ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第22节

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orld　holds　in　store？〃
　　〃We　will　not　see　the　glory　of　the　Khalifate　again；〃　Husari　ibn　Musa　said　softly；　a　shadow　against　the　sky。　〃The　days　of　Rahman　the　Golden　and　his　sons　or　even　ibn　Zair　amid　the　fountains　of　the　Al…Fontina　are　gone。〃
　　Alvar　de　Pellino　could　not　have　said　why　this　saddened　him　so　much。　He　had　spent　his　childhood　playing　games　of　imagined　conquest　among　the　evil　Asharites；　dreaming　of　the　sack　of　Silvenes；　dreading　the　swords　and　short　bows　of　Al…Rassan。　Rashid　ibn　Zair；　last　of　the　great　khalifs；　had　put　the　Esperanan　provinces　of　Valledo　and　Ruenda　to　fire　and　sword　in　campaign　after　campaign　when　Alvar's　father　was　a　boy　and　then　a　soldier。　But　here　under　the　moons　and　the　late　night　stars　the　sad；　sweet　voice　of　the　silk　merchant　seemed　to　conjure　forth　resonances　of　unimaginable　loss。
　　〃Could　Almalik　in　Cartada　be　strong　enough？〃　The　doctor　was　looking　at　the　merchant；　and　even　Alvar；　who　knew　nothing　of　the　background　to　this；　could　see　how　hard　this　particular　question　was　for　her。
　　Ibn　Musa　shook　his　head。　〃He　will　not　be　allowed　to　be。〃　He　gestured　to　the　chests　of　gold　and　the　mules　that　had　brought　them　into　the　camp。　〃Even　with　his　mercenaries；　which　he　can　scarcely　afford；　he　cannot　avoid　the　payment　of　the　parias。　He　is　no　lion；　in　truth。　Only　the　strongest　of　the　petty…kings。　And　he　already　needs　the　Muwardis　to　keep　him　that　way。〃
　　〃So　what　you　intend　to　do；　what　I　hope　to　do　。。。　are　simply　things　that　will　hasten　the　end　of　Al…Rassan？〃
　　Husari　ibn　Musa　crouched　down　beside　them。　He　smiled　gently。　〃Ashar　taught　that　the　deeds　of　men　are　as　footprints　in　the　desert。　You　know　that。〃
　　She　tried；　but　failed；　to　return　the　smile。　〃And　the　Kindath　say　that　nothing　under　the　circling　moons　is　fated　to　last。　That　we　who　call　ourselves　the　Wanderers　are　the　symbol　of　the　life　of　all　mankind。〃　She　turned　then；　after　a　moment；　to　the　Captain。　〃And　you？〃　she　asked。
　　And　softly　Rodrigo　Belmonte　said；　〃Even　the　sun　goes　down；　my　lady。〃　And　then；　〃Will　you　not　e　with　us？〃
　　With　a　queer；　unexpected　sadness；　Alvar　watched　her　slowly　shake　her　head。　He　saw　that　some　strands　of　her　brown　hair　had　e　free　of　the　covering　stole。　He　wanted　to　push　them　back；　as　gently　as　he　could。
　　〃I　cannot　truly　tell　you　why；〃　she　said；　〃but　it　feels　important　that　I　go　east。　I　would　see　King　Badir's　court；　and　speak　with　Mazur　ben　Avren；　and　walk　under　the　arches　of　the　palace　of　Ragosa。　Before　those　arches　fall　like　those　of　Silvenes。〃
　　〃And　that　is　why　you　left　Fezana？〃　Ser　Rodrigo　asked。
　　She　shook　her　head　again。　〃If　so；　I　didn't　know　it。　I　am　here　because　of　an　oath　I　swore　to　myself；　and　to　no　one　else；　when　I　learned　what　Almalik　had　done　today。〃　Her　expression　changed。　〃And　I　will　make　a　wager　with　my　old　friend　Husari…that　I　will　deal　with　Almalik　of　Cartada　before　he　does。〃
　　〃If　someone　doesn't　do　it　before　either　of　us；〃　ibn　Musa　said　soberly。
　　〃Who？〃　Ser　Rodrigo　asked。　A　soldier's　question；　pulling　them　back　from　a　mood　shaped　of　sorrow　and　starlight。　But　the　merchant　only　shook　his　head　and　made　no　reply。
