ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第23章

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　　〃Even　so。〃　It　was　interesting　how　calm　the　king　was。　A　number　of　men　reached　the　same　conclusion　at　the　same　time：　Ramiro　had　anticipated　almost　every　point　of　this　exchange。　〃I　do　not　think　you　can　truly　quarrel　with　our　ruling；　Ser　Rodrigo。　Take　your　pany；　if　you　will。　We　ask　only　that　they　not　be　used　in　warfare　against　us。〃
　　Silence　again；　as　every　man　struggled　to　think　through　the　implications。　It　could　be　seen　that　Rodrigo　Belmonte　was　staring　down　at　the　forest　floor；　his　forehead　creased　with　thought。　The　king　gazed　upon　him；　waiting。
　　When　Rodrigo　looked　up；　his　brow　had　cleared。　He　lifted　his　right　hand　towards　the　sky　overhead；　and　shaped　the　sun　circle　of　the　god　with　thumb　and　fingers。　〃I　swear　by　holy　Jad；〃　he　said　formally；　〃that　I　will　never　lead　my　pany　in　warfare　into　the　lands　of　Valledo。〃
　　It　was　almost　what　the　king　had　asked。　Almost；　but　not　quite；　and　Ramiro　knew　it。
　　〃And　if　you　find　a　Valledan　army　beyond　our　borders？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　can　swear　no　oath；〃　Rodrigo　said　quietly。　〃Not　an　honorable　one。　Not　if　I　am　forced　to　take　service　elsewhere　for　my　livelihood　and　that　of　my　pany。　My　lord；　this　is　not；〃　he　added；　meeting　the　king's　gaze　squarely；　〃a　departure　of　my　choosing。〃
　　A　long　stillness。
　　〃Do　not　take　service　with　Cartada；〃　said　the　king　at　length；　his　voice　extremely　soft。
　　Rodrigo　stood　motionless；　visibly　thinking。
　　〃Really；　my　lord？　You　will　begin　so　soon？　Within　two　years？〃　he　asked　cryptically。
　　〃It　may　be　so；〃　Ramiro　said；　no　less　ambiguously。
　　Men　were　struggling　to　understand；　but　the　two　of　them　seemed　to　be　in　the　midst　of　a　private　exchange。
　　Rodrigo　was　nodding　his　head　slowly。　〃I　suppose。　I　will　regret　being　elsewhere　if　it　does　happen。〃　He　paused。　〃I　will　not　serve　Almalik　of　Cartada。　I　don't　like　what　he　did　in　Fezana。　I　will　not　serve　him　there；　or　anywhere　else。〃
　　Fezana。
　　At　the　mention　of　the　name　a　few　men　began　to　nod　their　heads；　looking　at　their　tall；　proud　king。　A　glimmering　of　what　this　seemed　to　be　about　began　to　e　to　them；　like　shafts　of　the　god's　sunlight　falling　into　the　clearing。　Ramiro　wasn't　a　jurist　or　a　cleric；　after　all；　and　there　might　be　more　than　hunting　in　the　days　to　e。
　　〃I　accept　your　oath；〃　said　the　king　of　Valledo　calmly。　〃We　have　never　found　you　lacking　in　honor；　Ser　Rodrigo。　We　see　no　reason　to　doubt　it　now。〃
　　〃Well；　I　am　grateful　for　that；〃　said　the　Captain。　It　was　impossible　to　tell　if　there　was　mockery　in　his　voice。　He　took　a　step　forward；　fully　into　the　light。　〃I　do　have　a　request　of　my　own。〃
　　〃Which　is？〃
　　〃I　will　ask　Count　Gonzalez　to　swear　before　the　god　to　guard　my　family　and　possessions　as　if　they　were　his　own　while　I　am　away。　That　is　enough　for　me。　I　need　no　binding　of　his　death。　The　world　is　a　dangerous　place；　and　the　days　to　e　may　make　it　more　so。　Should　accident　befall　a　Belmonte；　Valledo　could　ill　afford　to　lose　its　constable　as　well。　I　am　content　with　his　sworn　word；　if　it　pleases　the　king。〃
　　He　was　looking　at　the　constable　as　he　spoke。　It　could　be　seen　that　de　Rada　was　taken　by　surprise。
　　〃Why？〃　he　asked　softly；　an　intimate　question　in　a　very　public　space。　The　two　men　faced　each　other　for　the　first　time。
　　〃I　believe　I　just　told　you；〃　Rodrigo　replied。　〃It　isn't　so　difficult。　Valledo　has　enemies　in　all　directions。　With　your　life　in　bond　someone　might　strike　at　this　kingdom　through　my　family。　I　would　not　want　the　king　bound　to　your　death　in　such　a　cause。　I　think　it　places　them　more　at　risk；　not　less。　I　need　not　like　you；　de　Rada；　to　trust　your　word。〃
　　〃Despite　my　brother？〃
　　The　Captain　shrugged。　〃He　is　being　judged　by　Jad。〃
