ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第54章

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t　it　was　not　going　to　be　possible　for　her　to　do　this。
　　At　the　top　of　the　stairs；　she　thought。　Last　chance。　She　prayed　there　might　be　someone　there。
　　〃Children　die　all　the　time；〃　the　man　with　the　knife　beside　her　murmured。　〃You　are　a　physician；　you　know　this。　One　of　them　ought　never　to　have　been　born。　You　know　this　too。　They　will　not　suffer　pain。〃
　　They　reached　the　top　of　the　stairs。
　　Corridors　in　two　directions；　ahead　and　to　the　right；　the　hallways　wrapped　around　the　inner　courtyard　of　the　house。　She　saw　elaborate；　glass…paned　doors　opening　out　to　the　ambulatory　overlooking　the　garden。　Other　doorways　led　into　the　rooms。　The　laughter　had　ceased　now。　It　was　very　quiet。　Jehane　looked　both　ways；　a　little　frantically。　Death　was　here；　in　this　house；　and　she　was　not　ready　for　it。
　　No　aid；　though；　no　answers　to　anything。　Only　one　young　servant；　little　more　than　a　boy　himself；　could　be　seen；　hurriedly　sweeping　with　a　broom　at　the　shards　of　what　had　evidently　been　a　large　display　urn。
　　He　looked　up；　saw　them。　Dropped　the　broom　in　dismay。
　　〃Doctors！　Holy　Ashar；　forgive　us！　An　accident　。。。　the　children。〃　He　nervously　picked　up　and　then　laid　aside　the　broom。　He　hurried　anxiously　forward。　〃May　I　assist　you？　The　steward…
　　〃We　are　here　to　see　the　children；〃　the　bigger　man　with　her　said。　His　tone　was　crisp；　but　again　with　its　inflection　of　tension。　〃Take　us　to　them。〃
　　〃Of　course！〃　the　young　servant　smiled；　eagerly。　Why　were　they　all　so　eager　here？　Jehane's　heart　was　a　drum　in　her　breast。　She　could　stand　here；　walk　with　them；　let　this　happen；　probably　live。
　　She　could　not　do　that。
　　The　boy　stepped　forward；　one　hand　extended。　〃May　I　take　your　satchels　for　you；　doctors？〃
　　〃No；　no；　that　is　fine。　Just　lead　on。〃　The　nearer　man　withdrew　his　bag　slightly。
　　It　will　take　them　time　to　find　the　boys；　Jehane　thought。　There　are　many　rooms。　Help　might　e　in　time。　She　drew　breath　to　scream；　knowing　it　meant　her　death。
　　In　that　same　moment　she　thought；　absurdly；　that　she　recognized　this　servant。　But　before　the　memory　could　coalesce　into　something　more；　he　had　continued　his　reaching　motion；　stumbled　slightly；　and　bumped　into　the　small　man　who　was　holding　the　blade　against　her　side。　The　assassin　grunted；　a　surprised　sound。　The　boy　straightened；　withdrawing　his　right　hand；　and　shoving　Jehane　hard　with　his　left。
　　Jehane　stumbled；　falling…and　cried　out　then；　at　the　top　of　her　voice：　〃Help！　They　are　killers！　Help　us！〃
　　She　dropped　to　her　knees；　heard　something　shatter。　She　turned　back；　expecting　a　blade；　her　death；　the　soft　dark　presence　of　the　sisters　of　the　god。
　　Tardily；　she　saw　the　stiletto　that　had　materialized　in　the　boy's　hand。　The　smaller　assassin　was　on　the　floor；　clutching　with　both　hands　at　his　belly。　Jehane　saw　blood　welling　between　his　ringers；　and　then　much　more　of　it。　The　bigger　man　had　turned；　snarling；　balancing　his　own　drawn　blade。　The　boy　stepped　back　a　little；　ready　for　him。
　　Jehane　screamed　again；　at　the　top　of　her　voice。
　　Someone　had　already　appeared　down　the　corridor　straight　ahead。　Someone；　unbelievably；　carrying　a　bow。　The　big　man　saw　this；　turned　swiftly　back　towards　the　stairway。
　　The　steward　was　standing　there；　holding　a　sword；　no　longer　smiling　or　innocuous。
　　The　assassin　pivoted　again；　ducked；　and　without　warning　sprang　at　Jehane。　The　young　servant　shouted　with　alarm；　lifting　his　blade　to　intervene。
　　Before　the　knives　engaged　there　came　a　clear　sound；　a　note　of　music　almost；　and　then　Jehane　saw　an　arrow　in　the　assassin's　throat；　and　blood。　His　hands　flew　upwards；　the　knife　falling　away。　He　clattered　to　the　floor。　His　flask　shattered　on　the　tiles。
　　There　was　a　stillness；　as　after　thunder　has　e　and　rolled　away。
