ggk.asongforarbonne-第52章

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to　be　honest。〃　He　smiled　briefly。　〃Rudel　Correze　is　far　from　the　first　to　seek　to　aid　me　in　my　passage　to　Rian。　But　I　find　myself　still　among　the　living；　and　I　have　discovered　that　I　value　this　world　for　itself；　not　merely　as　matter　for　someone's　song。　I　love　it　for　its　heady　wines　and　its　battles；　for　the　beauty　of　its　women　and　their　generosity　and　pride；　for　the　panionship　of　brave　men　and　clever　ones；　the　promise　of　spring　in　the　depths　of　winter　and　the　even　surer　promise　that　Rian　and　Corannos　are　waiting　for　us；　whatever　we　may　do。　And　I　find　now；　your　highness；　long　past　the　fires　of　my　heart's　youth　and　yours；　that　there　is　one　thing　I　love　more　even　more　than　the　music　that　remains　my　release　from　pain。〃
　　〃Love；　de　Talair？　This　is　a　word　I　did　not　expect　to　hear　from　you。　I　was　told　you　foreswore　it　more　than　twenty　years　ago。　The　whole　world　was　speaking　of　that。　This　much　I　am　certain　I　remember。　My　information；　so　far　distant　in　our　cold　north；　seems　to　have　been　wrong　in　yet　another　matter。　What　is　the　one　thing；　then；　my　lord　duke？　What　is　it　you　still　love？〃
　　〃Arbonne；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair。　And　with　that；　Blaise　finally　began　to　understand　why　they　were　here。　He　looked　from　Bertran；　slight；　controlled；　but　coiled；　as　always；　like　a　Gotzland　crossbow；　to　the　tall；　hard　figure　of　the　king　of　Valensa；　and　he　wondered；　wrestling　with　difficult　emotions　of　his　own。
　　He　didn't　have　long　to　wait。　Daufridi　of　Valensa　was　not　a　sentimental　man；　Blaise　could　have　told　Bertran　as　much。　Unlacing　his　fingers；　the　king　of　Valensa　reached　for　his　glass　and　took　another　sip　of　wine　before　saying；　prosaically；　〃We　all　love　our　countries；　I　daresay。　It　is　not　a　novel　emotion；　de　Talair。〃
　　〃I　did　not　mean　to　suggest　it　was；〃　Bertran　said　quietly。　
　　〃I　will　confess　to　a　similar　passion　for　Valensa；　and　I　doubt　I　would　be　wrong　in　attributing　the　same　feeling　for　Gorhaut　to　young　Garsenc　here…whatever　he　might　feel　about　certain　。。。　political　decisions　that　have　recently　been　implemented。〃　He　smiled　thinly　at　Blaise；　the　same　cool　look　as　before；　and　turned　to　Rudel。　〃As　for　the　Portezzans；　they　don't　really　have　a　country；　do　they？　I　imagine　they　offer　the　same　love　to　their　cities；　or　perhaps　their　families。　Would　that　be　fair；　Correze？〃　He　was　being　deliberately　dry；　almost　pedantic；　Blaise　realized；　smoothly　resisting　the　emotional　pull　of　Bertran's　words。
　　〃It　would；　your　highness；〃　Rudel　said。　He　coughed。　〃I　do　hope　my　dear　father　bees　mindful　again　of　that　last。〃
　　The　king　showed　a　flash　of　teeth。　〃Ah。　He　is　unhappy　with　you？　You　spent　some　of　the　money　before　you　had　to　return　it；　didn't　you？　What　a　shame。　But　I'm　certain　your　father　will　forgive　you　in　time。〃　He　turned　back　to　Bertran；　who　had　remained　motionless　through　all　of　this；　waiting。　The　two　men　exchanged　a　long　glance。　Blaise　had　an　eerie　sense　that　he　and　Rudel；　and　Valery　over　by　the　fire；　had　been　forgotten。　It　was　as　if　they　were　not　there。
　　Daufridi　said；　very　softly；　〃It　is　unwise　to　love　anyone　or　anything　too　greatly；　de　Talair。　People　die；　things　are　taken　from　us。　It　is　the　way　of　our　lives　in　this　world。〃
　　〃I　have　reason　to　know　this。　I　have　lived　twenty…three　years　with　that　truth。〃
　　〃And　have　therefore　moderated　your　passions？〃　
　　〃And　am　therefore　resolved　that　I　will　not　live　through　the　death　of　my　country　as　I　endured　the　death　of　the　woman　I　loved。〃
　　There　was　a　silence　then。　Not　daring　to　move；　Blaise　looked　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　at　Rudel；　and　saw　the　rigid；　focused　expression　on　his　friend's　face。
　　〃And　so　you　asked　me　here；〃　Daufridi　of　Valensa　said　at　length；　〃to　seek　what　aid　I　could　give。〃　
