cacb.thefarkingdoms-第86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！


t　sameness　with　rich　sauces　and　gravies。　I　talked　at　length；　and　he　never　wearied　as　I　spun　my　trader's　tale　of　exotic　kingdoms　and　peoples　and　odd　wonders　as　distant　to　him　as　his　land　was　to　mine。
　As　I　rolled　my　imaginary　carpet　back　up；　I　closed　with　this；　〃I　claim　no　talent　as　a　seer；　Your　Majesty；　when　I　say　that　I　believe　you　have　bee　bored　with　your　protected　land　of　plenty。　And　I　have　heard　you　yourself　say　you　fear　your　people　have　lost　spirit；　and　are　growing　stale。　The　goods　I　have　offered　in　trade　have　three　qualities　of　singular　value：　the　excitement　of　strangeness；　the　stir　of　wonder　at　the　unknown；　and　the　spice　of　adventure　renewed。〃　I　sat　back；　charged　with　the　excitement　of　my　own　sales　talk。　〃That；　Your　Majesty；　is　why　I　believe　you　have　just　as　much　to　gain　in　this　bargain　as　we　have。　That　is　why　I　am　certain；　that　once　struck　the　contract　will　be　of　such　immeasurable　value　to　us　all。〃
　King　Domas'　eyes　reflected　my　own　excitement。　He　nodded　to　himself；　once；　twice。　I　believed　I　had　won　the　day。　Then　a　king's　caution　took　hold；　the　excited　glitter　dulled。　〃The　trading　could　not　take　place　in　Vacaan；〃　he　said。　〃Outside　influences；　as　my　brother　continually　warns；　can　make　our　people　discontent。〃
　〃We　could　easily　choose　a　neutral　port；〃　I　said。　〃A　place　convenient　to　both　of　us。〃
　〃Yes；　we　could；〃　Domas　said；　but　his　tones　were　sailing　for　neutrality　as　well。
　So　I　spread　my　hands　wide；　helpless；　saying；　〃What　else　can　I　say　to　convince　you；　Your　Majesty？　I　have　run　out　of　what　little　wit　my　father　knocked　into　my　thick　head。〃
　Laughter　returned　to　the　king。　He　hurt　my　ears　with　his　bellow；　but　I　didn't　mind：　I　saw　reborn　excitement　in　his　eyes。　〃Nothing　more；　my　good　fellow；〃　he　finally　said。　〃You've　done　a　good　job　for　your　city；　and　you　have　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of。　I　like　your　proposal。　I　like　it　enough　to　accept　on　the　spot。　However　。。。〃　He　stopped　as　Beemus　whispered；　then　went　on。　〃However；　as　Beemus　says；　we　must　consider　the　details　closely　before　we　put　seal　to　agreement。〃
　〃I　think　that　is　the　wisest　course；　myself；　Your　Majesty；〃　I　said；　rising；　for　I　knew　without　prodding　it　was　time　to　depart。　〃As　my　father　said；　'All　bargains　glow　when　first　struck；　but　most　bee　cold　lumps　by　the　time　you　put　them　in　your　pocket。'　〃
　〃A　wise　man；〃　the　king　said。
　〃Thank　you；　sir。　He　was。　Now；　if　you　will　permit　me；　Your　Majesty　。。。〃　I　began　to　withdraw。　Domas　hastened　it　with　a　gentle　wave　of　his　hand；　and　Beemus　jumped　down　to　lead　me　away。
　〃How　did　I　do？〃　I　asked　when　we　reached　the　corridor。　Beemus　whispered　that　I　had　done　very　well；　indeed。　With　that　reply　I　also　knew　I　had　the　little　man's　support；　it　was　easily　big　enough　to　carry　the　day。
　I　told　Janos　every　detail　of　the　meeting；　only　holding　back　the　music　and　。。。　Omerye。　When　I　was　done　I　saw　he　had　noted　some　omission：　Janos　had　the　twin　of　that　odd　look　the　king　gave　me。　Normally　Greycloak　would　have　pressed；　and　I　would　have　confessed；　although　to　what；　I　was　not　certain；　he　had　news　of　his　own　to　convey；　and　the　moment　passed。　But　first　he　had　to　examine　my　efforts　for　flaws。　Finding　none；　he　praised　them　and　said　I　was　sure　to　bring　the　work　to　a　happy　conclusion。
