cacb.thefarkingdoms-第15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！


uccess　in　their　previous　profession。　This　is　a　young　woman's　destiny；　unless　the　auspices　read　when　she　is　a　year　old　indicate　she　will…　be　either　a　chief　or　a　councillor；　which　is　a　supreme　blessing；　or　a　woman　of　the　camp；　which　they　consider　somewhat　of　a　disappointment。　The　woman　beside　you　is；　by　the　way；　the　daughter　of　the　man　who　the　Ham'u　chose　as　worthy　of　the　honor　of　being　your　host。　Her　name　is　Tepon。〃
　It　may　have　been　the　depsh'；　or　perhaps　I　was　being　acclimatized　to　unsettling　events　here；　beyond　Orissa's　walls；　but　instead　of　frowning　at　what　most　Orissans　would　consider　the　deepest　depravity；　I　turned　and　smiled　at　the　girl；　who；　encouraged；　moved　closer；　allowed　a　bit　of　her　robe　to　slip　open。　I　smelled　roses　and　musk。
　Tepon　smiled。　Her　lips　were　rouged；　her　breath　sweet；　and　her　teeth　were　filed　into　pretty　needle　points　that　added　exotic　spice　to　her　looks。　I　took　another　drink　of　depsh'。　The　girl　spoke　to　me；　her　voice　soft　and　musical。　I　shook　my　head。　I　didn't　understand。
　〃She　thinks　the　color　of　your　hair　is　beautiful。　Like　a　desert　sunrise；〃　Janos　translated。
　I　made　some　inane　response。　Then　the　reality　of　the　situation　struck。　〃Janos；　my　friend。　I　assume　that　the　Ifora　are　human？〃
　〃Indeed。〃
　〃Then　this　guesting　must　have　a　price。　Unless　they　are　entranced　by　my　hair　and　your　vocabulary。〃
　〃There　is　a　price；〃　Janos　started；　and　then　a　man　stood；　tapping　on　an　elaborately　carved　clapper。　A　flute　piped；　then　another。　Thumb…cymbals　tinkled。　A　great　drum　boomed　rhythmically。　〃Ah；〃　Janos　said。　〃I　know　this　one。　The　price　is　low。〃
　He　stood；　unpeeling　one　of　the　girls　who'd　bee　curious　about　what　was　under　his　tunic；　and　drew　his　short　sword。　He　cast　it　up；　spinning；　and　caught　it　by　the　handle。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　need　a　real　sword；　not　an　ornament；〃　and　he　threw　the　blade；　burying　it　to　its　hilt　in　the　ground。　He　shouted　in　Ifora；　and　from　out　of　the　darkness　a　great　curved　scimitar　was　pitched　to　him。　Janos　cast；　caught；　cast　again；　the　blade　spinning；　catching　firelight；　sending　sparkles　into　my　eyes。　The　Ham'u　rose　and　began　a　rhythmic　chant。　It　may　have　been　the　herbs　in　the　drink；　or　it　may　have　been　my　imagining；　but　I　understood；　most　clearly；　the　story　Janos　was　enacting　as　he　danced；　slowly；　then　faster；　and　now　he　was　wearing　only　the　kilt。　It　was　the　story　of　a　great　warrior　who　was　defeated　by　evil　and　sorcery；　forced　to　flee　from　his　tents　into　the　depths　of　the　desert；　where　not　even　the　bones　of　the　wild　ass　could　be　found。　He　wandered　for　a　time。　There　were　evil　beings　of　the　dry　salt　marsh　who　attempted　to　slay　him…and　here　Janos's　blade　flashed　in　a　series　of　arabesques…　but　he　defeated　them。　He　was　lost；　abandoned；　staggering；　about　to　die；　and　the　god　of　the　desert　wind　took　pity。　The　two　maidens　who'd　been　with　Janos　were　beside　him；　their　bodies　moving；　firelight　and　silk；　next　to　him；　touching　him。　He　gained　strength　and　the　tale　went　on：　And　the　spirit　of　the　wind　fed　him　and　nourished　him　and　bore　him　back　across　the　trackless　sands　to　the　tents　of　his　enemy。　Suddenly　Janos　danced　alone；　his　sword　a　blur；　as　if　he　were　fighting　an　invisible　foe。　Finally；　the　warrior　triumphed；　and　his　opponent　lay　dead　before　him。　All　the　riches　of　the　man　belonged　to　him　now。　But　instead；　the　warrior　chose　another　path。　He　chose　to　return　to　the　desert。　And　to　the　embrace　of　the　desert　wind。
