amc.killashandra-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！


trying　to　soothe　her；　she　barged　past　two　more　sentries　who　came　to　assist　their　mate；　she　would　have　gone　through　the　officer　who　came　hurrying　up　the　ramp；　flanked　by　three　additional　guards　on　either　side。　She　paused　momentarily；　seething　at　this　additional　obstacle。　The　officer　had　either　encountered　Elders　in　a　tearing　fit　or　he　instantly　recognized　an　elemental　force。　He　barked　an　order；　and　the　barricade　suddenly　became　an　escort　which　fell　in　behind　the　officer　and　Lars；　who　had　managed　to　keep　at　Killashandra's　heels　as　the　enraged　crystal　singer　stormed　forward　to　the　Residence　seeking　the　initiator　of　this　additional　affront。
　Here　Lars　took　the　lead；　adroitly　indicating　the　way。　She　heard　an　exchange　of　urgent　shouts。　She　had　a　confused　vision　of　more　guards　snapping　to　attention；　and　another　pair　hastily　opening　the　elaborately　carved　wooden　doors　…　which　despite　her　involvement　in　anger；　she　recognized　as　magnificent　panels　of　polly　wood。　Then　she　was　in　the　formal　reception　antechamber　of　the　Residence；　and　she　remembered　thinking　that　the　tip　of　this　iceberg　was　the　business　end。　She　continued　her　angry　progress　right　to　the　shallow　tier　of　steps　that　led　down　to　the　main　level。　With　an　alert　and　wary　expression；　Olav　was　half　way　across　the　floor　to　greet　her。　Behind　him　Elder　Torkes　was　seated　on　a　high　wooden　chair；　members　of　his　staff　standing　about　the　room；　conversing　with　several　islanders。
　Automatically；　Killashandra　gave　the　assembled　one　quick　glance　before　she　proceeded　toward　Torkes。　〃Did　I　spend　weeks　on　a　deserted　island　to　be　stopped　and　questioned　by　an　armed　minion？　To　have　a　weapon　thrust　in　my　face　as　if　I　were　an　enemy？　I〃　…　and　Killashandra　nearly　bruised　her　breast　bone　as　she　thumped　herself　with　rigid　fingers　…　〃I　am　the　one　who　has　been　assaulted　and　abducted。　I　am　the　one　who　has　been　at　jeopardy　and　you　…　〃　Now　she　pointed　an　accusing　finger　at　Torkes；　who　was　regarding　her　in　a　state　of　shock。　〃You　have　been　safe！　Safe！〃
　Afterwards　Lars　told　her　that　she　had　been　magnificent；　her　eyes　visibly　emitting　sparks；　her　manner　so　imposing　that　he　had　been　breathless　with　astonishment。　What　operatic　role　had　she　been　using？
　〃I　wasn't；〃　she'd　replied　with　a　rueful　smile；　for　the　effect　of　her　dramatic　entrance　had　more　than　satisfied　her　rage。　〃I've　never　been　so　angry　in　my　life。　A　weapon？　Pointed　at　me？〃
　Torkes　heaved　himself　out　of　his　chair；　his　expression　that　of　a　man　confronting　an　unknown　and　dangerous　entity　and　uncertain　which　course　to　take。　〃My　dear　Crystal　Singer　…　〃
　〃I　am　not　your　dear　anything。〃
　〃Your　experiences　have　unnerved　you；　Guildmember　Ree。　No　aggression　was　intended　against　you；　merely　…　〃
　〃　…　Your　wretched；　suffocating　need　for　protocol　and　an　irrelevant　show　of　aggression。　I　warn　you〃　…　and　she　waggled　her　finger　at　him　again　…　〃I　warn　you；　you　may　expect　the　most　severe　retribution〃　…　she　caught　herself；　in　her　rage；　she　had　been　on　the　point　of　revealing　too　much　to　Elder　Torkes　…　〃from　my　Guild；　reparation　for　the　callous　and　undignified　way　in　which　I　have　been　treated。〃
