anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第15节

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　who　had　ever　e　at　me　in　Antioch；　crying　for　the　Mother　and　Father。　This　being　was　an　entirely　new　thing。
　　　It　was　in　this　moment　that　I　understood　perhaps　for　the　first　time　that　anger　was　weak。　Anger　had　robbed　me　of　Pandora　over　a　sentence　of　less　than　twenty　words。　Anger　would　rob　me　of　Mael　if　I　destroyed　him。　Also；　I　thought；　I　can　always　delay　the　murder。　I　can　talk　with　Mael　now。　I　can　let　my　mind　have　this　pany　it　craves　and　I　can　always　kill　him　later　on。
　　　But　I'm　sure　you　know　such　reasoning　is　false；　because　once　we　grow　to　love　a　person　we　are　not　likely　to　want　that　person's　death。
　　　As　these　thoughts　raced　through　my　mind；　words　suddenly　spilled　from　my　lips。
　　　〃I'm　Marius；　don't　you　remember　me？〃　I　said。　〃You　took　me　to　the　Grove　of　the　Old　God；　you　gave　me　to　him；　and　I　escaped。〃　I　was　appalled　at　the　hostility　with　which　I'd　spoken。
　　　He　cloaked　his　thoughts　pletely；　and　I　couldn't　tell　whether　he　had　known　me　by　my　appearance　or　not。　He　spoke　quickly　in　Latin。
　　　〃Yes；　you　abandoned　the　grove。　You　abandoned　all　those　who　worshiped　you。　You　took　the　power　given　you；　and　what　did　you　leave　for　the　Faithful　of　the　Forest？　What　did　you　give　back？〃
　　　〃And　you；　my　precious　Druid　priest；〃　I　said；　〃do　you　serve　your　old　gods？　Is　that　what　has　brought　you　to　Rome？〃　My　voice　was　quaking　with　anger；　and　I　felt　the　weakness　of　it。　I　struggled　to　regain　clarity　and　strength。　〃When　I　knew　you；　you　were　pure　of　heart。　Seldom　have　I　ever　known　any　creature　more　deluded；　more　given　over　to　forts　and　illusions　of　religion　as　you　were。〃　I　stopped。　I　had　to　check　myself；　and　I　did。
　　　〃The　old　religion　is　gone；〃　he　said　furiously。　〃The　Romans　have　taken　even　our　most　secret　places。　Their　cities　are　everywhere。　And　thieving　barbarians　swoop　down　upon　us　from　across　the　Danube。　And　the　Christians；　the　Christians　e　into　places　where　the　Romans　are　not。　There　is　no　stopping　the　Christians。〃
　　　His　voice　grew　louder；　even　though　it　had　taken　on　the　tone　of　a　whisper。
　　　
　　　
　　　〃But　it　was　you；　Marius；〃　he　said；　〃you；　who　corrupted　me。　It　was　you；　Marius；　who　poisoned　me；　it　was　you　who　divided　me　from　the　Faithful　of　the　Forest；　you　who　gave　me　dreams　of　greater　things！〃
　　　He　was　as　angry　as　I　was。　He　was　trembling。　And　as　often　happens　with　two　people　who　are　quarreling；　this　anger　produced　a　good　calm　in　me。　I　was　able　to　sink　my　enmity　down　into　myself　with　that　little　resolve；　You　can　always　kill　him　later；　and　so　I　went　on。
　　　The　other　creature　looked　quite　surprised　by　all　this　and　fascinated　with　an　almost　childlike　expression　on　his　face。
　　　〃What　you're　saying　is　nonsense；〃　I　answered。　〃I　ought　to　destroy　you。　It　would　be　an　easy　thing　for　me　to　do。〃
　　　〃Very　well　then；　try；〃　he　answered。
　　　The　other　one　reached　from　behind　and　put　his　hand　on　that　of　Mael。
　　　〃No；　listen　to　me；　both　of　you；〃　he　said　in　a　kindly　rather　deep　voice。　〃Don't　go　on　with　this　quarrel。　However　we　came　to　the　Dark　Blood；　either　through　lies　or　violence；　it　has　made　us　immortal。　Are　we　to　be　so　ungrateful？〃
