cacb.thefarkingdoms-第98节

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all　I　speak　to　the　king？〃　I　asked。　〃And　ask　to　bee　one　of　his　subjects　so　I　can　remain　here　with　you？〃
　〃Only　if　it　pleases　you；〃　Omerye　said。　〃But　don't　make　the　mistake　of　doing　it　to　please　me。〃
　〃Wouldn't　you　rather　remain　with　your　own　people？〃　I　asked；　thinking　of　Deoce　and　wondering　if　fate　would　have　cast　different　dice　if　we　had　returned　to　her　tribe。　〃You　are　much　admired　here。　I　fear　your　art　would　suffer　in　Orissa。〃
　〃Admiration　has　never　been　my　goal；〃　Omerye　said。　〃Only　freedom　to　make　any　music　I　choose。〃
　〃You　would　have　that　in　Orissa；〃　I　said。　〃And　admiration　as　well。　But　I　do　not　think　it　is　as　great　a　treasure　as　it　is　in　Vacaan。〃
　Omerye's　face　darkened　〃It　is　not　so　wonderful　as　you　have　been　led　to　believe；〃　she　said。　〃The　king　may　say　all　is　encouraged　for　art's　sake；　but　in　practice　it　is　another　thing。　In　Vacaan　there　are　unspoken　boundaries　that　limit　all　the　arts。　If　you　go　beyond　it；　certain　。。。　things　。。。　happen。　The　least　of　which　is　you　are　suddenly　without　patrons；　or　audience　of　any　kind。〃
　〃But　how　can　that　be？〃　I　asked。　〃Why；　in　Vacann；　artists　are　paid　the　greatest　of　all　pliments。　When　their　work　is　plete；　a　spell　is　cast　so　no　one　can　duplicate　it　in　any　manner。　And　each　is　preserved；　so　the　work　remains　in　all　ways　unique。〃
　〃Uniquely　tame　。。。　and　therefore　not　unique　at　all；〃　Omerye　replied。　〃When　you　have　been　here　longer；　you　will　see　nothing　is　allowed　that　stirs　public　questioning　or　debate。　An　artist　can　only　dare　with　form；　or　color；　or　tone。　But　we　can　never　challenge　authority。　Much　is　made　of　our　system；　because　authority　goes　to　great　trouble　to　sniff　out　our　talents　when　we　are　young。　Then　we　are　given　the　best　of　training。　But　along　with　that　training　a　very　subtle　message　is　imparted：　do　this；　and　no　more。〃
　〃What　happens　to　those　who　don't　listen？〃　I　asked。
　She　shivered。　〃One　day；〃　she　said；　low；　〃they　simply　fail　to　appear。〃　The　twin　of　the　chill　that　had　touched　her；　touched　me；　and　I　thought　of　the　missing　tavern　keeper　。。。　and　Raveline。　〃We　all　know　better　than　to　ask　what　happened　to　them；〃　Omerye　continued。　〃And　we　take　great　care　we　never　mention　their　names　again。〃　She　nestled　deeper　into　my　arms　for　fort；　sighing。　〃At　least　I　had　you〃　she　said。　〃That　alone　is　what　kept　me　content。〃
　It　was　decided　she　would　return　to　Orissa　with　me。　The　decision　tumbled　me　out　of　love's　trance；　and　I　became　anxious　to　plete　my　business。　Omerye　moved　into　my　palace；　and　I　resumed　skirmishing　with　the　king's　officials。　Along　with　awareness　came　fresh　worries　about　Raveline　and　Janos。　The　old　nightmare　of　the　ruined　city　returned　to　haunt　my　sleep；　but　this　time　I　had　Omerye's　sweet　music　and　love　to　lessen　the　torment。　The　gentle　balsam　she　spread　made　it　easier　to　think。　Ideas　leaped　up　and　became　theories　that　only　needed　testing　to　bee　solutions。　Finally；　I　sent　Janos　a　firm　message　that　I　must　see　him。　A　day　or　so　passed　before　I　received　a　reply：　Greycloak　agreed　to　meet　with　me　。。。　immediately。
