
***回憶開始***961Please respect copyright.PENANAXUeSsQsgHG
961Please respect copyright.PENANApeGITxrksN
烏爾莉卡.西蒙納多蒂爾,出生、成長於一個極北地區的王國。在那裡、極長的白晝與極長的黑夜共治整片銀白色的大地。961Please respect copyright.PENANAr3LWZaSWCa
961Please respect copyright.PENANAfiBMDtY9El
儘管身為一名主教私生女的身分相當敏感,但烏爾莉卡的父親是個極具影響力的人物。她得以接受貴族式的教育,從小就懂得書寫超過四、五種語言,並且在馬術或劍術上的表現上都出類拔萃……或許太過頭了。961Please respect copyright.PENANAyeA93KWnQ8
961Please respect copyright.PENANAHPJCruadgW
烏爾莉卡年輕時就以高超的技巧打贏眾多男性騎士,也在外族入侵時指揮領地內的民眾奮力抵抗,直到國王派軍馳援;因此她還被稱為『極光,帶給人民的白晝之光』傳為佳話。961Please respect copyright.PENANAqCDyRxpMy2
961Please respect copyright.PENANANHDKDl7iyp
假如烏爾莉卡是個顏值平平的女子,這頂多就是個短暫的熱門議題。但烏爾莉卡偏偏明媚動人,身材婀挪多姿,一頭亮麗的銀色髮絲更添韻味。曾有個見過她的公爵說過:『此女未滿二十,是我見過最迷人的女人。她有白皙的肌膚、誘人背棄天堂的想一親芳澤的雙唇,以及令聖人也不禁心動的藍眼珠。』961Please respect copyright.PENANABMRuJWNIvP
961Please respect copyright.PENANACWAnPjOWAA
無論這句話否誇張過頭,她身邊那群貴族男性肯定沒有誰立志成為聖人。961Please respect copyright.PENANATNyiUoIdUY
961Please respect copyright.PENANAeYlocUojJs
所以當烏爾莉卡成年後,她就在父親的牽線下嫁給一名二十多歲的年輕伯爵,也是王國的攝政王;就跟當代所有女性的命運一樣,嫁做人婦生子是女人最好的歸宿。而且貴族女子有幸與一名年紀相仿的男性結婚,理當是可遇不可求的好事。961Please respect copyright.PENANABmQGFkrqBx
961Please respect copyright.PENANAW3DluwFmgc
然而,她有點像是受困籠中的老鷹。961Please respect copyright.PENANAaCLyQlLXyR
961Please respect copyright.PENANAnxGa1dC0wb
之所以受困籠中,大抵是行事作風不夠圓融——她的座右銘是『只求榮譽,不求虛名』;因為她的身分,使她努力證明自己的能力。她做得幾乎都是對的事,方法卻不符合身邊貴族文化對女性的要求。更甚者,她為丈夫帶來一位女兒後,就再也沒有生出孩子了。961Please respect copyright.PENANAepxYr316Oh
961Please respect copyright.PENANAhULBq6RLrd
這件事,彷彿也對烏爾莉卡的未來敲響一記警鐘。961Please respect copyright.PENANAQF9lea1vZK
961Please respect copyright.PENANAThU0MdrWzi
婚後第十年,烏爾莉卡捲入一場激烈的權力鬥爭。最終她不只被丈夫解除婚約,還和她的女兒一同遭流放至更加北邊的荒涼邊境小島上。在這之後她根本不奢望能看見外面的世界,只求能與女兒平安度過餘生。961Please respect copyright.PENANAPnyeXTzscJ
961Please respect copyright.PENANAFRdeLSrWmr
沒想到運命女神似乎不肯善罷干休,更險惡的命運不知不覺悄然驟降。961Please respect copyright.PENANAjATVTW34Jp
961Please respect copyright.PENANAjNFBMtd1b4
「咳咳......咳咳咳......」961Please respect copyright.PENANAbuLf52YrkU
961Please respect copyright.PENANAWahKIeTpW0
「莎薇、莎薇......」961Please respect copyright.PENANA608sDTshnQ
961Please respect copyright.PENANASx8N3dfnc3
一聽見女兒的乾咳聲,烏爾莉卡立刻上前關心她的狀況。961Please respect copyright.PENANA1hH9YuDKup
961Please respect copyright.PENANAFEjOBnYdJR
此刻莎薇正綣曲著身子躺在她身邊,臉色極為蒼白。自從這艘船啟程出航後,莎薇的身體變得更差了,偶爾痰中帶有血絲。這讓烏爾莉卡感到極為心疼,卻又完全束手無策。961Please respect copyright.PENANAv7DFdApKsw
