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狼心女王，卷五
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2022-09-18更新
最新编辑:Lu_23333
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更新日期：2022-09-18
最新编辑：Lu_23333
狼心女王，卷五
狼心女王，卷五
摘自第二纪元圣贤，蒙托凯的学生英佐里卡斯的著作：
第三纪元119年：
塞普汀·安提奥楚斯皇帝统治了泰姆瑞尔21年，虽然他十分骄纵，但是他仍不失为一个强有力的领导者。他最伟大的胜利是110年的岛屿之战，当时帝国舰队带着皇室成员，与赛伊克教团一起进驻了夏暮岛，彻底粉碎了派安多尼亚舰队的入侵。他的兄弟姐妹们，包括里尔莫斯的玛格努斯国王，基兰恩的塞弗勒斯国王以及独孤城的狼心女王波特玛，都将自己的领地治理的不错并且加强了与帝国之间的联系。当然，几百年的相安无事并没有抚平帝国与高岩，天际之间的伤痕。
一次他的妹妹和外甥尤瑞尔难得来访，安提奥楚斯却由于疾病缠身而昏迷不醒。几个月过去了，他依旧不省人事，上古议会准备将他15岁的女儿金泰拉推上王位。
第三纪元120年：
“妈妈，我不能娶金泰拉”尤瑞尔说道，他听到这个建议似乎并没有生气反而有些高兴，“她是我的堂妹，而且据我所知她已经和一个议会领主莫得尔由斯有了婚约”
“你太拘礼啦，只是需要一个时机而已”波特玛说道，“不过你提到莫得尔由斯还是对的，我们可不能在这个节骨眼上和上古议会过不去。你觉得拉克玛公主怎么样？你在法尔安的时候和她相处了很久哦？”
“她很好啊”尤瑞尔说，“别说你想听我们做过的那些丑事啊”
“那就告诉我你是怎么研究她的骨头的好啦”波特玛做了个鬼脸，“你想娶她吗？”
“我想是的”
“太好了，那我就去安排了”波特玛拿笔记录了一下，然后接着说，“雷罗莫国王这个盟友很难伺候，一个政治联姻可以让法尔安站在我们这边，我们很需要他们。葬礼何时开始？”
“什么葬礼？”尤瑞尔问道，“你是说安提奥楚斯伯伯的葬礼吗？”
“当然啊”波特玛叹息道，“难道最近还有其他人死了吗？”
“我看见大厅里有一堆红卫小孩跑来跑去，我猜塞弗勒斯已经来了。玛格努斯昨天就到了宫里，所以应该就是这几天内啦”
“那现在是该去和议会打个招呼了”波特玛笑着说。
她披上黑衣，而不是她平常穿的艳丽服装。表现出一个妹妹应有的悲伤非常重要。站在镜子前面，她觉得似乎看透了自己53年的人生。一缕银丝夹杂在她的褐色头发间。天际那漫长，寒冷，干燥的冬季在她的脸上用细如蛛丝的皱纹织成了一张地图。然而她知道，只要她微笑，就能温暖人心；只要她皱眉，就能散布恐惧。对她来说，这已经够好了。
波特玛向上古议会的致辞也许可以成为学习公共演讲的典范。
她以谦卑的姿态开场：“我尊敬而睿智的伙伴们，上古议会的成员们，我只是一个行省的女皇，我只能假设我想提出的观点你们已经权衡过了”
她继而赞扬刚刚逝去的那位虽然有些瑕疵，但是广受好评国王：“塞普汀家族以他为荣，他也是一位伟大的战士，在你们的帮助下，彻底击败了号称不败的派安多尼亚舰队”
然而她立刻进入正题：“可是吉塞拉皇后很不幸地没有好好侍奉我的兄长。说得难听点，贫民窟妓女睡过的床都没有她多。如果她能坚持在床上履行她对帝国的职责，我们一定能有一位正统的后继者，而不是现在这些愚蠢，懦弱，叫嚣着他们自己是皇帝子嗣的杂种。那个叫金泰拉的女孩据说是吉塞拉和卫兵队长的私生子，也有可能是吉塞拉与某个洗水池的仆人的女儿。我们永远无法知道真相，就好比我们无法知道我儿子——塞普汀家族最年长的儿子——尤瑞尔的后代是谁一样。我的大人们，帝国的公主绝不接受一个杂种来继承皇位，我在此郑重申明”
她很平静地结束发言，但是留下了一句口号：“后世会评判你们的是非，你们知道该如何做”
当天晚上，波特玛在她最喜欢的帝国地图室里宴请她的兄弟及他们的夫人。大厅的墙壁被照得通亮，似乎这个世界的命运就在这个房间里，而黑暗的地方，就好比是如今的帝国以及阿特莫拉，约库达，阿卡维尔，派安多尼亚，瑟拉斯这些遥远的地方。头顶的巨型玻璃天花板被雨淋湿了，展现出一幅破碎的星系图。光线不断地变化着，在墙上投射出诡异的阴影。
“你什么时候去向议会致辞？”菜端上来的时候波特玛问道。
“我不知道我要不要去”玛格努斯说，“我都不知道我要说些什么”
“他们如果宣布金泰拉的加冕礼的话我就去致辞”塞弗勒斯说道，“不过仅仅是礼节上表示一下我对你的支持以及落锤省对你的支持”
“你能代表整个落锤省吗？”波特玛带着一丝嘲讽的微笑问道，“红卫人肯定爱死你了”
“我们和落锤省的国王有一层特殊的关系”塞弗勒斯的夫人碧昂姬插嘴道，“根据斯图尔斯迈凯条约，我们是皇室的一部分，而不是附庸”
“我了解到你已经向议会致辞了”玛格努斯的夫人海伦娜尖锐地说道。她显然精于政治，但是作为亚龙人国度的统治者，她很善于认清和扭转逆境。
“是的”波特玛停顿了一下，取了一份手边的清蒸野味，“我今天下午就加冕礼的事情向他们简短致辞了”
“我们的妹妹是一个绝佳的演说者”塞弗勒斯说。
“谢谢”波特玛笑了，“除了演讲我还有很多擅长的事情”
“比如？”碧昂姬笑着问。
“不介意的话，我想知道你都说了些什么？”玛格努斯疑惑地问。
这时有人敲门，总管对波特玛低语了几句。波特玛笑着从座位上站起身来。
“我告诉议会如果他们睿智地选举继承人，我将全力支持加冕礼。难道这有什么错误吗？”波特玛边说边端着她的酒杯走向门，“请原谅我失陪，金泰拉有话要和我说”
