rz.nineprincesinamber-第14部分

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　He　turned　to　parry　the　stroke；　succeeded。　But　the　force　of　his　speed　through　the　water　and　the　strength　of　my　blow　removed　him　from　the　saddle。　As　he　fell；　I　kicked；　and　he　drifted。　I　struck　at　him；　hovering　there　above　me；　and　he　parried　again；　but　this　carried　him　beyond　the　rail。　I　heard　him　scream　as　the　pressure　of　the　waters　came　upon　him。　Then　he　was　silent。
　I　turned　my　attention　then　to　Random；　who　had　slain　both　a　horse　and　a　man　and　was　dueling　with　a　second　man　on　foot。　By　the　time　I　reached　them；　he　had　slain　the　man　and　was　laughing。　The　blood　billowed　above　them；　and　I　suddenly　realized　that　I　had　known　mad；　sad；　bad　Vincent　Van　Gogh；　and　it　was　really　too　bad　that　he　couldn't　have　painted　this。
　The　footmen　were　perhaps　a　hundred　feet　behind　us；　and　we　turned　and　headed　toward　the　arches。　Deirdre　had　already　passed　through　them。
　We　ran　and　we　made　it。　There　were　many　swords　at　our　sides；　and　the　footmen　turned　back。　Then　we　sheathed　our　blades；　and　Random　said；　〃I've　had　it；〃　and　we　moved　to　join　with　the　band　of　people　who　had　stood　to　defend　us。
　Random　was　immediately　ordered　to　surrender　his　blade；　and　he　shrugged　and　handed　it　over。　Then　two　men　came　and　stood　on　either　side　of　him　and　a　third　at　his　back；　and　we　continued　on　down　the　stair。
　I　lost　all　sense　of　time　in　that　watery　place；　but　I　feel　that　we　walked　for　somewhere　between　a　quarter　of　an　hour　and　half　an　hour　before　we　reached　our　destination。
　The　golden　gates　of　Rebma　stood　before　us。　We　passed　through　them。　We　entered　the　city。
　Everything　was　to　be　seen　through　a　green　haze。　There　were　buildings；　all　of　them　fragile　and　most　of　them　high；　grouped　in　patterns　and　standing　in　colors　that　entered　my　eyes　and　tore　through　my　mind；　seeking　after　remembrance。　They　failed；　the　sole　result　of　their　digging　being　the　now　familiar　ache　that　acpanies　the　half　recalled；　the　unrecalled。　I　had　walked　these　streets　before；　however；　that　I　knew；　or　ones　very　much　like　them。
　Random　had　not　said　a　single　word　since　he　had　been　taken　into　custody。　Deirdre's　only　conversation　had　been　to　inquire　after　our　sister　Llewella。　She　had　been　informed　that　Llewella　was　in　Rebma。
　I　examined　our　escort。　They　were　men　with　green　hair；　purple　hair；　and　black　hair；　and　all　of　them　had　eyes　of　green；　save　for　one　fellow　whose　were　of　a　hazel　color。　All　wore　only　scaled　trunks　and　cloaks；　cross…braces　on　their　breasts；　and　short　swords　depending　from　sea…shell　belts。　All　were　pretty　much　lacking　in　body　hair。　None　of　them　spoke　to　me；　though　some　stared　and　some　glared；　I　was　allowed　to　keep　my　weapon。
　Inside　the　city；　we　were　conducted　up　a　wide　avenue；　lighted　by　pillar　flames　set　at　even　closer　intervals　than　on　Faiella…bionin；　and　people　stared　out　at　us　from　behind　octagonal；　tinted　windows；　and　bright…bellied　fishes　swam　by。　There　came　a　cool　current；　like　a　breeze；　as　we　turned　a　corner；　and　after　a　few　steps；　a　warm　one；　like　a　wind。
