ggk.asongforarbonne-第30章

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nd　now　why　you　find　all　of　this　so　diverting。　You　were　paid　in　Gorhaut　coinage。　You　were　hired　for　that　insane　amount　of　money　to　assassinate　the　duke　of　Talair　in　the　name　of　Ademar；　king　of　Gorhaut。　But　on　the　orders　and　doubtless　the　instigation　of　Galbert；　High　Elder　of　Corannos　in　Gorhaut。〃
　　In　shadow　the　other　man　slowly　nodded　his　head。　〃Your　father；〃　he　said。
　　〃My　father。〃
　　Lisseut　watched　as　Blaise　turned　away　from　the　table　and　the　lights　on　the　patio　and　walked　back　towards　the　fountain。　He　stood　gazing　down　at　the　rippling　waters　of　the　artificial　pool。　It　was　difficult　to　see　his　face。
　　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　with　Talair　when　I　accepted　the　contract；　Blaise。　Obviously。〃　The　Portezzan's　voice　was　more　urgent　now；　the　amusement　gone。　〃They　wanted　him　killed　for　some　songs　he　wrote。〃
　　〃I　know。　I　heard　one　of　them。〃　Blaise　didn't　look　up　from　the　pool。　〃There's　a　message　in　this。　My　father　likes　sending　messages。　No　one　is　safe；　he's　saying。　No　one　should　think　about　crossing　him。〃　He　turned　with　a　harsh　gesture。　〃You're　meant　to　tell　the　fee；　you　know。　If　you　don't；　believe　me　they　will。　It'll　get　out。　That's　a　message　in　itself。　How　far　he'll　go　if　he　has　to。　The　resources　they　can　mand。　You've　been　used；　Rudel。〃
　　The　other　man　shrugged；　unruffled。　〃We　are　always　used。　It　is　my　profession；　it's　yours。　People　hire　us　to　serve　their　needs。　But　if　you're　right；　if　they　really　intend　to　make　sure　everyone　knows　who　paid　for　this　and　how　much；　then　you　had　better　think　seriously　about　ing　away　with　me。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃Think　about　it。　In　your　clever　vein；　Blaise。　What　happens　to　you　here　when　your　own　secret's　broached？　When　people　learn　who　you　are…and　that　your　father　killed　the　duke　of　Talair　while　you　were　supposed　to　be　guarding　him。　I　have　some　idea　why　you　came　away　to　Arbonne　in　the　first　place…and　now；　we　don't　have　to　talk　about　it…but　you　can't　stay　here　now。〃
　　Blaise　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest。　〃I　could　deal　with　that　problem。　I　could　turn　you　in。　Tonight。　I　am　employed　by　the　duke　of　Talair；　I'd　be　doing　my　duty。〃
　　Lisseut　couldn't　see　his　face　clearly；　but　from　the　voice　that　emerged　from　shadow　she　knew　the　man　named　Rudel　was　amused　again。
　　〃The　late；　lamented；　poetical　duke　of　Talair。　He　wrote　one　song　too　many；　alas。　Really；　Blaise。　Your　father　ordered　the　killing；　your　old　rade…in…arms　performed　it？　Stop　being　stupid。　You　are　going　to　be　blamed　for　this。　I'm　sorry　if　what　I've　done　makes　things　briefly　awkward　for　you；　but　the　only　thing　to　do　now　is　figure　out　where　we'd　like　to　go　and　leave。　Have　you　heard；　by　the　way？　Lucianna　is　married　again。　Shall　we　visit　the　newly　weds？〃
　　There　was　another　silence。　〃Where？〃　Blaise　asked　quietly。　Lisseut　had　a　sense　that　the　question　came　against　his　will。
　　〃Andoria。　To　Borsiard；　the　count；　a　fortnight　ago。　My　father　was　there。　I　wasn't　invited；　I'm　afraid。　Neither；　evidently；　were　you；　though　I　would　have　thought　you'd　have　heard。〃
　　〃I　hadn't。〃
　　〃Then　we　must　visit　them　and　plain。　If　he　hasn't　been　cuckolded　yet　you　can　take　care　of　that。　I'll　create　a　distraction　of　some　kind。〃
　　〃How？　By　poisoning　someone？〃
　　The　man　named　Rudel　stood　up　slowly。　In　the　light　now；　his　features　could　be　seen　to　have　gone　still；　no　trace　of　amusement　remained。　He　set　down　his　cup　of　wine。　〃Blaise；　when　we　parted　a　year　since　I　was　under　the　impression　we　were　friends。　I　am　not　certain　what　has　happened；　but　I　don't　have　the　same　impression　at　the　moment。　If　you　are　only　angry　for　tonight；　tell　me；　and　explain　why。　If　you　are　more　than　that；　I　would　appreciate　knowing　as　much；　so　I　can　act　accordingly。〃
