df.therunelords-第54部分

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　〃You　will　be　forced　to　kill　House　Sylvarresta；　for　both　the　King　and　his　daughter　are　Dedicates　to　Raj　Ahten。　Lord　Sylvarresta　himself　received　eighty　endowments　of　wit　last　night；　all　in　Raj　Ahten's　behalf。〃
　Gaborn　turned　at　this　news；　went　to　the　door　of　the　tomb；　staring　out　up　into　the　sunlight；　considering。
　〃I　will　not　kill　my　friends；〃　Gaborn　said；　〃or　their　Dedicates。　If　they　gave　endowments；　they　did　not　do　so　willingly。　They　are　not　my　enemy。〃
　Iome　wondered　at　this。　It　was　mon　practice　to　kill　another's　Dedicates；　a　necessary　evil。　Few　Runelords　would　shirk　this　most　hateful　responsibility。　Did　Gaborn　hope　to　let　men　live；　simply　because　they　did　not　intend　evil？　She　said；　〃Even　if　you　spare　House　Sylvarresta；　even　if　you　turn　instead　to　other　houses；　kill　other　kings；　they　are　also　innocents。　They；　too；　deserve　to　live。　They　have　no　love　for　Raj　Ahten。〃
　〃There　must　be　a　way　to　get　Raj　Ahten　without　killing　others；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃A　decapitation。〃
　Iome　had　no　advice　to　give。　With　powerful　Runelords；　a　decapitation　was　the　most　certain　way　to　insure　a　kill；　but　plotting　the　deed　and　doing　it　were　two　different　matters。　〃And　who　will　decapitate　him？　You？〃
　Gaborn　turned　to　her。　〃I　could　try；　if　I　can　get　close　to　him。　Tell　me；　is　the　herbalist　Binnesman　well？　I　need　to　speak　with　him。〃
　〃He's　gone；〃　Iome　said。　〃He　vanished　in　the　night。　Raj　Ahten's　men　saw　him。。。at　the　edge　of　the　woods。〃
　Perhaps　of　anything　she　could　have　said；　this　news　seemed　to　dismay　him　most。
　〃Well；〃　Gaborn　said；　looking　lost；　〃I　must　change　my　plans。　If　the　wizard　is　in　the　woods；　perhaps　I　can　find　him　there。　Thank　you　for　the　news；　Lady。。。？〃
　〃Prenta；〃　Iome　whispered。　〃Prenta　Vass。〃
　Gaborn　took　her　hand；　kissed　it；　as　if　she　were　a　helpful　lady…in…waiting。　He　held　her　hand；　just　a　moment　too　long；　lightly　sniffed　the　scent　of　her　perfumed　wrist；　and　Iome's　heart　skipped。　Her　voice　had　not　faltered；　she　felt　sure；　he　had　not　recognized　her　voice。　But　did　he　recognize　her　perfume？
　He　gazed　into　her　face；　with　his　penetrating　blue　eyes；　and　though　a　small　frown　formed　on　his　lips；　he　did　not　speak。　Iome　pulled　away；　turned　her　face；　heart　pounding；　fearing　that　she　had　been　discovered。
　She　knew　she　was　hideous；　that　every　scrap　of　beauty　had　been　stripped　from　her。　Her　yellow　eyes；　her　wrinkled　skin；　were　gruesome　enough。　But　her　features　were　nothing　pared　to　the　horror　she　felt　inside；　the　insidious　draw　toward　self…loathing。
　Surely　he　would　condemn　her。　Surely　he　would　pull　away　in　contempt。　Instead；　he　stepped　around；　to　better　see　her　face。
　Iome　suspected　that　Gaborn　recognized　her。　He　regarded　her　silently　now；　trying　to　discern　any　traces　of　the　woman　he　had　seen　yesterday。　But　he　refused　to　embarrass　her　by　voicing　his　recognition。　Iome　could　not　withstand　that　gaze；　felt　forced　to　raise　a　hand；　and　with　it　hid　herself　from　those　eyes。
　〃Don't　hide　from　me；　Prenta　Vass；〃　Gaborn　said　softly；　taking　her　hand　again；　pulling　it　down。　He'd　spoken　her　name　hesitantly。　He　knew　her。　〃You　are　beautiful；　even　now。　If　there　is　any　way　I　may　serve　you？〃