　When　I　asked　him　how　his　own　meeting　had　gone；　he　became　so　charged　with　enthusiasm；　his　words　kept　stumbling　on　confusion　as　he　tried　to　describe　all　the　wonders　Prince　Raveline　had　revealed。　He　stopped　after　his　last　effort：　a　spell　from　the　scrolls　of　the　Old　Ones　that　caused　water　to　crystallize　into　ice。
　〃It　was　manipulation　again；〃　he　cried。　〃Like　sand　to　gold；　but　not　near　as　plex；　because　water　is　。。。　is　。。。〃　Light　dawned　and　he　struck　his　head　a　great　blow。　〃By　the　gods；　now　I　see　it！〃　he　shouted。　His　mind　raced；　grasping　for　an　elusive　prey。　Then　he　shook　his　head　in　frustration　as　it　escaped。　〃Gone；　now；　dammit！〃　He　looked　and　saw　an　ox's　ignorance　in　my　eyes；　and　laughed。
　〃Never　mind；〃　he　said。　〃It　will　e。〃　He　poured　us　more　drink。　〃Raveline　has　invited　me　back　tomorrow；　and　the　morrow　after　that。　So　there　will　be　much　more。〃
　〃Did　he　show　you　his　demons？〃　I　joked。
　But　the　jest　went　awry；　and　Janos　flushed　dark。　〃No　。。。　He　didn't。〃　The　flush　was　of　disappointment；　and　it　made　me　glad。　I　worry　for　nothing；　I　thought。　The　king　forbids　it。　Even　his　brother　would　not　dare　to　defy　him。　Then　I　thought：　especially　his　brother　would　not　dare。
　Janos　raised　his　cup　in　nostalgic　toast。　〃To　the　Far　Kingdoms。〃
　And　I　raised　mine　in　that　old　echo　of　reply。　〃To　the　Far　Kingdoms。〃
　All　was　good　for　a　while　as　we　plunged　into　the　life　that　was　Irayas。　The　meetings　with　Domas　and　Raveline　opened　a　flood　of　invitations：　we　ate　and　drank　at　noble　tables；　we　learned　new　dances　in　grand　ballrooms；　and　an　embarrassment　of　honors　and　gifts　were　showered　on　us。　At　night　we　sailed　the　silvery　lanes　of　that　great　lighted　city；　roaring　songs　with　new　friends　clutching　our　shoulders。　By　day　we　strolled　through　wonderful　gardens　and　even　more　wonderful　galleries　where　the　arts　of　Vacaan　were　displayed。　I　saw　Omerye　once：　she　was　studying　the　statue　of　a　great　harpist。　The　mysterious　bond　between　us　tugged　hard；　and　she　began　to　turn　her　head　in　my　direction；　but　the　wound　Deoce's　death　had　caused　gave　a　sudden　ache；　and　I　quickly　backed　away　before　she　saw　me。
　The　jolt　she　had　given　me　roused　awareness；　and　I　began　to　worry　again。　I　could　no　longer　ignore　that　weeks　had　gone　by；　and　I　had　yet　to　meet　again　with　the　king。　I　could　have　paved　a　small　road　with　all　the　messages　I　sent；　asking　what　progress　had　been　made　in　the　trade　agreement。　Some　went　unanswered；　most　drew　the　mild　reply　of：　You　must　understand；　these　matters　are　plex。　And　we　praise　your　patience　in　advance　for　bearing　up　under　these　unfortunate；　but　necessary；　delays。
　As　I　worried　over　these　oracles　from　dry　authority；　I　suddenly　noted　a　great　absence　of　Janos。　A　second　worry　now　gnawed　as　I　realized　it　had　been　some　time　since　I　had　seen　him。　And　before　that；　his　presence　had　bee　rarer　with　each　passing　day。　I　also　remembered　recent　messages　I　had　sent　to　his　palace：　they　met　the　same　fate　as　those　I　had　sent　the　king。　His　servant；　Gatra；　always　answered　with　regret　that　his　master　was　busy　with　the　prince　and　could　not　be　disturbed。　Perhaps　another　date？　But　each　date　we　set　became　inconvenient　when　the　time　drew　close。
　Finally　I　went　to　the　tavern　our　men　favored。　It　made　an　unruly　sprawl　along　the　freight　docks。　After　so　much　time　amid　the　perfection　of　Irayas'　wealthy　neighborhoods；　the　ramshackle　buildings　along　the　docks　and　the　noisy　chatter　of　mon　folk　was　refreshing。　I　suppose　I　was　homesick　for　the　docks　of　Orissa；　with　their　tantalizing　sights　and　smells；　and　the　feeling　that　here；　every　person；　be　he　fisherman　or　monger　or　My　Lady　fingering　the　quality；　was　equal。
