ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第42章

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　　He　pulled　his　fur…collared　robe　more　closely　about　himself。　Out　of　the　corner　of　one　eye　he　saw　Gonzalez　make　a　discreet　gesture　and　servants　hastened　to　build　up　the　fires。　His　constable　was　endlessly　solicitous　of　the　king's　forts　in　such　small　matters。　Unfortunately　he　had　missed　something　large　here。　On　the　other　hand；　so　had　Ramiro　himself；　and　he　was　not　a　man　to　task　others　for　failings　he　shared。
　　〃Be　wele　to　Valledo；〃　he　said　calmly；　as　the　tall　cleric　stopped　a　proper　distance　before　the　throne。　〃In　the　holy　name　of　Jad。〃
　　Geraud　of　Ferrieres　bowed　then…not　before；　Ramiro　noted。　The　bow　was　proper；　though；　a　full；　formal　salutation。　He　straightened。
　　〃We　are　honored；　my　lord　king。〃　The　High　Cleric's　voice　was　rich　and　cultured。　He　spoke　Esperanan　flawlessly；　even　to　the　patrician　lisp。　〃Honored　by　the　invitation　from　our　own　beloved　Ines；　your　most　devout　queen；　and　by　your　royal　wele。　Only　the　prospect　of　a　winter's　fort　here　at　Esteren's　much…celebrated　court　could　have　drawn　us　forth　upon　the　roads　and　through　the　mountains　so　late　in　the　year。〃
　　No　bones　about　it　then。　His　very　first　remarks。　They　were　staying。　Not　really　a　surprise；　though　they　might　have　been　intending　to　push　on　to　Ruenda。　That　would　have　been　pleasant。　Ramiro　was　aware　of　Ines　beaming　beside　him；　elegant　and　desirable。　She　had　been　looking　forward　to　this　for　a　long　time。
　　〃We　shall　offer　what　forts　we　may；〃　the　king　said；　〃though　we　fear　we　cannot　match　the　fame　of　Ferrieres　for　the　delights　of　the　flesh。〃　He　smiled；　to　make　clear　it　was　a　jest。
　　The　High　Cleric　shook　his　head。　There　was　an　unwele　hint　of　admonition　in　his　expression。　Already。　〃We　live　simple　lives；　your　grace；〃　he　murmured。　〃We　will　be　well　content　with　any　meager　space　and　amenities　you　are　able　to　spare。　Our　delight　and　sustenance　will　e　from　the　presence　of　the　god　in　this　mighty　stronghold　of　Jad　in　the　west。〃
　　Ramiro　schooled　his　features。　He　was　aware　that　Ines　had　already　allocated　and　sumptuously　furnished　a　suite　of　connecting　rooms　for　the　Ferrieres　clerics　in　the　new　wing　of　the　palace；　in　the　event　that　they　elected　to　linger　for　more　than　a　short　time。　There　was　even　a　chapel　there；　at　her　insistence。　Geraud　de　Chervalles　would　not　be　forced　to　deal　with　any　meager　spaces　here。　The　king　was　also　aware　of　the　detailed　exchange　of　letters　between　his　queen　and　the　clerics　of　her　birthplace。　It　would　be　unseemly；　of　course；　to　betray　knowledge　of　this。　He　felt　like　being　unseemly。
　　〃We　are　certain　our　dearly　beloved　queen　has　been　at　pains　to　ply　with　every　point　of　your　instructions　regarding　what　acmodations　would　be　adequate　for　your　needs。　The　hot　water　has　been　arranged　for　your　rooms；　your　personal　masseur　for　each　afternoon。　The　food　as　stipulated。　The　requested　Farlenian　wine。〃
　　He　smiled　genially。　Ines　stiffened　beside　him。　Geraud　de　Chervalles　looked　briefly　disfited；　then　sorrowful；　in　the　manner　of　all　clerics。　He　had；　however；　no　easy　reply。　It　was　useful；　Ramiro　thought；　to　bring　them　up　short　early；　like　a　horse　in　the　breaking；　before　all　the　smooth；　rolling　phrases　began　to　pour　endlessly　forth。　He　doubted；　though；　that　this　man　was　susceptible　to　being　checked。　A　moment　later　this　was　confirmed。
　　〃I　do　regret　that　my　advancing　years　have　made　it　necessary　to　beg　certain　solicitous　favors　from　those　who　honor　us　with　a　request　to　visit。　Especially　in　winter；　I　fear。　Your　majesty　is　young　yet；　in　the　flush　of　your　god…granted　vigor。　Those　of　us　who　have　begun　our　mortal　decline　can　only　look　to　you　as　our　stern　arm　of　support；　under　the　holy　sun　of　Jad。〃
