ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第7章

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　his　sisters　to　walk　out　with　beer　and　cheese　and　bread；　and　gossip　from　the　house。　He　swallowed。　He　might　be　back　there；　soon　enough。　But　it　had　never　been　said　that　Pellino　de　Damon's　son　was　a　coward　or；　for　that　matter；　overly　shy　with　his　thoughts。
　　〃You　weren't　thinking　about　me；〃　he　said　as　firmly　as　he　could　manage。　There　was　no　point　saying　this　if　he　sounded　like　a　quavering　child。　〃You　pulled　me　out　to　be　a　body　between　Count　Gonzalez　and　your　family。　I　may　be　nothing　in　myself；　but　my　father　was　known；　and　the　constable　now　realizes　that　I'm　a　witness　to　what　happened　this　morning。　I'm　protection　for　your　wife　and　sons。〃
　　He　closed　his　eyes。　When　he　opened　them　it　was　to　see　Rodrigo　Belmonte　grinning　at　him。　Miraculously；　the　Captain　didn't　seem　angry。　〃As　I　said；　there　was　a　reason　you　were　chosen　to　be　tested　on　this　ride。　I　don't　mind　a　clever　man；　Alvar。　Within　limits；　mind　you。　You　may　even　be　right。　I　may　have　been　entirely　selfish。　When　it　es　to　threats　against　my　family；　I　can　be。　I　did　make　a　possible　enemy　for　you。　I　even　put　your　life　at　some　risk。　Not　a　very　honorable　thing　for　a　leader　to　do　to　one　of　his　pany；　is　it？〃
　　This　was　another　test；　and　Alvar　was　aware　of　it。　His　father　had　told　him；　more　than　once；　that　he　would　do　better　if　he　thought　a　little　less　and　spoke　a　great　deal　less。　But　this　was　Ser　Rodrigo　Belmonte　himself；　the　Captain；　asking　questions　that　demanded　thought。　He　could　dodge　it；　Alvar　supposed。　Perhaps　he　was　expected　to。　But　here　they　were；　riding　towards　Al…Rassan　through　the　pine…clad　hills　of　Vargas；　which　he　had　never　seen；　and　he　was　in　this　pany　for　a　reason。　The　Captain　had　just　said　so。　They　weren't　going　to　send　him　back。　Alvar's　customary　nature　seemed　to　be　returning　to　him　with　every　passing　moment。
　　Alvar　de　Pellino　said；　〃Was　it　an　honorable　thing　to　do？　Not　really；　if　you　want　my　true　thought；　my　lord。　In　war　a　captain　can　do　anything　with　his　men；　of　course；　but　in　a　private　feud　I　don't　know　if　it's　right。〃
　　For　a　moment　he　thought　he　had　gone　too　far。　Then　Ser　Rodrigo　smiled　again；　there　was　real　amusement　in　the　grey　eyes。　The　Captain　stroked　his　moustache　with　a　gloved　hand。　〃I　imagine　you　caused　your　father　some　distress　with　your　frankness；　lad。〃
　　Alvar　grinned　back。　〃He　did　caution　me　at　times；　my　lord。　Yes。〃
　　〃Cautioned？〃
　　Alvar　nodded。　〃Well；　in　fairness；　I　don't　know　what　more　he…〃
　　Alvar　was　not　a　small　man；　and　there　had　been　nothing　easy　about　life　on　a　northern　farm；　and　even　less　that　was　conducive　to　softness　during　a　year　of　service　with　the　king's　army　in　Esteren。　He　was　strong　and　quick；　and　a　good　rider。　Nonetheless；　the　fist　he　never　saw　ing　hit　the　side　of　his　head　like　a　hammer　and　sent　him　flying　from　his　horse　into　the　grass　as　if　he'd　been　a　child。
　　Alvar　struggled　quickly　to　a　sitting　position；　spitting　blood。　One　hand　went　feebly　to　his　jaw；　which　felt　as　if　it　might　be　broken。　It　had　happened：　his　father's　warning　had　just　e　true。　His　imbecilic　habit　of　speaking　whatever　he　thought　had　just　cost　him　the　opportunity　any　young　soldier　would　die　for。　Rodrigo　Belmonte　had　opened　a　door　for　him；　and　Alvar；　swaggering　through　like　the　fool　he　was；　had　just　fallen　on　his　face。　Or　on　his　elbow　and　backside；　actually。
