世界之脊第十九章机会(页 1) - 文字翻译室 - 龙骑士城堡奇幻论坛奇幻文学,翻译,原创,龙与地下城

jarod 发表于 2006-5-27 10:49

世界之脊第十九章机会

第十九章机会   “我们没有时间了！我该穿什么啊？”当玛萝达告诉母亲婚礼将会在秋分举行时柏丝特·甘德蕾哀号道。   “不管你想穿什么，即便我们家没有，弗林戈领主也会派人送来的。”德尼·甘德蕾拍了拍妻子的肩膀说道。他的样子使玛萝达感到父亲正在为她而骄傲，以及莫大的感激，她明白，父亲理解她所作出的牺牲。   而她想知道的是，如果老父知道女儿肚子里已经有了孩子，那么他脸上的表情将会怎样变化。   抛开这个想法后她挤出了一丝弱弱的微笑作为回答，随后回到自己的房间进行今天的着装。莱恩·木门已经早一步来通知过玛萝达，弗林戈领主在今天为她安排了同裁缝的见面，那个裁缝住在奥克尼西边遥远的边界处，骑马需要两个小时。   “婚礼这样伟大的日子可不能穿借来的礼服。”莱恩曾这样声称道，“如果您不介意我这么说的话，柏丝特，你的女儿绝对会变成奥克尼人人皆知的最美丽的新娘的。”   当时柏丝特的脸是多么得容光焕发，眼睛是多么的栩栩有神！奇怪的是，这也使玛萝达感到痛苦，因为尽管她明白自己所做的一切都是为了这个家庭，但是她也不能忘却同贾卡之间发生的糊涂事。现在她不得不去诱惑弗林戈领主，要快，可能每个晚上都要去试一试。随着婚礼的逐渐临近，她只能期望其他人，当然最有可能的像普里西拉和泰米格斯特不会发现她是怀着孩子步上婚礼殿堂的。最坏的情况都已经被考虑过了，那就是她，玛萝达，不得不带着肚子里的孩子和真相躺到为自己准备的墓穴中去。   要是真的到了那一刻，她将成为一个多么可怜悲惨的人啊。普琳克女士，那位声誉响彻封地的裁缝师，毫无疑问会用宝石和贵重、五颜六色的绸缎为她制作出一件最为华丽的礼服，但是女孩很怀疑自己能够问心无愧地去试穿这件衣服。   玛萝达梳妆打扮好后，稍微吃了一点早餐，满脸笑容地迎向前来接她的莱恩·木门，后者将她扶上马车。女孩坐在窗边，胳膊肘撑着窗台，盯着飞速后退的路边村民。人类和侏儒们耕作在山腰的田地里，但是她既没有刻意去寻找贾卡·斯库利，也没有在无意中瞥见他。几小时飞速地过去后，车窗外的景色就只剩下广阔的荒野和零零星星散布在其中的几座小别墅了。马车驶入一片小树林，莱恩将车暂时停了下来，以梢作休息，让马喝水。   很快他们就再次启程了，离开树林后重又驶入了岩石丛生的地段。在玛萝达的右手边是大海。路的另一边则是象征着北部山脉的一片高耸峭壁，有几段山崖几乎已经贴到海水边了，使得玛萝达很想知道莱恩该怎么把马车赶过去。   同时她也想知道，那个裁缝，一个女人，该怎样独自一人生活在如此偏僻的地方。玛萝达下定决心稍后问一下莱恩。此刻进入她眼帘的是一座小哨站，一块石头上飘着弗林戈领主的旗帜。直到此时她才开始赏识起奥克尼领主的力量。马车行驶得并不快，到目前为止只走了近十英里罢了，但是感觉上他们好像已经走过了半个世界一样。出于某些她不是很明白的原因，当玛萝达看到弗林戈的旗帜在这个偏远的地区飘扬时，她心中扬起一阵舒服的感觉，好像强大的弗林戈·奥克领主将会一直保护着她一样。   她的微笑如同生命短暂的蜉蝣般消失了，因为玛萝达记起，她只有继续说谎，弗林戈才会对她施以保护。   女孩重新缩回了自己的位置，叹息着，感受着自己此时依旧平静的小腹，好像在期望那孩子能够在里面左踢右踹似的。 *****     “旗帜在飘，那证明哨所里有士兵在吧。”沃夫加推理道。   “应该说肯定有。”莫里克回答，“这些士兵很少会离开他们石头搭建的掩体的，就算是吹集合号，也会有一些留在里面。他们的哨兵——如果真的有的话——相对大路上出现了什么陌生人而言，更关心的是来自战争的攻击。此外，在离村庄这么远的地方，顶多不会超过一打士兵。我怀疑数量也许连这的一半都不到也说不定。”   沃夫加想要提醒莫里克，几天前他们还刚刚被一群人数更少的部队打得屁滚尿流，但是最终他还是选择了沉默。   在那一次灾难般的计划实施之后，莫里克建议他们走出这片区域，一部分原因是那个商人应该回去警告路斯坎的警卫，而他自己真正的理由则是：一个优秀的强盗决不会在同一个地方待上长的时间，特别是刚经历过一次失败的袭击。最初，莫里克想要北上进入冰风谷，但是被沃夫加有气无力地拒绝了。   “那么西边，”盗贼提议，“那里有一小块夹在群山和海德尔之石镇西南面大海之间的封地。很少有人光临那里，因为绝大部分地图上都找不到这么个地方，但是北边来的商人们知道这么个中转站，有时他们往返十镇和南方诸镇之间时会在这块封地上梢做休整。也许我们还可以在那里再次碰上我们的老朋友和他的闪电魔杖呢。”   这个可能性倒没有令沃夫加发抖，但是他对回到冰风谷的拒绝早已使他们只剩下了两个选择。要么向东进入世界之脊更深处那些未知的、被地精、食人魔，乃至其他那些肮脏邪恶地怪物所占领地地域。要么就是向南向西，而考虑到他们俩同南边路斯坎的地方官员之间的恶劣关系，向西看起来是最合乎逻辑的选择了。   事实好像也证明了这个选择的确是正确的，因为两人看到了一辆孤零零的马车，装饰华丽，就像那些贵族乘坐的一样，沿着路慢悠悠地驶了过来。   “肯定是那个法师。”沃夫加推断，同时也激起了闪电箭所带来伤口的疼痛回忆。   “据我所知没有一个法师会在这片地区受到欢迎。”莫里克回答。   “你已经有好些年没来过这里了，”沃夫加提醒他。“再说有什么普通人敢乘坐这这样一辆精致的马车独自旅行呢？”他大声地表示怀疑。   “为什么不会呢？”莫里克反驳，“这片区域在山脉的南面，看上去很少会遇上麻烦，而且毕竟，路上又有哨所，”他补充道，向不远处的石头掩体摆了摆手，“这里的人们根本不会担心自己的家园会面临来自地精的威胁。”   沃夫加点点头，但是这看起来也太简单了。他猜测那辆马车的车夫肯定是个经验丰富的战斗老手，至少是这样的。看上去里面似乎还坐了其他人，也许他们的手里也正攥着那些肮脏的魔杖或者其他强大的魔法物品。来自莫里克的一道眼神告诉野蛮人，尽管盗贼不会阻止他的朋友，但是莫里克仍然不能忘记上一次失败所带来的教训。他需要一次成功的攻击。   视线尽头的道路随着山脉的走势有一个曲度强烈的转弯。莫里克和沃夫加选取了一条近的道路，赶在马车前头来到那个转弯处，避开了石头哨所的视野范围。沃夫加立刻开始展开他的绳索，寻找地方把它系上。他发现了一棵苗条的小树，但是很明显那棵树如果会说话，是不会同意他在自己身上这么做的。   “跳，”莫里克指着一处凸出的岩层喊道。盗贼冲到了路上，抽出一条马鞭，因为那辆马车已经出现在了拐角，正专心地在转弯处挪动着。   “让开路！”过了一会儿，莱恩·木门的声音传了过来。   “我必须和您谈谈，先生！”莫里克喊道，同时在路中间摆开架式站好。侏儒减慢了马车的速度，在一个同盗贼之间的安全距离外停了下来——对于莫里克来说的确太远了，但是，他微微点了点头，因为那个位置沃夫加已经可以跳得到了。   “以奥克尼的弗林戈领主的命令，让开路！”莱恩开始喊道。   “我需要一些帮助，先生，”莫里克解释道，同时用眼角看了看沃夫加正在攀爬的位置，盗贼向前踏了一步，但是莱恩立刻对他示以警告，让他回去。   “保持你的距离，朋友，”侏儒说道，“我身怀使命，如果你再不靠边站毫无疑问我会从你身上碾过去的。”   莫里克笑了，“我不这么认为。”他说道。   或许是莫里克语调中的某些东西引起了莱恩的注意，亦或是做某个动作时他的视线在一瞬间捕捉到了正沿着高高的悬崖努力上爬的野蛮人。突然之间侏儒意识到了即将来临的危险，迅速抬腿将马刺踢进了坐骑的肚子。   沃夫加在随后的一霎那间跳了下来，但是他击中的只是车夫身后的马车部分，野蛮人的巨大下落力和带下来的岩石碎片把两个车轮砸的跳离了地面。车厢内响起了一个女人的尖叫声。   纯粹的出于本能，莫里克扬起鞭子从右边狠狠地抽了一下马匹。那对牲畜顿时向左偏了过去，而还没等车夫可以控制它们，没等沃夫加能够重新掌握身体平衡，甚至没等车里地乘客哭喊出声来，马车就翻倒在了一旁，将车夫和沃夫加都抛了下来。   头昏眼花地沃夫加强迫自己站起身来，期待着和车夫或者从车厢里爬出来的其他什么人的战斗，但是车夫躺在乱石堆间，呻吟着，而马车里则什么声音也没有了。莫里克冲上去使马匹平静下来，随后跳上马车，爬到门上把它拉开。此时从里面又传来了一声尖叫。   沃夫加走向车夫轻轻地抬起侏儒地头。随后他又把他放了回去，彻底放心了——这一个已经完全失去战斗力了——但同时又希望他所受的并不是致命伤。   “你必须看看这个。”莫里克冲沃夫加喊道。他钻到车厢里，将手伸向一名魅力的年轻女子，后者则立刻敏捷地向后退去。“出来，否则我保证我会进去待会儿地。”莫里克警告道，但是那个惊恐的姑娘仍然蜷缩在角落远远地躲着他。   “现在应该是强盗们真正享受他们快乐的时刻了，”当沃夫加走向他时莫里克说道，“说道快乐......”他补充了一句，然后一头钻进了车厢。   姑娘尖叫着踢打着他，但是在这一方面她是没法同一个技术高超的盗贼相比的。很快莫里克就把她按在了马车的天花板上——现在变成了一面墙壁——他的胳膊架住了她，膝盖顶着她以防她踢他的小腹，他的嘴唇靠得很近很近：“给胜利者来个吻如何？”   突然间莫里克滚到了地上，随后被马车外怒气冲冲的沃夫加抓着领口轻轻松松地提了起来：“你越线了。”   野蛮人说完，将盗贼扔到了地上。   “她是一件战利品，”莫里克抗议道，不明白他的朋友有什么疑问，“我们干完事就让她走。这有什么不好？”   沃夫加盯着他。“去看看那车夫的伤势，”他说道，“然后找找马车里你认为有价值的东西。”   “那个女孩——”   “——不算在内。”沃夫加冲他咆哮道。   莫里克甩了甩手表示让步，然后过去一边检查躺在地上的侏儒去了。   沃夫加钻进马车，就像莫里克做的那样，把他的巨手伸向惊恐的年轻姑娘。“出来，”他命令道，“我保证你不会受到伤害。”   忍受着惊吓和疼痛，那姑娘避开了他的手。   “你不出来的话我们没法把你的马车重新翻过来，”沃夫加适当地解释道，“你不想继续上路了吗？”   “我只想让你们快些滚蛋！”女孩有些错乱地咆哮道。   “把你一个扔在这里？”   “总比和那些盗贼在一起好。”玛萝达顶了回去。   “如果你能出来的话对你的车夫也会好一些。如果我们任由他躺在石堆伤那他就死定了，”沃夫加很努力地试图安抚女孩，或者至少是想让她从惊恐中能够恢复过来，能有所行动，“来吧。我不会伤害你地。是的，我们要抢劫，但是不会伤害你地。”   她羞怯地举起手。沃夫加抓住后轻松地将她拎出了马车。放下女孩后，他盯着她看了很长一段时间。尽管在脸地一侧出现了一道新近地淤伤，但她的确是一个漂亮的年轻姑娘。他能够明白莫里克内心的希望，但是他决不会有目的地去侵犯任何一个女子，不管她多么的美丽，当然，也不会允许莫里克这么去做。   两个强盗花了几分钟彻底搜查了整个马查，令莫里克高兴的是，他们找到了一个装满金币的钱包。然后沃夫加找了一条树干作为杠杆。   “你不会是想要把马车重新翻过来吧？”莫里克怀疑地问道。   “是的。”沃夫加回答。   “你不能那么做，”盗贼抗议道，“她会驾着它到那个石头哨所去的，一小时之后就会有一大队士兵来追我们了。”   沃夫加根本没在听。他找了一些大石头，把它们移到靠近马车顶部的地方。连同那根大树干一起，沃夫加把所有准备好的东西都摆在地上。发现自己不大可能从莫里克那里得到什么帮助之后，他只得自己站稳脚步，试着用一只手把石头一块一块地踮进马车的底部边缘。   两匹马打着鼻息不安分地活动着，这使得沃夫加几乎前功尽弃。“至少过去让它们安静下来吧。”他对莫里克要求道。盗贼一动不动。沃夫加看了看女孩，玛萝达跑上前去令马匹安静了下来。   “我没法一个人做这些。”沃夫加再次冲莫里克喊道，他的语调里现在多了更多的怒火。   在发出一声又重又长的叹息后，盗贼磨磨蹭蹭地靠了过来。在短暂地研究过情况后，他一路小跑地过去沃夫加留下绳索的地方，他把绳索的一端绑在一棵树上，另一端固定在马车厢的上沿。莫里克经过女孩的时候后者猛地向后跳离他，但是盗贼的样子看上去几乎没有注意到她。   接下来，莫里克牵着马的缰绳，拉着它们兜圈子，小心地拖曳着马车，慢慢地使得两个轮子与树的距离相等。“你抬，我来让绳子绷紧，”他指示沃夫加道，“然后确保你的平衡并把它抬得更高，很快我们就能把车重新翻过来了。”   莫里克是个聪明的家伙，沃夫加不得不承认。因此当盗贼回到系绳子的地方，女孩再次抓住马缰后，沃夫加弯下腰抓住了马车的一边，将它抬了起来。   莫里克迅速地松开绳子，随后在树上把它系紧，使得沃夫加可以调整自己的位置。过了一小会儿，野蛮人抓住马车的另一边，再一次地，当马车的车顶一角到达最高点时，莫里克系紧绳子固定住马车。当沃夫加第三次用力时，马车终于趁着这股力量重新鲜龙活虎地立在了自己的四个轮子上。   马匹紧张不安地嘶叫着，四蹄刨踢着地面，摇动着脑袋试图保护自己，这力量使得女孩几乎没法抓住缰绳。沃夫加迅速跑到她身边，抓紧缰绳用力地拉扯，使两头牲畜重新安静。然后，用同一根绳子，他把两匹马系在树上，走向仍倒在地上地车夫。   “他叫什么名字？”沃夫加问那个姑娘。看见她面露犹豫后野蛮人说道：“对你们我们不会做任何比刚才更糟糕的事情的，只是想知道你们的名字。我很想帮助他，但是不知道怎么叫他。”   当姑娘察觉到他解释中的友好成分时她的表情变得轻松了些。“他的名字是莱恩·木门。”显然她已经找回了一些勇气，走过来蹲到车夫的身边，关心和恐惧在她脸上交替地出现。“他会没事的吗？”   “现在还不知道。”   可怜的莱恩看上去还远没有到能够恢复意识的程度，但是他还活着，而且靠近检查后可以发现他的伤口也并不是很可怕的那种。沃夫加轻轻地抬起他，带到马车上，让他躺在车座上。野蛮人回过身走向姑娘，抓住她的胳膊将她拉在身后。   “你说过你不会伤害我地。”她抗议道，并挣扎着想要反击。她后悔自己原本可以很容易地带着两匹马逃走的。   看到沃夫加的动作后莫里克的微笑咧到了耳根。“你改变心情了？”盗贼问道。   “她必须和我们一起待一段时间。”沃夫加解释。   “不！”年轻的姑娘表示抗议。她紧握起拳头跳上前去像拍苍蝇一样重重地打向沃夫加的后脑勺。   野蛮人停下来转向她，他的表情看上去有点开心，至少那姑娘的勇气给他留下了一点点印象。“是的，”他回答着，同时在女孩想要像刚才那样再来一记的时候扣住了她的手臂，“你只需要和我们一起走上一英里，”他解释道，“然后我会让你自由地回到马车和车夫那里的，到时随你到哪里去都行。”   “你们不会伤害我？”   “我不会，”沃夫加回答。他怒视了一眼莫里克后说道，“他也不会。”当女孩认识到自己在这件事上已经没有丝毫选择权后，年轻的姑娘便不再做任何争辩，跟上了两人。如野蛮人所说，沃夫加在离马车大概一英里后放了她。随后他和莫里克以及已经属于他们的那一钱袋金币一同消失在了群山之中。 *****   玛萝达几乎是一路小跑着回到可怜的莱恩身边。当她发现那个老侏儒时心都痛了起来。他已经醒了过来，但是仍然没有办法爬出马车，更不用说去驾驶它了。   “待在里面，”姑娘命令道，“我来调转马车，然后我们回奥克城堡去。”   莱恩仍想表示抗议，但是玛萝达所做的只是砰地一声关上了门，然后去履行自己的工作去了。很快，她便成功地将马车沿着路向着西边驶去，不过马车的行进变得颠簸不平横冲直撞，因为她从没有过驾马车的经验，并且这条路也不是很好走。沿着大道经过了数英里和数小时之后，一个主意闪进了女孩的脑子，一个看起来能够简单有效地解决她目前所有麻烦的好方法。   当他们回到奥克尼驶进奥克城堡的大门的时候，太阳早就下山好一段时间了。弗林戈领主和普里西拉出来迎接他们，而当他们看到满身污泥的姑娘和车里好像被打扁了一般的车夫时，下巴都快要掉下来了。   “路上有强盗。”玛萝达解释。普里西拉上车来到她身边，表示着自己口不对心的关心。借此机会玛萝达以一种近乎耳语的声音补充道，“他伤害了我，”讲完这句话，她哭泣着一头扎进了普里西拉的怀里。 *****   寒风在他身边呼啸着，以一种伤感的声音冲着沃夫加哀唱，唱着那些已经发生过的而且也绝对不可能再发生第二次的事，那一段失去的岁月，那一段失去的清白，还有他那些已经久违了的但仍又不敢去寻找的朋友。   不止一次，他坐在世界之脊北端那高高的绝壁顶部，俯瞰着冰风谷，远眺着那遥远的东北方。他经常能看到那里传来的一些闪光。或许只是毫不相干的欺骗性的光线，亦或是午后经都尔登湖——那十镇三大湖中最大的一个——的湖面反射的太阳光。有时，他也觉得自己还能够看到凯恩巨锥，那北地唯一的一座高山。   这些可能仅仅是他的想象，他再次告诉自己那或许只是带有欺骗性的光线，因为那片山脉离他有很远一段距离。对沃夫加而言，那足足有几百万英里远。   “他们应该已经在道路的最南端扎营了，”莫里克来到大个子的身边通知他道，“人不会很多。我们该扫他个干干净净。”   