后事 Aftermath

作者：Anthony Reynolds

第一缕曙光洒向雄都的顶梁和屋檐，把苍白的石面染成金色。空气凝滞，在雄都东侧的高台花园中，能听到的声音只有空中鸟儿轻柔的悲鸣，还有下方城区渐渐苏醒时的呢喃。

The first rays of dawn brushed the rooftops of the Great City, turning pale stone to gold. The air was still, and the only sounds filtering up to the high garden terraces on the east side of the citadel were the gentle chorus of morning birds and the hushed murmur of the waking city below.

赵信盘腿坐在一方石台上，双膝架起一杆长枪，双手落在枪杆上。他凝望着下方一层层的花园阶梯、远处的城墙垛口以及更远处的德玛西亚雄都全境。看着太阳在他的第二故乡升起，往往能够给赵信带来安宁……然而今天却没有。

Xin Zhao sat cross-legged upon a stone dais, hands resting upon his spear, laid across his lap. He stared down across the lower garden tiers, over the battlements and out across Demacia’s capital beyond. Watching the sun rise over his adopted homeland normally brought him peace… but not today.

他的披风沾着焦黑和血渍，铠甲上也满是凹陷和划痕。几缕发丝溜出了头顶的发髻，挂在他脸前，钢铁般的灰丝已不再有年轻时的乌黑光泽。换做平日，他应该已经梳洗整理，除去血、汗和火焰的气味。他应该已经把盔甲送去铁匠铺修理，再换一件新披风。仪容为礼，毕竟他的身份是德玛西亚总管。

His cloak was charred and splattered with blood, and his armor dented and scratched. Strands of his iron-gray-streaked hair—no longer the full inky black of his youth—hung wild over his face, having escaped his topknot. Under normal circumstances he would have already bathed, washing away the sweat, blood, and stink of fire. He would have sent his armor to the battlesmiths for repair, and secured himself a new cloak. Appearances mattered, particularly as the seneschal of Demacia.

但今天并不是平日。

But these were far from normal circumstances.

国王驾崩了。

The king was dead.

他是赵信平生见过最值得尊敬的人，他对国王的景仰和爱戴胜过其他任何人。他曾发誓要保护他……然而赵信却没有出现在最紧要的关头。

He was the most honorable man Xin Zhao had ever met, and he loved and respected him above all others. He was oath-sworn to protect him… and yet Xin Zhao had not been there when he was needed most.

他痛苦地深吸一口气。沮丧几乎要将他压垮。

He took a deep, wracking breath. The weight of his failure threatened to crush him.

前一天的法师起义让整座城市措手不及。赵信一路奔回宫殿，途中多处受伤，但他麻木不觉。几个小时里，他始终坐在那儿，独自一人，让石头的寒意钻进骨缝里，让悲伤、耻辱和罪恶如裹尸布般盖住全身。那些在袭击中幸存的宫殿卫兵没有打扰他的惨怆。他们封闭了阶梯花园，让他可以在静坐中度过黑暗的时刻。赵信对这小小的仁慈充满感激。他不知道该如何面对他们眼神中的怨怒。

The mage uprising the day before had taken the whole city by surprise. Xin Zhao had been wounded in the running battles as he fought to make his way back to the palace, but he felt nothing. For hours, he’d sat here, alone, letting the cold of the stone seep into his bones as the shroud of grief and shame and guilt descended upon him. The palace guards—those that hadn’t been killed in the attack—had left him to his misery, keeping clear of the tiered garden where he sat in silence through the hours of darkness. Xin Zhao was grateful for that small mercy. He didn’t know if he could cope with the accusation in their eyes.

终于，阳光照到了他，就像审判之光一样。炫目的光线迫使他半闭起了双眼。

The sun reached him, finally, like the light of judgment, forcing him to squint against its glare.

他长长叹了口气，咬紧牙关。他拄着膝盖站起身，最后扫了一眼这座他深爱的城市，以及这座带给他慰藉的花园。然后他转过身，返回王宫。

He sighed deeply, steeling himself. He pushed himself to his feet, and took one final glance across the city he loved, and the garden that had always before brought him solace. Then he turned, and walked back toward the palace.

许多年前，他曾许下过诺言。现在他打算将其兑现。

Many years ago, he had made a promise. Now he intended to keep it.

Lifeless and hollow, Xin Zhao felt like a wraith haunting the location of its demise. Death would have been preferable. Falling while protecting his lord would at least have been honorable.

He drifted along corridors of the palace that seemed suddenly cold and lifeless. The servants he saw did not speak, shuffling along in shocked silence, their eyes wide. The guards he passed wore mournful expressions. They saluted, but he looked down. He did not deserve their acknowledgment.

有气无力、失魂落魄，赵信觉得自己像不散的阴魂，游荡在最终亡故的地方。他宁愿自己已经战死。为了救驾而死至少可以死的有尊严。

Finally he stood before a closed door. He reached out to knock, but paused. Did his hand tremble? Cursing his weakness, he rapped sharply on the solid oak, then stood to attention, planting the butt of his spear sharply to the floor. The sound echoed along the corridor. For a long, drawn-out moment, he remained motionless, staring at the door, waiting for it to open.

他沿着宫殿的回廊漂游，一切都突然变得冰冷死寂。仆人们遇见他都一言不发，在可怖的缄默中碎步走过。站岗的卫兵们脸上带着哀伤的神情。他们行了军礼，但他却低下了头。他不配接受礼遇。

A pair of patrolling palace guards turned a corner and marched past him, armor clanking. Shame kept him from looking at them. Still, the door remained shut.

最后，赵信来到一扇紧闭的门前。他伸出手想要敲门，却停住了。他的手在发抖吗？他心底咒骂着自己的软弱，在橡木门板上急敲了几下，然后立正站好，将枪杆的末端杵在地面上。经过了漫长、静止的片刻后，他依然一动不动，直视着面前的门，等它打开。

“I believe High Marshal Crownguard is in the North Ward, my lord seneschal,” said one of the guards. “Overseeing increased security.”

两名在宫殿中巡逻的卫兵出现在转角，经过他身旁，发出盔甲碰撞的声音。耻辱之心让他不愿正视他们。那扇门依然紧闭着。

Xin Zhao sighed inwardly, but gritted his teeth and nodded his thanks to the guard.

