cacb.thefarkingdoms-第26节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
afraid they would sniff us out。〃 He nodded to me。 〃You must order everyone dressed。 No one is to carry a weapon； not even an eating knife。 We must be in the square before the sands run out of a glass 。。。 Or else we shall all die。〃
The streets of Lycanth were eerie： here and there were torches carried by bewildered foreigners； silent patrols of Lycanthian soldiery stalked through the streets； refusing to answer all questions except to repeat that the Archons must be obeyed。 The high buildings were dark； as if no one was behind the windows； but now and then I caught the flash of a white face as it chanced a look out； then ducked back behind curtains。
Janos had returned hastily to his chamber while I gave the orders。 I heard the crashing of something being smashed； then nothing。 I had to shout three times before he came out。 Now； as we walked through the streets； I heard him stop by Maeen。 Then he moved up to Eanes； and I heard him ask； in a whisper； if he could read。 Eanes may have been frightened； but had enough self to snap that of course he could； not being a barbarian from Lycanth。
Then he moved up to me。 〃Here；〃 he whispered； handing me a bit of metal。 〃Learn this。 Recite it at the proper time。 You will know when。 I have given one to Maeen and to Eanes as well。〃
〃What about Cassini？〃 I whispered back。 Our Evocator was walking a few yards in front of us。
〃He has nothing to worry about；〃 Janos said。 〃The cloak of equals will extend over him。〃 He handed me a cap； used by the servitors to keep dust from their hair。 〃Pull it on。 We need to light no watch fire for them。〃
Ahead of us was the castle。 Over its main entrance…the gate lowered and the portcullis raised…was a great flare； roaring flame； without fuel or support。 I heard part of a whisper from one of the soldiers。 〃Stink 。。。 sorcery 。。。〃
〃Upon your life；〃 Janos hissed。 〃Say nothing； and think nothing bad about what is happening。〃
It was now light enough for me to look at what I held。 It was a shard of highly polished brass。 Now I understood the crash I'd heard…the brass was part of the reflector for one of the room lamps in our quarters。 Scratched on it by a knife point were words：
I am a mirror
I am not seen
I think as you
My mind is a wall
Feel nothing
Think nothing
What you see is what you are
What you see is what we are
I am a mirror
As frightened as I was； I still wondered： first the bundle of thaumaturgical objects； and now this incantation。 Did Janos Greycloak fancy himself an Evocator？ But there was no time for further thought； soldiers closed around us as we went through the gate and into the huge open courtyard。
At the far end was a stand； a stand like a great podium。 On it stood two men； their bodies shimmered； and they appeared to be taller than men should be。 Each of them wore the diadem of Archon。 I shuddered 。。。 This was an evil。 mon men； let alone outsiders； were never supposed to lay eyes on Lycanth's Archons； their Master Evocators。 I heard a soldier whisper a prayer and the thud of the blow as Maeen struck him。 We were formed into lines by Lycanthian soldiers。 There were perhaps three or four hundred of us in the square。 Dressed or half…dressed； none of us wore the garb of Lycanth。 Men and women； nobles and slaves； children and ancients。 Some of us were crying； some of us were drunk and trying to appear brave。
Then another creature appeared between the two Archons。 I heard a voice； from nowhere； from everywhere。
〃There is evil； there is evil； there is evil abroad this night
Evil for me； evil for Lycanth； evil that must be ended
The vision is clear； the vision is clear
This is the hour
This is the hour
Seek； our messenger； our inquisitor； our lover。〃
The third creature…I now saw it was the ghastly messenger that had summoned us here； a being created by the blackest of spells…leaped down from the sand。 It bounded toward us； and somehow I knew what its new role would be： finder。 I could hear sniffing as it came。 I knew this was the time。
I am mirror
I am unseen 。。。
The creature moved down our ranks； slowly。 As it approached me； one of our soldiers fainted。 I heard his body thud against the flagstones。
。。。 Feel nothing
Think nothing 。。。
The demon was in front of me。 I dared not look down。 I felt its loathsome muzzle touch my bare leg and barely kept from writhing。
What you see is what you are 。。。
I did not fall。 The hound was gone。 I heard a puzzled whine from down the row； but did not chance a look。 The beast sounded exactly like one of my own dogs； knowing that what he sought was close； but still somehow hidden。 There came the scratch of claws 。。。 ing back toward me。
