ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第14节

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！


ecute　every　man　on　that　list。　Do　you　think　they'd　forgo　the　pleasure　of　killing　even　one；　or　risk　Almalik's　reaction　to　failure？〃
　　〃They'll　go　to　his　house？〃
　　〃If　they　aren't　there　by　now。　Which　is　why　I　went　before　them。　Husari　had　already　left；　with　Velaz。　The　servants　and　slaves　had　been　sent　to　their　quarters；　except　the　steward；　who　was　evidently　trusted。　A　mistake。　I　demanded　of　him　where　his　master　was　and　he　told　me　he'd　just　left；　disguised　as　a　wadji；　with　the　Kindath　doctor's　servant。〃
　　She　had　been　cold　before；　she　was　as　ice　now。
　　〃So　he　will　tell　the　Muwardis？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。
　　There　was　a　silence。　It　was　not　a　game　at　all。
　　〃You　killed　him；〃　said　Jehane。
　　〃A　disloyal　servant；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　shaking　his　head。　〃A　melancholy　indication　of　the　times　in　which　we　live。〃
　　〃Why；　Ammar？〃　Ishak's　question　this　time　was　astonishingly　clear；　but　it　might　mean　many　things。
　　This　time　ibn　Khairan　hesitated　before　answering。　Jehane；　watching　closely；　saw　that　odd　expression　in　his　face　again。
　　He　said；　choosing　his　words；　〃I　already　carry　a　name　through　the　world　for　something　I　did　in　my　youth　for　Almalik　of　Cartada。　I　can　live　with　that。　Rightly　or　wrongly；　I　did　it。　I　am　。。。　disinclined　to　accept　the　responsibility　for　this　obscene　slaughter…as　he　clearly　intends　it　to　fall　upon　me。　Almalik　has　his　reasons。　I　can　even　understand　them。　But　at　this　point　in　my　life　I　do　not　choose　to　indulge　them。　I　also　found　Husari　ibn　Musa　to　be　a　clever；　unassuming　man　and　I　admired　your　daughter's　。。。　petence　and　spirit。　Say　that　it　。。。　pleases　me　to　be　on　the　side　of　virtue；　for　once。〃
　　Ishak　was　shaking　his　head。　〃More；　Ammar；〃　he　said；　the　sounds　labored；　dragging　a　little。
　　Again　ibn　Khairan　hesitated。　〃There　is　always　more　to　what　a　man　does；　ben　Yonannon。　Will　you　permit　me　the　grace　of　privacy？　I　will　be　leaving　Fezana　myself　tonight；　by　my　own　means　and　in　my　own　direction。　In　time　my　motives　may　bee　clearer。〃
　　He　turned　to　Jehane；　and　she　saw　by　the　candle　and　the　light　ing　in　through　the　window　that　his　eyes　were　still　altered　and　cold。　He　had　said　enough；　though；　she　thought　she　knew　what　this　was　about；　now。
　　〃With　the　steward　。。。　unavailable；〃　he　was　saying；　〃it　is　unlikely　the　Muwardis　will　e　here；　but　there　must　be　nothing　for　them　to　find　if　they　do。　I　would　advise　you　to　forgo　a　meal　and　leave　as　soon　as　it　is　dark。〃
　　Jehane；　grimly　subdued；　could　only　nod。　With　each　passing　moment　she　was　being　more　aware　of　the　danger　and　the　strangeness　of　the　world　she　had　elected　to　enter。　The　morning　market；　the　treatment　rooms；　all　the　routines　of　her　life；　seemed　remote　already；　and　receding　swiftly。
　　〃I　also　have　a　suggestion；　if　I　may。　I　do　not　know　what　ibn　Musa　intends　to　do　now；　but　you　could　both　do　worse　than　go　north　to　Valledo　for　a　time。〃
　　〃You　would　send　a　Kindath　to　the　Jaddites？〃　Jehane　asked　sharply。
　　He　shrugged。　〃You　lived　among　them　during　your　studies　abroad；　and　so　did　your　father　in　his　day。〃
　　〃That　was　Batiara。　And　Ferrieres。〃