“我记得冕卫元帅去了北院，总管大人，”其中一名卫兵说道，“正在指导增加布防。”

“My lord…” said the other guard. “No one blames you for—”

赵信在心里叹了口气，但嘴上只是咬紧了牙，向那名卫兵点头致谢。

“Thank you, soldier,” Xin Zhao said, cutting him off. He didn’t want their pity. The pair saluted, and moved on their way.

“大人……”另一名卫兵说，“无人责怪您的——”

Xin Zhao turned and marched down the corridor in the direction the guards had come, toward the northern wing of the palace. It was no reprieve that the High Marshal, Tianna Crownguard, was not in her office. It merely drew out this matter.

“谢谢你，士兵。”赵信打断了他。他并不需要他们同情。两名卫兵一齐敬礼，然后继续巡逻。

He walked through a hall hung with pennants and banners, pausing briefly beneath one of them—a standard depicting the white-winged sword of Demacia on a field of blue. It had been woven by the king’s late mother and her handmaidens, and even though almost a third of it had been destroyed by fire, it was a work of astounding beauty and artistry. It had fallen at the battle of Saltspike Hill, but King Jarvan himself had led the charge to reclaim it, Xin Zhao at his side. They’d cut their way through hundreds of fur-clad Freljordian berserkers to reach it, and Xin Zhao had been the one to lift it high, even as flames licked at its embroidery. The sight of the reclaimed standard had turned the tide that day, rallying the Demacians, and securing an unlikely victory. Jarvan had refused to allow it to be repaired on its safe return to the palace. He wanted all who looked upon it to remember its history.

赵信转过身，朝着那两个卫兵来的方向，沿着回廊走向宫殿的北翼。缇亚娜·冕卫元帅虽然不在办公室，但这绝不是缓期和赦免，只是将煎熬拖得更久。

Xin Zhao passed a small room, a remote library in a little-used corner of the palace that was one of the king’s favorite places to spend his evenings. It was his place of escape, where he could get away from the fussing of servants and nobles. Xin Zhao had spent many long nights here with the king, sipping fortified honey-wine, and discussing the finer points of strategy, politics, and the now-distant memories of their youth.

他穿过一个悬挂着军旗和条幅的大厅，驻足在其中一面旗帜下方——蓝色的底面上绣着德玛西亚的白翼利剑。这面旗是太后生前和她的贴身女仆一起亲手缝制的，虽然有三分之一都被烧毁了，但依然是一件工艺精湛、壮美绝伦的作品。它曾在盐尖山之战中陷落，但嘉文国王御驾亲征，为了夺回这面旗带头冲锋，那时赵信就在他身边。他们突破了上百名身着皮毛护甲的弗雷尔卓德狂战士，才重新抢回旗帜，然后赵信成为了那个扛起大旗的人——即便火舌舔去了它的镶边，这面旗也依然迎风飘扬。那副景象扭转了当天的战局，让德玛西亚士兵重整旗鼓，拿下了一场奇迹般的胜利。在平安凯旋以后，嘉文拒绝修复这面旗帜。他希望所有看到它的人都不会忘记它所代表的历史。

赵信经过了一个小房间。这里位于冷僻的王宫角落，是一间幽静的图书馆。国王曾经很喜欢在这里度过晚间的时光，远离仆人和贵族们的叨扰。赵信曾陪国王在此度过许多个漫长的夜晚，共品浓烈的蜜酒，讨论战略和政治上的分寸毫厘，追忆早已远去的年青岁月。

公共场合下的嘉文总是不苟言笑，老成持重。然而在这里，在他的心灵港湾中——尤其当酒杯见底、天色渐明的时候——他会笑到泪流不止，还会激情昂扬地讲述自己的愿望和寄托给儿子的梦想。

Jarvan was ever the stoic, stern leader in public, yet here, in this inner sanctum—particularly in the early hours, when they were deep in their cups—he would laugh until tears ran down his face, and speak with passion about his hopes and dreams for his son.

又一阵痛苦碾过赵信。他意识到自己再也听不到老朋友的笑声了。

Fresh pain wracked Xin Zhao as he realized he’d never hear his friend laugh again.

恍惚之间，赵信发现自己走到了训练厅的门口。过去二十年间，他恐怕在那里度过了绝大部分的时间。那里才是真正的家，才是令他感到安然的处所。他曾与国王在切磋中度过不知多少时间。也是在那里，国王喜悦地看到皇子将赵信接纳为家人。赵信在那里教授皇子剑术、枪术和矛术；在那里为摔倒的他拭干眼泪，扶他起身；在那里与他分享欢笑，庆功助威。

Without having noticed it, Xin Zhao found himself passing by the halls of training. He’d probably spent more hours there over the last twenty years than anywhere else. That was his real home, where he felt most himself. There, he’d spent untold hours training and sparring with the king. That was where, to the king’s amusement and delight, his son had adopted Xin Zhao into the family. Where Xin Zhao had taught the young prince to fight with sword, spear, and lance; where he’d consoled him, wiping away his tears and helping him back to his feet when he fell; where he’d laughed with him, and cheered his successes.

想到皇子的那一瞬，就像被刀插进了肚子。赵信失去的是人生的挚友，而年轻的嘉文失去的却是父亲。他出生的时候母亲就因难产而死，如今的他已成孤身一人。

Thought of the prince struck him like a blade to the gut. Xin Zhao might have lost his dearest friend the previous day, but young Jarvan had lost his father. He’d already lost his mother in childbirth. He was now alone.

赵信感到如鲠在喉，他正要继续动身，却有一个熟悉的声响让他驻足：一柄没有开刃的剑砍在了木桩上。有人正在训练。赵信皱起了眉。

With a heavy heart, Xin Zhao made to walk on, but a familiar sound gave him pause: a blunted blade slamming against wood. Someone was training. Xin Zhao’s brow furrowed.

随着他缓缓走进厚重的大门，一种烦闷欲呕的感觉涌上心口。

A sickening feeling grew in the pit of his stomach as he slipped through the heavy doors leading within.

一开始他并看不清是谁在里面。房间内环绕的拱廊和立柱似乎在故意遮挡那个人。剑刃击打的声音在他耳边洪亮地回荡着。

At first he couldn’t see who was there. The arches and pillars around the edge of the vaulted room conspired to keep them obscured. The sound of sword strikes echoed loudly around him.

绕过一根根立柱以后，他终于看到是皇子正在举着训练用的重铁剑对着木头假人挥砍。他汗流浃背，气喘吁吁。他的表情诉说着痛苦，招式狂放不定。

Rounding a cluster of pillars, he at last saw the prince hacking at a wooden practice dummy with a heavy iron training sword. He was covered in a sheen of sweat, and his chest was heaving with exertion. His expression was one of anguish, and he attacked wildly.

