df.therunelords-第40节
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He whistled now。 〃Food。 Food。 I give。〃
Up above him； the ferrin turned； startled。 〃What？ What？〃 the ferrin guard growled。 〃I hear you。〃 The words l…hear…you was often a request for the speaker to repeat himself。 The ferrin tended to locate others of their kind by their whistling calls。
〃Food。 I give；〃 Gaborn whistled in a friendly tone。 It was a full tenth of all the ferrin vocabulary that Gaborn could mand。
From the woods above the mill； a dozen answering voices whistled。 〃I hear you。 I hear you；〃 followed by phrases Gaborn didn't understand。 It might have been that these ferrin spoke another dialect； for many of their shrieks and growls sounded familiar。 He thought he heard the word 〃e！〃 repeated several times。
Then； suddenly； half a dozen ferrin were running around the paving stones of the mill house； ing down from the trees。 More ferrin had been hiding up there than Gaborn had seen。
They stuck their small snouts in the air and approached Gaborn cautiously； growling； 〃What？ Food？〃
Gaborn glanced downriver； wondering at the scouts' reaction。 The man in splint mail could see the ferrin now； a dozen of them； sauntering around the foundations of the mill。 Reason dictated that if Gaborn were near； the ferrin would have scattered。
After a moment's hesitation； the scout in splint mail waved his broadsword toward both banks； while he shouted orders to his men。 With the thundering of the waterwheel in his ears； Gaborn could not hear the orders。
But presently； all six hunters hurried back uphill into the trees； angling south。 They would search the woods； downstream。
When Gaborn felt sure they were gone； and that no prying eyes watched his direction； he carried Rowan uphill。
Chapter 12
OFFERS
Chemoise Solette felt dazed。 Watching her best friend； Iome； lose her glamour horrified Chemoise to the core of her soul。
When Raj Ahten finished with the Princess； he turned and gazed into Chemoise's eyes。 His nostrils flared as he judged her。
〃You are a beautiful young creature；〃 Raj Ahten whispered。 〃Serve me。〃
Chemoise could not hide the revulsion she felt at those words。 Iome sill lay on the floor； dazed； barely conscious。 Chemoise's father still lay in the wagon down in the Dedicates' Keep。
She said nothing in response。 Raj Ahten smiled weakly。
Raj Ahten could take no endowment from a woman who hated him so intensely； and his Voice would not sway Chemoise。 But he could take other things。 He let his gaze drift down to her waist； as if she stood naked before him。 〃Put this one in the Dedicates' Keep； for now。 Let her care for her king and her princess。〃
A chill of horror crept over Chemoise； and she dared hope that while she was in the keep； Raj Ahten would forget her。
So a guard took Chemoise's elbow； pulled her down the narrow stairs out of the Great Hall and up the street to the Dedicates' Keep； and thrust her through the portcullis。 There he spoke a few words in Indhopalese to the guards who'd just been posted。 The guards smiled with knowing grins。
Chemoise ran back to her father； who had been dragged into the Dedicates' Hall； and now lay on a clean pallet。
The sight of him felt painful； for his wound ran deep and had festered so many years。
Chemoise's father； Eremon Vottania Solette； was a Knight Equitable； sworn to bring down the Wolf Lord Raj Ahten。 It was an oath he had not taken lightly seven years ago； the day he disavowed himself from Sylvarresta's service to ride through the spring…green fields for the far kingdom of Aven。
It was an oath that had cost him everything。 Chemoise remembered how tall he'd sat in the saddle； how proud she'd been。 He'd been a great warrior； had seemed invincible to a nine…year…old girl。
Now his clothing smelled of moldy straw and sour sweat。 His muscles clenched uselessly； his chin shoved against his chest。 She got a rag and some water； began to clean him。 He cried out in pain as she rubbed his ankle。 She studied it； found both legs horribly scarred。 The skin around his ankles was red； hair rubbed away。
Raj Ahten had kept her father in chains these past six years。 Such treatment for Dedicates was unheard of。 After years of such abuse； she felt amazed that he even remained alive。 Here in the North； Dedicates were pampered； honored； treated with affection。 It was rumored that Raj Ahten had begun taking slaves to feed his need for Dedicates。
While Chemoise waited for the cooks to bring broth from the kitchens； she merely held his hand； kissing it over and over。 He stared up at her with haunted eyes； unable to blink。
