ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第36章

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　　On　the　night　that　lament　was　first　offered；　in　the　banquet　room　of　Ragosa　by　a　man　who　still　preferred　to　name　himself　a　poet　before　anything　else；　it　had　already　been　decided　that　war　with　Cartada　would　be　premature；　whatever　the　dead　king's　woman　might　desire　for　her　sons。　There　was　no　real　dissent。　Winter　was　ing；　not　a　time　for　armies。　Spring　would　doubtless　open　a　course　of　wisdom　to　them；　much　as　flowers　would　open　in　the　gardens　and　the　countryside。
　　Guarding　Zabira's　two　boys　had　bee　rather　more　important　than　hitherto；　everyone　agreed　on　that　as　well。　Princes　were　useful；　especially　young　ones。　One　couldn't　have　too　many　royal　pawns。　It　was　another　old　truth。
　　At　the　very　end　of　that　extremely　long　day　and　night…after　the　meeting；　after　the　passage　of　arms；　after　the　banquet；　after　the　verses　and　the　toasts　and　the　last　lifted　glasses　of　wine　in　the　splendid　room　where　the　stream　ran…two　men　remained　awake；　speaking　together　in　the　king　of　Ragosa's　private　chambers　with　only　the　servants；　lighting　candles；　in　the　room　with　them。
　　〃I　don't　feel　easy　at　all；〃　said　Mazur　ben　Avren　to　his　king。
　　Badir；　leaning　back　in　a　low　chair…an　exquisite　thing；　Jaddite　in　style　but　made　of　Tudescan　redwood；　with　ivory　legs　in　smiled　at　his　chancellor　and　stretched　the　shape　of　lions'　feet…with　his　legs　upon　a　stool。
　　The　two　men　had　known　each　other　a　long　time。　Badir　had　taken　a　huge　risk　at　the　very　outset　of　his　reign　in　appointing　a　Kindath　chancellor。　The　texts　of　Ashar　were　explicit：　no　Kindath　or　Jaddite　could　hold　sovereign　authority　of　any　kind　over　the　Star…born。　No　Asharite　could　even　be　employed　by　them。　The　penalty；　if　one　followed　the　desert　code；　was　the　death　by　stones。
　　Of　course　no　one　who　mattered　in　Al…Rassan　followed　the　desert　code。　Not　during　the　Khalifate；　not　after。　The　glass　of　wine　in　the　king's　hand　was　the　most　current　evidence　of　that。　Even　so；　a　Kindath　chancellor　had　been　a　very　large　thing…a　gamble　that　the　wadjis　would　plain　as　usual　but　be　able　to　do　no　more。　There　was　a　chance　that　roll　of　dice　might　have　cost　Badir　his　newly　claimed　crown　and　his　life　if　the　people　had　risen　in　righteous　wrath。　In　return　for　that　risk　taken；　Mazur　ben　Avren；　the　so…called　Prince　of　the　Kindath；　had　made　Ragosa　not　only　independent；　but　the　second　most　powerful　kingdom　in　Al…Rassan　in　the　turbulent　years　after　the　Khalifate's　fall。　He　had　guided　the　city　and　her　king　through　the　dangerous　shoals　of　a　swiftly　changing　world；　had　kept　Ragosa　free　and　solvent　and　proud。
　　He　had　ridden　with　the　army　himself　in　the　first　years；　in　campaigns　to　the　south　and　east；　and　had　directed　it　in　the　field；　triumphantly。　His　mount　had　been　a　mule；　not　a　forbidden　horse；　Mazur　knew　enough　to　offer　the　wadjis　their　necessary　symbols　of　deference。　Nonetheless；　the　simple　truth　was　that　Mazur　ben　Avren　was　the　first　Kindath　to　mand　an　army　in　the　western　world　in　five　hundred　years。　Poet；　scholar；　diplomat；　jurist。　And　soldier。　More　than　anything　else；　those　early　military　triumphs　had　ensured　his　survival　and　Badir's。　Much　could　be　forgiven　if　a　war　went　well　and　an　army　came　home　with　gold。
　　Much　had　been　forgiven；　thus　far。　Badir　ruled；　ben　Avren　beside　him；　and　together　they　had　shared　another　dream：　a　desire　to　make　Ragosa　beautiful　as　well　as　free。　A　city　of　marble　and　ivory　and　gardens　of　exquisite　detail。　If　Cartada　to　the　west　under　the　hated　and　feared　Almalik　had　inherited　the　larger　portion　of　the　power　of　the　khalifs；　Ragosa　on　Lake　Serrana　was　an　emblem　of　other　things　Silvenes　once　had　been　in　the　lost　days　of　splendor。
