陽劃落在水平線的盡頭,河水被染成燦爛的橘紅色,在運河的中心可看見一隻正趕著回程的小木舟,河邊本寥寥可數的釣客也已經消失得無影無蹤,入夜後的邊境並沒有以前那般太平。437Please respect copyright.PENANA6UKjspEgwt
437Please respect copyright.PENANAZFZ2xKq1qZ
在運河的盡頭,有一碼頭,約三百年前已包在運河工程中落成了,幾十年前又翻新過一次,本是西方不死族之出入口商品集散之地。只是要到西方去,途經死亡山脈,外圍的官道窄小,氣候多變,來往的商人集合成一支商隊,一起來回,相互照應,走一趟就是數月,今日離商隊歸來尚有一月,沒有買賣做,也就沒甚麼人來,只有一隻商船泊着,商鋪也沒有營業。437Please respect copyright.PENANA8ILhbMCY5U
437Please respect copyright.PENANATP0vwSJzVD
出了碼頭,向西直走數里,已是關口。關口城牆連着一片山壁,關口以西即非人界。437Please respect copyright.PENANA152Cw7xmYq
437Please respect copyright.PENANAddhFVlmFQN
兩個匆匆趕路的身影,走到了關口前。437Please respect copyright.PENANAcEkdsGcYKH
437Please respect copyright.PENANAof2tpuEMBj
梓喬拿出了通關文牒,向渡口的守衛出示。437Please respect copyright.PENANA9yLVOfRHbq
437Please respect copyright.PENANAyCHVsa3aFL
「是!請過。」437Please respect copyright.PENANASZV78aX29d
437Please respect copyright.PENANAsniGmJNxLE
守衛看到了文牒後,馬上以一個恭敬的姿勢讓出一條路給他們通往,文牒上有軍方、騎士學院和魔法學院的印章,這二人可是大有來頭。437Please respect copyright.PENANAyOFvxGk2LA
437Please respect copyright.PENANAsCDa3F9xnC
「謝謝。」梓喬收回文牒,兩人正要從關口中過去,守衛卻叫住了他們。437Please respect copyright.PENANA2BHAp7krZF
437Please respect copyright.PENANAbl2cLPLoJy
「只是…就算你們是魔導士和騎士,晚上出關都有些太危險了。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAwM5XYYuf6x
437Please respect copyright.PENANA06iG2T6gIv
「為甚麼?」逸天疑惑地問道。437Please respect copyright.PENANAQzPJ7skzWK
437Please respect copyright.PENANAiFZXShAoFx
「野獸兩位想必不用怕,但石像鬼就不一樣了。它們本來棲息於西方盡頭的死亡山脈,近來卻反常地在這邊獵食,它們會在晚上活動,乘人不備,從天上抓住獵物,刺穿他們的筋骨,讓它們失去行動能力,然後再把它們帶回自己的巢穴和同伴一起享用。由於他們的移動速度很快而且數量也很多,所以鮮有獵物能逃過他們的追殺。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAZRGkoe70q5
437Please respect copyright.PENANAD6mwmc3j8t
侍衛同時拉起衣袖,露出一條由手腕延伸至手肘的深黑色疤痕,他數月前被石像鬼抓傷過,還好那次的石像鬼落了單,被守衛群起而攻殺死了。437Please respect copyright.PENANAYwaAVDbxqE
437Please respect copyright.PENANAieu7j7OAmU
「嗯…那的確是很有威脅的存在…」437Please respect copyright.PENANAExZ1nlszGn
437Please respect copyright.PENANADWE0ghJywe
逸天低聲咕噥道,右手也有點不安地抓了抓背上的劍柄。437Please respect copyright.PENANAe9v51EIcU6
437Please respect copyright.PENANAnVyyeaRoI9
「如果不介意的話,兩位要不要先在我們這裏留宿一晚?早上石像鬼不敢出來。」437Please respect copyright.PENANApKkGQ41CIn
437Please respect copyright.PENANA8tYIiM7ofQ
出於擔心,守衛向逸天他們發出了邀請。437Please respect copyright.PENANAwhEbB6HSGp
437Please respect copyright.PENANA3vEPrjyl7W
「嗯,我倒是沒問題…」437Please respect copyright.PENANAlg3TkmfptJ
437Please respect copyright.PENANAJOCFXKtocG
逸天望向梓喬,眼神裏尋求著她的同意,想必是未成熟的劍技讓他退縮了吧。437Please respect copyright.PENANAlYalgWTXAJ
然而,梓喬卻說了出乎逸天意料的決定。437Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5mCsPfSnZ
437Please respect copyright.PENANAWZGKH4ePGz
「不,我們要繼續趕路。」梓喬也不約而同地撫着魔杖,但卻得出相反的結論。437Please respect copyright.PENANAWdhFUFF5rQ
聽到梓喬的決定,逸天不禁嘆了口氣。437Please respect copyright.PENANA1w6UAIyXGv
437Please respect copyright.PENANAgJnRRkFtpq
「為什麽啊?我們根本沒必要晚上去那麽冒險啊?」437Please respect copyright.PENANAnnC0gn4a0r
437Please respect copyright.PENANAYhJMlSNATH
