cacb.thefarkingdoms-第14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！


　Janos　beckoned　to　a　servitor。　He　took　the　silver　serving　tray　from　the　man's　hands　and　drew　his　dagger。　He　put　it　on　the　tray　so　that　its　hilt　faced　out。　Then　he　beckoned　to　a　subaltern。　〃Convey　this　to　Captain　Herron。　Tell　him　that　it　has　a　sister；　which　belongs　to　Captain　Janos　Kether　Greycloak；　of　Kostroma　and　Orissa。　They　belong　together。　In　one　hour；　at　the　butts。〃
　I　knew　this　challenge　would　not　result　in　a　duel　to　the　pinking；　as　had　mine。　There　would　be　at　least　one　corpse　in　the　sand　this　night。　The　young　officer；　as　pale　as　Janos；　walked　to　the　other　captain；　extended　the　plate　holding　the　dagger；　and　repeated　Janos'　words。　Herron　did　not　take　the　dagger。　Instead；　he　flushed；　and；　staring　down　at　the　ground；　muttered；　〃It　was　but　a　joke。〃　
　〃Inform　the　honorable　captain　I　failed　to　see　its　humor。　Perhaps　our　meeting　outside　will　educate　me。　Or　perhaps　the　captain　would　like　to　apologize；〃　Janos　said；　slightly　bending　the　protocol　of　an　affair　of　honor　by　speaking　to；　no　matter　if　indirectly；　the　offending　party。
　Again；　leaden　stillness。　Finally；　Herron　spoke；　still　mumbling；　〃I　wish　to　apologize　for　any　offense　my　chance　remark　may　have　caused　Captain　Greycloak。〃
　Janos　took　three　deep　breaths。　〃I　accept；〃　he　said。　〃And　the　matter　is　forgotten。　The　invitation　is　withdrawn；　Herron。〃　I　noticed；　as　did　everyone　else　in　the　room　as　the　dagger　was　returned　and　sheathed；　that　Janos　had　deliberately　neglected　to　call　Herron　by　his　rank；　or　to　refer　to　him　as　a　brother　in　arms；　equal；　or　whatever　term　would　suggest　true　forgiveness。　Herron's　cowardice　would　be　remembered　for　a　long　time。　Or　so　I　thought　his　behavior　to　be　back　then；　when　my　blood　ran　as　red　as　my　hair。　Now　I　know　what　grounds　a　man　fights　on　and　what　soil　a　fool　can　blithely　choose　for　bis　own　killing　floor。
　Janos　began　to　reach　for　another　wine　goblet；　then　caught　my　eye。　〃Perhaps；〃　he　said；　his　voice　low；　〃you　would　care　to　walk　out　with　me？　The　air　here　has　bee　thick。〃　Without　waiting　for　a　response；　he　moved　toward　the　cloakroom。　I　followed。　Outside；　he　pulled　his　cloak　over　his　shoulders　and　looked　down　at　the　lighted　barracks　windows　below　us。
　〃You　see　how　it　is；〃　he　said；　as　much　to　himself　as　me。　〃If　I　continue　in　this　cage；　pacing；　snarling；　and　measuring　the　strength　of　my　bars；　sooner　or　later　there　will　be　a　death。　Perhaps　that　of　a　boor　like　Herron；　perhaps　my　own。　This　city　and　this　parade…ground　emptiness　cannot　hold　me　much　longer。　e　on！〃　He　started　down　the　hill；　and　I　went　after　him。　
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃
　〃Who　knows；〃　Janos　said。　〃I　need　the　pany　of　men；　not　popinjays。　Men　。。。　and　women。　Perhaps　the　riverfront。〃
　I　shrugged。　Why　not？　I；　too；　had　been　bored　by　the　formalities　in　the　mess；　and　thought　them　just　as　empty　as　any　of　my　fathers'　guild　banquets。
　Our　path　led　us　past　one　of　the　city's　gates。　As　usual；　except　in　times　of　great　danger；　the　reinforced　portals　of　ironwood　were　open；　only　the　elaborately　wrought　iron　of　the　twin　gates　of　the　outer　sally　port　were　barred。　Through　them　we　could　see；　not　far　off　in　a　field；　the　roar　of　flames　from　a　fire　reflecting　off　the　canvas　of　many　tents。　We　could　hear　shouts；　laughter；　the　whine　of　flutes；　and　the　thudding　of　drums。
　〃Guard；〃　Janos　challenged　one　of　the　sentries。　〃Who　lies　beyond？〃
　〃A　tribe　of　Ifora；　Captain。　They　cannot　enter　the　city　at　night　because…〃
