cacb.thefarkingdoms-第11节
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〃I am seeking Captain Janos Greycloak； of the Magistrates' Own Guards；〃 I said。
One of them frowned； then remembered。 〃Oh。 The Lycanthian。 He's with Second Cohort； sir。〃 He glanced up at the sun。 〃Most likely they'll still be at the butts。 He works his men hard。〃
The soldier gave me instructions。 As we went through the maze of barracks； I puzzled over what the soldier had said。 A Lycanthian？ In Orissa's service？ Especially serving in the elite unit responsible for the safety of the Magistrates？ Thinking back； although I had paid little mind the night before； I did recall a trace of an accent on his tongue； but it was quite unlike what I'd heard from the few Lycanthian traders I'd encountered。
I saw the boil of dust and the swirl of arms from the end of the parade field。 There were thick logs buried vertically in the ground that could be used for targets or practice enemies。 There were two such butts behind my family's villa； where the weapons teachers hired by my father had taught me。 There came a bellow of 〃Stand；〃 and the dust settled； revealing perhaps fifty paired…off soldiers。 They carried bucklers； wore leather jerkins with high necks； leather greaves； and leather helmets。 In time of war the leather would be reinforced with iron or steel plating in strategic places and； if the battle was to be intense； chain…mail corselets； as well。 One man of each pair held a short stabbing spear； the other a sword。 The spear blade was covered with a guard； and the swords were clipped into their sheaths。 To one side was Janos Greycloak。 Unlike the others； he wore a full…face helmet with nosepiece； and an unusual leather jerkin that had a full…length sleeve on the left； and that sleeve was armored with close…set steel plates； with a partial breastplate/shoulder guard on the same side。 In his right hand； Janos carried the long； slender sword I'd seen him use so effectively； and； like his soldiers； he held a buckler in his left。 The man who'd shouted at the soldiers I also recognized…the older sergeant who'd advised me on the brandy the night before。
Janos saw me and nodded； but did not greet us。 He walked forward into the center。 〃That was smartly done；〃 he said； but there was little real praise in his voice。 〃Fit for any parade soldier。 Sergeant Maeen？〃
〃Sir！〃
〃If you will step out and； as if you were mired in honey； strike at me with your spear。〃
The heavy man did as he was told。 He'd barely begun a lunge when Janos ordered a stop。
〃A parade ground is a parade ground；〃 he said； in a conversational tone。 〃War is something different。 I shall teach you many ways besides the ones you learned as mewling recruits。 None of them are wrong； if you survive the encounter； and none of them are right if the spear thrust casts your ghost to the winds。 Here are some things that may be done。〃 As he spoke he moved slowly； like a man under water。 〃Take the spear thrust on your shield； turn the shield aside； and strike。 Or strike the spear itself behind the haft with your sword 。。。 and perhaps you may break it。 Yet another device； if your enemy oversteps his balance…thank you sergeant； just so…is to sidestep him； and then strike directly over or under his armor。 But as you do so； do not forget your enemy has someone beside him； and if you bee too intent on your target it will be your death that is harvested。 A good trick…and this is one which will never be taught to young gentlemen…is to carry a handful of dust in your fist and cast that in your opponent's face before he can attack。 If you are quick enough you may be able to duck low and hamstring him with a slice； although that is a very risky undertaking。 Another undertaking of risk； less so if you are very strong； is to parry the spear with a sword slash； then thrust with your buckler as if it were a weapon。 I have seen men blinded by the boss on a shield who were then cut down at leisure。 The most important thing you will learn is to never watch the shield； never watch the sword； but watch the eyes of the man you are fighting。 They will always betray his next move。〃
Janos stepped back。 〃Now； Sergeant Maeen will have you perform the same evolution。 But this time without the one…two…three…and this time there is no required parry or attack。 Sergeant！〃 His order triggered new roars from the sergeant； and dust cycloned once more。 I determined not to mention either of the two duels I'd fought； sure that Captain Greycloak would think them nothing but the formal； pecking challenges of young cocks in the farmyard。 Hamstringing 。。。 throwing sand 。。。 blinding 。。。 no。 Even though I'd taken them most seriously at the time； as I assumed had my opponents； those two affairs of honor which had been settled with the first dribble of blood had not been real battles。
