36Please respect copyright.PENANARecF32DMqC
36Please respect copyright.PENANA2JONdZ3IrZ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAKWEEpgZh1p
36Please respect copyright.PENANAU9iOWZOvvR
Summary36Please respect copyright.PENANAIz3KY1R1Yj
再說一次,凡事都有代價,索琪兒。36Please respect copyright.PENANAdGPjSmytpu
而當你有所需要時,就難以拒絕對方提出的要求;被索要的東西有時沈重的拿不出來,也有的時候,甚至不是朝你本人索要。36Please respect copyright.PENANAyc9PlEuImb
36Please respect copyright.PENANAoccxbr55E5
36Please respect copyright.PENANAwWgTLkwm6Z
36Please respect copyright.PENANAsWvUGHjIfQ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAH6ApwnjYew
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36Please respect copyright.PENANA8DYE1htZS5
0236Please respect copyright.PENANAC1vSUWsm4C
36Please respect copyright.PENANAaNB1e1PnJ3
36Please respect copyright.PENANA0McaZ7r6xe
森冷白骨撞在玻璃上,發出清脆的喀噠聲。花園裡所有的動物都轉過頭來,索琪兒忽然意識到他們周圍不知何時已經完全安靜無聲,好似所有生物都在窺探,看他們將會發生什麼事。36Please respect copyright.PENANAGxH7jPx58P
36Please respect copyright.PENANAkYukDNSX4v
雖然沒有看見人影靠近,但窗戶內鎖仍發出打開的聲音,冷霧一面喃念著『這樣應該是可以的意思吧』一面推開窗戶爬了進去,索琪兒連忙跟上腳步。那窗戶明明看起來很窄,卻奇異地在她把手伸進去的那一刻便延展開來,像是貼合她的身型一樣,放大成恰恰能讓她通過的尺寸。36Please respect copyright.PENANA6HT64fDmJ8
36Please respect copyright.PENANAQKLhdCFapx
小屋的內部就如同一般尋常可見的森林人家,木造建築,沒有隔間,屋內則四放著各種乾燥植物與日常用品,簡易的廚房緊挨著鋪著花色拼木棉被的大床;屋子中央奇怪地豎著一根扭曲的枯木樑柱,雖然屋內沒人,但壁爐仍熊熊燃燒著,顯示主人應該離家不遠。36Please respect copyright.PENANAsWT0VcI5zX
36Please respect copyright.PENANAmWhZM5ISfo
屋內沒人,又是誰給他們開了窗戶?36Please respect copyright.PENANA0gK1DQDxLi
36Please respect copyright.PENANA2xHPjvM1GX
索琪兒還感到困惑的時候冷霧已經趨前一步,他雙手分別攤向左右,輕曲單膝、雖然沒有低頭但是視線向上,是共世禮儀某個北方的變體,代表手無寸鐵,誠懇而無害。36Please respect copyright.PENANAR5GRvBQLOZ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAOBR19we0Vw
「你好,可以稍微打擾你一下嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAdyG7QBUzMV
36Please respect copyright.PENANAFsTlY72LzJ
他這麼說,那根索琪兒本來以為是木頭樑柱的東西便轉過身來。紅髮少女連忙摀住嘴,差一點尖叫出聲:那根本不是什麼樹幹,但也絕對不是人,因為那是一個身高幾乎要頂到橫樑的尖瘦人形,從輪廓勉強能看得出應該是個女性。她渾身骨骼肢體扭曲得有如枯木,滿臉皺紋,雙手交握時發出喀搭喀搭的聲音,毫無肉感,像是皮包著骨頭相互撞擊。36Please respect copyright.PENANAdoOjkiNoKe
36Please respect copyright.PENANAFYcndknb04
那女人樣貌的怪物用常人無法辦到的角度彎下身來,興味盎然地打量冷霧與索琪兒。36Please respect copyright.PENANAu8c4MaP1xv
36Please respect copyright.PENANAi9dZIMZwYB
36Please respect copyright.PENANAj5SJZtwCmf
「是誰在我的房子裡啊?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAM00p0OsLep