　We　were　taken　to　the　palace　in　the　center　of　the　city；　and　I　knew　it　as　my　hand　knew　the　glove　in　my　belt。　It　was　an　image　of　the　palace　of　Amber；　obscured　only　by　the　green　and　confused　by　the　many　strangely　placed　mirrors　which　had　been　set　within　its　walls；　inside　and　out。　A　woman　sat　upon　the　throne　in　the　glassite　room　I　almost　recalled；　and　her　hair　was　green；　though　streaked　with　silver；　and　her　eyes　were　round　as　moons　of　jade　and　her　brows　rose　like　the　wings　of　olive　gulls。　Her　mouth　was　small；　her　chin　was　small；　her　cheeks　were　high　and　wide　and　rounded。　A　circlet　of　white　gold　crossed　her　brow　and　there　was　a　crystal　necklace　about　her　neck。　At　its　tip　there　flashed　a　sapphire　between　her　sweet　bare　breasts；　whose　nipples　were　also　a　pale　green。　She　wore　scaled　trunks　of　blue　and　a　silver　belt；　and　she　held　a　scepter　of　pink　coral　in　her　right　hand　and　had　a　ring　upon　every　finger；　and　each　ring　had　a　stone　of　a　different　blue　within　it。　She　did　not　smile　as　she　spoke：
　〃What　seek　you　here；　outcasts　of　Amber？〃　she　asked；　and　her　voice　was　a　lisping；　soft；　flowing　thing。
　Deirdre　spoke　in　reply；　saying：　〃We　flee　the　wrath　of　the　prince　who　sits　in　the　true　city　…　Eric！　To　be　frank；　we　wish　to　work　his　downfall。　If　he　is　loved　here；　we　are　lost；　and　we　have　delivered　ourselves　into　the　hands　of　our　enemies。　But　I　feel　he　is　not　loved　here。　So　we　e　asking　aid；　gentle　Moire　…　〃
　〃I　will　not　give　you　troops　to　assault　Amber。〃　she　replied。　〃As　you　know；　the　chaos　would　be　reflected　within　my　own　realm。〃
　〃That　is　not　what　we　would　have　of　you；　dear　Moire；〃　Deirdre　continued；　〃but　only　a　small　thing；　to　be　achieved　at　no　pain　or　cost　to　yourself　or　your　subjects。〃
　〃Name　it！　For　as　you　know；　Eric　is　almost　as　disliked　here　as　this　recreant　who　stands　at　your　left　hand；〃　and　with　this　she　gestured　at　my　brother；　who　stared　at　her　in　frank　and　insolent　appraisal；　a　small　smile　playing　about　the　corners　of　his　lips。
　If　he　was　going　to　pay　…　whatever　the　price　…　for　whatever　he　had　done；　I　could　see　that　he　would　pay　it　like　a　true　prince　of　Amber　…　as　our　three　dead　brothers　had　done　ages　ago；　I　suddenly　recalled。　He　would　pay　it；　mocking　them　the　while；　laughing　though　his　mouth　was　filled　with　the　blood　of　his　body；　and　as　he　died　he　would　pronounce　an　irrevocable　curse　which　would　e　to　pass。　I；　too；　had　this　power；　I　suddenly　knew；　and　I　would　use　it　if　circumstances　required　its　use。
　〃The　thing　I　would　ask；〃　she　said；　〃is　for　my　brother　Corwin；　who　is　also　brother　to　the　Lady　Llewella；　who　dwells　here　with　you。　I　believe　that　he　has　never　given　you　offense。。。〃
　〃That　is　true。　But　why　does　he　not　speak　for　himself？〃
　〃That　is　a　part　of　the　problem；　Lady。　He　cannot；　for　he　does　not　know　what　to　ask。　Much　of　his　memory　has　departed；　from　an　accident　which　occurred　when　he　dwelled　among　Shadows。　It　is　to　restore　his　remembrance　that　we　have　e　here；　to　bring　back　his　recollection　of　the　old　days；　that　he　might　oppose　Eric　in　Amber。〃
　〃Continue；〃　said　the　woman　on　the　throne；　regarding　me　through　the　shadows　of　her　lashes　on　her　eyes。
　〃In　a　place　in　this　building；〃　she　said；　〃there　is　a　room　where　few　would　go。　In　that　room；〃　she　continued；　〃upon　the　floor；　traced　in　fiery　outline；　there　lies　a　duplicate　of　the　thing　we　call　the　Pattern。　Only　a　son　or　daughter　of　Amber's　late　liege　may　walk　this　Pattern　and　live；　and　it　gives　to　such　a　person　a　power　over　Shadow。〃　Here　Moire　blinked　several　times；　and　I　speculated　as　to　the　number　of　her　subjects　she　had　sent　upon　that　path；　to　gain　some　control　of　this　power　for　Rebma。　Of　course；　she　had　failed。　〃To　walk　the　Pattern；〃　Deirdre　went　on；　〃should；　we　feel；　restore　to　Corwin　his　memory　of　himself　as　a　prince　of　Amber。　He　cannot　go　to　Amber　to　do　it；　and　this　is　the　only　place　I　know　where　it　is　duplicated；　other　than　Tir…na　Nog'th；　where　of　course　we　may　not　go　at　this　time。〃
