cacb.thefarkingdoms-第24部分

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　At　my　introduction；　they　bowed　to　one　another。　〃Cassini　and　I　were　once　rades　of　the　athletic　field　and　tavern；〃　I　explained　to　Janos。　〃There　were　many　who　mourned　the　day　he　got　the　Calling　and　left　us　to　our　childish　pursuits。〃　Janos　understood　from　the　wag　of　a　guarded　finger；　I　was　not　among　those　who'd　mourned。　〃We　did　not　know　each　other　that　well；　which　was　my　misfortune　and　his　good　luck。〃
　Cassini　stepped　forward；　a　prissy　smile　on　those　soft　lips。　〃Then　you　are　not　disappointed　that　I　have　chosen　to　join　your　Finding？　Please　be　truthful；　my　friend；　if　I　can　call　you　that。〃
　〃Oh；　absolutely　not；〃　I　lied。　〃Curse　my　seed　if　I　should　ever　entertain　such　a　thought。〃
　I　turned　to　Janos。　〃Our　journey　has　been　blessed　from　the　start；〃　I　said。　〃For　in　Cassini　you　will　find　a　studious　and　pious　Evocator　and　a　most　amiable　panion。〃
　〃Not　so　overly　pious　that　I　object　to　those　morsels　in　your　hands；〃　Cassini　said　with　an　artificial　laugh；　pointing　at　the　remains　of　the　crust…and…wine　feast。　We　had　the　good　sense　to　blush　and　quickly　rid　ourselves　of　the　evidence。
　〃Wele　to　our　ranks；　good　sir；〃　Janos　said。　〃I　feel　almost　as　if　the　Casting　had　been　performed　and　we　were　already　on　our　way；　with　a　good　omen　lighting　our　path。　May　I　ask　what　in　particular　allowed　you　to　find　favor　with　our　efforts？〃
　〃Why；　the　goal；　of　course；〃　Cassini　said。
　〃Then　you　are　not　among　those　who　question　the　existence　of　me　Far　Kingdoms？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　go　that　far；〃　Cassini　answered。　〃There　is　not　yet　enough　evidence　to　make　up　my　mind　to　the　matter。　However；　the　effort　itself　is　certainly　worthy。　No　matter　what　the　truth　turns　out　to　be；　I　would　be　honored　to　carry　the　news　back　to　my　elders。〃
　Janos　nodded；　showing　he　understood。　From　the　gleam　in　his　eye；　I　saw　he　understood　more　deeply　than　Cassini　intended。　For　Cassini　was　a　young　man　of　favored　birth；　but　little　talent　I　doubt；　in　fact；　if　he　had　a　tenth　of　the　talent　of　my　brother。　Wealth　and　family　connections　had　won　him　membership　into　the　Evocators。　But　now　his　career　was　stalled…perhaps　permanently。　He　badly　needed　a　great　success　to　shake　off　the　torpor。　In　the　Far　Kingdoms；　he　saw　his　chance。　Janos　realized　Cassini　was　acting　out　of　private　desperation；　for　there　was　an　edge　to　the　Evocator's　tone；　a　forced　calmness　to　his　manner；　betrayed　by　shifting　feet　and　fidgeting　hands。
　〃You　were　right　in　thinking　there　is　much　to　be　gained　from　this　expedition；〃　Janos　said。　〃But　I　would　be　doing　you　a　disservice　if　I　did　not　point　out　there　is　grave　danger　as　well。　No　one　has　gone　where　we　intend　to　go　。。。　and　returned　to　tell　about　it〃
　〃I　am　but　an　empty　vessel　for　the　gods　to　fill；　or　break；〃　Cassini　said。　〃Knowledge　of　their　design　is　its　own　reward。〃　The　usual　unfortable　silence　followed　this　sticky；　false　modesty；　broken　by　Jeneander's　return。
　He　greeted　Cassini　with　a　smile。　〃Now　the　third　adventurer　has　joined　us。〃　He　motioned。　〃e。　The　Council　awaits。〃
　We　followed　through　heavy　curtains　down　a　long　passageway　lit　by　fire　beads　dangling　from　the　heads　of　old　gods　and　the　fanged　beasts　who　were　once　their　Favorites。　They　cast　eerie　shadows　on　the　walls：　horns　and　long　teeth　and　sharp　talons。　The　passageway　spilled　into　an　immense　dark　cavern　of　a　room。　Jeneander　led　us　to　a　stone　platform　raised　several　feet　off　the　floor。　It　was　ringed　by　great　torches　that　guttered；　smoked；　and　sparked。　We　stood　there　blinking　for　long　moments；　trying　to　get　our　bearings。　I　cannot　speak　for　Janos；　but　my　own　heart　was　full　of　dread。　It　gave　a　hard　jolt　as　a　great　voice　rang　out；　〃Who　are　these　mortals　who　stand　before　us？〃
　〃Seekers　of　the　way　of　Orissa；　my　lords；〃　Jeneander　answered。
　〃And　who　attests　to　their　piety　and　worth？〃
　〃I　do；　my　lords。　I　。。。　Jeneander　bring　them　before　you。〃
　〃Who　shall　speak　for　them？〃
　Silence。　Then　I　felt　Janos'　toe　jab　my　heel。　My　wits　returned　to　some　manner　of　order。　〃I　speak　for　them；　my　lords；〃　I　answered。　〃I；　Amalric；　son　of　thy　daughter；　Emilie；　son　of　thy　son；　Paphos　Karima　Antero。〃
