ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第24章

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white　silk　robe。　And　that　pressing　awareness；　as　he　tilted　her　head　to　meet　his　kiss；　brought　back　for　Ines　all　the　wildly　disturbing　sensations　she　always　felt　when　this　happened。
　　I　will　have　to　atone；　she　told　herself　as　their　lips　met。
　　He　began　unravelling　the　cloth　that　bound　the　coils　of　her　red　hair。　She　would　seek　holy　counsel　and　support　later。　Her　own　hands；　unbidden；　as　if　bearing　weights；　came　up　along　his　robe；　feeling　the　hard　body　beneath。　Ramiro　drew　back；　then　lowered　his　head　again　hungrily。　He　bit　at　the　corner　of　her　lip。
　　There　would　surely　be　wise；　consoling　thoughts　from　her　advisors　of　the　soul　later；　the　queen　told　herself。　Her　fingers　seemed　now　to　be　laced　behind　his　head。　She　pulled　his　hair；　not　gently　at　all。　The　king　laughed。　He　smelled　of　some　eastern　spice。　That；　too；　was　unsettling。　It　was　unfair。　She　would　need　such　a　great　deal　of　help　to　guide　her　back　to　the　pure　realm　of　the　spirit。　For　the　moment；　though；　as　her　husband　smoothly　lifted　and　then　carried　her　over　to　the　wide　couch　he'd　had　brought　into　her　new　suite　of　rooms；　the　queen　of　Valledo　was　rather　more　preoccupied；　to　her　great　and　enduring　confusion；　with　increasingly　explicit　matters　of　the　flesh。
　　At　one　point　she　cried　his　name　aloud；　and　at　another；　suffused　with　her　eternal　mixture　of　desire　and　shame；　she　found　herself　riding　above　his　supine　form；　knowing　that　this　mode　of　congress　was　yet　another　decadent　legacy　of　Al…Rassan；　but　unable　to　stop　herself　from　gasping　aloud　with　the　pleasure　it　gave　her。　Pleasure　of　the　world；　she　told　herself；　somewhat　desperately；　moving　up　and　down　upon　him　while　his　fingers　teased　and　circled　her　breasts。　Of　the　world。　Only　of　the　world。　The　realm　of　the　god　was　otherwise。　It　was　eternal；　holy；　golden；　transcendent；　shining；　not　bound　to　the　mortal　bodies　of　frail…
　　〃Oh　my！〃　said　the　queen　of　Valledo　then；　as　if　in　great　surprise；　and　held　herself　extremely　still。
　　The　second　cry　that　escaped　her　a　moment　later　was；　in　its　own　way；　an　admission。
　　〃Tell　me　about　what　happened；〃　she　said；　some　time　after。
　　He　liked　to　lie　with　her；　entangled　indecently；　after　congress。　That　much；　at　least；　she　was　able　to　deny　him。　Ines　had　donned　a　robe　and　had　forced　him　to　clothe　himself　as　well；　before　summoning　one　of　her　women　with　refreshments。　Amused；　satiated；　Ramiro　had　obeyed。
　　The　woman　brought　ale　for　him　and　a　pear　infusion　for　the　queen　and　then　withdrew。　Now　Ramiro　lay　indolently　upon　the　couch　while　Ines　sat　on　a　nearby　bench；　needlework　in　hand。　She　was　making　a　new　pouch　for　her　sun　disk；　to　hang　from　her　belt。
　　〃It　went　surprisingly　well；〃　Ramiro　said；　turning　on　his　side；　his　head　propped　on　one　hand。　He　looked　at　her　with　such　frank　admiration　it　brought　color　to　her　cheeks　again。　〃Thank　you；　by　the　way。　I　do　prefer　it　when　you　leave　your　hair　down；〃　he　said。
　　She　hadn't　intended　to。　An　oversight。　She　was　wrongfully　proud　of　her　hair；　and　as　a　penance　kept　it　tied　tightly　back　almost　all　the　time。　Self…consciously　she　pushed　a　strand　from　her　eyes。　He　would　laugh　at　her　if　she　began　binding　it　up　now；　she　knew。
　　〃This　morning；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃We　are　talking　about　this　morning。〃
　　He　grinned。　Sipped　from　his　flagon。　The　noise　outside　and　below　stairs　continued。　Among　other　things；　he　was　expanding　the　palace　baths；　after　the　Al…Rassan　fashion；　with　hot　and　cold　pools；　and　a　massage　room。　It　was　a　scandal。
　　〃They　both　accepted　my　judgment；〃　he　said。　〃There　was　a　bit　of　noise　when　I　said　I　would　have　executed　Garcia；　but　no　one　actually　spoke　out。　Count　Gonzalez　is　now　bound　by　oath　to　defend　Belmonte's　family　for　two　years。　No　blood　feud。　He　has　sworn　it　in　public。〃