　　They　were　an　old　team　by　now；　the　king　and　his　chancellor；　deeply　familiar　with　each　other；　without　illusions。　Each　of　them　knew　that　an　ending　could　e　at　any　time；　from　any　number　of　directions。　The　moons　waxed　and　waned。　The　stars　could　be　hidden　by　clouds；　or　burned　away　by　the　sun。
　　If　Silvenes　and　the　Al…Fontina　could　fall；　if　that　city　and　palace　could　be　sacked　and　fired　and　left　as　nothing　more　than　wind…borne　ashes　of　glory；　any　city；　any　kingdom　could　be　brought　down。　It　was　a　lesson　learned　by　all　who　claimed　any　measure　of　power　in　the　peninsula　after　the　death　of　the　last　khalif。
　　〃I　know　you're　uneasy；〃　King　Badir　said；　glancing　up　at　his　chancellor。　He　gestured。　〃For　one　thing；　you　haven't　touched　your　glass。　You　don't　even　know　what　I've　poured　for　us。〃
　　Mazur　smiled　briefly。　He　picked　up　his　golden　wine；　looked　at　it　in　the　candlelight　and　then　sipped；　eyes　closed。
　　〃Wonderful；〃　he　murmured。　〃Ardeno　vineyards；　and　a　late　growth；　surely？　When　did　this　e？〃
　　〃When　do　you　think？〃
　　The　chancellor　sipped　again；　with　real　pleasure。　〃Of　course。　This　morning。　Not　from　the　woman；　I'd　imagine。〃
　　〃They　said　it　was。〃
　　〃Of　course　they　did。〃　There　was　a　silence。
　　〃That　was　a　remarkable　poem　we　heard　tonight。〃　The　king's　voice；　resuming；　was　low。
　　Ben　Avren　nodded。　〃I　thought　so。〃
　　King　Badir　looked　at　his　chancellor　for　a　moment。　〃You've　done　as　well；　in　your　time。〃
　　Mazur　shook　his　head。　〃Thank　you；　my　lord；　but　I　know　my　limits　there。〃　Another　pause。　Mazur　stroked　his　carefully　trimmed　beard。　〃He's　an　extraordinary　man。〃
　　The　king's　gaze　was　direct。　〃Too　much　so？〃
　　Ben　Avren　shrugged。　〃On　his　own；　perhaps　not；　but　I'm　not　entirely　sure　of　being　able　to　control　events　through　a　winter　with　the　two　of　them　here。〃
　　Badir　nodded；　sipped　his　wine。　〃How　are　those　five　men；　from　this　afternoon？〃
　　〃All　right；　I　am　told。　Jehane　bet　Ishak　is　looking　after　them　tonight。　I　took　the　liberty　of　asking　her　to　do　that　in　your　name。　One　broken　arm。　One　who　is　apparently　uncertain　of　his　name　or　where　he　is。〃　The　chancellor　shook　his　head　ruefully。　〃The　one　from　Karch　who　proposed　the　challenge　is　the　one　whose　arm　was　fractured。〃
　　〃I　saw　that。　Deliberate？〃
　　The　chancellor　shrugged。　〃I　couldn't　say。〃
　　〃I'm　still　not　certain　how　that　was　done　to　him。〃
　　〃Neither　is　he；〃　ben　Avren　said。
　　The　king　grinned　and　after　a　moment　so　did　his　chancellor。　The　two　attendant　servants　had　finished　with　the　candles　and　the　fire　by　now。　They　stood；　motionless　as　statues；　by　the　doors　to　the　room。
　　〃They　fought　as　if　they　had　been　together　all　their　lives；〃　Badir　said　musingly；　setting　down　his　glass。　He　looked　at　his　chancellor。　Mazur　gazed　back　without　speaking。　A　moment　later　the　king　said；　〃You　are　thinking　about　how　best　to　use　them。　About　Cartada？〃
　　The　chancellor　nodded。　Their　glances　held　for　a　long　time。　It　was　as　if　they　had　exchanged　a　dialogue　without　words。　Mazur　nodded　again。
　　The　king's　expression　was　sober　in　the　candlelight。　〃Did　you　see　how　they　stared　at　each　other　this　morning；　in　the　garden？〃
　　〃That　would　have　been　difficult　to　miss。〃
　　〃You　think　the　Valledan's　a　match　for　ibn　Khairan？〃
　　Mazur's　finger　came　up　and　stroked　his　beard　again。　〃Very　different　men。　You　saw　them；　my　lord。　He　may　be。　He　may　actually　。。。　I　don't　know　what　I　think　about　that；　my　lord；　to　be　honest。　I　do　know　there's　too　much　power　gathering　here；　and　I　don't　think　the　wadjis；　among　others；　will　like　any　of　it。　Jaddite　soldiers　from　Valledo　now；　to　go　with　those　from　across　the　mountains；　the　princely　sons　of　a　courtesan；　a　female　Kindath　doctor　to　go　with　a　Kindath　chancellor；　and　now　the　most　notoriously　secular　man　in　Al…Rassan　。。。　〃
　　〃I　thought　I　was　that　last；〃　King　Badir　said　with　a　wry　expression。
　　Mazur's　mouth　quirked。　〃Forgive　me；　my　lord。　The　two　most　notorious；　then。〃