　〃I　am　aware　of　the　reasons；　soldier。　Open　the　gates。　Their　pany　suits　me　well　tonight。〃
　I　knew　as　well　as　Janos　why　the　tribesmen　were　not　permitted　into　the　city。　They　were　one　of　the　many　dangers　a　trader　must　accept；　and　so　my　father　had　explained　their　barbaric　culture　quite　thoroughly。　The　Ifora　were　nomads；　wandering　tribesmen　from　the　southern　deserts。　They　were　known　as　cunning　thieves　able　to　slip　past　the　guards　of　any　caravan　that　entered　their　territory　and　remove　what　they　willed。　Or；　if　their　numbers　were　great　or　the　caravan's　masters　stupid；　they　would　massacre　all　of　the　men　and　absorb　the　women　into　their　own　tribes。　They　were　also　noted　for　bravery；　implacability　to　their　enemies；　and　for　rare　talents　as　torturers。　They　came　north　into　civilized　grounds　infrequently；　and　then　only　to　trade　their　elaborately　woven　rugs；　fine　woolen　cloth　from　their　goats；　and　exotically　worked　silver　jewelry。　No　city　would　allow　them　inside　its　gates：　the　Ifora　considered　it　their　sacred　duty　to　relieve　people　like　us；　whom　they　considered　sickly　weaklings；　of　whatever　possessions　they　desired；　and　by　whatever　means…be　it　by　stealth　or　by　sword…and　with　no　regard　for　subsequent　events　such　as　arrest　and　trial。
　I　thought　of　saying　something　to　Janos：　So　he'd　missed　his　chance　to　risk　his　neck　in　a　duel；　did　he　have　to　find　another　opportunity　for　a　severed　weasand？　But　being　young　and　too　timid　to　chance　anything　that　might　smack　of　that　very　timidity；　I　said　nothing。　Besides；　all　these　tales　of　piled　skulls　and　screaming　women　being　carried　off　into　the　bowels　of　the　desert…I　was　curious　as　to　exactly　what　monsters　the　Ifora　were。　I　loosened　my　rapier　in　its　sheath；　sorry　that　I　hadn't　brought　a　dagger　and　a　mail　shirt　under　my　formal　garb　to　acpany　it。　I　also　wished　I'd　reminded　Janos　when　he　strode　forth　that　he　was　only　carrying　the　traditional　short　sword　of　his　unit；　instead　of　the　double…edged　razor　he　preferred。
　A　great　bulk　of　a　man　loomed　out　of　the　shadows　as　we　drew　near　die　encampment。　〃Orissans　。。。　no。　Not　e。　Not　wele。　Be　hurt。　Get　kill。〃　Janos　spoke　to　him　in　a　fluid　torrent　of　words。　The　hulk　growled　and　answered　him　in　what　sounded　to　be　the　same　tongue。　So　this　was　another　of　Janos'　acplishments…he　was　familiar　with　the　Ifora。　I　should　have　guessed…although　somehow　I　sensed　this　night　he　might　have　been　just　as　willing　to　walk　into　their　den　if　they'd　been　deadly　strangers。　The　two　of　them　rattled　back　and　forth。　The　monster　laughed；　as　a　bear　might。　Janos　turned；　indicating　me。　More　words。　A　grunt。　Janos　frowned；　then　spoke　again。　The　brute　laughed　once　more。
　〃Take　out　your　sword；〃　Janos　said。　〃Press　it　to　your　forehead　and　give　it　to　him。〃　I　hesitated；　but　obeyed。　The　man　accepted　the　weapon；　turned；　and　bellowed　something　into　the　encampment。　A　moment　later；　a　tall；　imposing　man　wearing　rich　robes　came　toward　us。　His　skin　gleamed　in　the　firelight；　as　black　as　the　night。　Flanking　him　were　two　sword…bearing　guards；　both　fair　skinned；　as　was　the　mountain　who'd　stopped　us。
　〃This；〃　Janos　said　quietly；　〃will　be　their　Ham'u。　Chief。　The　Ifora　believe　that　the　darker　a　man's　skin；　the　more　blessed　by　the　gods　he　is。　Since　they　are　predominantly　light　plected；　a　black　man　is　automatically　considered　noble。　If　he　or　she　can　lead；　that　man　or　woman　will　be　destined　to　rule　the　tribe。　The　belief　es　from　long　ago；　when　the　Ifora　were　what　they　call　barbaric。　Their　slaves　revolted　and　took　over；　showing　them　how　to　conquer　the　desert。　That　was　the　beginning　of　their　greatness。〃　I　blinked；　the　jeopardy　forgotten　for　a　moment。　None　of　this　had　been　told　me　by　my　father；　nor　had　I　heard　any　of　it　in　the　grotesque　tales　from　other　merchants　of　their　encounters　with　the　tribesmen。
