cacb.thefarkingdoms-第99节
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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 acplish as much； or more than they have in Vacaan。 And without the blinders you constantly bemoan； we can do it more quickly。〃
〃That could still take a lifetime；〃 Janos said。 〃My lifetime。〃
〃What of it？ You will still have the satisfaction of knowing someday it will be done。〃
Janos coughed and busied himself picking up the scrolls and sorting them。 〃I fear you are making a plex thing too simple；〃 he said。
〃Oh； e now； Janos。〃 I laughed。 〃You are always the one to insist on the opposite。 The simple is made too plex out of ignorance； or； more likely； the desire of the wizards to appear wiser than they are。 Why； from what you have told me already； and remember； I am a simpleton when it es to sorcery； I could put a right…thinking Evocator from Orissa on the same trail you are on。 If I told Gamelan； for instance； that business of many worlds； side by our own； and added your theory that one law mands all forces； seen or unseen； why； even that old brain might begin to glimmer。 Who knows where that glimmering would take even Gamelan？〃
Janos gave me that odd look again。 〃Who knows； indeed？〃 he murmured。
〃You see my point？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； I suppose I do；〃 Janos said。
〃Then you agree to my plan？〃 I pressed。
Janos twisted and untwisted his beard。 He picked up a scroll and stared at the inscriptions； absently； at first； then with more and more absorption。 I could see his thoughts racing away。 〃Janos；〃 I prodded again； and louder。 〃Do you agree？〃
He looked up； that charming smile of his flashing through his unruly beard。 〃Why； of course； I do； my friend。 Of course； I do。 e and see me when you're done with the king。 And we'll talk again。〃
〃What is there to talk about 。。。 if you agree？〃
Janos shrugged。 〃Oh； I am hunting a thing just now； and if I cannot find it by the time you are done 。。。 Well。。。 There might be a small delay。 A very small delay。〃 I had to be satisfied with that； for his eyes were glazing over； and his lips were muttering aloud the strange words he was reading in the old scroll。 I wished him farewell； got an absent whisper in reply； and left。
I fretted over our conversation for an hour or two； then； from the lazy fort of Omerye's arms； I took another look and fretted less。 The more I thought about it； the more sound my plan appeared； and after a while I believed it so sound； I knew my friend…he who worshipped reason…could not help but see it； too。 So there was only the business with King Domas to conclude； and then we would all return to Orissa bearing even more than what we had dreamed when we first set out for the Far Kingdoms。
The next day a royal invitation came。 But the summons was not from the king； it was from Prince Raveline。
CHAPTER TWENTY…FIVE
The Servants of Corruption
AT THE APPOINTED hour； a gondola pulled into the dock of my mansion。 It was large and could easily have carried twenty as well as one。 I was the only 〃guest〃 aboard。 There were four other men to be seen： a steersman at the rudder； a serving man in the luxurious glass…windowed cabin； plus two men in the bow with long trumpets to warn other craft out of the way。 The gondola carried eight oars on a side； the rowers were hidden belowdecks。 They might have been human； but if so had been trained to perfection： the oars bit； feathered； and stroked as if they were run by clockwork。 The trumpeters were not needed； for any gondolier who saw Prince Raveline's red； gold； and black house colors blazoned on my craft would scuttle away like water spiders fleeing a crafty old pike when it es up to the shallows to feed。
The boat turned off the main canal into an untraveled waterway that led beyond the city toward the Holy Mountain。 It was odd to be moving by water through green； rolling countryside that was as carefully manicured as an athletic field。 There were no farms； no farmers； nor did I see houses； roads； or even paths。 The canal curved in a series of eye…pleasing bends。 Far out in the country it ended in a circular pond。
