ggk.asongforarbonne-第58章

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dows；　and　had　put　on　a　heavier　robe。　She　didn't　bother　looking　back　at　Quzman；　or　at　any　of　them。
　　〃I　do　not　see　anyone　laughing；〃　said　the　chancellor。　〃And　if　her　game　was　doubled；　it　was　only　against　yourself。　She　informed　me　of　your　proposal　last　night；　immediately　after　it　was　first　made。〃
　　A　good　attempt　at　deflecting　and　controlling　the　damage；　Blaise　thought；　but　it　was　unlikely　to　succeed。　Not　with　the　other　man　who　had　entered　the　room　standing　there；　listening　attentively。　He　knew　a　fair　bit　about　Massena　Delonghi；　actually。　He　had　lived　in　his　palaces　two　summers　ago；　sleeping　with　his　daughter。　He　and　Rudel　Correze　had　killed　a　prince　for　him。
　　But　it　seemed；　the　way　events　were　unfolding；　that　Lucianna　had　not　intended　to　have　Blaise　murdered　tonight　after　all；　though　the　manner　in　which　she　had　had　him　bound　and　what　she　had　done　and　said　still　needed　an　answer。　Or；　he　reflected；　perhaps　they　did　not。　I　don't　like　it　when　men　leave　me；　Blaise。　Did　I　never　tell　you　that？　Perhaps　he　had　his　answer。　Perhaps　she　had　said　nothing　more　or　less　than　truth。　How　novel　that　would　be；　he　thought　wryly。
　　As　he　had　expected；　the　chancellor's　effort　at　diversion　did　not　succeed。　〃There　is　another　person　involved　in　this；　though；〃　said　Massena　Delonghi；　the　sleek；　suave　man　who　was　said　to　be　seeking　to　dominate　Portezza；　and　to　be　using　his　daughter's　marriages　in　steady　pursuit　of　that　goal。　〃This　Arimondan；　I　am　informed；　is　employed　by　the　duke　of　Miraval。　I　understand　from　my　dear　daughter　that　it　was　the　corans　of　Duke　Urté　who　assaulted　this　young　friend　of　ours；　and　our　well…beloved　cousin　as　well。〃
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Rudel　said　brightly。　〃I　am　so　pleased　someone　remembered　that。〃
　　Roban　did　not　look　pleased　at　all。　〃We　will；　of　course；　seek　to　hear　what　En　Urté　has　to　say　about　all　of　this　in　the　morning。　For　the　moment；　there　is　only　this　man；　caught　by　your　daughter's　。。。　devices　。。。　in　the　act　of　attempting　murder。〃
　　〃For　which　he　will　be　branded　and　hanged；　I　trust？〃　Lucianna's　brows　were　arched　as　she　finally　turned　to　look　at　them。　Her　voice　and　manner　were　a　cool；　glittering　mirror　of　her　father's。　Blaise　remembered　this　side　of　her　too。　She　gazed　at　the　chancellor：　〃Precisely　as　that　poor　cousin　of　my　dear　husband　was　branded　and　hanged　by　the　duke　of　Talair。　Precisely　in　the　same　way；　I　dare　suggest。　Or　indeed　we　will　have　sad　cause　to　question　the　impartiality　of　the　countess　of　Arbonne　in　her　justice　towards　strangers　and　towards　those　who　serve　her　own　high　lords。〃　The　celebrated　eyebrows　remained　pointedly　high。
　　〃And；〃　Massena　Delonghi　now　added；　in　a　tone　more　of　sorrow　than　reproach；　〃there　must　indeed　be　the　morning's　determination　of　Duke　Urté's　own　responsibility　for　this　most　flagrant　breach　of　the　truce　of　the　fair。　A　lamentable　duty　for　the　countess；　I　am　sure；　but　if　Portezzan　nobleman　are　to　be　executed　like　mon　thieves；　she　surely　cannot　turn　a　blind　eye　to　the　transgressions　of　her　own　people；　however　lofty　their　rank。〃
　　Lucianna's　father　was　enjoying　every　moment　of　this；　Blaise　realized。　It　was　exactly　the　sort　of　multi…faceted　intrigue　the　Delonghi　most　loved。　Massena　would　have　little　or　nothing　actually　vested　in　Urté's　downfall　or　the　countess's　embarrassment；　but　would　take　pleasure　and…Blaise　had　no　doubt…in　the　end　find　some　gain　in　being　the　figure　at　the　heart　of　both　eventualities。　If　Arbonne　had　hoped　to　keep　her　internal　feuds　close　to　her　breast；　that　hope　was　almost　certainly　ended　now。　Blaise　wondered；　cynically；　if　Massena　Delonghi　would　be　writing　to　Galbert　de　Garsenc　soon　in　Gorhaut；　or　sending　his　factor　in　Cortil　on　an　informal　visit　to　King　Ademar's　court；　to　suggest　some　quiet　transaction　by　way　of　pensation　to　the　Delonghi　for　the　disfiture　of　Arbonne。
