df.therunelords-第10节
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n one； I'd suspect an accident。 But these were trustworthy men。 Nothing would keep them from obeying my mand。 They've either been captured； or killed。 I've sent scouts to confirm my fears； but I think we already know what they'll find。〃
Hollicks' face paled at this news。
〃So； Raj Ahten's soldiers hide in the Dunnwood； and they need to attack within the next three daysbefore the hunts begin； lest they be discovered。〃 King Sylvarresta folded his hands behind his back； paced over to the hearth。
〃Will it be a large battle； milord？〃 Hollicks asked。
Sylvarresta shook his head。 〃I doubt it。 Only some prewar maneuvering is likely； so late of the year。 I think we have a band of assassins out there。 They'll either strike the Dedicates' Keep； seeking to weaken me； or they'll strike at the royal family itself。〃
〃But； what of us merchants？〃 Hollicks said。 〃Couldn't they as easily strike our manors？ Why； why； no one is safe！〃
The idea that Raj Ahten would strike at the bourgeois seemed ludicrous。
Sylvarresta laughed。 〃e； old friend； bolt your doors tonight； and you'll have nothing to fear。 But now； I need your counsel。 We must set a price for this 'merchant's' ransom。 How much damage shall we say he caused the King？〃
〃I would say a thousand silver hawks；〃 Hollicks answered cautiously。
Iome had listened to her father； followed his reasoning and found it both flawless and infuriating。 〃I don't like the idea of ransoming this spy。 It's。。。a form of surrender。 Certainly； you aren't considering Chemoise's feelings！ Her betrothed was murdered！〃
King Sylvarresta looked up at Chemoise； a certain sadness； a certain pleading in the troubled creases around his eyes。 Chemoise's tears had dried； yet Iome's father looked as if he could see the sadness still burning there。 〃I am sorry； Chemoise。 You trust me； don't you？ You trust I am doing the right thing？ If I am right； you'll have that murderer's head on a stick by the end of the weekplus a thousand silver hawks of the ransom money。〃
〃Of course； as you please； milord；〃 Chemoise said。 She could hardly debate the matter。
〃Good；〃 Sylvarresta said； taking Chemoise's words at face value。 〃Now； Master Hollicks； let's consider that ransom。 A thousand pieces of silver； you say？ Then it's good you're not king。 We'll start by demanding twenty times thatalong with fifty pounds of mace； fifty of pepper； and two thousand of salt。 And I'll want blood metal。 How much have the traders weighed in this year？〃
〃Why； I don't know for certain！〃 Hollicks said； all a bluster at the King's outrageous demands。
King Sylvarresta raised a brow in question。 Hollicks knew how much blood metal was available to the ounce。 Ten years before； in recognition of Hollicks' service to the King； Sylvarresta had granted the merchant a Petition to take out an endowment of wit。 Though an endowment of wit did not make the merchant any wiser or more creative or let him think more clearly； that endowment did let Hollicks remember trivial details almost faultlessly。
Taking an endowment of wit was like opening a door into another man's mind。 A man who got an endowment of wit suddenly had the capacity to enter a mind and store whatever he liked； while the man who gave the wit had the doors of memory barred and was forbidden to even peek at the contents hidden within his own skull。 Now Hollicks stored his tallies in the mind of his Dedicate。
Indeed； it was said that the guildmaster could quote every contract he'd ever written； word for word； Hollicks always knew to the moment when his loans came due。
Certainly； he knew how much blood metal the Southern traders had weighed out in the past week。 As Master of the Fair； he was in charge of assuring that all goods were properly weighed； that products sold were of highest quality。
〃I。。。uh； so far； the Southern merchants have weighed in only thirteen pounds of blood metal。 They。。。say the mines in Kartish have not produced well this year。。。〃
Enough to make less than a hundred forcibles。 Hollicks cringed； as if Sylvarresta might fly into rage at the news。
Iome's father nodded thoughtfully。 〃I doubt Raj Ahten knows that so much made it across his borders。 We won't see any more； next year。 Then to our tally of damages； add a ransom of thirty pounds of blood metal。〃
〃They don't have that much！〃 Master Hollicks plained。
〃They'll find it；〃 Sylvarresta said。 〃If they're smuggling it in； they'll have some secreted away。