　　He　made　an　exaggerated　grimace。　〃Again；　I　am　crushingly　refuted。　I　really　will　have　to　leap　out　the　window　if　you　keep　this　up。〃　His　expression　altered　again。　〃Things　are　changing　in　the　peninsula；　Jehane。　They　may　start　changing　very　quickly。　It　is　worth　remembering　that　with　the　parias　being　paid；　Valledo　has　guaranteed　the　security　of　Fezana。　I　don't　know　if　that　applies　to　internal　。。。　control　by　Cartada；　but　it　could　be　argued；　if　ibn　Musa　wanted　to　do　so。　It　could　be　an　excuse。　As　for　you；　I　would　certainly　avoid　Ruenda　and　Jalona　if　I　were　a　Kindath；　but　King　Ramiro　of　Valledo　is　an　intelligent　man。〃
　　〃And　his　soldiers？〃
　　〃Some　of　them　are。〃
　　〃How　reassuring。〃
　　She　heard　her　father　make　a　reproving　sound　behind　her。
　　His　gaze　very　direct；　ibn　Khairan　said；　〃Jehane；　you　cannot　look　for　reassurance　if　you　leave　these　walls。　You　must　understand　that　before　you　go。　If　you　have　no　plans　and　no　direction；　then　serving　as　a　doctor　under　the　protection　of　Valledo　is　as　good　a　course…
　　〃Why　would　you　assume　I　have　no　plans？〃　It　was　curious　how　quickly　he　could　anger　her。
　　He　stopped。　〃Forgive　me。〃
　　〃Where？〃
　　She　would　not　have　answered　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　for　any　number　of　reasons；　but　she　had　to　tell　her　father。　He　had　not　spoken　a　word　to　her　in　four　years　before　this　afternoon。
　　〃Ragosa；〃　she　said　quietly。
　　She　had　never　even　thought　of　it　until　ibn　Khairan　had　begun　his　speech；　but　once　the　name　of　the　city　was　spoken　it　seemed　to　Jehane　as　if　she　had　always　been　heading　there；　east　towards　the　shores　of　Lake　Serrana；　and　the　river　and　the　mountains。
　　〃Ah；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　thoughtfully。　He　rubbed　his　smooth　chin。　〃You　could　do　worse　than　King　Badir；　yes。〃
　　〃And　Mazur　ben　Avren。〃
　　She　said　it　too　defiantly。　
　　He　grinned。　〃The　Prince　of　the　Kindath。　Of　course。　I'd　be　careful　there；　Jehane。〃
　　〃Why？　You　know　him？〃
　　〃We　have　exchanged　letters　and　verses　over　the　years。　Books　for　our　libraries。　Ben　Avren　is　an　extremely　subtle　man。〃
　　〃And　so？　That　is　a　bad　thing　in　the　principal　advisor　to　the　king　of　Ragosa？〃
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃Tonight　you　are　asking　that　particular　question　of　the　wrong　man；　actually。　Just　be　careful　if　you　do　get　there。　Remember　I　told　you。〃　He　was　silent　a　moment；　half…turned　to　the　window。　〃And　if　you　are　to　get　anywhere；　not　to　mention　myself；　we　must　bring　an　end　to　this　encounter。　I　believe　I　hear　voices　below。　Husari　and　Velaz；　we'd　best　hope。〃
　　She　heard　the　sounds　now；　too；　and　did　recognize　both　voices。
　　〃I'll　leave　the　way　I　came；　Ser　Ishak；　with　your　permission。〃　Ibn　Khairan　moved　past　Jehane　to　take　her　father's　hand　again。　〃But　I　do　have　one　question　of　my　own；　if　I　may。　I've　wondered　about　something　for　four　years　now。〃
　　Jehane　felt　herself　go　still。　Her　father　slowly　tilted　his　head　up　towards　ibn　Khairan。
　　Who　said；　〃Tell　me；　if　you　will；　did　you　know　what　you　risked　when　you　delivered　Almalik's　last　child　in　the　way　you　did？〃
　　In　the　stillness　that　followed　Jehane　could　hear；　from　the　courtyard　below；　her　mother's　calm　voice　inviting　ibn　Musa　into　their　house；　as　if　he　were　no　more　than　an　awaited　dinner　guest　on　an　ordinary　night。
