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！
ckly as a sea lizard plucks a gull from the air。
Jeneander leaned closer and whispered； 〃I will leave for a few moments。 Refresh yourselves with this in my absence。〃 He passed us a small； oilcloth…wrapped bundle。 〃I am pleased to announce one of our most promising young Evocators has found favor with your proposed expedition；〃 he said loudly。 〃He will be here presently to join in the Casting。 You may know of him。 His name is Cassini。〃
I buried a groan。 〃Good fortune continues to smile on us；〃 I managed to reply。 We exchanged bows with Jeneander； and he slipped away to prepare for the ceremony。 I hastily unwrapped the bundle and found several large hunks of black bread drenched in wine。 〃But what of our fast？〃 I whispered to Janos。 〃I thought all food was forbidden？〃
Janos chuckled and snagged a chunk of bread。 〃I have learned； my dear Amalric； there are as many shadings to that word as there are coins in a rich man's strong room。〃 He wolfed down the bread。 〃Eat up。 I believe our new friend was more worried about our food…starved wits than a minor bit of blasphemy。〃 I ate； gobbling down the bread with gusto。 Immediately my mood shifted； and I began to see things in a clearer light。
〃Who is this Cassini？〃 Janos asked。 〃I thought we had a choice of the Evocator the Council will require to acpany our expedition。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 I said。 〃Sometimes not。〃
Janos eyed me。 〃From your expression…artfully guarded； I hasten to add…I got the impression you know of this Cassini。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said a voice； 〃it's only midday and already I hear my name being bandied about。〃 We both turned to greet the speaker。 He was a tall man…about my age…with not much flesh on his bones； and a soft； spoiled mouth。 The Evocator's robes he wore were richly embroidered for one so young； indicating his family's wealth。
〃Ah； there you are； Cassini；〃 I replied。 〃I was just about to describe your charming personage to my panion 。。。 Captain Janos Greycloak。〃
At my introduction； they bowed to one another。 〃Cassini and I were once rades of the athletic field and tavern；〃 I explained to Janos。 〃There were many who mourned the day he got the Calling and left us to our childish pursuits。〃 Janos understood from the wag of a guarded finger； I was not among those who'd mourned。 〃We did not know each other that well； which was my misfortune and his good luck。〃
Cassini stepped forward； a prissy smile on those soft lips。 〃Then you are not disappointed that I have chosen to join your Finding？ Please be truthful； my friend； if I can call you that。〃
〃Oh； absolutely not；〃 I lied。 〃Curse my seed if I should ever entertain such a thought。〃
I turned to Janos。 〃Our journey has been blessed from the start；〃 I said。 〃For in Cassini you will find a studious and pious Evocator and a most amiable panion。〃
〃Not so overly pious that I object to those morsels in your hands；〃 Cassini said with an artificial laugh； pointing at the remains of the crust…and…wine feast。 We had the good sense to blush and quickly rid ourselves of the evidence。
〃Wele to our ranks； good sir；〃 Janos said。 〃I feel almost as if the Casting had been performed and we were already on our way； with a good omen lighting our path。 May I ask what in particular allowed you to find favor with our efforts？〃
〃Why； the goal； of course；〃 Cassini said。
〃Then you are not among those who question the existence of me Far Kingdoms？〃
〃I wouldn't go that far；〃 Cassini answered。 〃There is not yet enough evidence to make up my mind to the matter。 However； the effort itself is certainly worthy。 No matter what the truth turns out to be； I would be honored to carry the news back to my elders。〃
Janos nodded； showing he understood。 From the gleam in his eye； I saw he understood more deeply than Cassini intended。 For Cassini was a young man of favored birth； but little talent I doubt； in fact； if he had a tenth of the talent of my brother。 Wealth and family connections had won him membership into the Evocators。 But now his career was stalled…perhaps permanently。 He badly needed a great success to shake off the torpor。 In the Far Kingdoms； he saw his chance。 Janos realized Cassini was acting out of private desperation； for there was an edge to the Evocator's tone； a forced calmness to his manner； betrayed by shifting feet and fidgeting hands。
〃You were right in thinking there is much to be gained from this expedition；〃 Janos said。 〃But I would be doing you a disservice if I did not point out there is grave danger as well。 No one has gone where we intend to go 。。。 and returned to tell about it〃
〃I am but an empty vessel for the gods to fill； or break；〃 Cassini said。 〃Knowledge of their design is its own reward。〃 The usual unfortable silence followed this sticky； false modesty； broken by Jeneander's return。
He greeted Cassini with a smile。 〃Now the third adventurer has joined us。〃 He motioned。 〃e。 The Council awaits。〃
We followed through heavy curtains down a long passageway lit by fire beads dangling from the heads of old gods and the fanged beasts who were once their Favorites。 They cast eerie shadows on the walls： horns and long teeth and sharp talons。 The passageway spilled into an immense dark cavern of a room。 Jeneander led us to a stone platform raised several feet off the floor。 It was ringed by great torches that guttered； smoked； and sparked。 We stood there blinking for long moments； trying to get our bearings。 I cannot speak for Janos； but my own heart was full of dread。 It gave a hard jolt as a great voice rang out； 〃Who are these mortals who stand before us？〃
〃Seekers of the way of Orissa； my lords；〃 Jeneander answered。
〃And who attests to their piety and worth？〃
〃I do； my lords。 I 。。。 Jeneander bring them before you。〃
〃Who shall speak for them？〃
Silence。 Then I felt Janos' toe jab my heel。 My wits returned to some manner of order。 〃I speak for them； my lords；〃 I answered。 〃I； Amalric； son of thy daughter； Emilie； son of thy son； Paphos Karima Antero。〃
I could see more clearly now。 Just in front of the platform was bare stone floor。 It was graven with sorcerous squares； triangles； and mysterious numbers and symbols。 The whole was enclosed in an enormous circle； outlined in pure gold leaf。 The Council of Evocators sat on the other side of the circle in all its black…robed and gold…sashed glory。 There were ten of them； and they sat on thrones of carved emerald。 The wall above was a swirl of color and smoke and writhing shadow forms。 The speaker sat on the center throne。 He had a wrinkled； hawklike visage； as if someone had carved that bird of prey from an apple and then let it shrink and dry。 His hair and beard were gleaming white and spilled down as if they had not been cut for years。 His eyes were smoldering yellow and seemed to pierce my soul。 It was Gamelan； the eldest of the Evocators。
〃And what is the nature of your quest； Amalric； son of Emilie； son of Paphos Karima Antero？〃 Gamelan asked。
〃We seek the Far Kingdoms； my lords。 For the greater good of Orissa and the glory of her gods。〃
There was a pause as the Evocators whispered among themselves。 I did not know if this was the usual practice； but saw from Cassini's worried look it was not。 Final