ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第29章

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　　Of　course　there　had　been　alternatives；　had　he　wanted　them　badly　enough。　He　could　have　left　the　world　of　power　and　its　atrocities。　He　could　even　have　left　this　beloved；　diminished　land　of　Al…Rassan　and　its　puffed…up　petty…kings。　He　could　have　gone　straight　from　Fezana　to　Ferrieres　across　the　mountains；　or　to　any　of　the　great　cities　of　Batiara。　There　were　cultivated；　princely　courts　there　where　an　Asharite　poet　would　be　made　wele　as　a　glittering　enhancement。　He　could　have　written　for　the　rest　of　his　days　in　luxury　among　the　most　civilized　of　the　Jaddites。
　　He　could　even　have　gone　farther　east；　taking　ship　all　the　way　back　to　Soriyya；　to　visit　the　stone　tombs　of　his　ancestors；　which　he　had　never　seen；　perhaps　even　rediscover　his　faith　at　Ashar's　Rock；　make　a　vigil　under　the　god's　stars　in　the　desert；　finish　his　life　far　from　Al…Rassan。
　　Of　course　there　had　been　alternatives。
　　Instead　he　had　taken　revenge。　Had　disguised　himself　and　e　back　to　Cartada。　Made　himself　known　to　the　prince　and　then　bribed　a　palace　steward　to　admit　him　into　the　retinue　of　the　court　as　a　slave。　The　largest　single　bribe　he　had　ever　given　in　his　life。　And　he　had　killed　the　king　today；　with　fijana　smeared　on　a　muslin　cloth。
　　Twice　now；　then。　Twice　in　fifteen　years　he　had　murdered　the　most　powerful　monarch　in　the　land。　A　khalif　and　a　king。
　　I　am　increasingly　unlikely　to　be　best　remembered；　ibn　Khairan　decided　ruefully；　entering　his　home；　for　my　poetry。
　　〃You　have　a　visitor；　Excellence；〃　the　under…steward　said；　hovering　inside　the　doorway。　Ibn　Khairan　sat　on　the　low　bench　by　the　door　and　the　man　knelt　to　help　remove　his　boots　and　replace　them　with　jewelled　slippers。
　　〃You　had　someone　admitted　without　my　presence？〃
　　The　man　was　now　the　steward；　actually。　New　to　his　duties　in　a　terrible　time；　he　looked　down　at　the　ground。　〃I　may　have　erred；　Excellence。　But　she　was　insistent　that　you　would　see　her。〃
　　〃She？〃
　　But　he　already　knew　who　this　had　to　be。　Amusement　briefly　resurfaced　before　being　succeeded　by　something　else。　〃Where　have　you　put　her？〃
　　〃She　awaits　you　on　the　terrace。　I　hope　I　acted　rightly；　Excellence？〃
　　He　rose　and　the　steward　did　the　same。　〃Only；　ever；　admit　a　woman　this　way。　Have　dinner　prepared　for　two　and　a　room　readied　for　a　guest。　You　and　I　will　speak　later；　there　is　much　to　be　done。　I　am　leaving　Cartada　for　a　time；　by　the　king's　decree。〃
　　〃Yes；　Excellence；〃　the　man　said　expressionlessly。
　　Ammar　turned　to　go　within。　He　paused。　〃The　new　king。　The　old　king　is　dead；〃　he　added。　〃This　morning。〃
　　〃Alas；〃　said　his　steward；　with　no　evident　sign　of　surprise。
　　A　petent　man；　ibn　Khairan　decided。　Dropping　his　riding　gloves　on　a　marble　table；　he　walked　a　sequence　of　corridors　to　the　wide　terrace　he'd　had　built　on　the　west　side　of　the　house　where　his　own　chambers　were。　He　had　always　preferred　sunset　to　sunrise。　The　view　overlooked　red　hills　and　the　blue　curve　of　the　river　to　the　south。　Cartada　was　invisible；　just　beyond　the　hills。
　　The　woman；　his　visitor；　was　standing　with　her　back　to　him；　admiring　that　view。　She　was　barefoot　on　the　cool　flagstones。
　　〃The　architect　didn't　want　to　build　this　for　me；〃　he　said；　ing　to　stand　beside　her。　'〃Open　spaces　go　inside　a　house；'　he　kept　telling　me。〃
　　She　glanced　up　at　him。　She　would　have　been　veiled　for　the　ride　here；　but　the　veil　was　lifted　now。　Her　dark；　accented　eyes　held　his　a　moment　and　then　she　turned　away。
　　〃It　does　feel　exposed；〃　she　said　quietly。
　　〃But　see　where　we　are。　From　what　am　I　hiding　here　in　the　country；　I　asked　my　architect　and　myself。〃
　　〃And　what　did　you　answer　yourself？〃　she　asked；　looking　at　the　terraced　slopes　towards　the　river　and　the　setting　sun。　〃And　your　architect？〃　She　was　extremely　beautiful；　in　profile。　He　remembered　the　day　he　had　first　seen　her。
