fs.thefirstbookofswords-第44部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

mbu　…　probably　wouldn't　do　to　interrupt　him　now。〃
　　　And　now　Mark　saw　that　one　of　the　airborne　scouts　was　indeed　ing　in　against　the　fading　sky；　ing　from　the　south　and　not　the　east；　but　approaching　with　weary；　urgent　speed。
　　　Baron　Amintor；　who　was　Queen　Yambu's　emissary　to　Sir　Andrew；　was　a　large　man；　the　size　of　Sir　Andrew　himself　but　younger。　The　Baron　with　his　muscles　and　his　scars　looked　more　the　warrior　than　the　diplomat。　He　had　the　diplomat's　smooth　tongue；　though；　and　Sir　Andrew　had　to　admit　to　himself　that　the　man's　manners　were　courteous　enough。　It　was　only　the　substance　of　what　the　visitor　had　to　say　that　Sir　Andrew　found　totally　objectionable。
　　　The　two　men　were　conversing　alone　in　a　small　room；　not　far　above　the　ground　level　of　the　castle；　and　within　earshot　of　Sir　Andrew's　armory；　where　the　clang　of　many　hammers　upon　metal　signalled　the　process　of　full　mobilization　that　the　knight　had　already　put　into　effect。　It　was　a　sound　he　did　not　want　his　visitor　to　miss。
　　　Not　that　the　Baron　appeared　to　be　taking　the　least　notice　of　it。　〃Sir　Andrew；　if　you　will　only　hand　over　to　me　now；　for　delivery　to　the　Queen；　whichever　of　these　swords　you　now　possess；　and　grant　the　Queen's　armies　the　right　of　free　passage　through　your　territory　…　which　passage　you　will　not　be　able　to　deny　her　in　any　case；　you　will　then　be　under　her　protection　as　regards　these　threats　you　have　lately　been　receiving　from　Duke　Fraktin。　And；　I　may　add；　from　any　similar　threats　that　may　arise　from　any　quarter。　Any　quarter；〃　Amintor　repeated；　with　a　sly；　meaningful　look；　almost　a　wink。　At　that　point　he　paused。
　　　Sir　Andrew　wondered　what　particular　fear　or　suspicion　that　near…wink　had　been　calculated　to　arouse　in　him；　but　no　matter；　he　was　worrying　to　capacity　already；　though　he　trusted　that　it　did　not　show。
　　　Baron　Amintor　went　on：　〃But；　of　course；　Her　Majesty　cannot　be　expected　to　guarantee　the　frontiers　or　the　safety　of　any　state　that　is　unfriendly　to　her。　And　if　for　some　misguided　reason　you　should　withhold　from　her　these　swords；　these　tools　so　necessary　to　Her　Majesty's　ambitions　for　a　just　peace；　then　Her　Majesty　cannot　do　otherwise　than　consider　you　unfriendly。〃　At　this　point　the　Baron's　voice　dropped　just　a　little。　It　seemed　that；　bluff　soldier　that　he　was；　it　rather　shocked　him　to　think　of　anyone's　being　unfriendly　to　Yambu。
　　　〃Ah；〃　Sir　Andrew　remarked。　〃The　tools　necessary　for　a　just　peace。　I　rather　like　that。　Yes；　that's　quite　good。〃
　　　〃Sir　Andrew；　believe　me；　Her　Majesty　has　every　intention　of　respecting　your　independence；　as　much　as　possible。　But；　to　be　unfriendly　and　small　at　the　same　time　…　that　is　really　not　the　policy　of　wisdom。〃
　　　〃Wisdom；　is　it？　Small；　are　we？〃　Bards　would　never　repeat　such　words　of　defiance；　but　Sir　Andrew　felt　that　the　man　standing　before　him　did　not　deserve　anything　in　the　way　of　fine　or　even　thoughtful　speech。　And　anyway　he　felt　too　angry　to　try　to　produce　it。
