cacb.thefarkingdoms-第80部分

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　〃Be　silent！　I　mean　no　insult；　but　am　obeying　the　mands　of　the　Magistrates　as　to　the　manner　of　address。　I　have　here　an　order　for　the　arrest　of　Lord　Antero　and；　if　Janos　Greycloak　is　with　him；　for　his　apprehension　as　well。〃
　〃On　what　charge？〃　I　demanded。
　〃The　charge　has　yet　to　be　made；　but　will　be　preferred　at　the　proper　time。〃
　〃Who　laid　this　open　warrant？〃
　〃Evocator　Cassini；　countersigned　by　Magistrate　Sisshon。〃
　〃How　can　such　a　warrant　be　served　by　the　Coast　Watch？　It　is　the　duty　of　the　Maranon　Guard　to　keep　the　city　safe。〃
　〃The　Guard　has　refused　service；　and　been　confined　to　its　barracks！〃
　I　couldn't　restrain　astonishment。　What　could　have　happened？　Was　Rali　safe？
　〃I　demand　your　immediate　surrender；〃　the　legate　said　loudly。　I　looked　at　Janos。　He　shrugged…we　had　no　choice；　and　certainly；　as　law…abiding　citizens　of　the　city；　nothing　more　to　concern　ourselves　with　than　the　annoyance　of　having　to　explain　our　innocence　at　the　citadel　of　the　Magistrates。　〃Very　well；〃　I　said。
　〃Lay　down　your　arms；〃　the　legate　ordered。　〃I　am　further　ordered　to　take　you　to　the　palace　of　the　Evocators；　and　give　you　into　their　keeping。〃
　〃I　will　not！〃　Janos　snapped。　〃Since　when　do　the　Evocators　control　the　civil　rules　of　Orissa？〃
　〃Since　it　became　necessary；　after　the　rioting；　to　declare　Emergency　Law。　As　part　of　that　declaration；　certain　measures　were　put　into　effect　as　temporary　measures。　This　is　one　of　them。〃
　I　gripped　my　spear　more　tightly。　No；　I　would　not　go　into　Cassini's　tender　care。　We　had　not　escaped　from　two　great　wolf　packs　to　be　devoured　by　that　jackal。　One　of　the　archers　lifted　his　bow。
　〃Draw　th'　string；　an'　I'll　split　y'r　chest　like　you　wuz　a　sturgeon！〃　The　shout　came　from　a　great　barrel…chested　woman　standing　atop　a　low　building。　She　was　one　of　the　river's　fishermen；　because　she　held；　ready　to　cast；　a　long；　barbed　harpoon。　I　looked　around。　The　street　was　packed　with　Orissans。　All　of　them　were　dressed　shabbily…we　were　in　a　poor　section　of　the　city…and　all　of　them　were　armed。　From　a　window　menaced　a　lad　with　a　sporting　crossbow。　There　was　a　knot　of　stave…wielding　men　behind　us。　Others　held　clubs　or　cobbles　they'd　uprooted。　I　saw　the　gleam　of　unsheathed　daggers　and　kitchen　cleavers；　and　even　a　few　bared　swords。
　〃Ye'll　not　be　takin'　Janos　t'　th'　Evocators；　sonny；〃　the　woman　went　on。　〃Nor　yet　Lord　Antero。　Goddamned　Evocators　have　ruined　enough！〃　There　was　a　growl　of　assent；　and　the　crowd　surged　forward。　〃Y'll　be　th'　ones　t'　lay　down　your　arms；〃　she　said。　〃An'　there'll　be　some　of　us　can　use　th'　armor；　matters　keep　heatin'　up　th'　way　they've　been。〃
　A　stone　smashed　into　one　of　the　spearmen。　In　spite　of　his　breastplate；　he　shouted　pain　and　went　to　his　knees。　Then　a　shower　of　rocks　and　muck。　The　crowd　noise　grew；　and　the　soldiers　were　but　an　instant　from　death。
　〃Stop！〃　It　was　Janos；　his　voice　a　parade…ground　bellow。　Everyone　froze；　for　just　a　moment。　〃Orissans；〃　he　went　on。　〃These　men　are　Orissans　as　well。　Do　you　want　their　blood　on　your　souls？〃
　〃Wouldn't　bother　me　none；〃　cried　someone　in　the　crowd。　Yells　of　agreement　followed。
　〃No！　Look　at　them！　I　know　this　legate；〃　Janos　said；　and　I　knew　he　was　lying。　〃I　remember　when　he　was　sworn　in；　and　I　saw　his　mother　and　sister　weeping　for　happiness。　Do　you　want　to　make　them　weep　for　another　reason？〃　Mutterings。　〃Look　at　the　others。　They　are　but　soldiers。　Any　of　you　might　have　chosen　to　wear　the　uniform　at　one　time；　yes？　Some　of　you　did　take　up　arms　to　serve　your　city。　That　is　what　these　men　are　doing。　Doing　what　they　see　as　their　duty。　Is　it　their　fault　they're　misled？〃
　〃Damn　fools　oughta　know　better；〃　a　man　shouted；　and　I　thought　it　to　be　the　same　one　who　said　he　was　not　afraid　to　kill。　Janos　made　no　reply　for　a　moment；　but　then　broke　into　laughter…　that　great　boom　of　a　sound。　The　crowd　puzzled；　then　snickered；　then　started　laughing；　unsure　of　what　they'd　found　amusing。　Janos　stopped　laughing；　and　the　mirth　died。
