ggk.asongforarbonne-第93章

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　your　son。〃
　　〃I　gave　him　life　and　I　took　it　away；〃　said　Galbert；　still　mildly；　〃though　I　was　sorry　to　have　to　do　it。　He　was　worthless　as　a　man　until　the　end；　but　he　was　about　to　undo　my　one　chance　to　cleanse　this　land。〃
　　〃Of　course。　That　is　what　you　have　been　working　towards　all　these　years。〃
　　〃Among　other　things。　I　would　hardly　have　been　worth　much　myself　if　I　had　only　one　purpose　in　life。　I　wanted　Arbonne　scourged　if　it　could　be　done；　I　wanted　a　son　of　mine　on　the　throne　of　Gorhaut　if　it　could　be　done。　I　never　expected　to　have　both；　but　I　did　see　reason　to　hope　for　one　or　the　other。〃
　　〃You　are　lying；〃　Blaise　said　again；　hearing　the　note　of　desperation　in　his　voice　and　fighting　to　control　it。　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？　We　know　what　you　wanted：　you　intended　me　to　follow　you　into　the　service　of　the　god。〃
　　〃But　naturally。　You　were　the　younger　son；　where　else　should　I　place　you？　Ranald　was　to　bee　king。〃　Galbert　shook　his　head；　as　if　Blaise　were　being　unexpectedly　obtuse。　〃Then　you　balked　me；　not　for　the　first　time　or　the　last；　and　a　little　later　it　became　clear　that　Ranald　was　。。。　what　he　was。〃
　　〃You　made　him　that。〃
　　Again　Galbert　shrugged。　〃If　he　could　not　deal　with　me　he　could　not　have　dealt　with　kingship。　You　seemed　to　have　found　a　way　to　do　both。　After　I　managed　to　drive　you　away　with　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge。〃
　　Blaise　felt　himself　losing　colour。　〃You　are　now　going　to　tell　me…〃
　　〃That　I　had　a　number　of　reasons　for　that　treaty。　Yes；　I　am。　I　did。　Think；　Blaise。　Money　for　this　war　and　a　dagger　at　Ademar's　back　among　the　dispossessed　of　the　north。　And　I　finally　made　you　leave　Gorhaut；　to　go　where　you　could　bee　a　focus　for　those　who　might　oppose　Ademar。　And　me；〃　he　added　as　an　afterthought。
　　〃Incidentally；〃　Galbert　went　on；　still　in　that　same　flat；　calm　manner；　〃you　are　going　to　need　a　great　deal　of　money　to　retake　the　northern　marches；　especially　after　our　losses　today。　Fortunately　Lucianna　d'Andoria　is　a　widow　again。　I　was　planning　to　have　Borsiard　killed　here　if　no　one　in　your　army　managed　to　do　it。　I　saw　her　as　a　possible　bride　for　Ranald　if　events　fell　out　that　way。　You'll　have　to　marry　her　now；　which　I　know　will　make　you　almost　as　happy　as　it　makes　her　father。　With　his　daughter　a　queen　he　might　even　forego　bringing　her　home　to　his　own　bed　at　intervals。〃　Galbert　smiled；　Blaise　felt　slightly　faint。　〃Watch　him　though；　watch　Massena　Delonghi　closely。　Between　the　Correze　and　Delonghi　banks；　however；　you　should　be　able　to　deal　with　Valensa　withholding　the　rest　of　the　payments　they　owe　by　the　terms　of　the　treaty。〃
　　Blaise　felt　his　head　beginning　to　ache；　as　if　he　were　absorbing　blows。
　　〃You　are　lying；　aren't　you？　Tell　me　why？　What　does　it　gain　you　now；　at　this　point；　to　try　to　make　me　believe　you　planned　all　of　this？〃
　　〃I　didn't　plan　it　all；　Blaise；　don't　be　a　fool。　I　am　a　mortal　servant　of　Corannos；　not　a　god。　After　you　left　home　for　Gotzland　and　Portezza　I　thought　Fulk　de　Savaric　and　some　of　the　other　northern　barons　would　send　men　after　you　with　an　offer　of　kingship。　I　didn't　expect　you　to　step　forward　yourself　the　way　you　did。　I　didn't　know　you　had　so　much　。。。　rashness　in　you。　I　did　consider　that　you　might　end　up　in　Arbonne　at　some　point；　if　only　because　you　knew　I　would　be　ing　here；　but　I　didn't　know　how　much　。。。　influence　they　would　have　on　you。　That；　I　will　admit；　has　been　a　surprise。〃
　　〃Ademar；〃　said　Blaise；　still　struggling。　〃You　did　everything　for　him。　You　even　tried　to　give　him　Rosala。〃