36Please respect copyright.PENANA45PcOSn3xg
她開口說話時聲音是尖細、甜膩的聲音,那樣的音頻一般屬於十幾歲的小女孩,並沒有使她變得親切一些,反而顯得更加恐怖。36Please respect copyright.PENANAYFGpHGkEHJ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAuHjdbAoB3l
「夫人,我們在森林裡迷路了,」36Please respect copyright.PENANAEZ7HuEaSry
直到聽見冷霧說話的聲音,索琪兒才從那令人窒息的壓迫感中回過神來,她轉過頭,冷霧表情沒有一點改變,好似他們就只是在跟森林裡偶遇的某個普通老婆婆說話。36Please respect copyright.PENANAFeQkKkPCcx
「不知道妳能不能替我們指路,我們想要到最近的村莊,或至少能夠離開森林。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAFg2B7Ourr8
36Please respect copyright.PENANAOYW0p4L375
老女人又喀搭喀搭敲了幾下手指,表情好似剛拿到新娃娃的小女孩。36Please respect copyright.PENANAeIDxJCZ6zD
36Please respect copyright.PENANANOONiwJIV3
「咯咯……這麼多年,我想想,這麼多年呀……沒有人經過我的屋子……你知不知道規矩呀?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAg48B67GgmH
36Please respect copyright.PENANAJo48wvupfX
她一說到規矩兩字,索琪兒才想起出發之前那個人曾低聲叮嚀過她,連忙抬起頭來,現況很是可怕,她用力握拳,指尖嵌入掌心,用疼痛抵抗恐懼。36Please respect copyright.PENANAaWy9usnaGo
36Please respect copyright.PENANA8RSpDxul2P
「我們有帶禮物。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAiKBKr7nIGI
36Please respect copyright.PENANARyzHNEXt9P
她朗聲說道,老女人便把臉從冷霧轉向她,咧開嘴角,語氣很是期待。36Please respect copyright.PENANAF7JcOvZXbk
36Please respect copyright.PENANAvtLORS72TS
「是什麼禮物呀?」36Please respect copyright.PENANA8N6XhJkg3o
「是七種極北地帶絕對不會有的植物,效果包含麻醉、治療、祛寒與舒緩,」索琪兒邊說邊解下腰間皮帶上吊扣的幾個瓶子,冷霧這才看清楚上面貼寫的標籤,全是些叫不出名字的奇異種籽。「都是要送給您的。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAnTuCFfG8nl
36Please respect copyright.PENANAdIaJAcbR38
她高高地捧著那些瓶子,老女人並沒有伸手去接,只是把臉湊近看了又看,也不知道是近視還是純粹想要看得更仔細,她靠得極近,幾乎是把鼻子貼在瓶上。36Please respect copyright.PENANAMLb93pmX3u
36Please respect copyright.PENANAyzYmJIH8Dw
「好棒,好有趣喔!」她口氣天真無邪,說出來的話卻令索琪兒渾身寒毛直豎:「但我不想要。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAlzb5EFNAGm
36Please respect copyright.PENANAp0UvLenyeQ
「這一定可以給您派上用場。」她冷汗直流,即便指尖有些顫抖,仍堅定地將瓶子推往女巫。36Please respect copyright.PENANAOdRAi7JHU1
「我不想要。」女人的嘴咧開了一點。36Please respect copyright.PENANAXRFoTqrAgv
「——我現在就能讓它們開花。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAgcLQApvDnx
「我不想要。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAG9ZfJW6WKg
女人的嘴又咧開了一點,已經全然不是人類能夠擺出的表情——雖然看也知道她是屬於森林的一個部分,語氣仍然輕快,但從表情也能判斷,老女人已經開始有些不耐煩。索琪兒開始感到驚慌,難道那個人搞錯了嗎?36Please respect copyright.PENANAFI7YtTUyg9
36Please respect copyright.PENANAWZOAC2L5QA
可是冷霧還在她的旁邊,像個傻瓜一樣毫無危機意識,索琪兒明白自己不能在這裡退縮,遂深吸一口氣。36Please respect copyright.PENANA4P8yRBBxbY
