cacb.thefarkingdoms-第94部分

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　Omerye　kissed　me；　then　she　said；　〃Very　well；　then。　Shall　we　start　with　your　friend？　Consider　this：　if　someone　came　to　me；　as　Prince　Raveline　evidently　has　to　Greycloak；　and　promised　I　could　know　all　chords；　all　fingerings；　tunings；　and　pitches　of　all　instruments　of　this　day　and　the　time　of　the　Old　Ones；　and　be　able　to　use　that　knowledge　to　build　a　music　of　the　future　。。。　perhaps　I　myself　might　be　blind　to　the　failings　of　that　gift　bringer。　Besides；　there　is　some　truth　to　what　he　says。　Not　that　Raveline's　great　evil　can　be　transmuted　to　good　as　easily　as　base　metal　bees　gold。　But　he　can　be　turned　aside。〃
　I　felt　a　bit　of　hope。　〃How？　Should　I　go　to　the　king？〃
　Omerye　gasped　in　horror。　〃Do　not　even　think　that；　my　love。　If　you　went　to　King　Domas；　and　told　him　all　that　had　happened；　he　would　indeed　summon　Raveline；　and　chastise　him　severely。　He　might　even　require　the　prince　to　exile　himself　in　a　far…off　estate；　saying　the　sight　of　him　sickens　decent　men's　eyes。　And　you　would　be　rewarded　for　your　honesty。　But　Raveline　would　be　weled　back　to　Irayas　in　a　few　months；　and　you　would　be　gone。
　Even　though　the　brothers　hate　one　another　。。。　no　one　is　permitted　to　embarrass　the　royal　family。　No　one。　Besides；　in　Vacaan；　matters　are　handled　more　delicately。　A　way　we　might　deal　with　the　situation　is　for　me　to　have　a　word　with　some　friends　who　are　considered　wise　in　the　eyes　of　the　king。　And　for　those　friends　to　chat　with　their　friends。　These　discussions　would　be　held　most　privately　and　most　quietly。　In　time…perhaps　a　week；　perhaps　a　month；　we　can　also　have　a　word　with　Beemus。　Then　a　whisper　will　float　past　the　king's　ears。　He　will　have　his　most　subtle　chamberlains　investigate；　most　privately；　and　most　quietly。　Once　he　learns　the　truth；　and　he　will　learn　it　all　if　he　wishes；　then　Prince　Raveline　might　be　reined　in。　He　will　suddenly　be　ordered　to　mount　an　expedition　against　the　bandits　to　the　north；　perhaps。〃
　I　was　incredulous。　〃Just　like　that；　the　situation　will　return　to　normal；　and　Orissa's　and　my　problems　be　solved？〃　I　was　quite　incredulous。
　〃As　I　said；　Raveline　has　been　brought　to　heel　before；　and　in　matters　that　we；　at　least；　consider　more　important　than　the　fate　of　two　barbarian　cities　far　to　the　west。　Forgive　me；　Amalric　my　love；　but　that　is　how　Vacaanese　think。〃
　I　knew　that　nothing；　especially　the　vagaries　of　princes；　could　be　guaranteed。　But　Omerye　had　offered　the　only　real　plan　that　made　sense。　On　the　morrow；　I　would　return　to　Janos　and　we　could　resolve　our　argument。　I　was　still　angry；　having　seen　the　raw　steel　of　his　ambition。　But　I　told　myself　none　of　us　are　perfect；　and　the　Far　Kingdoms　had　been　his　obsession　much　longer　than　mine。　But　still；　I　knew　as　I　lay　down　to　rest　that　our　friendship　would　no　longer　continue　on　quite　as　easy　a　basis　as　it　had。
　I　woke　an　hour　later　with　a　scream　trapped　in　my　chest。　It　boiled　up　violently　and　tried　to　prise　open　my　lips；　but　still　it　would　not　e。　Omerye　tossed　and　turned　uneasily　beside　me。　It　was　as　if　I　was　awake　and　at　the　same　time　deep　in　a　fever　stupor。
　Two　things　blazed　through　my　mind。　The　first　I　already　knew；　at　least　in　principle：　a　black　wizard　will　feed　and　batten　off　pain；　fear；　and　death。　If　Raveline　were　to　carry　out　his　plan；　Orissa　and　Lycanth　would　bee　chaos。　Armies　would　clash　and　sway　across　our　lands；　armies　degenerating　into　bandits　and　murderers。　In　time；　we；　too；　would　be　nothing　more　than　bloody　wasteland　like　the　Disputed　Lands；　and　I　could　imagine　Raveline's　face　hanging　high　above　those　gory　wastes；　smiling　at　the　destruction　that　was　as　mother's　milk　to　him。
