cacb.thefarkingdoms-第93部分

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war　galleys　swept　out　from　an　inlet。　I　counted　twenty　oars　on　each　side　of　the　green　craft；　and　on　their　foredecks　stood　armed　men。　The　prow　of　each　craft　had　two　ballistae　mounted；　and　they　were　aiming　directly　at　our　canoes。　We　were　well　and　truly　trapped。　A　spade…bearded　man　wearing　armor　and　helmet　hailed　us。
　〃Wele；　travelers；〃　he　shouted。　〃Wele；　guests。〃　His　smile　was　not　only　mirthless；　but　quite　unweling　as　well。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE　
　The　Wizard　of　Souls
　IT　WAS　A　city　like　no　other：　all　sound　muted；　all　color　unnaturally　bright。　The　dwellings　were　of　pale　stone；　with　only　small　black　holes　for　doors　to　mar　their　faceless　features。　Red　streamers；　en…trailing　down　from　green…lacquered　posts；　lined　both　sides　of　the　eerie　avenue。
　Our　〃hosts〃　had　refused　to　answer　any　questions　as　we　sailed　to　the　city's　port。　In　fact；　they　made　no　ment　of　any　kind　and　looked　away　when　we　addressed　them；　as　if　we　did　not　exist。　At　the　port　we　were　handed　over　to　a　troop　of　waiting　soldiers；　manded　by　a　dark…visaged　captain。　Our　weapons　and　other　belongings　were　put　on　a　cart；　which　followed　as　they　marched　us　down　the　city's　main　thoroughfare。　We　led　the　small　parade；　twenty　anxious　panions　of　the　road　knotted　together　for　strength　of　spirit。　The　soldiers　flanked　around；　herding　us　to　our　fates。　Our　new　hosts　were　as　silent　as　the　others；　except　for　the　drum　of　their　boot　steps；　dull　clank　of　armor；　and　the　prickles　at　our　necks；　you　would　not　have　known　they　were　present。
　There　were　few　people　about；　and　those　men　and　women　we　saw　moved　with　no　apparent　purpose；　or　stood　motionless　as　stones；　staring　as　we　went　past　There　was　no　logic　to　their　costumes：　some　wore　rough　mon　togas；　others　white　silk　of　the　rich；　mixed　in　were　men　in　partial　soldier's　harness；　farmers　dressed　for　the　field；　and　beggars　in　rags。　A　child　looked　at　me　as　we　went　by。　I　smiled　and　she　smiled　back；　my　stomach　gave　a　wrench；　for　this　innocent　had　no　nose。　I　began　to　notice　that　many　others　were　maimed　in　some　way：　an　arm　missing；　or　wooden　blocks　for　feet。
　I　heard　Maeen　whisper；　〃There　goes　an　unlucky　lot。〃
　Janos　leaned　close　and　said；　low；　〃When　we　reach　our　destination；　follow　my　lead。〃
　The　avenue　curved；　then　ran　arrow　straight　for　a　tall；　blocky　building　with　a　huge　red　chimney　on　its　crown。　The　chimney　belched　sparks　and　black　smoke；　and　a　nauseating　odor　greased　the　air。　As　we　came　closer；　I　realized　the　building　was　larger　than　I　thought。　Another　lumped　in　front　of　it：　a　structure　curved　like　a　hive　and　with　a　circular　door。　A　man　stepped　out　of　the　entrance。　He　wore　a　fine　red　tunic　with　a　small；　black　badge　of　authority　on　his　breast。　He　lifted　a　hand　in　greeting；　the　hand　was　thumbless　and　pebbled　with　finger　stumps。
　He　spoke　in　a　voice　accustomed　to　mand。　〃Good　day；　gentle　wayfarers。　My　master　bids　you　wele　and　kindly　offers　his　renowned　hospitality。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Janos　said。　〃And　who　might　your　kind　master　be？〃
　〃Why；　his　name　is　known　to　all；〃　our　greeter　replied。　〃It　is　Lord　Mortacious。　Ruler　of　this　city；　and　all　the　lands　of　Gomalalee。〃
　〃Forgive　our　ignorance；　gentle　sir；〃　Janos　said。　〃But　we　hail　from　a　land　so　distant；　not　even　your　exalted　master's　name　has　reached　our　shores。　It　will　be　our　honor　that　we　shall　be　the　first　to　speak　it　to　the　multitudes　when　we　return　safely　to　our　hearths。〃
　The　man　replied；　〃It　will　be　your　joy；　then；　to　meet　him　for　the　first　time。　e。　My　master　awaits　at　table。〃
　We　followed：　nineteen　silent　men；　praying　for　all　the　gods　to　aid　Janos'　wit。　I　heard　the　hiss　of　the　great　chimney　overhead　and　smelled　the　foul　smoke。　Our　guide　led　us　to　the　banquet　hall　and　flung　wide　the　doors。　The　room　was　long　and　narrow　and　lighted　so　brightly　my　eyes　were　pained。　The　only　decoration　was　more　of　those　obscene　red　streamers　mounted　on　the　high　walls。　From　one　end　of　the　room　to　the　other　ran　a　heavy　blackwood　banquet　table。　The　table　was　heaped　with　many　dishes　to　tempt　the　palate：　roasts　of　a　variety　of　flesh；　platters　of　whole　baked　fish；　mounds　of　rich；　dark　breads；　and　large　crystal　decanters　of　heavy　crystal；　filled　with　a　red　wine　so　heady　its　sweet　odor　filled　the　room。　The　food　was　heaped　upon　great　platters　of　gold。　Forty　men　sat　at　this　table；　and　near　the　entrance　there　were　places　set　for　eighteen　more。
