df.therunelords-第18部分

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　Great　Hall；　all　the　dogs　had　been　taken　outside；　so　bones　were　left　cluttering　the　platein　a　most　beastly　and　uncivilized　pileuntil　the　serving　children　removed　them。
　Yet　one　more　thing　came　to　Gaborn's　attention。　At　first　he'd　thought　it　a　custom　of　the　North；　but　soon　realized　it　was　only　a　custom　of　Iome。　In　all　realms　that　Gaborn　knew　of；　table　servants　were　not　allowed　to　eat　until　the　King　and　his　guests　finished　dining。　Since　the　feast　lasted　from　noon　until　long　in　the　nightwith　entertainment　provided　between　courses　by　minstrels　and　jesters　and　games　of　skillthe　servants；　of　course；　wouldn't　eat　until　near　midnight。
　So　as　the　King　and　his　guests　dined；　the　serving　children　stared　longingly　at　the　puddings　and　capons。
　Gaborn　had　eaten　greedily；　clearing　his　platea　show　of　respect　for　the　lord's　fare。　But　soon　he　saw　that　Iome　left　a　bite　or　two　of　food　on　each　plate；　and　Gaborn　wondered　if　he'd　erred　in　his　manners。　He　studied　Iome：　as　her　serving　girl；　a　child　of　perhaps　nine；　would　bring　each　plate；　one　could　see　the　longing　on　the　girl's　face。
　Iome　would　smile　and　thank　the　girl；　as　if　she　were　some　lord　or　lady　bestowing　a　favor　instead　of　a　mere　servant。　Then　Iome　would　gaze　at　the　serving　girl's　face；　gauging　how　savory　the　child　thought　the　dish。　If　the　girl　liked　the　food　well；　Iome　would　leave　a　few　bites；　and　the　girl　would　snatch　them　from　the　plate　as　she　headed　for　the　kitchens。
　So　Gaborn　felt　surprised　when　Iome　hardly　touched　a　stuffed　partridge　in　orange　sauce；　but　ate　a　plate　of　cold　spiced　cabbages　as　if　it　were　a　delicacy。
　It　was　not　until　the　fourth　course　that　Gaborn　noticed　that　his　own　serving　boy；　a　lad　of　four；　had　been　steadily　growing　more　pale　at　the　thought　that　he　might　not　get　a　bite　to　eat　till　midnight。
　When　the　boy　brought　a　trencher　of　rich　beef　stewed　in　wine；　shallots；　and　walnuts；　Gaborn　waved　it　away；　letting　the　child　rush　off　and　nibble　while　the　food　was　yet　warm。
　To　Gaborn's　surprise；　King　Sylvarresta　noted　his　action　and　stared　hard　at　Gaborn；　as　if　Gaborn　had　given　insult。　Gaborn　marked　the　look　well。
　However；　when　Iome　did　the　same　thing　not　five　seconds　later；　pletely　unaware　of　Gaborn's　faux　pas　or　her　father's　reaction　to　it；　Sylvarresta　sat　chewing　his　beef　thoughtfully；　then　addressed　his　daughter　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Is　the　food　not　to　your　liking；　precious？　Perhaps　the　cooks　could　be　brought　in　and　beaten；　if　they　have　offended　you？〃
　Iome　blushed　at　the　jest。　〃I。。。nothe　food　is　too　good；　milord。　I　fear　I　am　a　bit　full。　The　cooks　should　be　mended；　rather　than　reprimanded。〃
　King　Sylvarresta　laughed；　gave　Gaborn　a　sly　wink。　Though　Gaborn　had　not　yet　declared　himself；　the　King's　wink　had　said；　You　two　are　alike。　I　would　wele　the　match。
　But；　in　fact；　from　his　few　glimpses；　Gaborn　had　decided　that　perhaps　he　was　not　worthy　of　Iome。　Her　serving　girl's　eyes　had　shone　with　too　much　love　for　Iome；　and　when　those　around　her　spoke；　they　held　a　tone　of　mingled　affection　and　respect　that　bordered　on　reverence。　Though　Iome　was　herself　only　a　girl　of　sixteen　at　the　time；　those　who　knew　her　best　did　not　merely　love　her：　they　treasured　her。
