ggk.asongforarbonne-第85章

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　through　the　world；　about　a　nation　that　burns　helpless　women。〃　She　spoke　the　words　with　all　the　passion　of　her　heart。
　　And　she　was　met；　brutally；　by　laughter。　〃I　would　have　thought　the　question　of　lost　manhood　would　apply　to　the　one　on　the　platform；　actually。〃　King　Ademar's　amusement　faded；　the　small　pale　eyes　held　hers。　〃But　since　you　have　chosen　to　raise　the　issue；　I　will　make　a　point　of　remembering　your　unremarkable　face；　and　personally　dealing　with　that　question　when　we　are　finished　doing　what　we　have　e　to　do　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Your　father；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair　quietly；　speaking　for　the　first　time；　〃never　blustered。　I　remember　that　about　him。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Ademar；　turning　quickly　to　him。　〃It　es　back　to　fathers；　does　it？〃　He　looked　pointedly　towards　the　distant　towers　of　Miraval。　〃I　was　told　it　had　as　much　to　do　with　a　bastard　son　and　a　lusting　woman；　legs　wide　for　any　man　but　her　own　husband。　What　a　shame　the　cuckolded　duke　of　Miraval　is　not　here　to　offer　you　his　wise　counsel。　And　what　a　great　shame　as　well；〃　he　added；　turning　from　Bertran；　whose　face　had　gone　white；　〃that　you　have　had　to　find　such　frail　vessels　from　the　north　to　fill　out　your　sorry　ranks。〃
　　Lisseut　had　wondered　when　they　would　get　to　Blaise。　In　the　moments　that　followed；　she　was　made　to　realize　that　she　had　not　moved　past　longing　into　acceptance　after　all。　The　image　of　that　stone　sinking　silently　down　through　dark　water　left　her　then；　and　never　returned。
　　Blaise；　despite　Ademar's　hard　gaze；　utterly　ignored　him；　as　if　the　king　of　Gorhaut　were　some　minor　functionary；　unworthy　of　attention。　His　own　eyes　were　locked　on　his　father's　face；　and　Lisseut　saw　the　forbidding　figure　of　Galbert　de　Garsenc　in　his　blue　cleric's　robe　looking　at　his　younger　son　with　an　expression　that　actually　terrified　her。　She　had　thought；　naively；　that　her　travels　had　led　her　to　understand　something　of　the　world。　She　realized　now；　seeing　that　exchange　of　glances；　that　she　knew　nothing。　She　also　understood　in　that　moment　that；　in　a　real　sense；　all　of　this　came　down　to　the　two　of　them。
　　〃In　the　Books　of　Othair；〃　said　Blaise　softly；　〃which　are　the　holiest　writings　of　Corannos；　it　is　told　that　the　land　of　Gorhaut　carries　the　god's　burden　of　bringing　justice　into　the　world。　It　teaches　that　Corannos　has　bestowed　upon　us　the　holy　task　of　guarding　the　helpless　and　the　persecuted　in　all　lands　we　pass　through；　in　return　for　his　great　favour　and　the　promise　of　his　eternal　shelter　when　we　die。〃　He　was　silent；　and　in　the　silence　was　an　indictment。
　　〃You　dare　speak　to　me　of　the　teachings　of　the　god？〃　Galbert　said；　his　rich　voice　rising；　genuinely　incredulous。　Behind　him　Lisseut　saw　a　man　who；　from　his　appearance；　had　to　be　the　other　son。　He　was　sitting　astride　a　handsome　horse　among　the　small　number　of　men　who　had　e　with　the　High　Elder　and　the　king。　His　expression　was　strained；　oddly　suspended　between　bitter　amusement　and　pain。　Impulsively；　she　glanced　over　at　Rosala。　She　was　gazing　steadily　at　her　husband；　her　face　unreadable。　There　were；　Lisseut　thought；　layers　and　layers　of　grief　here。
　　Blaise　seemed　to　ignore　his　father's　interjection。　He　went　on；　as　if　no　one　had　spoken。　〃You　are；　in　the　light　of　these　teachings；　as　much　a　betrayer　of　Corannos　as　this　falsely　anointed　king　is　a　traitor　to　his　people。　Because　you　are　my　father　and　the　god　teaches　us　to　respect　our　parents　in　their　dotage　you　will　not　be　executed；　but　you　will　be　stripped　of　your　office　when　we　return　to　Gorhaut。〃
　　〃You　are　mad；〃　said　King　Ademar　flatly；　dismissively。
