cacb.thefarkingdoms-第60部分

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　these　skills　will　be　utilized　to　convince　you。　We　also　are　in　no　particular　hurry；　since　both　my　Lords　and　myself　are　aware　of　the　。。。　problems　that　can　be　created　from　an　overeager　questioning。〃
　〃Such　as　death？〃
　〃That；〃　Symeon　said　calmly；　〃or　madness；　or　even；　if　the　inquisitor　is　insufficiently　skeptical；　convincement　of　a　deliberate　or　accidental　lie。　This；　then；　is　our　purpose　and　intent。　Do　you　wish　to　ment；　or　perhaps　make　a　statement　of　brave　rejection　we　all　may　savor？〃　I　shook　my　head。　Symeon　nodded。　〃Then　that　will　be　all　。。。　for　the　moment。　All　of　us　will　know　quite　soon　when　you　and　Greycloak　desire　to　speak　to　us　once　more…desire　to　speak　with　all　your　hearts　and　souls。　So；　if　you　will　follow　my　Lords'　messenger　to　your　quarters　。。。〃　Without　waiting　for　a　response；　Symeon　wheeled　and　vanished　into　the　shadows。　At　the　same　instant；　the　shimmers　were　gone；　and　the　torches　flared；　then　guttered。
　Having　no　options；　I　followed　the　Finder　back　down　the　echoing　stone　corridors。　I　expected　to　be　taken　to　a　dungeon。　Instead；　the　creature　led　me　to　stairs…stairs　that　wound　up　and　up；　and　then　through　more　corridors　until　I　guessed　we　were　approaching　the　top　story　of　the　huge　castle。　At　last　the　beast　stopped　in　front　of　a　huge　U…shaped　door。　The　beast's　mouth　opened；　it　whined　and　I　was　suddenly　deaf。　It　took　me　a　moment　to　realize　that　the　spell　the　creature　was　casting　had　a　secondary　element；　making　it　impossible　for　the　listener　to　distinguish　the　words。　Hearing　returned　as　the　door　swung　open。　In　front　of　me　stretched　the　hallway　of　a　palatial　apartment。　Paintings　were　on　the　walls；　and　the　ceilings　were　hung　in　silk。　I　hesitated　outside。
　〃Enter　if　you　are　of　this　world；　be　damned　if　you　are　not；〃　came　a　cry　from　within。　It　was　Janos'　voice。　I　obeyed；　and　the　door　swung　shut　behind　me。　I　tried　its　handle；　which　turned　uselessly　in　my　hand；　and　knew　the　Finder　had　recast　the　locking　speD。　I　walked　down　the　corridor；　toward　the　room　where　Janos'　voice　had　e　from。　On　either　side　were　large；　high…ceilinged　rooms；　some　fitted　with　beds；　some　with　couches；　some　intended　for　dining　or　other　entertainment。　If　it　were　not　for　the　preponderance　of　that　dark　stone　the　Lycanthians　are　so　partial　to；　and　the　subject　matter　of　the　paintings；　tapestries；　and　sculptures；　which　ran　heavily　to　the　morbid；　it　was　an　apartment　in　which　I　would　not　have　been　ashamed　to　put　up　my　most…loved　friend　or　most…respected　guest　and　his　retinue。
　Another　surprise　awaited　me　when　I　entered　the　main　chamber：　Janos　reclined　on　a　richly　upholstered　couch。　He　was　surrounded　by　books；　scrolls；　and　tablets。　In　front　of　him　was　an　easel；　with　a　large　paper　on　it　that　was　filled　with　his　scribblings　and　sketches…all　obviously　of　a　sorcerous　intent。　Behind　him　were　half　a　dozen　large；　open　windows；　and　through　them　I　could　see　the　lights　of　Lycanth　and　its　harbor　spread　below　us。　Janos　was　dressed　like　a　nobleman　at　his　leisure；　in　lounging　robe　and　silk　blouse　and　tights。　He　was　hardly　the　picture　of　a　prisoner　who　had　undergone　torture；　both　physical　and　sorcerous。　Then　I　noticed　his　face；　tight；　drawn；　as　exhausted　as　it　had　been　when　we　reached　the　end　of　our　Finding　and　returned　to　the　Pepper　Coast。
　〃Wele；　my　friend；　and　friend　you　have　more　than　proven　yourself；〃　he　said。　He　got　up　and　embraced　me。　〃No　man　could　ask　for　a　better　partner；　although　I　wish；　for　your　sake；　you　were　more　selfish。〃
