cacb.thefarkingdoms-第107节
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nate for me that greatness describes his vices as well as his virtues。 Janos Kether Greycloak is quite fortably defanged now。〃
Raveline held out his hand； fingers up； and closed his talons。 〃Until two days ago； he was not quite secure within my grasp。 But after you left his pany after babbling all…oh yes； I listened； in spite of Greycloak's puerile attempts at casting a blocking spell…he notified me of what had occurred。 I told him what he must do 。。。 and he obeyed！ He obeyed！ And now he is mine。〃
〃And yet you still fear him；〃 I said。
〃I fear no one；〃 Raveline said boldly。 But his eyes darted to the side as he spoke。 He recovered and snapped； 〃Enough of this。 The conversation has ceased to amuse。 Now it is time for me to clasp you to me。 e； Amalric Antero。 e to your doom。〃
Raveline opened his arms and smiled。 I felt his power； in crashing waves。 My own arms lifted。 I took a step forward。 Raw red anger rolled over me； and his spell shattered。 My hands came down。 Raveline was taken aback。
〃You have more power than I thought。 Greif！ Bring him to me！〃
Greif came out of his paralysis and sprang forward； his hugely muscled arms pinioning mine； and he lifted me free of the ground； crushing me in a grinding chestlock。 But then it was easy； and his hold sent my muscle memory flashing back to oiled bodies grappling on mats； shouting judges； and desperate tricks old wrestlers taught while admonishing us never to use them in sport。 I back kicked against Greif's knee； and he yelped； grip loosening enough for my right fist to smash back into his genitals。 His arms came loose as he shrieked； finding agony beyond awareness of this chamber。 I turned into him； my fists joining and lifting high above my head and hammer striking at the base of his neck。 Greif was probably dead at that moment； but as he fell to the stone floor I had a fistful of his greasy hair in one hand； my foot on his neck； and I jerked sharply upward。 His neck snapped like a rotten limb。
I thought I heard a whisper； a voice I had not heard since I held a dying man in my arms in the streets of Lycanth： 〃Now I am truly free 。。。〃
I came back into a fighting stance； ready for Raveline's attack。 But he had not moved； and now his smile was a bit broader。
〃That rubbish；〃 he remarked； 〃shall go unmissed。 This bees interesting。 Now it shall be what latent power you Anteros have； against my tested； developed skills。 Again I order you。 e to me； Amalric Antero！〃 This time his fingers wove a spell； and he whispered words that even though I could not make them out； sent a wormcrawl through me。
The chamber grew darker； until there was nothing but Rave…line's presence； and then nothing but his eyes； beckoning tunnels that ordered me forward 。。。 drowning pools of evil pulling me like a maelstrom。 My mind swirled and was drawn in； and there was but a moment for my thought； and perhaps I called Halab's name； not even hoping for a miracle in this evil cavern。 And it was as if a layer of gauze transposed itself in front of Raveline's basilisk gaze。 The room brightened； and in that instant I was free； free to leap forward； without grace； without intent； as a goalkeeper deadens a ball before it can score。 I crashed into Raveline and sent him stumbling back and down。
I scrabbled toward him； trying for a grip； hoping I might seize his dagger before he brought me under his spell once more。 But Raveline's abilities were more than sorcerous。 He snap…rolled away like a tournament wrestler and was on his feet； hand drawing that dagger as sinuously as a serpent bares his fangs。 Its blade glittered； and I knew it to be ensorcelled。 But this time I did not allow time for the snake to gaze on the rabbit； for in that light that had appeared as I called for Halab's aid； I saw an archway behind where Raveline had stood； and I was running as hard as I could。 But as I ran I heard that monstrous mocking laughter of Raveline's and heard his words as clearly as if he were standing next to me。 〃You wish to play this out？ You shall have your wish。 They say the prey's flesh is made sweeter through terror and pain。 Go； Antero。 My hounds are already on the scent。 We shall meet shortly； when you have been brought to bay。〃
