Questing Knight(科幻战争)-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


mule　to　the　post　alongside　Calard’s　steed。
Calard’s　eyes　were　locked　on　the　ground　at　the　peasant’s　feet。
‘Stand　still；’　he　ordered。
‘What？’　said　Chlod；　turning　in　Calard’s　direction。
‘Be　still！　Stop　moving；’　said　Calard；　and　the　peasant　froze。　Calard　moved　forward；　studying　the
ground　intently。　There　were　prints　in　the　mud　that　he　had　not　noticed　earlier。　‘Back　away　over　there；’　he
said；　gesturing。
‘Shall　I　prepare　you　some　food；　master？’　said　Chlod；　doing　as　he　was　bid。
‘Fine；　but　no　fire；’　said　Calard；　not　looking　up。　‘It　would　be　seen　for　miles　around。’
Careful　not　disturb　the　tracks；　Calard　crouched　and　studied　them　intently。　They　were　difficult　to　read；
for　the　prints　were　old　and　crossed　over　themselves　time　and　again。　Nevertheless；　after　several　minutes
Calard　had　identified　the　tracks　of　nine　separate　individuals　and　their　steeds。　He　judged　that　they　had
made　camp　here　a　week　ago；　perhaps　two。
His　eyes　narrowed　when　he　came　across　one　particularly　clear　hoof…print。　The　depth　of　the　track
indicated　a　horse　heavily　burdened；　and　the　mark　of　its　shoe　was　clear。　In　the　centre　of　the　imprint　was
the　blacksmith’s　mark。　Calard　recognised　the　heraldic　device　instantly。
‘Sangasse；’　Calard　spat。
Standing；　Calard　marched　towards　his　waiting　warhorse；　and　called　for　Chlod　to　make　ready　to
depart。

‘Where　do　we　go；　master？’　said　the　peasant　as　he　hurriedly　began　packing　up　his　pots。
‘To　visit　an　old　neighbour；’　said　Calard；　his　voice　filled　with　rage。
II
‘MALORIC！’
The　sky　glowed　with　pre…dawn　light。　The　peasants　of　Sangasse　had　been　awake　for　hours；　working
the　muddy　fields。　Many　of　them　had　halted　their　work　as　Calard　had　passed　by；　leaning　on　hoes　and
muttering　under　their　breath。　Calard　had　ignored　them；　his　head　held　high　and　his　face　a　grim　mask。
Though　they　were　neighbours；　no　knight　of　Garamont　had　set　foot　on　Sangasse　lands　for　over　six
generations　without　blood　being　spilt。　The　border　between　the　two　powerful　noble　families　had　long　been
disputed；　changing　hands　countless　times　over　the　centuries。　As　Calard　had　ridden　towards　the　border；
his　anger　had　deepened；　for　it　was　clear　that　the　Sangasse　family　had　claimed　much　of　Garamont’s　land
in　his　absence。　By　the　time　he　arrived　outside　the　gates　of　Castle　Sangasse；　a　formidable　bastion　built
atop　a　natural　rocky　bluff；　his　rage　was　incandescent。
‘Maloric！’　he　bellowed　again；　wheeling　his　warhorse　beneath　him。
Nervous　men…at…arms　looked　down　from　the　castle　walls　at　him。　All　of　them　were　garbed　in　tabards
bearing　the　heraldry　of　Maloric；　the　Earl　of　Sangasse。　Maloric　and　Calard　were　of　a　similar　age　and　had
a　long　history　of　antagonism。　Since　childhood　they　had　been　raised　to　loathe　one　another；　and　even
though　they　had　fought　side　by　side　on　dozens　of　occasions；　even　going　so　far　as　saving　each　other’s　lives
on　the　field　of　battle；　they　could　never　be　anything　but　rivals。
Chlod　licked　his　lips。　Hundreds　of　bowmen　were　stationed　along　the　walls；　and　a　pair　of　mighty
trebuchets　were　positioned　atop　the　gatehouse。　Scores　of　men…at…arms　barred　the　way；　shields　locked
together。　Calard　was　undaunted；　refusing　to　be　intimidated　by　mere　peasants。
‘Show　yourself；　Maloric！’　he　shouted。　‘Calard；　Castellan　of　Garamont　demands　it！’
At　last；　a　young　knight　appeared　atop　the　gatehouse。　His　hair　was　dishevelled　and　he　was　still
