ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第62章

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e　eyes　accentuated　now　by　paint　and　Mazur's　lapis　lazuli　at　ears　and　throat。　A　court　lady；　about　to　join　a　glittering　pany　at　a　palace　banquet。
　　Looking　at　the　figure　in　the　glass；　Jehane　offered　her　small　shrug。　That；　at　least；　she　recognized。
　　The　mask；　her　real　disguise；　lay　on　the　table　beside　the　glass。　That　was　for　tomorrow。　Tonight；　in　the　palace　of　King　Badir；　however　altered　she　might　seem；　everyone　would　still　know　she　was　Jehane。　Whatever　that　meant。
　　
Thirteen
　　〃Were　you　pleased？〃　the　king　of　Ragosa　asked　his　chancellor；　breaking　a　panionable　silence。
　　Mazur　ben　Avren　glanced　up　from　the　cushions　where　he　reclined。　〃I　ought　to　be　asking　you　that；〃　he　said。
　　Badir　smiled　in　his　deep；　low　chair。　〃I　am　easily　pleased；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　enjoyed　the　food　and　the　pany。　The　music　was　splendid　tonight；　especially　the　reeds。　Your　new　musician　from　Ronizza　is　a　discovery。　Are　we　paying　him　well？〃
　　〃Extremely　well；　I'm　sorry　to　say。　There　have　been　other　offers　for　his　services。〃
　　The　king　sipped　from　his　glass；　held　it　to　the　nearest　candle　flame　and　looked；　thoughtfully。　The　sweet　wine　was　pale：　as　starlight；　the　white　moon；　a　northern　girl。　He　tried　briefly　but　failed　to　think　of　a　fresher　image。　It　was　very　late。　〃What　did　you　think　of　the　verses　tonight？〃
　　The　verses　were　an　issue；　as　it　happened。
　　The　chancellor　took　his　time　before　answering。　They　were　alone　again；　in　the　king's　chambers。　It　occurred　to　ben　Avren　to　wonder　how　many　times　over　the　years　the　two　of　them　had　sat　like　this　at　the　end　of　a　night。
　　Badir's　second　wife　had　died　six　winters　ago；　giving　birth　to　his　third　son。　The　king　had　never　remarried。　He　had　heirs；　and　no　single　overriding　political　interest　had　emerged　to　dictate　an　obvious　union。　It　was　useful　at　times　for　a　secure　monarch　to　be　unattached：　overtures　came；　and　negotiations　could　be　spun　out　a　long　while。　Rulers　in　three　countries　had　reason　to　believe　their　daughter　might　one　day　be　queen　of　wealthy　Ragosa　in　Al…Rassan。
　　〃What　did　you　think　of　the　verses；　my　lord？〃
　　It　was　unlike　the　chancellor　to　deflect　a　question　back。　Badir　raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Are　you　being　careful；　old　friend？　With　me？〃
　　Mazur　shook　his　head。　〃Not　careful。　Uncertain；　actually。　I　may　be　。。。　prejudiced　by　my　own　aspirations　in　the　realm　of　poetry。〃
　　〃That　gives　me　most　of　an　answer。〃
　　Mazur　smiled。　〃I　know。〃
　　The　king　leaned　back　and　put　his　feet　up　on　his　favorite　stool。　He　balanced　his　wine　on　the　wide　arm　of　the　chair。
　　〃What　do　I　think？　I　think　most　of　the　poems　were　indifferent。　The　usual　run　of　images。　I　also　think；〃　he　added；　〃that　our　friend　ibn　Khairan　betrayed　a　conflict　in　his　verse…either　deliberately；　or　something　he　would　rather　have　kept　hidden。〃
　　The　chancellor　nodded　slowly。　〃That　seems　exact。　You　will　think　I　am　flattering；　I　fear。〃　King　Badir's　glance　was　keen。　He　waited。　Mazur　sipped　from　his　wine。　〃Ibn　Khairan's　too　honest　a　poet；　my　lord。　He　might　dissemble　in　speech　and　act；　but　not　easily　in　verse。〃
　　〃What　do　we　do　about　it？〃
　　Mazur　gestured　gracefully。　〃There　is　nothing　to　do。　We　wait　and　see　what　he　decides。〃
　　〃Ought　we　to　try　to　influence　that　decision？　If　we　know　what　our　own　desires　are？〃
　　Mazur　shook　his　head。　〃He　knows　what　he　can　have　from　you；　my　lord。〃
　　〃Does　he？〃　Badir's　tone　sharpened。　〃I　don't。　What　is　it　he　can　have　from　me？〃
　　The　chancellor　laid　his　glass　down　and　sat　up　straighter。　They　had　been　drinking　all　night…during　the　banquet；　and　now　alone。　Ben　Avren　was　weary　but　clear…headed。　〃It　is；　as　ever；　yours　to　decide；　my　lord；　but　it　is　my　view　that　he　can　have　whatever　it　is　he　wants；　should　he　choose　to　remain　with　us。〃
