ggk.asongforarbonne-第66章

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blic　gaze　into　their　care。　This　was　theatre；　and　he　was　on　the　stage。
　　As　the　countess　took　her　seat　again　it　was　Ariane　who　rose；　beautiful　in　autumn　hues　of　russet　and　pale　gold。　Sunrise　and　sunset；　the　chancellor　thought；　looking　at　the　two　women；　or；　since　Ariane　was　not　really　young　any　more；　perhaps　noontide　and　twilight　would　better　suit　as　images。　The　beauty　of　the　lady　of　Carenzu　was　almost　dazzling　in　the　clear　light。　His　own　love；　though；　was　for　the　older　woman；　for　the　grace　of　the　ending　day；　and　it　would　be　until　he　died。
　　There　was　a　rose　to　be　given　now。　Mildly　curious；　in　fact；　as　to　what　the　Gorhautian　would　do；　Roban　heard　Ariane's　formal　words　spoken　to　invoke　the　symbolic　rituals　of　the　Court　of　Love。　He　was　not　a　troubadour；　not　a　coran；　not　a　dancer　or　a　wit　or　the　sort　of　man　who　set　styles　of　fashion　at　court　among　ladies。　Even　so；　Roban　the　chancellor　loved　his　country　with　his　own　enduring　passion；　with　an　inward；　private　flame；　and　he　knew　that　these　rituals；　frivolous　as　they　might　seem；　were　what　defined　Arbonne　and　set　it　apart　from　the　rest　of　the　world。　And　he　too；　prosaic　and　dry　and　sober　as　he　might　be　in　the　castle　corridors　of　day；　had　had　his　own　dreams　of　winning　this　rose　and　offering　it…of　course…to　the　countess　before　cheering　multitudes。　Not　for　some　time　had　he　had　that　dream；　but　it　was　not　so　very　long　ago；　either。
　　〃We　have　our　traditions　here　in　Arbonne；〃　Ariane　was　saying。　〃Here；　where　Rian　the　goddess　is　so　much　more　than　merely　Corinna；　maiden　daughter　of　the　god。　She　has　many　incarnations；　our　goddess；　and　both　death　and　life　are　contained　in　her。　Which　is　why；〃　she　said；　her　clear；　strong　voice　now　the　only　sound　among　the　pavilions；　〃which　is　why；　at　the　end　of　a　death　challenge；　there　is　a　ceremony　to　honour　Rian　and　the　mortal　women　who　are　all　her　daughters。　We　ask　the　victor；　the　chosen　of　the　goddess　and　the　god；　to　give　a　rose。〃　She　paused。　〃Sometimes；　as　a　higher　recognition　of　his　worth；　we　invite　him　to　offer　three。〃
　　She　opened　the　coffer　they　had　given　her；　and　Roban　saw　that　she　had　indeed　chosen　to　invoke　the　full　ceremony　this　morning。　It　was　seldom　done；　but　it　was　obvious　that　Signe　and　Ariane　were　marking　this　moment　and　this　man　as　indelibly　as　they　could。　He　wondered　if　the　Gorhaut　coran　could　possibly　be　aware　of　how　much　he　had　taken　upon　himself　today。　He　wondered　how　long　the　man　would　live…but　that；　of　course；　was　bound　up　in　how　long　any　of　them　could　expect　to　live　with　a　war　ing；　certain　as　winter　and　the　spring　to　follow。
　　〃White　is　for　fidelity；〃　Ariane　said；　holding　the　coffer　up　to　be　seen。　There　was　a　murmuring　all　along　the　pavilions；　of　anticipation　and　speculation。　The　morning　was　offering　more　than　anyone　could　have　imagined。　〃Yellow　is　for　love；　and　red　is　for　desire。〃　She　smiled。　〃You　may　bestow　them　as　you　choose；　my　lord　de　Garsenc。　We　will　all　be　honoured　by　your　doing　so。〃　Blaise　of　Gorhaut；　grass…stained　and　bloody；　bowed　to　Ariane　and　took　the　coffer　from　her　long　fingers。　It　was　purest　ceremony；　Roban　knew；　a　spectacle　intended　entirely　for　those　in　the　other　pavilions　and　the　mons'　standing　grounds；　and　for　the　words　and　music　of　the　troubadours　and　joglars　who　would　carry　it　to　castles　and　villages　far　beyond　this　field　when　the　fair　was　over。　Knowing　this；　having　seen　it　so　many　times　before；　he　was　nonetheless　moved。　Gravely　the　man　handed　the　open　coffer　to　Vitalle　Correze's　son　and　took　from　it　the　white　rose。　He　looked　upon　it　in　silence　for　a　moment；　before　turning　back　to　the　queen。　〃Fidelity　I　offer　where　it　is　most　richly　deserved；　if　I　might　be　allowed　to　name　a　woman　who　is　not　with　us　at　this　field。　May　I　ask　you　to　guard　this　for　her　and　have　it　laid　at　her　feet　in　my　name　when　the　time　allows？〃