961Please respect copyright.PENANAeLXxlsXomr
「莎薇,妳還好嗎?」烏爾莉卡彎下腰輕聲問道。961Please respect copyright.PENANAFvgnmcpx7F
961Please respect copyright.PENANAn0wVLHb5Nt
「媽媽......我們還要多久......會上岸......」莎薇閉著眼,虛弱地詢問母親。961Please respect copyright.PENANApVRzT1HkM9
961Please respect copyright.PENANAbPHKoav33V
「快了,就快了。再睡一覺就會到了。」961Please respect copyright.PENANAUrZAezXBtl
961Please respect copyright.PENANAvgD00YIF7W
烏爾莉卡對女兒說了謊,她根本不曉得這艘船正航向何處。961Please respect copyright.PENANA32pcbewIec
961Please respect copyright.PENANAREFHlJ1DDh
此時此刻,兩盞掛在頭頂上的油燈散發出昏暗的橘黃色光芒,照亮了船艙內幾十張蒼白的面孔。他們身穿羊毛或粗布織成的外衣和褲子。這些人渾身骯髒、髮絲糾結再一起,無論男女老少全都是一副無精打采的模樣。至於艙內則瀰漫著一股微妙而難以言喻的臭味。961Please respect copyright.PENANAOUh7peXbI5
961Please respect copyright.PENANAhoAPqPKMGA
啊,我人在船上......961Please respect copyright.PENANAVABd3VoHqk
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這幅悲慘的景象加強烏爾莉卡內心的第一個想法。961Please respect copyright.PENANAibJX51clKQ
961Please respect copyright.PENANAIooS5a66Hy
啊,我和女兒都被海盜俘虜了!961Please respect copyright.PENANAVbxqI6Hhde
961Please respect copyright.PENANAaP7WdXS85J
第二個想法則使她感到更加絕望。961Please respect copyright.PENANAClUvqNg7Yg
961Please respect copyright.PENANAoCCnn2krYN
一支由南方野獸蠻族組成的海盜船,竟突然襲擊這片天寒地凍的邊陲島嶼。這群海盜闖入並俘虜佔了島上居民三分之二人口,將近兩百多人!961Please respect copyright.PENANAhwIQE7BQPj
961Please respect copyright.PENANAKy9v3t0sf5
烏爾莉卡原以為遭流放後人生不會變得更糟。她不僅連一點點平靜的生活都無法享有,甚至還淪落成蠻族海盜的俘虜,一路隨著他們航向異鄉。961Please respect copyright.PENANAi4NkxBHiJJ
961Please respect copyright.PENANATMxyCSdv2V
如今,她現在是以商品的身分困在一艘海盜船上。961Please respect copyright.PENANAXizuWE27bP
961Please respect copyright.PENANAqOwojtSPYh
烏爾莉卡感覺周遭的世界些微微微顛簸晃動,不是往左就是往右,不是往上就是往下。她頓時產生一股強烈的噁心感,彷彿連五臟六腑都在劇烈起伏著。961Please respect copyright.PENANA9bw2yN2VDb
961Please respect copyright.PENANA708PYmPugF
「嗚嘔......」她摀住嘴巴好不讓自己吐出來,再次意識到自己非常討厭搭船。961Please respect copyright.PENANAy96OE2fJ9a
961Please respect copyright.PENANAmecN5UcJPT
她這輩子只搭過三次船:一次是離開家人、一次是被放逐、第三次則是這個當下;現在想起來,每當她上船就代表發生了不幸的事情。961Please respect copyright.PENANApcOHJxF2ZE
961Please respect copyright.PENANAB5nT4B401L
更別說前兩次航程僅有短短幾天,但這一次她已經在被困在船上十幾天了!961Please respect copyright.PENANAV7sSFAZAuq
961Please respect copyright.PENANALg9q3ETOCC
不過對於烏爾莉卡來講,真正讓她感到宛如永恆的並非時間長短,而是內心的煎熬。她感覺似乎一切希望都破滅了。一想到這,她便沒出息地哽咽起來,多麼希望眼前的一切只是場惡夢。961Please respect copyright.PENANAABdBnQAQIe
961Please respect copyright.PENANAMinmKWjdYr
