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cacb.thefarkingdoms-第93章

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 〃Change will happen;〃 Janos said。 〃Whether we will it or not。 The best we can do is shape it to our own ends; that will with luck bring the greatest happiness to the most people。〃
 〃I know。〃 Rali sighed。 〃I know。 But it is terrible to see the city I love tear itself apart。 Now the poor creep out at night to loot; steal; and burn; the Evocators trumpet false triumph during the day; and those who would bring this catastrophe to an end huddle behind stone walls。〃
 She got up。 〃Word of your arrival reached our barracks within minutes after you came through the gates;〃 she said。 〃I would suspect matters will e to a full boil now; and we shall learn on which side the gods are smiling。〃
 She ruffled my hair。 〃Wele back; brother。 I would wager you never thought you and some mountain brigand would lead a revolution; did you?〃 She was gone before I could recover。 Rali … as usual … was correct。 We were leading a revolution; of sorts。 I greatly wished I could tell what its final oute would be。 As I write; I still wish I knew that today。
 Guards mounted; both Janos and I retired to our chambers; Sergeant Maeen supervising the first shift。 Both of us kept our weapons ready。 Janos left orders to wake him in the hour before dawn; when a threat was most likely to materialize。 But the threat did not wait until much past midnight。 I woke from an utterly dreamless sleep to a shout; a crash; and a scream of fear。 It came from the main entrance。 Naked; sword in hand; I found myself downstairs at the door as servants hurried up behind me; carrying newly lighted torches。 Two of my servants; whose names I shall not mention to prevent shame to their families today; huddled against the wall。 At their feet was the huge wooden bar to the entrance。 I thought traitors; and readied my sword; then bethought myself as they shrieked for mercy and but a moment to explain。 But first things first; and I ordered them to rebar the door。 They did; hastily。 Janos came pelting down the stairs; his weapon at the ready。 〃I saw men;〃 he said。 〃Perhaps twenty of them; armed; waiting across the street They ran when the motion began。〃 He realized what had almost occurred with a glance。
 〃So;〃 he said。 〃It would have been treason rather than a frontal attack。 What gain did they promise you for betraying us;〃 he demanded。 The two babbled; and I shouted silence; and bade one of them tell me; slowly; just what had happened。 According to the servant; he had gone to bed when relieved from his watch。 Then he'd awakened; but it was like he was in a dream and unable to resist; walking toward the door。 The other man was waiting。 〃It was a spell;〃 he insisted。 〃I tried to fight against it 。。。 but to no avail。〃
 I hesitated; then lowered my blade; remembering both of them had served my family for years。 But I still was not convinced。 Nor was Janos。 〃What broke the spell?〃 he asked skeptically。 〃Such a curse; if one was indeed cast; would have had no effect if improperly made; or if powerful enough would have made you carry out the plan pletely。〃
 〃It was 。。。 it was a shout。〃
 〃From whom?〃 I wanted to know。
 Both men began trembling; and then one pointed…with a shaking finger…behind me。 He was pointing to the portrait of my brother; Halab; behind the altar。 〃It came 。。。 from him。 From there。〃
 Now the rest of the servants began chattering; and once more I had to shout for stillness。 Both servants returned to their babbling…yes; it had e from the painting; and it could only be the blessed Halab trying to save the family from beyond the grave。 I was torn between amazement and skepticism。 Janos ordered the two servants to be taken to a storeroom。 He said he would find the truth of the matter。 〃I will hold with no torture;〃 I told him quietly。 〃No matter what they tried。 If you believe them guilty; cast them out。 Or else kill them; as is our right; since they have forfeited their covenant。〃
 〃I shall not touch them; physically;〃 Janos said。 〃There are other; better ways。〃 He went for the kitchen; where he could procure certain necessary items。 I knew what he intended。 Within an hour; he had the answer。 The men had been telling the truth。 Someone had cast a spell from without; a powerful piece of sorcery intended to turn a man into a mindless slave for a space。 Even though the spell was intended to work on sleeping minds not on their guard; the sorcerer would be a Master Evocator; working to the peak of his abilities; and most likely backed up by another wizard。
 〃Black sorcery;〃 I said。
 Janos reluctantly agreed; although he did wonder if I would feel the same if the spell had been cast; say; to keep a great villain from harming a good person? Not that we had time for philosophy。 He immediately secured other items from our stores and; when the sun rose; sent servants surreptitiously out to what marketplaces would be open to buy other items。 He cast several spells that day。 The first and greatest was around the entire household。 〃I cannot prevent another spell such as the one just laid from being attempted; but I can prevent any such spell from taking full hold。〃 He also cast protective spells around each of us; taking great pains over the two men who'd fallen prey to the incantation before。 〃Just as someone who falls ill of a disease of the lungs must always take care to avoid dampness and low wet places; so a man who's been taken over by sorcery can fall prey to another spell cast by the same person。 Or such is my belief; at any rate; even though I have heard it from no Evocators nor seen it in any grimoire。〃
 I asked how the servants had taken it; having words said over them that came from someone hardly a member of the Evocator's class。 Janos grinned and said there'd been no problems。 〃You don't realize; Amalric; there is a whole underworld of sorcery most poor folk rely on。 They cannot afford an Evocator; or else they believe certain spells and items their family and friends have used for years have far greater efficacy than anything the Evocators might prescribe。 Sometimes that is superstition; but as often as not they are correct。 Finally; the things they might want sorcerous help in obtaining; such as a love philter or an enemy to be cursed or an overspell to give them riches 。。。 any of these might be considered unlawful。〃
 〃To them;〃 I said slowly。 〃But not to me; because I have always had money enough to purchase silence once whatever spell I desired is cast。〃
 〃Money 。。。 or simply the power of the Antero name。〃
 〃There is a great unfairness in this city of ours;〃 I said。
 〃Brilliant deduction;〃 Janos said; not bothering to hide his sarcasm。 〃When you find a system where that is not true; to a greater or lesser degree; be sure to inform me so that we both can emigrate。〃 I poured him brandy; neat; and told him not to grind it in。 Then; very privately; I went to Halab's altar and prayed my thanks。 I knew not if he would appreciate sacrifices when this was over; but I promised them anyway。 I also swore that his…or his ghost's…doings this day would be told again and again; until the last Antero was taken from the earth。
 The next attack came late that afternoon。 I heard the blast of a horn and peered out an upstairs window。 In the street below was Cas
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