　　Gravely　Ariane　nodded。　〃You　may　and　I　shall。　Where　should　I　carry　it？〃
　　〃To　my　sister；〃　said　Blaise；　and　Roban　was　almost　certain　the　emotion　in　his　voice　was　not　feigned。　〃To　Rosala　de　Savaric　de　Garsenc；　who　kept　faith　with　her　child　and　her　own　vision　of　Gorhaut。　And　say　to　her；　if　you　will；　that　I　shall　never　break　faith　with　her　while　I　live。〃
　　The　woman　was　still　in　the　castle；　Roban　knew。　This　open　ground　was　no　place　for　someone　only　days　past　childbirth。　The　herald　was　declaiming　her　name　now　that　all　might　hear　it。　There　had　been　rumours；　but　this　would　be　the　first　formal　confirmation　of　who　the　mysterious　woman　in　Barbentain　was。　They　were　going　be　talking　about　this　morning　in　all　six　countries　for　a　long　time；　Roban　thought；　shaking　his　head。
　　Blaise　had　already　turned　to　take　the　red　rose。　He　seemed　to　be　hesitating；　brow　furrowed；　but　then　Roban　saw　him　smile　slightly　for　the　first　time　since　he'd　approached。　Carrying　it　before　him；　laid　across　both　palms；　he　limped　a　short　distance　down　the　row　of　pavilions　and　stopped　before　the　handsomely　carved　and　decorated　chair　of　Lucianna　Delonghi；　who　had　bound　him　in　ropes　two　nights　ago；　and　cut　him　with　her　dagger。　Extending　both　hands　he　gave　her；　with　another　low　bow；　the　red　rose　of　desire。
　　Roban；　watching　with　frank　curiosity；　saw　the　woman　go　pale；　even　as　the　father；　beside　her；　smiled…and　then　slowly　stopped　smiling　as　implications　came　home　to　him。　Lucianna　Delonghi　said　nothing　at　all；　her　posure　seemed　shaken　for　the　first　time　the　chancellor　could　remember。　With　a　court…bred　instinct　Roban　turned　just　then　to　look　at　Ariane；　and　saw　how　thin　her　mouth　was　as　she　watched。　A　new　twist　here；　he　thought。　I　wonder　when　that　happened？
　　〃I　begin　to　think；〃　murmured　Bertran　de　Talair；　speaking　for　the　first　time；　〃that　we　may　have　all　found　more　than　we　bargained　for　in　this　man。　I　may　yet　learn　to　fear　him。　He　has　just　taken　his　full　revenge　upon　Bosiard　d'Andoria。〃
　　It　was　true；　Roban　realized。　This　was　a　very　public　rose　of　desire　offered　to　a　married　woman　whose　husband　had　been　banned　from　the　fair　for　trying　to　have　Blaise　killed。　Everyone　in　the　pavilions　and　most　of　the　mons　would　now　be　certain　they　knew　why。　No　wonder　Massena　Delonghi　was　no　longer　smiling。　Turning　back　to　the　Portezzan　pavilion；　Roban　was　in　time　to　see　the　Gorhautian　speak　one　word　to　the　woman；　and　the　chancellor's　line　of　vision　was　clear　enough　that　he　was　very　nearly　certain　that　the　word　was　farewell。　The　revenge；　he　considered；　might　not　be　only　upon　the　husband。
　　The　herald　was　busily　crying　Lucianna　d'Andoria's　name　as　Blaise　came　back　for　the　yellow　rose。
　　He　took　it　in　both　hands；　as　he　had　held　the　other　two；　and　turned　to　the　countess　and　the　queen。　He　looked　from　one　to　the　other　and　then　said；　calmly　in　the　stillness　of　the　morning　air；　〃This　one；　if　you　will　allow；　I　shall　keep　for　a　time。　In　my　own　country　of　Gorhaut　we　speak　love　privately　before　we　declare　it　to　the　world。〃
　　And　then；　before　either　woman　could　reply；　without　any　dramatics　at　all；　he　fainted。
　　And　that；　thought　the　chancellor　of　Arbonne　sagely　as　he　motioned　urgently　for　the　healers；　is　probably　the　first　act　of　this　entire　morning　that　wasn't　meant　for　an　audience。
　　As　it　happened；　he　was　wrong。
　　
　　〃You　might　consider　fainting　if　this　goes　on　too　long　and　you　want　to　get　out　of　here；〃　Rudel　had　murmured；　not　moving　his　lips；　as　Blaise　had　taken　the　first　rose。　〃Gallant　victor　pushed　to　his　very　limits。　They'll　like　that。　〃
　　Towards　the　end；　as　he　walked　back　from　Lucianna's　pavilion；　Blaise　had　decided　that　it　was；　indeed；　going　on　too　long。　He　hadn't；　actually；　expected　to　see　real　pain　in　her　eyes。　Anger　yes；　and　perhaps　a　scornful　pride；　but　not　that　sudden　pain。
