cacb.thefarkingdoms-第11部分

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　〃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　door。　〃We'd　best　go　quickly；　my　friend；〃　he　said；　〃or　we'll　soon　be　wrecked　on　the　shoals　of　more　brandy　and　babbling。〃
　We　went　out　into　the　night。　Down　the　street　I　saw　a　torch　flare；　and　thought　once　more　of　the　Far　Kingdoms。　Then　the　thought　was　gone　and　only　night　remained。
　
　CHAPTER　THREE
　The　Finding
　I　WOKE　THE　next　morning　feeling　bleary；　my　mind　stuck　like　a　dying　fly　in　the　dregs　of　last　night's　wine。　Then　I　smelled　the　clean　sharpness　of　the　spring　wind　whispering　in　my　chamber's　window；　and　the　haze　vanished。　With　some　surprise　I　also　realized　that　for　the　first　time　in　many　days　I　had　not　been　troubled　with　the　terrible　dream　of　the　one…eyed　man。　I　went　from　my　bedchamber　to　the　anteroom；　washed；　then　knelt　and　whispered　the　ritual　prayer　to　the　hearthgod。　The　hand　mirror…no　matter　how　close　I　held　it…told　me　I　would　not　need　to　be　shaved　this　day；　so　I　began　to　put　on　the　clothes　laid　out　for　me。
　Then　I　caught　myself。　〃Banes！〃　He　entered　the　chamber　soundlessly；　his　face　carefully　made　up　in　polite；　if　only　slightly　interested　concern…the　expression　I　later　understood　to　be　the　mask　bodyslaves　quickly　learn　to　wear　for　survival。　I　indicated　the　clothes　he　had　laid　out：　the　shirt　was　plain；　the　breeches　were　of　a　sober　color；　the　jerkin　was　of　poor　quality；　and　the　cap　could　have　been　worn　by　an　elder。　〃Is　this　what　you　think　happened？〃
　A　smile　flickered；　then　vanished。　〃I　think　nothing；　m'lord。　But　since　you　said　my　presence　would　not　be　required　when　you　went　out　last　evening；　and　you　returned　escorted　by　two　soldiers　not　far　from　dawn；　and　I　found　wine　and　earth　stains　on　your　clothes；　which　were　scattered　as　if　the　Month　of　Winds　had　been　prematurely　in　your　chambers；　and…〃
　〃Enough！〃
　〃As　you　wish；　sir。〃
　〃I　had　some　unexpected　encounters　was　all。〃
　〃I　have　never　heard　her　called　that；　before。〃
　I　chose　to　ignore　his　words。　My　teachers　had　repeatedly　cautioned　me　from　childhood　that　I　was　overly　familiar　with　slaves　and　the　lower　classes…just　as　I　was　guilty　of　showing　insufficient　respect　to　my　elders　and　superiors。　But　it　is　impossible　for　anyone　with　bowels　to　play　the　lordling　to　a　small；　balding　slave　whose　first　service　was　carrying　you　from　your　father's　arms　to　the　waiting　Evocator　at　the　naming　ritual。
　〃But　I　thought；〃　Eanes　continued；　〃you　might　wish　your　dress　for　this　day　to　be　。。。　shall　we　say　of　a　hue　that　would　not　offend　an　eye　that　is　bleeding；　nor　a　parent　still　below　stairs　who　heard　the　clatter　as　you　reeled　in？〃　Eanes　might　have　been　surprised　I　did　not　pale；　but　I　had　need　of　my　father　today：　there　was　a　debt　to　repay；　and　thanks　to　Melina　and　my　own　foolishness；　I　did　not　have　the　means。　I　walked　into　the　wardrobe　and　carefully　chose　my　costume：　breeches　of　green；　with　a　matching　flat　cap　worked　with　gold　threads；　a　flower…embroidered　belted　tunic；　ankle　boots；　since　the　weather　appeared　balmy；　and　a　short　cloak。　Remembering　the　last　night's　embarrassment；　I　chose　a　simple　rapier；　one　without　curlicued　quillons；　slung　it　from　a　baldric　set　with　the　family　seal；　and　considered　myself　in　a　mirror：　my　image　was　just　as　I　wished　to　appear…a　sober　young　heir；　but　not　one　in　mourning；　a　young　man　who；　though　sprightly　in　his　air；　was　not　the　type　to　consort　with　whores　of　any　pricing；　or　their　pimps。
　〃I　see；〃　Eanes　said。　〃So　she　left　you　empty　pursed　once　again。　And　you　are　planning　to　go　out　and　about。　I　assume　you　will　not　require　my　presence。〃
　〃I　may　not　have　paid　much　mind　to　my　tutors；　but　I　recollect　the　one…I　disremember　if　it　was　the　fellow　who　somehow　fell　into　the　harbor　or　the　one　whose　robes　ended　up　mysteriously　on　fire…who　told　me　the　story　of　the　savant　who　prided　himself　on　the　excellence　of　his　predictions；　and　while　boasting　to　his　students　of　this　talent　one　day；　he　kept　walking　along　a　cliff　edge　some　yards　after　the　solid　land　had　e　to　an　end。　And　so　the　babbler　died；　to　the　great　cheers　and　relief　of　his　tortured　students。　The　reality　is　I　shall　be　infinitely　pleased　to　have　your　pany；　even　if　I　fear　senility　is　setting　in。　We　will　be　going　out　shortly。〃
