fs.thethirdbookofswords-第41部分
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！
y。 Even after being warned it was a shock for Mark to behold Hyrcanus with his own eyes； it was the first time that he had ever actually seen the man； but there was no doubt in Mark's mind who he was。 The Blue Temple's Chairman and High Priest； having survived the efforts that must certainly have been made to depose him after the sacrilegious robbery of the Temple's main hoard four years ago； was still in charge； and had indeed e here today for the Lord Mayor's conference。
Hyrcanus； the High Priest； small； bald； and rubicund； his face as usual jovial； looked up as the three of them entered。 His cheerful smile did not exactly disappear； but froze。 He must have recognized Ben； at least； by description； at first sight。
The Chairman studied Mark too； and could hardly fail to identify him also； especially as their escort announced his name along with the others in a loud voice。 The others who were gathered round the table； a dozen or so men and women； mostly the solid citizens of Tashigang； rose to return greetings and extend a wele to the new arrivals。 Their faces were cheered； Mark thought； at the sight of the Tasavaltan green and blue that he still wore。 And their expressions altered still more； with new hope and calculation； at the sight of the black hilt at his side。 Mark let his left hand rest upon it； loosely； casually； he did not want Hyrcanus； at least； to be able to read which white symbol marked that hilt。
Mark supposed the fact that he was appearing in Tasavaltan colors might at least give the cheery…looking old bastard pause； and perhaps cause him to at least delay the next assassination attempt。
The Lord Mayor； named Okada； was a clerkish…looking man on whom the robes of his high office looked faintly preposterous。 Yet he presided firmly。 The arrival of Mark； Ben； and Barbara had interrupted Hyrcanus in the midst of a speech； which he now resumed； at the Mayor's suggestion。
It was soon apparent as Hyrcanus spoke that the Blue Temple Chairman's thoughts were not now on revenge and punishment of past transgressors； but； as usual； were concentrated on how best he could contrive to save the bulk of the Blue Temple's treasure。 A siege of the city； a storming of the walls； were to be avoided at all costs … at least at all costs to others outside the Blue Temple。 Mark； listening； assumed that Hyrcanus had already made some arrangement； or thought he had； with the Dark King； by which the Blue Temple holdings in Tashigang would be secure； in exchange for co…operation with the conqueror。
Mark could recognize one other face at the council table； though no reminiscences were exchanged in this case either。 Baron Amintor was here as the personal representative of the Silver Queen。 He recognized Mark also； and gazed at him in a newly friendly way； while Mark looked stonily at this old enemy of Sir Andrew。 The Baron； Mark was sure； recognized Ben and Barbara as well。
Hyrcanus continued the speech he had begun； urging that one of two courses be adopted： either outright surrender to the Dark King； or else 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
