cacb.thefarkingdoms-第3部分

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t　home　to　triumph；　I　went　to　a　tavern　and　drank　and　gamed　with　my　friends　until　it　grew　late。　Brandy　fumes　mixed　with　youth　to　blow　my　first　hesitations　away。　Why　should　I　let　river　slime　like　Prevotant　affect　me　one　way　or　another？　Besides；　wasn't　he　an　Evocator？　And　weren't　the　Evocators　the　bane　of　the　Antero　family？　Why；　if　I　went；　I'd　be　snapping　my　fingers　under　all　their　noses　in　the　name　of　my　family。　Wouldn't　I？
　I　slipped　away　from　my　panions　and　went　out　into　the　night　to　hire　a　litter。　The　slaves　carried　me　away　through　narrow　streets。　When　they　finally　set　me　down；　the　moon　was　at　her　full　height。　The　building　the　invitation　drew　me　to　had　nothing　to　distinguish　itself　except　general　shabbiness。　In　fact；　the　whole　street　was　a　neighborhood　of　tenements；　shops；　and　taverns　for　the　lowest　of　the　free　classes。　Lizards　and　pigs　fought　in　mounded　rubbish　over　scraps　of　offal。　I　entered　the　tenement；　doubt　of　a　different　kind　nagging。　Inside；　the　dark　was　suffocating。　I　pulled　fire　beads　from　my　pocket　and　whispered　an　enchantment；　they　glowed　into　dim　life。　The　interior　was　more　forbidding　with　this　small　bit　of　light。　I　could　see　dark　forms　hunched　here　and　there；　and　smaller　creatures　scuttled　from　my　path。　But　I　plunged　on；　climbing　rickety　stairs；　stepping　with　care　over　broken　steps　and　snoring　bodies。
　
　
　The　brandy　fumes　curling　in　my　brain　began　to　dissipate　in　this　squalor。　I　eased　my　rapier　in　its　sheath。　This　was　a　place　of　thieves　and　witches；　and　I　wondered　again　at　my　judgment。　Then　I　heard　faint　sounds　of　music　wafting　down　the　stairs；　and　laughter。　On　the　last　landing　was　an　enormous　door。　Floral　incense　floated　through；　pushing　aside　the　tenement's　miasma　of　poverty　and　too　many　failed　spells。　I　pulled　the　chain。　Bells　chimed。　Then　footsteps；　and　the　door　swung　open；　creaking　on　its　hinges。　Light　spilled　onto　the　landing；　and　I　flung　up　a　hand　to　shield　my　eyes。　〃How　may　I　assist　you；　gentle　sir？〃　came　a　deep　voice。　My　stylish　costume　was　a　badge　of　class　and　wealth。
　〃I　have　。。。　an　invitation；〃　I　said；　rubbing　my　eyes　to　hasten　vision。　〃I　have　it　here　。。。　someplace。〃　I　was　nervous　as　I　groped　for　the　card　in　my　jerkin。
　My　eyes　suddenly　adjusted。　My　heart　lumped　into　my　throat　when　I　saw　the　enormous　black　spider　perched　across　my　greet…er's　face。　It　had　an　obscene；　bulbous　body；　with　jagged　bands　for　legs　and　huge　red　eyes　that　stared　back　at　me。　The　spider　spoke。　〃Wele；　gentle　sir。〃
　I　buried　panic。　The　spider　was　an　elaborate　tattoo；　a　totem。　My　greeter　was　a　tall；　skeletal　man；　with　a　long；　narrow　face　and　pale　skin　that　rarely　saw　sunlight。　He　wore　rich；　brocaded　clothing　with　the　red　waist　sash　of　a　Procurer…a　manager　licensed　by　the　hetaerae　guild。
　〃The　hour　is　late；〃　the　man　said。　〃But　you　are　most　fortunate。　Melina　has　yet　to　dance。〃　He　motioned。　〃This　way；　if　you　please。〃　I　entered　a　broad；　well…lighted　foyer；　carpeted　with　thick；　colorful　rugs　from　the　western　lands。　The　music　and　laughter　were　louder。　The　man　looked　over　his　shoulder。　〃My　name　is　Leego；　young　sir。　If　there　is　any　way　I　can　assist　you　this　evening；　you　have　only　to　mention　my　name　to　a　slave。〃
　I　found　voice。　〃That　is　most　kind　of　you；　Leego；〃　I　said。　〃May　Butala　always　smile　upon　you。〃