　　〃I　must　sleep；〃　the　doctor　said　then；　〃if　only　to　let　Velaz　do　so。〃　She　gestured　and　Alvar　saw　her　old　servant　standing　wearily　a　discreet　distance　away；　where　the　firelight　died　in　darkness。
　　All　around　them　the　camp　had　grown　quiet　as　soldiers　settled　in　for　the　night。　The　doctor　looked　at　Rodrigo。　〃You　said　you　are　sending　men　to　attend　to　the　dead　of　Orvilla　in　the　morning。　I　will　ride　with　them；　to　do　what　I　can　for　the　living；　then　Velaz　and　I　will　be　on　our　way。〃
　　
　　Alvar　saw　Velaz　gesture　to　Jehane；　and　then　noticed　where　the　servant　had　made　up　a　pallet　for　her。　She　walked　over　towards　it。　Alvar；　after　a　moment；　sketched　an　awkward　bow　she　did　not　see；　and　went　the　other　way；　to　where　he　usually　slept　near　Martin　and　Ludus；　the　outriders。　They　were　wrapped　in　their　blankets；　asleep。
　　He　unfolded　his　own　saddle　blanket　and　lay　down。　Sleep　eluded　him。　He　had　far　too　many　things　chasing　and　tumbling　through　his　mind。　He　remembered　the　pride　in　his　mother's　voice　the　day　she　recounted　the　details　of　her　first　pilgrimage　to　seek　Blessed　Vasca's　intercession　for　her　brave　son　as　he　left　home　for　the　world　of　warring　men。　He　remembered　her　telling　how　she　had　gone　the　last　part　of　the　journey　on　her　hands　and　knees　over　the　stones　to　kiss　the　feet　of　the　statue　of　the　queen　before　her　tomb。
　　Animals；　to　be　hunted　down　and　burned　from　the　face　of　the　earth。
　　He　had　killed　his　first　man　tonight。　A　good　sword　blow　from　horseback；　slicing　down　through　the　collarbone　of　a　running　man。　A　motion　he　had　practised　so　many　times；　with　friends　or　alone　as　a　child　under　his　father's　eye；　then　drilled　by　the　king's　foul…tongued　sergeants　in　the　tiltyard　at　Esteren。　Exactly　the　same　motion；　no　different　at　all。　And　a　man　had　fallen　to　the　summer　earth；　bleeding　his　life　away。
　　The　deeds　of　men；　as　footprints　in　the　desert。
　　He　had　won　himself　a　splendid　horse　tonight；　and　armor　better　by　far　than　his　own；　with　more　to　e。　The　beginnings　of　wealth；　a　soldier's　honor；　perhaps　an　enduring　place　among　the　pany　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte。　He　had　drawn　laughter　and　approval　from　the　man　who　might　truly　bee　his　Captain　now。
　　Nothing　under　the　circling　moons　is　fated　to　last。
　　He　had　crouched　by　a　fire　on　this　dark　plain　and　heard　an　Asharite　and　a　Kindath　woman　of　beauty　and　intelligence　far　beyond　his　experience；　and　Ser　Rodrigo　himself；　as　they　spoke　in　Alvar's　presence　of　the　past　and　future　of　the　peninsula。
　　Alvar　de　Pellino　made　his　decision　then；　more　easily　than　he　would　ever　have　imagined。　And　he　also　knew；　awake　under　the　stars　and　a　more　perceptive　man　than　he　had　been　this　same　morning；　that　he　would　be　permitted　to　do　this　thing。　Only　then；　as　if　this　resolution　had　been　the　key　to　the　doorway　of　sleep；　did　Alvar's　mind　slow　its　whirlwind　of　thought　enough　to　allow　him　rest。　Even　then　he　dreamed：　a　dream　of　Silvenes；　which　he　had　never　seen；　of　the　Al…Fontina　in　the　glorious　days　of　the　Khalifate；　which　were　over　before　he　was　born。