　　As　expected。　Not　someone　who　could　be　quelled　as　he　had　managed　to　quell　the　yellow…garbed　clerics　here　over　the　years。　Erratic　men；　ambitious；　but　without　leadership　or　force。　Without　looking　he　could　picture　the　smug　expressions　on　their　faces。　They　had　a　champion　now；　and　things　might　be　about　to　change。　Well；　he　ought　to　have　known　this　was　ing。　He　ought　to　have　given　it　more　thought。　He　had　no　one　to　blame　but　himself　for　agreeing　to　Ines's　request　that　they　invite　one　of　the　High　Clerics　from　her　own　country　to　stop　here　on　his　way　to　the　Isle；　for　the　fort　of　her　soul。
　　He'd　known　the　name　of　de　Chervalles；　known　he　was　a　figure　of　power。　Beyond　that　he　had　not　concerned　himself。　A　weakness。　He　didn't　like　thinking　about　clerics。　He　did　have　a　vague　memory　of　the　afternoon　she'd　asked　his　permission　to　invite　the　man。　He　had　been　lulled　and　languorous　in　the　aftermath　of　lovemaking。　His　queen；　thought　Ramiro　of　Valledo；　looking　straight　ahead；　knew　him　altogether　too　well。
　　He　forced　himself　to　smile　again　at　the　tall；　grey…haired　man　in　the　luxurious　blue　and　yellow　robe。　〃You　are　unlikely　to　need　defending　here　in　winter。　Except　against　cold　and　boredom；　perhaps。　We　will　do　what　we　can　to　make　you　fortable　during　your　brief　time　with　us。〃　He　allowed　his　tone　to　hint　at　dismissal。　Perhaps　this　first　encounter；　at　least；　could　be　kept　short。　That　would　give　him　time　to　think　things　through　a　little。
　　De　Chervalles's　expression　grew　dark；　troubled。　〃The　god　knows　our　fears　are　not　for　ourselves　or　our　own　fort；　gracious　king。　We　e　hither　on　the　hard　roads　heavy　with　thoughts　of　the　Children　of　Jad　who　live　not　beneath　the　benevolent　rule　of　the　kings　in　the　lands　of　Esperana。　This；　I　confess；　is　what　will　make　the　ing　winter　hard　for　me。〃
　　Well；　that　had　been　a　vain　thought：　that　they　might　keep　the　first　meeting　brief。　And　trouble　lay　ahead　now　like　a　thicket　of　spears。　Ramiro　said　nothing。　It　was　still　possible　he　might　deflect　the　worst　of　this；　for　the　moment。　He　really　was　going　to　need　time　to　think。
　　〃What　can　you　mean；　most　holy　sire？〃　Ines's　question　was　transparently　earnest。　Her　hands　were　clasped　together；　holding　the　sun　disk　in　her　lap；　her　face　betrayed　anxious　concern。　The　king　of　Valledo　swore　inwardly；　but　refused　to　permit　any　flicker　of　emotion　to　cross　his　face。
　　〃How　can　I　not　think　of　all　our　pious　brethren　of　the　god　who　must　endure　yet　another　winter　under　the　cruel　torments　of　the　infidels　of　Ashar；〃　said　Geraud　de　Chervalles。　Said　it　smoothly；　flowingly；　sorrowfully。　Loudly　enough　for　the　whole　court　to　hear。
　　It　was　upon　him；　Ramiro　thought　grimly。　It　had　arrived；　with　this　assured；　dangerous　man　from　Ferrieres。　De　Chervalles　had　e　here　to　say　this　one　thing。　Say　it　this　morning；　and　then　again；　and　again；　until　he　made　kings　and　riders　and　farmers　from　the　fields　dance　to　his　tune　and　die。
　　Despite　his　earlier　resolutions；　Ramiro　felt　a　flicker　of　anger　against　his　constable。　Gonzalez　ought　to　have　been　alert　to　this。　Was　that　not　part　of　his　office？　Did　Ramiro　have　to　plan　and　prepare　for　everything　of　importance？　He　knew　the　answer　to　that；　actually。
　　No　one　to　blame　but　himself。　The　king　thought　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　far　away　in　Al…Rassan。　Exiled　among　the　infidels。　They　weren't　even　certain　where　he'd　gone　yet。　He　had　promised　not　to　attack　Valledo　with　anyone；　promised　that　much　but　no　more。　He　had　been　Raimundo's　man：　his　boyhood　friend　then　his　constable。　Not　entirely　trusted　by　Ramiro；　or　trusting　him；　if　it　came　to　that。　Raimundo's　death。　The　shadows　around　it。　Too　much　history　there。　And　Belmonte　was　too　proud；　too　independent　a　man。　Needed；　though；　badly　needed；　in　fact。
　　〃But　most　holy　sire；　what　can　we　do？〃　Ines　asked；　lifting　her　clasped　hands　to　her　breast。　〃Our　hearts　are　heavy　to　hear　your　words。〃　Her　golden　disk　shone　in　the　muted　light　falling　down　through　the　new　windows。　It　had　begun　to　rain　outside；　the　king　could　hear　it　on　the　glass。
