ggk.asongforarbonne-第40章

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　　She　sees　Galbert　check　a　too…swift　reply。　Ranald　has　a　temper；　and　Blaise　too；　to　a　lesser　degree。　The　father　is　as　ice　pared　to　both　of　them…his　anger　and　his　hate　kept　channelled；　ruthlessly　controlled。
　　〃You　are　deliberately　insolent；〃　he　says。　〃Shall　I　whip　you　for　it？〃　His　voice　is　incongruously　mild　speaking　the　words；　as　if　he　were　merely　offering　to　walk　her　about　the　grounds　or　summon　a　servant　to　her　aid。
　　〃Indeed；〃　Rosala　says　hardily。　〃A　worthy　thought。　You　e　here　out　of　alleged　concern　for　the　child　I　carry；　and　then　offer　me　a　beating。　A　prudent　course；　my　lord。〃
　　His　turn　to　smile。　His　smile　frightens　her　more　than　anything　else。　She　tries　not　to　let　that　show。
　　〃I　can　wait；〃　says　Galbert　de　Garsenc　softly。　〃You　are　not　a　child。　Discipline　can　be　delayed　and　you　will　still　know　the　cause。　I　am　a　patient　man。　Get　into　the　castle　now；　though；　or　I　will　be　forced　to　handle　you　in　front　of　the　corans　and　the　servants。　You　carry　the　first　of　the　new　generation　of　the　Garsenc　line　and　you　will　not　be　permitted　to　jeopardize　that　with　this　folly。〃
　　Rosala　does　not　move。　He　is　not　going　to　hurt　her。　She　knows　that。　A　kind　of　reckless　giddiness　rises　in　her；　a　surge　of　hatred　she　cannot　quite　master。　〃Forgive　me　my　ignorance；　and　that　of　my　family；〃　she　says。　〃You　are　clearly　to　be　deferred　to　in　these　matters；　my　lord。　You　know　so　much　about　helping　women　survive　childbirth。〃　A　dangerous　cut；　one　she　might　truly　be　made　to　pay　for　later。　Galbert's　first　wife　died；　hours　after　giving　birth　to　Blaise；　and　two　subsequent　wives　did　not　survive　their　first　confinements　in　this　castle；　with　the　children　stillborn。
　　She　has　meant　to　wound；　wisely　or　no；　but　nothing　in　his　face　shows　that　she　has　done　so。　〃As　I　said；〃　he　murmurs；　still　smiling；　〃a　whipping　may　be　given　at　any　time。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　she　replies。　〃I　live　entirely　at　the　mercy　of　your　kindness；　my　lord。　Though　indeed；　if　you　wound　and　scar　me　too　greatly　it　might　spoil　the　king's　pleasure　when　he　chooses　to　send　for　me；　might　it　not？〃
　　She　hadn't　planned　to　say　anything　like　that；　it　has　slipped　out。　She　isn't　sorry　though；　now　that　the　words　are　spoken。　The　thought；　and　the　fear　behind　it；　are　never　far　from　her。
　　She　sees　the　High　Elder　react　for　the　first　time。　She　wasn't　even　thought　to　have　been　aware　of　this　aspect　of　things；　she　realizes。　It　is　almost　amusing：　women　are　imagined　to　troop　like　so　many　sheep　through　the　court；　eyes　down；　dull　minds　shuttered；　oblivious　to　whatever　nuances　might　be　passing　about　them。　She　could　laugh；　were　her　fears　not　so　tangible。
　　Galbert　de　Garsenc's　smile　deepens　now；　the　smooth…shaven；　fleshy　face　creasing　into　something　truly　unpleasant。　〃You　are　hungry　for　that　moment；　I　see。　You　are　already　in　lust。　You　would　prefer　to　kill　the　child　that　you　might　e　panting　and　hot　to　Ademar's　bed　the　sooner；　would　you　not？　You　have　all　the　vile　corruption　of　women　in　you；　especially　those　of　your　lineage。　I　knew　it　when　first　I　ever　saw　you。〃
　　Rosala　stiffens。　She　feels　dizzy　suddenly。　The　walk　uphill；　the　bright　sunlight　overhead；　and　now　this　foul；　streaming　torrent　of　abuse。　She　actually　wishes　Ranald　were　home；　his　presence　might　have　served　to　temper　or　at　least　deflect　onto　himself　some　of　Galbert's　viciousness。　She　has　brought　this　upon　herself；　she　thinks　shakily。　Better　to　have　swallowed　pride；　to　have　meekly　gone　within。　How　can　she；　alone　and　at　his　mercy；　possibly　fight　this　man？
　　She　looks　up　at　him；　a　sickness　within　her。　Her　family　is　as　good　as　this　one；　she　tells　herself　fiercely；　or　so　very　nearly　as　to　make　no　difference。　She　knows　what　has　to　be　said　now。　Fighting　for　self…control；　she　speaks。
