cacb.thefarkingdoms-第64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！


　〃Perhaps　you　are　right；〃　I　said。　〃Although　I　think　you　have　much　too　rosy　a　view。　Still；　the　Evocators　are　a　powerful　force。　And　they　cannot　be　ignored；　or　in　the　end　we　may　lose　much　more　than　a　second　expedition。〃
　It　was　Rali　who　proved　my　fears；　although　well…founded；　were　exaggerated。　I　was　relaxing　in　the　public　bath　when　I　got　the　news。　It　was　one　of　those　rare　days　when　I　was　able　to　flee　the　pressures　of　business　and　politics　for　a　good　workout　at　the　gymnasium；　and　now　I　was　easing　weary　muscles　in　the　steam　room。　It　was　late　in　the　day；　and　besides　the　slave　who　tended　the　hot　rocks；　there　were　only　a　few　men　about。　As　my　tensions　eased；　and　I　was　considering　more　personal　matters；　such　as　slipping　　home　for　a　tumble　with　Deoce；　I　heard　the　bath　keeper　voice　loud　protest。
　〃You　can't　go　in　there！〃
　〃Get　out　of　my　way；　you　flea；〃　came　a　booming　reply。　The　boom　was　unmistakably　Rali's。
　〃e　back　tomorrow；〃　the　flea　responded。　'Tomorrow　is　Ladies'　Day。　Today　is　for　men　only。〃
　〃Oh；　don't　be　such　a　bother。　There's　nothing　in　there　I　haven't　seen　before。〃
　There　was　a　scuffle；　a　yelp　of　pain；　and　Rali　made　her　entrance。　She　saw　me　through　the　steam　and　walked　over；　ignoring　horrified　looks　from　the　other　men。　I　patted　the　spot　beside　me　on　the　stone　bench；　enjoying　their　disfort　as　my　sister　once　again　turned　custom　on　its　head。　〃I've　been　searching　for　you　all　morning；　Amalric；〃　she　said。　She　glanced　around　the　room；　the　men　looked　quickly　away。　None　of　them　knew　what　to　do。　They　believed　themselves　humbled　whether　they　stayed　or　fled。
　〃In　fact；　I'm　so　weary　from　looking；〃　she　finally　said；　〃I　think　I'll　join　you。〃
　With　that；　she　kicked　off　her　sandals；　shed　her　tunic；　and　in　a　wink　she　was　naked　and　plumping　her　lovely　haunches　down　on　the　bench。　〃More　steam；〃　she　shouted　to　the　attendant。　He　quickly　plied。　Just　as　quickly；　all　but　two　or　three　of　the　men　fled。
　Rali　sprawled　out；　legs　splayed　wide。　One　of　the　remaining　men　dared　to　ogle　her。　Instead　of　clapping　her　legs　together　and　covering　her　breasts；　Rali　stared　back　at　him；　hard。　〃It　would　eat　you　alive；　little　man；〃　she　snarled。　He　ran；　and　before　another　drop　of　sweat　could　fall　from　my　brow；　the　others　had　followed　him。　I　laughed　until　my　sides　ached。
　〃Good；〃　Rali　snorted。　〃I　need　privacy　for　the　tale　I　have　e　to　tell。　But　first。。。　some　wine；　brother　dear；　to　slake　my　thirst。〃
　I　poured　wine　and　she　drank　it　down。　Then　she　lifted　a　big　jug　of　cold　water　and　drenched　herself。　The　water　ran　over　the　floor　and　into　the　rock　pit；　sending　up　a　mighty　blast　of　steam。
　〃Now；　what　is　the　news；　sister；　that　puts　you　into　such　a　state　you　relish　bullying　these　poor　men？〃
　〃Oh；　balls；　Amalric。　It'll　give　them　something　to　talk　about。　Spice　up　their　dull　lives。　If　their　women　are　fortunate；　I'll　have　aroused　their　men　so；　they'll　speed　home　to　prove　they　are　men；　after　all。〃
　〃Quit　being　clever；　please；〃　I　said。　〃The　news；　if　you　will。　The　news。〃　I　refilled　her　goblet；　and　she　plunged　into　the　story　without　further　prompting。
　〃There　is　a　young　woman　in　my　troop；〃　she　said；　〃whose　mother　has　served　for　many　years　as　a　floor　scrubber　to　the　Evocators。　She　has　cleaned　their　halls　for　so　long；　they　have　ceased　to　notice　her。　Since　this　woman　was　wise　enough　to　see　her　daughter　ought　to　be　steered　into　our　pany；　instead　of　joining　another　generation　of　stone　scourers；　I　think　you　will　agree　the　Evocators'　attitude　was　not　good　thinking。　In　fact；　she　so　resents　it；　she　has　bee　my　willing　ear　to　many　of　their　discussions。〃
　I　straightened　on　the　bench；　this　was　indeed　good　fortune。　The　Maranon　Guard　was　sworn　to　remain　neutral　in　all　affairs　of　the　city；　therefore　it　was　necessary　for　them　to　have　many　〃ears；〃　as　my　sister　put　it；　to　avoid　any　hint　of　playing　favorites。　'Tell　me　more；　oh　wise　and　beautiful　sister；〃　I　said。
　Rali　laughed；　gave　my　arm　a　numbing　clout；　and　resumed　her　story。　〃There　was　a　meeting　of　the　Council　of　Elders　yesterday　noon。　Cassini　was　there；　as　was　his　mentor；　Jeneander。　Our　floor　scrubber　found　a　nice；　dirty　spot　just　outside　and　listened。　She　said　it　was　plain　from　the　voices…they　got　quite　angry；　apparently…the　nature　of　the　meeting　was　a　debate；　and　the　subject　of　this　debate　was　the　Far　Kingdoms。〃