「石像鬼不是問題,消滅斥候要緊。」梓喬的回應卻顯得十分嚴肅。437Please respect copyright.PENANAGAZ6ebtPDv
437Please respect copyright.PENANAdH7NBQ1myE
「可是…」437Please respect copyright.PENANA9c4j4BBxox
437Please respect copyright.PENANAHaMeUbJTw0
「趁現在還有時間趕快走吧。」437Please respect copyright.PENANA5HB31xHoqh
437Please respect copyright.PENANA0od04dxSQO
接著梓喬走向了一旁的馬殿。437Please respect copyright.PENANAsg1XCPRjEg
437Please respect copyright.PENANAKaplvFCcnz
「侍衛,我們需要馬匹為我們趕路。」剛才兩人乘船順運河而下,關口離山脈尚有數十里,要是不借助馬匹,天黑前就到不了山脈,然而守衛聞言卻臉色一變。437Please respect copyright.PENANAt2P1Nb1jMW
437Please respect copyright.PENANAuHX8WTHqmL
「大...大人!首先,我們西方邊境的資金向來…不是很充足…」437Please respect copyright.PENANAmY0TTsYPFD
437Please respect copyright.PENANAmHSxtTrKWc
「所以連兩匹馬也沒有嗎?」437Please respect copyright.PENANA1zUBe3uNri
437Please respect copyright.PENANA59mpUK96W2
「對…對對!不是我們不借…只是我們的馬匹已經有不少無故失蹤了…」437Please respect copyright.PENANAvy9WvNxz0p
437Please respect copyright.PENANAqt5CDjke6w
「我瞧你胡說八道也有個限度吧,馬兒好端端的怎麼會失蹤了呢?我看是你們偷偷煮來吃了。」梓喬也是隨口說說罷了,邊防重地的馬匹都是報信的快馬和戰馬,他們又豈敢私自煮來吃,只是聽說馬匹無故失蹤,心中甚疑。437Please respect copyright.PENANA8DnEp7v2sZ
437Please respect copyright.PENANAx9E8op5hK7
「我們怎麼敢!大人有所不知了,我們西邊邊境最近經常發生怪事,先是附近小鎮的居民會無故失蹤,接馬殿里的馬匹也是一樣,可能是石像鬼已經越過了關口,開始向東蔓延了。」437Please respect copyright.PENANA58f6ommsEj
437Please respect copyright.PENANAtde7GzsXyx
「難道是不死族的斥侯?」437Please respect copyright.PENANA1MpgNZtGjc
437Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1JG6DVrXC
逸天自剛才守衛解釋時已經緊皺眉頭沉思著什麼,聽到這裡又忽然若有所思地問道。437Please respect copyright.PENANAjrBs2wSX4W
437Please respect copyright.PENANAOmsn4HPPEC
「不…不死族?唉,石像鬼還不夠嗎?」437Please respect copyright.PENANAF1gK6lFNwh
437Please respect copyright.PENANAVxIiupMptg
「守衛,讓我們離開吧,我們奉皇室和學院的密令,去殲滅附近不死族的斥候。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAS0xPv7w656
437Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ipq0ChSDZ
「何逸天!這不能說!」437Please respect copyright.PENANAtJI8DiCxNN
437Please respect copyright.PENANAVWHTbuWPTB
只見守衛的臉色一陣鐵青,但隨即又回復了正常。437Please respect copyright.PENANAFgdWZ3Cyhh
437Please respect copyright.PENANAiEVrNu6P3X
「大人,老實說是不是又要打仗了,反正我們這種守邊境關卡的士兵都是微不足道的小棋子,你們就做個好心告訴了我,好讓我和家中老母見個最後一面。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAMF91f7JOfx
看來他在邊境見識過各種凶獸,自知總有一天要死於非命,不死族來犯是死,石像鬼來犯也是死,反正都是死,也就看開了。437Please respect copyright.PENANAMNw1FVOPW8
437Please respect copyright.PENANAp6jRyglZE5
只見梓喬好沒氣地說道:「所以你讓我們現在去殲滅它們還來得及,快點去備馬!」437Please respect copyright.PENANApMb6LXTNg2
437Please respect copyright.PENANA4HxxL6Quyv
「是的,我這就去為兩位備馬。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAHgypV9OJe1
437Please respect copyright.PENANAibjW7CSgas
守衛小跑着走開了,直到守衛消失於馬殿之中,梓喬才無奈地歎了口氣。437Please respect copyright.PENANAh5OJ6GHkKy
437Please respect copyright.PENANAFEfxySBuD0
「你是白癡嗎!你怎麼能把密令的內容說出來!」437Please respect copyright.PENANAHfRgIee6Gc
437Please respect copyright.PENANAegkIpw9VuG
「抱歉。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAevJS1cxQrN
