df.therunelords-第30章

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t　of　hundreds　to　Raj　Ahten。
　〃You　can　give　it　me；　with　the　proper　incentive；〃　Raj　Ahten　assured　him。　〃What　of　your　people？　You　care　for　them；　don't　you。　You　have　trusted　friends；　servants；　among　your　Dedicates？　Your　sacrifice　could　save　them。　If　I　have　to　kill　you；　I　won't　leave　your　Dedicates　alivemen　and　women　who　can　no　longer　offer　endowments；　men　and　women　who　might　seek　vengeance　against　me。〃
　〃I　can't！〃　Sylvarresta　said。
　〃Not　even　to　buy　the　lives　of　a　hundred　vassals；　a　thousand？〃
　Iome　hated　this；　hated　the　pregnant　silence　that　followed。　Raj　Ahten　had　to　get　the　endowment　willingly。　Some　lords　sought　to　assure　the　necessary　degree　of　longing　through　love；　others　by　offering　lucre。　Raj　Ahten　used　blackmail。
　〃What　of　your　beautiful　wifemy　cousin？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　〃What　of　her　life？　Would　you　give　the　endowment　to　buy　her　life？　To　buy　her　sanity。　You　would　not　want　to　see　such　a　lovely　thing　ill…used。〃
　〃Don't　do　it！〃　Iome's　mother　said。　〃He　can't　break　me！〃
　〃You　could　save　her　life。　Not　only　would　she　keep　it；　but　she　would　remain　on　the　throne；　ruling　as　regent　in　my　stead。　The　throne　she　loves　so　much。〃
　King　Sylvarresta　turned　to　his　queen；　jaw　quivering。　He　nodded；　hesitantly。
　〃No！〃　Venetta　Sylvarresta　cried。　In　that　moment；　she　spun　and　ran。　Iome　thought　she　would　hit　the　wall；　but　realized　too　late　that　she'd　not　headed　for　the　wall；　but　for　the　full…length　windows　behind　the　Days。
　Suddenly；　faster　than　sight　could　account；　Raj　Ahten　was　at　her　side；　holding　her　right　wrist。　Venetta　struggled　in　his　grasp。
　She　turned　to　him；　grimacing。　〃Please！〃　she　said；　grasping　Raj　Ahten's　own　wrist。
　Then；　suddenly；　she　squeezed；　digging　her　nails　into　the　Wolf　Lord's　wrist　until　blood　flowed。　With　a　victorious　cry；　she　looked　Raj　Ahten　in　the　eyes。
　Venetta　shouted　to　her　husband；　〃Now　you　see　how　to　kill　a　Wolf　Lord；　my　sweet！〃
　Iome　suddenly　remembered　the　clear　lacquer　on　the　nails；　and　she　understoodthe　Queen's　distress　had　been　a　ruse；　a　plot　to　get　Raj　Ahten　near　so　that　she　could　plunge　her　poisoned　fingernails　into　his　flesh。
　Venetta　stepped　back；　holding　her　bloodied　nails　high；　as　if　to　display　them　for　Raj　Ahten　before　he　collapsed。
　Raj　Ahten　raised　his　right　arm；　stared　at　the　wrist　in　dismay。　The　blood　in　it　blackened；　and　the　wrist　began　to　swell　horribly。
　He　held　it　up；　as　if　in　defiance；　and　gazed　into　Venetta's　eyes　for　a　long　moment；　several　heartbeats；　until　Venetta　paled　with　fear。
　Iome　glanced　at　the　arm。　The　bloody　cuts　in　Raj　Ahten's　wrist　had　healed　seamlessly　in　a　matter　of　seconds；　and　now　the　blackened　arm　began　to　regain　its　natural　color。
　How　many　endowments　of　stamina　did　the　Wolf　Lord　have？　How　many　of　metabolism？　Iome　had　never　seen　such　healing　power；　had　heard　of　it　only　in　legend。
　Raj　Ahten　smiled；　a　terrifying；　predatory　smile。
　〃Ah；　so　I　cannot　trust　you；　Venetta；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　am　a　sentimental　man。　I　had　hoped　family　could　be　spared。〃
　He　slapped　her　with　the　back　of　his　fist；　the　slap　of　Runelord。　The　side　of　Venetta's　face　caved　in　under　the　force　of　the　blow；　splattering　blood　through　the　air；　and　her　neck　snapped。　The　blow　knocked　her　back　a　dozen　feet；　so　that　she　hit　the　glass　of　the　oriel。
　She　crashed　through；　the　weight　of　her　dead　body　pulling　at　the　long　red　drapes　as　she　did；　and　for　half　a　second　she　seemed　to　stand　still　in　the　night　air；　before　she　plummeted　the　five　stories。
　Her　body　splatted　against　the　broad　paving　stones　in　the　courtyard　below。
　Iome　stood　in　shock。
　Her　father　cried　out；　and　Raj　Ahten　stared　at　the　splintered　panes　of　colored　glass；　the　red　drapes　waving　in　the　stiffening　breeze；　annoyed。
