cacb.thefarkingdoms-第27节
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ll and counterspell； even more thickly than the dust raised in the struggle。 I have always felt that battle spells and weapon talismans tend to counteract and hence negate each other。 But that's just my feeling； or maybe cynicism。 Lastly； the rapier may be well built； but consider this broadsword； instead。〃
He indicated…and the smith was quick to hand it to him another sword。 It was built like a claymore； but shorter and its grip intended for but one hand。 〃Sturdy。 Double edged。 Also of obdurate construction。 You could probably do what I'm about to show you with either blade…but the more slender one could take a cast。〃 He took the blade tip in one hand； the grip in the other； and bent the blade into an arc； his muscles bulging。 I knew the steel must snap…but instead； it curved into a near semicircle。 Janos let it ease back and nodded to the smith。 〃No magicking here； Master Kanadis。 Just the finest of metallurgy。〃
〃You have found me out。〃 The smith grinned。 〃I share your skepticism about sorcery's place on the battleground； although I would be the last to deny an Evocator's blessing before the fight。 I have； however； hired an Evocator to place a charm against rusting on this…and all my other watered…steel blades…so they may be used aboard ship； for instance； without the owner having to spend all his waking hours cursing and scrubbing with an oil…soaked rag。〃
〃A sturdy sword；〃 Janos continued。 〃Better than the rapier for travel； since you will find yourself using that sword for everything from a tent stake to a brush cutter to a spit； although I will speak most harshly to you in the event I see you thus distempering the metal。 And these simple； straight quillons will serve to stop an enemy's slash； yet not bind as 。。。 as some other weapons I can think of might do。〃 I reddened a bit。 I thought Janos had forgotten my performance as less than a master of the duello down at the riverfront in Orissa。
〃Here is a knife to match；〃 Janos said； passing me a rather modestly worked scramasax … a single…edged knife with a fairly long and broad blade grooved on both sides。 〃This will be your copse； carcass； or thief cutter； which you will keep always beside you。 The sword you will find unfortable； and tend to leave by a campfire； or tied to your saddle； especially just before you need it。 And this dagger can be your salvation。 All else you'll need is a small knife for cutting your meat； which you may pick out over at the cutlery section。
〃Do you agree； Master Kanadis？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Two men who know better than I have spoken；〃 I said。 〃Although sometimes I feel less the master of this expedition than its sponsor； as if I were an old dodderer infatuated with a vapid sim…perer。〃
〃And all of us whores appreciate you；〃 Janos said； with a laugh。
〃One more thing；〃 he said。 〃While we're on the subject of； er； ostentation。 Your hair。 I've known great chieftains who are proud of their locks； and dare an enemy to shear them。 I have admired them。 From afar。 Especially during a battle。 We will be traveling through regions whose peoples think it blessed by the gods to hunt down a flame…headed man and pitch him off the nearest cliff to ensure a beneficial harvest or perhaps just better weather the next day。〃
I considered。 Janos had a smile on his lips； but it went no higher。 I remembered the castle courtyard and the hound。 〃When we return to the inn； I shall have Eanes shear me like a young lamb；〃 I promised； and reached for my purse to pay the smith。
Cassini； who had listened but said nothing during our exchange； bought the exotic rapier and its panion。
〃DO NOT HAND me the mirror；〃 I begged Eanes。 〃Just tell me what I appear to be。〃 My hand stroked at the emptiness where my hair had curled in waves to my shoulders。
〃Perhaps；〃 Eanes said thoughtfully； 〃a galleyslave。〃
〃Or a thief intended for the Kissing of the Stones；〃 Janos put in helpfully； peering around the corner。
〃A criminal；〃 I moaned。 〃A condemned man。〃
〃You're too harsh； my master。 You could also pass for a holy man who's taken a vow of celibacy。〃
〃Definitely that；〃 Janos said。 〃Possibly even a castrato。〃
〃I think；〃 I said； 〃I shall go next door to Evocator Cassini's chambers； and ask him if he could prepare a small spell that delves into the arena of baldness。〃
'Too late for me；〃 Eanes said； patting himself on his shiny pate。 〃But beware it doesn't turn back on its caster； as so many incantations do。〃
〃I am starting to believe；〃 I said； 〃that being thrown from a high cliff is better than listening to either of you。 Janos； this was your idea。 You may buy me a brandy 。。。 no； several brandies 。。。 below stairs。〃