　If　Raveline　were　to　be　allowed　to　carry　out　his　plan　。。。　and　then　I　recollected　what　Raveline　had　said　about　wanting　Janos　as　his　hellhound。　And　I　thought：　hellhound？　Or　assassin？　Janos　was　not　under　any　ban　preventing　him　from　conspiring　against　the　House　of　Domas。　Mistake　me　not　…　even　in　this　waking　nightmare　I　did　not　vision　Janos　skulking　through　the　king's　palace　with　a　drawn　and　poisoned　blade。　But　could　Janos　mount；　lead；　and　execute　a　coup？　To　then　be　cut　down　in　his　moment　of　victory　by　a　newly　crowned　king；　sorrowing　for　his　brother's　murder？　No。　That　was　too　fantastic。　I　dragged　myself　out　of　my　mind's　maelstrom。　I　looked　out　the　window。　Even　though　it　was　still　dark；　I　could　hear　the　sleepy　chirping　of　birds　in　my　garden。　Once　more；　I　should　not　have　been　able　to　sleep；　but　did。　I　do　not　remember　my　head　striking　the　pillow。　All　I　can　recollect　is　my　thought　that　the　morrow　would　be　a　very　different　day　indeed。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…SIX
　The　Cavern
　I　WOKE　INTO　nightmare。　Torches　flared　on　either　side　of　me。　I　lay　on　cold；　wet　stone。　The　reek　of　mildew　filled　my　nostrils；　and　I　tasted　the　hard　iron　of　blood　in　my　mouth。　I　knew　where　I　was：　I　was　still　in　the　dungeon　of　the　Archons；　far　below　the　great　sea　castle　of　Lycanth。　I　was　awakening　from　one　of　those　marvelous　dreams　where　half　a　lifetime　passes；　and　every　moment　is　perfectly　detailed。　Janos　and　I　had　never　escaped　this　dungeon；　had　never　fought　the　Evocators　for　the　soul　of　the　Orissan　people；　had　never　journeyed　beyond　the　Pepper　Coast　and　the　haunted　city　to　enter　the　Far　Kingdoms。　I　remembered　the　dream　woman　named　Omerye；　realized　she　never　was；　and　my　eyes　welled。　At　least　the　gods　had　sent　me　a　moment　of　imaginary　happiness　in　that　long　and　frequently　dreadful　dream。
　I　awakened　more；　my　mind　still　wandering　the　maze　of　that　intricate　fantasy。　I　remembered　not　only　escaping　from　this　dungeon；　but　just　how　we　escaped。　That　brought　me　to　full　alertness。　I　looked　about　the　condemned　cell　for　Janos。　I　would　tell　him　my　dream；　particularly　that　part　dealing　with　this　Lycanthian　dungeon；　and　perhaps　we　could　build　on　my　illusion　to　prepare　a　real　escape。
　A　voice　grated；　〃Up　wi'　ye；　Antero！　Th'　spell's　had　more'n　enough　time　to　wear　away。〃
　And　I　was　not　back　in　the　Archons'　dungeon。　I　was　in　a　sodden　stone　cell；　but　it　was　small　and　cramped。　There　was　no　one　else　around　me…no　guards；　no　torturers　across　the　way；　no　fellow　prisoners；　and　no　Janos。　I　was　alone　。。。　except　for　one　other：　Greif。　He　sat　curled　on　a　heavy　bench　against　the　far　wall。　He　was　smiling。　I　forced　myself　to　my　feet。
　〃Lord　Antero；〃　he　mocked。　〃Y'　wake。　Shall　I　send　in　th'　wenches　to　draw　your　bath？　Servants　t'　lay　out　your　silks？　P'raps　that　fine…titty　musician　you　been　futterin'　t'　play　a　tune？　Woulda　like　to　have　brought　that　along；　an'　let　you　watch　me　pleasure　her　f'r　a　bit。　But　'twarn't　permitted。〃
　My　mind　a　whirligig；　I　said　nothing。　Nor　could　I　move　further　from　where　I　stood。　Greif　got　up　and　strolled　to　me。　I　saw　his　gaping　eye　socket；　black　and　oozing　corruption。　My　thrust　with　the　spear　butt　had　indeed　put　out　one　of　his　eyes。　Greif　knew　what　I　was　staring　at；　and　his　muscle…knotted　fist　smashed　into　my　stomach。　I　gagged　and　went　to　my　knees；　breath　driven　out
