fs.thethirdbookofswords-第26章
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d rivals。 Vilkata had arrived at this decision to change his plans largely out of the feeling that his enemies must now know too much about them as they stood。
First of all； the Dark King was now convinced that he had entertained a spurious Burslem； some damned spy； at that memorable council meeting at the main camp； the one where the King had first displayed his Mindsword； and which the gods had so gratifyingly attended later。 The real wizard Burslem； Vilkata's head of Security and Defensive Intelligence； had at last returned； and had been positively identified； this time； by careful questioning。 How the spy had managed to resist the Mindsword's influence； as he or she evidently had； was something else for the King to worry and wonder about。 The Sword Sightblinder was so far the only really convincing explanation to be suggested； and the presence of that in one of his enemies' hands was far from reassuring。
Today； as Vilkata moved about his small field tent in his routine of morning preparations； the small demon that served him as sensory aid presented him as usual with a vision of the tent's interior。 Certain things； in accordance with his own long…standing orders； were edited out of the scene as he perceived it。 For example； the body of last night's concubine； curled now at the foot of the。bed in sleep or a good imitation thereof； was most clearly visible by its shapely torso； the breasts and buttocks particularly emphasized。 The irrelevances of hands and feet； and especially the face … who would care about trying to read the innermost thoughts of such a woman？ … blurred away into a semi…transparent obscurity。 In the case of a bed…partner； better a blur than a face； no matter how well…formed and schooled in smiling。 Even such smiles could sometimes be disquieting。
And the Dark King had recently ordered that； when the next battle came； the dead should be edited away too； out of his perception。 He had observed frequently； on other battlefields and in other areas where much killing was required； that the dead were a notable distraction。 Obstacles when removed ought to disappear； resources once used up were only waste materials。 The dead tended to stink； and were in general esthetically unpleasing。 He had finally decided to order them filtered out。 Someone else could count them up when necessary。
He had decided； too； that many of the wounded； most of them in fact； should also be expunged from his vision。 Those remaining should be only the ones still able to play an active part in the day's events； enough to present some possible danger to the Dark King's person； or his cause。 This might not always be easy for a busy demon to judge； in doubtful cases the filtering familiar was to let the wounded person remain visible； even if esthetically offensive。
This morning； when Vilkata left his small tent and mounted his war…steed； amid the usual thunderous applause of his troops and officers； his army appeared before him in his demon…sight as neat ranks of polished weapons； the human form attached to each blade or bow not much more than a mere uniformed outline。
A look at the best maps he had available had persuaded him that it ought to be possible to intercept Sir Andrew's force if he moved swiftly； staring at first daylight。 The morning's march was hard and long。 Scouts； some of them human beings mounted or afoot； some of them winged beasts； kept ing in with reports of what appeared to be the rear guard of Sir Andrew's force not far ahead。 They estimated that the enemy army was even a little smaller than earlier intelligence estimates had made it out to be。
But Vilkata； still prudent despite the overwhelming advantage that he thought he held； ordered his infantry forward as against a foe possibly almost their equal in numbers。 He also ordered a swift cavalry movement； a reconnaissance in force； to move around Sir Andrew's army； to try to engage the enemy front and if possible prevent successful flight。 Meanwhile he maneuvered the main body of his own troops into battle array。 Stationing himself just behind the front of this force； near the center； he awaited more reports； and remained ready to draw the Mindsword for what he calculated would be maximum effect upon foe and friend alike。
The first skirmishes broke out ahead。 The Dark King drew his weapon of great magic and advanced； mounted； holding overhead what he himself perceived as a spear of fiery glory。 He saw the enemy rear guard； in a view tailored by his familiar to his wishes； as mobile though inanimate man…sized obstacles。 Still he could see their shapes and their numbers perfectly well； and even note the fact that many of them wore orange and black。
Vilkata saw also； and felt with joy； the terror that he inspired in those men and women ahead when they first saw him； and how swiftly that terror was altered by his Sword's magic into a mad devotion。
He saw with delight how Sir Andrew's soldiers； who at first glance would have formed a rank and fought him； at sight of the Mindsword fell down and worshipped him instead。 And how； when he presently roared orders at them； they rose and turned； and went running like berserkers against their former rades； who must now be just out of sight and trying to get away。
One of the last to bend to the Mindsword's power was a woman； a proud sorceress by the look of her； no longer young and evidently of some considerable rank。 One counterspell after another this arrogant female hurled back at the Dark King and his Sword； but they had all failed her； as he knew they must； and as she too must have known； and she too turned at last； snarling with mad joy； like the others； at being able to serve the future ruler of all the Earth。
