cacb.thefarkingdoms-第74部分

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rse　through　the　throng。　Quite　suddenly　I　was　alone；　sitting　my　horse　on　a　near…deserted　street；　the　last　Lycanthian　scuttling　indoors。
　I　heard　a　baying；　had　time　to　remember；　and　around　the　corner　loped　that　obscene；　hairless　hyena　with　the　face　of　a　man；　it　was　the　creature　that　had　ordered　us　to　the　castle　of　the　Archons；　and　then　called　out　that　young　woman　to　her　death。　It　sat　on　its　haunches　and　regarded　me。　Again；　it　bayed；　and　the　cry　echoed　across　the　stone　buildings　around　me。
　Then　it　spoke。　〃Amalric　Antero。　You　are　summoned。　You　must　obey。〃
　I　pulled　at　my　horse's　reins　reflexively；　trying　to　turn　my　mount　away　from　the　caller。　But　a　rank　of　soldiers　doubled　across　the　street　behind　me；　spears　leveled。　A　second　line　of　guards　appeared　behind　the　creature。
　〃Amalric　Antero。　You　are　summoned。〃
　
　CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　The　Dungeon　of　the　Archons
　I　WAS　BROUGHT　to　that　great　sea　castle　just　at　the　end　of　the　promontory　and　escorted　through　long；　echoing；　dank　corridors；　guarded　and　locked　portals；　and　high…ceilinged　chambers。　It　seemed　as　if　the　only　beings　in　this　great　castle　were　guards；　myself；　and　that　noxious　creature　that　trotted　just　ahead　of　me。　We　reached　an　entranceway　blocked　only　by　a　heavy；　dark　green　curtain。　The　soldiers；　without　ever　a　mand；　wheeled　and　marched　away　。。。　leaving　only　the　Finder　as　my　guard。
　〃Amalric　Antero。　You　are　summoned；〃　and　it　went　through　the　curtain。　I　followed；　numb；　into　yet　another　bare　chamber。　Everything　in　this　room　was　entirely　of　stone：　from　the　groin…vaulted　ceiling；　to　the　stanchions　that　held　flaring　torches；　to　the　low　riser　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　There　were　two　circular　pedestals　on　either　side　of　the　riser。　The　creature　positioned　itself　in　front　of　that　stage。　I　heard；　or　rather　felt；　a　humming…as　if　the　air　itself　was　moving。　The　humming　grew　louder；　and　then　I　saw　a　shimmer　atop　each　pedestal；　a　shimmer　taller　than　the　height　of　a　tall　man。　The　Finder　abased　itself。　I　did　not
　I　suppose　I　should　have　knelt。　I　had　and　have　since　knelt　in　front　of　many　strange　gods；　kings；　and　even　bandits　who　have　given　themselves　lordly　titles。　It　matters　little　and　frequently　adds　to　future　profit　or　immediate　survivability。　It　sometimes　is　just　a　matter　of　mon　courtesy。　But　here；　in　the　bowels　of　the　Archons'　castle；　I　kept　my　feet。　Perhaps　I　felt　pride　as　an　Antero；　or　as　an　Orissan。　But　I　would　not　kneel　to　these　swirling　mists。　The　humming　grew　louder　still；　then　changed　pitch　and　grew　into　an　angry　bass　drone；　such　as　might　e　from　a　nest　of　monstrous　wasps；　but　nothing　else　happened；　and　then　the　drone　stopped。
　As　the　silence　lingered；　a　man　came　out　of　the　darkness　behind　the　pedestals。　He　was　quite　beautiful；　a　term　I　do　not　generally　use　for　males；　but　this　man…from　his　softly　curled　blond　hair；　to　his　boyishly　smiling　full　lips；　to　his　slender　body；　was　beautiful。
　〃Lord　Amalric。　I　had　hoped　our　。。。　acquisition　of　your　minion　might　make　you　decide　to　e　to　Lycanth。　I　am　Nisou　Symeon。〃　This　then　was　the　man；　hardly　more　than　a　boy；　both　my　father　and　Greif　had　said　was　the　most　evil　of　the　Symeons…the　clan　the　Anteros　had　warred　against　for　three　generations。　Even　though　I　was　in　desperate　straits；　I　noted　his　face　and　realized　once　more　that　only　a　fool　judges　good　or　evil　by　its　beauty　or　ill　favor。
　I　sorted　through　my　various　responses；　discarding　the　obvious　ones　of　fear；　surprise；　disdain；　or　even　bravura　posturing。　〃Lord　Symeon；〃　I　finally　said。　〃So　you　have　convinced　your　rulers　that　you　can　seize　an　Orissan　nobleman　without　heed　of　any　consequences。〃
　〃My　Lords；　the　Archons；　needed　no　convincing；〃　Symeon　said。　〃In　case　you　have　been　buried　in　your　dreams　of　the　past　like　most　Orissans；　you　may　not　have　noticed　there　is　a　new　spirit　abroad　in　Lycanth。　It　is　time　for　us　to　reaffirm　our　historic　duty　and　seek　our　proper　place　in　the　sun。〃　I　remembered　Cassini's　harsh　verdict　outside　Lycanth；　when　he　said　that　we　should　have　obliterated　the　city　and　its　populace；　for　fear　they　would　rise　once　more。　Even　such　a　one　as　Cassini　may　sometimes　glimpse　beyond　the　veil。
