fs.thethirdbookofswords-第34章

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　the　declaration　of　Tashigang　as　an　open　city。　That　last；　Mark　thought；　must　amount；　in　practical　terms；　to　the　same　thing　as　surrender。
　The　speech　of　the　High　Priest　did　not　evoke　any　particular　enthusiasm　among　the　citizens　of　Tashigang　who　made　up　the　majority　of　his　listeners。　But　neither　were　they　vocal　in　immediate　objection；　rather　the　burghers　seemed　to　be　waiting　to　hear　more。　Now　and　again　their　eyes　strayed　toward　the　black　hilt　at　Mark's　side。
　Hyrcanus　might　have　gone　on　and　on　indefinitely；　but　Mayor　Okada　at　length　firmly　reclaimed　the　floor。　Who；　he　asked；　wanted　to　speak　next？
　Baron　Amintor　had　been　impatiently　waiting　for　his　chance。　Now　he　arose；　and　as　representative　of　the　Silver　Queen；　argued　eloquently　that　the　city　must　be　defended　to　the　last　fighter。　Though　he　was　careful；　Mark　observed；　not　to　put　it　in　exactly　those　terms。　Rather　the　Baron　was　strongly　reassuring　about　the　walls；　the　city's　history　and　tradition　of　successful　resistance　to　outside　attack；　and　about　the　mitment　of　the　Silver　Queen　to　their　defense。
　Hyrcanus　interrupted　him　at　one　point　to　object。　〃What　about　the　Mindsword；　though？　What　are　any　walls　against　that？〃
　Amintor　took　the　objection　in　stride；　and　assured　the　others　that　Yambu　was　not　without　her　own　supremely　powerful　weapon。　〃In　her　wisdom　and　reluctance　to　do　harm；　she　has　not　employed　it　as　yet。　But；　faced　with　the　Mindsword。。。　I　am　sure　she　will　do　whatever　she　must　do　to　assure　the　safety　of　Tashigang。〃
　One　of　the　burghers　rose。　〃When　you　mention　this　weapon　that　the　Queen　has；　you　are　speaking　of　the　Sword　called　Soulcutter；　or　sometimes　the　Tyrant's　Blade；　are　you　not？〃
　〃I　am。〃　If　Amintor　was　offended　by　the　plain　use　of　that　second　name；　he　did　not　show　it。
　〃I　know　little　about　it。〃　The　questioner　looked　around　the　table。　〃Nor；　I　suppose；　do　many　of　us　here。　What　can　it　do　to　protect　Tashigang？〃
　Amintor　glanced　only　for　a　moment　at　Hyrcanus。　〃I　would　prefer　not　to　go　into　tactical　details　regarding　any　of　the　Swords　just　now；〃　the　Baron　answered　smoothly。　He　almost　winked　at　Mark；　who　carried　Coinspinner；　as　if　they　had　been　old　rades　instead　of　enemies。　〃Later；　under　conditions　of　greater　security；　if　you　like。　I　will　say　now　only　that　the　Queen　is　wise　and　passionate；〃　for　some　reason；　no　one　in　the　room　laughed；　〃and　that　she　will　not　use　such　a　weapon　as　Soulcutter　carelessly。　But　neither　will　she　allow　this　city　that　she　so　loves　to　be　taken　by　its　enemies。〃
　Mark　had　to　admit　to　himself　that　he　had　little　or　no　idea　what　Soulcutter　might　do。　It　was　the　one　Sword　of　the　Twelve　that　he　had　never　seen；　let　alone　had　in　his　possession。　Almost　all　he　knew　of　it　was　contained　in　the　verse　that　everyone　had　heard：
　The　Tyrant's　Blade　no　blood　hath　spilled
　But　doth　the　spirit　carve
　Soulcutter　hath　no　body　killed
　But　many　left　to　starve。
　Glancing　at　Ben　and　Barbara；　he　read　an　equal　lack　of　knowledge　in　their　faces。
　The　Lord　Mayor　now　looked　at　Mark　expectantly。　It　was　time　that　the　meeting　heard　from　the　emissary　from　Tasavalta。
　Mark　stood　up　from　his　chair　and　leaned　his　hands　on　the　table　in　front　of　him。　With　faith　in　what　the　Emperor　had　told　him；　he　was　able　to　announce　that　the　Tasavaltan　army　was　on　the　march；　under　the　direct　mand　of　General　Rostov；　ing　to　the　city's　relief。　Rostov's　was　an　impressive　name；　one　fit　to　go　with　the　reputation　of　the　walls　of　Tashigang　itself；　and　once　again　most　of　the　faces　around　the　table　appeared　somewhat　cheered。　That　the　Tasavaltan　army　also　was　small　by　parison　with　the　Dark　King's　host　was　not　mentioned　at　the　moment；　though　everybody　knew　it。　Even　should　the　Silver　Queen　arrive　with　her　army　at　the　same　time；　Vilkata　would　still　have　the　advantage　of　numbers。
