5.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm8GbByhTE
西樹海森林一隅。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGPKL1QnHw
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvy8joN4ht
夜深了，索爾‧范‧埃里斯將軍帶領的軍隊在河邊紮營，明天，他們就會抵達人類城鎮：春水城。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4vxQ83hHx
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuVdovL8Zb
士兵們升起營火。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBcyT4Htnn
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJLSChfD9i
    火能驅趕猛獸、烹煮食物，也在只剩蟲鳴與河流奔騰聲的夜晚裡，為人類供給溫暖與安全感；晚餐告一段落，不知道是誰先提議，士兵們把關在囚車裡的少女精靈拉下來，擁促到營火旁，叫她們唱歌跳舞。人類對精靈有種刻板印象，好像他們男的都是弓箭手、女的都是歌妓。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wjhAGZbGf
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qIIRrkNaE
少女精靈們從十歲到十六歲不等，她們握著彼此的手，縮在一起，又驚又恐，從小在部落呵護下長大的她們，哪受過這種羞辱？39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCr9WAT98l
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWNclMPflX
遠離營火的樹下，一位黑髮精靈仍被銬著鎖鍊，兩名士兵在旁看守，他捧起樹洞下的積水，小口地喝，背對自己的族人。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zAetZL62M
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8DW4tdk8T
鼓譟的聲音越來越大，士兵們的情緒越發浮躁，女精靈驚嚇的模樣成了另類的感官刺激，一名士兵把青色髮的少女精靈，拉到懷裡猛親，那名女精靈放聲尖叫、拳打腳踢，士兵煩躁地甩了她一巴掌，把她打回同伴身邊。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGyBP1ooo8
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUukiYnxBF
其他女精靈扶起她，每個精靈都哭了。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2auMfE1o1
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTjkk72vwg
士兵們聽到那嗚嗚咽咽的聲音，更加不耐煩，這群精靈無法「娛樂」他們就算了，還製造「麻煩」？39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MVklE5U5M
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltxRII0B3W
「哭什麼？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO84VTJpJuV
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqo5dr9UH0
「唱歌！唱歌！叫妳們唱歌跳舞，不會嗎？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPapDH7GWku
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP0qmFbb6m
「不准哭！想煩死老子嗎？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk06rBbp8Ko
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUU5Cqw5Bz
「妳們這群笨精靈！」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdoI2oQ6IE
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ClJGAwf7s
這時，青色髮的少女精靈大叫：「黑琴大哥，救救我們！黑琴大哥，求你了啊——」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiVqFFoXoh
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWDAd6EUow
她又被甩了一巴掌。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4nirnBqeM
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbxngod6i4
「叫什麼叫！老子的名字也不叫黑什麼的！」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYMUcd1XrR
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA1bI9hCO3
「……大哥！黑琴大哥！」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97xtCW58aH
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjfcVxFn2f
「黑琴！」女精靈們此起彼落地叫喚。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6Fy2GZQ37
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJqB3yLQOF
    被關在囚車裡的男精靈們也大聲呼喊那個名字：黑琴！黑琴！黑琴！39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxAxZ64ITY
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAFvmvpVCN
黑琴，彷彿他是他們唯一的希望，精靈族的救星。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3No7nw1kEV
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcPu2vMI7u
叫喊的氣勢讓人類士兵愣住了，搞不懂這群髒兮兮的尖耳朵在發什麼神經。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ726HiPZdr5
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YKZ6dPkka
這時，索爾探出帳棚。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcrsT1LmGJ
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN608pxstO5
「你們在吵什麼？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR2vnMvHkq
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0YOQuaCyi
叫喊聲不減反增，樹下的精靈突然用身體撞向看守鎖鍊的士兵，並抽出對方的劍、衝到索爾面前！索爾的侍衛拔劍應戰，營火旁的士兵們都傻了，他們不把精靈的戰鬥力放在眼裡，但那名精靈展露出的速度與爆發力，宛如孤注一擲的獵豹。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMX2zUSiNk
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxCSBN1T6o
精靈沒有持劍攻擊索爾，而是將劍橫抵在自己脖子上。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S7CpiN1En
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wKrEhPlSl