　　Badir's　expression　grew　reflective　again。　He'd　had　a　great　deal　of　wine；　without　evident　effect。　〃Zabira　said　Almalik's　second　son　had　gone　across　the　straits。　To　speak　with　the　Muwardi　leaders；　she　said。〃
　　〃Hazem　ibn　Almalik；　yes。　I　knew　that；　actually。　He　went　some　time　ago。　Stopped　for　a　while　in　Tudesca　with　the　wadjis　there。〃
　　Badir　absorbed　this。　The　range　and　depth　of　ben　Avren's　information　was　legendary。　Not　even　the　king　knew　all　his　sources。
　　〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃
　　〃Nothing　good；　my　lord；　to　be　truthful。〃
　　〃Have　we　sent　our　gifts　to　the　desert　this　year？〃
　　〃Of　course；　my　lord。〃
　　Badir　lifted　his　glass　and　drank。　Then　his　mouth　twitched　again；　the　same　wry　amusement　as　before。　〃There　was　never　an　assurance　of　anything　good　from　the　time　we　began；　was　there？　We've　had　a　long　run；　my　friend。〃
　　〃It　isn't　over。〃
　　〃Nearly？〃　The　king's　voice　was　soft。
　　The　chancellor　shook　his　head　grimly。　〃Not　if　I　can　help　it。〃
　　Badir　nodded；　relaxed　in　his　chair；　sipping　the　good　wine。　〃It　will　be　as　the　stars　dispose。　What　do　we　do；　in　the　meantime；　with　these　。。。　lions　in　my　city　this　season？〃
　　〃Send　them　out；　I　think。〃
　　〃In　winter？　Where？〃
　　〃I　do　have　an　idea。〃
　　The　king　laughed。　〃Don't　you　always？〃
　　They　smiled　at　each　other。　King　Badir　raised　his　glass　and　silently　saluted　his　chancellor。　Mazur　rose　and　bowed；　setting　down　his　own　wine。
　　〃I　will　leave　you；〃　he　said。　〃Good　night；　my　lord。　The　stars　and　Ashar's　spirit　guide　you　safely　through　to　dawn。〃
　　〃And　your　moons　ease　the　dark　for　you；　my　friend。〃
　　The　chancellor　bowed　a　second　time　and　went　out。　The　nearer　of　the　servants　closed　the　door　after　him。　The　king　of　Ragosa　did　not　go　immediately　to　bed；　however。　He　sat　in　his　chair　for　a　long　time；　unmoving。
　　He　was　thinking　of　how　kings　died；　of　how　their　glory　came　and　lingered　a　while；　and　went。　Like　the　taste　of　this　good　wine；　he　thought。　This　gift　of　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　who　had　killed　his　own　king　a　little　time　ago。　What　did　a　king　leave　behind？　What　did　anyone　leave　behind？　And　that　led　him　circling　back　to　the　words　they'd　heard　recited　after　dinner；　while　lying　at　ease　on　their　couches　in　the　banquet　room　with　the　tame　stream　running　through　it；　rippling　quietly；　a　murmurous　background　to　the　spoken　words。
Let　only　sorrow　speak　tonight。
Let　sorrow　name　the　moons。
Let　the　pale　blue　light　be　loss
And　the　white　one　memory。

Let　clouds　obscure　the　brightness
Of　the　high；　holy　stars；
And　shroud　the　watering　place
Where　he　was　wont　to　slake　his　thirst。

Where　lesser　beasts　now　gather
Since　the　Lion　will　e　no　more　。。。　
　　Badir　of　Ragosa　poured；　deliberately；　the　last　of　the　sweet；　pale　wine　and　drank　it　down。
　　
　　Someone　else　was　late　to　bed　in　the　palace　of　Ragosa；　for　all　that　it　had　been　an　eventful　day　and　night；　even　for　a　man　accustomed　to　such　things。
　　Caught　in　the　difficult　space　between　physical　fatigue　and　emotional　unrest；　the　lord　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　finally　left　the　elegant　quarters　assigned　him　for　the　night　to　go　out　into　the　streets　long　after　dark。
　　The　night　guards　at　the　postern　doors　knew　him。　Everyone　seemed　to　know　him　already。　Nothing　unusual　there。　He　was　a　man　who　needed　to　be　disguised　to　pass　unnoticed　in　Al…Rassan。　Anxious　and　overexcited；　they　offered　him　a　torch　and　an　escort。　He　declined　both　with　courtesy。　He　wore　a　sword　for　protection；　which　he　showed　them。　He　made　a　jest　at　his　own　expense；　they　laughed　eagerly。　After　the　afternoon's　engagement　they　could　hardly　doubt　his　ability　to　defend　himself。　One　of　them；　greatly　daring；　said　as　much。　Ibn　Khairan　gave　him　a　silver　coin　and　then；　with　a　smile；　offered　the　same　to　the　other　two　guards。　They　almost　fell　over　each　other　opening　the　door