ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第45章

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　valley；　shouting　in　battle　fever　now；　in　anticipation。　There　was　no　fear。　They　knew　what　they　were　and　could　do。　They　rode　through　bright　sunlight　over　frosted　grass　and　came　to　the　shadows　where　the　hills　closed　in。　They　thundered　into　the　dark　defile；　screaming　the　god's　name；　one　hundred　brave；　trained　Horsemen　of　Jad。
　　Idar　ibn　Tarif；　who　had　mand　of　the　forty　men　on　the　western　side　of　the　gorge；　had　been　swearing　without　surcease　and　with　considerable　inventiveness　since　the　Jaddite　advance　scouts　had　been　spotted　above　them　on　the　slopes。　They　had　been　shot　at　and　briefly　pursued；　to　no　avail。
　　They　had　been　discovered！　Their　trap　was　exposed。　The　long　hunt　was　over。　Who　would　ever　have　imagined　a　Jaddite　mander　would　be　so　timorous　as　to　send　scouts！　The　man　had　a　hundred　Horsemen！　He　was　supposed　to　be　arrogant；　reckless。　In　Ashar's　star…bright　name；　what　was　he　doing　being　so　cautious？
　　Across　the　narrow；　sharply　angled　canyon　at　the　north　end　of　the　valley　his　brother　and　father　were　still　waiting；　oblivious　to　the　disaster　that　had　just　taken　place；　readying　their　archers　for　a　feathered　volley　of　death　against　unsuspecting　men。　Idar；　sick　at　heart；　had　been　about　to　slip　across　the　shadowy　ground　to　tell　them　about　the　scouts　when　he　heard　the　woman's　voice　begin；　up　on　the　eastern　ridges　of　the　Emin　ha'Nazar…the　echoing　valley　where　the　stinking；　dog…faced　Horsemen　had　halted。
　　On　this　side　of　the　defile　beyond　the　valley　the　high　voice　could　be　clearly　heard。　Idar　was　far　from　fluent　in　Esperanan；　but　he　knew　enough　to　be　suddenly　arrested　in　his　purpose。　Wondering…and　even　amused　in　spite　of　the　catastrophe　that　had　befallen　them…he　decided　to　await　events。
　　The　Jaddites　were　going　to　double　back。　It　was　evident　to　anyone　with　half　a　mind。　If　they　had　spotted　the　ambush　they　would　draw　all　the　obvious　conclusions。　They　were　swine　and　unbelievers；　but　they　knew　how　to　wage　war。　They　would　circle　back　out　of　the　Emin　ha'Nazar　and　take　the　longer　way　around　to　the　west。
　　And　there　was　no　other　place　of　entrapment　between　here　and　the　tagra　lands　that　would　allow　eighty　unevenly　equipped　men…a　mix　of　bowmen；　cut…throats；　some　riders；　he　and　his　brother　and　their　notorious　father…to　have　any　hope　of　defeating　so　many　soldiers。　Gold　was　worth　a　great　deal　of　risk；　and　so　was　glory；　but　neither；　in　Idar's　view；　justified　certain　death。　He　despised　the　Jaddites；　but　he　was　not　so　foolish　as　to　underestimate　how　they　could　fight。　And　his　father　had　based　his　long　career　never　giving　battle　save　on　ground　of　his　own　choosing。
　　It　was　over　then；　this　uncharacteristic　chance　they　had　taken；　so　far　north；　so　late　in　the　year。　Well；　it　had　always　been　that：　a　gamble。　They　would　wait　for　the　Jaddites　to　clear　the　valley　and　head　west。　Then　they　would　start　back　south　themselves　and　begin　the　long　journey　home。　If　the　season　had　not　been　so　close　to　the　winter　rains　and　mud；　they　might　have　been　able　to　take　their　time　and　find　some　solace　in　raiding　through　Ragosan　lands　along　the　way。
　　Solace；　Idar　thought　glumly；　was　unlikely　to　be　found　before　they　got　back　to　their　own　stone　walls。　He　wanted　a　drink　right　now；　actually；　but　his　father　would　forbid　that。　Not　for　religious　reasons　of　course；　but　as　a　mander　on　a　raid。　A　rule　of　forty　years；　that　one。　Idar　would　have　balked　at　the　old　man's　strictures　save　for　two　things：　he　loved　him；　and　he　feared　him　more　than　anyone　alive。
　　〃Look！〃　whispered　one　of　the　archers　beside　him。　〃In　the　name　of　Ashar's　Paradise；　look！〃
