cacb.thefarkingdoms-第67节
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of yours？〃
〃Nisou Symeon。 I met him for the first time in my life below…stairs。〃 I told Janos what had happened。 He made no ment； and there was none necessary。 He offered me wine； juices； or water from a beverage table nearby。 I poured myself a goblet of wine； then thought better。 I set it down and began to pour juice。
〃Have the wine；〃 Janos said。 〃Or whatever you desire。 As far as I can tell nothing has been drugged； and thus far their seeking of knowledge has not required alcohol's befuddlement。 Also； I would remend both of us eat and drink as much as we can hold； because our circumstances will soon be changing。〃
I poured； drank deeply as I realized how thirsty I was； and refilled my goblet。 I walked to one of the windows and looked out。 Our apartment…our cell…hung just over the water； and far below I could see the white flash of breaking surf on the rocks beyond the harbor。 〃Is there a spell on the windows？〃
〃Naturally。 Not that I think one is needed； unless you happen to have two sets of wings secreted about you。〃
I turned back and forced a smile。 This ordeal； and I sensed it would be that； might be slightly more endurable if I sought humor whenever I could。 I had questions； and chanced asking them openly。 〃Should we be cautious as to what we talk about？〃
〃Yes； within reason。 I would not； for instance； be specific about 。。。 our mutual adventures。 But it is acceptable to discuss matters in general。 I have conjured up words that should make anyone listening to our conversation actually hear a very dull recital of the religious lessons from my childhood。 But thus far they have cast Lesser Spells against me； which I have been able to withstand and for the most part neutralize。 I have not sensed Great Incantations more than twice； although who would know if a truly grand conjuration was laid？ For instance； it is possible I am now talking to a plete fabrication of the Archons'。 And you must wonder whether I myself am but a demon of their powers。 But that way lies madness。〃
〃They have allowed you your 。。。 ah 。。。 interest；〃 I marveled； using an innocuous term as I had reflexively from boyhood； when I first realized my brother Halab's interest was venturing into the forbidden。
〃Allowed？ That is not the description。 They cannot put a blanket prescript on any wizardry； else that would block their own spells。 But they can lay specific wards； so that I cannot quite remember any spell or type of spell that could be used to break chains or bonds； for instance。〃
〃Like the way you and Cassini had your magical memory removed in 。。。 in another place？〃
'Thank several gods their spell is not that plete。 But they tried。 Forgive me if I seem inattentive； or preoccupied。 But 。。。〃
There came a flicker from the side of the chamber； and it was as if； for just a flash； a door opened to a dark chamber； and I saw men with their flesh being ravaged by black…clad tormenters with nameless tortures。 Then there was nothing but the farther wall。
〃That is an example of what I've termed Lesser Spells；〃 Janos said。 〃All of them are intended to wear us down； and to shake our fortitude and stamina。 Other spells surround this chamber： sleeplessness； short temper； loneliness； dejection； and various disgusting but harmless physical debilitations…all of which I have kept at bay。〃
〃You have e far in your study of Evocatorial principles since I first realized your secret interest；〃 I said； meanwhile marveling that from somewhere I had the coolness to carry on such an inconsequential discussion while trapped in the coils of a brutal enemy。
〃I thank you； but I feel no pride。 I should be able to sustain my efforts with no more energy than scratching a mosquito bite takes in the physical world。 Or perhaps I am secretly harboring my strength for when they attempt a full scale assault on us。〃
〃You said they tried what you called Great Incantations twice。 What form did they take； so I may be on my guard？〃
〃Both were loathsome。 The first and most tolerable was a variation on the succubus； involving a young and beautiful sorceress who entered my dreams； and promised her reality after we had performed various acts of sex magic。 All I was to grant her； in return； was some tales of how wizardry was performed in other lands。 That I was able to reject without much of a struggle； recognizing that such stories could well provide the entryway into the rest of my soul。 When I did； the apparition vanished。
〃The second attempt was more dangerous； and began with various Lesser Spells； but ones cast with full power of a Master Evocator's will behind them。 I was depressed； angry at everything and everyone beginning with myself。 I felt an utter failure。〃