　〃So　things　are　ing　to　a　head；〃　I　said；　grimly。　〃They　are　marshaling　their　forces　against　us。〃
　〃Far　from　it〃　was　my　sister's　surprising　answer。　〃It　might　be　difficult　to　believe；　but　the　Evocators　are　as　divided　as　the　rest　of　Orissa。　To　the　public；　they　are　supportive　of　Cassini。　But　only　because　he　is　one　of　their　own　and　many　feel　they　must　stand　by　him。　In　private；　however；　the　issue　has　broken　into　several　warring　camps。　At　the　moment；　those　siding　with　Cassini　hold　sway；　but；　from　what　our　brave　floor　scrubber　says；　their　grip　is　slippery。　For　the　loudest　proponent　of　all　for　the　expedition　and　Janos　is　Gamelan　himself。〃
　I　nearly　fell　to　the　floor。　〃But　。。。　he's　the　oldest　of　them。　And　surely　the　most　hidebound　and　the　most　bent　on　protecting　the　Evocators'　sphere。〃
　〃So；　I　would　have　guessed　as　well；〃　Rali　said。　〃However；　from　his　remarks；　just　the　opposite　is　true　。。。　except　for　the　age　part；　for　there　is　no　denying　Gamelan　is　old。　Anyway；　he　apparently　gave　an　impassioned　speech；　saying　Orissa　is　threatened　by　stagnation　from　within　and　fierce　enemies　from　without。　Not　only　should　a　second　expedition　be　launched　as　soon　as　possible；　but　Janos　should　lead　it　because　its　success　is　so　important。〃
　〃What　about　Cassini？〃　I　was　nearly　sputtering　in　amazement。
　〃Gamelan　apparently　has　no　use　for　him。　He　declared　quite　openly　Cassini　has　not　only　humiliated　the　Evocators；　but　also　undermined　the　people's　faith　in　them。〃
　I　couldn't　help　but　laugh。　〃Faith？　Why；　it's　more　fear　than　faith。〃
　〃Well　。。。　yes。　However；　the　point　is　Gamelan　is　on　our　side。　I　never　thought　I'd　live　to　see　the　day　when　an　Evocator　supported　the　Anteros。〃
　〃Nor　did　I；〃　I　said。　〃What　was　the　oute　of　the　debate？〃
　〃Gamelan　lost；　of　course。　Cassini　is　still　their　man。　However；　our　hard…working　spy　said　the　victory　was　so　narrow　it　could　change　at　a　moment's　notice。　So　it　seems　to　me；　all　we　have　to　do　is　find　a　way　to　quietly　assist　that　change。〃　I　had　no　quarrel　with　her　reasoning。　It　was　only　the　how　that　escaped　me。　My　head　whirled；　seeking　openings　we　could　exploit。　〃One　other　thing；〃　my　sister　said。　〃There　seems　to　be　one　very　small　group　that　is　ahead　of　the　others。　Our　spy　says　there　has　been　much　mysterious　ings　and　goings　in　the　basement　of　the　hall。　Much　spell　casting　and　odd　noises　and　smells　for　even　a　wizard's　lair。　It　is　a　very　secretive　group；　and　others　don't　seem　to　know　what　they　are　about。〃
　〃What　does　our　friend　the　floor　scrubber　think？〃
　Rali　shrugged。　〃She　doesn't　know。　She　doesn't　even　have　a　guess。　She　told　me　if　she　did　have　one；　and　it　was　close；　then　Gamelan　and　the　others　would　have　figured　it　out　as　well。〃
　Despite　the　fact　that　all　things　now　suggested　a　swift　resolution；　the　matter　stalled　for　some　weeks。　Janos　took　in　Rali's　information　and　continued　picking　away　at　his　opponents　bit　by　bit。
　As　for　myself；　I　had　my　family　and　business　to　see　to。　An　idea　had　e　shortly　after　our　return　to　Orissa。　It　was　an　idea　whose　seed　had　begun　to　germinate　after　Eanes'　death。　I　thought　I　was　a　fool　to　harbor　such　a　plan　at　first；　but　the　more　I　saw　how　the　folk　of　the　streets　reacted　to　the　Far　Kingdoms；　considering　it　a　possession；　a　birthright；　the　more　the　notion　took　root。　I　first　broached　the　subject　with　Deoce。
　〃We　have　been　together　for　only　a　short　time；　my　love；〃　I　began。　〃But　in　that　time　I　have　found　you　to　be　not　only　a　loving　wife；　a　solid　friend；　but　the　best　counsel　among　all　my　advisers。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　saying　that；　my　husband；〃　she　replied。　〃But　your　preamble　is　entirely　unnecessary。　For　the　day　you　cease　asking；　and　accepting；　my　advice；　is　the　day　I　book　passage　for　Salcae；　where　there　is　no　need　for　a　sweet　balsam　before　a　woman　is　asked　her　opinion。〃
　I　blushed；　and　Deoce　laughed　and　gave　me　a　hug。　〃Never　fear；　dear　Amalric。　If　it　were　even　possible　for　you　to　treat　me　as　other　Orissan　men　treat　their　wives；　I　would　have　seen　it　long　before。　And　I　would　never　have　slept　with