5.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5HvLrgw1T
西樹海森林一隅。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTTtr8xOgb
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOZNMPX6hQ
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7TfUSyKEI
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54YvlwlMxS
士兵們升起營火。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuXCqg4lsm
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17thLh3cOx
    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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoVHmys8ei
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV65ZBs2vUy
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？37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCsjgTExmi
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAOMTDEiNN
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhbkIFK3Sm
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHTtUnnUBo
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT33JpnBtY
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFKOIjoQ2w
其他女精靈扶起她，每個精靈都哭了。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgYxi55mKD
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2aKLz5xhW
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」？37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Mv7TuUTe0
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBvwf7sVeW
「哭什麼？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgl6HXHwfK
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBos9vPIXNT
「唱歌！唱歌！叫妳們唱歌跳舞，不會嗎？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZaCnMPXs6
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKRUmins5T
「不准哭！想煩死老子嗎？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR0W0KwQ0N
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDkvRDwdeB
「妳們這群笨精靈！」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBlUGxqgxN
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsraw6vb0NQ
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——」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvJ0GkQxwh
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aNkFSk8Xj
她又被甩了一巴掌。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolgqEO9irG
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr67FEqNub
「叫什麼叫！老子的名字也不叫黑什麼的！」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiwAn4hosW
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26i0jsMcZm
「……大哥！黑琴大哥！」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhuWbGlTf9
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqSw3brZCa
「黑琴！」女精靈們此起彼落地叫喚。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFrXUCHVVo
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzxwpPDiA6
    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！37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZmkREqpjk
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOcuopQQ8U
黑琴，彷彿他是他們唯一的希望，精靈族的救星。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAONKDfXD3g
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wfoS7cfYt
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5bVN2qC1h
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnW67mkgVP
這時，索爾探出帳棚。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuGBUjqVgM
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctY4SigTCa
「你們在吵什麼？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVzqkJUTXZ
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFh6gPKe16
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgV2S4gFDR
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HtrTuHCUq
精靈沒有持劍攻擊索爾，而是將劍橫抵在自己脖子上。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6TjgaSplT
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPY3pihnWx
「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！」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU80hGg8XX
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe53hwBj6a
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCOL9Zqn3O
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTf3v3WGmx
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：37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbFHE3MdJD
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7bXSk9TwQ
「大人，我們只是開玩笑……」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJdNTunabN
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARDZdobCY4
「大人，您何必聽一個精靈的話？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL1ggCM2jr
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv36z8F9tP
「你算什麼東西！我們大人怎麼會聽你的？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2QkMbHdwd
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9ynqihzuv
「大人，您直接處死他吧！」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswTi9LCuOR
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv2iwh6DFl
「敢冒犯我們將軍大人，不要命了！」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl01eXhWou
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxm6jfPG82
「大人！大人……」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtp4L3MgtV
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgV0vRjt4t
抵住脖子的劍並未鬆手，反而更壓進。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g9CY2MaoE
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9hDe5XBlK
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEbVrWpS9a
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvI2e9nGXf
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6dAk44UzN
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLsvVRfF4L
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzNZdulPYS
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRUtSXu425
索爾把黑琴拉到自己的營帳。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4qqWo6L0d
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx72jYcOqE
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl0A8OPxuf
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJAXQHdGWM
「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？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK6MtzJ2YO
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZGnSsxptV
精靈站在索爾面前，反而使坐著的索爾覺得自己矮人一截。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aDsZ6c462
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGgtKyNQIW
索爾吃不下了，他丟下刀叉：「你還有什麼把戲沒使出來？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyKaK1TKyx
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwyvXokhfi
「你在招兵買馬。」綠眸讓整句話成為肯定，「你想推翻你的國王。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgrzW2I9ij
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdL6XwQ3xx
索爾躍起，抽出配劍，直指精靈，「飯能亂吃，話不能亂說啊。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqlXPXhCMt
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqkE7LTety
「……」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4uQF8arNR
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhs4bBlVxt
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED5Jn1dimf
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lbSI8zzxy
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2lgRa4w0I
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32Q4JDj9Hs
「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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W472mR0Q0
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz6R1snTLS
「你剛剛會幫我，不只是英雄惜英雄，你要我……為你做事。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrkE27vM4z
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkAdZXyl8D
「不錯。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7VILqQYE5
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7JpxkJBTd
「其次，你在介紹你自己時，報上你的家族。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNICEhlFpxp
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjyUWsRv7u
「很多人類都這麼做啊。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrAVYN69Ds
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvFeq7nMl4
「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？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwvtrvRE9j
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3oP7csfAD
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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkljr5yHvlZ
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSc7OQH6Oz
「你的家族和國王是對立的。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2goIQoYla
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV9lDkwaS2
「你要這麼說也行。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIJbRCmINX
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrnCw8wDbo
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0887lInU9
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70Dt5gXULb
「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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSKUf1J0jL
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ807dg4ZlQk
「這幾天，我聽到不少關於你們國王的事，他並不……得人心。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZETB1kIux
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNmEbkBOYx
「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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMRMkLEY5B
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ogsIz6McY
「我們部落不是這樣的。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWtltRGFBL
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbzW6s6QqU
「喔？那你們的『國王』打哪來？」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhKxDOO7mL
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCVmOCMWiI
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SxF0fJM5I
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntA0vMpUt2
「所以……族長的兒子不會是族長。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazCGJXhFx8
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4cc5vcSpl
「不會，除非他證明自己夠資格，有族人願意追隨他。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey5SfperL7
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0v741UQJY
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmosenHUmuA
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAjl0PNUOX
索爾對精靈一笑，撿起地上的鎖鍊。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn91vHyS4R8
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wwx1FilOm
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOgVbAcDQn
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSnJQFq2JX
精靈僵硬地轉頭，眸子對上人類，「你早該殺了我。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcMk8pPsdk
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtTB05kKyb
索爾把精靈丟在地上，精靈吃痛地咳了幾聲、黑髮蓋住臉。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuiRen4uAS
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpOgoi8fez
「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。」37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YQ0YaJ9QW
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNiY6x5QAg
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。37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYO7l5pmyK
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS28w2iozR
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37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZiZ0y726Q
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkTCpEu4CU
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7dmqFVSqH
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