anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第38节

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One　night　he　made　his　love　known　to　me；　that　he　would　give　up　all　for　me…his　proposed　marriage；　his　family；　all…if　only　I　would　go　away　with　him　to　Ephesus；　the　place　from　which　his　family　had　e；　and　where　he　wanted　to　return。〃
　　　She　broke　off　as　if　she　did　not　mean　to　go　on。
　　　〃It　was　such　love；〃　she　said；　her　words　ing　more　slowly；　〃and　all　this　while　he　believed　that　I　was　a　young　man。〃
　　　I　said　nothing。
　　　〃The　night　he　declared　his　love；　I　revealed　myself。　He　was　quite　horrified　by　the　pretense。　And　I　took　my　revenge。〃　She　frowned　as　though　she　wasn't　quite　sure　of　the　word。　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃my　revenge。〃
　　　〃You　made　him　a　blood　drinker；〃　I　said　softly。
　　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　still　looking　off　as　though　she　were　back　in　those　times。　〃I　did；　and　by　the　most　brutal　and　ungraceful　force；　and　once　that　was　done；　he　saw　me　with　naked　and　loving　eyes。〃
　　　〃Loving　eyes？〃　I　repeated。
　　　She　looked　pointedly　at　Avicus　and　then　back　to　me。　Then　she　looked　at　Avicus　again。
　　　I　took　my　measure　of　him。　I　had　always　thought　him　rather　splendid；　and　assumed　from　his　beauty　that　the　Gods　of　the　Grove　were　chosen　for　their　beauty　as　well　as　their　endurance；　but　I　tried　to　see　him　as　she　saw　him　now。　His　skin　was　golden　now；　rather　than　brown；　and　his　thick　black　hair　made　a　dignified　frame　for　his　unusually　beguiling　face。
　　　I　looked　back　to　Eudoxia　and　saw　with　a　little　shock　that　she　was　looking　at　me。
　　　〃He　loved　you　again？〃　I　asked；　locking　in　immediately　upon　her　story　and　its　meaning。　〃He　loved　you　even　when　the　Blood　flowed　in　his　veins？〃
　　　I　could　not　even　guess　her　inner　thoughts。
　　　She　gave　me　a　grave　nod。　〃Yes；　he　loved　me　again；〃　she　said。　〃And　he　had　the　new　eyes　of　the　Blood；　and　I　was　his　teacher；　and　we　all　know　what　charm　lies　in　all　that。〃　She　smiled　bitterly。
　　　A　sinister　feeling　came　over　me；　a　feeling　that　something　was　very　wrong　with　her；　that　perhaps　she　was　mad。　But　I　had　to　bury　this　feeling　within　me　and　I　did。
　　　〃Off　we　went　to　Ephesus；〃　she　said；　going　on　with　her　story；　〃and　though　it　was　no　match　for　Alexandria；　it　was　nevertheless　a　great　Greek　city；　with　rich　trade　from　the　East；　and　with　pilgrims　always　ing　for　the　worship　of　the　great　goddess　Artemis；　and　there　we　lived　until　the　Great　Fire。〃
　　　Her　voice　became　small。　Mortals　might　not　have　heard　it。
　　　〃The　Great　Fire　destroyed　him　utterly；〃　she　said。　〃He　was　just　that　age　when　all　the　human　flesh　was　gone　from　him；　and　only　the　blood　drinker　remained；　but　the　blood　drinker　had　only　just　begun　to　be　strong。〃
　　　She　broke　off；　as　though　she　could　not　continue；　then　she　went　on：
　　　〃There　were　only　ashes　left　to　me　of　him。　Ashes　and　no　more。〃
　　　She　fell　silent　and　I　dared　not　encourage　her。
　　　Then　she　said：