　　Holding　a　hand　to　his　face；　Alvar　looked　up　at　his　Captain。　A　short　distance　away　the　pany　had　e　to　a　halt　and　was　regarding　the　two　of　them。
　　〃I've　had　to　do　that　to　my　sons；　too；　once　or　twice；〃　Rodrigo　said。　He　was；　improbably；　still　looking　amused。　〃I'll　doubtless　have　to　do　it　for　a　few　years　yet。　Third　lesson　now；　Alvar　de　Pellino。　Sometimes　it　is　wrong　to　hide　as　you　did　by　the　wagon。　Sometimes　it　is　equally　wrong　to　push　your　ideas　forward　before　they　are　plete。　Take　a　little　longer　to　be　so　sure　of　yourself。　You'll　have　some　time　to　think　about　this　while　we　ride。　And　while　you　are　doing　so；　you　might　consider　whether　an　unauthorized　raid　in　Al…Rassan　by　a　band　of　Garcia　de　Rada's　cronies　playing　outlaw　might　take　this　affair　out　of　the　realm　of　a　private　feud　and　into　something　else。　I　am　an　officer　of　the　king　of　Valledo；　and　while　you　are　in　this　pany；　so　are　you。　The　constable　attempted　to　suborn　me　from　my　duty　to　the　king　with　a　threat。　Is　that　a　private　matter；　my　young　philosopher？〃
　　〃By　the　god's　balls；　Rodrigo！〃　came　an　unmistakable　voice；　approaching　from　the　head　of　the　column；　〃What　did　Pellino's　brat　do　to　deserve　that？〃
　　Ser　Rodrigo　turned　to　look　at　Lain　Nunez　trotting　his　horse　over　toward　them。　〃Called　me　selfish　and　unfair　to　my　men。　Guilty　of　exploiting　them　in　my　private　affairs。〃
　　〃That　all？〃　Lain　spat　into　the　grass。　〃His　father　said　a　lot　worse　to　me　in　our　day。〃
　　〃Really？〃　The　Captain　seemed　surprised。　〃De　Rada　just　said　he　was　famous　for　his　discretion。〃
　　〃Horsepiss；〃　said　Lain　Nunez　succinctly。　〃Why　would　you　believe　anything　a　de　Rada　said？　Pellino　de　Damon　had　an　opinion　about　anything　and　everything　under　the　god's　sun。　Drove　me　near　crazy；　he　did。　I　had　to　put　up　with　it　until　I　wangled　him　a　promotion　to　manding　a　fort　by　the　no…man's…land。　I　was　never　as　happy　in　my　life　as　when　I　saw　his　backside　on　a　horse　going　away　from　me。〃
　　Alvar　goggled　up　at　both　of　them；　his　jaw　would　have　dropped　if　it　hadn't　hurt　so　much。　He　was　too　stunned　to　even　get　up　from　the　grass。　For　most　of　his　life　his　quiet；　patient　father　had　been　gently　chiding　him　against　the　evils　of　being　too　outspoken。
　　〃You；〃　Ser　Rodrigo　was　saying；　grinning　at　the　veteran　soldier　beside　him；　〃are　as　full　of　horsepiss　as　any　de　Rada　I've　ever　met。〃
　　〃That；　I'll　tell　you；　is　a　deadly　insult；〃　Lain　Nunez　rasped；　the　seamed　and　wizened　face　assuming　an　expression　of　fierce　outrage。
　　Rodrigo　laughed　aloud。　〃You　loved　this　man's　father　like　a　brother。　You've　been　telling　me　that　for　years。　You　picked　his　son　yourself　for　this　ride。　Do　you　want　to　deny　it？〃
　　〃I　will　deny　anything　I　have　to；〃　his　lieutenant　said　sturdily。　〃But　if　Pellino's　boy　has　already　driven　you　to　a　blow　I　might　have　made　a　terrible　mistake。〃　They　both　looked　down　at　Alvar；　shaking　their　heads　slowly。
　　〃It　may　well　be　that　you　have；〃　said　the　Captain　at　length。　He　didn't　look　particularly　concerned。　〃We'll　know　soon　enough。　Get　up；　lad；〃　he　added。　〃Stick　something　cold　on　the　side　of　your　face　or　you'll　have　trouble　offering　opinions　about　anything　for　a　while。〃
　　Lain　Nunez　had　already　turned　to　ride　back。　Now　the　Captain　did　the　same。　Alvar　stood　up。
　　〃Captain；〃　he　called；　with　difficulty。
　　Ser　Rodrigo　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。　The　grey　eyes　regarded　him　with　curiosity　now。　Alvar　knew　he　was　pushing　things　again。　So　be　it。　It　seemed　his　father　had　been　that　way　too；　amazingly。　He　was　going　to　need　some　time　to　deal　with　that。　And　it　seemed　that　it　wasn't　his　mother's　pilgrimage　to　Vasca's　Isle　that　had　put　him　in　this　pany；　after　all。
