df.therunelords-第15部分

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　Field　mice　scurried　from　his　approach；　a　lone　crow　cawed　from　an　oak。　Sparrows　flew　up　in　a　cloud。　Somewhere；　in　the　forest；　he　could　hear　a　cow　lowing；　wanting　to　be　milked。
　For　a　long　time　as　he　ran；　there　was　only　the　dry　rattle　of　bending　grass；　the　muted　thump　of　his　horse's　hooves。
　As　he　sprinted　north　through　the　close…cropped　fields；　he　made　a　personal　inventory。　As　far　as　Runelords　were　concerned；　he　was　not　powerful。　He'd　never　wanted　to　be　so。　He　could　not　bear　the　guilt　he'd　have　borne　to　bee　powerful；　the　cost　in　human　suffering。
　But　shortly　after　birth；　his　father　had　begun　purchasing　endowments　for　him：　two　endowments　of　wit；　two　of　brawn；　three　of　stamina；　and　three　of　grace。　He　had　the　eyes　of　two；　the　ears　of　three。　Five　endowments　of　voice；　two　of　glamour。
　Not　a　powerful　man。　A　weakling　pared　to　Raj　Ahten's　〃Invincibles。〃　He　had　no　endowment　of　metabolism。　Gaborn　wore　no　armor。　None　to　protect　him；　none　to　slow　him　down。
　No；　Gaborn　could　rely　only　on　cunning；　courage；　and　the　speed　of　his　stallion。
　Gaborn　passed　two　more　houses；　both　with　dead　occupants。　At　the　first；　he　stopped　at　a　garden；　let　the　horse　eat　apples　from　a　tree；　pocketed　a　few　for　himself。
　A　little　beyond　the　last　house；　the　fields　ended　at　a　forest　of　ash；　oak；　and　maple。　The　border　to　the　Dunnwood。　The　leaves　on　the　trees　were　dull；　as　they　will　get　in　late　summer；　but　so　low　in　the　valleys　the　colors　had　not　yet　turned。
　Following　the　edge　of　the　field；　Gaborn　smelled　the　scent　of　leather　now；　of　horses　hard…ridden；　of　oiled　armor。　Still　he'd　seen　no　one。
　Gaborn　found　a　track　for　woodcutters'　carts　leading　into　the　forest。　He　stopped　at　the　edge　of　the　trees　to　tighten　the　cinch　on　his　saddle；　preparing　to　ride　hard；　when　he　suddenly　heard　the　creaking　of　branches。
　Just　inside　the　line　of　trees；　not　forty　feet　away；　stood　a　Frowth　giant。　The　huge　creature；　its　fur　a　tawny　yellow；　stared　at　him　from　wide　silver　eyes；　peering　into　the　mist；　perhaps　unsure　whether　Gaborn　was　friend　or　foe。　The　sun　slanted　over　the　woods；　sending　shafts　of　golden　light　into　the　giant's　face。
　The　giant　stood　twenty　feet　tall；　eight　feet　wide　at　the　shoulder。　Ring　mail　covered　its　thick　hide；　for　a　weapon　it　carried　a　large　oak　pole　bound　with　iron　rings。　Its　snout　was　much　longer　than　that　of　a　horse；　its　mouth　full　of　sharp　teeth。　The　Frowth　giants　looked　like　nothing　human。
　The　giant　flicked　one　small；　round　ear；　ridding　itself　of　some　stinging　fly；　then　pushed　a　tree　aside　as　it　leaned　forward；　peering。
　Gaborn　knew　enough　not　to　make　a　quick　move。　If　he　did；　the　giant　would　know　he　was　an　enemy。　The　fact　that　the　giant　hadn't　attacked　already　told　Gabon　something：　the　outriders　would　be　dressed　like　him；　wearing　dark　robes；　riding　force　horses。
　The　giant　merely　wanted　to　smell　Gaborn；　to　learn　whether　he　was　friend　or　foe。　Gaborn　would　not　smell　of　curry；　olive　oil；　and　cotton；　as　did　the　soldiers　in　Raj　Ahten's　forces。
　One　way　or　another；　the　Frowth　giant　would　be　after　Gaborn　in　a　moment。
