Chapter 35 Sample Chapter 2 Abang

That year, when Jadir was only nine years old, Dale Sharum took him away from home.Even in Cracia, nine years old was still a child, but the Kaji tribe lost many fighters that year. If they don't replenish their troops as soon as possible, it won't be long before other tribes will start snatching their territory. Jadir, his three younger sisters, and their mother, Kajiwa, live in a one-room hut next to a dry well in the mud-brick slum of the Kaji tribe, where his father Hoshkamin was killed in battle two years ago. Horde kills.According to traditional customs, warriors of the same clan would come forward to accept the widow of the fallen warrior as a wife and concubine, and raise his children; but Kajiwa gave birth to three daughters in a row, and no man was willing to bring such a bad luck woman into the house.They lived on the rations provided by the local Dama, and the family depended on each other.

"Aman Asu Hoshkamin Anjadir Ankaji." Karen trainer said. "You are going to follow us to Kaji Saraj to find your Hannu Pash—the road paved for you by Avron." He stood in front of the porch with Trainer Carvill, two tall and stern warriors in black Robe, wearing a trainer's red veil, he watched Jadir's mother tearfully embrace him in her arms with a blank expression. "From now on, you have to be the man of the family, Amann." Kajiva told him. "For me, and for your younger sisters, we have no one to rely on." "I will, mother," Jadir promised. "I will be a great warrior and build you a great palace."

"I have no doubts about that," Kajiva said. "They said I was cursed and had three daughters after you, but I think Ephron looked after our family and gave us a son who was too great to need any brothers." She hugged him tightly, wet with tears his cheeks. "Enough crying," Cavill's trainer yelled, grabbing Jadir's arm and pulling him away from his mother's arms.Jadir's sisters watched dumbfounded as they led him out of the hut. "It's like that every time," Keren said. "Mothers never let go." "There is no man in the family to take care of her," Jadir replied.

"No one told you to talk, brat," Cavill growled, hitting him hard on the back of the head.Jadir choked back a cry as his knees hit the sandstone of the sandstone street.He growled in his heart, wanting to fight back, but he held back.No matter how much the Kaji tribe needed new blood, Daer Sharum would have killed him on the spot for such an offense, like trampling a scorpion. "All the men in Cracia will take care of her," Keren said, turning to the door. "Throwing her head and shedding her blood in the dark night, so that she can cry for her son to leave her side safe and sound."

They turned the corner and headed in the direction of the Grand Bazaar.Jadir knew the way, because he often went to the market, although he was penniless.The smell of spices and perfumes delighted him, and he enjoyed looking at the spears and cutlasses displayed in the arms shop.Sometimes he would fight other boys in preparation for becoming a fighter someday. Deir Shaloom rarely went to the market place, and it would be demeaning to go to such a place.The woman, the child, and Caffett made a detour in front of the trainer.Jadir watched the two fighters carefully, imitating their every move as much as possible.

Someday, he thought, people will nod and bow before me. Cavill looks at a slab of chalk writing, then looks up at a large tent covered in colorful strips of cloth. "Here it is," he said, and Karen snorted disdainfully.Without saying a word, they lifted the curtain and strode in, and Jadir immediately followed.The interior of the tent smelled of incense, and the floor was covered with thick carpets, and here and there were silk pillows, rows of tapestries, painted pottery, and various other treasures.Jadir reached out and touched a piece of silk cloth, trembling with excitement at the soft touch.

My mother and sister should wear clothes of this fabric.He thought to himself, looking at his dirty and tattered brown narrow trousers and vest, looking forward to changing into a black battle suit as soon as possible. The woman behind the counter screamed as soon as she saw the trainer, and Jadir looked up just in time to see her grab the veil to hide her features. "O'Mara Wahaman Vakaji?" Karen asked.The woman nodded, her eyes full of fear. "We're here to find your son, Abang," Keren said. "He's not at home." O'Mara said, but the only naked eye and palm were shaking under the heavy black clothes. "I sent him out this morning to deliver."

"Go to the back and search." Karen ordered Cavill.The trainer nodded and walked straight towards the curtain behind the counter. "No, please!" O'Mara cried, stepping in his way.Cavill ignored her, pushed her away, and disappeared behind the curtain.There were more screams from inside the house, and after a while, the trainer came out with a boy by the arm, wearing a brown vest, cap, and narrow pants—but the fabric on him was much higher quality than Jadir.He looked about a year or two older than Jadir, stocky and well-nourished.A group of older girls followed, two in brown and three in black, with maiden hoods on their heads so that their faces were not hidden.

"Abang Anhaman Ankaj," Keren said, "you are to go with us to Kajsharaj to find your Hannu Pash, Aphron paved the way for you." The boy heard these words , trembling with fright. O'Mara cried bitterly, and rushed to her son, trying to catch him back. "Please, he's too young! Wait another year, please!" "Shut up, woman," Cavill said, pushing her down. "The kid is old enough and fed enough. If you leave him one more day, he'll be a Calfett like his father." "Should be proud, woman," Keren told her. "Your son will rise above his father to serve Ephron and Khaji."

O'Mara lay on the ground with her fists clenched, sobbing silently.No woman dared to stand against Dail Sharum.Abang's sister squeezed beside her, losing her voice in pain.Abang stretched out his hands towards them, but Cavill dragged him away.The boy was dragged out of the tent crying.Even after the heavy curtains were drawn and the din of the bazaar disturbed his ears, Jadir could still hear the women's cries. The two fighters led the way to the training ground, completely ignoring the two boys and letting them follow.Along the way, Abang kept crying and shaking. "Why are you crying?" Jadir asked him. "The road ahead is full of light and glory."

