ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第2章

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three　blond　and　bearded　foreign　mercenaries　arrogantly　shouldering　their　way　through　the　market　that　she　remembered。　The　new　wing　of　the　castle　was　being　consecrated　by　the　wadjis　today；　and　the　young　prince　of　Cartada；　Almalik's　eldest　son；　who　bore　his　name；　was　here　to　receive　selected　dignitaries　of　subjugated　Fezana。　Even　in　a　town　notorious　for　its　rebels；　social　status　mattered；　those　who　had　received　a　coveted　invitation　to　the　ceremony　had　been　preening　for　weeks。
　　Jehane　paid　little　attention　to　this　sort　of　thing；　or　to　any　other　nuances　of　diplomacy　and　war　most　of　the　time。　There　was　a　saying　among　her　people：　Whichever　way　the　wind　blows；　it　will　rain　upon　the　Kindath。　That　pretty　well　summed　up　her　feelings。
　　Since　the　thunderous；　echoing　fall　of　the　Khalifate　in　Silvenes　fifteen　years　ago；　allegiances　and　alignments　in　Al…Rassan　had　shifted　interminably；　often　several　times　a　year；　as　petty…kings　rose　and　fell　in　the　cities　with　numbing　regularity。　Nor　were　affairs　any　clearer　in　the　north；　beyond　the　no…man's…land；　where　the　Jaddite　kings　of　Valledo　and　Ruenda　and　Jalona…the　two　surviving　sons　and　the　brother　of　Sancho　the　Fat…schemed　and　warred　against　each　other。　It　was　a　waste　of　time；　Jehane　had　long　ago　decided；　to　try　to　keep　track　of　what　former　slave　had　gained　an　ascendancy　here；　or　what　king　had　poisoned　his　brother　there。
　　It　was　being　warmer　in　the　marketplace　as　the　sun　climbed　upwards　in　a　blue　sky。　Not　a　great　surprise；　midsummer　in　Fezana　was　always　hot。　Jehane　dabbed　at　her　forehead　with　a　square　of　muslin　and　brought　her　mind　back　to　the　business　at　hand。　Medicine　was　her　training　and　her　love；　her　refuge　from　chaos；　and　it　was　her　link　to　her　father；　now　and　as　long　as　she　lived。
　　A　leather　worker　she　did　not　recognize　stood　shyly　at　the　front　of　the　line。　He　carried　a　chipped　earthenware　beaker　to　serve　as　a　flask。　Placing　a　grimy　coin　on　the　counter　beside　her　he　grimaced　apologetically　as　he　proffered　the　beaker。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　whispered；　barely　audible　amid　the　tumult。　〃It　is　all　we　have。　This　is　from　my　son。　He　is　eight　years　old。　He　is　not　well。〃
　　Velaz；　behind　her；　unobtrusively　picked　up　the　coin；　it　was　considered　bad　form；　Ser　Rezzoni　had　taught；　for　doctors　to　actually　touch　their　remuneration。　That；　he　had　said　waspishly；　is　what　servants　are　for。　He　had　been　her　first　lover　as　well　as　her　teacher；　during　her　time　living　and　studying　abroad　in　Batiara。　He　slept　with　almost　all　his　women　students；　and　a　few　of　the　men　it　had　been　rumored。　He　had　a　wife　and　three　young　daughters　who　doted　upon　him。　A　plex；　brilliant；　angry　man；　Ser　Rezzoni。　Kind　enough　to　her；　however；　after　his　fashion；　out　of　respect　for　Ishak。
　　Jehane　smiled　up　at　the　leather　worker　reassuringly。　〃It　doesn't　matter　what　container　you　bring　a　sample　in。　Don't　apologize。〃
　　By　his　coloring　he　appeared　to　be　a　Jaddite　from　the　north；　living　here　because　the　work　for　skilled　artisans　was　better　in　Al…Rassan；　most　probably　a　convert。　The　Asharites　didn't　demand　conversions；　but　the　tax　burden　on　Kindath　and　Jaddite　made　for　a　keen　incentive　to　embrace　the　desert　visions　of　Ashar　the　Sage。
　　She　transferred　the　urine　sample　from　the　chipped　beaker　to　her　father's　gorgeous　flask；　gift　of　the　grateful　king　whose　namesake　heir　was　here　today　to　celebrate　an　event　that　further　ensured　Cartadan　dominance　of　proud　Fezana。　On　a　bustling　market　morning　Jehane　had　little　time　to　ponder　ironies；　but　they　tended　to　surface　nonetheless；　her　mind　worked　that　way。
