ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第52章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　to　take　regular　counsel　with　them。　He　ordered　a　notorious　street　of　Jaddite　prostitutes　to　be　cleared　immediately　and　a　new　temple　built　there；　with　gardens　and　a　residence　for　the　wadjis。
　　He　sent　gifts；　substantial　ones；　to　Yazir　and　his　brother　in　the　desert。　It　was　all　he　could　do；　for　the　moment。
　　He　also　learned；　early　in　the　winter　before　the　flow　of　news　from　abroad　slowed　to　a　trickle；　that　a　holy　war　was　being　readied　in　Batiara；　with　armies　from　four　Jaddite　lands　massed　to　sail　to　Ammuz　and　Soriyya　in　the　spring。
　　That　was　potentially　the　most　momentous　news　of　all；　but　not　his　immediate　problem；　and　it　was　difficult　to　imagine　that　after　a　bored；　fractious　winter　together　such　a　disparate　force　would　ever　really　sail。　In　another　way；　though；　whether　they　did　or　didn't　embark；　the　mere　assembling　of　that　army　represented　the　gravest　danger　imaginable。
　　He　dictated　a　message　of　warning　to　the　Grand　Khalif　in　Soriyya。　It　would　not　arrive　before　spring；　of　course；　and　there　would　be　other　warnings　sent；　but　it　was　important　to　add　his　voice　to　the　chorus。　They　would　ask　him　for　soldiers　and　gold；　but　it　would　take　time　for　that　request　to　make　its　way　back。
　　Meanwhile　it　was　more　important　to　decipher　what　the　Jaddites　in　the　north　of　this　peninsula　might　be　contemplating　in　the　wake　of　these　tidings　of　war；　which　they　too　would　have　by　now。　If　four　Jaddite　armies　were　massing　to　sail　east；　what　might　the　Esperanans　be　considering；　with　Asharites　so　near　to　hand　and　an　example　of　holy　war？　Would　not　their　holy　men　be　preaching　to　the　kings　even　now？
　　Could　the　three　rulers　of　Esperana　even　gather　in　the　same　place　without　one　of　them　killing　another？　Almalik　II　doubted　it；　but　he　took　counsel　with　his　advisors　and　then　sent　certain　gifts　and　a　message　to　King　Sanchez　of　Ruenda。
　　The　gifts　were　princely；　the　message　took　carefully　worded　note　of　the　fact　that　Fezana；　which　Cartada　controlled　and　which　currently　paid　parias　to　arrogant　Valledo；　not　Ruenda；　was　at　least　as　close　to　the　latter　kingdom；　and　at　least　as　much　potentially　subject　to　Ruendan　protection。　He　besought；　respectfully；　King　Sanchez's　thoughts　on　these　thorny　matters。
　　There　were　divisions　to　be　sown　in　the　north；　and　it　was　not　especially　hard　to　sow　them　among　the　successors　of　Sancho　the　Fat。
　　Jalona　in　the　northeast　was　not；　for　the　moment；　of　concern　to　him。　They　were　more　likely　to　cause　difficulty　for　Ragosa；　and　that　was　useful；　so　long　as　it　didn't　amount　to　more　than　that。　It　occurred　to　him　more　than　once　that　he　really　ought　to　be　exchanging　counsels　with　King　Badir　this　winter；　but　he　balked　at　that。　Any　interaction　with　Badir　meant　dealing；　now；　with　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　who　had　fled　to　Cartada's　principal　rival　the　day　after　his　exiling。
　　It　had　been　a　cowardly　thing　to　do；　Almalik　had　decided。　It　even　bordered　on　the　treasonous。　All　Ammar　would　have　had　to　do　was　withdraw　discreetly　somewhere　for　a　year；　write　some　poems；　maybe　make　a　pilgrimage　east；　even　fight　for　the　Faith　in　Soriyya　this　ing　year；　in　Ashar's　name　。。。　and　then　Almalik　could　have　weled　him　back；　a　contrite；　chastened　courtier　who　had　done　a　decent　time　of　penance。　It　had　seemed　so　obvious。
　　Instead；　ibn　Khairan；　prickly　and　contrary　as　ever；　had　stolen　away　with　Zabira　straight　to　Badir　and　his　wily　Kindath　chancellor　in　dangerous　Ragosa。　Very　dangerous　Ragosa；　in　fact；　because　Almalik's　sources　then　informed　him；　belatedly；　that　the　woman　had　apparently　sent　her　two　sons…his　own　half…brothers…to　Badir　during　the　summer；　immediately　after　the　Day　of　the　Moat。