　　Only　then　did　Blaise　turn　to　him。　〃I　am　enraged；〃　he　said；　a　ferocity　in　his　voice　for　the　first　time；　a　first　blaze　of　heat。　〃I　am　revolted。　I　loathe　how　you　have　allowed　yourself　and　your　country　to　be　used。　What　king　permits　a　counselor's　vile　obsession　to　lead　him　so　far　down　paths　of　unholiness　and　betrayal？〃
　　〃A　false　king；〃　said　Fulk　de　Savaric；　his　sudden　voice　clear　as　a　bell。　〃One　unworthy　of　his　crown。〃
　　〃Or　his　life；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair　quietly。
　　〃Or　of　any　remembrance　at　all　in　the　world　after　the　death　that　Rian　is　even　now　making　ready　for　him；〃　added　the　countess　of　Arbonne；　and　of　all　those　there　it　was　her　voice　that　was　grimmest　of　all；　as　if　she　were　truly　speaking　for　some　power　beyond　the　world。
　　For　the　first　time　the　king　of　Gorhaut；　turning　from　one　of　them　to　the　other；　looked　shaken。　And　so　smoothly；　predictably；　his　adviser　moved　to　fill　the　silence　that　followed。
　　〃These；〃　Galbert　said　in　the　deep；　manding　voice；　〃are　the　last　strident　posturings　of　the　doomed。　Shall　we　quail　before　this　mumbling？　Rather；　you　should　all　be　on　your　knees　even　now；　begging　the　mercy　of　a　gentle　death。〃
　　〃You　would　like　that；　wouldn't　you？〃　said　Ariane　de　Carenzu；　moving　her　horse　forward　a　little。　She　was　smiling；　but　not　with　her　eyes。　〃You　would　like　the　women　of　Arbonne　kneeling　before　you；　I　see。　I　do　see　it　now；　actually。　No　wonder　your　son's　wife　fled　from　you。　What　does　Corannos　say　about　such　desires；　Galbert　de　Garsenc？〃
　　〃They　are　abominations；〃　said　Blaise　quietly。　〃For　which　atonement　must　be　made。〃　He　himself　was　pale　now。
　　〃This；〃　said　the　king　of　Gorhaut；　regaining　his　posure；　〃has　grown　tedious。　I　am　here　only　because　the　protocols　of　war　pel　this　meeting　of　heralds。　Hear　me　then：　we　have　e　south　because　the　countess　of　Arbonne　has　given　shelter　and　succour　to　a　woman　of　Gorhaut　and　has　refused　to　return　her　to　us。　All　else；　as　the　High　Elder　says；　is　posturing。　I　have　patience　for　no　more　of　it。　Prepare　yourselves　to　die　on　the　morrow。〃
　　〃What　if　I　do　return？〃　said　Rosala　suddenly。　〃If　I　e　back　north；　will　you　take　your　army　home？〃
　　Galbert　de　Garsenc　laughed　thickly。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　reply　but　was　forestalled　by　the　king's　lifted　hand。　〃This　es；〃　said　Ademar　softly；　〃very　much　too　late。　There　is　a　lesson　now　to　be　taught　to　those　who　have　denied　our　most　proper　demands。　I　am　pleased　to　see　you　eager　to　return；　but　it　makes　no　matter　at　this　point。　There　is　no　power　here；　or　anywhere　in　the　world；　Rosala；　that　can　stop　me　now　from　bringing　you　back　to　Cortil。〃
　　〃With　the　child；〃　said　Galbert　quickly。
　　He　was　ignored。
　　〃To　Cortil；　my　lord？〃　Rosala　asked；　lifting　her　voice。　〃Are　you　so　open　about　this　now？　Do　you　not　mean：　back　to　Garsenc　and　my　lord　husband？〃
　　In　the　stillness　that　followed　this；　Lisseut　realized　that　the　king　of　Gorhaut　had　just　made；　in　some　fashion　she　did　not　entirely　understand；　a　mistake。
　　
　　A　long　way　south；　on　the　Island　of　Rian　in　the　sea；　where　the　wind　was　not　blowing　on　this　day　and　the　waters　lay　calm　and　blue　under　the　pale　winter　sun；　Beatritz　de　Barbentain；　High　Priestess　of　Rian；　rose　suddenly　from　before　a　fire　into　which　she　had　been　gazing　sightlessly　for　most　of　the　day。
　　〃Something　has　just　happened；〃　she　said　aloud；　though　there　was　no　one　in　her　room　with　her　save　the　white　owl　on　her　shoulder。　〃Something　that　might　matter。　Oh；　sweet　Rian　remember　us；　have　mercy　upon　your　children。〃
　　She　was　silent　then；　waiting；　reaching　out　in　her　darkness　for　the　elusive；　un…coercible　vision　of　the　goddess　that　might　let　her　know　at　least　a　part　of　what　was　now　happening　so　far　away　in　the　place　of　the　wind。
　　
　　And　in　that　precise　moment；　by　the　lake；　among　that　gathering　of　enemies；　a　voice　was　heard　for　the　first　time。
　　〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Ranald；　duke　of　Garsenc；　moving　his　horse　into　the　open　space　between　the　two　panies；　〃that　this　is　rather　too　openly　said　for　my　taste　and　for　the　honour　of　my　family。〃　He　was　staring　at　the　king　of　Gorhaut。　He　had　not　used　a　title。
