lh.narcissusinchains-第58章

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　〃He　was　in　there　for　nearly　a　day　before　I　asked　where　they'd　put　him。　That　was　my　fault。〃
　〃But　who's　idea　was　it　to　put　him　there？〃　I　asked。
　Richard　looked　at　Jacob。　The　look　said　it　all。
　I　walked　over　to　the　tall　man。　〃You　never　called　me；　Jacob。〃
　〃You　got　your　leopard　back；　so　what　does　it　matter？〃
　〃If　you　ever　touch　one　of　my　people　again；　I'll　kill　you。〃
　〃You　going　to　pit　your　kitty…cats　against　our　pack？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No；　Jacob；　this　is　personal；　between　me　and　you。　I　know　the　rules。　I　make　this　a　personal　challenge　between　you　and　me；　and　that　means　that　no　one　can　help　you。〃
　〃Or　you；〃　he　said。　He　stared　down　at　me　trying　to　use　his　height　to　intimidate　me。　It　didn't　work。　I　was　used　to　being　short。　I　gave　him　dead　eyes　until　the　smirk　on　his　face　faltered　and　he　took　one　step　back；　which　pissed　him　off。　But　he　didn't　retake　that　step。　Jacob　might　be　able　to　kill　Richard　in　a　fair　fight　for　dominance；　but　he'd　never　be　a　true　Ulfric。
　I　stepped　up　close　to　him；　close　enough　that　a　good　insult　would　have　made　us　touch。　〃There's　something　weak　in　you　Jacob。　I　can　smell　it；　and　so　can　they。　You　may　challenge　Richard　and　win；　but　the　pack　will　never　accept　you　as　Ulfric。　You　winning　will　tear　them　apart　　it'll　be　a　civil　war。〃
　Something　flashed　through　his　eyes。
　〃That　doesn't　scare　you。　You　don't　care；〃　I　said。
　He　stepped　back　from　me；　averting　his　eyes；　his　face。　〃You　heard　the　Ulfric。　Go　fetch　your　cat　before　we　change　our　minds。〃
　〃You　couldn't　change　your　mind　with　a　hundred　watt　bulb　and　a　team　of　helpers。〃
　He　frowned　at　me　then。　Sometimes　my　humor　is　a　little　esoteric；　or　maybe　it's　just　not　funny。　Jacob　didn't　find　it　funny。
　〃Go　with　her；　Sylvie；　make　sure　she　gets　everything　she　needs　to　get　him　out　of　there　and　back　to　the　cars　safely；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Are　you　sure　you　want　me　to　go？〃　she　asked。
　〃We'll　stay　with　him；〃　Jamil　said。　None　of　them　tried　to　hide　the　fact　that　they　were　looking　at　Jacob　while　they　said　it。　Not　only　didn't　they　not　trust　him；　but　they　didn't　care　that　he　knew　that　they　didn't　trust　him。　How　had　things　downgraded　to　that？　What　had　been　happening　in　the　pack　that　no　one　had　told　me　about　yet？　Plenty；　from　the　looks　on　everyone's　faces。
　〃She　can't　go　home　until　after　the　ceremony　to　break　her　ties　with　the　pack〃　Jacob　said。
　〃She　will　go　home　when　I　say　she　goes　home；〃　Richard　said；　voice　low　and　full　of　that　deep　tone　he　got　just　before　his　voice　crawled　to　something　growling　and　inhuman。
　〃The　candidates　have　all　e　prepared　tonight；　Ulfric；　dressed　to　please　you。〃
　〃Then　they　can　dress　to　please　me　another　night。〃
　〃You　disappoint　。。。　〃
