溪澗上橫着一根雨後的倒木,一隻灰麂立抖動着耳朵,在上面警覺地張望,等覺得安全,適才低下頭啃食着其樹杈上的嫩葉。倒木很高大,頂梢新生的的嫩葉和青果對它來說是很罕見的美食。就在它沉浸在咀嚼着準備在這個霧氣瀰漫的清晨果腹時,一隻從灌木後飛出的箭射穿了它的頭顱。灰麂只哀嗚了一聲便落入澗中,麂血把溪水染紅,流向遠處。402Please respect copyright.PENANAVIRymWNMix
402Please respect copyright.PENANAl9EolEw5Zp
從灌木後走出一個男人,他向後揮了揮手,遂從遠處跟來兩個牽馬的扈從,灰發男人把弓插進馬的弓袋裡,指揮他們把灰麂皮帶回營地硝一下。接着便獨自往上遊走了。402Please respect copyright.PENANAiW3JL50vWk
402Please respect copyright.PENANAB3dTwbuRkc
男人徑自走着,聽到身後傳來馬蹄聲,便不動聲色地把手落到馬刀柄上,調過頭看,是黎明時分出去的游騎葉格爾默,他衝來人笑了一下,手又往後挪了挪,解開一個水袋,遞給葉格爾默。葉接過水袋便開始仰頭喝,從嘴邊流出的水把他被汗水侵濕的麻衫淋得更濕。」好甜的淡水注。我要是天天能喝到這樣質量的淡水,便是天天往那鬼林子里走也不會覺得不快。」他說。402Please respect copyright.PENANAPKSEwbtWYR
402Please respect copyright.PENANAcxKN7DhfMg
註:坎韃喀地表雖然不乏淡水,但十分苦澀,長期飲用會得一種類似痛痛病的慢性病,還會咯血。402Please respect copyright.PENANAK7A4ZcnnOY
402Please respect copyright.PENANAtViKpCkFbf
兩個人騎馬並肩走着,葉格爾默說:「昨夜的暴雨把他們的行跡都抹掉了,我去了那人昨天和我們傳信的位置,並沒有發現伊澤尼族人。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAj07JKvIxul
402Please respect copyright.PENANAxa6MFRX4eH
「方糖注回來了嗎?」灰發男人問。402Please respect copyright.PENANAQRu5sg9jiC
402Please respect copyright.PENANATHCzLPE5Nn
註:這是男人豢養的一隻梨子隼的名字402Please respect copyright.PENANAWfFKQ5Ne6F
402Please respect copyright.PENANAIJYiYpINyq
「沒有。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAfNQpAsMHMW
402Please respect copyright.PENANAG6ESDkk8XI
「那蠻人的女人在我們手上,他又吸了我們的麻粉。」402Please respect copyright.PENANA1mnIW7nshW
402Please respect copyright.PENANAtBVgB45iNM
「許是事情做得不夠隱秘,露了馬腳。我們……」402Please respect copyright.PENANAmiEp98E2Ln
402Please respect copyright.PENANANiXF6Yh7Z4
「也可能只是吸多了發瘋了。」灰發男人打斷了他的話,又沉聲說:「葉格爾默,你知道的,我們不能輕易罷手,那件祭器也必需要拿到。等這次伊澤尼大巡獵過了,那東西就要被封存起來,直到下一個「荒月年!」402Please respect copyright.PENANAFqVmAlM9D9
402Please respect copyright.PENANAW7hBYw5LiA
葉格爾默嘆道:「已經不少人病死在這裡了,等以後和他們起了衝突,我們也還折損更多人手,小艾哈德,我不知道那人許諾給你什麼報酬,但這真的值得嗎?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAfzwFkcOUeM
402Please respect copyright.PENANA7g1TQxQ84D
灰發男人聽他喊自己名字,面色一僵,轉而又緩和不少,他的嘴角甚至微微翹起,他也不再看葉格爾默,而是盯着前面遠處河邊空地上的營地。402Please respect copyright.PENANA0cbUbenffM
402Please respect copyright.PENANANQoDs4nUPf
「葉格爾默,我的朋友,事成之後,金銀、貨物、女人,我任你索取。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAad8pQuigZu
402Please respect copyright.PENANAjftapFTOiD
艾哈德回到營地又命兩個游騎帶足三日的水和乾糧到林子里去搜尋伊澤尼部族的蹤跡,他靠近篝火,就着肉湯吃了幾個烤餅。他等身體暖和了開始覺得有些困,就鑽進帳篷裹着氈布睡了。402Please respect copyright.PENANAzqh6HBKvVU
402Please respect copyright.PENANANcenZtZVZs
艾哈德記得自己做了一個無比荒誕的夢,但等夢醒時那段記憶卻又抓不到一點片段。他翻過身,覺得頭又脹又痛,用手一摸,額頭上全是冷掉的汗。402Please respect copyright.PENANADOtAE2kSni