　He　booted　me　over　onto　my　back　and　stared　down。　〃Aye；〃　he　said。　〃You　put　out　one　of　my　glims；　you　did。　But　I　found　a　better　way　to　see。　M'　masters　give　me　。。。　somethin'　t'　spy　with。　Gi'　me　a　bit　of　their　power；　t'　look　at　men；　an'　see　some'at　of　their　intents。〃　Greif　tapped　his　empty　eye　socket；　then　laughed；　very　hard；　and　his　mirth　echoed　around　the　stone　room。
　At　that　moment；　I　saw；　in　that　empty　socket；　a　red　fire；　a　tiny；　red；　writhing　fire。　And　I　realized　I　was　entering　the　reality　of　that　nightmare　that　had　cursed　me　for　so　many　years。　It　was　not　meeting　Greif　in　Lycanth　that　made　him　my　nameless　torturer；　boatman；　and　escort。　I　had　been　permitted；　for　good　or　evil；　a　glimpse　of　the　future。　I　wished　desperately　I　would　have　realized　my　nightmare　was　clairvoyance　and　cut　Greif　down　when　I　first　met　him；　standing　below　me　in　the　courtyard　of　the　Lycanthian　inn。
　〃I　c'n　see　you're　still　mazed；　an'　wonderin'　where　you　are　now。　Somewheres　in　Irayas。　Somewheres　far；　far　under　th'　ground；　where　there's　nobody　to　hear　you　scream；　which　you　will　do　in　a　bit。　Y'　know；　first　thing　I　learned；　first　time　I　was　grabbed　by　th'　thief　takers；　is　you　start　breakin'　someone　with　words。　So　。。。　You　was　duped。　Played　false　by　th'　man　you　thought　y'r　friend。　Th'　man　who　cast　th'　protective　spell　you　believed　w'ld　keep　you　from　harm　also　lifted　it；　so's　me　and　my　assistants　could　slip　hi；　an'　winkle　you　out。〃
　Despite　my　efforts　to　keep　control；　my　face　must　have　twisted　from　my　heart's　distress。　Greif　laughed　once　more　and　spat　into　my　face。　〃Get　up　。。。　an'　look　about　you。　See　th'　fine　toys　I've　got　waitin'　to　play　with。　Th'　prince　gimme　all　day　t'　fun　myself　with　you。　All　he　said　is　I　can't　kill　you　or　send　you　mad。　Oh　yeah；　an'　I　can't　maim　you　nor　break　bones　neither。　Guess　th'　prince's　got　his　own　games　he　wants　t'　play　wi'　you　later　on。　Wager　his　games　might　be　even　better'n　mine；　though　I've　had　time　to　think　on　what　I　wanted　t'　do　t'　you；　an'　time　t'　remember　what　others　done　to　me。　'Sides；　th'　limitations　he　put　on；　ain't　restrictin'　to　a　man　who's　spent　time　in　th'　service　of　Nisou　Symeon。〃
　My　only　consolation　was　that　Greif　could　not　have　any　knowledge　of　my　nightmare；　or　else　he　would　be　even　more　gleeful　as　I　contemplated　the　horror　that　was　to　e。　But　even　as　I　faced　this；　that　agony　was　not　as　great　as　learning　of　Janos'　betrayal。
　〃First；〃　he　said。　〃Lift　up　y'r　hands。　There's　manacles　hangin'　down。　Clamp　'em　on　y'r　wrists。〃　He　chortled　as　I　found　my　body　obeying。　〃Ain't　the　spell　th'　prince's　man　gimme　somethin'？　Gonna　be　a　boot；　seein'　you　actin'　as　my　assistant。〃
　A　spell　had　stolen　my　will；　and　I　could　not　resist　the　order；　I　clamped　the　shackles　on　my　wrist。　Greif　cackled　and　went　to　the　wall　where　a　rope　hung　from　a　bolt　in　the　ceiling　and　ran　down　to　support　the　cuffs。　He　untied　the　rope　and　yanked　until　I　was　lifted　almost　clear　of　the　ground；　my　toes　just　touching　the　flagstones。
　〃Y'　dislocate　anythin'；　there'll　be　time　enough　t'　snap　th'　bone　back　in；　afore　we　。。。　take　our　trip；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　I'll　just　let　y'　dangle　for　a　few；　'cause　I'm　sure　you　got　some　questions　t'　ask。　An'　I'll　answer　'em　all；　'cause　th'　answers'll　just　make　th'　last　few　hours　you　got　worse。〃　He　went　back　to　his　bench　and　waited。
　I　did　not　want　to　give　him　any　gratification；　but　there　was　one　thing　I　had　to　confirm。　〃You　still　serve　Nisou　Symeon？〃
　Greif　laughed　that　foul　l