　I　found　him　hard　at　work；　deep　in　the　bowels　of　an　old　building　that　smelled　of　parchment　dust　and　the　stale　sulfur　of　ancient　spells。　His　eyes　widened　in　surprise　when　he　saw　me；　and　I　knew　our　meeting　had　been　forgotten。　〃Amalric；　my　friend；〃　he　shouted；　jumping　up　from　a　writing　table　and　spilling　old　scrolls　on　the　floor。　〃What　a　happy　coincidence。　I　was　just　thinking　of　you。〃　His　clothes　were　in　absent　disarray；　and　he　was　covered　with　so　much　dust；　it　fell　in　clouds　when　he　bounded　over　to　me；　and　made　him　sneeze。
　〃You　look　like　one　of　my　old　tutors；〃　I　laughed；　〃and　sound　like　him；　too。　He　was　always　going　about　with　a　snuffling　nose　and　absent　air。　It　was　a　pity　my　father　had　to　let　him　go。　The　old　fellow　never　knew　what　I　was　up　to。〃
　Janos　smacked　his　forehead。　〃How　stupid　of　me；〃　he　said。　〃That's　right；　I　invited　you；　didn't　I？〃
　〃If　you　insist　on　being　absentminded；〃　I　teased；　〃I　suggest　you　form　some　other　habit　of　abasement。　A　few　more　knocks　on　your　pate；　and　you'll　be　permanently　addled。〃
　〃You're　right；〃　Janos　said。　Still　lost　in　his　studies；　he　raised　his　palm　to　give　his　head　another　knock。　His　wits　returned　as　the　hand　reached　eye　level。　He　stared　at　it　a　moment；　then　laughed。　〃You　are　right；　twice！〃
　I　looked　about　the　big　room：　from　floor　to　vaulted　ceiling；　and　from　wall　to　distant　wall；　it　was　filled　with　scrolls　of　every　shape　and　size。　On　Janos'　desk　I　saw　one　scroll　held　open　by　small　weights。　The　writing　was　not　in　any　language　I　knew；　but　was'　colorfully　illuminated　by　geometric　patterns　painted　in　the　margins。　〃These　are　the　archives　of　the　Old　Ones；〃　Janos　explained。　〃As　far　as　I　can　tell；　it　is　a　plete　record　of　all　their　spells…all　the　way　back　to　their　beginnings。〃
　〃You　must　have　made　an　even　greater　impression　on　the　prince　than　I　thought；〃　I　said　dryly。　〃For　him　to　trust　you　with　such　ancient　secrets。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　have；〃　Janos　said；　so　lost　in　his　studies　he　did　not　note　my　mocking　tone。　〃Although　I　am　not　certain　he　sees　real　value　in　these　archives。〃　He　sank　back　into　his　seat；　picking　up　a　scroll　and　studying　the　inscriptions。　〃For　the　wizards　of　Vacaan；〃　he　said；　〃these　are　much　picked…over　leavings。　But　they　were　a　treasure　of　immeasurable　value　when　the　king's　ancestors　first　settled　here　。。。　on　the　very　bones　of　the　Old　Ones。〃
　I　eyed　the　long　walls　of　knowledge。　〃It　is　a　pity　we　were　not　so　blessed　in　Orissa；〃　I　said。
　Janos　slapped　the　scroll　down；　excited。　〃You　have　it　exactly；〃　he　said。　〃Domas'　people　came　here　as　ignorant　as　any　barbarian。　Raveline　admits　it　himself。　All　they　have　acplished　are　refinements　of　what　was　once　a　great　art。〃
　〃I　see　you　have　not　yet　met　the　smart　fellows。〃
　Janos　glowered。　〃Not　a　damned　one。　I　am　ing　to　believe　there　are　no　smart　fellows。　Not　anywhere。〃
　〃Not　even　your　mentor；　Prince　Raveline？〃
　〃Oh；　he　thinks　he　is；〃　Janos　said。　〃But　I'm　learning　more　looking　over　his　shoulder　than　listening。　What　I　get　from　a　thing；　and　what　he　says　is　happening；　are　often　opposites。〃
　I　indicated　the　scrolls。　〃What　about　the　Old　Ones？　Were　there　any　smart　fellows　among　them？〃
