Desert Avenue is not actually a road, but a guide fence lined up with many ancient direction signs to prevent travelers from getting lost. Some road signs are covered with claw marks and gaps, and some are half buried in the sand dunes.As Regan said, the desert isn't all sand, but there's enough sand here that one could walk for days without seeing anything else.On the edge of the desert, there are deserts that spread for hundreds of miles. On the cracked surface, only some withered plants that are too dry to rot can be seen.Except for the shadows cast by the sand dunes in the endless sea of sand, there was no place to hide from the scorching sun. The temperature was so high that Aaron couldn't believe that it was the same one that brought the warm light to Fort Miln.The wind and sand continued to blow, and he had to cover his mouth and nose with a cloth to avoid inhaling the dust; his throat was dry and sore.
The night was even more difficult. After the sun sank to the ground level, the heat immediately disappeared from the surface and turned into a cold ice cellar, welcoming the arrival of the monsters in the center of the earth.
But even in such places, life persists: snakes and lizards prey on small sawtooths.Scavenging birds seek out the carcasses of creatures that have been attacked by demons or wandered into the desert and can't find their way home.There are at least two large oases in the desert, where a large amount of clear water accumulates, so that the nearby soil grows dense edible plants, and there are small streams emerging from the rocks, or small puddles with a diameter no larger than one step away from humans, gestating A handful of underdeveloped plants and small animals.Aaron has seen these desert creatures bury themselves in the sand at night, using the remaining heat to keep out the cold, and avoiding the demons wandering in the desert.
Because prey is so scarce, there are no stone demons in the desert.Nothing can burn, so there are no fire demons.There is no trunk for wood devils to roost in, and no branches for them to climb.The water demon cannot swim in the sand, and the wind demon cannot find a place to stay.Sand dunes and wastelands are the sole domain of sand demons, but even they rarely appear in the depths of the desert, and most of them stay near oases, but the fire will attract all sand demons within a few miles.
Lysenburg was five weeks away from Krasia, more than half of which was in the desert, and that was more than most couriers were willing to bear.While northern merchants are willing to offer handsome rewards in exchange for Krasia silk and spices, only a few couriers are eager to take the risk—or are crazy enough to take the risk of traveling to Crassia.
From Aaron's point of view, it has been a peaceful journey.During the hottest part of the day he would sleep under the saddle, wrapped in a wide white cloth.He often feeds the horses, and at night spreads an oilcloth under the sigil circle, in case the sigil gets stuck in the sand, which is more invisible than it has been hidden in the catacombs for hundreds of years.
Despite the Sand Demon's cries, the night sounded peaceful to Aaron, for he was used to the One-Handed Demon's cries.Those nights he slept more peacefully than he had ever slept.
For the first time in his life, Aaron finds that his future is not limited to being a respected errand runner.He has always believed that being a messenger is not the end of his mission, he is destined to stand up and fight.But now he knows he's more than that, and he's destined to lead the charge.
He was sure he could make more sigil spears, and began to think of ways to use sigils on other weapons; bows, staffs, slingshots, the list goes on.
Wherever he went, only the Crasians refused to live under the fear of the monsters in the center of the earth.For this reason, Aaron especially respected them.They are the most qualified to accept this gift in the whole world.He'll show them the spear, and they'll give him all the materials to create a superweapon that can turn the tide of battle.
When Aaron saw the oasis, Aaron came to his senses. The desert would reflect the color of the blue sky, luring humans away from the road and towards water sources that did not exist. But when his horse began to pick up the pace, Aaron deliberately affirmed what he saw. Not hallucinations, dawn runners can smell water vapor.
Their drinking water had been exhausted the day before, so by the time they reached the small pond, Aaron and the horse were thirsty.They put their heads in the water at the same time and drank heartily.
When he was full, Aaron filled the waterskins and placed them in the shadow of the boulders that towered silently around the oasis' perimeter.He checked the magic seals engraved on the boulder, and made sure that they were still intact, with only a little wear and tear, probably caused by the erosion of the wind and sand blowing all year round, which gradually weathered the sharp edges of the magic seals.He took out the engraving tool, deepened the strokes, re-etched the edges, and made sure the sigil was working properly.
Dawn runners eat wild weeds and shrub leaves.Aaron was busy gathering dates, figs, and other fruit from the oasis trees.He put away his own portion and left the rest to dry in the sun.
The water source of the oasis comes from an underground channel. In the past years, planes have been used to cut through the rocks below, and finally a flowing channel was dug.Aaron went down the stone steps and came to a cool underground grotto. He picked up the fishing net placed there and threw it into the river.He left the cave with a lot of fresh fish, and he picked out a few to eat, cleaned the rest, salted them, and put them with the fruit to dry.
