cspector.worldwithoutend-第22部分

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　Now　they　had　set　themselves　up　as　Princes；　no　less。　Of　course；　that　is　how　most　of　us　thought　of　ourselves。　After　all；　we　had　always　ruled；　whether　overtly　or　covertly。　The　hand　that　guides　the　puppets　does　not　have　to　seen。
　
　They　had　made　all　the　preparations；　but　I　sus…petted　they　still　didn't　believe　the　time　would　e　when　they　would　have　to　use　them。　Only　that　they　would　have　the　world　made　over　in　their　image　and　no　one　would　stop　them。
　
　None　but　those　who　had　always　stopped　us　before。
　
　Caimbeui　had　booked　us　into　the　best　hotel　in　Portland。　It　overlooked　the　Willamette　River　and　was　as　lush　and　palatial　as　any　Louis　the　XIV　wet　dream。　I'd　never　been　particularly　impressed　by　the　elver　fondness　for　royal　pomp　and　circumstance。　It　seemed　pretentious　and　ultimately　destructive　to　me。　But　then　no　one　had　ashed　my　opinion　on　the　matter；　had　they？
　
　I　wasn't　sure　what　influence　Caimbeui　wielded　here；　but　there　was　enough　bowing　and　scraping　to　make　even　Alachia　happy。　We　were　shown　to　the　uppermost　penthouse；　being　informed　along　the　way　that　the　High　Prince　had　resided　here　while　having　his　home　remodeled。
　
　Caimbeui　and　I　were　suitably　blase　about　the　whole　situation。　And　why　not？　We'd　seen　Versailles　at　its　height。　And　the　Taj；　that　jewel　of　a　building；　small　yet　almost　perfect。　How　could　any　hotel　room；　no　matter　how　sumptuous；　pare？
　
　Finally；　we　were　left　alone。　The　staff　would　have　to　be　spoken　to　about　the　hovering。　I　dropped　down　onto　one　of　the　brocade　sofas；　sinking　into　the　real　feather　cushions。
　
　〃Well；　what　now？〃　I　asked。　〃How　long　do　you　think　we　have　until　Aithne　finds　out　I'm　here？〃
　
　Caimbeui　went　to　the　French　doors　leading　out　to　the　terrace　and　pushed　them　open。　The　air　was　sweet　up　here；　with　none　of　the　sour；　acrid　smells　I　nor…malty　associated　with　cities。　I　knew　they'd　done　much　to　manipulate　the　land　in　the　Tir。　The　magical　energy　fairly　pulsed　in　the　air。　If　they'd　put　out　a　large　neon　sign　telling　the　Enemy　〃e　and　get　us；〃　they　couldn't　have　done　better。
　
　I　knew　there　were　now　old…growth　forests　where　only　a　few　years　before　there　had　been　fallow　land。　Extinct　species　populated　these　forests…how　they'd　managed　that　I　suspected　I　knew；　but　I　hoped　I　was　just　being　paranoid。
　
　〃Not　long；〃　Caimbeui　said。　〃Aithne　has　spies　everywhere。　Fortunately；　he's　away　from　Portland　right　now。　And　we　know　Alachia　was　in　Tir　na　n6g。　Though　I　suspect　after　our　visit　she　might　be　here　already。　But　I've　never　been　very　good　at　predicting　what　she　will　do　next。
　
　〃There's　a　celebration　planned　for　this　evening。　Something　to　do　with　The　Rite　of　Progression。〃
　
　I　got　up　from　the　couch　and　came　over　to　where　Caimbeui　stood　by　the　open　doors。　It　was　already　getting　dark。　The　gray　misting　sky　oppressive　and　bleak。
　
　〃You　don't　like　it　here；〃　I　said。
　〃No。〃
　
　〃Neither　do　I。　It　reminds　me　too　much　of　the　days　when　Alachia　was　Queen。　What　she　turned　so　many　of　us　into。　It　frightens　me　because　I　think　it　could　all　happen　again。　Especially　when　I　see　that　the　Enemy　is　ing　again。〃
　
　Caimbeui　stepped　behind　me；　then　wrapped　his　arms　about　my　waist。　It　was　very　forting　to　stand　there　in　the　slowly　falling　chill　night　with　him　warm　and　solid　against　my　back。　He　rested　his　chin　on　my　head。
　
　〃But　things　are　different　now；〃　he　said。　〃The　world　is　different。　We　can　keep　the　past　from　happening　again。〃
