市集在小鎮的最西面,從騎士學院走過去需要三十分鐘左右,但到了市集,兩人反而兜兜轉轉的走了兩個多小時。天都快開始黑了,市集人流漸少,但他們要找的人還沒有出現。405Please respect copyright.PENANAkUm0aRMIop
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「鐵匠他行無定蹤、居無定所,常常四出旅行,一去就是數月。今天我們運氣好,他正在這城裡,只是也不知道在哪。」405Please respect copyright.PENANANnzkT34kv9
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特斯根心中其實也不是很有把握能在今天就找到他。405Please respect copyright.PENANAIfDl712zK2
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「鐵匠鑄造的技術,在人類中已是數一數二的大宗師,怕是只有在西方不死族的地界裡才能找到與他比肩的。」405Please respect copyright.PENANA3goEUEEnjH
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「為甚麼?不死族鑄造的技術很強嗎?」逸天聽人說過不死族數百年前被勇者打退之事,心中本以不死族不過是妖魔鬼怪之屬,沒想過還有超越人類的鑄造技術。405Please respect copyright.PENANAc0ZXR9pHEM
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「不死族領地內氣候反覆無常,土地貧瘠,但礦產豐富,種類繁多,不死族本身的鑄造技術發展相當成熟,是以有很多工匠都不惜越過相隔的山脈到不死族那裡學習。」405Please respect copyright.PENANARax5n8ZvYB
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「人類和不死族不是死敵嗎?」405Please respect copyright.PENANAA1O3Qd881H
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「不,要複雜得多,不死族在幾百年前被擊退後就和我們再次建交了,關係時好時壞。一直以來,都有商隊來往兩國之間,而不死族文化水平極其落後,在上流社會中對人類的藝術作品極為推崇,不少商人都在那裡靠炒賣畫作、文學、樂器發家致富。」405Please respect copyright.PENANA0d7j1NcGzN
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逸天愈聽愈覺神奇,這世界比他想像中要複雜得多。405Please respect copyright.PENANAYobcMNlv2E
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「特別是我們的思想,據說在不死族貴族中最流行的思想家居然是我們幾百年前擊退不死族的國師。然而在人類的社會中他不但在史書中記載不多,甚至一本思想上的著作也無,反而是在史學方面有着較大的貢獻。可見不死族文化之落後,以至於把史家當成思想家了。」特斯根搖了搖頭。405Please respect copyright.PENANAnzz8rVPcDh
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「也就是說,我們其實和不死族有着文化和技術的交流?」405Please respect copyright.PENANAQaGupdrS00
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「嗯,一部分在那裡學藝的工匠並沒有就地安家,反而是回來了,鐵匠便是其中一人。人類的工藝能有這些年來的發展,其實和不死族不無關係,只是近年兩國關係又復緊張...」逸天注意到特斯根的微笑消失了,臉上神色漠然,兩人也不再言語,繼續在市集裡搜尋。405Please respect copyright.PENANA8Xtnr6PNKB
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作為國內的最大市集,攤檔所販賣的東西可說應有盡有,從生活日常品到稀有甚至為法例所禁止的物品都能在其中找到蹤影。405Please respect copyright.PENANAHHBmQQHDNh
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就算是一個尋常的販夫走卒,背後也可能是黑白兩道的勢力,而且還不止一家,皇室也不便派出軍隊在其中巡邏,甚至有傳皇室自身也也參予其中。405Please respect copyright.PENANApnjqTaJ1Xu
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市集內自成一方,由各方勢力在當中維持秩序,因此維洛斯特的市集也有「世外桃源」之稱,其實也不過是法律所不及之處罷了。405Please respect copyright.PENANATfES7aaMFU
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「你說要不要到酒館裏看看?說來也有很久沒喝上兩杯...」特斯根注意到逸天停下了腳步,順著逸天的目光看去,只見一個個玻璃瓶並肩而立,清水盛着一顆水藍色的種子。405Please respect copyright.PENANAeHqKF0pZ5s
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「噢,這是魔法之花『amour éternel』,是象征著永恆的愛。傳說它在兩人結婚,真心相誓時就會盛開,amour éternel象征其中一方的生命。凋謝之時,則是一方生命終結之時。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAEzyDjciFhc
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特斯根說道最後,為這朵尚未抽條發芽的永恆之花有點可惜的搖了搖頭,只見他東張西望,隨即指著不遠方笑道:「你看看那裏。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAkP1pmeyyAz
