ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第53章

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t　messenger；　each　one　worse　than　the　one　before。　Did　two　more　deaths　matter？　Could　the　god　and　his　sisters　possibly　care？
　　Velaz　began　to　disrobe。　His　face　was　expressionless　now。　The　second　man　moved　a　few　steps　away　to　the　far　side　of　the　fountain　basin　and　retrieved　a　coil　of　rope　and　a　square　of　heavy　cloth。　It　started　to　rain　again。　It　was　very　cold。　Jehane　began　trying　to　calculate　how　long　a　man　could　survive；　lying　naked　and　bound　here。
　　〃What　is　it　you　want　of　me？〃　she　asked；　against　her　will。　She　was　afraid　now。
　　〃Patience；　doctor。〃　Her　captor's　voice　was　bland；　the　knife　never　left　her　ribs。　〃Let　us　deal　with　your　surety　first。〃
　　They　did　so。　Velaz　was　not　even　allowed　his　undergarments。　Utterly　naked；　looking　small　and　old　in　the　damp　grey　chill；　he　was　trussed　hand　and　foot。　A　cloth　was　tied　tightly　about　his　mouth。　Then　the　bigger　man　lifted　him　and　dropped　him　into　the　fountain　basin。　Jehane　winced。　The　wet　stone　would　be　as　ice　on　his　exposed　flesh。　Velaz　had　not　said　a　word；　of　protest　or　appeal。　He　was　unable　to　do　so　now。　He　lay　on　his　back；　helpless；　his　eyes　were　on　hers；　though；　and　what　she　saw　still　was　a　burning　anger；　not　fear。
　　He　was　indomitable；　he　always　had　been。　His　courage　gave　her　back　her　own。
　　〃Once　more；〃　she　said；　moving　a　deliberate　step　away　from　the　knife。　〃What　is　it　you　want？〃　The　man　did　not　follow　her。　He　seemed　indifferent　to　her　defiance。
　　He　said　calmly；　〃It　is　our　understanding　that　as　physician　to　the　court　you　know　where　the　two　sons　of　the　Lady　Zabira　are　lodged。　This　has　proven　to　be　difficult　information　to　obtain。　You　will　take　us　to　that　place　and　gain　us　admission。　You　will　remain　with　us　for　a　time　there；　and　then　you　are　free　to　return　here　and　release　your　servant。〃
　　〃You　expect　me　to　simply　walk　you　into　that　place？〃
　　The　second　man　had　turned　away　again。　From　another　large　satchel　he　began　removing　items　of　clothing。　Two　white　tunics；　two　blue　robes　fringed　in　white；　two　small　soft　blue　caps。
　　Jehane　began　to　understand。
　　〃We　are　your　kindred；　dear　lady。　Physicians　of　your　own　faith　from　Fezana；　e　to　study　with　you。　We　have　too　little　knowledge　in　the　diseases　of　children；　alas；　and　you　are　widely　known　for　such　expertise。　The　two　boys　are　past　due　for　a　routine　examination。　You　will　take　us　there；　introduce　us　as　doctors　you　know；　and　bring　us　into　their　presence。　That　is　all。〃
　　〃And　what　will　happen？〃
　　The　second　man　smiled　from　by　the　fountain；　he　was　donning　the　white　and　blue　Kindath　garments。　〃Is　that　a　question　you　really　want　answered？〃
　　Which　was；　of　course；　an　answer。
　　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　not　do　it。〃
　　〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　that；〃　the　first　man　said；　undisturbed。　〃Personally　I　do　not　like　gelding　men；　even　when　provoked。　Nonetheless；　you　will　note　that　your　servant　is　securely　gagged。　When　we　cut　off　his　organs　of　sex　he　will　naturally　try　to　scream。　No　one　will　hear　him。〃
　　Jehane　tried　to　breathe　normally。　Sorenica。　They　would　have　done　this　in　Sorenica。　〃And　if　I　scream　now？〃　she　asked；　more　to　gain　time　than　anything　else。
　　Nothing　seemed　to　perturb　them。　The　one　by　the　fountain　was　fully　garbed　as　a　Kindath　now；　the　first　one　removed　his　fur…trimmed　robe；　preparing　to　do　the　same。
　　He　said；　〃There　is　a　locked　door　here　and　a　high　wall。　You　will　have　noted　these　things。　You　would　both　be　dead　and　we　would　be　out　through　the　house　and　a　back　passageway　and　lost　in　the　city　long　before　anyone　broke　through　that　door　to　find　a　castrated　man　and　a　dead　woman　with　her　intestines　spilling　out。　Really；　doctor；　I　had　hoped　you　would　not　be　foolish　about　this。〃