　〃Does　anyone　else　have　anything　to　say？〃　the　Lord　Mayor　asked。　〃Anyone　else；　who　has　not　spoken　yet？〃
　Ben　spoke　briefly；　and　Barbara　after　him。　They　added　nothing　really　new　to　the　discussion；　but　reminded　everyone　again　of　the　city's　tradition　and　promised　to　help　arm　the　defense　from　their　store　of　weapons。　Before　she　spoke；　Barbara　faced　Mark　momentarily；　and　her　lips　formed　the　one　word：　Doomgiver？
　Mark　shook　his　head　very　slightly。　He　wanted　to　keep　that　news　in　reserve；　to　stiffen　the　council's　resolve　if　they　should　be　swayed　toward　surrender　after　all。　Right　now　he　judged　that　was　unlikely。
　Shortly　after　Barbara　spoke；　the　Mayor　called　for　a　show　of　hands。　〃How　many　are　ready　to　fight　for　our　city？〃
　Only　one　hand　was　not　raised。　Hyrcanus　sent　black　looks　at　Ben；　and　Mark；　and　Amintor。
　Before　the　Chairman　of　the　Blue　Temple　could　make　a　final　statement　and　a　dramatic　exit；　an　aide　to　the　Mayor　entered　to　announce　the　arrival　of　a　flying　courier　with　a　message　for　the　Lord　Mayor。　The　courier　and　message　container　were　both　marked　with　the　black　and　silver　insignia　of　Queen　Yambu　herself。
　The　beast…courier　…　Mark　recognized　it　as　one　of　a　hybrid　species　prevented；　in　the　interests　of　secrecy；　from　ever　acquiring　speech　…　was　brought　into　the　room。　The　message　capsule　of　light　metal　was　opened　and　the　paper　inside　unfolded。
　Okada　read　through　the　single　sheet　alone；　in　anxious　silence；　then　he　raised　his　head。
　〃It　is　indeed　from　her　most　puissant　Majesty；　the　Silver　Queen　herself；　and；　as　the　marking　on　the　capsule　indicated；　addressed　personally　to　me。　I　will　not　read　the　entire　message　aloud　just　now；　it　contains　certain　matters　I　do　not　need　to　proclaim　in　council。〃　There　followed　a　look　at　Hyrcanus；　to　say　wordlessly　that　important　military　secrets　were　not　going　to　be　announced　in　front　of　him；　not　in　view　of　the　attitude　he　had　just　taken。　The　Mayor　continued：　〃But；　there　are　other　parts　that　I　think　we　all　should　hear　at　once。〃
　The　Silver　Queen's　words　that　the　Mayor　read　were　very　firm；　and　could　be　called　inspiring　in　terms　of　fear　if　not　otherwise：　there　was　to　be　no　talk　of　surrendering　the　city；　under　penalty　of　incurring　her　severe　displeasure。
　Her　message　also　confirmed　that　she　was　already　on　the　march　with　her　army；　ing　to　the　relief　of　this　her　greatest　city　…　as　she　put　it；　indeed　the　greatest　and　proudest　city　in　the　world。　And　that　she　intended　to　achieve　victory　by　whatever　means　were　necessary。
　Hyrcanus　walked　out。　He　did　it　unhurriedly；　almost　courteously；　with　considerable　dignity；　Mark　had　to　admit。　The　High　Priest　did　not　waste　time　on　threats；　now　that　it　would　have　been　obviously　useless　and　even　dangerous　to　do　so；　a　behavior　somehow；　at　this　stage；　thought　Mark；　more　ominous　than　any　threats　would　be。
　The　Lord　Mayor；　looking　thoughtfully　after　the　High　Priest；　was　evidently　of　the　same　opinion。　Okada　immediately　called　in　an　officer　of　the　Watch　from　just　outside　the　conference　room；　and　calmly　gave　the　order　to　arrest　the　High　Priest　before　he　could　get　out　of　the　Palace；　once　out；　he　would　easily　be　able　to　give　some　signal　to　his　troops。　The　Blue　Temple　Guards　in　the　city；　Ben　had　said；　were　one　of　the　largest　trained　fighting　forces　within　the　walls。
　Now　it　became　at　least　possible　for　the　council　to　discuss　the　city's　means　of　defense　in　more　detail；　without　the　virtual　certainty　that　a　potential　enemy　was　listening　and　taking　part　in　the　debate。
　Amintor　immediately　put　forward　a　plan　to　neutralize　the　Blue　Temple　troops　by　meeting　any　attempt　on　their　part　to　rescue　Hyrcanus　with　a　countermove　against　the　local　Temple　and　its　vaults；　whipping　up　a　street　mob　for　the　purpose　if　no　regular　forces　could　be　spared。　Barbara　whispered　to　Mark　that　Denis　would　probably　be　a　good　man　to　see　to　the　organization　of　such　an　effort。
