lh.narcissusinchains-第60部分

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　Richard　came　next；　and　he　moved　in　his　own　vibrating　spill　of　power。　He　glided　as　gracefully；　filled　with　as　much　anger　as　Jacob；　but　he　still　lacked　something；　some　edge　that　the　other　man　had。　An　edge　of　darkness；　maybe。　All　I　knew　for　sure　was　that　Jacob　was　ruthless。　I　could　almost　smell　it　on　him。　And　Richard；　for　better；　or　worse；　still　was　not。
　I　sighed。　I'd　thought　if　he　could　just　once　embrace　his　beast　he'd　be　alright。　He　sat　on　the　throne　with　the　firelight　playing　in　the　loose　waves　of　his　hair；　turning　it　to　spun　copper　and　burnished　gold；　the　fire　shadows　playing　on　the　muscles　of　his　chest；　shoulders；　arms。　He　looked　the　part　of　the　barbarian　king；　but　there　was　still　something　in　him；　something　。。。　soft。　And　if　I　could　taste　it；　then　so　could　Jacob。
　I　had　one　of　those　moments　of　clarity　that　es　sometimes。　There　was　nothing　that　any　of　us　could　do　to　Richard　to　make　him　truly　harsh。　He　might　act　in　anger；　like　he'd　taken　Gregory；　but　no　matter　what　the　world　did　to　him；　there　would　still　be　something　in　him　that　flinched。　His　only　hope　for　survival　was　to　surround　himself　with　loyal　people　who　wouldn't　flinch。
　Jamil　and　Shang…Da　stood　together　to　one　side　of　the　throne；　not　too　close；　but　not　too　far　either。　Shang…Da　was　back　in　his　usual　monochrome　black　business　dress：　black　slacks；　black　shirt；　black　suit　jacket；　and　the　polished　black　shoes。　He　always　looked　very　GQ；　even　in　the　woods。
　Jamil　could　dress　up　with　the　best　of　them；　but　he　tried　to　be　appropriate　to　the　situation。　He　had　on　jeans　that　looked　freshly　pressed　and　a　red　muscle　tank　top　that　looked　splendid　against　the　darkness　of　his　skin。　He'd　changed　the　beads　in　his　waist…length　cornrowed　hair　to　red　and　black。　The　beads　gleamed　softly　in　the　torchlight；　as　if　they　might　be　made　of　semiprecious　stones。
　Jamil　caught　my　glance。　He　didn't　exactly　nod；　but　he　acknowledged　me　with　his　eyes。　Shang…Da　avoided　my　gaze；　searching　the　crowd；　but　never　quite　looking　at　me。　I　think　if　Richard　would　have　allowed　it　the　two　of　them　would　have　done　whatever　was　necessary　to　secure　his　throne。　But　they　were　hamstrung　by　Richard；　and　the　best　they　could　do　was　work　within　his　honorable　trap。
　Sylvie　and　I　stared　at　each　other　for　a　few　heartbeats。　I'd　seen　her　collection　of　bones　of　her　enemies。　She　got　them　out　periodically　and　handled　them。　She　said　it　was　forting　to　run　her　hands　over　them。　I　personally　liked　a　good　stuffed　toy　and　some　really　fine　coffee；　but；　hey；　whatever　makes　you　feel　better。　Sylvie　would　do　whatever　needed　doing；　if　Richard　would　only　let　her。
　And　if　I'd　still　been　lupa；　hell；　we　had　enough　ruthless　people　to　get　the　job　done；　if　Richard　would　just　get　out　of　our　way。　We　were　so　close；　and　at　the　time　we　weren't　even　in　the　ballpark。　It　was　more　than　frustrating。　It　was　like　watching　a　train　race　towards　Richard；　and　we　were　all　yelling；　〃Get　off　the　tracks；　get　off　the　tracks！〃　Hell；　we　were　trying　to　drag　him　off　the　tracks；　and　he　was　fighting　us。
　If　Jacob　was　the　train；　then　I　could　kill　him　and　Richard　would　be　safe。　But　Rafael　was　right。　If　it　wasn't　Jacob；　it'd　be　someone　else。　Jacob　wasn't　the　train　hurtling　to　destroy　Richard。　Richard　was。
　His　voice　filled　the　clearing。　〃We　gather　here　tonight　to　say　good…bye　to　our　lupa　and　to　choose　another。〃
