cacb.thefarkingdoms-第82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！
a spell from without； a powerful piece of sorcery intended to turn a man into a mindless slave for a space。 Even though the spell was intended to work on sleeping minds not on their guard； the sorcerer would be a Master Evocator； working to the peak of his abilities； and most likely backed up by another wizard。
〃Black sorcery；〃 I said。
Janos reluctantly agreed； although he did wonder if I would feel the same if the spell had been cast； say； to keep a great villain from harming a good person？ Not that we had time for philosophy。 He immediately secured other items from our stores and； when the sun rose； sent servants surreptitiously out to what marketplaces would be open to buy other items。 He cast several spells that day。 The first and greatest was around the entire household。 〃I cannot prevent another spell such as the one just laid from being attempted； but I can prevent any such spell from taking full hold。〃 He also cast protective spells around each of us； taking great pains over the two men who'd fallen prey to the incantation before。 〃Just as someone who falls ill of a disease of the lungs must always take care to avoid dampness and low wet places； so a man who's been taken over by sorcery can fall prey to another spell cast by the same person。 Or such is my belief； at any rate； even though I have heard it from no Evocators nor seen it in any grimoire。〃
I asked how the servants had taken it； having words said over them that came from someone hardly a member of the Evocator's class。 Janos grinned and said there'd been no problems。 〃You don't realize； Amalric； there is a whole underworld of sorcery most poor folk rely on。 They cannot afford an Evocator； or else they believe certain spells and items their family and friends have used for years have far greater efficacy than anything the Evocators might prescribe。 Sometimes that is superstition； but as often as not they are correct。 Finally； the things they might want sorcerous help in obtaining； such as a love philter or an enemy to be cursed or an overspell to give them riches 。。。 any of these might be considered unlawful。〃
〃To them；〃 I said slowly。 〃But not to me； because I have always had money enough to purchase silence once whatever spell I desired is cast。〃
〃Money 。。。 or simply the power of the Antero name。〃
〃There is a great unfairness in this city of ours；〃 I said。
〃Brilliant deduction；〃 Janos said； not bothering to hide his sarcasm。 〃When you find a system where that is not true； to a greater or lesser degree； be sure to inform me so that we both can emigrate。〃 I poured him brandy； neat； and told him not to grind it in。 Then； very privately； I went to Halab's altar and prayed my thanks。 I knew not if he would appreciate sacrifices when this was over； but I promised them anyway。 I also swore that his…or his ghost's…doings this day would be told again and again； until the last Antero was taken from the earth。
The next attack came late that afternoon。 I heard the blast of a horn and peered out an upstairs window。 In the street below was Cassini！ He wore the full ceremonial robes of a master…level Evocator。 Two other Evocators stood behind him； and there were white…robed lay assistants flanking them。 Two of them blew another blast on their trumpets。 To their rear were some twenty soldiers。
〃Lord Amalric Antero；〃 Cassini shouted。 〃I summon you to justice。〃 I did not respond until Janos had e into the room。 Cassini called for me twice more in the interim。 I asked Janos what should be done。 He considered。 〃You may ignore him if you wish；〃 he said。 〃Or you may speak to him。 I see no archers or crossbowmen out there； and I do not sense he has made himself the catalyst for some spell。〃
I unbarred the balcony doors and stepped out。 〃I hear you； Evocator。〃
〃I summon you； Lord Antero；〃 Cassini shouted once more。
〃By what right？ I have broken no laws。 And you are hardly a Magistrate。 Not yet； at any rate。〃 I probably should not have added the last； but could not avoid a ment on what our city had bee。
〃You lie；〃 he shouted back。 〃We Evocators have sensed someone in and of this household is practicing sorcery。 Since there are no known licensed Evocators in this villa； you； and those whom you choose to protect； are accused of this crime against Orissa； against the Evocators； and against the natural order of our land。 You are required therefore to surrender to me； as is any person you know of who might be guilty of mitting this enormous sin； or aiding and abetting others in mitting it。 You have one turning of the glass〃…and an assistant held the device up…〃to prepare yourself； and to bring whatever materials you think might aid in your defense。 Heed this summons； Lord Amalric； and yield to our justice。 For an honest man has nothing to fear from the Council of Evocators。〃
〃I hear my brother's spirit laughing at that；〃 I shouted； goaded into anger。 〃And don't waste your time with the glass。 Neither I； nor anyone else within these walls； will abandon himself to bee a popinjay for the Evocators！ If a hearing is necessary； let it be made in the proper manner； and served by Magistrates； not charlatans in robes！〃
I saw Cassini smile…he'd known the answer his warrant would receive。 He took a long； double…handed dagger from another assistant； a dagger that gleamed gold in the afternoon sun。 He took its grip in both hands and held it before him； blade up。
〃I have no choice。〃 Another assistant stepped beside him and unrolled parchment。 〃I； Cassini； gather the power granted by the gods and demons of this and other worlds。 I direct this power against Amalric Antero； and all those who serve him； willingly or unwillingly； and declare all of them outlaw and anathema； from this moment until justice has been done； and the outlaw Antero has been brought to bay。
〃I curse and condemn both in specific and general； and the curse shall take the following horrible forms； so that the Anteros and all who serve them shall be marked； so that no honest man who fears and respects the gods and their servants will be deceived。 The first curse shall…〃
Cassini blinked； as a spot of light flashed across the scroll and then his face。 He looked up and cried out； the dagger falling into the roadway。 He attempted to pull the hood of his robe over his face； but it was too late。
Janos was beside me。 He held； in both hands； the great silvered mirror that hung in my wardrobe。 He finished whispering the words of a spell； then said； loudly； 〃Evocator Cassini！ I have trapped your image； and the images of those beside you in this glass。 I now order you； in the name of the gods of Orissa and the demons of Kostroma； hostage against any further curses or thaumaturgy directed against anyone in the Antero family or service； or anyone who calls an Antero friend。 If my mand is broken； the image held in this mirror will be sent out into the night； blasted by whatever powers I may summon。 Also； this mirror now turns your spell back； away from this house and its people。 I offer my own soul to the gods as proof that you； and any Evocator who has taken part in this mummery； are witches！ Wizards of the blackest sort！〃
Cassini's mouth hung open。 I heard a low wail from one of his lay assistants。 'This is absurd；〃 he managed。 〃How can you； no more than an amateur and criminal； claim the ability to cast such a Great Spell？〃
〃I claim it；〃 Janos cried； 〃from knowledge and dedication。 But more because my powers； and my learning； e from the day； e from the light。 And just as day shall always conquer the night； so justice shall triumph over your evil！〃
Cassini looked about； realizing his fellows and the soldiers had fallen back。 〃This is a farce！〃
〃If you so believe 。。。 then continue your curse and continue declaring us criminals。〃
I saw Cassini lick his lips。 Then he spun； without answering； and stalked away。 The hem of his robe became tangled around his legs； and he almost fell。 He recovered； and vanished； back into the city； his minions scuttling behind him。
I heard； below me； the startlement of my servants。 I turned to Janos； who was setting the mirror down very carefully。 〃I did not know；〃 I said； 〃you have powers that great。〃
Janos forced a grim smile。 〃Nor did I。 Nor am I su