　The　black　man　greeted　Janos；　who　bowed。　I　took　the　hint　and　did　the　same。　Janos　drew　his　sword；　touched　it　to　his　forehead；　and　gave　it　to　the　chief…the　Ham'u。　The　black　man　repeated　the　motion　and　returned　it。　Janos　spoke　once　more；　indicating　me。　The　Ham'u　took　my　rapier　from　the　guard；　did　as　he'd　done　with　Janos'　blade；　and　gave　it　back。　We　bowed　once　more；　and　the　Ham'u　stepped　aside；　beckoning　us　into　the　camp。
　〃We　are　now　the　honored　guests　of　the　Ifora。　From　now　until　dawn　three　days　hence　we　are　their　blood　kin。　During　that　time　they　will　offer　us　their　best　and；　if　we　have　been　pursued　by　enemies；　they　will　ravage　them　as　if　one　of　their　own　had　been　wronged。〃
　〃What　happens　if　we're　still　here　after　the　three　days？〃
　〃Eh；〃　Janos　said；　moving　his　hand　from　side　to　side　in　the　universal　signal　for　'perhaps　this；　perhaps　that。'　〃We　would　have　to　talk　some　more。　And　at　least　they　would　give　us　a　running　start。〃
　We　were　led　into　the　center　of　the　camp；　where　the　fire　roared。　The　ground　was　paved　with　rugs；　and　pillows　were　high…piled　for　seats　and　backrests。　Behind　them　large　barrel…vaulted　tents　stood；　made　of　some　red…dyed　animal　skin。　There　were　fifty　or　sixty　men　and　women　lying　around　the　fire。　I　was　presented　to　a　man；　who　bowed　as　if　he　had　just　met　the　king　of　the　world　and　found　me　a　seat。　He　waved　his　hand；　and　a　maid　a　few　years　younger　than　myself　came　out　of　the　shadows。　They　spoke；　she　giggled　and　bowed　to　me。　Then　she　went　into　one　of　the　tents　and　came　out　with　a　wide…mouthed　bowl。　I　took　it；　and　looked　to　Janos　for　guidance。　He　was　already　sprawled　on　a　pillow　nearby；　a　pair　of　young　women　nestled　beside　him。
　〃Drink　it。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Just　drink。　I'll　tell　you　afterward。　Drink　deeply；　or　you　will　offend。〃　I　obeyed；　and　the　back　of　my　head　exploded。　The　world　shimmered　around　me。　My　stomach　rose　up；　protesting。　But　somehow　the　drink　stayed　down　and　spread　warmth；　warmth　being　fire；　fire　being　a　hot　rainbow；　and　I　thought　it　best　if　I　sat　down。　Rapidly。　The　girl　took　the　bowl　from　me　as　I　collapsed。
　〃The　drink　is　depsh'；〃　Janos　said。　〃Fermented　milk　from　their　mares；　fermented　blood　from　their　cattle。　This　is　then　bined　with　certain　shrub　blossoms　their　Ham'u　takes　to　ensure　the　clarity　of　his　vision。　You　might　think　they　know　distillation；　given　the　impact。　But　instead　the　Ham'u　recites　an　incantation　over　the　mixture；　and　it　takes　on　its　present　form。　I　have　as　yet　been　unable　to　persuade　one　of　them　to　teach　me　the　chant；〃　he　said。　〃If　I　could　learn　that；　I　would　have　no　need　of　an　army；　a　sword；　or　someone　to　sponsor　me　in　the　travels　I　want　to　make。〃
　One　of　the　two　women　next　to　him　held　out　an　identical　bowl　to　Janos。　He　drained　it　and　cast　it　over　his　shoulder。　〃One　of　the　great　modities　the　Ifora　have　is　their　daughters。　Even　though　they　despise　the　weaklings　of　the　watered　lands…as　they　call　everyone　but　another　Ifora…they　think　it　a　great　blessing　for　their　young　women　to　bee　courtesans　for　a　time。　They　return　laden　with　silver；　which　is　used　to　purchase　goats　or　horses；　and　they　marry；　greatly　honored。　How　rich　a　marriage　they　make　depends　on　their　success　in