ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第27章

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　　〃Hold；〃　said　Almalik　absently。　Ibn　Ruhala　froze；　half…bent；　like　a　grotesque　statue。　〃You　have　made　inquiries　in　Ragosa？〃
　　〃Of　course；　Magnificence。　From　the　moment　we　began　searching　in　summer。　King　Badir　of　Ragosa　was　our　first　thought。〃
　　〃And　south？　In　Arbastro？〃
　　〃Our　very　second　thought；　Magnificence！　You　will　know　how　difficult　it　is　to　obtain　information　from　those　who　live　in　the　lands　menaced　by　that　dung…eating　outlaw　Tarif　ibn　Hassan。　But　we　have　been　diligent　and　unpromising。　It　does　not　appear　that　anyone　has　seen　or　heard　of　ibn　Khairan　in　those　places。〃
　　There　was　silence　again。　The　woman　on　the　pillows　by　the　dais　held　her　lute　but　did　not　play。　The　room　was　very　still。　The　colored　water　in　the　great　alabaster　bowl　in　the　central　aisle　showed　not　a　ripple　of　movement。　Only　the　dust　was　dancing；　where　the　slanting　sunlight　fell。
　　〃Diligent　and　unpromising；〃　the　king　repeated　thoughtfully。　He　shook　his　head；　as　if　in　sorrow。　〃You　have　thirty　days　to　find　him；　ibn　Ruhala；　or　I　will　have　you　castrated　and　disembowelled　and　your　odious　face　stuck　on　a　pike　in　the　middle　of　the　market　square。〃
　　There　was　a　collective　intaking　of　breath；　but　it　was　as　if　this　had　been　expected；　the　necessary　finale　to　the　scene　just　played。
　　〃Thirty　days。　Thirty。　Yes。　Thank　you；　Magnificence。　Thank　you；〃　said　the　ka'id。　He　sounded　absurd；　fatuous；　but　no　one　could　think　of　what　else　he　might　have　said。
　　In　silence；　as　ever；　the　two　Muwardis　opened　the　double　doors　and　the　general　withdrew；　facing　the　dais；　still　bowing。　The　doors　swung　closed。　The　sound　echoed　in　the　stillness。
　　〃The　poem；　Serafi。　We　will　hear　that　verse　again。〃　Almalik　had　taken　another　orange　from　the　attendant　slave　and　was　absently　peeling　it。
　　The　man　addressed　was　a　minor　poet；　no　longer　young；　honored　more　for　his　recitations　and　his　singing　voice　than　for　anything　he　himself　had　ever　written。　He　stepped　hesitantly　forward　from　where　he　had　been　standing；　half…hidden　behind　one　of　the　fifty…six　pillars　in　the　room。　This　was　not　a　moment　when　one　wished；　particularly；　to　be　singled　out　for　attention。　In　addition　to　which；　〃that　poem〃　was；　as　everyone　knew　by　now；　the　last　munication　to　the　king　from　the　notorious　and　celebrated　man　the　ka'id　was　so　unsuccessfully　seeking　across　the　whole　of　Al…Rassan。　Under　the　circumstances；　Serafi　ibn　Dunash　would　have　greatly　preferred　to　be　elsewhere　at　that　moment。
　　Fortunately；　he　was　sober；　not　a　reliable　state　of　affairs　for　ibn　Dunash。　Alcohol　was　forbidden　to　Asharites　of　course；　but　so　were　Jaddite　and　Kindath　women；　boys；　dancing；　non…religious　music　and　a　variety　of　excellent　foods。　Serafi　ibn　Dunash　did　not　dance　any　more。　He　relied　on　that　to　serve　him　in　good　stead　with　the　wadjis；　should　any　of　them　upbraid　him　for　the　laxity　of　his　morals。
　　It　wasn't　the　wadjis　he　was　afraid　of　at　the　moment；　however。　In　the　Cartada　of　King　Almalik　it　was　the　secular　arms　of　power　that　were　more　greatly　to　be　feared。　The　secular　arms；　at　the　moment；　rested　lightly　on　the　king's　knees　as　he　awaited　Serafi's　recitation。　The　verses　were　not　flattering；　and　the　king　was　in　an　evil　mood。　The　omens　were　not　even　remotely　auspicious。　Nervously；　the　poet　cleared　his　throat　and　prepared　to　begin。
　　For　some　reason　the　slave　with　the　basket　of　oranges　chose　this　moment　to　move　towards　the　dais　again。　He　stood　directly　between　Serafi　and　the　king；　and　then　knelt　before　Almalik。　Serafi's　view　was　blocked；　but　others　in　the　room　now　noticed　what　the　slave　seemed　to　have　been　the　first　to　discern：　the　king　appeared　to　be　in　sudden　and　intense　distress。