　There　was　a　rash　of　howls　and　applause　from　about　half　of　the　pack。　But　dozens　of　the　werewolves　stood　silent；　watching。　It　didn't　mean　they　were　on　my　side。　Maybe　they　were　neutral；　but　it　was　good　to　notice　who　wasn't　a　rousing　supporter　of　my　being　kicked　out　of　the　pack。
　〃We　are　here　to　stand　in　final　judgment　for　one　who　has　wronged　our　pack　by　taking　our　lupa　from　us。〃
　There　was　less　applause；　fewer　howls。　It　looked　like　the　vote　to　condemn　Gregory　had　been　a　close　one。　That　made　me　feel　better；　not　much；　but　a　little。　Though　if　Gregory　died；　I　guess　it　really　didn't　matter。
　〃We　are　also　here　to　give　the　leopards'　Nimir…Ra　a　last　chance　to　win　back　her　cat。〃
　The　howls　and　applause　stayed　at　about　fifty…fifty；　but　the　general　atmosphere　was　definitely　cooler。　The　pack　wasn't　lost；　and　it　certainly　wasn't　wholeheartedly　on　Jacob's　side。　I　said　a　little　prayer　for　guidance；　because　this　was　more　a　political　problem；　and　that　wasn't　one　of　my　best　things。
　〃It　is　business　between　the　lukoi　and　the　pard。　Why　are　the　rodere　here；　Rafael？〃　Richard　asked。　He　talked　like　he　didn't　know　us；　very　political；　very　distant。
　〃The　Nimir…Ra　saved　my　life　once。　The　rodere　owe　her　a　great　debt。〃
　〃Does　this　mean　that　your　treaty　with　us　is　null　and　void？〃
　〃I　formed　a　treaty　with　you；　Richard；　and　I　will　hold　to　that；　because　I　know　you　are　a　man　that　honors　his　obligations　and　remembers　his　duty　to　his　allies；　but　I　owe　Anita　a　personal　debt；　and　I　am　honor…bound　to　uphold　that　as　well。〃
　〃If　it　es　to　fighting；　who　will　you　fight　with；　us　or　the　leopards？〃
　〃I　hope　most　sincerely　that　it　does　not　e　to　that；　but　I　came　with　the　leopards；　and　we　will　go　with　them；　under　whatever　circumstances　that　leave…taking　will　be。〃
　〃You　have　destroyed　your　people；〃　Jacob　said。
　Richard　turned　on　him。　〃I　am　Ulfric　here；　Jacob；　not　you。　I　say　what　will　be　destroyed　and　what　will　not。〃
　〃I　meant　no　offense；　Ulfric。〃　But　his　voice　made　the　words　a　lie。　〃I　meant　only　that　if　it　es　to　a　fight　the　rats　cannot　defeat　us。　Perhaps　their　king　would　like　to　reconsider　who　he　owes　a　debt　of　honor　to。〃
　〃A　debt　of　honor　exists　whether　you　want　it　to　or　not；〃　Rafael　said。　〃Richard　understands　what　it　means　to　owe　an　honor…debt。　That　is　why　I　know　that　Richard　will　honor　our　treaty。　I　have　no　such　assurances　when　it　es　to　other　members　of　this　pack。〃
　There；　he'd　said　it。　It　was　as　close　to　saying；　I　don't　trust　you；　Jacob；　as　he　could　get。　A　spreading　well　of　silence　filled　the　clearing；　so　that　the　brush　of　cloth；　the　shift　of　a　furred　body　was　suddenly　loud。
　Richard's　hands　tightened　on　the　arms　of　his　throne。　I　watched　him；　because　he　was　shielding　so　tight　against　me　that　I　couldn't　feel　him；　but　I　could　watch；　watch　him　think。　〃Are　you　saying　that　if　I　am　no　longer　Ulfric　that　the　treaty　no　longer　holds？〃
　〃Yes；　that　is　what　I'm　saying。〃
　Richard　and　Rafael　stared　at　each　other　for　a　long　time；　then　the　faintest　of　smiles　played　on　Richard's　lips。　〃I　have　no　plans　to　step　down　as　Ulfric；　so　the　treaty　should　be　secure　for　a　while；　unless　Jacob　has　other　plans。〃
　That　one　statement　sent　a　wave　of　unease　through　the　waiting　werewolves。　You　could　feel　it；　see　it　spreading　out　through　them；　as　if　they　smelled　a　trap　of　some　kind。
　Jacob　looked　surprised；　shocked。　He　was　a　perfect　stranger；　but　I　watched　the　confusion　play　over　his　face；　as　he　tried　to　think　of　what　to　say。　If　he　said　he　had　no　designs　on　the　throne；　then　he　would　be　foresworn；　and　the　shapeshifters　were　a　little　touchy　about　things　like　that。
