与其他贵族女儿被塑造成端庄淑女（或至少是模仿者）不同,弗蕾雅在父亲的溺爱下,长成了一个活泼奔放,天性纯洁活泼的女孩.受男爵的影响,她最大的乐趣是骑马和狩猎.她的同伴大多是男孩,正是在他们的怂恿下,她不顾一切警告,独自骑马进入森林,并因此遇到了导致她坠落——以及她英年早逝——的流浪汉."终究是个假小子,"张琳苦笑着摇了摇头,喃喃自语.
透过吸收的记忆碎片,她察觉到在这片土地和平的表象之下,风暴已在暗中酝酿.男爵领地内发生流浪者的袭击,绝不能仅仅被当成意外.
在床上躺了半天,张琳伸了伸酸痛的四肢,瘫倒在地板上.卧室窗外是熙熙攘攘的街道.她打开窗,顿时一阵嘈杂的声音传来——其中夹杂着男人们喊叫镇民的声音.
她低头一看,只见一队人马身穿制服半皮甲,腰间佩挂十字军长剑——这是一支执法部队,跟她原先世界的警察没什么两样.他们身后跪着几个人影,被捆绑着,浑身是血,头上裹着黑色麻布.张琳一眼就认出了他们:正是伏击她的那些流浪汉.
虽然距离太远,听不清他们说了什么,但她能从他们的手势和周围阴沉的表情中看出,人群正在被告知囚犯的罪行.然后,执法者毫不客气地拔出剑来.一股深红色的剑气喷涌而出.
这一幕,张琳如遭重击,脸色惨白.刽子手们或许注意到了她的目光,纷纷握紧拳头,放在胸前,以示对残酷行刑的敬意.
她还是第一次亲眼目睹一颗活生生的头颅被如此随意地砍下.在场其他人或许对此习以为常,但对张琳来说,这简直是彻头彻尾的恐怖.她的胃剧烈翻腾;即使闭上眼睛,滚落的头颅和血淋淋的袋子的画面也挥之不去.
毕竟,在来到这个世界之前,她也不过是个普通女人.虽然在某些方面天赋异禀,但她的一生都生活在法律和道德的庇护之下.突然被抛入一个残酷的世界,她的神经几乎承受不住这样的冲击.
她强迫自己深呼吸,用颤抖的双手捂住胸口.渐渐地,脸色渐渐消退.她知道自己必须适应.在这个新世界里,这样的景象肯定会越来越频繁.如果她不能坚强起来,最终的代价将落到她自己身上.
下定决心后,她松开了手,关上了窗户,假装很平静.
咚咚咚咚.一阵重重的敲门声震得门都震动了."进来."张琳尽量保持平静的声音喊道.
The door opened to admit a burly middle-aged man."Lady Freyja," he said respectfully, though the massive double-bladed axe upon his back lent his presence a fearsome air, "the baron has urgent matters to attend to. I have been ordered to escort you back to the castle at once."
His voice, deferential yet ill-suited to his rugged appearance, rang oddly strained. From Freyja's memories, Zhang Lin recognized him: Damstine, a vice-captain of her father's guard.
"Is this my father's command? Has something happened?""It is, my lady. Rumor speaks of vagrants gathering in large numbers near the iron mines. For your safety and peace of mind, the baron requests your return."
Zhang Lin knew well that the baron had been deeply troubled by the influx of outsiders. These were no starving peasants seeking shelter, but marauders in all but name. Already two villages had been sacked. Now that a trail had been found, it seemed a full-scale purge was imminent.
Realizing the severity, she wasted no time."Very well… wait outside. I shall change and follow at once."
When the door closed behind him, Zhang Lin shed her white nightgown. The wardrobe held garments prepared in advance. She chose a black hunting suit trimmed with gold, tailored to her slender figure. A coiled whip hung from her belt—not mere ornament, but a weapon in truth.
Her golden hair, quickly brushed, fell loosely down her back, lending her an air of youthful valor, though the bandages on her head marred the image somewhat. Dressed and ready, she stepped outside.
Damstine waited with two guards in standard uniform. At her appearance, they bowed deeply."Let us go," Zhang Lin said simply.
The four departed from the family's temporary townhouse, a modest dwelling unfit for true convalescence. Outside, the streets teemed with noise: vendors hawked their wares, sturdy women in coarse linen bustled by with baskets, and rain-puddled ground turned the road to mud. Yet her brown hunting boots kept her feet dry.
As they walked, passersby bent low in reverence, their expressions a mix of awe and respect. The attention made Zhang Lin uneasy at first, but she gradually adjusted.
Beyond the town gates awaited a jet-black carriage and three steeds. A gaunt, honest-faced youth sat upon the driver's bench; at their approach he leapt down, waiting deferentially. Damstine and the others mounted, while Zhang Lin accepted the youth's assistance into the carriage.
With a crack of the reins, the vehicle rolled forward, smooth under the hand of a skilled driver. Pulling aside the curtain, Zhang Lin watched houses fade into the distance until only endless forest remained, dotted with patrolling men in leather armor.
她皱起了眉头.巡逻的增多证实了她遗传记忆的暗示:男爵领地里情况不妙.然而她只是一个十五岁的小女孩,手无寸铁,无能为力.尽管她脑子里盘旋着各种可能性,却无能为力.
她放下帘子,马车飞驰而去,不到二十分钟,便抵达了目的地.