rz.nineprincesinamber-第25部分

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lmost　believed　it。
　Three　more　men　plummeted　past　me　and　we　came　to　a　small　landing　and　a　turn。　He　cleared　the　landing　and　began　the　ascent。　For　half　an　hour　I　watched　him；　and　they　died　and　they　died。　I　could　hear　the　murmurs　of　awe　from　the　men　behind　me。　I　almost　thought　he　could　make　it　to　the　top。
　He　used　every　trick　available。　He　baffled　blades　and　eyes　with　his　cloak。　He　tripped　the　warriors。　He　seized　wrists　and　twisted；　with　his　full　strength。
　We　made　it　to　another　landing。　There　was　some　blood　on　his　sleeve　by　then；　but　he　smiled　constantly；　and　the　warriors　behind　the　warriors　he　killed　were　ashen。　This　helped　him；　too。　And　perhaps　the　fact　that　I　stood　ready　to　fill　the　gap　also　contributed　to　their　fears　and　so　slowed　them；　worked　on　their　nerves。　They'd　heard　of　the　naval　engagement；　I　later　learned。
　Bleys　worked　his　way　to　the　next　landing；　cleared　it；　turned　again；　began　to　ascend。　I　hadn't　thought　he　could　make　it　that　far；　then。　I　didn't　think　I　could　make　it　as　far　as　he　had。　It　was　the　most　phenomenal　display　of　swordsmanship　and　endurance　I'd　seen　since　Benedict　had　held　the　pass　above　Arden　against　the　Moonriders　out　of　Ghenesh。
　He　was　tiring；　though；　I　could　see　that；　too。　If　only　there　were　some　way　for　me　to　relieve　him；　to　spell　him　for　a　time。
　But　there　wasn't。　So　I　followed；　fearing　every　stroke　might　be　his　last。
　I　knew　that　he　was　weakening。　We　were　within　a　hundred　feet　of　the　top　at　that　point。
　I　suddenly　felt　for　him。　He　was　my　brother　and　he'd　done　well　by　me。　I　don't　think　he　thought　he'd　make　it　then；　yet　he　was　fighting　on。。。　in　effect；　giving　me　my　chance　for　the　throne。
　He　killed　three　more　men；　and　his　blade　moved　more　slowly　each　time。　He　fought　with　the　fourth　for　perhaps　five　minutes　before　he　took　him。　I　was　certain　the　next　would　he　his　last。
　He　wasn't；　though。
　As　he　slew　that　man；　I　transferred　my　blade　from　my　right　hand　to　my　left；　drew　my　dagger　with　my　right　and　threw　it。
　It　went　in　up　to　the　hilt；　in　the　throat　of　the　next　man。　Bleys　sprang　over　two　steps　and　hamstrung　the　man　before　him；　casting　him　downward。
　Then　he　cut　upward；　ripping　open　the　belly　of　the　one　behind　that　one。
　I　rushed　to　fill　the　gap；　to　be　tight　behind　him　and　ready。　He　didn't　need　me　yet；　though。
　He　took　the　next　two；　with　a　new　burst　of　energy。　I　called　for　another　dagger　and　one　was　passed　to　me　from　somewhere　along　the　line。
　I　kept　it　ready　till　he　slowed　once　more；　and　I　used　it　on　the　man　he　fought。
　The　man　was　lunging　as　it　spun　in；　so　the　hilt　rather　than　the　blade　caught　him。　It　struck　against　his　head；　though；　and　Bleys　pushed　against　his　shoulder　and　he　fell。　But　the　next　man　leaped　forward；　and　though　he　impaled　himself；　he　struck　Bleys　upon　the　shoulder　and　they　went　over　the　edge　together。
　By　reflex；　almost　without　knowing　what　I　was　doing；　yet　knowing　fully　in　one　of　those　microsecond　decisions　you　justify　after　the　fact；　my　left　hand　leaped　to　my　belt；　whipped　out　my　pack　of　the　Trumps　and　cast　them　toward　Bleys　as　he　seemed　to　hang　there　for　an　instant　…　so　rapidly　did　my　muscles　and　perceptions　respond　…　and　I　cried　out；　〃Catch　them；　you　fool！〃
　And　he　did。
　I　didn't　have　time　to　see　what　happened　next；　as　I　parried　and　thrust。
　Then　began　the　final　lap　of　our　journey　up　Kolvir。
　
　***
　