　〃Yes；　noble　Amalric；　my　never…to…be…sufficiently…praised　owner。　I　will　be　ready。　Although　I　must　add…you　were　correct　when　you　said　you　paid　little　heed　to　your　teachings。　Consider　the　fable　whose　moral　you　so　twisted。　In　truth；　after　the　tragic　death　of　that　poor　wise　man；　several　of　his　students　killed　themselves；　despairing　that　they　would　no　longer　benefit　from　his　guidance。　And；　considering　the　day　looks　as　if　it　threatens　rain　and　storm；　and　I　have　more　than　a　hint　of　chill…caused　by　my　waiting　up　deep　into　the　night；　worrying　about　my　poor　master；　stumbling　drunkenly　through　some　filth…strewn　alley　and　stalked　by　evil　cutthroats…you　should　learn　from　the　shamed　suicides　of　those　students；　and　meditate　long　that　I　shall　not　be　with　you　forever。〃　As　usual；　the　end…scoring　favored　Eanes。
　
　FOUNTAINS　FLASHED　IN　the　gardens　in　the　center　of　our　villa；　and　our　tame　birds　rainbowed　colors　from　limb　to　limb　of　budding　trees。　My　father　was　sitting　at　a　long　table；　a　plate　of　fruit　and　a　glass　of　well…watered　wine　for　breakfast　beside　him。　He　was　surrounded　by　his　factotum；　Tegry；　plus　an　array　of　scrolls；　tablets；　minions；　and　lackeys。　I　seated　myself　at　the　far　end　of　the　table　and　waited。　Father　noticed　me；　but　let　me　sit　without　greeting　for　several　long　minutes。　He　pressed　his　signet　to　a　document；　and　its　bearer　left。　Father　held　up　his　hand　and　the　next　man　respectfully　waited　a　few　yards　away。
　〃Have　you　eaten？〃　he　asked　me。
　〃I　have　not。〃
　〃No　doubt　you　have　no　appetite。〃
　〃Nossir。　I　mean；　yes；　I　do。〃
　〃Hmm。　I　would　have　guessed　from　the　motion　I　was　told　you　produced；　arriving　home　in　the　last　turning　of　the　glass；　that　all　you　could　stomach　would　be　a　brandy　and　milk。〃　He　did　not　let　me　answer。　〃I　assume　you　want　something。　And　I　further　assume　I　can　predict　what　it　will　be；　even　given　my　slender　powers　for　prognostication。〃　I　looked　down　at　the　table；　then　nodded。
　'This　will　be　the　third　time…〃　Tegry　began。
　〃I　think　I　am　aware　of　my　son's　requests　and　can　even　remember　the　quantities。　I　have　no　intention　either　one　of　us　should　waste　time　listening　to　another　plea　for　gold　that　will　be　wasted　gilding　some　strum…〃　My　father　stopped　himself。　In　spite　of　his　feelings；　which　I　saw　then　as　anger　but　now　realize　was　closer　to　disappointment；　he　would　not　shame　me　in　front　of　a　slave。　〃Amalric；　I　feel　you　should　consider　further　before　making　your　request。〃
　I　looked　up　at　him。　〃The　money　is　not　for　。。。　her。　But　to　repay　a　debt。〃
　Tegry　looked　at　me。　〃A　moneylender；　Lord　Antero。〃
　My　ears　burned。　〃A　debt　of　honor；　Tegry。　Perhaps　you　will　have　the　word　translated　into　a　tongue　you　understand。〃　Shutters　dropped　over　Tegry's　face　an　instant　before　my　father　scowled　at　him。
　〃A　debt　of　honor；〃　my　father　said　slowly。　〃Very　well。　I　will　not　disgrace　the　request…nor　you　for　asking。　Tegry！　See　to　it。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Father。〃
　〃Don't　get　up。　You　have　not　eaten　yet。　Learn　a　bit　of　wisdom…every　meal　you　miss　now；　your　body　will　remind　you　of　many　times　in　years　to　e。〃　My　father　lifted　his　hand；　and　a　house…servant　approached　me。　〃Now；　Tegry；〃　he　continued；　as　if　I　had　suddenly　bee　invisible；　〃I　have　been　pondering　on　the　ivory　from　Laosia；　and　decided　either　the　J'hana　family　are　fools；　or　else　they　think　we　are。　In　either　case　I　want　a　courier　dispatched　not　later　than　midday；　with　these　instructions　。。。〃
　TEGRY　HANDED　ME　the　purse；　his　expression　as　untroubled　as　if　there　had　been　no　unfriendly　words　spoken　in　the　garden。　I　had　been　told　often　enough　such　behavior　bespoke　petency；　but　still　could　not　understand　a　man　with　clerk's　ink　for　blood；　gold　and　silver　for　bones；　and　a　profit　statement　for　a　mind。　I　shivered　in　the　dark　coolness　of　the　villa's　anteroom。　I　stopped　at　the　altar　and　took　up　a　pinch　of　sand　and　was　about　to　reflexively　deposit　it　before　the　portrait　of　my　brother；　Halab；　as　we　all　did　each　time　we　left　the　house。　Then　I　looked　closely　at　the　picture：　the　painting　was　warranted　not　o