cacb.thefarkingdoms-第30部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


And　that　。。。　that　was　not　the　worst　death　I　have　seen　the　Chosen　One　find。〃
　I　hesitated；　about　to　ask　him　how　he　knew　to　write　the　counterspell；　but　decided　against　it。　It　was　not　a　question　to　be　asked　aloud　in　Lycanth。
　It　was　time　to　go；　our　ship　and　crew　were　provisioned　and　ready。　We　would　leave　in　two　or　three　days；　on　a　leap　tide。　Evidently　Janos　had　found　all　he　needed　from　the　black　market；　since　I　did　no　longer　see　Greif　about。
　Janos；　Cassini；　and　I　were　in　one　of　the　city's　weapons　shops；　choosing　suitable　instruments　for　the　journey；　weapons　that　would　not　shriek　of　our　origin。　I　eyed　a　beautiful　rapier　of　watered　steel；　which　had　a　jeweled　and　golden　guard　and　pommel　and　a　gold…mreaded　grip。　Next　to　it　lay　a　matched　dagger。　The　smith　murmured　that　an　Evocator　had　cast　a　spell　of　invincibility　on　both　weapons。　I　asked　the　smith　if　I　might　handle　them。　Both　seemed　to　float　in　my　grasp。　But　not　being　an　experienced　warrior；　I　turned　to　Janos　to　see　what　he　wanted　me　to　carry。　He　himself　already　had　his　weapons…the　same　he'd　carried　the　day　I　met　him　on　the　drill　field　in　Orissa。
　〃Carry　what　you　wish；〃　he　said。　〃No　man　should　have　his　individual　weapons　dictated　before　he　goes　into　battle；　unless　the　mander　has　specific　reasons。　But　those　two；　handsome　as　they　are；　would　not　be　my　personal　choices。　First　is　that　it　is　not　advisable；　particularly　in　a　small　party；　for　officers　to　be　easily　recognizable。　Hence　you　do　not　wear　a　long　crest；　gold　workings　on　your　armor　。。。　nor　jewel…like　curlicues　on　your　blade。　There　is　nothing　that　makes　a　soldier　lose　heart　so　fast　as　seeing　his　mander　fall。　I　also　have　known　waterfront　toughs　to　assassinate　a　man　solely　because　they　lusted　for　his　sword。　As　for　those　enchantments　。。。　can　you　imagine　any　man　heading　for　battle；　whether　he's　a　peasant　armed　with　nothing　but　a　brass…bound　club　or　a　great　lord；　whose　weapons　have　not　been　blessed　by　someone？　An　Evocator；　a　witch；　a　local　sorcerer　or　。。。　or　an　Archon？　Plus　the　field　of　battle　itself　swirls　with　spell　and　counterspell；　even　more　thickly　than　the　dust　raised　in　the　struggle。　I　have　always　felt　that　battle　spells　and　weapon　talismans　tend　to　counteract　and　hence　negate　each　other。　But　that's　just　my　feeling；　or　maybe　cynicism。　Lastly；　the　rapier　may　be　well　built；　but　consider　this　broadsword；　instead。〃
　He　indicated…and　the　smith　was　quick　to　hand　it　to　him　another　sword。　It　was　built　like　a　claymore；　but　shorter　and　its　grip　intended　for　but　one　hand。　〃Sturdy。　Double　edged。　Also　of　obdurate　construction。　You　could　probably　do　what　I'm　about　to　show　you　with　either　blade…but　the　more　slender　one　could　take　a　cast。〃　He　took　the　blade　tip　in　one　hand；　the　grip　in　the　other；　and　bent　the　blade　into　an　arc；　his　muscles　bulging。　I　knew　the　steel　must　snap…but　instead；　it　curved　into　a　near　semicircle。　Janos　let　it　ease　back　and　nodded　to　the　smith。　〃No　magicking　here；　Master　Kanadis。　Just　the　finest　of　metallurgy。〃
　〃You　have　found　me　out。〃　The　smith　grinned。　〃I　share　your　skepticism　about　sorcery's　place　on　the　battleground；　although　I　would　be　the　last　to　deny　an　Evocator's　blessing　before　the　fight。　I　have；　however；　hired　an　Evocator　to　place　a　charm　against　rusting　on　this…and　all　my　other　watered…steel　blades…so　they　may　be　used　aboard　ship；　for　instance；　without　the　owner　having　to　spend　all　his　waking　hours　cursing　and　scrubbing　with　an　oil…soaked　rag。〃
　〃A　sturdy　sword；〃　Janos　continued。　〃Better　than　the　rapier　for　travel；　since　you　will　find　yourself　using　that　sword　for　everything　from　a　tent　stake　to　a　brush　cutter　to　a　spit；　although　I　will　speak　most　harshly　to　you　in　the　event　I　see　you　thus　distempering　the　metal。　And　these　simple；　straight　quillons　will　serve　to　stop　an　enemy's　slash；　yet　not　bind　as　。。。　as　some　other　weapons　I　can　think　of　might　do。〃　I　reddened　a　bit。　I　thought　Janos　had　forgotten　my　performance　as　less　than　a　master　of　the　duello　down　at　the　riverfront　in　Orissa。