36Please respect copyright.PENANAPNqsHeMWmc
「——您不能拒絕帶著禮物來找您的人,這跟森林不能主動攻擊旅人一樣,我知道這是規矩!」36Please respect copyright.PENANAXJGXtZqHPy
她一字一頓說得很慢,強迫自己瞪視老女人的雙眼,不能被那怪物看出自己害怕。老女人抬起如樹紋般的眉毛,彷彿索琪兒說了什麼好笑的話一樣。36Please respect copyright.PENANAFiDtIOC8rA
36Please respect copyright.PENANAqieejuKzmO
「是這樣沒錯,但是先破壞規矩的不是你們嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAsMJRX0BmpE
「什麼意思?」索琪兒愕然地問,冷霧卻興味盎然地插嘴。36Please respect copyright.PENANA1FGboSF5Rz
36Please respect copyright.PENANAh1oyBtvIJe
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「原來這是真的啊?我聽說只要贈與禮物,林中女士就會達成對方的要求,這是她想要留在森林裡、必須付出的代價。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAZpky2AO8ao
36Please respect copyright.PENANAzS7ncHnEYW
冷霧說,聽見眼前的少年竟然呼喚了自己的名字,林中女士轉頭過來,一掃臉上的不滿,她很好奇地打量著他。36Please respect copyright.PENANAx3p32IFqAv
36Please respect copyright.PENANArqLtCwU3iE
「——但是林中女士只會對楚楚可憐的少女伸出援手,如果進來的是男人,就會被她吃掉,變成圍籬上的白骨。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAQjUHhH2eL6
「你不要說得這麼事不關己好不好?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3dy3bLP3v
36Please respect copyright.PENANA8krqh6j89R
索琪兒幾乎是氣急敗壞地說,她被林中女士嚇壞,又急於保住冷霧與自己的命,實在想不透這人怎麼可以在這樣的險境中怡然自得——甚至一副樂在其中的樣子。36Please respect copyright.PENANAFKGil3hBDT
36Please respect copyright.PENANAWg8eO8QXXd
「別擔心啦,我還踩在犯規的邊緣——還沒成年嘛,所以應該有點模糊地帶的條款之類的?」36Please respect copyright.PENANApZ3jAAidnd
「你說的沒錯,」林中女士說,「如果進來的是楚楚可憐的少女,我會幫助她;壞心眼的女孩會給予適當的懲罰,男人的話通通會成為過冬的食物;但如果是還沒有變得邪惡的少年的話——要放過你們也不是不可以。」36Please respect copyright.PENANA2Y01BK6JL6
36Please respect copyright.PENANAlYtoGkkqUb
「是不是會有個什麼考驗之類的?比方說把一把豆子倒入壁爐灰燼中,要一顆一顆地挑出來?還是要在一個晚上的時間裡要把大得不可思議的穀倉打掃乾淨?」冷霧愉快提議。36Please respect copyright.PENANAv8bBqC02jK
「我有別的東西想要,如果能把那個給我,我答應放你們一條生路。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAjbAoMHCclE
「是什麼?」索琪兒問,懷疑林中女士是不是會提出什麼難以拿出手的東西。36Please respect copyright.PENANAnQU1dm5bSp
36Please respect copyright.PENANAZZehLosW9v
林中女士舉起銳利指尖,筆直對著冷霧的心臟。36Please respect copyright.PENANAb46qwD1zei
索琪兒瞪大了眼睛。36Please respect copyright.PENANAfKOYTWzj4W
36Please respect copyright.PENANAc56HRiQTPr
36Please respect copyright.PENANAIIZ0yBaXbU
「——不可以。」她反射性地就伸手把冷霧往身後攔,腦袋裡一片空白,不知道該拿什麼來當跟這個殺人怪物交易的籌碼。36Please respect copyright.PENANAOOyZoZAmkw
「啊、妳是想要這個吧?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAdEHrVtuRQC
36Please respect copyright.PENANAlK4xxTSWHN