blinking　the　sleep　out　of　his　eyes。　Calard　did　not　recognise　him。
‘What　is　it　you　seek　here；　Garamont？’　called　the　knight。
‘Fetch　your　master；　and　be　quick　about　it；’　shouted　Calard。　‘I　will　not　bandy　words　with　you　or　any
of　Maloric’s　lackeys。’
Chlod　winced　as　the　knight’s　face　reddened　and　several　archers　nocked　arrows　to　strings。
‘Speak　to　me　in　such　a　tone　again；　Garamont；　and　you　will　be　cut　down　where　you　stand；’　shouted
back　the　knight。　‘Speak　your　piece　quickly；　or　take　your　leave！’
‘I　am　a　Questing　Knight　of　the　Lady；’　shouted　Calard。　‘Any　man　who　dares　loose　an　arrow　in　my
direction　will　be　cursed　by　the　goddess；　as　shall　you　if　you　give　the　order。　Now　be　gone　from　my　sight；　I
am　done　talking　to　you。　I　will　speak　to　Maloric；　and　no　one　else。　Fetch　him　from　his　bed　if　sleeping　past
dawn　is　his　habit。’
His　face　flushed；　the　knight　turned　and　disappeared　from　sight。
For　long　minutes；　Calard　and　Chlod　waited　while　men…at…arms　and　peasant　bowmen　shuffled　their
feet　awkwardly。　Chlod　tried　to　shrink；　making　himself　as　inconspicuous　as　possible；　while　Calard　paced
back　and　forth　before　the　gatehouse；　his　mount　snorting　and　stamping　its　hooves　in　agitation。
Finally；　the　ranks　of　the　men…at…arms　in　front　parted；　and　an　elderly　knight　appeared；　his　expression
cold。　This　knight　Calard　recognised；　though　he　could　not　recall　his　name。　The　knight　bowed　curtly；　just
low　enough　not　to　be　openly　discourteous。

‘The　Earl　of　Sangasse　and　his　lady　bid　you　welcome；　Calard　of　Garamont；’　said　the　knight。　‘My　lord
is　currently　sitting　for　breakfast；　and　asks　that　you　join　him。’
Calard　dismounted；　and　a　peasant　ran　forwards　to　take　his　reins。
‘Stay　with　the　horses；’　he　said　to　Chlod；　before　turning　back　towards　the　knight　of　Sangasse。
‘Lead　on；’　said　Calard。
The　knight　nodded；　and　turned　on　his　heel；　leading　the　way　into　Castle　Sangasse。
‘CALARD；　WHAT　A　pleasant　surprise；’　said　Maloric　with　a　sardonic　half…smile。　‘I　thought　you　were　dead。
’
The　earl　was　a　lean　man　in　his　early　thirties；　handsome　in　an　angular；　sharp…featured　way。　His　hair
was　pale　and　he　sported　a　slender　goatee　beard。　His　clothes　were　finely　made；　and　edged　in　silver。　A
long　table　laid　with　a　spread　fit　for　the　king　himself　was　before　him。　The　rich　aromas　made　Calard’s
stomach　knot；　and　he　began　to　salivate　despite　himself；　it　had　been　weeks　since　he　had　eaten　a　meal　not
prepared　by　his　manservant　Chlod；　who　was　a　poor　cook　at　best。
‘Sorry　to　disappoint；　Maloric；’　said　Calard；　dragging　his　gaze　from　the　food　on　display。
The　Earl　of　Sangasse　did　not　rise　from　his　high…backed　seat　–　a　subtle　insult　that　Calard　did　not　fail　to
notice　–　and　he　looked　Calard　up　and　down。
‘My；　my；　you　are　quite　a　sight；’　said　Maloric。　‘And　what　a　stink！　When　was　the　last　time　you
washed？’
‘One　does　not　have　much　time　for　such　luxuries　aloric。’
‘Of　course。　I　take　it　that　you　have　still　not　yet　been　successful。　It　has　been　what；　five　years？’
‘Six。’
‘Six　years；’　said　Maloric；　taking　a　swig　of　wine。　‘How　time　flies。　Please；　sit。　No　wait；　I　will　send　for　a
blanket。　No　offence；　of　course；　but　these　chairs　were　imported　from　Cathay　at　not　inconsiderable　cost。’
‘I　will　stand；　thank　you；’　said　Calard；　coldly。
‘As　you　wish；’　said　Maloric；　shrugging。　He　gestured　towards　the　food　on　the　table。　‘Eat。　Drink。　You
look　half…starved。’
‘I　did　not　come　here　to　eat　your　food；　nor　to　trade　insults；　Sangasse；’　said　Calard。
