ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第34章

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the　king's　narrowed　glance　past　the　kneeling　woman；　encountered　a　difficulty　with　her　breathing。
　　Nor；　as　it　happened；　was　Zabira　of　Cartada　continuing　to　hold　the　attention　of　the　newest　and　most　prominent　of　the　mercenary　captains　at　King　Badir's　court。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　admired　beauty　and　poise　in　a　woman　and　evidence　of　courage；　he　had　been　married　for　almost　sixteen　years　to　a　woman　with　these　qualities。　But　he；　too；　was　looking　beyond　Zabira　now；　gazing　instead　at　the　figure　approaching　the　bridge　and　the　isle；　two　dutiful　steps　behind　her；　preserving　a　palpable　fiction　for　one　more　moment。
　　The　sun　came　out；　bathing　them　all　in　light。　Zabira　of　Cartada　remained　on　the　ground；　an　embodiment　of　beauty　and　grace　amid　the　falling　leaves。　She　hardly　mattered　now。
　　The　woman's　panion；　her　sole　panion；　the　man　who　had　been　announced　as　her　steward；　was　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。
　　For　a　handful　of　extremely　subtle　people　in　that　garden　further　elements　of　the　death　of　King　Almalik　were　now　explained。　And　for　them；　although　the　woman　might　be　the　most　celebrated　beauty　in　Al…Rassan；　clever　and　gifted　in　herself　and　the　mother　of　two　enormously　important　children；　the　man　was　who　he　was；　and　had　done…twice　now；　it　seemed…what　he　had　done。
　　He　was　undisguised；　the　signature　pearl　gleaming　in　his　right　ear；　and　Rodrigo　knew　him　by　the　report　of　that。　The　black　steward's　robe　only　accentuated　his　natural　posure。　He　was　smiling…not　very　deferentially；　not　very　much　like　a　steward…as　he　scanned　the　assembled　court　of　King　Badir。　Rodrigo　saw　him　nod　at　a　poet。
　　Ibn　Khairan　bowed　to　the　king　of　Ragosa。　When　he　straightened；　his　gaze　met　the　chancellor's　briefly；　moved　to　Jehane　bet　Ishak…as　the　smile　returned…and　then　he　appeared　to　bee　aware　that　one　of　the　Jaddite　mercenaries　was　staring　at　him；　and　he　turned　to　the　man　and　knew　him。
　　And　so　did　Ser　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　the　Captain　of　Valledo；　and　the　lord　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　of　Aljais　stand　in　the　Courtyard　of　the　Streams　of　Ragosa　on　a　bright　morning　in　autumn　and　look　upon　each　other　for　the　first　time。
　　Jehane；　caught　in　the　whirlwind　of　her　own　emotions；　was　there　to　see　that　first　look　exchanged。　She　turned　from　one　man　to　the　other　and　then　she　shivered；　without　knowing　why。
　　Alvar　de　Pellino；　just　then　entering　through　a　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　arcaded　walkway…sanctioned　by　his　link　to　both　the　Captain　and　Jehane　and　a　hasty　lie　about　a　message　for　Rodrigo…was　in　time　to　see　that　exchange　of　glances　as　well；　and　though　he　had　not　the　least　idea　who　the　black…robed　Cartadan　steward　with　the　earring　was；　he　knew　when　Rodrigo　was　roused　to　intensity；　and　he　could　see　it　then。
　　Narrowing　his　eyes　against　the　sun's　brightness；　he　looked　for　and　found　Jehane　and　saw　her　looking　back　and　forth　from　one　man　to　the　other。　Alvar　did　the　same；　struggling　to　understand　what　was　happening　here。　And　then　he；　too；　felt　himself　shiver；　though　it　wasn't　really　cold　and　the　sun　was　high。
　　Back　home；　on　their　farm　in　the　remotest　part　of　Valledo；　the　kitchen　women　and　the　serving　women；　most　of　whom　had　been　still　half　pagan；　so　far　in　the　wild　north；　used　to　say　that　such　a　shiver　meant　only　one　thing：　an　emissary　of　death　had　just　crossed　into　the　realms　of　mortal　men　and　women　from　the　god's　own　lost　world　of　Fifiar。
　　In　silence；　unaccountably　disturbed；　Alvar　slipped　through　the　crowd　in　the　garden　and　took　his　place　among　the　mercenaries　on　the　near　bank　of　the　stream　before　the　island。
　　Rodrigo　and　the　black…clad　Cartadan　steward　still　had　not　taken　their　eyes　from　each　other。