冷霧卻把手伸進外套裡,在心臟的位置似乎有個暗袋,他掏出來的是一根玻璃試管,細如手指,用軟木塞塞著管口;裡面裝著的是一小綹深灰色的毛髮,依其粗糙程度來看,應該是某種獸毛,上頭用雪般潔白的絲繩繫著。36Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3dNG4xBWB
36Please respect copyright.PENANA4ADFvHxgle
「對,我要那個。」看見實品之後,林中女士的表情變得更加渴切,急急伸出手,冷霧卻一個回手,緊緊地將試管握在掌心。36Please respect copyright.PENANAEsMFTIP8PW
36Please respect copyright.PENANAqFgupxXP3g
「如果我不給呢?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAJaVKr0icxw
「那我就攻擊你們啊。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAsPJIDdM9h1
「為什麼?難道不是攻擊我嗎?我還以為妳不會攻擊來尋求幫助的少女?」36Please respect copyright.PENANA1of7V7ZAZ7
「她說了『你們』,你們是一起的,要就給我瓶子,你們安全離開;或是你就留著那個保命瓶子,然後你們試著逃出我的屋子、逃出這片森林。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAtk4L71DYX5
36Please respect copyright.PENANAWITdhcZtSR
林中女士雙手抱胸,把臉湊近冷霧,等待他做出決定。冷霧並沒有想太久。36Please respect copyright.PENANAckAi4Awcvd
36Please respect copyright.PENANAGdSExhCnm6
「好啊,那就給你吧,你要拿什麼換?」他問。36Please respect copyright.PENANAJCxeRQX3zf
「不是說好了嗎?會放你們一條生路嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANADGCFaqZfSk
「大姐,妳也別鬧了,妳不可能不知道這玩意的價值吧?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAHmdvQXORXi
36Please respect copyright.PENANAy3RkIQJ8Rv
索琪兒要昏倒了,因為冷霧幾乎是用一種在市集跟人殺價的口吻在說話。他捏著瓶子,像個斤斤計較的小販。36Please respect copyright.PENANAmuMG1CI16X
36Please respect copyright.PENANAx40wEvZxbB
「把我吃掉也不過是飽餐一頓,但妳就算繼續在森林裡守個一百年,不,就算是一千年,這種東西錯過了可就不會再有下次,就算以一換三也絕對是賺到,放過我們、帶我們離開森林,還有一個——」36Please respect copyright.PENANAqZrUGAetD9
「還有一個嗎?還想要什麼嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANA5wpTwmjDO0
「——看你有什麼能給我囉?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAUu39RYdxHQ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAeSxX5PGW8J
林中女士打量著他,索琪兒不免覺得她好似在衡量那個瓶子的價值是否高得讓她可以繼續忍耐這個得寸進尺的小鬼;但她的表情又不能說是有惡意,像是真的在思考該拿什麼寶物跟冷霧做交易。36Please respect copyright.PENANAeClxDAEgDz
36Please respect copyright.PENANAqfrRMrtBhu
「我可以給你一個忠告,如何?」林中女士說。36Please respect copyright.PENANABL200pg6Cv
「比方說不要敲詐森林裡的獨居可憐老婆婆嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAgo30qRtDLH
「地圖很實用,武器之類的當然也不錯,不過你們命運多舛,前途幽暗,一個適當的忠告如同一盞不會熄滅的提燈,指引你方向、保護你平安,比物質的饋贈更加划算。」36Please respect copyright.PENANA9YQj68qfTi
36Please respect copyright.PENANAgvdIFUNUTi
冷霧轉著瓶子,沈思幾秒。36Please respect copyright.PENANAJixG78a332
36Please respect copyright.PENANAyuPD1vPd80
「要不我先聽忠告,再決定要不要跟妳拿那盞魔法提燈吧?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAlF3RKuIuTB
36Please respect copyright.PENANAlkFd1Pl3OL