沃夫加点点头。自从那次西边靠海大路上的打劫成功后，两人已经回了次那片南边路斯坎和北方关口之间的区域，甚至用那些非劳动所得从某个路过的商人那里买了些日用供给。随后他们回到那个谷口，又袭击了另一批商旅。此后的一段时间过得平淡无味，遇到的商人们都听话地“缴税”，因此也没有什么流血事件发生。但是今天，莫里克已经发现了他们的第三批牺牲者，一队由三辆马车组成的商队，正向着路斯坎的北方前进，目标应该是冰风谷。   “你总是在看着北边的方向，”盗贼坐到了沃夫加身边谈论道，“但是你又总是不愿去那里碰碰运气。你在十镇有敌人吗？”   “在那里我有些朋友，如果他们知道咱们正在做的事，就会来阻止我们了。”沃夫加解释道。   “谁能来阻止我们呢？”莫里克自大地回问。   沃夫加直直地盯着他看。“他们会来阻止我们的，”野蛮人强调道，严肃的表情表示这毫无可争辩的余地。他让这样的目光在莫里克的脸上停留了一小会儿，随后重新转过头面对着山谷，渴望的眼神重新又回到了他天蓝色的双眼中。   “你以前在这里的生活到底是怎么样的呢？”莫里克问道。   沃夫加重又惊讶地转过来。他和莫里克并不是经常谈论各自的过去，至少在没喝醉的时候是不谈的。   “可以告诉我吗？”莫里克步步紧逼，“我曾从你的脸上看到过一些。痛苦，悔恨，还有别的什么吗？”   沃夫加对于这些观察结果报以一阵情不自禁的傻笑。“我以前的生活是怎样的？”他回声般应答着。经过短暂的停顿之后，野蛮人继续回答，“什么事都有可能发生吧。”   “这话听上去很傻。”   “我曾经有可能成为一个首领，”沃夫加继续道，他再次将目光投回山谷，好像是在自言自语一般。或许看上去是这个样子。“成为冰风谷联合集团的首领之一，在十镇的议会中拥有一个发言的权力。我的父亲——”他看了一眼莫里克，笑了起来，“你是不会喜欢我的父亲的，莫里克。或者至少，他也不会喜欢你。”   “一个骄傲的野蛮人？”   “一个粗暴无礼的矮人，”沃夫加纠正道，“他是我的养父，”针对莫里克正在发出的表示怀疑的咕哝，他立刻进行了澄清，“秘银厅第八代国王，冰风谷凯恩巨锥前山谷中一支采矿矮人部族的首领。”   “你的父亲是一名矮人王？”随着莫里克的询问，沃夫加点点头。“而你现在则和我一起风餐露宿？”又是点头。“你可真是一个让我不可置信的大笨蛋。”   沃夫加只是盯着冻土，倾听着寒风哀伤的歌声。他并不是不认同莫里克的评价，只不过他的确没有能力去改变什么。他听见莫里克把手伸进了身边那个大口袋，随后也听到了他所熟悉的酒瓶碰撞所发出的声音。

jarod 发表于 2006-5-27 10:57

原文 Chapter 19 THE CHANCE "We've not much time! What am I to wear?" Biaste Ganderlay wailed when Meralda told her the wedding had been moved up to the autumn equinox. "If we're to wear anything more than we have, Lord Feringal will be bringing it by," Dohni Ganderlay said, patting the woman's shoulder. He gave Meralda a look of pride, and mostly of appreciation, and she knew that he understood the sacrifice she was making here. How would that expression change, she wondered, if her father learned of the baby in her belly? She managed a weak smile in reply despite her thoughts and went into her room to dress for the day. Liam Woodgate had arrived earlier to inform Meralda that Lord Feringal had arranged for her to meet late that same day with the seamstress who lived on the far western edge of Auckney, some two hours' ride. "No borrowed gowns for the great day." Liam had proclaimed. "If you don't mind my saying so, Biaste, your daughter will truly be the most beautiful bride Auckney's ever known." How Biaste's face had glowed and her eyes sparkled! Strangely, that also pained Meralda, for though she knew that she was doing right by her family, she could not forgive herself for her stupidity with Jaka. Now she had to seduce Lord Feringal, and soon, perhaps that very night. With the wedding moved up, she could only hope that others, mostly Priscilla and Temigast, would forgive her for conceiving a child before the official ceremony. Worst of all, Meralda would have to take the truth of the child with her to her grave. What a wretched creature she believed herself to be at that moment. Madam Prinkle, a seamstress renowned throughout the lands, would no doubt make her a most beautiful gown with gems and, colorful fabrics, but she doubted she would be wearing the glowing face to go with it. Meralda got cleaned up and dressed, ate a small meal, and was all smiles when Liam Woodgate returned for her, guiding her into the coach. She sat with her elbow propped on the sill, staring at the countryside rolling by. Men and gnomes worked in the high fields, but she neither looked for nor spotted Jaka Sculi among them. The houses grew sparse, until only the occasional cottage dotted the rocky landscape. The carriage went through a small wood, where Liam stopped briefly to rest and water the horses. Soon they were off again, leaving the small woods and traveling into rocky terrain again. On Meralda's right was