I paid no mind。 I had escaped the first trap； and would face the next when it was sprung。 I ran on； taking every stair that led upward。 Above me was the ruined city and its creatures； but there was also the sky and the night and the air。 My lungs seared air； and my tortured body begged for mercy； and I paid neither the slightest heed。 I found two gates； gates that reached high into the gloom above。 They were locked with a crossbar as thick as my body； just at the height of my shoulders。 I looked for a windlass or lever； but saw none。 I shoved at the bar vainly； knowing it would take a squad of soldiers to muscle it free。 But the crossbar silently lifted； and the gates were unlocked。 I but touched those gates； and they swung open； exquisitely balanced either by construct or magic。 Moonlight gleamed through the doors。 The clouds had washed away while I was in Raveline's death chamber。 Outside the gates were huge toppled stones； broken pillars； and the shattered pavings of the cursed； ruined city。
I ran out into the cold moonlight。 I hoped to find a negotiable ravine or slope that would lead me either down to the flatlands or to the river。 I was willing to chance my luck swimming those viscous…looking waters through the rapids to seek safety downstream。 I took a moment to get my bearings from the stars； frigidly indifferent as they stared down。 I picked a direction I thought the quickest route to the plateau's rim would lie； and having recovered a bit of my wind； trotted off。 I heard the first bowlings from Raveline's creatures。 I so dub them； even though I do not know if they were his creations or merely maleficent beings whose vile desires paralleled the prince's。 The baying grew louder； and I broke into a run。 I came into a broad avenue。 Down the center of the boulevard lay the remains of toppled statues。 I wasted a glance as I ran past。 Each statue's face had been effaced； as if a mason had chiseled each countenance away after the statues were brought down。 The statues were of men； but men not as we know them； nor had the models been giants or dwarfs。 I do not quite know how to describe them； except the proportions were not as they should have been。 I had no more time for observation； as the first of the creatures broke from a side street toward me。 The moonlight delineated him…it…well。 Imagine a large man； almost a giant； running on his hands and feet。 Further conceive that this man's arms and legs had been broken repeatedly and reshaped so that it became a bit easier for him to travel in this fashion than it would for a normal human。 Stretch a skull face until it is twice as long as a man's； add fangs； elongate and slant the eyes a bit like a wolf's； although that noble creature should not be pared to this beast； finish with a pale； rotted skin like a leper hides from the world； and you have a fairly accurate picture。 Its claws clattered against the stones as it closed on me。 Its baying rose into triumph； then became a howl of surprise as I scooped up a fist…size chunk of rubble and threw it with all my strength full into its face。 The creature reared and fell； writhing in blind agony and astonishment。 Perhaps the prey it had hunted previously had never struck back。 I fled on。 Behind me I heard more howling。 At the end of the boulevard I looked back。 The monster's packmates had joined their crippled fellow。 But they were not chasing me。 Instead； they took the moment to feed on their crippled brother。 I chose another street and ran toward where the ruins； and the highland； should e to an end。
Something smashed into me； knocking me spinning。 I back flipped reflexively； and saw yet another of the beasts； just as it landed； spun back toward me； and leaped。 Another of Janos' trainings flashed to mind； and as the beast's jaws gaped； and I smelled its putrescent breath； I fed it my left forearm； smashing the limb sideways against the back of its throat。 I felt the fangs tear my flesh as my other arm went behind the back of its neck； clenched； and I brought my left arm sharply upward and my right in toward me； and the beast's neck broke cleanly。 I let its weight turn me； and brought the creature down； falling with my knees against its chest and heard ribs crack like withies。
I regained my feet and sped on。 I hoped the pack would appreciate another morsel； and that the beast's fangs had not been poisoned。 Just at that moment my second wind came； and pain fell away。 Now I could run all night if it were necessary。 I heard a roar and thought it to be the river below。 I must be near the edge of the plateau。 Ahead of me the ground dipped into a natural amphitheater the builders of this city had used to build their own arena； one far vaster than Orissa's Great Amphitheater。 Stone steps led down a hillside to the stage； which had been protected with a stone canopy。 Some of the columns that had supported the canopy were still standing； with fragments of the dome hanging on their capitals。 And beyond was a vertical cliff edge。 I must skirt it until I found a ravine I could use for my des