He took a long fork from the oasis' storage and searched around the rocks until he found a telltale ditch in the sand.Presently he thrust a snake with his long fork, seized it by the tail, and whipped it over the rocks, killing it.There must have been snake eggs hidden nearby, too, but he didn't bother to find them.It is shameful to spend excessive resources in an oasis.He collected some of the snake meat again, and took the rest to dry.
In a hidden corner dug by hand on one of the sandstones, surrounded by the imprints of many couriers, Aaron took out a pile of dried nuts, dried fish, and dried meat left by the previous courier, and filled his saddle bag.After the food he just collected dries up, he will also fill up the supplies for the next courier who passes by here.
It is impossible to cross the desert without passing through the Oasis of Dawn.This is the only source of water within a hundred miles, and it is the destination of all passers-by to and from the desert.Most are messengers, which means they are runes, and over the years this unique group has left their mark on the rocks here.Dozens of names have been etched into the rock face, some in mere scribbles, others in masterful handwriting.Many couriers don't just leave their names, some list the cities they go to, and some record the number of times they pass by the Oasis of Dawn.
This is the eleventh time Aaron has crossed the desert, and he has already carved his name and the cities he has visited, but he never stops exploring, so he always has more to add.Slowly and reverently, in beautiful scrollwork, Aaron inscribed "Anaxan" on his list of ruins he had visited.None of the couriers who had left their names on the oasis mentioned their visit, which filled him with pride.
The next day, Aaron continued to replenish Oasis' inventory.It is an honor for the courier to leave the oasis with more food than they arrived, lest someone arrive at the oasis wounded or heat stroked, unable to gather food themselves.
That night, he wrote a letter to Kappa.He wrote many letters; they were all kept in his saddlebags and never sent.Every time he wrote to Karber, he felt unable to express his apology for leaving without saying goodbye, but the news was too important to tell him.He mentally drew the sigil on the spearhead with unerring precision, knowing that Karber would reveal this knowledge to all sigilists in Miln at once.
At dawn the next morning, he left the Oasis of Dawn in a hurry and headed southwest.For the next five days, he saw nothing but yellow sand and sand demons everywhere.But on the morning of the sixth day, the Desert Spear Krasia Fort among the mountains shrouded in the rear finally came into view.
From a distance, it is no different from ordinary sand dunes, and the sandstone city walls are integrated with the surrounding natural landscape.The city is built along an oasis many times larger than the Oasis of Dawn.According to ancient maps, both oases are fed by the same underground channel.The sigils on the walls, carved rather than painted, stood proudly in the sun.Over the top of the city flies the Crassian Banner, which depicts two spears crossed against a rising sun.
The gatekeepers wear the black robes of Del Salum, the garments of the Krasian warrior class, and their faces are veiled against the relentless wind and sand.Though not as tall as the Milnes, the Crasians were about a head taller than the average Angiers or Renektons, and they were all muscular; Aaron nodded to them as he passed.
The guard saluted with his spear aloft.According to the customs of the Clasia people, this is the most basic etiquette, but it took Aaron more than ten years of hard work to earn this little bit of respect.In Crassia, a man's worth is determined by the number of scars on his body and the number of Alagai, the inner earth monster, he has killed.Outsiders, or "Qing En" in the population of Krasia, even messengers, are regarded as cowards who have given up the fight and do not deserve any respect from Del Sharum. The word "Qingen" itself has contempt.
To the surprise of the Krasians, Aaron asked to fight alongside them. He taught their warriors many new spells and helped them get rid of many demons. Now they call him "Palchin", It means "brave outsider".They'd never see him as a comrade, but at least Dale Sharum stopped spitting at his feet and Aaron even made a few real friends.
After passing through the city gates, Aaron entered the Great Labyrinth, a courtyard between the walls of the city and the inner walls of the city, filled with high walls, moats, and pits.Every night, Deir Sharum locked his family in the inner wall and waged "alagahsalak", the so-called "jihad", with the demons.They lure the earth core monsters into the Great Labyrinth, trapped them in the abyss of the magic seal with the tactics of ambush and surprise attack, and then waited for the arrival of the sun.There were many casualties, but the Krasians believed that those who died in Alagasarak were eligible to be with Avron (that is, the Creator), so they were all willing to die.
Soon, Aaron thought, the only ones who will die here are the monsters in the center of the earth.