　Raj　Ahten　said；　〃My　condolences；　Sylvarresta。　You　see　that　I　had　no　other　choice。　Of　course；　there　are　always　those　who　think　it　easier　to　kill　or　die；　than　to　live　in　service。　And　they　are　correct。　Death　requires　no　effort。〃
　Iome　felt　as　if　a　hole　had　ripped　in　her　heart。　Her　father　only　sat　on　bended　knees；　shaking。　〃Now；〃　Raj　Ahten　continued；　〃we　were　about　to　conclude　a　bargain。　I　want　your　wit。　A　few　more　endowments　of　it　benefits　me　little。　But　it　gains　much　for　you。　Give　me　your　wit；　and　your　daughter；　Iome；　will　rule　in　your　stead；　as　regent。　Agreed？〃
　Iome's　father　sobbed；　nodded　dumbly；　〃Bring　your　forcibles　then。　Let　me　forget　this　day；　my　loss；　and　bee　as　a　child。〃
　He　would　give　the　endowment　to　keep　his　daughter　alive。
　In　that　moment；　Iome　knelt　again；　terrified。　She　could　not　think；　could　not　think　what　to　do。　〃Remember　who　you　are〃　her　mother　had　said。　But　what　did　that　mean？　I　am　a　princess；　a　servant　of　my　people；　she　thought。　Should　I　strike　at　Raj　Ahten；　follow　my　mother　through　the　window？　What　does　that　buy？
　As　regent　she　would　have　some　power。　She　could　still　fight　Raj　Ahten　subtly；　so　long　as　she　lived。　She　could　give　her　people　some　measure　of　happiness；　of　freedom。
　Certainly；　that　was　why　her　father　still　lived；　why　he　didn't　choose　to　fight　to　the　death；　as　her　mother　had。
　Iome's　heart　hammered；　and　she　could　think　of　nothing　to　do；　could　formulate　no　worthwhile　plan；　but　remembered　Gaborn's　face　earlier　in　the　day。　The　promise　on　his　lips。　〃I　am　your　Protector。　I　will　return　for　you。
　But　what　could　Gaborn　do？　He　couldn't　fight　Raj　Ahten。
　Yet　Iome　had　to　hope。
　Raj　Ahten　nodded　to　a　guard。　〃Call　the　facilitators。〃
　In　moments；　Raj　Ahten's　facilitators　entered　the　room；　cruel　little　men　in　saffron　robes。　One　bore　a　forcible　on　a　satin　pillow。
　Raj　Ahten's　facilitators　were　well　practiced；　masters　of　their　craft。　One　began　the　incantation；　and　the　other　held　King　Sylvarresta；　coached　him　through　it。　〃Watch　your　daughter；　sirrah；〃　he　said　in　a　thick　Kartish　accent。　〃This　you　do　for　her。　Do　for　her。　She　everything。　She　the　one　you　love。　You　do　for　her。〃
　Iome　stood　before　him；　dazed；　listened　to　her　father's　cries　as　the　forcible　heated。　She　daubed　the　sweat　from　his　brow　as　the　metal　suddenly　twisted　like　something　alive。　She　gazed　into　his　clear　gray　eyes　as　the　forcible　drew　away　the　endowment；　sucked　the　intelligence　from　him；　until　she　could　tell　that　he　no　longer　remembered　her　name；　but　only　cried　in　stupid　agony。
　She　sobbed　herself　when　he　gave　his　final　scream　of　pain；　and　collapsed　at　her　feet。
　Then　the　facilitator　went　to　Raj　Ahten；　bearing　the　white…hot　forcible　trailing　a　ribbon　of　light；　and　Raj　Ahten　pulled　off　his　helm；　so　that　his　long　dark　hair　fell　around　his　shoulders；　then　pulled　off　his　scale　mail；　opened　his　leather　jerkin　to　expose　his　muscular　chest。　It　was　a　mass　of　scars；　so　marked　by　forcibles　that　Iome　could　see　only　a　few　faint　traces　of　unmarked　flesh。
　As　he　took　the　endowment；　Raj　Ahten　sat　back　on　the　throne；　eyes　glazed　in　satisfaction；　watching　Iome　narrowly。
　She　wanted　to　rage　against　him；　to　pummel　him　with　her　fists；　but　dared　do　nothing　but　sit　at　her　father's　head；　smoothing　back　his　hair；　trying　to　fort　him。
　The　King　opened　his　eyes；　regaining　consciousness　for　half　a　second；　and　he　stared　up　at　Iome；　his　mouth　open；　as　if　wondering　what　strange　and　beautiful　creature　he　beheld。　〃Gaaagh；〃　he　bawled；　then　a　pool　of　urine　began　to　spread　on　the　red　carpets　beneath　him。
　〃Father；　Father；〃　Iome　whispered　softly；　kissing　him；　hoping　that　in　time　he　would　at　least　learn　that　she　loved　him。
　Finished　with　their　incantations；　the　facilitators　left。　Raj　Ahten　reached　over　to　his　sword；　pulled　it　from　the　Queen's　throne。