　　His　father's　expression　was　contemptuous。　〃I　did　nothing　for　Ademar　but　offer　him　rope　for　his　hanging。　He　was　never　worth　more　than　that。　He　was　an　instrument　that　would　let　me　take　Arbonne　for　the　god。　That　is　all。〃　He　shrugged　again。　〃We　seem　to　have　failed　in　that。　It　is　my　grief　as　I　die。　I　really　thought　we　could　not　lose。　In　which　case　I　expected　the　Correze　boy　would　take　you　away　from　here…back　to　Portezza；　and　in　time　I　might　yet　achieve　both　halves　of　my　dream。　Ademar　would　never　have　been　able　to　hold　Arbonne…not　after　what　I　intended　to　do　here。〃　His　beautiful　voice；　thought　Blaise；　was　so　seductively　lucid。　〃As　for　Rosala；　really　Blaise…that　was　to　goad　the　barons　further　against　him…and　you；　if　you　needed　a　further　spur；　and　it　was　only　to　be　after　she'd　borne　her　Garsenc　child。　Tell　me；　the　boy；　Cadar；　he　is　yours　isn't　he？〃
　　Blaise　felt　his　hands　beginning　to　shake。　〃Will　you　soil　everything　you　touch　in　your　life；　even　at　the　end？　Can　nothing　be　clean？〃
　　〃My　death；　or　so　I　have　been　promised；〃　said　Galbert　drily。　His　mouth　quirked。　〃e；　Blaise；　if　it　isn't　yours　I　will　die　wondering　whose　it　is。　I　did　some　investigating　after　Ranald　had　been　married　some　time　without　an　heir。　I　discovered　that　in　all　the　years　he　was　King's　Champion；　with　women　clawing　each　other　in　their　lust　for　his　bed；　he　never　fathered　a　single　child　that　I　could　trace。　You　will　remember　that　my　brother　failed　to　produce　an　heir　either。　There　may　be　a　flaw　in　our　seed；　though　I　seem　to　have　escaped　it。　Did　you？〃
　　Blaise　looked　down　at　his　shaking　hands。　He　said；　〃Nothing　ever　mattered　except　the　goals；　did　it？　Nothing　had　meaning　in　itself。　We　were　all　tools；　every　one　of　us；　Ademar；　Rosala；　Ranald　and　I；　even　when　we　were　boys。〃
　　His　father　made　a　flicking　gesture　of　dismissal。　〃What　did　you　want；　Blaise？　Lullabies？　A　pat　on　the　back？　A　doting　father's　grip　on　the　shoulder　when　you　did　well？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Blaise　then；　as　evenly　as　he　could。　〃Yes；　that　is　what　I　suppose　I　wanted。〃
　　For　the　first　time　Galbert　seemed　to　hesitate。　〃You　have　managed　all　right　without　them。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Blaise　again；　taking　a　breath　and　letting　it　out　slowly。　〃I　managed。〃　He　looked　at　his　father。　〃Had　we　leisure　to　discuss　it　I　might　tell　you　something　of　my　own　sense　of　things；　but　I　don't　think　I　want　to。〃　He　paused。　He　felt　very　calm　now。　〃Is　there　more；　father？〃
　　A　silence；　then　slowly　Galbert　shook　his　head。　For　another　moment　they　looked　at　each　other；　then　Blaise　turned　and　went　from　the　ring。　The　soldiers　parted　to　make　way　for　him。　He　saw　that　a　pany　of　archers　in　the　crimson　colours　of　Carenzu　had　e　up　to　join　the　others　now。　Beyond　them　he　saw　his　horse；　with　Hirnan　holding　the　reins。　He　walked　over　and　mounted　up　and　began　riding　away。　He　didn't　look　back。
　　Behind　him　he　heard　Rudel's　voice　asking　a　question；　and　Thierry　responding；　very　clearly；　then　he　heard　an　order　spoken　and　he　heard　the　arrows　sing。
　　
　　CHAPTER　19
　　Blaise　was　unaware　for　the　first　part　of　his　ride　that　he　was　following　the　same　path　Bertran　had　taken　leaving　the　field。　Heading　west　towards　the　reddening　disc　of　the　sun；　he　came　to　the　avenue　of　elms　that　led　to　the　arch。　He　stopped　and　looked　back　then　at　the　fires　dotting　the　battlefield。　He　felt　very　strange。　It　came　to　him；　almost　as　an　incidental　fact；　that　he　was　alone　in　the　world　now。
　　It　was　then；　glancing　down；　that　he　saw　the　fresh　tracks　of　a　single　horse　and　realized　that　Bertran　had　e　this　way　before　him。　The　duke　would　be　alone　now；　too；　he　thought；　in　a　different　way　and　yet　the　same。　Ariane　had　said　something　about　that　a　long　time　ago：　Bertran　had　lost；　with　Urté's　death；　the　passion　of　hatred　that　had　ordered　and　shaped　his　life　for　more　than　twenty　years。　Hatred；　Blaise　thought；　could　be　as　powerful　as　love；　though　the　singers　might　try　to　tell　you　otherwise。