索琪兒心跳差點驟停,但那個不知道裝著什麼獸毛的玻璃試管似乎真的是極度罕見的奇物,林中女士敲敲手指,並沒有沉默多久就做出決定。她開口,與剛剛那尖細甜膩的嗓音不同,顯得輕柔而縹緲:36Please respect copyright.PENANA4mOIfwoGv7
36Please respect copyright.PENANAQHzb27SFCO
36Please respect copyright.PENANABzLzaEV2vK
「你生性如大海,無拘無束,無所禁忌;唯一能牽制你的則是鮮紅血月,但如今你也不知道月亮什麼時候才會從烏雲後面現身;你聽從某人的建議遠行,心裡卻充滿懷疑,跟野獸與時間一同賽跑,你並不知道自己是否有佔上風;而我的忠告是,請你繼續前進,你所選擇的道路暫且沒錯,莫忘初衷,便能抵達你意欲尋獲的結果。」36Please respect copyright.PENANApZYFjBpTZS
36Please respect copyright.PENANApVZ4GrweFQ
索琪兒原先以為以冷霧過去一路的渾蛋表現,會對林中女士這番沒多大幫助的啞謎挑三揀四,但當她側過頭去,卻看見冷霧面無表情,眼神毫無笑意。36Please respect copyright.PENANAez6y5kcMwM
36Please respect copyright.PENANAuoz9tSuvWi
36Please respect copyright.PENANAFvr1gvbeeK
那大約是這趟旅程的第一次,冷霧看起來很累、像是對一切都失去興趣,毫不在意。林中女士大約確切說中了什麼,令索琪兒窺探到一部分他仔細隱藏的真實情緒。他低下頭來,九十度地跟林中女士鞠了一個躬。36Please respect copyright.PENANAUFyi5f9Ej0
36Please respect copyright.PENANAFnY1uGVZ3M
「謝謝您。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAtfi1E04EEU
36Please respect copyright.PENANAoc2WfCZZfY
冷霧說,將試管交給了對方。林中女士滿意地看了又看那根試管,寶貝地將它放到壁爐最高處的一個小籃子裡,接著把他們領到了後院。36Please respect copyright.PENANAfE2CKpCx5F
36Please respect copyright.PENANAHGeicj8Hu6
36Please respect copyright.PENANAt0aPCrV6Wz
後院放著一個像是木臼的東西,大得可以裝下他們兩個,林中女士把他們兩個趕了進去,蹲了下來低聲對那個木臼說了幾句話,又抬起頭看索琪兒。36Please respect copyright.PENANALkHXfIuu3r
36Please respect copyright.PENANAyDeRmoNYU2
「我交代它去芬布爾山下一個叫做霍厄的小鎮,那是妳所能踏足的最北之處,再敢往前走一步,狼就會來。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAcxWurL7VtR
36Please respect copyright.PENANAFgCQTjvacH
她看起來心情不錯,索琪兒便冒險地問:「我們有兩個同伴,可能還在森林裡——」36Please respect copyright.PENANAGmrbA9YUR5
36Please respect copyright.PENANAf0UufXSQ6w
「男的?女的?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAnOhOSdT1Ah
「呃,有一個是少年——」36Please respect copyright.PENANAFkSWfod3Rg
「如果他們有來小屋,我可以看在瓶子的份上不吃掉他們﹑除非他們自己破壞森林的規矩,不然應該都能抵達霍厄。」林中女士蠻不在乎地說。36Please respect copyright.PENANA0SvwS6xtOX
「抱歉、可是,可是您能不能,稍微提示他們一下?我聽說出了森林還會有兩三個村莊,我不知道他們會走去哪個——」36Please respect copyright.PENANA55a3y8nckB
「這妳倒是不用擔心,反正事情會發生在霍厄。」36Please respect copyright.PENANA7u2Apn04Yn
36Please respect copyright.PENANAtVFtrtS3Tq
林中女士說完這句奇怪的話就不再開口,像是拍馬一樣拍了拍那個怪臼,木臼如同熱氣球一樣緩緩升空,朝著北方飄。索琪兒低下頭,不免想著就算是綠石公——不,恐怕就連共馭主此生也沒見過這個景象,她在高空俯瞰森林,而龐大的森林彷彿活物,因為稍早的意外而緩緩蠕動,既像是在探測體內到底有些什麼外來物、又像是吃飽饜足之後,正試圖把所有東西都給消化。36Please respect copyright.PENANAtzy4mtraEd
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好可怕。怎麼會有人以為自己可以掌控這個地方。36Please respect copyright.PENANArSz3AjqCJx
