cacb.thefarkingdoms-第59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！


to　the　Far　Kingdoms　had　been　approved；　and　there　would　be　public　discussion　on　who　would　lead　it。　Once　again；　Cassini's　name　was　raised。　I　rode　with　Janos　to　the　meeting。　He　dressed　himself　as　a　soldier；　still　favoring　the　plain；　light　armor　and　mon　sword　on　his　back。　But　astride　his　horse；　his　black　beard　brushed　until　it　glistened　and　his　big　white　teeth　smiling；　he　looked　like　a　young　king。　Outside　the　amphitheater；　we　were　cheered　by　a　large　group　of　angry　young　men；　among　them　was　Malaren。
　'Thank　you　for　the　greeting；〃　Janos　said。　〃But　what　is　happening？〃
　〃I　will　tell　you；　my　dear　man；〃　Malaren　seethed。　'They　plan　to　steal　the　leadership　of　the　expedition。〃
　〃Who　is　they？〃　I　broke　in；　for　Janos　was　too　jolted　to　ask。
　A　burly　man　with　thick；　calloused　hands　answered。　〃Those　dog…bitten　Magistrates；　that's　who；〃　he　shouted。　I　saw　the　mark　on　his　arm…he　was　a　recent　slave。　〃And　the　damned　Evocators're　in　on　it；　too。〃
　〃Not　all　of　them；〃　Malaren　said。　〃But　there　are　enough　old　men　and　cowards　in　both　groups　to　give　it　to　Cassini。〃
　I　looked　at　Janos；　his　eyes　steel　and　his　hand　reaching　for　his　sword。　He　looked　ready　to　kick　his　horse　into　a　gallop　and　charge　the　amphitheater。　Someone　shouted；　〃We're　with　you；　Greycloak！〃　Others　took　up　the　shout。　〃We'll　not　let　them　try　and　cheat　you　again。〃　Other　voices　were　raised；　and　I　saw　many　more　had　joined　us。　Among　them　were　lords　like　Malaren　and　mon　folk；　blacksmiths；　and　sailors；　and　yes；　former　slaves　as　well。　I　felt　a　great　stirring　of　battle　ing　on。
　Abruptly　Janos　was　all　calmness。　He　raised　a　hand；　and　there　was　silence。　〃We　will　not　behave　as　rabble；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　are　with　me；　then　e　quietly。　I　want　you　all　to　sit　together；　and　I　swear　that　I　shall　speak　for　all　of　you　as　well　as　myself。〃
　There　were　mutters；　but　Janos'　manding　presence　prevailed；　we　readied　ourselves　to　enter。　I　felt　a　tug　at　my　breeches；　and　I　looked　down　and　recognized　a　young　servant　from　my　household。　Her　eyes　were　wide　and　frightened。
　〃What　is　it？〃　I　asked。
　〃It　is　Lady　Antero；〃　she　cried。　〃e　quickly。　Your　child　is　being　born。〃
　Her　words　pierced　me。　I　was　torn　by　the　heat　of　the　moment　and　fear　for　Deoce。　Janos　kicked　his　horse　to　my　side。　〃Go；〃　he　said。
　〃But　。。。　the　meeting　。。。　the　。。。〃
　He　pushed　me；　rough。　〃I　can　do　this。　I　will　need　you　more　later。　Now；　go！〃　My　wavering　broke；　and　I　swept　the　servant　girl　up　on　my　saddle　and　raced　through　the　streets　for　the　villa。　Behind　me　I　heard　a　great　roaring　echo　from　the　amphitheater。
　The　birthing　bed　was　a　horror　of　blood　and　pain。　Two　mid…wives　tended　my　poor　Deoce；　and　not　all　their　medicines　and　spells　could　ease　her　agony。　My　daughter　was　ing；　but　she　wasn't　ing　easily。　Deoce　gripped　my　hand　so　hard；　I　thought　my　fingers　would　break。　〃I　knew　you　would　e；〃　she　wept。　'They　said　there　was　。。。　a　meeting。　The　expedition！　But　。。。　I　knew　you　would　e　just　the　same。〃
