第三十七章 福特要塞,金麦酒,弩
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在经过了两周多不算如何辛苦的旅程后,多罗商队终于到达了埃拉西亚南部的边境堡垒-福特要塞。龙腾小说网ltxs520.com
在此之前,商队依照惯例也是途经了莱茵堡的。不过,早已有所准备的摩里亚蒂和怀特二人并没有引起来自罗言塔家族的任何目光和注意。而且,因为福克斯.罗言塔坏了事,所以最近以来罗言塔家族的内部系统一直都在进行着激烈的波动和调整,暂时也没有心思对外部的过路商队作出更多的关注。
大约中午时分,多罗商队的长长车阵终于来到了福特要塞前。
福特要塞一座由黑色石岩筑成的高大棱堡,如同一头伏势躬身的巨兽横亘在王国平原和飓风荒原之间。内外两重星状结构的堡墙相互交错、上下契合,牢牢拱卫着城堡的内部核心。一道宽大的护城河在堡下环城而走,护城河底有几处暗泉与湍流的地下河互通,所以丝毫不虞有被断流的危险。护城河上有一道五米来宽的吊桥,由黑色的生铁铸成,牢固异常。在铁桥的前端分别有一根碗口粗的铁链连接至城堡之内的巨大绞盘。如果需要,这吊桥在几分钟内便能被堡内的绞盘拉起,变成一道难以逾越的铁闸。而在护城河后方、棱堡的正门口,是一座极为厚重堡门。堡门的外层由精炼的黄铜包裹,而门板则是由杉木芯构成。这样建造出来的堡门,既坚固,又富有韧性。足可抵挡大火的焚烧或者冲车的撞击。
可以想象一下,如果有人想要攻破这样的一座城堡,光光是要跨越护城河就必须付出十分惨痛的代价。而即便是能靠上城堡,可面对相互交错、足以形成多面交叉火力的星状堡墙;或者是面对外有铁闸、内有铜门的棱堡正门,在一次性不过能投入几百人兵力的棱堡面上,不知要堆上多少尸体才能最终成功地突入内堡。
当然,要建造这样一座巨型棱堡的代价无疑是十分巨大的。其所需的物力、财力、人力,可说是一个天文数字。据说当年格里芬王室乃是联合了王国南部几省贵族、举半国之力才得以将其最终建造起来。所以,历来福特要塞便是属于王室与地方贵族的共同财产,而其中的驻军将领也通常由中央和地方两个派系分别派驻,以保持某种特定的稳定与平衡。
“怀特,与黎明要塞相比,福特要塞看起来怎样?”坐在一辆装满面粉的货车上,摩里亚蒂望着眼前的巨大城堡,问道。
“福特要塞看起来要更大些,也更…精巧。”没有坐车,而是不急不缓地步行在摩里亚蒂身旁的怀特,想了想答道。
“精巧?那么,你是觉得福特要塞比不上‘黎明’?”摩里亚蒂笑了笑,继续追问道。
“也不是。实际上,从外观来看福特比黎明要更坚固。只是…”说到这,怀特似乎一时没想到怎样继续表述下去。
摩里亚蒂也未作催促,只是继续观赏着明媚日光下黑色棱堡的雄浑之姿。
“只是,不知道是不是我的错觉,我总觉得这座城堡似乎缺了点什么,不像是一座需要吃人肉、喝人血的战争堡垒。”过了一会儿,怀特才慢慢补充道。
“哦,我想我明白你的意思了。是啊,没有铁和血的考验,没有灵魂的垂死吟唱,没有一代又一代人的前赴后继,再雄伟的城堡也不过是贵族小姐的花房。”摩里亚蒂转过头,对着怀特笑道:“根据典籍记载,这座福特要塞自从建立起到今天,还没有碰到过可被记入史册的重大战役。这一点,也不知道是福特要塞的幸运还是不幸”
“难怪,我总觉得她没有‘黎明’那种让人喘不过气的压迫感。”
就在摩里亚蒂与怀特一边随意品评着眼前的要塞时,多罗商队也已办理完毕入堡的手续。在塞给城门校尉大约一袋五十银币的惯例买路钱后,商队的车马便浩浩荡荡地开进了要塞中。当然,在所有货车进入堡门前,要塞的士兵还是要逐一对其进行搜查的,以防止外族奸细或者某些违禁品被带入城堡。不过,多罗商队也算是进出此地的老客户了,所以在富兰克林管事的上下打点下,这种检查也就是走一个过场而已。
“摩蒂先生,您与您的随从可以在要塞里头随便逛逛,但是在明天中午前需要赶回商队的驻地,届时商队将正式出发、离开埃拉西亚王国。”当商队的车队进驻到商会在要塞内预定的一处大驿站后,富兰克林管事对摩里亚蒂如是道。
“好的,管事先生,我和我的同伴一定会按时赶回商队的,请您放心。”
接着,摩里亚蒂便与怀特一起离开了驿站,向着位于要塞南部的集市行去,那里是商铺、酒馆以及各类民间作坊的聚集地,也是商人们最爱闲逛的地方。
“怀特,你教教我如何用弩吧。”悠闲地走在城堡内并不宽敞的道路上,看着一个又一个或行色匆匆、或满头大汗的行人从自己身旁经过,摩里亚蒂微笑着对怀特道。
“你怎么突然想学这个?你不是要去布拉卡达学习魔法吗?”怀特有些疑惑地看着摩里亚蒂,问道。
“这并不冲突,怀特。”摩里亚蒂摇摇头,道:“你知道,在成为一名正式法师前我的战力并不强大,甚至在与敌人面对面时可说是脆弱。尽管我曾努力学习剑术,但直至目前为止也不过是勉强达到一级战士的水准。所以,我需要在魔法之外,额外掌握一门让我更具生存能力的战斗技艺。”
“可是,在此前你的法术不是很强大嘛,不仅杀了那四个杀手,甚至还把我…”说到这,怀特不禁摸了摸自己的胸口,仿佛魔法之箭造成的伤口依旧在隐隐作痛一般。
“呵呵,不好意思,怀特。”摩里亚蒂抱歉地拍了拍对方的肩膀:“走,为了向你道歉,我请你喝一杯。”
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