ggk.asongforarbonne-第47章

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r　living。　The　time　of　music　and　laughter　here　in　Barbentain　seemed　infinitely　long　ago；　a　dream；　a　troubadour's　fantasy；　not　really　part　of　her　own　history。
　　〃He　has　a　father；〃　she　felt　obliged　to　say。　〃You　are　choosing　to　cut　him　off　from　that？　What　if　his　father　wants　to　accept　him；　despite　everything；　to　offer　his　protection？　Will　this　name　not　be　a　bar　to　that？〃
　　The　woman　was　very　tired；　it　was　unfair　to　be　taxing　her　in　this　way；　but　it　was　necessary；　before　the　name　went　forth　from　this　room。　Rosala　looked　up　with　those　clear　blue　northern　eyes　and　said；　〃If　his　father　chooses　to　e　for　him　and　shelter　him　I　will　think　on　this　again。〃　There　was　an　intonation　there；　a　stress　on　one　word　that　stirred　within　Signe　a　new　disquiet；　like　a　note　of　music　almost　but　not　quite　audible；　sensed　if　not　really　heard。
　　Rosala　said；　〃He　will　need　a　man　and　a　woman　to　stand　for　him　before　the　god…and　the　goddess；　too；　if　you　have　such　a　ritual　in　Arbonne。〃
　　〃We　do。　The　Guardians　of　Rian　and　Corannos。　We　honour　both　here；　I　think　you　know　that。〃
　　〃I　do　know　that。　Will　you　honour　my　child　and　myself　by　standing　up　for　Cadar？　Is　this　too　much　to　ask？〃
　　It　was；　in　many　ways。　It　redoubled　all　the　dangers　this　child　represented　for　Arbonne　to　have　the　countess　herself　so　identified　with　him。　Roban　would　have　turned　pink　with　the　vigour　of　his　reaction。
　　〃I　will；〃　said　Signe　de　Barbentain；　genuinely　moved；　looking　down　at　the　child。　She　had　never　seen　her　own　grandson；　born　and　lost　on　a　winter's　night　so　many　years　ago。　Lost　or　dead；　no　one　alive　knew　but　Urté　dc　Miraval；　and　he　was　not　going　to　tell。　He　was　not　ever　going　to　tell。　Time　and　memory　and　loss　seemed　tangled　and　twisted　tonight；　with　avenues　to　sorrow　everywhere。　She　was　looking　down　on　this　fair…haired　woman　and　thinking　of　Aelis。　〃The　honour　will　be　mine；〃　she　said。　Rosala　shifted　the　coverlet　away　and　placed　the　infant　against　her　breast。　Blindly；　with　the　most　primal　response　of　all；　he　began　to　suck。　Signe　was　aware　that　she　was　dangerously　close　to　tears。　It　was　the　sleepless　night；　she　told　herself　sternly；　but　knew　this　was　not　so。
　　〃And　for　the　second　Guardian？〃　she　said。　〃Is　there　anyone　you　know　here　you　would　want　to　ask？〃
　　There　is　a　next　stage　to　the　story　of　every　man；　every　woman；　every　child；　a　point　at　which　the　new　thing　that　happens　shapes　what　follows　irrevocably。　Such　a　moment　it　was　when　Rosala　looked　up　from　her　pillow；　her　pale　hair　matted　and　damp　about　her　head；　her　son　at　the　breast；　and　said　to　the　countess　of　Arbonne：　〃There　is　one；　though　it　may　be　another　presumption。　My　father　said　that　whatever　else　was　true　of　him；　he　was　a　brave　and　an　honest　man　and；　forgive　me；　I　know　he　is　an　enemy　of　Galbert　de　Garsenc。　That　may　not　be　the　purest　reason　for　naming　a　Guardian　in　the　eyes　of　Corannos　and　Rian；　but　that　is　why　my　child　needs　guarding　now。　Is　the　duke　of　Talair　in　Lussan？　Will　he　do　this　for　us；　do　you　think？〃
　　Signe　did　weep　then；　and；　moments　later；　frightening　herself　a　little；　she　began　to　laugh；　helplessly；　through　her　tears。　〃He　is　here。　And　if　I　ask　him　I　think　he　will；〃　she　said。　There　were　already　so　many　layers　of　interwoven　memory　here；　so　many　echoes；　and　now　one　more；　as　Bertran；　too；　came　into　it。
　　She　looked　out　the　window；　the　first　hint　of　gray　was　in　the　eastern　sky。　Something　occurred　to　her　then；　far　too　late；　one　more　thread　in　this　dark；　time…spun　weaving：　〃You　do　know　that　your　husband's　brother　is　with　the　duke　of　Talair？〃
