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！
why I requested your pany this evening。 I propose to throw the full weight of my power behind a plan to open the doors to the west。〃 His voice became calm once more。 〃When this is acplished； I shall require representation…personal representation…in your lands。 I offer such a position to you； Lord Antero。〃
〃As a merchant？〃 I asked。 〃I was told you have nothing but scorn for the mechanics of business。〃
〃I would not express my feelings for those who predicate their lives around profit that impolitely； although I personally have always preferred another sort of coinage。 But the answer is no。 Your trade is secondary to your title； your obvious vision； and the respect you are given in Orissa。 I want a man whom I can trust； a man who will sit in the highest councils in your 。。。 palace of Magistrates。 You would speak with my voice in Orissa and； it is not inconceivable； Lycanth as well。〃
I could not allow Raveline to read my expression； so I stood and paced away from him。 It was obvious to me what the prince thought Vacaan's interest ultimately would grow to bee a conquest。 I would never preside over the destruction of my homeland； least of all as some wizard's toady。 As quickly as the thought struck； I forced it away； not sure if the spells swirling around me could include mind reading。 Now knowing Raveline's intent； I had to choose my thoughts； words； and actions with exactitude。 Not just because it appeared I was one step from opening the gateway to the Far Kingdoms； but also because rejecting Raveline's offer out of hand might mean I would find out just where the disappeared ones went。
I sought and found a ploy and turned back to the prince。 〃I am honored；〃 I said。 〃But； frankly； my ambitions have never been quite that lofty； assuming I understand your offer 。。。 and I think I do。〃
〃Those who reach； grasp；〃 he said。 〃Someone in Orissa will fulfill this function for me。 Why should it not be you？〃 So Rave…line's plans were far advanced； and my co…option would not be the scheme's linchpin。
〃Someone？〃 I suggested。 〃Why not my friend； Janos Greycloak？〃
〃I have several reasons。 The first and least important is I doubt your people would accept a half…breed as even their de facto ruler。 I shall add that sort of foolish intransigence can be dealt with。 You have passed several times through a great wasteland on your journeys。 That land； as I am sure Janos' divinations have told you； was once green and storied。 But its people stood against Vacaan。 That was aeons gone； in the days of the Old Ones； or so the legend says。 But to this day there is nothing but barren ground and sharp flints； and thus it shall serve as an example to others until time itself es to an end！〃
Raveline lowered his voice。 〃The second reason is because Sir Greycloak has ambitions and plans of his own； ambitions that fit most fortably with my own desires。 Greycloak has impressed me immensely。 He wishes to learn all。。。 to know everything that has been thought since the earth itself hatched sorcery。 Where else can he learn such wisdom； but here in Irayas？ I propose to enter him into my household services； given； of course； your willingness to release him from whatever oaths he swore to you。 As he progresses 。。。 as he learns 。。。 he will not only win honors far beyond those Orissa has grudged him； but I plan to give him real power； power only just less than what I myself wield。 I have heard my brother the king refer to me as his hellhound。 Such is the role I propose for Janos； soon to be Baron Greycloak。 He shall be my hellhound！〃
I drained my glass； began to refill it； then deliberately looked about the bottles until I found a brandy decanter。 I wished to appear as if I might be sealing a potential bargain。 I poured my glass half…full and turned back to Raveline。
'This is all most new； Your Highness。 I assume you do not require an answer this moment。〃
〃I had hoped for one；〃 Raveline said； and a scowl touched his face。
〃Forgive me； but I cannot give it； Your Grace。 I have spent long years striving to reach your kingdoms； all of which was spent in the pany of a partner。 I must confer with him。 And； I should add； that Janos owes me no oaths or fealty beyond those of friendship and a once…mon goal。〃
Raveline started to say something； then bethought himself and painted on an agreeable smile。 〃Ah。 Yes。 I forget that in the west the lines of authority are not as clearly delineated as they are here。 A man may be considered a subordinate； but his opinion and rights given as much weight as if he were an equal。 Very well。 Consider our conversation。 Discuss it with Sir Greycloak thoroughly。 Of course； I would prefer this meeting to be considered sub…rosa for everyone but Janos。〃
〃Of course； Your Highness；〃 I said。 Raveline refilled my brandy glass and poured one of his own； he raised it in a toast。 〃There is a peasant proverb； which predates our taming of the Serpent River 'The wise man； caught in a spring flood； allows himself to be swept downstream to new riches。 The fool struggles and is drowned。' To the wise。〃
After that there was little else to be said； and I made my excuses； saying I was so excited by the ideas presented by Prince Raveline； I wished to discuss them this very night with my Mend 。。。 if he was yet awake。
This amused the prince。 〃He does not sleep； Lord Antero。 I shall order my servants to take you directly to his palace。〃
The coach was waiting； and as it drew away； I looked back。 Lord Raveline was still standing outside the entrance。 In spite of the distance； in spite of the night； I felt as if his eyes still burned at me。 I leaned back against my seat； trying to puzzle out a plan。 But I wasted invaluable moments by cursing myself； Janos； and every Orissan from Ecco to the peasants of Cheapside； and especially the bazaar tale tellers and nurses who had prattled their stories to me as a child。 None of us； not one； had ever considered the not…unlikely possibility that a nation as magnificent and powerful as the Far Kingdoms might not be overflowing with the milk of kindness； waiting only for one Orissan to dance up； so they could bless us with the knowledge that would allow us to return to the Golden Days； when each man was a king and his rulers the gods。 I even allowed myself a moment of self…pity； wishing I had never met Janos Greycloak and that my Finding had consisted of one long orgy of whoring and drinking through the lands of the west。 But then I would never have met Deoce。 Nor Omerye。 Let alone the other things that had stretched me much beyond the callow youth I had been to whatever I was now。 For better or worse； I preferred what was to what might have been。 That was enough wasted time。 My paw was firmly stuck in the honey jar； and I had best consider how to get it out