　When　Gaborn　had　prepared　to　leave　Heredon；　his　father　had　taken　him　to　speak　privately　with　King　Sylvarresta。
　〃So；〃　King　Sylvarresta　had　said。　〃You've　e　to　visit　my　realm　at　last。〃
　〃I'd　have　e　before；〃　Gaborn　said；　〃but　my　schooling　prevented　it。〃
　〃You　will　e　again　next　year；〃　King　Sylvarresta　said。　〃More　openly；　I　hope。〃
　〃Indeed；　milord；〃　Gaborn　answered。　His　heart　had　pounded　as　he　added；　〃I　look　forward　to　it。　There　is　a　matter　between　us；　milord；　that　we　must　discuss。〃
　Gaborn's　father　had　reached　out　and　touched　Gaborn's　elbow；　warning　him　to　be　silent；　but　Sylvarresta　merely　laughed；　his　gray　eyes　wise　and　knowing。　〃Next　year。〃
　〃But　it　is　an　important　matter；〃　Gaborn　urged。
　With　a　look　of　warning；　King　Sylvarresta　said；　〃You　are　overeager；　young　man。　You　e　seeking　my　greatest　treasure。　Perhaps　it　shall　be　yours。　But　I　will　not　mand　my　daughter　in　this　matter。　You　must　win　her。　Next　year。〃
　The　winter　had　seemed　long　and　cold；　gray　and　lonely。　It　felt　odd　now　for　Gaborn　to　be　ing　north；　seeking　to　win　the　love　of　a　woman　he'd　never　spoken　to。
　As　he　reflected；　the　twang　of　a　bowstring　roused　him；　followed　by　a　brilliant　burning　in　the　flesh　of　his　right　arm　as　an　arrow　scraped　his　skin。
　Gaborn　gouged　his　heels　into　the　flanks　of　his　mount。　It　leapt　forward　so　swiftly　that　Gaborn　fell　back　and　barely　was　able　to　cling　on　as　the　horse　raced　under　the　trees。
　The　world　went　dark。　Gaborn's　mind　blanked　from　pain。　He　couldn't　imagine　where　the　bowshot　had　e　from。　He'd　smelled　no　one；　heard　no　warning。
　Almost　immediately　he　passed　a　thick　knot　of　trees。　A　darkly　cowled　rider　there　was　tossing　down　his　horse　bow；　drawing　a　curved　scimitar　from　the　sheath　at　his　back。　As　Gaborn　passed；　he　saw　only　the　frantic；　killing　gleam　in　the　man's　eye；　the　taper　of　his　grizzled　goatee。。　Then　Gaborn's　horse　raced　past；　leapt　a　fallen　tree；　and　became　a　blur　in　the　starlight。　Gaborn　pulled　himself　upright　in　the　saddle；　dizzy　with　pain；　feeling　blood　flow　liberally　from　the　gash　on　his　arm。　Three　inches　to　the　left；　and　the　arrow　would　have　punched　into　a　lung。
　Behind　him；　his　attacker　howled　like　a　wolf　and　began　his　pursuit。　The　answering　howls　of　dogs　came　from　off　to　Gaborn's　rightwar　dogs　that　would　catch　his　scent。
　For　a　long　hour　he　rode　over　hills；　not　stopping　to　stanch　his　wound。　He'd　been　at　the　rear　of　the　army；　trying　to　circle　behind　their　scouts。　Now　he　sought　to　evade　pursuit　by　rushing　ahead　of　the　hosts　to　the　west；　striking　deep　into　the　heart　of　the　wood。　As　he　got　farther　away；　the　stars　dimmed；　as　if　high　clouds　obscured　their　light；　and　he　found　it　hard　to　keep　to　any　trail。
　So；　hoping　his　pursuers　would　think　he'd　fled；　Gaborn　veered　back　toward　the　main　force　of　the　army；　directly　into　danger。　For　he　still　had　not　been　able　to　learn　the　number　and　types　of　their　forces。