　　Following　upon　everything　else；　it　made　him　feel　extremely　strange。　He　didn't　want　to　actually　collapse；　so　he　took　Rudel's　advice　and　allowed　himself　to　seem　to　do　so；　slipping　to　the　grass　and　letting　his　eyes　fall　closed。　He　heard　voices　of　sharp　concern　about　him；　the　countess　calling　for　aid；　Bertran's　voice　guiding　the　physician　through　the　pavilion's　seats　to　where　he　lay。　Rudel　and　Valery　quickly　contrived　a　litter　to　carry　him　upon；　and　he　heard　Hirnan's　brisk；　highland　accent　clearing　a　path　as　they　bore　him　away；　out　of　the　too…bright　sun　and　the　scrutiny　of　so　many　people。　Part　of　the　way　back　towards　the　castle　Blaise　did；　in　fact；　lose　consciousness；　but　not　before　the　thought　came　to　him；　quite　unexpectedly；　along　the　momentarily　undefended　pathways　of　his　mind；　that　Rosala's　child；　Cadar；　was　almost　certainly　his　own　son。
　　
　　Most　of　the　troubadours　were　loudly；　even　wildly　expressive　in　their　enthusiasm　for　what　had　just　happened。　Even　when　En　Blaise　de　Garsenc　fell　to　the　ground　in　a　faint　it　did　not　check　their　exuberant　spirit。　Remy；　it　seemed；　had　elected　to　forget　about　his　swordspoint　encounter　with　the　man　at　Midsummer。　He　would　probably　end　up　regarding　it　as　an　early　bond　of　blood　between　the　two　of　them。　Jourdain　and　Alain　were　already　speaking　of　a　hurried　collaboration　this　afternoon；　to　have　at　least　one　song　ready　for　the　evening's　banquet　in　Barbentain。
　　〃You　don't　look　well。　What　is　it？〃　Aurelian；　of　course；　the　one　who　always　noticed；　even　in　the　midst　of　pandemonium。
　　Lisseut　managed　a　shaky　smile　for　him。　〃I　don't　much　like　this　kind　of　thing；　I've　just　discovered。〃
　　〃Neither　do　I；　and　I　learned　that　some　time　ago。　It　is　over　now。　We　can　go。〃　He　hesitated；　looking　down　at　her　thoughtfully。　〃He　will　be　all　right；　you　know。　I　saw　the　physician　and　a　priestess　ing　over。〃
　　〃I　did　too。　I'm　sure　he's　all　right。〃　She　was　aware　that　there　was　an　expression　of　knowledge　on　his　part　in　what　he　had　just　said；　and　an　admission　in　her　brief　reply。　She　didn't　care。　He　had　given　out　the　white　rose　to　his　brother's　wife；　and　the　red　to　Lucianna　Delonghi；　who　was　as　beautiful　as　Aurelian　had　said　she　was。　He　had　kept　the　yellow　one。
　　Beside　her；　Aurelian　was　silent　for　a　moment。　She　saw　some　children　running　about　on　the　grass　now；　play…acting　battles。　People　were　beginning　to　leave　their　pavilion　and　all　the　others；　joining　the　milling；　feverish　crowd。　The　inns　were　about　to　bee　extremely　busy　in　Lussan。
　　〃And　you；　my　dear？〃　Aurelian　asked　finally。　〃Will　you　be　all　right？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered；　truthfully。
　　
　　CHAPTER　14
　　The　blue　moon　is　full　tonight；　Ranald　realizes　belatedly；　lending　its　strange　luminosity　to　the　trees　and　rocks　of　the　mountain　pass。　The　creatures　of　the　otherworld　are　rumoured　to　be　able　to　move　between　their　own　land　and　this　one　on　nights　when　Escoran　is　full。　The　mountains；　in　the　shepherds'　tales；　are　the　haunts　of　many　of　them：　ethereal　creatures　the　size　of　flowers；　hairy；　great…footed　monsters　who　can　seize　and　devour　an　unwary　horse　and　rider　and　leave　nothing　but　bones　for　the　morning　sun　to　find；　or　the　spirits　who　steal　babies　from　their　cradles　by　the　fire　and　take　them　away　under　barrow　and　hill　forever。
　　Ranald　tries；　again；　to　decide　exactly　why　he　is　so　unhappy　to　be　here。　He　likes　hunting；　and　night　certainly　holds　no　terrors　for　him；　especially　not　in　the　pany　of　fifty　of　the　king's　best　men。　In　a　sense　this　is　simply　a　larger；　more　wide…ranging　hunt。
　　In　another　sense；　a　more　honest　one；　it　is　no　such　thing　at　all。
　　He　looks　over　to　his　left　and　stares　for　a　long　moment　at　the　grim　profile　of　the　only　man　who　seems　even　less　pleased　than　he　to