myth.conceptions-第18部分

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　to　me　that　it　also　hid　the　true　weakness　of　our　force；　but　I　felt　it　would　be　tactless　to　point　this　out。
　At　first；　Brockhurst　had　argued　in　favor　of　his　ing　along　with　me　instead　of　Aahz；　claiming　that　as　an　Imp　he　had　much　more　experience　at　bargaining　than　a　demon。　It　was　pointed　out　to　him　rather　forcefully　by　Aahz　that　in　this　instance　we　weren't　bargaining　for　glass　beads　or　whoopie　cushions；　but　for　a　war　。　。　。　and　if　the　Imp　wanted　to　prove　to　Aahz　that　he　knew　more　about　fighting　。。。。
　Needless　to　say；　Brockhurst　backed　down　at　that　point。　This　was　good；　as　it　saved　me　from　having　to　openly　reject　his　offer。　I　mean；　I　may　not　be　the　fastest　learner　around；　but　I　could　still　distinctly　remember　Aahz　getting　the　best　of　Brockhurst　the　last　time；　the　two　of　them　had　squared　off　for　a　bargaining　session。
　Besides；　if　this　meeting　went　awry；　I　wanted　my　mentor　close　at　hand　to　share　the　consequences　with　me。
　So　here　we　stood；　blatantly　exposed　to　the　enemy　without　even　a　sword　for　our　defense。　That　was　another　of　Aahz's　brainstorms。　He　argued　that　our　being　unarmed　acplished　three　things。　First；　it　showed　that　we　were　here　to　talk；　not　to　fight。　Second；　it　demonstrated　our　faith　in　my　magical　abilities　to　defend　us。　Third；　it　encouraged　our　enemy　to　meet　us　similarly　unarmed。
　He　also　pointed　out　that　Ajax　would　be　hiding　in　the　tree　line　behind　us　with　strung　bow　and　cocked　arrow；　and　would　probably　be　better　at　defending　us　if　anything　went　wrong　than　a　couple　of　swords　would。
　He　was　right；　of　course；　but　it　did　nothing　to　settle　my　nerves　as　we　waited。
　〃Heads　up；　kid；〃　Aahz　murmured。　〃We've　got　pany。〃
　Sure　enough；　a　rather　stocky　individual　was　striding　briskly　across　the　meadow　in　our　direction。
　〃Kid！〃　Aahz　hissed　suddenly。　〃Your　disguise！〃
　〃What　about　it？〃　I　whispered　back。
　〃It　isn't！〃　came　the　reply。
　He　was　right！　I　had　carefully　restored　his　〃dubious　character〃　appearance；　but　had　forgotten　pletely　about　changing　my　own。　Having　our　motley　crew　accept　my　leadership　in　my　normal　form　had　caused　me　to　overlook　the　fact　that　Klahds　are　harder　to　impress　than　demons。
　〃Should　I…〃　I　began。
　〃Too　late！〃　Aahz　growled。　〃Fake　it。〃
　The　soldier　was　almost　upon　us　now；　close　enough　for　me　to　notice　when　he　abandoned　his　bored　expression　and　forced　a　smile。
　〃I'm　sorry；　folks；〃　he　called　with　practiced　authority。　〃You'll　have　to　clear　the　area。　We'll　be　moving　soon　and　you're　blocking　the　path。〃
　〃Call　your　duty　officer！〃　Aahz　boomed　back　at　him。
　〃My　who？〃　the　soldier　scowled。
　〃Duty　officer；　officer　of　the　day；　mander；　whatever　you　call　whoever's　currently　in　charge　of　your　formation；〃　Aahz　clarified。　〃Somebody's　got　to　be　running　things；　and　if　you're　officer　material；　I'm　the　Queen　of　the　May。〃
　Whether　or　not　the　soldier　understood　Aahz's　allusion　（I　didn't）；　he　caught　the　general　implication。
　〃Yeah；　there's　someone　in　charge；〃　he　snarled；　his　plexion　darkening　slightly。　〃He's　a　very　busy　man　right　now；　too　busy　to　stand　around　talking　to　civilians。　We're　getting　ready　to　move　our　troops；　mister；　so　take　your　son　and　get　out　of　the　way。　If　you　want　to　watch　the　soldiers；　you'll　have　to　follow　along　and　watch　us　when　we　camp　tonight。〃
　66D0　you　have　any　idea　who　you're　talking　to？〃　I　said　in　a　surprisingly　soft　voice。
　〃I　don't　care　who　your　father　is；　sonny；〃　the　soldier　retorted。　〃We're　trying　to…〃