　　　〃I　should　have　taken　him　to　the　Queen　before　I　ever　left　Alexandria。　But　you　see；　I　had　no　time　for　the　temple　blood　drinkers　and　when　I　had　gone　to　them；　it　was　as　a　rebel；　talking　my　way　in　proudly　with　tales　of　the　Queen's　gestures　to　me　so　that　I　might　lay　flowers　before　her；　and　what　if　I　had　brought　my　lover；　and　the　Queen　had　made　no　such　gesture　as　that　which　she　had　made　to　me？　And　so；　you　see；　I　had　not　brought　him；　and　there　in　Ephesus；　I　stood　with　the　ashes　in　my　hands。〃
　　　I　remained　silent　out　of　respect　for　her。　I　couldn't　help　but　glance　at　Avicus　again。　He　was　all　but　weeping。　She　had　possession　of　him；　heart　and　soul。
　　　〃Why　did　I　go　back　to　Alexandria　after　this　terrible　loss？〃　she　asked　wearily。　〃Because　the　temple　blood　drinkers　had　told　me　that　the　Mother　was　the　Queen　of　all。　Because　they　had　spoken　of　the　sun　and　of　our　burning。　And　I　knew　that　something　must　have　befallen　our　Mother；　something　had　caused　this　Great　Fire；　and　that　only　those　in　the　temple　would　know　what　it　was。　And　there　was　a　pain　in　my　flesh；　by　no　means　unbearable；　but　something　which　I　would　have　healed　by　the　Mother；　if　I　had　found　her　there。〃
　　　I　said　nothing。
　　　In　all　the　years　since　I'd　taken　Those　Who　Must　Be　Kept；　I　had　never　e　upon　such　a　creature　as　this　woman。　And　I　should　say　as　well　that　never　had　such　a　blood　drinker　e　upon　me。
　　　Never　had　anyone　e　armed　with　such　eloquence；　or　history；　or　old　poetry　such　as　this。
　　　〃For　centuries；〃　I　said；　my　voice　low　and　gentle；　〃I　kept　the　Mother　and　Father　in　Antioch。　Other　blood　drinkers　found　me…warlike　and　violent　creatures；　creatures　badly　burnt　and　bound　upon　stealing　the　strong　blood。　But　you；　you　never　came。〃
　　　She　shook　her　head　in　negation。
　　　〃Never　did　Antioch　enter　my　thoughts；〃　she　confessed。　〃I　believed　that　you　had　taken　the　Mother　and　Father　to　Rome。　Marius；　the　Roman；　that　is　what　they　called　you。　Marius；　the　Roman；　has　taken　the　Mother　and　the　Father。　And　so　you　see；　I　made　a　severe　error　in　going　to　the　Imperial　City；　and　after　that　I　went　to　Crete；　and　I　was　never　to　be　close　to　you；　never　to　find　you　by　the　Mind　Gift；　never　to　hear　tell　of　where　you　might　be。
　　　〃But　I　was　not　always　searching　for　the　Mother　and　Father；〃　she　said。　〃I　had　my　passions。　I　made　blood　drinkers　to　be　my　panions。　The　centuries　healed　me　as　you　have　seen。　I　am　now　far　stronger　than　you　are；　Marius。　I　am　infinitely　stronger　than　your　panions。　And　though　touched　by　your　fine　Patrician　manners　and　your　old…fashioned　Latin；　and　by　the　devotion　of　your　friend；　Avicus；　I　must　lay　down　for　you　some　hard　terms。〃
　　　〃How　so；　Eudoxia？〃　I　asked　calmly。
　　　Mael　was　in　a　rage。
　　　She　was　quiet　for　a　long　moment；　during　which　her　small　delicate　features　wore　nothing　but　an　expression　of　sweetness　and　kindness；　and　then　she　said　with　courtesy：
　　　〃Give　over　the　Mother　and　Father　to　me；　Marius；　or　I　shall　destroy　you　and　your　panions。　You　will　not　be　allowed　either　to　stay　or　to　go。〃
　　　I　could　see　the　shock　in　Avicus。　As　for　Mael　he　was；　thank　the　gods；　dumbfounded。　And　as　for　me；　I　was　again　stunned。　I　waited　several　moments；　and　then　I　asked：　〃Why　do　you　want　the　Mother　and　Father；　Eudoxia？〃　〃Oh；　Marius；〃　she　shook　her　head　crossly；　〃don't　play　the　fool。　You　know　the　Mother's　blood　is　the　strongest。　I've　already　told　you　that　every　time　I　ever　appealed　to　her；　she　gave　me　the　weling　gesture；　and　allowed　me　to　drink。　I　want　her　because　I　want　the　power　in　her。　And　also　because　I　would　not　have　this　King　and　Queen；　who　can　be　burnt　again　or　put　in　the　sun；　given　over　to　others　who　might　do　such　rash　things。〃