　　Idar　looked。　He　caught　his　breath。　They　were　ing。　The　god　had　driven　the　Jaddites　mad；　or　perhaps　the　woman's　voice　had　done　so。　Who　knew　what　made　men　do　such　things　as　this？　What　Idar　did　know　was　that　he　and　his　brother　and　father　and　their　men　were　about　to　be　in　a　battle　such　as　they　hadn't　known　in　years。　Their　ambush　had　been　uncovered；　and　the　Horsemen　were　still　ing。
　　The　Jaddites　approached　the　defile；　one　hundred　riders；　with　six　mules　laboring　in　their　midst。　They　were　riding　too　fast。　They　would　be　blind；　Idar　knew；　the　moment　they　entered　the　shadows　where　the　steep　slopes　hid　the　sun。　They　were　making　a　terrible　mistake。　It　was　time　to　make　them　pay　for　that。
　　His　was　one　of　the　first　arrows。　He　launched　another；　and　a　third；　then　he　started　running　and　sliding　down　the　slope　to　where　Jaddites　and　their　horses　were　screaming　now　in　the　pits　that　had　been　dug；　hurled　upon　each　other　in　a　mangling　of　limbs；　falling　on　the　sharp　spears　planted　in　the　cold　ground　for　killing。
　　Fast　as　he　moved；　Idar　saw　that　his　father　was　ahead　of　him。
　　
　　Jehane　had　been　affronted　at　first　by　Rodrigo's　suggestion；　then　amused；　and　finally　inspired　to　inventiveness。　In　the　midst　of　the　exercise　she　discovered　that　it　was　unexpectedly　stimulating　to　be　crying　aloud　in　feverish；　explicit　desire　for　the　whole　of　the　valley　below　them　to　hear。
　　The　two　men　beside　her　were　nearly　convulsed　in　silent　hilarity　as　she　offered　increasingly　flamboyant　variations　on　the　theme　of　her　anguished　physical　yearning…as　Queen　Fruela　of　Jalona…for　the　golden…haired　count　who　had　e　to　claim　the　paras　from　Fibaz。　She　had　to　concede　that　it　was　partly　her　pleasure　at　their　helpless　mirth；　their　unstinting　approval　of　her　performance；　that　led　her　on　to　wilder　flights　of　suggestive　fantasy。
　　They　were　high　on　the　eastern　slopes　of　the　hills　that　ringed　the　valley　bowl　of　Emin　ha'Nazar；　the　well…known　Place　of　Many　Voices。　Well…known；　that　is；　save　to　the　Jaddites　who　had　entered　the　valley　this　morning。　Even　Rodrigo　hadn't　heard　of　the　place　before　today；　but　ibn　Khairan　had　not　only　known　of　it；　he　had　anticipated　that　this　might　be　the　place　where　a　trap　would　be　laid　for　the　gold　of　Fibaz。
　　The　Emin　ha'Nazar　was　known　for　more　than　echoes。　Among　the　ghostly　voices　said　to　resonate　in　the　valley　at　night　were　those　of　men　slain　here　in　battles　going　back　for　centuries。
　　The　first　such　encounter　had　involved　Jaddites　as　well；　in　the　great　wave　of　the　Khalifate's　initial　expansion；　when　the　boundary　between　Ashar　and　Jad　had　been　pushed　as　far　north　as　it　was　ever　to　go。　Where　it　remained　now；　in　fact；　just　south　of　the　River　Duric　and　the　mountains　that　screened　Jalona。
　　That　savage　long…ago　campaign　had　begun…in　the　endless　paradox　of　things…the　centuries…long　splendor　of　Al…Rassan。　A　brilliant　succession　of　khalifs　in　the　growing　Al…Fontina　of　Silvenes　had　chosen　to　name　themselves　for　what　they　achieved　in　war：　The　Conqueror；　The　Destroyer；　Sword　of　the　Star…born；　Scourge　of　the　Unbelievers。
　　They　had　been　those　things；　there　was　no　hubris　in　the　naming。　Those　khalifs　and　their　armies；　following　upon　the　first　reckless；　astonishingly　successful　thrust　northward　across　the　straits　from　the　Majriti　more　than　three　hundred　years　ago；　had　carved　and　hewed　a　glorious　realm　in　this　peninsula；　driving　the　Esperanans　into　the　farthest　north；　raiding　them　twice　a　year　for　gold　and　grain　and　slaves；　and　for　the　sheer　pleasure　and　great　glory　of　doing　so　in　Ashar's　ever…bright　name。
　　It　had　been　called　a　Golden　Age。
　　Jehane　supposed　that；　as　such　things　were　measured；　it　had　been。　For　the　Kindath；　treading　lightly　at　all　times；　the　expanding　world　of　the　khalifs　had　offered　a　measure　of　peace　and　fragile　security。　They　paid　the　heretics'　tax；　as　did　the　Jaddites　who　dwelt　in　Al…Rassan；　they　were　to　worship　the　god　and　his　sisters　in　their　fashion　only　behind　closed　doors；　they　were　to　wear　blue　and　white　clothing　only；　as　stipulated　in　Ashar's　Laws。　They　were　forbidden　to　ride　horses；　to　have　intimate　congress　with　Believers；　to　build　the　roofs　of　their　sanctuaries　higher　than　any　temple　of　the　Asharites　in　the　same　city　or　town　。。。　there　were　rules　and　laws　that　enclosed　them；　but　there　was　a　life　to　be　found；　and　the　enforcement　of　laws　varied　widely　through　the　passing　centuries。
