ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第25章

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　　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。　They　bound　his　hands　in　front　of　him；　and　then　someone　hammered　a　stake　into　the　packed　earth　floor　of　the　hut　and　they　forced　him　to　lie　down　and　pulled　his　bound　hands　up　over　his　head　and　looped　the　thongs　through　the　stake。　They　pulled　off　his　boots　and　tied　his　ankles　together　the　same　way。　Another　stake　was　driven　and　the　cord　that　bound　his　feet　was　looped　across　this。　He　was　unable　to　move；　hands　high　over　his　head；　legs　bound　together　and　pinned　to　the　earth。
　　〃What　do　you　think　will　happen；〃　Rodrigo　said；　breaking　the　silence；　〃when　my　pany　es　to　this　ranch　tomorrow　and　learns　I　have　not　arrived？〃
　　The　leader；　standing　by　the　doorway　watching　all　that　was　being　done；　merely　shook　his　head。　Then　he　gestured　to　the　others。　The　long　torch　was　planted　in　the　ground　and　they　left　him　there　in　the　hut；　trussed　like　a　sacrifice。
　　He　heard　footsteps　receding；　then　the　sound　of　horses　ing　up　and　then　being　ridden　away。　Pinned　helplessly　to　the　earth　on　his　own　land；　Rodrigo　Belmonte　lay　in　silence　for　a　few　moments；　listening　to　the　horsemen　riding　off。　And　then；　helplessly；　but　in　an　entirely　different　sense；　he　began　to　laugh。　It　was　difficult　to　catch　his　breath　with　his　hands　pulled　up　so　high；　he　whooped；　he　gasped；　tears　streamed　from　his　eyes。
　　〃The　god　burn　you；　Rodrigo！〃　said　his　wife；　storming　into　the　hut。　〃How　did　you　know？〃
　　He　went　on　laughing。　He　couldn't　stop。　Miranda　carried；　of　all　things；　an　arrow　in　one　hand。　She　was　dressed　in　black；　in　the　mannish　clothing　that　was　her　custom　on　the　ranch。　She　glared　at　him　in　fury　as　he　howled。　Then　she　stepped　closer　and　stabbed　him　in　the　thigh　with　her　arrow。
　　〃Ouch！〃　exclaimed　the　Captain　of　Valledo。　He　looked　down　and　saw　blood　welling　through　the　rip　in　his　trousers。
　　〃I　hate　when　you　laugh　at　me；〃　she　said。　〃Now；　how　did　you　know？　Tell　me；　or　I'll　draw　blood　again。〃
　　〃I　have　no　doubt；〃　Rodrigo　said；　struggling　to　regain　his　self…control。　He　had　not　seen　her　in　almost　half　a　year。　She　looked　unfairly　magnificent。　She　was　also；　quite　evidently；　in　a　substantial　rage。　He　concentrated；　for　his　own　safety；　on　her　question。
　　〃The　boys　did　well；　actually。　A　few　things。　Corrado　heard　other　horses　as　we　came　up　to　the　stream。　I　didn't；　their　mounts　were　left　far　enough　away　to　avoid　that；　but　a　war…horse　can　be　trained　to　give　warning。〃
　　〃What　else？〃
　　〃Two　men　let　their　shadows　show　in　the　water。　With　doubled　moonlight　one　has　to　be　careful。〃
　　〃Anything　else？〃　Her　voice　had　grown　even　colder。
　　He　considered　it；　and　decided　that　two　things　were　enough。　He　was　still　trussed　up；　and　she　still　had　an　arrow。　The　other　matters　could　wait。
　　〃Nothing；　Miranda。　I　told　you；　they　did　very　well。〃
　　She　stabbed　him　again；　hard；　in　the　other　leg。
　　〃Jad's　light！〃　he　gasped。　〃Miranda；　will　you…
　　〃Tell　truth。　What　else？〃
　　He　drew　a　breath。　〃I　recognized　the　whicker　of　Fernan's　horse　when　they　brought　him　up　outside。　They　knew　too　well　where　my　boot　knife　was。　They　were　too　gentle　when　they　tied　me。　And　this　whole　affair　was　too　precisely　located　along　the　stream　to　be　an　improvised　ambush。　It　had　to　be　Diego　seeing　me　and　knowing　which　way　I　was　ing。　Is　that　enough；　Miranda？　May　I　get　up　now？　May　I　kiss　you？〃
　　〃Yes；　no；　and　possibly　later；〃　said　his　wife。　〃Have　you　any　idea　how　angry　I　am；　Rodrigo？〃
　　Bound　and　bleeding　on　the　earth；　Rodrigo　Belmonte　was　able　to　say；　quite　truthfully；　〃Some　idea；　yes。〃
　　His　expression　must　have　been　diverting；　because　his　wife；　for　the　first　time；　showed　an　indication　of　being　amused。