"I don't want to be a soldier." Abang said. "I don't want to die." Jadir shrugged. "Perhaps you will become Dama." Abang trembled all over. "That's even worse. My father died at the hands of Dama." "Why?" Jadir asked. "My father accidentally spilled a drop of ink on Dama's clothes," Abang said. "Dharma killed him for this?" Jadir asked. Abang nodded, and a lot of tears flowed down the corners of his eyes. "He broke my father's neck on the spot. It happened so fast... He stretched out his hand, and with a click, my father fell to the ground." He swallowed heavily. "Now I'm the only man in the family who can take care of my mother and sister." Jadir took his hand. "My father died too, and they said my mother was cursed, that's why she had three daughters in a row. But we are all Kaji men. We can surpass our father's achievements and bring glory back to our women." "But I'm scared." Abang whimpered. "I'm afraid too, a little bit." Jadir bowed his head and admitted.After a while, he regained his composure. "Let's make a deal." Abang grew up in the intriguing market since he was a child, and he looked up at him suspiciously. "What kind of agreement?" "We helped each other get through Hanu Pash," Jadir said. "If you fall, I will catch you. If I stumble, you..." He patted Abang's round belly with a smile. "Just be my back." Abang cried out and rubbed his stomach, but he didn't complain, and looked at Jadir in surprise. "Are you serious?" he asked, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Jadir nodded.They were walking under the shade of the canopy in the market, but he grabbed Abang's arm and pulled him into the sunlight. "I swear by the light Ephron gave me." Abang smiled happily. "Then I swear by Khaji's jeweled crown." "Hurry up!" Cavill yelled, and they hurriedly followed, but now Abang felt a little more confident. When passing through the Great Temple of Shalike Hora, the trainers drew magic seals out of thin air, and prayed to the Creator Ephron chantingly.The training ground was located behind Shalik Hora. Jadir and Abang looked around and looked around at the scene of the fighters performing.Some were practicing shields, spears, or snares, while others marched or ran at a neat pace.Scouts stood atop steel-roofed ladders rising out of nowhere from the ground, exercising their sense of balance.More Del Sharum wielding spearheads and sigil shields, or practicing Sharushak - the art of hand-to-hand combat. There are a total of twenty sarajis, or schools, around the training grounds, one for each tribe.Jadir and Abang belonged to the Kaji tribe, so they were taken to Kaji Saraj.Here they will unfold Hanu Pash and become Dharma, Deir Sharum, or Kafiet. "Kaji Saraj is bigger than other Saraj." Abang said, looking at the huge Chinese military tent in the training ground. "Only Vest Saraj can barely match it." "Of course," Cavill said. "Do you think our tribe just happened to be named Kaji, Shadamakar the Liberator? We are all descendants of his thousand wives, his bloodline. As for the vest tribe - he spits. It's just Sha The cowardly son who took over the reign when Dhamaka died. The other tribes are inferior to us in every way, always remember that." They were taken to the central army tent, where baidobubs - a white belt - were distributed - and their brown garments were taken away and burned.Now they are Nesharum, not warriors, but not boys either. "A month of gruel and training will shave all the fat off you, kid," Cavill said as Abong undressed.The trainer beat Abang's round belly in disgust.Bang was thrown forward by the punch, but Jadir grabbed him before he hit the ground and held him until his breathing returned to normal.After changing their clothes, the training officer took them to the barracks. "Fresh blood!" Karen yelled as he wheeled them into a large unassuming room filled with other Nesharum. "Aman Aso Hoshkamin Anjadir Ankaj, and Abang Anharman Ankaj! They are now your brothers." Abang blushed on the spot, like everyone present - Jadir immediately knew the reason.Keren did not mention Abang's father's name, which is the same as directly declaring that Abang's father was named Calfit—the lowest and most despised class in Claria society.Caffett is a coward, a weakling, not qualified to embark on the way of a warrior. "Ha! You brought the fat son of the man in the pied dress and a skinny mouse!" cried Nesharum, who was the tallest. "Send them back!" the other boys roared with laughter. The Karen trainer roared and punched the boy in the face.The boy fell heavily and then spit out a mouthful of blood.The laughter stopped abruptly. "Wait until you take off your beidob before laughing at people, Hasik," Keren said. "Until then, you're all skinny Calfette rats in floral dresses." After that, he and Cavill turned Leave the barracks. "You'll pay for it, rats," Hasik said, the last word like some kind of strange whistle.He pulled out