　　Others　began　to　notice　this　now…there　was　something　in　the　quality　of　the　stillness　possessing　both　of　them。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　Alvar　saw　Mazur　ben　Avren　turn　to　look　at　Rodrigo　and　then　back　to　the　steward。
　　Still　trying　to　take　his　bearings；　Alvar　looked　for　anger　in　those　two　faces；　for　hatred；　respect；　irony；　appraisal。　He　saw　none　of　these　things　clearly；　and　yet　elements　of　all　of　them。　Hesitantly　he　decided；　in　the　moment　before　the　king　of　Ragosa　spoke；　that　what　he　was　seeing　was　a　kind　of　recognition。　Not　just　of　each　other；　though　there　had　to　be　that；　but　something　harder　to　name。　He　thought；　still　minded　of　the　night　tales　told　at　home；　that　it　might　even　be　a　kind　of　foreknowing。
　　Alvar；　a　grown　man　now；　a　soldier；　amid　a　gathering　of　people　on　a　very　bright　morning；　suddenly　felt　fear；　the　way　he　used　to　feel　it　as　a　child　at　night　after　hearing　the　women's　stories；　lying　in　his　bed；　listening　to　the　north　wind　rattling　at　the　windows　of　the　house。
　　〃You　are　most　wele　to　Ragosa；　lady；〃　the　king　of　Ragosa　murmured。
　　If　he　had　sensed　any　of　this　growing　tension；　he　did　not　betray　it。　There　was　genuine　appreciation　in　his　voice　and　manner。　King　Badir　was　a　connoisseur　of　beauty　in　all　shapes　and　guises。　Alvar；　struggling　with　his　sudden　dark　mood　and　protected　by　the　simple　fact　of　love；　thought　the　Cartadan　lady　fetching　but　overly　adorned。　She　was　flawless　in　her　manner；　however。　Only　after　Badir　spoke　did　she　rise　gracefully　from　the　walkway　and　stand　before　the　king's　isle。
　　〃Is　this　a　mother's　visit？〃　Badir　went　on。　〃Have　you　e　to　judge　our　royal　care　of　your　children？〃
　　The　king　knew　it　was　more　than　that；　Alvar　realized；　having　learned　a　great　deal　himself　in　three　months。　This　was　a　gambit；　an　opening。
　　〃There　is　that；　Magnificence；〃　said　Zabira　of　Cartada；　〃though　I　have　no　fears　regarding　your　attentiveness　to　my　little　ones。　I　am　here；　though；　with　more　import　to　my　visit　than　a　mother's　fond　doting。〃　Her　voice　was　low　but　clear；　a　musician's；　trained。
　　She　said；　〃I　have　e　to　tell　a　tale　of　murder。　A　son's　murder　of　his　father；　and　the　consequences　of　that。〃
　　There　was　near　silence　in　the　garden　again；　only　the　one　bird　still　singing　overhead；　the　breeze　in　the　leaves　of　the　trees；　the　steady　lapping　of　the　two　streams　around　the　isle。
　　In　that　quiet；　Zabira　said；　〃By　the　holy　teachings　of　Ashar　it　is　given　to　us　as　law　that　a　murderer　of　his　father　is　eternally　unclean；　to　be　shunned　while　alive；　to　be　executed　or　driven　from　all　gatherings　of　men；　accursed　of　the　god　and　the　stars。　I　ask　the　king　of　Ragosa：　shall　such　a　man　reign　in　Cartada？〃
　　〃Does　he？〃　King　Badir　was　a　sensualist；　known　to　be　self…indulgent；　but　no　one　had　ever　impugned　the　quality　of　his　mind。　
　　〃He　does。　A　fortnight　ago　the　Lion　of　Cartada　was　foully　slain；　and　his　murdering　son　now　bears　the　scepter　and　the　glass；　and　styles　himself　Almalik　II；　Lion　of　Cartada；　Defender　of　Al…Rassan。〃　There　was　a　sound　in　the　garden　then；　for　all　the　details　were　news：　she　had　crossed　the　mountains　faster　than　messengers。　Zabira　drew　herself　up　straight　and　raised　her　voice　with　deliberate　intent。　〃I　am　e　here；　my　lord　king；　to　beg　you　to　free　the　people　of　my　dear　city　from　this　father…killer　and　regicide。　To　send　your　armies　west；　fulfilling　the　precepts　of　holy　Ashar；　to　destroy　this　evil　man。〃
　　Another　ripple　of　sound；　like　the　breeze　through　the　leaves。　〃And　who　then　shall　reign　in　glorious　Cartada？〃　Badir's　expression　gave　away　nothing　at　all。
　　For　the　first　time　the　woman　hesitated。　〃The　city　is　in　peril。　We　have　learned　that　the　usurper's　brother　Hazem　is　away　to　the　south　across　the　straits。　He　is　a　zealot；　and　seeks　aid　and　alliance　from　the　tribes　in　the　Majriti　deserts。　He　has　been　in　open　defiance　of　his　father　and　was　formally　disinherited　years　ago。〃