　　He　twitched　the　reins　of　his　horse　and　started　forward　again。　He　passed　under　the　dwarfing　curve　of　the　arch；　briefly　chilled；　even　with　his　cloak；　as　he　entered　its　shade；　then　he　came　out　on　the　other　side　again　into　the　fading　light　of　the　sun。　Overhead　another　flock　of　birds　was　flying　south　on　the　wind。　His　father　was　dead。　His　brother　was　dead。　He　was　likely　to　be　crowned　king　of　Gorhaut　very　soon。　Cadar　Ranald　de　Savaric　was　probably　his　son。　He　had　been　struggling　with　that　thought　since　autumn。　It　was　not　a　thing　to　be　told。　He　knew　Rosala　well　enough　to　know　she　never　would。
　　And　that；　predictably；　carried　his　thoughts　to　Aelis　de　Miraval　who　had　died　so　long　ago；　and　for　love　of　whom　two　strong　men　had　twisted　and　ruined　their　lives。　He　rode　on　through　the　silence；　following　the　survivor　of　those　two　men　through　the　bare　winter　vineyards　with　the　autumn　grapes　long　harvested　and　the　first　buds　a　long　way　off。　The　vines　gave　way　to　grass　eventually　and　a　forest　rose　up　before　him　as　he　rode　and　in　time　Blaise　came　to　a　small　charcoal…burner's　cabin　at　the　edge　of　that　wood　and　saw　a　horse　he　knew　tethered　outside。
　　Sitting　in　the　doorway；　where　a　woman　might　sit　at　needle　and　thread　at　day's　ending　to　catch　the　last　of　the　good　light；　was　Bertran　de　Talair。
　　The　duke　looked　up　as　Blaise　dismounted。　His　expression　registered　surprise　but　was　not　unweling。　Blaise　had　not　been　sure　about　that。　He　saw　the　flask　of　seguignac　clasped　in　Bertran's　hands。　Memory　came　with　that；　too；　clear　as　a　temple　bell。　A　stairway　in　Castle　Baude。　The　moons　passing　from　the　narrow　window。　That　flask　passing　back　and　forth　between　the　two　of　them。　Blaise　brooding　upon　Lucianna　Delonghi　in　bitterness；　Bertran　speaking　of　a　woman　dead　more　than　twenty　years　and　not　of　the　one　whose　bed　he　had　just　left。
　　The　duke　saw　him　looking　at　the　flask　and　lifted　it。　〃There's　a　little　left；〃　he　said。
　　〃My　father　is　dead；〃　said　Blaise。　He　hadn't　expected　to　say　that。　〃Thierry's　archers。〃
　　Bertran's　expressive　face　grew　still。　〃There　isn't　enough　seguignac　for　that；　Blaise。　Not　nearly　enough　for　the　needs　of　this　day；　but　sit　down；　sit　with　me。〃
　　Blaise　walked　across　the　grass　and　sat　down　beside　the　duke　in　the　doorway。　He　took　the　offered　flask　and　drank。　The　clean　fire　ran　through　him。　He　drank　again；　feeling　the　warmth；　and　handed　back　the　flask。
　　〃It　is　over？〃　Bertran　asked。
　　Blaise　nodded。　〃They　will　all　have　surrendered　by　now。〃
　　Bertran　looked　at　him；　his　blue　eyes　ringed　by　dark　circles。　〃You　were　trying　to　stop　me　there　at　the　end；　weren't　you。　I　heard　you　calling　my　name。〃
　　Blaise　nodded　again。
　　〃I　don't　think　I　would　have　stopped。　I　don't　think　I　could　have；　if　Thierry　hadn't　blown　the　horns。〃
　　〃I　know。　I　understand。〃
　　〃I'm　not　very　proud　of　that。〃　Bertran　took　another　short　pull　at　the　flask。
　　〃This　isn't　a　time　to　be　judging　yourself。　Women　were　burned。　And　the　two　troubadours　。。。　〃
　　Bertran　closed　his　eyes　and　Blaise　fell　silent。　The　duke　looked　up　again　after　a　moment　and　handed　back　the　flask。　Blaise　cradled　it；　not　drinking。　The　seguignac　was　already　making　him　light…headed。
　　〃I　have　a　question　for　you；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair。
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃Do　you　have　any　great　objection　if　I　ask　your　brother's　wife　to　marry　me？　If　Rosala　will　have　me；　I　would　like　to　raise　Cadar　as　my　own；　as　heir　to　Talair。〃
　　A　remarkable　sensation　of　warmth　began　to　spread　through　Blaise；　and　he　knew　it　wasn't　ing　from　the　seguignac　this　time。　He　looked　over　at　Bertran　and　smiled　for　what　was　surely　the　first　time　in　that　long　day。　〃I　have　no　say　at　all　in　what　Rosala　does；　but　nothing　I　can　imagine　would　please　me　more。〃
　　〃Really？　Do　you　think　she　will　accept？〃　Bertran's　tone　was　suddenly　diffident。
　　Blaise　laughed　aloud。　It　was　a　strange　sound　in　that　space　at　the　edge　of　the　woods。　〃You　are　asking　me　for　guidance　on　a