°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > ggk.thelionsofal-rassan >

µÚ56ÕÂ

ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-µÚ56ÕÂ

С˵£º ggk.thelionsofal-rassan ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡third¡¡day¡¡they¡¡flew¡¡falcons¡¡and¡¡hawks¡¡at¡¡small¡¡birds¡¡and¡¡rabbits¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wet¡¡grass¡¡for¡¡the¡¡delight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ladies¡¡of¡¡each¡¡court¡£¡¡Queen¡¡Ines¡¡carried¡¡a¡¡small¡¡eagle£»¡¡caught¡¡and¡¡trained¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡near¡¡Jalona£»¡¡and¡¡loosed¡¡it¡¡to¡¡triumphant¡¡effect¡£
¡¡¡¡Younger¡¡than¡¡Fruela£»¡¡undeniably¡¡more¡¡acplished¡¡than¡¡Bearte¡¡of¡¡Ruenda£»¡¡the¡¡queen¡¡of¡¡Valledo£»¡¡her¡¡red¡¡hair¡¡bound¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡golden¡¡net£»¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡flashing¡¡and¡¡her¡¡color¡¡high¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cool¡¡air£»¡¡rode¡¡between¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡and¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Cleric¡¡from¡¡her¡¡homeland¡¡and¡¡was¡¡very¡¡much¡¡the¡¡focus¡¡of¡¡all¡¡men's¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡day¡£
¡¡¡¡Which¡¡made¡¡it¡¡the¡¡more¡¡disturbing£»¡¡afterwards£»¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡identify¡¡with¡¡certainty¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡that¡¡struck¡¡her¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡the¡¡dogs¡¡had¡¡flushed¡¡a¡¡boar¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡obvious£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡was¡¡either¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡accident£»¡¡having¡¡been¡¡intended¡¡for¡¡the¡¡boar¡¡beyond¡¡her¡­or¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡aimed¡¡at¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡beside¡¡her¡£¡¡There¡¡was£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡generally¡¡agreed£»¡¡no¡¡evident¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡anyone¡¡to¡¡desire¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡the¡¡queen¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear¡¡at¡¡first¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡wound£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡was¡¡struck¡¡only¡¡on¡¡the¡¡arm£»¡¡but¡­despite¡¡the¡¡standard¡¡treatment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡mud¡­coating£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡bleedings£»¡¡both¡¡congruent¡¡and¡¡transverse¡­Ines¡¡of¡¡Valledo£»¡¡clutching¡¡a¡¡sun¡¡disk£»¡¡took¡¡a¡¡marked¡¡turn¡¡for¡¡the¡¡worse£»¡¡feverish¡¡and¡¡in¡¡great¡¡pain£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡went¡¡down¡¡that¡¡day¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡at¡¡this¡¡point¡¡that¡¡the¡¡chancellor¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡quarters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡castle£»¡¡striding¡¡past¡¡the¡¡grim¡­faced¡¡guards£»¡¡escorting¡¡a¡¡lean¡¡man¡¡of¡¡loutish¡¡appearance¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡injured¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡fashion¡¡in¡¡her¡¡life¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡feel¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡were¡¡dying¡£¡¡Her¡¡arm¡¡had¡¡swollen¡¡to¡¡twice¡¡its¡¡normal¡¡size¡­she¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that£»¡¡even¡¡through¡¡the¡¡coating¡¡of¡¡mud¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡bled¡¡her¡­working¡¡through¡¡a¡¡screen¡¡for¡¡decency¡­that£»¡¡too£»¡¡had¡¡hurt£»¡¡almost¡¡unbearably¡£¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡quarrel¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡physicians¡¡from¡¡Esteren¡¡and¡¡her¡¡own¡¡longtime¡¡doctor¡¡from¡¡Ferrieres¡£¡¡Her¡¡own¡¡had¡¡won£º¡¡they¡¡had¡¡given¡¡her¡¡nothing¡¡for¡¡pain¡£¡¡Peire¡¡d'Alorre¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the¡¡view¡¡that¡¡soporifics¡¡dulled¡¡the¡¡body's¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡injury¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡sharp¡¡edges¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡lectured¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡universities¡£
¡¡¡¡Her¡¡head¡¡was¡¡on¡¡fire¡£¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡her¡¡arm¡¡was¡¡intolerable¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡dimly¡¡conscious¡¡that¡¡Ramiro¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡left¡¡her¡¡side£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡good¡¡hand£»¡¡gripping¡¡it¡¡steadily£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡so¡¡since¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡here£»¡¡withdrawing¡¡only¡¡when¡¡the¡¡doctors¡¡pelled¡¡him¡¡to£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bleeding¡£¡¡The¡¡odd¡¡thing¡¡was£»¡¡she¡¡could¡¡see¡¡him¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡really¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡touch¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡dying¡£¡¡That¡¡seemed¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡caused¡¡a¡¡sun¡¡disk¡¡to¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡pray£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡difficult¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡haze¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡she¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡someone¡¡new¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡Count¡¡Gonzalez£»¡¡and¡¡another¡¡man¡£¡¡Another¡¡doctor¡£¡¡His¡¡features¡­a¡¡long£»¡¡ugly¡¡face¡­swam¡¡into¡¡view£»¡¡very¡¡close¡£¡¡He¡¡apologized¡¡to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡king£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡directly¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡forehead¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡her¡¡good¡¡hand¡¡from¡¡Ramiro¡¡and¡¡pinched¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡if¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡that¡£¡¡Ines¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡The¡¡new¡¡doctor¡¡scowled¡£
¡¡¡¡Peire¡¡d'Alorre£»¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡said¡¡something¡¡cutting¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡prone¡¡to¡¡sardonic¡¡remarks£»¡¡especially¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Esperanans¡£¡¡A¡¡habit¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡shaken¡¡in¡¡all¡¡his¡¡years¡¡here¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡new¡¡man£»¡¡whose¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡gentle£»¡¡if¡¡his¡¡face¡¡was¡¡not£»¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Do¡¡we¡¡have¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡that¡¡was¡¡removed£¿¡¡Has¡¡anyone¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡rasped¡¡like¡¡a¡¡saw¡£
¡¡¡¡Ines¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡a¡¡silence¡£¡¡Her¡¡vision¡¡was¡¡not¡¡good£»¡¡just¡¡then£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡three¡¡court¡¡physicians¡¡exchange¡¡glances¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡over¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Gonzalez¡¡de¡¡Rada¡£¡¡He¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡swimming¡¡into¡¡view£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡gingerly¡¡near¡¡the¡¡feathers¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡took¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡head¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his¡¡face¡¡and¡¡sniffed¡£¡¡He¡¡grimaced¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡an¡¡awful¡¡face£»¡¡actually£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡large¡¡boil¡¡on¡¡his¡¡neck¡£¡¡He¡¡came¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡queen¡¡and£»¡¡again¡¡apologizing£»¡¡he¡¡shifted¡¡the¡¡covers¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡took¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡feet¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡feel¡¡my¡¡touch£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£¡¡Again£»¡¡she¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡angry¡£¡¡¡¨Forgive¡¡me£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡¡king£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡blunt¡£¡¡It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡I¡¡have¡¡spent¡¡too¡¡long¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tagra¡¡lands¡¡for¡¡courtly¡¡pany¡£¡¡But¡¡these¡¡three¡¡men¡¡have¡¡e¡¡near¡¡to¡¡killing¡¡the¡¡queen¡£¡¡It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡too¡¡late£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡hands¡¡and£»¡¡I¡¡fear£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡hands¡¡upon¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡will¡¡try¡¡if¡¡you¡¡allow¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡is¡¡poison£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡heard¡¡Ramiro¡¡ask¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡¡king¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡can¡¡you¡¡do£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨With¡¡your¡¡permission£»¡¡my¡¡lord£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡clean¡¡this¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡disgusting¡¡coating¡¡from¡¡her¡¡arm¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡more¡¡of¡¡the¡¡substance¡¡from¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡wound¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡administer¡¡a¡¡pound¡¡I¡¡will¡¡prepare¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡difficult¡¡for¡¡the¡¡queen£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¡Extremely¡¡unpleasant¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡substance¡¡that¡¡may¡¡make¡¡her¡¡very¡¡ill¡¡as¡¡it¡¡bats¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡in¡¡her¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡hope¡¡it¡¡does¡¡so¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡of¡¡no¡¡other¡¡course¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡me¡¡to¡¡proceed£¿¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡here£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Ramiro¡¡did£»¡¡both¡¡things¡£¡¡Peire¡¡d'Alorre¡¡ventured¡¡an¡¡acerbic£»¡¡unwise¡¡objection¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡unceremoniously¡¡ushered¡¡by¡¡Gonzalez¡¡de¡¡Rada¡¡to¡¡a¡¡far¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡¡doctors¡£¡¡Ramiro£»¡¡following¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡said¡¡something¡¡to¡¡them¡¡that¡¡Ines¡¡could¡¡not¡¡hear¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡extremely¡¡quiet¡¡after¡¡that¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡king¡¡came¡¡back¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡once¡¡more¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡good¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡both¡¡of¡¡his¡£¡¡She¡¡still¡¡couldn't¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡touch¡£¡¡The¡¡new¡¡doctor's¡¡coarse¡¡features¡¡appeared¡¡close¡¡to¡¡hers¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡explained¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡apologized¡¡beforehand¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡softly£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡not¡¡actually¡¡unpleasant¡£¡¡His¡¡breath¡¡was¡¡sweetly¡¡scented¡¡with¡¡some¡¡herb¡£
¡¡¡¡What¡¡followed¡¡was¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡childbirth¡¡had¡¡been¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡scream£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡carefully¡¡but¡¡thoroughly¡¡cleaned¡¡the¡¡mud¡¡from¡¡her¡¡wounded¡¡arm¡£¡¡At¡¡some¡¡point¡¡the¡¡god¡¡mercifully¡¡granted¡¡her¡¡oblivion¡£
¡¡¡¡They¡¡revived¡¡her£»¡¡though¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡to¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡made¡¡to¡¡drink¡¡something¡£¡¡What¡¡ensued¡¡was¡¡even¡¡worse¡£¡¡The¡¡queen£»¡¡racked¡¡with¡¡spasms¡¡in¡¡the¡¡belly¡¡and¡¡sweating¡¡with¡¡fever£»¡¡found¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡even¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡muted¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡candles¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡All¡¡sounds¡¡hurt¡¡her¡¡head¡¡amazingly¡£¡¡She¡¡lost¡¡track¡¡of¡¡time£»¡¡where¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡there¡£¡¡She¡¡heard¡¡her¡¡own¡¡voice¡¡at¡¡one¡¡point£»¡¡speaking¡¡wildly£»¡¡begging¡¡for¡¡release¡£¡¡She¡¡couldn't¡¡even¡¡pray£»¡¡or¡¡hold¡¡properly¡¡to¡¡her¡¡disk¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡she¡¡swam¡¡back¡¡towards¡¡awareness£»¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡insisted¡¡that¡¡she¡¡drink¡¡more¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡substance£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡sank¡¡back¡¡into¡¡fever¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pain¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡went¡¡on¡¡for¡¡an¡¡unimaginably¡¡long¡¡time¡£
