cacb.thefarkingdoms-第10部分

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of　steel；　harsh　breathing；　and　gasps　of　effort。　Leego　leaped　up；　urging　his　men　on。　For　a　moment；　we　were　almost　overwhelmed。　Then　my　new　friend　drew　a　long　knife　and　charged；　sword　and　dagger　cutting　this　way　and　that。　Someone　got　behind　him；　but　I　speared　that　man　through　the　back；　and　I　heard　me　whistle　of　lungs　emptying。　Suddenly　the　men　were　running；　bowling　Leego　over　in　their　panic　to　escape　my　demon　rescuer。　I　started　after　them；　but　my　friend　stuck　out　his　foot；　and　I　tumbled　face　forward　into　the　mud。
　By　the　time　I　rose　the　man　had　Leego　pinned　to　the　ground　with　a　heavy　boot　across　his　throat。　I　plucked　fire　beads　from　my　pocket；　held　them　high；　and　whispered　the　enchantment　that　brought　them　to　life。
　〃Bring　them　closer；　lad；〃　the　man　said。　〃I　need　some　light　on　my　work。〃
　I　could　see　him　clearly　now。　He　was　a　soldier；　I　noted；　an　officer。　He　was　quite　tall；　heavily　muscled　and　darkly　handsome；　with　a　jagged　scar　above　his　beard　marring　those　good　looks。　His　teeth　glittered　as　brightly　as　his　sword。
　〃Please；　sir；〃　Leego　begged；　〃there's　only　a　small　misunderstanding。　I'm　sure　I　can　make　it　right〃　He　squealed　as　my　friend　trod　harder　against　his　windpipe。
　〃What's　his　name？〃　the　soldier　asked。
　〃Leego；〃　I　answered。　〃He's　a　Procurer。〃
　The　man　took　this　in；　then　leaned　over　my　nemesis。　〃Look　closely　at　my　face；　Leego；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　you　to　remember　it　well。〃　Leego　gurgled　and　nodded。　〃My　name　is　Janos　Greycloak；　you　whore's　son；〃　the　man　went　on。　〃Captain　Greycloak；　to　be　more　precise。　I　overheard　your　conversation　with　this　gentleman；　so　I　am　witness　to　your　threats。〃
　〃No　harm　meant；〃　Leego　croaked。　〃It　was　only　business；　kind　Captain。〃
　〃Well；　if　business　includes　blackmail；〃　Janos　said；　〃then　let　me　warn　you：　If　you　accuse　this　man；　I　shall　stand　with　him　and　humbug　your　every　charge。　If　murder　is　your　true　intent；　let　me　make　myself　clear。　If　anything　happens　to　him；　I　shall　find　you；　Leego；　and　you　will　beg　for　something　so　merciful　as　murder。〃
　〃I　shall　not　harm　him；　good　sir；〃　Leego　shrieked。　〃I　promise　by　all　that　is　holy。〃
　〃Don't　blaspheme；〃　Captain　Greycloak　said。　He　stepped　back　as　if　to　let　Leego　rise。　He　sheathed　his　sword。　As　Leego　came　to　his　elbows；　that　boot　crushed　down　again。　The　captain　pinched　Leego's　ear　between　two　strong　fingers。　Leego　howled。　〃To　make　absolutely　sure　we　have　a　bargain；〃　the　captain　said；　〃I　shall　take　something　of　yours。〃
　His　knife　slashed　and　Leego　screamed。　Captain　Greycloak　held　Leego's　ear　in　his　hand；　blood　dripping　across　the　spider　face。　The　captain　shook　it；　scattering　more　blood　like　rain。　〃If　this　young　gentleman　has　trouble　with　you　in　the　future；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　give　this　stump　to　an　old　warty　witch　I　know。　She　specializes　in　particularly　odious　curses。　Do　you　understand　my　meaning？〃
　〃Yes；　my　lord；〃　Leego　whined。
　〃Out　of　our　sight；　then；〃　the　captain　said。
　Leego　fled　down　the　street　without　looking　behind　him。　When　he　was　gone；　the　captain　looked　at　the　lump　of　bloody　flesh　in　his　hand。　He　laughed；　hurled　it　away；　and　wiped　his　fingers　with　odd　fastidiousness　on　his　breeches。　〃As　if　I　had　coin　for　witches；〃　he　said。
　〃Captain　Greycloak；〃　I　said；　〃I　shall　always　be　at　your　service　for　this　night's　work。〃
　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that；〃　he　said；　〃for　I　have　suddenly　developed　a　powerful　thirst。〃　He　clapped　me　on　the　shoulder　and　led　me　back　to　the　tavern。　〃You　would　do　me　a　great　honor；　gentle　sir；　if　you　would　address　me　as　a　Mend。　And　my　friends…an　unfortunate　few；　I　fear…call　me　Janos。〃
　〃Then　Janos；　it　is；　sir；〃　I　said　with　fervor。　〃And　you　must　call　me　Amalric。　What's　more；　if　I　have　any　buttons　left　to　trade　with　the　tavern　keeper；　I　will　buy　a　river　of　brandy　to　bless　this　friendship。〃　Light…headed　with　relief；　I　trooped　into　the　inn　to　make　the　rat…faced　tavernkeep　a　richer　man。
　Soon；　we　had　finished　one　goblet　of　brandy　and　were　well　into　a　second。　I　had　been　musing　on　the　fact　that　I　had　just　sent　one　man　to　his　death；　and　most　likely　the　one　I'd　lung…stabbed　would　not　live　out　the　night；　yet　I　felt　neither　guilt　nor　shame；　unlike　the　ballads　pretend。　Thinking　further　on　the　brawl　outside；　honesty　shamed　me　into　confessing　aloud　I　did　not　consider　myself　worthy　of　rescue。