I rose and picked up my new sword。 I was still getting used to its heft； more than a bit heavier than the rapiers or short swords I carried in Orissa。 Eanes carefully gathered up the cloths he'd laid around my chair before he began his bartering。 He shook them into a leather bag。
〃You were clever enough to not let any of his locks fall on the carpet？〃 Janos asked； most serious。
〃I was； Captain。 Just as I have been since I was named his bodyslave； back when he was a mewling infant。 Careful with hair； careful with the trimmings from his nails； careful with the down from what he wishes will be a beard one of these years； even careful when he was a disgusting pup and vomiting in all directions like a fountain。 Although there have been times I would have gladly sold a bit of my master to some evil witch； provided she would include civility and mon sense in whatever spell she planned to cast over him。〃
〃Good；〃 Janos said； still serious。 〃But do not dump the cuttings down the Jakes； please。 Carry them out to the main sewage ditch； where you may be sure the water flow is constant。〃
Eanes' smile evaporated； and he became as serious as Janos。 〃I shall do as you say；〃 he said。 〃And I know not whether you've any premonition； but just being in this city of dead stones and cursed souls makes me constantly think all our doom is just around a corner。〃
All of us crossed fingers。 Eanes gave a heavy sigh。 〃It is so bad；〃 he said； 〃I am even looking forward to the ocean； where I will be forced to hold Lord Amahic's head over the side when he pales； and inform him that puking to windward is not blessed。 Thanks be that I myself have a stomach of the most solidly cast iron。〃 He picked up the bag and went out。
'To the best of my knowledge；〃 I said； 〃Chatterbox Eanes has never been on any boat in his life； except perhaps one in a garden pond。〃
Janos smiled a bit。 〃He reminds me of my own nurse。 Scuffling； whining； plaining； worrying； but always…〃
A scream curdled the night。 Janos and I were out the door onto the balcony。 His sword was already in hand； I scrabbled mine out。 We clattered down the stairs into the courtyard。 The two watch soldiers at the gate were peering out； their weapons ready。 Other soldiers pelted out from their chambers； buckling on their gear。
〃Eanes；〃 one of the soldiers shouted； pointing down the street。 The watch had been ordered to let nothing lure them from then…posts。 〃He just went…〃
I didn't hear the rest； as we rushed out into the street。 Janos grabbed one of the torches from its stanchion as we went。 At the end of the street； I saw three men struggling。 We hallooed and charged forward。 One of them broke away and darted off into the blackness。 The other paused long enough for me to see his arm strike across the chest of the third； who collapsed。 Then there was no one in the cobbled street but the sagging body of a man。
It was Eanes。 We turned him over。 He'd been slashed twice… once on the arm； cutting it to the bone； and then across the body； deep into his body cavity。 But he still lived。
〃Call Cassini；〃 I ordered to Janos。 He shouted for the Evocator and his healing herbs。 I could hear feet running toward us。
Eanes' eyes opened； then found me。 〃They 。。。 didn't get it。 I did not let them；〃 he gasped。 〃They wanted 。。。〃
〃Be silent。〃 Janos knelt beside me。 He held out a small leather bag…the bag carrying my hair clippings。 My bowels clenched。 It could not be。 They thought the well…dressed little man was carrying a bag of coins。
〃They said 。。。 they wanted what had e 。。。 from you 。。。 that I would be rewarded if I yielded it over。 And if I didn't 。。。〃 Eanes sucked in air； air that was no fort to his ripped lungs。
〃Hold on；〃 I said。 〃Cassini is powerful。 He has potions and spells。 You'll be all right。〃
Eanes shook his head。 〃No；〃 he whispered。 〃One boon； master。 One last boon。〃 I knew he was dying。 〃Free me；〃 he managed。 〃Let me die a free man。〃
That was no boon…it was my fault he would die here on these rough cobblestones in this damned city。 But that was all I could do。 I tried to find words； but I'd had never freed a slave before。 Janos spoke。
〃Say the words after me；〃 he ordered。 I echoed him。
〃I 。。。 Lord Amalric Antero； of Orissa； do declare this slave Eanes； Eanes of 。。。 of 。。。〃
〃Of Mangifera；〃 came the whisper。
〃Of Mangifera 。。。 a free man。 He now owes no man homage 。。。 save those superior to him by station or duty 。。。 he has the right to property 。。。 to wife 。。。 to children； who shall be free as well 。。。 he has the right to his own life 。。。 to his own death 。。。 I； Lord Ama