　〃You　are　about　to　overstep　yourself；　Jacob。〃　There　must　have　been　something　in　the　way　he　said　it；　because　Jacob　finally　shut　up　and　gave　a　small　bow。　But　he　managed　to　make　the　movement　mocking；　and　even　from　a　distance　you　could　tell　he　didn't　mean　it。　But　he　lowered　his　eyes　with　his　head；　as　he　bent　at　the　waist。　It's　a　mistake　to　take　your　eyes　off　your　opponent。
　I　asked；　〃Am　I　still　lupa　until　the　ceremony？〃
　〃I　suppose；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Yes；〃　Sylvie　said。　And　they　looked　at　each　other。
　〃Good。〃　I　kicked　Jacob　in　the　face；　though　not　as　hard　as　I'd　hit　Richard。　You　didn't　have　to　kick　as　hard　to　do　the　same　kind　of　damage。
　I　watched　who　in　the　pack　made　movements　towards　us　and　who　didn't。　I　didn't　see　what　everybody　did；　but　I　saw　enough。　Nobody　near　the　throne　made　a　single　move　to　stop　me；　or　help　him。
　Jacob　staggered　to　his　feet。　His　nose　had　burst　like　a　piece　of　overripe　fruit。　Blood　poured　from　his　face；　over　his　hands；　like　crimson　water。　He　yelled　at　me；　voice　thick　with　the　blood　running　down　his　throat。　〃You　broke　my　nose！〃
　I　was　in　a　defensive　stance；　the　one　I'd　learned　in　kenpo；　just　in　case；　but　he　didn't　try　to　hit　me　back。　I　think　he　knew　that　there　were　too　many　people　close　at　hand　aching　for　an　excuse　to　hurt　him。　Jacob　was　weak；　but　he　was　smarter　than　he　looked；　and　not　quite　as　arrogant。
　〃I　am　lupa　of　the　Thronnos　Rokke　Clan。　Maybe　just　for　tonight；　but　I　am　lupa　here。　And　he　is　Ulfric；　and　you　will　by　God　show　some　respect！〃
　〃You　have　no　right　to　question　the　Geri　of　this　clan。　I've　earned　my　place。　You　just　fucked　the　Ulfric。〃
　I　laughed；　and　it　startled　him；　made　him　unsure。　〃I　know　pack　law；　Jacob。　It　doesn't　matter　how　I　got　the　job。　All　that　matters　is　that　I　am　lupa；　and　that　means　that　except　for　the　Ulfric；　my　word　is　law。〃
　His　eyes　looked　uncertain；　and　the　first　faint　trace　of　fear　showed；　like　a　bitter　scent　on　the　wind。　〃You　are　about　to　be　dethroned　as　lupa。　Your　word　means　nothing　here。〃
　〃I　am　Ulfric　here；　Jacob；　not　you；　and　I　say　whose　word　means　something　and　whose　does　not。　Until　we　have　the　ceremony　breaking　her　ties　with　our　pack；　Anita　is　still　lupa；　and　I　will　support　what　she　says。〃
　〃And　I；〃　Sylvie　said。
　〃And　I；〃　Jamil　said。
　Shang…Da　said；　〃I　support　my　Ulfric　in　all　things。〃
　〃Then　let's　have　a　little　irony；〃　I　said。　〃Since　it　was　Jacob's　idea　to　put　Gregory　down　in　the　oubliette；　let　him　take　Gregory's　place。〃
　Jacob　started　to　protest；　hands　still　trying　to　stop　the　blood　flow　from　his　nose。　〃You　can't　do　that。〃
　〃Oh；　but　she　can；〃　Richard　said；　and　there　was　a　coldness　in　him　that　I'd　never　seen　before。　He　wouldn't　have　e　up　with　the　idea　himself；　but　he　liked　it。　It　let　me　know　just　how　frustrated　he'd　been　with　Jacob。
　〃Great；〃　I　said。　〃Shall　we　all　walk　like　civilized　wereanimals　to　the　oubliette　and　rescue　Gregory？〃
