cacb.thefarkingdoms-第83节
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wooden blocks for feet。
I heard Maeen whisper； 〃There goes an unlucky lot。〃
Janos leaned close and said； low； 〃When we reach our destination； follow my lead。〃
The avenue curved； then ran arrow straight for a tall； blocky building with a huge red chimney on its crown。 The chimney belched sparks and black smoke； and a nauseating odor greased the air。 As we came closer； I realized the building was larger than I thought。 Another lumped in front of it： a structure curved like a hive and with a circular door。 A man stepped out of the entrance。 He wore a fine red tunic with a small； black badge of authority on his breast。 He lifted a hand in greeting； the hand was thumbless and pebbled with finger stumps。
He spoke in a voice accustomed to mand。 〃Good day； gentle wayfarers。 My master bids you wele and kindly offers his renowned hospitality。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Janos said。 〃And who might your kind master be？〃
〃Why； his name is known to all；〃 our greeter replied。 〃It is Lord Mortacious。 Ruler of this city； and all the lands of Gomalalee。〃
〃Forgive our ignorance； gentle sir；〃 Janos said。 〃But we hail from a land so distant； not even your exalted master's name has reached our shores。 It will be our honor that we shall be the first to speak it to the multitudes when we return safely to our hearths。〃
The man replied； 〃It will be your joy； then； to meet him for the first time。 e。 My master awaits at table。〃
We followed： nineteen silent men； praying for all the gods to aid Janos' wit。 I heard the hiss of the great chimney overhead and smelled the foul smoke。 Our guide led us to the banquet hall and flung wide the doors。 The room was long and narrow and lighted so brightly my eyes were pained。 The only decoration was more of those obscene red streamers mounted on the high walls。 From one end of the room to the other ran a heavy blackwood banquet table。 The table was heaped with many dishes to tempt the palate： roasts of a variety of flesh； platters of whole baked fish； mounds of rich； dark breads； and large crystal decanters of heavy crystal； filled with a red wine so heady its sweet odor filled the room。 The food was heaped upon great platters of gold。 Forty men sat at this table； and near the entrance there were places set for eighteen more。
At the head of the table； in a green； throne…backed chair； sat a man with the features of a fierce scavenger of the air。 He rose when he saw us； lifting his hands so his flowing red robe winged out like that great desert bird。 It could be no other than the man who had issued the invitation…Lord Mortacious。 He spoke first to his panions of the table。 〃Gentlemen。 We have the honor to host distinguished guests this day。〃 There were murmurs all around： dark or joyous； I could not tell。 〃Gentlemen； may I introduce you to Sir Janos Greycloak of Orissa。〃 Janos flinched。 I felt my own features twitch in stung surprise。 I covered； as did Janos。 〃I believe the man beside him…he of the glorious red hair…is Lord Antero。 Also of Orissa。〃 I bowed low； manner calm； mind swirling with fearful questions： How did he know us？ What was his purpose？
〃We are the ones to be honored； Lord Mortacious；〃 Janos said I echoed his response。 Behind me I heard one of our men cough nervously and Sergeant Maeen's harsh whisper of warning。
Mortacious adjusted the scarf about his neck； it was made of costly black silk。 He smiled a smile of lordly benevolence； but his eyes were so smoky and burning with deadliness； I knew him to be a wizard。
〃e sup with us； please；〃 he said； indicating empty seats of honor on either side of his dining throne。 〃Your men will find places set for them as well by the door。〃 Janos and I walked forward。 Behind us； our small party sat where they had been directed。 With each step that we took away from our panions； I felt the line of safety stretch thin。 Mortacious was most gracious as we took our seats。 He fussed with our place settings and poured us each a glass of wine。 I murmured thanks and sipped。 The wine was so sweet； I nearly gagged； but out of politeness； I forced myself to sip again。 This time it was more tolerable； powerful stuff that stoked fires in the belly and smoke in the mind。 I vowed caution。
〃Tell me； Lord Mortacious；〃 Janos said； 〃how is it you know of such lowly travelers as ourselves？〃
Mortacious chuckled； fingering the black scarf at his neck。 〃Lowly？ I think not。 As for my knowledge of you； it is no great trick for a wizard。 As ruler of this realm； which many evil men envy； such knowledge is a necessity。〃