the loose tooth from his mouth and threw it at Ah Bang, who just closed his eyes and let the tooth hit him.Jadir rushed in front of him and roared angrily, but Hasik and his group had already gone away. Not long after they arrived, someone gave them a rice bowl, and the porridge pot was also set out.Jadir was hungry and immediately moved towards the porridge pot. Abang moved faster than him, but an older boy stood in front of them. "Do you think you can eat before me?" he asked.He pushed Jadir onto Abang, and the two fell into a pile at the same time. "If you want to eat, get up." The trainer who brought the porridge pot said. "The people at the end of the line have nothing to eat." Abang screamed, and the two quickly got up.But most of the boys have already stood in line, basically according to size and strength, but the one standing at the front is Hasik.At the back of the line, the thinnest boys scramble for the first place, fearing they will be squeezed into the last spot. "What should we do?" Abang asked. "Let's cut the line." Jadir said, grabbing Abang's arm and dragging him towards the middle of the line, where the boys were still not as heavy as the fat-headed Abang. "My father said that showing weakness is worse than real weakness." "But I won't fight!" Abang protested, trembling all over. "You'll learn quickly," Jadir said. "After I knock him down, you jump on him and pin him to the ground." "I will." Abang agreed.Jadir led the way to a boy who was yelling at them.The other party raised his head and chest, facing Abang, because he was taller. "Get to the back of the line, little mouse!" he yelled. Without saying a word, Jadir punched the boy in the stomach and then kicked him in the knee.After he fell, Abang immediately pressed the boy under him like a sandbag.When Abang got up, Jadir had already inserted into the boy's position.He glared at the people in the back, and they immediately moved a seat for Abang. Their reward is a scoop of porridge poured into a bowl. "That's it?" Abang asked in shock.The beggar glared at him bitterly, and Jadir immediately pushed him away.The corner of the room was already taken by the older boys, so they retreated to a wall and sat down to eat. "I'll starve to death every meal I eat." Abang muttered, stirring the bland porridge in the bowl. "It's better than some people," Jadir said, pointing to two disheveled boys with nothing to eat. "You can eat some of mine." Seeing that Abang was still unhappy, he added. "I don't eat as much at home as I do here." They slept on the gravel floor of the barracks, with only a thin blanket to help them keep out the cold.Jadir was used to being crowded with his mother and younger sisters, so he curled up next to Abang's warm body.He vaguely heard the horns of Sarlacc in the distance, and he knew that the holy war had begun.It took him a long time before he finally fell asleep and dreamed that he had killed countless demons... He woke up with another thin blanket over his face.He struggled hard, but the blanket was twisted tightly from behind.He heard Ah Bang's muffled screams as he was beaten by a hooded man. The rain of fists came from all directions, making him dizzy.Jadir swung his fists and stamped his feet frantically. Although he felt that someone was being hit, he still didn't change the situation of being beaten by the group at all.After a while, his limbs were limp and paralyzed, and it was only because someone pulled the thin blanket covering his head that he would not fall to the ground. Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, that he was sure to die here, that he would never win the power and glory of going to heaven, the blanket was pulled away, and the two of them fell down."Rat, welcome to Kaj Saraj," cried a familiar voice, the word rat squeezed through Hasik's broken teeth. The other boys laughed and crawled back into their thin blankets, while Jadir and Abang huddled together, sobbing softly in the darkness. "Hold your head high." Jadir reminded Abang softly while waiting for the morning roll call. "I can't help it." Abang wailed. "I didn't sleep all night, and my whole body hurt from the beating." "Don't show it," Jadir said. "My father said that the weakest camel will be attacked by wolves." "My father told me to hide until the wolf left." Abang replied. "Shut up!" Cavill yelled. "Dharma is coming to check on you pathetic brats." He and Keren completely ignored the bruises on their bodies as they passed by.Jadir's left eye was so swollen that he couldn't open it at all, but the only thing the trainer noticed was Abang's dejected look. "Keep your head up!" Keren yelled, and Cavill slapped Bong on Bong's feet to reinforce the order.Abang yelled in pain and almost fell down, but Jadir helped him in time. There was a chuckle in the distance, and Jadir grinned and turned to Hasik, who just sneered and made a face. In fact, Jadir himself was not