按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hted barracks windows below us。
〃You see how it is；〃 he said； as much to himself as me。 〃If I continue in this cage； pacing； snarling； and measuring the strength of my bars； sooner or later there will be a death。 Perhaps that of a boor like Herron； perhaps my own。 This city and this parade…ground emptiness cannot hold me much longer。 e on！〃 He started down the hill； and I went after him。
〃Where are we going？〃
〃Who knows；〃 Janos said。 〃I need the pany of men； not popinjays。 Men 。。。 and women。 Perhaps the riverfront。〃
I shrugged。 Why not？ I； too； had been bored by the formalities in the mess； and thought them just as empty as any of my fathers' guild banquets。
Our path led us past one of the city's gates。 As usual； except in times of great danger； the reinforced portals of ironwood were open； only the elaborately wrought iron of the twin gates of the outer sally port were barred。 Through them we could see； not far off in a field； the roar of flames from a fire reflecting off the canvas of many tents。 We could hear shouts； laughter； the whine of flutes； and the thudding of drums。
〃Guard；〃 Janos challenged one of the sentries。 〃Who lies beyond？〃
〃A tribe of Ifora； Captain。 They cannot enter the city at night because…〃
〃I am aware of the reasons； soldier。 Open the gates。 Their pany suits me well tonight。〃
I knew as well as Janos why the tribesmen were not permitted into the city。 They were one of the many dangers a trader must accept； and so my father had explained their barbaric culture quite thoroughly。 The Ifora were nomads； wandering tribesmen from the southern deserts。 They were known as cunning thieves able to slip past the guards of any caravan that entered their territory and remove what they willed。 Or； if their numbers were great or the caravan's masters stupid； they would massacre all of the men and absorb the women into their own tribes。 They were also noted for bravery； implacability to their enemies； and for rare talents as torturers。 They came north into civilized grounds infrequently； and then only to trade their elaborately woven rugs； fine woolen cloth from their goats； and exotically worked silver jewelry。 No city would allow them inside its gates： the Ifora considered it their sacred duty to relieve people like us； whom they considered sickly weaklings； of whatever possessions they desired； and by whatever means…be it by stealth or by sword…and with no regard for subsequent events such as arrest and trial。
I thought of saying something to Janos： So he'd missed his chance to risk his neck in a duel； did he have to find another opportunity for a severed weasand？ But being young and too timid to chance anything that might smack of that very timidity； I said nothing。 Besides； all these tales of piled skulls and screaming women being carried off into the bowels of the desert…I was curious as to exactly what monsters the Ifora were。 I loosened my rapier in its sheath； sorry that I hadn't brought a dagger and a mail shirt under my formal garb to acpany it。 I also wished I'd reminded Janos when he strode forth that he was only carrying the traditional short sword of his unit； instead of the double…edged razor he preferred。
A great bulk of a man loomed out of the shadows as we drew near die encampment。 〃Orissans 。。。 no。 Not e。 Not wele。 Be hurt。 Get kill。〃 Janos spoke to him in a fluid torrent of words。 The hulk growled and answered him in what sounded to be the same tongue。 So this was another of Janos' acplishments…he was familiar with the Ifora。 I should have guessed…although somehow I sensed this night he might have been just as willing to walk into their den if they'd been deadly strangers。 The two of them rattled back and forth。 The monster laughed； as a bear might。 Janos turned； indicating me。 More words。 A grunt。 Janos frowned； then spoke again。 The brute laughed once more。
〃Take out your sword；〃 Janos said。 〃Press it to your forehead and give it to him。〃 I hesitated； but obeyed。 The man accepted the weapon； turned； and bellowed something into the encampment。 A moment later； a tall； imposing man wearing rich robes came toward us。 His skin gleamed in the firelight； as black as the night。 Flanking him were two sword…bearing guards； both fair skinned； as was the mountain who'd stopped us。
〃This；〃 Janos said quietly； 〃will be their Ham'u。 Chief。 The Ifora believe that the darker a man's skin； the more blessed by the gods he is。 Since they are predominantly light plected； a black man is automatically considered noble。 If he or she can lead； that man or woman will be destined to rule the tribe。 The belief es from long ago； when the Ifora were what they call barbaric。 Their slaves revolted and took over； showing them how to conquer the desert。 That was the beginning of their greatness。〃 I blinked； the jeopardy forgotten for a moment。 None of this had been told me by my father； nor had I heard any of it in the grotesque tales from other merchants of their encounters with the tribesmen。
The black man greeted Janos； who bowed。 I took the hint and did the same。 Janos drew his sword； touched it to his forehead； and gave it to the chief…the Ham'u。 The black man repeated the motion and returned it。 Janos spoke once more； indicating me。 The Ham'u took my rapier from the guard； did as he'd done with Janos' blade； and gave it back。 We bowed once more； and the Ham'u stepped aside； beckoning us into the camp。
〃We are now the honored guests of the Ifora。 From now until dawn three days hence we are their blood kin。 During that time they will offer us their best and； if we have been pursued by enemies； they will ravage them as if one of their own had been wronged。〃
〃What happens if we're still here after the three days？〃
〃Eh；〃 Janos said； moving his hand from side to side in the universal signal for 'perhaps this； perhaps that。' 〃We would have to talk some more。 And at least they would give us a running start。〃
