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！
weled back to Irayas in a few months； and you would be gone。
Even though the brothers hate one another 。。。 no one is permitted to embarrass the royal family。 No one。 Besides； in Vacaan； matters are handled more delicately。 A way we might deal with the situation is for me to have a word with some friends who are considered wise in the eyes of the king。 And for those friends to chat with their friends。 These discussions would be held most privately and most quietly。 In time…perhaps a week； perhaps a month； we can also have a word with Beemus。 Then a whisper will float past the king's ears。 He will have his most subtle chamberlains investigate； most privately； and most quietly。 Once he learns the truth； and he will learn it all if he wishes； then Prince Raveline might be reined in。 He will suddenly be ordered to mount an expedition against the bandits to the north； perhaps。〃
I was incredulous。 〃Just like that； the situation will return to normal； and Orissa's and my problems be solved？〃 I was quite incredulous。
〃As I said； Raveline has been brought to heel before； and in matters that we； at least； consider more important than the fate of two barbarian cities far to the west。 Forgive me； Amalric my love； but that is how Vacaanese think。〃
I knew that nothing； especially the vagaries of princes； could be guaranteed。 But Omerye had offered the only real plan that made sense。 On the morrow； I would return to Janos and we could resolve our argument。 I was still angry； having seen the raw steel of his ambition。 But I told myself none of us are perfect； and the Far Kingdoms had been his obsession much longer than mine。 But still； I knew as I lay down to rest that our friendship would no longer continue on quite as easy a basis as it had。
I woke an hour later with a scream trapped in my chest。 It boiled up violently and tried to prise open my lips； but still it would not e。 Omerye tossed and turned uneasily beside me。 It was as if I was awake and at the same time deep in a fever stupor。
Two things blazed through my mind。 The first I already knew； at least in principle： a black wizard will feed and batten off pain； fear； and death。 If Raveline were to carry out his plan； Orissa and Lycanth would bee chaos。 Armies would clash and sway across our lands； armies degenerating into bandits and murderers。 In time； we； too； would be nothing more than bloody wasteland like the Disputed Lands； and I could imagine Raveline's face hanging high above those gory wastes； smiling at the destruction that was as mother's milk to him。
If Raveline were to be allowed to carry out his plan 。。。 and then I recollected what Raveline had said about wanting Janos as his hellhound。 And I thought： hellhound？ Or assassin？ Janos was not under any ban preventing him from conspiring against the House of Domas。 Mistake me not … even in this waking nightmare I did not vision Janos skulking through the king's palace with a drawn and poisoned blade。 But could Janos mount； lead； and execute a coup？ To then be cut down in his moment of victory by a newly crowned king； sorrowing for his brother's murder？ No。 That was too fantastic。 I dragged myself out of my mind's maelstrom。 I looked out the window。 Even though it was still dark； I could hear the sleepy chirping of birds in my garden。 Once more； I should not have been able to sleep； but did。 I do not remember my head striking the pillow。 All I can recollect is my thought that the morrow would be a very different day indeed。
CHAPTER TWENTY…SIX
The Cavern
I WOKE INTO nightmare。 Torches flared on either side of me。 I lay on cold； wet stone。 The reek of mildew filled my nostrils； and I tasted the hard iron of blood in my mouth。 I knew where I was： I was still in the dungeon of the Archons； far below the great sea castle of Lycanth。 I was awakening from one of those marvelous dreams where half a lifetime passes； and every moment is perfectly detailed。 Janos and I had never escaped this dungeon； had never fought the Evocators for the soul of the Orissan people； had never journeyed beyond the Pepper Coast and the haunted city to enter the Far Kingdoms。 I remembered the dream woman named Omerye； realized she never was； and my eyes welled。 At least the gods had sent me a moment of imaginary happiness in that long and frequently dreadful dream。
I awakened more； my mind still wandering the maze of that intricate fantasy。 I remembered not only escaping from this dungeon； but just how we escaped。 That brought me to full alertness。 I looked about the condemned cell for Janos。 I would tell him my dream； particularly that part dealing with this Lycanthian dungeon； and perhaps we could build on my illusion to prepare a real escape。
A voice grated； 〃Up wi' ye； Antero！ Th' spell's had more'n enough time to wear away。〃
And I was not back in the Archons' dungeon。 I was in a sodden stone cell； but it was small and cramped。 There was no one else around me…no guards； no torturers across the way； no fellow prisoners； and no Janos。 I was alone 。。。 except for one other： Greif。 He sat curled on a heavy bench against the far wall。 He was smiling。 I forced myself to my feet。
〃Lord Antero；〃 he mocked。 〃Y' wake。 Shall I send in th' wenches to draw your bath？ Servants t' lay out your silks？ P'raps that fine…titty musician you been futterin' t' play a tune？ Woulda like to have brought that along； an' let you watch me pleasure her f'r a bit。 But 'twarn't permitted。〃
My mind a whirligig； I said nothing。 Nor could I move further from where I stood。 Greif got up and strolled to me。 I saw his gaping eye socket； black and oozing corruption。 My thrust with the spear butt had indeed put out one of his eyes。 Greif knew what I was staring at； and his muscle…knotted fist smashed into my stomach。 I gagged and went to my knees； breath driven out
He booted me over onto my back and stared down。 〃Aye；〃 he said。 〃You put out one of my glims； you did。 But I found a better way to see。 M' masters give me 。。。 somethin' t' spy with。 Gi' me a bit of their power； t' look at men； an' see some'at of their intents。〃 Greif tapped his empty eye socket； then laughed； very hard； and his mirth echoed around the stone room。
At that moment； I saw； in that empty socket； a red fire； a tiny； red； writhing fire。 And I realized I was entering the reality of that nightmare that had cursed me for so many years。 It was not meeting Greif in Lycanth that made him my nameless torturer； boatman； and escort。 I had been permitted； for good or evil； a glimpse of the future。 I wished desperately I would have realized my nightmare was clairvoyance and cut Greif down when I first met him； standing below me in the courtyard of the Lycanthian inn。
〃I c'n see you're still mazed； an' wonderin' where you are now。 Somewheres in Irayas。 Somewheres far； far under th' ground； where there's nobody to hear you scream； which you will do in a bit。 Y' know； first thing I learned； first time I was grabbed by th' thief takers； is you start breakin' someone with words。 So 。。。 You was duped。 Played false by th' man you thought y'r friend。 Th' man who cast th' protective spell you believed w'ld keep you from harm also lifted it； so's me and my assistants could slip hi； an' wink