　〃I　hadn't；〃　I　said　with　a　bit　of　asperity；　〃exactly　planned　on　being　the　guest　of　the　Archons。〃
　Janos　managed　a　chuckle。　〃They　told　me；　some　hours　ago；　you　were　outside　the　city　and　would　be　apprehended　shortly。　I'd　hoped　your　canniness　would　have　been　able　to　sense　their　trap。〃　He　shook　his　head。
　〃How　did　they　foretell　my　ing？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　They　refused　to　tell　me；　and　what。。。　prognostications　I　was　able　to　cast　gave　me　no　clues。　Perhaps　a　warning　spell　or　a　creature　stationed　on　the　road　approaching；　or　a　spy　with　Evocator's　training　in　Orissa　itself；　even。　You　know；　I　assume；　the　prime　mover　in　this　conspiracy　is　an　enemy　of　yours？〃
　〃Nisou　Symeon。　I　met　him　for　the　first　time　in　my　life　below…stairs。〃　I　told　Janos　what　had　happened。　He　made　no　ment；　and　there　was　none　necessary。　He　offered　me　wine；　juices；　or　water　from　a　beverage　table　nearby。　I　poured　myself　a　goblet　of　wine；　then　thought　better。　I　set　it　down　and　began　to　pour　juice。
　〃Have　the　wine；〃　Janos　said。　〃Or　whatever　you　desire。　As　far　as　I　can　tell　nothing　has　been　drugged；　and　thus　far　their　seeking　of　knowledge　has　not　required　alcohol's　befuddlement。　Also；　I　would　remend　both　of　us　eat　and　drink　as　much　as　we　can　hold；　because　our　circumstances　will　soon　be　changing。〃
　I　poured；　drank　deeply　as　I　realized　how　thirsty　I　was；　and　refilled　my　goblet。　I　walked　to　one　of　the　windows　and　looked　out。　Our　apartment…our　cell…hung　just　over　the　water；　and　far　below　I　could　see　the　white　flash　of　breaking　surf　on　the　rocks　beyond　the　harbor。　〃Is　there　a　spell　on　the　windows？〃
　〃Naturally。　Not　that　I　think　one　is　needed；　unless　you　happen　to　have　two　sets　of　wings　secreted　about　you。〃
　I　turned　back　and　forced　a　smile。　This　ordeal；　and　I　sensed　it　would　be　that；　might　be　slightly　more　endurable　if　I　sought　humor　whenever　I　could。　I　had　questions；　and　chanced　asking　them　openly。　〃Should　we　be　cautious　as　to　what　we　talk　about？〃
　〃Yes；　within　reason。　I　would　not；　for　instance；　be　specific　about　。。。　our　mutual　adventures。　But　it　is　acceptable　to　discuss　matters　in　general。　I　have　conjured　up　words　that　should　make　anyone　listening　to　our　conversation　actually　hear　a　very　dull　recital　of　the　religious　lessons　from　my　childhood。　But　thus　far　they　have　cast　Lesser　Spells　against　me；　which　I　have　been　able　to　withstand　and　for　the　most　part　neutralize。　I　have　not　sensed　Great　Incantations　more　than　twice；　although　who　would　know　if　a　truly　grand　conjuration　was　laid？　For　instance；　it　is　possible　I　am　now　talking　to　a　plete　fabrication　of　the　Archons'。　And　you　must　wonder　whether　I　myself　am　but　a　demon　of　their　powers。　But　that　way　lies　madness。〃
　〃They　have　allowed　you　your　。。。　ah　。。。　interest；〃　I　marveled；　using　an　innocuous　term　as　I　had　reflexively　from　boyhood；　when　I　first　realized　my　brother　Halab's　interest　was　venturing　into　the　forbidden。
　〃Allowed？　That　is　not　the　description。　They　cannot　put　a　blanket　prescript　on　any　wizardry；　else　that　would　block　their　own　spells。　But　they　can　lay　specific　wards；　so　that　I　cannot　quite　remember　any　spell　or　type　of　spell　that　could　be　used　to　break　chains　or　bonds；　for　instance。〃
　〃Like　the　way　you　and　Cassini　had　your　magical　memory　removed　in　。。。　in　another　place？〃
　'Thank　several　gods　their　spell　is　not　that　plete。　But　they　tried。　Forgive　me　if　I　seem　inattentive；　or　preoccupied。　But　。。。〃
