雷洛深吸一口气,强迫自己冷静下来.现在不是兴奋的时候.他必须扮演一个被家人抛弃的毫无价值的二儿子的角色,前途黯淡,就像他一如既往.走廊一如既往地空旷,只有他略显匆忙的脚步声回荡着.他走向家族骑士的营房.空气中弥漫着潮湿泥土和用于维护武器的油的气味.
在训练场边缘的一个角落里,一个高大,面容严肃的骑士独自训练,汗流浃背.汗水浸湿了他棕色的短发,顺着他轮廓分明的脸颊滴落.正是艾德·艾德在系统情报中提到的那个"幻灭和沮丧"的大骑士.
艾德停下了动作,瞥了一眼来访者,眼中闪过一丝惊讶,然后很快恢复了平静.他微微鞠躬,打招呼道:"雷洛大人.他的声音低沉而有力,带着士兵特有的清脆.
"艾德骑士,"雷洛站稳了脚跟,目光盯着另一个男人."我不再是雷洛的'勋爵'了."他挥舞着手中的先驱法令."我现在是黑石领地的先驱领主."
Ed的眉头上皱起了眉头.显然,他也听说了仪式上发生的事情.但他没有再多问,只是静静地等待着即将发生的事情.
"公爵陛下'慷慨地'赐予我两位伟大的骑士和二十位骑士作为我的先驱队列,"雷洛说,语气中带着一丝自嘲."我需要一个私人保镖队长.艾德骑士,您愿意跟我一起去黑石领地吗?
艾德猛地抬起头,眼中闪烁着难以置信的光芒.去黑石领地?他非常清楚那个地方意味着什么.但...私人保镖队长?对于在班长的位置上苦苦挣扎了近十年的他来说,这无疑是一个巨大的诱惑,一个摆脱自己目前处境的机会.
"黑石领地的环境恶劣,未来不确定,"雷洛继续说道,他的语气实事求是."跟着我,你可能会吃很多苦,甚至可能..."他没有说完,但含义很明确.
艾德沉默了一会儿.去黑石领地就像流放一样.但留在这里,不就是另一种形式的监禁吗?
"大人,"艾德的声音很坚决.他换了个地址,单膝跪地,把右手放在胸前."Ed Farn,为您服务!"
雷洛心中的重担卸下了.
很快,另一位被任命为大骑士,二十名骑士也已经集结完毕.这位伟大的骑士名叫博林.他年纪稍大,身材略显丰满,表情中带着一丝慵懒和世俗智慧.他看向 Reylo 的方式远非尊重;这更像是对正式任务的敷衍态度.
其余的骑士大多面无表情,显然对被送到荒凉的黑石领地感到不满.
Reylo 并没有把这些反应放在心上.毕竟,这只是人的本性.
"埃德上尉,带你的手下清点补给品,准备出发.博林骑士,协助埃德上尉,"雷洛下达了他的第一条命令.
Ed 立即确认了命令并离开了,而 Bolin 反应迟钝并跟上.
而雷洛则以需要独自准备一些"个人物品"为借口,悄悄地离开了骑士军营.他冒着雨,朝着龙雷城的东门而去.
东门以南三百步.雨水把路搅得一团糟.按照系统的提示（可以翻译为"提示"或"线索"）,雷洛很快就找到了那座破旧的茅草屋.房子濒临倒塌,门板无处可寻.房子前面确实是一个破损的水罐,半埋在泥泞的地面上,嘴里装满了浑浊的雨水.
Reylo 环顾四周,确认没有看到任何人.他卷起湿漉漉的袖子,把手伸进冰冷的雨水中,摸索着罐子的底部.很快,他的手指碰到了一个用油布包裹的坚硬物体.那捆东西不大,但感觉很重.
他打开湿漉漉的油布,发现里面有几个沉甸甸的钱袋.一千七百条金龙!这笔钱,对于已经被家人"剥光"的他来说,无疑是天赐之物.不幸的克里队长恐怕做梦也想不到,他煞费苦心地挪用和隐藏的财富,竟然会这么容易落入这个"一文不值"的人手中.
After carefully hiding the gold coins, Reylo quickly returned.
An hour later, at the eastern gate of Dragonthunder City.
A group of people slowly rode out of the gate amidst the drizzle.
Two carts loaded with basic supplies, with over twenty knights簇拥着 (which can be translated as "escorting") Reylo and Ed at the front.
On the eastern gate tower, his elder brother Elliot hid beneath a black cloak, watching Reylo's back disappear completely.
The sky was overcast.
Although the rain had stopped, thick clouds hung low.
The north wind carried the pungent smell of grass from the wilderness, unceremoniously invading people's collars.
The pace of the procession was slow.
The horses provided by the Duke's mansion were far from excellent, and the draft horses laden with supplies shuffled along with difficulty.
Most of the knights were taciturn, with occasional conversations filled with complaints and uncertainty about the future.
Ed truly lived up to the system's评价 (which can be translated as "evaluation" or "assessment") of being "upright, unyielding, and powerful."
Since becoming the personal bodyguard captain, he had meticulously fulfilled his duties.
From planning the march route, selecting campsites, arranging guard posts, and overseeing supplies, to even pacifying the knights' emotions, he handled everything with precision.
Under his discipline and example, although the team's morale was low, at least there were no disruptions, and the march discipline was well-maintained.
During the journey, Reylo received updated intelligence from the system.
Most of it was gossip about the aristocratic circle in Dragonthunder City, news about mineral deposits discovered somewhere, or reports of a merchant caravan being attacked—information that was of little help to his current situation.
After more than ten days, the procession finally reached the border of Blackstone Territory.
In stark contrast to the lush greenery of the south, the land before them appeared barren and desolate.
"My lord, ahead should be Blackstone Town, the only large settlement in Blackstone Territory," Ed rode up to Reylo's side, pointing at a vague dark spot on the distant horizon. "Should we enter the town directly or camp outside?"
According to convention, upon arrival, the new lord should first go to the town within the territory to announce his presence and establish governance.
Many knights in the procession showed a hint of anticipation upon hearing "Blackstone Town."
After days of camping in the wilderness, they were longing for a place to shelter from the wind and rain and have a hot meal.
Reylo reined in his reins, but his gaze didn't shift towards Blackstone Town. Instead, he looked towards the rolling, desolate mountain range to the east.
Reylo's reply was simple and decisive, surprising everyone.
"We're not going to Blackstone Town."
"Not going to the town?" Bolin's voice rose in disbelief and dissatisfaction. "My lord, then where are we going? This wilderness..."
"We're heading east," Reylo pointed towards the eastern mountains. "To survey the mountain range in the eastern part of the territory. Find a suitable location to establish a temporary camp."
This decision immediately caused a commotion.
The knights whispered among themselves, their faces filled with confusion and resistance.
Instead of going to the ready-made town, they were going to camp in the mountains that looked even more desolate?
"My lord, this..."
"Execute the order, knights!" Reylo made the decision with an uncompromising tone.