the sea. Sheer rock cliffs rose on the north side of the path, some reaching down so close to the water's edge that Meralda wondered how Liam would get the coach through. She wondered, too, how any woman could live out here alone. Meralda resolved to ask Liam about it later. Now she spied an outpost, a stone keep flying Lord Feringal's flag. Only then did she begin to appreciate the power of the lord of Auckney. The slow-moving coach had only traveled about ten miles, but it seemed as if they had gone halfway around the world. For some reason she couldn't understand, the sight of Feringal's banner in this remote region made Meralda feel better, as if powerful Lord Feringal Auck would protect her. Her smile was short lived as she remembered he would only protect her if she lied. The woman sank back into her seat, sighed, and felt her still-flat belly, as if expecting the baby to kick right then and there. ***** "The flag is flying, so there are soldiers within," Wulfgar reasoned. "Within they shall stay," Morik answered. "The soldiers rarely leave the shelter of their stones, even when summoned. Their lookout, if they have one, is more concerned with those attacking the keep and not with anything down on the road. Besides, there can't be more than a dozen of them this far out from any real supply towns. I doubt there are even half that number." Wulfgar thought to remind Morik that far fewer men had routed them just a couple of days before, but he kept quiet. After the disaster in the pass, Morik had suggested they go out from the region, in case the merchant alerted Luskan guards, true to his belief that a good highwayman never stays long in one place, particularly after a failed attack. Initially, Morik wanted to go north into Icewind Dale, but Wulfgar had flatly refused. "West, then," the rogue had offered. "There's a small fiefdom squeezed between the mountains and the sea southwest of the Hundelstone pass. Few go there, for it's not on most maps, but the merchants of the northern roads know of it, and sometimes they travel there on their way to and from Ten-Towns. Perhaps we will even meet up with our friend and his lightning wand again." The possibility didn't thrill Wulfgar, but his refusal to go back into Icewind Dale had really left them only two options. They'd be deeper into the unaccommodating Spine of the World if they went east to the realm of goblins and giants and other nasty, unprofitable monsters. That left south and west, and given their relationship with the authorities of Luskan in the south, west seemed a logical choice. It appeared as if that choice would prove to be a good one, for the pair watched as a lone wagon, an ornate carriage such as a nobleman might ride, rambled down the road. "It could be a wizard," Wulfgar reasoned, painfully recalling the lightning bolts he'd suffered. "I know of no wizards of any repute in this region," Morik replied. “You haven't been in this region for years,” Wulfgar reminded him. "Who would dare travel in such an elaborate carriage alone?" he wondered aloud. "Why not?" Morik countered. "This area south of the mountains sees little trouble, and there are outposts along the way, after all," he added, waving his hand at the distant stone keep. "The people here are not trapped in their homes by threats of goblins." Wulfgar nodded, but it seemed too easy. He figured that the coach driver must be a veteran fighter, at least. It was likely there would be others inside, and perhaps they held nasty wands or other