more stable than Abang, but he didn't show it at all.Despite his dizziness and pain in his limbs, Jadir straightened up as Kevit Dharma approached, staring straight ahead with wide, intact eyes.The trainer stepped aside, respectfully letting the priest pass. "It's amazing to see the warrior of the Kaji tribe, Shadamakar, the blood of the Liberator himself, degenerate into such a miserable appearance." Dharma sneered, and spat on the ground. "Your mothers must have confused camel urine with man's seed." "You nonsense!" Jadir shouted uncontrollably.Abang looked at him in disbelief, but this kind of insult was beyond the limit he could bear.Seeing Karen rushing towards him quickly, Jadir knew that he was going to be punished.The trainer's belt left a searing line on his skin, knocking him to the ground. Dale Sharum didn't stop there. "If Dharma says you are the son of camel urine, you are the son of camel urine!" he roared, whipping Jadir repeatedly.Jadir was only wrapped in a Baiduo cloth, and he couldn't stop the whip at all.No matter how he dodges or protects an injured part, Keren can always find another unbeaten place to continue pumping.He screamed, but the trainer beat him harder and harder. "Enough," Cavitt said.The trainer stopped immediately. "Are you the son of camel piss?" Kron asked. Jadir struggled to stand up, his limbs limp like wet bread.He kept staring at the belt that was ready to be swung down again by the trainer.He knew that if he maintained his arrogant attitude, the trainer would kill him.He will die sadly, and his soul will spend thousands of years with Kaffee outside the gate of heaven, watching those who have fallen into Avron's arms, waiting to be reincarnated.The thought terrified him, but his father's reputation was the only thing he had in the world, and he could never turn his back on it. "I am the son of Amann Hoshkamin, of Jadir." He kept his tone as calm as possible.He heard gasps of surprise from the other boys, bracing themselves for the next blow. Karen's expression twisted angrily, and he raised his belt, but stopped under Damar's understatement gesture. "I know your father, boy," said Cavitt. "He was a man, but he won little glory in his short life." "I will win glory for both of us," Jadir promised. Dharma grunted. "Maybe you can do it, but not today, today you're even worse than Caffet," he turned to Karen, "throw him in the cesspit and let real men shit and piss on him. " The trainer smiled and punched Jadir hard in the stomach.As he bent over, Keren grabbed him by the hair and dragged him toward the cesspit.Jadir looked back at Hasik as he moved, expecting another sneer; but like all the Nesharum present, the older boy's face was pale with disbelief and uncanny terror. Ephron felt that Nai was cold and dark, and felt lonely in his heart.He created the sun, producing light and warmth, and dispelling darkness.It created Allah, the earth, and made it revolve around the sun.He created men, and the beasts that accompanied them, and then looked proudly on his sun to bring them life and love. But half the time, Arad confronts the darkness of Nai, which is terrified by all of Ephron's creation.So he created the moon and the stars, to reflect the sun's light in the dark, to remind all things in the night that they were not forgotten. After doing so, Ephron was satisfied. But Nai also has will. She looks at all things and is dispelling her own world, and she is furious in her heart.She reached out to destroy Allah, but Ephron stopped, and her palm froze. But Ephron wasn't fast enough to completely drive Nye away.The flick of her dark fingers had grown like a plague in his perfect world.Her ink-like evil seeps into rock and sand, blows away on the wind, floats like grease on the clean waters of Allah, sweeps through forests, and melts into lava fires that rise from the ground. Alagai grows and takes root on Allah.They are creatures of darkness, husks under Nye's dominion, whose sole purpose is destruction; taking pleasure in slaying Ephron's creations. But behold, the world turns, and the sun sheds light and warmth upon the offspring of Nai's cold darkness, and burns them to ashes. Alagai escaped desperately, fled into the shadows, penetrated the depths of the earth, and polluted the underground world. In the dark abyss of the Heart of Creation, Alagadinka, Mother of Demons, was born.As a servant of Nai, it waits for the world to turn again, sending its own soldiers to crawl back to the surface to take revenge on God's creation. Knowing everything, Ephron reached out to drive the evil out of his world, but Nai stood up to resist, and his hand froze. But it, like Nai, was the last to touch the world, and gave men the means to use the magic of Alagai to counter magic itself, that is, to give them the sigil. Ephron then struggled for all of his creations, and had no choice but to throw himself on Nai and fight her to the