cacb.thefarkingdoms-第6部分

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ay　with　promises　burning　hi　her　eyes。　So　I　always　returned；　richly　laden　and　eager。　This　time；　I　would　think；　she'll　fall　into　my　arms　and　beg　me　to　carry　her　away　like　that　brave　captain　in　the　song。　That　moment　never　came。　Because　as　sure　as　the　sun　king　lashes　his　chariot　into　motion　each　dawn；　the　next　greeting　would　be　as　cold　as　a　slave　seller's　heart。
　This　went　on　for　month　after　humiliating　month。　I　became　pale　and　thin　in　the　fevered　pursuit。　When　I　slept；　the　sleep　was　so　troubled　that　I　awakened　as　exhausted　as　before。　It　was　in　that　time　that　I　began　to　have　a　strange　dream。　A　nightmare　that　came　with　increasing　frequency　as　the　days　of　my　obsession　passed。　Even　now　as　I　recall　it　to　write　these　lines　hi　this　journal；　the　dream　leaps　to　life；　leaving　me　as　shaken　as　it　did　so　long　ago。
　But　I　swore　I'd　tell　this　tale。　And　tell　it　all；　despite　any　pain　I　might　relive　。。。
　I　was　not　fettered；　but　rose　when　he　beckoned　as　if　I　wore　manacles　and　he　was　the　keeper　at　the　end　of　the　chain。　I　stepped　awkwardly　across　the　boat's　thwarts　and　then　lunged　up　onto　the　slime…thick　dock　carved　from　living　stone。　My　feet　dragged；　as　my　mind　screamed：　Strike　out。　You　cannot　go　up　those　stairs。　You　must　not。
　
　The　water　beside　the　boat　was　thick；　heaving；　a　dark；　viscous　substance。　I　could　hear　the　hiss　of　the　great　river　beyond　as　it　rushed　through　the　black　gorge　the　boatman　had　brought　us　through。　I　could　also　hear　baying。　It　came　from　above；　from　the　ruined；　cursed　city　on　the　gorge's　plateau。　It　was　not　the　howling　of　jackals；　or　even　direwolves。　Far　above；　far　outside　this　river…dug　cavern；　in　the　city；　in　the　shattered　amphitheater；　in　the　gods…hammered　stones；　the　creatures　sat　in　patient　rings。　Up　there　in　the　moonless　night；　those　creatures　that　bayed　like　hounds　bore　no　semblance　to　anything　seen　on　this　earth。　The　thought　came　that　they　might　have　been　men；　once。　Men　who　had　struck　a　dark　bargain。
　The　boatman　took　one　of　the　torches　that　guttered　on　either　side　of　the　arched　stairway　and　beckoned　once　again。　In　the　flare　of　the　burning　pitch　I　saw　his　arm　clearly；　muscles　flexing；　jumping：　an　arm　that　was　twisted　like　an　olive　tree　that　had　fought　its　way　up　to　sunlight　through　arid　stone。　But　there　was　no　sunlight　in　his　world。　I　knew　his　body's　contortions　had　e　from　the　rack；　from　the　fire…hot　rod。　He　turned；　satisfied　that　I　was　following；　and　went　up　the　worn　stone　steps；　steps　that　many　had　stumbled　up；　crying　aloud　in　their　pain。　But　no　one　had　ever　e　down　again。　No　one　but　the　masters。　Or　this　man　or　his　rades。
　I　knew　this。　I　knew　not　how。
　He　wore　only　black　breeches。　On　his　back　I　could　see　the　marks　of　the　lash；　old　and　new。　I　knew　he　prided　himself　on　those　lash　scars。　On　my　own　back　wounds　throbbed　and　I　felt　the　searing；　shame；　struggle　and　moment　of　pride　not　yet　yielding。
　I；　too；　had　been　tortured。
　Somewhere　above；　someone　was　waiting。　A　great　drum　began；　its　boom　drowning　the　dark　howls　from　the　ruins　on　the　midnight　plateau　above。
　The　steps　ended。
　We　entered　in　a　great　chamber；　stone　arches　lifting　into　blackness。　A　king's　weling　chamber。　It　was　empty；　except　for　the　man　and　myself。　He　beckoned　once　more。　I　heard　the　shatter　of　a　cymbal；　perhaps　only　in　my　mind；　as　I　stared　full　into　his　face。　It　was　riven　by　a　thousand　sins；　a　thousand　eagerly　sought　pains。　His　nose　had　been　broken；　then　broken　again　before　it　had　healed。　His　lips　had　been　shaved　away；　and　his　ears　were　cropped。　His　face　was　sliced　by　a　smile；　crooked；　black　teeth　leering。　One　eye　gleamed　black。　The　other　was　a　gaping　socket。　But　something　moved　within　that　socket。　A　tiny　red；　writhing　fire。　A　fire　that　saw　more　than　the　solitary　eye　that　peered　at　me。
　〃Yes；　Amalric；　my　prey；　my　enemy；　my　friend；　my　reward；　his　intended　partner　and　ambition；〃　said　his　voice。　〃We　are　almost　there。　This　is　what　you　wanted。　This　is　your　weird。　This　is　what　your　brother　could　not　embrace。　e　。。。　e　。。。　It　has　been　too　long　and　He　is　waiting。〃
