ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第21章

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hat。　She　held　a　bow　with　an　arrow　nocked。
　　〃Fernan；　please　tell　me　who　this　sorry　figure　is。〃　Her　voice　was　crisp　in　the　grey　stillness。
　　〃Yes；　Mother。　I　believe　it　is　Ser　Garcia　de　Rada。　The　constable's　brother。〃　It　was　the　first　of　the　boys　who　answered；　the　leader。
　　〃Is　it　so？〃　the　woman　said　icily。　〃If　he　is　indeed　of　rank　I　will　consent　to　speak　with　him。〃　She　looked　directly　at　Garcia。
　　This　was　the　woman　he　had　been　imagining　pinned　and　naked　beneath　him　since　they'd　left　Orvilla。　He　stood　in　the　wet　grass；　water　seeping　through　his　split　boot；　and　looked　up　at　her。　He　swallowed。　She　was　indeed　very　beautiful；　even　in　man's　garb　and　stained　with　mud。　That　was；　for　the　moment；　the　least　of　his　concerns。
　　〃Ser　Garcia；　you　will　explain　yourself；〃　she　said　to　him。　〃In　few　words　and　very　precisely。〃
　　The　arrogance　was　galling；　bitter　as　a　wound。　Garcia　de　Rada　had　always　been　quick…witted　though；　nor　was　he　a　coward。　This　was　a　bad　situation；　but　no　worse　in　its　way　than　Orvilla　had　been；　and　he　was　back　in　Valledo　now；　among　civilized　people。
　　〃I　have　a　grievance　with　your　husband；〃　he　said　levelly。　〃He　took　horses　belonging　to　my　men　and　myself　in　Al…Rassan。　We　were　ing　to　square　that　account。〃
　　〃What　were　you　doing　in　Al…Rassan？〃　she　asked。　He　hadn't　expected　that。
　　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃A　raiding　party。　Among　the　infidels。〃
　　〃If　you　met　Rodrigo　you　must　have　been　near　Fezana；　then。〃
　　How　did　a　woman　know　these　things？　〃Somewhat　near；〃　Garcia　agreed。　He　was　being　a　little　uneasy。
　　〃Then　Rodrigo　was　dealing　with　you　as　the　king's　officer　responsible　for　protecting　that　territory　in　exchange　for　the　parias。　On　what　basis　do　you　claim　a　right　to　steal　our　horses？〃
　　Garcia　found　himself　unable；　for　the　moment；　to　speak。
　　〃Further；　if　you　were　captured　and　released　without　your　mounts　you　will　have　given　him　your　parole　in　exchange　for　a　ransom　to　be　determined　by　the　heralds　at　court。　Is　that　not　so？〃
　　It　would　have　been　pleasant　to　be　able　to　deny　this；　but　he　could　only　nod。
　　〃Then　you　have　broken　your　oath　by　ing　here；　have　you　not？〃　The　woman's　voice　was　flat；　her　gaze　implacable。
　　This　was　being　ridiculous。　Garcia's　temper　flared。　〃Your　husband　ordered　a　cousin　of　mine　slain；　after　we　surrendered　and　sued　for　ransom！〃
　　〃Ah。　So　it　is　more　than　horses　and　armor；　is　it？〃　The　woman　on　the　wall　smiled　grimly。　〃Would　it　not　be　the　king's　task　to　judge　whether　his　officer　exceeded　authority；　Ser　Garcia？〃　Her　formality；　in　the　circumstances；　felt　like　mockery。　He　had　never　in　his　life　been　so　spoken　to　by　a　woman。
　　〃A　man　who　slays　a　de　Rada　must　answer　for　it；〃　he　said；　glaring　up　at　her；　using　his　coldest　voice。
　　〃I　see；〃　the　woman　said；　undisturbed。　〃So　you　came　here　to　make　him　answer　for　it。　How？〃
　　He　hesitated。　〃The　horses；〃　he　replied　finally。
　　〃Just　the　horses？〃　And　abruptly　he　realized　where　this　questioning　was　going。　〃Then　why　were　you　riding　towards　these　walls；　Ser　Garcia？　The　horses　are　pastured　south　of　us；　they　are　not　hard　to　see。〃
　　〃I　am　tired　of　answering　questions；〃　Garcia　de　Rada　said；　with　as　much　dignity　as　he　could　manage。　〃I　have　surrendered　and　so　have　my　men。　I　am　content　to　let　the　king's　heralds　in　Esteren　determine　fair　ransom。〃
　　〃You　already　agreed　to　that　in　Al…Rassan　with　Rodrigo；　yet　you　are　here　with　drawn　swords　and　ill　intent。　I　regret　to　say　I　cannot　accept　your　parole。　And　tired　or　not；　you　will　answer　my　question。　Why　were　you　riding　towards　these　walls；　young　fellow？〃
　　It　was　a　deliberate　insult。　Humiliated；　seething　with　rage；　Garcia　de　Rada　looked　up　at　the　woman　on　the　wall　above　him；　and　said；　〃Your　husband　must　learn　that　there　is　a　price　to　be　paid　for　certain　kinds　of　action。〃