　Torkes　regarded　her　finger　as　if　it　were　some　sort　of　deadly　weapon　in　itself。　Before　he　could　assemble　a　suitable　reply　Olav　was　at　Killashandra's　elbow；　offering　a　glass　of　amber　liquid。　〃Guildmember；　drink　this。。。〃　His　baritone　voice；　so　soothing　and　conciliatory；　penetrated　her　ranting。　She　knocked　back　the　drink；　and　was　rendered　momentarily　speechless。　The　shock　of　the　potent　beverage　effectively　restored　her　to　discretion。　〃You　are　understandably　overwrought；　and　have　been　needlessly　upset；　but　you　are　safe　here；　now；　I　do　assure　you。　Elder　Torkes　has　already　initiated　the　most　thorough　investigation　of　this　terrible　outrage　and　personally　supervised　your　security　here　on　Angel　Island。〃
　Olav's　tactful　reassurances　gave　her　the　time　to　regain　use　of　her　throat　and　vocal　cords。　Her　throat　was　on　fire；　her　stomach　throbbing；　and　her　eyes　watered。　Which　seemed　a　good　cue　to　develop。　She　allowed　her　tears　to　flow　and　reached　weakly　for　Olav's　hand　to　support　her。　Instantly　she　felt　Lars　take　her　right　arm；　and　the　two　men　led　her　to　the　other　elaborate　chair　in　the　chamber；　seating　her　as　if　she　were　suddenly　fragile。
　〃I　am　overset。　Anyone　would　be；　enduring　what　I　have；〃　Killashandra　said；　using　her　sobbing　to　purge　the　last　dregs　of　anger；　for　she　estimated　that　she'd　worked　that　pitch　long　enough。　〃All　alone；　on　that　wretched　island；　not　knowing　where　I　was；　if　I'd　ever　be　rescued。　And　then　the　hurricane。。。〃
　A　second　glass　was　proffered。　When　she　glared　at　Olav；　he　winked。　Nevertheless；　she　sipped　cautiously。　Polly　wine。
　〃Please　accept　my　apologies；　Elder　Torkes；　but　that　ridiculous　weapon　was　the　last　straw。〃　Her　voice　died　away　but　she　managed　to　sound　reasonably　sincere。　Then　she　smiled　weakly　at　the　nonplussed　Elder；　and　fluttered　her　eyelashes　at　his　attendants。　They　seemed　afflicted　by　some　sort　of　paralysis。　It　afforded　Killashandra　considerable　satisfaction　that　she　had　managed　to　confound　an　entire　Optherian　crew。　They　had　stood　in　great　need　of　such　a　lesson。　She　relaxed　into　the　cushioned　back　of　the　chair。
　〃There　isn't　an　islander　in　this　Archipelago　who　would　do　you　any　injury；　Guildmember；〃　Olav　continued；　now　offering　her　a　finely　stitched　handkerchief。　〃Especially　after　the　news　of　your　devoted　nursing　of　the　Bar　Island　injured。　When　I　consider　how　unselfishly　you　volunteered　to　assist；　and　you　only　an　hour　away　from　being　rescued；　why；　we　are　all　in　your　debt。〃
　Shielding　her　face　from　Torkes　with　the　handkerchief；　Killashandra　looked　up　at　Olav。　She　blotted　the　last　of　the　tears　she　could　manage　to　squeeze　out。　She　had　received　his　message。　She　gave　a　sniff；　then　exhaled　in　a　huge　sigh。
　〃What　else　could　I　do？　Their　need　was　far　greater　than　mine　for　I　had　suffered　no　real　physical　injury。　It　was　excellent　therapy；〃　and　she　managed　that　on　a　rush　of　breath；　〃for　me　to　tend　those　less　fortunate　than　I。　And　I　do　feel　safe　with　you；　Harbor　Master；　and　with　Captain　Dahl！〃　She　touched　each　man　on　the　arm；　favoring　them　with　a　tremulous　smile。　Lars　managed　to　give　her　shoulder　an　admonitory　pinch　which；　she　felt；　indicated　that　she　had　milked　this　scene　for　all　it　was　worth。　〃I　hope　you　didn't　encounter　that　ferocious　storm　on　your　way　here；　Elder　Torkes？〃