　I　tried　to　find　words；　but　they　were　all　puny　things　beside　her　pain　and　faith　in　me。　All　I　could　say　was　that　I　loved　her　and　that　I　would　love　her　until　the　sands　all　washed　away　to　sea。　She　gave　a　terrible　scream；　and　I　thought　I　had　lost　my　Deoce　forever。　Silence　。。。　So　thick　and　heavy　after　that　scream；　I　can　feel　it　stifle　me　as　I　scratch　these　words。　Then　I　saw　my　daughter's　head　emerge　between　Deoce's　bloody　thighs。　My　wife　choked　back　another　scream；　and　the　babe　came　the　rest　of　the　way　into　the　practiced　hands　of　the　midwife。　A　moment　later；　Emilie　gave　her　first　cry。　My　daughter　was　born。
　〃Is　she　beautiful？〃　Deoce　asked　in　a　weak　voice。
　I　looked　at　the　bloody　little　thing；　with　her　eyes　squeezed　tight　shut。　She　was　howling　now；　angry　for　being　plucked　from　warm　safety。　〃Yes；　my　love；〃　I　answered。　〃She　is　beautiful。〃　And　as　I　watched　the　midwives　clean　her　and　then　wrap　her　in　soft　linen　to　ready　Emilie　to　meet　her　mother　for　the　first　time；　I　really　did　believe　this　so。
　
　OUTSIDE　OF　A　war；　the　second　expedition　to　the　Far　Kingdoms　was　the　largest　force　mounted　in　Orissan　history。　This　would　be　no　private　Finding；　where　a　young　man　could　gallop　off　wherever　he　chose；　with　however　many　drinking　panions　his　father　could　afford。　Destiny　was　being　gambled　for；　and　every　person　in　the　city　wanted　a　place　at　the　table。　Fully　two　thousand　would　go：　troops；　horses　and　their　tenders；　officers　and　their　servants；　camp　followers　by　the　score　to　pleasure　the　men；　cooks；　bakers；　armorers；　bearers；　and　the　simply　curious　who　had　influence　enough　to　get　their　names　on　the　rolls。　By　unanimous　acclaim；　the　man　who　would　lead　this　great　force　was　Janos　Greycloak。
　〃It　wasn't　much　of　a　fight；〃　Janos　said　that　night。　〃Cassini　never　even　took　the　stage；　although　I　saw　him　waiting　in　the　wings；　all　blown　up　with　his　own　importance。　He　was　pacing　back　and　forth　rehearsing　his　acceptance　speech。　If　that　wasn't　enough　of　a　clue　for　a　poor；　dim…witted　soldier　such　as　myself；　the　fact　all　the　men　on　the　stage　were　our　enemies　was　enough　to　show　that　someone　had　filled　pips　on　the　dice　with　lead。〃　Janos　shook　his　head；　still　in　amazed　shock。　〃As　soon　as　I　took　my　place；　the　whole　crowd　began　shouting　like　before…'Janos。　Janos。'　And　all　that　rot。〃　His　teeth　flashed；　and　I　knew　he　hadn't　found　it　〃rot〃　at　all。　〃But　this　time　it　was　much　louder；　and　the　voices　were　so　furious；　you　had　to　be　a　fool　not　to　know　there　was　blood　in　their　eyes。　Some　fellows　made　so　bold　as　to　rush　the　platform；　but　fell　back　when　I　asked　them　not　to　be　so　rude　and　to　let　these　worthy　gentlemen　speak。〃
　Janos　gulped　down　a　tumbler　of　wine；　then　started　laughing。　〃Oh；　I　wish　you　could　have　been　there；　my　friend；〃　he　said。　〃There's　been　nothing　in　your　experience　quite　like　it。〃　Janos　said　Jeneander　and　his　friends　held　a　hurried　conference；　trying　to　ignore　the　boisterous　remarks　of　the　crowd。　As　Janos　indicated；　nothing　like　this　had　ever　happened　in　Orissa；　and　our　enemies　were　in　a　panic；　flinching　under　the　crowd's　abuse　as　if　they　were　throwing　stones　instead　of　words。　Someone　in　the　crowd　spotted　Cassini；　and　a　group　charged　him；　but　he　managed　to　flee　in　time。　On　the　stage　a　decision　was　made；　but　then　they　began　to　squabble　about　who　would　deliver　it　to　the　angry　citizens　of　Orissa。　The　crowd　laughed　at　their　plight；　pressing　toward　the　stage　again。　Then　a　Magistrate　gave　Jeneander　a　hard　shove；　and　he　stumbled　forward；　his　image　cast　large　by　the　magnification　spell。　He　stood　quaking　next　to　Janos。
