fs.thethirdbookofswords-第40章
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when the fight at last was over。 And what subordinate did the Dark King dare to trust with succeeding in that search？ … but at the same time he dared not fail to meet the Silver Queen's advance with the Mindsword in his own hands。 He could not be in two places at once。
Anyway Vilkata did not really believe the report about Sir Andrew throwing Shieldbreaker away。 Whether the Sword of Force would be dropped and abandoned by any living person on any battlefield was； in his mind； very doubtful to say the least。 In the end he ordered certain patrols to the place where Sir Andrew was last seen； to search for the Sword； or to make what other valuable discoveries they could； while he himself turned back to meet the advancing columns of Yambu。
As it turned out； Yambu's main army was not nearly as close as had been reported。 The flying； half…intelligent scouts often had trouble estimating horizontal distances； but the King could not take chances。 He had not much more than got his army into motion in that direction； when additional disquieting reports came in。 These told of gods and goddesses seen in the vicinity of Tashigang； doing extravagant things in the Dark King's name； and proclaiming him their lord and master； the new ruler of the world。 That in itself would have been well enough； but the reports also told of the deities offering him human sacrifice； and holocausts of grain and cattle。 Besides the waste of valuable resources； it made Vilkata uneasy to realize that the divinities who had pledged loyalty to him were not really under his control。 Should he send word to them of his displeasure？ But he did not even know where they were right now。 Or where they were going to be next； or what they might be intending to do。
The trouble is； he thought； they worship me but I am not a god。 Having arrived at that thought he felt as if he had made some great； vaguely alarming discovery。
Mark and his escort had not been many days out from Tasavalta when they were forced into a skirmish with a strong patrol of the Dark King's troops。 This fight had cost them some casualties。 But Coinspinner in Mark's hands； altering the odds of chance in his favor at every turn； saw him and most of his small force through the fighting safely。 He had experienced the workings of the Sword of Chance before； and he trusted it … to a degree； it was really the least trustworthy of the Twelve … and felt almost familiar with it。 The soldiers of his escort had done neither until now。
When the skirmish was over； the enemy survivors driven into flight； Mark and his troops rested briefly and moved on。 He was confident； and the soldiers； who earlier had only grimly obeyed orders； now picked up that attitude from him。 Since what he truly wanted now was to locate the Emperor； then to the Emperor Coinspinner's luck would lead him； in one way or another。
As they rode Mark paused periodically to sweep the horizon with the naked tip of the Sword of Chance。 When he aimed it in a certain direction； and in that direction only； a quivering seized the blade； and Mark could feel a faint surge of power pass into his hand through the hilt。 In that direction was the Emperor。 Or； at least； that was the way to go to ultimately reach him。
For several days Mark and his surviving Tasavaltan escort journeyed in safety。 Then they began to observe the unmistakable signs of armies near。 And then at last there was the noise of a battle close ahead。
From a distance Mark watched an enemy force of overwhelming strength； what he thought had to be the main body of the Dark King's troops； first advance in one direction； then reverse themselves though not as in defeat； he thought … and trudge in mass formation the other way。 The actual fighting had been somewhere beyond them； where he could not see it。
When the enemy had moved out of the way； and almost out of sight； Coinspinner still pointed him toward the place where the battle had been。
When Mark with his small escort reached the battlefield； they found it almost devoid of living things； except for a few scavengers； gathering on wing and afoot。 There were a hundred human dead or more； concentrated mostly in one place。 Among the fallen Mark could not see a single one in Vilkata's colors。 The only livery visible was Sir Andrew's orange and black。
On the field one human figure was still standing。 Slightly built； it was garbed in a robe that had once been white； and looked like one of Ardneh's servants who had been through some arduous journey and perhaps a battle or two as well。 When Mark first saw it； this figure was bending over one of the dead men who lay a little apart from the others。 Then； even as Mark watched； the figure in white began to labor awkwardly at digging … a grave； Mark supposed … using the blade of a long knife。
As Mark and his troops； in the colors of Tasavalta； rode nearer； the figure in white took note of them and stopped what it was doing to await their approach。 But it did not try to run。
When Mark got closer； he recognized the isolated dead man as Sir Andrew。 In war it was no great surprise； particularly on a field of slaughter like this one； to find a rade and a leader dead。 But still the discovery was no less a shock。
Mark jumped down from his mount and put his hand on the gore…spattered head of the Kind Knight； and remarked his peaceful face。 〃Ardneh greet you；〃 he muttered； and for a moment at least could feel real hope that it might be so。
Then Mark stood up。 Taking Denis for a genuine Ardneh…pilgrim who had probably just wandered onto the scene； Mark asked； 〃But where are his own people； all slaughtered？〃 He looked round him at the few score dead。 〃This can't be his entire army！〃
Denis answered。 〃Many were slaughtered； I Fear。 The Dark King's cavalry attacked also； ahead； beyond those hills。 The officers remaining are trying to rally whatever troops are left。 Sir Andrew's close friends wanted to bury him … what I am trying to do … but they decided Sir Andrew would have wanted them to see to the living first。 As I am sure he would。〃 〃You knew him； then？〃
The youth in ragged white nodded assent。 〃I had been with him for some days。 I think I came to know him； in a way。 I am called Denis the Quick； of Tashigang。〃 And Denis's quick eyes flicked around Mark's escort。 〃I did not know that there were Tasavaltan troops nearby。〃
〃There are not many。 My name is Mark。〃
Nor had Denis failed to notice the large black hilt at Mark's side。 〃There was a man of that name who had … and still has； for all I know … much to do with the Twelve Swords。 Or so all the stories say。 But I didn't know that he was Tasavaltan。〃
〃I am not Tasavaltan； really。。。 and yes； I have had much to do with them。 Much more than I could wish。〃 Mark sighed。
But even as he spoke； Mark was tiredly； dutifully drawing Coinspinner again。 While Denis and the Tasavaltan soldiers watched in alert silence； he swept it once more round the horizon。 〃That way；〃 Mark muttered； as he resheathed the Blade。 〃And nearby； now； I think。 The feeling in the hilt is strong。〃
The Sword has pointed in the direction of the abandoned carnival； which was just visible over the nearest gentle rise of ground。
Mark began to walk in the direction of the carnival； leading his mount。 His escort followed silently； professionally alert for trouble。 Denis hesitated for a moment； then abandoned his gravedigging temporarily and came with them too。 The ruined show was only about a hundred meters distant。
Standing on the edge of the area of dilapidated tents and flimsy shelters； Mark looked about him with a frown。 〃This is very much like。。。〃
〃What？〃
〃Nothing。〃 But then Mark hesitated。 His voice when he replied again was strained。 〃Like one carnival in particular that I remember seeing once。。。 long ago。〃
It was of course impossible for him to be certain； but he had a feeling that it was really the same one。 Something about the tents； or maybe the names of the performers … though he could not remember any of them consciously … on the few worn； faded signs that were visible。
Yes。 Nine years ago； or thereabouts； this very carnival … he thought … had been encamped far from here； in front of what had then been Sir Andrew's castle。 That had b
