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！
hat if I had brought my lover； and the Queen had made no such gesture as that which she had made to me？ And so； you see； I had not brought him； and there in Ephesus； I stood with the ashes in my hands。〃
I remained silent out of respect for her。 I couldn't help but glance at Avicus again。 He was all but weeping。 She had possession of him； heart and soul。
〃Why did I go back to Alexandria after this terrible loss？〃 she asked wearily。 〃Because the temple blood drinkers had told me that the Mother was the Queen of all。 Because they had spoken of the sun and of our burning。 And I knew that something must have befallen our Mother； something had caused this Great Fire； and that only those in the temple would know what it was。 And there was a pain in my flesh； by no means unbearable； but something which I would have healed by the Mother； if I had found her there。〃
I said nothing。
In all the years since I'd taken Those Who Must Be Kept； I had never e upon such a creature as this woman。 And I should say as well that never had such a blood drinker e upon me。
Never had anyone e armed with such eloquence； or history； or old poetry such as this。
〃For centuries；〃 I said； my voice low and gentle； 〃I kept the Mother and Father in Antioch。 Other blood drinkers found me…warlike and violent creatures； creatures badly burnt and bound upon stealing the strong blood。 But you； you never came。〃
She shook her head in negation。
〃Never did Antioch enter my thoughts；〃 she confessed。 〃I believed that you had taken the Mother and Father to Rome。 Marius； the Roman； that is what they called you。 Marius； the Roman； has taken the Mother and the Father。 And so you see； I made a severe error in going to the Imperial City； and after that I went to Crete； and I was never to be close to you； never to find you by the Mind Gift； never to hear tell of where you might be。
〃But I was not always searching for the Mother and Father；〃 she said。 〃I had my passions。 I made blood drinkers to be my panions。 The centuries healed me as you have seen。 I am now far stronger than you are； Marius。 I am infinitely stronger than your panions。 And though touched by your fine Patrician manners and your old…fashioned Latin； and by the devotion of your friend； Avicus； I must lay down for you some hard terms。〃
〃How so； Eudoxia？〃 I asked calmly。
Mael was in a rage。
She was quiet for a long moment； during which her small delicate features wore nothing but an expression of sweetness and kindness； and then she said with courtesy：
〃Give over the Mother and Father to me； Marius； or I shall destroy you and your panions。 You will not be allowed either to stay or to go。〃
I could see the shock in Avicus。 As for Mael he was； thank the gods； dumbfounded。 And as for me； I was again stunned。 I waited several moments； and then I asked： 〃Why do you want the Mother and Father； Eudoxia？〃 〃Oh； Marius；〃 she shook her head crossly； 〃don't play the fool。 You know the Mother's blood is the strongest。 I've already told you that every time I ever appealed to her； she gave me the weling gesture； and allowed me to drink。 I want her because I want the power in her。 And also because I would not have this King and Queen； who can be burnt again or put in the sun； given over to others who might do such rash things。〃
〃Have you thought this through？〃 I asked coldly。 〃How would you keep the shrine secret？ From what I've seen of your blood drinker panions； they are almost children both in mortal years and in the Blood。 Do you know the weight of this burden？〃
〃I knew it before you ever existed；〃 she said； her face suffused with anger。 〃You play with me； Marius。 And I won't have it。 I know what's in your heart。 You won't give up the Mother because you won't give up the blood。〃
〃Perhaps so； Eudoxia；〃 I said； straining to remain civil。 〃I want time to consider what has been said here。〃
〃No； I give you no time；〃 she said； her voice angry； a blush ing to her cheeks。 〃Answer me now； or I destroy you。〃
Her rage was so sudden it caught me off guard。 Yet quickly； I recovered。
〃And how do you mean to do this？〃 I asked。
Mael jumped to his feet； and moved behind his chair。 I gestured for him to be still。 Avicus sat in mute despair。 The blood tears had begun to flow from him； and they moved down his face。 He was far more disappointed than fearful。 In fact； he seemed rather solemnly brave。
Eudoxia turned to Avicus； and at once I sensed a threat in her posture。 Her limbs stiffened； and it seemed that her eyes became unusually hard。 She meant to do something evil to Avicus； and there was no time for me to wait and see what that might be。
I rose； and rushing at her； took hold of her by both wrists； turning her so that inevitably and furiously she looked up at me。
Of course this physical strength could acplish little here； but what more could I do？ What had my powers bee over these years？ I didn't know。 But there was no time to ponder or experiment。 I summoned； from the very depths of my being； all the destructive force I might possess。
I felt a pain in my belly and then in my head； and while Eudoxia went limp in my grasp； with her eyes closed； I felt a dreadful heat e full force against my face and chest。 But I was not burnt by it。 I repelled it and drove it back whence it had e。
In sum； this was a battle； and I had no idea who might win it。 I sought again to bring all the force that I could mand into action and again I saw her weaken； felt her weaken； and yet there came the heat once more against me but it had no effect。
I threw her down on the marble floor and I stood over her； gathering the force with all my will and directing it towards her； and she writhed on the marble； her eyes closed； and her hands shuddering。 My force held her pinioned。 My force would not let her rise。
At last she went still。 She breathed deeply and then she opened her eyes； and she looked up at me。
Out of the corner of my eye I saw her acolytes Asphar and Rashid ing to assist her。 Both brandished huge glittering swords。 I looked desperately about for one of the oil lamps in the hope that I could burn one of them with flaming oil； but then my thoughts went before me with all my strength and with utter rage： Oh； if I could only burn you！ And Rashid stopped； cried out； and then burst into flames。
With utter horror； I beheld this。 I knew I had done it。 And so did all present。 The boy's bones were visible but for an instant and then they collapsed and the flames leapt and danced on the marble floor。
I had no choice but to turn to Asphar。 But Eudoxia cried out。
〃Enough。〃 She struggled to rise but she couldn't do it。 I took both her hands and lifted her to her feet。
With her head bowed she backed away from me。 She turned and looked at the remains of Rashid。
〃You've destroyed one who was dear to me；〃 she said； her voice quivering。 〃And you didn't even know you had the power of Fire。〃
〃And you meant to destroy my Avicus；〃 I said； 〃and you meant to destroy me。〃 I sighed as I looked at her。 〃What choice did you give me？ You have been my teacher in regard to my powers。〃 I trembled with exhaustion and fury。 〃We might have all lived here in accord。〃
I looked at Asphar who didn't dare to e any closer。 I looked at Eudoxia who sat weak and useless in her chair。
〃I mean to leave now；〃 I said； 〃and take my two panions with me。 If you try to harm any of us； I'll turn my full power on you。 And as you said； I do not even know what it is myself。〃
〃You threaten from fear；〃 she said wearily。 〃And you won't leave here without giving me a life for a life。 You burnt Rashid。 Give me
Avicus。 Give him to me now of your own free will。〃
〃I will not；〃 I said coldly。 I felt my power gathered inside me。 I glared at Asphar。 The poor child blood drinker quivered in terror。
Eudoxia sat sullenly in her chair； her head still bowed。
〃What a loss there has been here； Eudoxia；〃 I said。 〃We could have given such riches of mind to each other。〃
〃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 th