cacb.thefarkingdoms-第109节
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p； I turned the boat toward the cavern's mouth。 As I came out of the cavern into the dark river that poured down toward the flatlands and Irayas； the current sent the boat speeding down the canyon。 The craft obeyed my unspoken and undefined desire as well as it had Greif s。
I could see dawn's promise as I neared the city。 Perhaps I should have made the enchanted gondola take me to my palace； where I knew Omerye agonized。 But I also knew I must confront Janos now； not just for the sake of my people 。。。 but for all who live as wizards' slaves。 To this day I honestly do not know what end I foresaw when I finally did confront him。 For my soul's sake； I pray my intent was pure and untainted by desire for revenge。
As Janos' mansion bulked out of the calm waters； I dropped Prince Raveline's dagger into the river。 Through the remnants of the night I saw its jewels and sorcelled blade spin until the knife…my only weapon…vanished。 I tied Raveline's boat to a piling under the main deck where that sobbing woman's skiff had been lashed。 I had planned to climb one of the pilings to avoid the guard that should have been on the landing； but there was none。 I crept up the stairs and noted with greater surprise that one of the edifice's entryways yawned wide。 Perhaps； I thought； this was the gift Halab's ghost had promised； I slipped within。 I did not know how close I would be able to e to Janos before his own watchdog spell would clamor him awake； but I continued onward； quietly as a questing ferret。 The torches and lamps that illuminated the huge building were guttering low； but I needed no illumination as dawn's light grew steadily around me。 My wonder grew； because I saw never a sign of sentry； factotum； or servant。 At last I entered the courtyard and approached the tower where I knew Janos would be。 I went up the stairs toward his bedchamber； which was just below the study he used for incantations。
Janos lay sprawled in the middle of his huge bed。 He was alone。 He wore but a silken loincloth。 He slept deeply； so deeply I thought he had been enchanted。 At that moment my resolution vanished and I stood； as if mired； at the foot of his bed。 Then I spoke his name。 Janos' eyes snapped open； and as I saw awareness dawn； he rolled sideways and was on his feet； graceful and deadly as a startled leopard。
He knew instantly what had happened。 〃You killed him？ You killed Raveline？〃 His voice was incredulous。 〃And I sensed nothing？ How could that be？〃
I did not answer…I only stared at Janos in shock。 Only two days gone I had marveled at how he had aged。 Yet now it looked as if decades had passed since we looked at each other in the mirror abovestairs。 Where jaundiced gray had striped his hair and beard before； it now discolored it in patches； and his face was as raddled as a rich old degenerate。 But he looked worse than any of those debauchees； because there was a brooding evil in his appearance； evil like I'd seen on Raveline's face 。。。 and yes； Mor…tacious'。 Janos' eyes had changed as well。 Once they held the fierceness of the eagle； but now held the hard glare of a carrion eater。 Most telling of all was the necklace he wore about his neck： the dancing girl from the Far Kingdoms that his father had given him。 She had been 〃healed〃 by our journey； and when last I saw her； she had been a glorious； seductive work of art。 Now she was tarnished and broken at the hips 。。。 just as she was the first day Janos showed her to me at the wineshop in Orissa。 I knew at once that although I had been the one who had been tortured； hunted； and savaged by beasts on four legs and two 。。。 Janos had paid a heavier price for betraying me。
I had said nothing since calling his name and had no words prepared。 I held Janos' eyes with my own for a moment。 He looked away 。。。 it was the first time he had not been able to face me。 〃What were you promised？〃 I asked； and noted there was no anger in my voice； even though all the years of panionship should have caused me to seethe rage。 〃How much silver and gold was offered for your reward？〃
Now anger grew on his face。 〃There was no price named；〃 he hissed。 〃What I did 。。。 was needful。 You would have destroyed 。。。 you have destroyed everything。〃
I maintained calmness。 〃What is this everything； Janos？ By luck；〃 and I recollected what Raveline had told me luck was； 'I am still alive。 Now Raveline's darkness will not be able to destroy our lands。 And now we have the measure of the Far Kingdoms。 And even if King Domas expels us as the price for his brother's death； what of it？ We will still be able to achieve what they have gained 。。。 and more。 Is that everything？ Or is everything the ruin of your own ambitions 。。。 and the loss of your black guide？〃