　　And　saw　then；　having　been　carefully　observant　all　her　life；　two　things。　First　that　the　woman　had　not　in　fact　known　this；　and　secondly；　that　it　mattered　to　her；　very　much。　Signe's　earlier　disquiet；　like　a　dissonance　of　almost…heard　music；　came　back　to　her。　She　had　a　question　suddenly；　she　had　several　questions；　but　it　was　not　time　for　them；　and　it　might　never　be　time。　She　suddenly　missed　Beatritz　very　much；　wished　her　daughter　had　elected　to　e　north　for　the　fair　this　year　instead　of　remaining　on　Rian's　Island。
　　Rosala　de　Garsenc　said；　speaking　carefully；　〃I　would　not　want　to　see　him　yet。　I　would　not　want　him　to　know　I　am　here。　Is　this　possible？〃
　　〃I　do　not　think　he　would　betray　you；　or　try　to　send　you　back。　We　know　a　little　of　Blaise　here　now。〃
　　Rosala　shook　her　head。　〃It　isn't　that。　I　am　。。。　too　much　entangled　in　that　family。　Would　the　duke　tell　him　I　was　here？〃
　　Signe　shook　her　head；　masking　a　growing　unease。　〃Bertran　deals　with　women　in　his　own　ways；　and　he　cannot　be　said　to　be　the　most　predictable　of　men；　but　he　will　not　betray　a　confidence。〃
　　Rosala　looked　down　at　the　child　on　her　breast；　trying　to　deal　with　what　she　had　just　learned。　Cadar　had　an　unexpectedly　full　head　of　hair；　lying　in　whorls　and　ringlets　upon　his　forehead。　In　the　candlelight　it　was　a　distinctive　shade　of　brown；　nearly　red。　Very　like　his　father's；　she　thought。　This　latest　information　should　really　not　have　surprised　her　so　much；　they　had　heard　over　the　summer　that　Blaise　had　left　Portezza　again。　She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment。　It　was　difficult　to　have　so　many　things　to　deal　with　just　now。　She　was　extremely　tired。
　　She　looked　up　at　the　countess。　〃I　am　a　very　great　burden　for　you。　I　know　this　is　true。　I　could　see　no　other　choices；　though；　for　the　child。　Thank　you　for　allowing　me　here。　Thank　you　for　accepting　Guardianship。　Will　you　do　one　more　thing？　Will　you　ask　the　duke　of　Talair　to　stand　up　with　you　for　my　son　this　morning　before　Corannos　and　Rian　and　against　all　those　who　would　do　him　harm　in　the　world？〃
　　
　　In　the　end；　Roban　the　chancellor　went　himself　with　two　of　the　corans　of　his　own　household　to　find　En　Bertran　de　Talair。　The　duke　was　not　in　his　own　bed。　but　the　chancellor　persevered　and　found　him　soon　enough；　though　not；　unfortunately；　alone。　A　mildly　embarrassing　incident　ensued；　but　not　one　of　sufficient　importance　to　affect　Roban's　mission。
　　They　rode　back　across　the　lowered　bridge　to　the　castle　on　its　island　just　as　the　sun　was　rising　beyond　the　river；　sending　light；　finally；　like　a　blessing　into　the　room　where　Rosala　lay。　Bertran　de　Talair　entered　that　room　with　the　morning　brightness；　wearing　his　habitual　amusement　like　a　cloak；　sardonic　laughter　barely　hidden　in　his　eyes。　He　looked　at　the　countess　first；　and　then　to　where　the　woman　lay；　and　lastly　he　looked　down；　without　speaking　upon　the　cradle　at　the　foot　of　the　bed　and　saw　the　sleeping　child。
　　After　a　long　time　during　which　his　expression　could　slowly　be　seen　to　change；　he　looked　back　at　the　mother　lying　in　the　bed。　The　priestess　of　Rian　had　washed　her　and　dressed　her　in　a　blue　silk　robe；　and　had　helped　her　with　her　hair。　It　lay；　long　and　golden　in　the　mild　sunlight；　bed　out　upon　the　pillow　and　over　the　coverlet。　Her　eyes　were　as　blue　as　his　own。
　　〃My　congratulations；〃　he　said　formally。　〃You　have　a　handsome　son。　I　wish　him　good　fortune　all　his　life。〃
　　She　was　registering　everything　she　could：　the　light；　clear　voice；　the　scar；　the　mutilated　ear；　the　way　his　expressive　face　had　altered　when　he　allowed　the　irony　to　recede。
　　〃Galbert　de　Garsenc；　High　Elder　of　Corannos　in　Gorhaut；　would　take　this　child　from　me；〃　she　said；　without　preamble　or　pleasantry。　Her　voice　was　carefully　measured；　she　had　prepared　these　words　while　they　waited　for　him　to　e。　It　was　bald；　graceless；　but　she　was　too　weary　to　do　this　eloquently；　she　could　barely　manage　to　say　what　needed　to　be　said。
　　〃So　I　have　been　informed；〃　he　replied　gravely。　〃I　am　afraid；　under　those　circumstances；　that　accepting　Guardianship　for　my　child　will　be　more　than　ceremonial。〃　
