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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkusSeQSOS
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X7mz6wtgu
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuKzfyfhPM
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcyx1Owkf7
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPTM6KbfYV
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrCKykSll2
兩個匆匆趕路的身影，走到了關口前。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCQkbDOqdI
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEwoP4SSMN
梓喬拿出了通關文牒，向渡口的守衛出示。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltDL1qeZnc
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK6NW82Z8F
「是！請過。」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRBCbWWx94
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlk9RDnNAC
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOHxpojVmc
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ967pdDWnvZ
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4xcsO2vQn
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmUGfPhb2e
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd52T7rU3wn
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCpnZSUpW1
「為甚麼？」逸天疑惑地問道。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIKPlOl6hR
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHmxcIqybd
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDspInVofl
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIAvROK0le
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB842HpnGu
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyMOGbFark
「嗯…那的確是很有威脅的存在…」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcXIuuFmaC
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvMSI4fW46
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vj79dHyxm
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfmWcK2Vll
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtadV3MBeU
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI2rDcJPAI
出於擔心，守衛向逸天他們發出了邀請。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qLYdUNAWo
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR91h6uR9h
「嗯，我倒是沒問題…」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW0k8to8OW
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUq2bkgDBX
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoPR27sffU
然而，梓喬卻說了出乎逸天意料的決定。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzrxevFtLY
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fm2ah50xK
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyNJNSFw2c
聽到梓喬的決定，逸天不禁嘆了口氣。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCVOuYd1E9
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTJSQoyfHO
「為什麽啊？我們根本沒必要晚上去那麽冒險啊？」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfFZFigtNY
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9PFoGzre9
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdUj7mI3kn
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuoFjI0V6t
「可是…」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yFbgMdz95
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J0HZFmXKl
「趁現在還有時間趕快走吧。」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aq8zFCv9U
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4YqKpWLHK
接著梓喬走向了一旁的馬殿。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7AnNPQLJN
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xuce4juPz
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9E7RjF0k7
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjcO2UWKoU
「大...大人！首先，我們西方邊境的資金向來…不是很充足…」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKfq4Z2pux
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfqj3hSmG3
「所以連兩匹馬也沒有嗎?」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm6z3AgHq6
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr9AuGClkU
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslQaBotkDO
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQEMcVrjzP
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ325DaNLRoH
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVVfvCrE7D
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtJI3JeuY3
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpderNEPeL
「難道是不死族的斥侯？」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOdX1LpanR
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLodEkw9ZJ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3sZvkQ9G6
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJt9TfVW6i
「不…不死族？唉，石像鬼還不夠嗎?」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyuTflCF3V
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6H6TR4hSN
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoOsamSIzR
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzhAxlWatN
「何逸天！這不能說！」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOLNYkMSU0
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZUr1cVWjy
只見守衛的臉色一陣鐵青，但隨即又回復了正常。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESLM2gcrMK
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAwDgkYXE7
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3T3hI9xmh
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ROAn30AqN
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdtjnJmCsG
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUT0JqEnLr
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzZoIgP5o5
「是的，我這就去為兩位備馬。」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelJd21Myq0
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenvXX4cJhM
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYaFLNO1fM
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItvzzJrBt7
「你是白癡嗎！你怎麼能把密令的內容說出來！」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWG1ei2AKp
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpUK81XMg4
「抱歉。」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfZj4nqF1S
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAn0Aq1mjd
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPMh8c4Fna
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXz1clPtAE
「為什麼？」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrlkaVijJN
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjim10AmR1Y
梓喬不安地咬了咬嘴唇。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUbp1Og1pg
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvoTtMCKc6
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjpKmoPnu5
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64BOZmmD5I
「對不起，是我一時心急了，還有呢？」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMzjX2dzMY
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX5Fh8OhAM
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xge8REUJ4
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJKlseSch3
這時守衛從馬殿里牽著一匹棕毛黑鬃馬，走了出來。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWflNl3sIp
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP0C7IbY75
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqkMFpIMRI
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtEk7MWkdk
兩人茫然相視半响，梓喬才無奈地搖了搖頭。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaLleSvSDq
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLRIh6vzc7
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Mn4CDZrlP
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiiGC7wGsZ
「好吧，你抱著我坐後面。」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PpPfGpaVB
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyulhnkIez
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoMc8p5Mj1
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65rJblsmUJ
這樣也好，免得那傢伙不會騎馬丟醜。437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuQRud7Yqi
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgCSSleRf4
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ56vAuW1z
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Fcw2AQAAQ
「守衛，我們後會有期！」437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfTkSaE5Yv
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzkBkwVWw2
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNCy1fhfEq
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxvpNCgKDf
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfElsWO2ro
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cBqjV4B8A
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gU9m1BTAH
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0xyTjj7my
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R4a0FM37Q
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9lEoTAGgq
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo6Zis9kyo
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qDfgRkAmC
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuH5R8E6sQ