赵信在黑影中站定。年轻皇子的这副样子令他触目神伤。他很想走到他身边，安慰他，助他度过这艰难的时刻，因为皇子和他的父亲对赵信来说胜似家人。可是，皇子又怎么会愿意在这里看到他呢？他是国王的御前侍卫，然而现在他还活着，国王却死了。

Xin Zhao paused in the shadows, heart aching to see the young prince so raw and hurt. He desperately wanted to go to him, to console him, and help him through this awful time, for the prince and his father were the closest Xin Zhao had ever had to family. But why would the prince want him here? He was the king’s bodyguard, and yet he lived while the king lay dead.

这种迟疑令赵信很不习惯，也让他很不舒服。即使是在诺克萨斯的绞肉机角斗场里，他也从未有过任何犹豫不决。他摇摇头，转身打算离开。

Hesitancy was not familiar to Xin Zhao, nor a feeling he was comfortable with. Not even in the Fleshing pits of Noxus had he ever second-guessed himself. Shaking his head, he turned to leave.

“叔父？”

“Uncle?”

赵信咒骂自己的愚蠢，为何刚才不立刻离开。

Xin Zhao cursed himself a fool for not having left immediately.

他们当然不是血亲，不过早在二十年前，从赵信开始为国王效命后不久，皇子就开始称呼他“叔父”了。嘉文当时只是个孩子，也没人纠正他。一开始，国王只是觉得很有趣，但经年累月，赵信与皇家的关系已经和血亲一样近，他也将国王的儿子视如己出。

They were not blood relatives, of course, but the prince had started calling him uncle soon after Xin Zhao had come into the king’s service, twenty years earlier. Jarvan had been just a boy, and no one had corrected him. The king had been amused by it, at first, but over the years Xin Zhao had become as close as blood kin to the royal family, and he had watched over the king’s son as if he had been his own.

他慢慢转过身。嘉文已不再是孩子，他已经长得比赵信还高了。他的眼眶带红，眼圈发青。赵信意识到自己并不是唯一一个无法入睡的人。

He turned slowly. Jarvan was a boy no longer, standing taller than Xin Zhao. His eyes were red-rimmed, and surrounded by dark rings. Xin Zhao guessed he was not the only one to have had no sleep.

“皇子殿下。”他单膝跪地，深深低下头。

“My prince,” he said, dropping to one knee and bowing his head low.

嘉文什么都没说。他只是站在那里，俯视着赵信，喘着粗气。

Jarvan didn’t say anything. He just stood there, looking down at Xin Zhao, breathing hard.

“对不起。”赵信依然低着头。

“My apologies,” said Xin Zhao, his head still lowered.

“是因为打扰了我，还是因为没有及时护驾？”

“For interrupting, or for not being there to protect my father when he was murdered?”

赵信微微抬头看去。嘉文正对他怒目而视，手里还提着训练用的重剑。他不知如何回答，不知如何说清自己的感受。

Xin Zhao glanced up. Jarvan glowered down at him, heavy training sword still in hand. He had no good way to answer, to say all that he felt.

“我辜负了他，”他最后开口说道，“也辜负了你。”

“I failed him,” he said at last. “And I failed you.”

嘉文在原地多站了片刻，然后转身走向房间墙边的武器架。

Jarvan stood for a moment longer before turning and striding to one of the many weapon racks arranged around the room.

“平身。”嘉文命令道。

“Rise,” Jarvan ordered.

赵信起身的同时，皇子向他扔去一把剑。他下意识地用左手接住，右手依然握着自己的长枪。扔来的是另一把训练用剑，加了重量，磨平了刃。然后嘉文凶猛地挥起重剑，向他扑来。

As Xin Zhao did, the prince threw him a sword. He caught it reflexively in his off-hand, still holding his spear in his right. It was another training blade, heavy and blunted. Then Jarvan was coming at him, swinging hard.

赵信向后跳开，躲过这一击。

Xin Zhao jumped backward, avoiding the blow.

“殿下，我觉得这不太——”他刚一开口，就被再次冲过来的嘉文打断。剑锋直冲胸口刺来。赵信用枪杆拨开，后退了一步。

“My lord, I don’t think this is—” he began, but his words were cut off as Jarvan lunged at him again, thrusting his sword at his chest. Xin Zhao batted it aside with the haft of his spear, and stepped back.

“皇子殿下——”他说着，但嘉文再次出手，比刚才更加不留情面。

“My prince—” he said, but again Jarvan attacked, more furiously than before.

这一次是两记连续的攻击，一高一低。虽然嘉文拿的是训练用剑，一旦命中也足以断骨碎石。赵信不得不招架。他先是用侧步和枪杆挡开第一击，然后用剑接下第二击。钢铁相撞的震感沿着他的手臂传了上来。

Two strikes came at him this time, one high, one low. Jarvan may have been using a training blade, but if those blows struck, they would break bone. Xin Zhao was forced to defend himself, deflecting the first with a side-step and an angled spear, the second with the blade of his own sword. The impact rang up his arm.

“你去哪了？”嘉文大吼着，绕着他踱步。

“Where were you?” snarled Jarvan, pacing around him.

赵信垂下武器。“您非得这样不可吗？”他低低地说。

Xin Zhao lowered his weapons. “Is this how you want to do this?” he said, in a quiet voice.

“是。”嘉文怒火中烧，手中握紧了剑。

“Yes,” said Jarvan, his anger simmering, his sword held in a deathgrip.

赵信叹了口气。“请稍等。”说着，他走到旁边将自己的长枪放到一个武器架上。嘉文等着他，握剑的手松开又扣紧。

Xin Zhao sighed. “A moment,” he said, and moved to put his spear on a rack. Jarvan waited for him, hand clenching and unclenching on the hilt of his sword.

赵信刚一回到房间中间，嘉文立刻就出手了。他快步冲过来，发出用力的低吼。他的攻击毫无章法，但愤怒给了他力量。赵信借力用力，架开了每一次攻击，他不想直接以硬碰硬。

As soon as Xin Zhao returned to the center of the room, Jarvan attacked. He came in a rush, grunting with effort. There was little finesse to the strikes, but fury lent him strength. Xin Zhao turned those blows aside, using Jarvan’s power against him, not wishing to meet the heavy blows directly.