Janos watched the drill without ment or expression； then walked over。 〃Good morning； my friend；〃 he said。 〃You see。 I am already subverting these fine soldiers from being mannequins。 How is your head this morning？〃
〃That's the first thing everyone's asked me；〃 I said。 〃I didn't think I was that drunk。〃
〃We never do；〃 Janos said。 〃How may I be of service？〃
I took the purse from Eanes and handed it to him。 〃Please accept this poor repense for my unbroken bones…and reputation。〃
Janos hefted the purse； then handed it back。 〃Thank you； but there's no reward required for booting a hyena away from a sleeping victim。〃
〃I…I wish you would take this；〃 I said carefully。 〃In all seriousness； the shadow of my debt to you is overlong。〃
Janos nodded thoughtfully and took the purse； then he turned back to the mock fray。 〃Stand。〃 His roar made the sergeant's appear to be a mousesqueak。 'This gentleman；〃 he said； without preamble； 〃has for some unknown reason decided to favor you。〃 Janos tossed the purse to Maeen。 'The cohort will have meat for even…meal tonight；〃 he announced。 〃And one skin of wine to be shared between two。〃
There was a ragged cheer； then silence slammed down like a curtain as Janos' face bee ice。 〃I did not；〃 he said； in a calm voice； 〃give any of you leave to speak。 By all rights I should be shamed； and return this money to your patrician admirer。 But I shall not。 You appear to have great wind in you。 That is very good。 Sergeant； ran them to the top of Mount Aephens。 You remain at the base。 Run them up and down until you weary of the sight of them。〃 Mount Aephens was three leagues distant and nearly a league high； rough brush； deep ravines； and rugged stone。 〃Since they are to be glutted tonight； fasting through the noontide will be good for them。 That is all。〃 A few moments later the elements of the cohort trotted away； Maeen bellowing some arcane chant as they disappeared。
〃You must never；〃 Janos said； rejoining us； 〃let soldiers think you are trying to buy into their graces。〃 Then he stopped and smiled apology。 〃My pardon。 I have been playing magister all morning and have trouble shedding the cloak。〃
He sheathed his sword。 I'd noted with some interest that his blade was long and narrower than the conventional army weapon； and sharpened on both edges。 Even more curious was that the blade was rippled； obviously made of the finest watered steel； yet the guard was simple and plain。 Surely a captain； even one fresh in Orissan service； could afford a bit of gold； silver； or fancy work to boast his rank。 He carried his scabbard slung across his back； so that his sword's handle protruded at an angle over his right shoulder。 Very unusual； but I had seen such an arrangement before； on a barbarian from the frontiers beyond Lycanth。 When I'd asked about it； the fellow had told me the design not only made it easy to draw on foot or horseback； but also did not get mixed up between his legs and trip him when he was drunk。 Like that barbarian； Janos also wore a dagger mounted for a left…hand crossdraw on his belt： a practical weapon with a blade that appeared no more than a forearm in length； unlike the great tapering poignards street bravos carried。 Like his sword； its pommel； grip； and guard were bare of decoration。 I made note that if my plan was carried to pletion； I would see that Greycloak was armed in a manner befitting a retainer of the Antero family…thus proving I knew even less about real weaponry than I thought。
〃Let me sluice the dust from my face and change into walking…out dress；〃 Janos said。 〃There's a wineshop I know of that has decent pressings for a soldier's pay。 If you would care to join me？〃
I would； indeed。
THE INN WAS not unknown to me： it was a favored trader's shop； located not only close to the central market； but at the riverbank； a suspicious merchant could watch his stock being loaded or offloaded and still negotiate yet another contract。 I tossed Eanes a quarter…coin； and he joined the other slaves in a nearby arbor waiting their masters' bidding。 We found a table； and a waiter brought wine； water； and a plate of pickled octopus tentacles； oil…cured olives； and cheeses。 Both of us watered our wine liberally…I did not want Greycloak believing I was a plete sot。
'This morning； at mess；〃 Janos began casually； 〃I mentioned I'd met you last night； although without describing the interesting details。 One of the officers said you were planning a journey。 What he called…Finding your Tr
