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！
e Beastlord paused； as if he were at a loss as to what else to say。
At last he went on。 〃John Ominor； the enemy of Ardneh； was called Emperor too。〃 At this offhand recollection of the events of two thousand years past； Mark could feel his scalp creep faintly。 Draffut continued。 〃And then； a little later； some called Prince Duncan； a good man； by that title。〃
Draffut fell silent。 Mark waited briefly； then pursued the subject。 〃Has this man now called the Emperor some connection with the Swords？ Can he be of any help to us against Vilkata？〃
Draffut made a curious two…handed gesture； that in a lesser being would have suggested helplessness。 When he let go of the tree…trunk its surface at once reverted to ordinary bark。 〃I think that the Emperor could be an enormous help to us。 But how to obtain his help。。。 and as for the Swords； I can tell you this： I think that Sightblinder did not deceive him for a moment； though I had it in my hand as I approached。〃
〃It did not deceive him？〃
〃I think he never saw me as anything but what I am。〃 The Beastlord thought for a moment； then concluded： 〃Of course it was not my intention to deceive him； unless he should mean me harm … and I do not believe he did。〃
The speaker's intense； inhuman gaze held Mark's eyes。 〃It was the Emperor's suggestion that I take this Sword and use it to observe the councils of the gods。 And he told me something else： that after I had heard the gods； I should bring Sightblinder on to you。〃
Mark experienced an inward chill； a feeling like that of sudden fear； but with a spark of exhilaration at the core of it。 To him both emotions were equally inexplicable。 〃To me？〃 he echoed stupidly。
〃To you。 Even the Sword of Stealth cannot disguise me well enough to let me pass for human； or for any type of creature of merely human size。 At a distance； perhaps。 But I cannot enter the dwellings of humans secretly； to listen to their secret councils。〃
〃You say you're able to spy on the gods； though。 Isn't that even more important？〃
The Beastlord was shaking his head。 〃The war that is ing is going to jar the world； as it has not been jarred since the time of Ardneh。 And the war is going to be won or lost by human beings； though the gods will have a role to play。〃
〃How do you know these things？〃
Draffut said nothing。
〃What can we do？〃 Mark asked simply。
〃I am going； in my own shape； to try to influence the actions of the gods。 As you may know； I am incapable of hurting humans； whatever happens。 But against them I can fight when necessary。 I have done as much before； and won。〃
Again Mark could feel his scalp creep。 He swallowed and nodded。 Apparently there was some basis of truth for those legends that told of Draffut's successful bat against the war…god Mars himself。
Draffut added： 〃I am going to leave the Sword with you。〃
Again to hear that brought Mark a swift surge of elation； an emotion in this case swiftly dampened by a few memories and a little calculation。
〃Sir Andrew； whom I serve； has sent me on a mission to Princess Rimac … or to her General Rostov； if he proves easier to find。 I am to tell them certain things。。。 of course； I can take the Sword of Stealth along with me。 And I suppose I could give it to them when I get there。。。 but what did the Emperor have in mind for me to do with it？ Do you trust him？〃 Questions were piling up in his mind faster than he could ask them。
〃I have known and dealt with human beings for more than fifty thousand years；〃 said Draffut； 〃and I trust him。 Though he would not explain。 He said only that he trusts you with the Sword。〃
Mark frowned。 To be told of such mysterious trust by an apparently powerful figure was somehow more irritating than pleasing。 〃But why me？ What does he know about me？〃
〃He knows of you；〃 said Draffut immediately； in a tone of unhelpful certainty。 〃And now； I must be on my way。〃 The giant turned away； then back again to say； 〃The Princess's land of Tasavalta lies to the east of here； along the coast； as I suppose you know。 As to where Rostov and his army might be at the moment； you can probably guess as well as I。〃
〃I'll take the Sword on with me； then； to the Princess。〃 Mark raised his voice； calling after the Beastlord； Draffut； moving at a giant's walk considerably faster than a human run； was already growing distant。 Mark sighed； swallowing more questions that were obviously not going to be answered now。
Splashing through the shallow river； Draffut turned once more； for just long enough to wave farewell。 Then he began to climb the far wall of the great canyon。 He climbed like a mountain goat； going right up the steep rocks。 Mark thought he could see the rock itself undergoing temporary change； wherever Draffut touched it； starting to flow with the impulses of life。
Then Draffut was gone； up and over the canyon rim。
Left alone； Mark was suddenly exhausted。 He stared for a long moment at the Sword left in his hands。 Then he bent to enjoy； at last； the drink he needed from the river whose name he did not know。 He cooled himself with splashing。 Then he stretched himself out on a shady moss； with Sightblinder tucked under his head； and slept securely。 Any enemy ing upon him now would not see him； but instead some person or thing that they loved or feared； or at any rate would not harm。 Of course there might e a sudden thunderstorm upstream； a canyon flood； and he'd be drowned； but he had lived much of his life with greater risks than that。
Mark did not awake until the sun had dropped behind the high stone western wall and it was nearly dark。 Before the light had faded entirely； he managed to get a rabbit with one of his two remaining arrows。 He even managed to retrieve the arrow undamaged； which convinced him that his luck was definitely improving。 After cooking his rabbit on a small fire； he devoured most of it and slept again。
It was deep night when he awoke the second time； and he lay looking up at the stars and wondering about Draffut。 The Beastlord was a magnificent and unique being； and it was small wonder that most folk thought he was a god。 His life had begun so long ago that even Ardneh's struggle with the demon Orcus was recent by parison。 Mark； holding the Sword of Stealth while he looked at Draffut； had seen that that was true。
The Sword had allowed Mark to see something more wonderful still。
He had seen； very plainly； though only for a moment； and in a mode of seeing impossible to explain； that the Beastlord had begun his long life as a dog。 A plain； four…footed dog； and nothing more。
That was a mystery beyond wondering about。 Mark slept yet again； and awoke beneath turned stars。 Just after his eyes opened he saw a brilliant meteor； as if some power had awakened him to witness it。
He lay awake for some time； pondering。
Who； after all； was the Emperor？ And why； and how did the Emperor e to be aware of Mark； son of Jord？ Of course Mark's late father was himself a minor figure in legends； through his unwilling conscription by Vulcan to help in the forging of the Swords。 And Mark had taken part in the celebrated raid of four years ago on the Blue Temple treasury。 But why should either of those dubious claims to fame have caused t