　〃Further；〃　Symeon　continued；　〃even　if　we　were　concerned　as　to　any　reprisal　from　Orissa；　I　doubt　if　it　would　be　mounted　over　mischief　done　to　an　Antero。　Your　homeland　hardly　sings　your　praises　these　days。〃　I　maintained　a　stony　countenance　and　made　no　reply；　but　he　certainly　was　correct。
　〃What　we　require　from　you；〃　Symeon　continued；　〃is　a　full　and　plete　description　of　your　route　to　the　Far　Kingdoms。　It　is　axiomatic　that　Lycanth　is　the　only　logical　power　to　seek　an　alliance　with　the　kingdoms…especially　considering　the　catastrophe　Orissa；　abetted　by　your　underling；　managed　to　produce　from　the　most　recent　attempt　to　reach　the　kingdoms。〃
　〃You　are　quite　mistaken　if　you　think　Captain　Greycloak　is　in　any　way　my　'underling'　or　'patriot。'　〃
　〃Oh？　I　suppose　you　have　merely　e　to　Lycanth　to　save　him　out　of　pure　altruism？　And；　if　he　is　not　your　underling；　then　what？〃　He　curled　his　lip。　〃Lover？〃
　I　blinked；　not　having　been　aware　that　Lycanthian　attitudes　were　as　backward　as　their　buildings。　It　was　no　trouble　to　ignore　what　he　evidently　considered　an　insult。　I　managed　a　cynical　grin。　〃Very　well。　What　blandishments　are　you　prepared　to　offer　for　my　cooperation？〃
　〃I　could　be　quite　foolish；〃　he　replied；　〃and　promise　you　gold；　or　a　high　position　here　in　Lycanth。　Of　course　you　cannot　be　permitted　to　return　to　Orissa　until　there　is　an　。。。　adjustment　between　our　two　cities。　But　I　shall　offer　you　neither；　not　being　a　dunce　nor　thinking　you　one　either。　There　can　be　but　one　prize　for　you　。。。　all　others　are　valueless　beside　it。　Actually；　I　need　promise　nothing；　and　my　Lords　the　Archons　would　think　me　less　than　their　full…hearted　servant　if　I　did。　We　wish　to　possess　the　knowledge　you　and　Captain　Greycloak　share　of　the　routes　toward　the　Far　Kingdoms；　from　coastal　tides　to　edible　fruits　to　annoying　insects　to　the　natives　to　any　and　all　sorceries　you　encountered。　We　are　prepared　to　use　all　the　talents　and　skills　of　Lycanth　in　encouraging　you　to　enlighten　us；　and　have　no　qualms　as　to　how　or　when　these　skills　will　be　utilized　to　convince　you。　We　also　are　in　no　particular　hurry；　since　both　my　Lords　and　myself　are　aware　of　the　。。。　problems　that　can　be　created　from　an　overeager　questioning。〃
　〃Such　as　death？〃
　〃That；〃　Symeon　said　calmly；　〃or　madness；　or　even；　if　the　inquisitor　is　insufficiently　skeptical；　convincement　of　a　deliberate　or　accidental　lie。　This；　then；　is　our　purpose　and　intent。　Do　you　wish　to　ment；　or　perhaps　make　a　statement　of　brave　rejection　we　all　may　savor？〃　I　shook　my　head。　Symeon　nodded。　〃Then　that　will　be　all　。。。　for　the　moment。　All　of　us　will　know　quite　soon　when　you　and　Greycloak　desire　to　speak　to　us　once　more…desire　to　speak　with　all　your　hearts　and　souls。　So；　if　you　will　follow　my　Lords'　messenger　to　your　quarters　。。。〃　Without　waiting　for　a　response；　Symeon　wheeled　and　vanished　into　the　shadows。　At　the　same　instant；　the　shimmers　were　gone；　and　the　torches　flared；　then　guttered。
　Having　no　options；　I　followed　the　Finder　back　down　the　echoing　stone　corridors。　I　expected　to　be　taken　to　a　dungeon。　Instead；　the　creature　led　me　to　stairs…stairs　that　wound　up　and　up；　and　then　through　more　corridors　until　I　guessed　we　were　approaching　the　top　story　of　the　huge　castle。　At　last　the　beast　stopped　in　front　of　a　huge　U…shaped　door。　The　beast's　mouth　opened；　it　whined　and　I　was　suddenly　deaf。　It　took　me　a　moment　to　realize　that　the　spell　the　creature　was　casting　had　a　secondary　element；　making　it　impossible　for　the　listener　to　distinguish　the　words。　Hearing　returned　as　the　door　swung　open。　In　front　of　me　stretched　the　hallway　of　a　palatial　apartment。　Paintings　were　on　the　walls；　and　the　ceilings　were　hung　in　silk。　I　hesitated　outside。
　〃Enter　if　you　are　of　this　world；　be　damned　if　you　are　not；〃　came　a　cry　from　within。　It　was　Janos'　voice。　I　obeyed；　and　the　door　swung　shut　behind　me。　I　tried　its　handle；　which　turned　uselessly　in　my　hand；　and　knew　the　Finder　had　recast　the　locking　speD。　I　walked　down　the　corridor；　toward　the　room　where　Janos'　voice　had　e　from。　On　either　side　were　large；　high…ceilinged　rooms；　some　fitted　with　beds；　some　with　couches；　some　intended　for　dining　or　other　ente