fs.thefirstbookofswords-第30章
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ere appeared the bowed legs of an ancient jailer； legs cut off at the knees by a stone arch。 The jailer came on down the stairs； until his full figure was in view； in one arm； quivering with age； he held aloft a torch （which surely had been of more use on the dark stair above than it was here） to light the way for the person following him； a woman …no； a lady； thought the prisoner。
She was garbed in Sir Andrew's colors of orange and black； and she brought with her an indefinable but almost palpable sense of the presence of magical power。 She must have been a great beauty not long hence； and was attractive still； not less so for the touch of gray in her black hair； the hint of a line or two appearing at certain angles of her face。
As soon as this lady had bee fully visible at the top of the stairs； she paused in her tent。 〃Sir Andrew；〃 she called； in a voice as rich and lovely as her visual appearance； 〃I would like a little of your time； immediately。 A matter of importance has e up。〃
Grunting faintly； Sir Andrew rose from his stool； turning as he did so to address the visitor。 〃It's really important； Yoldi？〃 he grumbled。 And； a moment later； answered his own question。 〃Well； of course； it must be。〃 He had long ago impressed upon everyone in the castle his dislike of being interrupted when he was at his favorite work of uplifting prisoners。
Sir Andrew went to the stair； and took the torch from the hand of the aged jailer； making a shooing motion at the man to signify that he was dismissed。 Then； holding the flame high with one arm； bearing his precious book under the other； the knight escorted his favorite enchantress back up the stairs； to where they might be able to hold a private conference。
Once they had climbed round the first turn； Dame Yoldi glanced meaningfully at the old book。 〃Were you obtaining a good result？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； I think perhaps a good beginning。 Yes； I know you're convinced that my reading to them does no good。 But don't you see； it means they have at least some exposure to goodness in their lives。 To the history； if you like； of goodness in the world。〃
〃I doubt that they appreciate it much。〃
There were windows ahead now； tall narrow slits in the outer wall where it curved around a landing； and Sir Andrew doused his torch in a sandbucket kept nearby。 Trudging on to where the windows let in light； he shook his head to deny the validity of Dame Yoldi's ment。 〃It's really dreadful； you know； listening to their stories。 I think many of them are unaware that such a thing as virtue can exist。 Take the poor lad who's down there now； he's a good example。 He has been telling me how he was raised by demonworshippers。〃
〃And you believed him？〃 Good Dame Yoldi sounded vexed； both by the probability that the true answer to her question would be yes； and the near certainty that she was never going to hear it from Sir Andrew。
The knight； stumping on ahead； did not seem to hear her now。 He paused when he reached the first narrow window； set where the stair made its first above…ground turn。 Through the aperture it was possible to look out past the stone flank of the south guard…tower； and see something of the small permanent village that huddled just in front of the castle； and a slice of the great mon green beyond。 On that sward； where woolbeasts grazed most of the year； the annual fair had been for the past day or so taking shape。
〃I should have ordered him some better food； perhaps。 Some gruel at least； maybe a little meat。〃 Sir Andrew was obviously musing aloud about his prisoner； but his distracted tone made it equally obvious that his thoughts were ready to stray elsewhere。 〃Crops were so poor this year； all round the edge of the Swamp； that I didn't know if we'd have much of a fair at all。 But there it is。 It appears to be turning out all right。〃
Dame Yoldi joined him at the window； though it was so narrow that two people had trouble looking out at once。 〃Your granaries have taken a lot of the shock out of poor years； ever since you built them。 If only we don't have two bad years in a row。〃
〃That could be disastrous； yes。 Is that what you wanted to see me about？ Another village delegation？ Is it crops； dragons； or both？〃
〃It's a delegation。 But not from any of the villages this time。〃
Sir Andrew turned from the window。 〃What then？〃
〃They've e from the Duke； and I've already cast a sortilege； and the omens are not particularly good for you today。 I thought you'd like to know that before you meet these people。〃
〃And meet them I must； I suppose。 Yoldi； in matters of magic； as in so much else； your efforts are constantly appreciated。〃 Sir Andrew leaned toward his enchantress and kissed her gently on the forehead。 〃All right； I am warned。〃
He moved to the ascending stair； and again led the way up。 He had rounded the next turn before he turned his head back to ask： 〃What do they say they want？〃
〃They don't。 They refuse to discuss their business with anyone else before they've seen you。〃
〃And they exhibit damned bad manners； I suppose； as usual。〃
〃Andrew？〃
On his way up； the knight paused。 〃Yes？〃
〃Last night that vision of swords came to me again。 Stacked in a pyramid like soldiers' spears in the guardroom； points up。 I don't know what it means yet。 But as I said； today's omens are not good。〃
〃All right。〃 When the stair had brought him to a higher window； Sir Andrew paused again； to catch his breath and to look out once more and with a better view over the hectares of fairground that had sprung up before his castle almost as if by magic。 Jumbled together were neat pavilions； cheap makeshift shelters； professional entertainers' tents of divers colors； all set up already or still in the process of erection。 The present good weather； after some days of rain； was bringing out a bigger crowd than usual； mostly people from the nearby villages and towns。 The lowering sun shone upon banners and signs advertising merchants of many kinds and of all degrees of honesty； all of them getting ready to do business now or already engaged in it。 Sir Andrew's towers dominated a crossroad of highways leading to four important towns； and a considerable population was tributary to him。 On fine evenings； such as this promised to be； the fair would likely run on by torchlight into the small hours。 The harvest； such as it was； was mostly already in； and most of those who worked the land would be able to take time out for a holiday。
The master of the castle frowned from his window； noting the booths and tables of the operators of several games of chance。 Their honesty； unlike that of the other merchants； tended to be of only one degree。
〃Hoy； these gamblers； gamesters。〃 The knight's face expressed his disapproval。 〃Remind me； Yoldi。 I ought to warn them that if any of them are caught cheating again this year； they can expect severe treatment from me。〃
〃I'll remind you tomorrow。 Though they will undoubtedly cheat anyway； as you ought to realize by this time。 Now； may we get on with the important business？〃
〃All right； we'll get it over with。〃 And the knight looked almost sternly at his enchantress； as if it were her fault that the meeting with the Duke's people was being delayed。 He motioned briskly toward the stair； and this time she led the way up。 He asked： 〃Who has the Duke sent to bully me this time？〃
〃He's sent two； one of which you'll probably remember。 Hugh of Semur。 He's one of the stewards of the Duke's territories adjoining。。。〃
〃Yes； yes； I do remember him； you don't have to tell me。 Blustery little man。 Fraktin always likes to send two； so they can spy and report on each other； I suppose。 Who's the other this time？〃
〃Another one of the Duke's cousins。 Lady Marat。〃
〃For a man without direct heirs； he has more cousins than anyway； I don't know her。 What's she like？〃
〃Good…looking。 Otherwise I'm not sure yet what she's like； except that she means you no good。〃
The pair of them were leaving the stair now； on a high level of the castle that held Sir Andrew's favorite general…purpose meeting room。 He caught up with