　〃I　am　delighted　to　hear　from　a　man　who　Knows　Better；〃　Janos　said。　〃When　this　is　over；　and　the　proper　order　has　been　returned；　e　to　me；　man。　I　will　pay　you　well；　in　gold　and　wine；　to　make　sure　I　always　know　better。〃　Now　the　crowd　had　something　specific　to　chuckle　about；　but　Janos　did　not　wait　for　silence。　He　turned　back　to　the　patrol。　〃You。　Legate。〃
　The　man　may　have　been　young；　but　he　picked　up　on　his　lead　as　deftly　as　any　member　of　a　dance　troupe。　〃Yes。　Sir。〃　And　saluted。
　'Take　charge　of　your　men；　and　return　to　your　watch　officer。　Report　to　him　you　were　given　direct　orders　by　Captain　Janos　Greycloak；　of　the　Magistrates'　Own　Guard。　He　will　give　you　further　orders　at　that　time。〃　Again　the　legate　saluted；　ordered　his　soldiers　to　attention；　about…face；　and　marched　them　off。　They　disappeared　back　down　the　side　street；　keeping　in　formation；　even　the　injured　spearman　who　had　to　be　assisted　by　his　fellows。　Janos　waited　until　they　were　gone；　then　turned　back　to　the　crowd。
　〃What　is　the　name　of　this　district？〃
　General　shouts；　and　the　blast　of　〃Cheapside〃　from　someone　with　a　set　of　bellows　for　lungs。
　〃Cheapside　。。。　I　thank　you。　Lord　Antero　thanks　you。　I　think　we　owe　you　our　lives。　You　should　be　proud　to　be　Orissans。　When　this　is　over；　Lord　Antero　and　I　have　a　debt　to　repay。　And　we　always　honor　our　debts。〃
　Shouts　of　happiness；　agreement；　disagreement；　cries　of　it　was　their　pleasure；　and　the　crowd　began　dissipating。　Several　of　them；　including　that　iron…lunged　harpooness；　wanted　to　speak　to　and　touch　him。　〃Now；〃　he　said　to　me　in　a　low　tone　after　a　spell。　〃We　should　have　given　that　jackanapes　and　his　beach　watchers　time　enough　to　get　away。〃　Little　by　little；　through　the　well…wishers；　we　extricated　ourselves。　Then；　using　back　alleys　and　keeping　well　out　of　sight　of　any　of　the　troops　from　various　units　who　were　patrolling　the　streets；　we　reached　my　villa。
　It　looked　as　if　it　had　been　readied　for　a　siege。　All　of　the　windows　on　the　lower　floors　were　blocked　off　with　the　solid　oak　deadlights　my　father's　father　had　prepared；　part　of　the　gear　we　maintained　and　replaced　or　added　to　as　needed；　which　was　meant　for　the　most　extreme　emergency。
　Sergeant　Maeen　had　taken　charge；　technically　deserting　from　the　army；　although　no　one　seemed　to　care　about　his　action；　especially　since　the　Magistrates'　Own　Guard　no　longer　existed。　Helping　him　keep　order　was　a　self…appointed　foursome：　J'an；　the　head　stableman；　Rake　and　Mose；　my　sauce　chef　and　storekeeper；　respectively；　and　Spoto；　the　youngest　of　the　chambermaids。　I　thought　of　the　two　who　should　have　run　the　household　in　my　absence；　Eanes　and　Tegry；　and　said　a　prayer　to　the　memory　of　them　both；　one　a　hero；　one　a　fool。
　Rali　had　managed　to　slip　in　from　time　to　time；　but　no　one　knew　how。　I　did；　but　said　nothing。　She'd　managed　to　get　word　to　my　brothers　at　our　estates　beyond　the　city　and　told　them　to　stay　where　they　were。　In　fact；　the　villa　was　ready　to　be　blockaded。　Rali　had　ordered　the　storekeepers　to　lay　in　nonperishables　for　months；　and　had　both　our　cellar　wells　given　a　sweetness　blessing　by　a　trustworthy　Evocator。　She'd　opened　the　armory　and　unlocked　the　weapons　racks。　Maeen　had　spent　hours　teaching　the　use　of　them；　and　J'an；　who'd　been　an　eager　witness　to　my　early　weapons　training；　assisted。　The　quartet　had　paid　off　any　of　my　staff　who　were　afraid；　worried；　or　felt　there　might　be　some　merit　to　the　libels　against　my　family。　I　was　honored　almost　to　the　point　of　tears　when　Spoto　said　that　only　three　had　demanded　their　wages　and　gone。　Just　as　Cheapside　would　be　rewarded　when　peace　came；　so；　too；　must　I　remember　each　man　and　woman　in　this　household。
　I　was　tired；　hungry；　and　dirty；　but　somehow　knew　I　must　not　waste　any　time。　I　had　my　household　leaders…I　began　calling　them　my　captains…walk　me　through　the　house　and　grounds；　telling　me　all　they'd　done。　By　that　time；　Janos　had　refreshed　himself；　and　I　chanced　a　quick　bath；　a　gobbled　meal；　and　a　glass　of　wine。　I　looked　longingly　at　that　great　feather　bed　in　my　chambers；　but　did　not　weaken。　I　went　belowstairs　and　found　that　Janos；　experienced　soldier　that　he　was；　had　made　some　additions。　These　included　buckets　full　of　either　dirt　or　water　placed　around　in　case　of　an　〃unexplained〃　fire。　He　set　a　watch　on　the　roof；　ordered　to　sound　the　alert　if　they　saw　or　heard　anything