换做是其他任何时候，他都会毫不留情地斥责皇子的狼狈不堪——他只想着进攻，结果让自己门户大开、破绽百出。但赵信不会打扰皇子的情绪，他有足够的理由宣泄愤怒。他也不会趁人之危，攻击皇子的破绽。如果皇子非得狠狠打他一顿不可，那就让他打个痛快吧。

At any other time he would have berated the prince for his poor form—he was thinking only of attack, and leaving himself open for ripostes and counter-strikes—but Xin Zhao would not interrupt the prince’s justified anger. Nor would he take advantage of the gaps in his defense. If the prince needed to beat him bloody, then so be it.

“你——去哪——了？”嘉文在挥砍的间歇问道。

“Where—were—you?” Jarvan said between strikes.

“I should have done this long ago,” the king said, not looking up from his desk, where he sat penning a letter.

“我早就该这么做了，”国王头也不抬地说道。他正坐在桌前写信。羽毛笔每一次下落，都是震怒之下的戳刺。他的笔触宛如激烈的炮火。很少能看到国王的情绪如此外露。Every dip of the quill was an irate stab, and he wrote in fast, furious bursts.“陛下？”赵信说。It was rare to see to see the king’s emotions so close to the surface.“我们对自己恐惧的事物过于固执，”国王依然没有抬头，但暂且停下了愤怒的疾书。“我们太傻了。我太傻了。为了保护自己，我们亲手创造出了自己最怕的敌人。”“My lord?” Xin Zhao said.

“We have been so fixated on that which we fear,” the king said, still not looking up, though he did pause from his angry scratching for a moment. “We’ve been fools. I’ve been a fool. In trying to protect ourselves, we’ve created the very enemy we sought to protect ourselves from.”

Xin Zhao blocked a heavy blow aimed at his neck. The force of the strike drove him back a step.

一记直指颈项的重击被赵信格挡住。强大的力道让他后撤一步。

“You have nothing to say?” demanded Jarvan.

“你无话可说吗？”嘉文以命令的口吻问道。

“I should have been with your father,” he answered.

“我本应与您父王在一起。”他答道。

“That is no answer,” snarled Jarvan. He turned away abruptly, tossing his sword aside with a sharp, echoing clang. For a moment, Xin Zhao hoped the prince was done, but then he retrieved a different weapon from its place upon one of the racks.

“你没有回答问题。”嘉文吼道。他突然转过身，当啷一声，把剑甩到一旁。有那么一瞬，赵信希望皇子就此作罢，但随后皇子从武器架上取下了另一件武器。

Drakebane.

扳龙枪。

Now the prince leveled the lance toward him, his expression hard and unflinching.

皇子举起长枪对准了赵信，表情坚毅、寸步不让。

“Get your spear,” he said.

“取你的枪。”他说。

“You are not armored,” protested Xin Zhao.

“可您没穿护甲。”赵信反驳道。

Training weapons could easily break limbs, but the slightest mistimed parry with a combat blade could be lethal.

训练用的武器很容易打断骨头，而实战用的武器稍有不慎就是一条人命。

“I don’t care,” Jarvan said.

“我不在乎。”嘉文说。

Xin Zhao bowed his head. He bent to retrieve Jarvan’s discarded training sword, and placed it carefully upon a rack, along with his own. Reluctantly, his heart heavy, he retrieved his spear and moved back out into the open area in the center of the hall.

赵信低下头。他弯腰拾起了嘉文扔在地上的训练用剑，小心地将它放到武器架上，又放好了自己的剑。他怀着沉重的心情，不情愿地取回了自己的枪，然后回到开阔的大厅中央。

Without a word, Jarvan attacked.

一句话都没多说，嘉文攻了上来。

“I’m not sure I follow, my lord,” said Xin Zhao.

The king paused, looking up for the first time since Xin Zhao’s arrival. In that moment he looked suddenly old. His forehead was deeply lined, and his hair and beard had long since gone to gray. Neither of them were young men anymore.

“I blame myself,” said King Jarvan. His eyes were unfocused, staring off into empty space. “I let them have too much power. It never sat right with me, but their arguments were convincing, and they had the backing of the council. I see now I was wrong to have ignored my own judgment. With this letter, I am commanding the mageseekers to halt their arrests.”

“恕我愚钝，陛下。”赵信说。

国王停下了笔。从赵信进门开始，这是他第一次抬起头。那一刻，他看上去突然苍老了许多。额头布满沟壑，须发早已灰白。他们两人都不再年轻。With a deft flick, Jarvan extended Drakebane toward Xin Zhao. The legendary weapon’s haft almost doubled in length, its lethal blades slicing blindingly fast toward Xin Zhao’s neck.

“我很自责，”嘉文国王说道。他双眼飘向空荡的远方。“我放给他们的权力太多了。这件事我始终心存疑虑，但他们据理力争，而且也有议会的支持。现在，我看到了自己的错误，是我失察。我要下谕，命令搜魔人暂停搜捕。”

The seneschal swayed aside, deflecting the deadly strike with a circular turn of his spear, careful the blades did not hook his own weapon.

Even in the brutal contests of the Fleshing, Xin Zhao had never seen a weapon like Drakebane. In truth, the secret of how to fight with it had been lost in the reign of the first kings of Demacia, and in unskilled hands it was as deadly to its wielder as to the enemy. As such, for centuries it had been little more than ceremonial, an icon of the ruling family. However, when the prince was still just a boy, he had dreamed of fighting with it, like the heroes of old he idolized, and so Xin Zhao had promised to teach him when he was ready.

Jarvan leapt forward, bringing the lance down in a scything blow. Xin Zhao turned it aside, but the prince followed up instantly with a spinning strike that missed him by scant inches, the bladed tip slicing by his throat. Jarvan was not holding back.

Before Xin Zhao could teach the young prince how to wield the weapon, however, he had to master it himself. With the king’s approval, he began training to learn its secrets. Surprisingly light in the hand and perfectly balanced, it was a sublime weapon, created by a master at the peak of his abilities.

嘉文轻巧发力，扳龙枪冲着赵信蹿来。这把神兵的握柄伸长了近乎一倍，毕露的锋芒撕开空气，直奔赵信的喉头。

Forged in Demacia’s infancy by the renowned weaponsmith Orlon, the lance was a revered icon of Demacia, as much a symbol of its greatness as its towering white walls or the crown of the king. Wrought to defeat the great frostdrake Maelstrom and her progeny who had plagued the early settlers of Demacia in ages past, it had long been a symbol of the royal line.

