cacb.thefarkingdoms-第117部分

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　red　as　my　hair；　and　instead　of　striking　out　I　dug　my　nails　deep　into　my　palm。　I　was　panting　as　if　I　had　run　a　footrace。　Calm；　of　a　sort；　came　back。
　〃This　is　foolish　of　us　both；〃　I　managed。　〃And　produces　nothing。　We　will　continue　this　tomorrow。　When　we　have　both　learned　to　behave　ourselves。〃　Janos　managed　a　jerky　nod　of　agreement。　He　began　to　say　something　more；　then　clamped　his　mouth　shut。　Without　farewell；　I　turned　and　hurried　out　of　the　chamber　and　down　the　tower　steps。　In　the　courtyard　I　began　shouting　for　Gatra　and　a　gondola。
　It　was　very　late　when　I　returned　to　my　palace。　I　did　not　know　what　to　do。　I　shed　my　clothes　next　to　the　lotus　pool；　dived　into　the　cool　water；　and　swam　three　times　across　it；　trying　to　make　my　muscles　broaden　my　mind's　reach　as　they　themselves　stretched。　I　pulled　myself　out　of　the　pool；　the　before…dawn　wind　chill　on　my　skin。　I　felt　a　bit　better；　but　no　wiser。
　Politeness　dictated　I　should　have　waited；　but　I　could　not。　Something　told　me　that　every　moment　was　important。　I　must　discuss　this　with　the　one　who　appeared　the　only　person　in　this　land　who　was　still　sane。　I　went　to　a　kitchen　and　made　a　pot　of　tea　without　rousing　the　dozing　attendant。　I　took　it　to　our　chambers；　intending　to　wake　Omerye　gently　and　then　tell　her　what　had　happened。　But　she　was　fully　alert　and　standing　at　a　window。　I　set　the　tray　down　and　took　her　in　my　arms；　wanting　nothing　more　than　to　be　able　to　start　eternity　at　this　moment　and　never　have　to　leave　her　embrace。　After　a　while；　she　pushed　me　back。
　〃Was　it　that　bad？〃
　I　told　her　what　had　happened；　both　at　Raveline's　palace　and　with　Janos。　When　I　had　finished；　it　lacked　but　two　hours　before　dawn。　Omerye　poured　two　cups　of　the　now　cold　tea　and　drank。
　〃There　are　those　in　Vacaan；〃　she　began；　〃who　would　find　it　humorous；　and　no　more　than　what　should　be　expected　from　a　half…man　outlander；　that　a　musician　should　be　consulted　for　wisdom。〃
　〃There　is　no　one　else　who　knows　me　better；〃　I　said。　〃No　one　that　I　trust　as　much；　including　myself。〃
　Omerye　kissed　me；　then　she　said；　〃Very　well；　then。　Shall　we　start　with　your　friend？　Consider　this：　if　someone　came　to　me；　as　Prince　Raveline　evidently　has　to　Greycloak；　and　promised　I　could　know　all　chords；　all　fingerings；　tunings；　and　pitches　of　all　instruments　of　this　day　and　the　time　of　the　Old　Ones；　and　be　able　to　use　that　knowledge　to　build　a　music　of　the　future　。。。　perhaps　I　myself　might　be　blind　to　the　failings　of　that　gift　bringer。　Besides；　there　is　some　truth　to　what　he　says。　Not　that　Raveline's　great　evil　can　be　transmuted　to　good　as　easily　as　base　metal　bees　gold。　But　he　can　be　turned　aside。〃
　I　felt　a　bit　of　hope。　〃How？　Should　I　go　to　the　king？〃
　Omerye　gasped　in　horror。　〃Do　not　even　think　that；　my　love。　If　you　went　to　King　Domas；　and　told　him　all　that　had　happened；　he　would　indeed　summon　Raveline；　and　chastise　him　severely。　He　might　even　require　the　prince　to　exile　himself　in　a　far…off　estate；　saying　the　sight　of　him　sickens　decent　men's　eyes。　And　you　would　be　rewarded　for　your　honesty。　But　Raveline　would　be　weled　back　to　Irayas　in　a　few　months；　and　you　would　be　gone。
　Even　though　the　brothers　hate　one　another　。。。　no　one　is　permitted　to　embarrass　the　royal　family。　No　one。　Besides；　in　Vacaan；　matters　are　handled　more　delicately。　A　way　we　might　deal　with　the　situation　is　for　me　to　have　a　word　with　some　friends　who　are　considered　wise　in　the　eyes　of　the　king。　And　for　those　friends　to　chat　with　their　friends。　These　discussions　would　be　held　most　privately　and　most　quietly。　In　time…perhaps　a　week；　perhaps　a　month；　we　can　also　have　a　word　with　Beemus。　Then　a　whisper　will　float　past　the　king's　ears。　He　will　have　his　most　subtle　chamberlains　investigate；　most　privately；　and　most　quietly。　Once　he　learns　the　truth；　and　he　will　learn　it　all　if　he　wishes；　then　Prince　Raveline　might　be　reined　in。　He　will　suddenly　be　ordered　to　mount　an　expedition　against　the　bandits　to　the　north；　perhaps。〃
　I　was　incredulous。　〃Just　like　that；　the　situation　will　return　to　normal；　and　Orissa's　and　my　problems　be　solved？〃　I　was　quite　incredulous。