　He　laughed；　and　the　laugh　was　joined　by　a　great　boom　from　the　darkness；　from　beyond。　That　roar　came　from　someone　who　could　find　no　pleasure　except　in　lashing　pain。　It　rose；　echoing　the　now　mad　baying　from　the　nightmares　in　the　damned　city　beyond；　then　it　buried　their　joy　and　became　its　own　cacophony。
　I　smiled　and　walked　forward；　my　arms　open；　weling　the　dark　radeship　to　e。
　I　awoke；　trembling　and　perspiring；　more　exhausted　than　when　I　had　e　to　my　bed。　At　first　I　feared　the　dream　might　be　an　omen　or　a　curse　in　repayment　for　my　obsession　with　Melina。　But　to　accept　this；　I　would　have　needed　to　confront　myself　and　see　the　folly　of　my　ways。　So　each　time　it　returned　I　pushed　the　dream　from　my　mind　and　fell　to　scheming　once　again　for　money　or　presents　for　Melina。
　Finally；　the　day　of　reckoning　came。　Spurned　by　my　friends；　mocked　by　my　enemies；　and　in　danger　of　being　disowned　by　my　father；　I　sat　in　my　room　reviewing　the　meager　possessions　yet　unsold。　I　was　to　see　Melina　that　night。　One　of　her　slaves　had　brought　the　invitation　to　my　house。　She　had　written　at　the　bottom　of　the　card　in　her　own；　dear　hand：　e　early；　my　love。　So　we　might　steal　a　few　precious　moments　alone。　Hope　burned　blight　in　my　breast　and　my　loins；　then　dimmed　as　I　realized　I　had　nothing　of　value　to　sell　for　her　giftprice。　I　thought　of　rushing　to　the　river　and　throwing　myself　to　the　demon　of　the　currents。
　I　seriously　considered　creeping　into　my　father's　strong　room　and　stealing　the　gold　that　would　be　required。　Then　I　was　appalled　for　even　thinking　such　a　thing。　To　steal　from　my　father？　What　devil　has　possessed　you；　Amalric？　How　could　you　have　allowed　events　to　e　to　such　a　pass？　This　must　stop。　This　must　end。　Besides；　what　if　she　spurns　me　once　more；　after　I　steal　from　the　man　who　gave　me　life　and　was　so　generous　and　understanding　of　such　a　useless　son？　It　would　be　impossible　to　bear。
　But　I　must　have　her；　I　thought。　I　must　make　her　mine；　Yes　。。。　but；　how？　An　evil　plan　rose。　It　disgusted　me　to　even　think　it　and　I　hurled　it　away　and　flung　myself　onto　the　bed　where　I　buried　my　head　from　the　betraying　light　that　streamed　in　from　the　balcony。

　A　bird　cried　outside；　and　I　swore　it　called；　〃Melina　；。　。　Me…lina　。。。　Melina。〃　The　evil　idea　crept　in　again。　If　I　could　borrow　enough　money；　I　knew　of　dark　places　in　Orissa　where　it　was　reputed　that　certain　potions　and　spells　could　be　purchased；　with　no　questions　asked　and　without　the　chit　of　permission　from　an　Evocator。　I　would　buy　a　love　spell。
　I　understood　this　was　not　only　evil　but　illegal；　as　well。　I　knew　very　well　it　was　strictly　forbidden　to　give　a　love　potion　to　a　he…taera。　The　whole　courtesans'　guild　system　might　collapse；　making　a　mockery　of　the　sanctity　of　Butala。　The　penalties　prescribed　by　the　Council　of　Evocators　started　with　dismemberment　and　grew　quickly　worse。　And　you　will　shame　your　family；　I　thought。　Think　of　the　terrible　shadow　your　family　akeady　suffers　under　for　angering　the　Evocators　once　before。　Think　of　the　awful　disappointment　for　your　father。
　I　tried。　I　really　did。　But　all　I　could　think　of　was　Melina's　lips　and　breasts　and　thighs　that　had　been　denied　me　so　long。　These　hot　thoughts　were　further　fueled　by　the　vow　I　had　taken　after　our　first　meeting。　I　had　been　with　no　other　woman　since　that　time。
　Lust　won　the　toss。　Risking　life　and　my　family's　honor；　I　rushed　out　to　put　my　plan　into　action。
　
　CHAPTER　TWO
　Janos　Greycloak
　BY　DUSK　I　was　pacing　back　and　forth　outside　Melina's　door。　I　had　a　bottle　of　spirits　in　my　pocket；　spiked　with　a　black…market　love　potion；　its　guaranteed　enchantment　was　fixed　in　my　mind。　I　was　waiting　for　dark　。。。　and　courage。　The　moon　was　a　sliver　over　the　tenement　when　I　saw　Leego　exit　the　building　and　stroll　off；　whistling　a　merry　tune。　I　knew　he'd　be　ensconced　in　his　favorite　tavern　for　some　hours。　A　few　moments　later　I　was　up　the　stairs；　pulling　on　the　bell　chain；　and　then　a　servant　was　leading　me　to　Melina's　bedchamber。
　〃It　is　your　redheaded　slave；　my　fair　Melina；〃　I　sang　out　as　I　entered；　my　voice　as　bold　as　you　please；　despite　the　frantic　beating　of　my　heart。
　〃Oh；　my　dear；　dear　Amalric；〃　she　said　when　she　spied　me。　Her　face　was　so　dazzling　when　she　greeted　me；　I　thought　perhaps　I　had　been　a　fool　to　think　I　ne