ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第67节

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　　〃I　told　you　all　I　didn't　want　to　be　watched　or　followed；〃　Jehane　protested。
　　Idar　ibn　Tarif　reached　down　and　squeezed　her　shoulder。　He　wasn't　much　like　any　outlaw　she'd　heard　about。
　　〃You　did；　indeed；　tell　us　that；〃　Ammar　said；　without　levity。　He　was　sitting　on　one　of　the　small　beds　now　and　was　regarding　her　carefully。　The　candlelight　burnished　his　hair　and　was　reflected　in　his　eyes。　〃We　all　apologize；　in　a　measured　degree；　for　not　obeying。　Rodrigo　felt；　and　I　agreed；　that　there　was　some　chance　you　were　at　risk；　because　of　your　rescue　of　Husari　from　the　Muwardis　among　other　things。〃
　　〃But　how　could　you　know　I　wouldn't　recognize　Ziri？　I　should　have　recognized　him。〃
　　〃We　couldn't　know　that；　of　course。　He　was　urged　to　be　cautious　in　how　he　followed　you；　and　had　a　story　to　tell　if　you　did　see　him。　Your　parents　approved　of　this；　by　the　way。〃
　　〃How　would　you　know　that？〃
　　〃I　promised　your　father　I　would　write　him。　Remember？　I　try　to　keep　my　promises。〃
　　It　seemed　to　have　been　quite　thoroughly　worked　out。　She　looked　at　Ziri。　〃Where　did　you　learn　to　use　a　knife　like　that？〃
　　He　looked　both　pleased　and　abashed。　〃I　have　been　with　the　Captain's　men；　doctor。　They　have　been　teaching　me。　Ser　Rodrigo　himself　gave　me　my　blade。　The　lord　ibn　Khairan　showed　me　how　to　conceal　it　inside　my　sleeve　and　draw　it　down。〃
　　Jehane　looked　back　at　Ammar。　〃And　Velaz？　What　if　he　had　known　him；　even　if　I　didn't？〃
　　〃Velaz　did　know　him；　Jehane。〃　Ibn　Khairan's　voice　was　gentle；　rather　like　the　tone　in　which　he'd　spoken　to　the　younger　boy。　〃He　spotted　Ziri　some　time　ago　and　went　to　Rodrigo。　An　understanding　was　achieved。　Velaz　shared　our　view　that　Ziri　was　a　wise　precaution。　And　so　he　was；　my　dear。　It　was　Ziri　who　was　on　top　of　the　wall　of　that　courtyard　this　morning　and　heard　the　men　from　Cartada　tell　you　their　purpose。　He　found　Alvar；　who　found　me。　We　had　time　to　be　here　before　you。〃
　　〃I　feel　like　a　child；〃　Jehane　said。　She　heard　Alvar's　wordless　protest　behind　her。
　　〃Not　that；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　rising　from　the　bed。　〃Never　that；　Jehane。　But　just　as　you　may　have　to　care　for　us；　if　arrow　or　blade　or　illness　es；　so　we　must；　surely；　offer　our　care　to　you？　If　only　to　set　things　in　balance；　as　your　Kindath　moons　balance　the　sun　and　stars。〃
　　She　looked　up　at　him。　〃Don't　be　such　a　poet；〃　she　said　tartly。　〃I'm　not　distracted　by　images。　I　am　going　to　think　about　this；　and　then　let　you　all　know　exactly　how　I　feel。　Especially　Rodrigo；〃　she　added。　〃He　was　the　one　who　promised　I　would　be　left　alone。〃
　　〃I　was　afraid　you　would　remember　that；〃　said　someone　entering　from　the　corridor。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　still　in　boots　and　winter　cloak；　with　his　sword　on　and　the　whip　in　his　belt；　strode　into　the　room。　He　had；　incongruously；　a　cup　of　chocolate　in　each　hand。
　　He　offered　one　to　Jehane。　〃Drink。　I　had　to　promise　this　was　for　you　and　no　one　else。　The　older　one　downstairs　is　greedy　and　wanted　it　all。〃
　　〃And　what　about　me？〃　Ibn　Khairan　plained。　〃I　did　damage　to　my　wrists　and　fingers　making　wolves　and　pigs　for　them。〃
