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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eXNAJy9uJ
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH7IKB2fSB
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNIOtNPDz7
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ8lguV1E1
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzzaD9gQTU
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH5vbDxxC4
兩個匆匆趕路的身影，走到了關口前。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDU7p5K2Ho
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVBFvCEhD5
梓喬拿出了通關文牒，向渡口的守衛出示。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFfHPIHvUS
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8EO6CMaC2
「是！請過。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1VBbMgqKS
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccJVrvd7cL
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvGfkUqjTf
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlWGTj8myu
「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPQJomrXlb
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsAtIN90oX
「只是…就算你們是魔導士和騎士，晚上出關都有些太危險了。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2iEpeRItl
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtDNitkU1t
「為甚麼？」逸天疑惑地問道。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl5rg2a918
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vb5l1uxsy
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjLvwzdJjg
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV6Ulo5H33
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze0fm6IhCm
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqySLuusBN
「嗯…那的確是很有威脅的存在…」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU9uZzx7K5
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4ggFkow15
逸天低聲咕噥道，右手也有點不安地抓了抓背上的劍柄。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOngbLXhh9J
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoDW5b77sl
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY2RP2AotS
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWkDKWLOTn
出於擔心，守衛向逸天他們發出了邀請。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHsBZY5tjc
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGunS8f9K2K
「嗯，我倒是沒問題…」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Yj4TLRiKf
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJUFbiEDhL
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtyJalJpCp
然而，梓喬卻說了出乎逸天意料的決定。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuYv1cdCuY
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzTs3vTyvs
「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7t3fXoMY6
聽到梓喬的決定，逸天不禁嘆了口氣。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJJCfJ5LR3
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMhE1QWUiM
「為什麽啊？我們根本沒必要晚上去那麽冒險啊？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpHCdvMwB3
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gVunMvz8v
「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt3a8r6tvt
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZy72PEpqy
「可是…」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoegFtvNUk2
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z7pUAOfFK
「趁現在還有時間趕快走吧。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexqXSjwA64
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinNsQHSJmR
接著梓喬走向了一旁的馬殿。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoFUFzlUnX
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFzThHJdFu
「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLAXu2JsFQ
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LAdwLUlp0
「大...大人！首先，我們西方邊境的資金向來…不是很充足…」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmvAqcK64x
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhq6wUTOmV
「所以連兩匹馬也沒有嗎?」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrDRCHq1ht
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ687kyC1j8o
「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…」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNeoCxhN0Q
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcn3DiK7id
「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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWwRBqESuX
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Nj6yl4qy
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o4afpDRBs
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJysN3DuJa
「難道是不死族的斥侯？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GBSDH0S2M
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwTyNvc02h
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWT0HnFVDM
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHexjEKcGY
「不…不死族？唉，石像鬼還不夠嗎?」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8184Ei0lJf
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEf1V4gxMG
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc5FsA8AZx
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RwlrlAtTc
「何逸天！這不能說！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqlnqOs8df
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbLkZmHxJN
只見守衛的臉色一陣鐵青，但隨即又回復了正常。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo45SdoYtFC
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWFuuduSN7
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeYyE9UlKF
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHahigjBqtb
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFM175SxO7
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！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaB9kU8Dy4
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv4dyDoaSE
「是的，我這就去為兩位備馬。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJNUgziH31
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJYiyIRiW5
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO1QyLsVLE
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdoEDeaNeF
「你是白癡嗎！你怎麼能把密令的內容說出來！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyFrF596w4
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUbAWQfdEl
「抱歉。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLnb2Jv2DK
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH81v4MHE4
「你這人真是，就正正因為內容和不死族有關才要秘密授命。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqts7Yhcp1
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJVTTpXOMJ
「為什麼？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ILGp27WQQ
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjGmJaPgnT
梓喬不安地咬了咬嘴唇。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshzzYMkosV
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxPjuOpSXq
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGScUikdBdj
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JN9UmTdO5
「對不起，是我一時心急了，還有呢？」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMaimHGXBU
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJsWWhAmeS
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslNhuclx26
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGa4NKCYmg
這時守衛從馬殿里牽著一匹棕毛黑鬃馬，走了出來。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9UQiJSTVG
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoUVfIkb1q
「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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz2bABKgr6
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzA1IZMEAB
兩人茫然相視半响，梓喬才無奈地搖了搖頭。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnezui4yzQ
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VguyBTaXU
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。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0QUc1NWVE
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOcAOnZyJ5
「好吧，你抱著我坐後面。」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk7vRdifTv
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5LJaAsTKy
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlXHj4nLUC
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGII1a5Yek
這樣也好，免得那傢伙不會騎馬丟醜。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4QOzIIseN
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcH0X4rC5V
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeB6RsC9HE
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjI0Bamf3G
「守衛，我們後會有期！」371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAXwVgUjfA
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ALb3s7lWv
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz33w9kgTbm
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4LdEdb3Kz
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgLT5Qgw3J
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9tRYQXvT7
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5sCegR8Vn
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQXB9GQlRl
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iEOZCTvVs
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyRaX9zlcp
兩人沒有往回走，也沒有說話，反而越走越快，直往山脈而去。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrTRQtwqys
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsz21mj9AV
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。371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LIbnB5G1u
