ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第12章

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ection　of　Valledo　is　as　good　a　course…
　　〃Why　would　you　assume　I　have　no　plans？〃　It　was　curious　how　quickly　he　could　anger　her。
　　He　stopped。　〃Forgive　me。〃
　　〃Where？〃
　　She　would　not　have　answered　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　for　any　number　of　reasons；　but　she　had　to　tell　her　father。　He　had　not　spoken　a　word　to　her　in　four　years　before　this　afternoon。
　　〃Ragosa；〃　she　said　quietly。
　　She　had　never　even　thought　of　it　until　ibn　Khairan　had　begun　his　speech；　but　once　the　name　of　the　city　was　spoken　it　seemed　to　Jehane　as　if　she　had　always　been　heading　there；　east　towards　the　shores　of　Lake　Serrana；　and　the　river　and　the　mountains。
　　〃Ah；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　thoughtfully。　He　rubbed　his　smooth　chin。　〃You　could　do　worse　than　King　Badir；　yes。〃
　　〃And　Mazur　ben　Avren。〃
　　She　said　it　too　defiantly。　
　　He　grinned。　〃The　Prince　of　the　Kindath。　Of　course。　I'd　be　careful　there；　Jehane。〃
　　〃Why？　You　know　him？〃
　　〃We　have　exchanged　letters　and　verses　over　the　years。　Books　for　our　libraries。　Ben　Avren　is　an　extremely　subtle　man。〃
　　〃And　so？　That　is　a　bad　thing　in　the　principal　advisor　to　the　king　of　Ragosa？〃
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃Tonight　you　are　asking　that　particular　question　of　the　wrong　man；　actually。　Just　be　careful　if　you　do　get　there。　Remember　I　told　you。〃　He　was　silent　a　moment；　half…turned　to　the　window。　〃And　if　you　are　to　get　anywhere；　not　to　mention　myself；　we　must　bring　an　end　to　this　encounter。　I　believe　I　hear　voices　below。　Husari　and　Velaz；　we'd　best　hope。〃
　　She　heard　the　sounds　now；　too；　and　did　recognize　both　voices。
　　〃I'll　leave　the　way　I　came；　Ser　Ishak；　with　your　permission。〃　Ibn　Khairan　moved　past　Jehane　to　take　her　father's　hand　again。　〃But　I　do　have　one　question　of　my　own；　if　I　may。　I've　wondered　about　something　for　four　years　now。〃
　　Jehane　felt　herself　go　still。　Her　father　slowly　tilted　his　head　up　towards　ibn　Khairan。
　　Who　said；　〃Tell　me；　if　you　will；　did　you　know　what　you　risked　when　you　delivered　Almalik's　last　child　in　the　way　you　did？〃
　　In　the　stillness　that　followed　Jehane　could　hear；　from　the　courtyard　below；　her　mother's　calm　voice　inviting　ibn　Musa　into　their　house；　as　if　he　were　no　more　than　an　awaited　dinner　guest　on　an　ordinary　night。
　　She　saw　her　father　nod　his　head；　a　sound　emerging　from　the　ruined　mouth　like　the　release　of　a　long　burden。　Jehane　felt　herself　suddenly　on　the　edge　of　tears　again。
　　〃Would　you　do　it　again？〃　ibn　Khairan　asked；　very　gently。
　　No　delay；　this　time。　Another　affirmative　nod。
　　〃Why？〃　asked　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　and　Jehane　could　see　that　he　truly　wanted　to　understand　this。
　　Ishak's　mouth　opened　and　closed；　as　if　testing　a　word。　〃Gareeruh；〃　he　said　finally；　then　shook　his　head　in　frustration。
　　〃I　don't　understand；〃　ibn　Khairan　said。
　　〃Gareeruss；〃　Ishak　said　again；　and　this　time　Jehane　saw　him　place　a　hand　over　his　heart；　and　she　knew。
　　〃The　Oath　of　Galinus；〃　she　said。　It　was　difficult　to　speak。　〃The　Physician's　Oath。　To　preserve　life；　if　it　can　be　done。〃
　　Ishak　nodded　once；　and　then　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　as　if　exhausted　by　the　effort　to　municate　after　so　long。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　was　still　holding　his　hand。　Now　he　let　it　go。　〃I　would　need　time　to　think；　more　time　than　we　have；　before　I　would　presume　to　offer　any　reply　to　that；〃　he　said　soberly。　〃If　my　stars　and　your　moons　allow；　I　would　be　honored　to　meet　with　you　again；　Ser　Ishak。　May　I　write　to　you？〃
　　Ishak　nodded　his　head。　After　a　moment　ibn　Khairan　turned　back　to　Jehane。
　　〃I　believe　I　did　say　I　had　two　reasons　for　ing；〃　he　murmured。　〃Or　had　you　forgotten？〃　She　had；　actually。　He　saw　that；　and　smiled　again。　〃One　was　a　warning　of　danger；　the　other　was　to　bring　you　something。〃