　　　〃Good　sir；　the　fact　is　that　your　domain　is　paratively　small。　paratively　weak。　Duke　Fraktin　is　of　course　as　well　aware　of　these　facts　as　you　and　I　are；　and　the　Duke　is　not　your　friend。　The　people　of　your　lands　…　well；　they　are　brave；　I　am　sure。　And　loyal　to　you　…　most　of　them　at　least。　But　they　are　not　all　that　numerous。　And　they　are　widely　scattered。　This　castle。。。〃　and　here　the　Baron；　being　bluff　and　military；　thumped　his　strong　hand　on　the　wall；　〃is　a　fine　fortress。　The　noise　from　your　armory　is　entertaining。　But；　how　many　fighting　men　have　you　actually　mobilized　so　far；　here　on　the　spot　and　ready　to　fight？　Two　hundred？　Fewer；　perhaps？　No；　of　course　you　need　not　tell　me。　But　think　upon　the　number　in　your　own　mind。　pare　it　to　the　numbers　that　are　ready　to　cross　your　borders　now；　from　two　directions；　east　and　west。　You　can　prevent　neither　the　Queen's　army　crossing；　nor　the　Duke's。　And　then　think　upon　the　people　in　your　outlying　villages　that　you　are　never　going　to　be　able　to　defend。　At　least　not　without　Her　Majesty's　gracious　help。〃
　　　Sir　Andrew　stood　up　abruptly。　He　was　so　angry　that　he　did　not　trust　himself。　〃Leave　me　now。〃
　　　The　Baron　was　already　standing。　He　turned；　without　argument；　without　either　delay　or　evidence　of　fear；　and　took　a　couple　of　steps　toward　the　door。　Then　he　paused。　〃And　have　you　any　further　message　for　the　Queen？〃
　　　〃I　say　leave　me　for　now。　You　will　be　shown　where　to　wait。　I　will　let　you　know　presently　about　the　message。〃
　　　As　soon　as　Sir　Andrew　was　alone；　he　left　the　small　chamber　where　he　had　been　talking　with　Baron　Amintor；　and　walked　into　another；　larger　room；　where　most　of　his　old　books　were　kept。　There　by　lamplight　he　picked　up　a　volume；　fingered　it；　opened　it；　closed　it；　and　put　it　down　again。　When　was　he　ever　going　to　have　time　to　read　again？　Or　would　he　die　in　battle　soon；　and　never　have　time　again　to　read　another　book？
　　　After　that；　he　took　himself　in　a　thoughtful；　silent；　solitary　walk　down　into　the　dungeon。　There　he　stood　in　front　of　the　one　cell　that　held　a　human　being；　gazing　thoughtfully　at　the　prisoner。　Kaparu　his　captive　looked　back　at　him　nervously。　Down　the　side　corridor；　workers　were　busy　opening　the　cells　where　birds　and　animals　were　confined；　preparing　to　set　the　small　inmates　free。　War　was　ing；　and　luxuries　had　to　go；　including　the　dream　of　a　vivarium　in　the　castle　grounds。
　　　At　length　the　knight　spoke。　〃You；　Kaparu；　are　my　only　human　prisoner。　Have　you　meditated　upon　the　meaning　of　my　last　reading　to　you？　I　do　not　know　when；　if　ever；　it　will　be　possible　to　read　to　you　again；　and　try　to　teach　you　to　be　good。〃
　　　〃Oh；　yes；　indeed　I　have　meditated；　sire。〃　Kaparu's　hands　slipped　sweatily　on　the　bars　to　which　he　would　have　clung。　〃And　…　and　I　have　learned　this　much　at　least；　that　you　are　a　good　man。　And　I　was　quite　sure　already　that　those　who　are　planning　to　invade　your　lands　are　not　good　people。　So；　I　…　I　would　give　much；　sire；　not　to　be　in　this　cell　when。。。　that　is；　if。。。　〃
　　　〃When　my　castle　is　overrun　by　them；　you　mean。　A　natural　and　intelligent　reaction。〃
　　　〃Oh；　if　you　would　release　me；　sire；　if　you　would　let　me　out；　I　would　be　grateful。　I　would　do　anything。〃　〃Would　you　go　free；　and　rob　no　more？〃　〃Gladly；　sire；　I　swear　it。〃
