cacb.thefarkingdoms-第6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！


ow　now　that　I　did　intrigue；　possibly　even　arouse　her。　Curiosity　is　a　powerful　aphrodisiac；　and　Melina　was　honestly　wondering　about　the　exotic　color　of　my　hair。　I　know　it　also　excited　her　to　have　such　a　young　man　a　willing　slave　to　her　slightest　whim；　sexual　or　otherwise。　But　it　would　never　go　beyond　that。　She　would　take　me　for　everything　I　owned；　including　my　honor。　Then　she'd　cast　me　aside。
　I　forced　cheer。　〃First；　I　have　a　small　gift　for　you；〃　I　said。　Melina　squealed。　〃Oh；　how　lovely。　I　do　hope　it's　unusual。　Please。　Please。　Let　me　see。〃　I　drew　the　bottle　out　of　my　pocket。　Her　face　fell。　〃What's　that？'
　〃Oh；　this　is　nothing。　Just　some　old　brandy　from　my　father's　cellar。　I　thought　we　might　sample　it。。。　and　then　I　can　show　you　my　gift。　It　is　a　very　rare　thing　。。。　I　promise。〃
　Melina　became　excited　again；　acting　like　a　girl。　She　sat　up　in　the　bed；　legs　so　carelessly　crossed　I　almost　lost　my　nerve。　I　fetched　two　goblets　from　the　tray　and　poured。　Melina　took　a　goblet　from　my　hand。　She　sniffed　at　it；　curling　those　exquisite　nostrils。　〃Mmmm。　Delicious；〃　she　said。　She　drank　it　down　in　one　swallow。　Then　she　lounged　back　on　her　pillows；　flinging　those　perfect　legs　wide；　as　if　by　accident。　〃Now；　show　me　my　present；〃　she　said。
　〃Do　you　want　more　brandy？〃　I　asked。
　〃No。　That's　enough。　There's　nothing　more　disgusting　than　a　hetaera　who　enslaves　herself　to　drink。〃
　〃How　do　you　feel？〃　I　asked；　anxious。
　〃I　feel　fine。　Why　do　you　ask？〃　Her　voice　was　sharp；　irritated。
　〃Oh　。。。　nothing。〃　What　in　the　name　of　the　gods　had　gone　wrong？　Had　the　back…street　witch　defrauded　me？　Then　I　remembered　I　was　supposed　to　chant　the　rhyme　the　witch　had　given　me。　But　in　my　anxiety；　the　words　had　fled　my　memory。
　〃Well？　Where　is　that　present　you　promised？〃　Melina　pressed。
　My　memory　returned。　〃My　heart　is　thy　heart；〃　I　intoned；　mimicking　the　deep　drone　of　an　Evocator's　voice。　〃My　image　fills　thine　eyes。　In　darkest　night；　I　am　the　candle　to　light　thy　womb。〃
　Melina　frowned。　〃What　prattling　is　that？　Some　silly　love　doggerel　from　the　taverns？〃
　Before　I　could　stumble　a　lie　for　an　answer；　Melina　gasped。　Those　green　eyes　were　staring　at　me。　Her　pupils　were　wide　and　possessed。　She　licked　her　lips。　〃Butala；　praise　thy　name；〃　Melina　moaned。　〃Amalric；　you　are　so　handsome　and　young　you　make　my　heart　break。　I'll　warrant　you　can　pleasure　a　woman　like　a　great　stallion。　Plunging　and　plunging　all　the　night　long。〃
　〃Uh　。。。　uh　。。。　uh；〃　was　my　eloquent　response。
　〃Oh；　by　the　gods　。。。　take　me　now！　Take　me！〃　She　flung　off　the　robe　and　hurled　herself　into　my　arms；　ripping　at　my　clothes　with　sharp…nailed　fingers。　〃I'll　do　anything　to　please　you；〃　she　groaned。　〃Take　me。　Any　way　you　want　it。　My　lover。　My　handsome；　redheaded　Amalric　man。〃
　Passion　gripped　me　as　if　I　had　swallowed　the　potion；　as　well。　I　ripped　away　my　clothing　and　flung　it　carelessly　to　the　floor。　A　small　voice　tried　to　shame　me；　but　a　cock　has　no　honor；　so　I　swatted　the　voice　away　like　a　river　gnat。　Melina　sprawled　back；　lust　flush　coursing　up　her　chest　and　reddening　her　slender　throat；　legs　splayed　wantonly；　the　shaved　slit　of　pleasure　begging　my　entrance。
　〃Oh；　quickly　。。。　quickly；　please；〃　she　groaned；　grinding　her　hips　as　if　she　had　gone　mad　under　the　moon。