powerful magical items. One look at Morik, though, told the barbarian that he'd not dissuade his friend. Morik was still smarting from the disaster in the pass. He needed a successful hit. The road below made a great bend around a mountain spur. Morik and Wulfgar took a more direct route, coming back to the road far ahead of the coach, out of sight of the stone outpost. Wulfgar immediately began laying out his rope, looking for some place he might tie it off. He found one slender tree, but it didn't look promising. "Just jump in," Morik reasoned, pointing to an overhang. The rogue rushed down to the road, taking out a whip as he went, for the coach appeared, rambling around the southern bend. "Clear the way!" came Liam Woodgate's call a moment later. "I must speak with you, good sir!" Morik cried, holding his ground in the middle of the narrow trail. The gnome slowed the coach and brought it to a halt a safe distance from the rogue-and too far, Morik noted, for Wulfgar to make the leap. "By order of Lord Feringal of Auckney, clear the way," Liam stated. "I am in need of assistance, sir," Morik explained, watching out of the corner of his eye as Wulfgar scrambled into position, Morik took a step ahead then, but Liam warned him back. Keep your distance, friend," the gnome said. "I've an errand for my lord, and don't doubt that I'll run you down if you don't move aside." Morik chuckled. "I think not," he said. Something in Morik's tone, or perhaps just a movement along the high rocks caught the corner of Liam's eye. Suddenly the gnome understood the imminent danger and spurred his team forward. Wulfgar leaped out at that moment, but he hit the side of the carriage behind the driver, his momentum and the angle of the rocky trail putting the thing up on two wheels. Inside the coach a woman screamed. Purely on instinct, Morik brought forth his whip and gave a great crack right in front of the horses. The beasts cut left against the lean, and before the driver could control them, before Wulfgar could brace himself, before the passenger inside could even cry out again, the coach fell over on its side, throwing both the driver and Wulfgar. Dazed, Wulfgar forced himself to his feet, expecting to be battling the driver or someone else climbing from the coach, but the driver was down among some rocks, groaning, and no sounds came from within the coach. Morik rushed to calm the horses, then leaped atop the coach, scrambling to the door and pulling it open. Another scream came from within. Wulfgar went to the driver and gently lifted the gnome's head. He set it back down, secure that this one was out of the fight but hoping he wasn't mortally wounded. "You must see this," Morik called to Wulfgar. He reached into the coach, offering his hand to a beautiful young woman, who promptly backed away. "Come out, or I promise I will join you in there," Morik warned, but still the frightened woman curled away from him. "Now that is the way true highwaymen score their pleasures," Morik announced to Wulfgar as the big man walked over to join him. "And speaking of pleasures. . . ." he added, then dropped into the coach. The woman screamed and flailed at him, but she was no match for the skilled rogue. Soon he had her pinned against the coach's ceiling, which was now a wall, her arms held in place, his knee blocking her from kicking his groin, his lips close to hers. "A kiss for the winner?" Morik rose suddenly, caught by the collar and hoisted easily out of the coach by a fuming