ggk.asongforarbonne-第84章

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The　god　will　have　his　due　and　more；　the　king　has　promised　as　much。　He　only　hopes　it　does　not　last　too　long；　and　leaves　him　some　fields　to　sow　and　harvest　and　a　country　to　rule　when　the　last　of　the　burning　is　done。　The　numbers　are　indeed　very　good　though；　Galbert　speaks　truth　there；　and　there　are　surprises　in　reserve。
　　〃If　we　are　to　fight　tomorrow；〃　says　Borsiard　d'Andoria；　moving　his　splendid　horse　nearer；　〃then　may　I　ask　that　the　High　Elder's　disinherited　son；　the　pretender；　be　left　for　me　to　deal　with？　I　have　reasons　of　my　own；　you　understand。〃
　　Ademar　doesn't　like　this　vain；　choleric　man；　but　he　has　been　made　to　accept　the　importance　that　a　Portezzan　pany　in　their　ranks　will　have　for　the　days　after　the　war。　At　times　it　seems　to　him　that　he　accepts　rather　too　much　from　the　High　Elder；　but　the　king　of　Gorhaut　is　willing　to　be　tolerant　yet。　A　great　deal　had　been　promised　him　and　those　promises　are　about　to　bear　fruit。
　　Another　horse　approaches　and　he　hears　its　rider　laugh　sardonically。　〃My　brother；〃　says　Duke　Ranald　de　Garsenc　to　the　elegantly　garbed　Portezzan；　as　the　three　men　turn　to　look　at　him；　〃could　slice　you　into　pieces　while　attending　to　other　business　at　the　same　time。　Be　not　so　hasty；　my　lord；　to　single　him　out　unless　you　want　your　dear　wife　widowed　again　and　free　for　another　marriage。〃　The　words　are　a　little　slurred。　Ranald　does　not　look　well。　It　is　a　fair　assumption　that　he　has　already　been　drinking　during　the　morning's　ride。　His　father　scowls；　but　Ademar　is　genuinely　amused；　not　at　all　unhappy　to　observe　the　de　Garsenc　at　odds　again；　or　the　Portezzan's　flushed　disfiture。
　　〃Well；　if　we　are　speaking　of　dear　wives…〃　Borsiard　d'Andoria　begins　waspishly。
　　〃We　are　not　speaking　of　them；〃　Ademar　says　quickly；　asserting　his　control。　He　does　not　want　this　discussed；　not　now；　and　not　ever　in　public。　He　wonders　if　Rosala　de　Garsenc　is　in　Talair　Castle　now　or　still　in　Barbentain。　Shrewdly　he　guesses　she　has　e　with　the　army；　that　the　countess　of　Arbonne；　too；　is　within　those　walls　by　the　lake。　If　so；　it　will　all　truly　be　over　tomorrow；　Galbert　will　have　been　right。　He　remembers；　amused　again；　that　it　was　Ranald　who　suggested　once　that　he　marry　Signe　be　Barbentain　in　order　to　gain　control　of　Arbonne。　That　is　not　going　to　be　necessary；　it　seems。
　　〃There　are　formalities；〃　his　High　Elder　is　now　saying；　as　he　turns　his　back　on　his　elder　son。　〃Shall　I　send　the　herald　to　speak　your　demands；　my　liege？〃　This；　too；　diverts　the　king；　the　so…careful　observance　of　protocols　and　rituals　despite　what　they　have　been　doing　to　unarmed　men　and　women　and　to　children　all　the　way　south。　That；　Ademar　thinks　sagely；　is　what　happens　when　one　marries　a　religious　crusade　with　a　war　of　conquest。
　　〃Send　him；〃　he　says　lazily；　〃but　let　us　ride　with　him　ourselves　to　see　who　they　have　sent　against　us。　Who　knows；　my　lord　High　Elder；　we　might　even　have　a　chance　to　speak　with　your　ambitious　younger　son。　I　do　still　wonder　how　he　came　by　that　dangerous　trait。〃
　　〃No　son　of　mine！〃　Galbert　says；　a　little　too　quickly；　scenting　danger。　〃I　disowned　him　formally　in　the　sanctuary　of　Corannos　in　the　mountains。　You　were　with　me；　my　liege。〃
　　Ademar　laughs　aloud　this　time。　He　enjoys　the　ease　with　which　he　can　set　his　counsellors　on　edge；　even　Galbert；　who　bears　close　watching。　The　king　discovers　just　then；　somewhat　to　his　surprise；　that　he　feels　the　need　for　a　woman。　Perhaps　it　is　not　so　surprising　after　all。　He　has　been　watching　his　soldiers　take　their　pleasure　of　the　priestess　since　they　came　down　from　the　pass。　He　has　held　himself　aloof；　with　some　self…congratulation；　to　preserve　the　dignity　of　the　crown　on　this　holy　crusade。　He　looks　briefly　over　his　shoulder　at　Ranald　de　Garsenc　and　then　back　up　at　the　ramparts　of　Talair。　He　is；　in　fact；　quite　certain　that　she　is　within　those　walls。
