ggk.asongforarbonne-第34章

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as　he　waited。
　　Blaise　turned…as　he　seemed　always　to　be　turning…back　to　the　High　Priestess　in　her　rough　grey　robe。　Quietly；　he　said；　〃If　you　know　my　mind；　as　you　seemed　to　when　last　we　met；　you　can　answer　all　such　questions　for　them；　can't　you。〃　He　said　it　flatly；　it　was　not　a　question。
　　Her　expression；　oddly；　grew　gentler；　as　if　he'd　sounded　an　unexpected　chord。　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　also　told　you　that　night　that　our　powers　are　less　than　our　desires　would　have　them　be；　and　they　grow　weaker　when　we　are　farther　from　the　hearthstones　of　Rian。　On　the　goddess's　Island　I　could　read　some　things　in　your　heart　and　in　your　history；　largely　to　do　with　love　and　hate；　you　will　remember。　I　said　I　could　tell　your　future。　That　was　a　lie。　Nor　can　I　read　your　mind　right　now。　If　you　have　things　to　tell　us　you　will　have　to　tell　them　yourself。〃
　　〃Not　all　things；〃　Blaise　said　calmly。　〃You　could　tell　them　who　I　am；　for　example。〃
　　There　was　a　short　silence；　then：
　　〃We　all　know　who　you　are；　Blaise　de　Garsenc。〃　Bertran　laid　down　the　crystal　as　he　spoke。　His　voice　actually　held　a　faint　irritation。　〃Did　you　honestly　think　you　were　travelling　in　such　secrecy？　That　you　entered　my　service　without　my　knowing　whom　it　was　I　was　hiring？〃　The　candlelight　on　the　clever；　cynical　face　exposed　his　old　white　scar。
　　Blaise　swallowed。　Events　were　moving　very　fast。　Abruptly；　he　recalled　something。　〃But　you　asked　me。　You　wanted　to　know　who　I　was　when　first　we　met。　If　you　knew；　why　ask？〃
　　Bertran　shrugged。　〃I　learn　more　sometimes　from　questions　I　know　the　answers　to。　Really；　Blaise；　whatever　you…or　I；　for　that　matter…may　think　of　your　father；　he　is　one　of　the　powers　of　our　world　today；　and　his　younger　son　has　been；　for　a　number　of　years；　a　coran　of　some　reputation　of　his　own。　It　was　no　secret…among　certain　circles；　at　any　rate…that　Galbert　de　Garsenc's　son　left　Gorhaut　immediately　after　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge　was　signed。　And　when　a　distinctively　tall；　reddish…bearded　Gorhaut　coran　of　considerable　skills　was　reported　to　be　in　Castle　Baude　some　time　after　。。。　it　wasn't　difficult　to　make　an　obvious　guess。　At　which　point　I　went　to　investigate　matters　for　myself。　Incidentally；　I've　never　seen　another　man　match　arrows　with　my　cousin　at　that　distance　before。〃
　　Feeling　bludgeoned　by　the　increasing　pace　of　revelations；　Blaise　shook　his　head。　〃I　didn't　match　him。　And　as　it　happens；　the　man　who　shot　Valery　tonight　may　well　be　better　than　either　of　us。〃　He　wasn't　sure　he'd　actually　meant　to　say　that。
　　〃Ah；　well　now；〃　murmured　Ariane　de　Carenzu；　the　words　like　a　slow　caress　in　the　stillness　of　the　room。　〃This　brings　us　somewhere；　finally。〃　Blaise　looked　at　her。　Her　lips　were　parted　slightly；　her　eyes　bright　with　anticipation。
　　〃I　had　intended　to　tell　the　duke　in　the　morning；〃　he　said　carefully。　〃I　undertook　to　wait　until　then。〃
　　〃Was　such　an　undertaking　yours　to　give？〃　The　caressing　note　was　gone　as　swiftly　as　it　had　e。　She　had　spoken　this　way　in　the　tavern；　to　Talair　and　Miraval。　Blaise　hadn't　liked　it　then；　and　he　didn't　now。　He　let　his　eyes　grow　wide；　holding　and　challenging　her。　It　was　curious；　and　something　he　would　have　to　think　about　afterwards；　but　with　his　identity　out　in　the　open　he　felt　rather　more　equal　to　these　people　now。　He　had　a　suspicion　that　when　he　considered　the　matter　he　wouldn't　be　happy　about　it；　since　any　feeling　would　be　derived；　ultimately；　from　being　his　father's　son；　but　it　was　there；　it　was　undeniably　there。
　　〃You　will　remember；〃　he　said　quietly　to　the　duchess　of　Carenzu；　〃that　I　was　under　the　impression　that　En　Bertran　would　be　mourning　the　death　of　his　cousin　this　evening。〃
　　〃How　solicitous　of　you。〃　It　was　Bertran。　〃And　was　that　the　reason　for　your　undertaking？〃