　　　Sir　Andrew；　hesitating　in　inward　conflict；　asked　him：　〃Is　your　oath　to　be　trusted；　Kaparu？　Have　you　learned　that　it　is　no　light　thing　to　break　an　oath？〃
　　　〃I　will　not　break　mine；　sire。　Your　readings　to　me。。。　they　have　opened　my　eyes。　I　can　see　now　that　all　my　earlier　life　was　wrong；　one　great　mistake　from　start　to　finish。〃
　　　Sir　Andrew　looked　long　at　Kaparu。　Then；　with　a　gentle　nod；　he　reached　for　the　key　ring　at　his　own　belt。
　　　A　little　later；　when　the　knight　had　heard　the　latest　message　from　the　flying　scouts；　and　had　begun　to　ponder　the　terrible　news　of　the　raising　of　the　Gray　Horde；　he　sent　away　Yambu's　ambassador　with　a　final　message　of　defiance。　There　seemed　to　him　to　be　nothing　else　that　he　could　do。
　　　After　that；　Sir　Andrew　went　up　to　the　highest　parapets　of　his　castle；　which　at　the　moment　were　otherwise　unoccupied；　there　to　lean　out　over　his　battlement　and　brood。　Everywhere　he　looked；　preparations　for　war　and　seige　were　being　made；　and　he　had　much　to　ponder。
　　　Presently　he　was　aware　that　someone　else　had　joined　him　on　the　roof；　and　he　looked　up　from　his　thoughts　and　saw　Dame　Yoldi　standing　near。　From　her　expression　he　judged　that　she　had　no　urgent　news　or　question　for　him；　she　had　simply　e　in　his　hour　of　need　to　see　what　else　she　might　be　able　to　do　to　help。
　　　〃Andrew。〃
　　　〃Yoldi。。。　Yoldi；　if　the　power　in　these　god…forged　swords　is　indeed　so　great；　that　these　evildoers　around　us　are　ready　to　risk　war　with　each　other；　as　well　as　with　us；　to　obtain　even　one　of　them　…　if　it　is　so　great；　I　say；　then　how　can　I　in　good　conscience　surrender　to　them　even　one　source　of　such　power？〃
　　　Dame　Yoldi　nodded　her　understanding；　gently　and　sadly。　〃It　would　seem　that　you　cannot。　So　you　have　already　decided。　Unless　the　consequences　of　refusing　to　surrender　strike　you　as　more　terrible　still？〃
　　　〃They　do　not！　By　all　the　demons　that　Ardneh　ever　slew　or　paralyzed；　we　must　all　die　at　some　time；　but　we　are　not　all　doomed　to　surrender！　But　the　people　in　the　villages　haunt　me；　Yoldi。　I　can　do　nothing　to　protect　them　from　Fraktin　or　Yambu。〃
　　　〃It　would　give　those　village　people　at　least　some　hope　for　the　future　…　those　among　them　who　survive　invasion　…　if　you　could　stand　fast；　here　in　your　strong　place；　and　eventually　reclaim　your　lands。〃
　　　〃If　I　try　to　stand　fast；　here　or　anywhere；　then　I　must　say　to　my　people：　'March　to　war。'　We　know；　you　and　I；　what　war　is　like。　Some　of　the　young　ones　do　not　know。。。　but　it　appears　that　the　evil　and　the　horror　of　war　are　ing　upon　them　anyway；　whatever　I　decide。　No　surrender　will　turn　back　such　enemies　as　these；　once　they　are　mobilized　upon　my　borders；　or　moderate　what　they　do　to　my　people。　Regardless　of　what　they　might　promise　now。　Not　that　I　have　asked　them　for　any　promises；　or　terms。　Why　ask　for　what　I　would　never　believe　from　them　anyway？〃
　　　A　silence　fell　between　the　knight　and　the　enchantress；　the　world　around　them　quiet　too　except　for　the　distant　chinking　from　the　armorers。　〃I　must　go　back　to　my　own　work；〃　Yoldi　said　at　last；　and　kis