　than　pierced　his　scale　mail。
　He　was　a　strong　man；　but　even　Raj　Ahten　could　not　break　the　fundamental　laws　of　motion。
　The　momentum　of　the　horse's　fall　threw　him　somersaulting　headfirst　over　the　beast's　shoulder。
　He　knew　that　if　the　force　of　his　landing　did　not　crack　his　skull；　the　weight　of　the　armored　horse　rolling　over　him　afterward　might　crush　him。
　Raj　Ahten　managed　to　reach　out；　push　himself　slowly　off　the　ground　as　he　moved　toward　it；　then　tuck；　so　that　he　rolled　cleanly　over　the　grass；　away　from　his　charger。
　But　that　maneuver　cost　him；　for　as　he　came　around；　a　vividly　painted　red　arrow　lodged　in　his　collarbone　just　above　the　line　of　his　mail；　and　another　bit　into　his　thigh。
　Raj　Ahten　crawled　away　from　his　falling　horse；　looked　up　at　the　grim　soldiers　on　the　castle　walls。
　He　grabbed　the　arrow　in　his　thigh；　pulled　it　free；　and　hurled　it　back　at　his　attackers。
　But　when　he　grasped　the　red　shaft　in　his　collarbone；　it　snapped　in　two。
　He　held　it　up；　astonished；　for　he'd　taken　it　gingerly。　It　should　not　have　broken　under　so　slight　a　pressure。
　The　shaft　broke；　he　now　saw；　because　the　arrow　had　been　hollowed　and　notched。　The　shaft　was　meant　to　break　away。　Raj　Ahten　guessed　the　reason　behind　this　even　before　he　felt　the　fiery　poison　creeping　toward　his　heart。　He　stared　hard　at　the　castle　wall；　saw　one　soldier　a　hundred　feet　above　hima　tall　fellow　with　a　thin　face　and　yellow　teeth；　a　tunic　made　of　pig　hide。　The　fellow　threw　his　longbow　in　the　air；　shouting　in　triumph　at　having　killed　the　Wolf　Lord　of　Indhopal。
　As　this　first　volley　of　arrows　finished　landing；　a　quiet　moment　followed　where　the　skies　remained　relatively　free　of　missiles。
　Raj　Ahten　pulled　his　dagger　from　its　sheath。　The　wound　in　his　collar　hurt　fiercely。　The　poison　rushed　through　his　bloodstream　so　fast；　Raj　Ahten　did　not　know　if　even　his　thousands　of　endowments　of　stamina　could　save　him。
　The　skin　on　his　collarbone　had　al