ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第44章

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n　helmet　and　shook　out　his　yellow　mane　of　hair；　the　envy　and　desire　of　most　of　the　women　at　Bermudo's　court　in　Eschalou。　His　breath　and　that　of　the　two　scouts　and　all　of　their　horses　made　white　puffs　in　the　frigid　early…morning　air。
　　Behind　him　his　pany　had　e　to　a　halt　in　this　high　valley　ringed　with　hills。　They　were　well　trained；　his　own　men。　The　horses　had　been　turned　outward　and　the　mules　with　their　chests　of　gold　from　Fibaz　were　in　the　center　of　the　formation。　Six　chests。　A　year's　parias　from　an　infidel　city　in　Al…Rassan。　The　first…ever　such　tribute　payment　to　Jalona。　A　promise　of　wealth；　of　power；　and　of　much　more　to　e。　The　horse　thieves　of　Valledo　were　not　the　only　ones　who　could　whip　Asharites　to　heel　like　the　mongrels　they　were。　And　he；　Nino　di　Carrera；　had　been　entrusted　with　claiming　this　first　treasure　and　bringing　it　back　to　Eschalou　before　the　winter　snows。　The　king　had　promised　him　much　upon　his　return；　the　queen　。。。　the　queen　had　already　given　him　a　reward；　the　night　before　he　left。
　　My　golden　one；　she'd　called　him；　lying　in　her　bed　after　their　frenzy。　A　phrase　more　apt　than　ever　now。　He　was　bringing　back　gold；　six　chests　of　it；　to　the　greater　glory　of　Jad　and　Jalofta…and　of　Count　Nino　di　Carrera；　who　was　soaring　like　a　golden　falcon　now。　And　who　knew　how　high　that　might　be　before　all　was　done　and　spoken　before　the　god？
　　But　all　that…that　shining；　lofty　future…was　dependent　on　whether　he　could　get　these　six　chests　safely　home　and；　more　to　the　immediate　point；　whether　he　could　silence　the　woman's　voice　that　kept　echoing　down　upon　them　in　this　supernaturally　resonant　highland　valley　he　wished　they　had　never　entered。
　　〃Nino；　Nino；　Nino！　Oh；　my　darling！　It　is　I；　Fruela；　your　queen！　e　to　me；　my　love！〃
　　The　plangent　summons；　high　and　clear；　rang　like　a　bell；　filling　the　valley　with　sound　over　and　over　again。　Nino　di　Carrera　was；　among　other　things；　aware　that　his　color　had　risen：　a　lifelong　affliction　that　came　with　fair　skin。　It　wasn't…of　course　it　wasn't！…Queen　Fruela's　voice　they　were　hearing；　but　it　was　a　woman；　fluent　in　Esperanan；　and　her　tone　was　urgent　with　desire。
　　〃e；　Nino！　Take　me。　Take　me　here　on　the　hills！　Make　me　yours！〃
　　It　was　not；　in　any　conceivable　way；　useful　for　a　rising　figure　at　King　Bermudo's　court　to　have　this　sort　of　request　publicly　uttered。　By　anyone。　Anywhere。　And　the　words　were　very　public　here。　They　were　soaring　all　about　them；　echoing　endlessly。　Someone　was　amusing　themselves　at　Nino　di　Carrera's　expense。　Someone　was　going　to　pay　for　that。
　　He　was　careful　not　to　glance　back　at　his　pany；　but　as　the　woman's　voice；　ripe　with　longing；　continued　to　offer　explicit　variations　on　the　same　theme；　Nino　heard…unmistakably…ripples　of　suppressed　laughter　behind　him。
　　〃Oh；　my　rampant　stallion；　I　must　have　you！　Make　me　yield　to　your　mastery；　my　love！〃
　　Sound　carried　absurdly　well　in　this　place。　It　was　unnatural；　that　was　what　it　was！　And　not　only　did　the　words　carry；　they　echoed；　so　that　each　yearning　proclamation　of　his　name；　each　vividly　proposed　activity；　resonated　as　if　sung　by　a　choir　in　chapel。
　　The　two　outriders　were　ashen…faced；　refusing　to　meet　his　eyes。　No　trace　of　amusement　there。　They　wouldn't　have　dared；　in　any　event；　but　the　tidings　they　had　brought　precluded　levity。　The　woman　wailing　with　desire　was　an　offense；　even　a　mortal　one；　armed　men　waiting　in　ambush　ahead　were　something　else。
