萧虎翻身下马,火铳插在城门前的玄武岩上,金属与岩石摩擦出的火星,恰好落在 "苍狼逐日" 的城徽中央:"老王爷," 他双手捧起鎏金匣,"这是孛儿帖王妃的月光纹婚书," 匣盖的狼虎纹章与苍狼旗产生共振,"更是," 顿在打开的匣中,"托雷王爷的苏鲁锭短刀," 刀鞘上的苍狼齿印记,"愿与汪古的苍狼," 声音如洪钟,"共饮一弯黑水。"
阿剌兀思的苍狼刀突然出鞘三寸,刀刃映着婚书上的畏兀儿文:"墨尔根可知," 他的目光扫过婚书末尾的 "共保汗位" 条款,"窝阔台的狼首符," 顿在 "已许我漠北三千里草场," 刀身指向北方,"比托雷的," 顿在 "漠南牧马监," 声音冷硬,"更辽阔。"
萧虎的火铳突然指向天空,铅弹击碎城楼上的狼毒花灯笼:"老王爷请看," 他指向南方腾起的七道狼烟,"史天泽的河朔军," 火铳划过 "居庸关" 的方向,"已按婚书约定," 顿在 "将汉地的谷穗," 声音低沉,"铺满黑水城的粮仓。"
阿剌兀思的瞳孔骤缩,他认出那是 "七星报捷" 的信号,与三年前蒙古军大破金军的狼烟相同。萧虎趁机取出帕丽萨的星象图,孔雀石转盘上的 "苍狼星位" 正与 "天狼星" 形成犄角:"老王爷," 他的银簪划过星象图,"土星已入天市垣," 顿在 "漠南的草场," 火铳指向星陨碎块护额,"唯有与狼首旗共生," 顿在 "才能避开," 声音如砾石,"乃蛮的狼毒花风暴。"
是夜,萧虎在黑水城的苍狼纹毡帐内,与阿剌兀思对饮马奶酒。火铳柄上的苍狼刻痕,正与对方青铜护腕的云雷纹相触:"老王爷," 他忽然展示袖中密信,"窝阔台的狼首军," 火铳划过 "阿尔泰山增兵" 的密报,"已将您的漠北草场," 顿在 "划给乃蛮旧部," 声音压低,"他们的狼毒花祭," 顿在 "要烧光苍狼的图腾。"
阿剌兀思的苍狼刀重重磕在案头,震得星陨碎块护额发出蜂鸣:"墨尔根," 他的目光扫过萧虎腰间的虎纹符节,"你说的共保汗位," 顿在 "如何保?"