　　〃I　did。　Is　this　a　surprise？〃
　　〃Hardly。　Will　it　be　a　surprise　in　turn　if　I　say　I　can　give　you　nothing？〃
　　〃I　should　be　grateful　to　know　why。〃　Bertran　was　pale　but　quite　posed。
　　Daufridi　shrugged。　〃I　have　a　treaty　signed；　and　I　need　five　years；　at　least；　to　consolidate　my　hold　on　the　lands　they　have　ceded　us。　We　need　our　own　farmers　there；　we　need　to　fill　the　villages　with　Valensans　and　give　my　own　barons　time　to　put　down　their　roots　in　the　castles　that　now　are　ours。　Those　men　of　Gorhaut　who　elect　to　stay…and　some　of　them　will…must　be　given　time　to　feel　that　there　are　worse　things　than　being　subjects　of　the　king　of　Valensa。　In　time；　the　treaty　will　offer　us　all　the　riches　of　that　farmland　north　of　the　Iersen　and　more　than　recoup　the　money　we　have　already　paid　and　will　pay　out　over　the　next　three　years。　But　I　need　peace　to　make　all　that　happen。〃　He　sipped　from　his　wine　again。　〃It　isn't　very　plex；　de　Talair。　I　would　have　expected　you　to　know　all　this。〃
　　〃So　you　are　happy　Gorhaut　is　looking　now　to　the　south。〃　
　　Carefully　Daufridi　said；　〃I　am　not　entirely　unhappy。〃　
　　Silence　again。　But　into　it　there　came　now　a　light；　cool　voice。　
　　〃Forgive　me；〃　said　Rudel　Correze；　〃forgive　my　presumption；　but　I　do　have　a　question。〃　Daufridi　and　Bertran　both　turned　to　him。　〃What　do　you　imagine　will　happen　to　Valensa；　your　highness；　if　Gorhaut　indeed　es　south　with　fire　and　sword　and　conquers　here？〃
　　Blaise's　own　thought；　his　own　question。　Rudel　had　always　been　quicker　to　speak　his　mind。　Portezzans　tended　to　be。　For　the　first　time；　he　saw　Daufridi　shift　in　his　seat　a　little　unfortably。
　　〃I　have　thought　on　that　question；〃　he　admitted。　
　　〃And　what　have　you　concluded　after　such　thinking？〃　It　was　Valery　this　time；　from　by　the　fire；　his　broad　arms　folded　across　his　chest。
　　Bertran　leaned　forward　a　little　in　his　chair　and　echoed　his　cousin　softly。　〃What　can　you　possibly　have　concluded；　your　highness；　should　Gorhaut　destroy　Arbonne　and　have　all　the　wealth　of　this　land　and　its　ports　on　the　sea　to　draw　upon？　If　there　are　five　countries；　not　six；　a　year　from　now？　Do　you　really　think　you　would　have　your　five　years　of　peace　then；　to　。。。　as　you　say；　solidify　your　hold　on　that　farmland　north　of　Iersen？　How　long　do　you　think　it　would　be　before　Ademar　turned　north　again？〃
　　Something　curious　began　to　happen　to　Blaise　just　about　then。　It　seemed　to　him　as　though　the　words　each　man　was　speaking　had　bee　like　preordained　speeches　in　some　temple　ritual　of　the　god；　or　the　well…known　opening　moves　of　a　tavern　game；　each　following　the　other；　each　pelling　the　move　that　followed。
　　Daufridi　said；　a　slight　edge　to　his　voice；　〃As　I　say；　I　have　considered　this。　I　do　not　have　any　immediate　conclusions。〃　
　　And　so　Blaise；　seeing　the　next　moves　now　as　clearly　as　if　they　had　already　happened；　said；　〃Of　course　you　do　not。　That　is　why　you　are　here；　isn't　it；　your　highness？　To　see　if　the　duke　of　Talair　has　a　conclusion　for　you。　And　you　find；　to　your　disappointment；　that　what　he　wants　is　your　help；　which　frightens　you。　You　know…you　know　it　is　not　in　the　interests　of　Valensa　for　Gorhaut　to　rule　in　Arbonne。　Why　will　you　then　deny　that　aid；　when　asked　for　it？〃
　　Daufridi　of　Valensa　turned　in　his　seat　to　look　appraisingly　at　Blaise；　his　hard　grey　eyes　almost　lost　beneath　the　heavy；　drawn…together　brows。　〃I　have　a　question　of　my　own；　first；〃　he　said　coolly。　〃One　I　should　have　asked　at　the　outset　perhaps；　before　being　as　frank　as　I　have　been。　Why　are　you　here；　Garsenc？　Why　are　you　not　at　Ademar's　court　in　Cortil　anticipating　the　glory　of　this　conquest　your　father　and　king　have　set　in　motion？　There　might　even　be　land　for　you。　Younger　sons　always　want　land；　don't　they？　We　have　spoken　of　love　of　country…where　then　is　yours；　de　Garsenc？〃