437Please respect copyright.PENANA5xRXDIkzRK
「你這人真是,就正正因為內容和不死族有關才要秘密授命。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAbKmREc8VaB
437Please respect copyright.PENANARY8wDOU8bu
「為什麼?」437Please respect copyright.PENANAwsjj0FYvKA
437Please respect copyright.PENANAFJwR4wDRNb
梓喬不安地咬了咬嘴唇。437Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZUWaJcZit
437Please respect copyright.PENANA15Y6AmW6xJ
「不死族身體異於常人,力氣巨大,普通守衛根本不是它們的對手。而且聽說他們嗜血成性,見人就殺,消息傳開了人民會陷入恐慌,這是第一。」437Please respect copyright.PENANADMFx7pUXs0
437Please respect copyright.PENANAgePVZPvB4m
「對不起,是我一時心急了,還有呢?」437Please respect copyright.PENANAqzqw7gRz0a
437Please respect copyright.PENANAJSvwEaT0NW
「始終人類和不死族之間,暫時還沒到正式開戰的時侯,名義上他們是友邦,我們的行動不宜張揚。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAtMTAgx7nJr
437Please respect copyright.PENANA6bHcUa4hvm
這時守衛從馬殿里牽著一匹棕毛黑鬃馬,走了出來。437Please respect copyright.PENANACucOpS74mN
437Please respect copyright.PENANA0WcdhRczkS
「我們馬匹實在不多了,用來報信的快馬太少了,實在不能借出,兩位使者大人就將就一下,兩人乘一馬吧。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAg5cWwx1poX
437Please respect copyright.PENANAejWN5GCXhI
兩人茫然相視半响,梓喬才無奈地搖了搖頭。437Please respect copyright.PENANApfCGXZKgN4
437Please respect copyright.PENANAtFdjIKIQaS
守衛見她搖頭,忙道:「這馬雖然不快,但平常馱慣了重物,耐力長久,就是兩人共一騎也沒問題。」437Please respect copyright.PENANA9WtoRPuFIT
437Please respect copyright.PENANAki8LHIsxwC
「好吧,你抱著我坐後面。」437Please respect copyright.PENANAF2wsRwA0OV
437Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZeYpD6cuG
逸天在現實世界,居於城市之內,鮮少有機會騎馬,而梓喬早一年到這裡生活,騎馬出行可說是家常便飯了。437Please respect copyright.PENANAS7jJdQcD0z
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這樣也好,免得那傢伙不會騎馬丟醜。437Please respect copyright.PENANAn5Fpzep7mk
437Please respect copyright.PENANApoCFoYAHsa
梓喬輕輕一踏馬蹬,跨上馬背,逸天見狀也依樣葫蘆地以有些生疏笨拙的動作跨了上去。437Please respect copyright.PENANAqLXSCg2Cvx
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「守衛,我們後會有期!」437Please respect copyright.PENANADh7LyU6UIh
437Please respect copyright.PENANAR90scVgqWh
不待他回應,梓喬輕拍馬身,兩人一馬已迅速順著小路奔向起伏不平的小路,消失在夜色之中。437Please respect copyright.PENANAmAo0LvoOdq
437Please respect copyright.PENANAwAElio2TC9
眼見遠去的兩人,侍衛又望向了身邊的一個小土坑,他的夥伴在那裡站了十多年站出來的,領着微薄的薪水,守着國家的門戶,雨打風吹也不離不棄,他絕對是一個好守衛。437Please respect copyright.PENANA8S8VGEycGT
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但在石像鬼面前,他也不過是有待玩弄的一塊鮮肉,最多上面多了點鐵渣子罷了。上次他們能殺死石像鬼就是因爲牠顧着玩弄他同伴的屍體,侍衛只能在心中暗暗為這兩人一馬祝福。437Please respect copyright.PENANAkw3MlaDfGv
437Please respect copyright.PENANA6LGNMisXPx
兩人向死亡山脈的方向跑去,一路上的景色也開始變得詭異,原本茂密又高大的草叢漸漸變得稀疏,最後只剩下幾條枯萎的乾草,再向前就是一片赤地了;偶爾經過的動物體積也越來越大,而且身上散發着惶恐的氣息,如果不是他們在石像鬼面前稍有抗衡之力,現在已經化為白骨了。437Please respect copyright.PENANAYqtPeqgT7a
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兩人沒有往回走,也沒有說話,反而越走越快,直往山脈而去。437Please respect copyright.PENANAcejHiZmZBh
437Please respect copyright.PENANARtwcYokiRD
霧氣開始環繞兩人,說明二人己到了山脈外圍,兩人隨即下馬,但由於大霧視線受阻,無法視清五米以外的情況,叫兩人寸步難行。437Please respect copyright.PENANA7o3dfYjFr0