cacb.thefarkingdoms-第90部分

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　I　slid　out；　bowed　deeply；　and　touched　my　lips　to　the　hand　he　extended。　〃It　is　you　who　honor　me；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　never　been　invited　into　the　home　of　any　prince；　let　alone　one　so　great　as　yourself。　Nor　personally　handed　down　from　my　carriage　by　the　prince　himself。〃
　〃There；〃　Raveline　said。　〃Now　we　have　both　dispensed　with　the　required　niceties。　I　plan　no　other　ceremonies；　and　if　you　have　speeches　or　clever　pliments　ready；　we　shall　take　them　as　given　and　returned。〃　He　smiled；　but　his　eyes　were　cold；　cold。
　He　took　my　arm　and　led　me　into　the　castle。　〃I　pondered　long　as　to　whether　I　should　invite　others。　I　did　not。。。　do　not。。。　want　you　to　think　you　are　being　slighted　by　not　being　surrounded　with　panoply　and　courtiers；　but　we　have　matters　of　import　to　discuss…　matters　I　would　rather　none　of　those　who　dance　attendance　around　my　brother　would　witness。〃　He　made　a　mirthless　smile。　〃I　cannot；〃　he　continued；　almost　to　himself；　〃order　the　tongue　cut　out　of　every　loose…lipped　sycophant　in　the　Great　Court。　Much　as　that　would　prove　a　blessing。〃
　I　hoped　my　face　showed　no　response　as　I　realized　Raveline　must　have　seriously　considered　the　option　before　reluctantly　rejecting　it。　We　passed　into　the　heart　of　his　castle。　He　apologized　for　not　giving　me　the　full　tour；　but　said　that　would　take　several　days　and　might　serve　for　our　mutual　amusement　at　another　time。　〃Besides；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　not　entirely　sure　even　I　can　find　my　way　about。〃
　For　this　reason；　I　cannot　go　on　for　page　after　page　of　the　marvels　of　this　Black　Prince's　abode。　I　shall　mention　but　a　few　things　of　note。　One　was　each　wall　and　floor　appeared　to　have　been　hewn　from　a　single　slab　of　stone；　polished　to　a　mirror　glaze；　then　hand　fitted　to　its　mate。　Another　was　the　warmth。　I　know　of　no　way　to　keep　castles　from　dankness　and　chill；　but　in　this　one　I　was　as　fortably　warm　in　every　room　and　hall；　without　being　scorching；　as　I　am　at　this　moment　writing　in　my　study　with　a　peat　fire　glowing。　I　gaped　at　the　treasures；　from　tapestries　glowing　with　inner　lights；　to　furniture　shaped　and　polished　until　it　whispered　like　the　finest　silk　to　my　fingertips；　to　paintings　ranging　from　realistic　to　bold　bursts　of　pure　color　that　sang　to　my　heart。　There　were　other　things　I　noted　and　turned　away　from　hastily；　things　that　sometimes　still　appear　in　my　dreams；　that　I　will　not；　must　not　describe。
　Raveline　led　me　through　the　great　hall；　where　relicts　and　battle　flags　from　his　dynasty's　reign　hung　below　the　shadow…buried　gambrel　roof；　into　a　smaller　chamber。　In　the　center　of　the　room　was　a　table。　On　it　were　half　a　dozen　covered　dishes。　There　were　only　two　places　laid；　and　each　of　the　utensils　and　plates　had　been　turned　or　cut　from　a　different…colored　block　of　jade；　from　red　to　translucent　to　various　greens　to　white。　To　one　side　was　another　table；　this　one　laden　with　a　dizzying　assortment　of　bottles　and　decanters；　containing　the　liquors　of　many　lands。
　Prince　Raveline　asked　me　what　I　cared　to　drink；　and　I　suggested　I　would　be　most　content　with　whatever　he　chose；　although　I　warned　him　I　would　most　likely　offend　by　not　showing　proper　appreciation　by　draining　my　glass。　〃For　it　is　a　custom　of　my　people；　especially　with　me；　who　has　a　weak　head；　to　avoid　the　grape　until　business　has　been　concluded。　Since　you　said　outside　you　had　some　matters　of　import　to　discuss；　I　would　be　deeply　shamed　if　I　woke　tomorrow　and　found　all　the　wisdom　I'd　spouted　had　been　filtered　through　dregs。　After　I　have　heard　your　ideas；　and　determined　how　best　we　Orissans　can　implement　them；　well；　then　we　can　pour　it　down　by　the　hogshead　if　Your　Highness　wishes。〃　Raveline　smiled；　poured　two　glasses；　but　said　nothing；　neither　acknowledging　my　flattery　nor　reprimanding　me　for　it。
