ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第68章

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　　Ibn　Khairan　said；　〃My　dear；　I　have　been　other　things　in　my　time；　besides　a　stag　at　Carnival。〃
　　She　understood。　For　all　the　wit　and　edge　and　irony；　there　was　this　grace　to　him；　always；　an　allowance　for　her　own　intelligence。　She　said；　honestly；　〃I　know　this；　of　course。　It　is　a　part　of　why　I'm　afraid。〃
　　〃That　is　what　I　meant；〃　he　said　simply。
　　All　the　stories。　Through　the　years　a　young　girl　hearing；　against　her　will；　gossip　by　the　well　in　Fezana；　or　at　the　shallow　place　by　the　river　where　the　women　washed　their　clothes。　And　then；　a　woman　herself；　home　from　studies　abroad；　hearing　the　same　stories　again。　New　names；　new　variations；　the　same　man。　Ibn　Khairan　of　Aljais。　Of　Cartada。
　　Jehane　looked　at　the　man　in　the　lion　mask　and　felt　something　lodge；　hard　and　painful；　in　the　place　where　her　heart　was　drumming。
　　He　had　killed　the　last　khalif　of　Al…Rassan。
　　Behind　the　mask；　in　the　flickering　passage　of　torches　all　around　where　they　were；　she　could　just　glimpse　his　eyes。　They　would　be　blue　if　he　removed　the　disguise；　if　they　stood　in　brighter　light。　She　became　aware　that　he　was　waiting　for　her　to　speak。
　　〃Ought　I　to　be　afraid？〃　she　asked；　finally。
　　And　he　said；　gravely；　〃No　more　than　I；　Jehane；　in　this。〃
　　Which　was　what　she　had　needed　to　hear。　Exactly　what　she　needed；　and　Jehane；　still　wondering；　still　incredulous；　took　his　hand　in　hers；　saying；　〃Let　us　walk。〃
　　〃Where　would　you　like　to　go？〃　he　asked；　carefully；　adjusting　his　stride　to　her　pace。
　　〃Where　we　can　be　alone；〃　she　said　steadily；　her　grip　firm；　ing　home　at　last　to　where　her　heart　had　been　waiting　since　a　summer's　day　in　Fezana。　〃Where　we　can　set　aside　owl　and　lion；　apt　as　they　might　be；　and　be　what　we　are。〃
　　〃Flawed　as　we　might　be？〃　he　asked。
　　〃How　otherwise？〃　she　replied；　discovering　with　surprise　that　her　heartbeat　had　slowed　the　moment　she　had　taken　his　hand。　Something　occurred　to　her；　unexpectedly。　She　hesitated；　and　then；　being　what　she　was；　asked；　〃Were　you　with　me　earlier；　when　I　stopped　outside　the　barracks？〃
　　He　didn't　answer　for　a　moment。　At　length　he　said；　〃Cleverest　of　women；　you　do　your　father　and　mother　proud　with　every　word　you　speak。　Yes；　I　was　there。　I　had　already　decided　I　could　not　approach　you　tonight　before　you　made　that　choice　on　your　own。〃
　　She　shook　her　head；　and　gripped　his　hand　more　tightly。　A　thread　of　fear；　she　might　so　easily　have　gone　up　those　stairs。　〃It　wasn't　the　choice　you　may　have　thought　it。　It　was　a　matter　of　hiding；　or　not。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃Forgive　me；　my　dear；　but　I　know　that。〃
　　His　own　honesty；　risking　her　ruffled　pride。　But　she　did　forgive　him　this；　because　the　hiding　had　ended　now；　on　a　night　of　masks；　and　it　was　all　right　that　he　understood　this。　He　had　approached。　He　had　found　her。
　　They　came　to　the　house　he　leased。　It　was　nearer　the　palace　than　the　quarters　she　shared　with　Velaz。　He　opened　the　door　to　the　street　with　his　own　key：　the　steward　and　servants　had　been　dismissed　for　the　night　to　their　pleasures。　They　went　inside。
　　On　the　street　behind　them；　a　figure　watched　them　enter。　He　had　been　following　Jehane；　and　he　knew　who　the　lion　was。　He　hesitated；　then　decided　it　was　all　right　to　leave　her　now。　He　considered　staying　out　for　a　while　longer　but　decided　against　that。　He　was　tired；　and　wasn't　at　all　sure　how　he　felt　about　the　alleged　delights　of　Carnival。
　　Ziri　went　back　to　the　barracks；　spoke　briefly　with　the　man　on　duty　in　the　doorway；　then　went　into　the　dormitory　and　to　bed。　He　was　asleep　almost　immediately；　alone　in　the　large　room。　All　the　others　were　still　in　the　streets。
　　