　〃Not　at　all；　Guildmember。　In　fact；〃　Torkes　cleared　his　throat　nervously；　〃we　didn't　set　out　until　sure　that　the　hurricane　had　dwindled。　I　ought　to　have　listened　to　Mirbethan's　representations；　Captain〃　…　he　turned　to　the　senior　officer　behind　him　…　〃for　she　offered　to　acpany　us；　Guildmember；　on　the　slim　chance　that　we　would　discover　you　here。〃
　〃How　very　kind　of　her。〃
　〃She　would　have　been　an　ideal　panion　to　settle　your　nerves；　Guildmember。〃
　〃Yes；　she　was　most　considerate　but；　though　I　appreciate　her　willingness；　I　now　insist　on　someone。。。〃　she　waved　a　negligent　hand　in　Lars's　direction；　〃who　is　capable　of　managing　himself　in　difficulties。　I　have　seen　Captain　Dahl　in　action；　fighting　to　bring　his　ship　close　enough　to　take　me　off　that　island；　and　in　dealing　with　high　seas；　and　injured　people。〃　And　that　should　be　the　end　of　that　notion。　Had　it　been　Mirbethan's？　Or　Ampris's？　From　whichever　source；　she'd　not　spend　credit　on　it。
　〃If　I　may　suggest　it；　Guildmember；　would　you　be　feeling　recovered　enough　to　dine　now？〃　Olav　asked；　deftly　changing　the　subject。　〃Or　should　Captain　Dahl　escort　you　to　the　quarters　prepared　for　you　here　in　the　residence？〃
　〃Why；　yes；〃　Killashandra　said；　extending　her　hand　to　Lars　and　smiling　graciously　at　Olav；　〃I　think　that　perhaps　hunger　is　at　the　root　of　my　deplorable　temper。　I'm　not　usually　so　easily　upset；　citizens。〃　Now　that　the　scene　had　been　played；　she　was　ravenous　and　hoped　that　Olav's　hospitality　would　be　to　the　standard　she　expected。　It　was；　and　she　was　seated　on　Olav's　right　at　the　beautifully　appointed　banquet　table。　Torkes　was　opposite　her；　Teradia　appearing　at　his　right　hand。　Evidently　she　had　merely　had　to　change　her　gown。　Killashandra　did　wonder　how　she　had　arrived　so　promptly。　Other　charmingly　dressed　ladies　partnered　the　officers　of　Torkes's　retinue　and　from　some　discreet　corner　delicate　music　wafted　to　the　diners'　ears。
　The　food　was　sumptuous；　a　feat；　considering　the　island　had　so　recently　been　in　the　throes　of　a　hurricane。　As　Killashandra　sampled　the　many　dishes　presented；　she　realized　that　the　ponents　were　not　as　varied　as　the　manner　in　which　they　had　been　prepared。　Polly　…　fruit；　pulp；　and　heart　…　was　the　basis　of　nine　dishes。　Smacker　was　served　as　a　chowder；　boiled；　broiled；　fried　in　a　delicious　light　batter　and　in　a　rich　piquant　sauce。　The　largest　yellowbacks　she　had　yet　seen　had　been　lightly　broiled　with　slivered　nuts。　A　succulent　mollusk　was　offered；　grilled　with　a　dollop　of　some　flavor　enhancer。　There　were　salads　of　greens；　molded　salads　of　some　jellied　vegetable；　fruit；　and　fish。
　From　the　way　in　which　Torkes's　officers　filled　their　plates；　and　refilled　them　when　the　dishes　were　presented　a　second　time；　they　weren't　used　to　eating。　Torkes　was　abstemious　by　parison　although　a　fair　trencherman　away　from　Elder　Pentrom's　dietary　regimen。　He　did　not　refuse　the　wine；　either；　though　his　two　senior　captains　did。
　When　the　first　hunge