df.therunelords-第98节
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Many boys nearby tried to stifle chuckles at these antics。 But those antics served a purpose。 So long as Raj Ahten believed his tactics wore the castle down； he'd keep at them。
Orden took quick stock。 If he could follow Raj Ahten； catch him； he'd be able to battle him alone； man to man。
〃I'd better go；〃 Orden said。
Beside him； one of his captains gazed longingly toward Raj Ahten。 〃May the Powers be with you！〃 The captain clapped Orden on the back。
〃You and I and Sylvarresta shall be hunting in the Dunnwood by nightfall；〃 Orden said。 〃Have no fear。〃
Orden blew a deep； bass hunting horn in signal。 Immediately his men at the gates let the drawbridge drop。 His energies swelled as all through the castle the men in his serpent ring held perfectly still。
Suddenly the air seemed to thicken to the consistency of syrup。 Orden had the strength of twelve men； but with the metabolism of sixty； it required considerable effort to breathe。
He leapt forward； bearing a single weapona thin half…sword； sharp enough to strike off Raj Ahten's head。 He planned to take Gaborn's warning to heart； decapitate the Wolf Lord。 And he carried his shield。
He began running； leaping down the stairs from the castle wall； surprised at the initial push it took to bat inertia。 Running required constant； steady pressure。 As he spun round a corner； his momentum was such that he accidentally veered from his course。
He raced down to the gate； and already his men had begun raising the drawbridge； as he had ordered。 He bounded up the slight incline； gingerly leapt forty feet to clear the moat； running as he landed； and hurried after Raj Ahten。
The resistance of the wind against his shield felt tremendous。 After a few yards he dropped it； hurried through the charred streets of the city； then veered onto a footpath that led over the downs。
The grass seemed marvelously green this morning； having been cleansed by last night's rains； and everywhere the little white winterstar flowers lay among the fields。
Orden raced over the downs； found that like Raj Ahten； when he reached the top of a mound； he was traveling so fast that he became airborne。
Orden had read of men who had taken great endowments of metabolism。 He knew that going airborne was of little danger； so long as when he landed he made certain that he sped a little； kept his feet moving to absorb the impact of his fall。
He turned a corner。 Learning to lean into a turn； he knew； was perhaps the most difficult aspect of running with high metabolism。
Many people found it difficult to adopt the easy rolling gait necessary to run。 They wanted to move fast by pressing hard with their feet； as a normal man would when seeking a quick start； but those who tried it would snap their legs。 The resting body had too much inertia to overe。
Orden understood this principle well。
But remembering to lean into curves at the proper angle； that just felt unnatural。 As Orden gained speed； he found he'd be running； trying to make a turn in the trail； and it seemed that strange forces grasped him。 Gravity did not pull down so much as momentum kept him running in whatever direction he'd taken； and as he hit a muddy spot on one turn； only a great deal of dancing let him stay afoot and keep from smashing into a tree beside the trail。
Now he saw that Raj Ahten had kept his running speed down to a hundred miles per hour for good reason。 It didn't feel safe to run faster。
Yet Orden sped up； for his life and the lives of all his people depended on it。 He raced higher up Tor Loman； through the white…trunked aspens； under their golden leaves。
As he climbed one hill； looked down into the sun…dappled glen below； he saw a huge hart； its antlers wider than a man's arm span。 Startled； it leapt gracefully in the air； seemingly to hang just a few feet above the ground。
I could run that deer down in a heartbeat； Orden realized； as he raced toward it； passing a span behind as it dropped toward a creek。
Orden climbed toward the pines； running up a rocky； narrow crag。 Ahead； he saw the glint of dark metal as Raj Ahten entered the woods。
The sound of the steel rings in mail warned Raj Ahten of a pursuer。 He glanced back。 Orden rushed up the trail。
Raj Ahten could not imagine someone running fast enough to catch him。 He redoubled his speed。 The trail now led straight between the dark pines。 A shaft of sunlight shone at the trail's end。 Beyond it stood the red sandstone of the Eyes of Tor Loman。
Raj Ahten knew that fleeing was useless。 Orden was gaining on him； and had the greater speed。