　　Rudel；　proving　belatedly　useful；　if　not　efficiently　so；　had　finally　finished　with　Blaise's　ankle　bonds。　He'd　also　found；　discarded　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　the　removed　clothing　and　boots。　Moving　as　well　as　his　pounding　head　would　allow；　Blaise　dressed　himself。　He　saw　that　Rosala　had　taken　a　seat　on　a　low　bench　by　the　door；　sitting　alone　at　some　distance　from　everyone　else。　She　was　watching　his　every　movement；　though；　with　a　curiously　strained　expression。　It　occurred　to　him；　with　something　of　a　jolt；　that　he　had　also　been　unclothed　the　last　time　they'd　seen　each　other。　So；　for　that　matter；　had　she。
　　The　door　to　the　room　was　still　open　beside　her。　Through　it　now；　arresting　that　particular　line　of　thought；　came　Lucianna's　servant。　Blaise　remembered　Imera　well。　Her　knowing　features　had　acpanied　him　on　a　great　many　silent　night　walks　through　one　palace　or　another　to　her　mistress's　rooms。　Imera　stopped　in　the　doorway；　took　in　the　scene　and　allowed　herself　the　briefest　smile　imaginable　as　she　observed　the　Arimondan　ringed　with　swords。
　　It　seemed　to　Blaise；　looking　at　her；　as　if　he　were　actually　being　made　to　journey　backwards　through　the　course　of　this　night…first　in　that　inn　outside　the　walls　with　Rudel　and　King　Daufridi；　now　here　in　Lucianna's　room…through　the　layers　of　his　own　past。　All　that　was　needed　now…
　　〃The　countess　of　Arbonne　has　e；〃　said　Imera。　Of　course；　thought　Blaise；　tenderly　probing　the　blood…encrusted　lump　on　the　back　of　his　skull；　preparing　to　kneel。
　　He　was　not　really　surprised；　he　was　even　beginning　to　find　the　oddest　element　of　humour　in　all　of　this。　The　small；　elegant　figure　of　Signe　de　Barbentain　came　briskly　into　the　room；　dressed　in　pale　blue　trimmed　with　pearls。　She　was　followed…and　this　was　a　shock…by　the　bulky；　grim…faced　figure　of　Duke　Urté　de　Miraval。
　　〃My　lady！〃　exclaimed　Roban　as　they　all　sank　down　and　then　rose　from　their　obeisances。　〃I　thought　you　to　be　asleep。　I　did　not　want　to…〃
　　〃Asleep？〃　said　the　countess　of　Arbonne。　〃With　such　beautiful　music　below　and　treachery　above　stairs　in　our　palace？　I　have　only　the　duke　of　Miraval　to　thank　for　bringing　me　here　in　time　to　deal　with　this。　You　and　I；　Roban；　will　have　to　have　a　talk　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃But　countess；〃　began　the　chancellor；　a　little　too　earnestly；　〃it　is　the　duke　of　Miraval　himself　who…〃
　　〃Who　was　informed　by　an　Arimondan　in　his　employ　of　a　plot　by　the　wife　of　the　banned　Borsiard　d'Andoria；　a　second　attempt　against　the　life　of　our　dear　friend　from　Gorhaut。〃　Signe's　voice　and　manner　were　chillingly　austere。
　　〃Quzman；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　has　his　own　grievance　against　the　northerner；〃　Urté　added　smoothly。　〃So　deep　a　hatred　that　he　was　willing　to　breach　the　truce　of　the　fair　to　aid　the　lady　of　Andoria　in　her　corrupt　designs。　I　chose　to　allow　the　affair　to　proceed　a　certain　distance；　trusting　it　could　be　halted…and　thereby　exposing　the　Portezzan　evil　at　its　source。　I　am　pleased　to　see　that　this　has　happened。〃　He　was　staring　coldly　at　Lucianna。
　　Blaise　looked　over　at　Rudel　and　saw　his　friend　smiling　crookedly　back　at　him；　still　holding　a　cloth　to　the　side　of　his　head。　They　turned；　simultaneously；　to　the　chancellor　of　Arbonne。　Roban's　surprise　was　just　a　little　too　extreme　again。　This　is　a　clever　man；　thought　Blaise。　He　may　get　away　with　it；　after　all。　Massena　Delonghi；　he　noted；　had　paled　a　little　beneath　the　dark　tan；　but　he　too　was　smiling　slightly；　showing　a　master's　appreciation　for　the　neatness　of　what　was　happening。