　Leego　nodded；　then　flung　wide　two　large　doors。　〃Greetings　to　our　new　guest；〃　he　bellowed。　Feminine　shrieks　of　pleasure　and　laughter　met　his　announcement。　I　was　surrounded　by　a　dozen　of　the　most　beauteous　creatures　I　had　ever　seen；　all　quite　naked。　Now；　I　was　not　an　inexperienced　youth。　I'd　played　tickle　and　slap…a…belly　with　many　a　pert；　young　household　servant　and　tumbled　in　the　hay　with　female　cousins　at　my　father's　farms。　In　recent　years；　I'd　disported　myself　with　enough　tavern　wenches　and　half…coin　hetaerae　to　worry　my　father　that　I　was　poised　for　self　ruin。　But　I　had　never；　ever　been　confronted　with　so　much　lusciously　available　flesh。　Each　women　seemed　lovelier　than　the　next。　One　was　tall　and　shorn　of　all　hair。　She　had　legs　and　arms　long　enough　to　wrap　around　any　man's　girth。　Another　had　flowing　blond　hair　and　was　small　enough　to　twirl　into　any　imagined　position。　Some　were　lush；　others　slender。　And　they　all　giggled　and　pressed　themselves　against　me；　burying　me　in　jiggling　flesh　and　tugging　me　deeper　into　the　room。
　Someone　asked　my　name。　〃Amalric；〃　I　croaked。　〃Of　the　Antero　family。〃　I　heard　a　buzzing　as　my　name　was　whispered　around　the　room；　and　then　I　found　myself　sprawled　among　thick；　perfumed　pillows；　a　goblet　in　my　hand　filled　with　heady　spirits　and　a　naked　woman　to　tempt　me　with　candied　delicacies　from　a　silver　tray。　Fearing　any　moment　someone　would　shout　fraud　and　drive　me　out　of　this　paradise；　I　peered　about；　trying　to　behave　as　if　this　experience　was　trifling。
　No　one　was　paying　me　the　slightest　attention。　There　were　about　twenty　other　men　in　attendance。　Rich　men；　important　men；　older　men；　laughing　and　talking　amongst　themselves。　Like　me；　they　were　lying　on　thick；　richly　brocaded　pillows　and　tended　by　Melina's　naked　servants。　The　room　was　large；　with　vaulted　ceilings；　and　was　pleasingly　lighted。　Soft　music　stirred　the　silken　curtains　that　covered　an　arched　entryway　to　one　side。　Beside　the　entryway　was　a　large；　golden　statue　of　Butala。　Her　form　was　more　slender　than　the　traditional　image；　more　inviting　of　caresses。　Rugs　from　the　western　lands　covered　the　floor。　I　had　never　seen　weavers'　art　like　these。　Erotic　figures　curled　and　blended　together。　The　wails　were　ablaze　with　murals　depicting　wild　orgies　in　every　imaginable　setting；　from　forest　glens　to　the　pleasure　rooms　of　the　gods　and　goddesses。　A　heady　incense　burned　in　a　copper　brazier。　It　produced　the　thick　red　smoke　wealthy　hetaerae　used　to　inflame　a　man's　imagination。　For　me　it　was　entirely　unnecessary。　My　imagination　was　already　as　white　hot　as　a　swordsmith's　furnace。　The　woman　into　whose　charge　I　had　been　given　lifted　a　slice　of　honeyed　peach　to　my　lips。　I　obediently　opened　my　mouth。
　Then　I　saw　Melina…and　my　mouth　snapped　shut。　I　have　already　described　her　great　beauty；　her　charm；　her　intelligence；　and　her　skills。　But　those　are　poor；　weak　words　that　cannot　begin　to　illuminate　the　sensuous　creature　I　saw　that　first　time。　She　was　lounging　across　a　low；　gilded　couch　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　The　couch　was　raised　on　a　rug…covered　pallet。　Unlike　her　slave　girls；　she　was　fully　clothed…maddeningly　so。　She　wore　translucent　pantaloons　the　color　of　hearth　coals　and　a　sheer　blouse　of　the　same　shade；　with　a　form…fitting；　equally　transparent　jerkin　over　it。
　
　The　buttons　were　of　rare；　worked　stones。　Her　feet　were　bare　and　quite　small；　with　red　painted　nails　and　gold　anklets。　Her　hands　were　slender；　with　long；　delicate　fingers　tipped　in　red。　Each　finger　bore　a　glittering　ring。　Expensive　bracelets　jangled　at　her　wrists。　Long　black　hair　tumbled　to　the　curve　of　her　waist。　She　toyed　with　it　as　she　listened　to　a　plump　man　sitting　on　the　floor　next　to　the　couch。　He　was　middle…aged　and　dressed　like　a　wealthy　merchant。　A　half…dozen　other　men　were　also　favored　enough　to　sit　close　to　Melina。