　　Alvar　saw　himself　walking　in　that　palace；　he　saw　towers　and　domes　of　burnished　gold；　marble　columns　and　arches；　gleaming　in　the　light。　He　saw　gardens　with　flower　beds　and　splashing　fountains　and　statues　in　the　shade；　heard　a　distant；　otherworldly　music；　was　aware　of　the　tall　green　trees　rustling　in　the　breeze；　offering　shelter　from　the　sun。　He　smelled　lemons　and　almonds　and　an　elusive　eastern　perfume　he　could　not　have　named。
　　He　was　alone；　though；　in　that　place。　Whatever　paths　he　walked；　past　water　and　tree　and　cool　stone　arcade；　were　serenely；　perfectly　empty。　Passing　through　high…ceilinged　rooms　with　many…colored　cushions　on　the　mosaic…inlaid　floors　he　saw　wall　hangings　of　silk　and　carvings　of　alabaster　and　olive　wood。　He　saw　golden　and　silver　coffrets　set　with　jewels；　and　crystal　glasses　of　dark　red　wine；　some　filled；　some　almost　empty…as　if　they　had　only　that　moment　been　set　down。　But　no　one　was　there；　no　voices　could　be　heard。　Only　that　hint　of　perfume　in　the　air　as　he　went　from　room　to　room；　and　the　music…ahead　of　him　and　behind；　tantalizing　in　its　purity…alluded　to　the　presence　of　other　men　and　women　in　the　Al…Fontina　of　Silvenes；　and　Alvar　never　saw　them。　Not　in　the　dream；　not　ever　in　his　life。
　　Even　the　sun　goes　down。
　　
Part　II
Five
　　〃There's　trouble　ing；〃　said　Diego；　as　he　ran　past　the　stables　and　looked　in　briefly　on　the　open　stall。　A　soft　rain　was　falling。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　his　mother　asked；　glancing　quickly　over　her　shoulder。　She　stood　up。
　　〃Don't　know。　A　lot　of　men。〃
　　〃Where's　Fernan？〃
　　〃Gone　to　meet　it；　with　some　of　the　others。　I　told　him　already。〃　Diego；　having　said　what　seemed　necessary；　turned　to　go。
　　〃Wait！〃　his　mother　called。　〃Where's　your　father？〃
　　Diego's　expression　was　withering。　〃How　would　I　know？　Heading　for　Esteren；　I　guess；　if　he　isn't　there　already。　They　must　have　got　the　parias；　by　now。〃
　　His　mother；　feeling　foolish；　and　irritated　because　of　that；　said；　〃Don't　use　that　tone　with　me。　You　sometimes　do　know；　Diego。〃
　　〃And　when　I　do；　I　tell　you；〃　he　said。　〃Got　to　run；　Mother。　Fernan　will　need　me。　He　said　to　lock　the　gates　and　get　everyone　up　on　the　walls。〃
　　With　the　swift；　lethal　grin　that　left　her　almost　helpless…his　father's　smile…Diego　was　gone。
　　I　am　being　ordered　about　by　my　sons　now；　thought　Miranda　Belmonte　d'Alveda。　Another　adjustment　in　life；　another　measure　of　time　passing。　It　was　odd；　she　didn't　feel　old　enough　for　this　to　be　happening。　She　looked　over　at　the　frightened　groom　who　was　helping　her　with　the　mare。
　　〃I'll　finish　here。　You　heard　what　he　said。　Tell　Dario　to　get　everyone　up　on　the　wall…walk。　Including　the　women。　Bring　whatever　weapons　you　can　find。　Build　up　the　kitchen　fires；　we'll　want　boiling　water　if　this　is　an　attack。〃　The　old　groom　nodded　anxiously　and　went　off；　moving　as　quickly　as　he　could　on　a　bad　leg。
　　Miranda　ran　the　back　of　a　muddy　hand　across　her　forehead；　leaving　a　streak　of　grime。　She　turned　again；　already　murmuring　to　the　laboring　mare　in　the　stall。　The　birth　of　a　colt　on　a　Valledan　ranch　was　not　a　matter　that　could　be　superseded。　It　was　the　cornerstone　of　their　fortune　and　their　li