〃I have you！〃 Orden shouted in triumph； a hundred yards behind。
Raj Ahten decided to use Orden's speed against him。 He crested a small rise； leapt。 He felt a sharp pain in his right leg； for his fibula snapped on takeoff。
He knew he could heal in seconds。
As Raj Ahten rose； he twisted； drew the hatchet from his belt； and hurled just where Orden should be。
To his surprise； Orden had begun to stutter…step； slowing。 The hatchet should have cleaved him at something close to two hundred miles per hour； but the aim was high。
Deftly； Orden dodged under the projectile。
Raj Ahten's trajectory carried him high。 Though the break in his leg seemed minor； it did not have time to do more than begin healing before he hit ground。
His tibia snapped； along with the first break； and he tried to let himself roll forward； take the weight from his fall on his good leg and shoulders。
As Raj Ahten came up； Orden fell on him； hacking viciously with his short sword。 With Orden having so many endowments of metabolism； Raj Ahten could not prepare for the assault。
Raj Ahten leaned back from the attack。 Orden's first swing hit him full in the throat。 Crimson droplets sprayed from Raj Ahten's neck； and he felt the chink of metal as the blade struck bone。
King Orden exulted as he saw the horrible wound； watched flesh peel from Raj Ahten's throat； saw the Wolf Lord's handsome eyes widen in terror。
Yet the blade had hardly cleared Raj Ahten's flesh when the wound began to close over； seamlessly。 The man had so many endowments of stamina； he seemed no longer human。
The Sum of All Men； Orden feared； that creature which drew life from so many people that it could no longer be classified as mortal； could no longer die。 Raj Ahten was being a Power； one to vie the elements or the Time Lords。
The chronicles spoke of it。 The chronicles said Daylan Hammer had lived in Mystarria for a time； sixteen centuries past； before he went south； seeking to suffer in silence。 For immortality had bee a burden。 Daylan's Dedicates passed away； yet he could not die； for in some fashion he had been transformed。 The gifts transmitted through the forcibles remained with him eternallyunwanted； a curse。
Orden had perfect recall； and he saw the words now before him； as he'd read them while young； studying the fragment of an ancient chronicle written by a distant forefather：
〃Having loved his fellow men too deeply； Daylan found that life became a burden。 For men he befriended； women he loved； blossomed and died like the roses of a single season； while he alone remained perennial。 So he sought solitude beyond Inkarra； in the Isles of Illienne； and I suppose he lives there still。〃
All this flashed through Orden's mind as his sword cleared Raj Ahten's throat； then he realized he had swung so hard that the blade was getting away from him。 Pain filled his arm as he strained muscles and pulled tendons； trying to hold it。
The sword flashed away into a bed of ferns upon the knoll。
He had no other weapon。 But Raj Ahten still sat； frozen in horror at the power of his attack。 Orden leapt； kicking at Raj Ahten's head with all his might。
He wore the steel…toed hoots of war； each with a heavy bar across the toe。 The blow； he knew； would shatter his own leg。 But it could also crush Raj Ahten's skull。
As Orden kicked； Raj Ahten twisted away。 Orden's heel struck beneath Raj Ahten's epaulets。
A ripping pain tore through Orden's leg as every bone in it shattered； a pain so profound it wrung a cry from his throat。
Yet if I ruin myself； Orden thought； then I ruin Raj Ahten。 Raj Ahten's shoulder crumpled。 Orden felt the bones of the Wolf Lord's arm snap； followed by his collarbones； then the ribs caving in； one by one； snapping like twigs beneath his heel。
Raj Ahten screamed like one dying。
Orden landed on Raj Ahten's shoulder； and sat for what seemed a few seconds； gasping； wondering what to do next。 He rolled off the Wolf Lord； to see if the man had died。
To his astonishment； Raj Ahten groaned in pain； rolled in the grass。 The impression of Orden's boot lay stamped on the Wolf Lord's shoulder。
The scapula had caved in。 Raj Ahten's right arm twisted at an unnatural angle。 The flesh of his shoulder was pushed down six inches。
Raj Ahten lay in the grass； eyes glazed with pain。 Blood frothed from his mouth。 The Wolf Lord's dark eyes and chiseled face were so beautiful in that moment； Orden marveled。 He'd never seen the Wolf Lord so close； in all his glamour。 It took Orden's breath away。
〃Serve me；〃 Raj Ahten whispered fervently。
In that second； Mendellas Draken Orden was swept away by the force of Raj Ahten's glamour；