Behind the main city gate is the Great Bazaar. Vendors stand behind hundreds of carts full of goods and shout loudly. The air is filled with the strong smell of crassia spices, incense and strange perfumes.Blankets, cloth, beautifully painted pottery, fruit of all kinds, and noisy livestock are crowded and bought and sold in the same field.It's a loud, crowded place, full of haggling.
All the bazaars that Aaron had seen were full of men, except for the Grand Bazaar of Crasia, which was almost entirely filled with women, all of them wrapped from head to toe in thick black cloth.They bartered noisily, yelled at each other, and finally paid their bills with stale gold coins with a grumpy face.
Jewelry and finery sold well in the Great Bazaar, but Aaron never saw anyone put them on.The man told him that women wore jewels and clothes in black robes, and that only their husbands knew about it.
Almost all Calasian men over the age of sixteen are fighters.A few would become "damas," saints and secular leaders of Krasia.All other occupations are dishonorable occupations.Artisans, known as "Cafites," belonged to a lowly class, and their status in Clasia was only slightly higher than that of women.All daily affairs in the city, from farming and cooking to caring for children, were taken care of by women. They dug clay, made pottery, built or repaired houses, raised and slaughtered livestock, and went to the market to bargain.In short, except for fighting, all housework is done by women.
Although they are exhausted all day long, they are still obedient to men.A man's wife and unmarried daughters are his property, and he can do whatever he wants with them, even if he kills them.A man can have many wives, but a woman can—and usually gets killed—even if she shows herself to other men without a veil.Krasian women are seen as consumables and men as masters.
Aaron knew that without their women, the Crasian men would be helpless, but most women respected men and almost worshiped their husbands.They would go out each morning to search for the warriors who had fallen at Alagasarak the night before, wailing over the corpses of their men, collecting their precious tears in vials.In Krasia, water is money.A fighter's status can be measured by the number of tear bottles he gets when he dies.
If a man died in battle, his brother or friend would take over his wife so that they would always have a man to serve.Once, in the Great Labyrinth, a dying warrior lay in Aaron's arms and asked him to take his three wives. "They're beautiful, Palchin," he assured, "and fertile, and they'll give you many sons. Promise me you'll take them!"
Aaron promised to take care of them and find someone else to take them in.He was curious about what lay under the Krasian woman's black robe, but not so curious that he would trade his portable sigil for a clay house, nor would he trade his freedom for a family.
Almost all the women were accompanied by several children in brown dresses; girls with their hair wrapped in cloth, boys in rag caps.After the age of eleven, girls were married and changed to women's black clothing, and boys were taken to training grounds at an even younger age.Most of the boys will change into the black robes of Dael Sharum.A few will don the white robes of Damar and serve Ephron with their lives.Those who cannot hold the above two professions will be reduced to Caffeite, and must wear brown clothes representing shame until they die.
The women watched Aaron ride through the market and began whispering to each other.He looked at them.No woman met his gaze or approached him for conversation.What they liked was the contents of his saddlebags—fine lyson wool, Miln jewels, Angels paper, and other treasures from the north—but he was a man, and worse, he was Chin, and they I dare not come forward to chat.Dharma's eyeliner is everywhere.
"Palchin!" A familiar voice called, and Aaron turned around to see his friend Abang coming towards him. This fat businessman was limping and walking on crutches.
Abang has been crippled since he was a child, and he is a kafite. He is not qualified to fight side by side with soldiers, nor is he capable of becoming a believer.He was doing well, though, by trading with messengers from the north.He was clean-shaven, and wore a brown cap and a Caffet jacket, but over that was a brightly colored turban, a vest, and bright silk breeches with lots of colorful lace.He declared that his wives were as beautiful as any of the wives of Dair Sharum.
"For Ephron's sake, I'm so glad to meet you, Son of Jeff!" Abang greeted in standard Tisha, and at the same time patted Aaron on the shoulder, "Whenever you come, Sunshine It all looks brighter!"
Aaron wished he had never told the other party his father's name. In Clasia, a man's father's name means more than his own name.He wondered what they would think if they knew his father was a coward.
But he just patted Abang on the shoulder and smiled sincerely. "Nice to meet you too, my friend." Without the help of the crippled trader, he would never have learned the Krasian language, nor the strange and dangerous culture of the place.
"Come, come!" Abang said, "Come to my booth to rest your feet and have a cup of tea to moisten your throat." He led Aaron into the brightly colored tent behind his cart.He clapped his hands, and the wives and women—Aaron hadn't been able to tell which was which—ran out and opened the tent door to attend to the Dawn Runner.Aaron knew that it was inappropriate for a man to work openly in the eyes of the Clasians, so he could only resist the action of helping, and watched them unload their heavy saddlebags and move them into the tent.One of the women reached for the rune spear that hung from a saddle horn, wrapped in cloth.But Aaron took the spear first.She bowed deeply, afraid that she would do something disrespectful.