Chemoise heard a scream from the King's Keep； someone giving endowments。 To take her mind from the noise； she began whispering。 〃Oh； Father； I'm so glad you're here。 I've waited so long for this。〃
His eyes crinkled in a sad smile； and he breathed heavily。
She didn't know how to tell him she was carrying a child。 She wanted him to be happy； to believe that all was well in her life。 She did not want to admit how she'd dishonored the princess。 She hoped her father would never need to know the truth； that grand illusions might give him some peace。
〃Father； I'm married now；〃 she whispered； 〃to Sergeant Dreys； of the palace guard。 He was only a boy when you left。 Do you remember him？〃
Her father twisted his head to the side； half of a shake。 〃He's a good man； very kind。 The King has granted him lands here near town。〃 Chemoise wondered if she was spreading it on too heavily。 Sergeants seldom got landed。 〃We live there with his mother and sisters。 We're going to have a child； he and I。 It's growing inside me。〃
She could not tell him the truth； tell how the father had died at the hands of Raj Ahten； tell how she'd gone to call his ghost to the place where she'd made love to him so many nights； bringing dishonor to her family and to her princess。 She dared not tell how Dreys' wight had e to her that evening； a cold shade that now lodged within her。
Yet that night； when she had felt the first fluttering movements of the babe within her； it had seemed a miracle。
Chemoise took her father's hand； which seemed clenched in a permanent fist； and smoothed out his fingers； opened it； after years of its having lain useless。 Her father squeezed her hand； a sign of affection and thanksgiving； but he squeezed so hard。 With several endowments of strength； he had a grip like a vise。
At first； Chemoise tried to ignore it。 But it grew too strong。 She whispered； 〃Father； don't squeeze so hard。〃
His hand tightened in fear； and he tried to pull his arm away； to loosen his grip。 But those who gave endowments of grace could not relax； could not easily let their muscles stretch。 He clenched her hand more painfully； so that Chemoise bit her lip。 〃Please。。。〃 she begged； wondering if somehow her father knew that she'd lied； was trying to punish her。
Eremon Solette grimaced in apology； struggled with all his might to relax； to stretch his muscles； release Chemoise。 For a minute； he only managed to hold her tighter； then Chemoise felt his grip soften。
The cooks had still not brought the broth around for those who'd given endowments of metabolism。 Chemoise's father would not be able to eat anything more solid。 The smooth muscles of his stomach would not contract properly。
〃Father；〃 Chemoise cried； 〃I've waited so long。 I wanted you so long。。。I wish you could speak； I wish you could tell me what happened。〃
Eremon Vottania Solette had been captured at Aven； at Raj Ahten's winter palace by the sea。 He'd scaled the white tower where gauzy lavender curtains fluttered in the wind； and found himself in a room thick with jasmine incense； where many dark…haired women slept on cushions； naked but for thin veils to cover their flesh。 Raj Ahten's harem。
A brass water pipe lay on a sandalwood table； with eight mouthpieces wriggling from it like the tentacles of an octopus。 The balls of rolled greenish…black opium in the pipe's bowl had all burned to ash。 For one moment； he permitted himself to stand； admiring the beauties at his feet。
Coals glowed in golden braziers around the beds； keeping the room pleasantly warm。 The sweet musk of the women would have made this room smell of paradise； if not for the bitter tang of opium。
In an adjoining room； he had heard a woman's deranged squealing laughter； the sounds of cavorting。 He suddenly had the wild hope he might take Raj Ahten while the Runelord lay naked； his attention diverted。
But as he stood； quietly unsheathing his long dagger； all dressed in black； his back against the wall； a maiden woke； saw him behind the gauzy curtains； hiding。
Eremon had tried to silence her； had leapt to plunge the knife into her throat； but not before she screamed。
A eunuch guard of little note leapt from an alcove； suddenly wakened； and clubbed Eremon with a staff。
The eunuch's name was Salim al Daub； a heavy man with the roundness and womanly voice mon to eunuchs； and the soft brown eyes of a doe。
As a reward for capturing an assassin； Raj Ahten presented Salim with a great gift。 He offered Salim an endowment of grace； from Eremon himself。
Eremon had thought he would rather die than grant an endowment to Raj Ahten's guard； but Eremon held two secret hopes。 The first great h
