ggk.asongforarbonne-第75章

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　　No　one　spoke　in　reply。　There　was　silence　on　the　bridge；　heavy　as　the　fog。　Thaune　heard　only　quick　footsteps　and　saw　cloaked　and　hurrying　shapes　as　Blaise's　mercenaries　went　by　him　into　the　forecourt。　There　had　been　no　alarm　raised　within　Garsenc；　the　world　was　wrapped　in　mist　like　a　creation　of　dream。
　　And　it　was　in　that　stillness；　as　if　it　were　a　part　of　such　a　dreaming；　that　Thaune　then　heard　the　rumble　of　hoof　beats　to　the　east。　A　great　many；　as　if　the　horsemen　of　the　Night　Ride　were　e　down　among　them　from　the　sky；　from　the　train　of　the　god；　to　ride　over　the　fog…shrouded　earth　and　destroy。
　　〃What　is　that？〃　Valery　took　two　steps　forward　and　stopped。
　　〃Get　the　men　inside！〃　said　Blaise　sharply。　〃We　have　to　control　the　castle。　They　did　send　an　army！　Thaune；　have　the　portcullis　lowered；　quickly！〃
　　Thaune　was　already　moving；　shouting　a　mand　to　his　two　guardsmen。　From　beyond；　in　the　fog；　the　drum　roll　of　unseen　hooves　grew　louder。　There　were　torches　visible　now；　and　shadowy　horses；　and　from　the　distance　between　the　first　and　the　last　of　those　carried　flames；　Thaune　realized　that　an　army　had　indeed　e。
　　It　had　always　been　likely　they　would　fail。　He　had　not　made　his　choice　last　autumn　because　of　any　measured　assessment　of　the　chances　of　success。　He　did　not　want　to　die　on　a　pyre；　though。　His　only　prayer　in　that　moment　was　that　so　much　mercy　might　be　allowed。　He　wondered　if；　when　he　crossed　to　the　god；　he　would　be　allowed　to　walk　with　his　father　again；　in　the　wide　meadows　of　Corannos；　in　the　gentle　light。
　　〃I　shall　set　the　torch　to　your　burning　myself；〃　said　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　speaking　to　his　son；　as　if　giving　voice　to　Thaune's　own　terror。　He　was　smiling　again　now；　a　glittering　triumph　in　his　eyes；　reflecting　the　torches'　glow。
　　〃That；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair；　〃is　two　words　too　many。〃
　　〃Bertran！〃　said　Blaise　quickly。
　　〃Valery；〃　said　the　duke　of　Talair　in　the　same　moment。　And　simultaneous　with　the　two　names　spoken　something　sang　past　Thaune　in　the　fog　and　he　heard　the　High　Elder　of　Corannos　cry　out　as　an　arrow　embedded　itself　in　his　shoulder　through　the　links　of　the　mail　he　wore。
　　〃Ten　more；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair　calmly；　〃and　we　will　twin　that　in　your　other　arm。　Tell　me…in　less　than　ten　words；　mind　you…do　you　think　these　horsemen　will　attack　us　at　risk　of　your　life；　my　lord　High　Elder？　Why　don't　we　wait　for　them　here　and　consider　the　question　at　leisure？〃
　　He　was；　thought　Thaune；　unbelievably　calm。
　　The　hoofbeats　had　been　a　rolling　as　of　thunder　but　gradually　stopped　now　beyond　the　end　of　the　bridge　in　the　wide；　clear　space　before　the　woods。　There　were　a　great　many　torches；　Thaune　could　see　the　outline　of　horses　and　riders；　bulky　figures　heavily　armed。
　　〃We　have　the　High　Elder　here；　and　the　duke　of　Garsenc；〃　Blaise　called　out；　his　voice　knifing　into　the　fog。　〃Have　a　care　for　their　lives。　Will　you　declare　yourselves？〃
　　His　father；　clutching　at　his　left　arm；　laughed　then。　A　harsh；　ugly　sound；　at　odds　with　the　effortless　beauty　of　his　voice。　〃Who　do　you　think　it　is？〃　he　snarled。
　　〃Six　words；〃　said　Bertran　quietly。
　　From　amid　the　mist　and　the　weaving　torches　a　voice　called　back；　cold　and　austere；　〃There　is　no　hostage　you　could　name　who　will　stay　my　hand　or　those　of　my　men　if　we　are　minded　to　strike。　Is　it　Blaise　de　Garsenc　to　whom　I　speak？〃
　　〃Careful！〃　said　Rudel　Correze　sharply；　under　his　breath。
　　〃No　point　denying　it；〃　Thaune　heard　Blaise　reply　softly。　〃Our　only　hope　is　the　hostages；　whatever　he　says。　He　might　be　bluffing。　He　must　be　bluffing。〃
　　There　was　a　sound　of　horses　approaching　the　far　end　of　the　bridge；　and　then　the　creak　of　an　armoured　rider　dismounting。　From　behind；　Thaune　finally　heard　the　rattle　and　the　clang　of　the　portcullis　as　the　guards　finished　lowering　it。　Valery　of　Talair　was　beside　him；　another　arrow　to　his　bow。　Thaune　drew　his　sword。