¡¡¡¡Eventually¡¡it¡¡ended¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡when¡£¡¡She¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡still¡¡alive£»¡¡however¡£¡¡She¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sweat¡­soaked¡¡pillows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡gently¡¡cooled¡¡her¡¡face¡¡and¡¡forehead¡¡with¡¡damp¡¡towels£»¡¡murmuring¡¡encouragement¡£¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡clean¡¡linens£»¡¡these¡¡were¡¡brought¡¡and£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡men¡¡turned¡¡away£»¡¡Ines's¡¡ladies¡­in¡­waiting¡¡changed¡¡her¡¡garments¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bedding¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡came¡¡back¡¡and¡¡very¡¡gently¡¡anointed¡¡and¡¡then¡¡bandaged¡¡Ines's¡¡arm¡£¡¡His¡¡movements¡¡were¡¡steady¡¡and¡¡precise¡£¡¡The¡¡king¡¡watched¡¡intently¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡from¡¡the¡¡forts¡¡was¡¡done£»¡¡he¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡room¡¡cleared¡¡of¡¡all¡¡but¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡queen's¡¡ladies¡£¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡now¡¡with¡¡the¡¡authority¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡assumed¡¡mand¡¡of¡¡a¡¡situation¡£¡¡More¡¡diffidently£»¡¡he¡¡then¡¡asked¡¡permission¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡in¡¡private¡¡with¡¡the¡¡king¡£¡¡Ines¡¡watched¡¡them¡¡withdraw¡¡to¡¡an¡¡adjacent¡¡room¡£¡¡She¡¡closed¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡slept¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨Will¡¡she¡¡live£¿¡¨¡¡King¡¡Ramiro¡¡was¡¡blunt¡£¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡door¡¡was¡¡closed¡¡behind¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡was¡¡equally¡¡direct¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡know¡¡until¡¡later¡¡tonight£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡¡king¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡pushed¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡through¡¡his¡¡untidy£»¡¡straw¡­colored¡¡hair¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡poison¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡countered¡¡immediately¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Why¡¡did¡¡you¡¡suspect¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡swelling£»¡¡my¡¡lord£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡any¡¡feeling¡¡in¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡hands¡£¡¡A¡¡simple¡¡arrow¡¡wound¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡to¡¡have¡¡caused¡¡such¡¡responses¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡enough¡¡of¡¡those£»¡¡Jad¡¡knows¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡I¡¡smelled¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡arrow¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡did¡¡you¡¡know¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡you¡¡did£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hesitation£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡lord£»¡¡since¡¡being¡¡assigned¡¡the¡¡great¡¡honor¡¡of¡¡serving¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tagra¡¡forts£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡used¡¡the¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡proximity¡¡to¡¡Al¡­Rassan¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡the¡¡writings¡¡from¡¡some¡¡of¡¡their¡¡physicians¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡made¡¡a¡¡course¡¡of¡¡study£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡Asharite¡¡doctors¡¡know¡¡more¡¡than¡¡we£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨About¡¡most¡¡things£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¡And¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡the¡¡Kindath¡¡know¡¡even¡¡more£»¡¡in¡¡many¡¡matters¡£¡¡In¡¡this¡¡instance£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡schooled¡¡by¡¡certain¡¡writings¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Kindath¡¡physician£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡Fezana£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡can¡¡read¡¡the¡¡Kindath¡¡script£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡taught¡¡myself£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡this¡¡text¡¡told¡¡you¡¡how¡¡to¡¡identify¡¡and¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡this¡¡poison£¿¡¡What¡¡to¡¡administer£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡how¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¨¡¡Another¡¡hesitation¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡is¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡more£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡¡king¡£¡¡The¡¡reason¡¡I¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡with¡¡you¡¡alone¡£¡¡About¡¡the¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡source¡¡of¡¡this¡¡evil¡¡thing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