　I　could　see　more　clearly　now。　Just　in　front　of　the　platform　was　bare　stone　floor。　It　was　graven　with　sorcerous　squares；　triangles；　and　mysterious　numbers　and　symbols。　The　whole　was　enclosed　in　an　enormous　circle；　outlined　in　pure　gold　leaf。　The　Council　of　Evocators　sat　on　the　other　side　of　the　circle　in　all　its　black…robed　and　gold…sashed　glory。　There　were　ten　of　them；　and　they　sat　on　thrones　of　carved　emerald。　The　wall　above　was　a　swirl　of　color　and　smoke　and　writhing　shadow　forms。　The　speaker　sat　on　the　center　throne。　He　had　a　wrinkled；　hawklike　visage；　as　if　someone　had　carved　that　bird　of　prey　from　an　apple　and　then　let　it　shrink　and　dry。　His　hair　and　beard　were　gleaming　white　and　spilled　down　as　if　they　had　not　been　cut　for　years。　His　eyes　were　smoldering　yellow　and　seemed　to　pierce　my　soul。　It　was　Gamelan；　the　eldest　of　the　Evocators。
　〃And　what　is　the　nature　of　your　quest；　Amalric；　son　of　Emilie；　son　of　Paphos　Karima　Antero？〃　Gamelan　asked。
　〃We　seek　the　Far　Kingdoms；　my　lords。　For　the　greater　good　of　Orissa　and　the　glory　of　her　gods。〃
　There　was　a　pause　as　the　Evocators　whispered　among　themselves。　I　did　not　know　if　this　was　the　usual　practice；　but　saw　from　Cassini's　worried　look　it　was　not。　Finally　Gamelan　spoke。　〃There　is　one　among　you　who　is　a　stranger；　but　who　was　born　from　the　womb　of　a　daughter　of　Orissa。〃
　〃I　am　that　man；　my　lords；〃　Janos　answered。　〃Janos；　son　of　Kether；　son　of　Prince　Greycloak　of　Kostroma。〃
　〃We　have　heard　you　have　some　interest　in　the　Evocator's　art。〃
　Fear　seized　my　heart。　What　was　the　purpose　of　this　question？　Who　was　spreading　tales　about　my　friend？　There　seemed　to　be　no　safe　answer。　Seers　are　all　knowing；　so　if　Janos　denied　it；　he　was　impugning　their　power。　But　if　he　admitted　it；　Halab's　way　might　lie　ahead。　〃It　is　true；〃　Janos　answered　swiftly；　〃I　have　a　small　talent；　but　none　of　it　es　from　wizardry　or　witchcraft；　I　assure　you。　As　a　soldier　amongst　the　barbarian　Lycanthians　I　was　forced　to　rely　on　my　own　Orissan…blessed　wits。　I　have　had　some　success　with　the　boils　and　foot　rot　that　afflicted　my　men。　And　I　once　cured　an　arse　wound　inflicted　on　my　sergeant。〃
　I　thought　I　heard　stifled　laughter　amongst　the　Evocators。　But　it　must　have　been　my　nervous　imagination；　for　was　not　laughter　unseemly　amongst　such　an　exalted　group？　〃Once　I　kissed　Orissa's　gates；〃　Janos　continued；　〃I　quickly　threw　away　what　little　I　had　learned。　I　believe　that　even　the　curing　of　boils　is　foolhardy　without　professional　counsel。　And　when　I　learned　just　moments　ago　that　one　of　the　most　skillful　young　Evocators　in　all　the　realm　was　to　acpany　us　on　our　journey；　I　immediately　promised　a　fat　lamb　for　the　god　who　chose　to　smile　on　us。〃
　I　could　almost　feel　Cassini　preen；　his　ego　spreading　like　a　peacock　in　its　mating　dance。　From　the　nods　amongst　the　Evocators　I　could　see　that　Janos'　answer　had　found　favor。　〃Very　well；　then；〃　Gameian　said　when　the　whispering　had　ceased。　〃The　time　has　e　to　cast　the　bones。　Are　you　ready；　Amalric　Emilie　Antero？〃
　〃I　am　ready；　my　lords；〃　I　answered。
　Jeneander　stepped　up　to　me　and　opened　an　ornate　box。　It　was　divided　into　two　partments。　On　one　side　were　two　thick　chunks　of　what　appeared　to　be　the　thigh　of　some　creature。　On　the　other　were　the　fragments　of　a　human　skull。　But　which　to　choose　first？　My　hand　hesitated；　then　some　power　seized　it　and　drew　it　to　the　left。　I　took　the　thigh　bones　from　the　box。　I　clutched　them　in　my　right　fist；　and　with　my　left　struck　my　breast　five　times　as　I　intoned；　〃Oh；　great　Lord　Te…Date…god　and　protector　of　all　wayfarers…I　summon　thy　vision　for　our　holy　quest　to　the　Far　Kingdoms。〃　I　tossed　the　bones　into　the　golden　circle。　Then　I　drew　out　the　skull　fragments；　struck　my　breast　thrice　more；　and　pleted　the　incantation。　〃Bless　us　great　Lord　Te…Date　with　thy　wisdom。　And　in　these　bones　reveal　our　fates。〃　The　fragments　gave　up　a　dry　rattle　as　I　cast　them　beside　the　others。
　A　silence　followed　that　knows　no　equal　in　the　world　of　men。　A　cold　darkness　crept　in　until　only　the　glowing　circle　could　be　seen；　but　my　scalp　prickled　and　burned　as　if　I　were　near　a　great　heat。　My　tongue　grew　as　dry　as　lizard　scales；　and　my　eyes　became　hot；　tearless　holes。　The　thigh　bones　moved。　They　rose　from　th