ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第26章

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　　〃Two　years　is　a　long　time；〃　she　said。　〃Rodrigo；　am　I　being　unfair　to　you？〃
　　〃I　don't　expect　to　be　two　years　without　you；〃　he　said。　〃One　way　or　another。〃
　　She　said　nothing。　Her　tears　fell　in　silence。　He　hesitated；　then　finally　brought　down　his　arms…he　had　worked　free　of　the　bonds　in　the　first　moments　after　being　tied…and　wrapped　them　around　her。
　　〃Oh；　burn　you；　Rodrigo；〃　she　whispered；　when　she　realized　what　he'd　done；　but　she　didn't　say　it　severely　this　time。　A　moment　later；　she　murmured；　dealing　with　the　hardest　sorrow　of　time　passing；　〃They　are　so　young。〃
　　He　stroked　her　hair；　down　and　down　her　back。
　　〃I　know；〃　he　whispered　gently。　〃I　know；　my　love。〃
　　He　had　killed　his　own　first　man　when　he　was　twelve。　He　didn't　tell　her　that。　Not　now。
　　
　　〃Are　they　still　in　the　hut？〃　Fernan　asked。
　　〃Uh…huh；〃　said　Diego。
　　〃What　do　you　think　they're　doing？〃
　　〃Now；　now；〃　said　Ibero　the　cleric　hastily。　〃That　isn't　a　proper　question！〃
　　〃I　couldn't　answer　it；　anyhow；〃　said　Diego；　laughing。　〃Ibero；　you　look　genuinely　formidable；　by　the　way。〃
　　Their　longtime　cleric's　expression　was　uncertain　for　a　moment；　then　guardedly　pleased。　He　was　indeed　remarkably　altered：　his　face　daubed　with　mud　under　a　black　hat；　garbed　like　an　outlaw；　with　inserts　in　new　riding　boots　to　make　him　taller。
　　Fernan　had　made　Ibero　practice　speaking　in　deep　tones　and　walk　around　in　those　boots　for　days；　to　get　used　to　the　speech　and　the　movement。　Their　cleric　and　tutor　had　been；　improbably；　the　leader　of　the　band　that　captured　Rodrigo。　The　boys　had　remained　out　of　sight；　downriver　with　the　horses。　The　other　outlaws　had　been　ranch　hands；　disguised　as　Ibero　had　been；　under　orders　not　to　speak　a　word。　They　had　gone　back　to　the　pound　already。　Now　the　three　of　them；　two　boys　and　a　holy　man；　sat　together　on　the　dark　grass　under　two　moons　and　the　stars　of　the　summer　night。
　　〃You　really　think　we　deceived　him？〃　the　cleric　asked。
　　〃What？　Papa？　Don't　be　silly；〃　said　Fernan；　with　an　amused　glance。
　　〃He'll　have　figured　it　out　from　at　least　half　a　dozen　things　we　missed；〃　said　Diego　happily。　The　boys　smiled　at　each　other。
　　The　cleric's　face　fell。　〃He　will　have　known　us？　Then　what　was　the　point　of　the　deception？〃
　　〃He'll　tell　us　the　half　a　dozen　things。　We'll　know　better　next　time；〃　Fernan　explained。
　　〃Besides；〃　said　Diego；　〃Mother　wanted　to　stab　him　with　an　arrow。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　cleric。　〃That's　right。　I　forgot。〃　He　had　been　with　this　family　a　long　time。
　　They　decided　to　ride　back　to　the　ranch　house。　There　was　no　telling　how　long　Rodrigo　and　Miranda　would　remain　in　that　hut。　On　the　way　back　Fernan　began；　predictably；　to　sing。　He　had　an　atrocious　voice；　normally　cause　for　decisive　quelling；　but　neither　of　the　others　plained　that　night。　Under　the　two　moons　the　huge　darkness　was　eased　and　made　weling。　They　could　see　the　mountains　far　in　the　distance　and　the　wide　stretch　of　the　plain　to　north　and　south　and　rolling　west　behind　them　and　then；　a　little　later；　they　caught　sight　of　the　torches　left　burning　on　the　wall　around　the　pound；　to　bring　them　all　home　from　the　night。
　　
Part　III
Seven
　　〃Well　then；〃　said　Almalik　of　Cartada；　the　Lion　of　Al…Rassan；　〃where　is　he？〃
　　The　king　was　angry。　The　signs　were　obvious　to　those　in　the　vast　and　vaulted　chamber。　Beneath　the　horseshoe　arches　with　their　red　and　amber　interplay　of　stone；　men　exchanged　uneasy　glances。　Courtiers　and　artists　in　attendance　upon　a　monarch　known　for　his　changing　moods　learned　quickly　how　to　read　those　changes。　They　watched　as　the　king　snatched　an　orange　from　a　basket　held　by　a　slave　and　began　rapidly　peeling　it　himself　with　his　large；　capable　hands。　Those　same　hands　had　swung　the　sword　that　killed　Ishlik　ibn　Raal　not　three　months　ago　in　this　very　room；　spattering　the　poet's　blood　across　the　mosaic　tiles　and　marble　pillars　and　the　clothing　of　those　standing　too　close　that　day。