We were led into the center of the camp； where the fire roared。 The ground was paved with rugs； and pillows were high…piled for seats and backrests。 Behind them large barrel…vaulted tents stood； made of some red…dyed animal skin。 There were fifty or sixty men and women lying around the fire。 I was presented to a man； who bowed as if he had just met the king of the world and found me a seat。 He waved his hand； and a maid a few years younger than myself came out of the shadows。 They spoke； she giggled and bowed to me。 Then she went into one of the tents and came out with a wide…mouthed bowl。 I took it； and looked to Janos for guidance。 He was already sprawled on a pillow nearby； a pair of young women nestled beside him。
〃Drink it。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Just drink。 I'll tell you afterward。 Drink deeply； or you will offend。〃 I obeyed； and the back of my head exploded。 The world shimmered around me。 My stomach rose up； protesting。 But somehow the drink stayed down and spread warmth； warmth being fire； fire being a hot rainbow； and I thought it best if I sat down。 Rapidly。 The girl took the bowl from me as I collapsed。
〃The drink is depsh'；〃 Janos said。 〃Fermented milk from their mares； fermented blood from their cattle。 This is then bined with certain shrub blossoms their Ham'u takes to ensure the clarity of his vision。 You might think they know distillation； given the impact。 But instead the Ham'u recites an incantation over the mixture； and it takes on its present form。 I have as yet been unable to persuade one of them to teach me the chant；〃 he said。 〃If I could learn that； I would have no need of an army； a sword； or someone to sponsor me in the travels I want to make。〃
One of the two women next to him held out an identical bowl to Janos。 He drained it and cast it over his shoulder。 〃One of the great modities the Ifora have is their daughters。 Even though they despise the weaklings of the watered lands…as they call everyone but another Ifora…they think it a great blessing for their young women to bee courtesans for a time。 They return laden with silver； which is used to purchase goats or horses； and they marry； greatly honored。 How rich a marriage they make depends on their success in their previous profession。 This is a young woman's destiny； unless the auspices read when she is a year old indicate she will… be either a chief or a councillor； which is a supreme blessing； or a woman of the camp； which they consider somewhat of a disappointment。 The woman beside you is； by the way； the daughter of the man who the Ham'u chose as worthy of the honor of being your host。 Her name is Tepon。〃
It may have been the depsh'； or perhaps I was being acclimatized to unsettling events here； beyond Orissa's walls； but instead of frowning at what most Orissans would consider the deepest depravity； I turned and smiled at the girl； who； encouraged； moved closer； allowed a bit of her robe to slip open。 I smelled roses and musk。
Tepon smiled。 Her lips were rouged； her breath sweet； and her teeth were filed into pretty needle points that added exotic spice to her looks。 I took another drink of depsh'。 The girl spoke to me； her voice soft and musical。 I shook my head。 I didn't understand。
〃She thinks the color of your hair is beautiful。 Like a desert sunrise；〃 Janos translated。
I made some inane response。 Then the reality of the situation struck。 〃Janos； my friend。 I assume that the Ifora are human？〃
〃Indeed。〃
〃Then this guesting must have a price。 Unless they are entranced by my hair and your vocabulary。〃
〃There is a price；〃 Janos started； and then a man stood； tapping on an elaborately carved clapper。 A flute piped； then another。 Thumb…cymbals tinkled。 A great drum boomed rhythmically。 〃Ah；〃 Janos said。 〃I know this one。 The price is low。〃
He stood； unpeeling one of the girls who'd bee curious about what was under his tunic； and drew his short sword。 He cast it up； spinning； and caught it by the handle。 〃No；〃 he said； 〃I need a real sword； not an ornament；〃 and he threw the blade； burying it to its hilt in the ground。 He shouted in Ifora； and from out of the darkness a great curved scimitar was pitched to him。 Janos cast； caught； cast again； the blade spinning； catching firelight； sending sparkles into my eyes。 The Ham'u rose and began a rhythmic chant。 It may have been the herbs in the drink； or it may have been my imagining； but I understood； most clearly； the story Janos was enacting as he danced； slowly； then faster； and now he was wearing only the kilt。 It was the story of a great warrior who was defeated by evil and sorcery； forced to flee from his tents into the depths of the desert； where not even the bones of the wild ass could be found。 He wandered for a time。 There were evil beings of the dry salt marsh who attempted to slay him…and here Janos's blade flashed in a series of arabesques… but he defeated them。 He was lost； abandoned； staggering； about to die； and the god of the desert wind took pity。 The two maidens who'd been with Janos were beside him； their bodies moving； firelight and silk； next to him； touching him。 He gained strength and the tale went on： And the spirit of the wind fed him and nourished him and bore him back across the trackless sands to the tents of his enemy。 Suddenly Janos danced alone； his sword a blur； as if he were fighting an invisible foe。 Finally； the warrior triumphed； and his opponent lay dead before him。 All the riches of the man belonged to him now。 But instead； the warrior chose another path。 He chose to return to the desert。 And to the embrace of the desert wind。
Janos stopped as the chant ended。 There was nothing but the crackle of the flames。 Then a thumb…cymbal tinkled once； twice； three times。 A sudden wind gusted through the camp。 Janos bowed。 To the Ifora？ To the wind？ To the dance？ I knew not。 The two women approached him and took him by the hand。 They led him away into one of the tents。
A bowl touched my lips。 I drank deeply。 I lay back； against Tepon's body； her fingers moving tenderly over me。 For some reason； this felt to be the time。
〃Janos！〃 My voice was not loud。
〃I hear。〃
〃Will you acpany me？ To the Far Kingdoms？〃
Laughter boomed from nowhere。 〃Of course！ Of course！ I thought you would never ask。〃
And there was nothing more except Tepon； the tent that suddenly blossomed around us； and we were alone； and he