ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第66章

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　　〃I　think；〃　said　the　greyhound；　〃I　will　have　another　glass；　Ozra；　if　you　will。〃
　　〃Yes；　my　lord；〃　said　Ozra；　before　he　could　stop　himself。　He'd　said　it　softly　though；　and　didn't　think　anyone　had　heard。
　　As　he　poured　the　wine　he　saw　the　first　of　the　women　approaching　the　poet　where　he　stood　at　the　bar。　This　always　happened；　too；　at　Carnival。
　　〃Might　we　talk　a　moment　in　private？〃　asked　the　lioness　softly。　The　greyhound　turned　to　look　at　her。　So　did　Ozra。　It　was　not　a　woman's　voice。
　　〃Private　speech　is　difficult　to　arrange　tonight；〃　the　poet　said。
　　〃I'm　certain　you　can　manage　it。　I　have　some　information　for　you。〃
　　〃Indeed？〃
　　〃I　will　want　something　in　return。〃
　　〃Imagine　my　astonishment。〃　
　　The　greyhound　sipped　from　his　wine；　eyeing　the　newer　carefully。　The　lioness　laughed；　a　deep；　disconcerting　sound　beneath　the　mask。
　　Ozra　felt　a　flicker　of　unease。　From　the　tone　of　this；　this　man　masked　as　a　woman　knew　exactly　who　the　poet　was；　which　posed　more　than　a　measure　of　danger。
　　〃You　do　not　trust　yourself　with　me？〃
　　〃If　I　knew　who　you　were；　I　might。　Why　have　you　worn　a　mask　to　change　your　sex？〃
　　Only　the　briefest　hesitation。　〃It　amused　me。　There　is　no　beast　more　fierce；　in　the　legends；　in　defense　of　her　young。〃
　　The　greyhound　carefully　laid　down　his　glass。
　　〃I　see；〃　he　said　finally。　〃You　are　very　bold。　I　must　say；　I　am　surprised；　after　all。〃　He　looked　at　Ozra。　〃Is　there　a　room　upstairs？〃
　　〃Use　mine；〃　said　the　innkeeper。　He　reached　beneath　the　counter　and　handed　across　a　key。　The　greyhound　and　the　lioness　moved　together　across　the　room　and　up　the　stairs。　A　number　of　eyes　watched　them　go；　as　the　black　bull　on　the　dais　finished　tuning　his　instrument　and　began　to　play。
　　〃How　did　you　find　me？〃　Mazur　ben　Avren　asked；　removing　the　greyhound　mask　in　the　small　bedchamber。
　　The　other　man　struggled　with　his　own　mask　a　moment；　then　pulled　it　off。　〃I　was　led　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　a　choice　of　two　people　to　follow；　and　made　the　right　choice。　The　stag　brought　me　here。〃
　　〃You　knew　him？〃
　　〃I　tend　to　know　men　by　how　they　move　as　much　as　how　they　look。　Yes；　I　knew　him；〃　said　Tarif　ibn　Hassan；　scratching　at　his　chin　where　the　full　white　beard　had　been　shaved　away。　He　smiled。
　　So；　too；　after　a　moment；　did　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa。
　　〃I　had　not　ever　thought　to　meet　you；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　there　is　a　price　on　your　life　here？〃
　　〃Of　course　I　do。　I　am　offended　by　it：　Cartada　has　offered　more。〃
　　〃Cartada　has　suffered　more。〃
　　〃I　suppose。　Shall　I　rectify　that？〃
　　〃Shall　I　let　you　leave　the　city？〃
　　〃How　would　you　stop　me　if　I　killed　you　now？〃
　　The　chancellor　appeared　to　be　considering　that。　After　a　moment；　he　moved　to　a　small　table　and　picked　up　a　beaker　of　wine　sitting　there。　There　were　glasses；　as　well。　He　gestured　with　the　wine。
　　〃As　you　will　perhaps　have　realized；　I　have　an　arrangement　here　with　the　innkeeper。　We　are　private；　but　not　entirely　alone。　I　hope　you　will　not　require　me　to　demonstrate。〃
　　The　outlaw　looked　around　then　and　noted　the　inner　door　ajar　and　another　door　to　the　balcony。　〃I　see；〃　he　said。　〃I　ought　to　have　expected　this。〃
　　〃I　suppose　so。　I　do　have　responsibilities；　and　cannot　be　entirely　reckless；　even　tonight。〃
　　Ibn　Hassan　accepted　the　glass　the　chancellor　offered。　〃If　I　wanted　to　kill　you　I　could　still　do　it。　If　you　wanted　to　take　me；　you　could　have　done　so　by　now。〃
　　〃You　mentioned　tidings。　And　a　price。　I　am　curious。〃
　　〃The　price　you　ought　to　know。〃　Ibn　Hassan　looked　pointedly　over　at　his　discarded　mask。
　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　chancellor。　〃Of　course。　Your　sons？〃
　　〃My　sons。　I　find　I　miss　them　in　my　old　age。〃