A low； sleek carriage waited； it was drawn by six matched； blaze…faced black horses。 Four footmen led me to the carriage and bowed as I entered。 They mounted to their stations； and without a mand from the driver； the horses moved away。 Despite my apprehension； I peered eagerly out the carriage windows； curious as to what Prince Raveline's estate would look like。 I was not disappointed…but neither was I enthralled with splendor。 The road we traveled was made of stone blocks； each block stretching from one side to the other of the roadway； which was easily five times the height of a man in width。 Each was precisely fitted to its fellow。 I expected the road to e to a huge wall； with elaborate gates； but there was none。 The perfectly manicured countryside rolled on around me； with trees and ponds as precisely laid out as if a master gardener had been at work for aeons。 As inviting as it appeared； I felt that if I had e on this preserve knowing nothing； I would have found it cold and foreboding。 The longer our journey on that peaceful lane； the more my dread grew； I did not know whether the dread came from a protective spell； or if it was merely because I did know the identity of the estate's lord。
I saw the first guardians…there were two of them； standing on either side of the road。 They were nearly one hundred feel tall and carved from dark polished stone。 Each statue was of a woman； holding a naked sword vertically before her。 I knew no earthly being had served as a model for the sculptures…the women were impossibly beautiful； but hard； cold； distant…the faces as pitiless as a chieftain's from the ice fields of the south。 After we passed； I looked back at the forbidding monoliths and drew in a sharp breath。 Each statue had a second face； looking to the rear； and that face was a leering； malevolent； fanged demon。 I hoped for his sake that the sculptor had worked merely from his imagination； but from what I'd heard of Prince Raveline's interests； I suspected not。
I regained my posure and saw movement through gathering gloom。 I thought it would most likely be a roving cavalry patrol； and once again was wrong。 From behind a copse trotted a pack of direwolves。 There must have been a dozen of them。 They came directly for us； and I swore for not having dared to bring a weapon。 These huge shaggy killers would bring down the horses in an instant； and I doubted if the six of us could stand against the beasts for more than a few seconds。 Each of them stood about eight feet at the foreshoulder； and their dreadful fangs gleamed long and blood hungry。 I braced； waiting for the horses to see the wolves and bolt。 But they did not。 The wolf pack split around us； as if they were； indeed； escorting cavalry。 They trotted on either side of the carriage。 I could hear the scrape of their nails against the roadway。 One of the beasts was beside my window； and it looked in。 I vow its gaze was nearly human and wholly baleful。 Overhead there was the whisper of great wings； and I saw a patrolling flight of those spur…armed； monstrous eagles we'd observed ing upriver to Irayas。 Raveline's castle was well guarded； indeed； I thought as the fortress came into view。 It was a huge hexagon with round towers at each angle； and it sat in the center of a perfectly flat field。 I estimated each wall would have stretched nearly a third of a league。 I thought all the castles I had ever seen； including that sea castle of the Archons； could have been fitted into this edifice's keep。 I saw no sign of guards either on the battlements or patrolling around the structure。
One man waited outside a yawning portal … Prince Raveline。 There were no other guests； no weling servitors。 Now I was truly afraid； my fear enough so I felt I could taste its metallic aridity。 The coach drew to a halt in front of him； and the footmen sprang down and bowed to their master。 He nodded acknowledgment； strode to the door； and opened it himself。
〃Lord Antero；〃 he said。 〃You honor my presence。〃
I slid out； bowed deeply； and touched my lips to the hand he extended。 〃It is you who honor me；〃 I said。 〃I have never been invited into the home of any prince； let alone one so great as yourself。 Nor personally handed down from my carriage by the prince himself。〃
〃There；〃 Raveline said。 〃Now we have both dispensed with the required niceties。 I plan no other ceremonies； and if you have speeches or clever pliments ready； we shall take them as given and returned。〃 He smiled； but his eyes were cold； cold。
He took my arm and led me into the castle。 〃I pondered long as to whether I should invite others。 I did not。。。 do not。。。 want you to think you are being slighted by not being surrounded with panoply and courtiers； but we have matters of import to discuss… matters I would rather none of those who dance attendance around my brother would witness。〃 He made a mirthless smile。 〃I cannot；〃 he continued； almost to himself； 〃order the tongue cut out of every loose…lipped sycophant in the Great Court。 Much as that would prove a blessing。〃
I hoped my face showed no response as I realized Raveline must