402Please respect copyright.PENANAuHsXdpdjvb
他甚至有一刻突然想在這個暖和的帳篷窩着一睡不醒,這塊坎韃喀的深谷中的森林常年又濕又冷,谷間的濃霧吸入多了還會染上嚴重的熱病,也確實不是什麼怡人的所在。他在這裡蹲了近一個月,早已是苦不堪言。402Please respect copyright.PENANAIofhr07uLA
402Please respect copyright.PENANAdjdF2JOCxc
但他很快就打消這個念頭了,葉格爾默的僕人進到他的帳篷里,小聲告訴他說他手下的幾個武士把那個女野人弄到了林子里去。402Please respect copyright.PENANASd7q2Kst1a
402Please respect copyright.PENANALIRCtcCMNn
「那葉格爾默呢,你不和他說?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAmdhEiPJbbc
402Please respect copyright.PENANA0AcmWDI26d
「大人,那是您的手下,向來不服主人的管。更何況主人現在抽不開手……」那僕人露出一個似哭又像笑的表情,緊張地搓着手。402Please respect copyright.PENANA9GaZ2bMcYy
402Please respect copyright.PENANAPsacP9PjWG
艾哈德盯着那人,似乎想說什麼但最後還是未吐詞組。他深呼了口氣,轉身披上斗篷,從口袋裡掏出幾枚霍澤盾丟給葉的僕人,掀開帳篷帘子就往林子里走。402Please respect copyright.PENANA5WXD5seonM
402Please respect copyright.PENANAd86TRZWUp8
在路上的時候小艾哈德還道:「可別被那群畜生弄死。」話不經意,卻不料一語成讖,等他到的時候,就看到那個衣不遮體的伊澤尼女族人橫在一棵樹下,她的右邊的乳房下面有一段很深的刀口,身下淌着血,她面色蒼白,兩隻手緊捂着喉嚨,張着嘴,眼睛睜得很大,上面映着灰暗的天空和黑色的林影。幾個武士站在她不遠處,其中一人解了皮甲,胸膛外露,虛握着把紅得鮮艷的短劍。402Please respect copyright.PENANAB8v09bVctQ
402Please respect copyright.PENANAFwsCEQ5vbm
艾哈德嘴角顫抖,他沖武士們啐了口痰,罵道:402Please respect copyright.PENANA1xRhcRQadt
402Please respect copyright.PENANABsfVC6wmIz
「你們弄這女野人也就罷了,可為什麼把弄死了?她現在還有用!」402Please respect copyright.PENANA7hhTuBNmiG
402Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZtPDhtshq
「我們也沒要把她整死……」拿着劍的徠絲瑞慌忙解釋道。402Please respect copyright.PENANAE2QK5W9OIT
402Please respect copyright.PENANAgZG80TczhP
「大人,這不全是培根注的錯,是我們起鬨讓培根把她拖來,和大家泄泄火,雖然她是個野人,但怎說也是個娘們……」培根旁邊的男孩接著說。402Please respect copyright.PENANAeKb9wRqJX0
402Please respect copyright.PENANAOZ0DvgBw2Q
註:培根這裡確實是指鹹豬肉 徠絲瑞曾經因被人搶去塊豬肉乾而把那人一對眼睛挖掉。402Please respect copyright.PENANAik1Cbr5xmd
402Please respect copyright.PENANA0LHoQ7civD
「那女野人不肯脫,哭哭啼啼地,培根就把劍拔出來嚇她,那女人才開始褪衣服……誰知道等我和鐸爾弄完她突然往培根劍上沖。她抱着培根胳膊等劍整個沒入胸口才放手。她肯定是,是被血嗆死的,嘖,真是野人,有夠賤的。」另一個男人啐道。見小艾哈德還看着自己,他又急着說:「我是布哈林教徒,雖然我殺人放火,但絕不說謊!」402Please respect copyright.PENANA46cJGZ0Rk1
402Please respect copyright.PENANAg1CE4Kws3p
艾哈德揉了揉太陽穴,看着這群和他出生入死的武士終是說不出狠話,他嘆口氣說:「那野人是祭司哈拉薩的孫女,又是勇士鐸爾的女人。我費盡心力把她掠來不是供你們胡鬧的。不過此事已畢,鐸爾那邊已經沒了消息,這女人作用已大不如前,死了,就死了吧。」402Please respect copyright.PENANASYUyOeoVkU
402Please respect copyright.PENANA1letJi06s3
不過還沒等武士們松下一口氣,他又笑着說:「不過你們這次的酬勞我會以嫖資的形式付給你們,你們得去最髒的妓館嫖最丑最便宜的女人,錢沒花完,不許離開!」402Please respect copyright.PENANAYSOQtVvjJX
402Please respect copyright.PENANAL7TIxN0kaI
武士們笑了笑,也不管那屍體,直接跟着他往回走,他們不覺得艾哈德會真的這麼對他們,在坎韃喀,一個忠心可靠的下屬強過過世間君王最華麗的皇冠,勝過與仙女在床榻上的無數歡好。402Please respect copyright.PENANApShVmFVk8Q