〃Now； go； send word to our foreign friends。 Tell them that the King is beside himself with rage。 Urge them to act quickly； for Sylvarresta can hardly be restrained from taking vengeance。 Tell them that even now； I'm in my buttery； getting blind drunk on brandy； vacillating about whether I should torture secrets from the man first； or if I should just slit his belly and strangle him with his own guts。〃
〃Aye； milord；〃 Hollicks said； flustered。 The parti…colored merchant bowed and took his leave； sweating profusely at the thought of the negotiations about to begin。
During this whole discussion； the somber Chancellor Rodderman had kept silent； sitting on a bench by the Queen； narrowly studying the exchange between the King and the Master of the Fair。 Sometimes he stroked his long white sideburns。 When Hollicks left； the chancellor said； 〃Your Grace； do you think you'll get that much ransom？〃
Lord Sylvarresta said simply； 〃Let us hope。〃
Iome knew her father needed money。 The costs of armor and endowments and supplies associated with waging the uping war would be onerous。
Sylvarresta glanced about。 〃Now； Chancellor； fetch me Captain Derrow。 If I am not mistaken； we shall be visited by assassins tonight。 We must arrange a proper greeting。〃
The chancellor got up stiffly； rubbed the small of his back and then left。
Iome's father looked deep in thought。 As she prepared to leave； a nagging question took her。 〃Father； when you played chess with Raj Ahten； who came off victor？〃
King Sylvarresta smiled appreciatively。 〃He did。〃
Iome began to leave； but another perplexing question came to mind。 〃Father； now that we've seen Raj Ahten's knight； should we prepare for him to bring out his wizards？〃
Her father's frown was answer enough。
Chapter 4
ADDLEBERRY WINE
Borenson studied Gaborn's eyes。 〃Do I feel anything； milord？ What do you mean？ Like hunger； excitement？ I feel many things。〃
Gaborn couldn't quite express the odd sensation that assailed him in the market at Bannisferre。 〃No； nothing so ordinary。 It's like。。。the earth。。。trembling in anticipation？ Or。。。〃 He suddenly caught an image in his mind。 〃It's like that moment when you put your hand to the plow； and you thrill to see dark soil fold over； knowing that the seeds will soon be in the ground； and fruit will e of it。 Endless trees and fields spreading across the horizon。〃
It was odd； but the image came to mind with such force that Gaborn could not think to say anything else。 Words did not suffice for what he felt； for he could literally feel his hand wrapping around the worn wooden handles of the plow； feel the strain of the lines from the ox cutting into his back； feel the keen edge of the plow biting into the soil； turning over dark dirt； discovering worms。 He could taste the metallic tang of soil in his mouth； see fields and forests streaming out before him。 His pockets were heavy with seeds； ready to plant。
He felt as if he were experiencing all these things at once； and he wondered if any gardener had really ever felt such a keen thrill of anticipation as the one that assailed him at this moment。 Oddest of all； Gaborn had never done these thingshad never hitched himself to a plow or stooped to plant the earth。
Yet he wished at this moment that he had。 He wished that at this very second； he stood in the earth。
Myrrima looked at him strangely。 Gaborn's Days gave no reply； playing the invisible observer。
But Borenson's eyes shone with laughter。 〃Milord； I think you have had too much air today。 Your face is pale and sweaty。 Do you feel well？〃
〃I feel。。。very。。。healthy；〃 Gaborn said； wondering if he was ill。 Wondering if he was mad。 Few weaknesses ever impaired a Runelord。 An endowment of wit could repair a lord with poor memory； an endowment of stamina could bolster a sickly king。 But madness。。。
〃Well then；〃 Gaborn said； suddenly wanting to be alone with his thoughts； to consider what could cause these profound feelings of。。。planting； 〃I think you two should spend some time getting acquaintedthe afternoon。〃
〃My lord； I am your body〃 Borenson said； not willing to leave his side。 Gaborn could count the times on his fingers when Borenson had been away for more than a night。
〃And I will be lounging in a hostel； with nothing more dangerous than a joint of pork before me。〃 Borenson could hardly refuse。 Custom dictated that he go privately to the woman's house to beg her hand in marriage。 With a witless mother and no father； custom might be somewhat circumvented in this case； but it could not be put aside entirely。
〃Are you certain？ I don't think this is wise；〃 Borenson said； his manner being deadly earnest。 Gaborn was in a strange country； after all； and he was heir apparent to the wealthiest nation in Rofehavan。
〃Just go； will you
