ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第61章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　direct。　To　cut　through；　like　a　surgeon。
　　He　put　a　booted　foot　on　the　stone　bench　and　set　down　his　package。　He　gestured　and　she　sat。　There　was　a　plane　tree　for　shade。　It　was　warmer　now；　with　the　sun　high。　She　caught　a　glimpse　of　Ziri　perched　on　a　fountain　rim；　playing　with　his　knife；　looking　for　all　the　world　like　an　apprentice　off　duty　for　an　hour；　or　dawdling　on　the　way　back　from　an　errand。
　　Rodrigo　said；　〃I　have　no　easier　answer　to　that　than　I　did　in　the　winter。　Remember；　ibn　Khairan　asked　me　the　same　thing？〃
　　She　did　remember：　the　morning　she　had　nearly　died；　with　two　small　boys　who'd　mitted　no　sin　other　than　to　be　the　half…brothers　of　a　king。
　　〃Would　the　money　you　are　earning　here　truly　e　before　loyalty　to　Valledo？〃
　　〃Put　that　way；　no。　There　are　other　ways　to　put　it；　Jehane。〃
　　〃Tell　me。〃
　　He　looked　at　her；　the　grey　eyes　calm。　Very　little　ruffled　him。　It　almost　made　you　want　to　try。　But　this　man；　she　thought　suddenly；　spoke　to　her　exactly　as　to　a　trusted　officer。　No　condescension；　no　placency。　Well；　almost　none。　She　wasn't　sure　he　teased　Lain　Nunez　in　the　same　way。
　　〃Should　loyalty　to　my　own　idea　of　honor　outweigh　a　duty　to　my　wife　and　the　future　of　my　sons。〃
　　There　was　a　breeze　now；　nearer　the　water。　Jehane　said；　〃Will　you　explain　that？〃
　　〃Lain　and　Martin　are　both　afraid　we　might　miss　a　real　chance；　being　exiled　this　particular　year。　They've　been　urging　me　to　petition　Ramiro　to　allow　me　to　return　and　then　break　my　contract　here　if　he　does。　I've　chosen　not　to　do　so。　There　are　some　things　I　won't　do。〃
　　〃Which？　Break　a　contract　or　petition　for　return？〃
　　He　smiled。　〃Both；　actually。　The　second　more　than　the　first。　I　could　return　my　salary；　I　certainly　haven't　spent　it。　But　Jehane；　think　about　this。　The　larger　point。　If　Valledo　moves　south　through　the　tagra　and　besieges　Fezana；　what　men　do　you　think　Ramiro　will　give　land　to；　should　he　succeed？〃　He　looked　at　her。　〃Do　you　see？〃
　　Being　quick；　and　her　father's　daughter；　she　did。　〃You　could　be　riding　around　Ragosa　chasing　bandits　for　a　salary　when　there　are　kingdoms　to　be　won。〃
　　〃Not　quite　kingdoms；　perhaps；　but　something　substantial；　certainly。　Much　more　than　a　salary；　however　generous。　So；　you　tell　me；　doctor？　Do　I　owe　my　two　boys　a　chance　to　be　the　heirs　of；　say；　the　king's　governor　of　Fezana？　Or　of　a　tract　of　newly　conquered　land　between　there　and　Carcasia；　with　permission　to　build　a　castle？〃
　　〃I　can't　answer　that。　I　don't　know　your　boys。〃
　　〃Doesn't　matter。　They　are　boys。　The　question　is；　what　should　a　man　strive　for；　Jehane？　Honorably？〃　His　eyes　were　direct　and　even　a　little　intimidating　now。　Ser　Rezzoni　used　to　have　a　look　like　that　sometimes。　She　tended　to　forget；　until　reminded；　as　now；　that　Rodrigo　was　a　teacher；　besides　being　one　of　the　most　feared　fighting　men　in　the　peninsula。
　　〃I　still　can't　answer；〃　she　said。
　　He　shook　his　head；　impatient　for　the　first　time。　〃Do　you　think　I　go　to　war　and　kill；　order　surrendering　foes　to　be　slain；　women　burned　alive…I　have　done　that；　Jehane…out　of　some　simple…minded　battle…lust？〃
　　〃You　tell　me。〃
　　She　felt　a　little　cold　now；　in　the　shade。　This　was　not　what　she'd　expected　from　a　morning　walk　through　the　city。
　　〃There　is　pleasure　in　warfare；　yes。〃　He　was　measuring　his　words。　〃I　would　never　deny　that。　For　good　or　ill；　I　feel　most　alive　in　the　presence　of　death。　I　need　danger；　radeship；　pride　of　mastery。　The　chance　to　win　honor；　glory；　even　fortune…all　of　which　matter　in　this　world；　if　not　in　Jad's　Paradise　of　Souls。　But　it　takes　me　away　from　those　I　love　and　leaves　them　exposed　to　danger　in　my　absence。　And　surely；　surely；　if　we　are　not　simply　animals　that　live　to　fight；　there　must　be　a　reason　for　bloodshed。〃
　　〃And　the　reason　is？　For　you？〃
