ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第60章

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d　at　the　head　of　his　staff。　Not　many　people　knew　about　that。　Mazur；　evidently；　was　one　who　did。
　　It　was　a　generous；　thoughtful　gift；　from　a　man　who　had　never　been　less　than　generous　or　thoughtful　with　her。
　　She　looked　at　him。　He　smiled。　The　problem　with　Mazur　ben　Avren；　she　had　decided　in　that　moment；　was　that　he　always　knew　he　was　being　perceptive；　that　when　he　offered　a　gift　it　was　the　precise　gift　that　ought　to　be　offered。　There　was　no　uncertainty　in　him；　no　waiting　to　see　if　approval　might　e。
　　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃It　is　beautiful。　I　will　be　honored　to　wear　it。〃
　　〃It　should　bee　you；〃　he　said　gravely；　reclining　at　ease　on　the　couch　opposite　hers；　a　glass　of　wine　in　one　hand。　They　were　alone；　the　servants　had　been　dismissed　when　the　meal　was　done。
　　〃Tell　me；〃　Jehane　added；　closing　the　box　and　turning　the　delicate　key　in　its　lock；　〃what　have　you　chosen　for　the　Lady　Zabira？　If　the　question　is　not　over…bold？〃　Contrary；　provocative。　Why　should　one　be　expected　to　change？　And　it　was　always　a　pleasure…such　a　rare　pleasure…to　cause　this　man　to　blink　and　hesitate；　if　only　for　a　moment。　Almost　childish；　she　knew；　but　surely　not　everything　childlike　was　a　bad　thing？
　　〃It　would　be　ungracious　of　me　to　reveal　her　disguise；　would　it　not？　Just　as　it　would　be　wrong　for　me　to　tell　her　what　I　have　offered　you。〃
　　He　did　have　a　way　of　making　you　feel　foolish。
　　Her　response　to　that；　though；　was　much　the　same　as　it　had　been　all　her　life。　〃I　suppose；〃　she　said　lightly。　〃How　many　of　us　will　you　have　personally　disguised　for　Carnival；　so　no　one　but　you　knows　who　we　are？〃
　　He　hesitated　again；　but　not　from　disfiture　this　time。　〃Two；　Jehane。　You　and　Zabira。〃　The　pale　wine　in　his　glass　caught　the　candlelight。　He　smiled　ruefully。　〃I　am　not　so　young　as　I　once　was；　you　know。〃
　　He　was　not　above　duplicity　in　this　sort　of　thing；　but　she　had　a　sense　he　was　speaking　the　truth　here。　She　was　touched；　and　a　little　guilty。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said。
　　He　shrugged。　〃Don't　be。　Five　years　ago；　even　two　years　ago；　I　would　have　deserved　that。〃　He　smiled　again。　〃Though　I　must　say；　no　other　woman　would　have　asked　the　question。〃
　　〃My　mother　would　be　horrified　to　hear　you　say　that。〃
　　He　shook　his　head　slightly。　〃I　think　you　malign　her。　I　think　she　would　be　pleased　her　daughter　was　a　match　for　any　man。〃
　　〃I'm　hardly　that；　Mazur。　I'm　just　prickly。　It　gets　in　the　way；　sometimes。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　he　said；　making　a　face。　〃That　I　do　know。〃
　　She　smiled；　and　stood　up　then。　〃It　is　late　for　a　working　doctor；〃　she'd　said。　〃May　I　thank　you　again；　and　take　my　leave？〃
　　He'd　risen　as　well；　still　graceful；　save　for　the　hip　that　sometimes　troubled　him　in　rain。　Not　nearly　so　old　and　infirm　as　he　might　want；　for　the　moment；　to　suggest。　There　was　always　a　purpose　to　what　Mazur　said。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan…who　was；　of　course；　exactly　the　same　in　this…had　warned　her　about　that。
　　Sometimes　one　didn't　want　to　track　through　all　the　layers　of　meaning　or　implication。　Sometimes　one　wanted　to　simply　do　a　certain　thing。　Jehane　walked　towards　Mazur　and　kissed　him　softly　upon　the　mouth　for　the　first　time。
　　And　that　surprised　him；　she　realized。　He　didn't　even　lift　his　arms　to　hold　her。　She'd　done　the　same　thing　to　ibn　Khairan　once；　in　Fezana。　She　was　a　terrible　woman。
　　〃Thank　you；〃　she'd　said　to　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa；　withdrawing。　〃Thank　you　for　my　mask。〃
　　Walking　home；　with　an　escort；　she　realized　that　she'd　forgotten　to　ask　what　he　would　be　wearing　at　Carnival。
　　
