novelsmap Chapter 10
Chapter 10
On the eve of leaving Neverwinter, Norlins came to Snow Lion Castle at the invitation of Karlan.They drank together, talked about the power structure on the mainland, conducted war games on the sand table, and spent the night together with complicated thoughts.
Before the morning star had risen, Norlins awoke.The firewood in the fireplace crackled, the bed in the lord's bedroom was soft and warm, and the mellow aroma of spirits was still overflowing on the uncleared wooden table.Just as he was lying on his side facing the fire, Norlins turned his head and saw Karlan reclining on the other side of the bed with his back to him. The long and thin pipe in his hand spewed out a long smoke, which gradually melted into the warmth of the room. air.Lord Baiwan's light golden hair was disheveled, making him look much younger.Norlins couldn't help but leaned forward, held the other's arm through the thin shirt, and kissed those rare warm lips.After a few seconds, Karlan pushed him away.
In the deep winter in the north, the dawn is very late, and there is still a quiet darkness outside the window at this time, only the ever-burning torch is still burning beside the sentry post.But the sun will come eventually.
Norlins sighed: "Before I came, I planned to see the appearance of the polar night and the aurora - we don't have such things in the Great Lake Territory."
Karlan looked at the stained glass windows inlaid on the stone wall, and replied calmly: "Then you have to go further north for a few days. The villages there will be immersed in long darkness in winter, and it is difficult even for me." Imagine a life like this."
"But on the contrary, their summer will be accompanied by sunshine all day long, which sounds very romantic."
"I don't think it's better than the normal day-night divide." Karlan shook his head. "No number of days can compensate for the emptiness and depression brought about by the polar night."
Norlins smiled, looking at the weapon racks and armor placed in the corner of the room, he just felt that the house was a little cramped compared to the Star Tower.This is indeed the case. The colder and drier climate in the south forces the residents of the northern country to use thicker walls to keep out the cold, and the relatively narrow space can make the fireplace or brazier more effective-as long as they remember to reserve a ventilation pipe so that they don’t He died of asphyxiation in his sleep.
"When spring comes, would you like to visit Juhuling?" Norlins said suddenly. "Our bards could write ten volumes of poems for the spring at the Great Lakes. What 'projections of newlyweds' garlands' and 'rippling lake lights kissed by gods', they seem to have lately For example, hitting my daughter on the head. I wouldn't be angry, anyway, these are all unheard of compliments."
Karlan just listened quietly, and waited until Norlins finished speaking before whispering, "I'm afraid I won't go unless something serious happens. It's not suitable for me."
Norlins' smile froze in place.In fact, he also knew that Karland would probably not be willing to visit the place that left him traumatized.For Norlins, the Great Lake Territory is undoubtedly a paradise; but for Karlan, it is the former enemy of the White Bay Territory, and even his own nightmare several years ago.Although Norlins once guessed whether the unexpected encounter back then was also mixed with Karlan's pre-calculations, but if that was the case, then he might have been too vicious to himself.
"Well, I think so too. But as long as you come, I will treat you sincerely." Norlins found a way for himself.
Norlins forgot what Karlan had said then.Before leaving, he opened the door curtain of the carriage and looked back at the Snow Lion Castle standing in the ice and snow again.The captain of the guard who escorted him to the south city gate told Norlins that the lord had important business to do and could not send the distinguished guests out of the city in person. He sounded apologetic.Not far away, the guests who were also preparing to leave to return to the territory seemed to be dissatisfied that Karlan had secret talks with the imperial envoy instead of personally seeing him off.
—He has said good-bye to me.
Norlins thought so, smiled and shook his head, and sat in the warm compartment of the carriage.
The ribbons tied up along the streets have not been removed yet, and the golden iris flag of the empire is still flying over Neverwinter.But how long this flag can last, no one has a clue.
Unlike the Baiwan collar, which is accustomed to turmoil, the stable life of the giant lake collar can almost be said to be tedious. Of course, Norlins and his people are more than happy to indulge in this kind of rich and peaceful "boring".It is in the dreamlike life woven by money, food and fine wine that the days and nights of several months or even years flow quickly.When the eldest son Gwenk symbolically cut off his long hair at the coming-of-age ceremony and received the first real steel sword specially made for him, Norlins suddenly realized that he was not so young anymore.