　　〃In　part；〃　Blaise　said；　turning　back　to　him。　〃There　were　others。〃
　　〃Which　were？〃
　　Blaise　hesitated。　There　was　danger　here。　〃The　desire　to　avoid　an　extremely　delicate　political　problem　for　us　all；　and　another　reason　which　is　private　to　me。〃
　　〃I　am　not　certain　we　can　value　that　privacy；　tonight；　and　I　rather　think　the　people　in　this　room　can　shape　their　own　judgments　and　responses　to　any　political　problems；　however　delicate；　that　might　emerge　from　what　you　say。　I　think　you　had　best　tell　me　who　this　person　is。〃　The　duke's　posture　and　voice　were　as　lazy　as　ever；　but　Blaise　had　been　with　him　long　enough　now　not　to　be　fooled　by　that。
　　〃Don't　be　obtuse；　Bertran。　We　know　exactly　who　this　person　is。〃　A　fifth　voice　in　the　room；　from　one　of　the　two　chairs　before　the　fire；　assured；　quite　unpromising。　Blaise　wheeled　swiftly　around　but　saw　no　one　at　all；　until　the　speaker　rose；　with　caution；　and　he　finally　understood。　The　others；　he　noted　grimly；　had　not　been　surprised。
　　He　had　looked　over　at　those　chairs　when　he　first　entered　the　room；　of　course；　they　were　wide；　richly　upholstered　and　straight…backed；　facing　the　fireplace；　but　not　so　large　as　to　conceal　a　man。
　　But　this　was　Arbonne；　and　a　woman　was　another　matter。　Particularly　a　small；　fine…boned；　white…haired　woman　whom　he　knew　to　be…for　he　had　seen　her　before；　bestowing　honours　at　tournaments…Signe　be　Barbentain；　countess　of　Arbonne。
　　She　was　looking　at　the　duke。　〃If　you　have　been　listening　at　all　carefully；　Bertran；　then　this　should　be　one　of　those　questions　you　already　know　the　answer　to。　If　so；　you　should　not　shame　a　coran　who　tells　you　he　has　given　an　undertaking　not　to　speak。　We　do　not　behave　that　way　here；　whatever　may　happen　elsewhere　in　this　decaying　world。〃
　　She　was　clad　in　blue　and　a　pale　cream　colour　with　pearl　buttons；　close　set；　running　up　the　front　of　her　gown。　Her　hair　was　held　back　with　a　golden　diadem。　She　wore　no　other　ornaments　save　for　two　rings　on　her　fingers。　She　had　been　celebrated；　Blaise　knew；　as　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world　in　her　time。　He　could　see　it；　even　now。　Her　eyes　were　astonishing；　so　dark　they　were　almost　black。
　　He　bowed；　a　straight　leg　forward；　one　hand　brushing　the　carpet。　His　coran's　training　would　have　had　him　do　so；　even　if　his　instincts　had　not。
　　She　said；　〃Mine　cannot　be　the　only　source　of　information　that　reported　last　year　that　the　younger　son　of　Galbert　de　Garsenc　spent　a　season　in　Mignano　and　Faenna　at　the　palaces　of　the　Delonghi。　Nor　can　I　be　the　only　one　to　have　heard　certain　rumours…which　we　need　not　now　pursue…concerning　the　unfortunate　death　of　Engarro　di　Faenna。　But　the　name　to　be　linked　with　all　of　this…a　name　that　indeed　would　give　rise　to　plexities　in　affairs　of　state；　as　well　as　eliciting　a　personal　response　from　our　friend　here…is　surely　that　of　Rudel　Correze。　Who　is；　I　am　reliably　informed；　much　sought…out　as　an　assassin；　in　good　part　for　his　skill　with　a　bow。　You　need　not；〃　she　added　calmly；　looking　directly　at　Blaise　for　the　first　time；　〃reproach　yourself　for　an　undertaking　breached。　You　did　not　tell　me　this。〃
　　Blaise　cleared　his　throat。　It　sounded　harsh　in　the　silence。　〃Evidently　I　did；〃　he　said。
　　She　smiled。　〃You　didn't　even　know　I　was　here。〃
　　Blaise　found　himself；　unexpectedly；　smiling　back。　〃Then　I　should　reproach　myself　for　that。　It　was　unprofessional；　and　careless。〃　He　drew　a　breath。　〃My　lady；　I　advised　Rudel　Correze　to　take　ship　tonight　because　I　was　going　to　inform　the　city　authorities　of　his　identity　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃City　authorities？　You　meant　me；　I　dare　assume。〃　Bertran　had　walked　around　the　divan　now　to　stand　by　Ariane。　Beatritz；　the　High　Priestess；　had　not　moved　or　spoken　for　some　time。