　　No　one　responded。　No　one　else　moved。　It　seemed　to　Lisseut；　afterwards；　that　the　duke's　words　had　virtually　frozen　them　all　with　astonishment。　Ranald　de　Garsenc；　the　only　moving　figure　in　a　still　world；　turned　to　his　wife。　He　looked　remarkably　at　ease　now；　as　if　this　action　or　decision；　this　movement；　had　somehow　granted　him　release　from　something。　He　said；　〃Forgive　me；　my　lady；　but　I　must　ask　this；　and　I　will　accept　the　truth　of　what　you　say：　has　the　king　of　Gorhaut　been　your　lover？〃
　　Lisseut　realized　she　was　holding　her　breath。　Out　of　the　side　of　her　vision　she　saw　that　Blaise　had　gone　bone…white。　Sitting　her　horse　easily；　Rosala　de　Garsenc　seemed　almost　as　posed　as　her　husband　though。　She　said；　as　clearly　as　before；　〃He　has　not；　my　lord；　though　he　has　sought　to　be　that　for　some　time　now。　He　was　only　delaying　while　I　was　with　child。　Your　father；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　has　been　urging　the　thought　upon　him　for　purposes　of　his　own。　I　will　swear　to　you　though；　upon　the　life　of　my　child；　that　I　have　not　lain　with　Ademar；　and　that　I　will　die　before　I　willingly　do　so。〃
　　〃This　is　why　you　left？〃　A　different　note　in　Ranald's　voice；　almost　too　exposed；　it　made　Lisseut　wish；　suddenly；　that　she　was　not　here。　None　of　us　has　a　right　to　be　listening　to　this；　she　thought。
　　But　Rosala　said；　her　handsome；　strong　head　held　high；　〃It　is　indeed　why　I　left；　my　lord。　I　feared　you　could　not；　or　would　not；　guard　us　against　your　father　and　your　king；　for　the　one　had　claimed　the　child　I　was　carrying；　as　you　know；　and　the　other　wanted　me。〃
　　Ranald　was　nodding　slowly；　as　if　the　words　were　striking　echoes　within　himself。
　　〃Ranald；　in　the　god's　name；　do　not　shame　me；〃　Galbert　de　Garsenc　began；　the　beautiful　voice　being　harsh；　〃by　allowing　this　depraved；　contemptible　woman　to　give　voice　to　such…〃
　　〃You　be　silent；〃　said　the　duke　of　Garsenc　bluntly。　〃I　will　consider　how　to　deal　with　you　after。〃　The　tone　was　so　curt　it　was　shocking。
　　〃After　what？〃　asked　Ademar　of　Gorhaut。　His　own　head　was　lifted；　his　carriage　in　the　saddle　magnificent。　There　was　a　glitter　to　his　gaze。　He　knows；　Lisseut　thought。　He　knows　the　answer　to　that。
　　〃After　I　have　publicly　dealt　with　you　for　the　dishonour　you　have　willed　upon　my　house。　No　king　of　Gorhaut　has　ever　been　free　to　wreak　what　havoc　he　will　among　the　high　lords　of　our　land。　I　am　not　about　to　let　you　be　the　first。　The　wife　of　the　duke　of　Garsenc　is　not　a　trinket　to　be　played　for；　however　blind　the　duke　might　be。〃　He　paused　for　a　moment；　then：　〃This　is　a　formal　challenge；　Ademar。　Will　you　fight　me　yourself；　or　name　a　champion　to　shelter　behind？〃
　　〃Are　you　mad？〃　Galbert　de　Garsenc　cried　out。
　　〃That；〃　said　Ranald　gravely；　〃is　the　second　time　that　question　has　been　asked　of　one　of　your　sons。　In　fact；　I　think　it　is　true　of　neither　of　us。〃　He　turned　to　Rosala。　〃Other　accusations　may　fairly　be　made　against　me。　I　will　hope　to　have　a　chance　to　address　them　after。〃
　　She　met　his　glance　but　said　nothing；　stern　and　proud；　Lisseut　thought；　as　some　yellow…haired　goddess　of　the　north。　But　that；　she　realized　immediately　after；　was　idle　fantasy：　they　didn't　allow　goddesses　in　the　north。
　　Ranald　turned　back　to　Ademar。　They　all　turned　back　to　Ademar。　The　king　of　Gorhaut；　past　the　first　surprise　of　this；　was　smiling；　only　with　his　lips　though；　his　eyes　were　hard　as　stone。
　　〃We　are　in　a　foreign　county　and　at　war；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　a　mander　of　my　army。　You　are　now　proposing　that　we　fight　each　other　because　your　wife；　whose　flight　from　your　home　is　the　cause　of　our　being　here；　alleges　that　I　expressed　a　desire　for　her。　Is　this　what　I　understand　from　you；　my　lord　of　Garsenc？〃
　　It　sounded　absurd；　mad　indeed；