　I　fell　on　her　like　a　victorious　soldier；　grasping　the　soft　white　mound　of　her　bottom；　then　thrust　into　the　hot；　silky　place　I　had　dreamed　of　for　so　long。　Imagining　myself　that　stallion　she'd　spoken　of；　I　reared　back　to　thrust　again。　A　bellow　of　pure；　hot　rage　rang　from　behind　me。　〃Get　off　her；　you　son　of　a　lizard　bitch！〃
　Hands　encircled　my　throat；　and　with　a　heave；　I　was　torn　from　the　gates　of　paradise　and　flung　across　the　room。　Even　in　the　throes　of　interrupted　passion；　my　gymnast　training　took　over　in　midflight。　I　twisted　as　I　hit　the　floor　and　sprang　to　my　feet。　I　stood；　chest　heaving；　in　shameful　nakedness；　red　pubic　hair　finally　answering　Melina's　question；　but　hardly　in　the　manner　I　had　dreamed。
　〃Don't　hurt　him；　Leego；〃　Melina　begged。　The　Procurer　stood　there；　dirk　drawn；　pale　lips　a　rictus　through　the　spider　mask。
　〃I　love　him　so；〃　Melina　continued。　〃Don't　let　him　leave。　I　must　be　with　him。　Always　with　him。〃
　Leego's　answer　was　a　shout。　I　heard　many　footsteps　running　for　the　room。　He　came　toward　me。　I　didn't　fear　him。　I　was　more　　than　enough　man　to　make　him　eat　that　dirk。　But　I　was　in　the　wrong；　an　enemy　trespassing　in　another　man's　bedchamber　with　a　woman　I　had　no　right　to。　There　is　only　one　thing　for　any　man　to　do；　when　he　finds　himself　in　this　situation。　In　one　quick　motion；　I　scooped　my　clothes　and　sheathed　rapier　from　the　floor；　then　ran　for　the　window。
　I　plunged　through　head　first；　Leego's　voice　ringing。　〃You'll　pay　for　this；　Amalric　Antero。　You'll　pay。〃
　Fear　jogged　memory　as　I　sailed　through　that　window。　It　was　at　least　sixty　feet　to　the　hard；　crippling　ground。　Just　in　time　I　snagged　out　with　a　hand　and　caught　a　sewer　pipe。　Momentum　carried　me　in　an　arc；　and　I　slammed　against　the　tenement　wall。　In　some　insane　instinct　of　modesty；　I　kept　my　grip　on　my　clothes。　For　a　heart…thumping　instant；　I　struggled　to　hang　by　the　pipe　with　only　one　hand。　I　steadied　myself；　slung　my　clothes　and　rapier　over　a　naked　shoulder；　got　a　good　grip　on　the　pipe；　and　slid　for　the　ground。　I　remembered　to　kick　away　at　the　last　minute；　and　I　landed　a　few　slimed　inches　away　from　the　soil　pit　the　sewer　pipe　emptied　into。　Inside　the　tenement　I　heard　thundering　boot　heels　ing　down　the　stairs。　A　big　lizard　lunged　out　of　the　darkness。　I　kicked　it；　and　it　hissed；　perhaps　mistaking　my　naked　form　for　that　of　an　odd　pig　on　two　feet。　I　sprinted　away　into　the　night。　Before　long　the　sound　of　the　voices　and　pursuing　footsteps　faded　away。
　I　PADDED　INTO　the　tavern　in　bare　feet；　belting　my　rapier　about　my　filth　spattered　finery。　My　mind　was　swirling　with　guilt　and　confusion。　I　badly　needed　to　get　my　bearings　before　I　slunk　home　like　the　cur　I　had　proven　myself　to　be。　I　barely　noticed　the　few　dangerous…looking　men　whose　eyes　glittered　when　they　spied　me。　I　also　saw　a　few　soldiers　in　crisp　uniforms；　lolling　in　their　seats。　The　tavernkeep；　a　small；　ratlike　man；　eyed　me　suspiciously。　〃Wine；　my　good　man；〃　I　croaked。　〃No　water。　Better　still；　forget　the　wine。　Make　it　brandy。〃
　〃Get　a　coin　up　first；　young　sir；〃　the　tavernkeep　snarled。　〃I'll　not　be　cheated　by　one　of　your　kind　again。〃
　Impatiently　I　reached　into　my　pocket；　then　realized　my　purse　was　gone。　The　tavernkeep　nodded；　knowing。　His　hand　reached　for　a　club　beneath　the　counter。　I　tore　a　button　off　my　jerkin。　It　was　of　fine；　worked　bone　from　a　distant　port　and　valuable　enough　to　buy　a　good　share　of　the　tavern。　〃Take　it　out　of　this；〃　I　said。
　I　sensed　a　presence　bulking　near。　I　turned　to　see　one　of　the　soldiers；　a　sergeant；　I　noted　from　his　rank　badge。　He　was　an　older　man；　with　an　honest　face。　He　seemed　worried。　〃Would　you　like　to　e　and　drink　with　us；　gentle　sir？〃　he　asked。　〃A　bit　of　pany　is　a　good　thing　in　a　place　like　this。〃　He　nodded　at　the　toughs　scattered　about　the　room。