　I　hated　every　man　in　that　room。　I　could　see　that　each　only　pretended　interest　in　his　panion's　conversation。　The　laughter　was　false；　the　talk　chattering　bravado。　In　reality　all　they　could　think　of　was　Melina。　Their　eyes　kept　flickering　toward　her；　greedy；　devouring。　The　naked　flesh　of　those　lovely　slaves　was　nothing　to　them。　Just　as　it　had　bee　nothing　to　me。　I　had　eyes　only　for　the　flash　of　those　gold　limbs　beneath　the　sheer　material　of　Melina's　costume；　the　red…tipped　breasts　and　the　red　glint　of　henna　between　those　silken　thighs。　The　nakedness　of　her　women　intensified　my　desire　to　glimpse　more…much　more…of　Melina。
　Then　my　heart　stopped。　The　hatred　was　forgotten。　Melina　idly　lifted　her　eyes。　They　met　mine。　I　felt　as　if　I　had　been　struck　by　a　heavy；　padded　club。　I　had　never　in　my　life　seen　such　dark　mystery。　Those　eyes　were　slightly　bored　at　first；　then　I　saw…or　prayed　I　saw…a　spark　of　interest。　Full；　hennaed　lips　parted。　A　pink　tongue　flicked　across　them。　She　looked　me　up　and　down。　Leego　came　forward　to　refill　her　goblet；　and　I　saw　her　whisper　and　point。　She　was　pointing　at　me！
　I　thought　my　heart　would　burst　at　such　good　fortune。　Then　I　began　to　worry。　Had　I　somehow　bee　ugly？　Had　I　been　cursed　with　warty　features　by　some　witch　hiding　on　the　awful　staircase？　Had　a　bat　shit　in　my　hair？　I　reflexively　touched　my　head　and　realized　what　had　caught　her　interest。　It　was　my　hair。　In　those　days；　before　the　winter　of　age；　my　hair　was　as　bright　as　an　Evocator's　torch。　I　was　one　of　the　very　few　men　and　women　in　Orissa　with　red　hair。　Until　this　moment　it　had　mostly　served　as　a　source　of　humor　to　my　friends；　as　had　the　pale　skin　that　displayed　my　every　emotion。　Leego　whispered。　My　name；　I　supposed。　She　laughed。　I　felt　my　skin　turn　the　color　of　my　hair。　I　was　mortified；　sure　that；　once　again；　my　hair　had　transformed　me　into　a　jest。
　To　cover　my　embarrassment；　I　turned　to　the　slave　girl　and　accepted　the　peach　slice。　My　mouth　was　so　dry　I　could　hardly　chew；　much　less　swallow。　Then　the　music　stopped；　as　did　the　chattering　voices　of　the　men。　I　heard　the　sweet　sound　of　strings　being　plucked。　I　turned　back　to　see　that　Melina　had　raised　herself　into　a　sitting　position。　In　her　soft　lap　was　a　lute。。　Her　lovely　fingers　touched　strings；　and　the　most　melodious　sound　emerged。　But　it　was　nothing　pared　to　her　rich　voice　when　she　lifted　it　in　song。
　Melina　sang　a　tale　of　long　ago。　It　was　the　story　of　a　young　courtesan；　sold　into　the　guild　by　her　impoverished　family。　The　girl　fell　in　love　with　a　handsome　captain；　off　to　the　wars。　He　promised　he　would　make　her　his　wife　when　he　returned。　But　he　died　in　battle。　The　young　hetaera　grew　in　beauty　and　her　skills　were　acclaimed。　Many　men　came　to　her　doorstep　with　rich　gifts　and　richer　promises。　She　gave　herself　to　them；　as　was　her　duty；　and　accepted　their　gifts。　But　there　was　not　one　she　could　ever　love。　For　there　was　that　secret　place　only　the　handsome　captain　had　ever　touched；　a　place　where　no　other　man　would　ever　be　permitted　to　venture。
　When　the　song　was　done　I　could　barely　hear　the　applause　of　the　others。　I　felt　tears　scalding　my　cheeks。　I　ached　for　Melina　and　the　torment　she　must　be　suffering。　For　I　immediately　made　her　the　heroine　of　that　song。　And　I　burne