　〃I　hope　you're　right。〃　〃I　am；〃　he　said。　〃I　am。〃
　
　And　we　stayed　there　for　a　while；　in　the　darkness；　resting　against　each　other　for　support。
　
　〃Did　you　think　I　had　forgotten　you？〃　Ysrthgrathe　asks。
　
　She　freezes；　finding　herself　not　in　the　safety　of　Caimbeul's　arms；　but　embraced　by　her　enemy。　His　arms　are　thickly　muscled　and　hold　her　so　tight　that　even　though　she　struggles；　it's　as　if　she　has　never　moved。
　
　Then　his　mouth　is　at　her　ear；　breath　hot　against　the　tender　flesh。　〃I　have　been　waiting　for　you　so　patiently；　my　sweet。　This　delay　is　but　a　heartbeat　for　me。　The　blink　of　an　eye。　And　there　is　nothing　you　can　do　that　will　stop　me　this　time。　Not　running　to　your　precious　Aithne。　Not　dragging　that　clown　behind　you。　None　of　them　will　save　you　from　me　this　time。〃
　
　Somehow；　she　manages　to　slip　free　of　his　grasp；　but　then　he　laughs　and　she　knows　he's　let　her　go。
　
　〃This　isn't　the　past；　Ysrthgrathe；〃　she　says。　〃I'm　not　that　foolish　girl　anymore。　You　can't　frighten　me　like　you　did　then。〃
　
　〃Liar；〃　he　says。
　Caimbeui　had　insisted　we　bring　formal　attire。　I　had　wondered　at　this；　but　as　we　entered　the　grounds　of　Royal　Hill　where　Lugh　Surehand　occupied　the　Royal　Palace；　I　was　glad　of　his　foresight。　An　elf　attired　in　livery　opened　the　door　to　our　limo。
　
　I'd　also　wondered　at　Caimbeul's　choice　of　vehicle　until　I　saw　the　battery　of　armaments；　assault　weapon　controls；　and　other　trinkets　loaded　onto　the　seemingly　innocuous　luxury　car。　The　driver　was　a　nasty…looking　troll　who　seemed　to　know　Caimbeul。　Or　at　least　they　exchanged　those　knowing　sort　of　nods　that　men　think　are　very　casual　but　anyone　with　half　a　brain　can　see　right　through。
　
　I　wasn't　sure　whose　Rite　this　celebration　was　for；　but　Surehand　had　gone　all　out。　There　were　white　tents　scattered　across　the　manicured　lawns。　Pathways　between　the　tents　were　lit　by　magical　means…　nothing　so　mundane　as　electric　lights　for　Lugh　Surehand's　guests。　Garlands　of　flowers　were　draped　over　anything　that　stood　still。　Staff　dressed　in｜　Surehand's　colors　circulated　among　the　guests　carrying　tray　after　tray　of　wine　and　Epicurean　delights。　Even　the　weather　had　been　manipulated。　It　was　cool　but　not　chilly；　and　the　rain　that　had　plagued　us　all　day　was　finally　gone。
　
　I　noticed　that　all　the　servants　seemed　to　be　orks　and　dwarfs　and　almost　all　the　guests　elves。　I　knew　that　when　the　Tir　was　established　they'd　made　a　big　show　of　inviting　non…elver　metahumans；　but　I　sus…petted　that　it　was　more　the　desire　for　cheap　labor　than　altruism。
　
　Hanging　back　at　the　edge　of　the　party；　I　stayed　in　the　shadows；　pulling　Caimbeul　with　me。
　
　〃What　are　they？〃　I　hissed；　pointing　at　several　elves　dressed　in　solid…black　partial　body　armor　that　resembled　the　plate　mail　worn　by　knights　in　the　this…teenth　century。　Some　sported　SMGs；　others　more　lethal…looking　weapons。　Around　them　I　could　dis…corn　magical　auras。
　
　〃They're　Paladins；〃　he　replied。　〃Part　of　Surehand's　personal　guard。　He　takes　younger　sons　from　the　noble　families　and　makes　them　swear　fealty　to　him。　Ehran　started　the　whole　thing；　I　think。
　
　〃It　keeps　them　out　of　trouble。　Otherwise　they'd　be　brawling　among　themselves；　or　plotting　to　do　in　their　older　siblings。　Let's　face　it；　this　hierarchical　society　they've　reinstated　has　some　serious　drawbacks。〃
　