　Moire　turned　her　gaze　upon　my　sister；　swept　it　over　Random；　returned　it　to　me。
　〃Is　Corwin　willing　to　essay　this　thing？〃　she　asked。
　I　bowed。
　〃Willing；　m'lady；〃　I　said；　and　she　smiled　then。
　〃Very　well；　you　have　my　permission。　I　can　guarantee　you　no　guarantees　of　safety　beyond　my　realm；　however。〃
　〃As　to　that；　your　majesty；〃　said　Deirdre；　〃we　expect　no　boons；　but　will　take　care　of　it　ourselves　upon　our　departure。〃
　〃Save　for　Random；〃　she　said；　〃who　will　be　quite　safe。〃
　〃What　mean　you？〃　asked　Deirdre；　for　Random　would　not；　of　course；　speak　for　himself　under　the　circumstances。
　〃Surely　you　recall；〃　she　said；　〃that　one　time　Prince　Random　came　into　my　realm　as　a　friend；　and　did　thereafter　depart　in　haste　with　my　daughter　Morganthe。〃
　〃I　have　heard　this　said。　Lady　Moire；　but　I　am　not　aware　of　the　truth　or　the　baseness　of　the　tale。〃
　〃It　is　true；〃　said　Moire；　〃and　a　month　thereafter　was　she　returned　to　me。　Her　suicide　came　some　months　after　the　birth　of　her　son　Martin。　What　have　you　to　say　to　that；　Prince　Random？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　said　Random。
　〃When　Martin　came　of　age；〃　said　Moire；　〃because　he　was　of　the　blood　of　Amber；　he　determined　to　walk　the　Pattern。　He　is　the　only　one　of　my　people　to　have　succeeded。　Thereafter；　he　walked　in　Shadow　and　I　have　not　seen　him　since。　What　have　you　to　say　to　that；　Lord　Random？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Random　replied。
　〃Therefore；　I　will　punish　thee；〃　Moire　continued。　〃You　shall　marry　the　woman　of　my　choice　and　remain　with　her　in　my　realm　for　a　year's　time；　or　you　will　forfeit　your　life。　What　say　you　to　that；　Random？〃
　Random　said　nothing；　but　he　nodded　abruptly。
　She　stuck　her　scepter　upon　the　arm　of　her　turquoise　throne。
　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。　〃So　be　it。〃
　And　so　it　was。
　We　repaired　to　the　chambers　she　had　granted　us；　there　to　refresh　ourselves。　Subsequently　she　appeared　at　the　door　of　my　own。
　〃Hail；　Moire；〃　I　said。
　〃Lord　Corwin　of　Amber；〃　she　told　me；　〃often　have　I　wished　to　meet　thee。〃
　〃And　I　thee；〃　I　lied。
　〃Your　exploits　are　legend。〃
　〃Thank　you；　but　I　barely　recall　the　high　points。〃
　〃May　I　enter　here？〃
　〃Certainly；〃　and　I　stepped　aside。
　She　moved　into　the　well…appointed　suite　she　had　granted　me。　She　seated　herself　upon　the　edge　of　the　orange　couch。
　〃When　would　you　like　to　essay　the　Pattern？〃
　〃As　soon　as　possible；〃　I　told　her。
　She　considered　this；　then　said；　〃Where　have　you　been；　among　Shadows？〃
　〃Very　far　from　here；〃　I　said；　〃in　a　place　that　I　learned　to　love。〃
　〃It　is　strange　that　a　lord　of　Amber　should　have　this　capacity。〃
　〃What　capacity？〃
　〃To　love；〃　she　replied。
　〃Perhaps　I　chose　the　wrong　word。〃
　〃I　doubt　it；〃　she　said；　〃for　the　ballads　of　Corwin　do　touch　upon　the　strings　of　the　heart。〃
　〃The　lady　is　kind。〃
　〃But　not　wrong；〃　she　replied。
　〃I'll　give　you　a　ballad　one　day。〃
　〃What　did　you　do　when　you　dwelled　in　Shadow？〃
　〃It　occurs　to　me　that　I　was　a　professional　soldier；　madam。　I　fought　for　whoever　would　pay　me。　Also；　I　posed　the　words　and　music　to　many　popular　songs。〃
　〃Both　these　things　occur　to　me　as　logical　and　natural。〃
　〃Pray　tell　me；　what　of　my　brother　Random？〃
　〃He　will　marry　with　a　girl　among　my　subjects　who　is　named　Vialle。　She　is　blind　and　has　no　wooers　among　our　kind。〃
　〃Are　you　certain；〃　said　I；　〃that　you　do　the　best　thing　for　her？〃
　〃She　will　obtain　good　status　in　this　manner；〃　said　Moire；　〃though　he　depart　after　a　year　and　never　return。　Fo