　　Inwardly　then；　and　quite　unfairly；　Jehane　began　to　curse　all　the　men　she　knew　here　in　Ragosa。　Mazur。　Ammar。　Rodrigo。　Alvar　and　Husari。　With　so　much　prowess　surrounding　her；　how　had　this　e　to　be？
　　The　answer；　of　course；　was　her　own　insisted…upon　independence；　and　their　willingness　to　grant　her　that…which　is　what　made　the　cursing　unfair。　Under　the　circumstances；　she　decided；　fairness　didn't　matter　in　the　least：　one　of　them；　somehow；　ought　to　have　been　here　to　prevent　this。
　　〃Why　do　you　want　the　children？〃　she　asked。
　　〃You　really　are　better　off　not　asking　too　many　questions；　doctor。　We　are　not　unwilling　to　let　you　both　live　after　this　is　done；　but　you　will　appreciate　that　we　are　moderately　exposed　to　risk　here；　and　must　not　allow　you　to　increase　that。〃
　　But　even　as　he　spoke　Jehane　realized　that　she　knew。　She　could　confront　them　with　that　knowledge　but　she　was　thinking　clearly　enough　to　know　that　that　might　mean　her　death　warrant；　and　Velaz's；　here　in　the　abandoned　courtyard。　She　kept　silent。
　　It　was　Almalik　II　in　Cartada；　she　was　certain　of　it。　Seeking　to　destroy　the　young　boys；　his　brothers；　who　were　threats　to　his　throne　by　their　very　existence。　Kings　and　their　brothers；　an　ancient　story；　retold　in　every　generation；　including　hers　now。
　　The　two　men　had　pleted　their　disguises。　Each　of　them　picked　up　a　small　satchel　and　took　out　a　urine　flask：　emblems　of　their　assumed　profession。　Velaz　had　been　carrying　Jehane's　implements　and　her　flask。　The　larger　of　the　assassins　gestured　and　Jehane；　after　a　moment；　picked　them　up　herself。
　　〃I　am　going　to　be　next　to　you　the　whole　way；〃　the　smaller　man　said。　〃You　can　cry　out；　of　course。　You　will　die　when　you　do；　and　so；　of　course；　will　your　servant　here；　unrescued。　We　might　also　be　killed；　but　you　have　no　certainty　of　that；　for　we　are　skilled　at　our　trade。　I　wouldn't　advise　an　attempt　at　disruption；　doctor。　Where　are　we　going？〃
　　There　really　were　no　options。　Not　yet。　Not　until　she　was　out　from　this　courtyard。　She　looked　back　towards　Velaz；　but　she　couldn't　see　him　now；　over　the　fountain　rim。　The　wind　had　picked　up　and　the　rain　was　falling　harder；　slanting　in　cold；　stinging　drops。　There　wasn't　much　time。　Bleakly；　she　named　the　house。　Then　she　put　up　her　hood　and　went　out　with　them。
　　The　residence　where　the　two　small　children　of　Zabira　of　Cartada　were　lodging；　occasionally　in　the　presence　of　their　mother；　more　often　not；　was　close　to　the　palace　quarter。　It　was　an　affluent　district；　and　a　quiet　one。
　　Any　hopes　Jehane　might　have　nourished　of　being　seen　by　someone　who　knew　her　were　quickly　abandoned。　Her　two　captors　knew　Ragosa　well…either　from　previous　visits；　or　from　quick　study。　They　took　her　by　a　winding　route　that　bypassed　the　market　and　palace　squares　entirely。　They　were　not　in　a　hurry　now。
　　They　did　go　past　one　of　the　infirmaries　where　Jehane　had　patients　too　ill　to　be　left　at　home；　but　the　assassins　evidently　knew　this　as　well：　they　kept　to　the　far　side　of　the　street　and　did　not　break　stride。　She　remembered；　as　they　went　by　the　door；　seeing　Rodrigo　Belmonte　and　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　disappear　together　one　night　around　the　same　corner　where　she　now　passed　with　two　men　who　were　using　her　to　kill　children。
　　They　walked　closely　together；　the　men　simulating　intense　conversation　on　either　side　of　her：　to　all　the　world；　three　Kindath　physicians　with　their　implements　and　flasks；　attending　upon　some　patient　wealthy　enough　to　afford　them。　In　the　neighborhood　into　which　they　passed；　this　was　not　cause　for　note　or　ment。　In　the　wet；　cold　morning　few　people　were　abroad　to　take　notice　in　any　case。　Even　the　weather　seemed　to　be　conspiring　against　her；　Jehane　thought。　She　had　an　appalling　image　of　Velaz；　naked　and　shivering　under　the　needle…like　rain　in　that　empty　courtyard。