Wulfgar. "You cross a line," Wulfgar replied, dropping the rogue on the ground. "She is fairly caught," Morik argued, not understanding his friend's problem. "We have our way, and we let her go. What's the harm?" Wulfgar glared at him. "Go tend the driver's wounds," he said. "Then find what treasures you may about the wagon." "The girl-" "-does not count as a treasure," Wulfgar growled at him. Morik threw his hands up in defeat and moved to check on the fallen gnome. Wulfgar reached into the coach, much as Morik had done, offering his huge paw to the frightened young woman. "Come out," he bade her. "I promise you won't be harmed." Stunned and sore, the woman dodged his hand. "We can't turn your wagon upright with you in it," Wulfgar explained reasonably. "Don't you wish to be on your way?" "I want you to be on your way," the woman snarled. "And leave you here alone?" "Better alone than with thieves," Meralda shot back. "It would be better for your driver if you got out. He'll die if we leave him lying on the rocks," Wulfgar was trying very hard to comfort the woman, or at least frighten her into action. "Come. I'll not hurt you. Rob you, yes, but not hurt you." She timidly lifted her hand. Wulfgar took hold and easily hoisted her out of the coach. Setting her down, he stared at her for a long moment. Despite a newly forming bruise on the side of her face she was truly a beautiful young woman. He could understand Morik's desire, but he had no intention of forcing himself on any woman, no matter how beautiful, and he certainly wasn't going to let Morik do so. The two thieves spent a few moments going through the coach, finding, to Morik's delight, a purse of gold. Wulfgar searched about for a log to use as a lever. "You don't intend to upright the carriage, do you?" Morik asked incredulously. "Yes, I do," Wulfgar replied. "You can't do that," the rogue argued. "She'll drive right up to the stone keep and have a host of soldiers pursuing us within the hour." Wulfgar wasn't listening. He found some large rocks and placed them near the roof of the fallen carriage. With a great tug, he brought the thing off the ground. Seeing no help forthcoming from Morik, he braced himself and managed to free one hand to slide a rock into place under the rim. The horses snorted and tugged, and Wulfgar almost lost the whole thing right there. "At least go and calm them," he instructed Morik. The rogue made no move. Wulfgar looked to the woman, who ran to the team and steadied them. "I can't do this alone," Wulfgar called again to Morik, his tone growing more angry. Blowing out a great, long-suffering sigh, the rogue ambled over. Studying the situation briefly, he trotted off to where Wulfgar had left the rope, which he looped about the tree then brought one end back to tie off the upper rim of the coach. Morik passed by the woman, who jumped back from him, but he scarcely noticed. Next, Morik took the horses by their bridle and pulled them around, dragging the coach carefully and slowly so that its wheels were equidistant from the tree. "You lift, and I will set the rope to hold it," he instructed Wulfgar. "Then brace yourself and lift it higher, and soon we will have it upright." Morik was a clever one, Wulfgar had to admit. As soon as the rogue was back in place at the rope and the woman had a hold of the team again, Wulfgar bent low and gave a great heave, and up the carriage went. Morik quickly took up the slack, tightening the rope about the tree, allowing Wulfgar to reset his