　Let's　just　say　I　made　it　and　was　gasping；　as　my　troops　came　over　the　edge　to　support　me　there　on　the　landing。
　We　consolidated　our　forces　and　pressed　ahead。
　It　took　us　an　hour　to　reach　the　Great　Arch。
　We　passed　through。　We　entered　Amber。
　Wherever　Eric　was；　I'm　sure　he'd　never　guessed　we'd　make　it　this　far。
　And　I　wondered　where　Bleys　was？　Had　he　gotten　a　chance　to　grab　a　Tramp　and　use　it；　before　he　reached　the　bottom？　I　guessed　that　I'd　never　know。
　We　had　underestimated；　all　the　way　around。　We　were　outnumbered　now；　and　the　only　thing　left　to　do　was　to　fight　on　for　as　long　as　we　could　hold　out。　Why　had　I　done　such　a　foolish　thing　as　throw　Bleys　my　Trumps？　I　knew　he　had　none　of　his　own　and　that's　what　had　dictated　my　response；　conditioned　perhaps　by　my　years　on　the　Shadow　Earth。　But　I　might　have　used　them　to　escape；　if　things　went　badly。
　Things　went　badly。
　We　fought　on　until　twilight；　and　by　then　there　was　only　a　small　band　of　us　remaining。
　We　were　surrounded　at　a　point　a　thousand　yards　within　Amber；　and　still　far　from　the　palace。　We　were　fighting　a　defensive　fight；　and　one　by　one　we　died。　We　were　overwhelmed。
　Llewella　or　Deirdre　would　have　given　me　sanctuary。　Why　had　I　done　it？
　I　killed　another　man　and　put　the　question　out　of　my　mind。
　The　sun　went　down　and　darkness　filled　the　sky。　We　were　down　to　a　few　hundred　by　then；　and　not　much　closer　to　the　palace。
　Then　I　saw　Eric　and　heard　him　shouting　orders。　If　only　I　could　reach　him！
　But　I　couldn't。
　I'd　probably　have　surrendered；　to　save　my　remaining　troops；　who　had　served　me　far　too　well。
　But　there　was　no　one　to　surrender　to；　no　one　asking　for　a　surrender。　Eric　couldn't　even　hear　me　if　I　cried　out。　He　was　out　of　the　way；　directing。　So　we　fought　on；　and　I　was　down　to　a　hundred　men。
　Let's　be　brief。
　They　killed　everyone　but　me。
　At　me　they　threw　nets　and　unleashed　blunted　arrows。
　Finally；　I　fell　and　was　clubbed　and　hog…tied；　and　then　everything　went　away　but　a　nightmare　which　attached　itself　and　wouldn't　let　go；　no　matter　what。
　We　had　lost。
　
　***
　
　I　awoke　in　a　dungeon　far　below　Amber；　sorry　that　I　had　made　it　that　far。
　The　fact　that　I　still　lived　meant　that　Eric　had　plans　for　me。　I　visualized　racks　and　braces；　flames　and　tongs。　I　foresaw　my　ing　degradation　as　I　lay　there　on　the　damp　straw。
　How　long　had　I　been　unconscious？　I　did　not　know。
　I　searched　my　cell　for　a　means　of　mitting　suicide。　I　found　nothing　that　would　serve　this　purpose。
　All　my　wounds　blazed　like　suns；　and　I　was　so　very　tired。
　I　lay　me　down　and　slept　once　more。
　
　***
　
　I　awakened；　and　still　no　one　came　to　me。　There　was　none　to　buy；　none　to　torture。
　Also；　there　was　nothing　for　me　to　eat。
　I　lay　there；　wrapped　in　my　cloak；　and　I　reviewed　everything　that　had　happened　since　I'd　awakened　in　Greenwood　and　refused　my　hypo。　Better；　perhaps；　if　I　hadn't。
　I　knew　despair。
　Soon　Eric　would　be　crowned　king　in　Amber。　This　thing　might　already　have　occurred。
　But　sleep　was　so　lovely　a　thing；　and　I　so　tired。
　It　was　the　first　real　chance　I'd　had　to　rest　and　forget　my　wounds。
　The　cell　was　so　dark　arid　smelly　and　damp。
　
　***
　
　How　many　times　I　awakened　and　returned　to　sleep；　I　do　not　know。　Twice　I　found　bread　and　meat　and　water　on　a　tray　by　the　door。　Both　times；　I　emptied　the　tray。　My　cell　was　almost　pitch　dark　and　very　chilly。　I　waited　there；　and　I　waited。
　Then　they　came　for　me。
　The　door　swung　open　and　a　feeble　light　entered。　I　blinked　at　it　as　I　was　called　forth。