　　She　suppressed　it　quickly。　〃Armed　men　came　for　us；　you　uncaring　bastard。　You　left　me　with　children　and　range　hands　thirty　years　past　their　usefulness。〃
　　〃That　isn't　just；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　truly　sorry　you　were　frightened。　You　know　I　am。　I　didn't　think　even　Garcia　de　Rada　would　do　anything　so　stupid　as　an　attack　here；　and　I　did　think　you　and　the　boys　were　equal　to　whatever　might　e。　I　told　you　that。〃
　　〃I　told　you　that；〃　she　mimicked。　〃How　thoughtful　of　you。〃
　　〃If　the　boys　are　going　to　follow　me；〃　he　said　levelly；　〃they　will　have　to　learn　to　handle　matters　of　this　sort；　Miranda。　You　know　it。　They'll　be　marked　as　my　sons　the　minute　they　join　a　pany…mine　or　anyone　else's。　They'll　be　pushed；　and　challenged。　I　can't　do　anything　about　that　except　help　make　them　equal　to　those　challenges　when　they　e。　Unless　you　want　them　both　to　take　vows　and　join　the　clerics？〃
　　〃Twenty…four　horsemen　attacked　us；　Rodrigo。　What　if　Diego　hadn't　seen　them？〃
　　He　said　nothing。　The　truth　was；　he'd　been　having　nightmares　about　that　since　word　of　the　raid　had　e　to　them　in　Esteren。　He　didn't　want　to　say　it；　but　there　must　have　been　more　in　his　expression　than　he　thought；　because　Miranda　abruptly　tossed　her　arrow　aside　and　knelt　on　the　earth　beside　him。
　　〃I　see；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃You　were　frightened；　too。　All　right。　Half　a　mistake；　half　testing　the　boys。　I　can　live　with　that。〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure　if　I　can；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment。　〃If　anything　had　happened　。。。　〃
　　〃That's　why　I　shot　him。　I　know　you　wouldn't　have　done　it。　I　know　it　wasn't　very　honorable；　but　a　man　who　would　do　what　he　did　。。。　He　wouldn't　have　stopped；　Rodrigo。　He　would　have　e　back。　Better　I　killed　him　than　that　you　had　to；　after　he'd　done　something　to　us。〃
　　He　nodded　his　head。　It　wasn't　easy；　bound　as　he　was。　She　made　no　movement　to　release　him。
　　〃I'm　sorry　you　had　to　kill　someone。〃
　　She　shrugged。　〃Given　who　it　was；　it　was　easier　than　I　would　have　thought。　The　boys　had　to　kill　men；　too。〃
　　〃In　the　world　they　are　growing　into；　that　was　bound　to　happen。〃
　　〃I　would　have　preferred　it　not　be　so　soon；　Rodrigo。〃
　　He　said　nothing。　She　settled　back　a　little；　looking　at　him；　still　making　no　move　to　untie　his　bonds。
　　〃The　king　called　you　a　frail　woman。〃
　　She　smiled　at　that。　〃You　didn't　disagree？〃
　　〃I　did；　actually。　I　asked　them　to　pray　for　me　because　I　had　to　go　home　and　tell　you　what　has　happened。〃
　　〃We　heard。　You　sent　the　messenger　so　I'd　have　time　to　calm　down；　I　suppose。〃
　　His　mouth　crooked。　〃It　doesn't　seem　to　have　worked　very　well。　Untie　me；　Miranda。　I'm　stiff　and　both　my　legs　are　bleeding。〃
　　She　made　no　movement。　〃Two　years'　exile？　It　could　have　been　worse；　I　suppose。　Where　will　you　go？〃
　　〃Is　this　the　way　to　discuss　such　matters？〃
　　〃It　will　do　well　enough。　Where　will　you　go；　Rodrigo？〃
　　He　sighed。　〃Not　Jalona；　obviously；　and　I　still　wouldn't　be　wele　in　Ruenda。　I　could　take　the　pany　out　of　the　peninsula　to　Ferrieres　or　Batiara　but　I　won't。　Things　might　be　starting　to　happen　here；　and　I　don't　want　us　to　be　too　far　away。　South；　then。　Al…Rassan　again。〃
　　〃Where？〃　She　was　concentrating。　There　seemed　to　be　a　rock　under　the　small　of　his　back。
　　〃Ragosa；　I　think。　King　Badir　can　use　us。　He's　hard…pressed　between　Cartada　and　Jalona　and　outlaws　raiding　from　the　south。　There's　money　to　be　made。〃
　　〃Isn't　Ragosa　where　your　doctor　went？〃
　　He　blinked。　〃Good　for　you。　She　isn't　my　doctor；　but　yes；　it　is　where　she　went。　I　still　want　to　try　to　enlist　her。〃
　　〃I'm　sure。　She's　very　pretty；　didn't　you　say？〃
　　〃I　said　nothing　remotely　resembling　such　a　thing。　Am　I　a　plete　idiot？〃
　　〃Yes。　Is　she？〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Is　she　pretty？〃