　〃The　argument；〃　I　said；　〃was　over　a　dishonorable　act　on　my　part。　I　did　not　deserve　your　interference。〃
　〃Don't　be　so　hasty　in　flailing　yourself；　my　friend；〃　Janos　answered。　〃I　know　quite　a　little　of　men　like　Leego；　and　I　strongly　doubt　at　any　moment　in　your　dealings　you　ever　had　the　upper　hand。〃
　〃I　was　a　fool；〃　I　said。　It　felt　cleansing　to　say　those　words　aloud。
　Janos　nodded。　〃I　suspect　you　were；〃　he　said。　〃It　usually　happens　when　a　man　thinks　with　his　cock　instead　of　his　brain。〃　He　laughed。　〃However；　I　did　overhear　one　thing　that　intrigues　me。　Something　about　a　love　potion。　Applied　to　his　prize　whore。〃　His　eyes　sparkled　with　what　I　thought　was　amused　interest。　Later　I　learned　that　his　interest　in　these　matters　was　far　from　casual。
　I　blushed。　〃I　fear　what　you　heard　is　true。　It　was　a　terrible　sin　I　mitted；　and　I　regret　it　deeply。〃
　〃Oh；　don't　be　a　prudish　fellow。　What's　there　to　regret？　The　doxy　and　Leego　got　their　money's　worth　out　of　you；　I'll　warrant。〃
　I　made　a　plete　and　full　confession；　starting　with　the　moment　Melina　and　I　first　met　and　ending　with　my　flight　from　her　bedchamber。　Janos　was　a　remarkably　easy　confessor。　He　was　sympathetic　without　being　syrupy。　He　interrupted　only　to　ask　a　detail…one　that　always　seemed　to　bolster　my　side…or　make　a　jest　to　lighten　my　spirits。　It　was　like　talking　to　a　much　older　brother；　although　I　realized　he　couldn't　be　much　more　than　five　years　my　senior。　When　I　was　done　he　poured　the　last　of　the　brandy；　then　turned　the　bottle　up　to　signal　it　would　be　our　last。
　〃In　my　unworthy　opinion；　Amalric；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　a　tale　that　began　sadly　and　ended　happily。　You　learned　a　lesson　most　of　us　don't　e　to　until　a　late　age；　if　ever。　Forget　the　woman。　Forget　your　imagined　humiliations。　I　assure　you　it　will　make　a　wonderful　story　to　tell　your　sons　when　you　are　an　old　man。　At　least　tonight；　you　acquitted　yourself　well。　So　be　done　with　it。〃
　I　thanked　him；　although　I　was　not　convinced　my　sins　could　so　easily　be　washed　away。
　Janos　raised　his　goblet　in　a　toast。　'To　the　new　Amalric　Antero。　May　his　future　adventures　be　half　as　sweet。〃　Our　goblets　chinked　together；　and　we　drank。　As　we　lowered　our　glasses　I　caught　Janos　eyeing　me　thoughtfully　across　the　table。　〃I　think　my　own　fortunes　changed　this　night；　Amalric；〃　he　said；　quite　sincerely。　〃For　did　I　not　meet　a　redheaded　man？　And　is　that　not　one　of　the　luckiest　signs　the　seers　can　find　in　their　crystals？〃
　〃For　your　sake；〃　I　said；　〃I　hope　so。　It　is　not　so　lucky　for　its　possessor；　I　fear。〃
　Janos　laughed；　that　rich　boom　of　a　laugh　I　spoke　of　before。　〃Now　that　is　a　riddle　worthy　of　the　greatest　Evocator；〃　he　said。　〃Much　more　so　than　how　many　demons　can　gambol　on　the　head　of　a　pin。　If　the　Omen　portends　well；　does　that　mean　the　Omen　will　also　end　well？〃
　Even　writing　from　this　distance；　with　all　the　events　that　have　passed　since　we　first　met；　I　still　do　not　know　the　answer　to　that　riddle。　I　doubt　I　will　until　the　night　the　Dark　Seeker　es　to　carry　off　my　soul。
　My　spirits　lifted　as　I　pondered　his　riddle。　At　long　last；　a　friend　with　wit。　Then；　defeated；　I　shook　my　head。　〃Even　if　it　were　not　late；〃　I　said；　〃I　doubt　I　could　unravel　your　puzzle。　Indeed；　it　is　a　riddle　whose　answer　may　be　as　impossible　to　divine　as　。。。〃　I　searched　for　parisons；　and　one　popped　up　like　a　light。　〃As　finding　the　Far　Kingdoms。〃　I　laughed；　but　I　laughed　alone。　Janos　was　staring　at　me；　excitement　in　his　eyes。　〃What　is　it？〃　I　asked。　〃Why　did　you　say　that？〃　he　asked。　I　was　confused。　〃You　mean　。。。　about　the　Far　Kingdoms？〃　〃Yes。〃　His　voice　was　abrupt；　prodding。　〃I　。。。　really　can't　say。　Except　it　was　on　my　mind　just　before　Leego's　thugs　arrived。〃
　Janos　peered　closer；　and　I　suddenly　felt　rather　stupid。　〃It's　that　kind　of　silliness　on　my　brain　that's　kept　me　from　my　responsibilities；〃　I　said；　a　bit　hot。　〃Forgive　my　babbling。〃
　〃If　you　knew　me〃　Janos　said；　〃you　would　realize　when　it　es　to　aimless　chatter；　there　is　no　man　the　master　of　Janos　Greycloak。〃　I　laughed　as　he　drew　me　toward　the