　　Both　men　were　breathing　harder　now。　Blaise　uncrossed　his　arms。　〃You　took　a　contract　from　my　father；〃　he　said。　〃Knowing　what　you　knew；　you　took　a　contract　from　him。〃
　　〃For　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　Gorhaut　gold　coins。　Really；　Blaise；　I…〃
　　〃You　have　always　said　you　don't　do　this　for　the　money。　You　just　said　it　again　here。　Your　father　likes　you；　remember？　You're　going　to　inherit；　remember？〃
　　〃And　are　you　jealous　of　that？　As　jealous　as　you　are　of　any　other　man　who　is　close　to　Lucianna？〃
　　〃Careful；　Rudel。　Oh；　please　be　careful。〃
　　〃What　will　you　do？　Fight　me？　To　see　which　one　of　us　can　kill　the　other？　How　stupid　are　you　going　to　be　about　this；　Blaise？　I　had　no　idea　you　were　with　the　duke　of　Talair。　By　the　time　I　knew　I　could　not　withdraw　from　a　job　I'd　accepted。　You　are　as　much　a　professional　as　I　am。　You　know　this　is　true。　I　took　your　father's　contract　because　it　was　by　far　the　largest　sum　of　money　ever　offered　in　our　time　for　a　killing。　I　admit　it；　I　was　flattered。　I　liked　the　challenge。　I　liked　the　idea　of　being　known　as　the　man　who　was　worth　that　much　as　an　assassin。　Are　you　going　to　try　to　kill　me　for　that？　Or　are　you　really　wanting　to　kill　me　for　introducing　you　to　my　cousin；　who　decided　not　to　change　her　nature　just　because　you　appeared　on　the　scene　and　wanted　her　to？　I　told　you　exactly　what　Lucianna　and　her　family　were　before　you　ever　saw　her。　Remember？　Or　do　you　prefer　to　just　hide　within　your　anger；　hide　away　from　everyone　you　know；　down　here　in　Arbonne；　and　forget　such　painful　things？　Be　honest　with　yourself；　what　is　my　sin；　Blaise？〃
　　Lisseut；　flat　on　the　wall；　screened　by　the　leaves　of　the　plane　tree　with　a　bird　now　silent　in　the　branches　above；　heard　what　she　should　not　have　heard　and　felt　her　hands　beginning　to　tremble。　This　was　too　raw；　too　profoundly　private；　and　she　was　sorry　now　that　she　had　e。　She　was　spying　on　this　garden　exactly　like　one　of　the　evil；　envious　audrades　who　spied　on　the　lovers　in　all　the　dawnsongs；　bent　on　ruin　and　malice。　The　steady；　quiet　splashing　of　the　fountain　was　the　only　sound　for　a　long　time。　There　were　usually　fountains　in　the　songs；　too。
　　When　Blaise　next　spoke　it　was；　surprisingly；　in　Arbonnais。　〃If　I　am　honest　with　myself　and　with　you；　I　will　say　that　there　are　only　two　people　on　earth；　one　man　and　one　woman；　it　seems　I　cannot　deal　with；　and　you　are　linked　with　both　of　them　now；　not　just　the　one。　It　makes　things　。。。　difficult。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　not　going　to　leave　Arbonne。　Among　other　things；　it　would　seem　an　admission　of　a　guilt　I　do　not　bear。　I　will　wait　until　morning　before　I　report　to　the　appropriate　people　who　it　was　who　shot　that　arrow。　You　should　have　no　trouble　being　out　to　sea　on　one　of　your　father's　ships　before　that。　I'll　take　my　chances　here。〃
　　The　other　man　took　a　step　forward　into　the　full　light　of　the　candles　on　the　table　and　the　torches。　There　was　no　levity　or　guile　in　his　face　now。　〃We　have　been　friends　a　long　time　and　have　been　through　a　great　deal　together。　If　we　are　enemies　now　I　will　be　sorry　for　it。　You　might　even　make　me　regret　taking　this　contract。〃
　　Blaise　shrugged。　〃It　was　a　great　deal　of　money。　My　father　tends　to　get　what　he　wants。　Did　you　ever　ask　yourself　why；　of　all　possible　assassins　in　the　six　countries；　he　hired　the　one　who　had　been　my　closest　friend？
　　Rudel's　face　slowly　changed　as　he　thought　about　this。　Lisseut　saw　it　happen　in　the　glow　of　the　light。　He　shook　his　head。　〃Truly？　Would　that　have　been　it？　I　never　even　thought　of　that。〃　He　laughed　softly　again；　but　without　any　amusement　now。　〃With　my　pride；　I　simply　assumed　he'd　judged　me　the　best　of　all　of　us。〃
　　〃He　was　buying　a　friend　I　had　made　for　myself　in　the　world　away　from　home；　away　from　him。　Be　flattered…he　decided　your　price　would　be　very　high。〃