　〃I　will　not　go　willingly　down　in　that　hole；〃　Jacob　said。　His　voice　sounded　a　little　funny；　what　with　all　the　blood　and　his　nose　smashed　to　hell；　but　he　sounded　sure　of　himself。　He　shouldn't　have　been。
　〃Your　Ulfric　and　your　lupa　have　both　decreed　you　will　go；〃　Sylvie　said。　〃To　refuse　the　order　is　to　refuse　their　authority。〃
　Jamil　continued；　〃To　refuse　their　authority　is　to　be　declared　outlaw　from　the　clan。〃
　Jacob　glared　at　me　when　he　said；　〃I　will　obey　my　Ulfric；　but　I　do　not　acknowledge　the　Nimir…Ra　as　my　lupa。〃
　〃If　I　say　she　is　lupa；　then　to　deny　that　is　to　question　my　authority　as　Ulfric；〃　Richard　said。
　Jacob's　eyes　flicked　to　Richard。　〃We　voted　her　out　as　our　lupa。〃
　〃I'm　voting　her　back　in；〃　Richard　said；　voice　deep　and　quiet；　but　loud　enough　that　it　carried。
　〃Take　another　vote；〃　Jacob　said；　still　trying　to　slow　the　blood　from　his　face。　〃It　will　go　against　her　again。〃
　〃No；　Jacob；　you　misunderstand　me。　I　said；　I　am　voting　her　back　in；　not　you；　not　anyone　else；　just　me。〃
　Jacob's　eyes　widened。　〃You've　preached　about　democracy　in　action　since　I　joined　this　clan。　Are　you　going　back　on　all　of　it　now？〃
　〃Not　on　all　of　it；　but　we　don't　vote　for　Freki；　or　Geri；　or　for　Hati　and　Sk？ll。　We　don't　vote　for　Ulfric。　Why　should　we　vote　for　lupa？〃
　〃She's　fucking　the　Nimir…Raj。　For　that　alone　she　should　be　cast　out　as　lupa。〃
　〃That's　my　problem；　not　yours；　not　the　pack's。〃
　〃You　going　to　fuck　her；　too？　You　think　the　Nimir…Raj　will　share？〃
　Richard　started　to　say　something；　but　Micah　spoke　first；　taking　a　step　from　the　rest；　his　guards　flanking　him。　〃Why　don't　you　ask　the　Nimir…Raj？〃
　Richard　looked　at　me；　a　question　in　his　eyes。　I　shrugged。
　〃Ask　him；　Jacob；〃　Richard　said。　The　blood　had　almost　stopped　dripping　from　Richard's　mouth。
　〃You　mind　if　the　Ulfric　fucks　your　Nimir…Ra？〃　Jacob　was　still　bleeding　like　a　stuck　pig。　His　chest；　stomach；　even　the　front　of　his　shorts　were　soaked　with　blood。
　〃I've　agreed　to　any　arrangement　that　Anita　wishes；　as　long　as　she　remains　my　Nimir…Ra　and　lover。〃
　〃You'd　share　her　with　another　man？〃　Jacob　said；　voice　thick　with　disbelief
　〃With　two　other　men；〃　Micah　said。
　That　got　almost　everybody　staring　at　him。　I　glanced　at　him；　but　mostly　watched　everyone　else's　reaction；　especially　Richard's。　The　others　looked　shocked；　Richard　looked　thoughtful；　as　if　Micah　had　finally　done　something　he　didn't　hate。
　〃She　is　the　Master　of　the　City's　human　servant。　Being　my　Nimir…Ra　has　not　changed　that。　I've　felt　the　mark　that　binds　them　together；　and　it　is　not　something　that　will　break；　as；　apparently；　the　mark　that　binds　her　to　the　Ulfric　will　not　break。〃
　〃Nothing　binds　her　to　the　Ulfric　but　her　stubbornness；　and　his；〃　Jacob　said。
　〃You　think　so？〃　Micah　made　it　a　question。
　Jacob　looked　uncertain。　The　blood　from　his　nose　was　finally　beginning　to　slow。　〃You've　seen　more　than　I've　seen；　if　you　think　they　still　have　a　special　bond。〃