　〃I　thank　you　kindly；〃　I　answered；　〃but　I　really　prefer　to　be　alone。　I　have　。。。　difficulties　to　consider。〃
　He　looked　at　my　ruined　clothes；　guessing　at　the　nature　of　my　difficulties。　〃I　hope　no　one　was　injured；〃　he　said。
　〃Only　my　pride；　sergeant；〃　I　assured　him。　I　motioned　to　the　tavernkeep。　〃Buy　these　worthy　men　a　drink　as　well；〃　I　said。　〃Take　it　out　of　what　I　gave　you。〃　I　felt　the　rough　boards　beneath　my　bare　feet。　〃And　while　you　are　at　it；〃　I　continued；　〃I'd　be　pleased　to　buy　some　shoes。〃
　The　tavernkeep　didn't　like　this。　He　was　hoping　to　keep　as　much　of　the　button's　value　as　possible。　〃Get　him　some　boots；〃　the　sergeant　snapped。　〃And　if　I　learn　you've　troubled　this　young　gentleman；　I'll　have　your　license。〃　The　tavernkeep　cursed；　but　went　to　fetch　the　boots。
　〃Are　you　certain；　gentle　sir；〃　the　sergeant　said；　〃that　you　will　not　pleasure　us　with　your　pany？〃
　〃Again；　I　thank　you；〃　I　answered。　〃But；　no。　Brandy　and　my　thoughts　are　the　medicine　I　require。〃
　The　sergeant　rejoined　his　panions。　I　clasped　the　brandy　goblet　the　tavern　keeper　had　fetched　and　drank　it　down。　I　motioned　for　more　and　tied　on　the　leather　scraps　Rat　Face　brought　me。　Then；　as　forlorn　as　any　twenty…year…old　can　be；　I　returned　to　my　drink；　staring　into　the　depths　of　the　chipped　goblet；　contemplating　my　sins。　They　were　legion；　beginning　with　the　love　potion　itself。　I　had　cheated　Melina　into　behaving　in　a　manner　that　she　had　clearly　not　intended。　Her　naked　form；　wriggling　for　the　mounting；　rose　in　my　mind。　The　vision　was　not　erotic；　but　shameful。　The　moment　came　that　hopefully　visits　at　least　once　in　every　human　life。　My　perspective　spun。　I　had　been　taken。　Skinned；　and　gutted；　the　object　of　a　fraud　like　those　perpetrated　by　the　mean…eyed　shills　in　the　market　place。　I　do　not　use　the　word　victim；　because　like　the　targets　of　the　bazaar　swindlers；　it　was　my　own　greed　that　delivered　me　up。　I；　Amalric　Emilie　Antero；　had　aided　and　abetted　Melina　and　Leego　with　plete　enthusiasm。　No　one　had　cast　a　spell　on　me　like　the　potion　I　had　fed　Melina。　I　had　lusted　for　her　and　had　been　willing　to　pay　any　price…the　respect　of　my　friends；　or　the　love　of　my　family。　I　had　made　a　roaring　fool　of　myself　in　the　process。
　Wind　rattled　the　tavern's　shutters；　and　I　felt　as　if　I　were　in　my　home；　in　front　of　the　altar　of　my　long…dead　brother。　I　even　felt　his　ghost　enter　the　dingy　shack。　Halab　had　been　the　family's　golden　child；　and　his　fate　at　the　hands　of　the　Evocators　still　cast　a　long　shadow　over　the　Anteros。　Although　my　real　memory　of　him　was　that　of　a　three…year…old　dazzled　by　a　dashing　hero　adult　brother；　I　thought　I　could　see　his　face　most　plain　by　the　tavern　door。　Halab　was　smiling。　He　hoisted　a　thumb；　encouraging　me　to　move　on。　The　vision　vanished；　but　I　felt　a　bit　of　worthiness　return。　It　was　only　a　small　bit；　but　it　was　a　seed　I　could　nurture。　I　determined　to　redeem　myself。　I　would　change　my　ways；　starting　with　making　my　long…overdue　maiden　expedition　as　a　merchant。　〃Finding　Your　Tradewind；〃　tradition　called　it。　My　father　had　been　urging　me　to　take　up　my　duties　with　increasing　impatience。　But　I　had　always　been　a　test　of　that　fine；　old　gentleman。
　The　door　banged　open；　and　three　men　entered。　They　were　big　men；　hard　men；　with　a　look　about　them　that　made　the　other　rogues　nervous