myth.conceptions-第4部分

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　could　manage　an　exact　identification；　my　pet　swallowed　and　the　whatzit　disappeared。
　〃Gleep！〃　he　said　proudly；　licking　his　lips　with　his　long　forked　tongue。
　〃Stupid　dragon；〃　Aahz　muttered　darkly。
　〃He's　cheap　to　feed；〃　I　countered；　playing　on　what　I　knew　to　be　Aahz's　tight…fisted　nature。
　As　we　waited　for　the　dragon　to　catch　up；　I　had　time　to　reflect　that　for　once　I　felt　no　moral　or　ethical　qualms　about　taking　part　in　one　of　Aahz's　schemes。　If　the　unsuspecting　Rodrick　the　Fifth　was　taken　in　by　our　charade　and　hired　us；　I　was　confident　the　king　would　be　getting　more　than　he　bargained　for。
　
　Chapter　Four
　〃If　the　proper　preparations　have　been　made　and　the　necessary　precautions　taken；　any　staged　event　is　guaranteed　success。〃
　ETHELRED　THE　UNREADY
　
　The　candle　lit　at　the　barest　flick　from　my　mind。
　Delighted；　I　snuffed　it　and　tried　again。
　A　sidelong　glance；　a　fleeting　concentration　of　my　will；　and　the　smoldering　wick　burst　into　flame　again。
　I　snuffed　the　flame　and　sat　smiling　at　the　familiar　candle。
　This　was　the　first　real　proof　I'd　had　as　to　how　far　my　magical　powers　had　developed　in　the　past　year。　I　knew　this　candle　from　my　years　as　Garkin's　apprentice。　In　those　days；　it　was　my　arch　nemesis。　Even　focusing　all　my　energies　failed　to　light　it　then。　But　now。。。
　I　glanced　at　the　wick　again；　and　again　it　rewarded　me　with　a　burst　of　flame。
　I　snuffed　it　and　repeated　the　exercise；　my　confidence　growing　as　I　realized　how　easily　I　could　now　do　something　I　once　thought　impossible。
　〃Will　you　knock　it　off　with　the　candle！〃
　I　jumped　at　the　sound　of　Aahz's　outburst；　nearly　upsetting　the　candle　and　setting　the　blanket　afire。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Aahz；〃　I　said；　hastily　snuffing　the　candle　for　the　last　time。　〃I　just…〃
　〃You're　here　to　audition　for　court　magician；〃　he　interrupted。　〃Not　for　town　Christmas　tree！〃
　I　considered　asking　what　a　Christmas　tree　was；　but　decided　against　it。　Aahz　seemed　unmonly　irritable　and　nervous；　and　I　was　pretty　sure；　however　I　chose　to　phrase　my　question；　that　the　answer　would　be　both　sarcastic　and　unproductive。
　〃Stupid　candle　blinking　on　and　off；〃　Aahz　grumbled　half　to　himself。　〃Attract　the　attention　of　every　guard　in　the　castle。〃
　〃I　thought　we　were　trying　to　attract　their　attention；〃　I　pointed　out；　but　Aahz　ignored　me；　peering　at　the　castle　through　the　early…morning　light。
　He　didn't　have　to　peer　far；　as　we　were　camped　in　the　middle　of　the　road　just　short　of　the　castle's　main　gates。
　As　I　said；　I　was　under　the　impression　our　position　was　specifically　chosen　to　attract　attention　to　ourselves。
　We　had　crept　into　position　in　the　dead　of　night；　clumsily　picking　our　way　through　the　sleeping　buildings　clustered　about　the　main　gate。　Not　wishing　to　show　a　light；　unpacking　had　been　minimal；　but　even　in　the　dark；　I　had　recognized　Garkin's　candle。
　All　of　this　had　to　do　with　something　Aahz　called　a　〃dramatic　entrance。〃　As　near　as　I　could　tell；　all　this　meant　was　we　couldn't　do　anything　the　easy　way。
　Our　appearance　was　also　carefully　designed　for　effect；　with　the　aid　of　the　Imps'　abandoned　wardrobe　and　my　disguise　spells。
　Aahz　was　outfitted　in　my　now　traditional　〃dubious　character〃　disguise。　Gleep　was　standing　placidly　beside　Buttercup　disguised　as　a　unicorn；　giving　us　a　matched　pair。　It　was　my　own　appearance；　however；　which　had　been　the　main　focus　of　our　attentions。
