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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGXAVZAW1J
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7L12L6r07
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerLzpkXUCJ
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BdYQzS7q4
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbj6xJXPZW
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHGpXyJtNf
兩個匆匆趕路的身影，走到了關口前。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJaXIN4HFT
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgAjsE9gMe
梓喬拿出了通關文牒，向渡口的守衛出示。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yOSkDMNJO
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL88K7hZhCa
「是！請過。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmO3rZNsok
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0zjOAzOZS
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOK0Y3XB1O
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCujHEvxF4
「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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxqQEoVFjm
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNVQLeETWm
「只是…就算你們是魔導士和騎士，晚上出關都有些太危險了。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrfQJW345h
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jV9ZBGEaT
「為甚麼？」逸天疑惑地問道。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT65jO3rjt
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFUH39Dyug
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIGeVUdZLb
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVKlt4HqE9
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kuguNlBCn
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJKNAUE2MZ
「嗯…那的確是很有威脅的存在…」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz56ykBD43
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VhpF0Z9K3
逸天低聲咕噥道，右手也有點不安地抓了抓背上的劍柄。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbomWObhgVg
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe0HY9hscq
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC0tcRFqVV
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg53Oi9pXrA
出於擔心，守衛向逸天他們發出了邀請。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59ZX9NbLxe
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W90OCOy5W
「嗯，我倒是沒問題…」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6xoe2Xe8J
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUzluQHnxf
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfogmslE8P
然而，梓喬卻說了出乎逸天意料的決定。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3wIxf64Wt
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThqwCzRmBZ
「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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYENbDvaGF
聽到梓喬的決定，逸天不禁嘆了口氣。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMpCIJ1RMa
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKaelQfIwI
「為什麽啊？我們根本沒必要晚上去那麽冒險啊？」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5bIysn6HV
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6cEAGiuuE
「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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdGDrTMFWo
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlin6g2ENGI
「可是…」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgq83RpQ9K
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxvmIn88YN
「趁現在還有時間趕快走吧。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbV780cWRP
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6O0si3bEW
接著梓喬走向了一旁的馬殿。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEkvbWGsxs
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiA2QxxVNe
「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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbmxkY6uWV
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36uZMKAsXt
「大...大人！首先，我們西方邊境的資金向來…不是很充足…」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AvC0QeZRQ
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBVXhClYR1
「所以連兩匹馬也沒有嗎?」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkmXY95K8Q
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JTK4X16dm
「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…」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjL9LY4mp0
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzECuixm7hl
「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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWWox6c9KW
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3rvpkFOX9
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWAEnQScJC
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0Lcck6OnV
「難道是不死族的斥侯？」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SihFJRyOm
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJMK2smVOH
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5TLBHb2Nu
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhaf6dUfu9
「不…不死族？唉，石像鬼還不夠嗎?」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQCj0fgNyt
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsljMpcOz4T
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvb0grR1nt
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLPFuFPERK
「何逸天！這不能說！」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu4LAfhnlU
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq26ECuv6I
只見守衛的臉色一陣鐵青，但隨即又回復了正常。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3TqwkLtLd
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMliFry8ps
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDTorX6Kz5
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeBLyDLpwE
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBRkmR2DvO
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！」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcelNQM0Ns
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X8BNNpg9W
「是的，我這就去為兩位備馬。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6qeiD2rTh
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv82LRHsNfr
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImevDq8OXl
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1OrQqUXqt
「你是白癡嗎！你怎麼能把密令的內容說出來！」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IMqJCybzn
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSWbrTbq3E
「抱歉。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemKsCDS1e8
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZX7mdEAnW
「你這人真是，就正正因為內容和不死族有關才要秘密授命。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeChNWqh4g
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oEVYRPuCv
「為什麼？」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgafDOO5tm
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyLd1SylYk
梓喬不安地咬了咬嘴唇。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykj0BoF3bB
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqE7HjI0la
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qgPk8OLDh
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYjh0GxNoJ
「對不起，是我一時心急了，還有呢？」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYq9ht65aX
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3AVHOTw7l
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlw85wYPFS
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXhhdOF000
這時守衛從馬殿里牽著一匹棕毛黑鬃馬，走了出來。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsed3H4iZS6
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9ufqSsDym
「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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQycbek2mwH
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEQIavdP6h
兩人茫然相視半响，梓喬才無奈地搖了搖頭。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4nZO3rshK
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99yutBY5wC
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。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AAWVM2mJ7
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmoH54eUxP
「好吧，你抱著我坐後面。」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa89pb64uGU
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElliit6HLs
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZydN5kSYvZ
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6pTFbXHNp
這樣也好，免得那傢伙不會騎馬丟醜。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIUxI4oHHT
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO2uE1L3rr
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAV2t199aZy
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWdMGiiqY5
「守衛，我們後會有期！」415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSvJakCe5s
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzvRbKqjOG
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVwKG787Of
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AuLCARNzo
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfw36VFOen
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9HesPX7KR
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q0WVbVoro
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GtagK2XlV
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2vDXQTguR
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxezRzOdoB
兩人沒有往回走，也沒有說話，反而越走越快，直往山脈而去。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8RuRMjFTy
415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfkNBrRbjf
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。415Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsT5HjoNBg