金泰拉带着卫兵站在大厅外。她还只是个孩子，但是通过她，波特玛想到她自己这个年纪的时候已经嫁给曼提亚科两年了。他们两人在这一点上确实有相似之处。波特玛从金泰拉身上看到了一个年轻女王的摸样，深邃的双眸，光滑暗淡的肌肤，大理石一般的坚毅。当她看见她的姑母的时候，愤怒闪过金泰拉的双眼，但是她很快就表露出帝国应有的风范。
“波特玛女王”她平静地说道，“我听人说我的加冕礼将在两天后举行。加冕礼不欢迎你参加。我已经告知你的仆从打包你的行李，今晚就会有人护送你返回你的领地。我说完了，再会，姑母”
波特玛刚要回话，但是金泰拉和她的卫兵已经转身走过了长廊下面的接待室。狼心女王看着他们离开，然后返回地图室。
“姐妹”波特玛恶狠狠地盯着碧昂姬，“你不是问我除了演讲还有什么擅长的事情吗？我告诉你：战争”
The Wolf Queen, v5
The Wolf Queen, Book Five
From the pen of Inzolicus, Second Century Sage and Student of Montocai:
3E 119:
For twenty-one years, The Emperor Antiochus Septim ruled Tamriel, and proved an able leader despite his moral laxity. His greatest victory was in the War of the Isle in the year 110, when the Imperial fleet and the royal navies of Summerset Isle, together with the magical powers of the Psijic Order, succeeded in destroying the Pyandonean invading armada. His siblings, King Magnus of Lilmoth, King Cephorus of Gilane, and Potema, the Wolf Queen of Solitude, ruled well and relations between the Empire and the kingdoms of Tamriel were much improved. Still, centuries of neglect had not repaired all the scars that existed between the Empire and the kings of High Rock and Skyrim.
During a rare visitation from his sister and nephew Uriel, Antiochus, who had suffered from several illnesses over his reign, lapsed into a coma. For months, he lingered in between life and death while the Elder Council prepared for the ascension of his fifteen-year-old daughter Kintyra to the throne.
3E 120:
"Mother, I can't marry Kintyra," said Uriel, more amused by the suggestion than offended. "She's my first cousin. And besides, I believe she's engaged to one of the lords of council, Modellus."
"You're so squeamish. There's a time and a place for propriety," said Potema. "But you're correct at any rate about Modellus, and we shouldn't offend the Elder Council at this critical juncture. How do you feel about Princess Rakma? You spent a good deal of time in her company in Farrun."
"She's all right," said Uriel. "Don't tell me you want to hear all the dirty details."
"Please spare me your study of her anatomy," Potema grimaced. "But would you marry her?"
"I suppose so."
"Very good. I'll make the arrangements then," Potema made a note for herself before continuing. "King Lleromo has been a difficult ally to keep, and a political marriage should keep Farrun on our side. Should we need them. When is the funeral?"
"What funeral?" asked Uriel. "You mean for Uncle Antiochus?"