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順著特斯根手指望去,可看見一間掛着一個大酒杯的店鋪。看起來是酒館。裏面傳來一陣濃烈的酒香和交雜着髒話的笑聲,混合出狂歡的氣味,特斯根嗅到這種熟悉的氣味,精神為之一振。405Please respect copyright.PENANA7vx8qShmxD
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「我想你不會反對進去來一杯吧?」405Please respect copyright.PENANA7DmgZhKkaE
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「隨便吧。」405Please respect copyright.PENANA9SOFWwhSbk
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逸天雖然以前不怎麼喜歡喝酒,但也想認識一下這裡的酒館是怎樣一番光景。405Please respect copyright.PENANAGaJ69gHXgc
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兩人推開木門,百年酒館的老舊大門吱吱作響,裡面的人服色各異,在這破落的小酒館裡,天南地北的來客聚首一堂,自已是一小千世界,和市集裡的繁華相比,又是另一番風味。405Please respect copyright.PENANA3m2qXChMOz
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賭徒們正在相互催促,急不及待想要開賭,且看命運女神這次會相中誰,然後輸的罵,贏的笑,再賭,贏的笑,輸的又罵。也有人只是想摸着杯底,與天涯知己暢談,來來去去,不過天下大勢,人生無常,名利色權,盡是些沒有結果的牢騷罷了,但求在談笑聲中一醉,胸中鬱結稍舒,明日又可一般的營營役役。405Please respect copyright.PENANAjmIIYXQrp9
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一入酒館,逸天身子便是一暖,酒館內熱鬧的氣氛還真的頗具感染力,有一人向他們走來。405Please respect copyright.PENANA8OpqS9xg10
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「先生,可以借一個銅幣給我嗎?」405Please respect copyright.PENANAbRLiR3VrbY
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因為酒館只有牆上的油燈照明,他們看不見那人的相貌,他的聲線混在四周的噪音中也不太清楚,只隱約能聽出是男聲,他身穿一件黑袍,身上蓋得嚴嚴實實的,烏沉沉的極不起眼,就是不躲到角落裡,在酒館中也是毫不起眼,但小偷又絕不會穿袍子來動手,實在是怪異之至。特斯根從衣服袋子裏拿了個銅幣扔給他,他伸手抓着了,旋即往賭桌走去。兩人直往吧台走去,跨過一個醉漢,特斯根給逸天點了一杯粉紅色的液體,自己又只要了一杯色作濁黃的東西。405Please respect copyright.PENANAjVc09TNkqF
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「這是什麽?我可不喝酒的。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAhzTDTL0QUY
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「放心吧。」405Please respect copyright.PENANA5IGDe0hBpt
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特斯根並沒有回答到逸天的問題,反而做了個乾杯的動作。405Please respect copyright.PENANAvVrPyhNW0D
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「恩,好吧。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAYERORDftfD
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逸天拿去了酒杯緩緩地喝了一口。味道嘗起來比較易入口,花香濃郁,但又無花茶之甘,盡是清甜。而特斯根的那杯色作濁黃,入口嗆鼻,但很快便能讓人興奮起來。405Please respect copyright.PENANA4a2BbWcgDn
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「剛才那個人挺古怪,借一個銅幣,卻走到賭桌裡去了,你說他能還得起嗎?」逸天對於剛才的黑袍人有種說不出來的感覺。405Please respect copyright.PENANAYf0IW4npYR
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「還不起也算了,一個銅幣罷了。」特斯根對於一個銅幣自然不會在意,但他也很在意黑袍人,那人內氣精湛。特斯根對於他人細微的動作極是敏感,黑袍人接銅幣時的反應速度,是刻意滯慢的,看來是不想顯露身手。405Please respect copyright.PENANAk6Jwqw2x4K
堪堪喝乾一杯酒,這時剛才的人又回來了,手持一個小布袋。405Please respect copyright.PENANAvxs0fceYWA
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「連本帶利,一個銀幣。」他拿出一枚閃亮的銀幣,拋給了逸天,他一時沒反應過來,那一枚銀幣落在了吧台上,卻不再反彈。405Please respect copyright.PENANAin02lNbla1
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「我不過借了一個銅幣。」特斯根沒想到他用喝一杯酒的時間就把本金翻了十倍,也沒想到他真的是「借」,但剛才這一手擲錢的功夫,就顯然是使上內氣了,讓特斯根不禁鄒了鄒眉頭,心中頗有介備。405Please respect copyright.PENANAH4GGqt6aZb