death. As in the upper realm, so in the lower realm. For Jadir's first month in Sharaj, every day was the same—at sunrise, the trainer led Nesharum to stand for hours in the scorching sun, listening to Dharma preach about Ephron's favor.The boys were tired, hungry and thirsty from the brutal exercise training, and their knees were sore from severe lack of sleep, but they dared not complain - as long as they saw Jadir, bloody and stinking from the punishment When they come back, they know never to question any orders. Trainer Karen beat Jadir hard. "Why were you punished?" he asked. "Alagah!" Jadir called. Karen turned and whipped Abang. "Why pass Hanu Pash?" "Alagai!" Ah Bang shouted. "Without Alagai, the whole world would be a paradise, in the arms of Ephron," said Kevit Dharma. The trainer's belt swung onto Jadir's back again.He's been whipped twice a day since his first day of insolence. "What is the purpose of your existence in this life?" Karen asked. "Kill Alagah!" Jadir yelled. He reached out his palm, gripped Jadir by the throat, and pulled him in front of him. "How will you die?" he asked in a low voice. "Death by Alagai's claws." Jadir squeezed out a few words in a suffocating tone.The trainer let him go, he took a deep breath, and immediately stood at attention, not letting Karen find another excuse to hit him. "Death at the claws of Alagah!" cried Cavitt. "Del Shaloom shall not die of old age in bed! They shall not die of sickness or hunger! Dale Shaloom dies in battle, earning his right to heaven, wandering in the glory of Ephron, in the cold sweet river of milk bathe and drink freely, and there are countless virgins to enjoy." "Go to Alagai!" shouted the boys, shaking their fists. "Long live Ephron!" After these classes, someone will give them rice bowls and carry out the porridge pot.There is never enough porridge for everyone, and more than one person goes hungry every day.The older, burly boys, headed by Hasik, had already established their hierarchy—although each had only a spoonful of porridge to eat, they had priority and wanted more food, or in the process of fighting Spilling porridge will attract the ubiquitous rice spoons of angry trainers. When the older boys eat, the youngest and weakest Nesharum will try to squeeze their way into the line.After being besieged on the first night and thrown into the cesspit the next day, Jadir was unable to grab food for several days; but Abang has learned to use his weight as a weapon. Even when he is close to the back of the line, he can Can help grab a spot. After eating the porridge, the training started immediately. There are obstacle courses designed to build stamina, and long-practice Sharukin courses—a series of martial arts that follow a series of Sharushak moves.They learn to fight by marching cautiously and even by moving quickly.With nothing but gruel in their stomachs, the boys' figures grew more and more like spearheads, as lanky and tough as the weapons they practiced with. Sometimes the trainer would send groups of boys to sneak up on Nesharum near Sharaj, beating them black and blue.No place is safe, not even a latrine.Sometimes Hasik and older boys like him would ride boys from other tribes on the back and rape them as if they were women.It was extremely nasty business, and Jadir had been forced to kick off several enemies who tried to attack between his feet in order to avoid it.Once a boy from the vest tribe tore down Abang's Baidobu, but Jadir kicked him until his nose bleeds. "At any moment, the Vests could launch a surprise attack on the well," Cavill told Jadir after the attack. "Or the Nanji tribe came and robbed our women. We must be vigilant at all times. If we don't kill, we will be killed." "I hate this place." Abang wailed after the trainer left, almost in tears. "I look forward to the waning moon, and go home to visit my mother and sister, even if it's only a new moon." Jadir shook his head. "He's right. Be careless, even for a moment, and you could be in trouble." He clenched his fists. "My father may have made this mistake, but it would never happen to me." When the trainers finished their day's lessons, the older boys supervised the newcomers' practice, and they were no less severe than Daer Sharum. "Bend your knees when you turn around, rat," Hasik yelled as Jadir unleashed a complicated Sharukin.To emphasize his suggestion, he kicked Jadir on the back of the knee, knocking him to the ground. "The son of the camel piss can't even do a simple turn!" Hashik shouted to the other boys, laughing.His pronunciation is still cracked by missing teeth. With a roar, Jadir threw himself on the older boy.He may have to follow the orders of Dharma and Deir Sharum, when Hasik is just Nesharum, he will never allow such a role to insult his father. But Hasik is five years older than him and could replace Baidobu in no time.He is much stronger than Jadir and has many years