　〃The　name's　not　‘sonny；'　it's　Skeeve！〃　I　hissed；　drawing　myself　up。　〃Court　magician　to　the　kingdom　of　Possiltum；　pledged　to　that　kingdom's　defense。　Now　I　advise　you　to　call　your　officer　。　。　。　or　do　you　want　to　wake　up　tomorrow　morning　on　a　lily　pad？〃
　The　soldier　recoiled　a　step　and　stood　regarding　me　suspiciously。
　〃Is　he　for　real？〃　he　asked　Aahz　skeptically。
　〃How's　your　taste　for　flies？〃　Aahz　smiled。
　〃You　mean　he　can　really…〃
　〃Look；〃　interrupted　Aahz；　〃I'm　not　playing　servant　to　the　kid　because　of　his　terrific　personality；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　〃I　see　。　。　。　um。　。　。　。〃　The　soldier　was　cautiously　backing　toward　the　encampment。　〃I'll　。　。　。　um　。　。　。　I'll　bring　my　manding　officer。〃
　〃We'll　be　here；〃　Aahz　assured　him。
　The　soldier　nodded　and　retreated　with　noticeably　greater　speed　than　he　had　displayed　approaching　us。
　〃So　far；　so　good；〃　my　mentor　said　with　a　grin。
　〃What's　wrong　with　my　personality？〃　I　asked　bluntly。
　Aahz　sighed。　〃Later；　kid。　For　the　time　being；　concentrate　on　looking　aloof　and　dignified；　okay？〃
　Okay　or　not；　there　wasn't　much　else　to　do　while　we　waited　for　the　officer　to　put　in　his　appearance。
　Apparently；　news　of　our　presence　spread　through　the　encampment　in　record　time；　for　a　crowd　of　soldiers　gathered　at　the　edge　of　the　camp　long　before　we　saw　any　sign　of　the　officer。　It　seemed　all　preparations　to　move　were　suspended　at　least　temporarily　while　the　soldiers　lined　up　and　craned　their　necks　to　gawk　at　us。
　It　was　kind　of　a　nice　feeling　to　have　caused　such　a　sensation；　until　I　noticed　several　soldiers　were　taking　time　to　strap　on　weapons　and　armor　before　joining　the　crowd。
　〃Aahz！〃　I　whispered。
　〃Yeah；　kid？〃
　〃I　thought　this　was　supposed　to　be　a　peaceful　meeting。〃
　〃It　is；〃　he　assured　me。
　〃But　they're　arming！〃　I　pointed　out。
　〃Relax；　kid；〃　he　whispered　back。　〃Remember；　Ajax　is　covering　us。〃
　I　tried　to　focus　on　that　thought。　Then　I　saw　what　was　apparently　the　officer　approaching　us　flanked　by　two　soldiers；　and　I　focused　on　the　swords　they　were　all　wearing。
　〃Aahz！〃　I　hissed。
　〃Relax；　kid；〃　Aahz　advised　me。　〃Remember　Ajax。〃
　I　remembered。　I　also　remembered　we　were　vastly　outnumbered。
　〃I　understand　you　gentlemen　are　emissaries　of　Possiltum？〃　the　officer　asked；　ing　to　a　halt　in　front　of　us。
　I　nodded　stiffly　hoping　the　abruptness　of　my　motion　would　be　interpreted　as　annoyance　rather　than　fear。
　〃Fine；〃　the　officer　smirked。　〃Then　as　the　first　representative　of　the　Empire　to　contact　a　representative　of　Possiltum；　I　have　the　pleasure　of　formally　declaring　war　on　your　kingdom。〃
　〃What　is　your　name？〃　Aahz　asked　casually。
　'Claude；〃　the　officer　responded。　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃The　historians　like　details；〃　Aahz　shrugged。　〃Well；　Claude；　as　the　first　representative　of　Possiltum　to　meet　with　a　representative　of　your　Empire　in　times　of　war；　it　is　our　pleasure　to　demand　your　unconditional　surrender。〃
　That　got　a　smile　out　of　the　officer。
　〃Surrender？〃　he　chortled。　〃To　a　cripple　and　a　child？　You　must　be　mad。　Even　if　I　had　the　authority　to　do　such　a　thing；　I　wouldn't。〃
　〃That's　right。〃　Aahz　shook　his　head　in　mock　selfadmonishment。　〃We　should　have　realized。　Someone　in　charge　of　a　supply　pany　wouldn't　swing　much　weight　in　an　army　like　this；　would　he？〃
　We　had　chosen　this　particular　group　of　soldiers　to　approach　specifically　because　they　were　a　supply　unit。　That　meant　they　were　lightly　armed　and　hopefully　not　an　elite　fighting　group。
