cacb.thefarkingdoms-第87部分

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ed　agreement。
　〃I　admit　he's　an　uncouth　fellow；〃　I　said。　〃But　what　trouble　can　he　bring？　His　words　may　be　unpleasant；　but　the　king　does　not　discourage　his　subjects　from　speaking　their　minds。　In　fact；　he　demands　it。　You　heard　him　say　so；　himself。〃
　Maeen　stirred；　unfortable。　He　leaned　close　and　spoke　low。　〃The　king　may　say　one　thing；　my　lord；　but　that　is　not　how　it　works　down　here。〃　He　patted　the　table　for　emphasis。　〃And　from　what　I've　heard；　my　lord；　it　does　not　always　work　that　way　above。〃
　'Tell　me　more；〃　I　murmured。
　Maeen　shook　his　head。　〃It's　not　wise　to　linger　on　it　too　long；　my　lord。　There　are　ears　about〃　He　indicated　one　of　the　blackguards　who　was　slipping　closer　to　us。　〃But　I　will　say　this。　Mayhap　the　king's　good　intentions　are　being　spoiled　by　another。　And　that　other　fellow；　if　you　know　who　I　mean；　seems　to　take　offense　real　easy；　like。　Dark　things　have　been　known　to　happen　when　his　name　is　abused。〃
　I　wanted　to　ask　more；　but　the　slippery　one　was　nearly　at　our　table；　his　back　turned　in　studied　unconcern；　but　you　could　see　his　ears　swivel　to　listen。　So　I　said；　loudly；　〃Here；　now。　Let　me　buy　the　next　round。　And　we'll　all　toast　our　royal　hosts。〃　There　was　much　overloud　pliance　to　my　proposal；　and　after　a　time　of　broadly　innocent　fun；　Maeen　tipped　me　the　wink　that　I　should　depart　now；　so　they　could　casually　follow　after　a　suitable　period。
　I　returned　home　in　great　alarm。　I　wondered　at　those　〃parties；〃　as　Maeen　called　them；　that　were　hosted　by　Raveline。　Orgies；　I　supposed；　sexual　tricks　and　frenzy　stoked　by　magic。　I　remembered　well　the　great　appeal　such　things　had　to　Janos。　And　I　had　just　seen　for　myself　that　all　was　not　wondrous　light　in　Irayas。　But　then　I　thought　of　the　important　negotiations　with　the　king。　I　knew　Domas　was　not　lying　about　his　interest；　nor　was　he　hiding　some　dark　purpose。　Hope　sprang　again　with　the　reminder　that　I　actually　had　seen　nothing；　I　had　only　heard。　I　did　not　distrust　Maeen's　word；　but　he　himself　had　it　by　third　or　fourth　hand。　Not　only　that；　I　self…chided；　but　wasn't　I　letting　my　dislike　of　Raveline　flaw　my　view？　After　all；　what　did　I　have　to　base　that　dislike　on？　The　prince　had　certainly　not　done　anything　to　deserve　it。
　While　I　still　had　that　clumsy　ball　of　yarn　tied　up　with　such　dubious　knots；　Janos　reappeared。　He　burst　into　my　palace；　full　of　energy；　wit；　and　high　spirits。　〃I've　missed　you；　my　friend；〃　he　roared；　slapping　my　back。　〃I've　been　buried　in　dusty　old　scrolls　for　too　long；　and　my　ears　are　so　stuffed　with　spells；　I　fear　I　am　growing　deaf　from　not　hearing　normal　talk。〃　：
　〃Then　your　studies　go　well？〃　I　asked。
　〃Damned　well；〃　Janos　said。　His　manner　had　always　been　blustery；　but　I　suspicioned　a　touch　of　aping　of　our　bluff…mannered　hosts。　Suspicion　faded　as　he　clapped　me　on　the　back　again　and　said　we　ought　to　see　how　the　men　were　doing；　and　swap　a　drink　or　three。　We　found　them　at　another　tavern；　just　as　large　and　soundly　working　class　as　the　first。　With　Janos　we　were　twenty　again；　the　reunion　was　noisy　and　glorious。　Much　drinking　followed；　and　perhaps　a　tipsy　tear　for　fond　memories　of　shared　adventures。　But　just　before　we　were　all　taken　by　drink；　Maeen　came　to　me。　〃Remember　that　talky　landlord？〃　he　asked；　low。
　〃At　the　other　tavern？〃　He　nodded。　I　looked　about　their　new　favorite　place　admiringly。　〃You　were　well　to　be　shed　of　him；　I　suppose。　And　you　chose　the　replacement　well。〃