　　He　walked　past　her；　back　to　the　window。　He　swung　up　on　the　sill　and　reached　out　and　around　the　side　to　the　ledge。　Without　stepping　down　again　he　turned　and　offered　something　exquisite　to　Jehane。
　　〃Oh　dear；〃　she　said。　〃Oh　dear。〃
　　It　was；　of　course；　her　urine　flask。　Her　father's　flask。
　　〃You　did　leave　in　rather　a　hurry　from　ibn　Musa's；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　mildly；　〃and　so　did　Velaz　and　Husari。　I　thought　you　might　want　the　flask；　and　perhaps　make　better　use　of　it　than　the　Muwardis　when　they　arrived。〃
　　Jehane　swallowed　and　bit　her　lip。　If　they　had　found　this　。。。　
　　She　stepped　forward　and　took　the　flask　from　his　hand。　Their　fingers　touched。　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。
　　And　remained　motionless；　astonished；　as　he　leaned　forward　and　kissed　her　on　the　lips。　The　scent　of　his　perfume　briefly　surrounded　her。　One　of　his　hands　came　up　and　lightly　touched　her　hair。
　　〃Courier's　fee；〃　he　said　easily；　leaning　back　again。　〃Ragosa　is　a　good　thought。　But　do　mention　Valledo　to　ibn　Musa…he　may　do　better　with　King　Ramiro。〃
　　Jehane　felt　the　rush　of　color　to　her　face　already　beginning　to　recede。　What　followed；　predictably；　was　something　near　to　anger。　Her　father　and　mother；　Velaz；　Ser　Rezzoni…everyone　who　knew　her　well…had　always　warned　her　about　her　pride。
　　She　took　a　step　forward　and；　standing　on　tiptoe；　kissed　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　in　her　turn。　She　could　feel　his　sharply　intaken　breath　of　surprise。　That　was　better：　he　had　been　much；　much　too　casual　before。
　　〃Doctor's　fee；〃　she　said　sweetly；　stepping　back。　〃We　tend　to　charge　more　than　couriers。〃
　　〃I　will　fall　out　of　the　window；〃　he　said；　but　only　after　a　moment。
　　〃Don't。　It's　a　long　way　down。　You　haven't　said；　but　it　seems　fairly　obvious　you　have　your　own　plan　of　vengeance　to　pursue　in　Cartada。　Falling　from　a　window　would　be　a　poor　way　to　begin。〃　She　was　gratified　to　see　that　he　hadn't　been　prepared　for　that　either。
　　He　paused　a　second　time。　〃We　shall　meet　again；　I　dare　hope。〃
　　〃That　would　be　interesting；〃　Jehane　said　calmly；　though　her　heart　was　beating　very　fast。　He　smiled。　A　moment　later　she　watched　him　climb　down　the　rough　wall　to　the　courtyard。　He　went　through　an　archway　towards　the　gates　without　looking　back。
　　She　would　have　thought　she'd　won　that　last　exchange；　but　the　smile　he'd　offered；　just　before　turning　to　climb　down；　made　her　less　certain；　in　the　end。
　　〃Care；　Jehaa；　care；〃　her　father　said；　from　behind　her；　echoing　her　own　thoughts。
　　Feeling　frightened　again；　by　many　things；　Jehane　went　back　to　his　chair　and　knelt　before　it。　She　put　her　head　in　his　lap。　And　after　a　moment　she　felt　his　hands　begin　to　stroke　her　hair。　That　had　not　happened　for　a　long　time。
　　They　were　like　that　when　Velaz　came　for　her；　having　already　packed　for　the　road…for　both　of　them。　He　had　arrived；　of　course；　at　his　own　decision　on　this　matter。
　　
　　Some　time　later；　when　Jehane　was　gone；　and　Velaz；　and　Husari　ibn　Musa；　the　silk　merchant　who　had　bee；　however　improbably；　a　declared　conspirator　against　the　Lion　of　Cartada；　strange　sounds　could　be　heard　emanating　from　the　study　of　Ishak　ben　Yonannon；　the　physician。
　　His　wife　Eliane　stood　in　the　corridor　outside　his　closed　door　and　listened　as　her　husband；　silent　as　death　for　four　long　years；　practiced　articulating　the　letters　of　the　alphabet；　then　struggled　with　simple　words；　like　a　child；　learning　what　he　could　say　and　what　he　could　not。　It　was　fully　dark　outside　by　then；　their　daughter；　their　only　child；　was　somewhere　beyond　the　walls　of　civilization　and　safety；　where　women　almost　never　went；　in　the　wilderness　of　the　wide　world。　Eliane　held　a　tall；　burning　candle；　and　by　its　light　someone　watching　could　have　seen　a　taut　anguish　to　her　still…beautiful　face　as　she　listened。