德邦总管闪身一避，抡起长枪架开了致命一击，同时小心地避免让锯齿状的锋刃勾住自己的武器。

For years, Xin Zhao had practiced with the lance every day before dawn. Only when he felt he understood it well enough had he begun to teach the teenage prince how to wield it.

即便是在残酷的激烈战场中，赵信也从未见过扳龙枪这样的武器。事实上，使用这柄神兵作战的秘密技法早在德玛西亚初王时代就已失传。在未经历练的人手中，自戕的危险并不亚于对敌。所以，几百年来，这柄长枪只是在庆典中作为礼器使用，用于作为执政家族的信物。然而，就在皇子还是个孩子的时候，他就已经开始梦想着用它战斗，就像他所崇拜的那些古代英雄那样。于是赵信向他许诺，等时机成熟，就会教他如何使用扳龙枪。

Jarvan grunted with effort, lunging at Xin Zhao. The seneschal thought only of defense, stepping neatly away and always aware of his surroundings. His spear was a blur before him, knocking the lance from its intended course each time it came at him.

嘉文向前飞跃，长枪像镰刀一样劈下来。赵信将之扫到一边，但皇子立刻追击一记旋转突刺。枪尖距赵信不过数寸，锋刃的边缘堪堪擦过他的脖颈。嘉文并没有手下留情。

Young Jarvan had already been learning the uses of sword and spear and fist—as well as the more cerebral arts of military history and rhetoric—it was on his sixteenth birthday that he was finally presented with Drakebane by his father. He trained hard, sustaining countless self-inflicted injuries along the way to mastery, but he eventually fought with the weapon as if it were an extension of himself.

赵信要想教皇子如何使用那柄神兵，但他自己必须首先能够驾驭。经过国王的首肯，他开始练习并掌握它的秘密。这把枪握在手中异常轻盈，而且平衡完美，是一件卓越的武器，代表了一位匠师的巅峰技巧。

Jarvan pressed Xin Zhao hard, striking furiously. He gave the seneschal no respite, each attack blending seamlessly into the next. A foiled lunge became an upward, sweeping slash, which in turn came around in a pair of scything arcs, first in a low, disemboweling cut, then back across the throat. All were avoided by Xin Zhao, his body swaying from side to side, and his spear flashing to turn each strike aside.

当德玛西亚远在襁褓之时，著名的工匠奥伦打造了这杆枪。它是德玛西亚尊贵的标志，地位不逊于王国边境的高耸白墙或者国王头顶的王冠。它之所以被锻造出来是为了击败一头巨大的冰霜亚龙“寒涡”和她的子嗣，让德玛西亚古早时期的定居者们免受其害。自那以后，它一直都是皇族血脉的象征。

Nevertheless, while Jarvan had long been Xin Zhao’s student, the prince was younger and stronger, and his tall frame gave him a greater reach. No longer was he an awkward aspirant; he’d been hardened by battle and training, and Jarvan’s skill with Drakebane now easily outstripped his own. Jarvan harried him mercilessly, forcing him to retreat with every step.

多年间，赵信每天都在拂晓以前练习使用这杆枪。当他感觉自己已经对其具备充分的理解后，才开始教授年少的皇子如何操持这把武器。

It took all of Xin Zhao’s considerable skill to remain unscathed… but it could not last.

嘉文低吼一声，发力向赵信扑来。但他一心守势，干净利落地让到一边，时刻都把握着对周遭的距离感。赵信的长枪在面前留下一道道残影，每次都能将刺向自己的武器挑开。

年少时的嘉文一直都在学习如何使用刀剑、枪戟和拳脚——同时也在学习军事历史和修辞学，没有放下智识方面的锻炼。在他十六岁生日那天，国王终于将扳龙枪当做礼物送给了他。随后他刻苦训练，无数次伤了自己，但最后他终于能够娴熟操控，扳龙枪在他手中如臂使指。

The king looked down, reading over his letter. He let out an audible sigh.

嘉文对赵信步步紧逼，每一次攻击都带着愤怒。他招招相扣，不给赵信留下任何间隙。突刺一被弹开就立刻变成上挑，紧接着两下横扫，先切腰腹，再抹咽喉。但赵信闪转腾挪，枪如铁壁，将所有招数都一一化解。“Had I the courage to do this earlier, perhaps this day’s disaster could have been averted,” he said.虽然嘉文一直以来都是赵信的学生，但皇子年轻体壮，高大的身躯让他的攻击距离更远。他已不再是那个空有抱负的笨小孩，而是历经战斗淬炼的勇士。嘉文操持扳龙枪的技艺如今已能轻易胜过赵信。嘉文无情地进击，迫使他步步败退。He signed the letter, before dripping heated royal blue wax next to his name and stamping his personal seal into it.赵信使尽了浑身解数才能勉力自保……但他无法坚持太久。国王低下头，读了一遍自己的信。他发出一声痛苦的叹息。“若我早有胆魄，或许今日的灾难尚可避免。”他说。他在信上签下名字，然后在旁边滴上融化的皇家兰蜡，盖上了自己的印鉴。他对着印鉴吹了口气，然后提起信纸，轻轻摇晃，让火蜡尽快冷却。 He blew on it, then held the letter up, shaking it lightly in the air to aid its cooling.蜡印凝定，国王将手谕卷好，塞进了一个白色硬皮筒中，封紧了盖子。Satisfied the wax was dry, the king rolled the letter before sliding it into a cylindrical case of cured white leather, and sealing the lid.他将圆筒递给了他的总管。

He held it out to his seneschal.

Xin Zhao barely avoided a vicious slash, turning his face at the last moment. The jagged blades of Drakebane sliced across his cheek, drawing blood.

For the first time since they began, Xin Zhao wondered if the prince was actually trying to kill him.

赵信勉强躲过了一记刁钻的横切，在最后一瞬间偏了下脑袋。扳龙枪顶端锯齿状的锋刃划过他的脸颊，见了血。

There was a certain balance in dying to the son of the man he had failed to protect.

从他们交手开始，赵信第一次觉得，皇子可能真的是想要他的命。

Jarvan slapped Xin Zhao’s spear aside with the butt of Drakebane and turned swiftly, bringing the weapon around in a tight arc, the blade seeking his neck.

