cacb.thefarkingdoms-第84节
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it into his mouth。 I was suddenly ravenous and fell upon my food like a direwolf。 But what was appetizing to the eye was tasteless to the tongue； the meat was dry； and even washed down with wine it remained a hard lump in my belly。
Mortacious gave me a knowing smile； as if he held a malicious secret。 〃I hope you did not find my jest rude； Lord Antero；〃 he said。 He waved at his men。 〃They make such dull pany； I could not resist poking fun at an intelligent man。 Your look of astonishment was a rare delight。〃
〃Then how could I take offense？〃 I replied。 'To give innocent amusement to such a gracious host is small repayment for your generosity。〃
〃You are not disforted in the presence of a wizard？〃 he asked。 He plucked at the scarf； and I saw a brief glimpse of what appeared to be an ugly wound。
〃Not at all；〃 I said； wondering if it was a wound； what was its cause？ 〃It will make a remarkable tale someday when I relate my adventures to my grandchildren。〃
Mortacious' mouth stretched into a humorless smile。 〃If you live to tell it；〃 he said。
〃Oh； I fully expect to；〃 I replied。 I saw Janos give a slight nod at my correct response。 〃The gods have been with us thus far in our quest。 Although when your men confronted us； I admit I had some doubt。〃 I raised my glass to him。 〃But once again； instead of trial； the gods permitted me to enter your august pany。〃 Mortacious laughed。 〃Oh； yes； yes； yes；〃 he hissed in supreme pleasure。 〃The ways of the gods are a marvel to all； but a blessing to few。〃 He returned my toast； and we both drank。 Then he leaned forward； his face assuming a look of great interest。 〃But do you not fear their wrath； traveling in the pany of a man whom some charge has gained his sorcerous skills through blasphemy？〃
If he meant to surprise me； he succeeded； if he meant to confound me； he failed。 〃Why should it； my lord？ Was not this undertaking blessed by the Evocators of Orissa … including that aged and holy sage； Gamelan； himself？〃 Mortacious grimaced and tugged at his scarf； and I could see it was his fort as well as weakness； betraying emotion he intended to keep hidden。
He turned to Janos； who was busy chewing on his own tasteless repast。 〃Your friend brings more than redheaded luck to your venture。 He brings cool wisdom as well。〃
〃That is what sealed our friendship long ago；〃 Janos said。 〃More so； even； than his kindly nature and amiable manners。〃
Mortacious shook his head in mock awe。 〃A most remarkable partnership for a most remarkable venture。 I pray for your sake that it keeps。 For when such a friendship sours； it makes a bitter drink。〃 Janos made no reply； but only smiled and sipped his wine。 〃I have been wondering；〃 Mortacious said； 〃why you have yet to ask what I know of your goal？ You seek the answer to a mystery； but you make no inquiries of the lord whose realm lies closest to the Far Kingdoms。〃
Janos made his most charming grin； it peeped like a thief from the black thicket of his beard。 〃I would have； my Lord Mortacious 。。。 if I thought you would answer。〃
Mortacious laughed； this time with genuine amusement。 〃You guessed correctly；〃 he replied。 〃Few questions are answered with kindness by those who dwell in the Disputed Lands。〃
Janos shrugged。 〃It required no crystal gazing； good sir。 There were signs of conflict all along the way。 And we witnessed a great battle just before your men came upon us。 If I lived in a land with as many enemies as you must suffer； I would suspect any questioner as well。〃 Janos made bold； hooked the wine decanter； and poured all around。 〃There is one question； however； that begs an answer； and can cause no harm if I ask it。 And that is： why have you called us into your pany？〃
Mortacious smoothed the scarf。 〃It is as I said： to satisfy my curiosity。〃
〃And when that has been acplished？〃 Janos pressed。
The wizard eyed him； slowly stroking his black scarf as if it were his lover's flesh。 The hand was death white against the scarf； fingers； long blind worms。 Finally； he answered。 〃Then you shall pass from my kingdom in safety 。。。 and with my blessing。 But before that hour is upon us； I have questions of my own。〃
〃Ask away； sir；〃 Janos said。 〃I am but a simple soldier with no secrets but the sweet words I've hoarded to please a maiden's ear。〃
〃If that were so；〃 Mortacious said； 〃you would not be at my table。 And you might have met a different fate at my men's hands。〃 Janos shrugged … point conceded。 〃I have heard； my good Greycloak；〃 Mortacious continued； 〃that you were born to wizardry； but have no formal training。 Nor were you permitted another sorcerer's pany。 Yet my informants say you are as skilled as any in the land … and that skill was won solely by hard force of your reasoning powers。〃