　Jacob　was　either　going　to　have　to　lie　or　declare　his　intentions；　and　the　look　on　his　face　said　clearly　he　wasn't　ready　to　do　that。
　A　woman's　voice　came　from　the　right；　clear　and　ringing　like　she'd　had　stage　training。　〃Aren't　we　getting　distracted　from　the　business　at　hand？　I　for　one　am　very　interested　in　choosing　the　new　lupa。〃
　The　woman　was　tall；　but　built　all　of　curves；　voluptuous　the　way　that　movie　stars　in　the　fifties　had　been。　She　seemed　soft；　feminine；　yet　she　stalked　over　the　ground　in　a　swaying　glide；　half　sex　on　the　hoof　and　half　predatory；　like　she'd　lure　you　in　by　playing　victim；　fuck　you　till　you　cried　for　mercy；　then　eat　your　face　off。
　She　was　even　wearing　a　dress；　one　that　clung　to　her　curves　and　had　a　neckline　so　low　that　you　knew　she　had　to　be　wearing　a　bra。　Breasts　that　size　didn't　do　perky　without　some　help。　She　stalked　barefoot；　her　deep　red　hair　styled　and　perfect；　falling　just　above　her　shoulders　in　a　burnished　shine。
　〃We'll　get　around　to　choosing　the　new　lupa；〃　Richard　said。
　She　dropped　to　her　knees　in　front　of　the　throne；　folding　the　dress　under　her　thighs；　very　ladylike；　though　making　sure　to　lean　forward　enough　for　Richard　to　look　straight　down　her　cleavage。　I　didn't　like　her　much。
　〃You　can't　blame　us　for　being　eager；　Ulfric。　One　of　us；〃　and　she　hesitated；　making　it　clear　that　the　〃us〃　was　for　politeness'　sake；　〃will　be　chosen　lupa　and　bee　your　mate　all　in　one　glorious　night。〃　Her　voice　had　dropped　to　a　sultry　murmur；　still　loud　enough　to　be　heard。
　Nope；　didn't　like　her。　I　had　no　room　to　bitch　with　Micah　standing　beside　me；　but　that　didn't　matter。　Logic　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　I　wanted　to　grab　a　handful　of　that　bottle…dyed　red　hair　and　hurt　her。　It　wasn't　until　Micah　touched　my　arm　that　I　realized　I'd　been　caressing　one　of　the　knives　in　its　wrist　sheath。　Sometimes　I　touch　my　weapons　when　I'm　nervous；　sometimes　my　body　just　betrays　my　thoughts。　I　forced　my　hands　to　be　still；　but　I　was　so　not　happy。
　〃Go　back　with　the　other　candidates；　Paris；〃　Richard　said。　He　was　carefully　not　looking　at　her；　as　if　he　were　afraid　to。　That　didn't　make　it　better；　it　made　it　worse。
　She　leaned　forward；　putting　a　hand　on　his　knee。　He　jumped。　〃You　can't　blame　us　for　being　eager；　Ulfric。　We've　all　wanted　you　for　so　very　long。〃
　Richard's　face　had　thinned　down　with　anger。　〃Sylvie；〃　he　said。
　Sylvie　smiled；　and　it　was　a　smile　of　pure　evil　pleasure。　She　grabbed　Paris's　wrist　and　dragged　her；　none　too　gently；　to　her　feet。　Paris　was　a　good　two　inches　taller；　but　Sylvie's　power；　her　beast；　made　her　seem　ten　feet　tall。
　〃The　Ulfric　told　you　to　go　back　and　stand　with　the　other　candidates。　Do　it。〃　She　gave　Paris　a　little　shove　towards　the　crowd。　The　woman　stumbled；　but　regained　her　posure；　smoothing　the　tight　dress　down　over　her　thighs。
　Sylvie　had　turned　to　walk　back　to　her　place　at　Richard's　side；　when　Paris　said；　〃I　heard　you　liked　it　rough。〃
　Sylvie　froze；　and　I　didn't　need　to　see　her　face　to　feel　the　instant　rage　that　radiated　from　her。　I　knew　before　she　turned；　slowly；　muscles　tense；　that　her　eyes　had　bled　to　wolf　amber。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃Sylvie；〃　Richard　said；　voice　soft。　It　wasn't　a　mand；　it　was　a　request。　I　think　if　he'd　made　it　a　mand；　she'd　have　fought　it；　demanded　some　sort　of　satisfaction。　But　it　was　a　request　。。。　She　turned　back　to　Richard。
　〃Yes；　Ulfric。〃
　〃Take　your　place；　please。〃
　She　went　back　to　t