　〃We　weren't　shed　of　him；〃　Maeen　said。　〃We　hadn't　time。　He　disappeared　that　night；　and　no　one　has　seen　or　heard　from　him　since。　And　the　tavern　was　ordered　closed。〃
　〃By　whom？〃　I　asked。
　〃He　wouldn't　put　his　name　to　it；〃　Maeen　said。　〃But　everyone　says　it　could　be　none　other　than　Prince　Raveline。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR
　Omerye
　ANY　RENEWED　BROODING　over　Janos　and　Raveline　was　cut　short　the　next　day　when　Beemus　showed　up　at　my　palace。　He　said；　in　his　whispered　shadow…speak；　the　king　was　engaged　in　important　business；　but　assured　me　it　was　only　slightly　more　important；　in　Domas'　view；　than　the　business　he　had　with　me。　Barring　unforeseen　emergency；　our　trade　agreement　was　next　in　line。
　〃Can　you　give　me　some　hint　which　way　the　king　is　leaning？〃　I　asked。　He　replied　with　a　shrug；　but　acpanied　the　shrug　with　an　upward　tilt　of　one　er　of　his　mouth；　making；　for　Beemus；　a　grin　of　encouragement。　〃When　will　he　decide？　Can　you　guess？〃　Another　shrug；　the　mouth　line　remained　straight；　meaning；　he　wasn't　sure。　〃Can　you　at　least　tell　me　this：　will　it　be　very　long？〃　Beemus　thought　a　moment；　then　shook　his　head：　no；　it　would　not　be　long。
　After　he　had　gone；　I　faced　the　day　with　brighter　hopes。　I　sent　a　message　to　Janos；　thinking　we　could　discuss　our　prospects。　But　when　I　saw　Gatra's　familiar　scrawl　on　the　reply；　I　knew　without　reading　that；　once　again；　Janos　was　not　available　and　had　returned　to　Raveline's　side。　This　was　not　enough　to　spoil　my　cheer；　so　I　called　for　my　boat　and　set　out　for　a　lazy　day　viewing　Irayas。
　The　water　has　always　brought　me　peace；　and　I　spent　several　enjoyable　hours　alone　with　my　boatman　that　day；　cruising　the　river。　It　was　late　afternoon　when　I　came　to　a　district　I　had　never　seen　before：　it　was　an　older　area；　near　the　center　of　the　city。　The　canals　were　narrower　and　heavily　shaded　in　the　arch　of　thick…branched　trees；　the　water　reflected　trunks　twisted　into　forms　and　faces　long　past　maturity。　The　homes；　although　certainly　not　poor　or　mon；　were　smaller　and　steered　sharply　away　from　sameness。　I　smelled　fresh　paint；　the　dust　of　newly　cut　stone；　and　woolen　yarn；　dampened　to　greet　the　loom。　As　we　moved　through　the　maze　that　tied　the　district　together；　I　saw　bright　color　in　the　windows　of　the　homes。　They　were　paintings；　I　realized；　and　lovely　tapestries；　as　well；　all　were　art　in　the　making；　for　I　also　saw　limners　and　weavers　at　work。　The　boatman　took　me　past　one　large；　open　yard　that　held　a　delightful　litter　of　sculptures　in　all　stages　of　development。　We　turned　into　a　pleasant　bywater；　and　I　eased　back　to　enjoy　the　song　of　a　bird　piping　from　a　tree　not　far　away。　Then　I　realized；　with　a　cold　pang；　it　wasn't　a　bird　making　that　music。　The　single　note　was　followed　by　a　gentle　stream　on　the　air。　The　delicate　signature　was　unmistakable：　it　was　Omerye's。　I　hoarsed　for　the　boatman　to　turn　back；　but　he　was　so　intent　on　the　music　himself；　he　did　not　hear　and　only　drew　harder　on　the　oars。　Then　it　seemed　the　pipes　had　caught　my　presence；　for　I　recognized　the　same　notes　of　sudden　interest　I'd　heard　in　Domas'　chamber。　More　music　followed：　gentle　sniffing　all　about　me；　then　a　joyous　cry　of　familiarity。　Low…dipping　branches　parted；　revealing　a　small　dock；　and　on　that　dock；　feet　dainty；　bare；　and　trailing　in　the　water；　sat　Omerye。　As　the　boat　drew　up　she　played　a　final　note；　it　was　one　of　glad　greeting。　Then　she　lowered　the　pipes　and　looked　at　me。　Her　red　hair　made　a　lustrous　frame　about　her　pale　features；　but　in　the　light　I　saw　it　was　not　as　close　to　mine　as　I　thought：　it　was　a　deeper　red；　and　softer。　She　was　dressed　in　a　white　tunic　cut　short　to　mid…thigh；　and　it　clung　close　to　her　lush　figure。　The　smile　she　wore　was　shy；　but　it　made　me　glow；　and　then　that　glow　made　me　sad；　for　I　knew　I　must　leave。