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「索琪兒,你知道現在幾點嗎?」冷霧忽然喊她,索琪兒有些慌張地掏出懷錶,方才一陣混亂、幸虧沒有摔壞,她舉起來對著月光確認,恰恰換日沒有多久。36Please respect copyright.PENANAHly6X11yNd
「剛過午夜。」36Please respect copyright.PENANA2ueh0azwEJ
「好。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAuyz14yzvrj
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冷霧說完便沒有繼續接話,像是在欣賞風景一樣靠在臼緣。索琪兒輕輕瞄他的表情。36Please respect copyright.PENANAcK7CmfR4KJ
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「林中女士剛剛說的……保命瓶子是什麼意思?」36Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZCir3pmuK
36Please respect copyright.PENANAWBWJTyeWdT
少年回過頭來,他們對望一眼,冷霧又微笑了,他聳了聳肩。36Please respect copyright.PENANABqoklOb5eQ
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「別想太多,就是個很靈驗的護身符罷了,就算給了那個老巫婆,我也不會死。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAaHUZHGoR5m
「⋯⋯對不起。」索琪兒說,聽了她的道歉,冷霧挑起眉來。36Please respect copyright.PENANAs3hNnstOuZ
「為什麼向我道歉?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAU16lAUKysm
36Please respect copyright.PENANAIyJKdYC29a
「那是你很重要的東西吧?是我說要去那棟小屋的,我沒想到她會跟你要求禮物,我不知道有男孩子不能進門的規定——」36Please respect copyright.PENANAFvQsxI4TZh
「老巫婆也說了啊,問題不在於誰,而在於我們『一起』,既然說好了要一起離開森林,那過程中的事情就要共同承擔,誰來支付那個代價並不重要。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAYmwpThBSGu
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冷霧淡淡地說,索琪兒憑藉幾年來看人的經驗,認為他說的確實是實話,因而稍稍地對這個人改觀了。36Please respect copyright.PENANAm27odeEXf1
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「我欠你一次。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAzcir5v7Ptr
她輕聲說,冷霧偏了偏頭,大概有些意外,不過很快又加深了微笑,笑得意有所指。36Please respect copyright.PENANA0piNOgtNZQ
「是啊,所以拜託妳不要再嘗試把我毒死了。」36Please respect copyright.PENANABX0P3d73ec
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索琪兒愣了一秒,然後脹紅了臉。36Please respect copyright.PENANAzwWfQAoHcI
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「我不是……我沒有那個意思!但你怎麼……?」36Please respect copyright.PENANA6XgqYlBwFq
「我還記得自己是怎麼離開斷成兩半的車廂,卻完全想不起來自己為何會失去意識;醒來之後妳立刻要我喝水,還很仔細地留意我的水量;加上又看到妳原本打算要給老巫婆的籌碼,所以我才猜妳應該本來是想迷昏我,然後搜身之類的吧?」36Please respect copyright.PENANA4yNbc1p7bV
「那是曼陀羅花萃取物做成的催眠劑,不會真的弄死你,頂多就是有點頭暈目眩、口乾舌燥而已,不用一天就能代謝乾淨。」索琪兒說,「誰叫你幹了那麼多壞事⋯⋯我當然很懷疑你到底是什麼人啊!」36Please respect copyright.PENANA2CYxlvz9SO
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「這我不否認,所以又沒怪妳,」冷霧好似真的不太在乎,「現在還懷疑我嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAeOw1gXyEGh