　　There　was　a　murmur　from　the　boys　and　ranch　hands。　It　fell　away　into　silence。　The　woman　only　nodded　her　head；　as　if　this　was　what　she　had　been　waiting　to　hear。
　　〃And　that　price　was　to　have　been　exacted　by　you？〃　she　asked　calmly。
　　Garcia　said　nothing。
　　〃Might　I　guess　further；　that　it　was　to　have　been　exacted　upon　myself　and　my　sons？〃
　　There　was　silence　in　the　space　before　the　walls。　Overhead　the　clouds　were　beginning　to　lift　and　scatter　as　a　breeze　came　up。
　　〃He　had　a　lesson　to　learn；〃　said　Garcia　de　Rada　grimly。
　　She　shot　him　then。　Lifting　the　man's　bow　smoothly；　drawing　and　releasing　in　one　motion；　with　considerable　grace。　An　arrow　in　the　throat。
　　〃A　lesson　to　learn；〃　said　Miranda　Belmonte　d'Alveda；　thoughtfully；　looking　down　from　the　wall　at　the　man　she　had　killed。
　　〃The　rest　of　you　may　go；〃　she　added　a　moment　later。　〃Start　walking。　You　will　not　be　harmed。　You　may　give　report　in　Esteren　that　I　have　executed　an　oath…breaker　and　a　mon　brigand　who　threatened　a　Valledan　woman　and　her　children。　I　will　make　answer　directly　to　the　king　should　he　wish　me　to　do　so。　Say　that　in　Esteren。　Diego；　Fernan；　collect　their　mounts　and　arms。　Some　of　the　horses　look　decent　enough。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　Father　would　have　wanted　you　to　shoot　him；〃　Fernan　ventured　hesitantly。
　　〃Be　silent。　When　I　wish　the　opinions　of　my　child　I　will　solicit　them；〃　his　mother　said　icily。　〃And　your　father　may　consider　himself　fortunate　if　I　do　not　loose　a　like　arrow　at　him　when　he　ventures　to　return。　Now　do　what　I　told　you。〃
　　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　said　her　two　sons；　as　one。
　　As　the　boys　and　ranch　hands　hastened　to　do　her　bidding　and　Garcia　de　Rada's　surviving　panions　began　stumbling　away　to　the　west；　the　afternoon　sun　broke　through　the　clouds　overhead　and　the　green　grass　grew　bright；　wet　with　rain　in　the　branching　light。
　　
Six
　　Esteren　was　a　catastrophe　of　carpenters；　masons；　bricklayers　and　laborers。　The　streets　were　nearly　impassable；　certainly　so　for　a　horse。　The　palace　and　the　square　in　front　of　it　resounded　to　the　sounds　of　hammers；　saws　and　chisels；　shouted　curses　and　frantic　instructions。　plex；　dangerous…looking　equipment　was　being　swung　overhead　or　carried　this　way　and　that。　It　was　widely　reported　that　five　workers　had　already　died　this　summer。　Nor　was　it　overlooked　by　even　the　marginally　observant　that　at　least　half　of　the　project　supervisors　were　Asharites　brought　north　from　Al…Rassan　for　this　endeavor；　at　considerable　cost。
　　King　Ramiro　was　expanding　his　capital　and　his　palace。
　　There　had　been　a　time；　not　very　long　ago；　in　fact；　when　the　precarious　kings　of　Esperana…whether　it　was　a　whole　country　or　divided　as　it　now　was　again…ruled　on　the　move。　Cities　were　little　more　than　hamlets；　palaces　a　mockery　of　the　name。　Horses　and　mules；　and　heavy　carts　on　the　better…preserved　of　the　ancient　roads；　were　the　trappings　of　monarchy　as　the　courts　settled　in　one　town　or　castle　after　another　through　the　round　of　the　year。　For　one　thing；　the　kings　were　constantly　putting　out　brushfires　of　rebellion；　or　hurrying　to　try　at　least　to　limit　the　predatory　incursions　of　Al…Rassan。　For　another；　resources　in　the　hard…pressed　Jaddite　kingdoms　in　the　glory　years　of　the　Silvenes　Khalifate　were　scarcely　such　as　to　allow　the　monarchs　to　feed　themselves　and　their　retinues　without　spreading　the　burdens　imposed　by　their　presence。