　　〃Under　the　circumstances；　I　believe　that　to　be　so。〃　
　　〃Will　you　take　this　upon　yourself？〃　she　asked。　
　　〃Yes；〃　he　replied　calmly。　And　then；　after　a　pause；　〃I　will　die　myself　before　you　lose　this　child　to　him。〃
　　Her　colour　rose　sharply；　he　saw；　and　her　breathing　quickened；　as　if　released　from　a　rigid　effort　of　control。　〃Thank　you；〃　she　whispered。　There　were　tears　now…for　the　first　time　all　night；　though　he　could　not　know　that。　She　turned　her　head　and　looked　at　the　countess。　〃Thank　you　both。　This　makes　him　as　safe　as　the　world　will　let　him　be。　I　think　I　can　rest　now。〃
　　They　saw　her　close　her　eyes。　She　was　asleep　almost　as　soon　as　she　finished　speaking。　Standing　on　either　side　of　the　bed　Bertran　and　the　countess　exchanged　a　long　glance。　Neither　spoke　for　several　moments。
　　Finally　the　duke　grinned；　Signe　had　been　more　or　less　expecting　that；　it　was　almost　a　relief　when　it　came；　a　breaking　of　the　heavy　spell　of　this　night。
　　〃You　did　this；〃　he　said；　〃not　I。　Never　reproach　me。〃　
　　〃I　did　not　think　you　would　refuse　a　child；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃There　will　be　no　reproach。　We　must　be　what　we　are；　or　we　bee　our　enemies。〃　It　was　morning；　she　hadn't　slept　all　night。　She　didn't　feel　tired　though；　not　any　more。　She　walked　to　the　eastern　window　and　looked　out　over　the　island　and　the　river　and　the　red　and　golden　autumn　colours　of　her　land。
　　In　the　doorway；　Roban　the　chancellor　heard　those　words　exchanged　and　watched　his　countess　move　to　stand　at　the　window。　She　looked　terribly　small　and　fragile　there；　beautiful　as　ivory。　He　remained　silent；　smoothing　down　the　front　of　his　shirt　again；　unnecessarily。　He　was　contemplating　not　only　the　nobility　of　the　sentiments　just　expressed　but　the　rapidly　growing　likelihood　that　they　would　all　be　conquered　and　dead　by　the　summer　of　the　year　to　e。
　　
　　The　taverns　of　Lussan　were　thronged　at　the　time　of　the　fair；　and　there　were　a　great　many　of　them。　It　was；　therefore；　only　sheerest　bad　luck　that　led　Othon　the　animal…trainer　into　The　Arch　late　that　night　after　he'd　already　visited　three　other　inns　and　had　menced　his　enjoyment　of　the　Lussan　Fair　in　typically　liquid　fashion。　Rendered　even　more　garrulous　than　usual；　Othon　was　holding　forth　at　a　table　of　sundry　reunited　performers；　describing　the　unusual　travelling　panion　he'd　had　in　his　wagon。　For　a　man　known　to　travel　with　a　snake　and　monkeys　to　characterize　any　panion　as　unusual　was　sufficiently　droll　to　earn　him　more　attention　than　customary。
　　〃Yellow…haired　and　blue…eyed；　she　was；〃　Othon　declared；　〃and　very　likely　a　beauty；　though　it　was　hard　to　see　given　her　。。。　condition；　if　you　take　my　meaning。〃　He　paused。　Someone　obligingly　refilled　his　glass。　〃Not　many　women　look　their　best　when　about　to　drop　a　babe；　in　my　experience。　〃
　　Someone　made　a　lewd　remark　linking　Othon's　experience　to　his　monkeys。　Amid　the　laughter　the　animal…trainer　drank　again　and　then　went　on；　with　the　placid　tenacity　of　a　storyteller　used　to　holding　the　floor　against　difficult　odds。　He　did　not　notice　the　three　men　at　the　next　table　who　had　stopped　their　own　conversation　to　listen　to　what　he　was　saying。
　　〃She　tried　to　pretend　she　was　a　farmer's　wife　or　some　such；　a　smith；　a　carter；　but　it　was　easy　enough　to　see　she　was　no　such　thing　at　all。　I've　been　in　enough　castles　in　my　time　to　recognize　nobility；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃　The　wit　at　his　table　attempted　another　jest；　but　Othon's　voice　rode　over　him　this　time。　〃We　left　her　at　the　goddess's　temple　here；　and　it　is　my　personal　wager　that　some　lord　of　Gorhaut'll　have　a　babe　by　now　through　the　aid　of　the　priestesses　of　Rian…and　isn't　that　a　jest？〃
　　It　might　have　been；　but　it　was　also　somewhat　near　to　the　bone　that　autumn　seas