Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第27/246页)

adingtotherooftopgardeepofthestairsgeedamelodiousnote,likethekeysofapiano,theonlydifferehepianokeyswerehorizontal,whilethestairswerevertical.Theirdiversefootstepsweredisorderly,butthestairspulsatedwithamelodythatwasridgrandiose,likethevibrantmusiccreatedbythenimblefingersofacertpianist.Whenthemusicstopped,Dimitriandthebeautieshadreachedtherooftopgarden,whereasumptuousfeasthadalreadybeenspread.KingDimitritookhispceattheteroftheoblongtablefagthesquare,whilethebeautiessatonbothsidesofhim.Thediwasofsolidgold,polishedandexquisite.Madefromthemostpreciousofmetals,theseheavyutensilsthatwouldhavedazzledandshoneuhesunnowglistehelitistsuperiorityuhemoonlight.BeforeKingDimitriwasagoldgoblet,filledwithablood-redwine.Lookingdownatthesquare,filledtocapacitywithhisloyalsubjects,KingDimitristoodup,raisedhisgobletinsaluteanddrankitinaquaff.Aroarofappreciativeappuseandshoutsofjoyresouhesquareinresponse.Campfirewerelitonthesquaresanddottedthesurroundinghills,valleysandkeside,numerousasthestarsintheskies.Peoplegatheredingroupsaroundthefire,singinganddang.Warriorsbeatasplendidmilitarytattooontheirdrumsmadeofanimalskin,whileothersdaantly,twistingandturningtothestimuti.Bowinhand,theywouldsometimespulltheemptystringsinunison,givingforthamonotonousbutrhythmatig.Someofthemwenttothepoolflooredwithgoldsandwithpailsintheirhandstogetsomewatertodrink,onlytofinditfullofthemostdeliciouswinemadebyEasterLilyfromthearofahundredflowers.Thewinewasmildandnotusedforintoxication,givingthebodyafeelingoffortaioandfoodwerepiledhighforthepeopletocookovertheircampfires.Awhole-nightcelebrationba,enpassiirekingdom,began.

    ButtheatmosphereofthebaofKingDimitriandthebeautiesontherooftopgardenwasnotasjubintasthatofthepeopleinthesquarebelow.AlthoughcourseaftercourseofraredelicacieswereservedoertheotherandKingDimitriateandoccasionallyraisedhisgoblettotoastthebeautiesasifihought,theycouldallseehewastroubled,hisfacialexpressiondeeplysorrowful.TheycouldnotuandwhyKingDimitriwasnotashappyandcheerfushenormallywaswheurnedfromhiswanderings.Heusedtobesohigh-spiritedandwouldtalkandjokewiththemoverthebaellioriesofhisadventures,its,straomsandpeoplehehadenteredasheroamedalroundtheworld.Theywouldbesoentrancedbyhisfasatingnarrationsthattheyfeltasthoughtheyphysicallyexperienorehisdaringadventures.Butthistime,KingDimitriseemedsosadandtroubledthatthebeautiesdarednottalktooloudforfeartheymightobtrudeuponhisbroodingreverie.heless,theywererelievedthathehadatstreturned,seeminglyingoodhealth,hiseyesightheworseforhistravels.Thebeautiessatthere,silentlyenjoyingthefoodandtalkingsoftlyamongthemselvesinfitsandstarts.Silencereignedoverthetablemostofthetime.Uhemoonlight,thegmouroftheirbeauty,thestylishnessoftheircarriageanddemeanorseemedasdazzlingaseverastheysatinpanyoftheirlordandmaster.Raisinghishead,KingDimitrilookedatthefullmoonoverhead.Thenhisgazewenttothebeautiessurroundinghim,everyohemasbeauteousastheflowers;beforelookingdownontothecrowdsofhisboisteroussubjects,crowdingthesquareandthesurroundinghillsides,celebra