Denis the Quick had been offered the chance to remain in the swamp； along with a handful of wounded and others who could not travel quickly； when Sir Andrew led his army out。 Reports had e in indicating that it would not be wise for Denis to attempt to make his way home alone to Tashigang； and Sir Andrew could afford no escort for him。 The situation around the city had deteriorated rapidly since Denis's departure。 Strong patrols of the Dark King's forces were in the very suburbs now； challenging the few troops that the Silver Queen had in the region。 The wealthy owners of suburban villas had fled； into the city or far away from it。 This news offered hope of a kind to Sir Andrew and his people； as it was evidence that the situation between King and Queen was now moving rapidly toward open conflict。
But Denis had declined to stay in the swamp。 There was no telling how long he'd be stuck there if he did so； or when a better chance of getting out would e； if ever。 He preferred to be out in the great world； to know what great events were happening。 He was willing to take his chances on getting back eventually to the city he loved； and to the two women there whose images still stirred his dreams。
On the afternoon of the third day since the army had left the swamp； Denis was walking with some members of Sir Andrew's staff。 Sir Andrew himself was on hand at the moment； the Knight had been riding up and down the column of his army； trying to preserve its organization … years of guerrilla tactics in a swamp were not the best practice for a long overland march … and had stopped to talk with Denis about conditions among the people in Tashigang。
They talked of the White Temple； and its hospitals； in some of which Denis had worked during his apprenticeship as Ardneh's acolyte。 They began a discussion on how to put Woundhealer to the best possible use； this was of course purely theoretical； as Denis had been unable to deliver it as charged。 Sir Andrew still did not appear to blame him； however。 Doomgiver was with the column； being carried by an officer of the advance guard； who； as it had seemed to Sir Andrew； had the greater likelihood of encountering the enemy today。
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a small flying scout； with a message from the rear guard。
The true bird； intelligent enough to manage elementary speech； cackled at them： 〃Black and gold； black and gold。 Many many。〃
〃Then Ardneh be with my Dame；〃 Sir Andrew muttered； reining in his mount； and looking behind him fiercely。 Dame Yoldi was in the rear。 〃And with us all。〃
He cried out then for swift messengers to go ahead； to summon back with all speed the trusted friends who were carrying Doomgiver in the van。 Then the Knight tried the movement of his helmet's visor； and with more shouted orders set about turning what few units of his army were in direct range of his voice； and heading them back to the relief of the rear guard。 These did not amount to much more than a handful of his own bodyguard and friends。
And Denis heard； even as he saw； Shieldbreaker e out of its sheath now。 He heard the legendary pounding sound； not fast or loud as yet but dull and brutal： The matchless magic of the Sword of Force beat out from it into the surrounding air； not with the tone of a drum whose voice might stir the blood； but rather with the sound of some relentless hammer； nailing up an executioner's scaffold。
Now the Knight himself and his close bodyguard； all mounted； set out for the rear of their army； or what had been its rear； at a pace that Denis on foot could not hope to match。
But； as he would be otherwise left virtually alone； he tried to keep up。 He might have run in the other direction instead； but he thought the rest of the army would soon be pouring back from there； and he would have to face round again and join them； or appear as a deserter。
Denis was about a hundred meters behind Sir Andrew and his mounted panions； and losing more ground rapidly； when to his surprise he saw at a little distance to his right what looked like the deserted remnants of a carnival； set down for some reason right out here in the middle of nowhere。 The booths and counters； the apparatus for the games of skill and chance； were all broken and standing idle。 No one was in sight at the deserted amusement place； as Denis halted nearby； panting。 The people belonging to the show … and who could blame them？ … appeared to have run off even before the tramp of marching armies had drawn near。
Sir Andrew and his bodyguard had not yet got out of Denis's sight； when a cry went up from the same direction and only a short distance ahead of them。 Denis； turning his head away from abandoned tents and wagons； saw what had to be Sir Andrew's rear guard； running toward Sir Andrew and his immediate panions； who had just halted on a little knoll。 It appeared to be a desperate retreat； though as far as Denis could see the rearguard was not yet panicked totally。 They had not thrown their weapons away as yet。。。 and then he saw that what he had first taken for a retreat was in fact a charge。 The rearguard； running from downhill； and already swinging their weapons like madmen； collided full tilt with Sir Andrew and his little group who had been riding to their rescue。 The cry and noise of battle went up at once； and the would…be rescuers； taken by surprise； were many of them already down in their own blood。
〃A trick！ An enchantment！〃 Despairing cries went up from those riding with Sir Andrew。
It was no trick as simple as switched uniforms。 Denis； dazedl
