fs.thefirstbookofswords-第18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！
eral。 The very night that the five men slain by Vulcan were being waked； and my husband prayed for … though he would not be my husband till two days later … and healing magic worked to help him recover from the awful wound。。。〃
〃Ah；〃 The Duke pointed a finger。 〃You say you thought you had encountered me？ You did not know？ You would not remember？〃
〃The man I met； my lord； wore a mask。 As I know the mighty sometimes do； when they visit a place beneath their station。〃
〃So。 But why should you think this masked man was me？ Had you ever seen me before？〃
〃No sir。 It was just that I had heard … you know how stories go round among the people … heard that you sometimes appeared among your people wearing a mask of dark leather。。。 〃 Mala evidently realized that her words sounded unconvincing。 〃I had heard that you were not very tall； and had dark hair。〃 She paused。 〃It was a feeling that I had。〃 Pause again。 〃There were funeral rites that night。 I went with the masked man to the fields。 Nine months later； my son Mark was born。〃
〃Ah。〃 The Duke looked Mala over thoughtfully； looked her up and down； squinting a little as if trying to remember something。 〃Folk out in the villages do say； then； that sometimes I go abroad disguised。〃
〃Yes； Your Grace； many say that。 I'm sure they mean no harm； they just。。。〃
〃But this time； folk were wrong。 You understand？〃
Mala's dark eyes fell。 〃I understand； Your Grace。〃
〃Your husband； does he。。？〃
〃Oh no sir。 I've never told him； or anyone； about the masked man。〃
〃Let it remain so；〃 said Duke Fraktin。 And again he made a gesture of dismissal。
The woman hesitated marginally。 Then she was gone。
The Duke turned toward the wizard's chair； which once again was visibly occupied。 He waited for its occupant to ment。
The first thing that the Blue…robed one said was： 〃You did not consider using torture； Your Grace？〃
〃Torture at this time would be foolish。 I'll stake my lands that at this moment neither of them knows where their brat has gone … or where my sword is； either。 The woman； at least； would hand the sword over to me in a moment if she could。 I think the man would； too； if it came to an actual decision。 And when they find themselves safely home again in a day or two； with my gold in their hands … they'll want more。 The word will go out from them that their son should e home。 Word spreads swiftly across the countryside； Blue…Robes … I've been out there among them and I know。 When their child hears that his parents are home； safe； rewarded by me … there's a good chance that he'll bring home the sword。 If he still has it； if we haven't found him already。 But on the other hand if we begin with pointless torture； he'll hear about that too。 What chance then that hell e home voluntarily？〃
〃Your Grace knows best； of course。 But that man's a stiff…necked one； underneath his meekness。 I have the impression that he was holding something back。〃
〃You are a shrewd observer； Blue…Robes。 Yes； I agree； he was。 But I don't believe it's anything central to our purpose。 More likely something that passed between him and the god； years ago。〃
〃Then； Sire。。？〃
〃Then why not get it out of him。 Indeed。〃 And Duke Fraktin sighed his delicate sigh。 〃But … it may not be hi's to tell。 Have you considered that possibility？〃
〃Your Grace？〃
〃Are we sure； Blue…Robes … are we really sure … that we want to know everything that a god has said should be kept secret？〃
〃I must confess； sire； that your subtlety is oftentimes beyond me。〃
〃You think I'm wrong。 Well； later； perhaps； I'll put the whole family on racks or into boots。〃 The Duke was silent for a few moments； thinking。 〃Anyway； he's a man of property … he's not going to take to the hills and leave his mill to be confiscated。 Not unless we frighten him very clumsily。〃
〃And the woman； sire？〃
〃What about her？〃
〃The time she spoke of； thirteen years ago； that was before I came into your service。 There was no basis in fact for what she said？ I ask because a magical influence may sometimes be established through intimacy。〃
〃You heard what I told her。〃 The Duke was brusque。
The wizard bowed lightly。 〃And what about the young boy； sire？ When he is found？〃
The Duke looked at his advisor。 〃Why； get the sword from him； of course； or learn from him where it is； or at the very least where he last saw it。〃
〃Of course； sire。 And then； the boy？〃
〃And then？ What do you mean； and then？ He killed my cousin； did he not？〃
The wizard bowed his little bow； remaining in his chair。 〃And the village； my lord … the place where such an atrocity was permitted to happen？〃
〃Villages； Blue…Robes； are valuable assets。 We do not have an infinite supply of them。 They provide resources。 Vengeance must never be more than a tool； to be taken up or put down as required。 One boy can serve as an example； can serve better that way； perhaps； than in any other。 But a whole village。。。〃 And Duke Fraktin shook his head。
〃A tool。 Yes； sire。〃
〃And a vastly more powerful tool is knowledge。 Find out where that sword is。 Even finding out whose men those were who tried to kidnap my cousin would be better than mere vengeance。〃
Chapter 4
Getting down from the high mountains was difficult； when your legs were increasingly weakened by hunger； and your head still felt light from hunger； volcanic fumes； altitude； and confrontation with the gods。 Getting down still wasn't as difficult； though； as going up had been。
Even carrying the sword was easier now； as if Mark had somehow got used to it。 No； more than that； as if it had in some way bee a part of him。 He could rest its bundled weight on his shoulder now without feeling that he was going to be cut； or swing it at his side without expecting that its awkward weight would trip him up。
He could even contemplate； more or less calmly； the fact that his father and brother were dead； his mother and sister and home out of his reach； perhaps forever。 His old life was gone； the gods had agreed on that much at least。 But he still had his own life； and the open road ahead； to carry him away from the Duke's vengeance。 And the sword。
To find his way down the mountain； Mark simply chose what looked like the easiest way； and this way kept leading him obligingly farther and farther to the south。 South was fine with Mark； because he thought that the shortest route out of Duke Fraktin's territory probably lay in that direction。
He seemed to remember hearing also that the lands of Kind Sir Andrew； as the stories called him； were in that direction too。 There were a number of stories told about Sir Andrew； all very different from those told about the Duke。 Mark supposed that he would willingly have gone south anyway； but the prospect of entering the realm of a benign ruler made it easier to contemplate leaving home permanently behind。
Anyway； his present problems kept him from worrying a great deal about his future。 Survival in the present meant avoiding Duke Fraktin's search parties； which he had to assume were looking for him； and it also meant finding food。 In this latter respect； at least； Mark's luck had turned。 The first stream he encountered on his way down the mountain； a bright small torrent almost hidden in its own ravine； surprised him by yielding up a fish on his first try with his pocket line and his one steel hook。 Dried brush along the watercourse provided enough fuel for a small fire； and Mark caught two more fish while the first was cooking。 He ate his catch crudely cleaned； and half cooked； and went on his way with his strength somewhat renewed。
By now； most of the daylight hours had passed。 Looking back； Mark could see that the whole upper two…thirds of the mountains had been swallowed by clouds。 He'd got down just in time； no doubt； to save his life from storm and cold。 Darkness was gathering fast； and when he came to a small overhang in the bank of the stream he decided to let it shelter him for the night。 He tried fishing again； without success。 But he found a few berries； and made himself a small watchfire as darkness fe