　We　sat　down　and；　without　preamble；　he　began。　〃You　know　of　course　that　your　journeys　toward　our　lands　were　watched；　from　the　first　day　you　were　first　wrecked　on　the　Pepper　Coast　until　we　provided　rescue　on　the　wharves　at　Gomalalee。〃
　I　kept　a　bland　countenance　and　answered　that　we　had　been　told　of　the　Far　Kingdoms'　interest；　but　not　that　it　had　reached　back　to　my　Finding。　〃A　question；　my　lord。　You　used　the　words　Pepper　Coast。　I　thought　the　people　of　Vacaan　had　but　the　smallest　interest　in　what　lies　beyond　then〃　own　borders？〃
　〃Mostly　correct；〃　Raveline　said。　〃But　there　are　exceptions。　I　am　one　such；　which　will　be　a　topic　of　conversation　in　a　few　moments。　But　holding　to　the　subject　at　hand　first：　you　were　not　only　watched；　but　you　were　tested　at　times。　For　instance；　in　Gomalalee。〃
　〃Of　course；　if　we　had　failed　to　respond　as　you　deemed　fit。。。〃　I　said；　and　let　my　sentence　trail　off。
　〃Then；　you　would　hardly　have　been　worthy　of　being　the　ones　who　did　achieve　Vacaan。〃　I　felt　anger　flash；　remembering　dead　men；　injured　men；　sick　men；　and　desperate　men　facing　death　from　thirst　or　sorcery；　but　repressed　it。　I　did；　however；　allow　a　touch　of　sarcasm　to　color　my　next　sentence　as　to　how　pleased　we　were　to　have　been　found　worthy。
　〃Now　to　return　to　the　earlier　matter；〃　Raveline　said。　〃I　am　sure　you're　aware　that；　at　present；　the　interest　the　kingdoms　of　Vacaan　have　in　your　western　lands　is　minor；　and　shall　probably　extend　to　no　more　than　allowing　some　of　our　knowledge　or　goods　to　be　exchanged；　at　a　point　beyond　our　borders；　for　whatever　crafts；　artifacts；　or　perhaps　people　of　pleasure　we　might　find　amusing。〃
　I　felt　a　slight　thrill…despite　his　use　of　words　meant　to　diminish　my　hopes；　this　was　a　clue　from　the　king's　brother　himself　that　my　efforts　might　meet　with　success…and　smiled　approvingly。　Needless　to　say；　I　set　aside　any　reaction　to　the　proposal　that　I　might　be　interested　in　pimping　for　the　Far　Kingdoms。
　〃You　look　pleased；〃　Raveline　observed。　〃I；　myself；　think　such　a　boon　would　be　a　paltry　return　for　how　much　you　and　your　panions；　especially　Sir　Greycloak；　have　endured　over　the　years。　So　what　we　will　discuss；　after　we　eat；　is　how　much　closer　a　relationship　between　the　lands　of　the　west　and　these　kingdoms　might　be；　should　circumstances　。。。　alter。〃
　With　that；　he　lifted　one　of　the　dish　covers　and　began　to　serve　our　meal。　I　do　not　remember　what　viands　we　consumed；　other　than　they　were　perfection…each　bite　sending　a　different　explosion　through　the　senses。　What　impressed　me　was　the　manner　of　serving。　At　no　time　did　a　servitor　appear；　but　whenever　Raveline　lifted　the　cover　from　a　dish；　a　different　course　would　be　exposed。　I　heard　no　sound　of　pistons　or　hydraulic　mechanisms　from　below；　so　I　presumed　the　platter　change　was　done　magically。　Similarly；　our　plates　were　always　kept　fresh　and　clean。　I　would　eat　all　I　desired　of　a　particular　dish；　look　away　or　laugh　at　a　bit　of　Raveline's　wit；　and　somehow　sensing　my　satiety；　the　plate　would　be　clean　and　bare。　I　wondered　if　Raveline　preferred　to　dine　in　this　manner　at　all　times；　with　never　a　smiling　servant　or　maid　to　be　seen　or　a　beaming　cook　to　pliment　and　reward。　It　seemed　sterile；　but　I　thought　it　would　prevent　anything　discussed　over　a　meal　from　being　fodder　for　the　city's　gossips。