　　　〃I'm　not　ungrateful；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　owe　my　debt　to　fate；　not　to　Mael。　Nevertheless；　I'm　lonely　for　your　pany。　That's　the　truth　of　it。　e　to　my　house。　I'll　never　harm　anyone　who　es　as　a　guest　under　my　roof。〃
　　　I　had　quite　surprised　myself　by　this　little　speech　but　it　was　the　truth。　〃You　have　a　house　in　this　city？〃　asked　Mael。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　a　house？〃
　　　〃I　have　a　house；　a　fortable　house。　I　bid　you　to　e　and　talk　to　me。　I　have　a　pleasant　garden　with　beautiful　fountains。　I　have　slaves。　They　are　simple…minded。　The　light　is　pleasant。　The　garden　is　full　of　night…blooming　flowers。　e。〃
　　　The　one　with　the　black　hair　was　openly　surprised　as　he　had　been　before。
　　　〃I　want　to　e；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　Mael；　though　he　still　stood　behind　him。　His　voice　had　an　authority　to　it；　a　pure　strength；　though　it　was　soft。
　　　Mael　was　rigid　and　helpless　in　his　anger。　With　his　hawk　nose　and　frightful　eyes；　he　reminded　me　of　a　wild　bird。　Men　with　such　noses　always　do。　But　in　truth；　he　possessed　a　rather　unusual　beauty。　His　forehead　was　high　and　clear；　and　his　mouth　was　strong。
　　　But　to　go　on　with　my　tale；　it　was　only　now　that　I　noticed　that　both　men　wore　rags　like　beggars。　They　were　barefoot；　and　though　blood　drinkers　are　never　truly　soiled；　for　no　soil　clings　to　them；　they　were　unkempt。
　　　Well；　I　could　soon　remedy　that　if　they　would　allow。　I　had　trunks　of　garments　as　always。　Whether　I　went　out　to　hunt　or　to　study　some　fresco　in　a　deserted　house；　I　was　a　well…dressed　Roman；　and　often　carried　dagger　and　sword。
　　　At　last　they　agreed　to　e；　and　with　a　great　act　of　will；　I　went　ahead；　turning　my　back　on　them　to　lead　them；　using　the　Mind　Gift　to　maximum　effect　to　watch　over　them　that　neither　tried　to　strike　out　at　me。
　　　Of　course　I　was　profoundly　grateful　that　Those　Who　Must　Be　Kept　were　not　in　the　house　where　either　of　these　two　might　have　detected　their　powerful　heartbeats；　but　I　could　not　allow　myself　to　visualize　these　beings。　On　we　walked。
　　　Finally；　they　came　into　my　house；　looking　about　themselves　as　though　they　were　among　miracles　when　all　that　I　possessed　were　the　simple　furnishings　of　a　rich　man。　They　gazed　hungrily　at　the　bronze　oil　lamps　that　filled　the　marble…floored　rooms　with　brilliant　light；　and　the　couches　and　chairs　they　hesitated　to　touch。
　　　I　cannot　tell　you　how　often　this　has　happened　me　over　the　centuries；　that　some　wandering　blood　drinker；　bereft　of　all　human　attachments；　has　e　into　my　house　to　marvel　at　simple　things。
　　　This　is　why　I　had　a　bed　for　you　when　you　came　here。　That　is　why　I　had　clothes。
　　　〃Sit　down；〃　I　said　to　them；　〃there's　nothing　here　that　can't　be　cleaned　or　thrown　away。　I　insist　that　you　be　fortable。　I　wish　we　had　some　gesture　that　I　might　give；　equal　to　that　which　mortals　make　when　they　offer　guests　a　cup　of　wine。〃
　　　The　larger　taller　man　was　the　first　to　be　seated　in　a　chair；　rather　than　a　couch。　Then　I　followed　taking　a　chair　as　well；　and　bidding　Mael　please　to　be　seated　to　my　right。