position. A moment later, the barbarian gave another heave, and again Morik held the coach in place at its highest point. The third pull by Wulfgar brought it over bouncing onto its four wheels. The horses nickered nervously and stamped the ground, tossing their heads in protest so forcefully that the woman couldn't hold on. Wulfgar was beside her instantly, though, grabbing the bridles and pulling hard, steadying the beasts. Then, using the same rope, he tied them off to the tree and went to the fallen driver. "What's his name?" he asked of the woman. Seeing her hesitation he said, "We can't do anything worse to you than we have already, just by knowing your name. I feel strange helping him but not knowing what to call him." The woman's expression lightened as she saw the sense of his remark. "His name's Liam." Apparently having found some courage, she came over and crouched next to her driver, concern replacing fear on her face. "Is he going to be all right?" "Don't know yet." Poor Liam seemed far from consciousness, but he was alive, and upon closer inspection his injuries didn't appear too serious. Wulfgar lifted him gently and brought him to the coach, laying him on the bench seat inside. The barbarian went back to the woman, taking her arm and pulling her along behind him. "You said you wouldn't hurt me," she protested and tried to fight back. She would have had an easier time holding back the two horses. Morik's smile grew wide when Wulfgar dragged her by. "A change of heart?" the rogue asked. "She's coming with us for a while," Wulfgar explained. "No!" the young woman protested. Balling up her fist, she leaped up and smacked Wulfgar hard across the back of his head. He stopped and turned to her, his expression amused and a little impressed at her spunk. "Yes," he answered, pinning her arm as she tried to hit him again. "You'll come with us for just a mile," he explained. "Then I'll let you loose to return to the coach and the driver, and you may go wherever you please." "You won't hurt me?" "Not I," Wulfgar answered. He glowered at Morik. "Nor him." Realizing she had little choice in the matter, the young woman went along without further argument. True to his word, Wulfgar released her a mile or so from the coach. Then he and Morik and their purse of gold melted into the mountains. ***** Meralda ran the whole way back to poor Liam. Her side was aching by the time she found the old gnome. He was awake but hardly able to climb out of the coach, let alone drive it. "Stay inside," the woman bade him. "I'll turn the team around and get us back to Castle Auck." Liam protested, but Meralda just shut the door and went to work. Soon she had them moving back west along the road, a bumpy and jostling ride, for she was not experienced in handling horses and the road was not an easy one. Along the way, the miles and the hours rolling out behind her, an idea came to the woman, a seemingly simple solution to all her troubles. It was long after sunset when they pulled back into Auckney proper at the gates of Castle Auck. Lord Feringal and Priscilla came out to greet them, and their jaws dropped when they saw the bedraggled woman and the battered coachman within. "Thieves on the road," Meralda explained. Priscilla climbed to her side, uncharacteristically concerned. In a voice barely above a whisper, Meralda added, "He hurt me." With that, she broke into sobs in Priscilla's arms. ***** The wind moaned about him, a sad voice that sang to Wulfgar about what had been and what