　Janos　stopped　as　the　chant　ended。　There　was　nothing　but　the　crackle　of　the　flames。　Then　a　thumb…cymbal　tinkled　once；　twice；　three　times。　A　sudden　wind　gusted　through　the　camp。　Janos　bowed。　To　the　Ifora？　To　the　wind？　To　the　dance？　I　knew　not。　The　two　women　approached　him　and　took　him　by　the　hand。　They　led　him　away　into　one　of　the　tents。
　A　bowl　touched　my　lips。　I　drank　deeply。　I　lay　back；　against　Tepon's　body；　her　fingers　moving　tenderly　over　me。　For　some　reason；　this　felt　to　be　the　time。
　〃Janos！〃　My　voice　was　not　loud。
　〃I　hear。〃
　〃Will　you　acpany　me？　To　the　Far　Kingdoms？〃
　Laughter　boomed　from　nowhere。　〃Of　course！　Of　course！　I　thought　you　would　never　ask。〃
　And　there　was　nothing　more　except　Tepon；　the　tent　that　suddenly　blossomed　around　us；　and　we　were　alone；　and　her　body；　and　firelight。
　I　woke　some　time　after　dawn。　I　was　naked　except　for　my　cloak　wrapped　around　my　waist。　There　was　an　inquisitive　goat　staring　at　me　from　less　than　a　foot　away。　I　lay　on　rocky　ground　in　the　flaring　sunlight。　Tepon's　head　was　pillowed　on　my　stomach。　The　great　drum　of　the　night　before　was　now　in　my　head。
　And　I　was　destined　for　the　Far　Kingdoms。
　
　CHAPTER　FIVE
　The　Evocators
　MY　SISTER　TRAMPED　in　from　the　exercise　yard；　undid　her　cuirass；　and　dumped　it　on　the　floor。　〃If　you　love　me；　brother；　dear；〃　Rali　groaned；　〃fetch　a　drink　before　I　perish。〃　I　hastened　to　the　fireside　where　I　had　set　a　strong；　spiced　punch　to　brew。　I　lifted　the　iron　jug　from　the　ashes　with　tongs　and　poured　out　a　steaming；　aromatic　goblet。　It　was　my　sister's　favorite　drink。　She　grinned　as　I　handed　it　to　her。　〃Such　a　devoted　brother；〃　she　said。　〃Unselfish；　as　well。　Anticipating　his　sister's　smallest　whim；　with　no　thought　of　any　reward。〃　She　took　a　long　drink。
　〃Don't　tease　me；　Rali；〃　I　begged。　〃I've　barely　slept　since　our　talk　last　week。〃
　〃Oh；　please　don't　plain　to　me　about　your　sleeping　habits；〃　she　said　with　a　laugh。　〃You've　probably　slipped　another　love　potion　to　some　doxy　and　she's　been　ferreting　about　your　bed　all　this　time。〃　My　sister　crossed　the　room　on　those　fine；　long　legs　of　hers；　kicked　off　her　sandals；　and　settled　on　the　couch。　〃e　rub　my　feet；〃　she　manded；　〃and　by　and　by；　I　shall　tell　all。〃
　I　rushed　to　do　her　bidding；　anxious　to　learn　on　which　side　of　the　ledger　my　sister　was　going　to　write　her　name。　If　she　was　opposed；　there　was　little　chance　my　father　would　agree　to　Janos'　scheme　to　seek　the　Far　Kingdoms。　If　her　vote　was　yes；　and　she　further　agreed　to　smooth　the　way　with　our　father；　there　was　a　small　chance　he　might　bless　the　plan　and　fund　my　maiden　expedition。
　Rali　sighed　as　I　coaxed　the　knots　from　her　tired　feet；　and　took　another　drink。　〃This　soft　life　will　be　the　death　of　me；〃　she　said。　〃Every　day　is　the　same。　Up　at　daybreak　to　drill　and　train　my　women。　Administrative　work　until　dusk；　and　then　I　share　a　drink　and　a　roasted　joint　or　two　with　Otara。　By　day's　end　I'm　so　weary　with　boredom；　it's　a　small　miracle　if　I　have　energy　enough　to　give　Otara　a　tumble。　A　situation　she　has　been　quick　to　deplore　of　late。〃