　When　the　starlight　suddenly　came　bright；　he　heard　the　sounds　of　the　army　in　the　woods　belowbranches　snapping；　iron…shod　feet　tramping　in　the　night。　His　horse　rested　near　the　crest　of　a　ridge；　in　a　sheltered　grotto　that　let　him　look　down　over　a　long　bed　of　ferns。
　Dogs　began　baying　in　the　distance　behind　him。　They'd　discovered　his　ruse。
　Gaborn　sat　tall　in　his　saddle；　looking　down　into　the　dark。　He'd　veered　in　front　of　the　army。　A　mile　ahead　he　could　see　a　break　in　the　woodsa　wide　swale　that　would　have　been　a　frozen　lake　in　the　winter。　But　the　waters　had　receded　over　the　summer；　leaving　only　tall　grasses。
　There；　in　the　grasses；　Gaborn　saw　a　sudden　light　as　Raj　Ahten's　flame…weavers　stepped　from　beneath　the　shelter　of　the　pinesfive　people；　naked　but　for　the　red　flames　that　licked　their　hairless　skins；　strode　boldly　across　the　swale。　Behind　and　around　them　Gaborn　saw　something　elsecreatures　that　loped　over　the　grass；　black　shadows　darker　than　those　thrown　by　the　pines。　They　were　roughly　man…shaped；　but　often　seemed　to　fall　to　all　fours；　running　on　their　knuckles。
　Apes？　Gaborn　wondered。　He'd　seen　such　creatures　brought　north　as　curiosities。　Raj　Ahten　had　Frowth　giants　and　flameweavers　in　his　retinue；　along　with　Invincibles　and　war　dogs。　Gaborn　thought　it　might　be　possible　to　grant　endowments　to　apes；　turn　them　into　warriors。
　But　instinctively　Gaborn　knew　that　these　creatures　were　nothing　he'd　ever　seen。　Larger　than　apes。　Nomen；　perhapscreatures　recalled　only　in　ancient　tales。　Or　maybe　some　new　horror　in　the　earth。　Thousands　of　them　issued　from　the　woods；　a　dark　tide　of　bodies。
　Frowth　giants　waded　among　them；　and　Raj　Ahten's　Invincibles　rode　behind　in　armor　that　flashed　in　the　starlight。
　Far　below　to　the　west；　war　dogs　howled　and　snarled；　following　Gaborn's　blood　scent。　Gaborn　glimpsed　a　dog　on　the　trail　in　the　starlighta　huge　mastiff　with　an　iron　collar　and　a　leather　mask　to　protect　its　face　and　eyes。　The　pack　leader。　It　would　be　branded　with　runes　of　power；　to　let　it　run　faster　and　farther　than　its　brothers；　smell　Gaborn　more　easily；　and　plot　with　the　supernatural　cunning　of　its　kind。
　Gaborn　couldn't　escape　the　pack；　not　with　that　dog　alive。
　He　nocked　an　arrow；　the　last　in　his　quiver。　The　grizzled　mastiff　raced　up　the　path　at　incredible　speed；　its　back　and　head　showing　from　time　to　time　as　it　leapt　through　low　ferns。　With　endowments　of　strength　and　metabolism；　such　dogs　could　cover　miles　in　minutes。
　Gaborn　watched　its　progress；　gauged　where　it　would　exit　the　ferns　below　him。　The　mastiff　burst　from　the　ferns　a　hundred　yards　down；　snarling　in　rage；　its　mask　making　it　look　skeletal　in　the　starlight。
　The　beast　was　only　fifty　yards　away　when　Gaborn　loosed　his　arrow。　It　flew　to　its　mark；　striking　the　dog's　leather　mask；　then　ricocheted　over　its　head。
　The　mastiff　raced　forward。
　Gaborn　didn't　have　time　to　clear　his　saber　from　its　scabbard。
　The　mastiff　leapt。　Gaborn　saw　its　jaws　gaping；　the　huge　nick　in　its　forehead　where　the　arrow　had　pierced　the　leather；　scraped　away　flesh。
　Gaborn　threw　himself　back　in　the　saddle。　The　mastiff　jumped　and　brushed　past　Gaborn's　chest；　the　spikes　on　its　collar　slashing　Gaborn's　robe；　drawing　blood　on　his　chest。
　The　stallion　whinnied　in　terro