　Behind　Gaborn；　Iome's　Days　shifted　nervously；　and　the　bakers　suddenly　left　the　tomb　as　if　they'd　just　recalled　urgent　matters　elsewhere。　Iome　wanted　to　break　into　tears；　to　fall　into　his　arms。　She　only　stood；　trembling　terribly。　〃No。　Nothing。〃
　Gaborn　swallowed　hard。　〃Can　you　bear　another　message　to　the　Princess　for　me？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Tell　her。。。that　she　haunts　my　dreams。　That　her　beauty　is　indelible　in　my　memory。　Tell　her　that　I'd　hoped　to　save　her；　hoped　to　give　her　some　small　aid；　and　maybe　I　did　some　goodI　killed　a　powerful　flameweaver。　Because　I'm　here；　my　father　has　e；　though　perhaps　too　late。　Tell　her　I　stayed　the　night　in　Castle　Sylvarresta；　but　now　see　that　I　must　leave。　My　father's　soldiers　are　hunting　for　me　in　the　woods。　I　dare　stay　no　longer。　I'm　going　to　try　for　the　woods；　before　my　father　charges　the　city。〃
　Iome　nodded。
　〃Will　you　e　with　me？〃　Gaborn　asked。　He　stared　into　her　face；　and　now　she　knew　without　a　doubt　that　he　recognized　her。　His　eyes　were　filled　not　with　contempt；　but　with　pain；　and　so　much　gentleness；　she　longed　to　fall　into　his　arms。　Yet　she　dared　not　move。
　Iome's　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃e？　And　leave　my　father？　No。〃
　〃Raj　Ahten　will　not　hurt　him。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Iome　said。　〃Idon't　know　what　to　think。　Raj　Ahten　is　not　totally　evil；　not　as　I　feared。　Binnesman　hopes　for　some　good　from　him。〃
　〃　'When　you　behold　the　face　of　pure　evil；　it　will　be　beautiful。'　〃　Gaborn　quoted　an　old　saying　among　Runelords。
　〃He　says　he　wants　to　fight　the　reavers；　that　he　wants　to　unite　mankind　for　our　own　defense。〃
　〃And　when　the　war　is　won；　can　the　Wolf　Lord　give　your　endowments　back　to　you？　Will　he　give　his　own　life　so　that　all　those　who　were　robbed　of　endowments　can　regain　them；　as　Good　King　Herron　did？　I　think　not。　He　will　keep　them。〃
　〃You　don't　know　that；〃　Iome　said。
　〃I　do；〃　Gaborn　insisted。　〃Raj　Ahten　has　revealed　his　nature。　He　has　no　respect　for　you　or　any　other。　He　will　take　all　that　you　have；　leave　you　with　nothing。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　sure？　Binnesman　seemed　to　want　him　to　change。　He　hoped　to　convince　the　Wolf　Lord　to　rid　himself　of　the　flame　weavers。〃
　〃You　believe　he　will　do　it？　You　can　stand　here；　over　the　body　of　your　dead　mother；　and　believe　Raj　Ahten　has　any　degree　of　decency　whatsoever；〃
　〃When　he　speaks；　when　you　look　in　his　face〃
　〃Iome；〃　Gaborn　said；　〃how　can　you　doubt　that　Raj　Ahten　is　evil？　What　do　you　have　that　he　has　not　yet　tried　to　take？　Your　body？　Your　family？　Your　home？　Your　freedom？　Your　wealth？　Your　position？　Your　country？　He　has　taken　your　life；　as　surely　as　if　he'd　slain　you；　for　he　desires　to　strip　away　all　that　you　have　and　all　you　hope　to　be。　What　more　must　he　do　to　you；　before　you　know　him　to　be　evil？　What　more？〃
　Iome　could　not　answer。
　〃I'm　going　to　cut　off　the　bastard's　head；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃I'm　going　to　find　a　way　to　do　it；　but　first　we　need　to　get　out　of　here　alive。　Now　will　you　e　with　me；　if　I　bring　your　father　out　of　the　city；　too？〃
