fs.thesecondbookofswords-第23部分

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nd　somewhat　on　the　fact　that　no　man　has　ever　known　me。　The　Red　Temple　set　great　store　on　my　virginity；　when　their　magicians　were　satisfied　that　it　was　intact。　They　would　have　sold　me　for　a　fortune；　I　suppose　to　someone　who　had　other　than　magical　concerns　about　it。　And　where　are　we　going；　anyway；　that　I　must　bind　up　my　hair？〃
　　　But　Doon　had　another　question　of　his　own　to　put。　〃And　why　did　not　your　mother　simply　have　you　killed；　instead　of　selling　you？〃
　　　〃Perhaps　…　she　thought　that　going　into　slavery　would　be　worse。　Perhaps　some　seer　or　oracle　warned　her　against　it。　Who　knows　why　great　queens　do　the　things　they　do？〃　Mark　had　heard　the　same　tone　of　bitterness；　exactly；　in　the　voice　of　the　peasant　woman　whose　eyes　had　been　put　out　by　soldiers。
　　　The　Baron　had　sheathed　his　Sword　now；　and　was　standing　with　arms　folded；　eyes　probing　at　his　captive　…　if　that　was　really　the　right　word；　Mark　thought；　for　her　status。　〃You　say　your　mother　is　your　enemy；〃　Doon　demanded。　〃Then　you　are　hers？〃
　　　Ariane's　blue　eyes　were　suddenly　those　of　an　angry　child。　〃Give　me　the　chance　to　prove　it　and　I　will。〃
　　　〃I　intend　to　do　just　that。　Now；　the　Silver　Queen　has　a　deep　interest　in　the　Blue　Temple；　does　she　not？〃
　　　As　if　she　had　been　expecting　to　hear　something　else；　the　girl　had　to　pause　for　thought。　But　then　she　agreed。　〃Aye；　I　am　sure　she　must　have。　Why？〃
　　　〃Because　we　are　going　to　enter　the　central　storehouse　of　the　Blue　Temple；　and　rob　it　of　its　wealth。　My　Sword　here　informs　me　that　you　…　your　powers　…　are　going　to　be　very　useful　in　the　execution　of　this　plan。　Cooperate　with　me　willingly；　and　I　promise　you　that　when　the　time　es　for　sharing　out　the　treasure；　you　will　not　be　forgotten。　And　I　promise　also　that　in　the　meantime　you'll　take　no　harm　from　any　man。〃　And　he　cast　a　meaningful　look　at　the　two　members　of　his　crew　who　were　immediately　present。
　　　And　she　is　so　beautiful；　Mark　was　thinking；　that　there　are　a　lot　of　men　who'd　fight　to　have　her。　But　there　was　something　almost　too　impressive　in　her　beauty；　so　that　it　served　as　a　warning　as　well　as　an　invitation。　And　Mark　could　not　forget　that　moment　in　which　Ariane　had　hailed　him　as　her　brother。　Whenever　he　had　asked　her　about　it　later；　she　had　said　that　she　could　not　remember；　that　she　had　been　drugged　when　she　called　him　that。　He　told　himself　that　there　was　no　way　he　could　actually　be　her　brother。　Still。。。
　　　Doon　was　speaking　to　the　girl　again；　〃And　how　would　you　like　to　find　yourself；　when　we　part　pany；　with　a　purse　full　of　Blue　Temple　jewels　and　gold　as　dowry？　Or　for　any　other　purpose。　You　need　be　dependent　upon　no　prince　or　potentate　then；　if　you　don't　want　to　be。〃
　　　Ariane　mused。　〃Her　gold　and　jewels；　in　my　hands。　I　think　I　would　like　that。〃　She　seemed　to　be　accepting　without　difficulty　the　prospect　of　getting　into　the　Blue　Temple　vaults　and　robbing　them。　Mark　and　Ben　exchanged　a　glance；　and　Ben　nodded　slightly；　the　girl　must　be　at　least　a　little　out　of　touch　with　reality。
　　　Mitspieler　had　e　up　on　deck　again；　and　was　hovering　in　the　background　trying　to　get　Doon's　attention。　As　soon　as　he　had　done　so；　Doon　went　below　again；　to　consult　with　the　magicians。
　　　The　moment　the　Baron　was　out　of　sight；　Hubert；　with　Golok　trailing　behind　him；　came　forward　from　the　stern。　Mark　had　noticed　before　now　that　Hubert　was　fascinated　by　Ariane；　and　could　not　keep　from　approaching　her　when　he　had　the　opportunity。