The tents are filled with brightly colored silk pillows and patterned knitted rugs.Aaron left his dusty boots by the door and took a deep breath of the cool, fragrant air.He rested on the pile of pillows on the ground, and Abang's woman knelt in front of him with water and fruit.
After cleaning, Abang clapped his hands again, and the woman brought out hot tea and honey cakes. "Is the journey through the desert going well?" Abang asked.
"Oh, it went well." Aaron smiled, "It went very well."
Then they chatted for a while.Abang never skipped the formalities, but his eyes drifted to Aaron's saddlebag from time to time, and at the same time he could not help but rub his fists.
"Shall we talk about business?" Aaron thought that the politeness was enough and asked immediately.
"Of course, Palchin is a busy man." Abang agreed, flicking his fingers.The women quickly brought out a vast array of spices, perfumes, silks, jewellery, carpets, and other Crasian specialties.
Abang inspects the goods from Aaron's northern customers, and Aaron carefully studies the commodities that the other party intends to trade.Abang frowned and was picky about every food. "You crossed the desert just to trade this kind of thing?" He said with disgust after reading it, "It's not worth your trip."
Aaron suppressed a smile and sat down with him, waiting for the woman to bring new tea.Bargaining usually begins.
"Nonsense," he replied. "Even a blind man can tell I'm carrying the best stuff in all of Tissa, far better than your wives bring out these poor things. I hope you're still hiding More good stuff, because—" he pointed to a rug, a masterpiece of weaving—"even a rug rotting in the ruins is better than this."
"This makes me so sad!" cried Abang. "Thanks to me for providing you with tea and shade! I am so sad that the guests in the tent will treat me with such an attitude!" He lamented. "My wives worked day and night at the spinning machines to weave this rug out of the finest wool! You'll never find a better rug!"
Immediately afterwards, the two sides began to bargain on their own skills, and Aaron never forgot the skills he learned long ago from old Hogg and Regan.As usual, this bargaining ended with both of them pretending to have been robbed on the surface, but in fact they both thought they had taken advantage of it in their hearts.
"My daughter will help you pack the goods and store them temporarily until you leave." Abang finally said, "Would you like to have dinner with us tonight? My wives have prepared a table of delicious dishes that you northerners can't cook! "
Aaron shook his head regretfully. "I'm going to jihad tonight."
Abang also shook his head. "You are too integrated into our customs, Palchin, you seek the same way of death as we do."
Aaron continued to shake his head. "I won't die, and I don't expect an afterlife to go to heaven."
"Ah, my friend, no one would return young to the arms of Ephron, but those who take part in Alagasarak must face such a fate. Remember when the Krasians were as numerous as the sand in the desert, But now..." He shook his head sadly. "It's almost a ghost town here. Every wife's belly is stuffed with children, but more people die at night than are born during the day. If nothing changes, Krasia will be buried deep in the desert in ten years."
"What if I tell you I'm here to change things for Crascia?" Aaron asked.
"The son of Jeff's heart is sincere," Abang said, "but Damaki won't listen to you. Ephron asked us to fight, and they said that no Qingen could change their hearts." Damaki is Krasia The ruling council of the 12 Krasian tribes is composed of the highest-ranking damas.They serve the final decision-maker of Krasia, Ephron's favorite damaandra.
Aaron smiled. "I can't ask them to stop Alagasarak," he agreed, "but I can help them win this war." He unwrapped the spear and held it up in front of Abang.
Abang opened his eyes slightly, looked at the gleaming weapon, then raised his palm, shook his head and said, "I am Calfeet, Palchin. My palm is filthy, and I don't deserve to touch this spear."
Aaron retracted his weapon and bowed in apology. "I didn't mean any disrespect."
"Ha!" Abang laughed, "You may be the only man who bows to me! Even Palchin, you don't have to worry about being disrespectful to Kafete."
Aaron frowned. "You're a man like everyone else."
"This kind of thinking is doomed to be just a Qing En for the rest of your life." Abang said, but with a smile on his face. "You're not the first to draw a sigil on a spear," he said. "Without the ancient sigil of battle, it wouldn't make much sense to do so."
"These are the ancient magic seals." Aaron said, "I found them in the ruins of Anakhsan."
Abang's face was pale. "Have you found the Lost City?" he asked. "Is that map really there?"
"Why are you so surprised?" Aaron asked. "I thought you guaranteed that map was accurate!"