402Please respect copyright.PENANAj8y0g0sCJd
他們甚至在路上唱起了歌:402Please respect copyright.PENANARScCy8RzEW
402Please respect copyright.PENANAl4DITGjSK2
雪白的荒原掠過的陰影402Please respect copyright.PENANA3DGPxh4tdw
402Please respect copyright.PENANASWmMLvxGjR
是我們蘇忒斯的灰狐狸402Please respect copyright.PENANAlsXGZhWduv
402Please respect copyright.PENANAtRwdhWqdxa
燒殺搶掠 生啖人心402Please respect copyright.PENANA0gIQMyMe7q
402Please respect copyright.PENANAfm9j1KOLPO
我們壘起敵人的屍骸做窩402Please respect copyright.PENANAsF88mmF0Nl
402Please respect copyright.PENANAhlJRQEnHNL
他們的妻兒是我們的僕役402Please respect copyright.PENANAaZ4YdhBESu
402Please respect copyright.PENANA4pmXcYXufe
嘿 蘇忒斯的灰狐狸402Please respect copyright.PENANAlxggQHKBBy
402Please respect copyright.PENANAqkrjP5RQ30
我們血腥殘酷 好施詭計402Please respect copyright.PENANAu5vQNrawKG
402Please respect copyright.PENANAPzJYoKgTGX
我們出手闊綽 穿戴金銀402Please respect copyright.PENANAFl5GbwEbpD
402Please respect copyright.PENANA9kzEUhIsC5
我們流連妓館 四處留情402Please respect copyright.PENANAgyerXjbG0C
402Please respect copyright.PENANAAAHdoZ1vPT
我們族群強大 團結有力402Please respect copyright.PENANA2oj8DXUNrS
402Please respect copyright.PENANAZy0Pg7wV5o
嘿 蘇忒斯的灰狐狸402Please respect copyright.PENANAHvDikU0q5D
402Please respect copyright.PENANAJJLmuNatmb
即便遇到狼群402Please respect copyright.PENANAfGNfnEE3jv
402Please respect copyright.PENANANL2ZHmacJu
拚死一搏也在所不惜402Please respect copyright.PENANAEYXtMXxoV5
402Please respect copyright.PENANAFRNaHbJIqD
等到艾哈德繞到營地前面時,他看到篝火前的葉格爾默和一個陌生人正站起身往他這邊走。這個陌生人大概有5.5英尺高,比葉格爾默矮一個頭,他穿着一身單薄的黑色麻衣,一手握着一支手杖樣的粗樹枝。陌生人一頭濕漉漉的黑色長髮緊貼額頭,,其中幾綹甚至蓋過他的眼睛,下半張臉又矇著一髒兮兮的白布,從頭到尾都是古派的亞森尼僧侶打扮。葉格爾默看到他時有些驚訝,道:「我送這人去出谷的大路,我有些事,等回來與你細說。」402Please respect copyright.PENANA2iwa5qldeo
402Please respect copyright.PENANAri6h7xOE8t
「霧都沒起,還不急着走。這人是誰?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAU6ZQd35gTo
402Please respect copyright.PENANA6Va8ABRojS
「是細鹽注,從霧葉湖穿林子過來的。他是琅契斯Lankeizi人,我的同鄉。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAVS07ldC6Wv
402Please respect copyright.PENANAGANukG9NIc
註:坎韃喀黑話里細鹽指的是被流放到這裡的不懂規矩的雛兒402Please respect copyright.PENANAwr6L702wX8
402Please respect copyright.PENANALP2BekDOnH
「霧葉湖我們派去的人還沒回來,這人是從那邊來的,可曾看到野人?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAiqNnA76Amh
402Please respect copyright.PENANAb6I8dv4nr3
「他正是來逃野人的。他看到野人把自己的一個族人追到湖裡用箭射死了。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAJV7fUyUyHp
402Please respect copyright.PENANAcXFT7SpVko
「讓他直接和我說!」艾哈德盯着葉格爾默。402Please respect copyright.PENANA3VtdzZVHbN