　　That　was　news　he　ought　to　have　had　sooner；　before　his　father　died。　He　was　pelled　to　make　an　example　and　execute　two　of　his　men：　it　was　perilous　to　be　receiving　such　important　tidings　so　late。　Those　two　boys　represented　a　threat　to　his　tenure　on　this　throne　almost　as　great　as　Hazem　in　the　desert。
　　Superfluous　brothers；　the　new　king　of　Cartada　decided；　were　best　disposed　of　swiftly。　Look　at　what　had　happened　among　the　Jaddites；　for　example。　Ramiro　of　Valledo；　for　all　his　vaunted　prowess；　had　only　begun　to　flourish　after　the　abrupt　passing　of　his　brother　Raimundo。　And　though　there　had　been　rumors　from　the　moment　of　that　death；　they　hadn't　impeded　Ramiro's　steady　ascent　at　all。
　　A　lesson　to　be　learned　there。　Almalik　summoned　two　men　known　to　him　and　gave　them　careful　instructions　and　explicit　promises　and　sent　them　east；　equipped　as　spice　merchants；　to　cross　the　mountains　to　Ragosa　while　the　pass　was　still　open　to　legitimate　traders。
　　He　was　sobered；　and　more　than　a　little　shaken；　to　learn　later　in　the　winter　that　they　had　both　died　in　a　tavern　brawl　the　very　evening　of　their　arrival　in　Badir's　city。
　　Badir　was　clever；　his　father　had　always　said　so。　The　Kindath　chancellor　was　extremely　clever。　And　now　Ammar　was　with　them；　when　he　ought　to　have　been　here；　or　at　least　waiting　quietly　somewhere　for　permission　to　return。
　　Almalik　II；　seeking　transitory　solace　one　windy　night　in　his　father's　harem；　which　was　now　his　own；　felt　very　much　alone。　He　rubbed　absently　at　his　irritating　eyelid　while　an　extremely　tall　yellow…haired　woman　from　Karch　ministered　eagerly　to　him　with　scented　oils　and　supple　hands；　and　he　considered　certain　facts。
　　The　first　was　that　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　was　not　going　to　be　amenable　to　a　swift　return　to　Cartada；　even　with　a　promise　of　restored　honor　and　immense　power。　He　knew　this　with　certainty。　His　carefully　thought…out　exiling　of　ibn　Khairan　on　the　day　of　his　father's　demise　had　begun　to　seem　a　less　judicious　course　of　action　than　it　had　at　the　time。
　　Angrily；　he　confronted　and　accepted　the　fact　that　he　needed　Ammar。　Too　many　things　were　happening　this　winter；　too　many　disparate　events　needed　to　be　addressed　and　responded　to；　and　the　men　around　him　were　not　equal　to　that。　He　had　need　of　good　counsel　and　the　only　man　he　trusted　to　provide　it　was　the　one　who　had　always　treated　him　with　the　amused　condescension　of　a　master　towards　a　pupil。　He　was　king　of　Cartada　now；　it　could　not　be　the　same　way　again；　but　he　had　to　get　Ammar　back。
　　He　arranged　the　woman　on　her　hands　and　knees　and　entered　her。　She　was　extraordinarily　tall；　it　was　briefly　awkward。　Her　immediate　sounds　of　rapture　were　patently　exaggerated。　They　were　all　like　that；　desperately　anxious　to　win　favor。　Even　as　he　moved　upon　the　Karcher　woman　he　found　himself　wondering　what　the　delicate；　subtle　Zabira　had　been　like；　with　his　father　in　this　same　bed。　The　woman　beneath　him　moaned　and　gasped　as　if　she　were　dying。　He　finished　quickly　and　dismissed　her。
　　Then　he　lay　back　alone　among　the　pillows；　and　began　to　give　careful　thought　to　how　to　regain　the　one　man　he　needed　before　the　threats　from　so　many　directions　burst　into　flame　like　bonfires　to　consume　him。
　　In　the　morning；　at　first　pale　light；　he　sent　for　a　spy　he　had　used　before。　The　young　king　of　Cartada　received　this　man　alone；　without　even　his　bedchamber　slaves　in　the　room。
　　〃I　want　to　know；〃　he　said；　without　greeting　or　preamble；　〃everything　you　can　discover　about　the　movements　of　the　lord　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　in　Fezana　on　the　Day　of　the　Moat。〃
　　
　　On　their　way　of　a　midwinter　morning　to　their　booth　in　the　market；　Jehane　and　Velaz　were　abducted　so　smoothly　that　no　one　in　the　street　around　them　was　even　aware　of　what　was　happening。