　　〃I　can　understand　that。　Good　sons　are　a　great　fort。　They　are　fine　men；　we　enjoy　having　them　with　us。〃
　　〃They　are　missed　in　Arbastro。〃
　　〃The　sad　fortunes　of　war；〃　said　ben　Avren　calmly。　〃What　is　it　you　have　to　tell　me？〃
　　Tarif　ibn　Hassan　drank　deeply　and　held　out　his　glass。　The　chancellor　refilled　it。
　　〃The　Muwardis　have　been　building　boats　all　winter。　In　the　new　shipyards　at　Abeneven。　Hazem　ibn　Almalik　is　still　with　them。　He　has　lost　a　hand。　I　don't　know　how；　or　why。〃
　　Mazur's　turn　to　drink；　thoughtfully。　〃That　is　all？〃
　　〃Hardly。　I　try　to　offer　fair　coinage　when　I　make　a　request。　Almalik　II　of　Cartada　has　been　seeding　rumors　about　the　Kindath　of　Fezana。　I　do　not　know　to　what　purpose。　There　is　growing　tension　there；　however。〃
　　The　chancellor　set　down　the　beaker　of　wine。　〃How　do　you　know　this？〃
　　Tarif　shrugged。　〃I　know　a　good　deal　of　what　happens　in　lands　controlled　by　Cartada。　They　have　a　large　price　on　my　life；　remember？〃
　　Mazur　looked　at　him　a　long　moment。　〃Almalik　is　anxious；〃　he　said　finally。　〃He　feels　exposed。　But　he　is　clever　and　unpredictable。　I　will　admit　I　have　no　great　certainty　about　what　he　will　do。〃
　　〃Nor　I；〃　the　outlaw　chieftain　agreed。　〃Does　it　matter？　If　it　es　to　armies？〃
　　〃Perhaps　not。　Have　you　anything　more？　Brighter　coinage？〃
　　〃I　have　given　good　weight　already；　I　think。　But　one　more　thing。　Not　brighter；　though。　The　Jaddite　army　in　Batiara。　It　is　sailing　for　Soriyya　after　all。　I　never　thought　it　would。　I　thought　they　would　feed　on　each　other　over　the　winter　and　fall　apart。〃
　　〃So　did　I。　It　is　not　so？〃
　　〃It　is　not　so。〃
　　There　was　a　silence。
　　It　was　the　outlaw；　this　time；　who　refilled　both　glasses。　〃I　heard　your　verse；〃　he　said。　〃It　seemed　to　me；　listening；　that　you　had　a　knowledge　of　these　things　already。〃
　　Ben　Avren　looked　at　him。　〃No。　An　apprehension；　perhaps。　My　people　have　a　custom；　a　superstition　really。　We　voice　our　fears　as　a　talisman：　by　bringing　them　into　the　open；　we　hope　to　make　them　untrue。〃
　　〃Talismans；〃　said　Tarif　ibn　Hassan；　〃don't　usually　work。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　said　the　chancellor。　His　voice　turned　brisk。　〃You　have　given；　as　promised；　good　weight。　In　truth；　it　hardly　matters　if　you　reveal　the　tale　of　the　Emin　ha'Nazar　now。　I　can't　readily　imagine　you　would；　in　any　case。　The　offer　made　to　you　there　still　stands：　do　you　want　to　be　part　of　the　army　that　takes　Cartada？〃
　　〃That　tries　to　take　Cartada。〃
　　〃With　your　aid；　I　have　great　hopes　that　we　would。〃
　　The　old　chieftain　stroked　the　stubble　of　his　chin。　〃I　fear　I　will　have　little　enough　choice。　Both　my　sons　want　to　do　this　thing；　and　I　have　not　the　strength　to　overrule　them　together。〃
　　〃That　I　do　not　believe；〃　Mazur　smiled。　〃But　if　you　wish　to　put　it　in　this　way；　it　is　no　matter　to　me。　Meet　us　north　of　Lonza。　I　will　send　heralds　to　you　to　arrange　the　exact　timing；　but　we　ride　from　here　at　the　white　full　moon。〃
　　〃So　soon？〃
　　〃Even　more　urgently　now；　with　what　you　have　told　me。　If　other　armies　are　setting　forth；　we　had　best　be　first　in　the　field；　don't　you　think？〃
　　〃Are　you　covered　at　your　back？　In　Fibaz？〃
　　〃That's　where　I　spent　the　money　the　world　thinks　you　stole　from　the　parias　party。〃
　　〃Walls？〃
　　〃And　soldiers。　Two　thousand　from　Karch　and　Waleska。〃
　　〃And　they　will　be　loyal　against　Jaddites？〃
　　〃If　I　pay　them；　I　believe　they　will　be。〃
　　〃What　about　Belmonte？　Is　Ser　Rodrigo　with　you？〃
　　Mazur　looked　thoughtful　again。　〃He　is；　for　now。　If　Ramiro　of　Valledo　takes　the　field；　I　will　not　say　I　am　sure　of　him。〃
　　〃A　dangerous　man。〃
　　〃Most　useful　men　are　dangerous。〃　The　chancellor's　smile　was　wry。　〃Including　beardless　outlaws　who　want　their　sons　back。　I　will　send　for　them。　Right　now；　in　fact。　It　might　be　safest　if　you　left　tonight。〃
　　〃I　thought　the　same。　I　took　the　precaution　of　finding　them　before　I　looked　for　you。　They　are　waiting　for　me　outside　the　walls。〃