　I　nodded。　〃Only　so　many　can　be　on　top；　and　since　who　ends　up　there　is　already　decided；　it　leaves　everyone　else　with　any　ambition　pretty　much　hosed。　It's　actually　a　pretty　clever　solution。　Channel　all　that　brawn　and　energy　into　supporting　the　status　quo。
　
　〃But　why　would　Surehand　need　them　here？　I　know　he　has　some　sort　of　magical　wards　to　protect　this　place。　And　I'm　sure　there's　a　mundane　security　system　in　place。　Is　there　really　that　much　chance　for　assassination？〃
　
　Caimbeul　shrugged。　〃Probably　not；　but　would　you　want　our　bully　boys　to　think　they're　being　shirked　socially？　Much　better　to　keep　them　handy。〃
　
　〃And　you　wonder　why　I've　never　been　much　for　society；〃　I　said。　〃This　all　seems　like　such　a　waste　of　time　to　me。　I　don't　have　the　stomach　for　it。〃
　
　Caimbeul　reached　out　and　placed　his　hand　lightly　on　the　small　of　my　back。　I　was　wearing　a　gown　very　low　in　the　back。　The　contact　of　his　hand　against　my　naked　flesh　made　me　shiver。
　
　〃I　think　we'd　best　make　ourselves　known；〃　Caim…beui　said。　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　get　caught　lurking　here　in　the　shadows。〃
　
　We　moved　forward　then；　stepping　into　the　golden　wash　provided　by　the　floating　wisps　of　light。　Caimbeui　guided　us　from　one　group　to　the　next　with　the　practiced　grace　and　smoothness　I'd　forgotten　he　possessed。　After…all；　he'd　spent　time　both　in　Alachia's　court　as　well　as　the　courts　of　the　Northern　Kingdoms；　while　I　had　made　myself　an　outcast　from　society　many　times　over。
　
　With　each　group；　we　moved　closer　and　closer　to　Lugh　Surehand。　It　was　a　ballet　of　conversation；　pliments；　and　jockeying　for　position。　I　was　so　caught　up　in　admiring　Caimbeui's　easy　skills　as　a　courtier　that　I　forgot　for　a　moment　to　pay　attention　to　who　was　moving　toward　us。
　
　〃Aina；〃　came　a　deep　voice　to　my　left。　〃It　has　been　far　too　long。　How　are　you；　my　dear？〃
　
　I　found　myself　being　kissed　on　both　cheeks　by　a　tallish　man　dressed　in　an　exquisitely　cut　suit　of　black　worsted　wool。　His　long；　steel…colored　hair　hung　unbound　down　to　the　middle　of　his　back；　and　he　had　almond…shaped；　preternaturally　golden　eyes。
　
　〃Oh　e　now；　Aina。　Don't　you　recognize　me？〃
　
　I　blinked；　taken　aback　by　the　unexpected　intr…macy。　Then　I　looked　more　closely　at　him。　〃Lofwyr；〃　I　said。　〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　you　in　such　a　place。　Nor　in　this　guise。〃
　
　The　dragon　laughed。　〃When　in　Rome　and　all　that；〃　he　said。　〃But　what　about　you？　Sheep's　clothing？　Or　is　it　a　new　designer？　As　I　recall；　you　were　more　fond　of　Chanel　than　anything　else。　But　this　doesn't　look　like　anything　I've　seen　lately。〃
　
　I　smoothed　a　hand　over　the　gray　velvet　of　my　dress；　a　nervous　gesture　that　I　caught　and　made　myself　stop。
　
　〃I　had　no　idea　you　were　so　interested　in　fashion；〃　I　said。　〃A　new　hobby；　or　are　you　just　bored？〃
　
　〃Nothing　is　boring　for　long　here；〃　he　said。　〃And　now　you　have　appeared　after　such　a　long　time。　Have　you　e　to　be　reunited　with　your　people？〃
　
　I　gave　him　an　incredulous　look。　〃I　believe　my　position　on　'my　people'　was　made　long　ago；　Lofwyr。　And　you'd　best　not　forget　it。　It　makes　my　task　here　all　the　more　difficult。〃
　
　〃So；　you　have　e　to　play　Cassandra；〃　Lofwyr　said。　〃You'd　do　well　to　remember　what　happened　to　her。〃
　
　I　took　a　drink　of　my　champagne　to　keep　from　frowning　at　him。　At　least　it　was　Krystal　and　not　a　bad　vintage。　The　privileges　of　power。　Caimbeui　had　listened　to　pur　conversation　without　saying　anything。　I　glanced　at　him　to　judge　his　mood；　but　he　was　looking　past　Lofwyr。　I　turned；　following　his　gaze；　and'saw　that　a　young　man　was