myth.conceptions-第9部分
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〃Flattery's nice；〃 Aahz observed； 〃but you can't spend it。 The subject was our wages。〃
〃You must realize we are a humble kingdom；〃 Grimble sighed； 〃though we try to reward our retainers as best we can。 There have been quarters set aside for the court magician； which should be spacious enough to acmodate both of you。 Your meals will be provided 。 。 。 that is； of course； assuming you are on time when they are served。 Also； there is a possibility 。 。 。 no； I'd go so far as to say it is a certainty that His Majesty's generosity will be extended to include free stable space and food for your unicorns。 How does that sound？〃
〃So far； pretty cheap；〃 Aahz observed bluntly。
〃What do you mean； ‘cheap？' 〃 the chancellor snarled； losing his posure for a moment。
〃What you've offered so far；〃 Aahz sneered； 〃is a room we won't be sleeping in； meals we won't be eating； and stable space we won't be using because we'll be in the field fighting your war for you。 In exchange； you want Skeeve here to use his skills to save your kingdom。 By my calculations； that's cheap！〃
〃Yes； I see your point；〃 Grimble conceded。 〃Well； there will； of course； be a small wage paid。〃
〃How small？〃 Aahz pressed…：
〃Sufficient to cover your expenses；〃 the chancellor smiled。 〃Shall we say fifty gold pieces a month？〃
〃Let's say two hundred；〃 Aahz smiled back。
〃Perhaps we could go as high as seventy…five；〃 Grimble countered。
〃And we'll e down to two…twenty…five；〃 Aahz offered。
〃Considering his skills； we could pay 。 。 。 excuse me；〃 the chancellor blinked。 〃Did you say two…twenty…five？〃
〃Actually；〃 Aahz conceded； 〃I misspoke。〃
〃I thought so。〃 Grimble smiled。
〃I meant two…fifty。〃
〃Now see here…〃the chancellor began。
〃Look； Grimble；〃 Aahz met him halfway； 〃you had three choices。 You could double the size of your army； hire a magician； or lose the kingdom。 Even at three hundred a month； Skeeve here is your best deal。 Don't look at what you're spending； look at what you're saving。〃
Grimble thought about it for a few moments。
〃Very well；〃 he said； grimacing。 〃Two…fifty it is。〃
〃I believe the figure under discussion was three hundred；〃 I observed pointedly。
That earned me a black look； but I stood my ground and returned his stare levelly。
〃Three hundred；〃 he said； forcing the words out through gritted teeth。
〃Payable in advance；〃 Aahz added。
〃Payable at the end of the pay period；〃 Grimble corrected。
〃C'mon； Grimble；〃 Aahz began； but the chancellor interrupted him； holding up his hand。
〃No！ On that point I must remain inflexible；〃 he insisted。 〃Everyone in the Royal Retinue is paid at the same time； when the vaults are opened at the end of the pay period。 If we break that rule and start allowing exceptions； there will be no end to it。〃
〃Can you at least give us a partial advance？〃 Aahz pressed。 〃Something to cover expenses on the uping campaign？〃
〃Definitely not！〃 Grimble retorted。 〃If I paid out monies for services not yet rendered； certain people； specifically Hugh Badaxe； would suspect you intended to take the money and flee without entering battle at all！〃
That hit unfortably close to home； and I found myself averting my eyes for fear of betraying my guilt。 Aahz； however； never even blinked。
〃What about bribes？〃 he asked。
Grimble scowled。
〃It is unthinkable that one of the king's retainers would accept a bribe； much less count on it as part of his ine。 Any attempt to bribe you should be reported immediately to His Majesty！〃
〃Not taking bribes； Grimble；〃 Aahz snarled。 〃Giving them。 When we give money out to the enemy； does that e out of our wages； or does the kingdom pay for it？〃
〃I seriously doubt you could buy off the army facing you；〃 the chancellor observed skeptically。 〃Besides； you're supposed to carry the day with magik。 That's what we're paying you for。〃
〃Even magik is aided by accurate information；〃 Aahz replied pointedly。 〃C'mon Grimble； you know court intrigue。 A little advance warning can go a long way in any battle。〃
〃True enough；〃 the chancellor admitted。 〃Very well； I guess we can give you an allowance for bribes； assuming it will be kept within reason。〃
〃How much in reason？〃 Aahz inquired。
〃Say 。 。 。 five gold pieces。〃
〃Twenty…five would…〃
〃Five！〃 Grimble said firmly。
Aahz studied his adversary for a moment； then sighed。
〃Five；〃 he said； extending his palm。
The chancellor grudgingly dug into his purse and counted out five gold pieces。 In fact； he counted them twice before passing them to Aahz。
〃You realize； of course；〃 he warned； 〃I will require an accounting of those funds after your victory。〃
〃Of course；〃 Aahz smiled； fondling the coins。
〃You seem very confident of our victory； Lord Chancellor；〃 I observed。
Grimble regarded me with cocked eyebrow for a moment。
〃Of course I am confident； Lord Magician；〃 he said at last。 〃So confident； I have staked my kingdom； and more importantly； my reputation； on your success。 You will note I rate my reputation above the kingdom。 That is no accident。 Kingdoms rise and fall； but a chancellor can always find employment。 That is； of course； providing it was not his advice which brought the kingdom to ruin。 Should you fail in your campaign to save Possiltum； my career is finished。 If that should happen； gentlemen； your careers fall with mine。〃
