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！
He yelled at them again； something from the wars of years ago； he knew not what。 Townsaver； pronounced a secret voice within his mind； and he knew that it had named the sword for him。
Townsaver screamed exultantly； and drew the line of its blade through a gray rank as neatly as it had sliced the fruit。 It mowed the weapon…sprouting limbs like grass。
Chapter 14
〃This is it； Your Grace；〃 said the lieutenant in blue and white。 〃This is the place where the dragon…pack attacked us。〃
Duke Fraktin halted his riding…beast under a tree still dripping from the morning's rain； and with an easy motion dismounted from the saddle。 He made a great gesture with both arms to stretch the muscles in his back； stiffening somewhat after hours of riding。 He looked about him。
He did not ask his lieutenant if he were sure about the place； there was no need。 From where the Duke now stood； surrounded by a strong force of his mounted men； he could see and smell the carcass of a giant landwalker。 The dead beast lay forty meters or so away among some more trees； and now that the Duke looked carefully in that direction he could see a dead man lying close to the dead dragon； and a little farther on one of his own cavalry mounts stiffened with its four feet in the air。
The pestilential aftermath of war； thought the Duke； and stretched again； and started walking unhurriedly closer to the scene of carnage。 With a war ing； indeed at hand already； he decided it would be wise to reaccustom his senses as soon as possible to what they were going to be required to experience。
As he walked； with his right hand he loosened Coinspinner in its fine scabbard at his side。 〃And where；〃 he asked his lieutenant； 〃is the wagon you were chasing？ Did you not tell me that it tipped over in the chase； and then the dragons sprang out and attacked you before you could gather up the people who were in it？〃
〃That's how it was； Your Grace。〃 And the pair of survivors of that ill…fated patrol who were now acpanying the Duke began a low； urgent debate between themselves as to just where that cursed wagon had been and ought to be。 The Duke listened with impatient attention； meanwhile using his eyes for himself though without result。 According to the best magical advice he had been able to obtain； that wagon might well have had another of the swords hidden in it somewhere … possibly even two of them。
Before his subordinates argument was settled； the Duke's attention was drawn away from it by a rider who came cantering up with the report that another kind of wagon was arriving on the road that led from the southwest。 This； when it presently came into sight； proved to be a humble； battered vehicle； a limping farm…cart in fact； pulled by a pair of loadbeasts even more decrepit than itself。 The Duke at first was mystified as to why some of his advance guard should have doubled back to escort this apparition into his presence。
And then he saw who was riding in the middle of the one sagging seat； and he understood； or began to understand。
〃Gentle kinsman；〃 said the Lady Marat； as she held out her hand for the Duke's aid in dismounting。 His voice and gesture were as casual as if her humiliation did not concern her in the slightest。 But her words indicated otherwise。 〃I want you to promise me certain specific opportunities of vengeance； on the day that the castle that I left yesterday lies open to your power。〃
Fraktin bowed his head slightly。 〃Consider the promise made； dear lady。 So long as its fulfillment does not conflict with my own needs； with the necessities of war。 And now； I suppose it likely that you have something to report？〃
But before he could begin to hear what it might be； a trumpet sounded； causing the Duke to turn away from the lady momentarily。 He saw that the head of the long column of his main body of infantry； approaching at route step along the road from the northeast； had now e abreast of the place where they were talking。 Duke Fraktin returned the salute of the mounted officer who led the column； then faced back to his discussion with the Lady Marat。 And all the while that they were talking there； the ragged； heavy tramp of the infantry kept moving past them。
The Duke offered the lady refreshment。 But she preferred to wait until； as she said； she had made her preliminary report； and thus a beginning toward obtaining her revenge。 She had plans for everyone in that castle； but particularly for the knight who had stolen her coach and treated her with such total disrespect。
Duke Fraktin listened with close attention to her report； learning among other things that the dragonhunters' wagon had indeed gone on to Sir Andrew's rather than being destroyed by dragons here。
He asked： 〃My courier did get away from Sir Andrew's castle with one sword； though？ You are sure of that？〃
〃Yes； good cousin。 Of that fact I am very sure。 Though I cannot be sure which sword it was。〃
The Duke； not for the first time； was beginning to find this lady attractive。 But he put such thoughts aside； knowing that right now he had better concentrate on other matters。 〃Then where is this flying courier now？ It has never reached me。〃
The lady could offer no explanation。 The Master of the Beasts； when summoned from his place among the Duke's staff officers； gave his opinion that such a dragon ought to be able to fly easily and far； even after being stabbed once or twice with an ordinary sword。 The Master of the Beasts had no explanation for the absence of the courier either； except that； as everyone knew； dragons could be unreliable。
Now the Duke turned to consult with yet another figure； who had just dismounted。 〃What have you to say about my luck now； Blue…Robes？ What of the supposed power of this sword I wear？〃
The magician spread his hands in a placating gesture。 〃Only this； Your Grace： that we do not know what your luck might be now； if you did not have Coinspinner there at your side。〃
〃I find that answer something less than adequate； Blue…Robes。 I find it。。。 what are you gawping at； you fish？〃 This last was directed aside； at one of the retainers of the Lady Marat。 This man had been driving the farm wagon when it arrived。 Having been somewhat battered in the lady's service over the past few days； he was now receiving treatment for his wounds from the Duke's surgeon。
The surgeon looked up at the Duke's voice； and stilled his hands。 The man who had been addressed started to say something； took a second look at the Duke's face； and threw himself prostrate； bandages trailing unsecured。 〃A thousand pardons； Your Grace。 I was remembering that I。。。 that I thought I had seen you at the fair。〃
〃What？ At。。。 〃 And even as the Duke spoke； there came in his brain the remembered echo of the voice of someone else； telling him that he had been seen in some other place where he had never been。 〃Explain yourself； fellow。〃
The man began a confused relation of what had happened at Sir Andrew's fair； on the night when he and the Duke's other secret agents had got their hands on Dragonslicer。 He told some details of that sword's subsequent loss； and of the uncanny； m