fs.thethirdbookofswords-第31节
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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 were outside； Mala clung to her son's arm as if she needed his support to walk； though she was not yet forty and all evening had seemed full of energy； rejoicing in their reunion。 But now her mood became suddenly tinged with sadness。
〃You've just e back to us；〃 she said。 〃And before we can begin to know you； you must go off again。〃
〃I must； Mother。〃
〃I know； I know。〃 Mark had yet to encounter anyone at all； in either town or castle； who did not know of his relationship with Kristin； and the potential problems that it raised。
Mother and son walked； slowly。 He was very tired。 He thought that his mother seemed now to be on the brink of telling him something。 She kept asking him； 〃You'll e back to Tasavalta； though？〃
〃I'll be here a couple of days yet。 I'll see you again； and Marian； before I go。〃
〃Yes； of course。 Unless the plan for your departure is changed。 In these matters of secrecy； plans can change very quickly； I've learned that。 But after this mission； you'll e back？〃
〃To report on my mission； I suppose； yes； I'll have to。 And be sent off again。 I can't stay here。 The Princess's moner lover； and a foreigner to boot。 If my father had been the Grand Duke Basil； or Prince Something…or…other； things would probably be different。〃
They were at her door now。 It was a modest place； but looked fortable； probably the government here provided quarters for its secret agents' families。
Mala； her voice quivering as if she were doing something difficult； said： 〃Mark； e in； there's something I must tell you； while I have the chance。 The gods know if I'll ever have the chance again。〃
It was about an hour later when he emerged from the humble apartment where his parents lived。 He stood in the narrow street for a little while； looking up at the stars。 They looked the same as always。 Beyond tiredness now； Mark remained standing there in the street for what felt to him like a long time。 And then he went to his modest quarters in the palace； knowing that he had to get some rest。
Two mornings later； well fed； well dressed； and reasonably rested； armed with the Sword Coinspinner at his side。。。 and Woundhealer left safely in Karel's care。。。 Mark left the Palace。 His departure was quiet； without fanfare official or otherwise。 Mounted on a fine riding beast and at the head of a small escort similarly well equipped； he was on his way to seek the Emperor。
Mark looked back only once。 He saw a figure that he was sure was Kristin； watching his departure from a distant upper window。 But he made no sign that he had seen her。
Chapter 10
Over the long decades since his human eyes had gone in sacrifice； and demonic senses had been engrafted magically upon his own； the Dark King had e to be unsure sometimes whether he was awake or dreaming。 He saw the Mindsword the same way in either case； as a pillar of billowing flame long as a spear； with his own face glowing amid the perfect whiteness of the flame。 He could tell that the eyes on his own face of flame were open and seeing。 Whether he was dreaming or awake； that fiery stare for some reason always reminded him that he had never seen with his own natural eyes any of those who were now his closest associates and chief subordinates。 The demon showed him his human wizards and warlocks as strange； hunched； wizened figures； and his generals as little more than animated suits of armor； but all of them appeared with exaggerated caricature…faces； that amplified all of their subtleties of expression； so that the Dark King might better try to read them。 Whereas demons； in the demonic vision； appeared with noble； lusty； youthful bodies； usually naked and always intensely human； except in their very perfection； their large size； and in the bird…like wings they often sprouted。 The Dark King knew of course that they had no real bodies； or wings either； and he did not believe at all in their faces as they were presented to him； shining with kindliness and honor。
Now that the King was in the field with his army； on the march almost daily； the demons sometimes appeared to him on a smaller scale； fluttering in the air inside his tent like monkbirds。 Vilkata dwelt now in a tent much smaller than his grand pavilion； because speed was of importance。 And he thought that speed was vital now； because of the reports that had recently e in； first announcing and then confirming that Sir Andrew's troops were at last out of the swamp。 The army in orange and black was moving in the direction of Sir Andrew's old lands； as if the Kind Knight for some reason thought the time might be ripe to reclaim them。
This news of course made Vilkata wonder what his erstwhile ally； the Silver Queen； might now be planning。 As far as he knew she still controlled those lands。
The report of Sir Andrew's movement had also confirmed Vilkata's recent decision that his own strategy had best be altered。 Now； he determined to destroy Sir Andrew first； before turning his attention to his other surviving enemies and rivals。 Vilkata had arrived at this decision to change his plans largely out of the feeling that his enemies must now know too much about them as they stood。
First of all； the Dark King was now convinced that he had entertained a spurious Burslem； some damned spy； at that memorable council meeting at the main camp； the one where the King had first displayed his Mindsword； and which the gods had so gratifyingly attended later。 The real wizard Burslem； Vilkata's head of Security and Defensive Intelligence； had at last returned； and had been positively identified； this time； by careful questioning。 How the spy had managed to resist the Mindsword's influence； as he or she evidently had； was something else for the King to worry and wonder about。 The Sword Sightblinder was so far the only really convincing explanation to be suggested； and the presence of that in one of his enemies' hands was far from reassuring。
Today； as Vilkata moved about his small field tent in his routine of morning preparations； the small demon that served him as sensory aid presented him as usual with a vision of the tent's interior。 Certain things； in accordance with his own long…standing orders； were edited out of the scene as he perceived it。 For example； the body of last night's concubine； curled now at the foot of the。bed in sleep or a good imitation thereof； was most clearly visible by its shapely torso； the breasts and buttocks particularly emphasized。 The irrelevances of hands and feet； and especially the face … who would care about trying to read the innermost thoughts of such a woman？ … blurred away into a semi…transparent obscurity。 In the case of a bed…partner； better a blur than a face； no matter how well…formed and schooled in smiling。 Even such smiles could sometimes be disquieting。
And the Dark King had recently ordered that； when the next battle came； the dead should be edited away too； out of his perception。 He had observed frequently； on other battlefields and in other areas where much killing was required； that the dead were a notable distraction。 Obstacles when removed ought to disappear； resources once used up were only waste materials。 The dead tended to stink； and were in general esthetically unpleasing。 He had finally decided to order them filtered out。 Someone else could count them up when necessary。
He had decided； too； that many of the wounded； most of them in fact； should also be expunged from his vision。 Those remaining should be only the ones still able to play an active part in the day's events； enough to present some possible danger to the Dark King's person； or his cause。 This might not always be easy for a busy demon to judge； in doubtful cases the filtering familiar was to let the wounded person remain visible； even if esthetically offensive。
This morning； when Vilkata left his small tent and mounted his war…steed； amid the usual thunderous applause of his troops and officers； his army appeared before him in his demon…sight as neat ranks of polished weapons； the human form attached to each blade or bow not much more than a mere uniformed outline。
A look at the best maps he had available had persuaded him that it ought to be possible to intercept Sir Andrew's force if he moved swiftly； staring at first daylight。 The morning's march was hard and long。 Scouts； some of them human beings mounted or afoot； some of them winged beasts； kept ing in with reports of what appeared to be the rear guard of Sir Andrew's force not far ahead。 They estimated that the enemy army was even a little smaller than earlier intelligence estimates had made it out to be。
But Vilkata； still prudent despite the overwhelming advantage that he thought he held； ordered his infantry forward as against a foe possibly almost their equal in numbers。 He also ordered a swift cavalry movement； a reconnaissance in force； to move around Sir Andrew's army； to try to engage the enemy front and if possible prevent successful flight。 Meanwhile he maneuvered the main body of his own troops into battle array。 Stationing himself just behind the front