　　Rodrigo　laughed。　He　took　a　sip　from　the　other　cup。　〃Well；　if　you　must　know　the　truth；　this　one　was　for　you　as　a　reward；　but　I　didn't　actually　promise；　and　the　chocolate　is　good　and　I　was　cold。　You've　been　inside　and　warm　for　a　while。〃　He　lowered　the　cup　and　smiled。
　　〃You've　chocolate　on　your　moustache；〃　Jehane　said。　〃And　you　are　supposed　to　be　outside　the　walls。　Defending　the　city。　Much　good　you　are　to　anyone；　arriving　now。〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　Ammar　said　with　a　vigorous　nod　of　his　head。　〃Give　me　my　chocolate。〃
　　Rodrigo　did　so。　He　looked　at　Jehane。
　　〃Martin　fetched　me。　We　weren't　far　away。　Jehane；　you'll　have　to　choose　between　being　angry　with　me　for　having　you　guarded；　or　for　not　being　here　to　defend　you　myself。〃
　　〃Why？〃　she　snapped。　〃Why　can't　I　be　angry　for　both？〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　said　Ammar　again；　sipping　the　chocolate。　His　tone　was　so　smugly　pleased　it　almost　made　her　laugh。　He　does　nothing　by　chance；　she　reminded　herself；　struggling　for　self…possession。　Ziri　and　Idar　were　grinning；　and　so；　reluctantly；　was　Alvar。
　　Jehane；　looking　around　her；　came　to　accept；　finally；　that　it　was　over。　They　had　saved　her　life　and　Velaz's；　and　the　lives　of　the　two　children。　She　was　being；　perhaps；　just　the　least　bit　ungrateful。
　　〃I　am　sorry　about　the　broken　promise；〃　Rodrigo　said　soberly。　〃I　didn't　want　to　argue　with　you　back　then；　and　Ziri's　arrival　seemed　a　stroke　of　fortune。　You　know　he　came　through　the　pass　alone？〃
　　〃So　I　gather。〃　She　was　being　ungrateful。　〃What　will　be　done　about　those　two　men？〃　she　asked。　〃Who　were　they？〃
　　〃Two　that　I　know　of；　as　it　happens。〃　It　was　Ammar。　〃Almalik　used　them　several　times。　It　seems　his　son　remembered　that。　They　were　the　best　assassins　he　had。〃
　　〃Will　this　cause　a　scandal？〃
　　Ammar　shook　his　head　and　looked　at　Rodrigo。　〃I　don't　think　it　has　to。　I　think　there　is　a　better　way　to　deal　with　this。〃
　　〃No　one　knows　they　came　so　close　but　the　servants　here；〃　Rodrigo　said　thoughtfully。　〃They　can　be　trusted；　I　think。〃
　　Ammar　nodded。　〃That　is　my　thought。　I　believe　I　heard；〃　he　said　carefully；　〃that　two　merchants　from　Cartada　were　unfortunately　murdered　in　a　tavern　quarrel　shortly　after　they　arrived　here。　I　think　the　appropriate　Guild　ought　to　send　apologies　and　condolences　to　Cartada。　Let　Almalik　believe　they　were　discerned　the　moment　they　came。　Let　him　feel　that　much　more　anxious。〃
　　〃You　know　the　man；〃　Rodrigo　said。
　　〃I　do；〃　ibn　Khairan　agreed。　〃Not　as　well　as　I　once　thought；　but　well　enough。〃
　　〃What　will　he　do　next？〃　Jehane　asked　suddenly。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　looked　at　her。　His　expression　was　very　sober　now。　He　had　laid　down　the　cup　of　chocolate。　〃I　believe；〃　he　said；　〃he　will　attempt　to　win　me　back。〃
　　There　was　a　brief　stillness。
　　〃Will　he　succeed？〃　Rodrigo　was　as　blunt　as　ever。
　　Ammar　shrugged。　〃I'm　a　mercenary　now；　remember？　Just　as　you　are。　What　would　your　answer　be？　If　King　Ramiro　summoned　you　tomorrow　would　you　abandon　your　contract　here　and　go　home？〃