　　　I　could　see　now　quite　clearly　that　the　bigger　blood　drinker　possessed　infinitely　more　power　than　Mael。　Indeed　he　was　much　older。　He　was　older　than　me。　That　was　why　he　had　healed　after　the　Terrible　Fire；　though　that　had　been　two　hundred　years　ago；　I　had　to　admit。　But　I　sensed　no　menace　from　this　creature；　and　then　quite　unexpectedly；　indeed；　silently；　he　gave　me　his　name。
　　　〃Avicus。〃
　　　Mael　gazed　at　me　with　the　most　venomous　expression。　He　did　not　sit　back　as　he　might　have　done；　but　kept　himself　bitterly　erect　and　ready　as　if　for　a　brawl。
　　　I　sought　to　read　his　mind　but　this　was　useless。
　　　As　for　me；　I　considered　myself　the　consummate　master　of　my　hatred　and　my　rage；　but　when　I　saw　the　anxious　look　on　the　face　of　Avicus　I　thought　perhaps　I　was　wrong。
　　　Suddenly；　this　blood　drinker　spoke。
　　　〃Lay　down　your　hatred；　each　for　the　other；〃　he　said　in　Latin；　though　he　spoke　with　an　accent；　〃and　perhaps　a　battle　of　words　will　put　all　to　right。〃
　　　Mael　didn't　wait　for　my　agreement　to　this　plan。
　　　〃We　brought　you　to　the　grove；〃　he　told　me；　〃because　our　god　told　us　we　must　do　this。　He　was　burnt　and　dying；　but　he　would　not　tell　us　why。　He　wanted　you　to　go　to　Egypt；　but　he　wouldn't　tell　us　why。　There　must　be　a　new　god；　he　said；　but　he　didn't　tell　us　why。〃
　　　〃Calm　yourself；〃　said　Avicus　softly；　〃so　that　your　words　truly　speak　for　your　heart。〃　Even　in　his　rags　he　looked　rather　dignified　and　curious　as　to　what　would　be　said。
　　　Mael　gripped　the　arms　of　the　chair　and　glared　at　me；　his　long　blond　hair　hanging　over　his　face。
　　　〃Bring　a　perfect　human　for　the　old　god's　magic；　we　were　told。　And　that　our　legends　told　us　was　true。　When　an　old　god　is　weak　there　must　be　a　new　one。　And　only　a　perfect　man　can　be　given　over　to　the　dying　god　for　his　magic　in　the　oak。〃
　　　〃And　so　you　found　a　Roman；〃　I　said；　〃in　the　prime　of　life；　happy　and　rich；　and　dragged　him　off　against　his　will。　Were　there　no　men　among　you　who　were　fit　and　right　for　your　own　religion？　Why　e　to　me　with　your　wretched　beliefs？　〃
　　　Mael　wasn't　slowed　in　the　slightest。　At　once　he　continued。
　　　　　〃　'Bring　me　one　who　is　fit；'　said　the　god；　'one　who　knows　the　languages　of　all　kingdoms！'　That　was　his　admonition。　Do　you　know　now　long　we　had　to　search　for　such　a　man　as　you？　〃
　　　〃Am　I　to　feel　sorry　for　you？　〃　I　said　sharply　and　foolishly。
　　　He　went　on。
　　　　　We　brought　you　to　the　oak　as　we　were　told　to　do。　Then　when　you　came　out　of　the　oak；　to　preside　over　our　great　sacrifice；　we　saw　that　you　had　been　made　into　a　gleaming　god　of　shimmering　hair　and　eyes　that　frightened　us。
　　　〃And　without　a　word　of　protest；　you　raised　your　arms　so　that　the　Great　Feast　of　Sanhaim　could　begin。　You　drank　the　blood　of　the　victims　given　you。　We　saw　you　do　it！　The　magic　was　restored　in　you。　We　felt　we　would　prosper；　and　it　was　time　to　burn　the　old　god　as　our　legends　told　us　we　must　do。
　　　〃It　was　then　that　you　fled。〃　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　as　though　this　long　speech　had　taken　the　strength　out　of　him。　〃You　didn't　return；〃　he　said　disgustedly。　〃You　knew　our　secrets。　But　you　didn't　return。〃　A　silence　fell。
　　　They　didn't　know　of　the　Mother　and　the　Father。　They　knew　nothing　of　the　old　Egyptian　lore。　I　was　too　relieved