　　It　wasn't　an　answer；　and　yet　it　was。　After　another　brief　silence；　in　which　the　sound　of　birdsong　could　clearly　be　heard　from　the　trees　around；　the　constable　raised　his　right　hand　in　the　same　gesture　Rodrigo　had　used。
　　〃Before　Jad；　and　before　my　lord　the　king　of　Valledo；　and　before　all　men　here；　I　make　oath　that　the　family　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte　shall　be　as　my　own　from　this　day　until　his　return　from　exile。　I　take　this　upon　my　honor　and　that　of　my　lineage。〃　The　sonorous　voice　filled　and　defined　the　forest　space。
　　Both　men　turned　back　to　the　king。　Unsmiling；　standing　very　tall；　he　looked　down　upon　them。　〃I　am　unused　to　having　my　decrees　superseded　by　the　parties　involved；〃　he　murmured。
　　〃Only　you　can　do　that；〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃We　merely　offer　an　alternative　for　the　king　to　accept　or　reject。〃
　　And　now　it　could　be　seen　that　Ramiro　smiled　at　the　man　he　had　just　condemned　to　exile。　〃So　be　it；〃　he　said。　〃We　accept　these　oaths。〃
　　Both　men　bowed。　Rodrigo　straightened　and　said；　〃Then；　with　your　permission；　my　lord；　I　will　make　immediate　arrangements　to　depart；　much　as　I　might　enjoy　continuing　to　hunt　with　you。〃
　　〃One　moment；〃　said　the　king。　〃Where　will　you　go？〃　His　voice　betrayed；　for　the　very　first　time；　a　shadow　of　doubt。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte's　grin；　caught　by　the　falling　sunlight；　was　wide；　and　unmistakably　genuine。　〃I　haven't　the　least　idea；〃　he　said。　〃Though　on　my　way　to　wherever　I　go　I'll　have　to　stop　and　deal　with　a　frail　and　terrified　woman　first。〃　His　smile　faded。　〃You　might　all　pray　for　me；〃　said　the　Captain　of　Valledo。
　　Then　he　turned；　collected　his　horse's　reins　from　a　groom；　mounted　up　and　rode　alone　from　the　clearing　back　the　way　they　had　e　through　the　trees。
　　
　　Ines；　the　queen　of　Valledo；　was　clasping　a　well…worn　sun　disk　and　listening；　eyes　devoutly　closed；　as　her　favorite　cleric　read　aloud　from　the　Book　of　the　Sons　of　Jad…the　passage　about　the　end　of　the　world；　as　it　happened…when　her　husband's　messenger　arrived　and　indicated　the　king　would　presently　be　with　her。
　　Apologetically；　she　bade　her　religious　counsellor　suspend　his　reading。　The　man；　not　unused　to　this；　marked　her　Book　and　laid　it　aside。　With　a　sigh；　a　pointed　glance　and　a　bow　to　the　queen　he　withdrew　from　the　chamber　through　an　inner　doorway。　It　was　well　known　that　King　Ramiro　was　uneasy　with　intensities　of　faith；　and　the　queen's　best　efforts　over　many　years　had　done　nothing　to　amend　this　unfortunate　circumstance。
　　It　had　everything　to　do；　Ines　had　long　since　decided；　with　the　time　when　he　had　lived　among　the　infidels。　All　three　of　the　difficult；　ambitious　sons　of　King　Sancho　had　spent　time　exiled　among　the　Asharites；　but　only　Ramiro　seemed　to　have　e　back　with　a　taste　for　the　ways　of　Al…Rassan　and　a　suspicious　softness　in　matters　of　faith。　It　was　perhaps　an　irony；　and　perhaps　not；　that　his　father　had　arranged　a　marriage　for　him　with　the　pious　younger　daughter　of　the　king　of　Ferrieres　across　the　mountains　to　the　east。
　　Ines；　whose　childhood　aspiration　had　been　to　be　accepted　among　the　Daughters　of　Jad　in　one　of　the　great　retreats；　had　accepted　her　betrothal　only　upon　the　advice　of　her　spiritual　counsellors；　including　the　High　Clerics　of　Ferrieres。　It　was　a　great　opportunity；　they　had　told　her。　A　chance　to　be　of　service　to　the　god　and　to　her　country　both。　The　young　man　she　was　marrying　would　likely　one　day　rule　a　part；　at　least；　of　Esperana；　and　Ines　could　use　her　position　to　influence　the　path　of　worship　in　that　troubled　land。
　　The　clerics　had　looked　entirely　prescient　when　Ramiro　was　named　ruler　of　mountainous　Jalofia　in　the　three…way　division　of　his　father's　last　testament。　And　then　even　more　so　when；　after　the　mysterious　death　of　his　brother　Raimundo；　her　husband　had　quickly　moved　west　and　claimed　the　crown　of　Valledo　as　well。　He　hadn't　been　able　to　hold　both　kingdoms…not　yet；　at　least…for　his　uncle　Bermudo　had　promptly　risen　in　Jalofia　and　seized　that　throne；　but　Valledo；　as　everyone　knew；　was　the　greater　prize。