　　〃Power；　Jehane。　A　bastion。　A　way　to　be　as　secure　as　this　uncertain　world　allows；　with　a　chance　to　build　something　for　my　sons　to　hold　on　to　after　I　die。〃
　　〃And　you　all　want　this？　This　is　what　drives　you？〃
　　He　thought　about　it。　〃I　would　never　speak　for　all　men。　For　some　the　sweet　excitement　is　enough。　The　blood。　Some　do　kill　for　the　love　of　it。　You　met　some　of　that　sort　at　Orvilla。　But　I'd　wager　。。。　I'd　wager　that　if　you　asked　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　he　would　tell　you　he　is　here　in　this　city　because　he　hopes　to　govern　Cartada　for　King　Badir　before　summer's　end。〃
　　Jehane　stood　up　abruptly。　She　resumed　walking；　thinking　hard　now。　Rodrigo　collected　his　small　package　and　caught　up；　falling　into　stride　beside　her。　They　walked　in　silence　past　all　the　warehouses　until　they　came　to　the　end　of　a　long　pier　and　stood　above　the　blue　water。　The　fishing　boats　were　being　decorated　for　Carnival。　There　were　lanterns　and　banners　in　the　riggings　and　on　the　masts。　The　sun　was　overhead　now；　few　people　were　about　in　the　middle　of　the　day。
　　〃You　can't　both　win　those　things；　can　you？〃　she　said　finally。　〃You　and　Ammar。　Or　not　for　long。　Ramiro　can't　conquer　Fezana　and　hold　it　if　Badir　takes　Cartada　and　holds　it。〃
　　〃They　could；　I　suppose。　But　no；　I　don't　think　both　things　will　happen。　And　certainly　not　if　I　stay　here。〃
　　He　was　not　a　vain　man；　but　he　knew　his　own　worth。　She　looked　up　at　him。　He　was　gazing　out　at　the　water。
　　〃You　do　have　a　problem；　don't　you？〃
　　〃As　I　told　you；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃There　will　be　armies　moving　soon；　and　I　don't　know　what　will　be　the　result。　Also；　you　may　have　forgotten；　but　there　is　another　set　of　players。〃
　　〃No；　I　haven't；〃　said　Jehane。　〃I　never　forget　about　them。〃　Out　on　the　lake　one　late　boat　was　turning　now；　white　sails　bright　in　the　sun；　heading　back　to　harbor　with　the　morning's　catch。　〃Will　the　Muwardis　allow　your　people　to　begin　conquering　in　Al…Rassan？〃
　　〃Re…conquering；　we　say。　But　no；　I　doubt　they　will；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte。
　　〃Will　they　e　too；　then？　This　summer？〃
　　〃Possibly。　If　the　northern　kings　do。〃
　　They　watched　the　gulls　swoop　and　dart　above　the　water。　White　clouds；　swift　as　birds；　raced　by　overhead。
　　Jehane　looked　at　the　man　she　was　with。
　　〃This　summer　ends　something　then；　doesn't　it？〃
　　〃We　could　say　that　every　year　each　season　ends　something。〃
　　〃We　could　say　that。　Are　you　going　to？〃
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃No。　I　have　felt　for　some　time　we　are　nearing　a　change。　I　don't　know　what　it　will　be。　But　it　is　ing；　I　think。〃　He　paused。　〃Of　course；　I　have　been　wrong　about　such　things。〃
　　〃Often？〃
　　He　grinned。　〃Not　very；　Jehane。〃
　　〃Thank　you　for　your　honesty。〃
　　He　continued　to　look　at　her。　The　direct　gaze。　〃Pure　self…protection；　doctor。　I　dare　not　dissemble　with　you。　You　may　have　to　bleed　me　one　day。　Or　cut　off　a　leg。〃
　　She　realized　that　she　didn't　like　thinking　about　that。
　　〃Have　you　a　mask　for　the　Carnival？〃　she　asked；　inconsequentially。
　　He　smiled　again；　crookedly。　〃Actually；　I　do。　Ludus　and　Martin；　who　like　to　think　they　are　amusing；　bought　me　something　elaborate。　Perhaps　I'll　wear　it；　to　humor　them；　and　walk　about　early　for　a　while；　but　I　don't　think　I'll　stay　out。〃
　　〃Why　not？　What　will　you　do？　Sit　in　a　blanket　by　the　fire？〃
　　He　lifted　the　small　parcel　he　carried。　〃Write　letters。　Home。〃　He　hesitated。　〃To　my　wife。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Jehane。　〃Stern　duty　summons。　Even　during　Carnival？〃
　　Rodrigo　colored　slightly；　for　the　first　time　she　could　ever　remember；　and　looked　away。　The　last　fishing　boat　was　in　now。　The　sailors　were　unloading　their　catch。
　　〃Not　duty；〃　he　said。
　　And　Jehane　realized　then；　belatedly；　something　important　about　him。