国王因他的失职而死，他继而死在皇子手下，这倒也合算。

It was a perfectly executed move, one that Xin Zhao had taught the prince himself. Jarvan’s footwork to set up the strike was sublime, and the initial hit to his weapon was weighted just enough to knock it aside, but not so hard that it slowed the final strike.

嘉文用扳龙枪的枪尾拨开赵信的长枪，倏尔旋身，枪头划过一道狭长的弧线，飞向他的脖颈。

Even so, the seneschal could have blocked it. It would have been a close thing, but he trusted his speed—even tired as he was—to have ensured the strike did not land.

这是完美的杀招，是赵信亲自教给皇子的。嘉文的步伐已经炉火纯青，而且最初挑开格挡的那一下力道恰到好处，既足以将武器打到一边，又不至于拖慢最后一击。

And yet, he made no move to do so. His will to fight was gone.

即便如此，德邦总管还是有能力挡下来的。虽然没有丝毫的余裕，但他十分相信自己的速度，虽已经疲惫不堪，但也足以躲过这一击。

He lifted his chin ever-so-slightly, so that the strike would be true.

然而，他却纹丝未动。他已丧失斗志。

The blades of Drakebane hissed in. The blow was delivered with speed, skill, and power. It would slice deep, killing him almost instantly.

他微微抬起下颌，让这致命的一刺可以不留悬念。

The killing blow stopped just as it touched Xin Zhao’s throat, drawing a series of blood-beads, but nothing more.

扳龙枪的锋刃如毒蛇吐信。这一击速度奇快、技巧精湛、力道十足，足以洞穿骨肉，几乎能让他瞬间毙命。

“Why will not you say where you were?” said Jarvan.

致命的一招在刚刚触碰到赵信咽喉的时候生生止住。一串血滴淌了下来，仅此而已。

Xin Zhao swallowed. A warm trickle of blood ran down his neck. “Because I am at fault,” he said. “I should have been there.”

“你为什么不说你去哪了？”嘉文问道。

Jarvan held the blade at Xin Zhao’s throat for a moment longer, then stepped back. He seemed to wilt suddenly, all the fire and fury draining out of him, leaving just a grieving, lost son.

赵信咽了一下口水。温暖的鲜血顺着他的脖子向下滑。“因我难辞其咎，”他说，“我本应在场。”

“My father ordered you away then,” he said. “And you do not wish to blame him for your absence.”

嘉文将锋刃横在赵信的咽喉前，定了片刻，然后退了回来。他似乎突然凋零了，所有怒火都倾泻一空，只剩下一个悲伤、迷茫的丧父之子。

Xin Zhao said nothing.

“这么说，是父亲命令你离开的，”他说，“而你想独自担下缺阵的责任。”

“I’m right, am I not?” said Jarvan.

赵信一言不发。

Xin Zhao sighed, and looked down.

“我说对了，是吗？”嘉文说。

赵信叹了口气，低头望去。

Xin Zhao remained silent and unmoving. He eyed the sealed letter the king held out to him, but did not reach out to take it.

The king raised his eyebrows, and Xin Zhao finally accepted it.“You wish me to give this to a runner, my lord?” he said.“No,” said Jarvan. “I will trust its delivery only to you, my friend.”赵信没有说话也没有行动。他看着国王递过来的信筒，没有伸手去接。Xin Zhao nodded gravely, and attached it to his belt.国王眉毛一提，赵信只好收下。“Who is it for?”“您是想让我把这个交给信使吗，陛下？”他说。“The head of the mageseeker order,” said the king. He held up a finger. “And not to one of his lackeys, either. To him directly.”“不，”嘉文说，“你替我送，我只信你一人，我的朋友。”Xin Zhao bowed his head. “It will be done, as soon as the streets are clear and the whereabouts of the escapee have been determined.”赵信凝重地点点头，然后将圆筒别在腰带上。“No,” said the king. “I want you to go now.”“送给谁？”“搜魔人兵团长。”国王说。他举起一根手指，“不要让他的仆从代收。务必亲手交给他。”“He could be so stubborn,” said Jarvan, shaking his head. “Once his mind was set, there was no changing it.”赵信颔首。“使命必达。只要等到街道肃清，逃犯们的下落查明。”“I should have been there,” said Xin Zhao, weakly.

“不，”国王说，“我要你现在就去。”

Jarvan rubbed his eyes.

“And defy your king’s order? No, that’s not you, uncle,” said Jarvan. “What was it he had you doing?”

Xin Zhao frowned.

“他有的时候真的很顽固，”嘉文一边说一边摇头。“只要他下定决心，就改不了了。”“My place is by your side, my lord,” he said. “I would not wish to leave the palace. Not today.”“我本应在场。”赵信用微弱的声音说。“I want you to deliver that message before events worsen,” said the king. “It’s imperative that the mageseekers are reined in before this escalates. This has gone far enough.”嘉文揉了揉眼睛。“My lord, I do not think it wise for me to—” Xin Zhao said, but the king cut him off sharply.“那岂不是违抗国王的命令？不，你不会那么做的，叔父，”嘉文说，“他派你干什么去了？”

“This is not a request, seneschal,” he said. “You will deliver this decree. Now.”

“Delivering a letter,” said Jarvan, flatly. “That’s why he ordered you from his side?”

Xin Zhao nodded, and Jarvan let out a bitter laugh. “How very like him,” he said. “Always thinking of state matters. You know he missed my blade ceremony, on my fourteenth birthday, because of a meeting of the Shield Council. A meeting about taxation.”

赵信眉头紧锁。

“I remember,” said Xin Zhao.“我是您的贴身侍卫，陛下，”他说，“我不该离开宫殿。今天不行。”“You delivered this letter, I take it?”“我要你送出这封信，不然事态会继续恶化，”国王说，“必须强制命令搜魔人收手，才能避免对抗升级。事已至此，别无选择。”“No,” Xin Zhao said, shaking his head. “I turned as soon as I heard the bells. I made my way back to the palace as swiftly as I was able.”“陛下，我认为明智之举不应该是派我——”赵信开口说道，但国王厉声打断了他。“And ran into trouble in the streets, by the looks of it,” said Jarvan, indicating his battered appearance.

“这不是请求，总管，”他说，“我命令你将这一法令即刻送达，不得有误。”

“Nothing that could not be dealt with.”

“Mages?” said Jarvan.

Xin Zhao nodded. “And others who had thrown their lot in with the murderer.”

“We should have executed them all,” hissed Jarvan.