　〃I　silenced　our　friends；　and　gave　Jeneander　my　best　smile　of　greeting；〃　Janos　said。　〃I　put　my　arm　around　him　as　if　he　were　my　brother；　and　I　said　loudly；　so　all　could　hear；　'No　matter　what　your　choice；　my　friend；　all　here　know　that　you　worthy　gentlemen　have　labored　long　to　arrive　at　your　wise　decision。'　〃
　Janos　laughed　and　took　another　gulp　of　wine　to　ease　his　throat。　〃Then　poor　Jeneander　began　to　speak；〃　he　continued。　〃His　first　words　came　out　a　sort　of　a　squeaky　quack；　as　if　a　mouse　had　mated　with　a　duck。　But　he　finally　got　it　out；　his　knees　quaking　as　if　we　were　standing　in　a　wintry　breeze。　He　said；　still　in　that　high　voice；　'We　declare　that　the　leader　of　the　second　expedition　will　be　。。。　Captain　Janos　Greycloak。'
　〃Well；　you　couldn't　hear　a　thing　after　that　from　all　the　shouting。　But　no　matter；　for　no　sooner　had　the　good　Evocator　said　his　piece；　he　and　the　others　bolted　from　the　stage　as　if　they　were　rabbits　who'd　just　had　a　great　vision　of　a　bubbling　stew　pot。〃　I　laughed　at　the　scene　he　painted　until　tears　flowed。　I　refilled　our　glasses；　and　we　drank　a　toast　to　Te…Date；　who　had　so　confounded　our　enemies。
　Then　Janos　turned　serious。　〃I　want　you　to　know；〃　he　said；　〃that　no　matter　what　follows　in　our　lives；　you　could　never　accumulate　enough　deeds　from　me　to　repay　the　debt　I　owe　you。〃　I　made　humbled；　nonsense　noises；　but　my　heart　was　full　of　joy。　I　heard　Emilie　cry　somewhere　in　the　house；　and　then　the　nursemaid's　voice　lifted　in　soft　song　to　soothe　her。　It　had　been　a　most　remarkable　day。
　Janos　heard　that　cry　as　well；　and　he　smiled。　〃I　know　it　is　not　possible　for　you　to　e　with　me　this　time；〃　he　said。　〃You　have　too　many　burdens　now。　But　you　should　know　I　will　sorely　miss　you。〃
　〃That　is　kind　of　you　to　say；〃　I　replied。　〃But；　I　know　that　last　time　I　was　so　green　that　I　was　little　real　help　to　you。　And　now　you　will　have　a　great　army；　with　many　experienced；　professional　men　to　advise　you。〃
　Janos　gave　his　head　a　hard　shake。　〃Your　one　real　flaw；　my　friend；〃　he　said；　〃is　you　do　not　realize　your　own　worth。　You　will　be　a　dangerous　man　when　you　do；　for　you　have　a　natural　talent　as　an　adventurer。　More　important；　you　have　the　strength　of　a　firm　heart　and　steady　vision。　Don't　bother　denying　it；　I　know　you　well；　perhaps　in　some　things　better　than　you　know　yourself。　We　are　much　alike；　Amalric　Antero。　As　alike　as　if　we　were　twins。　But　you　don't　have　my　dark　side；　thank　the　gods。〃
　He　peered　at　me；　and　I　saw　from　the　redness　in　his　eyes　he　was　a　little　drunk。　〃I　swear　to　you；　Amalric；〃　he　said；　〃when　I　stand　in　the　Far　Kingdoms；　I　will　make　sacrifice　in　your　honor。　And　I　shall　tell　the　masters　of　that　place　that　I　bring　greetings　from　my　good　friend；　and　twin　。。。〃　His　voice　stopped　in　midsentence；　and　I　saw　his　head　had　fallen。　I　plucked　the　tumbler　of　wine　from　his　hand　before　it　spilled；　an