　He　took　her　hand；　and　when　he　touched　her；　all　darkness　fled。　Iome's　heart　pounded。　She　almost　dared　not　to　believe　her　fortune；　for　when　she　looked　into　Gaborn's　eyes；　all　her　fears；　all　her　self…loathing　and　sense　of　ugliness　vanished。　It　was　as　if　he　were　some　living　talisman　that　wrought　a　change　on　her　very　heart。　A　stone　fortress；　she　thought。　A　haven。　〃Please；〃　he　begged；　using　all　the　powers　of　his　Voice。
　She　nodded　yes；　numb。　〃I'll　e。〃
　Gaborn　squeezed　her　hand。　〃I　don't　know　how；　yet；　but　I'll　e　for　you　and　your　fathersoonin　the　Dedicates'　Keep。〃
　Iome　felt　again　that　sensual　thrill；　the　longing　she　associated　with　the　presence　of　Binnesman。　Her　heart　pounded。　He　had　just　held　her　tenderly；　as　though　she　still　had　her　endowments　of　glamour；　as　if　she　were　beautiful。
　He　turned；　took　a　short　sword　from　a　corpse　and　tucked　it　in　the　folds　of　his　robe；　then　hurried　from　the　tomb；　his　fleeting　shadow　blocking　the　cold　sunlight　a　moment。
　As　he　fled；　she　almost　dared　not　believe　he　would　return　for　her；　that　he　would　not　save　her。　Yet　a　warm　certainty　filled　her。　He　would　be　back。
　When　he　was　gone；　Iome's　Days　said；　〃You　should　be　careful　of　that　one。〃
　〃How　so？〃
　〃He　could　break　your　heart。〃　Iome　could　not　fail　to　note　something　odd　in　the　Days'　voice；　a　tone　of　respect。
　Iome　felt　terrified。　If　Raj　Ahten　caught　her　trying　to　escape；　he'd　show　no　mercy。　Yet　she　knew　that　her　heart　was　not　pounding　in　fear；　but　for　another　reason。　She　held　her　hand　over　her　heart；　trying　to　still　it。
　I　think　he　already　has　broken　it；　she　told　herself。
　　
　Chapter　18
　DUELING　WITH　DECEPTION
　　
　Two　hours　after　Gaborn　fled　Iome　in　the　tombs；　Borenson　rode　up　to　the　ruined　gates　of　Castle　Sylvarresta；　a　green　flag　of　truce　flying　from　a　dead　nomen's　lance。　He　forced　a　smile。
　His　muscles　ached；　and　his　armor　was　covered　in　blood。　He　now　rode　a　new　horse；　gleaned　from　a　fellow　soldier　who　would　never　ride　again。
　It　would　be　a　game　to　match　wits　with　Raj　Ahten；　one　he　did　not　want　to　play。　Luck　had　not　favored　him。　Most　of　his　warriors　had　been　slaughtered。　He'd　paid　for　every　small　victory。　His　soldiers　had　slain　more　than　two　thousand　nomen。　He　had　unhorsed　most　of　the　Wolf　Lord's　army；　and　had　managed　to　slay　or　drive　off　a　number　of　Frowth　giantswhile　a　dozen　more　of　the　creatures　had　perished　in　that　insane　fire。　Dozens　of　Raj　Ahten's　legendary　Invincibles　had　followed　Borenson's　men　into　the　woods；　and　the　Invincibles　were　now　so　full　of　arrows　that　their　corpses　looked　as　prickly　as　hedgehogs。
　Yet　Borenson　had　not　won　a　clear　victory；　despite　heavy　enemy　losses。　Raj　Ahten　had　quit　hunting　Borenson's　men　when　they　got　deep　into　the　woods；　fearing　an　ambush。　In　part；　Borenson　had　hoped　that　Raj　Ahten　would　brave　the　woods；　where　his　own　men；　he　felt　sure；　would　have　the　advantage。
　But　Borenson　also　wanted　Raj　Ahten　to　fear　that　ambush；　needed　Raj　Ahten　to　believe　that　the　woods　were　full　of　men。　King　Orden　had　often　said　that　even　a　man　with　great　endowments　of　wit　could　be　outsmarted；　for　〃Even　the　wisest　man's　plots　are　only　as　good　as　his　information。〃
　So　it　was　that　Borenson　rode　up　to　the　gates　of　Castle　Sylvarresta；