「那個......不好意思,打擾一下......」961Please respect copyright.PENANAuSVO0QbjaY
961Please respect copyright.PENANABUhLcUtb1D
就在此刻,稍嫌不合時宜的男孩嗓音忽然響起。961Please respect copyright.PENANANwhPuCbJ5R
961Please respect copyright.PENANAj3UnZCFAVp
「你是......」961Please respect copyright.PENANAnMJNj4bSOw
961Please respect copyright.PENANA2kmLtZwXot
這時候,一名鬣狗少年端著食物走上前。上頭擺有一塊白淨的麵包、一碗米粥,還有一杯酒水。961Please respect copyright.PENANAje7nlkOKdU
961Please respect copyright.PENANAlDglhqN09x
「我帶來了麵包和蜂蜜酒。這都是妳們島上的食物,我從糧倉那拿來一點。我本來就是管理食物的人手。」961Please respect copyright.PENANAJgmWQ6tGPH
961Please respect copyright.PENANAQwbHJuiGnl
「蜂蜜酒?」莎薇的眼睛頓時一亮:「是蜂蜜酒耶!我們好久沒有喝蜂蜜酒了。」961Please respect copyright.PENANAqWEuewsNcF
961Please respect copyright.PENANAlJXxCt4dUT
一看見莎薇期待不已的神情,烏爾莉卡咬了咬下唇,又像是陷入一股天人交戰般地緊緊皺起眉頭。961Please respect copyright.PENANAZdeu46FqnZ
961Please respect copyright.PENANAI1bFRwUopa
最終,烏爾莉卡從獸耳男孩手中接過陶杯。961Please respect copyright.PENANAJrhOuXjeqo
961Please respect copyright.PENANAMNlqLv1Sdv
她將杯緣湊到了嘴邊啜飲起來,冰涼的液體中夾帶著蜂蜜的芬芳甘甜,接著淡淡的酒香一下子便從舌尖竄升到了鼻腔。烏爾莉卡感覺自己被一股清新舒暢的暖意給包圍。她記得自己小時候也很愛喝這種飲料,如今就連這份令人懷念的味道都得來不易。961Please respect copyright.PENANAc2U38a21Cu
961Please respect copyright.PENANAZiMsd4Js6M
烏爾莉卡只喝了杯中三分之一的量來潤喉,剩餘的蜂蜜酒則全都給莎薇喝光。只要看見女兒滿足的表情,烏爾莉卡覺得這比任何美酒佳餚都要值得。961Please respect copyright.PENANAhGpgkF9R1c
961Please respect copyright.PENANA66fP56sbzn
莎薇津津有味吃著白麵包的同時,烏爾莉卡將注意力轉向身旁這名獸耳男孩身上。961Please respect copyright.PENANA1patsUBiti
961Please respect copyright.PENANAuk8MgyQ0ux
「呃,你是......?」她問。961Please respect copyright.PENANAzoGzkFlhLN
961Please respect copyright.PENANA7z6E4H9Oec
「我......我的名字是艾塔奇,我是鬣狗族獸人。」艾塔奇吞吞吐吐說:「我負責照顧你們的起居生活。」961Please respect copyright.PENANAI3nNHjjFwY
961Please respect copyright.PENANAabuaEsScmJ
「艾達......不對,艾塔奇嗎?」961Please respect copyright.PENANA8lOl5bqUhu
961Please respect copyright.PENANAYCGVWz6Wzg
自稱為艾塔奇的鬣狗少年點了點頭,耳朵還抖動幾下。961Please respect copyright.PENANA0V3bzKdBGA
961Please respect copyright.PENANAfW0K03sHL9
「艾塔奇,你怎麼會講我們的語言」緊接著,烏爾莉卡微瞇的眼睛之中,射出了一股冷峻且懷疑的目光。她問:「你是一名野獸人,你是從什麼地方學會人類的語言的?」961Please respect copyright.PENANAhyuUao15iF
961Please respect copyright.PENANAKa5noMxMwm
「夫人有所不知,我居住的城市叫做阿爾及爾,那裡有很多來自不同地區的獸人和人類。所以平時不管是做生意,或是日常買東西都要懂很多不同的語言才行喔!」961Please respect copyright.PENANA9s7BSmXovt
961Please respect copyright.PENANAqA4cbH6eR2
烏爾莉卡搖了搖頭,依舊不敢置信:「人類的語言有非常多種,你卻能夠如此流暢地與我交談.....你到底是誰?」961Please respect copyright.PENANAVeonlqOzDx
