myth.conceptions-第6部分

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　〃Maybe　they　ran　out　of　stones；〃　I　suggested。
　〃C'mon；　kid。　From　what　we've　seen　since　we　crossed　the　border　this　kingdom's　principal　crop　is　stones。〃
　〃But　the　general　。　。　。〃
　As　I　spoke；　I　glanced　in　the　general's　direction　again。　To　my　surprise　and　disfort；　he　was　staring　directly　at　me。　It　wasn't　a　friendly　stare。
　I　hesitated　for　a　moment；　hoping　I　was　wrong。　I　wasn't。　The　general's　gaze　didn't　waver；　nor　did　his　expression　soften。　If　anything；　it　got　uglier。
　〃Aahz；〃　I　hissed　desperately；　unable　to　tear　my　eyes　from　the　general。
　Now　the　king　and　the　chancellor　were　staring　in　my　direction　too；　their　attention　drawn　by　the　general's　gaze。
　〃Kid！〃　Aahz　moaned　beside　me。　〃I　thought　I　told　you　to　do　something　about　that　pike！〃
　The　pike！　I　had　pletely　forgotten　about　it！
　I　pulled　my　eyes　from　the　general's　glare　and　glanced　behind　me　as　casually　as　I　could。
　Buttercup　and　Gleep　were　still　standing　patiently　to　our　rear；　and　floating　serenely　above　them　was　the　guard's　pike。　I　guess　it　was　kind　of　noticeable。
　〃You！〃
　I　turned　toward　the　pavilion　and　the　sound　of　the　bellow。　The　general　had　stepped　forward　and　was　pointing　a　massive　finger　at　me。
　〃Yes；　you！〃　he　roared　as　our　eyes　met　once　more。　〃Where　did　you　get　that　pike？　It　belongs　to　the　palace　guards。〃
　〃I　think　you're　about　to　have　your　interview；　kid；〃　Aahz　murmured。　〃Give　it　your　best　and　knock　'em　stiff。〃
　〃But…〃　I　protested。
　〃It　beats　standing　in　line！〃
　With　that；　Aahz　took　a　long　leisurely　step　backward。　The　effect　was　the　same　as　if　I　had　stepped　forward；　which　I　definitely　hadn't。　With　the　attention　of　the　entire　courtyard　now　centered　on　me；　however；　I　had　no　choice　but　to　take　the　plunge。
　
　Chapter　Six
　〃That's　entertainment！〃
　…VLAD　THE　IMPALER
　
　Crossing　my　arms；　I　moved　toward　the　pavilion；　keeping　my　pace　slow　and　measured。
　Aahz　had　insisted　I　practice　this　walk。　He　said　it　would　make　me　look　confident　and　self…possessed。　Now　that　I　was　actually　appearing　before　a　king；　I　found　I　was　using　the　walk；　not　as　a　show　of　arrogance；　but　to　hide　the　weakness　in　my　legs。
　〃Well？〃　the　general　rumbled；　looming　before　me。　〃I　asked　you　a　question！　Where　did　you　get　that　pike？　You'd　best　answer　before　I　grow　angry！〃
　Something　in　me　snapped。　Any　fear　I　felt　of　the　general　and　his　axe　evaporated；　replaced　by　a　heady　glow　of　strength。
　I　had　discovered　on　my　first　visit　to　the　Bazaar　at　Deva　that　I　didn't　like　to　be　pushed　by　big；　loud　Deveels。　I　discovered　now　that　I　also　didn't　like　it　any　better　when　the　arrogance　came　from　a　big；　loud　fellow　Klahd。
　So　the　big　man　wanted　to　throw　his　weight　around；　did　he？
　With　a　twitch　of　my　mind；　I　summoned　the　pike。　Without　turning　to　look；　I　brought　it　arrowing　over　my　shoulder　in　a　course　destined　to　embed　it　in　the　general's　chest。
　The　general　saw　it　ing　and　paled。　He　took　an　awkward　step　backward；　realized　it　was　too　late　for　flight；　and　groped　madly　for　his　axe。
　I　stopped　the　pike　three　feet　from　his　chest；　floating　it　in　front　of　him　with　its　point　leveled　at　his　heart。
　〃This　pike？〃　I　asked　casually。
　〃Ahh　。　。　。〃　the　general　responded；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　weapon。
　〃I　took　this　pike　from　an　overly　rude　soldier。　He　said　he　was　following　orders。　Would　those　orders　e　from　you；　by　any　chance？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　um　。　。　。　。〃　The　general　licked　his　lips。　〃I　issued　orders　that　my　men　deal　with　strangers　in　an　expedient　fashion。　I　said　nothing　about　their　being　less　then　polite。〃
