cacb.thefarkingdoms-第103部分

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thought；　was　the　mark　of　a　man　who　would　at　least　listen　if　the　bargain　was　presented　logically　and　without　decoration。　Then　we　were　being　hurried　to　him；　and　in　a　moment　the　twenty　of　us　were　drawing　up　in　formation　before　the　king。　We　started　to　bow　low；　as　we　thought　proper；　but　he　stopped　it　with　a　wave。　〃None　of　that　bowing　business；〃　he　said。　〃A　good　rigid　and　respectful　posture　will　do。〃　He　turned　to　his　brother。　〃There's　all　too　much　ceremony　in　this　court；〃　he　said。　〃All　that　bowing　makes　me　dizzy。〃
　Raveline　laughed；　hearty　and　full；　but　it　was　heavy　with　mockery。　〃Just　order　us　all　to　stop；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　you'll　see　how　much　you　miss　it〃
　Domas　gave　him　a　mild　look。　〃You're　being　clever　again；〃　he　said。　Then　he　sighed；　as　Raveline　answered　with　more　mockery　by　bowing；　very　slowly　and　very　low。　〃I　don't　feel　clever　today；〃　the　king　said。　He　looked　at　Beemus。　'Think　of　something　clever　for　me；　Beemus。　Something　that'll　cut　him　good。　You're　good　at　that。〃　Beemus　whispered　a　promise；　and　Domas　turned　his　attention　back　to　us。　〃So　these　are　the　fellows　who　have　caused　such　a　fuss；〃　he　rumbled。　But　he　said　it　with　a　smile。　Then　he　studied　us　thoroughly；　the　smile　growing　broader　still。　〃A　fine…looking　lot；〃　he　said　to　his　brother。　〃Don't　you　agree？〃
　Raveline　was　doing　his　own　bit　of　studying：　his　wizard's　eyes　roaming　here　and　there；　finding　me；　where　they　paused；　then　Janos；　where　they　lingered　for　a　much　longer　moment。　〃I　do　indeed；〃　the　prince　said。　His　voice　was　nearly　as　loud　as　the　king's。　He　was　smiling　as　well；　but　his　lips　stretched　thinly　over　his　teeth。　Like　a　hunting　dog's；　I　thought；　when　he　returns　with　the　scent　of　his　prey。
　The　king　rose　from　the　throne　and　with　Beemus　scampering　at　his　side；　strode　down　the　steps　to　view　us　more　closely。　Janos　and　I　tensed；　thinking　we　would　be　the　first　to　be　examined。　Instead；　the　king　strolled　casually　around　the　formation。　〃What　a　sturdy　group　of　men；〃　he　boomed　in　admiration。　〃You　can　see　why　they　made　it。　And　none　the　worse　for　wear；　to　boot。〃
　〃A　little　lean；　perhaps；〃　Raveline　quarreled。　〃And　battered　a　bit。〃
　〃Who　wouldn't　be；〃　Domas　replied；　〃after　ing　so　far　to　find　us？〃　He　looked　down　at　Beemus。　〃Are　you　still　thinking？〃　Beemus　said　he　was。　〃Good；〃　the　king　said。　〃Make　it　nice　and　sharp　and　wounding；　please。〃
　More　studying　and　nodding　followed。　Then　Domas　suddenly　whirled　and　waved　to　the　chamber；　shouting；　〃Friends！　Friends！　Your　attention；　please。〃　His　bellow　filled　the　great　chamber　and　rolled　back　without　the　aid　of　magic。　Others　took　up　the　cry；　quite　unnecessarily；　saying；　〃The　king　is　speaking！　The　king　is　speaking！〃　The　crowd　looked　up　expectantly。
　〃I　want　you　all　to　meet　these　fellows；〃　the　king　bellowed；　〃You've　probably　heard　I'm　interested　in　them；　and　here　they　are　in　flesh。　They're　all　brave　adventurers。　And　what　adventure　it's　been！　They've　e　all　the　way　from　far　Orissa。　Daring　deserts　and　bandits；　and　all　sorts　of　other　terrors。〃　Domas　resumed　his　stroll；　talking　to　the　crowd　as　he　went；　with　patient　Beemus　trotting　at　his　side。　〃Let's　talk　to　a　few；　shall　we？　And　see　what　makes　such　spirit。〃　He　paused；　hurling　a　great　stone　of　a　frown　at　the　crowd。　〃A　spirit　many　of　you　sadly　lack。〃　Then　he　returned　his　attention　to　us；　and　a　smile　replaced　the　frown。　His　smile　was　quite　unlike　his　brother's：　it　was　wide　and　generous　and　its　path　was　smooth　from　much　use。
　The　king　looked　us　over　again；　until　his　gaze　fell　on　Sergeant　Maeen。　〃You；　sir；〃　the　king　roared；　pointing。　〃Tell　us　your　name。〃
　Maeen　purpled　with　embarrassment。　The　purple　deepened　as　confusion　caught　him　between　a　salute　and　a　bow　he　recalled　had　been　forbidden。　Domas　rescued　him　with　a　mander's　salute　for　a　soldier。　Dilemma　solved；　Maeen　snapped　his　best　brisk　reply；　saying；　〃Sir！　I　am　Sergeant　Maeen！　Sir！〃
　The　king　shouted　to　the　crowd；　〃Did　you　hear　that？　Sergeant　Maeen；　he　says。　I　guessed　his　rank。　You　can　see　by　the　cut　of　him　that　he's　a　sergeant。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Your　Majesty；〃　Maeen　said。
　〃Tell　us；　good　sergeant；　what　do　you　think　of　us　now　that　you're　here？　How　did　you　find　Vacaan？〃