　　Had　he　not　known　better；　Ramiro　would　have　thought　his　queen　had　been　given　her　words　by　de　Chervalles；　so　patly　did　they　lead　to　the　High　Cleric's　next　speech。　The　king　wanted　to　close　his　eyes；　his　ears。　Wanted　urgently　to　be　away　from　here；　riding　a　horse　in　the　rain。　The　words　came；　entirely　predictable；　but　sonorous　and　pelling　nonetheless。
　　〃We　can　do　what　those　charged　by　Jad　with　his　holy　mission　on　earth　can　do…that；　and　no　more　or　less；　most　revered　queen。　The　accursed　Khalifate　of　the　Asharites　is　no　more；〃　said　Geraud　of　Ferrieres；　and　paused；　suggestively。
　　〃Now　there's　news；〃　said　Gonzalez　de　Rada　sarcastically；　his　own　beautiful　voice　cutting　into　the　mood。　〃More　than　fifteen　years　old。〃　He　glanced　at　the　king。　Ramiro　understood：　the　count　had　finally　grasped　where　this　was　heading；　and　was　trying　to　steer　it　aside。
　　Too　late；　of　course。
　　〃But　there　is　fresher　news；　I　understand；〃　the　tall　cleric　from　Ferrieres　said；　undeterred。　〃The　vicious　king　of　Cartada　is　also　dead　now；　summoned　to　the　black　judgment　Jad　visits　upon　all　unbelievers。　Surely　there　is　a　message　here　for　us！　Surely　with　the　leader　of　the　jackals　gone　it　is　a　time　to　act！〃
　　The　voice　had　risen；　modulating　smoothly　towards　a　first　crescendo。　Ramiro　had　heard　this　sort　of　thing　before；　but　never　from　such　a　master。　In　a　kind　of　horrified　admiration；　he　waited。
　　〃To　act？　Now？〃　Gonzalez　didn't　bother　to　mask　his　irony。　〃A　trifle　cold　is　it　not？〃
　　Another　good　effort；　the　dry　tone　as　much　as　the　words；　but　Geraud　de　Chervalles　overmastered　it。　〃The　fires　of　the　god　warm　those　who　serve　his　will！〃　His　gaze　as　he　looked　at　the　constable　was　scornful　and　unyielding。　Gonzalez　de　Rada　was　unlikely　to　tolerate　this；　the　king　knew　from　experience；　and　wondered　if　he　ought　to　intervene　before　something　serious　happened。
　　But　then；　unexpectedly；　the　cleric　smiled；　much　as　any　man　might　smile。　His　stem　features　relaxed；　he　lowered　his　voice。　〃Of　course　I　do　not　speak　of　a　winter　war。　I　hope　I　am　not　so　foolish　as　that。　I　know　these　matters　take　time；　much　planning；　the　right　season。　These　are　issues　for　brave　men　of　the　sword　such　as　the　valiant　kings　of　Esperana　and　their　legendary　Horsemen。　I　can　only　try；　in　my　small　way；　to　help　light　a　fire；　and　to　offer　tidings　that　may　aid　and　inspire　you。〃
　　He　waited。　There　was　a　silence。　Rain　drummed　on　the　windows。　A　log　shifted　in　one　of　the　fires；　then　fell　with　a　crash　and　a　flurry　of　sparks。　Ramiro　expected　Ines　to　ask　the　awaited　question；　but　she　had　fallen　unexpectedly　silent。　He　looked　at　her。　She　had　lowered　the　sun　disk　to　her　lap　and　was　staring　at　the　cleric；　biting　her　lip。　Her　expression　was　unreadable　now。　Inwardly；　the　king　shrugged。　The　game　had　begun；　it　was　going　to　have　to　be　played　out。
　　〃What　tidings？〃　he　asked　politely。
　　Geraud　de　Chervalles's　smile　became　a　radiant　thing。　He　said；　〃I　thought　it　might　be　so。　You　have　not　yet　heard。〃　He　paused；　raised　his　voice。　〃Hear；　then；　news　to　cause　all　hearts　to　exult　and　offer　praise：　the　king　of　Ferrieres　and　both　counts　of　Waleska；　the　mightiest　lords　of　the　Karch　Lowlands　and　most　of　the　nobility　of　Batiara　have　e　together　to　wage　war。〃
　　〃What？　Where？〃　Gonzalez　this　time；　the　sharp　words　pulled　from　him。
　　The　cleric's　smile　grew　even　more　triumphant。　His　blue　eyes　shone。
　　〃In　Soriyya；〃　he　whispered　into　the　stillness。　〃In　Ammuz。　In　the　desert　homelands　of　the　infidels；　where　Jad　is　denied　and　his　life…bringing　sun　is　cursed。　The　army　of　the　god　is　assembling　even　now。　It　will　winter　south　by　the　sea　in　Batiara　and　take　ship　in　the　spring。　Already；　though；　a　first　battle　has　been　fought　in　this　holy　war；　we　he