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「但沒有那個銅幣,我就沒有錢賭第一把,第二,第三把,第四把也沒有了,算來其實我已賺了不少,至少比這個銀幣多。」黑袍人淺淺一笑,兩人這才看清他的面目,他五官面相也僅僅是端正,沒甚麼特別之處,雙目微微低垂,看着沒甚麼神氣,目測三十歲左右。405Please respect copyright.PENANAwBGdUYrAr8
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「你好,我叫佚,來自無主之地。給我隨便來一杯酒,謝謝。」佚坐在特斯根旁邊,點了一杯酒。405Please respect copyright.PENANAWmAIshqLFr
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「你好,我叫特斯根。」 405Please respect copyright.PENANAkQ6GKfttfx
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佚?這個名字不是特斯根剛才所提到的國師嗎?405Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q0APMV7Ea
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眼見逸天正要發問,特斯根按住了逸天的手示意叫他閉嘴。405Please respect copyright.PENANALfRC5Je8nI
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「這位是?」佚轉向逸天,問道。405Please respect copyright.PENANA9WnyYDFIxA
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「...我叫希特,你好。」逸天禮貌地點了點頭。405Please respect copyright.PENANA1q9phI60Oc
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「兩位看樣子都是騎士吧,我是做歷史研究的,我本是無名無姓的孤兒,小時候就是看過國師的書,啟發了我讀史,所以後來便改了這個名字。為了防身,學過一點粗淺的武術,讓閣下見笑了。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAn8oSMM6F7I
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「通常這樣改名的都是騙子吧...」逸天小聲說了一句,卻被佚聽見了。405Please respect copyright.PENANAb1yZqBSPHs
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「正是,我們這些讀史的,其實到頭來要混一口飯吃,還是得靠一套招搖撞騙,信口雌黃的本事。」佚反而一臉正經,聽得逸天都懵了。405Please respect copyright.PENANAwp9g2d0Xb6
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「史家求真那本是必須,但往往說真話,寫真相的人都活不長,不是寫得不合當權者的意冤死,就是寫得不夠精彩餓死。」405Please respect copyright.PENANA22IMo8vmJr
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「怎麼餓死的?」逸天追問道。405Please respect copyright.PENANAgNKJWtlp00
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「書賣不出去,不得餓死嗎?所以活下來的,多多少少都騙過好一些人,說過一點違心的話,安貧樂道的,少說真話也許勉強能支撐着過活,想發財的,多拍馬屁多吹牛,書寫得合意,自然財源滾滾。何所欲兮,何所往兮,這就是學術之自由了。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAKYso2jCKgV
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這幾句話說得輕巧,其實道盡了現時史界之敗壞,特斯根聽他譏諷得入木三分,他說自己是史者,心中已信了三分,一時無語。405Please respect copyright.PENANAD1graSFOet
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「至於這吹牛的本事,那邊的鐵匠,舉世無雙,鄙人甘拜下風,望塵莫及。今天真話說得有點多,我得去再賭賭,賺點說真話的成本。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAt7EuZ9GUoa
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他說完向身後一指,便拿着酒杯回賭桌去了。特斯根心中隱隱覺得這人一點都不像是史者那麼簡單。405Please respect copyright.PENANAnHVtzJi75L
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逸天雖是不通世情,但也隱隱聽出佚所說實為嘲諷世態炎涼之言,心中不免微感鬱悶,酒館內好像沒剛才這麼暖了。405Please respect copyright.PENANAz1xKLkuWFW
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那枚銀幣,卻悄沒聲色地自行落入逸天懷中。405Please respect copyright.PENANAlgAHwbURpU
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特斯根和逸天向佚所指的方向察看,只見一個胖子坐在一張高椅上,似乎正好說到高潮,他臉色紅得發亮,向身邊的聽眾雙手比畫着。405Please respect copyright.PENANAdjKJkC8B5e
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「那個強盜,原來也會使劍氣,刀上紅光一現,照得滿室光亮,正是『劍術解放.第二術式』。說時遲,那時快,我趁他還在儲氣時飛步上前,一鎚把那強盜的頭腦打爛,『哇啦』一聲,打得他腦漿流了一地,救下了埃思比亞的税官父子,免了他這破財的大劫。不過,沒想到,沒想到啊...」他正說得口沫橫飛,忽爾搖頭嘆息,旁人都是大感意外。405Please respect copyright.PENANAOC9T6eGVq9