　　　But　something　that　the　soldier　saw　in　the　sea　or　fog　ahead　of　the　ship　appeared　to　distract　him；　and　when　he　came　up　to　the　others　he　was　frowning。　The　first　thing　he　said　was：　〃I　hope　we'll　not　go　near　those　Cliffs。〃
　　　Ben；　still　sitting　on　the　deck；　leaning　back　against　the　rail；　looked　up　at　him　curiously。　〃Why　not？〃
　　　〃'Why　not？'　the　big　man　asks。　〃Because　of　who　might　be　up　there；　that's　why　not。　I've　heard　our　masters　talking　…　all　right；　if　you　don't　like　to　call　'em　that；　our　leaders；　then。　And　I　know　a　thing　or　two　about　this　part　of　the　world　myself；　without　asking　them。〃
　　　〃And　who　is　so　important；　up　on　the　cliffs？〃　asked　Ariane。　Suddenly　she　appeared　to　be　intensely　interested；　though　she　usually　care　nothing　for　Hubert's　talk。
　　　Hubert　chuckled；　pleased　at　having　made　an　impression　for　once。　〃That's　the　Emperor's　land　up　there；　young　lady。　Those　cliffs　ahead　of　us；　beyond　the　fog。〃
　　　Ariane　almost　gasped　to　hear　this。　〃No；　not　really！〃　Though　Mark　was　observing　her　as　keenly　as　he　could；　he　still　could　not　tell　if　she　was　really　impressed；　frightened；　or　subtly　mocking　Hubert。
　　　The　short　man；　at　least；　had　no　doubt　about　what　kind　of　an　impression　he　was　making。　He　seemed　to　swell　a　little。　〃Oh　aye。。。　did　you　think　that　the　Emperor　was　only　a　story？　That's　what　most　people　think。　A　few　bright　ones　know　better。　I've　heard　about　this　place。　Down　below　those　cliffs　there's　a　grotto；　and　in　that　grotto　the　Emperor　keeps　a　horde　of　his　pet　demons。　Oh；　he　owns　other　lands　too；　scattered　about　the　world；　but　this　place　is　special。　I've　heard　about　it　from　those　who've　seen　it。
　　　〃Maybe　you　thought　he　was　only　a　story；　or　only　a　joke？　Ah　no；　lass；　he's　real；　and　no　joke。　He　likes　to　sit　up　there　on　a　rock；　wearing　a　gray　cloak；　and　looking　like　an　ordinary　man；　waiting　for　shipwrecked　folk　or　anyone　else　to　land　and　e　up　to　him　out　of　the　sea。　And　when　they　do；　he　likes　to　whistle　up　his　demons。　And　the　victims　are　dragged　by　demons　down　into　the　grotto；　where　for　the　rest　of　time　and　eternity　they　wish　that　they　could　die　…　why；　what's　the　matter；　big　man；　seasickness　e　back　on　you？　…　that's　the　Emperor's　idea　of　a　joke。。。　oh；　you　don't　believe　me；　lass？〃
　　　Mark　glanced　curiously　at　Ben；　who　did　indeed　appear　to　be　upset　about　something。　But　Ariane　certainly　did　not。　Far　from　being　upset　or　even　impressed　by　Hubert's　tale；　she　had　burst　out　laughing。
　　　It　made　Hubert　angry　to　be　laughed　at；　and　his　ears　reddened。　〃Funny；　is　it？　And　if　anyone　resists；　or　tries　to　run　away；　all　the　Emperor　has　to　do　is　throw　open　his　gray　cloak。　Underneath　it；　his　body's　so　twisted　away　from　human　shape　that　anyone　who　sees　it　will　go　mad。。。〃
　　　The　girl's　laughter　did　not　sound　to　Mark　as　if　it　sprang　from　madness；　but　from　a　healthy　sense　of　the　ridiculous。　Hubert　was　glaring　at　her；　and　his　fingers　worked。　But　Mark　and　Ben　were　one　on　each　side　of　her；　and　watching　him；　and　Doon　had　spoken　his　warning。　The　short　man　turned　and　retreated　quickly　to　the　stern。　And　Golok　still　hovered　nearby；　watching。
　　　Presently　Doon　was　back　on　deck；　Indosuaros　with　him。　Shortly　afterwards　the　ship　changed　course；　and　was　bearing　in　toward　land；　though　not　toward　the　cliffs　where　the　Emperor　was　said　to　lie　in　wait。　The　wizard　was　now　muttering　almost　continuous　instructions　to　the　djinn。　The　other　humans　stood　out　of　the　way　as　much　as　possible；　as　the　vessel　was　maneuvered　by　the　invisible　power；　in　through　breakers　to　a　small　scrap　of　sandy　beach。　The　ship　was　brought　to　a　stop　just　before　it　ran　aground；　in　water　so　shallow　that　it　was　possible　to　disembark　with　no　worse　effect　than　a　wetting。