Abang coughed. "Yeah, this," he said, "I trust the origin of the goods, of course, but no one has set foot in that ancient city for three hundred years. Who's to say how accurate that map is?" He smiled. "Besides, even if I make a mistake, you are unlikely to come back and ask for a refund." The two laughed at the same time.
"For Ephron's sake, this is a great story, Palchin." Abang said after Aaron finished telling the story of the adventure of the lost ancient city, "but if you still care about your own life, don't Let Damaki know that you looted the holy city of Anakhsan."
"I won't." Aaron promised, "But in any case, they will agree with the value of this spear."
Abang shook his head. "Even if they agreed to let you speak in the Council, Parzine," he said, "and I doubt it, they would not agree that anything Chingen brought would be of value."
"You may be right," Aaron said, "but at least it's my common sense. Anyway, I also have a message to take to Andra's palace, and walk with me."
Abang raised his crutches. "The palace is a long way from here, Parching," he said.
"I'll walk slowly," Aaron said, knowing that the crutches were just an excuse for not going.
"You don't want to be seen walking with me outside the bazaar, my friend." Abang warned, "Just a little bit can wipe out all the respect you've worked so hard to earn in the Great Labyrinth."
"Then I'll win more," Aaron said. "So what if I can't be respected with my friends?"
Abang bowed deeply. "One day," he said, "I wish I could see with my own eyes what kind of land could produce such a noble man as Jeff's son."
Aaron snickered. "When that day comes, Abang, I will personally take you across the desert."
Abang grabs Aaron's arm. "Wait a minute," he ordered.
Aaron did so immediately, trusting his friend's judgment even though he saw nothing amiss.He saw a group of women carrying heavy loads in the street, and a group of del Sharum walking ahead of them.Another team came from another direction, each led by a white-robed Dama.
"Kaji tribe," Abang said, raising his chin and pointing at the soldiers in front of him, "the vest tribe on the other side. We'd better wait here first."
Aaron narrowed his eyes and looked at the people on both sides.Both sides were dressed in black, and the spears in their hands were simple and unmarked. "How can you tell?" he asked.
Abang shrugged. "Why can't you tell?" he asked back.
Before their eyes, Dharma on one side spoke loudly to Dharma on the other side.The two then confronted each other and began arguing. "You know what they're arguing about?" Aaron asked.
"It's always the same thing," Abang said. "Kaji Dharma believes that the sand demon lives in the third layer of hell, and the wind demon lives in the fourth layer. Majia Dharma believes that it is just the opposite. "Ifja" is in this part There is no clear record." He added, "Ifja is the sacred Kanon of the people of Crasia."
"Does it make a difference?" Aaron asked.
"The demons in the lower hell are farther away from Ephron." Abang said, "You should kill them first."
At this time, Dharma's quarrel became more and more intense, and Del Sharum of both sides had already raised their spears in a rage, ready to protect their respective leaders at any time. "Will they kill each other over which demon they should kill first?" Aaron asked in disbelief.
Abang spat. "The Kaji tribe will fight the vest tribe for more trivial matters, Palchin."
"But we'll face the real enemy together after the sun goes down!" Aaron retorted.
Abang nodded. "Then Kaji and the vest will be united," he said. "As we say, 'Night comes, our enemies become our brothers'. But the sun is still hours away."
One of them, Kajidel Shaloom, stabbed a vest warrior with the butt of his spear, knocking him to his knees.After a few seconds, the two sides had already fought together.Their Dharma stood by the side of the road, indifferent to the violence and not interfering, just continuing to argue with each other.
"Why let this happen?" Aaron asked. "Can't Andra strictly prohibit it?"
Abang shook his head. "Theoretically, Andra should be strictly neutral among the tribes. But in fact, he has always favored the tribe he belongs to. Even if he is really neutral, it is impossible to quell all the feuds of Krasia. You can't forbid men to do what men will do thing."
"They behave more like little fur kids," Aaron said.
"Deir Sharum can only play with spears, and Dharma only understands "Ifja." Abang agreed sadly.
The fighters are not using spearheads... not yet, but the violence is rampant.If no one comes forward to stop it, people will die soon. "Don't mess around." Abang said, grabbing Aaron's arm when he was about to step forward.
Aaron turned to argue, but his friend looked behind him and suddenly dropped to his knees.He tugged on Aaron's arm and told him to do the same.
"If you still cherish life, get down on your knees," he hissed.
Aaron looked around and found the source of Abang's fear.Along the street came a woman wrapped in a sacred white robe. "Damadin," he murmured.Krasia's mystical herbalists are rarely seen in public.