　In　succeeding　discussion；　it　quickly　became　plain　that　the　key　to　the　regular　defense　of　the　city's　walls　against　attack　from　outside　would　be　the　Watch；　a　small　but　well…trained　body　of　regular　troops　loyal　to　the　Lord　Mayor。　They　were　only　a　few　hundred　strong　against　Vilkata's　thousands；　but　their　numbers　could　be　augmented　by　calling　up　the　city's　militia。　Ben　whispered　to　Mark　that　the　quality　of　the　militia　was；　regrettably；　not　so　high　as　it　might　be。　But　certainly　the　city's　long　tradition　of　defending　itself　ought　to　help。
　Then　there　were　the　fragments　of　Sir　Andrew's　army　to　be　considered；　the　survivors　who　had　followed　Denis　and　Mark　to　Tashigang；　along　with　the　ten　or　a　dozen　at　most　of　Mark's　surviving　Tasavaltan　escort。　Mark　could　assure　the　Lord　Mayor　that　Sir　Andrew's　people　were　all　good；　experienced　fighters；　though　at　present　somewhat　demoralized　by　the　sad　death　of　their　noble　leader。　Given　the　chance；　they　would　be　eager　to　exact　revenge。
　Mark　revealed　now　that　the　Sword　he　wore　at　his　side　was　Coinspinner；　and　he　proposed　that　they　consult　the　Sword　of　Chance　at　once　to　try　to　determine　the　best　means　of　obtaining　a　successful　defense　of　the　city。　All　were　agreeable；　and　all；　particularly　those　who　had　never　seen　a　Sword　before；　were　impressed　by　the　sight　when　Mark　drew　his。
　〃It　points。。。　that　way。　What's　there？〃
　They　soon　determined　that　something　outside　the　room　was　being　indicated。　They　had　to　leave　the　council　room；　and　then　go　up　on　the　roof　of　the　Palace　to　make　sure。
　The　Sword　of　Chance　was　pointing　at　someone　or　something　outside　the　city　walls；　in　fact　at　the　very　center　of　Vilkata's　advancing　army。　The　Dark　King's　force　had　just　now　e　barely　into　sight；　through　distant　summer　haze。　It　was　still；　Mark　thought；　well　out　of　Mindsword　range。
　And　Coinspinner　pointed　as　if　to　Vilkata　himself。　Mark　looked　at　Ben；　and　got　back　a　look　of　awe　and　calculation　mingled。
　Chapter　15
　The　delegation　from　the　palace；　two　women　and　one　man；　arrived　at　Mala's　door　very　quietly　and　unexpectedly。　It　was　the　afternoon　after　she　heard　of　Mark's　departure　from　Tasavalta　on　a　mission　for　the　Princess。　Her　first　thought　on　seeing　the　strangers　at　her　door　was　that　something　terrible　had　happened　to　her　son　or　her　husband；　or　to　both；　but　before　she　could　even　form　the　question；　one　of　the　women　was　assuring　her　that　as　far　as　was　known；　both　were　well。　The　three　of　them　had　e　to　conduct　Mala　to　the　palace；　because　the　Princess　herself　wanted　to　see　her。
　The　Palace　was　not　far　above　the　town；　and　less　than　an　hour　later　Mala　was　there；　walking　in　an　elaborate　flower　garden；　open　within　high　walls。　The　garden　had　tall　flowering　trees　in　it；　and　strange　animals　to　gape　at；　hybrid　creatures　such　as　the　highborn　liked　to　amuse　themselves　with；　climbing　and　flying　amid　high　branches。
　Mala　was　left　alone　in　the　garden；　but　only　for　a　few　moments。　Then　a　certain　fat　man　appeared；　well　dressed　and　with　an　aura　of　magic　about　him。　He　introduced　himself　as　Karel；　which　name　meant　nothing　to　Mala；　and　he；　though　obviously　a　person　of　some　importance；　appeared　quite　content　that　it　should　be　so。　He　walked　along　the　garden　path　with　Mala；　and　asked　her　about　her　family；　and　tried　to　put　her　at　her　ease。　That　he　succeeded　as　well　as　he　did　was　a　tribute　to　his　skill。
　And　then　he　asked　her；　in　his　rich；　soft　voice：　〃Do　you　know　the　Sword　of　Mercy？　Or　Sword　of　Love；　as　it　is　sometimes　called？〃
　〃I　know　of　it；　sir；　of　course；　you　must　know　who　my　husband　is。　But　if　you　mean　have　I　ever　seen　it；　no。〃
　〃Then　have　you　any　idea　where　it　is；　at　this　moment？　Hey？〃　Karel's　gaze　at　her　was　suddenly　much　more　intense；