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「怎麽了?」一個觀眾衝口而出,那名胖子實有當說書人的本事,說一段總要留個懸念,好教人繼續聽下去。405Please respect copyright.PENANAl9u84JxYkr
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「其實啊,那稅官平日本是仗勢欺人,以權謀私,我救他是為了除盜,他們本身我是不怎麼想救的。」眾人也點頭稱是,稅官素來討人厭,更何況是掠奪民財的狗官。405Please respect copyright.PENANAxncJ6q2abN
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「然而我還沒想好要怎麼另外罰他們一下,一陣臭氣沖天,那税官和他兒子,原來尿都嚇出來了,聞着那是臭不可當!兩人磕頭如搗蒜,說甚麼以後會痛改前非,後來僕人來扶他時,地上還拖出了一條黃泉路來,好一個尿流滾股呀!」405Please respect copyright.PENANAL7RX5KjVmL
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鐵匠和眾人一起大笑,特斯根自覺自己應該有點同情心,但想起貪瀆的稅官落得個滿身尿臭的醜態,也忍不住開始嘴角上揚。405Please respect copyright.PENANA1pIqmZ7LeF
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「我可憐他們嚇成這樣,拂衣便去,也不想罰他們甚麼了,萬一他們受不得嚇,那只怕拉的,就不止是尿了。」說罷,他自己也笑起來了,笑聲傳遍整個酒館,滿是快活的空氣。405Please respect copyright.PENANAwQ7x0eFE3e
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「鐵匠,好久不見,我有點事要找您幫忙。」侍眾人笑聲稍憩,特斯根怕他又開新的故事,搶先發話。405Please respect copyright.PENANA1EMPGPvvzy
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「這不是皇家騎士長特斯乾嗎?今天晚上好像沒有美女啊。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAVZix0ZImb9
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「是特斯根。」405Please respect copyright.PENANA6gYmtMzY1V
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「喔,特斯乾,沒想到我不找你,你倒來了,上次修劍的錢,已拖了足足三個月,三銀又九銅幣,拿來。」405Please respect copyright.PENANAsBZQYIzi6N
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鐵匠向他攤大了手,明明剛剛才笑得快要爽朗的老頭,突然回復了一臉木然,開始收起帳來了。405Please respect copyright.PENANA7PoqLNPBec
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「您老人家貴人事忙,這陣子您雲遊四方,行俠仗義,在下自然是沒機會付帳,明天便差人送到你鋪子。」特斯根知他脾性就是這般,也不以為忤,只是賠笑施禮。405Please respect copyright.PENANACWA9kiWmN9
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「好了好了,我先回一下鋪子,明天再給大家說其他故事。」鐵匠把眾人打發開去,也起身和逸天、特斯根二人走了,眾人恰好聽完一節,今天難得地沒人留他。405Please respect copyright.PENANAsHU2i0kKn6
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聽故事的一群散了,賭桌的一群又開始熱鬧起來了。405Please respect copyright.PENANAgmqFfVuJ7i
405Please respect copyright.PENANAkd8iFxUPT8
佚在人群完全聚集前便收手了,他贏得很有分寸,隔三差五的輸上一把,雖然贏得多但也不甚顯眼。405Please respect copyright.PENANAdaA9RXXTfy
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他向旁邊的人買兩隻粗布錢袋,一隻稍稍弄破一角,把三十多個銀幣裝成兩袋,破的一隻留在賭桌上,走到吧枱前淡淡地對酒保說:「給全場來一杯酒,有剩的全場再來一杯,直到不夠錢了,剩下的零頭你就收下了。」405Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ot7Dmd0Oa
他把整個錢袋放下,轉身就走出酒館。405Please respect copyright.PENANAmchAwN4TVv
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很快眾人便喝着免費的酒,發現了落在賭桌上閃着銀光的錢袋。405Please respect copyright.PENANAlvgnmlQySU
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不過明日清晨他再路過酒館時,已是重門深鎖,門前貼了一張「停業」的告示。從門上新破的洞中,店內的椅桌、酒瓶碎了一地,似是略有所感,他嘆了口氣。405Please respect copyright.PENANAakhA7YqYMa
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「人心不古。」他搖了搖頭,向黑市的方向走去。405Please respect copyright.PENANAzlExuAqc5g
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