　〃e；　take　your　place　beside　me；〃　he　said。　Once　again；　she　saw　that　undisguised　lust　in　his　face；　and　did　not　know　if　he　lusted　for　her　body　or　for　her　endowments。
　Iome　found　herself　halfway　to　the　throne　before　she　realized　that　he'd　used　his　Voice　to　order　her。　To　be　manipulated　this　way　angered　her。
　She　sat　on　the　throne；　tried　not　to　look　at　Raj　Ahten's　face；　at　his　incredibly　handsome　face。
　〃You　understand　why　I　must　do　this；　don't　you？〃　he　asked。
　Iome　didn't　answer。
　〃Someday　you　will　thank　me。〃　Raj　Ahten　studied　her　frankly。　〃Have　you　studied　in　the　House　of　Understanding；　or　have　you　read　the　chronicles？〃
　Iome　nodded。　She'd　read　the　chroniclesat　least　selected　passages。
　〃Have　you　heard　the　name　of　Daylan　Hammer？〃
　Iome　had。　〃The　warrior？〃
　〃The　chroniclers　called　him　'the　Sum　of　All　Men。'　Sixteen　hundred　and　eighty…eight　years　ago；　he　defeated　the　Toth　invaders　and　their　magicians；　here　on　Rofehavan's　own　shores。　He　defeated　them　almost　single…handedly。　He　had　so　many　endowments　of　stamina　that　when　a　sword　passed　through　his　heart；　it　would　heal　up　again　as　the　blade　exited。　Do　you　know　how　many　endowments　that　takes？〃
　Iome　shook　her　head。
　〃I　do；〃　Raj　Ahten　said；　pulling　back　his　shirt。　〃Try　it；　if　you　like。〃
　Iome　had　her　poniard　strapped　under　her　skirts。　She　hesitated　just　a　moment。　It　seemed　ghoulish；　yet　she　might　never　have　another　chance　to　stab　the　man。
　She　pulled　it；　looked　into　his　eyes。　Raj　Ahten　watched　her；　confident；　Iome　plunged　the　dagger　up　between　his　ribs；　saw　the　pain　in　his　eyes；　heard　him　give　a　startled　gasp。　She　twisted　the　blade；　yet　no　blood　flowed　down　the　runnel。　Only　a　slight　red　film　oozed　where　the　blade　met　flesh。　She　pulled　the　blade　free。
　The　wound　closed　as　the　bloody　blade　exited。
　〃You　see？〃　Raj　Ahten　asked。　〃Neither　your　mother's　poison　nor　your　own　dagger　can　hurt　me。　Among　Runelords；　there　has　never　been　another　of　Daylan's　equal。　Until　now。
　〃It　is　said　in　my　country　that　when　he'd　received　enough　endowments；　he　no　longer　needed　to　take　them。　The　love　of　his　people　supported　him；　it　flowed　to　him。　When　his　Dedicates　died；　his　powers　remained；　undiminished。〃
　She'd　never　read　that。　It　defied　her　understanding　of　the　art　of　the　Runelords。　Yet　she　hoped　it　was　true。　She　hoped　that　such　a　thing　could　be；　that　Raj　Ahten　would　someday　quit　draining　people　like　her　father。
　〃I　think；〃　Raj　Ahten　said　softly；　〃that　I　am　nearly　there。　I　think　I　shall　be　his　equal；　and　that　I　shall　defeat　the　reavers　without　the　loss　of　fifty　million　human　lives；　as　would　happen　under　any　other　plan。〃
　Iome　looked　into　his　eyes；　wanting　to　hate　him　for　what　he'd　done。　Her　father　lay　in　his　own　urine　on　the　floor　at　her　feet。　Her　mother　was　dead　on　the　paving　stones　outside　the　keep。　Yet　Iome　looked　into　Raj　Ahten's　face；　and　she　could　not　hate　him。　He　seemed。。。so　sincere。　So　beautiful。
　He　reached　out；　stroked　her　hand；　and　she　dared　not　pull　away。　She　wondered　if　he　would　try　to　seduce　her。　She　wondered　if　she'd　have　the　strength　to　fight　him　if　he　did。
　〃So　sweet。　If　you　were　not　my　kin；　I'd　take　you　as　a　wife。　But　I'm　afraid　propriety　forbids　it。　Now；　Iome；　you　too　must　do　your　part　to　help　me　defeat　the　reavers。　You　will　give　me　your　glamour。〃
　Iome's　heart　pounded。　She　imagined　how　it　would　be；　with　skin　as　rough　as　leather；　the　cobwebs　of　her　hair　falling　from　her　head；　the　way　the　veins　would　stick　out　on　her　legs。　The　dry　smell　of　her　breath。　To　look；　to　smell；　to　be　repulsive。
　Yet　that　was　not　half　the　horror　of　it。　Glamour　was　more　than　beauty；　more　than　physical　loveliness。　It　could　be　recognized　partly　as　form；　but　just　as　much　was　manifest　in　the　color　of　one's　skin；　the　glossiness　of　one's　hair；　the　light　that　shone　in　one's　eyes。　It　could　be　seen　in　posture；　in　poise；　in　determination。　The　heart　of　it