Janos suddenly relaxed； he drank his wine and loudly smacked his lips in pleasure。 〃To be perfectly frank； my lord； when your men first approached we feared our intentions had been mistook。 For we e to these parts by accident； not design。 Our purposes are entirely peaceful。〃
〃So you say；〃 Mortacious murmured。 〃But there is a bloody trail behind you that might indicate otherwise。〃
〃If they had let us pass；〃 Janos said； 〃they would have lived。 The barbed remark hooked amusement rather than anger。 Mor…tacious smiled。 〃Exactly； dear Greycloak。 Ignorance can be fatal。〃 He topped our glasses。 〃When I learned of your approach； I was seized with curiosity。 I had to meet the men who so ardently sought the Far Kingdoms。〃
Except for the conversation between Janos and Mortacious； the room was silent。 His men made listless motions of eating and drinking； they did not talk with one another； or look this way and that。 Down the long table our own friends whispered amongst themselves and shifted restlessly。 But I saw they'd had the good sense to help themselves to some joints of meat and bread and were devouring them as if it were their last meal； a thought not far from my own mind as I looked at my still empty platter。
Mortacious caught my look and fussed。 〃Forgive me； dear sirs； for forgetting your needs。 e； let me assist you in finding a tasty morsel or two。〃
He carved a thick slab of steaming meat for me； another for Janos； and put them on our plates with much ceremony。 A most delicious odor arose to greet my senses and beg me to sup。 I cut a long slice and lifted it eagerly to my lips。 I paused； confused； as I heard Mortacious give a malicious snigger。 Suddenly； the tempting strip became a hissing； wriggling viper； venom dripped from its fangs； searing the table。
〃Why； Amalric Antero； you are a greedy beggar；〃 Janos said； voice light as a young boy's。 〃You're always snatching up the best cut。 Here…allow me at least one bite！〃 He plucked the snake away with a flourish。 〃A little undercooked； perhaps；〃 he said。 His other hand； fingers arched in a spell…making curve； brushed by the viper's jutting fangs。 The snake became a strip of innocent meat again。 He popped it into his mouth and washed it down with a glass of wine。 〃Quite tasty；〃 he said； and cupped a hand in front of his mouth to hide a polite belch。
Mortacious' face turned grim。 He plucked at the neck scarf； irritated at Janos' skillful display。 But my friend wasn't done。 〃Why； what manner of dish is that before you； Lord Mortacious？〃 he cried in mock surprise。 He snapped his fingers at the heavy gold plate before our host。 Mortacious reared back as the plate became a great golden scorpion； its tail hard arched； sting glistening with venom as deadly as that viper's。
〃e here； my pretty；〃 Janos cooed； and the scorpion sped across the table at a frightening speed and ran up his sleeve。 It whipped its sting in anger as he gave it a pat； then became a small； squeaky mouse with soft white fur and a tender pink nose。 Janos set it down； saying； 〃Can't make up its mind； poor thing。〃 Mortacious hissed and pointed a long； bony finger at the mouse。 It gave a sharp squeak and burst into flame； in a moment the mouse had been turned to golden ash。 The wizard swept up the ash； then let it sprinkle back down on the table。 The particles swirled and then formed back into a plate。 I saw that its edge； perfect before； was chipped； but Mortacious was so proud of this final turnabout； he didn't notice。 The wizard adjusted the scarf and displayed a wide grin； his teeth made twin groves of yellow gnarled trees。 He clearly believed he'd bested Janos。
Janos dipped his head； allowing the victory； but as he made that motion of humility； he slipped his hand into his pocket and quickly out again。 〃I fear I have no appropriate return；〃 he said with a sheepish smile。
Lord Mortacious reared back and laughed。 His breath washed over me； it smelled of the foul smoke outside。 〃We have had games enough； my friends。 Now let us eat and drink our fill。 For this promises to be a most enjoyable visit。〃 He clapped his hands together； in delight； I supposed； for the mood among his men shifted abruptly。 They began to move about； chatting with one another in idle table gossip。 I noticed； however； that when they ate it was only a nibble； as if they had supped before our arrival。 Here and there I noted features and limbs marred by wounds such as I'd witnessed on the street。 Mortacious eyed me； lifted a hunk of bread from his plate； and broke off a small bit。 The crumbs tumbled across his robe。 He dipped the bread into his wine and slipped it into his mouth。 I was suddenly ravenous and fell upon my food like a direwolf。 But what was appet