　　〃Not　this；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment；　gesturing　at　the　land　stretching　before　them。　She　was　clever；　he　would　do　well　to　remember　that。　〃I　will　admit　I　am　surprised；　Zabira。　I　am　seldom　surprised；　but　this　is　unexpected。〃
　　The　foremost　lady　of　King　Almalik's　court；　the　courtesan　who　was　the　mother　of　his　two　youngest　children；　effectively　the　queen　of　Cartada　for　the　past　eight　years；　looked　back　at　him　again　and　smiled；　her　small；　perfect　teeth　showing　white。
　　〃Really？〃　she　said。　〃On　a　day　when　you　kill　a　king　and　are　exiled　from　your　home　by　your　own　disciple；　a　simple　visit　from　a　lady　is　what　disconcerts　you？　I　don't　know　whether　to　be　flattered。〃
　　Her　voice　was　exquisite；　there　seemed　to　be　music　beneath　it。　It　had　always　been　thus。　She　had　broken　hearts　and　mended　them　when　she　sang。　She　smelled　of　myrrh　and　roses。　Her　eyes　and　fingernails　had　been　carefully　painted。　He　wondered　how　long　she　had　been　here。　He　ought　to　have　asked　the　steward。
　　〃There　is　nothing　simple　about　either　the　lady　or　the　visit；〃　he　murmured。　〃Will　you　take　refreshment？〃
　　A　servant　had　appeared　with　a　tray　bearing　pomegranate　juice　and　sherbet　in　tall　glasses。　He　took　the　drinks　and　offered　her　one。　〃Will　I　offend　you　if　I　also　suggest　a　cup　of　wine　？　There　is　a　Jaddite　vineyard　north　of　us　and　I　have　an　arrangement　with　them。〃
　　〃You　would　not　offend　me　in　the　least；〃　Zabira　said；　with　some　measure　of　feeling。
　　Ammar　smiled。　This　was　the　most　celebrated　beauty　in　Al…Rassan；　and　young　still；　though　perhaps　a　little　less　youthful　after　this　morning。　Ibn　Khairan　was　only　one　of　the　myriad　poets　who　had　extolled　her　over　the　years。　He　had　been　the　first；　though；　there　would　always　be　that。　He　had　met　her　with　Almalik。　Had　been　there　when　it　began。
The　woman　we　saw　at　the　Gate　of　the　Fountain；
As　twilight　stole　down　upon　the　city　walls
Like　a　cloaked　thief　of　the　day's　light；
Wore　the　first　holy　stars　of　Ashar
As　ornaments　atop　the　dark　fall　of　her　hair。
What　shall　be　the　name　of　their　beauty
If　it　be　not　her　name？
　　Sacrilege；　of　course；　but　Al…Rassan　after　the　Khalifate's　fall…and　long　before…had　not　been　the　most　devout　place　in　the　Asharite　world。
　　She　had　been　seventeen　years　old　that　evening　when　the　king　and　the　lord　ibn　Khairan；　his　closest　friend　and　advisor；　had　ridden　back　into　Cartada　from　a　day's　hunting　in　the　western　forests　and　had　seen　a　girl　drawing　water　from　a　fountain　in　the　last　of　the　autumn　light。　Eight　years　ago。
　　〃Really；　Ammar；　why　would　you　be　surprised？〃　the　same　woman　asked　him　now；　infinitely　sophisticated；　eyeing　him　over　the　rim　of　the　glass。　Ibn　Khairan　gestured　at　the　servant；　who　withdrew　to　bring　wine。　〃What　do　you　imagine　Cartada　might　hold　for　me　now？〃
　　Carefully；　for　he　was　conscious　that　what　he　had　done　this　morning　had　turned　her　world　upside…down　and　put　her　life　in　peril；　he　said；　〃The　son　is　son　to　the　father；　Zabira；　and　much　of　your　own　age。〃
　　She　made　a　wry　face。　〃You　heard　what　he　said　to　me　this　morning。〃
　　Not　quite；　the　prince　had　murmured。　They　had　all　heard　that。　Zabira　had　been　careful；　always；　but　it　was　hardly　a　secret　that　with　Hazem　the　second　son　entangled　hopelessly　with　the　most　zealous　of　the　wadjis；　her　own　older　child　was　the　only　real　alternative　to　Prince　Almalik…provided　the　king　had　lived　long　enough　for　the　boy　to　e　of　age。　He　had　not。　Ammar　wondered；　suddenly；　where　the　two　children　were。
　　〃I　heard　what　he　said。　Despite　that；　Almalik　ibn　Almalik　has　a　nature　not　immune　to　enticement；〃　he　replied；　still　being　cautious。　In　its　own　way　he　was　making　an　appalling　suggestion；　though　by　no　means　an　unprecedented　one。　Royal　sons　succeeded　fathers；　in　more　ways　than　one。
