5.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkeTXV218e
西樹海森林一隅。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfm7vhFSlo
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlozk15CxQm
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsy7JGIERT
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTe9uxNpKT
士兵們升起營火。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jzs3WUvn1
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc7v90CrLL
    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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3ZMgRaWIx
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoCmCPGFdz
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？44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRCrIgqY15
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPlefff4tx
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTYWqMUWi2
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWf7ky9dwO
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveDbYUaSIm
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMDB9uw1H6
其他女精靈扶起她，每個精靈都哭了。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kmDKzzbRF
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4fK3dKIgJ
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」？44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmux5FBwlO
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALOlOazeJe
「哭什麼？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2AaQXUYZe
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4vnYyXEBA
「唱歌！唱歌！叫妳們唱歌跳舞，不會嗎？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvhPVbD4wL
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrPZR7nWLJ
「不准哭！想煩死老子嗎？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4d5wexDKp
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ9q9pt4WG
「妳們這群笨精靈！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYesAHSgNZ3
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qvzx2qn58
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——」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYaZ6kY5jJ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6vPozgmAX
她又被甩了一巴掌。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyJ8rGUR2b
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIrprCQwig
「叫什麼叫！老子的名字也不叫黑什麼的！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi9p3FXiLc
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0NhzPmAh8
「……大哥！黑琴大哥！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0t0nL0nuM
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgPBid3AYD
「黑琴！」女精靈們此起彼落地叫喚。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqmALj6i4W
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eSEJ1DExI
    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！44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t5qlbMO70
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3hopvCjaa
黑琴，彷彿他是他們唯一的希望，精靈族的救星。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMIWKT51wL
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpWMsIXFCy
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndOq80J299
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF0hkYflG1
這時，索爾探出帳棚。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0ayLbbkAi
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdfvvimI6V
「你們在吵什麼？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKCWP38bOw
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQbeCTS1MV
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesUiSXEubU
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOThVZ9arg0
精靈沒有持劍攻擊索爾，而是將劍橫抵在自己脖子上。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyG55SSE1n
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESP6QOtQRN
「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！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma8glGdgkQ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDll3BOEMi
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSyB8RVVdt
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxl97NVsDD
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：44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41WlntcBJY
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYyC1VpW4A
「大人，我們只是開玩笑……」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0VyyVZnoL
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9G8OjNYkk
「大人，您何必聽一個精靈的話？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOza4ocAeTc
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaYhpkZ4yP
「你算什麼東西！我們大人怎麼會聽你的？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePlpOfX0KA
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymf37XkmWz
「大人，您直接處死他吧！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk48Ju43cR
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a5nZf6wc3
「敢冒犯我們將軍大人，不要命了！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZlfkENDJh
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2amnsiuei
「大人！大人……」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxTvQgFxF1
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPMiEoDjk4
抵住脖子的劍並未鬆手，反而更壓進。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dzRwu5eSu
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGREIIcugNz
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSJt8Gjne5
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghTRVFpku5
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8RrElB1cL
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjcVTZrIvb
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G7jrrUUtF
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2zg7GKqNz
索爾把黑琴拉到自己的營帳。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcBNvFsewo
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsqWdl3oec
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGdxWXtvCV
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD5vZSwLj2
「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？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eYHl7ESaa
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZmMnxHetT
精靈站在索爾面前，反而使坐著的索爾覺得自己矮人一截。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eFm7or5oV
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ4BcqJTxM
索爾吃不下了，他丟下刀叉：「你還有什麼把戲沒使出來？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjzWef8r7x
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3NfjEE8sd
「你在招兵買馬。」綠眸讓整句話成為肯定，「你想推翻你的國王。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MECw7PJRD
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR37l3UZLRU
索爾躍起，抽出配劍，直指精靈，「飯能亂吃，話不能亂說啊。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP2UmPfYgy
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RLW29ooa7
「……」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFXoaBHJ1w
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWcc5lAPun
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWUZlAn13o
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFzp21RXjL
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEXxTYSvjP
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYBbeyqptI
「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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLnC0R6XNr
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs4eK7UUc3
「你剛剛會幫我，不只是英雄惜英雄，你要我……為你做事。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK98p3LeKZ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ho7S3siHn
「不錯。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViLzFZE9k6
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9gBlPSnRv
「其次，你在介紹你自己時，報上你的家族。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN9F9UGFsC
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStQqDp3y5i
「很多人類都這麼做啊。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUceO7oTa1B
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsveGRcW8co
「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？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNGo5AsgDI
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq7T8Pab3i
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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55rKaJMv9u
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH6f4HWmyD
「你的家族和國王是對立的。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OHDXvtDsy
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvvKiMM4Y3
「你要這麼說也行。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFt6P6QWBH
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqeu4GEB1x
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXmcOCmwRQ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoZ7v42R8y
「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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyUzpU0W9I
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7eMEoWNRK
「這幾天，我聽到不少關於你們國王的事，他並不……得人心。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEjTbUZyYV
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMvnhUdTWV
「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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5d7IsCErS
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJawYiCJaG
「我們部落不是這樣的。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUQGXcyT85
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn4R6C6T1E
「喔？那你們的『國王』打哪來？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpJT7jEE6T
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvLuT5kSPz
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3QfgV9U6x
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9fV2iRfCw
「所以……族長的兒子不會是族長。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB6h0sWnOb
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBilO0Sc57v
「不會，除非他證明自己夠資格，有族人願意追隨他。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJhQXVkSrS
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCx46MW8PR
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhgsicYiDB
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReaObsfF0g
索爾對精靈一笑，撿起地上的鎖鍊。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FbTNzF0SJ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5dQq5hmMp
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa1bUQKyxW
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOBd3ufhuy
精靈僵硬地轉頭，眸子對上人類，「你早該殺了我。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMakcQ7JVZV
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNssXrnmIZF
索爾把精靈丟在地上，精靈吃痛地咳了幾聲、黑髮蓋住臉。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWUibYQCbU
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqxLSuhPG3
「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。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbblo2PgYdz
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN6OvOvtNx
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。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrtj66ZsMh
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HKHxpfDcm
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44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5YpkazepJ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJuo6WQIWP
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2veVZnVe5
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