　〃In　that　case　。　。　。〃
　I　moved　the　pike　ninety　degrees　so　that　it　no　longer　threatened　the　general。
　〃。　。　。　I　return　the　pike　to　you　so　that　you　might　give　it　back　to　the　guard　along　with　a　clarification　of　your　orders　。　。　。　。〃
　The　general　hesitated；　scowling；　then　extended　his　hand　to　grasp　the　floating　pike。　Just　before　he　reached　it；　I　let　it　fall　to　the　ground　where　it　clattered　noisily。
　〃。　。　。　and　hopefully　additional　instructions　as　to　how　to　handle　their　weapons；〃　I　concluded。
　The　general　flushed　and　started　to　pick　up　the　pike。　Then　the　chancellor　snickered；　and　the　general　spun　around　to　glare　at　him。　The　chancellor　smirked　openly　and　whispered　something　to　the　king；　who　tried　to　suppress　a　smile　at　his　words。
　The　general　turned　to　me　again；　ignoring　the　pike；　and　glared　down　from　his　full　height。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked　in　a　tone　which　implied　my　name　would　be　immediately　moved　to　the　head　of　the　list　for　public　execution。
　〃Who's　asking？〃　I　glared　back；　still　not　pletely　over　my　anger。
　〃The　man　you　are　addressing；〃　the　king　interceded；　〃is　Hugh　Badaxe；　mander　of　the　Royal　Armies　of　Possiltum。〃
　〃And　I　am　J。　R。　Grimble；〃　the　chancellor　added　hastily；　afraid　of　being　left　out。　〃First　Advisor　to　His　Majesty。〃
　The　general　shot　another　black　look　at　Grimble。　I　decided　it　was　time　to　get　down　to　business。
　〃I　am　the　magician　known　as　Skeeve；〃　I　began　grandly。　〃I　have　e　in　response　to　a　gracious　invitation　from　His　Most　Noble　Majesty；　Rodrick　the　Fifth。〃
　I　paused　and　inclined　my　head　slightly　to　the　king　who　smiled　and　nodded　in　return。
　〃I　have　e　to　determine　for　myself　if　I　should　consider　accepting　a　position　at　the　court　of　Possiltum。〃
　The　phrasing　of　that　last　part　had　been　chosen　very　carefully　by　Aahz。　It　was　designed　to　display　my　confidence　by　implying　the　choice　was　mine　rather　than　theirs。
　The　subtlety　was　not　lost　on　the　chancellor；　who　raised　a　critical　eyebrow　at　my　choice　of　words。
　〃Now；　such　a　position　requires　confidence　on　both　sides；〃　I　continued。　〃I　must　feel　that　I　will　be　amply　rewarded　for　my　services；　and　His　Majesty　must　be　satisfied　that　my　skills　are　worthy　of　his　sponsorship。〃
　I　turned　slightly　and　raised　my　voice　to　address　the　entire　court。
　〃The　generosity　of　the　crown　of　Possiltum　is　known　to　all；〃　I　declared。　〃And　I　have　every　confidence　His　Majesty　will　reward　his　retainers　in　proportion　to　their　service　to　him。〃
　There　was　a　strangled　sound　behind　me；　from　the　general；　I　think。　I　ignored　it。
　〃Therefore；　all　that　is　required　is　that　I　satisfy　His　Majesty　。　。　。　and　his　advisors　。　。　。　that　my　humble　skills　will　indeed　suffice　his　needs。〃
　I　turned　to　the　throne　once　more；　letting　the　king　see　my　secret　smile　which　belied　the　humility　of　my　words。
　〃Your　Majesty；　my　powers　are　many　and　varied。　However；　the　essence　of　power　is　control。　Therefore　realizing　you　are　a　busy　man；　rather　than　waste　time　with　mere　mercial　trickeries　and　minor　demonstrations　such　as　we　have　already　seen；　I　shall　weave　but　three　spells　and　trust　in　your　wisdom　to　perceive　the　depths　behind　them。〃
　I　turned　and　stretched　forth　a　finger　to　point　at　Buttercup　and　Gleep。
　〃Yonder　are　my　prize　pair　of　matched　unicorns；〃　I　said　dramatically。　〃Would　Your　Majesty　be　so　kind　as　to　choose　one　of　them？〃