　　〃Hear　me。　I　will　kill　myself　before　I　let　him　touch　me。　Do　not　ever　doubt　that　this　is　so。　And　do　not　try　to　deny　that　you　have　encouraged　the　king's　shameful　thoughts；　contemptuous　of　your　son　or　any　true　sense　of　family　honour；　seeking　only　to　bind　a　weak　man　more　tightly　to　your　use　with　whatever　tools　you　may　find。　My　lord；　I　am　not　a　tool　that　will　ever　fit　your　hand。　I　will　die　before　Ademar　ever　lies　with　me。〃
　　She　watches　his　face　narrowly；　and　adds；　〃Or　you；　my　lord　High　Elder　of　Corannos。　I　will　end　my　life　before　I　suffer　you　to　lay　a　hand　or　a　lash　upon　this　white　flesh　you　dream　about　in　the　dark　of　the　god's　house　at　night。〃　A　shaft　loosed　wildly　that　one；　but　she　sees　it　hit；　squarely。　Galbert's　ruddy　face　goes　suddenly　white；　his　eyes　creasing　to　slits　and　flicking　away　from　hers　for　the　first　time。　Rosala　feels　no　triumph；　only　a　renewed　wave　of　nausea。
　　She　turns　abruptly　away　and　begins　to　walk　across　the　drawbridge　into　the　forecourt。　The　corans　have　stopped　their　duelling；　their　attention　caught　by　something　in　the　manner　of　the　two　of　them　here　outside　the　walls。　She　holds　her　head　high　and　walks　with　what　posure　she　can　achieve。
　　〃My　lady　Rosala。〃　Galbert　says　from　behind　her；　his　voice　raised　slightly。　She　had　known　he　would　call　her。　He　would　need　to　have　the　final　word。　His　nature　will　not　permit　otherwise。　She　thinks　of　not　turning；　of　continuing　on；　but　the　corans　have　heard　him　call　her。　What　she　might　do　at　some　risk　privately　she　dares　not　do　in　public：　she　might　defy　him　to　a　certain　point；　but　open　shame　he　will　not　allow。　A　woman　can　be　killed　for　that　in　Gorhaut。
　　She　stops　on　the　drawbridge　and　turns　slowly　back　to　look　at　him。　After；　she　will　remember　that　moment；　the　sun　high；　a　breeze　stirring　the　red　and　golden　leaves　of　the　chestnut　trees　along　the　avenue；　birdsong　in　the　branches；　the　stream　beyond；　glinting　blue。　A　glorious　autumn　day。
　　〃I　wonder；〃　says　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　lowering　his　voice；　moving　the　horse　nearer；　〃has　your　dear　husband　told　you　of　our　latest　agreement？　He　has　probably　neglected　to；　in　that　forgetful　way　of　his。　We　have　decided　that　if　you　should　bear　a　son　it　is　mine。　Ah！　You　seem　surprised；　Lady　Rosala！　It　is　just　as　I　thought；　the　careless　lad　has　not　informed　you。　A　boy　is　promised　to　Corannos；　a　daughter　you　may　keep；　a　daughter　is　no　use　to　me　immediately；　though　I　am　sure　I　will　devise　a　purpose　for　her　later。〃
　　Rosala　is　actually　afraid　she　is　going　to　faint。　The　sun　swings　in　an　erratic　arc　in　the　blue　sky。　She　takes　a　stumbling；　sidelong　step　to　keep　her　balance。　Her　heart　is　a　thudding　hammer　in　her　breast。　She　tastes　blood；　she　has　bitten　through　her　lip。
　　〃You　。。。　you　would　deprive　your　family　of　an　heir？〃　she　stammers；　her　brain　stunned；　refusing　to　believe　what　she　has　just　heard。
　　〃No；　no；　no；　not　necessarily。〃　He　chuckles　now；　all　benign　good　humour　for　the　watching　eyes　of　those　inside　the　forecourt。　〃Though　we　need　another　Elder　in　our　family　at　least　as　much　as　we　need　an　heir　in　this　castle。　Ranald's　brother〃…he　never　speaks　Blaise's　name…〃was　to　have　followed　me　to　the　god。　A　great　deal　of　our　future　depended　upon　that。　His　refusal　has　marred　my　planning；　put　me　in　a　difficult　position；　but　if　you　present　me　with　a　boy　matters　may　yet　be　remedied。　I　will；　of　course；　delay　final　consecration　for　a　time；　to　judge　how　best　to　make　use　of　the　child…here　at　Garsenc　or　in　the　god's　house。　There　will　be　many　matters　to　be　considered；　but　I　daresay　you　will　help　me　by　having　other　children；　dear　daughter…in…law。　And　if　you　do　not…seeing　as　it　did　take　some　time　to　conceive　this　one…why　then　I　imagine　Ranald　could　find　a　second　wife　who　will。　I　am　not　greatly　concerned　on　that　score。　And　I　must　confess；　I　am　looking　forward　to　attending　to　a　grandson's　education　and　upbringing　personally。　I　pray　you；　do　not　disappoint　me；　lady　Rosala。　Bear　a　strong　boy　child　for　me　to　take　back　to　Corannos。〃