　　As　the　sample　settled　in　the　flask　she　saw　that　the　urine　of　the　leather　worker's　son　was　distinctly　rose…colored。　She　tilted　the　flask　back　and　forth　in　the　light；　in　fact；　the　color　was　too　close　to　red　for　fort。　The　child　had　a　fever；　what　else　he　had　was　hard　to　judge。
　　〃Velaz；〃　she　murmured；　〃dilute　the　absinthe　with　a　quarter　of　mint。　A　drop　of　the　cordial　for　taste。〃　She　heard　her　servant　withdraw　into　the　booth　to　prepare　the　prescription。
　　To　the　leather　worker　she　said；　〃He　is　warm　to　the　touch？〃
　　He　nodded　anxiously。　〃And　dry。　He　is　very　dry；　doctor。　He　has　difficulty　swallowing　food。〃
　　Briskly；　she　said；　〃That　is　understandable。　Give　him　the　remedy　we　are　preparing。　Half　when　you　arrive　home；　half　at　sundown。　Do　you　understand　that？〃　The　man　nodded。　It　was　important　to　ask；　some　of　them；　especially　the　Jaddites　from　the　countryside　in　the　north；　didn't　understand　the　concept　of　fractions。　Velaz　would　make　up　two　separate　vials　for　them。
　　〃Feed　him　hot　soups　only　today；　a　little　at　a　time；　and　the　juice　of　apples　if　you　can。　Make　him　take　these　things；　even　if　he　does　not　want　to。　He　may　vomit　later　today。　That　is　not　alarming　unless　there　is　blood　with　it。　If　there　is　blood；　send　to　my　house　immediately。　Otherwise；　continue　with　the　soup　and　the　juice　until　nightfall。　If　he　is　dry　and　hot　he　needs　these　things；　you　understand？〃　Again　the　man　nodded；　his　brow　furrowed　with　concentration。　〃Before　you　go；　give　Velaz　directions　to　your　home。　I　will　e　in　the　morning　tomorrow　to　see　him。〃
　　The　man's　relief　was　evident；　but　then　a　familiar　hesitation　appeared。　〃Doctor；　forgive　me。　We　have　no　money　to　spare　for　a　private　consultation。〃
　　Jehane　grimaced。　Probably　not　a　convert　then；　sorely　burdened　by　the　taxes　but　refusing　to　surrender　his　worship　of　the　sun…god；　Jad。　Who　was　she；　however；　to　question　religious　scruples？　Nearly　a　third　of　her　own　earnings　went　to　the　Kindath　tax；　and　she　would　never　have　called　herself　religious。　Few　doctors　were。　Pride；　on　the　other　hand；　was　another　matter。　The　Kindath　were　the　Wanderers；　named　for　the　two　moons　traversing　the　night　sky　among　the　stars；　and　as　far　as　Jehane　was　concerned；　they　had　not　travelled　so　far；　through　so　many　centuries；　only　to　surrender　their　long　history　here　in　Al…Rassan。　If　a　Jaddite　felt　the　same　about　his　god；　she　could　understand。
　　〃We　will　deal　with　the　matter　of　payment　when　the　time　es。　For　the　moment；　the　question　is　whether　the　child　will　need　to　be　bled；　and　I　cannot　very　well　do　that　here　in　the　marketplace。〃
　　She　heard　a　ripple　of　laughter　from　someone　standing　by　the　booth。　She　ignored　that；　made　her　voice　more　gentle。　Kindath　physicians　were　known　to　be　the　most　expensive　in　the　peninsula。　As　well　we　should　be；　Jehane　thought。　We　are　the　only　ones　who　know　anything。　It　was　wrong　of　her；　though；　to　chide　people　for　concerns　about　cost。　〃Never　fear。〃　She　smiled　up　at　the　leather　worker。　〃I　will　not　bleed　both　you　and　the　boy。〃
　　More　general　laughter　this　time。　Her　father　had　always　said　that　half　the　task　of　doctors　was　to　make　the　patient　believe　in　them。　A　certain　kind　of　laughter　helped；　Jehane　had　found。　It　conveyed　a　sense　of　confidence。　〃Be　sure　you　know　both　the　moons　and　the　Higher　Stars　of　his　birth　hour。　If　I　am　going　to　draw　blood　I'll　want　to　work　out　a　time。〃
　　〃My　wife　will　know；〃　the　man　whispered。　〃Thank　you。　Thank　you；　doctor。〃
　　〃Tomorrow；〃　she　said　crisply。
　　Velaz　reappeared　from　the　back　with　the　medicine；　gave　it　to　the　man；　and　took　away　her　flask　to　empty　it　into　the　pail　beside　the　counter。　The　leather　worker　paused　beside　him；　nervously　giving　directions　for　the　morrow。
　　〃Who's　next？〃　Jehane　asked；　looking　up　again。
　　There　were　a　great　many　of　King　Almalik's　mercenaries　in　the　market　now。　The　blond　northern　giants　from　far…off　Karch　or　Waleska　and；　even　more　oppressively；　Muwardi　tribesmen　ferried　across　the　straits　from　the　Majriti　sands；　their　faces　half…veiled；　dark　eyes　unreadable；　except　when　contempt　showed　clearly。