　〃More　than　any　of　us　have　seen。〃　This　from　Paris；　who　had　pushed　her　way　to　the　front　of　the　crowd。
　〃I　am　Nimir…Raj；　of　course　I　see　more　than　you　do。〃　His　voice　made　it　so　logical；　so　matter　of　fact。
　〃I　am　Geri；　third　in　line　to　the　throne。〃
　〃Noah　is　my　third　in　line。　I　think　if　you　ask　him　he　will　say　he　did　not　see　what　I　saw　either。　Third　in　line　to　be　Nimir…Raj；　or　Ulfric；　is　not　the　same　as　being　the　real　thing。〃
　I　fought　not　to　give　Micah　the　look　of　gratitude　that　I　wanted　to　give　him。　We　were　still　deep　in　bluff　territory；　and　not　safely　out　the　other　side　yet。
　〃You　can't　mean　to　share　your　lupa　with　two　other　men；〃　Paris　said。　She'd　pushed　her　way　to　stand　in　front　of　Richard；　with　her　back　to　me。　She　was　either　being　insulting；　or　stupid。　Maybe　both。
　Richard　looked　down　at　her；　and　it　wasn't　a　friendly　look。　Somehow　I　didn't　think　Paris　ever　had　a　very　good　shot　at　being　lupa；　not　with　Richard　in　charge　anyway。　〃What　I　and　my　lupa　do；　or　don't　do；　is　none　of　your　business。〃
　I　saw　her　back　stiffen；　as　if　he'd　hit　her；　and　maybe　he　had　hit　her　pride。　She'd　really　believed　she　could　seduce　him　into　picking　her。　I　could　have　told　her　that　sex　wasn't　the　key　to　Richard's　heart。　He　liked　it　well　enough；　but　it　wasn't　one　of　his　top　priorities；　not　if　it　interfered　with　other　things　that　were。　It　had　been　the　same　mistake　that　Raina　had　made　with　him；　or　one　of　the　mistakes　she'd　made　with　him。　Raina　had　never　really　understood　Richard；　either。
　〃You　can't　just　arbitrarily　decide　you　don't　need　a　vote　for　this；〃　Jacob　said。
　〃Yes；〃　Richard　said；　〃I　can。〃
　I　stepped　up　beside　Jacob。　〃That's　what　being　Ulfric　means；　Jacob。〃
　〃You're　going　back　to　a　dictatorship　after　all　the　high…minded　talk；〃　Jacob　said。
　〃For　tonight；　it's　sufficient　that　Anita　is　my　lupa；　and　that's　not　going　to　change。　We'll　discuss　everything　else　later。〃
　〃I　say　we　put　it　to　a　vote　whether　the　pack　wants　to　go　back　to　being　a　dictatorship；〃　Jacob　said。
　〃If　you　don't　have　someone　set　that　nose；　it　may　heal　crooked；〃　I　said。
　He　glared　at　me。　〃You　stay　out　of　this。〃
　Richard　called　up　a　man　with　short　brown　hair　and　a　neat　mustache。　He　shrugged　a　backpack　off　his　shoulders　and　began　taking　out　medical　supplies。　〃Fix　his　nose；〃　Richard　said　and　then　turned　to　Sylvie。　〃When　he's　bandaged　up；　pick　some　people　and　escort　Jacob　to　the　oubliette。〃
　There　were　murmurings　in　the　crowd。　One　clear　voice　that　I　hadn't　heard　before　said；　〃You　can't　do　that。〃
　Richard　looked　up；　searching　the　crowd；　and　they　fell　silent　under　his　gaze。　His　power　rolled　out　from　him　like　a　burning　invisible　fog；　something　that　clung　to　your　skin　and　made　it　hard　to　breath。　They　avoided　his　eyes；　some　even　dropped　down　into　submissive　postures；　their　bodies　low　to　the　ground；　eyes　rolled　up；　arms　and　legs　held　clos