I glanced out as we passed those two huge stone guardians that bordered Raveline's immediate grounds。 I pulled my head back into the carriage with a shudder。 It was quite dark； and I was certainly overwrought。 But I swear I saw the heads of those two monstrous furies turn and look down at me。
Raveline's prediction that Janos was still awake was borne out as the gondola tied up to the floating dock that led up to his water…girded mansion and I saw lights blazing within the manse。 Two of the footmen were escorting me up the steps toward the mansion's deck when I noted something unusual： tied to a piling； half…hidden in the blackness； was a small boat I might not have noted it； but every sense was now atingle for treachery or danger。 I heard the sound of soft crying。 I ordered one of the footmen to hold his torch high so I could see more。 In the craft was a bundle of rags； then the rags moved and I saw that they clothed a woman。 She was the first poorly dressed person I had seen in Irayas。 The footman was about to challenge her； but I tapped his shoulder and shook my head。 We had no time to waste； and she was oblivious of our presence。
We went up the stairs and across the deck to the mansion's entrance。 The second footman touched a small brass plate； and I could hear the resounding of a huge gong。 He rang twice more before a door set within the main gate swung open； and four guards appeared； flanking the mansion's castellan。 It was Gatra； the maker of Janos' many excuses。
〃Lord Antero；〃 he said。 〃My apologies for the delay； but there must have been an error。 We were not anticipating the pleasure of your presence。〃
〃I am not expected；〃 I said。 〃I must speak to your master immediately； on a matter of the greatest import。〃
Gatra hesitated。 〃Sir Greycloak retired to his studies earlier； with the expressed desire he not be disturbed。 But 。。。 since it is you； my lord 。。。 excuse me for a moment。〃 The door closed； and the castellan was gone for long minutes。 The portal reopened and he bowed me in。 〃Again； my apologies for making you wait；〃 he said smoothly。 〃You are； as always； most wele。 Sir Greycloak is in the tower。〃
I dismissed Raveline's footmen and followed the man inside。 Then I bethought myself。 〃Gatra； there is a small fishing skiff tied below； with a woman aboard who is crying as if she has just lost everything。 Is this of concern to you or to this house？〃
The castellan's face showed a flash of anger as he snapped； 〃She made a fair bargain。 And the woman came to us in the first place。〃 Curiosity overcame my preoccupation with greater matters； and I lifted an eyebrow for details。 〃A few days ago； we sought to augment our staff； even considering applications from country folk。 Since the proper training takes much time； we required such prospective servants to be less than ten years of age； and of course； unsoiled by the world。 One of them was that woman's daughter。 She was here but a day before she stole something and managed to escape from the mansion into the city。 I have no idea why the woman chooses to lament her spawn here。 It isn't as if she cannot breed more。 After I take you to Sir Greycloak I'll have her driven away。〃
I wondered at Gatra's knowledge of every detail of this enormous household； down to the honesty of the lowliest scullery…maid…to…be； but said nothing。 As he turned to lead me onward； I noticed that he had a ribbon sewn to his tunic's lapel。 It was red； gold； and black。 Gatra led me through the mansion's winding corridors toward the central courtyard。 I wrinkled my nose； smelling something untoward。
Gatra saw me。 〃This has been a night full of the unusual；〃 he said so smoothly I knew he lied。 〃Not an hour ago we had a kitchen fire； when some lamb fat being reduced for a marinade blazed up； and it took a bucket brigade； and even a spell of Sir Greycloak's before the fire was out。。。 and I fear its reek still permeates the mansion。〃
The stench grew less noticeable as we came into the courtyard。 In the center of the courtyard was the tower Janos had chosen for his private apartments and study。
〃If you would go on up； milord；〃 Gatra said。 〃Sir Greycloak said you should not be escorted into his presence； since he is just finishing his night's work； and any presence beyond yours might destroy his concentration。 He will be in the uppermost chamber。〃 I thanked him and went up the stairs that climbed along the inside of the tower wall。 As I opened the door that led into the observatory； I heard a deep bass humming； a sound yet not a sound that resonated through my body and the stones around me。
〃e in； but do not speak；〃 Janos said。 〃My guest is skittish。〃
I had not noticed it before； but the upper room's roof was hinged and was now open to the clear night and the stars。 There was a single taper burning on the large desk to one side of the room。 Janos sat behind the desk； his face silhouetted like an un…hooded hawk in its mews。 There was something else in the room。 It was a swirling； hard…to…look…at cloud of utter darkness； with myriad red pinflashes scattering through it。 Janos did not further greet or even look at me； all that existed for him was that eddying cloud。 I was afraid； without knowing why。 I found myself moving backward； my lips curling in a silent； feral snarl。
〃You are in no danger；〃 Janos said； again without looking。 〃My friend is pinioned within the pentagram； and has already been given what he sought。〃 Now I noticed the design Janos had described； deeply etched into the stone floor。 The figure had