　I　do　not　recall　what　subjects　we　chatted　about；　but　they　had　nothing　to　do　with　anything　bearing　on　trade；　Orissa；　or　even　our　presence　in　Raveline's　kingdoms。　Most　of　his　talk　concerned　various　court　intrigues；　the　details　stopping　just　short　of　being　salacious。　We　also　talked　of　the　arts　and　music　of　Vacaan。　As　he　spoke；　I　realized　he　knew　of　my　love　for　Omerye；　and　that　he　was　telling　me；　most　subtly；　she　should　now　be　considered　as　much　a　hostage　to　fortune　as　Janos；　myself；　or　any　of　my　men。　Do　not　think　I　became　angry；　or　even　felt　threatened…Raveline　merely　ensured　I　was　aware　there　was　now　one　more　factor　in　the　equation　for　me。
　When　we　finished；　he　led　me　into　another　room。　There　were　couches　arranged　about　the　room；　and　when　I　sank　into　one　of　them；　it　weled　me　as　softly　as　a　lover's　arms。　Another　drink　table　was　next　to　us；　and　both　Prince　Raveline　and　I　sipped　a　fruit　liqueur。　The　couches　were　in　a　semicircle　around　a　tall；　highly　polished　mirror　that　hung　from　a　stand　as　if　it　were　a　gong。　I　knew　the　glass　was　sorcerous　and　wondered　what　Raveline　intended　to　show　me。　Before　sitting；　he　touched　the　surface　of　the　mirror；　and　it　sprang　to　life。　I　was　looking　at　a　small　party　of　men　walking　beside　a　river。　I　was　observing　my　own　Finding　as　we　marched　through　the　fertile；　abandoned　valley　above　the　Pepper　Coast。　The　perspective　must　have　been　from　one　of　the　Watchers。
　〃You　were　not　jesting　about　having　observed　my　entire　career；〃　I　managed。
　And　Raveline　replied；　〃Each　time　you've　entered　our　lands；　or　those　lands　bordering　them；　our　Watchers　have　been　there。　I　will　confess；　however；　that　your　recent　expedition　was　mounted　in　a　most　clever　manner。　You　were　not　seen…although　seeing　is　not　the　correct　word…until　you　had　crossed　the　pass　beyond　Wahumwa　and　entered　the　frontiers　of　Gomalalee。〃
　He　motioned；　and　a　new　image　swam　up　on　the　mirror。　Now　I　was　looking　at　Orissa；　as　if　seen　from　an　invisible　tower　a　thousand　feet　tall；　in　the　center　of　the　city。　A　great　wave　of　homesickness　swept　across　me；　doubly　strong　as　I　realized　the　image　before　me　was　Orissa　at　this　very　moment。　It　would　have　been　just　before　dawn；　I　observed；　but　there　were　still　lights　showing。　I　could　make　out　the　Street　of　the　Gods；　the　citadel　of　the　Magistrates；　and　the　palace　of　the　Evocators。　I　tried　to　locate　my　own　home；　without　showing　such　interest　to　the　prince。
　〃As　I　said；　I　take　more　interest　in　the　west　than　most　of　my　people；〃　Raveline　said。　〃Which　is　one　reason；　after　a　certain　period　of　what　I　shall　politely　call　skepticism　about　you　and　Janos　Greycloak　and　your　intentions；　I　became　your　most　fervent　supporter。　I　have　realized　Vacaan　must　look　in　new　directions　in　the　future　。。。　beginning　with　Orissa　and　Lycanth。〃
　〃What　form；〃　I　asked　carefully；　〃do　you　think　Vacaan's　interest　should　take？〃
　Raveline　sipped　at　his　drink。　〃I　am　not　sure　I　care；　nor　am　I　sure　I　am　able；　to　answer　your　question　in　the　fullest　detail。　Suffice　it　to　repeat　that；　if　certain　imbalances　within　the　court　were　corrected；　in　a　short　time　there　would　be　a　much　closer　relationship　with　Orissa。〃　His　expression　hardened；　as　did　his　tone。　〃This　is　an　opportunity　I　shall　not　allow　Vacaan　to　miss。　We　must；　and　shall；　seize　the　moment。　That　is　why　I　requested　your　pany　this　e