　The　king　blinked　in　surprise　at　being　invited　to　participate　in　my　demonstration。　For　a　moment　he　hesitated。
　〃Umm　。　。　。　I　choose　the　one　on　the　left；〃　he　said；　finally　indicating　Buttercup。
　I　bowed　slightly。
　〃Very　well；　Your　Majesty。　By　your　word　shall　that　creature　be　spared。　Observe　the　other　closely。〃
　Actually；　that　was　another　little　stunt　Aahz　had　taught　me。　It's　called　a　〃magician's　force；〃　and　allows　a　performer　to　offer　his　audience　a　choice　without　really　giving　them　a　choice。　Had　the　king　chosen　Gleep；　I　would　have　simply　proceeded　to　work　on　〃the　creature　he　had　doomed　with　a　word。〃
　Slowly；　I　pointed　a　finger　at　Gleep　and　lowered　my　head　slightly。
　〃Walla　walla　Washington！〃　I　said　somberly。
　I　don't　know　what　the　words　meant；　but　Aahz　assured　me　they　had　historic　precedence　and　would　convince　people　I　was　actually　doing　something　plex。
　〃Alla　kazam　shazam；〃　I　continued；　raising　my　other　arm。　〃Bibbity　bobbity　。　。　。〃
　I　mentally　removed　Gleep's　disguise。
　The　crowd　reacted　with　a　gasp；　drowning　out　my　final　〃goo…gleep。〃
　My　dragon　heard　his　name；　though；　and　reacted　immediately。　His　head　came　up　and　he　lumbered　forward　to　stand　docilely　at　my　side。　As　planned；　Aahz　immediately　shambled　forward　to　a　position　near　Gleep's　head　and　stood　watchful　and　ready。
　This　was　meant　to　imply　that　we　were　prepared　to　handle　any　difficulty　which　might　arise　with　the　dragon。　The　crowd's　reaction　to　him；　however；　overshadowed　their　horror　at　seeing　a　unicorn　transformed　to　a　dragon。　I　had　forgotten　how　effective　the　〃disreputable　character〃　disguise　was。　Afraid　of　losing　the　momentum　of　my　performance；　I　hurried　on。
　〃This　misshapen　wretch　is　my　apprentice　Aahz；〃　I　announced。　〃You　may　wonder　if　it　is　within　his　power　to　stop　the　dragon　should　the　beast　grow　angry。　I　tell　you　now　。　。　。　it　is　not！〃
　The　crowd　edged　back　nervously。　From　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　the　general's　hand　slide　to　the　handle　of　his　axe。
　〃But　it　is　within　my　power！　Now　you　know　that　the　forces　of　darkness　are　no　strangers　to　Skeeve！〃
　I　spun　and　stabbed　a　finger　at　Aahz。
　〃Bobbelty　gook；　crumbs　and　martyrs！〃
　I　removed　Aahz's　disguise。
　There　was　a　moment　of　stunned　silence；　then　Aahz　smiled。　Aahz's　smile　has　been　known　to　make　strong　men　weak；　and　there　were　not　many　strong　men　in　the　crowd。
　The　audience　half　trampled　each　other　in　their　haste　to　backpedal　from　the　demon；　and　the　sound　of　screeches　was　intermixed　with　hastily　chanted　protection　spells。
　I　turned　to　the　throne　once　more。　The　king　and　the　chancellor　seemed　to　be　taking　it　well。　They　were　posed；　though　a　bit　pale。　The　general　was　scowling　thoughtfully　at　Aahz。
　〃As　a　demon；　my　apprentice　can　suppress　the　dragon　if　need　be　。　。　。　nay；　ten　dragons。　Such　is　my　power。　Yet　power　must　be　tempered　with　gentleness　。　。　。　gentility　if　you　will。〃
　I　allowed　my　expression　to　grow　thoughtful。
　〃To　confuse　one's　enemies　and　receive　one's　allies；　you　need　no　open　show　of　power　or　menace。　For　occasions　such　as　those；　one's　powers　can　be　masked　until　one　is　no　more　conspicuous　than　。　。　。　than　a　stripling。〃
　As　I　spoke　the　final　words；　I　stripped　away　my　own　disguise　and　stood　in　my　youthful　unsplendor。　I　probably　should　have　used　some　fake　magik　words；　but　I　had　already　used　up　all　the　ones　Aahz　had　taught　me　and　was　afraid　of　experimenting　with　new　ones。
　The　king　and　the　chancellor　were　staring　at　me　intently　as　if　trying　to　penetrate　my　magical　disguise　with