〃Like；〃 I hazarded； 〃the Lesser Spells you said are around us are designed to produce。〃
〃Not quite；〃 Janos said。 〃These were a bit different。 Behind them was the undercurrent that I deserved greatness； and that the gods and men had conspired； unknowingly； to deny me my full glory。〃 I knew how such a spell would find resonance within Janos' rationally healthy ego。 〃Eventually； I determined to end my life。 Not from real pain； but to 'show' someone or something； I know not who； what evil they'd done in keeping me from my rightful heritage。〃
〃I see the evil in that spell；〃 I said。 〃But I do not see how it would produce any information on 。。。 on a certain subject that is sought。 Worse； you would be dead； and their best chance to get that knowledge lost。〃
〃Oh； no。 There would have been counterspells laid and perhaps even physical nets hung below these windows should I have chosen to cast myself from them； as well as other protective conjurations around anything I might use to kill myself…like the knives in our kitchen or the draws for the curtains。 I also assumed I was watched。 But I haven't pletely described the spell。 As part of my final cock snooking at the world； I would write a full description of what I could have given them； had they but known。〃
〃The Far…〃
〃Just so； the quest exactly described。〃 I understood and shuddered。 That truly was a subtle spell； and I wondered if I could have withstood one as carefully laid to take advantages of my multitudinous weaknesses。
I sought another subject and asked why he'd said we should eat and drink well now； because our circumstances would be changing。 I could not believe the Archons' and their Evocators hadn't set spells in place to prevent any divination。 Or should I not be asking this question？ Janos answered； now with a real smile： he had no foreknowledge at all； but what we were being subjected to was standard interrogation procedure； used by everyone from inquisitors to military information specialists to； he added； most likely my mother and father。 He termed it good side/bad side。 First the prisoner is given fine food and wines and treated kindly； but always with the caution that 〃others〃 feel differently about how the captive should be treated； and the prisoner should cooperate instantly to avoid truly monstrous tortures。 〃Didn't your mother ever suggest to you； as a child； you had best tell her just what sin you had mitted to set your tutor's teeth on edge； because when your father came home and found out you were absolutely in for it？〃 I agreed； knowing what he meant； not saying I had no memories of my real mother。
〃So；〃 I said； 〃what do we do while waiting to see the other side of Lycanthian 'hospitality' ？〃
〃We do what prisoners have always done： we wait； we exercise our muscles and we talk。 Talk about everything 。。。 except what might be important。〃
This we did over the next several days。 I was nervous and afraid； but I sensed I was more relaxed than Janos； even though my nights were made hellish by the repetition of the dream。 Over and over the boatman with no face took me into the cavern； and over and over I was led into the chamber by the being on whom I had imposed Greif's face since I'd first met him in this hell city。 But dreams can be lived with…I'd lived with this one for years； now。
Janos had not heard of the deaths of Deoce and Emilie； and burst into tears； the great racking sobs of a warrior chieftain when the very bravest die needlessly。 But mostly our conversations were trivial and light； as to the best way to learn a language quickly… Janos' theory was in bed； and since he spoke at least twenty…three tongues and ten dialects； I took his hypothesis seriously； whether Lycanthians had their sense of humor amputated at birth or if the gods had cursed them…we settled for divine curse； hoping that would anger those unseen beings we knew were watching us either through cleverly concealed peepholes in the walls or by sorcery； and so forth。 Our exercises helped devour the hours of boredom。 We did endless rounds of muscle drills and trotted around the apartments like tigers running around the cage of a menagerie。 Janos also showed me various techniques he knew with which a man without a weapon need not abandon hope or life even if one or more armed men attack him。
I spent hours pacing in front of the windows； trying to e up with a plan for an escape。 Janos； however； seemed to slip into that semitorpor I'd seen in the Rift。 Perhaps I might have chided him； but I remembered a tale written by a small trader who'd be
