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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzTF7eVwCR
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFuRaitjzb
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN3G49flLT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsan2YXr0ND
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7Q3WV29y8
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw5cWWcEe8
兩個匆匆趕路的身影，走到了關口前。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ2uiRlUky
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfrACVqzkq
梓喬拿出了通關文牒，向渡口的守衛出示。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFHoHWaGxj
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIFMs6HB38
「是！請過。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYOMs9PO8h
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBTZHWvQEP
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpkk3QnTlJ
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3XkSvN3Zy
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EW3wjBZ5C
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQgcy1yUxA
「只是…就算你們是魔導士和騎士，晚上出關都有些太危險了。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8g801C21t
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ7wfpZuD7
「為甚麼？」逸天疑惑地問道。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Mvmi9M7Bl
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA9TBoBWGO
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpwWkZy9PG
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lb7Z4lMGJ
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMDToMfT6n
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hWVSt5hgv
「嗯…那的確是很有威脅的存在…」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjJZ1s2ygz
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoOgQ7fXBq
逸天低聲咕噥道，右手也有點不安地抓了抓背上的劍柄。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW15eAuLpMT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGVIW44z3Q
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi32KMN9QBm
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemHxjBFHwh
出於擔心，守衛向逸天他們發出了邀請。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx4SUdnhhb
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9zOM6SmkK
「嗯，我倒是沒問題…」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwlW0iBspq
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfW5TbR3O8
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwJZMtsL5g
然而，梓喬卻說了出乎逸天意料的決定。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvrsY7vKoT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw7l2vG5mc
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92bYrcetfs
聽到梓喬的決定，逸天不禁嘆了口氣。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj1ickNNFv
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3jo3thW4Z
「為什麽啊？我們根本沒必要晚上去那麽冒險啊？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe4WHNg1Uj
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfyJKkbrbN
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m2F7hS8bf
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDiOStTLoD
「可是…」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWTWEQ3gJl
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMFojjwux0
「趁現在還有時間趕快走吧。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxGGJlqzvu
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh7Lk27Sy0
接著梓喬走向了一旁的馬殿。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzPrWzyErg
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1CacNy47T
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lTRJsEoqM
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQf0Ro88ym
「大...大人！首先，我們西方邊境的資金向來…不是很充足…」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzGxW6A4Il
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOjCkqoBVB
「所以連兩匹馬也沒有嗎?」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5MmrzH9qu
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcixN14ftva
「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…」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK74KodFOfz
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zqyoprkZ5
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn239wqihza
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VCN4H07MQ
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOaF7hbUuA
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcqwAWybsz
「難道是不死族的斥侯？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchHDfISxK4
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGGmb1A2eZ
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYGMVURC7l
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSyF7bFakn
「不…不死族？唉，石像鬼還不夠嗎?」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO8Za0kdPR
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1HxiZMMV0
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITVIkjMwun
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMu36Nus45
「何逸天！這不能說！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS39mAAVSHG
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNr0c2LBfV
只見守衛的臉色一陣鐵青，但隨即又回復了正常。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX7P3gXDGT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91JPhCPNjZ
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SkbWtqpJq
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZkMIHVBnI
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqqrGmJk76
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！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSFueDekaQ
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8lrJMnhYP
「是的，我這就去為兩位備馬。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8nkQxPKNS
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIwTMmX3kL
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9u9uQo2dw
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUXdL7vHPZ
「你是白癡嗎！你怎麼能把密令的內容說出來！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahJYvIMMqI
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OJdHVsjrV
「抱歉。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51jcSCCN35
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwaxN2P9ez
「你這人真是，就正正因為內容和不死族有關才要秘密授命。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpg0x1ZVWM
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNBdJMin9N
「為什麼？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X1DWhv6rv
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBp13Yg5Oe
梓喬不安地咬了咬嘴唇。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yvldKWm7I
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkThpNWLn5
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkwjhxE0wy
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RT8vMph8c
「對不起，是我一時心急了，還有呢？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjNYyVRIXY
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayjKdOzu4p
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4svFYf4loF
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAEfEPxMkn
這時守衛從馬殿里牽著一匹棕毛黑鬃馬，走了出來。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBYRbnp7JD
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmzhxW8aDT
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqwYEdajNX
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD9Ej2tTP4
兩人茫然相視半响，梓喬才無奈地搖了搖頭。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFLEEgkKSg
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAMJBt8Bkk
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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt9KrAVtRB
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg3x0wcEZ8
「好吧，你抱著我坐後面。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf787RsblkM
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpZaycIsid
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eHBLqf9d9
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMYJFJRQPr
這樣也好，免得那傢伙不會騎馬丟醜。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7UvTTS2dO
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzsS4zT1md
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yV7QcTEzi
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDbkCLtUiK
「守衛，我們後會有期！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DY9QEhPiV
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9y4jORxgx
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7luuHqlDYi
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oDL7VtP7n
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wUWx3iIpp
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe7f9zPFCm
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZRIGWWrzf
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUfhQN3HCk
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch3zpoTgUO
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxjfzjJPqC
兩人沒有往回走，也沒有說話，反而越走越快，直往山脈而去。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbob0YI2yvB
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWZTK6IunA
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeisK9qyio