　　Reckless　as　his　appearance　and　youth　might　suggest　him　to　be；　Nino　di　Carrera　was　a　careful　mander　of　a　good　pany；　and　his　outriders；　in　particular；　were　excellent。　The　odds　were；　in　fact；　that　few　panies　would　have　received　this　advance　warning。　Most　leaders　would　have　felt　blithely　secure　in　the　presence　of　almost　a　hundred　mounted　men。　Nino　had　been　too　conscious　of　how　important　this　parias　mission　was；　however：　to　Jalona；　to　himself。　He'd　had　outriders　ahead　and　behind；　and　on　both　flanks　until　the　hills　forced　those　men　back　in。　The　pair　up　front　had　spotted　the　carefully　laid　ambush　at　the　northern　exit　from　this　valley。
　　〃Nino！　I　burn　for　you！　Oh；　my　love；　I　am　a　woman　before　I　am　a　queen！〃
　　It　was　almost　impossible　to　concentrate　with　that　voice　filling　the　valley　bowl。　But　concentration　had　bee　vital　now：　whoever　had　laid　this　trap　had　to　know　exactly　how　many　men　the　Jaddites　had。　Which　meant　that　they　weren't　fazed　by　the　numbers。　Which　meant　serious　trouble。　They　couldn't　be　from　Fibaz：　that　would　be　absurd；　to　give　them　the　gold　and　then　attack　them　for　it。　And　King　Badir　of　Ragosa；　who　controlled　the　small；　wealthy　city　of　Fibaz；　had　authorized　this　parias　payment　himself；　however　grudgingly。　Why　release　it　from　behind　defended　walls；　then　attack　in　open　country？　Why　agree　to　pay　in　the　first　place；　if　you　felt　secure　enough　to　attack？
　　None　of　it　made　any　sense。　And　therefore；　obviously；　the　ambush　ahead　had　been　laid　by　outlaws。　Nino　was　pleased　he　could　still　think　clearly　enough…the　woman　on　the　hills　was　now　intimating　that　her　clothing　was　being　removed　in　anticipation　of　his　presence…to　sort　this　through。
　　There　were　still　problems；　though；　what　was　happening　still　didn't　seem　conceivable。　It　was　almost　impossible　to　imagine　any　outlaw　band　large　enough　and　well…equipped　enough　to　try　to　waylay　a　hundred　trained　Horsemen　of　Jad。
　　Something　occurred　to　Nino　di　Carrera　then。　He　narrowed　his　eyes。　He　scratched　his　jaw。　Unless；　unless　。。。　
　　〃I　throb；　I　yearn；　I　die。　Oh；　Nino；　e　to　me　with　the　short　sword　of　your　loins！〃
　　The　short　sword？
　　One　of　the　outriders　coughed　abruptly　and　turned　his　head　sharply　away。　Unmistakable　sounds　could　now　be　heard　from　behind；　where　the　pany　had　halted。
　　That　did　it。　That　was　enough。
　　〃Edrique！　To　me！　Now！〃　Di　Carrera　barked　the　mand　without　looking　back。　Immediately　he　heard　a　horse　cantering　up。
　　〃My　lord？〃　His　burly；　petent　second…in…mand；　unusually　ruddy…faced；　appeared　at　his　side。
　　〃I　want　that　woman　silenced。　Take　five　men。〃
　　Edrique's　expression　was　carefully　neutral。　〃Of　course；　my　lord。　At　once。〃
　　〃My　stallion；　e！　Let　me　ride　you　to　Paradise！〃
　　Edrique's　turn　to　cough；　averting　his　crimson　features。
　　〃When　you　are　sufficiently　recovered；〃　said　Nino　icily；　〃go　about　your　business。　You　might　be　interested　to　know　there　is　an　ambush　laid　at　the　neck　of　this　valley。〃
　　That　sobered　the　man　quickly　enough。
　　〃You　think　the　woman　is　connected　with…〃
　　〃How　in　Jad's　name　would　I　know？〃　Nino　snapped。　〃Deal　with　her；　whoever　she　is；　and　get　back；　quickly。　Bring　her　with　you。　I　want　her　alive。　In　the　meantime；　we're　going　to　double　back　south　and　loop　around　this　valley；　however　far　it　takes　us　out　of　our　way。　I　hate　this　place！〃　He　said　it　with　more　feeling　than　he'd　intended。　〃I　won't　ride　into　a　narrow　space　where　the　enemy　knows　the　ground。〃
　　Edrique　nodded　and　clapped　spurs　to　his　horse。　They　heard　him　rattling　off　names　to　acpany　him。　Nino　remained　motionless　a　moment；　thinking　as　best　he　could　with　a　feverish　woman　crying　his　name　so　that　it　rang　through　the　valley。
　　He'd　had　an　important　thought；　a　moment　ago。　It　was　gone　now。
　　But　doubling　back　was　the　right　decision；　he　was　sure　of　it；　much　as　it　gnawed　at　him　to　retreat　from　Asharite　scum。　If　these　outlaws　were　confident　enough　to　have　set　a　trap；　it　made　no　sense　to　ride　into　it；　however　strong　his　pany　might　be。　Pride　had　to　be　swallowed　here。　For　the　moment。　Revenge；　as　his　people　said；　was　a　wine　to　be　slowly　savored。