　　〃I　am　Blaise　de　Garsenc；〃　said　the　tall　coran　Thaune　had　sworn　an　oath　to　serve　and　to　have　for　his　king。
　　〃I　thought　it　might　be　so；〃　said　the　unseen　man　in　a　voice　crisp　with　resolution。　〃I　had　hoped　my　information　was　correct；　that　I　would　find　you　here　tonight。〃
　　And　into　the　torchlight；　heavily　cloaked　against　the　cold；　strode　Fulk　de　Savaric；　to　kneel　on　the　planks　of　the　bridge　before　Blaise。
　　He　looked　up；　and　the　hovering　torchlight　fell　upon　the　square；　fair…haired；　intelligent　features　he　shared　with　all　his　family。　Thaune；　catching　his　breath；　taking　an　involuntary　step　forward；　saw　that　the　duke　of　Savaric　was　not　smiling。　〃My　lord；　will　you　accept　my　sworn　homage　and　the　hand　of　a　friend？　Can　you　make　use　of　a　thousand　men　from　Savaric　and　the　lands　of　the　north　who　share　your　feelings　about　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge　and　the　men　who　rule　us　now？〃
　　
　　Long　afterwards；　Thaune　remembered　looking　up　then；　almost　expecting　to　see　the　moons　appear　like　beacons　in　the　fog；　as　if　the　heavens　and　the　dark　earth　around　them　must　somehow　mirror　the　glow　that　seemed　to　be　emanating　from　this　bridge。　It　was　still　thick　as　river　mud　overhead；　though；　the　sky　lost　to　sight　in　the　fog　and　only　the　nearest　torches　lending　their　light　to　the　tableau　before　him　as　he　looked　back　down　to　see　En　Blaise　take　Fulk　de　Savaric's　offered　hands　formally　between　his　own。
　　It　was　in　his　heart；　not　in　the　sky；　Thaune　realized；　that　the　moons　were　beginning　to　shine　again。　The　cold　of　the　long　night　seemed　lessened　by　the　warmth　of　that　inner　light。　He　wondered；　after；　if　the　others　on　the　bridge　had　had　such　an　illusion；　if　they　had　all　looked　up　to　see　if　the　sky　had　truly　changed。
　　That　might　have　been　an　explanation；　though　not；　by　any　means；　an　excuse　for　what　happened。
　　What　happened　was　that　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　in　the　very　moment　his　younger　son　was　formally　accepting　the　homage　of　the　most　powerful　lord　of　the　northern　marches　of　Gor…haut；　rammed　one　burly　shoulder　into　the　coran　on　his　right；　hammered　a　muscled　forearm　into　the　face　of　his　other　guard　and　leaped　off　the　bridge；　an　arrow　still　quivering　in　his　left
　　WINTER
　　399
　　arm；　to　disappear　into　the　shrouded　darkness　of　the　dry　moat。
　　After　a　frozen　moment　there　was　a　babble　of　sound　on　the　bridge。　Valery　of　Talair　and　Rudel　Correze　hurtled　into　the　moat　after　him。　Thaune　heard　a　snarled　Portezzan　obscenity　as　the　latter　landed　badly　on　the　uneven；　rock…strewn　surface　below。
　　〃He　won't　get　far；〃　said　Fulk　de　Savaric　as　Blaise　helped　him　to　his　feet。　Over　his　shoulder；　de　Savaric　snapped　mands　in　the　darkness。　A　moment　later　Thaune　heard　horses　galloping　and　saw　torches　moving　again　in　the　mist。
　　Of　all　of　them　it　was　Blaise　who　seemed　least　surprised。　〃If　he　makes　the　woods；〃　he　said；　almost　musingly；　〃I　doubt　we'll　find　him。〃
　　〃He　has　to　get　out　of　the　moat　first；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair；　〃and　he's　got　a　wounded　arm。〃
　　〃Not　badly　wounded；〃　Blaise　said；　shaking　his　head；　still　with　that　detached　air　about　him；　as　if　he　had　almost　anticipated　this。　〃He　wears　heavy　mail；　double…linked。　I　doubt　the　arrow　went　deep。　Ring　the　moat；　though；〃　he　said　to　Fulk　de　Savaric。　〃There's　at　least　a　chance　your　men　might　see　him　climbing　out。〃
　　There　came　the　sound　of　laughter　then；　laced　with　mockery；　with　something　else　in　it　that　Thaune　could　not　quite　identify。　〃He　won't　be　climbing　out；〃　said　Ranald；　duke　of　Garsenc；　to　his　brother。　〃He's　under　the　castle　already；　and　will　be　out　from　it　and　gone　before　morning。　There's　a　tunnel　in　from　the　moat　that　no　one　knows　about；　and　another　from　the　dungeon　level　that　leads　away。　A　long　distance　away。　You　won't　find　him；　brother。〃　In　silence　the　two　men　looked　at　each　other。