What you see is what we are 。。。
Again； the beast passed on。 This time it broke from our ranks and trotted to an open space between us and the Archons。 It sat on its haunches and then howled at the setting moon。 Once。 Twice。 A third time。 Someone came out from the crowd toward the seeker； summoned by the baying。
It was a young woman。 Even now I can remember how ely she was。 She was very young…perhaps she was even a virgin。 She wore only nightclothes。 At another time； someone might have felt the stirrings of lust。 But not now。 Not here。 Lycanth had chosen its victim。 She walked to the beast。 It was as if her feet wanted to run； to flee。 But the spell would not let her。 Her lovely face was contorted in horror。 There came a shimmer in the air in front of her； a shimmer like that hanging around the Archons。 The shimmer became a dagger…not large and with a slightly curving blade。 The maiden herself might have used one like it in her kitchen if she were a moner； or one of her slaves would have sliced her morning fruit with it if she were noble。
Very slowly the woman took the blade。 She turned the blade toward her。 Then she made the first cut。 The spell she was under allowed her to scream。 None of us could run； could even turn our eyes。 She cut again。 And again。 To this day； her screams still hang hi my mind。 It was near dawn before she could not scream anymore； and they let her die。 The demon vanished； and there was no one standing on the Archons' podium。
We turned and stumbled out。 There was nothing in the square； lit by the dying torches； except the sprawled body of something that had once been very beautiful。
〃THAT is THE custom in Lycanth；〃 Janos told me later； when I was able to talk about it。 〃When the Archons or their diviners descry a doom or an evil descending on the city； sacrifice is made。〃
〃No doubt it is always an outsider。〃
〃Not always；〃 he said。 〃I have seen natives of the city； even a young Evocator once； choose themselves。 Those who offer themselves to save Lycanth are mostly young。 Mostly handsome。 Sometimes those who make the choice have spoken out against Lycanth。 Or are hereditary enemies of the city。 Or merely stand out。 That was why I asked you to wear the cap。 Perhaps those reasons are why the 。。。 the creature who must not be named 。。。 stopped by our party。 But perhaps not。 Perhaps the woman barbored greater secrets and greater feelings than any of us。 And that 。。。 that was not the worst death I have seen the Chosen One find。〃
I hesitated； about to ask him how he knew to write the counterspell； but decided against it。 It was not a question to be asked aloud in Lycanth。
It was time to go； our ship and crew were provisioned and ready。 We would leave in two or three days； on a leap tide。 Evidently Janos had found all he needed from the black market； since I did no longer see Greif about。
Janos； Cassini； and I were in one of the city's weapons shops； choosing suitable instruments for the journey； weapons that would not shriek of our origin。 I eyed a beautiful rapier of watered steel； which had a jeweled and golden guard and pommel and a gold…mreaded grip。 Next to it lay a matched dagger。 The smith murmured that an Evocator had cast a spell of invincibility on both weapons。 I asked the smith if I might handle them。 Both seemed to float in my grasp。 But not being an experienced warrior； I turned to Janos to see what he wanted me to carry。 He himself already had his weapons…the same he'd carried the day I met him on the drill field in Orissa。
〃Carry what you wish；〃 he said。 〃No man should have his individual weapons dictated before he goes into battle； unless the mander has specific reasons。 But those two； handsome as they are； would not be my personal choices。 First is that it is not advisable； particularly in a small party； for officers to be easily recognizable。 Hence you do not wear a long crest； gold workings on your armor 。。。 nor jewel…like curlicues on your blade。 There is nothing that makes a soldier lose heart so fast as seeing his mander fall。 I also have known waterfront toughs to assassinate a man solely because they lusted for his sword。 As for those enchantments 。。。 can you imagine any man heading for battle； whether he's a peasant armed with nothing but a brass…bound club or a great lord； whose weapons have not been blessed by someone？ An Evocator； a witch； a local sorcerer or 。。。 or an Archon？ Plus the field of battle itself swirls with spell and counterspell； even more thickly than the dust raised in the struggle。 I have always felt that