It made no difference that he bowed his head as she passed, but didn't kneel.She didn't notice them at all, she just lowered her head and faced the chaotic scene, and everyone didn't notice until she came to her side.The two damars turned pale with fright when they saw her, and then yelled at their subordinates.The fighting ceased, and the warriors bowed their heads, clearing a way for Damadine to pass.After she passed, the fighters and Dharma dispersed, and the traffic on the road returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
"Palqingen, are you brave or crazy?" Abang asked after she left.
"Since when did men kneel down to women?" Aaron asked suspiciously.
"Men don't have to kneel to Damadin, but if Kaffit and Qing En are smart enough, they should." Abang said, "Even Darma and Deir Sharum are afraid of them. Legend has it that they can See into the future and know which men will live through the night and which will die in battle."
Aaron shrugged. "So what?" he asked suspiciously.The night when he entered the Great Labyrinth for the first time, Damatine cast spells to predict his future, but the experience at that time was not enough to convince him that she could really foresee the future.
"Disrespect to Damatine is tantamount to disrespect to fate." Abang's tone seemed to regard Aaron as a fool.
Aaron shook his head. "We create our own destiny," he said, "even if Damatine can throw bones and predict the future."
"Well, if you piss off Damartin, I won't envy your fate." Abang said.
They went on, and soon came to Andra's palace, a great domed building of white stone as old as the city.The sigil of the palace is painted in gold lacquer, which glistens in the sun.
But before they set foot on the stone steps of the palace, a Dharma ran up to them from above. "Go away, Caffett!" he yelled.
"I'm sorry!" Abang apologized, bowed deeply, stared at the ground and stepped back.Aaron stood where he was.
"I am Aaron, the son of Geoff, a messenger from the north, known as Palchin." He said in Krasian. He stuck the spear in the ground, and even if it was covered with cloth, he could still tell what it was. . "I brought letters and gifts for Andra and other officials." Aaron continued holding up his backpack.
"Since you can speak our language, you shouldn't walk with such people, northerners." Dharma said, still glaring at Abang, who had already knelt down on the ground.
Aaron was furious, but he could only swallow his anger.
"Palchin needs someone to lead the way," Abang said to the ground. "I'm just guiding him..."
"I didn't tell you to speak, Calfeet!" Dama yelled, kicking Abang hard at the side.Aaron's muscles tensed, but he held back his friend's warning gaze.
Dharma turned around as if nothing happened. "Just give me the letter."
"The Duke of Lyxonburg asked me to present the gift to Damaki personally." Aaron said boldly.
"As long as I'm still alive, I won't let Qing En and Kafei Te enter the palace." Dharma laughed.
The response was disappointing, but not surprising.Aaron had never met any Damaki.He handed over the letters and parcels, frowning as Dharma walked up the steps.
"I told you long ago, my friend." Abang said, "I will only make the situation worse if I come with you, but I'm not wrong, Damaki will never receive any outsiders, even if they are You come to the Duke of Thornburg in person. They will politely make you wait and forget about you in some silk pillow, to your disgrace."
Aaron gritted his teeth.He wondered how Regan had reacted to his visit to Desert Spear, could his teacher have tolerated the insult?
"Would you like to have dinner with me now?" Abang asked, "I have a daughter who has just turned fifteen and is very beautiful. She will be your dedicated wife in the north and help you manage the house when you are away. "
what home?Aaron thought to himself, remembering the book-filled cabin in Fort Angels that he hadn't been back to for a year.He looked at Abang, knowing that no matter what the circumstances, this scheming friend only cared about the trading relationship his daughter could establish in the north, not his happiness or helping Aaron with his family.
"You do me a great honor, my friend," he replied, "but I'm not about to give up just yet."
"I think so too." Abang sighed, "I think you are going to find him?"
"That's right," Aaron said.
"He can't bear my presence just like Dama." Abang warned.
"He understands your worth." Aaron disagreed.
Abang shook his head. "He endured my presence because of you," he said. "Since you first entered the Great Labyrinth with the army, Sharumka has always wanted to learn the language of the northerners."
"And Abang is the only person in Fort Krasia who understands the northern language." Aaron said, "This makes him a valuable person in the eyes of the first warrior, even though he is Calfeet." Abang nodded, but Not convinced.
They headed towards the training ground not far from the palace.In the center of the city is the neutral zone for all the tribes, where they gather to worship the gods and prepare for the battle of Alagasarak.