　The　corridor　without　was　filled　to　overflowing　with　armed　men；　so　I　wasn't　about　to　try　anything。
　I　rubbed　at　the　stubble　on　my　chin　and　went　where　they　took　me。
　After　a　long　walk；　we　came　to　the　hall　of　the　spiral　stair　and　began　to　ascend。　I　asked　no　questions　as　we　moved；　and　no　one　offered　me　any　information。
　When　we　reached　the　top；　I　was　conducted　further　into　the　palace　proper。　They　took　me　to　a　warm；　clean　room　and　ordered　me　to　strip；　which　I　did。　Then　I　entered　a　steaming　tub　of　water；　and　a　servant　came　forth　and　scrubbed　me　and　shaved　me　and　trimmed　my　hair。
　When　I　was　dry　again；　I　was　given　fresh　garments；　of　black　and　of　silver。
　I　donned　them；　and　a　black　cloak　was　hung　about　my　shoulders；　its　clasp　a　silver　rose。
　〃You　are　ready；〃　said　the　sergeant　of　the　guard。　〃e　this　way。〃
　I　followed　him；　and　the　guard　followed　me。
　I　was　taken　far　to　the　back　of　the　palace　where　a　smith　placed　manacles　about　my　wrists；　fetters　on　my　ankles；　with　chains　upon　them　too　heavy　for　me　to　break。　Had　I　resisted；　I　knew　I　would　have　been　beaten　unconscious　and　the　result　would　have　been　the　same。　I　had　no　desire　to　be　beaten　unconscious　again；　so　I　plied。
　Then　the　chains　were　taken　up　by　several　of　the　guards；　and　I　was　led　back　toward　the　front　of　the　palace。　I　had　no　eyes　for　the　magnificence　that　lay　all　about　me。　I　was　a　prisoner。　I　would　probably　soon　be　dead　or　on　the　rack。　There　was　nothing　I　could　do　right　now。　A　glance　out　of　the　window　showed　me　that　it　was　early　evening；　and　there　was　no　place　for　nostalgia　as　I　passed　through　rooms　where　we　had　played　as　children。
　I　was　led　up　a　long　corridor　and　into　the　great　dining　room。
　There　were　tables　all　over　the　place；　and　people　seated　all　about　them；　many　of　whom　I　knew。
　All　the　fine　gowns　and　suits　of　Amber　burned　about　me　on　the　bodies　of　the　nobles；　and　there　was　music　beneath　the　torchlight　and　food　already　upon　the　tables；　though　no　one　was　eating　yet。
　I　saw　faces　that　I　recognized；　like　Flora's；　and　some　strange　faces。　There　was　the　minstrel。　Lord　Rein　…　yes；　he　had　been　knighted；　by　me　…　whom　I　had　not　seen　in　centuries。　He　turned　his　eyes　away　when　my　gaze　fell　upon　him。
　I　was　taken　to　the　foot　of　the　huge　center　table　and　seated　there。
　The　guards　stayed　and　stood　behind　me。　They　fastened　the　ends　of　my　chains　to　rings　fresh…set　in　the　floor。　The　seat　at　the　head　of　my　table　was　as　yet　unoccupied。
　I　did　not　recognize　the　woman　to　my　right；　but　the　man　to　my　left　was　Julian。　I　ignored　him　and　stared　at　the　lady；　a　little　wisp　of　a　blonde。
　〃Good　evening；〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　believe　we've　been　introduced。　My　name　is　Corwin。〃
　She　looked　at　the　man　at　her　right　for　support；　a　heavy；　redheaded　guy　with　lots　of　freckles。　He　looked　away　and　suddenly　became　engaged　in　an　animated　conversation　with　the　woman　to　his　right。
　〃It's　all　right　to　talk　with　me；　honest；〃　I　said。　〃It's　not　contagious。〃
　She　managed　a　weak　smile　and　said；　〃I'm　Carmel。　How　are　you；　Prince　Corwin？〃
　〃That's　a　sweet　name；〃　I　replied；　〃and　I'm　just　fine。　What's　a　nice　girl　like　you　doing　in　a　place　like　this？〃
　She　took　a　quick　drink　of　water。
　〃Corwin；〃　said　Julian；　louder　than　necessary。　〃I　think　the　lady　finds　you　offensive　and　obnoxious。〃
　〃What's　she　said　to　you　so　far　this　evening？〃　and　he　didn't　blush。　He　whitened。
　〃That　will　be　enough　from　you。〃
　I　stretched　then；　and　rattled　my　chains　on