　There　came　a　flicker　from　the　side　of　the　chamber；　and　it　was　as　if；　for　just　a　flash；　a　door　opened　to　a　dark　chamber；　and　I　saw　men　with　their　flesh　being　ravaged　by　black…clad　tormenters　with　nameless　tortures。　Then　there　was　nothing　but　the　farther　wall。
　〃That　is　an　example　of　what　I've　termed　Lesser　Spells；〃　Janos　said。　〃All　of　them　are　intended　to　wear　us　down；　and　to　shake　our　fortitude　and　stamina。　Other　spells　surround　this　chamber：　sleeplessness；　short　temper；　loneliness；　dejection；　and　various　disgusting　but　harmless　physical　debilitations…all　of　which　I　have　kept　at　bay。〃
　〃You　have　e　far　in　your　study　of　Evocatorial　principles　since　I　first　realized　your　secret　interest；〃　I　said；　meanwhile　marveling　that　from　somewhere　I　had　the　coolness　to　carry　on　such　an　inconsequential　discussion　while　trapped　in　the　coils　of　a　brutal　enemy。
　〃I　thank　you；　but　I　feel　no　pride。　I　should　be　able　to　sustain　my　efforts　with　no　more　energy　than　scratching　a　mosquito　bite　takes　in　the　physical　world。　Or　perhaps　I　am　secretly　harboring　my　strength　for　when　they　attempt　a　full　scale　assault　on　us。〃
　〃You　said　they　tried　what　you　called　Great　Incantations　twice。　What　form　did　they　take；　so　I　may　be　on　my　guard？〃
　〃Both　were　loathsome。　The　first　and　most　tolerable　was　a　variation　on　the　succubus；　involving　a　young　and　beautiful　sorceress　who　entered　my　dreams；　and　promised　her　reality　after　we　had　performed　various　acts　of　sex　magic。　All　I　was　to　grant　her；　in　return；　was　some　tales　of　how　wizardry　was　performed　in　other　lands。　That　I　was　able　to　reject　without　much　of　a　struggle；　recognizing　that　such　stories　could　well　provide　the　entryway　into　the　rest　of　my　soul。　When　I　did；　the　apparition　vanished。
　〃The　second　attempt　was　more　dangerous；　and　began　with　various　Lesser　Spells；　but　ones　cast　with　full　power　of　a　Master　Evocator's　will　behind　them。　I　was　depressed；　angry　at　everything　and　everyone　beginning　with　myself。　I　felt　an　utter　failure。〃
　〃Like；〃　I　hazarded；　〃the　Lesser　Spells　you　said　are　around　us　are　designed　to　produce。〃
　〃Not　quite；〃　Janos　said。　〃These　were　a　bit　different。　Behind　them　was　the　undercurrent　that　I　deserved　greatness；　and　that　the　gods　and　men　had　conspired；　unknowingly；　to　deny　me　my　full　glory。〃　I　knew　how　such　a　spell　would　find　resonance　within　Janos'　rationally　healthy　ego。　〃Eventually；　I　determined　to　end　my　life。　Not　from　real　pain；　but　to　'show'　someone　or　something；　I　know　not　who；　what　evil　they'd　done　in　keeping　me　from　my　rightful　heritage。〃
　〃I　see　the　evil　in　that　spell；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　do　not　see　how　it　would　produce　any　information　on　。。。　on　a　certain　subject　that　is　sought。　Worse；　you　would　be　dead；　and　their　best　chance　to　get　that　knowledge　lost。〃
　〃Oh；　no。　There　would　have　been　counterspells　laid　and　perhaps　even　physical　nets　hung　below　these　windows　should　I　have　chosen　to　cast　myself　from　them；　as　well　as　other　protective　conjurations　around　anything　I　might　use　to　kill　myself…like　the　knives　in　our　kitchen　or　the　draws　for　the　curtains。　I　also　assumed　I　was　watched。　But　I　haven't　pletely　described　the　spell。　As　part　of　my　final　cock　snooking　at　the　world；　I　would　write　a　full　description　of　what　I　could　have　given　them；　had　they　but　known。〃
　〃The　Far…〃
　〃Just　so；　the　quest　exactly　described。〃　I　understood　and　shuddered。　That　truly　was　a　subtle　spell；　and　I　wondered　if　I　could　have　withstood　one　as　carefully　laid　to　take　advantages　of　my　multitudinous　weaknesses。
　I　so