961Please respect copyright.PENANAMuD41KTPKI
「因為我母親很細心的教過我嘛。」961Please respect copyright.PENANALIWzSjumig
961Please respect copyright.PENANARiIYt1D2Go
「母親?教你這種北方語言?」961Please respect copyright.PENANAwMtgNCfrhH
961Please respect copyright.PENANArpXAPh54qA
艾塔奇凝視著烏爾莉卡的臉好一會,微微開闔著嘴,臉上露出欲言又止的模樣。961Please respect copyright.PENANAcppto4noy6
961Please respect copyright.PENANATTbLTgt97P
「總之就是這樣啦!我倒想請問夫人貴姓呢?」或許是為了轉移話題,艾塔奇趕緊問道。961Please respect copyright.PENANAmco8RNjHLO
961Please respect copyright.PENANANvDOrslRjX
「我叫烏爾莉卡.西蒙納多蒂爾,這位是我女兒莎薇。」961Please respect copyright.PENANAovFbdVTazP
961Please respect copyright.PENANAWGyYTtfiLa
「假如夫人您需要任何東西,隨時都可以跟我說。」961Please respect copyright.PENANA9PNfoU0fT2
961Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ugw4EHcx3
「哼,你能幫我們做什麼?放我們自由嗎?」烏爾莉卡冷冷道。961Please respect copyright.PENANA3D1XGVegmK
961Please respect copyright.PENANAzTpapwhGBF
「除了那個之外都行......」961Please respect copyright.PENANAcuMrN3ulZA
961Please respect copyright.PENANAPF3htnOBfZ
「那你就沒任何用處了。我們人類之中有一句老話,狼不會無緣無故給雞帶禮物。」961Please respect copyright.PENANAAYtRzu7JUU
961Please respect copyright.PENANAzIpKWPCalN
「可是在這段航行期間,我們獸人並沒有虐待您吧?」961Please respect copyright.PENANAUPXO7vzkk5
961Please respect copyright.PENANAkJhKFIY44q
「這......」961Please respect copyright.PENANAQvcvyERbJt
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這是事實,烏爾莉卡不得不承認。961Please respect copyright.PENANAS1OlKiGi1t
961Please respect copyright.PENANAjMk2TNpx5F
野獸人海盜對待俘虜的態度恭敬有禮,俘虜身上不僅沒有鎖鍊,甚至還被允許在船上移動。烏爾莉卡還注意到獸人海盜從他們自己的私人藏匿處給孩子們額外的食物。一名在船上分娩的婦女受到了有尊嚴的對待,海盜為她提供了隱私和衣服。961Please respect copyright.PENANAslnKtYySZH
961Please respect copyright.PENANA0kYGOmuUsk
更令烏爾莉卡感到驚訝的是,獸人海盜之中有男有女,她甚至發覺女性獸人海盜的數量要比男性還多!961Please respect copyright.PENANAgg6KSXiVjV
961Please respect copyright.PENANAziYTfoqE6K
「所以,我希望夫人能多信任我一點。」艾塔奇微笑道。961Please respect copyright.PENANATN4rHACBBI
961Please respect copyright.PENANALoHmc8WVdw
「信任?這是野獸人才懂的笑話嗎?」烏爾莉卡冷冷斜睨他一眼,說:「當初是你們這群海盜突擊我所居住的島嶼,把島上的男女全抓起來,還要當作奴隸商品販賣出去。你卻說要我信任你們?」961Please respect copyright.PENANAKpd8ZXJb8i
961Please respect copyright.PENANAuECifXlAdb
「誤會啊,夫人!這是誤會!這艘船本來是以經商目的出航,我當初也是以雜工的身份簽約上船工作。誰知道船長竟中途違反契約轉而劫掠人類王國,還俘虜了這麼多人類......」961Please respect copyright.PENANABv9llUlOFX
961Please respect copyright.PENANAIO6z5mg88M
「俘虜?什麼俘虜?你不知道你的同伴如何稱呼我們這些人類嗎?奴隸!我們已經是準備要被抓去販賣的奴隸了!」961Please respect copyright.PENANAgxQ0GwAbVO
