ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第58章

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　poem。　A　。。。　what　do　they　call　it　。。。　an　allegation。　About　the　Kindath　and　the　Day　of　the　Moat。　Nunaya　thinks　something's　being　planned。　That　the　governor　may　be　under　orders。〃
　　〃Who　is　Nunaya？〃　Eliane　realized　that　she　had　begun　to　shiver。
　　〃Our　leader。　Outside　the　walls。　She's　older。　Knows　a　lot。〃　The　girl　hesitated。　〃She's　a　friend　of　Jehane's。　She　sold　her　mules　when　Jehane　left。〃
　　〃You　know　about　that？〃
　　〃I　took　her　to　Nunaya　myself　that　night。　We　wouldn't　have　let　Jehane　down。〃　Defiance　again；　a　note　of　pride。
　　〃Thank　you；　then。　I'm　sure　you　wouldn't　have　let　her　down。　I　told　you；　she　knew　where　to　choose　her　friends。〃
　　〃She　was　always　good　to　me；〃　the　girl　said；　with　a　shrug；　trying　to　seem　indifferent。　〃Don't　see　what's　so　wrong　with　calling　the　moons　sisters；　anyhow；　myself。〃
　　Eliane　had　to　be　careful　not　to　smile；　despite　the　fear　in　her。　Fifteen　years　old。　〃Some　disagree　with　you；　unfortunately；〃　was　all　she　said。
　　〃I　know　that；〃　the　girl　replied。　〃Jehane's　all　right？〃
　　〃I　think　so。〃　Eliane　hesitated。　〃She's　in　Ragosa；　working　there。〃
　　The　girl　nodded；　satisfied。　〃I'll　tell　Nunaya。　Anyhow；　that's　all　I　wanted　to　say。　Nunaya　says　you　should　be　careful。　Think　about　leaving。　She　says　people　here　are　nervous　again　because　of　this　claim　by　that　other　king　in　the　north　。。。　from　Ruensa？〃
　　〃Ruenda；〃　Eliane　said。　〃About　the　parias？　Why　should　that　affect　the　Kindath？〃
　　〃Now　you're　asking　the　wrong　person；　aren't　you？〃　The　girl　shrugged　again。　〃I　hear　things；　but　I　don't　know　much。　Nunaya　thinks　there's　something　funny　about　it；　that's　all。〃
　　Eliane　stood　in　silence　for　a　moment；　looking　at　the　girl。　That　shawl　really　wasn't　at　all　warm　enough　for　this　time　of　year。　Impulsively；　surprising　herself　again；　she　took　off　her　own　blue　cloak　and　draped　it　over　the　girl。　〃I　have　another；〃　she　said。　〃Will　this　be　stolen　from　you？〃
　　The　girl's　eyes　had　widened。　She　fingered　the　warm；　woven　cloak。　〃Not　unless　someone　wants　to　wake　up　dead；〃　she　said。
　　〃Good。　Thank　you　for　the　warning。〃　Eliane　turned　to　go。
　　〃My　lady。〃
　　She　stopped　and　looked　back。
　　〃Do　you　know　the　toy…maker's　shop；　at　the　end　of　the　Street　of　Seven　Windings？〃
　　〃I　have　seen　it。〃
　　〃Just　past　it；　by　the　city　wall；　there's　a　linden　tree。　There's　bushes　behind　it；　along　the　wall。　There's　a　way　out　there。　It's　a　small　gate；　and　locked；　but　the　key　is　hanging　from　a　nail　on　the　tree；　on　the　back　side；　about　my　height。〃　She　indicated　with　her　hand。　〃If　you　ever　need　to　get　out　that's　one　way　that　will　bring　you　to　us。〃
　　Eliane　was　silent　again；　then　she　nodded　her　head。
　　〃I　am　glad　my　daughter　has　such　friends；〃　she　said；　and　went　back　into　the　sunlight；　which　did　not　warm　her　now；　without　her　cloak。
　　She　decided　to　forgo　the　market　this　morning；　though　it　normally　gave　her　pleasure。　One　of　the　servants　could　go。　She　was　cold。　She　turned　back　towards　the　Kindath　Quarter　and　the　house　that　had　been　her　home　for　thirty　years。
　　Think　about　leaving。　Just　like　that。
　　The　Wanderers。　They　were　always　thinking　about　leaving。　Moving　like　the　moons　against　the　fixed　and　gleaming　stars。　But　brighter；　Ishak　had　liked　to　say。　Brighter　than　the　stars　and　gentler　than　the　sun。　And　he　and　she　had　had　their　home　here　in　Fezana　for　so　long　now。
　　She　decided　to　say　nothing　to　him　about　this。
　　
　　The　very　next　day　a　Jaddite　leather　worker　approached　her　as　she　walked　out　in　the　morning　to　buy　a　new　cloak…her　old　one　was　distinctly　frayed；　it　turned　out。
