df.therunelords-第26部分
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Yet； even then； Iome knew that Gaborn's father； King Orden； was no Raj Ahten。 He'd never 〃forced a peasant's gift；〃 collecting some poor farmer's brawn in lieu of back taxes。 He'd never won a maiden's love and then asked her to give him an endowment as well as her heart。
〃Forgive me；〃 Iome said； 〃I spoke Orden an injustice。 I'm overwrought。 He has been a good friend； and a decent king to his people。 Yet I have a nagging fear that your father will use Heredon as a shield。 And when we buckle under Raj Ahten's blow； he will toss us aside and flee the battlefield。 That would be the wise thing to do。〃
〃Then you don't know my father；〃 Gaborn said。 〃He is a true friend。〃 He was still hurt； yet his tone carried such liquid notes of sincerity that Iome wondered briefly how many endowments of Voice Gaborn owned。 How many mutes do you have in your service？ she almost asked； sure it must be a dozen。
〃Your father won't throw his life away in our defense。 Surely you know better。〃
Gaborn said coldly； 〃He'll do what he must。〃
〃I wish it were not so；〃 Iome whispered。 Almost unwillingly she glanced down into the Dedicates' Keep。 Against the far wall stood one of her father's smelly idiots； a woman whose mind was so drained of wit that she could no longer control her own bowels； she was being led to the dining hall by a blind man。 Together； they weaved around an old fellow whose metabolism was so slowed that he could only shuffle from one room to another in the course of a dayand he was lucky to move at all； for many who were drained of metabolism would simply fall into an enchanted sleep； waking only when the lord who held their endowment died。 The sight repulsed her。
As Runelords； Iome and her family were heirs to great boons from their subjects； but at a horrifying cost。
〃Your passion does you credit； Princess Sylvarresta； but my father has not earned your disrespect。 Little more than his pragmatism has shielded our kingdoms from Raj Ahten this past dozen years。〃
〃That's not entirely true；〃 Iome objected。 〃My father has sent assassins south over the years。 Many of our most cunning warriors have given their lives。 Others are held captive。 Whatever time we've bought； we bought it in part with the lifeblood of our best men。〃
〃Of course；〃 Gaborn said in a flippant tone that hinted that he dismissed her father's efforts。 She knew that Gaborn's father had been preparing for this war for decades； had struggled harder than any other to bring down Raj Ahten。 She also realized she'd been trying to goad Gaborn into arguing； but he didn't have his father's temper。 Iome wanted to dislike Gaborn； to tell herself that under no circumstances would she have been able to love him。
She felt tempted to look at him； but dared not。 What if his face shone like the sun？ What if he was handsome beyond all telling？ Would her heart flutter within her ribs like a moth beating its wings against a glass？
Beyond the castle walls； it was growing dark。 The blush of firelight under the deep woods reminded Iome of glowing embersred flame flickering under leaves of gold and scarlet。 Frowth giants moved at the edge of the trees。 In the gloaming； one could almost mistake them for haycockstheir golden heads and backs were that shaggy。
〃Forgive me for arguing；〃 Iome said。 〃I'm in a foul mood。 You don't deserve harsh treatment。 I suppose that if we want to fight； we could always go down to the battlefield and carve up a few of Raj Ahten's troops。〃
〃Surely you would not go into battle？〃 Gaborn asked。 〃Promise me that！ Raj Ahten's swordsmen are not moners。〃
Iome felt tempted to laugh at the idea of going into battle。 She kept a small poniard strapped to her leg； under her skirt； as many a proper lady did； and she knew how to use it。 But she was no swordswoman。 She decided to bait the Prince one more time。
〃Why not？〃 she demanded； only half in jest。 〃Farmers and merchants man the castle walls！ Their lives mean as much to them as ours do to us！ They are endowed with only the gifts their mothers gave them at birth。 Meanwhile； I have endowments of wit and glamour and stamina to defend me。 I may not have a strong sword arm； but why should I not fight？〃
She expected Gaborn to warn her how dangerous the battle would be。 The Frowth giants would have muscles of iron。 Raj Ahten's men each had endowments of brawn； grace； metabolism； and stamina。 Moreover； they were trained to war。
Yet now Iome realized she would not concede to mon sense； for her argument was just。 Her vassals valued their lives as much as she valued her own。 She might be able to save one of them； or two or three。 She would help defend the castle walls。 Just as her father would。
Yet Gaborn's answer surprised her： 〃I don't want you to fight； because it would be a shame to mar such beauty。〃
Iome laughed； clear and sweet； like the call of a whippoorwill in a glade。 〃I have refused to look at you；〃 she said； 〃for fear my heart would overwhelm my mon sense。 Perhaps you should have done the same。〃
〃Truly； you are beautiful；〃 Gaborn said； 〃but I'm no boy to be made dizzy by a pretty face。〃 That use of Voice again； so sensible。 〃No； it is your decency that I find beautiful。〃
Then； perhaps sensing the darkness about to descend； Gaborn said； 〃I must be honest； Princess Sylvarresta。 There are other princesses I could ally with； in other kingdoms。 Haversind…by…the…Sea； or Internook。〃 He gave her a moment to think。 Both kingdoms were as large as Heredon； as wealthy； and perhaps even more defensibleunless； of course； you feared invasion from the sea。 And the beauty of Princess Arrooley of Internook was legendary； even here； twelve hundred miles away。 〃But you intrigued me。〃
〃I？ How so？〃
Gaborn said honestly； 〃A few years ago； I had an argument with my father。 He'd arranged to purchase grace for me from a young fisherman。 I objected。 You've seen how those who give up grace often cling to life tenuously。 The muscles of their guts cannot stretch； and so they cannot digest food。 They can seldom walk。 Even to attempt speech or to close their eyes can cause pain。 I've seen how they waste away； until they die after a year or so。 To me it seems that of all the traits one might endow to another； grace would be hardest to lose。
〃So I refused the endowment； and my father grew angry。 I said it was wrong to persist in this 'shameful economy；' accepting endowments from those vassals poor enough in intellect and worldly goods to count themselves fortunate to give up the best parts of themselves for our benefit。
〃My father laughed and said； 'You sound like Iome Sylvarresta。 She called me a glutton when last I ate at her tablenot a glutton for food； but a glutton who fed on the misery of others！ Hah！ Imagine！' 〃 When Gaborn quoted his father； he sounded exactly like the King。 He was using his Voice again。
Iome remembered that ment well。 For her impertinence； her father had administered a firm spanking in the presence of King Orden； then locked her in her room for a day without food or water。 Iome had never regretted the remark。
Her face burned with embarrassment。 She'd often felt torn between admiration and loathing for King Orden。 In ways； he cut a heroic figure。 Mendellas Draken Orden was powerful； a stubborn king； and it was rumored that he fought well in battle。 For two decades he'd kept the Northern kingdoms united。 A glance from him would cow many a would…be tyrant； and with a curt word he could insure that a prince would fall out of favor with his own father。
Some called him the Kingmaker。 Others called him the Puppet Master。 The truth was； Orden had been making himself into a man of heroic proportions for a reason。 Like the Runelords of old； he had to bee more than human because his enemies were more than human。
〃Forgive me those words；〃 Iome said。 〃Your father did not deserve such chastisement from a self…righteous nine…year…old girl。〃
〃Forgive it？〃 Prince Gaborn answered。 〃What is to forgive？ I agreed with you。 Perhaps a thousand years ago； there was reason for our ancestors to put one another to the indignity of the forcibles。 But the reaver invasions are long past。 The only reason you and I are Runelords is because we were born into this 'shameful economy'！ I was so
