cacb.thefarkingdoms-第62节
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d the healer's house； but I could make out the glowing symbol of his Evocator's license。 He was eating a late supper； but came without plaint； and before long we were riding back down that road。 This time the storm was driving straight into our teeth； and we had to fight the horses through the hail and sleet。 But soon we arrived at the villa； and I rushed the healer to my lady's chamber。
Deoce lay groaning in the big feather bed。 I knew the pain must be fierce； for she was not one who plained； preferred； in fact； to ignore her ailments away。 She opened her eyes when we came in； they lay large and unnaturally bright in her head。 The healer got out his things； and I went to the bed and kissed her； her fever was so hot the kiss burned my lips。
〃It's just a winter chill；〃 Deoce said； trying to reassure me。 She made a weak smile and reached to pat my hand； but she gave a low cry of pain and let the hand fall。 〃By the gods of the Salcae； I feel awful；〃 she said。 〃I ache in every bone and there is a great hammering in my head。〃
I forced a cheery smile。 〃There you are； then。 A winter's chill； exactly。 You will be up in no time； my love； dandling Emilie on your knee。〃
Deoce looked alarmed when I mentioned our daughter。 〃Emilie？ How is she？ Have you checked her？〃
〃She is well； Lady Antero；〃 Spoto said。 〃I've just e from the nursery； and A'leen says your daughter is sleeping peacefully。〃
Deoce sighed relief； then gave herself up to the healer； who had laid out his charms and mixed up a potion for the pain。 First he checked her： prodding here and there for tenderness； sniffing her breath； directing candlelight into her eyes。 Then my heart leaped as I saw him hesitate 。。。 as if puzzling。 He gave a barely perceptible shake of his head。 Then he smiled； and I imagined it as forced as my own； for I was grinning like an idiot to maintain a cheery appearance。
〃A winter's chill； as we said…isn't that so； my good sir？〃 I asked。
Again the hesitation； then； 〃Uh 。。。 Yes 。。。 Yes！ Just so。 A winter's chill。 Now； if you will relax yourself； Lady Antero； and drink this potion。 I've put a dollop of honey in it to lessen the bitterness； but you'll still not like its taste。 But if you will humor me； please； and drink it all in one gulp 。。。〃 She did as he said； emptying the tumbler as quickly as she could。 〃Now you may close your eyes； if you will； my lady； and you will soon be asleep。 I'll cast my spells； and we'll drive those little demons out。 Then； as your good husband prophesied； you shall be well by morning when you awake。〃
I sat beside her as she closed her eyes； taking her hand to give her fort。 The hand was fiery with the fever； and her finger joints seemed swollen large。 Suddenly her eyes opened。 〃You'll watch Emilie closely tonight？〃 she asked。
〃Of course I will；〃 I said。 〃And I'll post Spoto by her bed all the night through。 And we have a healer with us； so you needn't worry on Emilie's account； if she should catch the chill as well。〃 I kissed her； and her eyes closed again。
〃I love you； Amalric；〃 she murmured。 I said I loved her； too。 〃You have been a good husband to me。 And a good father to Emilie。〃 I answered by stroking the hot hand I held。 She yawned…the potion was taking effect。 〃You know 。。。 I think Emilie looks 。。。 just 。。。 like 。。 。 you。〃 And she fell asleep。
The healer motioned me back； and I sat in a chair in the corner； while he lighted the incense pots and sprinkled in the ingredients to cure a winter chill。 He chanted an ornate set of fire beads to life； then broke them apart and scattered them around her bed。 He tossed in more of the special dust； and the dots of lights became a glowing circle。 Then he lifted his hands and began to swiftly murmur the spell。 But the lights suddenly dimmed； and Deoce cried out； but did not awaken。 The healer seemed startled by what had happened。 He shook his head； then fetched a box with some other powder and sprinkled the dust into the pots。 The beads brightened； and the healer sighed in relief； but his relief was frightening to me； for I was forcing myself to believe all was very usual； very routine。 As he started his chant again I waited； tense for another cry of pain。 None came； instead； Deoce's features relaxed； and I imagined her lips were curling into a smile…a sweet dream； I prayed。 The healer droned on and on； and the incense pots filled the room with a heady perfume。 Soon he was done； and he got out his little stool； unfolded it； and sat by the bed。 He lowered his head in concentration and began to weave another protective spell。 I'd seen it many times； even had it performed on me。 Yes； it was all quite routine； the usual cure for a mon malady。 I fell asleep。