could never be again, a lost time, a lost innocence, and friends he sorely missed yet could not seek out. Once more he sat on the high bluff at the northern end of the pass through the Spine of the World, overlooking Icewind Dale, staring out to the northeast. He saw a sparkle out there. It might have been a trick of the light, or maybe it was the slanted rays of late afternoon sunlight reflecting off of Maer Dualdon, the largest of the three lakes of the Ten-Towns region. Also, he thought he saw Kelvin's Cairn, the lone mountain north of the range. It was probably just his imagination, he told himself again or a trick of the light, for the mountain was a long way from him. To Wulfgar, it seemed like a million miles. "They have camped outside the southern end of the pass," Morik announced, moving to join the big man. "There are not so many. It should be a clean take." Wulfgar nodded. After the success along the shore road to the west, the pair had returned to the south, the region between Luskan and the pass, and had even bought some goods from one passing merchant with their ill-found gold. Then they had come back to the pass and had hit another caravan. This time it went smoothly, with the merchant handing over a tithe and no blood spilled. Morik had spotted their third group of victims, a caravan of three wagons heading north out of Luskan, bound for Icewind Dale. "Always you are looking north," the rogue remarked, sitting next to Wulfgar, "and yet you will not venture there. Have you enemies in Ten-Towns?" "I have friends who would stop us if they knew what we were about," Wulfgar explained. "Who would try to stop us?" cocky Morik replied. Wulfgar looked him right in the eye. "They would stop us," he insisted, his grave expression offering no room for argument. He let that look linger on Morik for a moment, then turned back to the dale, the wistfulness returning as well to his sky-blue eyes. "What life did you leave behind there?" Morik asked. Wulfgar turned back, surprised. He and Morik didn't often talk about their respective pasts, at least not unless they were drinking. "Will you tell me?" Morik pressed. "I see so much in your face. Pain, regret, and what else?" Wulfgar chuckled at that observation. "What did I leave behind?" he echoed. After a moment's pause, he answered, "Everything." "That sounds foolish." "I could be a king," Wulfgar went on, staring out at the dale again as if speaking to himself. Perhaps he was. "Chieftain of the combined tribes of Icewind Dale, with a strong voice on the council of Ten-Towns. My father-" He looked at Morik and laughed. "You would not like my father, Morik. Or at least, he would not like you." "A proud barbarian?" "A surly dwarf," Wulfgar countered. "He's my adoptive father," he clarified as Morik sputtered over that one. "The Eighth King of Mithral Hall and leader of a clan of dwarves mining in the valley before Kelvin's Cairn in Icewind Dale." "Your father is a dwarven king?" Wulfgar nodded. "And you are out on the road beside me, sleeping on the ground?" Again the nod. "Truly you are a bigger fool than I had believed." Wulfgar just stared out at the tundra, hearing the sad song of the wind. He couldn't disagree with Morik's assessment, but neither did he have the power to change things. He heard Morik reaching for his pack, then heard the familiar clink of bottles.

AKUMA-yyc 发表于 2006-5-27 19:57

老大辛苦了啊 爱死你了~~

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龙骑士城堡奇幻论坛's Archiver

世界之脊 第十九章 机会

世界之脊第十九章机会