　　In　Ammar　ibn　Khairan's　house；　the　servants　had　left　two　torches　burning　to　light　the　entrance　hall；　and　there　were　candles　in　the　wall　sconces。　Before　going　up　the　stairs　they　removed　their　masks　and　set　them　aside　and　Jehane　saw　his　eyes　by　the　burning　of　those　lights。　This　time　it　was　he　who　stepped　towards　her　and　this　time；　when　they　kissed；　it　was　not　the　same…not　at　all　the　same…as　it　had　been　in　her　father's　room；　by　the　open　window　the　summer　before。
　　And　so　she　discovered　that　her　heartbeat；　which　had　steadied　and　slowed　while　they　walked；　wasn't　quite　so　steady　any　longer；　and　the　trembling　had　returned。
　　They　went　up　the　stairs；　and　they　kissed　again；　slowly；　outside　his　bedroom　door；　where　a　spill　of　candlelight　showed　in　a　line　along　the　floor。　She　felt　his　hands　around　her；　strong　and　sure；　drawing　her　close。　Desire　was　within　her；　an　ache　of　need；　deep　and　wide　and　strong　as　a　river　rising　in　the　dark。
　　His　mouth　moved　from　hers；　and　went　to　one　ear。　Softly　he　whispered；　〃There　is　someone　in　my　room。　The　candles　would　not　have　been　left　burning　there。〃
　　Her　heart　thudded　once；　and　seemed　actually　to　stop　for　a　moment　before　starting　to　beat　again。
　　They　had　been　silent　ascending　the　stairs；　and　now　here。　Anyone　in　the　bedroom　would　have　heard　the　front　door　open；　though；　and　known　Ammar　was　in　the　house；　alone　or　acpanied。　She　asked　the　question　with　her　eyes　only。　His　mouth　came　back　to　her　ear。　〃They　want　me　to　know　they're　here。　I　have　no　idea。　To　be　safe；　go　along　to　the　next　room。　There's　a　balcony；　shared　with　mine。　Listen　there。　Be　careful。〃
　　She　nodded。　〃And　you；〃　she　murmured；　no　more　than　a　breath。　〃I　want　you　healthy；　after。〃
　　She　felt　his　soundless　laughter。
　　Afterwards；　she　would　remember　that：　how　utterly　unafraid　he　had　been。　Diverted；　intrigued；　challenged；　perhaps。　But　not　at　all　frightened；　or　even　disconcerted。　She　wondered　what　woman　he　had　thought　might　be　waiting。　Or　what　man。
　　She　went　along　the　corridor。　Opened　the　next　door；　silently　passed　within　into　a　dark　bedchamber。　Just　before　she　closed　the　door　behind　her；　she　heard　Ammar　call　out；　raising　his　voice；　〃Who　is　here？　Why　are　you　in　my　house？〃
　　And　then　she　heard　the　reply。
　　
　　The　door　to　the　street　would　have　been　easy　enough　to　unlock；　and　with　the　servants　gone　and　candles　helpfully　burning　it　must　have　been　no　trick　to　find　his　bedroom。
　　Ibn　Khairan；　all　his　senses　still　oriented　towards　the　feel　and　scent　of　the　woman　who　had　just　slipped　down　the　corridor；　called　out　to　the　intruder；　his　mind　struggling　to　sort　through　possibilities。　Too　many。　Tonight　and　all　nights　there　were　too　many　people　who　might　be　waiting　for　him　in　his　room。
　　Even　so；　even　with　twenty　years　of　experience　in　such　mysteries；　he　was　not；　in　fact；　prepared。
　　The　door　swung　open；　almost　as　soon　as　he　called　out。　A　man　stood　there；　unmasked；　in　the　spill　of　candlelight　from　the　room。
　　〃Finally；〃　said　King　Almalik　II　of　Cartada；　smiling。　〃I　had　begun　to　fear　a　journey　wasted。〃
　　It　took　an　extreme　effort；　all　his　celebrated　poise；　but　ibn　Khairan　managed　a　return　smile；　and　then　a　bow。　〃Good　evening；　'Malik。　My　lord　king。　This　is　a　surprise。　A　long　journey；　it　must　have　been。〃
　　〃Almost　two　weeks；　Ammar。　The　roads　were　not　good　at　all。〃
　　〃Were　you　extremely　unfortable？〃　Polite　questions。　Buying　time　for　thoughts　to　begin　to　organize　themselves。　If　Almalik　of　Cartada　was　taken　in　Ragosa；　the　balance　of　power　in　Al…Rassan　would　change；　at　a　stroke。
　　〃Tolerably。〃　The　young　man　who　had　been　his　protege　for　three　years　smiled　again。　〃You　never　allowed　me　to　grow　soft；　and　I　haven't　been　king　long　enough　for　that　to　change。〃　He　paused；　and　Ammar　saw；　in　that　hesitation；　that　the　king　wasn't　quite　as　posed　as　he　might　want　to　appear。　〃You　understand　that　I　could　only　do　this　tonight。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　have　thought　you　could　do　it　at　all；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　frankly。　〃This　is　a　rather　extreme　risk；　'Malik。〃