　　Struggling　for　self…control；　Jehane　looked　back　down　the　hall。　The　man　with　the　bow；　walking　forward　now；　was　Idar　ibn　Tarif；　whose　brother　she　had　saved　and　then　tended。　He　was　smiling　in　calm　reassurance。
　　Jehane；　still　on　her　knees；　began　to　tremble。　She　looked　at　the　boy　beside　her。　He　had　sheathed　his　knife；　she　couldn't　tell　where。　The　first　assassin　made　a　sudden　rattling　sound　in　his　throat　and　slid　sideways　beside　the　larger　one。　She　knew　that　sound。　She　was　a　doctor。　He　had　just　died。
　　There　was　broken　glass　all　around　them；　and　blood　staining　the　sand…colored　tiles　of　the　floor。　A　trickle　of　it　ran　towards　her。　She　rose　to　her　feet　and　stepped　aside。
　　Broken　glass。
　　Jehane　turned　and　looked　behind　her。　Her　father's　flask　lay　shattered　on　the　floor。　She　swallowed　hard。　Closed　her　eyes。
　　〃Are　you　all　right；　doctor？〃　It　was　the　boy。　He　could　be　no　more　than　fifteen。　He　had　saved　her　life。
　　She　nodded　her　head。　Opened　her　eyes　again。　And　then　she　knew　him。
　　〃Ziri？〃　she　said；　incredulously。　〃Ziri；　from　Orvilla？〃
　　〃I　am　honored；　doctor；〃　he　said；　bowing。　〃I　am　honored　that　you　remember　me。〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　She　had　last　seen　this　boy　killing　a　Jaddite　with　Alvar　de　Pellino's　sword　amid　the　burning　of　his　village。　Nothing　made　any　sense　at　all。
　　〃He's　been　guarding　you；〃　said　a　voice　she　knew。　She　looked　quickly　over。　In　an　open　doorway；　a　little　distance　down　the　hall；　stood　Alvar　himself；　that　same　sword　in　his　hand。
　　〃e；〃　he　said。　〃See　if　you　can　quiet　two　impossible　children。〃　He　sheathed　the　sword；　walked　forward；　took　both　her　hands。　His　grip　was　steady　and　strong。
　　As　if　in　a　trance；　surrounded　by　these　calm；　smiling　men；　Jehane　went　down　the　corridor　and　entered　the　indicated　room。
　　The　two　boys；　one　seven；　the　other　almost　five　years　old；　as　she　knew　very　well；　weren't　being　particularly　loud；　in　fact。　There　was　a　fire　burning　in　the　hearth；　but　the　windows　above　each　of　the　two　beds　had　been　shuttered　so　the　room　was　mostly　dark。　Candles　had　been　lit　opposite　the　fire　and　using　those　for　light　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　dressed　in　black　and　gold；　his　earring　gleaming　palely；　was　energetically　making　shadow…figures　on　the　far　wall　for　the　boys'　entertainment。　Jehane　saw　his　sword；　unsheathed；　on　a　pillow　by　his　side。
　　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃I'm　proud　of　my　wolf；　actually。〃
　　〃It　is　a　magnificent　achievement；〃　Jehane　said。
　　The　two　boys　evidently　thought　so　too；　they　were　raptly　attentive。　The　wolf；　even　as　she　watched；　stalked　and　then　devoured　what　was　presumably　meant　to　be　a　chicken。
　　〃I'm　not　impressed　by　the　fowl；〃　Jehane　managed　to　say。
　　〃It's　a　pig！〃　ibn　Khairan　protested。　〃Anyone　should　be　able　to　see　that。〃
　　〃May　I　sit　down？〃　Jehane　said。　Her　legs　seemed　to　be　failing　her。
　　A　stool　materialized。　Idar　ibn　Tarif　smilingly　motioned　for　her　to　sit。
　　She　did；　then　sprang　to　her　feet　again。
　　〃Velaz！　We　have　to　free　him！〃
　　〃It　is　done；〃　said　Alvar　from　the　doorway。　〃Ziri　told　us　where　the　courtyard　is。　Husari　and　two　others　have　gone　to　release　him。　He'll　be　safe　by　now；　Jehane。〃
　　〃It　is　over；〃　said　Idar　gently。　〃Sit；　doctor。　You　are　all　safe　now。〃
　　Jehane　sat。　Odd；　how　the　worst　reactions　seemed　to　occur　after　the　danger　had　passed。
　　〃More！〃　the　elder　of　Zabira's　boys　cried。　The　younger　one　simply　sat　cross…legged　on　the　floor；　staring　at　the　shadow…figures　on　the　wall；　his　eyes　wide。
　　〃There　is　no　more；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　the　lord　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。　〃Once　the　wolf　eats　the　pig；　or　the　fowl；　whichever；　there　is　no　more　to　see。〃
　　〃Later？〃　the　older　child　asked；　with　some　deference。