　　〃Blaise；　quickly；　do　you　know　where　it　leads？　We　can　get　to　the　exit　before　him。〃　It　was　Bertran；　speaking　with　urgency　for　the　first　time。　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　Thaune　abruptly　remembered；　had　offered　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　in　gold　last　summer　for　the　death　of　de　Talair。
　　Blaise　was　shaking　his　head　though；　looking　at　his　brother。　〃This　was　done　after　I　left。〃　His　mouth　twisted　slightly。　〃Ranald　wouldn't　have　mentioned　it　otherwise。〃
　　〃We　could　make　you　tell　us　where　the　tunnels　are；〃　said　En　Bertran　to　Ranald　de　Garsenc　very　quietly。　There　was　something　frightening　in　his　voice　now。　Thaune　wondered　how　he　could　ever　have　arrived　at　the　notion　that　the　Arbonnais　men　were　soft。
　　The　duke　of　Garsenc　was　still　a　handsome　man；　tall　and　well　built；　the　image　of　what　a　lord　should　be。　He　looked　down　upon　the　slight；　unprepossessing　figure　of　the　duke　of　Talair　and　said　contemptuously；　〃Really；　my　lord？　What　will　you　do？　Set　me　on　fire？〃
　　Blaise　said　something　then　that　Thaune　could　not　hear。　His　brother　did　hear　it　though；　and　turned　quickly　back　to　him；　his　arrogance　fading。
　　〃Go　ahead；〃　Blaise　said；　more　loudly。　〃I　mean　it。　If　you　want　to　go　with　him　you　will　not　be　stopped　or　followed。〃　Ranald's　expression　had　bee　confused；　hesitant。　He　looked　like　a　man　who　wanted　a　drink；　thought　Thaune。　A　cruel　thought；　he　knew；　but　it　was　there。　He　had　lived　in　this　castle　long　enough。　He　knew　the　duke。
　　〃If　you　want　to；　though；　you　can　stay；〃　Blaise　added。　〃I　will　trust　you　among　us　if　you　give　me　your　oath。　I　have　never　known　you　to　lie；　Ranald。　I　will　not　assume　you　would　do　so　now。　If　you　can　see　anything　clearly　tonight　you　must　surely　realize　that　this　is　the　chance　of　your　life。　Probably　the　last　chance；　brother。　Do　you　want　to　free　yourself　from　him　or　not？　He　is　gone；　down　that　tunnel；　away　from　both　of　us；　back　to　Ademar。　You　don't　have　to　follow　him；　Ranald；　and　I　will　not　make　you　stay。　You　have　the　first　free　choice　you've　had　in　a　long　time。〃
　　〃If　I　kneel　and　swear　fealty　to　a　younger　brother　who　ought　to　have　been　a　cleric　of　Corannos？　Is　that　my　choice？〃　
　　〃Is　it　so　evil　a　course？　Does　it　matter　what　he　was　supposed　to　bee　all　those　years　ago？〃　It　was　Fulk　de　Savaric　who　spoke；　as　Blaise　remained　silent　looking　at　his　brother　by　the　wan　light　of　the　torches　in　the　mist。
　　Beyond　the　bridge；　Thaune　could　hear　men　shouting　and　the　galloping　horses　as　corans　raced　to　surround　the　moat。　He　shared　Ranald's　certainty：　they　were　not　going　to　find　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　not　in　the　mists　of　this　night；　not　in　the　morning；　even　if　the　sun　returned。　At　the　back　of　his　mind；　behind　his　awareness　of　the　miracle　of　their　triumph　and　Fulk　de　Savaric's　sworn　allegiance；　he　felt　a　flicker　of　fear；　like　a　tongue　of　flame。
　　Blaise　cleared　his　throat；　oddly　tentative　with　his　brother；　as　he　had　been　with　the　father。　〃I　do　not　request　that　you　kneel　before　me；　only　that　you　follow　my　lead；　Ranald。〃　He　hesitated。　〃I　think　you　know；　if　the　roles　were　reversed　I　would　have　been　proud　to　swear　homage　to　you。〃　He　stopped　again；　visibly　struggling　for　words；　as　if　wrestling　with　something　difficult。　〃I　also　think　you　know　there　was　a　time　I　would　have　followed　you　to　the　end　of　the　earth　had　you　asked　me　to。〃
　　〃But　why；〃　said　Duke　Ranald　de　Garsenc；　after　a　silence；　〃would　I　ever　have　wanted　to　go　to　such　a　place？　Or　to　have　you　there　with　me？〃
　　Blaise　said　nothing　at　all　to　that。　He　lowered　his　head。
　　〃You　are　a　greater　fool　than　I　even　guessed；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair；　but　softly　now；　almost　with　regret。　〃Bring　my　lord　Ranald　his　horse；〃　he　called　out　to　the　invisible　cora