Of course, he was only forty now, in the prime of his life, but not a few years after his father died.The more it is at this time, the easier it is for Norlins to think of his ancestors, and the folk rumors about his short-lived father recorded in the archives.The average life expectancy of the Juhu Territory is considered to be longer among the other territories of the empire, but the reason for this is that it is not so much due to more advanced medicine and healthy living habits, it is better to attribute it to less war and famine, and the common people Just to avoid human disasters.
Like Norlins, Gwenk has a good appearance worthy of his identity and character; but unlike Norlins, the future lord of the Great Lake Territory is much more disciplined in his private life, so clean that Norlins doubts Is there a deviation in my own education policy?But the monk-like self-discipline did not make Gwenk pedantic and old-fashioned-he had equal interests in military affairs and literature, and was also willing to communicate with others. No one inside or outside the Watchtower questioned his qualifications as a successor.
When the news came that the anti-royal alliance was formally formed and launched a rebellion, Norlins and Gwink were still playing naval chess in the war room.The young Red Vulture tribe looked focused, and pushed the exquisite chess pieces in the shape of warships to the bay defended by Norlins; the latter retreated his own warships in the bay with confidence, and lined up a row of trebuchets on the cliffs by the sea .
The couriers who came to report the news are already used to this kind of scene: one is the current lord and the other is the future lord. Norlins often asks Gwenke to directly participate in the discussion of government and military affairs. Naturally, the messenger does not need to deliberately go to Norlins Whisper carefully beside him.
"—Currently only the Baiwan leader sent troops to support the royal family, but the anti-royal alliance is strong, and they may not last long. In addition, it is said that guards from Baiwan have been arranged in the palace. General Sirius judged that they would escort them when necessary Members of the royal family have escaped from the capital." The messenger closed the scroll in his hand, waiting for Norlins' next order.
Long before the anti-royal turmoil intensified, Norlins expressed his neutral attitude as the Lord of the Lake: they would not provide help to the supporters and opponents of the royal family, nor would they form alliances with both sides of the dispute. Allied relations with various territories have fallen back to the most basic level of food trade.
In short, in order to keep the Huhu Territory, which holds the economic and cultural lifeline of the empire, away from the flames of war that could overthrow a dynasty, Norlins chose to remain silent.Although many emissaries visited Norlins, hoping that he would join the opposition to the royal family, or provide assistance with supplies and border openings, Norlins declined all of them.But no one declared war on the Great Lake Territory because of this—all the other realms know that the Great Lake Territory cannot perish: its resources, its prestige, and its trade with other regions are of extraordinary significance, and may even be in the After the war, it became the biggest beneficiary; but Baiwan collar is not necessarily so.
Having said that, Norlins almost finds a strange sense of irony in waging war on a weak royal family that cannot restrain its subjects in order to achieve complete "independence".
Norlins finally looked up from the game.He looked at the messenger standing respectfully aside, and asked, "What's the news from Neverwinter?"
The messenger replied confidently: "Karlan did not leave Snow Lion Castle, but sent his personal guards to move southwest. They have not left the territory yet. The western part of Baiwan Territory is already heavily occupied, and there are only a few passes leading to the central part of the mainland. It can barely break through. The southern border bordering us is not well-prepared. It should be that the western front is tight, and the southern garrison has also been transferred there.”
"He was sure that I wouldn't add insult to injury. Of course, I really didn't have the idea of stabbing him in the back." Norlins said calmly.
Gewenk didn't speak, just watched his father's expression quietly-this was also part of his lessons as an heir.
"Continue to monitor the movement outside, and report to me in time if there is any change." Norlins dismissed the messenger and continued to play chess with his son, as if the baptism of blood and fire that would happen on the land of Baiwan had nothing to do with him.He can be said to be a lover, but before that, he was first and foremost the owner of a piece of land.