#高塔藏书库第四期#
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- 会在文末附上原文
Ⅱ.Lord Radegast
Ⅱ.拉德加斯特领主
拉德加斯特大步穿过灰烬。当他向山顶走去时，一朵云挡住了他的去路。伤疤染污了他的盔甲，他的手枪躺在尘土中。他现在不需要它了。战斗结束了。
这里曾经是一个采矿前哨。有几栋建筑和一辆交通工具。它坐落在一片小森林中，就像一颗珍贵的宝石，镶嵌在荒地暗淡的皇冠上。
现在几乎什么都没了。这位战士开始慢慢地走进山谷。他从头上摘下头盔头盔，让它随着一声轻柔的砰砰声落入灰烬中。在这片森林中，只剩下树桩。在这座村庄里，没有了人烟；建筑物化为碎片。在这你随处都可以看到沉闷的灰郁的居住过的迹象。
在谷底，拉德加斯特来到了灰烬、死亡和暴力的源头。这些负光者排成一排，简单地用布覆盖着他们的盔甲和长袍。他们一共五个人，在定居点大厅融化的大梁下一字排开。
这些军阀多年来一直恐吓着这片荒野。数百人死于他们的手中。
拉德加斯特转身，他的同伴们穿过谷底加入他的行列。他们一直在管理死者，为前哨的定居者和矿工善终。
乔尔德(注1)迈着稳健步伐悄悄走来，充满力量和火焰。萨拉丁，平静而沉重，死者的重担压在他的肩膀上。在他们身后的佩伦，她的战靴在她走路时几乎没有留下痕迹。他们聚集在他面前。
“再也不会了。”他低声说。其他人则像战痕累累的雕像一样站立着。
“我们的铁骑对抗暴君和军阀。我们躲在这些飞地里，希望其他负光者不会找到我们。我们彼此敬畏。”他摇了摇头，握紧了拳头。
“不。我们团结起来势不可挡。我们团结起来蔽日遮天。我们所要害怕的只是...这个。”他指着死去的军阀。“屈服。让光能的力量蒙蔽了我们的双眼，让我们盲目，看不清我们究竟是什么。”
当然，是佩伦问了这个问题。“我们是什么？”无从判断。无可指责。
尽管如此，拉德加斯特还是能感受到他们的怀疑。他转过身去，目光落在支撑大厅的巨大横梁上。当他转回到他的同伴时，他的眼睛闪闪发光。
“我们将成为人们需要我们成为的样子。我们将成为守护者。我们将成为保卫者。我们将把我们最后一个人团结在一起。”
他的声音响彻寂静的山谷。
“我们躲藏的日子结束了。现在就说出来吧，你们每一个人。在其他负光者中，你信任谁？谁能有希望加入我们的铁骑呢？
“布雷托马特(注2)”，乔尔德说。“戴德里斯(注3)”，佩伦说。
“我只相信你，拉德加斯特，”萨拉丁说，他们的领导人咆哮着回应。“你在说什么？我们是什么？"佩伦又问了一遍。
拉德加斯特笑了。我们会召集你们信任的人。我们不能再等了"——他绕着他做了个手势——“来举起我们的手。我们将与那些使用光来对抗我们人类自己的人作战。人类必须有保护者。就像古代的骑士一样。”
在他们周围，尘土在空中旋转。当太阳向地平线倾斜时，阳光在长长的条纹中凝聚在一起。
“你们要和我一起吗？你们会和我站在一起吗——作为钢铁领主？”在渐渐暗淡的光芒中，他们的答案像雷声一样响起。
- 注1：乔尔德(Jolder)是最初的四位钢铁领主之一，也是一位即美丽、充满欢乐又战斗凶猛的成员(非常有人格魅力的泰坦)，并且是萨拉丁领主亲密的朋友。
- 注2：布雷托马特(Bretomart)是一名泰坦，钢铁之狼成员，被乔尔德向拉德加斯特推荐成为钢铁领主。
- 注3：戴德里斯(Deidris)是一名猎人，钢铁之浪成员，被佩伦向拉德加斯特推荐成为钢铁领主。
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原文：
Ⅱ.Lord Radegast
Radegast strode through the ashes. A cloud hung in his wake as he made his way to the top of the rise. Scars marred his armor, and his sidearm lay in the dust. He didn't need it, now. The battle was over.
This had been a mining outpost, once. A few buildings and a transport. Nestled amid a small forest, it had been like a precious jewel set atop the dull crown of the wildlands.
Now there was almost nothing left. The warrior began to walk slowly down into the valley. He pulled his helm from his head and let it drop with a muted thud into the ash. Of the forest, only stumps remained. Of the small village there was no trace; the buildings reduced to splinters. Here and there you could see dull gray signs of inhabitation.
At the bottom of the valley, Radegast came to the source of the ash, death, and violence. The Light-bearers were laid out in a row, simple cloth covering their armored and robed forms. There were five of them, and they had been lined up beneath the melted girders of the settlement's great hall.
These warlords had terrorized this part of the wilds for years. Hundreds had died at their hands.
Radegast turned as his companions crossed the valley floor to join him. They had been policing the dead, finding a fitting end for the settlers and miners of the outpost.
Jolder came with a steady glide, energy and fire. Saladin, calm and slow, the weight of the dead on his shoulders. In formation behind them stepped Perun, her boots barely leaving a trace as she walked. They gathered before him.
"Never again." He intoned the words quietly. The others stood as battle-scarred statues.
"We ride against despots and warlords. We hide in these enclaves, hoping that other Light-bearers will not find us. We fear each other." He shook his head, his fists clenched.
"And we should not. We are stronger, together. We are mighty, together. All we have to fear is... this." He pointed down at the dead warlords."Giving in. Allowing the power of the Light to blind us to what we truly are."
It was Perun, of course, who asked the question."What are we?"No judgment. No reproach.
Still, Radegast could feel their doubt. He turned upwards, and his eyes settled on the massive span that supported the hall. His eyes shone as he turned back to his fellows.
"We will be what the people need us to be. We will be guardians. We will be protectors. We will hold the last of us together."
His voice rang out across the still valley.
"Our days of hiding are ended. Say it now, each of you. Who among the other bearers do you trust? Who can be counted on to ride with us?"
"Bretomart," said Jolder. "Deidris," said Perun.
"I trust only you, Radegast," said Saladin, and their leader scowled in response. “What are you saying? What are we?” Perun asked again.
Radegast smiled."We will gather those you trust. We will not wait for this"—he gestured around him--“to force our hand.We will ride against those that would use the Light against our own. Humanity must have protectors. Like the knights of old."
Around them, the dust swirled in the air. Shafts of sunlight coalesced in long slanted bars as the sun dipped towards the horizon.
"Are you with me? Will you stand with me—as Iron Lords?" In the waning light, their answers rang like thunder on the air.