of experience in unarmed combat.He grabbed Jadir's wrist and twisted it hard, then straightened it, then turned around quickly, pressing his elbow hard against the arm that was clasped by him. Jadir only heard a click and saw the bone sticking out of his skin.Before the pain hit, he had already been in a long period of fear.Then he screamed. Hasik covered Jadir's mouth with his palm, muffled his screams, and pulled him in front of him. "If you dare to attack me again, son of a camel, I will kill you," he shouted. Abang supported Jadir's intact arm, and half-dragged and half-carried him to Damatidin's tent at the other end of the training ground.The tent doors opened as they approached, as if those inside were waiting for them.A tall woman covered from head to toe in a white cloth raised the door curtain, leaving only her eyes and palms exposed.She gestured to a table in the tent, and Abang quickly put Jadir on the table.Standing beside the table was a woman in a white robe like Damatine, but she did not hide her young and beautiful face. Damadin will not talk to Nesharum. After Abang put Jadir away, he bowed deeply.Damatine nodded towards the curtain, and he almost stumbled out of the big tent.Legend has it that Damatine has the ability to divine the future, and can see the way a man will die in the future with the naked eye alone. The woman walked gently in front of Jadir, who was like a white afterimage in front of his eyes.He couldn't tell her age, whether she was beautiful or ugly, whether she had a good temper or a bad temper.She doesn't seem to bother with such mundane matters at all, and her devotion to Ephron goes far beyond all mortal norms. The girl next to him picked up a small wooden stick covered with layers of white cloth, put it into Jadir's mouth, and gently closed his jaw.Jadir understood what she meant, so he clenched his teeth tightly. "Dal Sarum embraces the pain." The girl whispered as Damadin walked to the table to prepare the tools. Jadir felt a sting as Damadine cleaned the wound, then a sharp pain as she wrenched her arm to set the bone.Gritting the stick tightly, Jadir tried to follow the girl's instructions to embrace the pain, though he didn't quite understand what that meant.For a moment, the pain seemed to exceed the limit of what he could bear, but then it seemed to be a distant feeling, something he was aware of but didn't really feel.He opened his jaw, and the stick fell. After the pain subsided, Jadir turned to look at Damatidin.She moves deftly, chanting prayers under her breath as she stitches together muscles and skin.She ground the herbs into a paste, applied a thick layer to the wound, and bound the wound with a clean white cloth soaked in a thick white liquid. Her strength was surprisingly great, and she lifted Jadir from the table, moved him to a hard plank bed and put him down.She put a portable wine bottle near his mouth, Jadir took a few sips, and immediately felt warm all over his body and dizzy. Damatine turned to leave, but the girl stayed by the bed for a while longer. "A broken bone is harder," she murmured, comforting Jadir as he fell asleep. When he woke up, he found that the girl was still sitting beside his bed. She pressed a wet cloth on his forehead, and it was this cold feeling that woke him up.Her eyes wandered over her uncovered face.He had thought his mother was very beautiful, but she was far from this girl. "The young warrior has awakened," she said, smiling at him like a rainbow. "You spoke," Jadir said through chapped lips.His arms seemed to be encased in white stone, the white cloth that Damadine bound him had hardened in his sleep. "Am I a beast, shouldn't I be able to talk?" the girl asked. "I mean talk to me," Jadir said. "I'm just Nesharum, and my status is not half of yours." He said silently. The girl nods. "I'm just Nida Martin. I'm going to earn my veil soon, but I'm not qualified yet, so I can talk to anyone." She put down the wet cloth, picked up a bowl of hot porridge and fed it to his mouth. "I think you must not be full in Kaji Saragiri, eat it, this will make Damadin's healing spells more effective." Jadir wolfed down the hot porridge. "What's your name?" he asked after eating. The girl smiled and wiped the corners of his mouth with a soft cloth. "For a boy who has just qualified for Baidobu, you're a lot of guts." "I'm sorry," Jadir said. she laughs. "Boldness does not bring sorrow, and Ephron does not love the timid. My name is Invilla." "Ephron's will," Jadir translated, which was a Crassia idiom.Invilla nodded. "Amann." Jadir introduced himself. "Son of Hoshkamin." The girl nodded cautiously, but there was a smile in her eyes. "He's strong enough to go back to training," Damatine told Karen the next day. "But his food must be specially guaranteed. In addition, if his arm is injured again before I take off the bandage, I will definitely hold you responsible." The trainer