tagra¡¡forts¡¡did¡¡so¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡asked¡¡an¡¡extremely¡¡precise¡¡question¡¡and¡¡answered¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡then¡¡received¡¡his¡¡king's¡¡permission¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡queen¡£¡¡Ramiro¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡¡remained¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡that¡¡adjoining¡¡room¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡however£»¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rising¡¡fury¡¡and¡¡ing£»¡¡quite¡¡swiftly¡¡after¡¡long¡¡indecision£»¡¡to¡¡a¡¡clear¡¡resolution¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡such¡¡a¡¡fashion£»¡¡very¡¡often£»¡¡had¡¡the¡¡course¡¡and¡¡destiny¡¡of¡¡nations¡¡both¡¡lesser¡¡and¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡Valledo¡¡been¡¡shaped¡¡and¡¡devised¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡gave¡¡Ines¡¡his¡¡pound¡¡one¡¡more¡¡time¡£¡¡He¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡the¡¡body¡¡expelled¡¡it¡¡more¡¡swiftly¡¡than¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡it¡¡fought¡£¡¡Painful¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡the¡¡substance¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡might¡¡save¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡queen¡¡nodded¡¡her¡¡understanding£»¡¡and¡¡drank¡£
¡¡¡¡Again¡¡she¡¡swam¡¡towards¡¡oblivion£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡quite¡¡so¡¡bad¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡She¡¡always¡¡knew¡¡where¡¡she¡¡was¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night¡¡her¡¡fever¡¡broke¡£¡¡The¡¡king¡¡was¡¡dozing¡¡in¡¡an¡¡armchair¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡the¡¡lady¡­in¡­waiting¡¡on¡¡a¡¡pallet¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor£»¡¡unsleeping£»¡¡was¡¡attending¡¡upon¡¡her¡£¡¡When¡¡she¡¡opened¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡his¡¡harsh¡¡features¡¡seemed¡¡beautiful¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡He¡¡reached¡¡for¡¡her¡¡good¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡pinched¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡queen¡¡said¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡smiled¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡King¡¡Ramiro¡¡woke¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡see¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡several¡¡candles¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡clear¡£¡¡They¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡sun¡¡disk£»¡¡at¡¡one¡¡point£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡finally£»¡¡a¡¡pale¡¡whisper£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡what¡¡I¡¡also¡¡remember£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡anything£»¡¡is¡¡you¡¡beside¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Ramiro¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡kneel¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡a¡¡question¡¡across¡¡it¡¡at¡¡the¡¡physician£»¡¡whose¡¡fatigue¡¡was¡¡now¡¡evident¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡believe¡¡we¡¡have¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡man¡¡said¡£¡¡The¡¡long£»¡¡unfortunate¡¡face¡¡was¡¡creased¡¡by¡¡a¡¡smile¡£
¡¡¡¡Ramiro¡¡said£»¡¡huskily£»¡¡¡¨Your¡¡career¡¡is¡¡made£»¡¡doctor¡£¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡even¡¡know¡¡your¡¡name£»¡¡but¡¡your¡¡life¡¡is¡¡made¡¡by¡¡this¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡let¡¡her¡¡go¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡at¡¡his¡¡queen£»¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡repeated¡¡softly£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡ready¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡¡wept¡£¡¡His¡¡queen¡¡lifted¡¡her¡¡good¡¡hand£»¡¡hesitated¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡lowered¡¡it¡¡to¡¡stroke¡¡his¡¡hair¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Earlier¡¡that¡¡same¡¡night£»¡¡as¡¡King¡¡Ramiro¡¡lingered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bedside¡¡of¡¡his¡¡queen£»¡¡harsh¡¡words¡¡had¡¡been¡¡exchanged¡¡at¡¡dinner¡¡by¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Valledan¡¡court¡¡with¡¡those¡¡who¡¡served¡¡King¡¡Sanchez¡¡of¡¡Ruenda¡£¡¡Accusations£»¡¡savage¡¡and¡¡explicit£»¡¡were¡¡levelled¡£¡¡Swords¡¡were¡¡drawn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡hall¡£

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