fs.thethirdbookofswords-第32部分
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he fripperies of rank。〃
And when Dame Yoldi moved between them； Queen Yambu added： 〃Aye； lady； you may look at my hand first。 I bring no poisoning； no tricks； which is not to say that none such were suggested by my magicians。
Dame Yoldi did indeed make a brief inspection of the Queen's hand。 Meanwhile Denis was having to use his elbows to keep himself from being crowded back by the small but growing throng of Sir Andrew's people who wanted to observe the meeting closely。 There had evidently been more than twenty on the island after all。 He managed to remain close enough to see that the Queen's hand looked like a soldier's； being short…nailed； spotted with callouses … the sort that came from gripping weapons … and strong。 But； for all that； it was shapely； and not very large。
The Queen's offered hand was briefly engulfed in Sir Andrew's massive paw。 And then the Knight stood back again； grim…faced； arms folded； waiting to hear more。
The Queen cast a look around her。 Sir Andrew's friends and bodyguard； heavily armed； most of them impressive warriors； were hovering suspiciously close to her and her panion； and looking as grim as Sir Andrew did himself。
She said to the Knight： 〃I do trust you； you see； and your safe…conduct guarantee。 In nine years of fighting you； off and on； I've learned to know you well enough for that。〃
The Knight spoke to her for the first time。 〃And we have learned something of your character as well； Madam。 And of yours； Baron Amintor。 Now； what will you have of me？ Why this urgent call for a meeting？〃
The Baron was as big and solid as Sir Andrew； and with much the same hearty and honest look； though the Silver Queen's panion was probably the younger of the two men by some fifteen years。 Both were battle…scarred； Denis observed； evidently real fighters。 Amintor's eyes were intelligent； and Denis had heard that he was gifted with a diplomatic tongue when he chose to use it。
And the Queen。。。 this Queen had been no more than a half…grown girl when she ascended to the throne of Yambu。 Her first act afterward； it was said； had been to put to death the plotters who had murdered both her parents in an abortive coup attempt。 Nor had the throne been easy for her to hold； through the twenty years that followed。 Many plotters and intriguers during that time had gone the way of that first set。 Ever since its shaky beginning； her reign … except in a few lucky places like Tashigang … had not been gentle。 It was said that she grew ever more obsessed with the idea that there were plots against her； and that about four years ago she had sold her bastard adolescent daughter into slavery； because of the girl's supposed involvement in one。 The girl； Ariane； had been her only child； everyone knew that the Silver Queen had never married formally。
Now the Queen said to Sir Andrew； 〃I like a man who can e straight to the point。 But just one question first： are you aware that the Dark King now has the Mindsword in his possession？〃
The Knight answered calmly。 〃We have been so informed。〃
Both the Queen and Baron Amintor appeared somewhat taken aback by this calm response。 Yambu said； 〃And I thought that you were existing in a backwater here！ My pliments to your intelligence service。〃
And Amintor chimed in： 〃You'll agree； I'm sure； Sir Andrew； that the fact does change the strategic situation for us all。〃
Sir Andrew took just a moment to consider him in silence； before facing back to the Queen。 〃And just what； Madam； do you expect this change to mean？〃
The Silver Queen laughed。 It was a pleasant； rueful sound。 There was a fallen tree nearby； a twisted log that rested at a convenient height on the stubs of its own branches； and she moved a couple of steps to it and sat down。
〃I foresee myself as Vilkata's first victim； unless I do something about it； quickly。 I'll speak plainly … if you've begun to know me； as you say； you know that's how I prefer to speak。 If Vilkata with the Mindsword in his hand falls on my army now； then unless they can withstand it somehow … and I've no reason to hope they can … then my army will at best melt away。 At worst it'll join Vilkata and augment his strength； which is already greater than yours and mine bined。
〃You； of course； will applaud my fall and my destruction … but not for very long。〃
The Knight； his aspect one of unaltered grimness； nodded。 〃So； Queen of Yambu； what do you propose？〃
〃No more than what you must have already guessed； Sir Andrew。 An alliance； of course； between us two。〃 Yambu turned her head slightly； her noble bearing at the moment could almost turn the fallen log into a throne。 〃Tell him； good Dame； if you love him … an alliance with me now represents his only chance。〃
Neither Sir Andrew nor his enchantress gave an immediate answer。 But the Knight looked so black that； had he spoken； Denis thought the conference would have ended on the instant。
Dame Voldi asked the Queen； 〃Suppose we should join forces against Vilkata … what then？ How do you propose to fight the Mindsword； with our help or without it？〃
It was the Baron who replied。 〃To begin with； we mean to avoid battle with Vilkata's troops unless we're sure he's not on the scene himself … he'll never turn the Mindsword over to a subordinate； you may be sure of that。 Your people and ours will exchange intelligence regarding the Dark King's movements。 Yes； it'll still be damned difficult even if we're allied； but if we're still fighting each other at the same time； it's going to be impossible。〃
Yoldi had another question。 〃Supposing for a moment that such an alliance could be made to work； even temporarily … what do you intend doing with the Mindsword； after the Dark King has somehow been defeated？〃
Yambu smiled with what looked like genuine amusement。 It made her face more attractive than before。 〃Why； I would leave that up to you。〃
〃You'd turn the Mindsword over to us？〃 Yoldi asked the question blankly。
The Queen paused very briefly。 〃Why not？ I can agree to that； because I think that your good Knight there is one of the few men in the world who'd never use it。〃
〃And what of my people who are now your slaves； my lands that you have seized？〃 This was from Sir Andrew。 He had now mastered his obvious anger； and was almost calm； as if he were only discussing some theoretical possibility。
〃Why； those are yours again； of course； as soon as you and I can reach agreement。 As soon after that as I rejoin my own people； I'll send word by flying beasts to all my garrison manders there； to begin an evacuation at once。〃
〃And in return for that； what do you want of me？〃
〃First； of course； immediate cessation of hostilities against my forces； everywhere。 And then your full support against the Dark King； until he is brought down。 Or until he crushes both of us。〃 The Queen paused； giving an almost friendly look to Sir Andrew and his surrounding bodyguard。 She added： 〃You really have no choice； you know。〃
There was a long pause； during which Sir Andrew studied the Queen even more carefully than before。 At last he said； 〃Tell me something。〃
〃If I can。〃
〃Did you in fact sell your own daughter into Red Temple slavery？〃
Denis saw a shadow； he thought of something more plex than simple anger； cross the Queen's face。 Her voice when she replied was much less hearty。 〃Ah；〃 she said。 〃Ah； and if I tell you the truth of that； will you believe me？〃
〃Why not？ Apparently you expect us to believe your proposal to give us the Mindsword … perhaps at this moment you even believe that yourself。 Still； I would like to hear whatever you wish to say about your daughter。〃
This time the pause was short。 Then； with a sudden movement； the Silver Queen got up from her seat on the dead tree。
〃Amintor and I will walk apart a little now； while you discuss my offer。 Naturally you will want to talk to your close advisers before giving me an answer。 I trust they are all here。 Unfortunately … or perhaps fortunately … there isn't time for diplomacy as usually conducted。 But I'll wait； while you have your discussion。〃
And the two visitors from Yambu did indeed walk apart； Baron Amintor apparently pointing out some curiosities of the swamp flora to the Queen； as if neither of them