「勉勉強強⋯⋯減輕了一點嫌疑,但你還是再多喝點水會比較好。」36Please respect copyright.PENANANhEuacbxhg
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「我好像有點理解真正的妳是個什麼樣的人。」冷霧接過水壺的時候說,索琪兒挑起眉毛。36Please respect copyright.PENANAKEtrTODA45
「是嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAG4rP0f5asQ
「是啊,妳算是善良的那種人了,但又不是千重那種把大家都擺在自己前面的類型,妳有輕重緩急。不過一但將某個人納進自己的保護網裡,妳就會變得義無反顧。」36Please respect copyright.PENANA24lWnAySvm
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見索琪兒不置可否,冷霧更顯一絲『說中了』的得意。36Please respect copyright.PENANAJnRZl5WIxC
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「剛剛在老巫婆那裡也是,如果極力否認我們是一起的話,搞不好她會放過妳、只追殺我也不一定;又或是我惹來這麼多麻煩,就算老巫婆真要吃掉我的心臟,妳大可不必袒護我。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAzfx5b6f8eM
「⋯⋯難道你是因為這個原因,才把瓶子交給林中女士的嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAXtfwrZ38lR
「可以這麼說吧。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAGdUwoEG4AN
36Please respect copyright.PENANAuIsqHgq4EY
冷霧說完便仰頭喝水,索琪兒愣愣地看著他,然後幽幽開口。36Please respect copyright.PENANANZmrj1BaLD
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「我其實出身於……非常有地位的家庭。」
「喔?」冷霧停下動作,很有興趣地看了她一眼,索琪兒揮了揮手,要他再多喝幾口。
「父親是世代守護王庭的軍官家族、母親也是門當戶對,有著顯赫的姓氏。」
「哇,那豈不是超顯赫的?」
「應該是吧,如果我是正正當當的出生的話,大概現在也不會在這裡。」索琪兒說,「我的母親趁著父親長期在外鎮壓叛亂的時候,偷偷與舊情人見面……然後有了我。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAY0KhHLgmLc
而且那個舊情人偏偏還是個不信者——尊貴的血脈混進了骯髒的基因,已經不是單純夫妻之間、而是索琪兒的存在本身就辱沒了整個家族的名譽,可想而知一定有極其糟糕的事情發生在這個只因為出生就受盡唾棄的少女身上。大概是想起不愉快的回憶,說起那個本該是她父親的人,索琪兒神情輕蔑,但大概也能理解自己的存在本就會招致憤恨,於是口氣又多了一股悲哀。
36Please respect copyright.PENANAdJA3KY9xAs
「他恨我,恨得甚至不願意讓我活下去,還希望我在死去前盡可能地多受痛苦……我是受了別人的幫助詐死,好不容易逃跑,躲進組織裡面。」
「為什麼要告訴我這麼重要的個人情報?」
36Please respect copyright.PENANAMTBqNbWEf1
冷霧問,大姓母親與軍官父親,如果稍加留心、仔細調查,要找出原生家庭並不困難;況且名義上的父親對索琪兒顯然恨之入骨,搞不好願意花大筆的錢殺人滅口。36Please respect copyright.PENANAvcZIsR9IB0
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索琪兒並未馬上接話,大概還想著過去發生的事情,她看著冷霧背後的天空,今夜沒有雲,幾顆星星幽微地發光,都是來自很遠地方、早就燃燒殆盡的餘輝。索琪兒把視線從遠處挪回來,直視冷霧雙眼。36Please respect copyright.PENANAt8CbwhgPdb
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「因為,我也想相信你,但我對你一無所知。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAZUol7LEycK
「我不認為妳會信任我所說的話。」冷霧溫和地說。36Please respect copyright.PENANAchHydEoBbn
「那也要看你說了什麼吧?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAlUqdGYlA0j
「像妳這樣的人,真的會相信毫無證據說出口的話嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANALFOKZOoXs1