　　Much　had　changed　in　twenty　years；　much；　it　was　evident；　was　still　changing　here　in　Valledo；　wealthiest　and　most　fertile　of　the　three　kingdoms　carved　out　of　Esperana　for　his　sons　by　King　Sancho　the　Fat。　The　current　frenzy　of　construction　in　the　royal　city　was　only　a　part　of　it；　funded　by　the　infusion　of　parias　money　and；　equally　important；　the　absence　of　raiding　from　the　south。　It　seemed　that　King　Ramiro　was　now　pursuing　an　entirely　new　definition　of　monarchy。　Over　and　above　everything　else；　this　past　year　he　had　made　it　clear　that　he　expected　all　the　major　nobility　and　clerics　to　show　up　in　Esteren　twice　a　year　for　his　assizes；　when　law　and　policy　were　to　be　resolved　and　promulgated。　It　was　rapidly　being　evident；　as　the　new　city　walls　grew　higher；　that　Esteren　was　going　to　be　more　than　merely　the　most　established　of　his　court　residences。
　　And　this　business　of　assizes…a　foreign　word；　Waleskan　apparently…was　more　than　slightly　galling。　Without　his　standing　army　it　was　unlikely　in　the　extreme　that　Ramiro　would　have　been　able　to　pel　attendance　from　his　country　nobility。　But　the　army　was　here；　well…paid　and　well…trained；　and　this　particular　summer　almost　every　figure　of　importance　in　Valledo　had　elected　to　follow　the　path　of　prudence　and　show　up。
　　Curiosity；　among　other　things；　could　lead　a　man　to　travel。　So　could　the　promise　of　wine　and　food　at　court；　and　women　for　hire　in　increasingly　urbanized　Esteren。　The　dust　and　noise　and　the　symbolism　of　a　public　submission　to　Ramiro's　will　were　the　prices　to　be　paid。　Given　the　turbulent　and　usually　brief　tenures　of　kings　in　Esperana　there　was　some　reason　to　believe　that　the　ambitions　of　King　Sancho's　most　plex　son　might　not　trouble　the　world　for　too　much　longer。
　　In　the　meantime；　it　had　to　be　conceded　that　he　was　offering　entirely　adequate　entertainment。　On　this　particular　day　Ramiro　and　his　court　and　the　visiting　country　lords　were　hunting　in　the　king's　forest　southwest　of　Esteren；　within　sight　of　the　Vargas　Hills。　Tomorrow　they　were　all　to　attend　the　assizes　at　Ramiro's　court　of　justice。　Today　they　rode　in　summer　fields　and　forests　killing　deer　and　boar　for　sport。
　　There　was　nothing；　short　of　actual　warfare；　that　the　nobility　of　Esperana　could　be　said　to　enjoy　more　than　a　good　hunt　on　a　fair　day。　Nor　could　it　be　overlooked　that　the　king；　for　all　his　modern；　unsettling　notions；　was　among　the　best　of　the　riders　in　that　illustrious　pany。
　　Sancho's　son；　after　all；　men　could　be　overheard　murmuring　to　each　other　in　the　morning　sunshine。　Stands　to　reason；　doesn't　it？
　　When　King　Ramiro　dismounted　to　plant　the　first　spear　in　the　largest　boar　of　the　day　as　it　charged　from　the　thicket　where　they　had　tracked　it；　even　the　most　independent…minded　and　aggrieved　of　the　rural　lords　could　be　seen　banging　swords　or　spears　in　approval。
　　When　the　boar　was　dead；　the　king　of　Valledo　looked　up　and　around　at　all　of　them。　Covered　in　blood；　he　smiled。　〃As　long　as　we　are　all　gathered　here；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　one　small　matter　we　might　as　well　attend　to　now；　rather　than　as　part　of　the　assizes　tomorrow。〃
　　His　courtiers　and　the　country　lords　fell　silent；　looking　sidelong　at　each　other。　Trust　Ramiro　to　do　something　devious　like　this。　He　couldn't　even　let　a　hunt　be　a　hunt。　Looking　around；　a　number　of　them　realized；　belatedly；　that　this　clearing　seemed　carefully　chosen；　not　merely　a　random　place　where　a　wild　beast　had　gone　to　ground。　There　was　space　enough　for　all　of　them；　and　even　a　conveniently　fallen　log　to　which　the　king　now　strode；　removing　bloodied　leather　gloves　and　casually　sitting　down；　very　much　as　if　on　a　throne。　The　outriders　began　dragging　the　boar　away；　leaving　a　smeared　trail　of　blood　on　the　crushed　grass。
　　〃Will　Count　Gonzalez　de　Rada　and　Ser　Rodrigo　Belmonte　be　so　good　as　to　attend　upon　me？〃　Speaking　these　words；　King　Ramiro　used　the　language　of　high　court　formality；　not　of　hunt　and　field；　and　with　that　the　tenor　and　shape　of　the　morning　changed。
　　The　two　men　named　could　be　seen　dismounting。　Neither　betrayed；　by　so　much　as　a　flicker　of　expression；　whether　this　development　had　been　anticipated；　or　whether　it　was　as　much　a　surprise　to　them　as　t