　　　Ariane；　with　her　hair　already　tied　up　neatly；　took　part　as　one　of　the　crew　in　passing　packs　and　weapons　safe　to　shore。
　　　In　a　few　moments　they　all　stood　on　the　beach；　dripping　…　all　but　Indosuaros；　whose　robes　had　refused　to　absorb　any　water　even　when　immersed。　The　wizard　stood　conferring　cryptically　with　his　djinn；　which　was　visible　only　as　a　small　cloud　of　troubled　air　above　the　ship。
　　　Meanwhile　Doon；　gazing　up　at　the　towering　cliffs；　asked　Ben：　〃This　is　where　you　climbed　down？〃
　　　Ben　had　not　yet　told　anyone；　even　Mark；　the　details　of　his　escape　after　getting　away　from　the　dragon　and　starting　down　the　cliff。　And；　with　Hubert's　lurid　story　still　fresh　in　his　mind；　he　felt　reluctant　to　start　talking　about　them　now。　He　looked　at　the　cliffs　uncertainly；　and　then　to　right　and　left。　〃A　little　farther　south；　I　think　it　was。　It's　hard　for　me　to　tell；　it　was　night　then；　of　course。　All　this　cliff　looks　much　the　same。〃
　　　〃Aye。〃　Doon　studied　the　face　of　it　to　north　and　south。　〃Then　you　worked　your　way　south　along　the　shoreline；　I　suppose。。。　how'd　you　get　across　the　fjord？〃
　　　〃Swam。　Where　it　was　narrower。〃
　　　Doon　nodded　his　acceptance。　And　now；　like　some　infantry　mander　about　to　set　out　on　a　dangerous　patrol；　he　ordered　all　packs　opened　and　the　contents　spread　out。　In　addition　he　checked　the　water　bottles　and　skins；　making　sure　all　were　full　and　fresh。　There　was　a　coil　of　rope　for　each　member　of　the　expedition。　Food　supplies　were　in　order　…　Ben　had　heard　the　tale　of　the　feast　magically　provided　by　Indosuaros　at　his　headquarters；　but　there　had　been　no　indication　of　any　such　service　being　available　on　the　road。　There　were　weapons；　climbing　and　stonecutting　tools。　Hubert　appropriated　a　crossbow　from　Indosuaros'　armory。　Ariane　was　given　a　pack　as　a　matter　of　course；　and；　when　she　spoke　to　Doon；　a　knife　and　a　sling　to　wear　at　her　belt。　The　magician　and　his　aide　had　their　own　inventory　to　take；　and　Indosuaros　certified　that　they　were　ready。
　　　The　ship；　relieved　of　its　passengers　and　their　modest　cargo；　bobbed　in　the　water　a　few　score　meters　offshore；　remaining　in　one　spot　just　as　if　it　had　been　anchored。
　　　Dobn　waded　out　a　few　steps；　to　question　his　magician；　who　was　standing　in　calf…deep　water；　gesturing。　〃What　about　the　djinn？〃
　　　〃It　must　stay　with　the　ship；　to　protect　it；　move　it　about　as　needed；　and　bring　it　back　to　us　here　when　we　call。〃
　　　At　another　gesture　from　Indosuaros；　the　sails　emptied；　flapped；　then　bellied　as　they　refilled　themselves。　The　vessel　turned　away　from　shore　and　toward　the　open　sea。
　　　〃Wait！〃　called　Doon　sharply。　When　the　ship's　progress　had　been　stayed　by　another　gesture　from　the　wizard；　the　Baron　added：　〃I　want　to　know　something　first；　magician。　Suppose　that　when　we　return　to　this　shore；　loaded　with　treasure；　neither　you　nor　your　worthy　assistant　happen　to　be　with　us。　How　do　we　get　the　boat　to　e　to　us　then？　And　where　will　it　be　in　the　meantime？　We　may　well　be　gone　for　days。〃
　　　〃It　will　be　at　sea；〃　said　Indosuaros；　looking　down　with　dignity　at　the　smaller　man。　〃But　close　enough　to　be　brought　back　here　quickly。　And　the　djinn　will　maintain　enough　fog　in　the　area