cacb.thefarkingdoms-第81部分
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thing untoward。 All doors except the large front one were double barred and spiked and heavy furniture moved in front of them。
Rali appeared suddenly behind me。 No one seemed surprised except for Janos…I gathered she had told the staff she'd been given a spell permitting her to enter her home without using the door or some such nonsense。 I knew…and later told Janos…how she'd gotten into the villa。 Part of the worst…event planning our family's heads had made were two tunnels。 One began behind a false bookcase in my father's…now my…office； and ran under the grounds to exit more than one hundred yards behind the villa； and the second went from a trapdoor in the second floor down a false chimney； under the street in front of us to emerge in the rear of a small shop nearby that no one…including its proprietor… knew the Antero family owned。
Rali told us what had happened since I'd slipped out of the city。 As I'd feared； my disappearance had weighed the scales against those of us who saw Orissa was at a turning point in its history…a turning point that meant we must reach for the Far Kingdoms； that we must change to be able to face a new epoch。 Many of those who'd bravely stood up against the old guard found it politic to withdraw from the controversy。 Those who could afford it； such as Malaren； had taken Gamelan's example and physically left the city。
Words became violence。 First was the beating of a particularly hated man who served as landlord for slum tenements secretly owned by some of the richest and most conservative families in the city。 One of the night watch's guardhouses had been burned； not far from Cheapside。 Then my old friend Prevotant reported to the Magistrates that he and his guards had been set upon by villains in the night； villains who shouted； 〃Down with the Evocators〃 and 〃Lycanth will free us。〃 At this point Rah' stopped； raised an eyebrow； and waited for ment。 Neither Janos nor I cared to ment on the truth of that。 Lycanth would free us； indeed。 Prevotant was even stupider than I remembered him。
Somehow the Magistrates were convinced to declare Emergency Regulations； regulations that also empowered the Evocators to 〃provide counseling and assistance in any manner deemed fit to end the current emergency。〃 That； in turn； brought mobs into the streets。 Somehow； during the course of a night's protest； two buildings were burned…and seven men and two women； all from the artisan class； 〃attacked the night watch； intending murder； forcing them to defend themselves with the full force of arms。〃 That was a little too raw； even for the Magistrates' Council； who by now were being almost entirely swayed by the Old Guard。
They called for the Maranon Guard to take the streets and bring peace。 But their instructions meant 〃peace〃 was to be interpreted as the suppression of those who wanted change； and the preservation of the old。
〃We held full council then；〃 Rali said； her face like ice。 〃All of us； from officers to the lowliest stable hand； all voices to be held equal。 It took the greater part of a night； but it was determined that the main reason we are blessed by Maranonia is because we truly are the spirit of Orissa。 Not Orissa past； nor Orissa to e。 For us to choose sides would not only destroy the respect we are held in； but almost certainly incur a curse from the goddess herself。
〃We refused to obey； for the first time in the history of the Maranon Guard。〃 Rali looked away； eyes gleaming wet in the firelight。 〃It was a proud and a shameful moment。
〃We were ordered to our barracks； where we remain。 We do not know what； if anything； we should do to end this catastrophe that is tearing Orissa apart。 We have sought out prophets and wise men and women。 A few Evocators； ones we trust； have even visited our barracks secretly。 We cast runes hourly。 But as yet 。。。〃 She let her voice trail off。 〃There are times； Janos Greycloak；〃 she said frankly； 〃I have damned you； and damned the Far Kingdoms as well。〃
〃Change will happen；〃 Janos said。 〃Whether we will it or not。 The best we can do is shape it to our own ends； that will with luck bring the greatest happiness to the most people。〃
〃I know。〃 Rali sighed。 〃I know。 But it is terrible to see the city I love tear itself apart。 Now the poor creep out at night to loot； steal； and burn； the Evocators trumpet false triumph during the day； and those who would bring this catastrophe to an end huddle behind stone walls。〃
She got up。 〃Word of your arrival reached our barracks within minutes after you came through the gates；〃 she said。 〃I would suspect matters will e to a full boil now； and we shall learn on which side the gods are smiling。〃
She ruffled my hair。 〃Wele back； brother。 I would wager you never thought you and some mountain brigand would lead a revolution； did you？〃 She was gone before I could recover。 Rali … as usual … was correct。 We were leading a revolution； of sorts。 I greatly wished I could tell what its final oute would be。 As I write； I still wish I knew that today。
Guards mounted； both Janos and I retired to our chambers； Sergeant Maeen supervising the first shift。 Both of us kept our weapons ready。 Janos left orders to wake him in the hour before dawn； when a threat was most likely to materialize。 But the threat did not wait until much past midnight。 I woke from an utterly dreamless sleep to a shout； a crash； and a scream of fear。 It came from the main entrance。 Naked； sword in hand； I found myself downstairs at the door as servants hurried up behind me； carrying newly lighted torches。 Two of my servants； whose names I shall not mention to prevent shame to their families today； huddled against the wall。 At their feet was the huge wooden bar to the entrance。 I thought traitors； and readied my sword； then bethought myself as they shrieked for mercy and but a moment to explain。 But first things first； and I ordered them to rebar the door。 They did； hastily。 Janos came pelting down the stairs； his weapon at the ready。 〃I saw men；〃 he said。 〃Perhaps twenty of them； armed； waiting across the street They ran when the motion began。〃 He realized what had almost occurred with a glance。
〃So；〃 he said。 〃It would have been treason rather than a frontal attack。 What gain did they promise you for betraying us；〃 he demanded。 The two babbled； and I shouted silence； and bade one of them tell me； slowly； just what had happened。 According to the servant； he had gone to bed when relieved from his watch。 Then he'd awakened； but it was like he was in a dream and unable to resist； walking toward the door。 The other man was waiting。 〃It was a spell；〃 he insisted。 〃I tried to fight against it 。。。 but to no avail。〃
I hesitated； then lowered my blade； remembering both of them had served my family for years。 But I still was not convinced。 Nor was Janos。 〃What broke the spell？〃 he asked skeptically。 〃Such a curse； if one was indeed cast； would have had no effect if improperly made； or if powerful enough would have made you carry out the plan pletely。〃
〃It was 。。。 it was a shout。〃
〃From whom？〃 I wanted to know。
Both men began trembling； and then one pointed…with a shaking finger…behind me。 He was pointing to the portrait of my brother； Halab； behind the altar。 〃It came 。。。 from him。 From there。〃
Now the rest of the servants began chattering； and once more I had to shout for stillness。 Both servants returned to their babbling…yes； it had e from the painting； and it could only be the blessed Halab trying to save the family from beyond the grave。 I was torn between amazement and skepticism。 Janos ordered the two servants to be taken to a storeroom。 He said he would find the truth of the matter。 〃I will hold with no torture；〃 I told him quietly。 〃No matter what they tried。 If you believe them guilty； cast them out。 Or else kill them； as is our right； since they have forfeited their covenant。〃
〃I shall not touch them； physically；〃 Janos said。 〃There are other； better ways。〃 He went for the kitchen； where he could procure certain necessary items。 I knew what he intended。 Within an hour； he had the answer。 The men had been telling the truth。 Someone had cast a spell from without； a powerful piece of sorcery intended to turn a man into a mindless slave for