　Both　Aahz　and　I　had　agreed　that　the　Garkin　disguise　would　be　unsuitable　for　this　effort。　While　my　own　natural　appearance　was　too　young；　Garkin's　would　be　too　old。　Since　we　could　pretty　much　choose　the　image　we　wanted；　we　decided　to　field　a　magician　in　his　mid　to　late　thirties；　young　without　being　youthful；　experienced　without　being　old；　and　powerful　but　still　learning。
　To　achieve　this　disguise　involved　a　bit　more　work　than　normal；　as　I　did　not　have　an　image　in　mind　to　superimpose　over　my　own。　Instead；　I　closed　my　eyes　and　envisioned　myself　as　I　appeared　normally；　then　slowly　erased　the　features　until　I　had　a　blank　face　to　begin　on。　Then　I　set　to　work　with　Aahz　watching　carefully　and　offering　suggestions　and　modifications。
　The　first　thing　I　changed　was　my　height；　adjusting　the　image　until　the　new　figure　stood　a　head　and　a　half　taller　than　my　actual　diminutive　stature。　My　hair　was　next　and　I　changed　my　strawberry…blond　thatch　to　a　more　sinister　black；　at　the　same　time　darkening　my　plexion　several　shades。
　The　face　gave　us　the　most　trouble。
　〃Elongate　the　chin　a　little　more；〃　Aahz　instructed。　〃Put　on　a　beard　。　。　。　not　that　much；　stupid！　Just　a　little　goatee！　。　。　。　That's　better！　。　。　。　Now　lower　the　sideburns　。　。　。　okay；　build　up　the　nose　。　。　。　narrow　it　。　。　。　make　the　eyebrows　bushier　。　。　。　no；　change　'em　back　and　sink　the　eyes　a　little　instead　。　。　。　for　crying　out　loud　change　the　eye　color！　Make　'em　brown　。　。　。　okay；　now　a　couple　of　frown　wrinkles　in　the　middle　of　the　forehead　。　。　。　Good。　That　should　do　it。〃
　I　stared　at　the　figure　in　my　mind；　burning　the　image　into　my　memory。　It　was　effective；　maybe　a　bit　more　sinister　than　I　would　have　designed　if　left　to　my　own　devices；　but　Aahz　was　the　expert　and　I　had　to　trust　his　judgment。　I　opened　my　eyes。
　〃Terrific；　kid！〃　Aahz　beamed。　〃Now　put　on　that　black　robe　with　the　gold　and　red　trim　the　Imps　left；　and　you'll　cut　a　figure　fit　to　grace　any　court。〃
　〃Move　along　there！　You're　blocking　the　road！〃
　The　rude　order　wrenched　my　thoughts　back　to　the　present。
　A　soldier；　resplendent　in　leather　armor　and　brandishing　an　evil…looking　pike；　was　angrily　approaching　our　crude　encampment。　Behind　him　the　gates　stood　slightly　ajar；　and　I　could　see　the　heads　of　several　other　soldiers　watching　us　curiously。
　Now　that　the　light　was　improving；　I　could　see　the　wall　better。　It　wasn't　much　of　a　wall；　barely　ten　feet　high。　That　figured。　From　what　we　had　seen　since　we　crossed　the　border；　it　wasn't　much　of　a　kingdom；　either。
　〃You　deaf　or　something？〃　the　soldier　barked　drawing　close。　〃I　said　move　along！〃
　Aahz　scuttled　forward　and　planted　himself　in　the　soldier's　path。
　〃Skeeve　the　Magnificent　has　arrived；〃　he　announced。　〃And　he…〃
　〃I　don't　care　who　you　are！〃　the　soldier　snarled；　wasting　no　time　placing　his　pike　between　himself　and　the　figure　addressing　him。　〃You　can't…〃
　He　broke　off　abruptly　as　his　pike　leaped　from　his　grasp　and　floated　horizontally　in　mid…air　until　it　was　forming　a　barricade　between　him　and　Aahz。
　The　occurrence　was　my　doing；　a　simple　feat　of　levitation。　Regardless　of　our　planned　gambit；　I　felt　I　should　take　a　direct　hand　in　the　proceedings　before　things　got　pletely　out　of　hand。
　〃I　am　Skeeve！〃　I　boomed；　forcing　my　voice　into　a　resonant　bass。　〃And　that　is　my　assistant　you　are　attempting　to　threaten　with　your　feeble　weapon。　We　have　e　in　response　to　an　invitation　from　Rodrick　the　Fifth；　King　of　Possiltum！〃