　　She　saw　her　father　nod　his　head；　a　sound　emerging　from　the　ruined　mouth　like　the　release　of　a　long　burden。　Jehane　felt　herself　suddenly　on　the　edge　of　tears　again。
　　〃Would　you　do　it　again？〃　ibn　Khairan　asked；　very　gently。
　　No　delay；　this　time。　Another　affirmative　nod。
　　〃Why？〃　asked　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　and　Jehane　could　see　that　he　truly　wanted　to　understand　this。
　　Ishak's　mouth　opened　and　closed；　as　if　testing　a　word。　〃Gareeruh；〃　he　said　finally；　then　shook　his　head　in　frustration。
　　〃I　don't　understand；〃　ibn　Khairan　said。
　　〃Gareeruss；〃　Ishak　said　again；　and　this　time　Jehane　saw　him　place　a　hand　over　his　heart；　and　she　knew。
　　〃The　Oath　of　Galinus；〃　she　said。　It　was　difficult　to　speak。　〃The　Physician's　Oath。　To　preserve　life；　if　it　can　be　done。〃
　　Ishak　nodded　once；　and　then　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　as　if　exhausted　by　the　effort　to　municate　after　so　long。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　was　still　holding　his　hand。　Now　he　let　it　go。　〃I　would　need　time　to　think；　more　time　than　we　have；　before　I　would　presume　to　offer　any　reply　to　that；〃　he　said　soberly。　〃If　my　stars　and　your　moons　allow；　I　would　be　honored　to　meet　with　you　again；　Ser　Ishak。　May　I　write　to　you？〃
　　Ishak　nodded　his　head。　After　a　moment　ibn　Khairan　turned　back　to　Jehane。
　　〃I　believe　I　did　say　I　had　two　reasons　for　ing；〃　he　murmured。　〃Or　had　you　forgotten？〃　She　had；　actually。　He　saw　that；　and　smiled　again。　〃One　was　a　warning　of　danger；　the　other　was　to　bring　you　something。〃
　　He　walked　past　her；　back　to　the　window。　He　swung　up　on　the　sill　and　reached　out　and　around　the　side　to　the　ledge。　Without　stepping　down　again　he　turned　and　offered　something　exquisite　to　Jehane。
　　〃Oh　dear；〃　she　said。　〃Oh　dear。〃
　　It　was；　of　course；　her　urine　flask。　Her　father's　flask。
　　〃You　did　leave　in　rather　a　hurry　from　ibn　Musa's；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　mildly；　〃and　so　did　Velaz　and　Husari。　I　thought　you　might　want　the　flask；　and　perhaps　make　better　use　of　it　than　the　Muwardis　when　they　arrived。〃
　　Jehane　swallowed　and　bit　her　lip。　If　they　had　found　this　。。。　
　　She　stepped　forward　and　took　the　flask　from　his　hand。　Their　fingers　touched。　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。
　　And　remained　motionless；　astonished；　as　he　leaned　forward　and　kissed　her　on　the　lips。　The　scent　of　his　perfume　briefly　surrounded　her。　One　of　his　hands　came　up　and　lightly　touched　her　hair。
　　〃Courier's　fee；〃　he　said　easily；　leaning　back　again。　〃Ragosa　is　a　good　thought。　But　do　mention　Valledo　to　ibn　Musa…he　may　do　better　with　King　Ramiro。〃
　　Jehane　felt　the　rush　of　color　to　her　face　already　beginning　to　recede。　What　followed；　predictably；　was　something　near　to　anger。　Her　father　and　mother；　Velaz；　Ser　Rezzoni…everyone　who　knew　her　well…had　always　warned　her　about　her　pride。
　　She　took　a　step　forward　and；　standing　on　tiptoe；　kissed　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　in　her　turn。　She　could　feel　his　sharply　intaken　breath　of　surprise。　That　was　better：　he　had　been　much；　much　too　casual　before。
　　〃D