　　They　came　to　the　house　she　had　named。
　　For　the　first　time　Jehane　thought　specifically　about　the　children　who　lived　here。　She　had　only　seen　them　twice；　summoned　for　the　treatment　of　minor　illnesses。　She　had　even　thought　about　refusing；　she　remembered。　The　younger　of　these　two　was　the　cause　of　her　father's　darkness　and　his　silence。　Thinking　about　Ishak；　though；　knowing　what　he　would　have　done；　had　caused　her　to　attend　as　requested。　The　children　were　not　to　be　blamed。　The　children　were　entitled　to　her　care；　to　the　strict　observance　of　her　Oath　of　Galinus。
　　Which　raised　a　terrible　question　about　what　she　was　doing　now。　She　knocked　on　the　door。
　　〃Ask　for　the　mother；〃　the　bigger　man　muttered　quickly。　He　betrayed；　for　the　first　time；　a　tension　in　his　voice。　In　a　curious　way；　that　calmed　Jehane。　They　were　not　quite　so　unruffled　as　they　seemed。　Kindath　offal；　he　had　named　Velaz。　She　wanted　these　men　dead。
　　The　door　opened。　A　steward　stood　in　the　entrance；　a　well…lit　hallway　behind　him　and　an　inner　courtyard　beyond。　It　was　a　gracious　house。　She　remembered　the　steward　from　before；　an　innocuous；　earnest　man。　His　eyes　widened　in　surprise。
　　〃Doctor？　What　is　it？〃
　　Jehane　took　a　deep　breath。　Unseen　beneath　the　cloaks；　a　knife　pressed　against　her　back。　〃The　Lady　Zabira？　She　is　waiting　for　me？〃
　　〃But　no；　doctor。〃　The　steward　looked　apologetic　and　anxious。　〃She　is　at　court　this　morning。　She　left　no　word　about　your　visit。〃
　　The　smaller　of　the　two　men　with　Jehane　offered　a　dry　chuckle。　〃A　typical　mother！　Only　when　the　little　ones　are　gravely　ill　do　they　wait　for　us。　We　made　an　appointment　two　days　ago。　Jehane　bet　Ishak　has　been　kind　enough　to　allow　us　to　attend　upon　her　visits　to　her　younger　patients。　We　are　studying　to　improve　our　own　skills　with　the　young　ones。〃　He　lifted　his　flask　slightly。
　　The　steward　looked　uncertainly　at　Jehane。　The　knife　pressed；　she　felt　the　point　fret　through　her　clothing　against　her　skin。
　　〃This　is　so；〃　she　said；　despairing。　〃Did　your　mistress　leave　no　word　at　all？〃
　　〃Not　with　me；　doctor。〃　He　was　still　apologetic。　Were　he　a　sterner　man；　she　thought；　he　would　now　close　the　door　upon　them　and　tell　them　to　e　back　when　Zabira　was　in　residence。
　　〃Well　then；〃　Jehane　tried；　〃if　she　left　no…〃
　　〃But　doctor；　I　do　know　you；　and　I　know　she　trusts　you。　It　must　have　been　an　oversight。　The　boys　are　making　mischief；　I'm　afraid；　but　please　e　in。〃　The　steward　smiled　ingratiatingly。　One　of　the　men　with　her　gave　him　a　kindly　glance　and　a　silver　coin。　Too　much　money；　in　fact；　it　ought　to　have　warned　a　good　servant　something　was　amiss。　The　steward　palmed　it　and　bowed　them　in。　Jehane　would　have　happily　dissected　him。
　　〃Go　right　upstairs；　doctor；〃　he　murmured　to　Jehane。　〃Shall　I　have　hot　drinks　prepared？　It　is　bitter　this　morning。〃
　　〃That　would　be　wonderful；〃　the　smaller　assassin　said；　removing　his　cloak　and　then；　courteously；　Jehane's。　The　knife　was　nowhere　to　be　seen　for　a　moment　but　then；　as　the　steward　hastily　claimed　all　three　outer　garments；　Jehane　felt　the　blade　against　her　side。
　　From　upstairs　the　sound　of　laughing　children　could　now　be　heard；　and　the　protests　of　an　evidently　overmatched　servant。　Something　fell　with　a　reverberating　crash。　There　was　a　moment　of　silence；　then　renewed　high…pitched　laughter。
　　The　steward　looked　anxious　again。
　　〃Sedatives　may　be　called　for；〃　one　of　her　abductors　murmured　suavely；　and　smiled　to　let　the　man　see　it　was　a　jest。
　　They　moved　to　the　stairway　and　started　up。　The　steward　watched　for　a　moment　then　turned　away　to　give　his　orders　for　their　refreshments。
　　〃They　are　only　children；〃　Jehane　said　softly。　There　was　a　hammering　in　her　breast　and　a　growing　fear；　colder　than　anything　outside。　She　was　being　aware　that　it　was　not　going　to　be　possible　for　her　to　do　this。
　　At　the　top　of　the　stairs；　she　thought。　La