402Please respect copyright.PENANA9z7xDeI3Sh
「他只會講琅契斯的土話,你聽不懂。」 葉格爾默也望着他的朋友。402Please respect copyright.PENANASTzyJRdbei
402Please respect copyright.PENANAdxw4qCgkqe
「我不信一個修士打扮的人不會說伯曼話,難道你們島的經文也是用土語寫的?」 艾哈德冷笑着。402Please respect copyright.PENANAt82BudZBtr
402Please respect copyright.PENANAHdxZwDiTbj
葉格爾默,嘆了口氣,不作聲了。402Please respect copyright.PENANAIjOqHYghTI
402Please respect copyright.PENANAqD4AVcPQj7
「eizlien hake.」(琅契斯語:讓我說吧)基爾巴特抬起頭對葉格爾默說道。402Please respect copyright.PENANAnmpL9KjkxS
402Please respect copyright.PENANAWK1rzj4vrW
基爾巴特道向艾哈德道了句日安,她講通用語時是用的另一種腔調,一種很乾凈的稚嫩男孩的強調,接着她又說:「但在你問我問題前,我也想知道你們的事。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAtJiqBr5m6L
402Please respect copyright.PENANAMCYKPPgBUE
「你很聰明,小子。」艾哈德笑着,又道:「難道葉格爾默沒與你說?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAfQvvE0XYUf
402Please respect copyright.PENANAgkgQO6GxnV
「我剛才一直在和他講我的事。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAalYcEq42RS
402Please respect copyright.PENANAKNsgarXNvO
艾哈德看了葉格爾默一眼,看到對方點了點頭,心便是一安,道:「請便。」402Please respect copyright.PENANA1FjS4fHNBj
402Please respect copyright.PENANAxkUAPsp160
「你們是什麼人?」402Please respect copyright.PENANArg8NJtslPB
402Please respect copyright.PENANAqHxKjr8O8t
「我們是武裝商團,既是商人又是武士,我們和蠻人做生意,用烈酒和煙葉換他們的皮子。」402Please respect copyright.PENANANpbVYvCj1W
402Please respect copyright.PENANA07LhAlxwlZ
「可你們既沒煙酒也沒皮子。」基爾巴特揶揄道。402Please respect copyright.PENANAlGmOCjAcmd
402Please respect copyright.PENANANwOWpuwcvV
「我們的貨被野人掠去了。他們理解不了交易,反而更喜歡搶。他們可能現在正在谷里的某處喝着酒跳舞呢,」402Please respect copyright.PENANAuvq0UdRlX6
402Please respect copyright.PENANAGbheQXwcCy
「喝得醉醺醺把自己的族人射死?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAu5uy1ZKHd9
402Please respect copyright.PENANAvR0NwXijNF
「我們只想把東西追回來。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAl8qII84lHJ
402Please respect copyright.PENANAOXGhEiouRF
「我問完了。你請吧。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAsPANhjftu8
402Please respect copyright.PENANAVeL34GBNxb
「那群人現在在哪?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAkzysgwEAIU
402Please respect copyright.PENANApoJ2nhzmGU
「早晨的時候我看到有兩個蠻族的戰士在林子里,可能是在找我,我躲到灌木叢里。他們找了一會兒。突然遠處傳來鳴鏑的聲音,他們就急匆匆回去了。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAZmUAJ8oBJ1
402Please respect copyright.PENANA1m7MllmIU5
「那鳴鏑射在什麼方向?」402Please respect copyright.PENANABuDd1rZ66h
402Please respect copyright.PENANAsWiWHphbRV
「湖對面,那邊是一片枯木。」402Please respect copyright.PENANA9Q4osAjkz3
402Please respect copyright.PENANABgWyMpSVDB