　　What　the　clerics　hadn't　told　her…because　they　hadn't　known…was　that　the　young　man　she　was　marrying　was　fiercely　intelligent；　ambitious；　luridly　imaginative　in　carnal　acts　and　so　much　a　pragmatist　in　what　ought　to　have　been　firm　doctrines　of　holy　faith　that　he　might　as　well　have　been　an　infidel。
　　As　if　on　cue　to　this　distressing　line　of　thought；　the　king　appeared　in　her　doorway；　his　hair　and　clothing　still　damp　as　further　evidence　of　her　last　reflection：　what　self…respecting　man　bathed　as　often　as　King　Ramiro　did？　Not　even　the　Asharites　in　their　far…off　eastern　homelands　did　so。　Self…indulgent　bathing　rituals　were　characteristic　only　of　the　sybaritic　courts　of　Al…Rassan　where　they　had　not　even　the　decency　to　observe　the　ascetic　strictures　of　their　own　faith。
　　Too　much　time　in　the　courts　of　the　south；　Queen　Ines　thought　again；　and　at　a　point　in　life　when　he　had　been　young　and　impressionable。　She　glanced　sidelong　at　her　husband；　not　wishing
　　to　encourage　him　with　a　fuller　appraisal。　It　was　a　very　handsome　man　who　filled　her　doorway；　no　one　could　deny　that　much。　Tall；　well…built；　square…jawed。　If　his　hair　was　greying　early；　his　moustache　was　yet　black　and　there　was　no　evidence　of　faltering　reserves　of　martial　or　political　stamina　or　subtlety。
　　Or　of　faltering　in　more　private　dimensions；　either。
　　With　a　brief　gesture；　if　a　courteous　one；　the　king　dismissed　her　maidservants　and　slaves　and　the　two　guards　by　the　doors。　Ramiro　waited　until　they　had　all　taken　their　leave　then　strode　across　the　new　carpet　to　stand　before　Ines's　low　seat。　He　was　grinning。　She　knew　that　smile。
　　〃e；　my　wife；〃　he　said。　〃Events　of　this　morning　have　made　me　amorous。〃
　　Ines　refused　to　meet　his　eyes。　Almost　everything　made　him　amorous；　she　had　learned。　Clutching　her　sun　disk　like　a　small　shield；　she　murmured；　〃I'm　sure　it　was　a　ely　boar　you　slew。　But　was　there　no　one　of　my　lord's　concubines　who　might　have　assuaged　his　appetites　before　he　came　to　trouble　me？〃
　　Ramiro　laughed。　〃Not　today。　Today　I　have　a　desire　to　see　and　touch　the　body　of　my　life's　own　panion　as　consecrated　by　our　most　holy　god。　e；　Ines；　let　us　make　sport；　then　after　I　will　tell　you　what　happened　in　the　wood。〃
　　〃Tell　me　now。〃
　　Her　problem；　as　she　had　all　too　often　been　forced　to　admit　to　her　intimate　counsellors；　was　that　Ramiro　was　a　difficult　man　to　deny。　They　had　urged　her　to　use　his　desire　for　her　as　a　means　of　drawing　him　towards　a　truer　faith　but；　to　the　queen's　endless　chagrin；　the　effect　of　such　encounters　was　rather　the　opposite：　whether　it　was　his　natural　fervor　or　the　skills　he　had　learned…most　probably　among　the　courtesans　of　Al…Rassan…Ramiro　was　dismayingly　adept　at　subverting　her　best　intentions。
　　Even　now；　in　the　middle　of　a　hot　summer's　day；　with　carpenters　hammering　and　a　barrage　of　shouting　outside；　and　with　the　stem　words　of　the　world's　end　still　echoing　in　her　ears；　Queen　Ines　found　herself　breathing　a　little　more　quickly　at　the　images　her　husband's　presence　had　conjured　forth　within　her。　After　almost　twenty　years　and　with　the　full　knowledge　of　the　impious　evil　of　his　ways；　this　was　still　true。　And　Ramiro　could　read　it　in　her　as　easily　as　her　clerics　could　read　from　Jad's　most　holy　Books。　He　reached　down　now；　not　ungently；　and　plucked　the　god　disk　from　her　clasp。
　　〃Hold　me　like　that；〃　he　murmured；　laying　the　disk　aside　and　lifting　her　to　her　feet　with　his　strong　hands。　〃Love　me　the　way　you　love　the　god。〃　Then　he　slipped　his　arms　around　her　and　drew　her　close　so　that　she　was　made　inescapably　aware　that　the　king　of　Valledo　was　wearing　nothing　at　all　beneath　his　white　silk　robe。　And　that　pressing　awareness；　as　he　tilte