It was dusk when they arrived, and the camp was full of people and horses.Aaron and Abang first passed the weaponsmith and magic sealer workshops, and the handicrafts produced here were the only things that were qualified to be used by Del Sharum.After passing through a large open space, it is the school field where soldiers are trained.
At the other end of the school grounds sits the Kesharum Palace, the palace of Sharumka and his officers.Only slightly smaller than Andra's Palace, this majestic domed building was the residence of the most honorable man in town who had proven his prowess in battle.According to legend, there is a large harem below the palace, which is dedicated to the future generations of these warriors leaving excellent blood.
When Abang staggered past the school grounds on crutches, there were many dissatisfied eyes and curses from the crowd, but no one dared to block their way. Abang was guarded by Sharumka.
They passed rows of men practicing spear javelins, others practicing the brutal but effective shahrushak, krassian hand-to-hand combat.The warriors practiced the accuracy of throwing spears, or aimed at the moving spear boys and threw nets at them, preparing for the upcoming battle that night.There is a large tent in the middle of the school field, and Jadir discusses strategies with his men inside.
Aman Ashu Hoshkamin Anjadir is the "Sharumka" of Krasia, a title translated into Tesha, which means "First Warrior".He was tall, over six feet tall, and was dressed entirely in black, with his head wrapped in a white cloth.According to a custom that Aaron didn't quite understand, Sharumka was also a title with religious significance, and the white turban represented his religious status.
他有着深铜般的肤色，双眼的色泽如同漆黑的发色，头发则以发油后梳，垂在脖子上。他的黑胡左右对称、修剪整齐，却没有丝毫文弱气息。他的举手投足间都有猛禽的气势，身手矫健、充满自信，宽大的袖子向上卷起，露出坚硬结实、表面布满伤疤的手臂；他刚三十岁出头。
一名营帐守卫看见亚伦和阿邦走近，于是弯下腰去向贾迪尔汇报。第一武士的目光随即离开以粉笔书写的石板。
“帕尔青恩！”他招呼道，张开双臂起身迎接他们，“欢迎回到沙漠之矛！”他说的是提沙语，字迹和口音都比亚伦上次来访时进步很多。他热情地拥抱亚伦，亲吻他的脸颊。“我不知道你回来了，今晚阿拉盖会害怕得发抖！”
第一次造访克拉西亚时，第一武士之所以对亚伦感兴趣，完全是出于好奇，但后来他们一起在大迷宫中为彼此流血奋战，而这在克拉西亚代表了一切。
贾迪尔转向阿邦。“你怎么敢来这里与男人站一起，卡菲特？”他一脸厌恶地问道，“我没有传唤你。”
“他是跟我来的。”亚伦说。
“他不必再跟着你了。”贾迪尔冷冷地说道。阿邦深深鞠躬，以他的瘸腿所能达到的最快的速度离开。
