fs.thethirdbookofswords-第30节
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Mark something like a show to which he need only listen； and watch。 As if none of it had anything； really； to do with him。
The windows of this room were equipped with heavy shutters； as was fitting in a castle constructed to withstand assault。 But on this upper level of the castle； high above any possible assault by climbing troops； the windows were large； and today all the shutters had been thrown open。 Framed in their casement openings； the sea and the rocky hills and the town below all appeared like fine tapestries of afternoon sunlight； thrown by some Old World magic on the walls。
Kristin had risen quickly from the throne when the door opened； and when her uncle had closed it again behind him she had moved a few paces forward； toward Mark。 But now the two of them； she and Mark； were still standing a little apart； looking at each other as if they had nothing to say … or perhaps as if neither of them could manage to say anything。
But their eyes drew them together。 Suddenly they were embracing； still without a word of speech。 Then Kristin tore herself away。
〃What is this they've given you to wear？〃 she asked； as if the sight of the costume they had put on him； some antique ceremonial thing； made her want to laugh and cry at once。 But still he said nothing。
She tried again； not with laughter； but now with an almost distant courtesy。 How fine that he had already been reunited with his family。 She'd had no idea； of course； that they'd been living here。 In recent years a lot of refugees； good people； had e in。 Did Mark's mother and sister know him after so long a time？ How long had they been living here in Tasavalta？ Did he have any trouble recognizing them？ It was too bad his father was away。
〃Kristin。〃 As he called her by her name； he wondered if it was the last time he would ever be able to do so。 〃Stop it。 Have you nothing real to say to me？ Why didn't you tell me？〃
There was a pause； in which Kristin drew a deep breath； like a woman who wondered if it might be her last。
〃Yes；〃 she said then。 〃I must say something very real to you； Mark。 For the sister of a Princess Regnant to have married a moner； and a foreigner as well … that would have been very hard。 Very nearly impossible。 But I would have done it。 I wanted to marry you。 I wanted it so much I was afraid to tell you who I was。 And I was going to marry you； wherever that path led。 I hope you will believe that。〃
〃Kristin； Princess。。。〃
〃Wait！ Let me finish； please。〃 She needed another pause to get herself together。 〃But my sister Rimac is dead。 She died childless and unmarried； and I am ruler now。 For a Princess Regnant to marry a moner； let alone a foreign soldier； is impossible。 Impossible； except … again I hope you will believe me … I would have done it anyway。 It would have meant resigning the throne； probably leaving the country； I would have done that for you。 But。。。〃 〃But。〃
〃But you must have heard them！ There isn't anyone else to rule！ You heard Rostov。 If I hadn't e back to take the throne； there would have been a civil war over the succession。 Even with attackers threatening us from outside。 I know my people。 We probably seem to you a happy； peaceful country； but you don't know。。。〃
Again Mark was silent。 ；
〃I。。。 Mark； our land and people。。。 we owe you more than we can ever repay。 We can give you almost anything。 Except the one thing that you want。 And that I want。。。 oh； darling。〃
This time the embrace lasted longer。 But as before； the Princess broke it off。
Mark was conscious that he still had a duty to perform； and drew himself up。 〃I am the bearer of certain messages； that Sir Andrew； whom I serve； has charged me to deliver to the ruler of the Lands of Tasavalta。〃
Kristin； as never before conscious of duty； drew herself up； too； and heard the messages。 They were more or less routine； diplomatic preliminaries looking to the establishment of more regular contacts。 Sir Andrew had long resisted adopting the diplomatic pretense that he was still actually governing the lands and people that had been stolen from him； but he had recently been persuaded of the value of taking such a pose； even if the facts were otherwise。
Mark concluded the memorized messages。 〃And now； I am ordered to place myself at Your Majesty's disposal。〃 Again； in the fog of his exhaustion； the feeling came over him that none of this really had anything to do with him； he had stumbled into the middle of a play； there were certain lines that he was required to read； and soon it would all be over。