　　He　walked　her　home。　She　invited　him　in　for　a　midday　meal；　but　he　declined；　graciously。　She　ate　alone；　fish　and　fruit；　prepared　by　the　cook　Velaz　had　hired　for　them。
　　Thoughtfully；　she　went　to　look　in　on　her　patients　later　in　the　day；　and　thoughtfully　she　came　home　at　twilight　to　bathe　and　dress　for　the　banquet　at　the　palace。
　　Mazur　had　sent　jewelry　for　her；　another　generous　act。　It　was　a　notoriously　elegant　occasion；　she　had　learned；　the　king's　banquet　on　the　eve　of　Carnival。　Husari　had　presented　her　with　her　gown；　crimson　dyed；　edged　in　black。　He　had　flatly　refused　payment…one　argument　she　had　lost；　resoundingly。　She　looked　at　the　gown　in　her　room。　It　was　exquisite。　She　had　never　worn　anything　like　it　in　her　life。
　　The　Kindath　were　supposed　to　wear　blue　and　white　only；　and　without　ostentation。　It　had　been　made　clear；　however；　that　for　tonight…and　most　certainly　for　tomorrow…such　rules　were　suspended　in　King　Badir's　Ragosa。　She　began　to　dress。
　　Thinking　about　Husari；　she　remembered　his　speech　of　the　morning。　The　pompous；　lofty　style　of　a　mock…scholar。　He　had　been　jesting；　he　said。
　　But　he　hadn't　been；　or　not　entirely。
　　At　certain　moments；　Jehane　thought；　in　the　presence　of　men　like　Husari　ibn　Musa　or　young　Alvar；　or　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　it　was　actually　possible　to　imagine　a　future　for　this　peninsula　that　left　room　for　hope。　Men　and　women　could　change；　could　cross　boundaries；　give　and　take；　each　from　the　other　。。。　given　enough　time；　enough　good　will；　intelligence。
　　There　was　a　world　for　the　making　in　Esperana；　in　Al…Rassan；　one　world　made　of　the　two…or　perhaps；　if　one　were　to　dream；　made　of　three。　Sun；　stars　and　the　moons。
　　Then　you　remembered　Orvilla；　the　Day　of　the　Moat。　You　looked　into　the　eyes　of　the　Muwardis；　or　paused　on　a　street　corner　and　heard　a　wadji　demanding　death　for　the　foul　Kindath　sorcerer　ben　Avren；　who　drank　the　blood　of　Asharite　infants　torn　from　their　mothers'　arms。
　　Even　the　sun　goes　down；　my　lady。
　　Rodrigo　had　said　that。
　　She　had　never　known　a　man　like　him。　Or　no；　that　was　not　quite　so。　One　other；　met　on　the　same　terrible　day　last　summer。　They　were　like　a　bright　golden　coin；　those　two；　two　sides；　different　images　on　each；　one　value。
　　Was　that　true？　Or　did　it　just　sound　true；　like　the　words　of　one　of　those　pedagogues　Husari　mocked；　all　symmetry；　no　substance？
　　She　didn't　know　the　answer　to　that。　She　missed　Nunaya　and　the　women　outside　the　walls　of　Fezana。　She　missed　her　own　room　at　home。　She　missed　her　mother。
　　She　missed　her　father　very　much。　He　would　have　liked　to　have　seen　her　looking　as　she　did　now；　she　knew。　He　would　never　see　her　again；　never　see　anything　again。　The　man　who　had　done　that　to　him　was　dead。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　had　killed　him；　and　then　written　his　lament。　Jehane　had　been　near　to　tears；　hearing　that　elegy；　in　the　palace　where　they　were　dining　again　tonight；　in　a　room　with　a　stream　running　through　it。
　　It　was　very　hard；　how　many　things　in　life　you　never　discovered　the　answers　to；　no　matter　how　much　you　tried。
　　Jehane　stood　before　her　seldom…used　looking　glass　and　put　on　Mazur's　jewelry。　She　stayed　there；　looking　at　herself；　for　a　long　time。
　　Eventually；　she　heard　music　approaching　outside；　and　then　a　knocking　at　the　door　downstairs。　She　heard　Velaz　going　to　answer。　Mazur　had　sent　an　escort　for　her；　strings　and　wind　instruments；　it　sounded　like。　She　had　made　him　feel　guilty　last　night；　it　seemed。　She　ought　to　be　amused　by　that。　She　remained　motionless　another　moment；　staring　at　her　image　in　the　glass。
　　She　didn't　look　like　a　doctor　serving　with　a　military　pany。　She　looked　like　a　woman…not　young　with　the　extreme　freshness　of　youth；　but　not　so　old；　either；　with　quite　good　cheekbones　and　blue　eyes　accentuated　now　by　paint　and　Mazur's　lapis　lazuli　at　ears　and　throat。　A　court　lady；　about　to