　　The　young；　increasingly　acclaimed　Tudescan　poet　had　made　the　mistake　of　inserting　two　lines　from　another　man's　writing　in　his　own　verse；　and　then　denying　that　he'd　done　so　deliberately。　Almalik　of　Cartada；　however；　knew　his　poetry　and　prided　himself　upon　that。　In　the　Al…Rassan　of　the　city…kings　after　the　fall　of　the　Khalifate　a　distinguished　poet　could　confer　anxiously　sought　credibility　upon　a　monarch。
　　And　for　fifteen　years；　Almalik's　principal　counsellor；　and　then　the　formally　declared　advisor　and　guardian　of　his　eldest　son　and　heir；　had　been　that　paragon　of　many　arts；　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　of　Aljais。　Who　had　written；　most　unfortunately　for　Ishlik　ibn　Raal；　the　two　stolen　lines　in　question。　And　of　whom；　at　this　precarious　moment；　three　months　after；　the　king　was　speaking。
　　〃Where　is　he？〃　Almalik　asked　again。
　　The　attendant　court　figures；　some　thirty　of　them　on　this　particular　morning；　found　much　to　interest　them　in　the　geometries　of　the　ceiling　decoration　or　the　mosaics　of　the　floor。　No　one　in　the　room　was　looking　directly　at　the　king；　or　at　the　man　to　whom　he　spoke。　Only　the　one　woman　there；　sitting　among　brightly　colored　cushions　arranged　near　those　of　the　king's　dais；　preserved　an　unperturbed　demeanor；　lightly　plucking　at　her　lute。
　　The　stocky；　white…haired　mander　of　the　Cartadan　army；　a　man　who　had　seen　almost　forty　years　of　warfare　under　the　khalifs　and　after　their　fall；　remained　on　his　knees；　his　own　gaze　fixed　on　the　carpet　before　the　dais。
　　The　carpet　was　magnificent；　as　it　happened；　woven　and　dyed　by　artisans　in　the　Soriyyan　homelands　centuries　ago；　rescued　by　Almalik　from　the　looting　of　the　Al…Fontina　in　Silvenes　fifteen　years　before。　The　echo　of　the　khalifs'　imperial　splendor　here　in　Cartada　was；　of　course；　entirely　deliberate。
　　Despite　his　efforts　to　hide　the　fact；　the　kneeling　general　was　visibly　afraid。　The　plagiarizing　poet　was　not　the　only　man　to　have　been　killed　by　the　king　in　his　audience　chamber；　he　was　only　the　most　recent。　Almalik　had　been　a　military　leader　before　he　was　a　governor　and　then　a　monarch；　it　was　not　a　thing　he　allowed　his　people　to　forget。　The　blade　that　rested　in　its　sheath　by　the　dais　was　no　ornament。
　　Without　lifting　his　head；　the　kneeling　ka'id　murmured；　〃He　is　not　in　Fezana；　Magnificence。　No　man　has　seen　him　since　。。。　the　disciplining　in　that　city。〃
　　〃You　just　told　me　that；〃　Almalik　of　Cartada　said；　his　voice　close　to　a　whisper　now。　This　was　a　bad　sign；　one　of　the　worst。　None　of　the　courtiers　ranged　near　the　dais　or　standing　between　the　pillars　dared　even　glance　at　each　other　now。　〃I　asked　a　different　question；　ibn　Ruhala。　I　asked　the　supreme　ka'id　of　all　my　armies　where　one　exceedingly　well…known　figure　is　at　this　moment。　Not　where　he　is　not。　Am　I　deficient　in　expressing　myself；　of　late？〃
　　〃No；　Magnificence！　Not　at　all。　Never。　The　deficiency　is　mine。　I　have　sent　my　personal　cadre　of　guards　and　the　best　of　the　Muwardis　throughout　the　country；　Magnificence。　We　have　put　the　most　extreme　questioning　to　all　who　might　be　privy　to　ibn　Khairan's　whereabouts。　Some　of　these　people　have　died；　Magnificence；　so　zealous　were　their　interrogations。　But　no　one　knew；　no　one　knows。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　has　disappeared　。。。　from　the　face　of　the　earth。〃
　　There　was　a　silence。
　　〃What　a　dreadfully　tired　phrase；〃　said　the　Lion　of　Al…Rassan。
　　Morning　sunlight　entered　the　chamber　through　the　high　windows；　spilling　down　past　upper　galleries　through　the　dancing　motes　of　dust。　It　could　be　seen　that　the　woman　on　the　pillows　smiled　at　the　king's　remark；　and　that　Almalik　noted　her　smile　and　was　pleased。　One　or　two　courtiers　drew　slightly　deeper　breaths　at　that。　One　or　two　risked　smiles　of　their　own；　and　approving　nods。