　　The　woman；　Zabira；　quickly　laid　aside　her　instrument　and　stood　up。　She　took　one　step　towards　the　dais　and　then　remained　extremely　still。　The　king；　in　that　same　moment；　slipped　awkwardly　sideways　among　his　cushions　and　ended　up　propping　himself　up　on　one　hand。　His　other　hand　was　spasmodically　clenching　and　squeezing　over　his　heart。　His　eyes　were　wide　open；　staring　at　nothing。　The　slave；　nearest　to　him　by　far；　seemed　paralyzed；　frozen　in　position　directly　in　front　of　Almalik。　He　had　laid　aside　the　basket　of　oranges　but　made　no　other　motion。　The　king　opened　his　mouth；　no　sound　came　out。
　　It　is；　in　fact；　a　well…known　characteristic　of　the　poison　fijana　that　it　locks　shut　the　throat　just　before　it　reaches　the　heart。　As　a　consequence；　no　one　in　the　room　save　the　man　kneeling　directly　in　front　of　him　was　able　to　say；　afterwards；　if　the　dying　king　of　Cartada　realized；　before　he　lost　consciousness　and　life　and　went　to　join　Ashar　among　the　stars；　that　the　slave　who　had　been　offering　him　oranges　all　morning　had　remarkably　blue；　quite　distinctive　eyes。
　　The　king's　arm　suddenly　buckled　and　Almalik；　mouth　gaping　wide；　fell　soundlessly　amid　a　scatter　of　bright　pillows。　Someone　screamed　then；　the　sound　echoing　among　the　columns。　There　was　a　babble　of　terrified　noise。
　　〃Ashar　and　the　god　are　merciful；〃　said　the　slave；　rising　from　his　position　and　turning　to　face　the　courtiers　and　the　stupefied　poet　in　front　of　the　dais。　〃I　really　didn't　want　to　hear　that　poem　again。〃　He　gestured　apologetically。　〃I　wrote　it　in　a　great　hurry；　you　see；　and　there　are　infelicities。〃
　　〃Ammar　ibn　Khairan！〃　stammered　Serafi　somewhat　unnecessarily。
　　The　erstwhile　slave　was　calmly　unwinding　his　saffron…colored　headcloth。　He　had　darkened　his　skin　but　had　essayed　no　further　disguise：　no　one　ever　looked　closely　at　slaves。　〃Ammar　ibn　Khairan！〃　stammered　Serafi　somewhat　unnecessarily。
　　〃I　do　hope　he　recognized　me；〃　said　ibn　Khairan　in　a　musing　tone。　〃I　think　he　did。〃　He　dropped　the　slave's　headcloth　among　the　pillows。　He　seemed　utterly　relaxed；　standing　before　the　dais　on　which　the　most　powerful　monarch　in　Al…Rassan　lay　sprawled　in　slack…jawed；　untidy　death。
　　As　one；　in　that　moment；　the　courtiers　looked　to　the　Muwardis　by　the　doors；　the　only　men　in　the　room　bearing　arms。　The　veiled　ones　had　remained　inexplicably　motionless　through　all　of　what　had　just　taken　place。　Ibn　Khairan　noticed　the　direction　of　the　glances。
　　〃Mercenaries；〃　he　said　gravely；　〃are　mercenaries。〃
　　He　did　not　add；　but　might　have；　that　the　tribesmen　of　the　desert　would　not　be　sparing　any　moments　of　prayer　for　the　secular；　degenerate　worse…than…infidel　who　had　just　died。　As　far　as　the　Muwardis　were　concerned；　all　of　the　kings　of　Al…Rassan　merited　approximately　the　same　fate。　If　they　all　killed　each　other　the　starlit　visions　of　Ashar　might　yet　be　fulfilled　in　this　land。
　　One　of　the　veiled　ones　did　e　forward　then；　moving　towards　the　dais。　He　passed　near　to　the　woman；　Zabira；　who　had　remained　motionless　after　rising。　Her　hands　were　at　her　mouth。
　　〃Not　quite；〃　he　said　softly；　but　the　words　carried；　and　were　remembered。
　　Then　he　ascended　the　dais　and　removed　the　Muwardi　veil　from　the　lower　part　of　his　face　and　it　could　be　seen　by　all　assembled　in　the　room　that　this　was；　indeed；　the　princely　heir　of　Cartada's　realm；　Almalik　ibn　Almalik；　he　of　the　nervous　eyelid；　who　his　father　had　said　looked　like　a　leper。
　　He　looks　rather　more　like　a　desert　warrior　at　the　moment。　He　is　also；　as　of　this　same　moment；　the　king　of　Cartada。
　　The　other　three　Muwardis　now　draw　their　swords；　without　moving　from　where　they　stand　by　the　doors。　One　might　have　expected　an　outcry　from　the　court；　but　stupefaction　and　fear　impose　their　restraints　upon　men。　The　only　sound　in　the　audience　chamber　for　a　frozen　instant　is　the　breathing　of　terrified　courtiers。