　At　the　head　of　the　table；　in　a　green；　throne…backed　chair；　sat　a　man　with　the　features　of　a　fierce　scavenger　of　the　air。　He　rose　when　he　saw　us；　lifting　his　hands　so　his　flowing　red　robe　winged　out　like　that　great　desert　bird。　It　could　be　no　other　than　the　man　who　had　issued　the　invitation…Lord　Mortacious。　He　spoke　first　to　his　panions　of　the　table。　〃Gentlemen。　We　have　the　honor　to　host　distinguished　guests　this　day。〃　There　were　murmurs　all　around：　dark　or　joyous；　I　could　not　tell。　〃Gentlemen；　may　I　introduce　you　to　Sir　Janos　Greycloak　of　Orissa。〃　Janos　flinched。　I　felt　my　own　features　twitch　in　stung　surprise。　I　covered；　as　did　Janos。　〃I　believe　the　man　beside　him…he　of　the　glorious　red　hair…is　Lord　Antero。　Also　of　Orissa。〃　I　bowed　low；　manner　calm；　mind　swirling　with　fearful　questions：　How　did　he　know　us？　What　was　his　purpose？
　〃We　are　the　ones　to　be　honored；　Lord　Mortacious；〃　Janos　said　I　echoed　his　response。　Behind　me　I　heard　one　of　our　men　cough　nervously　and　Sergeant　Maeen's　harsh　whisper　of　warning。
　Mortacious　adjusted　the　scarf　about　his　neck；　it　was　made　of　costly　black　silk。　He　smiled　a　smile　of　lordly　benevolence；　but　his　eyes　were　so　smoky　and　burning　with　deadliness；　I　knew　him　to　be　a　wizard。
　〃e　sup　with　us；　please；〃　he　said；　indicating　empty　seats　of　honor　on　either　side　of　his　dining　throne。　〃Your　men　will　find　places　set　for　them　as　well　by　the　door。〃　Janos　and　I　walked　forward。　Behind　us；　our　small　party　sat　where　they　had　been　directed。　With　each　step　that　we　took　away　from　our　panions；　I　felt　the　line　of　safety　stretch　thin。　Mortacious　was　most　gracious　as　we　took　our　seats。　He　fussed　with　our　place　settings　and　poured　us　each　a　glass　of　wine。　I　murmured　thanks　and　sipped。　The　wine　was　so　sweet；　I　nearly　gagged；　but　out　of　politeness；　I　forced　myself　to　sip　again。　This　time　it　was　more　tolerable；　powerful　stuff　that　stoked　fires　in　the　belly　and　smoke　in　the　mind。　I　vowed　caution。
　〃Tell　me；　Lord　Mortacious；〃　Janos　said；　〃how　is　it　you　know　of　such　lowly　travelers　as　ourselves？〃
　Mortacious　chuckled；　fingering　the　black　scarf　at　his　neck。　〃Lowly？　I　think　not。　As　for　my　knowledge　of　you；　it　is　no　great　trick　for　a　wizard。　As　ruler　of　this　realm；　which　many　evil　men　envy；　such　knowledge　is　a　necessity。〃
　Janos　suddenly　relaxed；　he　drank　his　wine　and　loudly　smacked　his　lips　in　pleasure。　〃To　be　perfectly　frank；　my　lord；　when　your　men　first　approached　we　feared　our　intentions　had　been　mistook。　For　we　e　to　these　parts　by　accident；　not　design。　Our　purposes　are　entirely　peaceful。〃
　〃So　you　say；〃　Mortacious　murmured。　〃But　there　is　a　bloody　trail　behind　you　that　might　indicate　otherwise。〃
　〃If　they　had　let　us　pass；〃　Janos　said；　〃they　would　have　lived。　The　barbed　remark　hooked　amusement　rather　than　anger。　Mor…tacious　smiled。　〃Exactly；　dear　Greycloak。　Ignorance　can　be　fatal。〃　He　topped　our　glasses。　〃When　I　learned　of　your　approach；　I　was　seized　with　curiosity。　I　had　to　meet　the　men　who　so　ardently　sought　the　Far　Kingdoms。〃
　Except　for　the　conversation　between　Janos　and　Mortacious；　the　room　was　silent。　His　men　made　listless　motions　of　eating　and　drinking；　they　did　not　talk　with　one　another；　or　look　this　way　and　that。　Down　the　long　table　our　own　friends　whispered　amongst　themselves　and　shifted　restlessly。　But　I　saw　they'd　had　the　good　sense　to　help　themselves　to　some　joints　of　meat　and　bread　and　were　devouring　them　as　if　it　were　their　last　meal；　a　thought　not　far　from　my　own　mind　as　I　looked　at　my　still　empty　platter。
　Mortacious　caught　my　look　and　fussed。　〃Forgive　me；　dear　sirs；　for　forgetting　your　needs。　e；　let　me　assist　you　in　finding　a　tasty　morsel　or　two。〃
　He　carved　a　thick　slab　of　steaming　meat　for　me；　another　for　Janos；　and　put　them　on　our　plates　with　much　ceremony。　A　most　delicious　odor　arose　to　greet　my　senses　and　beg　me　to　sup。　I　cut　a　long　slice　and　lifted　it　eagerly　to　my　lips。　I　paused；　confused；　as　I　heard　Mortacious　give　a　malicious　s