　　Blaise　had　been　waiting　for　that：　it　was　the　next　foreknown　speech；　the　next　move　in　the　game　being　played。　He　wondered　if　Bertran　had　prepared　this；　if　he　had　seen　it　ing　or　even　steered　them　towards　this　moment。　It　didn't　really　matter。　The　moment　was　upon　them。　He　said；　〃Because　I　have　set　myself　squarely　against　Ademar　of　Gorhaut。　Because　I　think　he　is　weak　and　unworthy　of　allegiance。　Because　it　is　my　belief　that　he　dispossessed　and　betrayed　the　people　of　my　country　with　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge。　Because　the　Gorhaut　I　love　is　the　holy　land　where　Corannos　the　god　of　the　Ancients　first　came　among　the　six　countries　we　know；　and　the　earliest　corans　swore　their　oaths　to　serve　the　god　and　their　fellow　men　and　walk　a　path　of　righteousness。　Because　the　invasion　of　Arbonne　would　be　a　final　straying　from　that　path　in　pursuit　of　a　dominion　that　could　never；　in　the　end；　be　preserved。　Because　my　father　knows　that。　He　does　not　want　to　rule　in　Arbonne；　he　wants　to　put　it　to　the　fire。　Because　he　has　long　ago　lost　whatever　true　munion　with　the　god　he　ever　had。〃
　　He　drew　a　needful　breath　to　check　this　rush　of　words　spilling　out　of　him　like　a　river　in　flood　over　a　dam　that　has　been　breached。　And　he　said　the　last　thing　then；　made　the　next　move　in　the　game；　chose：
　　〃And　because　before　the　Lussan　Fair　is　ended　I　will　have　named　myself　claimant　to　the　crown　of　Gorhaut；　to　see　if　there　are　men　of　honour　in　my　country…and　elsewhere…who　will　rally　to　my　name　and　this　cause。〃
　　He　heard　Rudel　suck　in　his　breath　sharply。　At　least　he'd　surprised　his　friend；　Blaise　thought。　If　he　did　nothing　else　at　all；　he　seemed　to　have　succeeded　in　astonishing　the　unflappable　scion　of　the　House　of　Correze。
　　And　the　king　of　Valensa；　too；　he　now　saw。　Daufridi's　hands　went　to　the　arms　of　his　chair　and　gripped　there。　He　pushed　for　a　moment；　as　if　to　lever　himself　to　his　feet；　but　then；　with　a　visible　effort；　remained　where　he　was。
　　It　was　silent　in　the　room　then。　The　only　sound　was　the　crackle　of　the　fire　and　the　strained　breathing　of　four　men。　From　outside；　where　the　corans　of　the　king　were　being　entertained　by　Bertran's　men；　they　heard　a　sudden　loud　burst　of　laughter。
　　〃Ah；　well；〃　said　Daufridi　of　Valensa　at　length；　very　softly。　〃Ah；　well　now。　It　seems　we　do　have　some　things　to　talk　about　after　all。〃
　　Blaise　felt　light…headed；　almost　numb。　He　reached　for　his　wine　and　drank。　The　motion　itself　seemed　odd；　unnaturally　slow。　He　felt　as　if　the　owl　should　be　in　the　room　with　them；　Beatritz　de　Barbentain's　white　owl；　settling　on　his　shoulder　again　to　mark　him　as　a　fool；　or　whatever　else　he　was。
　　
　　CHAPTER　12
　　〃I　hope　you　realize　I　do　not　want　her　back；〃　Ranald　de　Garsenc　says；　glaring　at　the　man　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　He　has　expected　this　encounter；　and　has　prepared　himself；　as　much　as　he　ever　can　be　prepared　for　dealing　with　his　father。　The　news　of　Rosala's　flight　to　Arbonne；　brought　by　two　stammering；　exhausted　corans；　was　a　shock　but　not；　Ranald　has　e　to　realize　during　the　course　of　the　day；　as　much　of　one　as　might　perhaps　have　been　expected。
　　When　he　had　learned…during　this　morning's　earlier；　furious　discussion…about　Galbert's　visit　to　Garsenc　and　his　claiming　of　the　child；　Ranald　had　laughed　bitterly　in　his　father's　face。
　　〃You　did　this；　then；〃　he'd　said。　〃Not　I；　not　anyone　else。　Your　own　folly；　father。　She　angered　you；　didn't　she？　You　had　to　say　something；　to　put　her　in　her　place。〃　Galbert　had　scowled　furiously；　clenching　and　unclenching　his　big　hands。
　　〃That　is　exactly　what　happened；　isn't　it？〃　Ranald　had　gone　on。　〃You　are　the　fool　and　the　weakling；　father。　You　lashed　out　in　the　heat　of　the　moment。　You　had　to　tell　her；　didn't　you；　to　see　if　you　could　get　a　reaction。　You　should　have　known　better　than　to　threaten　to　take　her　child。〃
　　〃Threaten？　Her　child？〃　Galbert　had