fs.thethirdbookofswords-第33章
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And the two visitors from Yambu did indeed walk apart； Baron Amintor apparently pointing out some curiosities of the swamp flora to the Queen； as if neither of them had anything more important than wild plants on mind。
Sir Andrew and several others were huddled together； and Denis could imagine what they were saying： About Vilkata and the Mindsword； it must be true； for now we've heard it twice。 But an alliance？ With Yambu？
But； thought Denis； the Queen was right。 He has no real choice but to accept。
Chapter 9
Kristin； crowned only hours ago in hurried but joyful ceremony as Princess Regnant of the Lands of Tasavalta； was alone in one of the royal palace's smaller semipublic rooms； sitting on one of her smaller thrones。 She had chosen to sit on this throne at this moment because she was tired … exhausted might have been putting it mildly … and the throne was the most convenient place in the room to sit。 There were no other chairs。 She could willingly have opted for the floor； but the fit of her coronation gown； which had been her sister's； and today had been pressed into service hurriedly； argued against that。
She was waiting for her lover Mark to be brought to her。 There were certain things that had to be said to him； and only she could say them； and only when the two of them were alone。 And her impending collapse into exhaustion had to be postponed until after they had been said。
The room was quiet now； except for the distant continuing sounds of celebration from outside。 But if Kristin thought about it； she could remember other days in this room。 Bright days of loud voices and free laughter； in the time when her older sister had been alive and ruling Tasavalta。 And days from an earlier time still； when Kristin had been only a small girl； and there were two girls in this room with their father； a living King； who joked with them about this throne 。。。
Across the room in present time a small door was opening； quietly and discreetly。 Her Uncle Karel； master of magic and teacher of magicians； looked in； saw she was alone； and gave her an almost imperceptible nod of approval。 Karel was enormously fat and somewhat jolly in appearance； red cheeks glowing as usual above gray whiskers； as if he had just e in from an invigorating winter walk。 As far as Kristin could tell he had not changed in the slightest from those bright days of her own girlhood。 Today of course he was decked out； like herself； in full ceremonial garb； including a blue…green garland on his brow。
He reached behind him now to pull someone forward。 It was Mark； dressed now in strange borrowed finery； that he thrust gently into the room where Kristin waited。
Karel said to her； in a voice that somewhat belied his jolly face； 〃Highness； it will look bad for you to be alone for very long with this。。。〃
She stood up； snapped to her feet as if brought there by a spring； weary muscles energized by outrage； by the tension of all that had happened to her today。 〃Uncle Karel； I have been alone with him for a month already。 Thank the gods！ For before that I was alone with Vilkata's torturers； and you were not there to bring me out。〃
That was unfair and Kristin knew it； her voice softened a little。 〃There are important matters that I must convey to this man。 Before I dispatch him on a mission that will take him out of Tasavalta。〃
Her uncle had winced at the jab about Vilkata's torturers； but his relief at her last words was evident。 He bowed himself out silently； closing the door behind him。
Mark heard the same words from Kristin with muted shock； but no real surprise。 It was hours now since he had opened his mouth to say a word of his own to anyone。 Many had spoken to him； but for the most part only to give him directions： Bathe here； wait there； put this on and see if it fits。 Here is food； here is drink； here is a razor。 Stand here； wait。 Now e this way。 He had been fed； cleaned up； draped with robes and what he supposed were honors； then shunted aside and left to watch from an inconspicuous place during the coronation ceremony。
Now he marveled to himself： it was less than a day ago … hardly more than half a day … that this girl and I were riding alone as lovers； on the edge of the wilderness； both of us still in rags。 I could have stopped my mount then； and stopped hers … yes； even in sight of that first flagpole bearing blue and green … and got down from my saddle； and pulled her down from hers； and lain with her on the ground in our rags； or out of them； and she would have loved it； weled it。 And now。。。
This audience chamber； in which Mark now found himself alone with Kristin； was； like the rest of the palace … like the whole domain of Tasavalta； perhaps … a larger and somehow more important place than it had appeared at first impression。 It was a sunlit； cheerful room； beautiful in a high vertical way。 The air moving in through the open windows smelled of flowers； of perpetual spring； drifting in with the scents of spring came the music of the dance that was still going on far below the windows； part of the coronation celebration。 The dance and the music； like the rest of the day； had bee to Mark something like a show to which he need only listen； and watch。 As if none of it had anything； really； to do with him。
The windows of this room were equipped with heavy shutters； as was fitting in a castle constructed to withstand assault。 But on this upper level of the castle； high above any possible assault by climbing troops； the windows were large； and today all the shutters had been thrown open。 Framed in their casement openings； the sea and the rocky hills and the town below all appeared like fine tapestries of afternoon sunlight； thrown by some Old World magic on the walls。
Kristin had risen quickly from the throne when the door opened； and when her uncle had closed it again behind him she had moved a few paces forward； toward Mark。 But now the two of them； she and Mark； were still standing a little apart； looking at each other as if they had nothing to say … or perhaps as if neither of them could manage to say anything。
But their eyes drew them together。 Suddenly they were embracing； still without a word of speech。 Then Kristin tore herself away。
〃What is this they've given you to wear？〃 she asked； as if the sight of the costume they had put on him； some antique ceremonial thing； made her want to laugh and cry at once。 But still he said nothing。
She tried again； not with laughter； but now with an almost distant courtesy。 How fine that he had already been reunited with his family。 She'd had no idea； of course； that they'd been living here。 In recent years a lot of refugees； good people； had e in。 Did Mark's mother and sister know him after so long a time？ How long had they been living here in Tasavalta？ Did he have any trouble recognizing them？ It was too bad his father was away。
〃Kristin。〃 As he called her by her name； he wondered if it was the last time he would ever be able to do so。 〃Stop it。 Have you nothing real to say to me？ Why didn't you tell me？〃
There was a pause； in which Kristin drew a deep breath； like a woman who wondered if it might be her last。
〃Yes；〃 she said then。 〃I must say something very real to you； Mark。 For the sister of a Princess Regnant to have married a moner； and a foreigner as well … that would have been very hard。 Very nearly impossible。 But I would have done it。 I wanted to marry you。 I wanted it so much I was afraid to tell you who I was。 And I was going to marry you； wherever that path led。 I hope you will believe that。〃
〃Kristin； Princess。。。〃
〃Wait！ Let me finish； please。〃 She needed another pause to get herself together。 〃But my sister Rimac is dead。 She died childless and unmarried； and I am ruler now。 For a Princess Regnant to marry a moner； let alone a foreign soldier； is impossible。 Impossible； except … again I hope you will believe me … I would have done it anyway。 It would have meant resigning the throne； probably leaving the country； I would have done that for you。 But。。。〃 〃But。〃
〃But you must have heard them！ There isn't anyone else to rule！ You heard Rostov。 If I hadn't e back to take the throne； there would have been a civil war over the succession。 Even with