　　She　can　say　nothing　at　all。　She　seems　to　have　lost　the　power　of　speech。　She　can　scarcely　stand。　She　feels　suddenly　exposed；　naked　in　this　place　to　the　indifferent　or　mildly　curious　scrutiny　of　her　household　corans　and　the　serfs　of　the　estate。
　　〃You　really　ought　to　go　in　now；〃　says　Galbert　kindly。　〃You　do　not　look　well　at　all。　You　ought　to　be　in　your　bed；　my　child。　I　would　escort　you　there　myself　but　I　am　afraid　I　have　no　time　to　linger　for　such　domestic　intimacies。　The　press　of　affairs　demands　my　attention　back　at　court。　I　do　trust　you　have　taken　my　meaning；　though；　and　I　will　not　have　to　e　again？〃
　　He　turns；　not　waiting　for　any　reply；　lifting　one　hand　to　her　that　the　corans　might　note　his　salute；　it　is　the　hand　that　holds　his　whip；　though。　That　will　not　be　an　accident；　nothing　with　this　man　is　an　accident。　She　sees　that　he　is　smiling　as　he　rides　away。
　　Inside　the　castle　a　short　time　later；　alone　in　her　suite　of　rooms；　white…knuckled　hands　gripping　each　other；　Rosala　de　Garsenc　realizes；　without　knowing　the　actual　moment　of　making　her　decision；　that　she　is　going　to　leave。
　　Galbert　made　a　mistake；　she　thinks。　He　never　meant　to　tell　her　about　these　plans；　he　must　have　known　how　she　would　feel　about　them；　she　had　angered　him　though；　revealed　an　awareness　of　his　thoughts；　and　he　replied　rashly；　to　frighten　and　wound　her；　to　have　the　final　word。
　　She　doesn't　know　how　she　is　going　to　do　it；　she　only　knows　she　will　not　stay　and　surrender　her　child　to　that　man。　I　am　at　war　now；　she　thinks；　realizing　that　her　only　possible　advantage　is　that　she　knows　it　and　Galbert　might　not。　Inside　her；　as　if　in　response；　the　baby　kicks　hard　against　her　ribs　for　the　first　time　that　morning。
　　〃Hush；〃　she　whispers。　〃Hush；　my　love。　It　will　not　happen。　Fear　no　harm；　for　none　shall　find　you。　Wherever　in　the　world　your　father　is；　whether　he　ever　es　to　shelter　you　or　no；　I　will　guard　you；　little　one。　I　swear　it　upon　my　life；　and　yours。〃
　　
　　Blaise　was　thinking　of　the　child　as　the　men　of　Talair　rode　north　through　the　cool　breezes　of　autumn　in　Arbonne：　of　Aelis　de　Miraval's　son；　and　Bertran's。　Since　Ariane　had　told　him　the　tale　that　Midsummer　night　three　months　ago；　he　had　thought　about　it　more　often　than　he　would　have　expected　to；　unable　not　to　gaze　curiously　at　such　times　at　the　man　his　own　father　had　paid　a　quarter　of　a　million　in　gold　to　have　killed。
　　A　tragedy　had　unfolded　here　some　twenty…three　years　ago；　and　the　effects　of　it　were　still　rippling　through　Arbonne　today。　He　remembered　Ariane's　quiet；　measured　voice　telling　him　the　tale　as　dawn　broke　over　the　littered　streets　and　alleys　of　Tavernel。
　　〃As　I　told　you　just　now；〃　she　had　said；　〃discretion　is　everything　in　love。　My　cousin　Aelis　had　none；　though　she　was　very　young；　and　that　might　be　considered　an　excuse。　There　was　something　uncontrolled　in　her；　something　too　fierce。　Hatred　and　love　drove　her　hard；　and　she　was　not　a　woman　to　accept　her　fate；　or　work　within　walls　built　to　house　her。〃　
　　〃Neither　are　you；〃　Blaise　remembered　saying。　〃What　was　the　difference？〃
　　She　had　smiled　at　that；　a　little　sadly；　and　had　not　answered　for　a　time。
　　〃The　difference；　I　suppose；　is　that　I　saw　what　she　did；　and　what　followed　upon　it。　Aelis　is　the　difference　in　my　own　life。　She　told　her　husband；　you　see。　She　hoarded　the　truth　for　a　last；　bitter　swordstroke…with　its　own　slow；　killing　poison；　if　you　will。　When　the　priestess　who　had　e　to　her　said　she　was　not　going　to　live　they　brought　Urté　to　her　confinement　bed。　He　was　sorrowful；　I　think。　I　have　always　thought　he　was　genuinely　in　sorrow；　though　perhaps　more　for　the　loss　of　the　power　she