"Of course," sighed Potema. "Anyone else of note die recently?"
"There were a bunch of little Redguard children running through the halls, so I guess Cephorus has arrived. Magnus arrived at court yesterday, so it ought to be any day now."
"It's time to address the Council then," said Potema, smiling.
She dressed in black, not her usual colorful ensembles. It was important to look the part of the grieving sister. Regarding herself in the mirror, she felt that she looked all of her fifty-three years. A shock of silver wound its way through her auburn hair. The long, cold, dry winters in northern Skyrim had created a map of wrinkles, thin as a spiderweb, all across her face. Still, she knew that when she smiled, she could win hearts, and when she frowned, she could inspire fear. It was enough for her purposes.
Potema's speech to the Elder Council is perhaps helpful to students of public speaking.
She began with flattery and self-abasement: "My most august and wise friends, members of the Elder Council, I am but a provincial queen, and I can only assume to bring to issue what you yourselves must have already pondered."
She continued on to praise the late Emperor, who had been a popular ruler, despite his flaws: "He was a true Septim and a great warrior, destroying -- with your counsel -- the near invincible armada of Pyandonea."
But little time was wasted, before she came to her point: "The Empress Gysilla unfortunately did nothing to temper my brother's lustful spirits. In point of fact, no whore in the slums of the city spread out on more beds than she. Had she attended to her duties in the Imperial bedchamber more faithfully, we would have a true heir to the Empire, not the halfwit, milksop bastards who call themselves the Emperor's children. The girl called Kintyra is popularly believed to be the daughter of Gysilla and the Captain of the Guard. It may be that she is the daughter of Gysilla and the boy who cleans the cistern. We can never know for certain. Not as certainly as we can know the lineage of my son, Uriel. The eldest true son of the Septim Dynasty. My lords, the princes of the Empire will not stand for a bastard on the throne, that I can assure you."
She ended mildly, but with a call to action: "Posterity will judge you. You know what must be done."
That evening, Potema entertained her brothers and their wives in the Map Room, her favorite of the Imperial dining chambers. The walls were splashed with bright, if fading representations of the Empire and all the known lands beyond, Atmora, Yokunda, Akavir, Pyandonea, Thras. Overhead the great glass domed ceiling, wet with rain, displayed distorted images of the stars overhead. Lightning flashed every other minute, casting strange phantom shadows on the walls.
"When will you speak to the Council?" asked Potema as dinner was served.
"I don't know if I will," said Magnus. "I don't believe I have anything to say."
"I'll speak to them when they announce the coronation of Kintyra," said Cephorus. "Merely as a formality to show my support and the support of Hammerfell."
"You can speak for all of Hammerfell?" asked Potema, with a teasing smile. "The Redguards must love you very much."
"We have a unique relationship with the Empire in Hammerfell," said Cephorus's wife, Bianki. "Since the treaty of Stros M'kai, it's been understood that we are part of the Empire, but not a subject."
"I understand you've already spoken to the Council," said Magnus's wife, Hellena, pointedly. She was a diplomat by nature, but as the Cyrodilic ruler of an Argonian kingdom, she knew how to recognize and confront adversity.
"Yes, I have," said Potema, pausing to savor a slice of braised jalfbird. "I gave them a short speech about the coronation this afternoon."
"Our sister is an excellent public speaker," said Cephorus.
"You're too kind," said Potema, laughing. "I do many things better than speaking."
"Such as?" asked Bianki, smiling.
"Might I ask what you said in your speech?" asked Magnus, suspiciously.
There was a knock on the chamber door. The head steward whispered something to Potema, who smiled in response and rose from the table.
"I told the Council that I would give my full support to the coronation, provided they proceed with wisdom. What could be sinister about that?" Potema said, and took her glass of wine with her to the door. "If you'll pardon me, my niece Kintyra wishes to have a word with me."
Kintyra stood in the hall with the Imperial Guard. She was but a child, but on reflection, Potema realized that at her age, she was already married two years to Mantiarco. There was a similarity, to be certain. Potema could see Kintyra as the young queen, with dark eyes and pallid skin smooth and resolute like marble. Anger flashed momentarily in Kintyra's eyes on seeing her aunt, but emotion left her, replaced with calm Imperial presence.
"Queen Potema," she said serenely. "I have been informed that my coronation will take place in two days time. Your presence at the ceremony will not be welcome. I have already given orders to your servants to have your belongings packed, and an escort will be accompanying you back to your kingdom tonight. That is all. Goodbye, aunt."
Potema began to reply, but Kintyra and her guard turned and moved back down the corridor to the stateroom. The Wolf Queen watched them go, and then reentered the Map Room.
"Sister-in-Law," said Potema, addressing Bianki with deep malevolence. "You asked what I do better than speaking? The answer is: war."
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