　　Rodrigo　drew　another　careful　breath；　not　easy　given　his　position。　〃Miranda；　I　am　married　to　the　most　beautiful　woman　I　know。　I　am　not　a　man　to　fairly　judge　such　things　in　others。　She's　ely　enough。　Blue　eyes；　rare　for　a　Kindath。〃
　　〃I　see。　You　noticed　them？〃
　　〃Miranda。〃
　　〃Well；　you　did。〃　Her　expression　was　deceptively　mild。　He　had　learned　to　mistrust　that　expression。　The　rock　under　his　back　seemed；　improbably；　to　have　grown　larger。
　　〃I　am　trained　to　notice　things；　Miranda。　About　men　and　women。　If　I　had　been　better　trained　fifteen　years　ago　I　would　have　noticed　you　were　a　cruel　and　ungenerous　woman。〃
　　〃Perhaps；〃　she　said　placidly。　〃Too　late　now。　Tell　me；　what　do　I　always　say　when　you　go　away？〃
　　〃Oh；　Jad！　Don't　start　again。　I　know　what　you　always…
　　〃Say　it。　Or　I'll　find　my　arrow　again。　I　promised　myself　I'd　put　an　arrow　in　you　the　day　I　shot　Garcia　de　Rada。　Two　pinpricks　hardly　count。〃
　　〃Yes　they　do；〃　he　said。　〃And　those　weren't　pinpricks。〃　He　stopped　at　what　he　read　in　her　expression；　then　said　quietly；　〃I　know　what　you　tell　me。　That　if　I　bed　another　woman　you'll　either　bed　another　man　or　kill　me。〃
　　She　was　smiling；　as　if　encouraging　a　child's　display　of　memory。　〃Good。　And　since　I　don't　want　to　bed　another　man　。。。　？〃　she　prompted。
　　Rodrigo　sighed。　〃You'll　kill　me。　Miranda；　I　know　this。　Will　you　let　me　up？〃
　　She　seemed　to　be　thinking　about　it　at　least；　which　was　a　positive　development。
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　at　length。　〃Not　yet。　I　think　I　like　you　this　way。〃
　　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　he　asked；　alarmed。
　　But　she　had　shifted　forward　from　where　she　was；　beside　him　on　her　knees。　She　looked　appraisingly　down　at　him　a　moment；　then　calmly　tore　open　his　shirt。　His　eyes　widened。　Her　hands　seemed　to　be　busy　with　the　points　and　drawstrings　of　his　trousers。　It　became　difficult　to　breathe。
　　〃Miranda；〃　he　said；　〃there's　a　rock　under　my　back。〃
　　〃Oh　well；〃　she　murmured　with　exaggerated　solicitude；　〃we　can't　have　that；　can　we？〃　But　she　did　reach　under　to　remove　what　turned　out　to　be　a　laughably　small　stone。
　　〃Untie　me；　love。　We'll　do　better　if　I'm　free。〃
　　〃No；　we　won't；〃　said　his　joy；　his　torment；　his　wife；　the　fierce　bright　light　of　his　days。　〃We'll　do　very　well　with　you　exactly　as　you　are。〃
　　She　had　finished　with　his　garments。　She　began　removing　her　own。
　　〃See　what　I　mean？〃　she　said；　smiling　down　at　his　sex。　As　she　spoke；　she　slipped　off　her　black　tunic。　She　was　wearing　nothing　beneath。　Her　small　breasts　were　smooth　and　firm　in　the　torchlight。
　　〃You　see？〃　she　said　again。　He　did；　of　course。
　　Eventually　he　closed　his　eyes；　but　not　before　an　interval　had　passed　during　which　a　number　of　movements　on　her　part　took　place；　bringing　him　to　a　point　where　he　couldn't　have　judged　the　passage　of　time；　or　anything　else　for　that　matter。
　　The　torch　had　burned　out　by　then；　he　knew　that　much。　There　was　nothing　to　see。　Only　to　feel。　Mouth　and　fingers。　Her　teeth；　in　unexpected　places。　The　close；　perfect　shelter　of　her　sex　after　so　long。
　　〃Shall　I　let　you　go？〃　she　asked　eventually；　a　breath　in　his　ear。
　　〃Never；〃　said　Rodrigo；　eyes　still　closed。
　　Still　later；　the　white　moon；　descending；　slanted　through　a　wide　chink　in　the　wall　boards　and　a　beam　of　light　fell　upon　them　both。　He　lay　with　Miranda　upon　him；　her　head　on　his　chest；　her　dark　hair　loose；　cloaking　them　both。　He　felt　the　rise　and　fall　of　her　breathing；　and　drew　in　the　scent　and　the　feel　of　her…intoxicating　as　unmixed　wine。
　　〃Oh；　well；〃　she　murmured；　as　if　continuing　a　dialogue。　〃I　suppose　we　could　use　a　good　doctor。〃
　　〃I　certainly　could；〃　he　said；　with　feeling。
　　That　made　her　laugh。　At　some　point；　though　it　was　hard　to　mark　the　change；　the　laughter　turned　to　tears。　He　could　feel　them　falling　on　his　chest。
　　〃Two　years　is　a　long　time；〃　she　said。　〃Rodri