　Aahz's　barb　struck　home；　however。　The　officer　stopped　smiling　and　dropped　his　hand　to　his　sword　hilt。　I　found　myself　thinking　again　of　Ajax's　protection。
　〃I　have　more　than　enough　authority　to　deal　with　you　two；〃　he　hissed。
　〃Authority；　maybe；〃　I　yawned。　〃But　I　frankly　doubt　you　have　the　power　to　stand　against　us。〃
　As　I　mentioned；　I　did　not　feel　as　confident　as　I　sounded。　The　officer's　honor　guard　had　mimicked　his　action；　so　that　now　all　three　of　our　adversaries　were　standing　ready　to　draw　their　swords。
　〃Very　well；〃　Claude　snarled。　〃You've　been　warned。　Now　we're　going　to　bring　our　wagons　across　this　spot；　and　if　you're　on　it　when　we　get　here　you've　no　one　to　blame　but　yourselves。〃
　〃Accepted！〃　Aahz　leered。　〃Shall　we　say　noon　tomorrow？〃
　〃Tomorrow？〃　the　officer　scowled。　〃What's　wrong　with　right　now？〃
　〃e；　e；　Claude；〃　Aahz　admonished。　〃We're　talking　about　the　first　engagement　of　a　new　campaign。　Surely　you　want　some　time　to　plan　your　tactics。〃
　〃Tactics？〃　Claude　echoed　thoughtfully。
　〃。　。　。　and　to　pass　the　word　to　your　superiors　that　you're　leading　the　opening　gambit；〃　Aahz　continued　casually。
　〃Hmm；〃　the　officer　murmured。
　〃。　。　。　and　to　summon　reinforcements；〃　I　supplied。　〃Unless；　of　course；　you　want　to　keep　all　the　glory　for　yourself。〃
　〃Glory！〃
　That　did　it。　Claude　pounced　on　the　word　like　a　Deveel　on　a　gold　piece。　Aahz　had　been　right　in　assuming　supply　officers　don't　see　bat　often。
　〃I　。　。　。　uh　。　。　。　I　don't　believe　we'll　require　reinforcements；〃　he　murmured　cagily。
　〃Are　you　sure？〃　Aahz　sneered。　〃The　odds　are　only　about　a　hundred　to　one　in　your　favor。〃
　〃But　he　is　a　magician；〃　Claude　smiled。　〃A　good　officer　can't　be　too　careful。　Still；　it　would　be　pointless　to　involve　too　many　officers　。　。　。　er　。　。　。　I　mean；　soldiers　in　a　minor　skirmish。〃
　〃Claude；〃　Aahz　said　with　grudging　admiration；　〃I　can　see　yours　is　a　military　mind　without　equal。　Win　or　lose；　I　look　forward　to　having　you　as　an　opponent。〃
　〃And　you；　sir；〃　the　officer　returned　with　equal　formality。　〃Shall　we　say　noon　then？〃
　〃We'll　be　here；〃　Aahz　nodded。
　With　that；　the　officer　turned　and　strode　briskly　back　to　his　encampment；　his　bodyguard　trudging　dutifully　beside　him。
　Our　rades　were　bristling　with　questions　when　we　reentered　the　tree　line。
　〃Is　it　set；　boss？〃　Brockhurst　asked。
　〃Any　trouble？〃　Tanda　pressed。
　〃Piece　of　cake；〃　Aahz　bragged。　〃Right；　kid？〃
　〃Well；〃　I　began　modestly；　〃I　was　a　little　worried　when　they　started　to　reach　for　their　swords。　I　would　have　been　terrified　if…I　didn't　know　Ajax　was　。　。　。　say；　where　is　Ajax？〃
　〃He's　up　in　that　clump　of　bushes；〃　Gus　informed　me；　jerking　a　massive　thumb　at　a　thicket　of　greenery　on　the　edge　of　the　tree　line。　〃He　should　be　back　by　now。〃
　When　we　found　Ajax；　he　was　fast　asleep　curled　around　his　bow。　We　had　to　shake　him　several　times　to　wake　him。
　
　Chapter　Eighteen
　〃Just　before　the　battle；　Mother；　I　was　thinking　most　of　you。。。　〃
　…SONNY　BARKER
　
　A　long；　slimy　tongue　assaulted　me　from　the　darkness；　acpanied　by　a　blast　of　bad　breath　which　could　have　only　one　source。
　〃Gleep！〃
　I　started　to　automatically　cuff　the　dragon　away；　then　had　a　sudden　change　of　heart。
　〃Hi；　fella；〃　I　smiled；　scratching　his　ear。　〃Lonely？〃
　In　response；　my　pet　flopped　on　his　side　with　a　thud　that　shook　the　ground。　His　serpentine　neck　was　long　enough　that　he　managed　to　perform　this　maneuver　without　moving　his　head　from　my　grasp。