“送信，”嘉文平淡地说，“他令你离开，就是为了送信？”

Xin Zhao looked at the prince in alarm. He’d never heard him speak with such vitriol before. Indeed, he knew the prince had always been troubled by Demacia’s treatment of its mages. But that was before.

赵信点点头，嘉文发出一声苦笑。“太像他了，”他说，“总是以社稷为重。你知道，我十四岁生日那天，他没来参加我的授剑仪式，因为要去会见坚盾议会。商讨税收。”

“I do not believe your father would share that view,” said Xin Zhao, in a measured voice.

“当然。”赵信说。

“And they killed him,” snapped Jarvan.

“我猜，你已经把信送到了吧？”

There was nothing helpful for Xin Zhao to say, so he remained silent. That moment’s fire was extinguished within Jarvan almost immediately. Tears welled in his eyes, even as he tried to hold them back.

“没有，”赵信摇了摇头，“我听到钟声以后便立刻回头，以最快的速度返回宫殿。”

“I don’t know what to do,” he said. In that moment, he was a boy again, scared and alone.

“结果在街上遇到了麻烦，看你的样子就知道。”嘉文说着，示意了一下他斑驳的外衣。

Xin Zhao stepped forward, dropping his spear, and took Jarvan in his arms, hugging him tightly. “Oh, my boy,” he said.

“不足为虑。”

Jarvan cried then, deep wracking sobs that shook his whole body, and tears he had not yet shed now ran freely down Xin Zhao’s face as well.

“法师？”嘉文问。

They stood clinging to each other for a few more moments, held together by shared loss, then stepped apart. Xin Zhao turned away to pick up his fallen spear, allowing them both a moment to gather themselves.

赵信点了点头。“还有沆瀣一气之徒。”

“我们早就应该把他们全都处决。”嘉文狠狠地说。

赵信警觉地看着皇子。他从未听他说过如此狠毒的话。当然，他知道德玛西亚针对法师的态度一直都让皇子感到困扰。但那已经是从前了。

“我认为您的父亲可能对此另有看法。”赵信拿捏着自己的语气。

“结果他们杀了他。”嘉文厉声说。

赵信说什么都无济于事，于是他选择了沉默。方才迸发的怒火几乎立刻就从嘉文心中熄灭了。眼泪涌上他的双眼，他拼命不让泪水流出来。

“我不知道该怎么办。”他说。那一刻，他又成为了一个孩子，担惊受怕、孤苦伶仃。

赵信向前几步，放下长枪，张开双臂，紧紧抱住嘉文。“好孩子。”他说。

然后嘉文哭了出来，止不住的啜泣让他全身跟着一起颤抖。他未曾落下的眼泪此时也在赵信脸上奔流。

他们紧紧相拥了片刻，共同的哀痛将他们捆在一起，然后他们各自分开。赵信转身拾起自己落在地上的长枪，让他们二人都有时间稍作整理。

当他回过身，嘉文已经将汗水打湿的衬衣换成了一件白色亚麻长袍，上面有着蓝翼利剑的纹章。他看起来已经冷静下来了。

“现在，您要成为命中注定的人，”赵信说，“您要成为领袖。”

When he turned back, Jarvan had thrown off his sweat-stained shirt, and was pulling on a long, white linen tunic emblazoned with a blue-winged sword. Already he looked more composed.

“我感觉自己还没准备好。”嘉文说。

“Now you will do what you were born to do,” Xin Zhao said. “You will lead.”

“没有哪个领袖是准备好了的。至少，贤主无一不是如此。”

“I don’t think I’m ready,” said Jarvan.

“但你会和我一起，叔父。你会辅佐我。”

“No one ever does. At least, not the good ones.”

赵信心底一凉。“我……恐怕，没有那种可能了。”他说。

“But you will be with me, uncle. To help me.”

A coldness clawed at Xin Zhao’s heart. “I… regret that will not be possible,” he said.

Xin Zhao was conflicted. He was sworn to King Jarvan, and had never once defied an order from him, not in twenty years of service.

赵信左右为难。他曾宣誓效忠嘉文国王，此后也从未违抗过任何一道命令，二十年来始终如一。“My place is here, protecting you, my lord,” he said.“我的职责在此，我要保护您，陛下。”他说。King Jarvan rubbed his eyes, looking suddenly tired.嘉文揉了揉眼睛，突然间面露疲态。“Your duty is to Demacia,” the king said.“你的职责是保护德玛西亚。”国王说。“You are the king,” said Xin Zhao. “You are Demacia.”“您是国王，”赵信说，“您就是德玛西亚。”“Demacia is greater than any king!” snapped Jarvan. “This is not up for debate. It is an order.”“德玛西亚比任何国王都更伟大！”嘉文厉声说，“多说无益。我意已决。”Xin Zhao’s inner sense for danger was screaming, but his devotion to duty silenced it.赵信的直觉正在尖叫，警告着危险，但他的责任感让他心中一片寂静。“Then it will be done,” he said.“遵旨。”他说。With a bow, he turned and strode from the room.

他鞠了一躬，转身走出房间。

“I made a promise, long ago,” said Xin Zhao. “If harm ever befell your father, my life was forfeit.”

“And how many times did you save my father’s life?“ said Jarvan, suddenly stern. In that moment he seemed so much like his father, in Xin Zhao’s eyes. “I personally witnessed you do so at least three times. I know there were others.”

Xin Zhao frowned.

“很久以前，我曾许下诺言，”赵信说，“如果您的父亲遭遇任何不测，我当以死谢罪。”

“My honor is my life,” he said. “I could not live with the shame of going back on my word.”

“那么，你又救驾过多少次？”嘉文突然变得坚毅起来。那一瞬间，赵信眼中的他是那么地像他父亲。“我亲眼看见你救驾立功不下三次。但我知道肯定不止于此。”

“To whom did you make this pledge?”

赵信皱起眉。

“High Marshal Tianna Crownguard.”

“荣誉即吾命。”他说，“我不能承受着背信的耻辱苟活。”

Jarvan frowned.

“你对谁做出如此承诺？”

“When you entered my father’s service, you pledged yourself to Demacia, did you not?” he said.

“缇亚娜·冕卫元帅。”

“Of course.”

嘉文皱起眉。

“Your pledge was to Demacia.” said Jarvan. “Not my father. Not anyone else. Your duty to Demacia overrides all.”

“当你为开始为父亲效命，你发誓会保卫德玛西亚，不是吗？”他说。

Xin Zhao stared at the prince. He is so like his father.