　　Another　silence。　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　at　length。　〃Though　my　wife　would　stab　me　if　she　heard　me　say　that。〃
　　〃Then　I　suppose　I　am　in　a　better　circumstance　than　you；　because　if　I　give　the　same　answer；　no　woman　is　likely　to　kill　me。〃　Ibn　Khairan　smiled。
　　〃Don't；〃　said　Jehane；　〃be　quite　so　sure。〃
　　They　all　looked　at　her　uncertainly；　until　she　smiled。
　　〃Thank　you；　by　the　way；〃　she　said；　to　all　of　them。
　　
Twelve
　　Towards　the　end　of　winter；　when　the　first　wildflowers　were　appearing　in　the　meadows；　but　while　snow　still　lay　thick　in　the　higher　plateaus　and　the　mountain　passes；　the　three　kings　of　Esperana　gathered　near　Carcasia　in　Valledo　to　hunt　elk　and　boar　in　the　oak　woods　where　the　smells　were　of　rebirth　and　the　burgeoning　of　spring　could　be　felt　along　the　blood。
　　Though　even　the　best　of　the　ancient　straight　roads　were　little　more　than　muddy　impediments　to　travel；　their　queens　were　with　them　and　substantial　retinues　from　their　courts；　for　hunting…pleasurable　as　it　might　be…was　merely　a　pretext　for　this　meeting。
　　It　had　been　Geraud　de　Chervalles；　the　formidable　cleric　from　Ferrieres　who；　together　with　colleagues　wintering　at　Eschalou　and　Orvedo；　had　prevailed　upon　three　men　who　hated　and　feared　each　other　to　e　together　early　in　the　year　to　hold　afternoon　converse　after　chases　in　field　and　wood。
　　A　greater　hunt　was　near　to　hand；　the　clerics　had　declared　in　the　court　of　each　king；　one　that　redounded　both　to　the　glory　of　Jad　and　the　vastly　increased　wealth　and　fame　and　power　of　each　of　the　three　lands　that　had　been　carved　from　what　was　left　of　Esperana。
　　The　glory　of　Jad　was；　of　course；　an　entirely　good　thing。　Everyone　agreed　on　that。　Wealth　and　power；　and　certainly　fame；　were　prospects　worth　a　journey。　Whether　these　things　were　also　worth　the　associated　pany　remained；　as　yet；　to　be　seen。
　　Two　days　had　passed　since　the　Ruendans；　last　to　arrive；　had　joined　the　others　within　Carcasia's　walls。　No　untoward　incidents　had　yet　transpired…little　of　note　either；　though　King　Bermudo　of　Jalona　had　proven　himself　still　the　equal　of　his　nephews　on　horseback　and　with　a　boar　spear。　Of　the　queens；　the　accolades　had　gone　to　red…haired　Ines　of　Valledo；　daughter　of　the　hunting…mad　king　of　Ferrieres；　clearly　the　best　rider　of　the　women　there…and　better　than　most　of　the　courtiers。
　　For　a　man　known　to　be　clever　and　ambitious；　her　husband　appeared　preoccupied　and　inattentive　much　of　the　time；　even　during　the　afternoon　and　evening　discussions　of　policy　and　war。　He　left　it　to　his　constable　to　raise　questions　and　objections。
　　For　his　part；　Bermudo　of　Jalona　hunted　with　fury　in　the　mornings　and　spoke　during　the　meetings　of　vengeance　against　the　cities　of　Ragosa　and　Fibaz；　which　had　defaulted　on　his　first…ever　parias　claim。　He　accepted　condolences　on　the　death　of　a　favored　courtier；　the　young　Count　Nino　di　Carrera；　ambushed　by　outlaws　in　a　valley　in　Al…Rassan。　No　one　was　quite　clear　how　a　party　of　one　hundred　trained　and　well…mounted　Horsemen　could　have　been　slaughtered　by　a　mere　outlaw　band；　but　no　one　was　unkind　or　impolitic　enough　to　raise　that　question　directly。　Queen　Fruela；　still　a　handsome　woman；　was　seen　to　grow　misty…eyed　at　the　menti