　　Tomorrow；　he　thinks；　and　smiles。　He　is　not　actually　a　man　accustomed　to　waiting　to　slake　his　needs；　but　sometimes　there　is；　in　fact；　a　certain　heightening　of　satisfaction　if　one　delays　a　little　time。　Not　too　long；　mind　you；　but　a　little。　He　regards　this　as　a　truth　about　the　world　he　has　discovered　for　himself。　He　looks　back　at　the　husband　and　then　away　again。
　　
　　Lisseut　saw　what　had　been　done　to　two　of　the　men　she　had　loved　when　she　rode　out　with　the　countess　of　Arbonne　and　a　number　of　their　people　to　parley　with　the　king　of　Gorhaut。　Had　they　not　been　warned　by　Thierry　beforehand；　the　sickness　that　passed　over　her　when　the　bodies　came　into　sight　might　have　undone　all　her　resolutions。　It　was　the　hardest　thing　she　had　ever　had　to　do　in　her　life；　to　ride　past　what　was　left　of　Remy　and　Aurelian　and　not　give　way　to　the　clawing　grief　that　rose　up　within　her。　She　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　straight…backed　figure　of　the　countess　in　front　of　her　and　gripped　her　horse's　reins　in　hands　that　would　not　stop　shaking。　She　kept　wanting　to　scream。　She　could　not　let　herself　scream。
　　She　had　been　with　Ariane　and　the　countess　and　Rosala　de　Garsenc　in　the　music　gallery　of　Talair　when　the　duke　of　Carenzu　had　e　down　from　the　tower　to　tell　them　that　Gorhaut　had　e；　and　that　something　terrible　had　been　done　to　men　they　all　knew。
　　She　would　have　expected　to　burst　into　desperate　tears；　to　faint；　to　feel　her　mind　slamming　shut　like　a　door。　Perhaps　it　was　the　shock；　or　an　inward　refusal　to　believe；　but　she　had　done　none　of　these　things；　nor　had　any　of　the　other　women　there。　Ariane；　to　whom　her　husband　had　formally　told　the　news　about　Remy　and　Aurelian；　had　risen　stiffly　from　where　she　sat　and　walked　away；　to　stand　with　her　back　to　the　room；　staring　into　the　fire。　After　an　interval　of　time；　though；　she　had　turned　and　e　back。　She　had　been　very　pale；　but　her　flawless　features　were　carefully　posed。　She　had　sat　beside　the　countess　and　reached　for　one　of　Signe's　hands；　holding　it　between　both　of　her　own。
　　Of　all　the　people　in　that　room；　Alain　of　Rousset　had　been　the　only　one　who　wept　openly；　and　Lisseut　had　gone　over　to　him。　The　little　troubadour　had　been　wearing　his　sword。　He　was　still　awkward　with　it；　but　he　was　here　to　join　the　soldiers　in　Talair；　had　rowed　across　the　water　to　fight　with　them。
　　It　seemed　that　Remy　and　Aurelian　had　been　thinking　in　the　same　way；　spying　on　the　army　of　Gorhaut　as　it　moved　south。　Lisseut　would　have　thought　the　two　of　them　might　even　have　been　good　at　that；　but　she　didn't　know　much　about　warfare。
　　Neither　had　they。
　　She　had　found　herself　meeting　the　clear　blue　gaze　of　the　woman　named　Rosala。　There　was　pain　there；　and　something　else　as　hurtful；　if　harder　to　understand；　but　Lisseut　had　taken　resolution　and　a　certain　fort　from　that　exchange　of　glances；　and　tried；　as　best　she　could；　to　give　back　the　same　two　things。
　　〃There　should　be　a　song　for　them；〃　the　countess　had　said；　rising　from　her　chair　and　turning　to　where　Lisseut　was　standing　beside　Alain。　The　little　troubadour　had　lifted　his　head；　wiping　his　eyes。　〃I　will　not　ask　for　it　now；　though；〃　Signe　de　Barbentain　went　on。　〃This　is　not　a　time　for　music。〃
　　It　was　then　that　they　had　heard　footsteps　in　the　corridor　again；　and　Bertran　had　e　into　the　room　with　a　number　of　other　men。　One　of　whom　was　Blaise。　There　was　something　bleak　and　forbidding　about　him；　as　if　a　part　of　the　winter　had　passed　into　him　on　the　ramparts。　He　had　looked　at　Rosala　first…his　brother's　wife…and　nodded　his　head　in　greeting。　But　then　he　had　turned　to　Lisseut　and；　after　a　moment；　had　made　a　small；　helpless　gesture　with　his　hands。　She　did　feel　like　crying　then。　She　could　remember　him　wounding　Remy　with　his　sword。　She　had　e　forward　to　challenge　him　for　that。　Midsummer；　it　had　been。　Midsummer　Carnival　in　Tavernel。　Hard　to　believe　that　there　once　had　been　a　time　of　celebration　in　Arbonne。