　　He　heard　horses　approaching。　The　outriders　looked　quickly　past　him。　Nino　turned。　The　two　men　he　had　assigned　to　cover　their　rear　were　galloping　up。　They　pulled　their　horses　rearing　to　a　halt　before　him。
　　〃My　lord！　There　is　a　pany　of　men　behind　us！　They　have　closed　the　south　end　of　this　valley！〃
　　〃My　rampant　one；　my　own　king！　Take　me！　I　burn　for　you！〃
　　〃What　is　that　accursed　woman　doing？〃　Nino　snarled。
　　He　fought　to　control　himself。　He　had　to　think；　to　be　decisive；　not　angry；　not　distracted。　He　looked　at　the　outriders　for　a　blank　moment　then　turned　back　north　to　gaze　towards　the　end　of　the　valley。　There　was　a　darkness　there；　where　the　hills　came　together　in　a　long　neck　and　the　sunlight　died。　An　ambush　ahead；　and　men　now　closing　the　space　behind。　They　would　be　pincered　here　if　they　waited。　If　the　enemy　was　in　strength。　But　how　could　they　be　in　strength？　It　made　no　sense！
　　〃How　many　back　there？〃　he　snapped　over　his　shoulder　to　the　second　pair　of　scouts。
　　〃Hard　to　say；　my　lord。　A　first　group　of　twenty…five　or　so。　There　seemed　to　be　others　behind　them。〃
　　〃On　foot？〃
　　〃Of　course；　my　lord。　Outlaws　would　not　have…〃
　　〃If　I　want　opinions　I　will　ask！〃
　　〃Yes；　my　lord！〃
　　〃Ask　of　me　anything；　oh　my　true　king！　I　am　your　slave。　I　am　naked；　awaiting　your　mastery！　mand　me　to　your　will！〃
　　Cursing；　Nino　pushed　a　hand　roughly　through　his　hair。　They　were　bottled　up　here！　It　was　unbelievable。　How　could　there　be　so　many　bandits　in　this　place？　He　saw　Edrique；　with　his　five　men；　beginning　to　mount　the　slope　to　the　east；　after　the　wailing　woman。　They　would　only　be　able　to　take　the　horses　partway；　then　they'd　have　to　go　on　foot。　She'd　see　them　ing；　all　the　way。
　　He　made　his　decision。　It　was　a　time　for　a　leader's　decisiveness。
　　〃Edrique！〃　he　roared。　The　captain　turned　his　horse。　〃Get　back　here！〃
　　He　waited；　four　outriders　anxious…faced　beside　him；　for　his　second…in…mand。　Edrique　picked　his　way　back　down　then　galloped　up。
　　〃Forget　her！〃　Nino　rasped。　〃We're　going　north。　There　are　men　behind　us　now。　If　there　are　outlaws　at　each　end　we　push　forward。　They　will　have　balanced　their　forces。　No　point　going　back　now。　I　have　changed　my　mind。　I　will　not　retreat　before　Asharite　bandits。〃
　　Edrique　smiled　grimly。　〃Indeed　no；　my　lord。　We　shall　teach　them　a　lesson　they　will　never　forget。〃　He　wheeled　back　to　the　pany；　barking　mands。
　　Nino　clapped　his　helmet　firmly　on　his　head。　Edrique　was　good；　no　question　about　it。　His　calm；　sure　manner　gave　confidence　and　support　to　his　leader。　The　men　would　see　that；　and　respond　to　it。　It　was　a　fine　pany　he　had；　superbly　mounted；　every　man　of　them　proud　to　have　been　chosen　for　this　mission。　Whoever　these　Asharite　scavengers　might　be；　they　would　have　cause　to　regret　their　presumption　today。
　　For　this　provocation；　Nino　decided；　it　would　be　necessary　to　burn　them。　Right　here　in　the　valley。　Let　the　screaming　echo。　A　message。　A　warning。　Future　panies　ing　south　for　the　parias　would　thank　him　for　it。
　　〃Nino；　my　shining　one；　it　is　your　own　Fruela！　I　am　dying　for　you！〃
　　The　woman。　The　woman　would　have　to　wait。　If　she　was　burning　and　dying；　well；　there　would　be　a　flame　for　her　as　well；　soon　enough；　and　for　whoever　had　put　her　up　to　this　humiliating　charade。
　　And　so；　focused　in　anger；　did　Nino　di　Carrera　banish　confusion　and　doubt。　He　drew　his　sword。　His　pany　had　already　wheeled　into　position　behind　him。　He　looked　back；　saw　Edrique　nod　crisply；　his　own　blade　uplifted。
　　〃To　Jalona's　glory！〃　cried　Nino　then。　〃Ride　now！　Ride；　in　the　holy　name　of　Jad！〃
　　They　started　north；　moving　quickly；　but　in　tight　formation；　the　mules　with　their　gold　still　safely　in　the　center　of　the　pany。　They　traversed　the　valley；　shouting　in　battle　fever　now；　in　anticipation。　There　was　no　fear。　They　knew　what　they　were