　　Amid　the　morning　sunlight　and　the　crowds；　thinking　about　that　evening；　Jehane　discovered　that　she　had　reached　the　end　of　the　long　street　of　stalls。　She　turned　left；　towards　the　lake；　where　it　was　quieter。　Knowing　that　Ziri　was　following　unobtrusively　behind　her；　she　strolled；　without　real　purpose　or　destination。
　　She　could　go　back　to　the　infirmary。　She　had　three　patients　there。　There　was　a　woman　near　her　delivery　time　who　could　be　looked　in　on　at　her　home。　None　of　them　needed　her　particularly　this　morning；　however；　and　it　was　pleasant　to　be　abroad　in　springtime　without　immediate　responsibilities。
　　It　occurred　to　her　then　that　what　she　really　lacked　here　in　Ragosa　was　a　woman　to　befriend。　She　was　surrounded　by　so　many　acplished；　even　brilliant　men；　but　what　she　missed　just　now　was　the　chance　to　go　outside　the　walls　on　this　bright　morning　filled　with　birdsong　to　sit　beside　a　tumbledown　hut　with　Nunaya　and　some　of　the　other　street　women；　drinking　something　cool　and　laughing　at　their　ribald；　caustic　stories。　Sometimes　you　needed　to　be　able　to　laugh　at　men　and　their　world；　Jehane　thought。
　　She　had　spent…what　was　it；　much　of　a　year？…being　serious　and　professional　in　a　man's　world。　Sleeping　in　a　tent　in　winter　in　the　midst　of　a　military　pany。　They　had　respected　her　for　that；　had　accepted　her　skills；　trusted　her　judgment；　and　some　of　them　even　loved　her；　Jehane　knew。　But　there　were　no　other　women　with　whom　she　could　simply　laugh；　or　shake　her　head　in　shared　bemusement　at　the　follies　of　soldiers　and　diplomats。　Or　perhaps　even　confide　certain　night…time　struggles；　when　she　lay　awake　in　bed　listening　to　stringed　music　played　for　other　women　from　the　dark　streets　below。
　　For　all　its　pleasures　and　satisfactions　there　had　been　unexpected　stresses　to　this　life　away　from　home；　beyond　the　ones　that　might　have　been　predicted。　Perhaps；　thought　Jehane；　it　wasn't　such　a　bad　thing　that　this　notorious　Carnival　was　ing；　when　no　one　but　Mazur　ben　Avren　would　know　for　certain　who　she　was。　An　edge　of　excitement　came　with　that　thought；　and；　inevitably；　some　anxiety。
　　It　would　have　been　nice　to　have　Nunaya　to　talk　to　today。　Nunaya　understood　more　about　men　than　anyone　Jehane　knew。
　　Unaware　that　she　was　doing　so；　she　gave　her　characteristic　small　shrug　and　walked　on。　She　wasn't　good　at　meandering。　She　walked　too　briskly；　as　if　there　was　a　pressing　engagement　awaiting　her　and　she　was　late　for　it。
　　She　was　twenty…eight　years　old；　and　nearing　the　moments　that　would　mark　her　life　forever。
　　
　　First；　though；　passing　along　a　quieter　laneway；　she　glanced　into　an　open　doorway　and　saw　someone　she　knew。　She　hesitated；　and　then；　in　part　because　she　hadn't　spoken　privately　with　him　since　learning　the　tidings　of　Sorenica；　Jehane　walked　in　to　where　Rodrigo　Belmonte　stood　alone；　his　back　to　the　doorway；　fingering　samples　of　parchment　in　a　scribe's　shop。
　　He　was　concentrating　on　what　he　was　doing　and　didn't　see　her　enter。　The　shopkeeper　did；　and　came　out　from　around　his　counter　to　greet　her。　Jehane　motioned　him　to　silence。　The　man　smiled　knowingly；　winked　and　withdrew　to　his　stool。
　　Why；　Jehane　wondered；　did　all　men　have　that　same　smile？　She　was　irked　by　the　shopkeeper's　assumption　and　so　her　words　when　she　spoke　were　cooler　than　she'd　meant　them　to　be。
　　〃And　what　will　you　use　this　for？〃　she　asked。　〃Ransom　demands？〃
　　Rodrigo　was　another　difficult　man　to　surprise。　He　glanced　back　and　smiled。　〃Hello；　Jehane。　Isn't　this　beautiful？　Look。　Gazelle　skin　parchment；　and　sheepskin。　And　have　you　seen　the　paper　this　splendid　man　has？〃　The　scribe　beamed。　Rodrigo　took　two　steps　towards　another　bin　and　lifted；　carefully；　a　creamy　scroll　of　flax　paper。
　　〃He　has　linen；　as　well。　e　see。　And　some　of　it　dyed。　Here's　crimson。　That　would　do　for　ransom　notes！〃　He　grinned。　There　was　unfeigned　pleasure　in　his　voice。
　　〃More　money　for　Cartada；〃　Jehane　said。　〃The　dye　es　from　the　valley　south　of　them。〃