　〃Here　is　a　knife　to　match；〃　Janos　said；　passing　me　a　rather　modestly　worked　scramasax　…　a　single…edged　knife　with　a　fairly　long　and　broad　blade　grooved　on　both　sides。　〃This　will　be　your　copse；　carcass；　or　thief　cutter；　which　you　will　keep　always　beside　you。　The　sword　you　will　find　unfortable；　and　tend　to　leave　by　a　campfire；　or　tied　to　your　saddle；　especially　just　before　you　need　it。　And　this　dagger　can　be　your　salvation。　All　else　you'll　need　is　a　small　knife　for　cutting　your　meat；　which　you　may　pick　out　over　at　the　cutlery　section。
　〃Do　you　agree；　Master　Kanadis？〃
　〃I　do。〃
　〃Two　men　who　know　better　than　I　have　spoken；〃　I　said。　〃Although　sometimes　I　feel　less　the　master　of　this　expedition　than　its　sponsor；　as　if　I　were　an　old　dodderer　infatuated　with　a　vapid　sim…perer。〃
　〃And　all　of　us　whores　appreciate　you；〃　Janos　said；　with　a　laugh。
　〃One　more　thing；〃　he　said。　〃While　we're　on　the　subject　of；　er；　ostentation。　Your　hair。　I've　known　great　chieftains　who　are　proud　of　their　locks；　and　dare　an　enemy　to　shear　them。　I　have　admired　them。　From　afar。　Especially　during　a　battle。　We　will　be　traveling　through　regions　whose　peoples　think　it　blessed　by　the　gods　to　hunt　down　a　flame…headed　man　and　pitch　him　off　the　nearest　cliff　to　ensure　a　beneficial　harvest　or　perhaps　just　better　weather　the　next　day。〃
　I　considered。　Janos　had　a　smile　on　his　lips；　but　it　went　no　higher。　I　remembered　the　castle　courtyard　and　the　hound。　〃When　we　return　to　the　inn；　I　shall　have　Eanes　shear　me　like　a　young　lamb；〃　I　promised；　and　reached　for　my　purse　to　pay　the　smith。
　Cassini；　who　had　listened　but　said　nothing　during　our　exchange；　bought　the　exotic　rapier　and　its　panion。
　
　〃DO　NOT　HAND　me　the　mirror；〃　I　begged　Eanes。　〃Just　tell　me　what　I　appear　to　be。〃　My　hand　stroked　at　the　emptiness　where　my　hair　had　curled　in　waves　to　my　shoulders。
　〃Perhaps；〃　Eanes　said　thoughtfully；　〃a　galleyslave。〃
　〃Or　a　thief　intended　for　the　Kissing　of　the　Stones；〃　Janos　put　in　helpfully；　peering　around　the　corner。
　〃A　criminal；〃　I　moaned。　〃A　condemned　man。〃
　〃You're　too　harsh；　my　master。　You　could　also　pass　for　a　holy　man　who's　taken　a　vow　of　celibacy。〃
　〃Definitely　that；〃　Janos　said。　〃Possibly　even　a　castrato。〃
　〃I　think；〃　I　said；　〃I　shall　go　next　door　to　Evocator　Cassini's　chambers；　and　ask　him　if　he　could　prepare　a　small　spell　that　delves　into　the　arena　of　baldness。〃
　'Too　late　for　me；〃　Eanes　said；　patting　himself　on　his　shiny　pate。　〃But　beware　it　doesn't　turn　back　on　its　caster；　as　so　many　incantations　do。〃
　〃I　am　starting　to　believe；〃　I　said；　〃that　being　thrown　from　a　high　cliff　is　better　than　listening　to　either　of　you。　Janos；　this　was　your　idea。　You　may　buy　me　a　brandy　。。。　no；　several　brandies　。。。　below　stairs。〃
　I　rose　and　picked　up　my　new　sword。　I　was　still　getting　used　to　its　heft；　more　than　a　bit　heavier　than　the　rapiers　or　short　swords　I　carried　in　Orissa。　Eanes　carefully　gathered　up　the　cloths　he'd　laid　around　my　chair　before　he　began　his　bartering。　He　shook　them　into　a　leather　bag。
　〃You　were　clever　enough　to　not　let　any　of　his　locks　fall　on　the　carpet？〃　Janos　asked；　most　serious。
　〃I　was；　Captain。　Just　as　I　have　been　since　I　was　named　his　bodyslave；　back　when　he　was　a　mewling　infant。　Careful　with　hair；　careful　with　the　trimmings　from　his　nails；　careful　with　the　down　from　what　he　wishes　will　be　a　beard　one　of　these　years；　even　careful　when　he　was　a　disgusting　pup　and　vomiting　in　all　directions　like　a　fountain。　Although　there　have　been　times　I　would　have　gladly　sold　a　bit　of　my　master　to　some　evil　witch；　provided　she　would　include　civility　and　mon　sense　in　whatever　spell　she　planned　to　cast　over　him。〃
　〃Good；〃　Janos　said；　still　serious。　〃But　do　not　dump　the　cuttings　down　the　Jakes；　please。　Carry　them　out　to　the　main　sewage　ditch；　where　you　may　be　sure　the　water　flow　is　constant。〃
　Eanes'　smile　evaporated；　and　he　became　as　serious　as　Janos。　〃I　shall　do　as　you　say；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　know　not　whether　you've　any　premonition；　but　just　being　in　this　city　of　dead　stones　and　cursed　souls　makes　me　constantly　think　all　our　doom　is　just　around　a　corner。〃
　All　of　us　crossed　fingers。　Eanes　gave　a　heavy　sigh。　〃It　is　so　bad；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　even　looking　forward　to　the　ocean；　where　I　will　be　forced　to　hold　Lord　Amahic's　head　over　the　side