　　Blaise　shook　his　head。　〃He　thinks　he　killed　you。　I　did　not　disabuse　him　of　the　notion。〃
　　After　a　moment　Bertran　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　aloud。　〃So　he　will　sail　away　to　claim　whatever　fee　it　was；　from　whoever　paid　him。　Oh；　splendid；　Blaise！　The　embarrassment　will　be　with　him　a　long　time。〃
　　〃I　thought　so　too。　And　for　using　syvaren　it　is　the　least　he　should　suffer。　But　I　think　you　will　agree　it　would　have　been　impolitic　to　seize　the　favoured　son　of　the　Correze　family。　At　this　juncture　of　affairs。〃
　　Ariane　de　Carenzu　was　nodding。　〃Extremely　impolitic。　It　could　have　been　very　awkward　to　have　him　in　custody　here。〃
　　〃I　concluded　as　much；〃　Blaise　said　mildly。　But　he　was　delaying　now；　evading；　there　was　an　issue　still　buried　here；　waiting　like　a　trap。
　　And　so；　naturally；　it　was　the　High　Priestess　who　finally　spoke；　almost　on　cue　with　his　own　thought；　〃Is　there　more　we　should　know？〃　As　she　spoke；　the　white　owl　lifted　suddenly；　wings　briefly　spread；　and　alighted　gently　on　the　shoulder　of　the　countess。　Who　was　Beatritz's　mother；　Blaise　suddenly　remembered。　Signe　de　Barbentain　reached　up　and　gently　stroked　the　bird。
　　They　would　learn；　he　knew。　They　were　going　to　find　out　soon　enough；　when　the　whole　world　did。　He　didn't　want　it　to　happen　that　way。　He　turned　from　the　countess　back　to　Bertran　de　Talair；　who　was；　after　all；　the　man　who　was　to　have　been　killed；　and　the　man　he　was　working　for。
　　〃There　are　two　more　things　that　matter。　One　is　the　fee。〃　He　drew　a　breath。　〃Rudel　Correze　was　to　be　paid　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　in　gold　for　killing　you。〃
　　It　was　a　matter　of　some　real　satisfaction　to　see　that　En　Bertran；　the　worldly；　infinitely　sophisticated　duke　of　Talair；　was　no　more　able　to　conceal　his　shock　at　the　size　of　the　figure　than　Blaise　had　been　in　the　Correze　garden　earlier　that　night。　Ariane　de　Carenzu　put　a　hand　to　her　mouth。　The　countess　was　behind　Blaise。　The　High　Priestess　did　not　move；　nor　did　her　face　show　any　expression　at　all。　He　hadn't　expected　it　to。
　　〃Who；　then？〃　Bertran　asked　finally；　his　voice　showing　strain　for　the　first　time。　〃That　is　the　second　thing？〃
　　Blaise　nodded。　The　old　anger　was　in　him　again；　the　difficult；　continuous　pain　that　seemed　to　be　endlessly　rising　from　this　source　as　if　from　an　underground　spring　that　never　dried。　He　was　blunt；　because　he　could　not　be　anything　else。
　　〃My　father；〃　he　said。　〃In　the　name　of　the　king　of　Gorhaut。〃
　　And　was　undone；　he　later　realized；　looking　back；　by　the　next　words　spoken　in　the　room。
　　〃But　that　must　be　terrible　for　you；〃　said　the　countess　of　Arbonne　with　passion。
　　They　all　turned　to　her。　She　was　looking　at　Blaise；　the　magnificent　dark　eyes　wide。　〃He　used　your　own　friend　for　this？　Amongst　all　the　possible　assassins？　How　he　must　hate　you！　What　could　you　ever　have　done　to　make　your　father　hate　you　so？〃
　　There　was；　it　seemed　to　Blaise；　a　lifetime's　worth　of　passion　in　those　eyes。　And　some　of　it　now　was　for　him；　remarkably。　It　was　less　than　two　years；　he　thought　suddenly；　as　a　stray　piece　of　the　story　came　back；　since　her　husband　had　died。　And　theirs　was　said　to　have　been　that　rarest　thing；　a　true　love　match。　He　turned；　on　impulse；　to　look　at　the　niece；　Ariane；　with　her　own　dark　eyes　and　a　suddenly　wistful　expression；　and　then　at　the　daughter；　the　priestess；　whose　eyes　were　gone　and　whose　face　showed　only　an　intense　concentration。　There　had　been　another　daughter；　he　vaguely　remembered。　She　was　dead。　There　was　a　bitter　tale　there；　too；　one　he　probably　should　know　but　did　not。　Affairs　in　Arbonne　had　not　occupied　him　greatly　in　his　growing　years　or　his　time　among　the　armies　and　the　tournaments。
　　He　turned　back　to　the　old　woman　whose　beauty　had　been　the　talk　of　the　world　in　her　bright　day；　and　he　saw　that　now；　at　the　late　twilight　of　her　time；　she　had　another　kind　of　splend