　　〃They　have　blown　the　horns　and　are　ing　to　parley；〃　Bertran　had　said　to　the　countess。　〃Ademar　is　riding　with　his　herald。〃
　　〃Then　I　should　be　with　ours；〃　Signe　had　said　calmly。　〃If　you　think　it　right。〃
　　〃We　are　your　servants；　your　grace。　But　yes；　I　think　it　right。　I　think　you　should　e；　and　Ariane。　This　is　a　war　being　waged　against　our　women；　as　much　as　anything；　and　I　think　the　army；　both　armies；　should　see　you　here。〃
　　〃And　I；〃　said　Rosala　de　Garsenc　then；　rising。　〃I　am　their　excuse　for　war。〃　Bertran　had　looked　quickly　over　at　her；　an　odd　expression　in　his　face。　He　had　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　demur；　but　did　not。
　　When　Lisseut　expressed　the　same　intention　to　be　present　no　one　gainsaid　her。　She　hadn't　expected　them　to。　She　didn't　even　see　herself　as　being　presumptuous。　Not　with　this。　It　seemed　to　her　that　there　might　even　be　a　shared　feeling　now　that　one　of　the　musicians　should　be　there。
　　She　had　actually　forgotten；　for　the　moment；　that　Bertran　de　Talair　was　a　troubadour　too。
　　
　　The　king　of　Gorhaut；　it　soon　appeared；　had　not。　The　two　groups　met　within　sight　of　the　armies　but　at　a　careful　distance　removed。　There　were　archers　of　skill　in　both　ranks。　The　place　chosen　by　the　heralds　was　to　the　west；　along　the　northern　shore　of　Lake　Dierne；　beside　a　rocky　strand　of　beach。　They　could　see　the　great　stone　arch　not　far　away；　and　in　the　distance；　to　the　south…west；　the　towers　of　Miraval　ended　up　like　an　illusion　over　the　forest　between。
　　Amid　that　pany；　beside　the　whitecapped　lake；　the　voice　of　Signe　de　Barbentain　rang　out；　colder　than　the　waters　or　the　wind。　〃I　thought　Gorhaut　had　fallen　somewhat　since　your　father's　death；〃　she　said；　looking　straight　at　the　broad…shouldered　figure　of　Ademar。　I　had　not　realized　until　very　lately　how　great　that　fall　was。　The　man　on　that　platform　was　honoured　in　all　the　countries　of　the　world。　Are　you　not　ashamed　before　Corannos　to　have　done　this　foul　thing？〃
　　〃The　god's　name　is　profanity　in　your　mouth；〃　said　Galbert　de　Garsenc　quickly；　before　Ademar　could　reply。　The　king　gave　him　a　sharp　glance。
　　〃Cannot　your　king　at　least　speak　some　answers　for　himself？〃　Signe　asked　with　deceptive　mildness。　Lisseut　saw　Ademar　flush。　She　saw　him　look　at　Rosala　de　Garsenc　before　replying。
　　〃He　was　captured　as　a　spy。〃　The　voice　was　unexpectedly　light；　but　controlled。　〃He　would　have　been　dealt　with　and　executed　as　such；　and　the　yellow…haired　one　as　well；　but　he　made　a　mistake。〃　Ademar　turned　to　Bertran　de　Talair。　〃He　elected；　unwisely；　to　sing　some　verses　of　a　song　you　wrote；　my　lord。　The　wrong　verses；　the　wrong　song。　And　the　other　man　chose　to　laugh。　You　might　say　you　are　responsible　for　what　happened　to　them。〃
　　For　the　first　time　he　smiled。　Lisseut　shivered；　seeing　that。　She　saw　Rosala　de　Garsenc　turn　away。　But　then；　despite　her　own　fear；　or　perhaps　because　of　it；　and　because　it　was　not　clear　what　had　happened；　she　dared　speak；　even　in　that　pany；　for　the　sake　of　the　two　dead　men　she　had　loved。　She　said；　to　the　king　of　Gorhaut：
　　〃He　sang　for　you？　You　didn't　remotely　deserve　such　an　honour。　Were　these　the　lines　by　any　chance？　
　　What　manner　of　man；　with　his　father　new…fallen；　
　　Would　destroy　with　a　pen…stroke　a　long　dream　of　glory？〃　
　　She　felt　an　anger　such　as　she　had　never　known　in　her　life。　Almost　snarling　the　words　she　added；　〃Or　did　he　ask　the　other；　obvious　question　in　the　same　song：　Where　went　the　manhood　of　Gorhaut　。。。　？　Where　indeed。　They　are　asking　that　question　all　through　the　world；　about　a　nation　that　burns　helpless　women。〃　She　spoke　the　words　with　all　the　pass