It was not an easy sleep； nor was it one I had sought。 It was as if a pillow had suddenly filled my head； and I drifted away。 The nightmare raged； and I visited with the boatman again 。。。 the ghastly man with the gaping eye socket。 Again I climbed those steps and heard the howling and confronted the fate the nightmare carried me to each time it captured me。
When I awoke； the Dark Seeker had e and gone。
Deoce was dead。
I will not desecrate her memory with mewling descriptions of my feelings。 I can only write that I have known such desolation； such pain； only one other time in my life。 It did not scar me； for a scar does not have a lingering memory to it； it was a ghostly presence； as if your heart were a limb and you could amputate it； but still live。
I do not remember much of what happened next。 The healer wept for his failure； but his tears fell on the cold plain of my hate for him。 Rah' came to give fort and to see that Deoce's body was properly tended and a preserving spell cast so she would stay fresh until the funeral。 I recall my sister telling me others were ill and that all who had fallen ill had died。 Her words had no meaning to me； did not penetrate my numbness。 It seemed like years passed； but it was not much more than two days。 I spent the whole time with Emilie。 We played in the garden…she could walk now； in a toddler's fashion； and she could say 〃Da〃 and 〃Mama。〃 I said Mama had gone on a long journey and would not be with us for many a day。 Instead of crying； she clung to me more； not for her own fort； I think； but for my own。 Finally I roused myself。 There were things to be done； a funeral to plan。 But it was like ing up from a second sleep。 In the first； Deoce had died； in the second； I awakened to find the Dark Seeker and his minions raging all over Orissa。
It was a plague like no other that had touched our shores。 It ravaged through the city； unchecked by any spell the Evocators could conjure up。 Rich and poor alike were felled。 There was no logic to it。 Whole neighborhoods were devastated； but in some； no one was harmed。 In others； a single family might fall ill and die； while their neighbors huddled in their homes in terror； but in good health。 Sometimes only one member of a household might be stricken； while the others were untouched by anything but grief。 The sickness did not produce horrible pustules and sores； but struck out with awful pain and fever。 Some lingered 。。。 some died at the first stroke。
The city was crippled by fear。 All shops and businesses were closed； the river empty of traffic。 The Evocators gathered in emergency session and bed the scrolls for some clue to turn back the plague's wrath。 But it raged on without relief。 There were no public funerals； for all were too fearful to e out into the open。 I buried Deoce on our grounds and made a small ceremony with Rali and the villa's staff。
As the days passed； I kept waiting for the Dark Seeker to return…anxiously peeping into the eyes of Emilie and my servants。 Outside； the fever burned on； but still we were spared further grief。 I don't know how many died during this time； perhaps two thousand； perhaps more。
On the night of the first snow； Emilie awakened； shrieking with pain。 I rushed to her； pushing aside Spoto and A'leen。 Emilie cried louder when she saw me； and I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly…trying mightily to force away the pain with my own will。 She clutched back； crying； saying； 〃Da 。。。 Da 。。。 Da。〃 I gave her a potion to make her sleep； and I bathed her slumbering little body in icy water to lessen the fever。 It did no good。 I held her all the night； rocking back and forth； humming her favorite child songs。 I knew it was pointless to fetch a healer； but I was frantic to do something； anything。
Then I remembered Halab's cure when he brought me and my pet ferret to life。 I rushed out into the snow； found the home of a vendor of pets； and hammered on the door like a man possessed。 I gave him a fistful of coin for a small animal in a cage and rode hard for home。 I searched in my chamber and found the ferret…tooth necklace Janos had given me for protection during our journey。 I took it； the cage； and Emilie to Halab's altar； where I made a bed for her on the floor。 I draped the necklace over her and prostrated myself before the altar。
〃Dear brother；〃 I said； 〃you have helped me before； and I beg you to help me now。 Emilie is dying。 She is your niece； and you would be proud to see what a brave little Antero she is。 Oh； e to me； Halab。 Cure her of her pain。 Send the Dark Seeker