bowed. "Follow Damartine's orders." Jadir got his job and was allowed to go to the front of the line.None of the other boys, including Hasik, dared to question this order, but Jadir could feel their resentful gazes from behind him. He would rather compete for food with his arms wrapped in bandages than bear the pain. A look of pity, but Damatine ordered.If he didn't voluntarily eat, the trainer would definitely pour porridge down his throat without hesitation. "Are you okay?" Abang asked at the corner of the wall where they usually ate. Jadir nodded. "A broken bone is harder." "I'd rather not test this claim," Abang said.Jadir shrugged. "At least tomorrow is the waning moon," Abang added. "You can rest at home for a few days." Jadir looked at the bandages and felt terribly ashamed.He couldn't hide everything from his mother and sister.It has been less than a month since they entered Saraji, and they have already been humiliated. The waning is a three-day cycle during the new moon, and it is said that Nai's power will be at its peak during these three days.These days, boys who participate in the Way of Hannu Pash will stay at home with their loved ones, so that fathers can look at their sons and remind themselves what they are fighting hard for every night.But Jadir's father is dead, and he doubts whether he can make him proud. 贾迪尔与其他奈沙鲁姆相处时，已习惯只穿拜多布和草鞋。但在全身除了脸和手统统包在褐袍中的妹妹面前，他觉得自己好像在裸奔，而且他那上了绷带的手放哪儿都藏不住。 他的母亲卡吉娃在他回家后完全没提受伤的事，但贾迪尔的妹妹们可没想那么多。 “你的手怎么了？”最小的妹妹汉雅在他一进门时就问道。 “训练时弄断了。”贾迪尔说。 “怎么断的？”年纪最大，同时也和贾迪尔最亲近的妹妹英蜜珊卓问道。她伸出手抚摸他另一条手臂。 她的同情曾为贾迪尔带来安慰，现在却令他感到十倍的羞愧。他抽开手臂。“在练习沙鲁沙克时弄断的，不算什么。” “几个男孩弄的？”汉雅问，贾迪尔想起某次在市集上自己为了汉雅而出手打倒两名年长男孩的事。“至少十个，我敢打赌。” 贾迪尔皱眉。“一个。”他大声说道。 他的二妹霍许娃摇了摇头。“对方一定有十英尺高。”贾迪尔真想大叫，以发泄心中的怨愤与苦闷。 “别烦你们哥哥！”卡吉娃说。“帮他摆好餐盘，让他一个人静一静。” 汉雅帮贾迪尔收好草鞋，英蜜珊卓拉开餐桌主位的板凳。凳子上没有坐垫，不过她铺了一块干净的布在上面给他坐。在沙拉吉的地板上坐了一整个月后，这块布简直就是奢华的享受。霍许娃连忙端来卡吉娃从热腾腾的汤锅舀到破陶碗里的粥。 贾迪尔一家人平常晚上只吃白煮粗麦，但卡吉娃省吃俭用，每到月亏时总是可以吃到时鲜蔬菜。而今天是贾迪尔前往汉奴帕许后的第一次月亏，他碗里甚至还有几块看不出是什么肉的坚硬肉块。贾迪尔已经好一阵子没有看过这么多食物了，而且其中充满母亲的爱，但他发现自己没有什么胃口，特别是他注意到母亲和妹妹的碗里没有肉的时候。他强迫自己吞下食物，以免侮辱母亲，但只能用左手吃饭令他感到羞愧难当。 吃完饭后，他们一家人聚在一起祷告，直到沙利克霍拉的尖塔上传来喊声——宣告黄昏的到来。《伊弗佳》规定，听到沙利克霍拉的喊声时，所有妇孺都要躲到地下去。 就连卡吉娃小小的土屋都有一间有魔印守护的地下室，并且连接到地下城，那是为了预防城破而建，与整座沙漠之矛的巨大洞穴网络贯通。 “躲下去。”卡吉娃对女孩们说。“我要和你们哥哥私下谈谈。”女孩们遵照指示进走地下室。接着卡吉娃叫贾迪尔来到挂有他父亲的长矛和盾牌的角落。 一如往常，武器和护具仿佛批判似地瞪视着他。贾迪尔强烈地感受到绷带的分量，但心里还有某种更加沉重的负担。他转向母亲。 “凯维特达玛说父亲死时没有带走任何荣耀。”贾迪尔说。 “那么凯维特达玛对你父亲的认识没有我深。”卡吉娃说。“他从不撒谎，虽然我一连生下三个女儿，他从来不曾责骂我。他不断让我怀孕，供我们三餐温饱。”她凝视贾迪尔的双眼。“这些事情中都存在荣耀，与屠杀阿拉盖没有两样。在太阳下重复我的话，并且牢牢记在心里。” 贾迪尔点头。 "I will." “你现在已经穿上拜多布了。”卡吉娃说。“《伊弗佳》告诉我们，在月亏时，恶魔之父阿拉盖卡会行走于阿拉上。” “就连它也不可能突破沙漠之矛战士的防线。”贾迪尔说。 卡吉娃起身，自墙上取下长矛。“或许不能。”她说，将武器塞到他完好的左手中。“但如果它突破了，守护家门就是你的责任。” 贾迪尔在震惊中接过武器。卡吉娃轻轻点头，接着走进他妹妹们躲入的地下室。贾迪尔立刻走到门口，抬头挺胸，彻夜未眠，接下来的两个晚上也是如此。 “我要有一个目标。”贾迪尔说。“等达玛丁拆掉我的绷带时，我得重回打饭队伍。” “我们可以一起动手。”阿邦说。“就像从前一样。” 贾迪尔摇头。“如果要你帮忙，他们会以为我不行了。我要让他们知道我比之前更强壮，不然每个人都会跑来找我麻烦。” 阿邦点头，思考着这个难题。“你得挑选比你离开前更前面的目标，但又不能前面到会激怒哈席克那一伙人。” “你的想法世故得像个商人。”贾迪尔说。 阿邦微笑。“我是在市集里长大的。” 接下来几天他们都在观察打饭队伍的状况，目光落在队伍中央往前一点，也就是贾迪尔受伤前所在的位置。排在那里的男孩年龄都比贾迪尔大一点，也比他高壮。他们挑选了几个可能的目标，然后在训练时仔细观察他们的实战水平。 训练和之前一样艰苦。硬化的绷带在贾迪尔做障碍练习时固定他的手臂，而训练官要求他用左手投掷长矛和大网。他没有受到特殊待遇，也不希望受到特殊待遇。皮带还是照样抽到他背上，而贾迪尔欣然承受，拥抱痛楚，心知每一下都是在向其他男孩证明——尽管身上负伤，但我并不虚弱。 几个礼拜过去了，贾迪尔努力不懈，一有机会就练习沙鲁金，每晚睡觉前都要在脑中反复演练。意外的是，他发现自己左手投掷及攻击的能力一点也不逊于右手。他甚至会用硬绷带去捶打对手，享受着如同沙尘暴袭来般的快感。他知道等到达玛丁拆除绷带时，他的伤将会因此而愈合得更好。 “我想，就挑祖林，”贾迪尔拆除绷带的前一天晚上，阿邦终于说道，“他又高又壮，但打架时很愚蠢，喜欢靠蛮力取胜。” 贾迪尔点头。“或许。他动作慢，如果我打倒他，没有人会来找我麻烦，但我在考虑山杰特。”他朝排在祖林前面的瘦子点头。 Abang shook his head. “不要被他的身材骗了。山杰特排在祖林前面是因为，他的手脚打起人来像鞭子一样。” “但他的攻击不够精准，”贾迪尔说，“而且只要挥空就会失去平衡。” “不过他很少挥空，”阿邦警告道，“对付祖林胜算较高，讨价还价太过分是做不成买卖的。” 第二天早上贾迪尔自达玛丁营帐回来时，男孩们已开始排队打饭了。贾迪尔深吸一口气，活动一下右手手臂，迈开大步，直接朝队伍中间冲去。阿邦已经进入队伍了，距离他很远，不会出手相助，就像他们说好的一样。 最虚弱的骆驼会引来狼群。他曾听父亲说过，而这句简单的建议扼杀了他内心的恐惧。 “滚到后面去，废人！”山杰特在看到他走来时吼道。 贾迪尔不理他，强迫自己挤出笑容。“艾弗伦眷顾你，谢谢你帮我占位子。”他说。 山杰特脸上露出难以置信的神情。他比贾迪尔年长三岁，体型也壮硕许多。他一时迟疑，贾迪尔抓紧机会用力一推，将他推离队伍。 山杰特差点跌倒，但迅速反击，在恢复平衡的同时踢起一片尘土。贾迪尔本来可以趁他失去平衡时猛踢他的支撑脚，但想要破除自己因为受伤而变弱的谣言，他就不能乘人之危，捡便宜。 四周传来看热闹的欢呼声，打饭队伍弯成了一个圆，把两个男孩围成一个圈内。山杰特脸上的震惊神情迅速消失，扭曲成愤怒的神色，随即展开反击。 贾迪尔如同跳舞般闪避山杰特一连串攻击，他的动作就像阿邦警告过的那样灵活。最后，一如预期，山杰特挥出一记重击，结果在没有击中目标后失去平衡。贾迪尔让向左边，矮身闪过拳头，右手手肘如同长矛般顶中对方腰部。山杰特痛得大叫，跌向一旁。 贾迪尔紧跟而上，再度以手肘重击山杰特的背部，将他砸趴在地。他的手臂在绷带里包了几个礼拜，看起来又细又白，但骨头倒是真的坚硬如铁，就像达玛丁说的一样。 然而山杰特抓住贾迪尔的脚踝猛力一扯，让他整个人跌在自己身上。他们在尘土中摔打，山杰特的体重和攻击范围都占尽优势。他将贾迪尔的脑袋夹在腋下，左掌拉扯右拳，挤压贾迪尔的气管。 世界逐渐变暗，贾迪尔开始后悔自己挑错了对手，但和痛楚一样，他拥抱这种恐惧，绝不放弃奋斗。他使劲反脚后踢，一脚踢到山杰特胯下，对方在惨叫声中松开贾迪尔的脖子。贾迪尔挣脱束缚，紧靠在山杰特的关节附近，不让他有足够的空间施展拳脚。慢慢地，他移动到山杰特背后，一看到脆弱的部位——眼睛、喉咙、肚子——立刻动手攻击。 终于分出胜负了，贾迪尔钳制山杰特的右臂，扭到他的身后，将全身力道放在双膝上，顶住年长男孩的背部。当他感觉到手肘扭到极限后，他用自己的肩膀将其固定，然后把山杰特的手臂向上顶起。 “啊！”山杰特疼得大叫，贾迪尔心知自己只要一用力就可以扭断男孩的手臂，就和哈席克当初折磨自己一样。 “你在帮我占位置，是不是？”贾迪尔大声问道。 “我要杀了你，老鼠！”山杰特大叫，另一只手不断击打地面，身体剧烈扭动挣扎，但没有办法甩开贾迪尔。 “说！”贾迪尔命令道，将山杰特的手臂顶得更高了。他感觉到这条手臂变得紧绷，心知它已经到了极限。 “我宁愿坠入奈的深渊！”山杰特叫道。 贾迪尔耸肩。“断掉的骨头会变得更加坚硬，好好去达玛丁那里享受享受吧。”他肩膀一顶，随即感受到对方骨头折断、肌肉撕裂。山杰特痛得大声嚎叫。 贾迪尔缓缓起身，环顾四周，在众人脸上寻找进一步挑衅的迹象。尽管有很多人瞪大眼睛看他，没有人打算帮躺在地上惨叫的山杰特报仇。 “让路！”卡维尔训练官吼道，推开围观人群。他看看山杰特，然后转向贾迪尔。“看来你还有点希望，小鬼。”他嘟哝一声。“回去排队，统统回去。”他叫道。“不然我们就把粥倒到粪坑里去！”男孩们立刻冲回自己的位置，但贾迪尔在混乱中朝阿邦招了下手，他的朋友立刻赶了过去。 “嘿！”排在身后的祖林叫道，但贾迪尔瞪了他一眼，他立刻识趣地向后退开，让出位置来。 卡维尔踢了山杰特一脚。