　　She　gave　him　a　sidelong　glance。　〃A　man's　enticement；　or　a　woman's？　Perhaps　you　could　enlighten　me　as　to　that？〃　she　said　sweetly。　Then　went　on　before　he　could　reply：　〃I　know　him。　I've　had　him　watched　a　long　time；　Ammar。　He　will　be　immune　to　whatever　charms　I　yet　retain。　He　is　too　afraid。　For　him；　I　will　carry　the　shadow　of　his　father　wherever　I　go；　in　bed　or　in　court；　and　he　isn't　ready　to　deal　with　that。〃　She　sipped　from　her　drink　again　and　looked　out　at　the　gleaming　curve　of　the　river　and　the　reddening　hills。　〃He　will　want　to　kill　my　sons。〃
　　Ammar　had　been　thinking　the　same　thing；　actually。
　　He　decided　it　was　better；　in　the　circumstances；　not　to　ask　where　the　boys　were；　though　it　would　have　been　useful　knowledge　for　later。　The　servant　returned　with　two　more　glasses；　water　and　wine　in　a　beautifully　crafted　decanter。　He　had　spent　a　small　fortune　on　glass　over　the　years。　More　things　to　leave　behind。
　　The　tray　was　set　down　and　the　servant　withdrew。　Ibn　Khairan　mixed　water　and　wine　for　the　two　of　them。　They　drank；　not　speaking。　The　wine　was　very　good。
　　The　image　of　two　small　boys　seemed　to　hang　in　the　air　in　the　gathering　twilight。　Suddenly；　for　no　good　reason；　he　thought　of　Ishak　of　Fezana；　the　Kindath　doctor　who　had　attended　upon　Zabira　for　both　those　boys…and　had　lost　his　eyes　and　tongue　after　the　delivery　of　the　second。　He　had　gazed　with　an　infidel's　eyes　upon　the　forbidden　beauty　of　the　woman　whose　life　he　had　saved。　The　woman　now　standing　here；　her　scent　vivid　and　distracting；　her　white　skin　flawless。　He　wondered　if　she　knew　what　had　happened　to　Ishak　ben　Yonannon；　if　Almalik　had　ever　told　her。　That　led　to　another　unexpected　thought。
　　〃You　really　did　love　the　king；　didn't　you？〃　he　asked　at　length；　uncharacteristically　awkward。　He　didn't　feel　entirely　in　control　of　this　situation。　Murdering　someone　left　you　vulnerable　to　certain　things；　he　had　almost　forgotten　that　lesson　over　the　course　of　fifteen　years。　How　was　one　to　proceed　with　the　lover　of　a　man　one　had　slain？
　　〃You　know　I　did；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃That　isn't　a　difficult　or　even　a　real　question；　Ammar。〃　She　turned　and　stood　facing　him　for　the　first　time。　〃The　difficult　truth　is　that　you　loved　him　as　well。〃
　　And　that　he　had　not　expected。
　　He　shook　his　head　quickly。　〃No。　I　respected　him；　I　admired　his　strength；　I　enjoyed　the　subtlety　of　his　mind。　His　foresight；　his　cunning。　I　had　hopes　of　the　son；　as　well。　In　a　way；　I　still　do。〃
　　〃Otherwise　your　teaching　was　wasted？〃
　　〃Otherwise　my　teaching　was　wasted。〃
　　〃It　was；〃　said　Zabira　flatly。　〃You'll　see；　soon　enough。　And　though　I　heard　a　denial　of　love；　I　am　afraid　I　do　not　believe　it。〃
　　She　set　down　her　empty　glass　and　looked　up　at　him　thoughtfully；　standing　very　near。　〃Tell　me　something　else；〃　she　said；　her　voice　changing　timbre。　〃You　suggested　the　new　king　was　not　immune　to　enticement。　Are　you；　Ammar？〃
　　He　was；　perhaps；　the　least　easily　startled　man　in　Al…Rassan；　but　this；　following　hard　upon　the　last　remarks；　was　entirely　unexpected。　Hilarity；　intense　and　swift；　rose　within　him　and　as　swiftly　subsided。　He　had　killed　her　lover　that　morning。　The　father　of　her　children。　The　hope　of　her　future。
　　〃I　have　been　accused　of　many　things；　but　never　that；〃　he　said；　parrying　for　time。
　　She　granted　him　none。　〃Good；　then；〃　said　Zabira　of　Cartada；　and　rising　on　her　toes；　she　kissed　him　upon　the　lips；　slowly　and　with　considerable　expertise。
　　Someone　else　did　this　to　me；　not　long　ago；　ibn　Khairan　thought；　before　all　such　associations　were　chased　away。　The　woman　on　the　terrace　with　him　stepped　back；　but　only　to　begin…silk　sleeves　falling　away　to　reveal　the　white　skin　of　her　arms…unbinding　her　black　hair。
　　He　stared；　mesmerized；　words　and　thoughts　scattering　in　disa