　　　〃Have　you　thought　this　through？〃　I　asked　coldly。　〃How　would　you　keep　the　shrine　secret？　From　what　I've　seen　of　your　blood　drinker　panions；　they　are　almost　children　both　in　mortal　years　and　in　the　Blood。　Do　you　know　the　weight　of　this　burden？〃
　　　〃I　knew　it　before　you　ever　existed；〃　she　said；　her　face　suffused　with　anger。　〃You　play　with　me；　Marius。　And　I　won't　have　it。　I　know　what's　in　your　heart。　You　won't　give　up　the　Mother　because　you　won't　give　up　the　blood。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　so；　Eudoxia；〃　I　said；　straining　to　remain　civil。　〃I　want　time　to　consider　what　has　been　said　here。〃
　　　〃No；　I　give　you　no　time；〃　she　said；　her　voice　angry；　a　blush　ing　to　her　cheeks。　〃Answer　me　now；　or　I　destroy　you。〃
　　　Her　rage　was　so　sudden　it　caught　me　off　guard。　Yet　quickly；　I　recovered。
　　　〃And　how　do　you　mean　to　do　this？〃　I　asked。
　　　Mael　jumped　to　his　feet；　and　moved　behind　his　chair。　I　gestured　for　him　to　be　still。　Avicus　sat　in　mute　despair。　The　blood　tears　had　begun　to　flow　from　him；　and　they　moved　down　his　face。　He　was　far　more　disappointed　than　fearful。　In　fact；　he　seemed　rather　solemnly　brave。
　　　Eudoxia　turned　to　Avicus；　and　at　once　I　sensed　a　threat　in　her　posture。　Her　limbs　stiffened；　and　it　seemed　that　her　eyes　became　unusually　hard。　She　meant　to　do　something　evil　to　Avicus；　and　there　was　no　time　for　me　to　wait　and　see　what　that　might　be。
　　　I　rose；　and　rushing　at　her；　took　hold　of　her　by　both　wrists；　turning　her　so　that　inevitably　and　furiously　she　looked　up　at　me。
　　　Of　course　this　physical　strength　could　acplish　little　here；　but　what　more　could　I　do？　What　had　my　powers　bee　over　these　years？　I　didn't　know。　But　there　was　no　time　to　ponder　or　experiment。　I　summoned；　from　the　very　depths　of　my　being；　all　the　destructive　force　I　might　possess。
　　　I　felt　a　pain　in　my　belly　and　then　in　my　head；　and　while　Eudoxia　went　limp　in　my　grasp；　with　her　eyes　closed；　I　felt　a　dreadful　heat　e　full　force　against　my　face　and　chest。　But　I　was　not　burnt　by　it。　I　repelled　it　and　drove　it　back　whence　it　had　e。
　　　In　sum；　this　was　a　battle；　and　I　had　no　idea　who　might　win　it。　I　sought　again　to　bring　all　the　force　that　I　could　mand　into　action　and　again　I　saw　her　weaken；　felt　her　weaken；　and　yet　there　came　the　heat　once　more　against　me　but　it　had　no　effect。
　　　I　threw　her　down　on　the　marble　floor　and　I　stood　over　her；　gathering　the　force　with　all　my　will　and　directing　it　towards　her；　and　she　writhed　on　the　marble；　her　eyes　closed；　and　her　hands　shuddering。　My　force　held　her　pinioned。　My　force　would　not　let　her　rise。
　　　At　last　she　went　still。　She　breathed　deeply　and　then　she　opened　her　eyes；　and　she　looked　up　at　me。
　　　Out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye　I　saw　her　acolytes　Asphar　and　Rashid　ing　to　assist　her。　Both　brandished　huge　glittering　swords。　I　looked　desperately　about　for　one　of　the　oil　lamps　in　the　hope　that　I　could　burn　one　of　them　with　flaming