　　The　man　had　been　waiting　just　outside　the　guarded　gates　to　the　Quarter。　He　came　up　as　soon　as　she　turned　the　corner。　He　was　respectful；　and　evidently　afraid。　He　wasted　little　time；　which　was　fine　with　Eliane。　His　message　was　the　same　as　that　of　the　girl　the　day　before。　He；　too；　had　been　a　patient　of　Jehane's…or　his　young　son　had　been。　Eliane　gathered　that　Ishak's　absinthe　dilution；　offered　for　a　nominal　fee；　had　broken　a　dangerous　fever　the　summer　before。　The　man　was　grateful；　had　not　forgotten。　And　told　her　it　might　be　wise　for　them　to　leave　Fezana　for　a　time；　before　the　spring　was　much　further　advanced。　Men　were　talking　in　the　taverns；　he　said；　about　matters　that　did　not　bode　well。
　　There　was　anger；　he　said。　And　the　more　fiery　of　the　street　corner　wadjis　were　not　being　kept　under　control　the　way　they　usually　were。　She　asked　him　directly　if　he　was　leaving　with　his　family；　if　the　same　dangers　applied　to　the　Jaddites。　He　said　he　had　decided　to　convert；　after　resisting　for　many　years。　At　the　first　branching　of　streets　he　walked　away　from　her　without　looking　back。　She　never　learned　his　name。
　　She　bought　herself　a　cloak　from　a　small；　reliable　shop　in　the　Weavers'　Lane；　someone　she　had　done　business　with　for　a　dozen　years　or　more。　It　might　have　been　her　imagination；　but　the　merchant　seemed　cool；　almost　brusque　with　her。
　　Perhaps　business　was　simply　bad；　she　tried　to　tell　herself。　Certainly　Fezana　had　endured　grief　and　then　real　hardship　this　past　year；　with　almost　all　of　those　who　were　central　to　the　life　of　the　city　dead　in　the　moat　last　summer。
　　But　to　drive　the　Kindath　away　because　of　that？
　　It　made　no　sense。　The　taxes　paid　by　the　unbelievers…Kindath　and　Jaddite；　both…went　a　long　way　towards　supporting　the　wadjis　and　the　temples；　fortifying　the　walls　and　supplying　the　parias　Fezana　sent　north　to　Valledo。　Surely　the　new　young　king　in　Cartada　understood　that；　or　his　advisors　did？　Surely　they　were　aware　of　the　economic　impact　if　the　Kindath　Quarter　of　Fezana　was　emptied　by　a　migration　to　some　other　city？
　　Or　by　something　worse　than　that。
　　This　time　she　told　Ishak　about　the　warnings。　She　thought　she　knew　exactly　what　he　would　say；　in　the　mangled　sounds　she　had　learned　to　understand　since　last　summer。
　　He　surprised　her；　though。　After　all　these　years　he　could　still　surprise　her。　It　was　the　tidings　from　Sorenica；　he　explained；　laboring　to　be　clear。　Something　to　be　read　in　that：　a　new　mood　in　the　world；　a　swinging　again；　like　a　pendulum。　Change　in　the　air；　in　the　winds。
　　The　two　of　them；　with　their　household；　began　quietly　preparing　to　leave　for　Ragosa；　and　Jehane。
　　They　weren't　quite　fast　enough；　however。
　　*　*　*
　　
　　Their　daughter；　in　the　same　week　her　mother　received　these　warnings　of　danger…which　was　the　same　week　Ines　of　Valledo　nearly　died…was；　with　more　anticipation　than　she　liked　to　admit；　preparing　for　Carnival　in　Ragosa。
　　Alvar　de　Pellino；　off…duty　and　walking　up　to　meet　her　on　a　crowded　street　corner　one　morning；　with　Husari　beside　him　and　trailed　by　the　watchful　figure　of　young　Ziri；　privately　decided　that　Jehane　had　never　looked　more　beautiful。　Husari；　to　whom　he　had　impulsively　confided　his　feelings　about　her　one　night；　had　warned　him　that　springtime　did　this　sort　of　thing　to　young　men。
　　Alvar　didn't　think　it　was　the　season。　Much　had　changed　in　his　life　since　the　summer　before；　and　changes　were　still　taking　place；　but　what　he　had　felt　for　Jehane　before　the　end　of　that　first　night　by　the　campfire　north　of　Fezana　had　not　altered；　and　was　not　about　to。　He　was　quietly　certain　of　that。　He　was　aware　that　there　was　something　strange　about　such　certainty；　but　it　was　there。
　　Physician　to　a　court　and　a　military　pany；　Jehane　bet　Ishak　was　surrounded　by　brilliant　and　acplished　men。　Alvar　could　deal　with　that。　He　had　few　expectations　of　any　kind。　So　long　as　he　was　able　to　play　a　role；　to　be　nearby；　he　would　be　content；　he　told　himself。