961Please respect copyright.PENANAMNCgLtcbWM
「其實只要付得出贖金,俘虜都會被好好對待而不會被販賣為奴......」獸人少年試著解釋,但好像越描越黑。961Please respect copyright.PENANAbUCMFDlMyM
961Please respect copyright.PENANACyxRDC1TEi
「你們所劫掠的地方,只是一座被冰雪覆蓋的小島罷了。要上哪去生出你所謂的贖金?而我只是個沒人要的貴族婦女......」961Please respect copyright.PENANANlfUMiadve
961Please respect copyright.PENANAzGEvPduLIs
「我......我心裡面也非常不好受啊......其實我的母親也......」961Please respect copyright.PENANAOS1dpJ4N7r
961Please respect copyright.PENANAMYDxlEyMpU
「夠了,我不想跟海盜多說什麼!你們當中根本沒有一個人是無辜的,就像雪崩發生時一樣,沒有一片雪是無辜的......你走吧。」961Please respect copyright.PENANA70fNBnoLQG
961Please respect copyright.PENANAYZexeW9tR5
「等一下,烏爾莉卡夫人。還有什麼我能幫上忙的嗎?」961Please respect copyright.PENANAzhPyNuCUie
961Please respect copyright.PENANAjFLeTTVsXC
「我叫你走開。你當真想幫忙的話,那就想辦法幫助這裡的俘虜......幫助我女兒別讓她成為奴隸!」961Please respect copyright.PENANA6pZZNavYvk
961Please respect copyright.PENANARWWVukmes9
「夫人——」961Please respect copyright.PENANADYW7qfK7dS
961Please respect copyright.PENANAuE0NB6hCuX
烏爾莉卡不再搭話,而是將莎薇摟入懷中。艾塔奇只好垂頭喪氣地走開。961Please respect copyright.PENANAOv6JptzaHh
961Please respect copyright.PENANAx0IfpDJqTc
她望著這名少年繼續向其他俘虜分發食物,就算被咒罵或吐口水卻一點都不介意,只是眼神有點哀傷。他似乎真的對身邊發生的事情沒有好感。961Please respect copyright.PENANAliLpoKXcjT
961Please respect copyright.PENANA38Q5CeXHgp
縱使如此,烏爾莉卡也看得出艾塔奇只是個孩子,他根本不可能改變她和女兒的遭遇。961Please respect copyright.PENANAhq4yk1hmQl
961Please respect copyright.PENANAsU7t7SOAat
身為一名『前』貴族,烏爾莉卡深知自己會是個十分珍稀的商品。961Please respect copyright.PENANAEFd4eGvrdJ
961Please respect copyright.PENANAevmnI6vSZP
首先,海盜會向她出身的王國要脅一筆經額龐大的贖金,但烏爾莉卡是名早已流放外島的帶罪之人,王國內不會有人支付贖金。因此奴隸販子會把她和女兒作為奴隸賣掉;這還是她和莎薇沒被拆散為前提的情況!961Please respect copyright.PENANAluaMb0kplB
961Please respect copyright.PENANAlEukhsPXrj
我會成為某個野獸人家庭的僕人嗎?還是被老鴇買回去當作妓院紅牌?抑或以小妾身分獻給野獸人的酋長、領袖一類的人物?961Please respect copyright.PENANAb7VCE4KHo2
961Please respect copyright.PENANACyBvFFYCn6
烏爾莉卡只知道在接下來的奴隸生涯中,她願意做任何事來保護莎薇的安全。就算是最低劣的寵物也會對主人搖尾乞憐。烏爾莉卡未來只能藉由伺候、討好她的買家來換取自身與女兒的生活。961Please respect copyright.PENANAPcoTKUSECU
961Please respect copyright.PENANAu1vmu34bg2
「呵,反正我不也曾對丈夫言聽計從嗎......」961Please respect copyright.PENANAgwLWYohAUr
961Please respect copyright.PENANAjuD4Wf0wK5
儘管嘴裡發出苦笑一聲,烏爾莉卡的眼角卻流淌出了一絲晶瑩剔透的淚水。961Please respect copyright.PENANAnEkS5Jfw9X
961Please respect copyright.PENANAoaxgGPZx8A
***回憶結束***961Please respect copyright.PENANAxAXJUOlVjN