　　Almost　certainly　this　was　a　deliberate　public　display　by　Cartada。　There　were　probably　soldiers　strolling　all　through　town；　under　orders　to　be　seen。　She　belatedly　remembered　hearing　that　the　prince　had　arrived　two　days　ago　with　five　hundred　men。　Far　too　many　soldiers　for　a　ceremonial　visit。　You　could　take　a　small　city　or　launch　a　major　raid　across　the　tagra…the　no…man's…land…with　five　hundred　good　men。
　　They　needed　soldiers　here。　The　current　governor　of　Fezana　was　a　puppet　of　Almalik's；　supported　by　a　standing　army。　The　mercenary　troops　were　here　ostensibly　to　guard　against　incursions　from　the　Jaddite　kingdoms；　or　brigands　troubling　the　countryside。　In　reality　their　presence　was　the　only　thing　that　kept　the　city　from　rising　in　revolt　again。　And　now；　of　course；　with　a　new…built　wing　in　the　castle　there　would　be　more　of　them。
　　Fezana　had　been　a　free　city　from　the　fall　of　the　Khalifate　until　seven　years　ago。　Freedom　was　a　memory；　anger　a　reality　now；　they　had　been　taken　in　Cartada's　second　wave　of　expansion。　The　siege　had　lasted　half　a　year；　then　someone　had　opened　the　Salos　Gate　to　the　army　outside　one　night　as　winter　was　ing；　with　its　enforced　end　to　the　siege。　They　never　learned　who　the　traitor　was。　Jehane　remembered　hiding　with　her　mother　in　the　innermost　room　of　their　home　in　the　Kindath　Quarter；　hearing　screams　and　the　shouts　of　battle　and　the　crackle　of　fire。　Her　father　had　been　on　the　other　side　of　the　walls；　hired　by　the　Cartadans　a　year　before　to　serve　as　physician　to　Almalik's　army；　such　was　a　doctor's　life。　Ironies　again。
　　Human　corpses；　crawling　with　flies；　had　hung　from　the　walls　above　this　gate　and　the　other　five　for　weeks　after　the　taking　of　the　city；　the　smell　hovering　over　fruit　and　vegetable　stalls　like　a　pestilence。
　　Fezana　became　part　of　the　rapidly　growing　kingdom　of　Cartada。　So；　already；　had　Lonza；　and　Aljais；　even　Silvenes　itself；　with　the　sad；　plundered　ruins　of　the　Al…Fontina。　So；　later；　did　Seria　and　Ardeno。　Now　even　proud　Ragosa　on　the　shores　of　Lake　Serrana　was　under　threat；　as　were　Elvira　and　Tudesca　to　the　south　and　southwest。　In　the　fragmented　Al…Rassan　of　the　petty…kings；　Almalik　of　Cartada　was　named　the　Lion　by　the　poets　of　his　court。
　　Of　all　the　conquered　cities；　it　was　Fezana　that　rebelled　most　violently：　three　times　in　seven　years。　Each　time　Almalik's　mercenaries　had　e　back；　the　blond　ones　and　the　veiled　ones；　and　each　time　flies　and　carrion　birds　had　feasted　on　corpses　spread…eagled　on　the　city　walls。
　　But　there　were　other　ironies；　keener　ones；　of　late。　The　fierce　Lion　of　Cartada　was　being　forced　to　acknowledge　the　presence　of　beasts　equally　dangerous。　The　Jaddites　of　the　north　might　be　fewer　in　number　and　torn　amongst　themselves；　but　they　were　not　blind　to　opportunity。　For　two　years　now　Fezana　had　been　paying　tribute　money　to　King　Ramiro　of　Valledo。　Almalik　had　been　unable　to　refuse；　not　if　he　wanted　to　avoid　the　risk　of　war　with　the　strongest　of　the　Jaddite　kings　while　policing　the　cities　of　his　fractious　realm；　dealing　with　the　outlaw　bands　that　roamed　the　southern　hills；　and　with　King　Badir　of　Ragosa　wealthy　enough　to　hire　his　own　mercenaries。
　　Ramiro　of　Valledo　might　rule　a　rough　society　of　herdsmen　and　primitive　villagers；　but　it　was　also　a　society　organized　for　war；　and　the　Horsemen　of　Jad　were　not　to　be　trifled　with。　Only　the　might　of　the　khalifs　of　Al…Rassan；　supreme　in　Silvenes　for　three　hundred　years；　had　sufficed　to　conquer　most　of　the　peninsula　and　confine　the　Jaddites　to　the　north…and　that　confining　had　demanded　raid　after　raid　through　the　high　plateaus　of　the　no…man's…land；　and　not　every　raid　had　been　successful。
　　If　the　three　Jaddite　kings　ever　stopped　warring　amongst　each　other；　brother　agai