「叫你的人從今以後不許碰任何精靈！」他的聲音不大、不高不抗，但宛如發號施令的將領，堅冷如冰，「否則你拖回主城的，將是一具死屍！」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47LABPsH7t
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkZLcre5Se
精靈們的哭聲一個接著一個消失，他們望著他，無聲地流下淚水。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iAUAosTC6
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi9UY77U27
索爾的侍衛用眼神詢問將軍，先前叫女精靈歌舞的士兵們，見到此僵持，紛紛道：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMwlYUZ6KT
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mu7bXj2CB
「大人，我們只是開玩笑……」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsicGJxvMrs
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDunw5ZpCT
「大人，您何必聽一個精靈的話？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdX2abhRVB
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoE9wODbCX
「你算什麼東西！我們大人怎麼會聽你的？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCKGot19y9
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl0HKnknQW
「大人，您直接處死他吧！」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kLZ6TxQR3
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCf2HepgUX
「敢冒犯我們將軍大人，不要命了！」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjzS3et0UK
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWheoAO2eFA
「大人！大人……」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByE8OPWEjG
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdyPLUCigo
抵住脖子的劍並未鬆手，反而更壓進。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGzb4Xvnid
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruVL0aje6e
「好了。」索爾開口，止住士兵們的吵鬧，語調是一反常態的輕鬆：「你們都聽到了，沒我的命令，從今以後不准碰精靈，把她們趕回囚車，熄火睡覺，明早還要趕路。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiiPsbpOXH
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJk8ax5lLW
索爾的命令讓士兵們面面相覷，他的近身侍衛把女精靈們抓回囚車後，便站在一旁看守，不許任何人靠近，精靈放下長劍、丟回給身後的士兵。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAmTYNEcRM
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcIoll67cX
「原來你叫黑琴。」索爾的心情大好，他搶過士兵手中的鎖鍊，瞪了對方一眼，彷彿在指責對方沒看好精靈，把兩名士兵嚇得皮皮挫，「進來吧。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYEfzPPyYQ
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQO7aDhP6k
索爾把黑琴拉到自己的營帳。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVuvmTxFql
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlq914Y2Go
帳內有簡單的行軍床和行李，碳火和熱水烘暖空氣，折疊式矮桌上放著吃到一半的晚餐，索爾在矮桌旁席地而坐。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXZ25c3jH3
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQNn87zDiM
「吃過了嗎？」他把啃了一半的雞腿丟到精靈腳邊，但精靈看都不看，他自討沒趣，「你呀，就這麼確定我會救你？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWjDHsqFAO
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2u8lgua7E
精靈站在索爾面前，反而使坐著的索爾覺得自己矮人一截。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHyrkArXLW
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXEKHQmBsg
索爾吃不下了，他丟下刀叉：「你還有什麼把戲沒使出來？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WkVQ2dlYI
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPLpjCRNBt
「你在招兵買馬。」綠眸讓整句話成為肯定，「你想推翻你的國王。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQeQBZCVXr
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PWSIdyklF
索爾躍起，抽出配劍，直指精靈，「飯能亂吃，話不能亂說啊。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP95BQEQc7
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkYTvnAyhG
「……」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcUG0J0UOW
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmXqgHGrfL
「你還是說話好了，」索爾收回配劍，改坐在行軍床上，高度提升，他發現精靈的口音、或說是腔調，特別動聽，宛如從遙遠的山邊傳來，幽幽蕩蕩，「小聲一點。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofNDVHoiRK
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyW1KuZ6zX
精靈走到索爾面前，雙手的鎖鍊拖垂在地，沒有士兵拉住，他是能跑的，但他知道跑是徒勞，人類只要騎馬就能追上他，屆時，他不確定眼前的人類將軍會不會饒他一命，保住自己的性命，是他的當務之急。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnC0TQPDAb
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46I9oJIkYP
「你的結論從哪來的？我想聽聽你的想法。」索爾打量著精靈，精靈彷彿帶著面具，讓他看不透那雙眼的真心，沒有恐懼、沒有憤怒，精靈異常安靜。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxzz0iST5c
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDE40gvXe0
「你剛剛會幫我，不只是英雄惜英雄，你要我……為你做事。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FNdj8hsnJ
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGyPhYBYdk
「不錯。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm1j2SGlU7
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZyhvbXVOe
「其次，你在介紹你自己時，報上你的家族。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y3K0IlJ95
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nUGdH4zve
「很多人類都這麼做啊。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aQcI8tarK
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzH5h61y0u
「你以為生活在森林裡的精靈，會知道千里之外的人類家系有多偉大？你的舉動顯示你是個霸道、傲慢、自大、好大喜功、炫耀權勢、恨不得所有人知道你是誰的人！」精靈越講越大聲、越憤怒，他呼吸急促、目光激動，索爾呆掉了，「你有社會地位、有錢、有軍階，這樣的男人……」精靈深吸一口氣，恢復冷靜，「會甘心屈居第二？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpRWku2UvY
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KBp8RoCLG
索爾佩服這精靈，他不只強，還很聰明，懂推理的腦袋和俐落的舌頭，可比讓人流血的刀劍更厲害，「我還有一個漂亮老婆，她是國王的表姊，我老覺得她是皇室派來監視我的。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrZ7PJTaNA
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuzc76vEiF
「你的家族和國王是對立的。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykC7OCXZGl
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKWMM41hpc
「你要這麼說也行。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEO0LodoCy
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaIvfovllw
「你是將軍……你為你的國王打仗，你又想推翻他，代表你認為這一屆的國王實力不如你，你有勝算。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3F104vokW
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTvy8KhYgz
「我開始懷疑你不是精靈，而是人類了。」索爾開玩笑，精靈雙眸一眨，彷彿想起了什麼。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IspoJN7nz
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzxpYocBsQ
「這幾天，我聽到不少關於你們國王的事，他並不……得人心。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFtwiDowQO
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK60cYZGjl
「在人類社會，只要你老子是國王，你就會是國王，你是國王，你兒子也會是國王，這叫『世襲制度』，聽懂嗎？」索爾的語氣裡，帶著不滿。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAPPpsHxBh
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEpwxlq3vW
「我們部落不是這樣的。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBOkh5R65q
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ924KUlyMj1
「喔？那你們的『國王』打哪來？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55giYUD6pL
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCve2yVuUhk
「我們得證明自己的實力，才能獲得相應的職位，『族長』是全族推選，二十歲以上的精靈每人一票，二十歲到十六歲每人半票，每屆推選三位，由得票數最高的精靈擔任，四年一輪，不分男女。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfRV0ig2ly
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmpwFEfstJ
「所以……族長的兒子不會是族長。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAYE1APfhA
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21v0TyKrWj
「不會，除非他證明自己夠資格，有族人願意追隨他。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU6tVKbjsQ
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhRaipbL8q
「嗯……」索爾摸著下巴起身，他比精靈高壯，精靈後退後了幾步，「作法很奇怪，但證明實力這點，我認同。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcjUkRrE4Z
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpDiOyL40B
索爾對精靈一笑，撿起地上的鎖鍊。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR07fFdkOK6
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVldEpAKwyp
「你比我當初認為的還有價值。」鎖鍊一拉，精靈往前跌，索爾單臂接住他，聲音壓低在他耳邊：「我要做的是『叛國』，成功了，我與你共享權勢與榮耀，你部落那套作法，我可以參考看看……不成，你也難逃一死。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeV1z7Uj8F
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDM55iOgPw
精靈僵硬地轉頭，眸子對上人類，「你早該殺了我。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkkILzHiZ6
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco9hFzGsEu
索爾把精靈丟在地上，精靈吃痛地咳了幾聲、黑髮蓋住臉。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt185a8JhC
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLmCsdrByL
「來人！」索爾一喊，兩名近衛跑進帳內，索爾把鎖鍊交給他們，「帶走。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvTR9BatG3
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo6PFpsvFq
隔天行軍，索爾要那名劍被搶走的士兵把馬讓給精靈，並在旁邊替精靈牽馬。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxivkj0BY8
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe97tzrai9
士兵顏面掃地，他的同袍在後面笑，他則不斷對精靈投以恨不得殺死他的目光；精靈無動於衷，因為這小小的「恨」，跟他部落被屠、族人被辱比起來，根本不算什麼39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQd9uQlF7Q
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKziXcIoe02
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pxBmBJCEI
＊＊＊ ＊＊＊ ＊＊＊（試閱到此結束）