　　〃I　know　that；〃　said　Rodrigo。　〃But　I　can't　begrudge　it　to　them；　if　they　make　something　so　beautiful　with　it。〃
　　〃Would　the　esteemed　Captain　wish　to　purchase　some　of　the　linen；　then？〃　the　merchant　asked；　rising　from　his　stool。
　　〃The　Captain　cannot；　alas；　indulge　himself　in　anything　so　extravagant；〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃Even　for　ransom　notes。　I'll　take　the　parchment。　Ten　sheets；　some　ink；　half　a　dozen　good　quills。〃
　　〃Will　you　wish　to　avail　yourself　of　my　own　services？〃　the　man　asked。　〃I　have　samples　of　my　writing　for　you　to　view。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　no。　I'm　sure　it　is　impeccable；　judging　from　the　taste　you　display　in　your　materials。　But　I　enjoy　writing　letters　when　I　have　the　leisure；　and　people　claim　they　can　decipher　my　hand。〃　He　smiled。
　　His　spoken　Asharic；　Jehane　thought；　had　always　been　excellent。　He　might　have　been　a　native；　though　unlike　Alvar　and　some　of　the　other　northerners；　Rodrigo　had　maintained　his　style　of　dress。　He　still　carried　his　whip　in　his　belt；　even　when　he　walked　out；　as　now；　without　a　sword。
　　〃Are　they　really　for　ransom　notes？〃　she　asked。
　　〃To　your　father；〃　he　murmured。　〃I've　tired　of　having　a　physician　who's　even　sharper　with　me　than　Lain　is。　What　will　he　give　me　for　you？〃
　　〃Lain？〃
　　〃Your　father。〃
　　〃Not　much；　I　fear。　He　also　thinks　I'm　too　sharp。〃
　　Rodrigo　took　a　silver　coin　from　his　purse　and　paid　the　man。　He　waited　for　his　purchases　and　accepted　his　change；　counting　it。
　　Jehane　walked　out　with　him。　She　saw　him　assess　the　street；　instinctively；　and　note　the　presence　of　Ziri　in　a　doorway　halfway　down。　It　must　be　odd；　she　thought　suddenly；　to　have　a　view　of　the　world　that　made　such　appraisals　routine。
　　〃Why；〃　he　asked；　beginning　to　walk　east；　〃do　you　think　you　are　so　astringent　towards　those　who　genuinely　like　you？〃
　　She　hadn't　expected　to　be　immediately　in　this　sort　of　conversation；　though　it　jibed　with　where　her　thoughts　had　been　going　before。
　　She　gave　her　quick　shrug。　〃A　way　of　coping。　You　all　drink　together；　brawl；　train；　swear　at　each　other。　I　have　only　my　tongue；　and　a　manner　with　it；　sometimes。〃
　　〃Fair　enough。　Are　you　having　trouble　coping；　Jehane？〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　she　said　quickly。
　　〃No；　really。　You're　a　member　of　my　pany。　This　is　a　captain's　question；　doctor。　Would　you　like　some　time　off　duty？　There　will　be　little　chance　once　the　season　changes　for　good；　I　should　warn　you。〃
　　Jehane　bit　back　a　quick　retort。　It　was　a　fair　question。　〃I'm　happiest　working；〃　she　said　at　length。　〃I　wouldn't　know　what　to　do　with　time　away。　It　wouldn't　be　safe　to　go　home；　I　don't　think。〃
　　〃Fezana？　No　it　wouldn't；〃　he　said。　〃Not　this　spring。〃
　　She　picked　up　on　the　intonation。　〃It　is　ing　soon；　you　think？　Will　Badir　really　send　the　army　west？〃
　　They　turned　a　corner；　walking　north　now。　The　crowds　were　thinning　out；　nearing　midday。　The　lake　was　ahead　of　them　and　the　curved　arms　of　the　walls；　reaching　out　over　the　water。　Jehane　could　see　the　masts　of　fishing　boats。
　　Rodrigo　said；　〃I　think　a　number　of　armies　will　be　moving　soon。　I　believe　ours　will　be　one　of　them。〃
　　〃You　are　being　careful；〃　she　said。
　　He　glanced　at　her。　Grinned　suddenly　beneath　the　thick　moustache。　〃I'm　always　careful　with　you；　Jehane。〃
　　She　left　a　silence；　not　responding。　He　went　on；　〃If　I　knew　more　for　certain　I'd　tell　you。　Lain　is　quite　sure　this　rumored　gathering　of　all　three　northern　kings　will　lead　to　one　army　ing　down。　I　doubt　it；　myself；　but　that　doesn't　mean　there　won't　be　three　Jaddite　kings　riding；　each　with　his　own　little　holy　war。〃　His　tone　was　dry。
　　〃And　where；〃　she　asked；　stopping　by　a　bench　outside　a　large　warehouse；　〃would　that　leave　Rodrigo　Belmonte　of　Valledo？〃　It　was　a　trait　of　hers：　when　uncertain　she　tended　to　be　most　direct。　To　cut　through；　like　a　surgeon。
　　He　put　a　booted　foot　on　the　stone　bench　and　set　down