　　〃The　guards　on　the　other　side　of　the　doors　are　mine　as　well；　by　the　way；〃　says　young　Almalik　mildly。　His　afflicted　eyelid；　it　can　be　seen；　is　not　drooping　or　twitching　at　this　time。
　　He　looks　down　upon　the　toppled　body　of　his　father。　After　a　moment；　with　a　swift；　decisive　movement　of　one　foot；　he　rolls　the　dead　king　off　the　dais。　The　body　es　to　rest　at　the　feet　of　the　woman；　Zabira。　The　son　sits　down　smoothly　among　the　remaining　pillows　of　the　dais。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　sinks　to　his　knees　in　front　of　him。
　　〃May　holy　Ashar　intercede　with　the　god　among　the　stars；〃　he　says；　〃to　grant　you　long　life；　O　great　king。　Be　merciful　in　your　grandeur　to　your　loyal　servants；　Magnificence。　May　your　reign　be　crowned　with　everlasting　glory　in　Ashar's　name。〃
　　He　proceeds　to　perform　the　quadruple　obeisance。
　　Behind　him；　the　poet　Serafi　suddenly　es　to　his　senses。　He　drops　to　the　mosaic　tiles　as　if　smitten　behind　the　knees　and　does　the　same。　Then；　very　much　as　if　they　are　grateful　for　this　cue　as　to　how　to　proceed；　the　men　in　the　audience　chamber　all　perform　full　obeisance　to　the　new　king　of　Cartada。
　　It　is　seen　that　the　only　woman　in　the　room；　the　beautiful　Zabira；　does　so　as　well；　touching　the　floor　with　her　forehead　beside　the　body　of　her　dead　lover；　graceful　and　alluring　as　always　in　the　movements　of　her　homage　to　the　son。
　　It　is　observed　that　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　who　has　been　searched　for　through　the　whole　of　Al…Rassan；　now　rises　to　his　knees　and　stands；　without　invitation　from　the　dais。
　　It　is　also　a　source　of　belated；　devastating　wonder　to　those　now　imprisoned　in　the　room　by　the　drawn　swords　of　the　Muwardis；　how　they　could　have　failed　to　identify　him　before。　No　one　looks　quite　like　ibn　Khairan；　with　those　unconscionably　blue　eyes。　No　one　moves　like　him。　No　one's　arrogance　quite　matches　his。　With　the　headcloth　removed　his　signature　earring　gleams…with　amusement　one　could　be　forgiven　for　thinking。　He　will　have　been　here　in　Cartada　for　a　long　time；　it　now　bees　clear。　Perhaps　in　this　very　room。　A　number　of　men　in　the　audience　chamber　begin　rapidly　scanning　their　memories　for　remarks　of　an　injudicious　sort　they　might　have　made　about　the　disgraced　favorite　during　his　presumed　absence。
　　Ibn　Khairan　smiles　and　turns　to　survey　them　all。　His　smile　is　vividly　remembered；　if　no　more　forting　than　it　has　ever　been。
　　〃The　Day　of　the　Moat；〃　he　says；　to　no　one　in　particular；　〃was　a　mistake　in　a　great　many　ways。　It　is　never　a　good　idea　to　leave　a　man　with　no　real　alternatives。〃
　　For　Serafi　the　poet　this　is　inprehensible；　but　there　are　wiser　men　than　he　standing　among　the　columns　and　beneath　the　arches。　Ibn　Khairan's　remark　will　be　recollected；　it　will　be　expounded　upon。　Men　will　hasten　to　be　the　first　to　elucidate　its　meaning。
　　Ibn　Khairan；　they　will　say；　whispering　in　bathhouses　or　courtyards；　or　in　the　Jaddite　taverns　of　the　city；　was　meant　to　bear　the　responsibility　for　the　executions　in　Fezana。　He　had　grown　too　powerful　in　the　king's　eyes。　He　was　to　be　curbed　by　this。　No　one　would　ever　trust　him　again。　Heads　will　nod　knowingly　over　sherbet　or　forbidden　wine。
　　With　this　one　cryptic　sentence；　the　dialogues　of　the　next　days　have　been　set　in　motion；　or　so　it　seems。
　　It　is　an　old　truth；　however；　that　events；　whether　large　or　small；　do　not　always　follow　upon　the　agendas　of　even　the　most　subtle　of　men。
　　Behind　ibn　Khairan；　the　new　king　of　Cartada　finishes　arranging　the　pillows　of　the　dais　to　his　satisfaction　and　says　now；　quietly；　but　very　clearly；　〃We　are　indulgent　of　all　of　your　obeisances。　No　man　of　you　need　fear　us；　so　long　as　he　is　loyal。〃　No　mention　of　the　woman；　a　number　of　them　note。
　　The　king　continues；　as　ibn　Khairan　turns　back　to　him。　〃We　have　certain　pronouncements　to　make　at　this　mencement　of　our　reign。　The　first　is　that　all