‘Oh？’　said　Maloric。　‘Then　to　what　do　I　owe　this　unexpected　pleasure？’
‘I　have　returned　home　to　find　my　castle　in　ruin；’　said　Calard；　‘and　to　suffer　the　insult　of　seeing
Sangasse　peasants　tilling　Garamont　land。　I　have　seen　no　sign　of　even　one　of　my　vassal　knights；　nor　my
appointed　heir　Orlando　or　his　guardian；　Baron　Montcadas。　I　come　here　to　call　you　to　account　for　these
transgressions；　Maloric；　and　I　swear　by　all　that　I　hold　holy　that　if　you　have　done　harm　to　my　household；　I
will　kill　you。’
Holding　Calard’s　gaze；　Maloric　reached　out　and　plucked　a　shelled　quail’s　egg　from　a　silver　plate。　He
popped　it　between　his　teeth　and　washed　it　down　with　another　swig　from　his　ornate　goblet。
‘Are　you　done？’　said　Maloric；　dabbing　at　his　lips　with　a　silk　napkin。
‘Long　has　Sangasse　looked　upon　Garamont　lands　with　envious　eyes。　I　should　have　known　that　you
would　make　a　play　for　them　in　my　absence；’　said　Calard。　‘Did　you　murder　Orlando　with　your　own
blade；　Maloric；　or　did　you　have　one　of　your　knights　do　it　for　you？’
‘I　am　no　murderer　of　children；　and　I　would　be　well　within　my　rights　to　demand　justice　for　such　an
insult；　offered　in　my　own　hall　no　less。　However；　you　are　clearly　aggrieved　and　not　in　full　control　of
yourself。　What　god　did　your　family　offend；　Calard；　to　see　it　suffer　so？　Truly　your　bloodline　is　cursed。’

‘Do　not　speak　of　my　family；　Sangasse　dog；’　said　Calard。
‘I　will　forgive　that　this　once；　Garamont；　for　you　speak　in　rashness　and　ignorance。　But　I　warn　you；　do
not　fling　your　baseless　insults　and　accusations　in　my　direction　again　or　I　will　not　be　so　tolerant。　I　would
not　wish　such　a　fate　as　your　family　has　suffered　on　any　noble　son　of　Bastonne；　even　you；　but　my　patience
can　be　pushed　only　so　far。’
‘I　saw　men　garbed　in　the　regalia　of　Sangasse　patrolling　Garamont　lands；’　said　Calard　in　an　even
voice；　regathering　some　control　of　his　temper。　‘And　I　know　that　your　men　have　camped　in　the　ruin　of　my
castle。　What　explanation　do　you　offer　for　this？’
‘I　would　not　have　an　empty；　unguarded　land　bordering　my　own；’　said　Maloric。　‘Without　a　standing
military　force；　Garamont　would　be　a　breeding　ground　for　miscreants　and　outcasts；　a　haven　for　bandits
and　worse。　I　am　merely　ensuring　the　protection　of　my　own　lands　by　sending　patrols　into　your　homeland。　I
have　annexed　a　portion　of　Garamont　lands　to　pay　for　this　additional　militia；　in　lieu　of　recompense　–　for
whom　should　I　claim　recompense　from？　As　I　said；　I　thought　you　dead。’
‘And　what　of　my　nephew　and　heir；　Orlando？　What　has　become　of　him？’
Before　Maloric　could　answer；　a　side　door　to　the　chamber　opened　and　a　lady　swept　into　the　room；
trailed　by　handmaidens。　Rose…scented　perfume　wafted　into　the　room　in　her　wake。
‘You　know　my　wife；　Josephine；’　said　Maloric。
‘Your　wife？’　said　Calard　in　shock。
The　last　time　he　had　seen　the　Lady　Josephine　had　been　in　the　halls　of　Garamont。　She　was　Baron
Montcadas’s　niece；　and　Calard　had　thought　of　her　often　during　his　long　absence。　On　dark　and　lonely
nights　he　had　harboured　romantic　notions　of　marrying　her　on　his　return　to　Bretonnia；　were　she　unwed。
The　old　Baron　Montcadas；　who　had　always　been　more　of　a　father　than　his　own　had　ever　been；　had
hoped　to　see　the　two　of　them　wed　years　earlier；　and　had　Calard　not　taken　up　the　quest　he　believed　they
might　have　done。　He　had　known　her　to　be　a　warm…hearted　and　beautiful　young　woman；　born　of　a
wealthy　and　respec