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！
The room was larger； and somewhat better lighted。 It contained a conference table large enough to acmodate in its surrounding chairs all of the magicians and an approximately equal number of military…looking men and women； who as Vilkata had said were already seated and waiting。 The military people wore symbolic scraps of armor； though as Mark noted none of them were visibly armed there in the presence of their King。 Vilkata himself； predictably； was seated in a larger chair than the others； at one end of the table。 Behind him a map on a large scale； supported on wooden poles； bore many symbols； indicating among other things what appeared to be the positions of several armies。 There was Tashigang； near the center of the map； there the winding Corgo making its way northward to the sea。 There was the Great Swamp。。。
Mark was making a hasty effort to memorize the types and positions of the symbols on the map； but the distractions at the moment were overpowering。 The magicians were taking their places at the table； and fortunately there seemed to be little ceremony about it。 But again Mark had to delay marginally； to be able to make a guess as to what place Burslem ought to take。 He was not sure whether to be relieved or not； when he found himself pulling out the last vacant chair； some distance down the table from the King。
As the faint noise of people seated themselves died out； a silence hold upon the room； and stretched。 As Vilkata sat on his raised chair； the hilt of the Mindsword at his side was plainly visible to the rest of the assembly。 And the humming presence above the King's head came and went； all but imperceptibly to the others in the room。
〃I see；〃 the Dark King said at last … and if there was irony in those two words； Mark thought that it was subtly measured … 〃that none of you are able to tear your eyes away from my new toy here at my side。 Doubtless you are wondering where I got it； and how I managed to so without your help。 Well； I'll give you all a close look at it presently。 But first there's a report or two I want to hear。〃
Again the blind face turned back and forth； as if Vilkata were seeking to make sure of something。 A faint frown creased the white brow； otherwise youthfully unlined。 〃Burslem；〃 the Dark King added in his pleasant voice； 〃I want to hear your report in private； a little later。 After you have seen my Sword。〃
〃As you will； Lord；〃 Mark said clearly。 In his own ears； his voice still sounded like his own。 The others all heard it without noticing anything amiss。 But whatever Vilkata heard did not erase his faint suspicious frown。
Now some of the magicians and generals； following an order of precedence that Mark could not identify； began to make reports to the King and his council； each speaker in turn standing up at his or her own place at the table。 The unsuspected spy was able to listen； half…prehending； to lists of military units； to descriptions of problems in levying troops and gathering supplies； to unexpected difficulties with the constructions of a road that would be needed later to facilitate the unexplained movement of some army。 It seemed to Mark that invaluable facts； information vital for Sir Andrew and his allies； were marching at a fast pace into his ears and out again。 Listen！ he demanded of himself in silent anguish。 Absorb this； retain it！ Yet it seemed that he could not。 Then there came a relieving thought。 When he saw Dame Yoldi again； she would be able to help him recapture anything that he heard now； he had seen her do as much for others in the past。
If he ever got to see Dame Yoldi's beautiful face again。 If he ever managed to leave this camp alive。
There was the monstrous Sword at Vilkata's side； and here was Vilkata himself； seated within what looked like easy striking distance of Mark's own Sword； or of his bow … Mark still had his two arrows left。 More important by far； thought Mark； than any mere information that could be collected； would be to deprive the Dark King of the Mindsword； and； if possible； of his own evil life as well。
Mark knew of no way by which the Mindsword； or any of its eleven peers； could be destroyed。 The only way he could deprive the enemy of its use would be by capturing it himself； and getting away with it。 There was a chance； he told himself； maybe even a good chance； that Sightblinder could disguise and preserve him against demonic and human fury while he did so。 Against demons he had a new hope now； hope in the inexplicable power of a few simple words。
It seemed likely that he would have to kill Vilkata to get the Mindsword from him。 And that would be a good deed in itself。 Yes； he would kill Vilkata。。。 if he could。 If the evil magicians in the outer chamber had had magical defenses； how much stronger； if less obvious； would be those of the Dark King himself？
To strike at Vilkata successfully； he would have to choose his moment with great care。 Bound into his own thoughts by calculation and fear； Mark lost touch with the discussion that was going on around the table。 Presently； with a small shock； he realized that the Dark King was now addressing his assembled aides； and had been speaking for some time。 All of them … including Mark himself； half consciously … were answering from time to time with nods and murmurs of agreement。 Probably Mark had been roused to full attention by the fact that the voice of the Dark King was now rising to an oratorical conclusion：
〃。。。our plan is war； and our plan goes forward rapidly！〃
There was general applause； immediate and loud。 The first to respond in a more particular way was a bluff； hearty…looking military man； who wore a scrap or two of armor to indicate his status。 This man leaped to his feet with apparently spontaneous enthusiasm； and with a kind of innocence in his face。
There was a tone of hearty virtue in his voice as well。 〃Who are we going to hit first； sir？〃
Vilkata paused before he turned his blind face toward the questioner； as if perhaps the Dark King had found； the question none too intelligent。 〃We are going to hit Yambu。 She is the strongest … next to me … and therefore the most dangerous。 Besides； I have just received disturbing news about her。。。 but of that I will speak a little later。〃
Here Vilkata paused again。 The almost inaudible humming； almost invisible vibration； continued to perturb the air above his head。 〃I see that most of you are still unable to keep from staring at my plaything here；〃 he said； and put his pale right hand on his Sword's hilt。 〃Very well。 Because I want you； later； to be able to concentrate upon our planning … I will demonstrate it now！〃
The last word burst in a great shout from the Dark King's throat； and in the same moment he sprang to his feet。 And Mark thought that the Mindsword itself； as the King drew and brandished it aloft； made a faint roaring noise； like that of many human voices cheering at a distance。
Even here； in the dim smoky interior of this tent； the flourished steel flashed gloriously； seeming to stab at the eyes with light。 Mark had never seen； nor ever imagined that he would see； anything so beautiful。 Like all the others round the table he found himself on his feet； and he was only dimly awa