　Gaborn　wanted　to　strike；　but　he　couldn't　drive　a　sword　through　such　thick　ring　mail。　He　couldn't　engage　the　monster　in　a　drawn　battle。　Couldn't　let　it　cry　out　in　warning。　An　arrow　wouldn't　kill　the　beast　quickly。
　No；　Gaborn's　best　chance　was　to　let　the　giant　draw　close；　bend　near　enough　to　sniff　him；　so　that　Gaborn　could　pull　his　saber　and　slice　the　monster's　throat。　Quickly；　quietly。
　〃Friend；〃　Gaborn　said　softly；　reassuringly。　He　dropped　the　horse's　reins　as　the　giant　approached；　dropped　his　bow。　The　giant　warily　leaned　on　his　pole；　hunched　forward；　sniffed　from　ten　feet　away。　Far；　too　far。
　It　drew　a　foot　closer；　sniffed　again。　Frowth　giants　do　not　have　keen　noses。　The　monster　must　have　been　two　feet　between　the　eyes。　Its　broad　nose　wrinkled　as　it　sniffed。
　Gabon　smelled　rotting　meat　on　its　breath；　saw　dried　blood　matted　into　its　fur。　It　had　fed　on　carrion　recently。
　It　drew　half　a　step　closer。　Gaborn　ambled　forward；　making　soft　noises　as　if　he　were　a　friendly　soldier　trying　to　prove　himself。
　The　size　of　the　beast　overwhelmed　him。　I　am　nothing　beside　it。　Nothing。　It　could　lift　me　like　a　pup。　The　beast's　huge　paws　were　each　almost　as　long　as　Gaborn's　body。　It　did　not　matter　that　Gaborn　was　a　Runelord。　Those　enormous　paws　could　smash　his　bones；　rake　through　his　muscles。
　The　silver　eyes　drew　near；　each　as　large　as　a　plate。　Not　the　throat；　Gaborn　realized。　It　was　too　far　for　a　lunge。　Don't　stab　the　throat。　The　eye。　The　huge　silver　eyes　were　not　protected　by　thick　pelt。
　The　creature　was　old；　its　face　scarred　beneath　the　fur。　One　of　the　ancients；　then；　that　had　e　over　the　northern　ice。　A　venerable　creature。　Gaborn　wished　he　knew　some　of　its　tongue；　had　some　way　to　bribe　it。
　The　Frowth　giant　knelt　forward；　sniffed；　and　its　eyes　drew　wide　in　surprise。
　Gaborn　pulled　his　saber　and　lunged；　ramming　the　blade　deep。　The　blade　twisted　when　it　hit　the　giant's　eye；　slid　behind　the　socket；　far　into　the　monster's　brain。　Gaborn　wrenched　his　saber　and　danced　aside；　slicing　as　he　pulled　free。　He　was　unprepared　for　the　volume　of　blood　that　gushed　from　the　wound。
　The　giant　lurched　back；　grabbing　its　eye。　Its　lower　jaw　went　slack　in　that　moment。　It　bolted　upright；　staggered　a　pace　to　the　left；　and　raised　its　muzzle　to　the　sky。
　Even　as　it　died；　the　giant　bellowed　in　warning。　A　thunderous　howl　shook　the　forest。
　And　all　around　Gaborn；　to　the　north；　south；　and　west；　giants　howled　in　answer。
　
　Chapter　5
　IN　THE　DEDICATES'　TOWER
　　
　Below　Castle　Sylvarresta　that　evening；　the　city　lay　quiet；　hushed。　Traders　from　the　South　had　e　in　unusually　large　numbers　throughout　the　daycaravans　bringing　valuable　spices　and　dyes；　ivory　and　cloth　from　Indhopal。
　Bright　silk　pavilions　decorated　the　greens　before　the　castle；　the　lanterns　within　the　tents　making　them　glow　like　multicolored　gemsjade；　emerald；　topaz；　and　sapphire。
　From　the　dark；　forbidding　stone　of　the　castle　walls；　it　seemed　a　beautiful　Yet　disfiting　sight。
　The　guards　on　the　wall　all　knew　that　the　〃spice　merchant〃　had　been　ransomed　too　quickly　that　day；　the　King's　outrageous　price　accepted　without　argument。　But　the　Southerners　could　not　be　happy　about　the　ransom。　Tempers　were　short。　Everyone　feared　the　Indhopalese　might　riot。