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冷霧反問,差點死於家人之手、躲進革命組織多年,年紀輕輕便受到信賴、看人的眼光足以肩負把關新人的重任,索琪兒是會隨隨便便就對不知道從哪裡冒出來的莫名少年敞開心扉的那種濫好人嗎?大概說得並沒有錯,索琪兒挑起眉毛,不置可否。36Please respect copyright.PENANA1b8yt2of4Q
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「我可是打算好好地聽取你的證詞再加以判斷的,怎麼樣,你不想要這個自清的機會嗎?」36Please respect copyright.PENANASaoOu1oubP
「如果這場面試還能繼續下去,我更願意用行動證明,證明我值得信賴。」36Please respect copyright.PENANA1As0C58Ev0
「好吧,那我就來看看,你究竟會表現到什麼程度。」36Please respect copyright.PENANAYLUBEcpmX3
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就像冷霧稍微理解了索琪兒,索琪兒認為自己也對冷霧有了更多了看法,不過細節她暫且不打算跟冷霧對答案。36Please respect copyright.PENANAbeyaG4vfWv
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「經過林中女士的事件,滿分十分的話,我現在的信賴值有多少呢?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAww4MEKDTP7
「大概⋯⋯三分吧?」36Please respect copyright.PENANA6BOLdlD61f
「欸,怎麼會這麼低?!」36Please respect copyright.PENANA5zA2212Bxe
「因為起點是負一百分啊。」36Please respect copyright.PENANADAPd7duwEG
「喔,那聽起來就還行嘛,基於這個信賴值——」36Please respect copyright.PENANAdLslf1E07o
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冷霧咧嘴而笑,索琪兒現在已經很清楚,每當他露出這個表情,腦袋裡肯定就一定在盤算些什麼令人驚慌失措的大事。36Please respect copyright.PENANA5mNP5hMX8q
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「我們來商量一個計畫吧?」36Please respect copyright.PENANAV4GXgRykvN
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霍厄是共馭主的光輝所能澤被的最北之處。36Please respect copyright.PENANA96OMg2tNER
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這個小小的村莊自古以來靠著狩獵罕見的生物販賣維生,當時森林還不是那麼的險惡,他們會在邊界處打獵、又或是靠著為旅客帶路賺錢;而後森林變得越來越兇惡,日子一天比一天難過,某天從森林裡長出了兩條大鐵線,年輕村民組成隊伍去探看,回來大聲宣告,說那東西叫做『鐵軌』。36Please respect copyright.PENANAIzQ7se34M3
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王庭來了。36Please respect copyright.PENANAFnGgA3Eyxv
他們帶來了從來沒看過的全新技術,火車運送富足的物資,於是古老村莊不再因終年嚴寒而苦於糧食短缺;但交換的代價則是傳統信仰、古老族語,村裡豎起了純白雕像,裝飾以綠色寶石,現在那是他們唯一可以敬仰的。36Please respect copyright.PENANA78TDdSOY8R
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老年人喃喃哀嘆,中年人接受現實,而年輕人們分裂成兩派,一半歌頌共馭主帶來的進步,另一半則認為這是文化的掠奪,滿懷憂慮地看著村裡的孩子,通用語說得越來越標準,一心想著長大了要離開村裡去到溫暖的南方;孩子們漸漸聽不懂方言,夢裡也不會再見到先祖與代表祂們到訪的綠色極光。36Please respect copyright.PENANAAJNico4TTS
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而如今村里高高架起刑台,說是在附近的山村裡,捉到了幾隻心懷不軌的老鼠。36Please respect copyright.PENANAF4xh3cJDOT
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