fs.thethirdbookofswords-第13章
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ted handles of more torture…tools protruding from the glow of coals。
Mark had seen bad things before； in dungeons and in war； still he had to wait for a moment after entering。 He closed his eyes； gripping tightly the hilt of Sightblinder； cursing the Sword for what it had let him see when he looked at the victim。 He knew a powerful urge to draw the Sword； and slaughter these villains where they stood。 But a second thought assured him that it would not be easy to acplish that。 The air in here was thick with familiars and other powers； so thick that even a mundane could hardly fail to be aware of them。 Those powers might now be deceived about Mark； but let him draw a sword and they would take note； and he thought they would not permit their human masters to be slaughtered。
And there was something more important； he was beginning to realize； that he must acplish here before he died。
The half dozen who were gathered around the altar…table； garbed and hooded in various binations of gold and black； paid little attention to Mark when he entered。 One of their number did glance in the newer's direction； taking a moment from the chant between the great slow pulse…beats of its hideous magic in the air。
〃Thought you were off somewhere else；〃 a man's voice casually remarked。
〃Not just now；〃 said Mark。 He exerted a great effort trying to make his own voice equally casual。 Whatever the other heard from him was evidently acceptable； for the man with a brief smile under his hood turned back to his foul task。
Mark stood waiting； praying mechanically for a sign from somewhere as to what he ought to do next。 He did not want to retreat； and he hesitated to move on into the interior doorway he saw at the other side of the torture chamber。 And he continued to wish devoutly that he could somehow get out of sight of what was on this table。
Presently one of the women in the group turned her face toward him。 She asked； in a sharp； businesslike voice： 〃This area is secure？〃
Not knowing what else to do； Mark answered affirmatively； with a grave inclination of his head。
The woman frowned at him lightly。 〃I thought I had detected some possible intrusion； very well masked。。。 but you are the expert there。 And I thought also that our next subject； the one still in the cage outside； possesses some peculiar protection。 But we shall see when we have her in here。〃 Briskly the woman turned back to her work。
Mark； with only a general idea of what she must be talking about； nodded again。 And again his answer appeared to be acceptable。 Whoever they took him for； none of these people seemed to think it especially odd that he should continue to stand there； watching them or looking away。 He continued standing； waiting for he knew not what。
Quite soon another one of the men turned away from the altar； as if his portion of the bloody ritual were now plete。 This man left the group and approached a table near Mark； there to deposit his small bloodstained knife in a black bowl of some liquid that splashed musically when the small implement went in。
Then； standing very near Mark and speaking in a low voice； this man asked him； 〃e； tell me … why did he really summon you back here？〃 When there was no immediate reply； the man added； in a voice suddenly filled with injured pride； 〃All right then； be silent； as befits your office。 Only don't expect those you keep in the dark now to be eager to help you later； when。。。〃
The man broke off abruptly at that point。 It was as if he had been warned of something； by some signal that Mark totally failed to perceive。 The man turned his face away from Mark； and toward the doorway that Mark had supposed must lead into the inner chambers of the pavilion。
Meanwhile one of those still at the altar warned； in a low voice： 〃The Master es。〃 All present … except of course the sacrificial victim … fell to their knees； Mark moving a beat behind the rest。
It was Vilkata himself who emerged a moment later through the curtains of sable black。 Mark had never laid eyes on the Dark King before； but still he could not doubt for an instant who this was。
The first impression was of angular height； of a man taller than Mark himself； robed in a simple cloth of black and gold。 The hood of the garment was pulled back； leaving the wearer's head bare except for a simple golden circlet； binding back long ringlets of white hair。 The exposed face and hands of the Dark King were very pale； suggesting that the whiteness of the hair and of the curled beard resulted from some type of albinism rather than from age。
The second impression Mark received was that some of the more horrible tales might be true； for the Dark King was actually； physically blind。 Under the golden circlet； the long…lashed lids sagged over what must be empty sockets； spots of softness in a face otherwise all harsh masculine angles。 According to the worst of the stories； this man in his youth had put out his own eyes； as part of some dreadful ritual necessary to overpower his enemies' magic and gain some horrible revenge。
Looped around Vilkata's lean waist was a sword…belt of black and gold； and in the dependent sheath there rode a Sword。 Even in the dim light Mark could not fail to recognize that plain black hilt； so like the one he was now clasping hard in his own sweaty fist。 And Mark； his own vision augmented in some ways by Sightblinder； could not miss the small stylized white symbol of a banner that marked Vilkata's Sword。
It was of course the Mindsword； just as Draffut had warned。 Mark was struck with the instant conviction that what he had to do now was to get the Mindsword out of Vilkata's possession； prevent his using it to seize the world。 The decision needed no pondering； no consideration of consequences。
Vilkata's blind face turned from left to right and back again； as if he might be somehow scrutinizing his assembled magicians carefully。 Mark could read no particular expression on the harsh countenance of the Dark King。 Then one large； pale hand extended itself from inside Vilkata's robe； making a lifting gesture； a signal to his counselors that they might stand。 Would the King have known； Mark wondered； if they had all been standing instead of kneeling as he entered？ But then there would not have been this faint robe…rustle sound of rising。
Mark held his breath as the blind face turned once more toward him； and this time stayed turned in his direction。 Behind those eyelashes； white and grotesquely long； the pale collapsed lids were as magnetic as any stare。 Something about them was perversely beautiful。
There was a tiny almost inaudible humming； a miniature disturbance in the air near the Dark King's head。 Some demonic or familiar power was municating with him … so Mark perceived； watching with Sightblinder's handle in the grip of his hand。
The Dark King seemed about to speak； but hesitated； as if he were magically aware that something was wrong； that matters here in this innermost seat of his power were not as they should be。 Still the blind face confronted Mark； and Vilkata whispered a soft question into the air。 A humming answer came。 Mark could feel the power of the sheathed Sword at his own side suddenly thrum more strongly。
When Vilkata did speak aloud； Mark was surprised at the sound of his voice； smooth； deep； and pleasant。
〃Burslem； I am surprised to see you here。 I take it that the task I sent you on has been pleted？〃
Burslem。 To Mark the name meant nothing。 〃It is indeed； my lord。 My head on it。〃
〃Indeed； as you say。。。 now all of you； finish quickly what you are about in here。 I want you all at the conference table as quickly as possible。 The generals are waiting。〃 And Vilkata and his halfvisible familiar vanished； behind a sable swirl of draperies。
One wizard； a junior member of the group perhaps； stayed behind briefly to settle whatever still remained to be settled upon their ghastly altar。 The others； Mark among them； filed through the doorway where Vilkata had disappeared。 They passed through the next chamber； which was filled with what looked like draped furniture； and entered the next beyond that。
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 inva