　　He　found　himself　offering　thanks　to　all　possible　deities　that　Jehane　was　out　of　sight；　and　praying　she　could　keep　quiet　enough。　Almalik　could　not　possibly　afford　to　be　reported　here；　which　meant　that　anyone　who　saw　him　was　in　mortal　danger。　Ibn　Khairan　deferred；　for　a　moment；　the　question　of　where　this　left　him。
　　He　said；　〃I'd　best　join　you　inside。〃
　　The　king　of　Cartada　stepped　back　and　Ammar　walked　into　his　own　room。　He　registered　the　two　Muwardis　waiting　there。　There　was　an　air　of　unreality　to　all　of　this。　He　was　still　trying　to　absorb　the　astonishing　fact　that　Almalik　had　e　here。　But　then；　suddenly；　as　he　turned　to　face　the　king；　he　grasped　what　this　had　to　be　about　and　disorientation　spun　away；　to　be　replaced　by　something　almost　as　unsettling。
　　〃No　one　but　you；〃　said　the　king　of　Cartada　quietly；　〃calls　me　'Malik　any　more。〃
　　〃Forgive　me。　Old　habits。　I'll　stop；　of　course。　Magnificence。〃
　　〃I　didn't　say　it　offended　me。〃
　　〃No；　but　even　if　it　doesn't　。。。　you　are　the　king　of　Cartada。〃
　　〃I　am；　aren't　I？〃　Almalik　murmured。　He　sank　down　into　the　northern…style　armchair　by　the　bed；　a　young　man；　not　particularly　graceful；　but　tall　and　well…made。　〃And；　can　you　believe　it；　the　first　act　of　my　reign；　very　nearly；　was　to　exile　the　man　I　most　needed。〃
　　Which　made　it　all　quite　explicit。
　　He　had　not　changed　in　this；　ibn　Khairan　noted。　A　capacity　for　directness　was　something　Almalik　had　always　had；　even　as　a　boy。　Ammar　had　never　resolved　within　himself　whether　it　marked　a　strength；　or　a　tactic　of　the　weak：　forcing　stronger　friends　to　deal　with　his　declared　vulnerabilities。　His　eyelid　was　moving；　but　that　was　something　one　hardly　noticed　after　a　while。
　　〃You　hadn't　even　been　crowned；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　softly。
　　He　really　wasn't　prepared　for　this　conversation。　Not　tonight。　He　had　been　readying　himself；　in　an　entirely　different　way；　for　something　else。　Had　stood　watching　in　the　street；　holding　his　breath　like　a　boy；　while　Jehane　bet　Ishak　had　gazed　upwards　at　a　high；　candlelit　window；　and　he　had　only　begun　to　breathe　normally　again　when　she　gave　the　shrug　he　knew　and　moved　on；　a　stillness　seeming　to　wrap　itself　about　her　amid　the　tumult　of　the　night。
　　He　had　never　thought　it　might　require　courage　to　approach　a　woman。
　　〃I　am　surprised　to　find　you　alone；〃　Almalik　said；　a　little　too　lightly。
　　〃You　shouldn't　be；〃　ibn　Khairan　murmured；　being　careful　now。　〃Tonight's　encounters　lack　a　certain　。。。　refinement；　wouldn't　you　say？〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　know；　Ammar。　It　seemed　lively　enough。　We　spent　some　time　looking　for　you；　and　then　I　realized　it　was　hopeless。　It　was　easier　to　buy　the　location　of　your　house　and　wait。〃
　　〃Did　you　really　e　to　Ragosa　expecting　to　find　me　in　the　streets　at　Carnival？〃
　　〃I　came　here　because　I　could　see　no　other　way　to　speak　with　you　quickly　enough。　I　had　only　hope；　and　need；　when　we　set　out。　There　is　no　pany　of　men　with　me；　by　the　way。　These　two；　and　half　a　dozen　others　for　safety　on　the　road。　No　one　else。　I　have　e　to　say　certain　things。　And　to　ask　you　to　e　back　to　me。〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　was　silent。　He　had　been　waiting　for　this；　and　latterly；　had　been　afraid　of　it。　He　had　been　the　guardian　and　mentor　of　this　man；　the　named　heir　to　Cartada's　throne。　Had　put　a　great　deal　of　effort　into　making　of　Almalik　ibn　Almalik　a　man　worthy　of　power。　He　did　not　like　admitting　failure。　He　wasn't　even　certain　he　had　failed。　This　was　going　to　be　ferociously　difficult。
　　He　crossed　to　the　sideboard；　deliberately　brushing　past　one　of　the　Muwardis。　The　man　did　not　move；　or　even　spare　a　glance。　They　hated　him；　all　of　them　did。　His　whole　life　was　a　sustained　assault　upon　their　grim　piety。　It　was　a　sentimen