　　〃Forgive　me；　Magnificence；〃　murmured　the　ka'id；　head　still　lowered。　〃I　am　only　an　old　soldier。　A　loyal；　plain　man　of　the　battlefield；　not　an　artist　with　a　tongue　for　honeyed　phrases。　I　can　say　only　what　I　have　found　to　be　true；　in　the　simplest　way　I　know。〃
　　〃Tell　me；〃　the　king　said；　biting　into　a　wedge　of　the　orange；　〃has　Prince　Almalik　been　put　to　the　extreme　questioning　you　mentioned？〃
　　The　ka'id's　white　head　went　straight　down　to　the　floor。　It　could　be　seen　that　his　hands　had　begun　to　tremble。　The　woman　on　the　pillows　looked　up　at　the　dais；　her　expression　grave。　Her　fingers　hesitated　upon　the　strings　of　the　lute　and　then　resumed　their　movement；　though　with　less　attentiveness　than　before。
　　There　was　not　a　man　in　the　room　who　did　not　know　that　if　Prince　Almalik　was　no　longer　the　king's　heir；　the　two　young　children　of　this　woman　would　be　living　in　greatly　enhanced　circumstances。　With　Hazem　ibn　Almalik；　the　king's　second　son；　given　over　to　religious　extremes　and　disgraced　there　would　be；　effectively；　no　one　between　the　older　of　the　two　boys　and　succession　to　the　kingship。
　　〃We　have　asked　。。。　aid　of　the　prince；〃　the　general　stammered　into　the　carpeting。　〃Of　course　he　was　treated　with　the　utmost　deference　and　he　。。。　he　told　us　what　he　could。　He　expressed　a　great　hope　that　the　lord　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　would　soon　be　found　and　returned；　that　he　would　be　among　us　all　once　more。　As　he　had　been　。。。　among　us　in　the　past。〃
　　The　ka'id's　babbling　was　manifestly　unsuitable　for　a　man　of　his　rank。　This　was　no　mere　field　soldier；　this　was　the　mander　of　the　army　of　Cartada。　No　one　in　the　room　imagined；　however；　that　he　would　have　acquitted　himself　with　greater　aplomb　in　the　same　circumstances。　Not　at　this　juncture。　Not　in　response　to　that　particular　question。　Those　who　had　smiled　were　urgently　praying　to　their　birth　stars　that　their　expressions　of　levity　had　passed　unnoticed。
　　Only　the　four　Muwardis；　two　by　the　entrance　doors　and　two　behind　the　dais；　appeared　undisturbed　behind　their　half…veils；　watching　everything　and　everyone　with　inimical　eyes；　despising　them　all；　not　troubling　to　hide　the　fact。
　　The　king　bit　into　another　section　of　his　orange。　〃I　ought　to　have　the　prince　summoned；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。　〃But　I　am　certain　he　knows　nothing。　Ibn　Khairan　wouldn't　bother　telling　such　a　fool　of　his　plans。　Is　his　eye　still　dropping　like　a　leper's；　by　the　way？〃
　　Another　silence。　Evidently　the　ka'id　ibn　Ruhala　was　nursing　a　vain　hope　that　someone　else　might　reply　to　this。　When　the　stillness　continued；　the　general；　only　the　back　of　his　head　visible　to　the　king　on　his　dais；　so　prostrate　was　he；　said；　〃Your　most　noble　son　still　suffers；　alas；　from　that　affliction；　Magnificence。　Our　prayers　are　with　him。〃
　　Almalik　made　a　sour　face。　He　dropped　the　remaining　section　of　orange　beside　his　pillows　and　held　up　his　fingers　delicately。　The　slave；　swift　and　graceful；　appeared　before　the　dais　with　a　muslin　towel　to　wipe　the　juice　from　the　king's　fingers　and　mouth。
　　〃He　looks　ridiculous；〃　Almalik　said　when　the　slave　had　withdrawn。　〃Like　a　leper；〃　he　repeated。　〃He　disgusts　me　with　his　weakness。〃
　　The　woman　was　no　longer　even　pretending　to　play　at　her　lute。　She　watched　the　king　with　careful　attention。
　　〃Get　up；　ibn　Ruhala；〃　Almalik　said　abruptly。　〃You　are　being　an　embarrassment。　Leave　us。〃
　　With　unseemly　alacrity；　the　old　general　scrambled　to　his　feet。　He　was　crimson…faced　from　keeping　his　head　lowered　for　so　long。　He　made　the　quadruple　obeisance　and　began　retreating　hastily　backwards；　still　bowing；　towards　the　doors。
　　〃Hold；〃　said　Almalik　absently。　Ibn　Ruhala　froze；　half…bent；　like　a　grotesque