　　〃You　announced　he　would　die　if　they　died？〃　He　had　discussed　this　with　her　some　days　before。　In　fairness；　she　had　to　concede
　　that　he　was　never　reluctant　to　confide　in　her。　They　had　even　discussed；　all　those　years　ago；　his　move　into　Valledo　from　Jalona。　He　spent　a　fair　bit　of　time　in　her　rooms；　telling　her　his　thoughts。　Certainly　more　than　her　father　had　ever　confided　in　her　mother。
　　In　fact；　Ines　suddenly　realized；　looking　at　the　man　on　her　couch；　if　he　hadn't　been　so　much　an　infidel　in　the　most　important　matters；　she　might　have　been　able　to　name　her　husband　a　paragon　among　men。
　　Her　expression　must　have　softened。　He　looked　amused　again。　〃I　meant　to　tell　you　earlier。　I　love　looking　at　your　breasts　from　below；〃　he　said。　〃They　change　from　pears　to　melons；　did　you　know？〃
　　〃I　really　hadn't　noticed；〃　she　said　tartly。　〃Must　we　expound　upon　it？　Is　the　constable　to　die　if　a　Belmonte　does？〃
　　Ramiro　shook　his　head。　〃I　proclaimed　it；　and　the　count　would　have　accepted；　I　think；　but　then　Rodrigo　asked　me　to　withdraw　that　sanction。　Said　if　Gonzalez　swore　to　their　defense　it　was　enough　for　him。　I　wonder　。。。　could　he　be　tired　of　his　wife；　do　you　think？　They've　been　married　a　long　time。〃
　　〃Less　long　than　we　have；〃　Ines　replied。　〃And　if　you　think　he's　tired　of　her　you　are　a　great　fool。　It　is　simply　that　Ser　Rodrigo　Belmonte　is　a　pious　man；　a　believer　in　the　power　of　the　god；　and　he　was　willing　to　trust　to　Jad's　will　and　Gonzalez's　public　oath。　It　doesn't　seem　surprising　to　me　at　all。〃
　　Ramiro　made　no　reply　for　a　moment。　〃Actually；　what　he　said　was　that　he　didn't　want　our　enemies　able　to　force　me　to　execute　the　constable　by　harming　Rodrigo's　family。　I　hadn't　thought　of　that。〃
　　Neither　had　Ines。　She'd　had　years　of　this　sort　of　dialogue；　though。　〃He　just　said　that　because　you　wouldn't　have　listened　if　he　offered　a　reason　to　do　with　faith。〃
　　〃Probably　not；〃　Ramiro　agreed；　far　too　placidly。　He　looked　at　her　happily。　〃I　still　think　he　may　be　tired　of　his　wife。　He　asked　us　to　pray　for　him　because　he　had　to　go　home。〃
　　〃You　see？〃　said　Ines　swiftly。　〃He　believes　in　the　power　of　prayer。〃
　　The　king　spoiled　her　triumph　by　laughing　aloud。
　　Outside；　the　banging　and　rumbling　noises　of　construction　continued　unabated。　Esteren's　castle　was　being　turned　into　a　veritable　palace；　fashioned；　all　too　clearly；　after　the　courts　of　the　south。　In　a　way　it　was　an　insult　to　the　god。　She　did　like　the　plans　for　her　expanded　quarters　though。
　　〃Again；　my　lady？〃　the　king　of　Valledo　asked　his　wife。
　　She　bit　at　her　lip。　〃If　you　e　to　chapel　with　me；　after。〃
　　〃Done；〃　he　said；　rising　from　the　couch。
　　〃And　speak　the　prayers　aloud　with　me；〃　she　added　quickly。
　　〃Done。〃　He　came　over　to　stand　above　her　seat；　but　then　he　sank　to　his　knees　before　her；　reaching　up　with　one　hand　to　touch　her　hair。
　　〃And　you　will　not　make　any　clever　ments　about　the　liturgy。〃
　　〃Done。　Done。　Done；　Ines。〃
　　It　seemed　a　fair　bargain　for　a　summer's　day。　She　laid　her　needlework　aside。　She　even　granted　him　a　smile。　The　work　of　Jad　here　in　Esperana　had　turned　out　to　be　long　and　unexpectedly　plex。　It　had　led　her　down　paths　she　could　never　have　foreseen　back　at　home　in　Ferrieres　twenty　years　ago；　a　girl　dreaming　at　night　not　of　a　man　but　a　god。　She　slid　from　the　bench　to　join　her　husband　on　the　newly　carpeted　floor。　She　liked　the　carpet；　too。　It　had　e　all　the　way　north　from　Seria；　in　Al…Rassan。
　　
　　Somewhat　rashly；　in　view　of　all　the　circumstances；　Rodrigo　Belmonte　elected　to　ride　on　alone　through　the　last　night　in　order　to　arrive　home　at　dawn；　ahead　of　his　pany；　which　had　travelled　with　him　from　Esteren。
　　He　was　one　of　the　most　formidable　fighting　men　in　the　peninsula；　and　the　country　here　was　about　as　safe　as　any　open　country　was　in　thinly　populated　Valledo；　which　is　to　say　it　was　not；　in　fact；　particularly　safe　at　all。