　　〃High　enough；　though　I　confess　I'm　less　happy　now　than　I　was　a　moment　ago。　Tell　me　one　thing；　though。　I　think　I　do　know　why　you　left　us　all　and　came　away　by　yourself；　but　why　stay　now？　What　has　Arbonne　done　to　buy　you　and　hold　you？　What　was　Bertran　de　Talair　that　you　will　cast　your　lot　in　this　way？〃
　　Blaise　shrugged　again。　〃It　has　done　nothing；　really。　Certainly　not　to　buy　me。　I　don't　even　like　it　here；　truthfully。　Too　much　goddess　for　me；　as　you　might　have　guessed。〃　He　shifted　a　little；　from　one　foot　to　the　other。　〃But　I　have　a　contract　of　my　own；　just　as　you　did。　I'll　wrap　that　up　as　honestly　as　I　can；　and　then　see　where　I　end　up。　I　don't　think　I'm　casting　any　lots；　really。〃
　　〃Then　think　again；　Blaise。　Think　harder。　If　your　father　was　sending　a　message　to　the　world　by　killing　the　duke　of　Talair　what　shall　we　take　that　message　to　be？　What　is　Gorhaut　telling　us　all？　My　father　says　there　is　a　war　ing；　Blaise。　If　it　es；　I　think　Arbonne　is　doomed。〃
　　〃It　is　possible；〃　said　Blaise　of　Gorhaut；　as　Lisseut　felt　the　colour　leaving　her　face。　〃As　I　say；　I　will　see　where　I　am　in　a　little　while。〃
　　〃There　is　nothing　I　can　do　for　you？〃
　　Lisseut　heard　a　tired　amusement　in　Blaise's　voice。　〃Don't　let　the　wine　make　you　sentimental；　Rudel。　I　am　going　to　report　you　as　an　assassin　at　sunrise。　You　had　best　begin　making　your　own　plans。〃
　　The　other　did　not　move。　〃There　is　one　thing；〃　he　said　slowly；　as　if　to　himself。　He　hesitated。　〃The　factors　in　all　of　the　Correze　branch　houses　will　be　sent　a　letter　from　me　ordering　them　to　receive　and　conceal　you　should　the　need　ever　arise。〃
　　〃I　will　not　go　to　them。〃
　　It　was　Rudel's　turn　to　sound　amused。　〃That　much　is　out　of　my　control。　I　can　take　no　responsibility　for　your　pride。　But　the　letter　will　be　written。　I　take　it　you　are　leaving　your　money　with　us？〃
　　〃But　of　course；〃　said　Blaise。　〃With　whom　else　should　I　trust　it？〃
　　〃Good；〃　said　Rudel　Correze。　〃The　one　thing　my　father　most　hates　is　investors　withdrawing　their　accounts。　He　would　have　been　deeply　unhappy　with　me。〃
　　〃I　would　regret　being　the　cause　of　such　unhappiness。〃
　　Rudel　smiled。　〃If　I　had　not　seen　you；　Blaise；　I　should　be　an　extravagantly　pleased　man　tonight；　flushed　with　my　great　success。　I　might　even　go　out　and　join　the　Carnival。　Instead　I　am　rendered　curiously　sad　and　forced　to　take　a　night　voyage；　which　never　agrees　with　my　digestion。　What　sort　of　a　friend　are　you？〃
　　〃One　who　is　not　an　enemy；　at　any　rate。　Be　careful；　Rudel。〃
　　〃And　you。　That　Arimondan　will　kill　you　if　he　can。〃
　　〃I　know。　If　he　can。〃
　　There　was　a　silence。　〃A　message　for　Lucianna？〃
　　〃None　at　all。　The　god　guard　you；　Rudel。〃
　　Blaise　took　a　step　forward　and　the　two　men　clasped　hands。　For　a　moment　Lisseut　thought　they　would　embrace　but　they　did　not。　She　moved　silently　back　along　the　wall；　felt　below　in　darkness　with　her　feet　for　the　wooden　crate　and　slipped　down　into　the　odours　of　the　alleyway。　She　heard　the　rats　again　as　she　moved　quickly　back　towards　the　street。　As　she　left　the　alley；　she　picked　up　her　mask；　discarded　on　the　street；　and　put　it　on。　She　wanted　some　sort　of　barrier　between　herself　and　the　world　just　then；　and　what　she　still　wanted；　even　more　than　before；　was　a　quiet　time　and　a　clear　head　that　would　let　her　think。
　　She　didn't　think　she　was　going　to　get　either　tonight。　She　went　back　down　the　empty　street　away　from　the　square　at　the　top；　past　the　massive　iron　doors　that　were　the　entrance　to　what　she　now　knew　was　the　Arbonnais　palace　of　the　House　of　Correze。　She　knew　the　name；　of　course。　Everyone　knew　the　name。　She　had　stumbled　into　something　very　large　and　she　didn't　know　what　to　do。
　　A　little　further　down　she　came　to　the　arched　doorway　she'd　watched　from　before；　when　Blaise　went　down　the　alley。　She　slipped　back　into　it；　looking　out　from　behind　the　elongated　eye…slits　o