fs.thethirdbookofswords-第31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！
The focus of that group's attention was one man； heavily built； gray…haired； and wearing clothing that might once have been fine。 This man was standing with his back to Denis； but the black hilt of a Sword visible at his side convinced Denis that this must be Sir Andrew himself； who was known to hold Shieldbreaker。
Sir Andrew turned。 The face of the man known as the Kind Knight showed more age than his strong body did。 He was holding a book in his left hand； and had been gesturing with it to make some point； when Denis's arrival interrupted the discussion。
Standing at Sir Andrew's right hand was a woman； not young but certainly still attractive。 There was much gray now in the lady's black hair； but Denis thought that in youth her face must have been extremely beautiful。 He had no idea what her name might be； but at first glance he was certain she was a sorceress。 Certain details of her dress gave that indication； but the impression was created chiefly by an impalpable sense of magic that hung about her。 Denis could feel that magical aura； and he did not consider himself a sensitive。
Two pairs of brown eyes； the lady's younger and quicker than Sir Andrew's； studied the new arrival。 Names were formally exchanged。
〃And where；〃 asked the Knight then； in his slow； strong voice； 〃is this cargo that you say you have for me？〃
〃In the canoe； sir。 There's a false bottom。〃
〃And what is the cargo？ Speak freely； I have no secrets from any here。〃
Denis glanced around。 〃A Sword； sir。 One of the famous Twelve； I mean。 Sent from the man called Ben； in Tashigang。 There were two Swords； but something happened to me on the way。〃
〃I can see that；〃 the enchantress murmured。 Her eyes were narrowed as she studied Denis。 〃Show me this remaining Sword。〃
They moved quickly to the waiting beached canoe。 At Denis's direction the concealing board was pried up once more。 Dame Yoldi； the graying sorceress； supervised this operation carefully； and gave the exposed cargo a close inspection before she would allow Sir Andrew to approach it。
She also questioned Denis first。 〃You say that two Swords were sent； and one lost on the way？〃
〃Yes Ma'am。〃 Denis related in barest outline； and not dwelling on his own feelings； what had happened between him and the goddess。 He heard a snicker or two； and scoffing noises； in the background。 But he thought the lady perhaps believed him。 At least she stepped back to let Sir Andrew approach the canoe。
The Knight's right hand plucked Doomgiver from the secret partment； and held it； still sheathed； aloft。 There was a general murmur； of appreciation this time； not scoffing。
〃Do you feel anything from the two Swords； Andrew？〃 the sorceress asked gently。 〃You are holding two at one time…you still wear Shieldbreaker。〃
He huffed and gave her a look。 〃I've not forgotten what I wear。 No； I feel nothing in particular … you once told me that even three Swords at once would not be too many for some folk to handle。〃
〃And I tell you again that two； in certain binations； might do strange things to other folk。 And you are sensitive。〃
〃Sensitive！ Me！〃 He huffed again。
Dame Yoldi smiled； and Denis could see how much she loved him。 Denis wondered suddenly if he himself had actually handled the two Swords at the same time at any point。 If he had； he couldn't remember feeling anything strange。
Now Sir Andrew turned back to Denis。 〃We must soon hear your story about the goddess； and Woundhealer； in more detail。 Meanwhile we are all grateful to you for what you have brought to us。 But at the moment even such a gift as the Sword of Justice must wait to have my full attention； and you must wait to get your proper thanks。〃
〃You're quite wele； sir。〃
Already Dame Yoldi had Denis by the arm and was turning him away。 〃At the moment you are in need of food and rest。〃 She gestured； and a woman came to take Denis in charge。
He resisted momentarily。 〃Thank you； Ma'am。 But there is one bit of news； bad news； that I must tell you first。〃 That certainly got their full attention back。 Denis swallowed； then blurted out the words。 〃The Dark King has the Mindsword in his hands。 So we were told in Tashigang； by some of Ardneh's people。〃 The source put a strong flavor of reliability upon the news。
His hearers received his announcement with all the shock that Denis had anticipated。 He braced himself for the inevitable burst of questions； which he answered in the only way he could； pleading his own lack of further knowledge。
At last he was dismissed。 Led away； he was given bread and wine； then shown to a tent where he stretched out gratefully upon the single cot。 His eyes closed； their lids suddenly heavy； and with a swiftness that might have been genuinely magical； he plunged into a deep sleep。
Denis awoke suddenly； and feeling greatly refreshed。 He was surprised to see that the pattern of tree shadows on the tent had shifted very little； and no great length of time could have passed。 What had awakened him he did not know。
Listening to the silence outside the tent； he thought that there was some unusual tension in it。
He got up and left the tent。 Seeing that some people were still gathered at the place where he had left Sir Andrew and Dame Yoldi； he hurried in that direction。 Now； as he walked； Denis could see a few more people in orange and black approaching quickly on foot along the landward road。 These were turning and gesturing； as if to indicate that someone or something of importance was ing after them。 Everyone nearby was looking in that direction。
Denis halted in surprise at sight of the next two figures that appeared down the road。 Both were wearing black and silver； the colors of Yambu。 Both were mounted； riding freely； not at all like prisoners。 Still； neither was visibly armed。 One was a burly man； and the other。。。
With a silent gasp； Denis recognized the Silver Queen herself。 He had seen her twice before； both times years ago； both times in the city of Tashigang。 She； as the city's formal overlord； had been appearing then in ceremonial processions。 He； then no more than a street urchin； had been clinging to precarious perches above the crowds； eager to watch。
In those processions the Queen had ridden her virtually unique mount； a superbly trained and deadly warbeast。 Her steed today was less remarkable； though still magnificent； a huge riding beast matching that ridden by her panion。 This burly man； her escort； as they approached Sir Andrew and the others waiting； dropped a deferential half…length behind。
The two riders halted； calmly； at a little distance from where the folk in orange and black were waiting to receive them。 They dismounted there and approached Sir Andrew's group on foot； the tall Queen a pace ahead in her light silvery ceremonial armor； taking long strides like a man。 Denis calculated that she must be now well into her middle thirties； though her tanned face looked younger。 Her whole body was strong and lithe； and despite her stride the generously female shape of her body left no doubt at all about her sex。 The Queen's nose； Denis noted now in private impertinence； was too big for her ever to be called pretty； by any reasonable usage of the word。 And yet； all in all … well； if he were to meet some woman of attainable station who looked just like her； he'd not refuse a chance to know her better。
And have you forgotten me already？ The voice of Aphrodite came to Denis only in his imagination。 It shook him； though； in a resonance of conflicting feelings。
Sir Andrew was standing with folded arms； waiting for his visitors； as if the last thing in the world he might do would be to make any gesture acknowledging his old enemy's greater rank。 But she； approaching； as if she thought he might do so and wished to forestall him； was quick to make the first gesture of greeting； flinging up her right hand in the universal gesture of peace。
〃We meet again！〃 The Silver Queen's voice； hearty and open； neither assumed a royal superiority nor pretended a friendship that did not exist。 〃My honored enemy！ Would that my friends and allies were half as dependable as you。 So； will you take my hand？ And never mind the fripperies of rank。〃
And when Dame Yoldi moved between