艾哈德聽後神情嚴肅,告訴葉格爾默準備人手,在日落前到枯林。402Please respect copyright.PENANA7MmkKiJYpc
402Please respect copyright.PENANAIT1ekGHSKg
「我先送他上去。」 葉格爾默道。402Please respect copyright.PENANA6qf7LnrJ0p
402Please respect copyright.PENANAqnJXIG8Fit
「不,讓他留在這裡。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAnYpD9MTLGG
402Please respect copyright.PENANA5wDv3tr2Gy
葉格爾默道沒吱聲,轉身去樹下牽了匹馬。402Please respect copyright.PENANAegARkVQyqI
402Please respect copyright.PENANA3GxQ5eEkrS
他把馬交給基爾巴特,領着她上了對面河灘。402Please respect copyright.PENANA5xwEipJL0P
402Please respect copyright.PENANAHBCobWwimw
「你本就該不做聲,那樣艾哈德或許還能放你走。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAmJYSiHRDJM
402Please respect copyright.PENANAYv6fWoM1Pr
「那現在呢?」402Please respect copyright.PENANAh4Z2TcnYO2
402Please respect copyright.PENANAlRbBPDPOvr
「在坎韃喀,對的或許是錯的,好人也未必是好人。優良的品行有時候是生存的累贅。生死面前,你死守的人性怕是一錢不值。」葉格默爾嘆了口氣,輕聲說。402Please respect copyright.PENANA508p0jYH9M
402Please respect copyright.PENANA6qX2mBqS9S
「人要那樣低賤地活,可能會活得很久,但那樣渾渾噩噩又與行屍走肉有什麼區別。不過是還在喘氣的屍體罷了。而且,他終歸還是文明世界的人。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAo6KNL0U1qu
402Please respect copyright.PENANAWw2i8HqIXM
「蠻人的惡只是殺戮與掠奪,而文明人的惡卻是更令人驚悚的恐怖。」葉格默爾說。402Please respect copyright.PENANAiAGpipMQAt
402Please respect copyright.PENANACh99NusE7O
「總有人會去阻止。」基爾巴特說,又道:「葉格爾默,你是個義人。沒有你,我恐怕早凍死在林子里了。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAbAcrw6wbmo
402Please respect copyright.PENANAkQcOXcN1Zb
葉格爾默聽到這兒不禁咂咂嘴,露出一個苦澀的笑容。他正要說什麼,卻看見遠處的小艾哈德拿着弓,正抽着箭。402Please respect copyright.PENANANHjip7v1sT
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「低下身,衝過那塊石壁,順着往上走!快!」 」葉格爾默拍了下馬,急道。402Please respect copyright.PENANAwuOfbu2lC6
402Please respect copyright.PENANAdRq58TGtbU
馬嘶叫了一聲就往前跑,基爾巴特剛低下身控制住馬。一根鋼頭的箭矢就飛掠過她的頭,射在前面的樹榦上,箭桿不住顫動。402Please respect copyright.PENANA0sNEbHi4xy
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等艾哈德再抽出一桿箭的時候,基爾巴特已經離開他的視野了,他暗罵一聲,看着雙手舉起的葉格爾默似笑不笑地走下來。402Please respect copyright.PENANARnBZqjFqJm
402Please respect copyright.PENANAR1cdo7SpaZ
艾哈德感覺頭更疼了,他放下弓,有氣無力地說:「伊澤尼巡獵沒走祖路,我們的事可能走漏,把他永遠留在這裡是最保險的。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAyBvi5oNSnq
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「他是我同鄉。我們很投緣。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAELm0W5pdeT
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「你太相信他了,他能逃掉野人的追捕,怎麼會是個碰水就化的細鹽,這人絕非易與之輩。」402Please respect copyright.PENANAB4PWHTsvGB
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「艾哈德,還在坎韃喀這地界兒活着的人,哪一個是真正的易與之輩呢?」