“当然。”

“But what of the High Marshal?”

“接受你誓言的是德玛西亚，”嘉文说，“不是我的父亲。不是任何人。你对德玛西亚的职责胜过其他一切。”

“I will deal with Tianna,” said Jarvan. “Right now, I need you to do your duty.”

赵信盯着皇子的双眼放出光。真的是虎父无犬子。

Xin Zhao let out a breath that he didn’t realize he had been holding.

“可是元帅怎么办？”

“Will you serve as my seneschal, as you served my father?” said Jarvan.

“由我跟缇亚娜讲，”嘉文说，“但现在，我需要你履行自己的职责。”

Xin Zhao blinked. Moments earlier he’d been certain Jarvan was going to execute him… and he didn’t feel that would have been unjustified.

赵信长吁一声，这时他才发现自己一直提着一口气。

He hesitated, his emotions in turmoil, his mind reeling.

“你是否愿作我的总管，像辅佐父王一样，为我驱策？”嘉文问。

“Xin Zhao… Uncle,” said Jarvan. “Our kingdom needs you. I need you. Will you do this? For me?”

赵信眨了下眼。片刻之前他还十分确定嘉文想要处决自己……而且他也不觉得自己有什么冤屈。

Slowly, as if expecting Jarvan to change his mind at any moment, Xin Zhao dropped to one knee.

他犹豫着，表情复杂，内心翻滚。

“It would be my honor… my king.”

“赵信……叔父，”嘉文说，“我们的王国需要你。我需要你。来吧，就当是为了我好吗？”

缓缓地，似乎是在给嘉文随时反悔的时间，赵信单膝跪在了地上。

Jarvan walked with Xin Zhao up through the palace, toward the council room. His father’s advisors—no, his advisors, Xin Zhao corrected himself—awaited.

“荣幸之至……国王陛下。”

Soldiers were everywhere. Demacia’s most elite battalion—the Dauntless Vanguard—had been brought in to supplement the palace guard, and they stood at every doorway, watchful and disciplined.

Jarvan’s expression was stern, his bearing regal. Only Xin Zhao had witnessed the outpouring of emotion down in the training room. Now, in front of the palace servants, the nobles, and the guard, he was in complete control.

Good, thought Xin Zhao. The people of Demacia need to see him strong.

Everyone they passed dropped to one knee, bowing their heads low. They continued on, striding purposefully.

嘉文和赵信穿过宫殿，走向议会厅。他父王的谋臣们——不，赵信纠正自己，是他的谋臣们——正在那里恭候。

Jarvan paused before the great council doors.

到处都是士兵。德玛西亚的精英部队——无畏先锋已经被派到宫中协防。他们分散在每一道门口，高度警觉，纪律严明。

“One thing, uncle,” he said, turning to Xin Zhao.

嘉文表情坚毅，王者气度尽露无遗。只有赵信看到他在训练厅里的悲怆。现在，在仆人、贵族和卫兵们面前，他已经收敛了心绪。

“My lord?”

很好，赵信心想。德玛西亚人民需要看到坚强的他。

“The letter my father wanted you to deliver,” he said. “What happened to it?”

他们路过之处，每个人都单膝跪下、俯首卑躬。他们没有慢下脚步，坚定地向前走。

“I have it here,” said Xin Zhao. He loosened it from his belt, and handed the leather case over.

嘉文在议会厅的大门前短暂驻足。

Jarvan took it, broke the case open, and unfurled the sheet of vellum within. His eyes flicked back and forth as he read his father’s words.

“还有一件事，叔父，”他转身面向赵信说。

Xin Zhao saw Jarvan’s expression harden. Then he crushed the letter in both hands, twisting it as if he were wringing a neck, before handing it back.

“陛下请讲。”

“Destroy it,” Jarvan said.

“先父要你送的那封信，”他说，“现在何处？”

Xin Zhao stared at him in shock, but Jarvan was already turning away. He nodded to the guards standing on either side, and the council doors were thrown open. Those seated at the long table within stood as one, before bowing low. Flames crackled in the ornate fireplace set against the south wall within.

“还在身上。”赵信说着，从腰带上解下硬皮筒，将它呈上。

There were a number of empty seats at the table. The king was not the only one who had fallen in the previous day’s attack.

嘉文接过来，打开盖子，将里面的牛皮纸展平。他的目光在父亲的字里行间穿梭跳跃。

Xin Zhao was left holding the crumpled letter, stunned, as Jarvan moved to the head of the table. He looked back at Xin Zhao, still standing in the door.

赵信看到嘉文的表情变得冷硬。他双手将信纸揉烂，就像是要把谁掐死，最后又把信交回给了赵信。

“Seneschal?” said Jarvan.

“毁了它。”嘉文说。

Xin Zhao blinked. At Jarvan’s right, High Marshal Tianna Crownguard stared at him, her gaze dangerously cold. On Jarvan’s other side, his gaze equally icy, was Tianna’s husband, the intended recipient of the king’s letter—the head of the mageseeker order. Xin Zhao’s gaze passed between them, then returned to Jarvan, who raised his eyebrows questioningly.

赵信惊讶地望向他，但嘉文已经转身离开。他向站在两侧的卫兵点了下头，议会厅的大门随即洞开。长长的会议桌前，所有就座的人一齐起立，然后深鞠一躬。大厅南侧的华贵壁炉中，炉火烧得正旺。

Without further pause, Xin Zhao strode into the room, and threw the letter into the flames.

桌前有几个座位是空的。在昨天的袭击中，国王并不是唯一的死者。

Then he took his place, standing behind his ruler. He hoped none of the deep concern he suddenly felt was visible.

赵信手里拿着皱成一团的手谕，站在原地不知所措。嘉文则走向会议桌的主位。他回头看了一眼愣在门口的赵信。

“Let us begin,” said Jarvan.

“总管？”嘉文说。

赵信眨了眨眼。嘉文的右手边，缇亚娜·冕卫正盯着他，眼神冷峻。嘉文的另一侧，同样寒意彻骨的，是缇亚娜的丈夫，国王密信的接收者——搜魔人兵团长。赵信的视线在他们之间游移不定，最后看向了嘉文，看到了他挑起的眉毛，似乎正在发问。

赵信没有耽搁太久，大步走进议会厅，将那封信扔进了炉火中。

然后他来到自己的位置，站在了国王身后。他希望自己的表情没有出卖内心中突然涌上来的担忧。

“开始吧。”嘉文说。