　〃I　knew　you　would　e。〃　Her　voice　was　as　light　and　musical　as　her　pipes。　There　was　no　artifice　in　it：　she　had　known；　and；　somehow；　so　had　I。　She　pointed　the　pipes　at　a　white　cottage　with　a　slanted　roof　of　weathered　blue：　her　home。　〃Please？〃
　There　was　only　one　answer　I　could　give；　but　when　I　forced　it　out；　it　turned　on　its　head　and　I　heard　myself　say；　〃Yes。　I　would　like　that　very　much。〃　I　clambered　onto　the　dock；　trembling　when　her　hand　touched　my　shoulder　to　help　steady　me。　We　stood　together；　close；　almost　touching。　She　was　tall；　and　I　found　her　eyes　with　no　trouble：　they　were　blue；　then　her　chin　tilted　up；　and　they　were　green；　the　chin　tilted　higher　still；　and　now　they　were　gray。　Her　lips　were　slightly　bruised　in　color　and　swollen　from　her　piping。　They　would　be　easy　to　kiss；　I　thought。　She　stepped　away　and　took　my　hand　and　led　me　to　the　cottage。　Behind　me；　I　heard　the　boatman　chuckle　and　the　scrape　of　wood　as　he　pushed　off；　and　I　almost　turned　to　urge　him　to　wait；　for　I　would　not　be　more　than　a　moment。　I　heard　the　splash　of　oars　as　he　pulled　away；　and　I　entered　the　cottage。　It　was　dim　and　hung　with　old；　thin　tapestries　of　artful　design。　The　main　room　was　spread　with　pillows　of　muted　color。　They　made　a　circular　pattern　about　a　small　stool。　Omerye　sat　on　the　stool　and　patted　one　of　the　nearest　pillows。　I　sank　down；　so　full　of　questions　and　confusion；　I　only　had　strength　for　silence。
　It　was　broken　by　her　musical　voice。　〃Do　you　understand　what　this　is　about？〃　I　shook　my　head；　no。　She　raised　the　pipes。　〃You　are　the　one　I　play　for；〃　she　said。　I　still　did　not　understand。　She　raised　the　pipes　higher；　until　they　nearly　touched　her　lips。　〃Since　the　first　moment　I　played；〃　she　said；　〃I　saw　a　person　in　my　mind。　And　it　is　that　person　I　make　my　music　for。〃　She　stopped；　the　pipes　drooping　lower；　and　shook　her　head。　〃No。　That　isn't　right。〃　She　pressed　the　pipes　tight　against　her　breasts。　〃I　make　music　for　me。〃　The　pipes　came　up　again。　〃But　I　play　the　music　for　。。。　you。　You　are　that　person　in　my　mind。〃　The　pipes　were　closing　on　her　lips　again。　She　said；　〃And　you　have　been　there；　since　。。。　since　。。。　well；　always。〃
　She　menced　to　play。　In　my　mind　the　music　formed　the　image　of　a　small；　pale　child；　she　was　silent　and　serious　and　given　to　dreams。　When　I　write　that　I　saw　her；　imagine　my　ears　were　my　eyes；　and　the　notes　created　form　and　color　better　than　any　light。　The　child　loved　all　sound；　whether　shrill　bird　cries　or　the　knock　of　dry　wood　against　a　dock。　I　saw　her　make　sounds　of　her　own；　using　mon　things　to　produce　unmon　notes。　I　saw　her　form　those　notes　into　a　first　whole　song。　She　always　played　to　a　mirror；　and　in　the　mirror　I　saw　an　image　I　couldn't　quite　make　out。　The　vision　blurred；　then　I　found　the　child　grown　into　a　girl　with　swelling　buds　for　breasts　and　hips　flaring　into　womanhood。　She　sat　before　the　mirror；　red　hair　spilling　downward　as　her　head　bent　over　new　pipes。　She　made　a　lovely　song；　but　you　could　tell　by　her　hesitation；　she　was　testing　new　ground。　I　saw　her　glance　into　the　mirror；　as　if　seeking　approval。　At　first　I　thought　I　saw　her　own　reflection　there；　but　the　red　hair　that　shone　back　was　of　a　slightly