　　Both　of　the　wandering　moons　the　Kindath　named　as　sisters　of　the　god　were　in　the　sky；　and　both　were　close　to　full。　In　the　far　distance；　beyond　the　ranches　and　the　rising　foothills；　the　faint　outline　of　the　mountains　of　Jalona　could　be　seen。　Given　bright　moonlight　and　a　brilliantly　clear　sky；　Rodrigo　would　have　been　easily　visible　from　a　long　way　off　as　he　rode　alone　over　the　grazing　lands　where　the　horses　of　Valledo　still　ran　wild。
　　Of　course　that　meant　he　should　have　been　able　to　see　trouble　ing　from　equally　far　off；　and　his　black　horse　was　able　to　outrun　anything　on　that　plain。　If　anyone　was　foolish　enough　to　attack　him；　once　they　realized　who　he　was。
　　Someone；　therefore；　would　have　had　to　have　been　almost　insanely　reckless；　and　the　Captain　uncharacteristically　lost　in　night　thoughts；　for　him　to　be　ambushed　by　moonlight　so　near　to　home。
　　They　waited　until　his　horse　was　in　the　middle　of　the　stream…the　Carriano…that　formed　the　western　boundary　of　Rancho　Belmonte。　He　was；　in　fact；　almost　on　his　own　land。
　　In　late　summer　the　stream　ran　shallow；　not　even　up　to　the　black　horse's　withers　at　the　deepest　point。　They　were　walking　across；　not　swimming。　But　when　bowmen　rose　up；　like　ghosts　of　the　dead；　from　the　reeds　at　the　river's　edge；　Rodrigo　knew　that　someone　had　given　thought　to　this。　Swift　as　his　mount　was；　the　water　was　going　to　slow　him　for　the　first　few　seconds。　Against　archers　that　would　be　enough。
　　With　the　first　words　spoken　his　thought　was　confirmed。
　　〃We　will　shoot　the　horse；　Ser　Rodrigo。　Do　not　try　to　run。〃
　　He　didn't　want　them　to　shoot　the　horse。
　　He　looked　around。　A　dozen　men；　all　with　kerchiefs　pulled　up　and　hat　brims　low　to　disguise　their　faces。　He　couldn't　see　their　mounts。　Downstream　probably。
　　〃Dismount。　In　the　water。〃　The　same　man　spoke　again；　his　voice　muffled　behind　the　kerchief。
　　〃If　you　know　my　name　you　know　you　are　dead　if　you　pursue　this　folly；〃　Rodrigo　said　softly。　He　didn't　get　off　his　horse　yet；　but　nor　did　he　let　it　move。
　　〃Your　horse　is　dead　if　you　remain　astride。　Get　down。〃
　　He　did　so；　swinging　forward　deliberately；　where　it　was　shallower。　The　water　was　up　to　his　waist。
　　〃Throw　your　sword　on　the　bank。〃
　　He　hesitated。
　　〃We　will　not　shoot　you；　Ser　Rodrigo。　We　will　kill　the　horse。　Throw　your　sword。〃
　　〃There　are　close　to　one　hundred　and　fifty　men　behind　me；〃　Rodrigo　said　levelly；　but　he　was　removing　his　sword　belt　as　he　spoke。
　　〃They　are　half　a　night's　ride　behind　you。〃
　　The　speaker　seemed　remarkably　well　informed。　Rodrigo　tossed　his　sword　and　belt　into　the　grass；　carefully　clear　of　the　stream。　He　marked　where　they　landed；　but　then　someone　moved　to　pick　them　up；　so　it　didn't　matter。
　　〃Now　walk。　Towards　us。　Leave　the　horse　where　he　is。　Someone　will　take　him。〃
　　〃He　won't　take　kindly　to　another　hand；〃　Rodrigo　warned。
　　〃That　is　our　difficulty；　then；〃　the　spokesman　said。　〃We　are　accustomed　to　dealing　with　horses。　e。〃
　　He　went；　sloshing　out　of　the　stream　and　through　the　reeds　to　the　grass。　They　took　him；　insultingly；　further　east　onto　his　own　lands。　There　was　no　one　about；　however；　not　at　the　very　perimeter　of　the　estate；　and　not　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　They　led　him　for　several　hundred　paces；　bows　levelled　constantly；　though　at　the　horse　not　at　him。　Someone　was　clever　here。
　　They　came　to　one　of　the　range　huts。　Like　all　the　huts　it　was　small；　unfurnished；　no　more　than　a　primitive　shelter　for　the　herders　from　rainstorms　or　the　snows　that　sometimes　came　in　winter。
　　Someone　lit　a　torch。　They　pushed　him　inside。　Six　of　them　came　with　him；　faces　hidden；　not　speaking　save　for　the　leader。　They　took　both　his　knives：　the　one　in　his　belt　and　the　one　in　his　boot。