　　She　stood　like　that　a　long　time　before　she　knocked　and　entered　the　room。　The　shutters　were　still　folded　back　and　the　window　was　open；　as　Jehane　had　left　them。　At　the　end　of　a　day　of　death；　with　the　sounds　of　grief　still　raw　beyond　the　gates　of　the　Quarter；　the　stars　were　serene　as　ever　in　the　darkening　sky；　the　moons　would　rise　soon；　the　white　one　first　tonight；　and　then　the　blue；　and　the　night　breeze　would　still　ease　and　cool　the　scorched　summer　earth　where　men　and　women　breathed　and　walked。　And　spoke。
　　〃Eyyia？〃　said　her　husband；　and　Eliane　bet　Danel　heard　the　mangling　of　her　name　as　music。
　　〃You　sound　like　a　marsh　frog；〃　she　said；　moving　to　stand　before　his　chair。
　　By　the　flickering　light　she　saw　him　smile。
　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　she　asked。　〃My　dear。　I've　needed　you　so　much。〃
　　〃Eyyia；〃　he　tried　again；　and　stood　up。　His　eyes　were　black　hollows。　They　would　always　be　hollows。
　　He　opened　his　arms　and　she　moved　into　the　space　they　made　in　the　world；　and　laying　her　head　against　his　chest　she　permitted　herself　the　almost　unimaginable　luxury　of　grief。
　　
　　At　approximately　the　same　time；　their　daughter　was　just　outside　the　city　walls　negotiating　with　a　number　of　whores　for　the　purchase　of　three　mules。
　　Jehane　had　known；　in　fact；　of　several　hidden　exits　in　the　city　walls。　Some　of　them　were　too　tenuous　for　a　man　of　Husari's　girth；　but　there　was　a　place　in　the　Quarter　itself；　at　the　northwestern　end；　where　a　tree　hid　a　key　to　a　low　passage　through　the　stone　of　the　city　wall。　It　was；　in　the　event；　a　near　thing；　but　Husari　was　able　to　squeeze　through　with　help　from　Velaz。
　　As　they　came　out　and　stood　up　on　the　grassy　space　before　the　river　a　woman's　voice…a　familiar　voice；　in　fact…said　cheerfully　in　the　darkness；　〃Be　wele；　pilgrims。　May　I　lead　you　to　a　Garden　of　Delights　such　as　Ashar　only　offers　to　the　Dead？〃
　　〃He　doesn't　offer　it　at　all　to　the　Kindath；〃　Jehane　replied。　〃Tonight　you　could　almost　tempt　me；　Jacinto。〃
　　〃Jehane？　Doctor？〃　The　woman；　scented　and　gaudily　bejewelled；　stepped　closer。　〃Forgive　me！　I　didn't　recognize　you。　Who　called　for　you　tonight？〃
　　〃No　one；　actually。　Tonight　I　need　your　help。　The　wadjis　may　be　after　me；　and　the　Muwardis。〃
　　〃Plague　rot　them　all！〃　the　woman　named　Jacinto　said。　〃Haven't　they　had　enough　blood　for　one　day？〃　Jehane's　eyes　were　accustomed　to　the　night　by　now；　and　she　could　make　out　the　slender　figure　in　front　of　her；　clad　only　in　the　thinnest；　most　revealing　wisps　of　cloth。　〃What　do　you　need？〃　Jacinto　asked。　She　was　fourteen　years　old；　Jehane　knew。
　　〃Three　mules；　and　your　silence。〃
　　〃You'll　have　them。　e；　I'll　bring　you　to　Nunaya。〃
　　She　had　expected　that。　If　anyone　exerted　any　sort　of　control　over　this　munity　of　women　and　boys　outside　the　walls　it　was　Nunaya。
　　Nunaya　was　not　someone　who　wasted　time；　or　words。　Men　in　a　hurry　knew　this；　too；　or　they　learned　it　soon　enough。　A　client　who　came　to　visit　her　was　likely　to　be　back　inside　Fezana's　walls　within　a　very　short　span　of　time；　relieved　of　certain　urges　and　a　sum　of　money。
　　The　purchase　of　the　mules　was　not　a　difficult　transaction。　For　several　years　now　Jehane…the　only　woman　doctor　in　Fezana…had　been　the　trusted　physician　of　the　whores　of　the　city。　First　in　their　district　inside　the　eastern　wall　and　then　out　here　to　the　north；　after　they　had　been　pushed　by　the　wadjis　beyond　the　city　gates　and　into　one　of　the　straggling　suburbs　by　the　river。
　　That　episode　had　been　but　one　in　a　series　of　irregular；　recurring　outbursts　of　pious　outrage　that　punctuated　the　dealings　between　the　city　and　those　who　traded　in　physical　love。　The　women　fully　expected　to　be　back　inside　the　walls　within　a　year…and　probably　back　outside　them　again　a　year　or　two　after　that。
　　Given；　however；　that　the　women　one　could　buy；　and　a　fair　number　of　boys　as　well；　were　now　most