　　It　was　a　grey　day；　sliding　clouds；　lighter　and　darker。　Wind　and　some　rain。　Two　men　came　up　to　them；　one　begged　a　moment　of　her　attention。　Even　as　he　spoke　a　knife　was　against　her　ribs；　screened　by　his　body　and　fur…lined　cloak。
　　〃Your　servant　dies　if　you　open　your　mouth；〃　he　said　pleasantly。　〃You　die　if　he　does。〃　She　looked　quickly　over：　Velaz　was　engaged　in　identical　circumstances　by　the　second　man。　They　appeared；　to　anyone　casually　glancing　at　them；　to　be　doing　no　more　than　converse。
　　〃Thank　you；　doctor；〃　the　man　beside　her　said　loudly。　〃The　rooms　are　just　this　way。　We　are　most　grateful。〃
　　She　went　where　he　guided　her。　The　knife　pricked　her　skin　as　they　moved。　Velaz　had　gone　white；　she　saw。　She　knew　it　was　rage；　not　fear。　There　was　something　about　these　men；　a　quality　of　assurance；　that　made　her　believe　they　would　kill；　even　in　a　public　place。
　　They　came　to　a　door；　opened　it　with　a　heavy　key；　entered。　The　second　man　locked　it　behind　them　with　one　hand。　The　other　hand　held　the　knife　against　Velaz。　She　saw　him　drop　the　key　into　a　purse　at　his　belt。
　　They　were　in　a　courtyard。　It　was　empty。　The　windows　of　the　house　beyond　were　shuttered。　There　was　a　fountain　basin　full　of　dead　leaves；　empty　of　water。　The　statue　in　the　center　had　lost　its　head　and　one　arm。　The　courtyard　looked　as　if　it　had　not　been　used　for　a　long　time。　She　had　passed　this　doorway　a　score　of　mornings。　How　did　a　place　such　as　this　bee　the　setting　for　what　might　be　the　end　of　one's　life？
　　She　said；　keeping　her　voice　as　firm　as　she　could　manage；　〃You　invite　death　and　you　must　know　it。　I　am　a　court　physician　to　King　Badir。〃
　　〃Now　that　is　a　relief；〃　said　the　first　man。　〃If　you　were　not；　we　might　have　had　a　problem。〃
　　He　had　a　dry；　precise　voice。　No　accent　she　could　identify。　He　was　Asharite；　a　merchant；　or　dressed　like　one。　They　both　were。　Their　clothing　was　expensive。　One　of　them　wore　a　fragrant　perfume。　Their　hands　and　nails　were　clean。　These　were　no　tavern　louts；　or　if　they　were；　someone　had　been　at　pains　to　conceal　the　fact。　Jehane　drew　a　deep　breath；　her　mouth　was　dry。　She　could　feel　her　legs　beginning　to　tremble。　She　hoped　they　could　not　see　that。　She　said　nothing；　waiting。　Then　she　noticed　blood　on　Velaz's　tunic；　where　his　own　cloak　fell　away；　and　her　trembling　abruptly　stopped。
　　The　second　man；　taller　and　broader　than　the　first；　said　calmly；　〃We　are　going　to　bind　and　gag　your　servant　and　leave　him　in　this　place。　His　clothing　will　be　removed。　No　one　ever　es　here。　Look　around　if　you　wish　to　satisfy　yourself　of　that。　No　one　knows　where　he　is。　He　will　die　of　exposure　if　we　do　not　return　to　release　him。　Do　you　understand　what　I　am　saying　to　you？〃
　　Jehane　stared　at　him；　contempt　in　her　eyes　disguising　fear。　She　made　no　reply。　The　man　looked　briefly　amused；　she　saw　the　muscles　in　his　forearm　flex；　just　before　the　knife　moved。　Velaz　made　a　small；　involuntary　sound。　There　was　a　real　wound　now；　not　a　cut。
　　〃If　he　asks　a　question　you　had　best　answer　it；〃　the　first　man　said　mildly。　〃He　has　an　easily　affronted　nature。〃
　　〃I　understand　you；〃　Jehane　said；　through　her　teeth。
　　〃Excellent；〃　the　bigger　man　murmured。　With　a　sudden　motion　he　ripped　off　Velaz's　blue　cloak　and　dropped　it　on　the　ground。　〃Remove　your　clothes；〃　he　said。　〃All　of　them。〃　Velaz　hesitated；　looking　at　Jehane。
　　〃We　have　other　ways　of　doing　what　we　are　here　to　do；〃　the　first　man　said　briskly　to　Velaz；　〃even　if　we　have　to　kill　you　both。　It　will　cause　us　no　distress　to　do　so。　Believe　me　in　this。　Take　your　clothes　off；　you　disgusting　Kindath　offal。　Do　it　now。〃　The　savage　insult　was　the　more　chilling　for　the　utterly　calm　tone　in　which　it　was　spoken。
　　Jehane　thought　then　of　Sorenica。　Of　those　who　had　died　there　at　autumn's　end：　burned；　decapitated；　babies　cut　in　half　by　the　sword。　There　had　been　more　stories　after　that　first　messenger；　each　one　worse　than　the　one　before。　Did　two　more　deaths　matter？　Could　the　god　and　his　s