〃We needed Raveline；〃 Janos said。 〃I needed him。 He was my stepping stone。 He would have been my tool。〃
〃For what end？ So you could bee more evil than he？ So you could reach deeper into demon worlds than he has？ So you； in the end； would be able to rule with fire and the lash in a manner that would make people remember the Black Prince as a kindly benefactor？〃
〃Words； words； Antero；〃 Janos barked。 〃You still use words that you do not know the meaning of。。。 or that have no meaning at all。 Evil。。。 good 。。。 We stand at the threshold of another age； an age beyond all of the petty considerations of prattling parents and teachers。 Men say that once there was a Golden Age； when we were all like gods。 That age never existed。 All there has been； since this world formed itself from the slime； were flounderings； sometimes a bit toward the light； sometimes a slip back into the abyss。 Raveline would have helped me split the clouds and let the radiance shine for all eternity。 Men would have been； not gods； but beyond gods。 Except for your doing。 Except for one small…souled peddler who can see nothing but profit and some sort of mythical woolly…brained benevolence in a world where there is nothing but predator and prey。 There was but one chance for all of us。 Can't you see？ Chance； which is the only real god to worship； created one brief moment for this change to begin； for man to step up and beyond。〃
That was quite enough。 〃Gods；〃 I said； and there was anger in my voice as well。 〃You claim I use meaningless words。 Well； this peddler is having trouble with some of your words； and gods is one of them。 Another is this new age you mention。 If we are to be gods； my pardon； more than gods； all of us small…souled beings should now look at the face of Janos Greycloak； and see the awful halo of the future he promises。 Look at yourself。 Your face mirrors what you have bee； man！ You're nothing but a degenerate who prattles drunkenly of the morrow's blessing while he cheerfully plunges into the gutter with the swine。 Janos； can't you see？ I recollect a time when you spoke of what gains we could bring back from the Far Kingdoms 。。。 gains for everyone。 Instead； what is your goal； now？ You told me to look at one grain of sand and see a myriad within it。 I cannot。 All I see is that poor woman in her boat； sorrowing under your mansion。 What did you give her； Greycloak？ Did you make her 。。。 or her children 。。。 more than gods？ Look at yourself now； my once friend。 And answer this simple merchant's question： why； if your quest is for the heavens； do you now have the face of a demon？〃
Janos did not look away。 His obvious scorn grew； and I realized why he was letting his anger build。 〃Knowledge 。。。 power 。。。 exacts its own price；〃 he said。 〃You would know that； if you were anything but a child。〃
We stared at each other for a long moment； and in that moment； Halab's final gift manifested itself。 I knew what must be done； and my heart shriveled as it realized that just as there had been no possibility of Janos' redemption； my duty was now equally graven in stone。 I fought the revelation； but knew its truth。
The second part of the gift followed。 I was suddenly watching the room with two sets of eyes； as if one brain controlled two beings who stood apart from one another。 Images of everything doubled and overlapped。 Everything…except for Janos。 His eyes gleamed brightly as they became lamps； their glow not dissimilar from the light that had shone from Greif's blind eye。 〃Could have；〃 he murmured； 〃and still shall be。〃 Without looking away； without a change of expression； he swooped to one knee； seized a long blade that had been lying on the floor； and slashed at my midsection。 But I was not there。 The third； and last； part of Halab's gift was now mine。 I had 〃seen〃 the knife； fully as long as a sword； just before Janos' hand found it…and realized his plan。 Time came to a stop as he cut at me； and it was most easy to step back beyond its reach。
〃No； Janos；〃 I said。 〃You do not need to do this。 Neither of us needs to die。〃 I said the words； but they were hollow。 They were not a deliberate lie； but came from the last part of me that still fought against the onrushing end to this tragedy。 He did not answer； but attacked once more。 His knife gleamed； glowing as if it had been carved from a single jewel； and each facet caught the dawn's sun and reflected a thousand thousand shimmerings across the room。 He lunged 。。。 and his thrust went past my side as I slipped out of the way。
He recovered as my righ