　〃That's　right；　Bosco！〃　Aahz　leered　at　the　soldier。　〃Now　just　run　along　like　a　good　fellow　and　pass　the　word　we're　here　。　。　。　eh？〃
　As　I　noted　earlier；　all　this　was　designed　to　impress　the　hell　out　of　the　general　populace。　Apparently　the　guard　hadn't　read　the　script。　He　did　not　cower　in　terror　or　cringe　with　fear。　If　anything；　our　little　act　seemed　to　have　the　exact　opposite　effect　on　him。
　〃A　magician；　eh？〃　he　said　with　a　mocking　sneer。　〃For　that　I've　got　standing　orders。　Go　around　to　the　back　where　the　others　are。〃
　This　took　us　aback。　Well；　at　least　it　took　me　aback。　According　to　our　plan；　we　would　end　up　arguing　whether　we　entered　the　palace　to　perform　in　the　king's　court；　or　if　the　king　had　to　bring　his　court　outside　to　where　we　were。　Being　sent　to　the　back　door　was　not　an　option　we　had　considered。
　〃To　the　back？〃　Aahz　glowered。　〃You　dare　to　suggest　a　magician　of　my　master's　stature　go　to　the　back　door　like　a　mon　servant？〃
　The　soldier　didn't　budge　an　inch。
　〃If　it　were　up　to　me；　I'd　‘dare　to　suggest'　a　far　less　pleasant　activity　for　you。　As　it　is；　I　have　my　orders。　You're　to　go　around　to　the　back　like　all　the　others。〃
　〃Others？〃　I　asked　carefully。
　〃That's　right；〃　the　guard　sneered。　〃The　king　is　holding　an　open　air　court　to　deal　with　all　you　‘miracle　workers。'　Every　hack　charm…peddler　for　eight　kingdoms　is　in　town。　Some　of　'em　have　been　in　line　since　noon　yesterday。　Now　get　around　to　the　back　and　quit　blocking　the　road！〃
　With　that　he　turned　on　his　heel　and　marched　back　to　the　gate；　leaving　his　pike　hanging　in　mid…air。
　For　once；　Aahz　was　as　speechless　as　I　was。　Apparently　I　wasn't　the　only　one　the　king　had　invited　to　drop　by。　Apparently　we　were　in　big　trouble。
　
　Chapter　Five
　〃。　。　。　Eve　of　newt；　toe　of　frog。　。　。　〃…Believed　to　be　the　first　recipe　for　an　explosive　mixture　。　。　。　
　The　forerunner　of　gunpowder。
　
　〃What　are　we　going　to　do；　Aahz？〃
　With　the　guard　out　of　earshot；　I　could　revert　to　my　normal　voice　and　speech　patterns；　though　it　was　still　necessary　to　keep　my　physical　disguise　intact。
　〃That's　easy；〃　he　responded。　〃We　pack　up　our　things　and　go　around　the　back。　Weren't　you　listening；　kid？〃
　〃But　what　are　we　going　to　do　about　。　。　。〃
　But　Aahz　was　already　at　work；　rebinding　the　few　items　we　had　unpacked。
　〃Don't　do　anything；　kid；〃　he　warned　over　his　shoulder。　〃We　can't　let　anyone　see　you　doing　menial　work。　It's　bad　for　the　image。〃
　〃He　said　there　were　other　magicians　here！〃　I　blurted　at　last。
　〃Yeah。　So？〃
　〃Well；　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　Aahz　scowled。　〃I　told　you　once。　We're　going　to　pack　our　things　and…〃
　〃What　are　we　going　to　do　about　the　other　magicians？〃
　〃Do？　We　aren't　going　to　do　anything。　You　aren't　up　to　dueling；　you　know。〃
　He　had　finished　packing　and　stepped　back　to　survey　his　handiwork。　Nodding　in　satisfaction；　he　turned　and　shot　a　glance　over　my　shoulder。
　〃Do　something　about　the　pike；　will　ya；　kid？〃
　I　followed　his　gaze。　The　guard's　pike　was　still　hanging　suspended　in　mid…air。　Even　though　I　hadn't　been　thinking　about　it；　part　of　my　mind　had　been　keeping　it　afloat　until　I　decided　what　to　do　with　it。　The　question　was；　what　should　I　do　with　it？
　〃Say；　Aahz　。　。　。〃　I　began；　but　Aahz　had　already　started　walking　along　the　wall。
　For　a　moment　I　was　immobilized　with　indecision。　The　guard　had　gone　so　I　couldn't　return　his　weapon　to　him。　Still；　simply　letting　it　drop　to　the　ground　seemed　somehow　anticlimactic。
　Unable　to　think　of　anything　to　do　that　would　have