　　〃Later；　indeed；〃　said　ibn　Khairan。　〃I　will　e　back。　I　must　practice　my　pigs；　and　I'll　need　your　help。　The　doctor　thought　it　was　a　chicken；　which　is　a　bad　sign。　But　for　now；　go　with　the　steward。　I　believe　he　has　chocolate　for　you？〃
　　The　steward；　in　the　doorway　behind　Alvar；　nodded　his　head。
　　〃The　bad　man　have　gone？〃　It　was　the　smaller　one；　speaking　for　the　first　time。　The　one　her　father　had　delivered　through　his　mother's　belly。
　　〃The　bad　man　have　gone；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　gravely。　Jehane　was　aware　that　she　was　close　to　crying。　She　didn't　want　to　cry。　〃It　is　as　if　they　never　came　looking　at　all；〃　ibn　Khairan　added　gently；　still　addressing　the　smaller　child。　He　looked　over　then；　to　Alvar　and　the　steward　by　the　door；　eyebrows　raised　in　inquiry。
　　Alvar　said；　〃Nothing　out　there。　Some　stains　on　the　floor。　A　broken　urn。〃
　　〃Of　course。　The　urn。　I'd　forgotten。〃　Ibn　Khairan　grinned　suddenly。　Jehane　knew　that　grin　by　now。
　　〃I　doubt　the　owner　of　this　house　will　forget；〃　Alvar　said　virtuously。　〃You　chose　a　destructive　way　of　signalling　their　arrival。〃
　　〃I　suppose；〃　said　ibn　Khairan。　〃But　the　owner　of　this　house　has　some　answering　to　do　to　the　king　for　the　absence　of　any　proper　security　here；　wouldn't　you　say？〃
　　Alvar's　manner　altered。　Jehane　could　see　him　tracking　the　thought；　and　adjusting。　She　had　made　that　sort　of　adjustment　herself　many　times；　during　the　campaign　to　the　east。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　almost　never　did　anything　randomly。
　　〃Where　is　Rodrigo？〃　she　asked　suddenly。
　　〃Now　we　are　offended；〃　Ammar　said；　the　blue　gaze　returning　to　her。　It　was　brighter　in　the　room；　Idar　had　drawn　back　the　shutters。　The　two　boys　had　left　with　the　steward。　〃All　these　loyal　men　hastening　to　your　aid；　and　you　ask　only　about　the　one　who　is　obviously　indifferent　to　your　fate。〃　He　smiled　as　he　said　it；　though。
　　〃He's　on　patrol　outside　the　walls；〃　Alvar　said　loyally。　〃And　besides；　it　was　Ser　Rodrigo　who　had　Ziri　watching　you　in　the　first　place。　That's　how　we　knew。〃
　　〃In　the　first　place？　What　does　that　mean？〃　Jehane；　reaching　for　something　normal；　tried　to　grab　hold　of　indignation。
　　〃I　came　here　some　time　ago；〃　Ziri　said　softly。　She　was　trying；　unsuccessfully；　to　glare　at　him。　〃After　I　was　certain　my　sisters　were　all　right　with　my　aunt；　I　went　to　your　mother　in　Fezana　and　learned　where　you　had　gone。　Then　I　came　through　the　mountains　after　you。〃　He　said　it　with　the　utmost　simplicity；　as　if　it　was　nothing　at　all。
　　It　was；　though。　He　had　left　his　home；　what　was　left　of　his　family；　all　of　the　world　he　knew；　had　crossed　the　country　alone；　and　。。。　
　　〃You　went　to　my　。。。　you　what？　Why；　Ziri？〃
　　〃Because　of　what　you　did　in　my　village；〃　he　said；　with　the　same　simplicity。
　　〃But　I　didn't　do　anything　there。〃
　　〃Yes；　you　did；　doctor。　You　made　them　allow　me　to　execute　the　man　who　killed　my　mother　and　my　father。〃　Ziri's　eyes　were　very　dark。　〃It　would　not　have　happened　without　you。　He　would　have　lived；　ridden　back　to　Jaddite　lands　to　tell　that　tale　as　a　boast。　I　would　have　had　to　walk　there　after　him；　and　I　fear　I　would　not　have　been　able　to　kill　him　there。〃
　　His　expression　was　grave。　The　story　he　was　telling　her　was　almost　overwhelming。
　　〃You　would　have　gone　to　Valledo　after　him？〃
　　〃He　killed　my　parents。　And　the　brother　I　have　never　had。〃
　　No　more　than　fifteen；　Jehane　thought。　〃And　you　have　been　following　me　here　in　Ragosa？〃
　　〃Since　I　arrived。　I　found　your　place　in　the　market。　Your　mother　said　you　would　have　a　booth　there。　Then　I　sought　out　the　Captain；　Ser　Rodrigo。　And　he　remembered　me；　and　was　pleased　that　I　had　e。　He　gave　me　a　place　to　sleep；　with　his　pany；　and　instructed　me　to　watch　you　whenever　you　were　not　at　court　or　with　his　men。〃
　　〃I　told　you　all　I　didn't　want　to　be　watched　or　followed；〃　Jehane　protested。
　　Idar　ibn　Tarif　reached　down　and　squeezed　her　shoulder。　He