　〃As　I　said；　Raveline　has　been　brought　to　heel　before；　and　in　matters　that　we；　at　least；　consider　more　important　than　the　fate　of　two　barbarian　cities　far　to　the　west。　Forgive　me；　Amalric　my　love；　but　that　is　how　Vacaanese　think。〃
　I　knew　that　nothing；　especially　the　vagaries　of　princes；　could　be　guaranteed。　But　Omerye　had　offered　the　only　real　plan　that　made　sense。　On　the　morrow；　I　would　return　to　Janos　and　we　could　resolve　our　argument。　I　was　still　angry；　having　seen　the　raw　steel　of　his　ambition。　But　I　told　myself　none　of　us　are　perfect；　and　the　Far　Kingdoms　had　been　his　obsession　much　longer　than　mine。　But　still；　I　knew　as　I　lay　down　to　rest　that　our　friendship　would　no　longer　continue　on　quite　as　easy　a　basis　as　it　had。
　I　woke　an　hour　later　with　a　scream　trapped　in　my　chest。　It　boiled　up　violently　and　tried　to　prise　open　my　lips；　but　still　it　would　not　e。　Omerye　tossed　and　turned　uneasily　beside　me。　It　was　as　if　I　was　awake　and　at　the　same　time　deep　in　a　fever　stupor。
　Two　things　blazed　through　my　mind。　The　first　I　already　knew；　at　least　in　principle：　a　black　wizard　will　feed　and　batten　off　pain；　fear；　and　death。　If　Raveline　were　to　carry　out　his　plan；　Orissa　and　Lycanth　would　bee　chaos。　Armies　would　clash　and　sway　across　our　lands；　armies　degenerating　into　bandits　and　murderers。　In　time；　we；　too；　would　be　nothing　more　than　bloody　wasteland　like　the　Disputed　Lands；　and　I　could　imagine　Raveline's　face　hanging　high　above　those　gory　wastes；　smiling　at　the　destruction　that　was　as　mother's　milk　to　him。
　If　Raveline　were　to　be　allowed　to　carry　out　his　plan　。。。　and　then　I　recollected　what　Raveline　had　said　about　wanting　Janos　as　his　hellhound。　And　I　thought：　hellhound？　Or　assassin？　Janos　was　not　under　any　ban　preventing　him　from　conspiring　against　the　House　of　Domas。　Mistake　me　not　…　even　in　this　waking　nightmare　I　did　not　vision　Janos　skulking　through　the　king's　palace　with　a　drawn　and　poisoned　blade。　But　could　Janos　mount；　lead；　and　execute　a　coup？　To　then　be　cut　down　in　his　moment　of　victory　by　a　newly　crowned　king；　sorrowing　for　his　brother's　murder？　No。　That　was　too　fantastic。　I　dragged　myself　out　of　my　mind's　maelstrom。　I　looked　out　the　window。　Even　though　it　was　still　dark；　I　could　hear　the　sleepy　chirping　of　birds　in　my　garden。　Once　more；　I　should　not　have　been　able　to　sleep；　but　did。　I　do　not　remember　my　head　striking　the　pillow。　All　I　can　recollect　is　my　thought　that　the　morrow　would　be　a　very　different　day　indeed。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…SIX
　The　Cavern
　I　WOKE　INTO　nightmare。　Torches　flared　on　either　side　of　me。　I　lay　on　cold；　wet　stone。　The　reek　of　mildew　filled　my　nostrils；　and　I　tasted　the　hard　iron　of　blood　in　my　mouth。　I　knew　where　I　was：　I　was　still　in　the　dungeon　of　the　Archons；　far　below　the　great　sea　castle　of　Lycanth。　I　was　awakening　from　one　of　those　marvelous　dreams　where　half　a　lifetime　passes；　and　every　moment　is　perfectly　detailed。　Janos　and　I　had　never　escaped　this　dungeon；　had　never　fought　the　Evocators　for　the　soul　of　the　Orissan　people；　had　never　journeyed　beyond　the　Pepper　Coast　and　the　haunted　city　to　enter　the　Far　Kingdoms。　I　remembered　the　dream　woman　named　Omerye；　realized　she　never　was；　and　my　eyes　welled。　At　least　the　gods　had　sent　me　a　moment　of　imaginary　happiness　in　that　long　and　frequently　dreadful　dream。
　I　awakened　more；　my　mind　still　wandering　the　maze　of　that　intricate　fantasy。　I　remembered　not　only　escaping　from　this　dungeon；　but　just　how　we　escaped。　That　brought　me　to　full　alertness。　I　looked　about　the　condemned　cell　for　Janos。　I　would　tell　him　my　dream；　particularly　that　part　dealing　with　this　Lycanthian　dungeon；　and　perhaps　we　could　build　on　my　illusion　to　prepare　a　real　escape。
　A　voice　grated；　〃Up　wi'　ye；　Antero！　Th'　spell's　had　more'n　enough　time　to　wear　away。〃
　And　I　was　not　back　in　the　Archons'　dungeon。　I　was　in　a　sodden　stone　cell；　but　it　was　small　and　cramped。　There　was　no　one　else　around　me…no　guards；　no　torturers　across　the　way；　no　fellow　prisoners；　and　no　Janos。　I　was　alone　。。。　except　for　one　other：　Greif。　He　sat　curled　on　a　heavy　bench　against　the　far　wall。　He　was　smiling。　I　forced　myself　to　my　feet。
　〃Lord　Antero；〃　he　mocked。　〃Y'　wak