　　A　silence。　It　was　an　extraordinary　thing　to　have　said。　Both　men　knew　it。
　　〃I　need　him　so　much；　Mazur？〃
　　〃Not　if　we　choose　to　stay　as　we　are；　my　lord。　But　if　you　wish　to　have　more；　then　yes；　you　need　him　that　much。〃
　　Another　reflective　stillness。
　　〃I　do；　of　course；　wish　to　have　more；〃　said　King　Badir　of　Ragosa。
　　〃I　know。〃
　　〃Can　my　sons　deal　with　a　wider　realm　when　I'm　gone；　Mazur？　Are　they　capable　of　such？〃
　　〃With　help；　I　think　so。〃
　　〃Will　they　not　have　you；　my　friend；　as　I　have？〃
　　〃So　long　as　I　am　able。　We　are　much　the　same　age；　as　you　know；　my　lord。　That；〃　said　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa；　〃is　actually　the　point　of　what　I　am　saying。〃
　　Badir　looked　at　him。　He　held　up　his　almost　empty　glass。　Mazur　rose　smoothly　and　went　to　the　sideboard。　He　took　the　decanter　and　poured　for　the　king　and　then；　at　a　gesture；　for　himself。　He　replaced　the　decanter　and　returned　to　his　cushions；　subsiding　among　them。
　　〃It　was　an　extremely　short　poem；〃　said　the　king　of　Ragosa。
　　〃It　was。〃
　　〃Almost　。。。　perfunctory。〃
　　〃Almost。　Not　quite。〃　The　chancellor　was　silent　a　moment。　〃I　think　he　was　giving　you　a　pliment　of　an　unusual　kind；　my　lord。〃
　　〃Ah。　How　so？〃
　　〃He　let　you　see　that　he　is　struggling。　He　did　not　hide　the　fact　behind　some　bland；　elaborate　homage。〃
　　The　king's　turn　to　be　silent　again。　〃Let　me　understand　you；〃　he　said　at　length。　There　was　a　trace　of　irritation　in　his　voice　now；　a　rare　thing。　He　was　tired。　〃Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　asked　to　offer　a　verse　for　my　birth　day；　recites　a　quick　little　piece　about　there　always　being　water　from　a　pool　or　wine　in　my　cup。　That　is　all。　Six　lines。　And　my　chancellor；　my　poet；　says　this　is　to　be　construed　as　a　pliment？〃
　　Mazur　looked　undisturbed。　〃Because　he　could　so　easily　have　done　more；　my　lord；　or　at　the　least；　have　claimed　his　inspiration　was　inadequate　to　the　magnitude　of　the　occasion。　He　is　too　experienced　not　to　have　done　so；　had　he　felt　the　slightest　need　to　play　a　courtier's　game。　Which　means　he　wanted　you…and　me；　I　suppose…to　understand　that　he　is　being　and　will　be　honest　with　us。〃
　　〃And　that　is　a　pliment？〃
　　〃From　a　man　such　as　this；　I　believe　it　is。　He　is　saying　he　believes　we　are　thoughtful　enough　to　read　that　message　in　his　six　lines；　and　wait　for　him。〃
　　〃And　we　will　wait　for　him；　Mazur？〃
　　〃It　is　my　counsel；　my　lord。〃
　　The　king　stood　up　then；　and　so　the　chancellor　did　the　same。　Badir　strode；　in　jewelled　slippers　on　the　carpet　and　the　marble　floor；　to　a　window。　He　turned　the　latch　and　pushed　open　both　panes　of　beautifully　etched　glass。　He　stood　overlooking　a　courtyard　with　almond　and　lemon　trees　and　a　fountain。　Torches　had　been　left　burning　below　to　light　the　play　of　water。
　　From　beyond　the　palace　the　streets　of　the　city　were　quiet。　They　would　not　be　tomorrow　night。　In　the　distance；　faintly；　could　be　heard　the　sound　of　a　stringed　instrument；　and　then　a　voice；　yearning。　The　blue　moon　was　overhead；　shining　through　the　open　window　and　upon　the　splashing　fountain　and　the　grass。　Stars　glittered　around　the　moon　and　through　the　branches　of　the　tall　trees。
　　〃You　think　a　great　deal　of　this　man；〃　King　Badir　said　finally；　looking　out　at　the　night。
　　〃What　I　think；〃　said　his　chancellor；　〃if　you　will　allow　me　to　pursue　a　poet's　conceit　and　imagine　men　as　bodies　in　the　heavens；　is　that　we　have　the　two　most　brilliant　ets　in　the　sky　here　in　Ragosa　this　spring。〃
　　Badir　turned　back　to　look　at　him。　After　a　moment；　he　smiled。
　　〃And　where　would　you　put　yourself；　old　friend；　in　such　a　glittering　firmament？〃
　　And　now　the　chancellor；　too；　smiled。
　　〃That　is　easy；　in　truth。　I　am　a　moon　at　your　side；　my　good　lord。〃
　　The　king　thought　about　that。　He　shook　his　head。　〃Inexact；　Mazur。　Moons　wander。　Your　people　are　named　for　that。　But　you　have　not。　You　have　been　steadfast。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　my　lord。〃