　　〃That　last　we　know；〃　Badir　said　softly。　〃That　much　all　men　know。　But　who　then　should　reign　in　Cartada？〃　he　asked　again。　By　now　even　Alvar　could　see　where　this　was　going。
　　The　woman　had　courage；　there　was　no　denying　it。　〃You　are　guardian　here　in　Ragosa　of　the　only　two　loyal　children　of　King　Almalik；〃　she　said；　with　no　hesitation　now。　〃It　is　my　formal　petition　that　you　take　that　city　in　the　god's　name　and　place　there　as　king　his　son；　Abadi　ibn　Almalik。　And　that　you　lend　to　him　all　such　aid　and　support　as　you　may　during　the　time　of　his　minority。〃　It　was　said；　then。　Openly。　An　invitation　to　take　Cartada；　and　the　cloak　of　right　under　which　to　do　it。
　　Jehane；　listening　with　fierce　attention；　looked　beyond　the　woman　in　crimson　and　black　and　saw　that　Alvar　had　managed　to　obtain　admittance　here。　She　turned　again　to　the　king。
　　But　it　was　the　chancellor　who　now　spoke；　for　the　first　time；　the　deep　voice　measured　and　grave。　〃I　would　know；　if　I　might；　is　this　also　the　thought　and　desire　of　the　steward　you　bring　with　you？〃
　　Looking　quickly　back　to　Zabira；　Jehane　realized　that　the　woman　did　not　know　the　answer　to　that　question；　that　she　had　played　a　card　of　her　own；　and　was　waiting　on　what　would　follow。
　　She　played　the　next；　necessary　card。　〃He　is　not　my　steward；〃　Zabira　said。　〃You　will　know；　I　believe；　who　this　man　is。　He　has　been　gracious　enough　to　escort　me　here；　a　woman　without　defenders　or　any　recourse　at　home。　I　will　not　dare　presume　to　speak　for　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　my　lord　chancellor；　my　lord　king。　No　one　alive　would　do　that。〃
　　〃Then　perhaps　the　man　who　appears　before　us　in　the　false　garb　of　a　steward　might　presume　to　speak　for　himself？〃　King　Badir　betrayed　the　slightest　tension　in　his　voice　now。　It　wasn't　surprising；　Jehane　thought。　The　woman　had　raised　the　stakes　of　the　game　extraordinarily　high。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　whom　she　had　kissed…amazingly…in　her　father's　study；　turned　his　gaze　to　the　king　of　Ragosa。　There　was　a　measure　of　respect　to　be　seen　in　him；　but　no　real　deference。　For　the　first　time　Jehane　realized　just　how　difficult　a　man　this　one　could　be；　if　he　chose。　He　had　also；　she　reminded　herself　again；　killed　a　khalif　and　now　a　king。
　　He　said；　〃Most　gracious　king；　I　find　myself　in　a　troubling　circumstance。　I　have　just　heard　words　of　open　treason　to　my　own　kingdom　of　Cartada。　My　course　ought　to　be　clear；　but　I　am　doubly　constrained。〃
　　〃Why？　And　why　doubly？〃　King　Badir　asked；　sounding　vexed。
　　Ibn　Khairan　shrugged　gracefully。　And　waited。　As　if　the　issue　was　a　test；　not　for　him；　but　for　the　assembled　court　of　Ragosa　in　that　garden。
　　And　it　was　Mazur　the　chancellor　who　said；　〃He　ought　to　kill　her；　but　will　not　attack　a　woman；　and　he　may　not　draw　a　weapon　in　your　presence。〃　There　was　irritation　in　his　voice。　〃In　fact　you　ought　not　to　even　have　a　weapon　here。〃
　　〃This　is　true；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　mildly。　〃Your　guards　were　。。。　courteous。　Perhaps　too　much　so。〃
　　〃Perhaps　they　saw　no　reason　to　fear　a　man　of　your　。。。　repute；〃　the　chancellor　murmured　silkily。
　　A　dagger　of　sorts　there；　Jehane　thought；　chasing　nuances　as　quickly　as　she　could。　Ibn　Khairan's　reputation　enpassed　many　things；　and　it　included　a　new　dimension　as　of　this　morning's　news。　He　could　not；　on　the　face　of　things；　be　said　to　be　a　harmless　man。　Perhaps　especially　not　for　kings。
　　Ammar　smiled；　as　if　savoring　the　innuendo。　〃It　has　been　long；〃　he　said；　with　apparent　inconsequentiality；　〃since　I　have　had　the　privilege　of　exchanging　words　with　the　estimable　chancellor　of　Ragosa。　Whatever　our　jealous　wadjis　might　say；　he　remains　a　credit　to　his　people　and　the　great　king　he　serves。　In　my　most　humble　view。〃
　　At　which　point　the　king　mentioned　appeared　to　lose　patience。　〃You　were　asked　a　question；〃　Badir　said　bluntly；　and　those　assembled　in　that　garden　were　made　sharply　aware