　　Most　of　the　time　that　was　true。　There　were　nights　when　it　wasn't；　and　he'd　had　to　admit…though　not　to　pragmatic　Husari…that　the　return　of　the　spring　flowers　and　the　gentling　of　the　evening　breezes　off　the　lake　had　made　those　nights　more　frequent。　Men　were　singing　in　the　streets　now　at　night　under　the　windows　of　women　they　desired。　Alvar　would　lie　awake　listening　to　the　music　as　it　spoke　of　longing。　He　was　aware　at　such　times　of　how　far　he　had　e　from　a　farm　in　the　northlands　of　Valledo。　He　was　also　aware…how　could　he　not　be？…that　he　would　be　going　back　north　one　day；　when　the　Captain's　exile　ended。
　　He　tried　not　to　dwell　upon　that。
　　They　came　up　to　Jehane　and　greeted　her；　each　in　his　fashion：　Husari　with　a　grin　and　Alvar　with　his　rapidly　improving　Asharite　court　bow。　He'd　been　practicing；　for　amusement。
　　〃In　the　name　of　the　moons；　look　at　the　two　of　you！〃　Jehane　exclaimed。　〃You　look　as　if　you're　already　in　costume。　What　would　your　poor　mothers　say？〃
　　The　two　men　regarded　each　other　placently。　Alvar　was　dressed　in　a　wide…sleeved　linen　overshirt；　ivory…colored；　loosely　belted　at　the　waist；　over　hose　of　a　slightly　darker　shade　and　Asharite　city　slippers；　worked　with　gold　thread。　He　wore　a　soft　cloth　cap；　crimson…colored；　bought　in　the　market　the　week　before。　He　rather　liked　the　cap。
　　Husari　ibn　Musa；　silk　merchant　of　Fezana；　wore　a　plain　brown　Jaddite　soldier's　shirt　under　a　stained　and　well…worn　leather　vest。　There　were　knives　tucked　into　his　wide　belt　on　both　sides。　His　horseman's　trousers　were　tucked　into　high　black　boots。　On　his　head　he　wore；　as　always；　a　brown；　wide…brimmed　leather　hat。
　　〃My　sadly　departed　mother　would　have　been　diverted；　I　hope；〃　Husari　said。　〃She　had　a　gift　of　laughter；　may　Ashar　guard　her　spirit。〃
　　〃Mine　would　be　appalled；〃　Alvar　said　in　his　most　helpful　voice。　Husari　laughed。
　　Jehane　struggled　not　to。　〃What　would　any　rational　person　say；　looking　at　you　two？〃　she　wondered　aloud。　Ziri　had　drifted　apart　from　them；　he　did　his　guarding　from　a　distance。
　　〃I　think；〃　Husari　murmured；　〃such　a　person…if　we　could　find　one　in　Ragosa　this　week…might　say　we　two　represent　the　best　this　peninsula　has　to　offer。　Brave　Alvar　and　my　poor　self；　as　we　stand　humbly　before　you；　are　proof　that　men　of　different　worlds　can　blend　and　mingle　those　worlds。　That　we　can　take　the　very　finest　things　from　each；　to　make　a　new　whole；　shining　and　imperishable。〃
　　〃I'm　not　actually　sure　that　vest　of　yours　is　the　very　finest　Valledo　has　to　offer；〃　Alvar　said　with　a　frown；　〃but　we'll　let　that　pass。〃
　　〃And　I'm　not　sure　I　wanted　a　serious　answer　to　my　question；〃　Jehane　said。　Blue　eyes　narrowed　thoughtfully；　she　looked　closely　at　Husari。
　　He　grinned　again。　〃Did　I　give　you　one？　Oh；　dear。　I　was　trying　my　pedant's　manner。　I've　been　asked　to　give　a　lecture　on　the　ethics　of　trade　at　the　university　this　summer。　I'm　in　training。　I　have　to　give　long；　sweeping　answers　to　everything。〃
　　〃Not　this　morning；〃　Jehane　said；　〃or　we'll　never　do　what　we　have　to　do。〃　She　began　walking；　the　men　fell　into　step　on　either　side　of　her。
　　〃I　thought　it　was　a　good　answer；〃　Alvar　said　quietly。
　　They　both　glanced　at　him。　There　was　a　little　silence。
　　〃So　did　I；〃　said　Jehane；　finally。　〃But　we　shouldn't　be　encouraging　him。〃
　　〃Encouragement；〃　Husari　said　grandly；　striding　along　in　his　black　boots；　〃never　matters　to　the　true　scholar；　filled　with　zeal　and　vigor　in　his　pursuit　of　truth　and　knowledge；　his　solitary　quest；　on　roads　apart　from　the　paths　trod　by　lesser　men。〃
　　〃See　what　I　mean；〃　Jehane　said。
　　〃Let's　try；〃　said　Alvar；　〃to　find　him　a　better　vest。〃
　　They　turned　a　corner；　into　a　street　they'd　been　told　to　look　for；　and　then　all　three　of　them　stopped　in　their　tracks。　Even　Husari；　who　had　seen　many　cities　in　his　time。
　　Ragosa　was　alway