“起来，老鼠！”他吼道。“你的脚没断，不要指望我会在你被比你矮小一倍的男孩打倒后把你抬去找达玛丁！”他抓起山杰特完好的手臂，一把拉他起身，拖着他朝医疗大帐走去。打饭队伍里的男孩对他发出阵阵嘘声。 “我不懂。”阿邦说。“他干吗不投降算了？” “因为他是个战士。”贾迪尔说。“面对阿拉盖的时候，你会投降吗？” 阿邦忍不住发抖。 "That's different." 贾迪尔摇头。“不，没什么区别。” 贾迪尔拆除绷带后不久，哈席克和其他一些年长的男孩就被转去大迷宫城墙上受训了。一年后，他们在大迷宫中换下了拜多布，存活下来的人，包括哈席克在内，常常会在训练场附近穿着新黑袍闲晃，跑去造访大后宫。就和所有戴尔沙鲁姆一样，在训练结束后尽可能与奈沙鲁姆划清界限。 对贾迪尔来说，时间过得很快，日子一天天无止境地飞逝。每天早上，他聆听达玛歌颂艾弗伦及卡吉部族的荣耀，学习其他克拉西亚部族的历史，得知他们比卡吉部族低等的原因，最主要的，为什么马甲部族会误解艾弗伦的真谛。达玛有时也会提起其他国度，以及北方那些懦弱的青恩，说他们抛弃长矛，过着卡菲特般的生活，在阿拉盖面前摇首乞怜。 贾迪尔永远不满足于他们在打饭队伍里面的位置，总是处心积虑地向前挑战，好让碗里的粥能够多上那么一点点。他瞄准排在前面的男孩，然后一个接一个把他们送去达玛丁的营帐，且总是带着阿邦随他一起前进。等到贾迪尔十一岁时，他们已经排到队伍最前面，后面跟着几个年纪更大的男孩，而且全部都刻意远离他们。 下午的时间就是接受战斗训练，或充当戴尔沙鲁姆撒网兵的目标跑给人抓。夜里，贾迪尔躺在卡吉沙拉吉冰冷的石板地上，拉长耳朵聆听外面阿拉盖沙拉克的声音，幻想有一天自己可以与其他男人并肩作战。 随着汉奴帕许的日程推进，有些男孩被达玛挑选出来接受特别训练，让他们踏上身披白袍的道路。他们会离开卡吉沙拉吉，从此销声匿迹。贾迪尔没有获得这项荣耀，但他毫不介意。他一点也不想把时间浪费在研读卷轴或是赞美艾弗伦上。他注定要踏上与长矛相伴的人生道路。 达玛对阿邦比较感兴趣，因为他识字，也会算数。但他父亲是卡菲特，令他们深感厌恶。尽管理论上而言，儿子不会继承父亲的耻辱。 “你还是当个战士好了。”达玛终于戳着阿邦厚实的胸膛，对他说道。阿邦的体型还是和从前一样巨大，但长期训练把他浑身脂肪练成坚硬的肌肉。的确，他已经成为令人望而生畏的战士，而在确定自己没有机会白袍加身后，他着实松了一大口气。 所有太虚弱或太迟钝的男孩会被赶出卡吉沙拉吉，成为卡菲特——被迫一辈子都穿着和小孩一样的褐色服饰。这是世上最凄惨的命运，不但令家族蒙羞，还失去了进入天堂的机会。其中有些怀抱战士之心的人会自愿担任诱饵兵，挑衅恶魔，把它们带入大迷宫中的陷阱。那会是短暂而惊险的一生，却为失去机会的人们提供赢得荣誉以及进入天堂的希望。 十二岁时，贾迪尔获准进入大迷宫实习。克伦训练官带领最年长、最强壮的奈沙鲁姆爬上伟大的魔印城墙——一堵三十英尺高的砂岩高墙，俯瞰下方曾是克拉西亚一整块城区的恶魔屠宰场，那时人口数远比现在多。场上到处都是古代遗留下来的小屋以及数十堵较为低矮的砂岩砌墙。这些墙有二十英尺高，墙面上刻有密密麻麻的魔印。有些墙很长，延伸向尽头处后转向，有些就只是一块大石板或墙角。这些墙形成了一座隐藏许多深洞的迷宫，专门用来囚禁阿拉盖，等待黎明的到来。 “你们脚下的城墙。”克伦说着大力踏步。“守护我们的女人和小孩，甚至守护卡菲特。”他对着墙边吐了一口口水。“不让阿拉盖染指他们。其他的墙，”他挥手指向大迷宫中横七竖八的墙，“作用在于把阿拉盖和我们困在一起。”他说话时拳头紧握，男孩们都感受到了他身上展现出来的无比骄傲。贾迪尔幻想着自己穿梭迷宫，手持长矛和盾牌，心潮澎拜；荣耀就在血迹斑斑的沙地上等待着他。 他们沿着城墙顶端行走，最后来到一座借助大转盘拉起来的木桥边。这座桥通往一堵迷宫内部的墙面，而所有墙面间都有拱门相连，或距离近得可以跳过。迷宫墙面宽度较窄，有些甚至不足一英尺。 “墙顶对于年长的战士非常危险，”克伦说。“除了侦察兵以外。”侦察兵是克雷瓦克部族以及南吉部族的戴尔沙鲁姆。他们是长梯兵，每个人都会背负一架二十英尺高的铁顶梯。梯子可以拉伸使用或折叠携带，而侦察兵必须像猴子一样肢体灵活，能在没有支撑的情况下站在梯顶查看战况。克雷瓦克侦察兵隶属卡吉部族掌管，南吉侦察兵则听从马甲部族号令。 “明年一整年，你们会协助克雷瓦克侦察兵训练。”克伦说。“追踪阿拉盖的行动，提醒大迷宫里的戴尔沙鲁姆，同时还要帮凯沙鲁姆传递命令。” 当天接下来的时间，他们都在墙上训练奔跑。“你们得熟悉这些高墙，就像熟悉你们的长矛一样！”克伦边跑边说。奈沙鲁姆身手矫健，动作敏捷，一边高声呼喊，一边在高墙之间奔走跳跃，或者矮身穿越小型拱桥。贾迪尔和阿邦觉得这项训练很刺激，相互开怀大笑地追逐较量。 阿邦有魁梧的身材，但平衡感不佳，结果在一座窄桥上失足坠墙。贾迪尔连忙伸手抓他，但来不及了。“奈抓走我了！”他在滑过贾迪尔手指时咒骂道，接着直坠而下。 阿邦落地前哀嚎一声，尽管距离二十英尺远，贾迪尔依然清晰地看到他的脚已摔断。 他身边想起一阵骆驼鸣叫般刺耳的笑声。贾迪尔转身看见祖林拍打着自己的膝盖，欢呼雀跃。 “阿邦不像猫，更像骆驼。”祖林叫道。 贾迪尔怒吼一声，紧握拳头，但在他起身前，克伦训练官赶来了。“你把训练当成笑话？”他问道。祖林还没回话，克伦已经抓起他的拜多布，将他抛下墙。他尖声惨叫，一路跌落二十英尺，最后重重坠地，动也不动地躺趴在地上。 训练官转身面对其他男孩。“阿拉盖沙拉克不是闹着玩的儿戏，”他吼道，“我宁愿你们全死在这里，也不要让你们在夜里去羞辱你们的兄弟。”男孩们当即后退，默默牢记训戒。 克伦转向贾迪尔。“快去通知卡维尔训练官，他会派人带他们去找达玛丁。” “我们直接去救他们比较快。”贾迪尔大胆说道，心知这短短几分钟就足以决定阿邦的命运。 “只有男人才能进入大迷宫，奈沙鲁姆。”克伦说。“快去，不然戴尔沙鲁姆就得要救三个小鬼上来。” 那天晚上吃完稀粥后，达玛丁前来找克伦训练官交谈，贾迪尔尽可能凑近些，试图偷听只言片语。 “祖林摔断几根骨头，大量内出血，但他会痊愈。”她说，语气听起来像在讨论沙子颜色那样无关痛痒。她的面纱遮掩了所有表情。“另一个，阿邦，脚骨多处断裂。他可以走路，但或许不能跑步了。” “他还能作战吗？”克伦问。 “暂时不好说。”达玛丁说。 “如果不能作战，你应该现在就杀了他。”克伦说。“死亡总比当卡菲特好。” 达玛丁对他伸出一根手指，训练官当即后退。“达玛丁营帐的事轮不到你来发号施令，戴尔沙鲁姆。”她厉声道。 训练官立刻像是祷告一样十指交扣，深深鞠躬，下巴差点碰到地上。 “我乞求达玛丁的宽恕，”他诺诺到，“我没有不敬的意思。” 达玛丁点头。“你当然没有。你是戴尔沙鲁姆训练官，死后将会坐在艾弗伦最光荣的仆人之间，为自己的一生增添荣誉。” “达玛丁的话令我深感荣幸。”克伦说。 “尽管如此，”达玛丁说，“我还是得提醒你注意自己的言行。请凯维特达玛惩罚你，以阿拉盖之尾鞭打二十下就够了。” 贾迪尔倒抽一口凉气。阿拉盖之尾是最厉害的鞭子——三条四英尺长的皮鞭绑在一起，整条鞭身上都挂满金属倒钩。 “达玛丁宽宏大量。”克伦说，依然维持鞠躬的姿势。贾迪尔趁被两人发现前溜开了。 “你不该来这里。”阿邦在贾迪尔矮身溜入达玛丁大帐时低声说道。“要是被抓到你就死定了！” “我只是想要确定你安然无恙。”贾迪尔说。这是实话，不过他的双眼还是仔细扫视营帐，他心知自己不该期望还能再看见英内薇拉。自从手背打断那次后，贾迪尔就再也没有看见她了，但他一直无法忘记她美丽的容颜。 阿邦看着自己紧紧包覆在坚硬绷带中的双脚。“我不知道还有没有机会好起来，我的朋友。” “胡说，”贾迪尔说，“断掉的骨头会更加坚硬，你不久就会回到城墙上。” “或许吧。”阿邦叹气道。 贾迪尔轻咬下唇。“我让你失望了。我承诺会在你跌倒时扶住你，我曾对艾弗伦的光明起誓。” 阿邦握起贾迪尔的手掌。“你愿意接住我，我毫不怀疑。我也看见你跳过来抓我，但掉下去不是你的错，我认为你已经兑现了承诺。” 贾迪尔的眼眶中泛起泪光。“我不会再让你失望。”他承诺道。 就在此时，一名达玛丁走进他们的隔间，自大帐深处无声无息地飘来。她看向他们，与贾迪尔的目光迎了个正着。他的心脏停止跳动，脸上血色尽失。他们相互凝视那一会儿——时间仿佛已停止。他完全看不出达玛丁不透明的白色面纱下的表情。 最后，她朝出口的门帘扬起下巴。贾迪尔点头，几乎不敢相信自己的好运。他捏了捏阿邦的手掌，随即矮身离开营帐。 “在城墙上，你们也许会遇到风恶魔，但不准轻举妄动。”克伦说，在奈沙鲁姆面前来回踱步。“尽管你们为所服侍的戴尔沙鲁姆工作。但了解你们的敌人很重要。” 贾迪尔仔细听着，坐在队伍最前方的老位子上，不过他总会想到阿邦不在自己身边的事实。贾迪尔是和三个妹妹一起长大的，并在进入卡吉沙拉吉的第一天就与阿邦结交。孤独对他而言是种很陌生的感觉。 “达玛告诉我们，风恶魔居住在奈的深渊里的第四层。”克伦对男孩们说道，举起长矛指向画在砂岩墙壁上的风恶魔画像。 “有些人，比如马甲部族中有些蠢材，因为风恶魔缺乏沙恶魔的沉重外壳而低估它们，”他说，“但不要上当了。风恶魔远离艾弗伦的目光，比沙恶魔更邪恶。它的表皮厚得足以撞弯男人的矛头，飞行的速度也快到人类无法击中。它修长的利爪，”他用矛头标示出恶魔终极的武器。“能在人类察觉前拧走对方的脑袋，而其鸟喙般的下颚能够将人脸撕裂。” 他转向男孩们。“那么，它的弱点在哪里呢？” 贾迪尔立刻举手。训练官对他点头。 “翅膀。”贾迪尔说。 “正确。”克伦说。“虽然和皮肤的材质一样，但风恶魔的翅膀在软骨和骨头间延展太稀薄。强壮的男人可以用长矛刺穿它的翅膀，并且趁它坠落地上时用锋利的刀刃将其斩首。还有什么弱点？” 这一次，贾迪尔又抢先举手。训练官的目光扫向其他男孩，但都没有人举手。贾迪尔是这些人里面年纪最轻的——最大的男孩甚至比他大上两岁，但所有人都不敢跟他争，就跟排队打饭一样。 “它们在地上的时候动作笨拙缓慢。”贾迪尔在克伦对他点头时说道。 “正确。”克伦说。“如果被迫落地，风恶魔需要一段距离助跑或攀爬到高处才能再次起飞。大迷宫中狭窄的空间就是特别为了对付它们而设计的。城墙上的戴尔沙鲁姆会找机会网住它们或是投掷流星锤缠住它们。你们的责任就是要对迷宫中的战士回报风恶魔的位置。” 贾迪尔举手…… 三个月后，阿邦和祖林再度回到奈沙鲁姆的行列。阿邦一拐一拐地走回训练场，贾迪尔皱紧眉头看着他。 “你的脚还痛吗？”他问。 Abang nodded. “我的骨头或许更坚硬了。”他说。 “但没有变得更直。” “现在还早。”贾迪尔说。“它们迟早会复原的。” “英内薇拉。”阿邦说。“谁能看出艾弗伦的旨意呢？” “你准备争夺打饭队伍的位置了吗？”贾迪尔问，朝粥锅后方的训练官点点头。 阿邦脸色发白。“还没有，拜托。”他说。“要是脚滑一下，我就会永远变成其他人的目标了。” 贾迪尔皱眉，但他点头。“不要撑太久。”他说。“不采取行动一样会成为他人的目标。”他们一边说话，一边走向队伍前方，其他男孩就像遇上猫的老鼠一样让路给贾迪尔，任由他们享用第一碗稀粥。有些人一脸怨气地瞪向阿邦，但没有人胆敢说话。 祖林就没那么好运气了，而贾迪尔只是冷冷地看着他，依然记得这个年长的男孩在阿邦坠墙时发出的笑声。祖林走路有点僵硬，但比起阿邦一拐一拐的要好多了。打饭队伍里的男孩瞪视着他，但祖林还是迈开大步，来到山杰特后方的老位置前。 “这个位置有人了，瘸子。”另一个服从贾迪尔命令的奈沙鲁姆伊森说道。“滚到队伍后面去！”伊森是个高个子战士，贾迪尔兴致勃勃地欣赏这场即将上演的大战。 祖林微笑着，伸出双手，好似讨饶，但贾迪尔看着他双脚摆开的站姿，并没有因此上当。祖林一扑而上，抓起伊森，将其压倒。打斗转眼间就已经结束，祖林又回到他原先的位置。贾迪尔点头。祖林是个不折不扣的战士。他看向阿邦，只见他已经吃光碗里的稀粥，一点也不关心眼前