　But　with　caravans　of　pack　mules　and　horses　came　something　new　and　marvelous；　something　never　seen　in　all　the　centuries　merchants　had　traveled　from　Indhopal：
　Elephants。　Fourteen　white　elephants；　one　branded　with　runes　of　power。　The　elephants　wore　colorful　mats　made　of　silk　and　beads　and　gold　and　pearls　on　their　heads；　and　bore　decorative　reins　and　silk　pavilions　on　their　backs。
　Their　owner；　a　one…eyed　man　with　grizzled　beard；　said　he'd　brought　them　as　a　curiosity。　But　in　Castle　Sylvarresta　it　was　known　that　in　Indhopal　force　elephants　were　often　dressed　in　armor；　then　sent　to　ram　castle　gates。
　And　the　merchants　had　too　many　〃guards〃　hired　to　protect　the　caravans。　〃Ah；　yes；〃　the　merchants　would　say；　clasping　their　hands　beneath　their　chins　and　bowing。　〃The　hill　bandits　are　very　bad　this　year。　Almost　as　bad　as　the　reavers　in　the　mountains！〃
　Indeed　it　seemed　a　record　year　for　reavers。　Troops　of　them　had　harried　the　mountain　borders　to　the　south　in　Fleeds；　and　to　the　west　in　Orwynne。　Sylvarresta's　soldiers　had　even　discovered　tracks　in　the　Dunnwood　last　springthe　first　such　tracks　seen　in　thirty　years。
　So　the　people　of　Heredon　were　willing　to　overlook　the　hordes　of　guards　in　the　caravans；　and　few　but　King　Sylvarresta　and　his　troops　worried　about　elephants　in　their　midst。
　A　cool　wind　blew　in　after　sunset；　and　fog　began　roiling　off　the　river。　A　fog　that　wreathed　the　city　in　mist；　crept　to　the　parapets　of　the　Outer　Wall。
　No　moon　burned　in　the　sky。　Only　stars。　Bright　eternal　diadems　shining　in　the　fields　of　night。
　It　is　no　surprise　that　the　assassins　made　it　over　the　Outer　Wall　unobserved。　Perhaps　the　men　came　into　the　city　during　the　day；　acting　the　part　of　traders；　then　hid　in　some　dovecote　or　manor…house　stable。　Or　perhaps　in　their　escalade　the　men　took　advantage　of　the　way　wisps　of　fog　seemed　to　play　between　the　merlons　like　tendrils。
　Nor　was　it　a　surprise　when　a　lone　sentry　in　the　King's　Keep　spotted　shadowy　figures；　like　black　spiders；　scrambling　over　the　King's　Wall；　down　by　the　Butterwalk。
　The　King　had　set　extra　eyes　to　watch　that　direction。　Indeed；　eyes　watched　from　every　arrow　slit　along　each　tower。
　No；　it　was　no　surprise　that　the　assassins　attempted　an　escalade　that　night。　But　even　the　guards　felt　amazed　at　how　swiftly　the　assassins　came；　how　silent　and　deadly。
　Only　men　with　endowments　of　metabolism　could　move　so　fast；　so　swiftly　that　if　you　blinked；　you　almost　believed　you　hadn't　seen　them。　To　take　such　endowments　was　suicide：　an　endowment　of　metabolism　let　you　move　nearly　twice　as　fast　as　a　normal　man；　but　also　caused　you　to　age　at　twice　the　speed。
　Yet　as　the　King's　far…seer；　Sir　Millman；　watched　the　escalade；　he　suspected　that　some　of　those　assassins　were　moving　at　three　times　the　normal　human　rate。　Men　so　endowed　would　be　decrepit　in　ten　years；　dead　in　fifteen。
　And　only　men　with　inhuman　strength　could　climb　those　walls；　prying　with　toes　and　fingers　to　grip　at　cracks　in　the　stone。　Sir　Millman