　Otara　was　her　lover　of　many　years。　She　was　a　small；　motherly　woman　of　delicate　beauty　who　doted　on　my　sister　and　would　fight　to　the　death　to　keep　her　from　harm。　Not　that　Rali　was　likely　to　require　help。　She　was　tall；　with　long；　cabled　muscles　and　narrow　hips。　Rah'　was　some　ten　years　my　senior　and　in　her　fighting　prime。　Swift　as　a　direwolf　in　an　attack　and　twice　as　deadly。　She　was　equally　skilled　with　sword；　javelin；　and　her　strong；　ram's　horn　bow。　But　no　one　would　ever　mistake　her　for　a　man；　nor　did　she　ape　men　in　her　manners。　Rali　had　a　pleasing　form　and　was　willowy　and　delicate　in　her　movements；　although　soldier　plain　in　her　talk。　When　I　was　small　and　still　allowed　in　her　bathchamber；　I　remember　how　struck　I　was　at　the　smooth；　milky　color　of　her　skin　where　the　drill…field　sun　did　not　touch。　Where　my　hair　was　fiery　red；　hers　was　the　color　of　pale　straw；　and　her　eyes　were　as　clear　and　blue　as　the　seas。
　〃What　I　need　is　a　good　fight　to　get　the　blood　up；〃　Rali　continued；　as　I　rubbed　at　her　sore　feet　〃Or　at　least　a　hard　march　with　some　purpose；　other　than　training。　An　enemy　to　cow。　A　city　to　besiege。〃　She　raised　the　cup　to　her　full　lips　and　drank　more。　〃But　I　haven't　much　hope　such　a　thing　will　soon　e　to　pass；〃　she　said。　〃The　Magistrates　are　fearful　of　letting　us　march　very　far　from　Orissa。　I　think　they　believe　a　barbarian　horde　would　be　conjured　up　to　ravage　the　city　in　our　absence。〃
　Rali　was　a　captain　in　the　Maranon　Guard。　In　those　times　it　was　posed　of　five　hundred　warrior　women；　women　who　had　taken　a　vow　to　Maranonia；　the　favored　female　deity　of　war。　They　forswore　marriage；　motherhood；　or　any　of　the　〃normal〃　functions　of　women　in　our　culture。　The　guardswomen　were　highly　trained　and　devoted　to　the　defense　of　Orissa。　Few　were　man　haters；　although　all　preferred　other　women　as　sexual　partners。
　〃May　I　fetch　you　another　cup　of　punch？〃　I　asked。　〃Or　something　to　eat？　I　could　tote　your　bathwater；　if　you　wish。　Or　any　other　errand　suitable　for　a　brother　bent　on　groveling　for　his　sister's　favor。　A　sister　as　beautiful　as　she　is　wise。　As　soldierly　as　she　is　tender。　As…〃
　〃Stop　before　I　throw　up；〃　my　sister　laughed。　〃All　right；　Amalric。　You　win。〃
　I　changed　my　foot　rubbing　into　a　light　stroke。　〃Oh；　speak　to　me；　sibyl；〃　I　intoned。　〃Tell　me　what　is　in　thy　heart。〃　Rali　was　stricken　by　a　fit　of　giggles。　Not　from　my　cleverness　so　much　as　my　skilled　tickling　of　her　feet。　I　had　found　her　weak　place　when　I　was　a　small　child　and　she　was　a　green　recruit。
　My　sister　was　one　of　the　few　people　I　had　ever　felt　pletely　at　ease　with。　There　was　no　secret　I　would　not　confess　to　her；　no　sin　she　would　not　forgive。　But　she　never　took　advantage　of　this　trust　by　prying。　I　valued　her　advice　above　all　others。　It　was　for　this　reason；　I　suppose；　I　had　stayed　away　from　her　during　those　months　I　was　afflicted　with　Melina。　I　was　too　much　in　rut　to　want　to　hear　good　sense。　But　when　I　had　finally　e　to　her；　Rali's　words　were　similar　to　Janos'。　She　told　me　to　tote　the　incident　up　to　experience。　〃I'm　not　saying　to　go　forth　and　sin　no　more；〃　she'd　said。　〃But　I　am　saying；　next　time　you　might　try　sinning　less　expensively　。。。　and　publicly。〃　Then　she'd　fixed　me　with　those　clear　blue　eyes　and　asked　what　I　intended　to　do　next。　〃It　is　time　I　sought　my　Finding；〃　I　had　answered；　〃and　join　our　father　in　the　business。〃
　〃Noble　words；　dear　brother；〃　she'd　responded。　〃But　I　wonder　if　that　is　really　what　you　want　to　do。　I've　suspected　for　some　time　your　recent　behavior　might　have　a　deeper　cause　than　youthful　folly。　Perhaps　you　don't　view　the　prospect　of　a　trader's　life　with　joy。〃　I　realized　once　again　how　perceptive　my　soldier　sister　was。　Perhaps　I　was　fighting　a　stodgy　future；　to　be　forced　into　the　pany　of　men　who　cared　only　for　money。
　〃You　see　it　exactly；〃　I　had　cried。　〃If　I　am　to　be　a　merchantman　like　our　father；　I　want　to　do　much　more　tha