　　As　if　on　cue　to　Blaise's　thought；　Roban　said；　〃But　countess；　there　was　no　Portezzan　plot。　The　gracious　lady　Lucianna　Delonghi　d'Andoria　was　acting　only　to　expose　this　selfsame　Arimondan。　She　personally　informed　me　of　his　designs　last　night。　She　only　pretended　to　accede　to　his　scheme　to　prevent　a　more　summary　murder　of　the　Gorhaut　coran。　It　seems　to　be　her　understanding　that；　ah　。。。　the　duke　of　Miraval　was　actively　involved　in　his　underling's　designs。〃
　　〃Evidently　a　faulty　understanding　on　my　part；〃　Lucianna　murmured　silkily　into　the　silence　that　followed　this。　〃One　for　which　I　must　surely　make　amends　to　the　duke　when　more　private　opportunity　allows。〃　She　smiled　at　Urté；　her　most　dazzling　smile。
　　〃My　dear　daughter　has　such　an　impulsive　nature；〃　Massena　Delonghi　added；　playing　out　the　game；　〃and　she　was　naturally　so　anxious　to　make　redress　for　her　。。。　equally　impulsive　husband's　earlier　transgression。〃　He　shrugged；　and　spread　his　hands。　〃It　seems　we　have　all　been　acting　in　good　faith　here。〃
　　〃Except　for　one　man；〃　said　Signe　de　Barbentain　icily。　She　was　looking　at　the　Arimondan。
　　Blaise　had　seen　it　before；　and　now　he　registered　it　again：　Quzman　of　Arimonda　was　neither　a　coward　nor　a　fool。　The　man　was　smiling；　ringed　about　with　steel　and　hostile　glances。
　　〃Ever　the　way　of　things；　is　it　not？〃　he　asked　quietly；　looking　directly　at　his　employer。　Duke　Urté；　stone…faced；　made　no　reply。　〃I　am　the　sacrifice　after　all；　not　the　man　who　murdered　my　brother。　I　do　wonder；　though；〃　he　said；　turning　with　bold　eyes　and　no　deference　at　all　to　the　countess　of　Arbonne；　〃how　I　am　presumed　to　have　used　ten　of　my　lord　of　Miraval's　corans　tonight　without　his　knowledge。〃
　　The　weak　link；　Blaise　thought；　racing　through　possibilities。　He's　going　to　take　Urté　down　with　him。　But　he'd　underestimated　the　Arbonnais　again。
　　〃That　is　a　matter　of　some　grief　to　me；〃　En　Urté　de　Miraval　said；　his　deep　voice　conveying　dimensions　of　regret。　〃I　chose　to　test　the　loyalty　and　prudence　of　my　corans；　electing　not　to　caution　them　about　Quzman's　designs　or　undermine　his　plot。　I　am　sorry　to　say　that　ten　of　them　did；　indeed；　succumb　to　his　undeniable　persuasiveness。　They　have　their　own　hatred　of　this　Gorhautian　coran；　arising　from　the　deaths　of　five　of　their　fellows　half　a　year　ago　in　a　most　unfortunate　incident。　They　agreed　to　assist　in　this　terrible　deed。〃
　　〃Then　these　men　too　must　surely　be　punished；〃　said　Massena　Delonghi　to　the　countess；　shaking　his　head　at　this　latest　revelation　of　the　world's　depredations；　the　evils　that　seemed　to　flourish　so　brazenly　in　the　midst　of　good　and　honest　men。
　　Quzman　of　Arimonda　was　still　smiling；　Blaise　saw…a　terrible　expression　now；　of　plete　understanding。
　　〃They　have　been　punished；〃　said　Urté　briefly。　〃They　are　dead。〃
　　And　so　the　chancellor　had　indeed　won；　after　all；　Blaise　realized。　Given　that　his　sole　purpose　here　would　have　been　to　control　the　reverberations　of　this；　to　keep　the　countess　from　having　to　deal　with　the　bitter　feud　between　Miraval　and　Talair　at　this　most　sensitive　juncture　in　Arbonne's　affairs；　he　had　almost　certainly　managed　to　do　so。　He　turned　to　Rudel　again　and　saw　wry　admiration　in　his　friend's　eyes　as　he　looked　towards　the　unassuming　chancellor　of　Arbonne。
　　Impulsively；　Blaise　turned　back　towards　the　door；　to　the　bench　were　Rosala　was　sitting；　and　read；　without　real　surprise；　an　identically　cynical　understanding　in　her　expression。　She　had　always　been　that　quick。　It　had　been　too　easy　to　see　her　only　as　a　woman　at　the　beginning；　the　selected　wife　of　his　older　brother…to　fail　to　realize　how　clever　she　really　was。　But　there　had　been　moments；　even　in　the　few；　brief　intervals　when　he　had　been　home；　when　Blaise　had　been　forced　to　remind　himself　whose　daughter　Rosala　was；　and　to　remember　that　any　child　of　Cadar　de　Savaric　would　know　more　than　a　thing　or　two　about　the　world's　affairs。　Thinking　so；　he　took　a　few　steps　towards　her。　Rosala　was　the　last；　in　a　real　sense　the　largest；　mystery　of　this　night。
　　It　w