anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第44章
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〃Stop your golden talk； Marius；〃 she said； looking up angrily； her eyes full of blood tears。 〃You still fear me。 Bring me to the Mother and the Father； and let the Mother decide who shall be her keeper； you or I。〃
I answered quickly；
〃I won't have you under my roof； Eudoxia。 But I will take the matter before the Mother and the Father。 And after they speak to me； I will speak to you。〃
I turned to Asphar。
〃Lead us out of this place now；〃 I said； 〃or I'll burn you as I did your panion。〃
He obeyed without hesitation； and once he had led us speedily to the street； we fled。
11
WE FLED。
There is no other way to describe it。 We were in terror and we fled。 As soon as we reached our house we closed off every window and door with its heaviest shutters。
But what did all this matter against a power such as Eudoxia possessed？
Gathering in the inner court； we took stock of the situation。 We must discover our own powers。 We must know what had been given us by time and blood。
Within a few hours； we had some answers。
Avicus and I could move objects easily without touching them。 We could make them fly through the air。 As for the Fire Gift； I alone possessed it and we could find no limit to my gift in terms of the space of our house。 That meant I could burn wood no matter how far it was from me。 And as for living things； I chose the unfortunate vermin for my victims； and ignited them from a great distance with ease。
As for our physical strength it was far greater than we had ever supposed。 Again； I excelled in this as in everything。 Avicus was second to me； and Mael was third。
But I had sensed something else when I was with Eudoxia； and I tried to explain it to Avicus and Mael。
〃When we fought； she sought to burn me with the Fire Gift。 （And we did use those words then in one form or another。） Of this I'm certain。 I felt the warmth。 But I was confronting her with a different power。 I was using a pressure against her。 And that is something I must e to understand。〃
Once again； I chose the unfortunate rats of our dwelling for my exercise； and holding one of these； I exerted the same force I had used when struggling with Eudoxia in my arms。 The creature virtually exploded； but there was no fire involved。
I knew then that I possessed a power different from the Fire Gift； which I might call the Killing Gift； which I had used in my defense。 Should I use this pressure against a mortal； and I didn't intend to； the mortal's internal organs would be exploded and the poor creature would die。
〃Now Avicus；〃 I said； 〃you being the eldest of us； see if you possess this Killing Gift； for you very well might。〃
Having caught a rat； I held it as Avicus directed his thoughts with all due concentration； and within seconds the poor creature bled from its ears and mouth and was quite dead。
This had a sobering effect upon Avicus。
I insisted that Mael attempt the same thing。 This time the rat squirmed furiously； letting out terrible little squeaks or cries； but did not die。 When I put the little creature down on the mosaic floor of the court； it could not run； or even climb to its small feet； and I； out of mercy for it； put it to death。
I looked at Mael。 〃The power is growing in you；〃 I said。 〃The powers are increasing in all of us。 We have to be more clever； infinitely more clever； as we face our enemies here。〃
Mael nodded。 〃It seems that I might cripple a mortal。〃
〃Or even make him fall；〃 I answered。 〃But let us turn our attention now to the Mind Gift。 We've all used it to locate each other； and sometimes to municate a silent question or thought； but only in the simplest most self…defensive ways。〃
We went into the library and seated ourselves in a small triangle； and I sought to put into the mind of Avicus images of what I had seen in the great church of Hagia Sophia； specifically the mosaics which I had most loved。
He was at once able to describe them to me； even down to detail。
Then I became a recipient of his thoughts； which were memories of the long ago year when he was brought North out of Egypt； and up to Britain； to take up his long service in the Grove of the Druids。 He had been in chains。
I was shaken by these images。 Not only did I see them； I felt a deep physical response。 I had to clear my eyes as well as my head。 There was something overpoweringly intimate about them； yet something indistinct at the same time。 I knew that I would never feel quite the same about Avicus again。
Now it was my turn with Mael。 I tried to send him vivid pictures of my former house in Antioch； where I had been so happy…or unhappy…with Pandora。 And again； he was able to describe in words the images I'd sent。
When it came his turn to send me images； he allowed me to see the first night in his youth that he had ever been allowed to join the Faithful of the Forest in the ceremonies of the God of the Grove。 I disliked these scenes； for obvious reasons； and again I felt jarred by them； and that I knew him now a little better than I desired。
After this； we tried to eavesdrop upon each other mentally； a skill we had always known we possessed。 We proved far stronger in this than we had anticipated。 And as for cloaking our minds； we could all do it quite near to perfection； even Mael。
We resolved then that we would strengthen our powers in so far as we could do this for ourselves。 We would use the Mind Gift more often。 We would do all that we could to prepare for Eudoxia and what she meant to do。
At last； having pleted our lessons； and having heard no more of Eudoxia or her household； I resolved to go down into the shrine of Those Who Must Be Kept。
Avicus and Mael were hesitant to remain upstairs without me； so I allowed them to e down and wait near the doorway； but I insisted that I go into the shrine alone。
I knelt down before the Divine Parents； and in a low voice I told them what had taken place。 Naturally there was an absurdity to this； for they probably already knew。
Whatever the case； I spoke frankly to Akasha and Enkil of all that Eudoxia had revealed to me； of our terrible struggle； and I told them that I didn't know what to do。
Here was one who laid claim to them； and I did not trust Eudoxia； because she had no respect for me and those I loved。 I told them that if they wished to be given over to Eudoxia； all I needed was a sign； but I begged that I and my panions would be saved。
Nothing broke the silence of the chapel except my whispers。 Nothing changed。
〃I need the blood； Mother；〃 I said to Akasha。 〃Never have I needed it more。 If I am to defend myself this time； I need the blood。〃
I rose。 I waited。 I wished that I would see Akasha's hand rise as it had for Eudoxia。 I thought of the words of her Maker； 〃She never destroys those she beckons。〃
But there was no warm gesture for me。 There was only my courage； as I once more embraced Akasha； and pressed my lips to her neck； and then pierced her skin and felt the delicious indescribable blood。
What did I see in my ecstasy？ What did I see in this sublime satisfaction？ It was the lush and beautiful palace garden； full of carefully tended fruit trees； and the soft dark grass； and the sun shining through the branches。 How could I ever forget that fatal and supremely beautiful sun？ Beneath my naked foot； I felt the soft waxy petal of a flower。 Against my face； I felt soft branches。 I drank and drank； slipping out of time； and the warmth paralyzed me。
Is this your sign； Mother？ I was walking in the palace garden； and it seemed I held a paintbrush in my hand； and when I looked up； I was painting the very trees that I saw above me； creating the garden on the wall of my house； the garden in which I walked。 I understood this paradox perfectly。 This was a garden which I had once painted on the walls of the shrine。 And now it was mine to have both on a flat wall； and also surrounding me； as if it really existed。 And that was the omen。 Keep the Mother and the Father。 Do not be afraid。
I drew back。 I could take no more。 I clung to Akasha like a child。 I held to her neck with my left hand； my forehead
