Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第145/246页)

ypeoplesparse,weknowthesaying,“Whenasubjectisshamed,itistheking’sdutytoaddressit.Whenthekingisshamed,itisthetaskofthesubjecttoexactretribution.Medusa,theguardianandproteykingdom,throughnofaultofherown,wasfatallywoundedbyagoldarrow.IfIdonotdemandsatisfafromtheresponsibleparty,howamItnandleadmysubjects?HowIretaintheloyaltyandtrustofmywarriors?”

    ApollolisteoKingDimitri’swordsinsurpriseandadmiratiohought,“Mysterliationspeaksforitself.Throughouttheagesnoonehaseverdaredtochallethisceousmaniswillingtoputhislifeonthelihesakeofhiswarrior.Heisiaunduprightruler,amanofgreatfaithfulness–aman’sman.”SoApollo,too,feltaspiritofrespedradeshipfDimitri.Thesetwogalntandheroimutuallyappreciatedeachotherandadmiredeachother,butwereinasituatioheyhadtofighteachother.

    “Swordsandspearshavenoeyes”entedKingZeus.“Wheninbat,oyissuretobewounded,evenkilled.Don’tyouknowthereputationofmyson,Apollo?Heisskilledinbattleandhasneverbeeed.”

    “Yourmajesty,Ihavelongheardofthesungod’sreputationalyrespectit.Butwhenhonorisatstake,Ihavetofight,evenifitmeansIforfeitmylife.”Meanwhile,ApollowasangeredbyKingDimitri’swords,hesaid,”Ifyouwantafight,fightIwill!WhatdoIhavetofear?”Sayingso,heimpelledhischariotforwardoack.Bothsideswereatanexplosivepoint,likearrowsontheb,readytosetoffatatouch.

    Justatthiscriticalpointoftime,ninehugesunsappearedfromnowhere.Addedtotheonealreadyhighinthesky,thereweresuddenlytensuns.Theywentonanuntrolbleanddisorderlyrampagerandomly,alroundthepce,likeunrulyphathadescapedfromtheirnormalorbit.OhemdashedstraightatKingDimitrionahead-oncollisioncourse.TheeverdexterousandresourcefulLightningsprangaway,evadiastrophe.Takinghisbowandarrow,KingDimitritwistedbackwards,turnedonhishorseandaimedatthestrayrapscallion.Thatsunwashitanddroppedoffintooblivion.KingDimitriturnedbadsaolloridinginhisgoldchariotingswiftlyhiswayandagoldenspearheadwasluraightathisface.Havingnotimetogehison,KingDimitriusedhismagicbowtoavertthetipofthespearandinadownwardmovementpreparedtodisarmthesungod.Well-versedinstrategy,ApnizedKingDimitri’smoveandiionandeasilythwarteditwithasubsequentmove.Thetwowarriorspassedeachotherontheirhorses,endingtheirfirstround.AnotherbzingsuncamerollingstraightforApollo,whoquicklyputdownhisspearandtookuphisbowandarrow.Heaimeditattheoningsunandshotit,sendingitfallingdownfromthecloudyer,itsfireextinguished.ThatwasallMedusawasabletoseefromthewindowofthepace.

    WhenWhiteFairyhaltinglytoldpehebeautiescrorehensivelyarouheyheavedasighofrelief.Butsoontheirheartsjumpedagainwhenfiercegofonswasheardagainfromthecloudyer,becausetheykhattheirkingwasinthefightofhislife.Apanyingthenoiseofbatwereshoutsandyellsofsoldiers.Butwait!Thesoldierswerenotonlycmtoshowsupporttotheirside.Mixedinitwereyellsandcriesofsurpriseaswelsburstsofappuseandaccim.QueenAishalookedatWhiteFairyinquiringlyandasked,

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    “YouwereapanyingKingDimitri.Didiceyou?”

    “No”repliedWhiteFairy.“Whehecloudyer,KingDimitrithrewmeupintotheclouds,whereIhid.Thecloudyerthatlookssosolidisreallymadeupofindividualclo