　Sergeant　Maeen　and　the　others　were　delighted　to　see　me。　Lione　begged　me　to　put　my　money　away　and　bought　a　round　for　the　whole　tavern　in　honor　of　my　visit。　As　we　drank　and　exchanged　gossip；　I　looked　around　and　saw　the　men　were　doing　well　for　themselves。　There　were　plenty　of　eager　young　women　in　their　pany；　and　they　were　good　women；　daughters　and　young　widows　of　workers　and　stall　keepers。　I　expected　many　marriages　to　e　out　of　this；　and　idly　wondered　who　would　stay　and　who　would　go　when　the　time　came　for　us　to　depart。　The　other　men　in　the　tavern；　many　of　whom　had　bee　friends　of　Maeen　and　the　others；　were　also　a　sturdy；　hard…working　lot；　and　among　the　clientele　I　saw　only　a　few　who　wore　the　twisted　smile　of　small　larcenies。　The　sergeant　asked　how　Sir　Greycloak　was　getting　on。
　〃I　was　hoping　you　could　tell　me〃　I　said。　〃I　have　not　seen　him　about　for　some　time。〃
　Maeen　frowned；　then　forced　cheer。　〃You　know　how　Sir　Greycloak　is　at　times；　my　lord；〃　he　said　with　a　laugh。　〃He　gets　that　mind　of　his　after　a　badger　in　his　den；　then　dives　right　in　after　it。　Don't　worry。　He'll　show　up　for　some　fun　with　his　old　mates；　by　and　by。〃
　〃Have　you　heard　any　news　of　him？〃　I　asked。
　Lione　leered。　〃Oh；　he's　not　all　learnin'　and　business；　my　lord。　Sir　Greycloak's　as　randy　as　most。〃　He　gave　me　a　nudge。　〃Some　say；　even　more　so。〃
　Maeen　cut　him　silent　with　a　glare。　To　me；　he　said；　〃Pay　him　no　mind；　lord。　Sir　Greycloak　might　have　been　to　a　few　parties；　or　so。　Just　to　get　the　kinks　out　But　it's　all　in　good　fun。〃
　〃Did　。these　。。。　uh　。。。　parties　。。。　have　anything　to　do　with　Prince　Raveline？〃　I　asked；　knowing　the　answer；　but　hoping　I　erred。
　Maeen's　long　hesitation　told　me　I　had　not。　Then　he　said；　〃Well　。。。　I　suppose；　they　did；　my　lord。〃　The　frown　returned　to　channel　his　brow。　He　sighed。　〃They　were　pretty　wicked　too；　I　hear。〃　He　gave　a　nervous　laugh。　〃But　there's　no　call　to　worry；　my　lord。　It's　only　a　man's　passing　fancy。　And　when　all　is　said　and　done；　Sir　Greycloak　is　easily　the　match　of　Prince　Raveline。〃
　A　drunken　shout　broke　in。　〃What's　that　dog's　name　I　hear？　Prince　Raveline；　is　it？〃　A　big；　red…faced　fellow　followed　the　shout　by　lumbering　into　our　group。　〃This　is　my　tavern；　sirs。　I'll　not　have　that　name　blacken　its　premises。〃
　I　eyed　the　landlord；　curious　at　such　hate。　Maeen　and　the　others　had　pulled　away；　some　were　muttering　nervously。　Duty　drew　Maeen　back　to　give　the　landlord　a　warning。　〃We're　only　here　for　a　friendly　drink；　man。　If　it's　politics　you　want；　we'll　take　our　merce　elsewhere。〃
　The　tavern　keeper　bleared；　angry　drunk　and　near　violence。　〃If　I　want　to　call　that　prince　a　dog；　I'll　call　him　a　dog；　damn　you！　And　it's　shaming　a　dog　to　do　it　for　all　the　harm　that　man　has　caused！〃　Before　he　could　continue；　friendly　patrons　grabbed　him。　He　struck　out　and　wrestled　a　bit；　but　was　finally　hauled　away：　two　women；　daughter　and　wife；　I　guessed；　dragged　him　through　a　door　and　slammed　it　The　whole　time　the　landlord　blistered　the　air　with　curses　on　Raveline　and　his　doings。
　We　were　left　uneasy　by　his　outburst；　but　Maeen　seemed　most　troubled　of　all。　He　looked　nervously　about；　checking　the　villains　I　had　picked　out　before。　But　where　I　had　seen　twisted　smiles；　there　were　only　bad　masks　of　bland　disinterest　〃We'd　better　find　another　tavern　soon；〃　the　sergeant　muttered　to　Lione。　〃That　landlord　is　set　on　bringing　trouble。〃　Lione　vigorously　nodded　agreement。
　〃I　admit　he's　an　uncouth　fellow；〃　I　said。　〃But　what　trouble　can　he　bring？　His　words