“我不知道你干吗在那个卡菲特身上浪费时间，帕尔青恩。”贾迪尔啐道。
“在我的家乡，人们不仅仅以长矛来评断男人的价值。”亚伦说。
贾迪尔大笑。“帕尔青恩，在你的家乡，人们根本不会去碰长矛。”
“你的提沙语比之前进步很大。”亚伦注意道。
贾迪尔咕隆一声。“你们青恩的语言真不好学，当你不在时，我还得去找个卡菲特来练习。”他看着阿邦一拐一拐地离开，对他亮眼的丝袍不以为然，“看看那家伙，打扮得像个女人。”
亚伦看着广场对面一名黑衣女子提水而过。“我可没看过女人穿成那个样子的。”
“那是因为你不肯让我帮你找个可以让你揭开面纱的老婆。”贾迪尔笑道。
“我怀疑达玛会让你们的女人嫁给不属于任何部族的青恩。”亚伦说道。
贾迪尔挥手。“胡说八道。”他说，“我们曾一起在大迷宫中挥洒热血，我的兄弟。如果我要你加入我们的部族，就连安德拉本人也不敢有任何异议！”
亚伦可不敢肯定，但他没开口争论。在克拉西亚人吹牛时，质疑会导致对方暴力相向，况且他未必是在吹牛。贾迪尔的地位至少可以与达玛基平起平坐。战士们会毫不犹豫地遵从他，甚至会为了他违背达玛的命令。
但亚伦并不打算加入贾迪尔的部族，或是任何其他部族，他令克拉西亚人不自在；一个参与阿拉盖沙拉克，同时又结交卡菲特的青恩。加入部族可以化解这种不自在的情绪，但一旦加入，他就归该部族的达玛基管辖，卷入所有的部族间世仇，并且永远不能离开克拉西亚。
“我现在还没打算结婚。”他说道。
“好吧，别等太久，不然大家会以为你是普绪丁。”贾迪尔说着哈哈大笑，在亚伦肩上推了一把。亚伦不确定这个字是什么意思，但他还是点了点头。
“你进城多久了，我的朋友？”贾迪尔问。
“才几个小时。”亚伦说，“我刚把信送到宫殿。”
“然后你就带着长矛前来助阵啦！看在艾弗伦的分上，”贾迪尔对手下叫道，“帕尔青恩体内一定流着克拉西亚的血！”他的手下跟他一起大笑。
“随我走走。”贾迪尔说着，一手搭在亚伦的肩，远离其他人。亚伦知道贾迪尔已开始盘算他今晚适合在什么位置作战。“巴金部族昨晚折损了一名深坑魔印师，”他说，“你可以取代他的位置。”
深坑魔印师是克拉西亚战士中最重要的角色，负责为囚禁地心魔物的深坑绘制魔印，并确保魔印会在恶魔坠入后立刻启动。这个工作十分危险，因为万一掩饰陷阱的油布没有完全落下，彻底露出其下的魔印，魔印师就必须在沙恶魔随时可能爬出深坑杀害自己的情况下负责揭开魔印。只有推进兵这个职务的死亡率比深坑魔印师更高。
“我比较想当推进兵。”亚伦回道。
贾迪尔摇头，但面带微笑。“你总是想担任最危险的职务。”他指责道，“如果你死了，谁帮我们送信？”
尽管贾迪尔的口音很重，亚伦还是听出话中的挖苦意味。信件对他而言没有多大意义，戴尔沙鲁姆根本没几个人识字。
“今晚没那么危险。”亚伦说。他难掩兴奋，拉开包裹新武器的布条，骄傲地举在第一武士面前。
“有帝王气势的武器，”贾迪尔低头道，“但帕尔青恩，击败黑夜的是战士，不是长矛。”他一手搭上亚伦的肩，凝望他的双眼。“不要太信任你的武器。我看过比你更经验老到的战士，他们在武器上绘制魔印，结果还是面对凄惨的下场。”
“这长矛非我所制。”亚伦说，“我是在安纳克桑废墟里找到的。”
“解放者的诞生地？”贾迪尔大笑，“卡吉之矛是虚无缥缈的神话，帕尔青恩，失落之城早已深埋在沙漠之下。”
Aaron shook his head. “我去过了。”他说，“我还可以带你去。”
“我是沙漠之矛的沙鲁姆卡，帕尔青恩。”贾迪尔回道，“我不能像你一样打个背包，骑头骆驼深入沙漠，只为了寻找一座存在于古老文献中的城市。”
“我想入夜后，我就能用行动说服你。”亚伦说。
贾迪尔耐心地微笑。“向我保证你不会尝试任何愚蠢的事就够了。”他说，“不管有没有魔印长矛，你都不是解放者，埋葬你会让我非常伤心。”
“我保证。”亚伦说道。
“那就好！”贾迪尔拍拍他的肩，“来，我的朋友，天色已晚。今晚应该在我的宫殿用餐，然后一起前往沙里克霍拉集结！”
晚餐有香料肉、花生以及克西亚女人将湿面团放在热腾腾岩石上烘烤出来的薄面包。亚伦坐在贾迪尔身旁的荣誉座上，身边围绕着凯沙鲁姆，接受贾迪尔本人的妻子们服侍。亚伦一直不懂贾迪尔为什么如此礼遇他；但在安德拉宫殿外遭受那种待遇后，他很乐意接受这种盛情款待。
男人们要求他讲故事，指明要听独臂魔失去手臂的故事，尽管他们早就听过很多遍了。他们总是要听独臂的故事，或是阿拉盖卡的故事，他们如此称呼独臂魔。石恶魔在克拉西亚十分罕见，当亚伦开始讲述这个故事时，听众都听得如痴如醉。
“你上次来访后，我们建造了一台新的巨蝎。”一名凯沙鲁姆喝餐后花蜜时对他说道，“它可以利用长矛击穿一座石墙，我们迟早会找出方法击穿阿拉盖卡的外壳。”
亚伦轻笑摇头。“恐怕你们今晚不会见到独臂魔了。”他说，“永远都不会，它见过太阳了。”
凯沙鲁姆瞪大双眼。“阿拉盖卡死了？”其中一个问道，“你怎么杀死他的？”
Aaron smiled. “今晚战胜后，我再向各位述说这个故事。”他说话的同时轻拍身旁的长矛，第一武士以将信将疑的眼神看着他手中的长矛，一言不发……
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