　　Mazur　looked　startled　for　the　first　time。　He　set　down　his　glass。　〃You　have　them　already？　Then　why　。。。　？〃
　　〃I　wanted　to　meet　you；〃　the　bandit　chieftain　said。　His　smile　was　grim。　〃After　so　many　years。　I　also　have　a　dislike　for　breaking　my　sworn　word；　though　that　might　surprise　you。　They　were　granted　their　lives　by　ibn　Khairan　and　Belmonte　on　our　oath　to　accept　their　being　hostages。　Abir's　life　was　given　back　to　him　by　their　physician。〃
　　〃My　physician；〃　said　the　chancellor　quickly。
　　Tarif　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃As　you　please。　In　any　case；　I　would　have　been　unhappy　to　simply　steal　them　away。　It　might　have　confirmed　your　worst　thoughts　of　me。〃
　　〃And　instead？〃
　　Ibn　Hassan　laughed。　〃I　have　probably　confirmed　your　worst　thoughts　of　me。〃
　　〃Pretty　much；〃　said　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa。　After　a　moment；　though；　he　extended　his　hand。　Ibn　Hassan　took　it。　〃I　am　pleased　to　have　spoken　with　you；〃　Mazur　said。　〃Neither　of　us　is　young。　It　might　not　have　happened。〃
　　〃I'm　not　planning　on　making　an　end　soon；〃　said　ibn　Hassan。　〃Perhaps　next　year　I'll　offer　a　verse　here；　at　Carnival。〃
　　〃That；〃　said　ben　Avren；　a　hand　at　his　own　beard；　〃might　be　a　revelation。〃
　　He　sat　alone　for　some　time　after　the　chieftain　from　Arbastro　had　donned　his　mask　and　left。　He　had　no　intention　of　telling　anyone；　but　the　news　about　the　army　sailing　east　struck　him　as　almost　unimaginably　bad。
　　And　rumors　being　spread　about　his　Kindath　brethren　in　Fezana…that　was　terrifying。　He　had　literally　no　idea　what　Almalik　II　of　Cartada　had　in　mind；　but　it　was　clear　that　the　man　felt　frightened　and　alone　and　was　lashing　out。　Frightened　men　were　the　hardest　of　all　to　read；　sometimes。
　　Ibn　Hassan　had　asked　about　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　but　not　about　the　other　one。　The　other　one　was　just　as　much　at　issue；　and　in　a　way；　he　mattered　even　more。
　　〃I　wish；〃　muttered　Mazur　ben　Avren　testily；　〃that　I　really　were　a　sorcerer；　whatever　that　is。〃
　　He　felt　tired　suddenly；　and　his　hip　was　bothering　him　again。　It　seemed　to　him　that　there　ought　to　be　orders　to　give　to　the　bowmen　on　the　balcony　or　the　guards　in　the　adjacent　room；　but　there　weren't。
　　It　was　Carnival。　He　could　hear　the　noise　from　the　street。　It　overwhelmed　the　harp　music　from　below。　The　night　was　growing　louder；　wilder。　Shouts　and　laughter。　The　sharp；　high　whirring　of　those　noise…makers　he　hated。　He　wondered；　suddenly；　where　the　stag　had　gone。
　　Then　he　remembered　what　Zabira　had　told　him；　in　bed　the　night　before。
　　
Fourteen
　　In　fact；　it　was　the　cat　that　found　Alvar；　late　in　the　wild　night；　well　after　the　blue　moon　had　risen　and　was　shining　down；　a　wandering　presence　among　the　stars。
　　He　had　separated　from　the　others　some　time　before。　Lain　had　been　dragged　off；　protesting　unconvincingly；　by　a　cluster　of　field　mice。　Their　giggling　gave　them　away：　they　were　the　girls　who　served　at　the　tables　in　the　favorite　tavern　of　Rodrigo's　men。　Bristling　old　Lain　had　been　the　object　of　their　teasing…and　warnings　about　his　fate　tonight…for　some　time。
　　Ludus；　endlessly　curious；　had　lingered　at　a　street　corner　to　watch　a　wolf　swallowing　fire…trying　to　decipher　the　trick　of　it…and　had　never　caught　up　with　the　rest　of　them。　Alvar　wasn't　sure　where　and　when　he　had　lost　Martin　or　how　the　peacock　regalia　that　flamboyantly　disguised　a　certain　silk　merchant　had　somehow　managed　to　disappear。　It　was　very　late。　He'd　had　more　to　drink　than　was　good　for　any　man。
　　He　hadn't　seen　Jehane　anywhere。　He'd　thought　earlier　that　he　might　know　her　by　her　walk；　but　as　the　night　continued　and　the　streets　grew　more　frenzied　it　even　became　difficult　at　times　to　tell　if　someone　passing　in　the　dark　was　a　man　or　a　woman。　He　reminded　himself　that　she　knew