Kristin said； 〃I am glad to hear it。 You will need a few days in which to rest； and recover from。。。〃 She had to let that trail away。 With a toss of her head she made a new start。 〃You will be assigned modest quarters here in the palace。〃 Quarters far from my own rooms。 So Mark understood the phrase。 〃Then you heard what I told Karel。 I mean to send you on a special mission。 This should not pose any conflict with your orders from Sir Andrew； if they are to place yourself at my disposal。 I hope that you will accept the assignment willingly。〃
He could feel only numbness now。 〃I am at Your Majesty's disposal； as I said before。〃
〃Good。〃 Kristin heaved an unroyal sigh： part of an ordeal had been passed。 〃The mission you are to perform for Tasavalta is a result of some magical business of Karel's。 In divination。。。 you will be given more details later。 But according to him； the indications are so urgent that he dared not wait even until tomorrow to confront me with the results。
〃You are to go and find the Emperor； and seek an alliance with him for Tasavalta … and an alliance with him for Sir Andrew too； if you feel you are empowered by Sir Andrew to do that。 I leave that to your judgement。〃
〃The Emperor。 An alliance with him？〃 Even in Mark's present state of embittered numbness； he had to react somehow to the strangeness of that proposal。 An alliance； as if the Emperor were a nation； or had an army？ Of course the indications were； Mark thought； that the Emperor was； or at least could be when he chose； a wizard of immense power。
Curious in spite of everything； he asked； 〃Me； negotiate for you in such a matter？ I'm not even one of your subjects。 Or a diplomat。 Why me？〃
〃Karel says it should be done that way。 Though I don't think that he himself knows why。 But I've learned over the years that my uncle usually gives his monarch good advice。〃
〃Karel wants to make sure I'm out of the way。〃
〃There is that。 But sending you back to Sir Andrew would do that just as well。 No。 There's something about the Emperor … and about you。 I don't know what。〃
The Emperor； thought Mark。 The man that Draffut； after fifty thousand years of knowing human beings； trusted at first meeting。 The man who had said that he； Mark； should be given Sightblinder。
The man in whose name a simple incantation had twice； in Mark's experience； repelled demons 。。。
The sorcerer Karel … it was； Mark supposed； foolish to think he had not been listening … was back in the room now； as if on cue。
After all that had already happened today； Mark had no real capacity left for surprise； so he felt no more than dull curiosity when he observed that the magician was carrying a sheathed Sword。
Karel in his soft； rich voice said to him： 〃It is Coinspinner； and it has e to us in a mysterious way。 And you are going to take it with you to help you find the Emperor。〃
Mark's dinner that evening was eaten not in the palace； but in the vastly humbler home of his sister Marian。 It had turned out that she was now living in the town； really a small city； not far below。
Mark had by now had a little time in which to savor the great news that his father Jord； who he had thought for ten years was dead； was alive after all。 And not only was Jord still alive but well and active at last report； off now on some secret mission for the Tasavaltan intelligence service。 Neither Mala nor Marian appeared to know where Jord had been sent or when he might be back； and Mark； with some experience in these matters himself； did not press to find out。 For now it was enough to know that he at least had a good chance of someday seeing his living father once again。
At dinner … a good dinner； evoking marvelous memories … Mark heard from his mother and sister how his surviving family had e to Tasavalta years ago； after more years spent in homeless wandering； following the destruction of their old village。
In the nine years or so since then； much had happened to them all； and they had much to talk about。 Marian was married now； her husband off somewhere with Rostov's army。 Her two small children gaped through dinner at this newly discovered uncle； and warmed up to him gradually。
It was almost midnight； and Mark was having to struggle at every moment to stay awake； before he said goodnight。 His 〃modest quarters〃 in the palace had no attraction； and he was about to go to sleep on cushions on the floor in the room where they had dined and talked。
Marian had already said goodnight； and had taken the children upstairs to bed。
But Mark's mother lingered。 There was a suppressed urgency in her manner。 〃Walk me home。 I stay nearby； here in town； while Jord is gone。 It's only a little way。〃
〃Of course。〃
Once they