　Maeen's　features　glowed；　and　he　struggled　mightily　for　the　proper　response。　Finally；　he　blurted；　〃Marvelous；　Your　Majesty！　It's　just　marvelous！〃
　Domas　roared　laughter。　〃Do　you　hear　that？〃　he　bawled。　〃He　thinks　we're　。。。　marvelous！〃　More　laughter。　Then；　〃Good　plain　soldier's　talk。　We　need　more　of　that　around　here。〃　Maeen　blushed。
　Then　the　king　asked；　〃Is　there　anything　you　don't　like？　That　isn't　。。。　marvelous？〃
　Maeen　gave　it　his　honest　consideration；　puzzling　until　he　found　a　small　blight。　〃It's　the　food；　sir；〃　he　said。
　〃The　food？〃　Domas　thundered。　〃What　don't　you　like　about　our　food？〃
　〃Oh；　I　like　it　fine；　Your　Majesty；〃　Maeen　said。　〃But；　begging　your　pardon；　sometimes　I　think　it's　somewhat　。。。　rich。〃
　Domas　was　absolutely　delighted　with　this。　〃I　think　so；　too；　Sergeant；〃　he　said。　〃They're　always　putting　glop　on　nice　fresh　stuff　and　ruining　it。　Next　time；　tell　them　to　scrape　it　off。　Of　course；　I　do　that　all　the　time；　and　it　does　me　no　good。　And　I'm　their　damned　king！〃
　Prince　Raveline　broke　in。　〃I　think　you　have　found　a　friend　in　my　brother；　Sergeant；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　can　see　why。　You're　just　his　style　of　fellow。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Your　Majesty；〃　Maeen　said。
　Domas　held　up　a　hand。　〃You　shouldn't　call　him　'Your　Majesty；'　〃　he　admonished。　〃It's　like　confusing　officers　with　sergeants。　Only　kings　are　majestic。　My　brother's　a　prince。　And　princes　are　。。。〃　He　paused；　searching；　and　a　sudden　glow　lighted　his　features。　He　shouted　for　all　to　hear；　〃Princes　are　。。。　less　majestic。〃　Then　he　laughed　until　the　tears　flowed；　the　crowd　laughing　with　him。　Raveline　made　his　smile　that　was　a　sneer。　Beemus　whispered　to　Domas；　who　nodded；　then　said；　〃It　was　clever；　wasn't　it。　But　you　keep　thinking；　Beemus。　I'll　be　needing　more　soon　enough。〃　He　shot　his　brother　a　look　and　snorted。　〃Good　old　Less　Majestic。〃
　Still　laughing；　he　thanked　Maeen　and　strolled　on；　picking　out　several　more　of　our　men；　introducing　them　to　his　subjects；　and　praising　each　in　turn。　Finally；　he　came　back　to　the　front　where　we　stood。
　He　caught　my　red　hair　first。　〃You；　sir。　Don't　tell　me　your　name；　I　know　it。　It's　。。。〃　He　frowned　as　it　escaped　him。　Beemus　whispered；　and　Domas　grinned。　〃Antero；　that's　it。。。　Amalric　Antero。〃
　〃I　am　honored；　Your　Majesty；〃　I　said。
　Domas　puzzled　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　he　said；　〃You're　the　merchant？〃　I　said　I　was。　〃Merchants　aren't　usually　the　daring　sort。　All　they　care　about　is　profit。〃　I　told　him　that　profit　was　certainly　not　my　goal。　The　king　studied　me　further；　and　I　could　see　he　believed　me。　He　tapped　Beemus。　〃I　want　to　speak　with　him　further；〃　he　said。　〃Make　a　bit　of　time　in　the　next　day　or　so。〃　This　request　drew　a　furious　bout　of　whispering　from　Beemus。　〃I　know；　I　know；〃　the　king　said。　〃But　do　it　for　me　anyway；　and　there's　a　good　fellow。〃
　That　done　with；　he　turned　to　Janos。　〃I　know　your　name　right　off；〃　he　said。　〃It's　Janos　Greycloak；　soldier　and　wizard。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Your　Majesty；〃　Janos　said。
　〃Which　are　you　the　most　of；　Greycloak；　soldier　or　wizard？〃
　〃It　was　both　that　helped　get　us　here；　Your　Majesty；〃　Janos　answered。
　The　king　was　impatient。　〃No　avoidance　now。　I've　made　this　court　an　open　court。　All　are　manded　to　speak　their　minds。　I　do。　So　does　my　。。。　less　majestic　brother。〃　He　chuckled　in　memory　of　his　fun。
　Janos　braced　up；　even　firmer　than　before。　〃I　have　been　a　soldier　all　my　life；〃　he　said。　〃But　during　that　time；　there　was　only　one　banner　that　drew　me。　The　Far　Kingdoms　have　been　my　dream；　sir。　Now　I　am　here；　if　you　will　permit　it；　the　study　of　magic　is　what　interests　me　most。〃
　Domas　eyed　him；　gave　a　slow　nod；　and　said；　〃Why　not？〃　He　turned　to　the　crowd；　shouting；　〃That's　enough。　I　want　some　privacy　now。　You　all　go　back　to　whatever　you　were　doing。　Wasting　my　money；　I　suppose。　Oh；　yes。　These　fellows　will　be　visiting　a　while；　and　I　want　you　to　show　them　the　utmost　courtesy。　Is　that　understood？〃　Rumbles　from　the　crowd　and　friendly　faces　showed　it　was。　Then　the　crowd　turned　away　as　he'd　demanded；　and　Domas　went　back　to　his　throne。
　He　thought　for　a　moment；　then；　〃I　said　before；　I　liked　your　looks。　I　liked　them　better　when　I　looked　closer。