〃That has the sound of a threat to it； Grimble；〃 Aahz observed dryly。
〃Does it？〃 the chancellor responded with mock innocence。 〃That was not my intent。 I am not threatening； I am stating a fact。 I maintain very close contact with the chancellors of all of the surrounding kingdoms； in fact I am related to several。 They are all aware of my position in this magik versus the military issue。 Should I prove wrong in my judgment； should you fail in your defense of Possiltum； they will note it。 Thereafter； any magician…and you specifically； Skeeve…will be denounced as a fraud and a charlatan should you seek further employment。 In fact； as the chancellors frequently control the courts； I would not be surprised if they found an excuse or a trumped…up charge which would allow them to have you put to death as a favor to me。 The method of death varies from kingdom to kingdom； but the end result is the same。 I trust you will keep that in mind as you plan your campaign。〃
With that； he turned on his heel and strode away； leaving us standing in silence。
〃Well； Aahz；〃 I said finally； 〃do you have any sound advice on our situation now？〃
〃Of course；〃 he retorted。
〃What？〃 I asked。
〃Now that we've got the whole story；〃 he said solemnly； 〃now you can panic。〃
Chapter Nine
〃There is more at stake here than our lives。〃
…COL。 TRAVIS
Alamo Pep Talk
On the third night after leaving Possiltum's capital； we camped on a small knoll overlooking the kingdom's main north…south trail。
Actually； I use the phase 〃north…south〃 rather loosely in this instance。 In three days' travel； our progress was the only northward movement we had observed on this particular strip of beaten dirt。 The dearth of northbound traffic was emphasized by the high volume of people bound in the opposite direction。
As we traveled we were constantly encountering small groups and families picking their way steadily toward the capital in that unhurried yet groundeating pace that typifies people accustomed to traveling without means of transport other than their feet。 They did not seem particularly frightened or panicky； but two mon characteristics marked them all as being more than casual travelers。
First； the great amount of personal effects they carried was far in excess of that required for a simple pilgrimage。 Whether bound in cumbersome backpacks or heaped in small； hand…pushed carts； it was obvious the southbound travelers were bringing with them as much of their worldly possessions as they could carry or drag。
Second； no one paid us any heed other than a passing glance。 This was even more noteworthy than the prior observation。
Currently； our party consisted of three： myself； Aahz； and Gleep。 We had left Buttercup at the palace； much to Aahz's disgust。 He would have preferred to leave Gleep and bring Buttercup； but the royal orders had been firm on this point。 The dragon was not to remain at the palace unless one or both of us also stayed behind to handle him。 As a result； we traveled as a trio…a youth； a dragon； and a grumbling demon…not exactly a mon sight in these or any other parts。 The peasants flowing south； however； barely noticed us other than to give us clear road space when we passed。
Aahz maintained that this was because whatever they were running from inspired such fear that they barely noted anything or anybody in their path。 He further surmised that the motivating force for this exodus could only be the very army we were on our way to oppose。
To prove his point； we attempted to question several of the groups when we encountered them。 We stopped doing this after the first day due to the similarities of the replies we received。 Sample：
Aahz： Hold； stranger！ Where are you going？ Answer： To the capital！
Aahz： Why？
Answer： To be as near as possible to the king when he makes his defense against the invaders from the North。 He'll have to try to save himself even if he won't defend the outlands。
Aahz： Citizen you need flee no more。 You have underestimated your king's concern for your safety。 You see before you the new court magician； retained by His Majesty specifically for the purpose of defending Possiltum from the invading army。 What say you to that？
Answer： One magician？
Aahz： With my own able assistance； of course。
Answer： I'd say you were crazy。
Aahz： Now look…
Answer： No； you look； whoever or whatever you are。 Meaning no disrespect to this or any other magician； you're fools to oppose that army。 Magik may be well and good against an ordinary force； but you aren't going to stop that army with one magician 。 。 。 or twenty magicians for that matter。
Aahz： We have every confidence…
Answer： Fine； then you go north。 Me； I'm heading for the capital！
Though this exchange had eventually quelled our efforts to reassure the populace； it had given rise to an argument which was still unresolved as we prepared to sleep on the th