　Janos　sighed。　〃I　know　you'll　think　I'm　a　boaster；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　must　answer　honestly。　No。　There　were　not〃
　〃Did　any　of　them　stumble　on　the　trail　you　are　now　following？〃
　〃A　few　might　have。　But　for　some　reason；　they　never　continued。〃　Janos　snorted。　〃I　suspect　those　were　the　wizards　the　Old　Ones　honored　on　the　Holy　Mountain。〃　Another　snort。　〃Although　what　they　were　honoring　remains　a　mystery　I　doubt　is　worth　unraveling。〃
　〃So　that　leaves　only　you；〃　I　said。
　Janos　gave　me　an　odd　look；　whose　meaning　I　could　not　decipher。　Then　he　said；　firmly；　〃Yes　。。。　Only　me。〃
　〃But　only　because　the　others　have　been　blind；　or　abdicated；〃　I　said。
　〃Whatever　the　reason　。。。　No　one　has　even　e　close　to　what　I　see。　All　of　them　kept　going　in　greater　and　greater　circles；　from　one　generation　to　the　next　They　were　doomed　for　never　asking　a　single　question：　why？〃
　〃Do　you　know　the　answer？〃　I　asked。
　Janos　gave　his　head　a　mighty　shake。　〃No。　But　I　am　close；　dammit！　Close。　I　already　see　things　no　one　has　even　dreamed　of　looking　for。〃　Janos'　excitement　intensified。　〃You　remember　when　I　told　you　about　the　trick　with　the　scorpion　and　the　mouse？　How　I　put　the　scorpion　away　in　one　place；　and　took　the　mouse　from　another？〃　I　nodded　that　I　did。　〃Well；　now　I　know　the　how　and　why　of　it。　There　are　many　worlds；　my　Mend；　that　exist　alongside　our　own。　Each　world　follows　its　own　rules。　A　demon　has　his。　We　have　ours。　When　we　summon　the　demon；　we　also　summon　the　rules　of　his　own　existence；　and　with　knowledge　we　can　manipulate　those　rules　to　our　ends。　Just　as　he　can　manipulate　ours　if　he　is　the　superior　in　the　bargain。〃
　〃Like　Mortacious？〃　I　asked。
　Janos'　face　darkened。　〃Yes。　Like　Mortacious。〃
　〃How　does　one　assure　himself　he　will　always　be　the　superior？〃　I　asked。
　〃By　knowing　that　no　matter　how　different　those　worlds　appear；　no　matter　how　different　the　rules　seem；　there　is　really　only　one　law　that　mands　everything。　The　differences　that　so　confuse　us　are　merely　many　manifestations　of　that　single　law。〃
　〃Do　you　know　that　law　yet？〃　I　asked。
　Janos'　eyes　glowed　with　the　passion　of　his　hunt。　〃No。　But；　as　I　said；　I　am　close；　my　friend。　Very　close。〃
　I　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　〃Good。　Now；　listen　to　me；　Greycloak。　All　is　not　as　it　seems　in　Vacaan。　It　can　be　a　dangerous　place　if　we　tarry　much　longer。　I　think　all　of　us　should　leave　as　soon　as　I　plete　my　business　with　the　king。〃
　〃Leave？〃　Janos　said；　astounded。　〃I　couldn't　leave　now。　I　told　you　。。。　I　am　very　close。〃
　〃The　terms　of　my　bargain　should　keep　much　of　that　knowledge　ing；〃　I　said。　〃And　I　have　a　plan　that　can　offer　much　more；　besides。〃
　〃What　is　that？〃　Janos　asked；　his　tone　was　as　if　he　were　addressing　a　child。
　I　ignored　it。　〃When　we　return　to　Orissa；　I　shall　fund　a　great　school　of　wizardry。　You　will　be　in　charge。　Think　of　all　the　eager　assistants　you　will　have　to　carry　out　any　experiment　you　like。　If　you　all　hammer　at　it　jointly；　why；　soon　the　wall　shall　fall；　and　you　will　have　all　you　seek。〃
　Janos　frowned。　〃But　。。。　then　。。。　others　will　know！〃
　〃Exactly；〃　I　said。　〃That　is　the　beauty　of　my　plan。　If　everyone　knows　then　all　of　us　are　equals。　Together　we　can　acpli