　　The　king　crossed　his　arms；　still　musing。　〃A　moon　is　also　brighter　than　ets　in　the　dark；〃　he　said。　〃Though　being　familiar；　perhaps　it　occasions　less　note。〃
　　Mazur　inclined　his　head　but　said　nothing。
　　〃Will　you　be　going　abroad　tomorrow　night？〃
　　Mazur　smiled。　〃I　always　do；　my　lord。　For　a　little　time。　Carnival　is　useful；　to　walk　about　unknown；　and　gauge　the　mood　of　the　city。〃
　　〃And　it　is　solely　duty　that　takes　you　out；　my　friend？　You　find　no　pleasure　in　the　night？〃
　　〃I　would　never　say　that；　my　lord。〃
　　The　two　men　shared　the　smile　this　time。
　　After　a　moment；　Badir　asked；　bemusedly；　〃Why　plain　water　from　a　pool；　though；　Mazur。　In　his　verse。　Why　not　just　a　rich　red　wine。'
　　And　this；　too；　his　chancellor　explained　to　him。
　　
　　A　little　later；　Mazur　ben　Avren　took　leave　of　his　king。　When；　at　length；　he　reached　his　own　quarters　in　the　palace；　the　Lady　Zabira　was　waiting。
　　She　had　been　very　much　present　at　the　banquet；　of　course；　and　had　all　the　questions　of　someone　who　understood　royal　courts　very　well　and　wished　to　rise　in　this　one。　She　also　displayed；　gracefully；　a　continuing　desire　to　minister　to　whatever　needs　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa　might　have…in　a　fashion　that　might　surpass　anyone　who　had　e　before　her。
　　As　it　happened；　she　had　been　doing　just　that　through　the　winter；　to　his　pleasure　and　surprise。　He　had　thought　he　was　too　old　for　such　a　thing　to　happen。
　　Later　that　night；　when　he　was　drifting　towards　the　shores　of　sleep；　feeling　her　youthful　nakedness　against　his　body；　soft　as　a　cat；　warm　as　a　pleasant　dream；　Mazur　heard　her　ask　one　last　question。　〃Did　the　king　understand　what　ibn　Khairan　meant　in　his　poem　tonight？　About　the　water　at　the　drinking　place？〃
　　She　was　clever　too；　this　lady　from　Cartada；　sharp　as　a　cutting　edge。　He　would　do　well　to　remember　that。　He　was　getting　old；　must　not　allow　it　to　render　him　vulnerable。　He　had　seen　that　happen　to　other　men。
　　〃He　understands　it　now；〃　he　murmured；　eyes　closed。
　　He　heard　her　laugh　then；　softly。　Her　laughter　seemed　to　ease　him　wonderfully；　a　caressing　sound。　One　of　her　hands　slid　across　his　chest。　She　turned　herself　a　little；　to　fit　more　closely　to　him。
　　She　said；　〃I　was　watching　Ammar　tonight。　I　have　known　him　for　many　years。　I　believe　he　is　troubled　by　something　beyond　。。。　divided　loyalty。　I　don't　think　he　understands　it　himself　yet。　If　I　am　right；　it　would　be　amusing；　in　truth。〃
　　He　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　at　her；　waiting。　And　then　she　told　him　something　he　would　never　have　even　contemplated。　Women；　Mazur　ben　Avren　had　long　thought；　had　an　entirely　different　way　of　seeing　the　world。　It　was　one　of　the　reasons　he　enjoyed　their　pany　so　much。
　　Soon　after　that　she　fell　asleep。　The　chancellor　of　Ragosa　lay　awake　for　a　long　time；　however；　considering　what　she　had　said；　turning　it　over　and　over　in　his　mind；　as　a　stone　in　the　hand；　or　the　different　possible　endings　for　a　verse。
　　
For　the　bright　lord　of　Ragosa；
Long…tenured　on　his　dais；　
Much…loved；　and　deservedly；　
May　there　always　be　in　times　to　e　
Cool　water　from　the　moonlit　pool　
And　wine　in　the　drinking　glass。
　　He　could　perhaps　have　said；　alone　by　the　pool；　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　reflected；　but　that　would　have　had　a　flavor　of　sycophancy；　however　subtle；　and　he　wasn't　ready…so　soon　after　the　elegy　for　Almalik…to　give　so　much　to　Badir　of　Ragosa　in　a　verse。　Almost；　but　not　quite。　That　was　the　problem。
　　It　was　lions；　of　course；　who　were　alone　when　they　came　down　to　the　water　to　drink。
　　He　wondered　if　the　king　had　been　offended　by　his　brevity；　which　would　be　a　pity。　The　banquet　tables　had　barely　settled　themselves　to　silence　when　ibn　Khairan；　given　pride　of　place；　first　recital；　had　already　fi