〃You were informed correctly；〃 Janos said。 〃Although my skills may have been overrated。 I possess enough to protect myself and my friends 。。。 and to amuse an amiable dinner panion。〃
Mortacious brushed this away； impatient with further byplay。 〃It is your methods that interest me； sir。 Others learn by dull rote…you； by testing theory。〃
〃I have had little choice；〃 Janos replied。 〃No one would give me scrolls to memorize； much less allow entrance to a school for Evocators。〃
〃I have heard of no other mortal man who has acplished this；〃 Mortacious said。
〃That is a fact I could not know；〃 Janos returned。 〃As you said； no wizard has ever taken me into his confidence。〃
'Then I shall be the first；〃 Mortacious said。 〃I have theories of my own。 Perhaps they plement yours。〃
〃I am honored； Lord Mortacious；〃 Janos said。 He sat back； waiting。 His smile was easy； but I saw the wary gleam in my friend's eye。
〃Do you think sorcery has some holy purpose？〃 Mortacious asked。 〃A purpose understood only by the gods who give wizardry life？ Answer honestly； now。 I will not take offense。〃
〃I do not think it holy；〃 Janos said。 〃I believe magic is as natural as the wind。 As mon a force as the fire you light when that wind blows cold。 And as for the gods。。。 … bah！；。。 they do not exist 。。。 except in our minds。〃
Mortacious frowned。 He gave his scarf a hard tug； and once again I glimpsed the wound。 〃Then why is it when we pray to them； and make sacrifice； those prayers are sometimes answered？〃
〃Their image helps us focus；〃 Janos replied。 〃The sacrifice only sharpens that focus。 The same with chanted spells。 There is no feat of magic I have set my mind to that cannot be acplished by thought alone。 I do not need a god to make a plate a scorpion； or your chanted nonsense to lure it back to its natural state。〃
Mortacious eyed Janos thoughtfully。 〃It would be interesting； indeed； to be a wizard such as yourself。 No one taught you rules； so you questioned； then made your own。 You smash through things that would make others hesitate 。。。 or turn back。 All because you have no fear of gods and penalties； you see no task so difficult that it cannot be acplished by force of will。 Ah； yes； Janos Greycloak。 I understand why you alone have e so far。〃
Janos laughed。 〃It is a lovely speech； sir； but I detect you heartily disagree。〃
Mortacious stirred； enjoying himself。 〃Yes。 Yes； I do。 I wish it were otherwise； for you do present a pretty view。 I admit you have great talent； but it is not so great as you think。 As any true sorcerer can attest： there are real limits； real fears。 I know my Master； and He knows me。 We made a bargain； which I keep； and He has granted me powers greater than even a man such as you could dream。〃
〃I assume you make reference to the practice of black sorcery；〃 Janos said。 〃And you are a servant of one of the gods whose name it is forbidden to speak。〃
〃Does that offend you？〃 Mortacious asked。 He stroked the scarf； features pleasant。
〃Not at all；〃 Janos said。 〃Black or white； it makes no difference in my philosophy。 If there are no gods； no holy purpose； what does it matter？〃
〃Yes。 I can see how it wouldn't；〃 Mortacious said。 〃Marvelous。 Simply marvelous。 I like how your ideas； no matter how wrong…headed； lead down such a rosy path 。。。 where we both still meet。〃
〃My own view of the black arts；〃 Janos said； 〃is they must be practiced with caution。 Our beliefs in such things as good and evil have bee so deep grained that they present great resistance。 I have a theory that when so…called black magic is performed； this resistance causes gradual harm to the practitioner himself。 Over time； the sorcerer is weakened； scarred。 Possibly even transformed to something not to his liking。 Do you find this the case； sir？ Are you the same man now as the one who went in that door？〃
〃Oh； I am better than ever； if anything。〃 Mortacious chuckled。 But the chuckle was forced； uneasy。
〃Perhaps you take precautions？〃 Janos asked。 〃I have thought of a few of my own 。。。 if I should ever attempt such things。〃
Mortacious gripped the scarf； but feigned lightness。 〃There are none needed；〃 he answered。
〃How enlightening；〃 Janos murmured。 His manner was pleasant； but I could see he thought our host a fool who had made a bad bargain。 〃You said I should speak freely； Lord Mortacious；〃 Janos finally said； 〃that I would give no offense。 Yet； I hesitate to ask the question now uppermost in my mind。〃
〃Have no fear；〃 the wizard said。 〃Say what you