　　A　Golden　Age。　Now　gone。　The　moons　waxed　and　the　moons　waned。　Silvenes　was　fallen；　the　petty…kings　bristled　and　sparred　against　each　other。　And　now　the　Jaddites　were　ing　south　again；　on　the　magnificent　horses　they　bred　in　the　north。　Valledo　claimed　tribute　from　Fezana。　Ruenda　was　making　overtures　towards　Salos　and　the　towns　north　of　it　along　the　coast；　and　here　now；　below　them　in　this　valley；　was　the　first　parias　party　from　Jalona；　e　to　share　in　the　banquet；　to　bring　Fibaz　gold　back　to　King　Bermudo　in　his　drafty　castle　in　Eschalou。
　　If　they　could。
　　High　on　the　slopes　above　the　valley；　Jehane　lifted　her　voice　again　and　cried　out　in　Esperanan；　in　a　tone　she　hoped　would　convey　uncontrollable　desire：
　　〃Nino；　my　golden　king；　it　is　Fruela！　I　am　afire　for　you！〃
　　Screened　behind　cedar　and　pine；　they　saw　the　young　Jaddite　mander　look　up　again。　He　hesitated；　then　clapped　his　helmet　back　on　his　head。
　　〃That's　it；〃　said　Rodrigo　softly。　He　had　stopped　laughing。　〃I　think　you've　done　it；　Jehane。〃
　　〃He's　calling　back　the　party　he　sent　up　here；〃　Ammar　said；　also　quietly。
　　〃What　have　I　done？〃　Jehane　asked；　careful　to　whisper　now。　Neither　of　them　had　yet　bothered　to　explain。　They　had　simply　asked　her　to　e　up　here　and　pretend　to　be　helpless　with　desire。　It　had　seemed　amusing　at　the　time。
　　〃Goaded　him；〃　Rodrigo　murmured；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　the　valley　below。　The　Horsemen　were　beginning　to　move；　shifting　alignment；　turning　north。　〃Nino　di　Carrera　is　vain　but　not　a　fool。　He　had　outriders　ahead　and　behind。　Given　a　calm　space　in　which　to　think　he　would　do　the　intelligent　thing　and　double　back。　You've　been　taking　space　and　calm　away　from　him。　He　is　not　thinking　properly　because　he　is　humiliated　and　angry。〃
　　〃He　is　dead；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　flatly。　He；　too；　had　never　stopped　scanning　the　valley。　〃Look　what　they're　doing。〃
　　The　Jaddites　had　begun　to　ride；　Jehane　saw。　High　up　among　the　trees　in　the　wind　she　heard　their　voices　lift　in　cries　of　menace　and　exaltation。　Their　massed　formation　looked　terrifying　to　her。　The　huge　thundering　of　hooves　carried　up　to　where　they　watched。　She　saw　Nino　di　Carrera　lead　his　pany　into　the　shadows　at　the　valley's　end　and　she　lost　them　there。
　　〃Too　fast；〃　said　Rodrigo。
　　〃Much。　There　will　be　a　spear　pit　where　the　canyon　bends；〃　Ammar　said　grimly。
　　〃And　arrows　as　the　horses　pile　up。〃
　　〃Of　course。　Messy。〃
　　〃It　works；〃　said　Rodrigo。
　　A　moment　later　Jehane　heard　the　screaming　begin。
　　The　two　men　looked　at　each　other。　They　had　shaped　events　to　achieve　exactly　this；　Jehane　understood　that　much。　What　they　were　striving　towards；　she　did　not　yet　know。　There　were　deaths　involved；　though；　she　could　hear　men　dying。
　　〃First　part　done；〃　Ammar　said　calmly。　〃We　ought　to　go　down。〃
　　She　looked　from　him　to　Rodrigo；　who　had　been　the　one　to　suggest　the　performance　as　Queen　Fruela。　〃You　aren't　going　to　explain　this；　are　you？〃
　　〃Later；　Jehane；　I　promise；〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃No　leisure　now。　We　need　our　own　swords　to　be　ready；　and　then　a　doctor's　labors；　I　fear。〃
　　〃There's　Lain　already；〃　ibn　Khairan　said；　pointing　to　the　other　end　of　the　valley　bowl。　Jehane　saw　their　own　men　ing　up　from　the　south　towards　the　shadows　where　the　Jalonans　had　disappeared。
　　〃Of　course；〃　Rodrigo　said。　She　detected　a　note　of　placency。　〃He　knows　how　to　do　this。　What　do　you　think　we　are？〃
　　Ammar