　　〃Um；　circumstances　prevented　me　from　finishing　my　last　thought。　I　just　wanted　also　to　say　that　I　would　be　proud　to　die　defending　your　wife　and　sons。〃
　　The　Captain's　mouth　quirked。　He　was　amused　again。　〃You　are　rather　more　likely　to　die　defending　yourself　from　them；　actually。　e　on；　Alvar；　I　meant　it　about　putting　something　on　your　jaw。　If　you　don't　keep　the　swelling　down　you'll　frighten　the　women　in　Fezana　and　ruin　your　chances。　In　the　meantime；　remember　to　do　some　thinking　before　next　you　speak。〃
　　〃But　I　have　been　thinking…〃
　　The　Captain　raised　a　hand　in　warning。　Alvar　was　abruptly　silent。　Rodrigo　cantered　back　to　the　pany　and　a　moment　later　Alvar　led　his　own　horse　by　the　reins　over　to　where　they　had　halted　for　the　midday　meal。　Oddly　enough；　despite　the　pain　in　his　jaw；　which　a　cloth　soaked　in　water　did　only　a　little　to　ease；　he　didn't　feel　badly　at　all。
　　And　he　had　been　thinking；　already。　He　couldn't　help　it。　He'd　decided　that　the　Captain　was　right　about　Garcia　de　Rada's　raid　taking　the　matter　out　of　the　area　of　a　private　feud　and　into　the　king's　affairs。　Alvar　prided　himself　that　he　had　always　been　willing　to　accept　when　someone　else　made　a　shrewd　point　in　discussion。
　　All　that　was　days　in　the　past。　A　swollen　but　not　a　broken　jaw　had　assisted　Alvar　in　the　difficult　task　of　keeping　his　rapidly　evolving　thoughts　to　himself。
　　
　　The　twice…yearly　collection　of　the　parias　from　Fezana　had　bee　something　close　to　routine　now；　more　an　exercise　in　diplomacy　than　a　military　one。　It　was　more　important　for　King　Ramiro　to　dispatch　a　leader　of　Ser　Rodrigo's　stature　than　to　send　an　army。　They　knew　Ramiro　could　send　an　army。　The　tribute　would　not　be　refused；　though　it　might　be　slow　in　ing　and　there　was　a　kind　of　dance　that　had　to　be　performed　before　they　could　ride　back　with　gold　from　Al…Rassan。　This　much　Alvar　learned　during　the　shifts　he　rode　ahead　of　the　party　with　Ludus　or　Martin；　the　most　experienced　of　the　outriders。
　　They　taught　him　other　things；　too。　This　might　be　a　routine　expedition；　but　the　Captain　was　never　tolerant　of　carelessness；　and　most　particularly　not　so　in　the　no…man's…land；　or　in　Al…Rassan　itself。　They　were　not　riding　south　to　give　battle；　but　they　had　an　image；　a　message　to　convey：　that　no　one　would　ever　want　to　do　battle　with　the　Horsemen　of　Valledo；　and　most　particularly　not　with　those　manded　by　Rodrigo　Belmonte。
　　Ludus　taught　him　how　to　anticipate　from　the　movements　of　birds　the　presence　of　a　stream　or　pond　in　the　windswept　plateau。　Martin　showed　him　how　to　read　weather　patterns　in　the　clouds…the　clues　were　very　different　here　in　the　south　from　those　Alvar　had　known　in　the　far　north　by　the　sea。　And　it　was　the　Captain　himself　who　advised　him　to　shorten　his　stirrups。　It　was　the　first　time　Ser　Rodrigo　had　spoken　directly　to　Alvar　since　flattening　him　with　that　blow　on　the　first　morning。
　　〃You'll　be　awkward　for　a　few　days；〃　he　said；　〃but　not　for　longer　than　that。　All　my　men　learn　to　ride　like　this　into　battle。　Everyone　here　knows　how。　There　may　e　a　time　in　a　fight　when　you　need　to　stand　up　in　the　saddle；　or　leap　from　your　horse。　You'll　find　it　easier　with　the　stirrups　high。　It　may　save　your　life。〃
　　They　had　been　in　the　no…man's…land　by　then；　approaching　the　two　small　forts　King　Ramiro　had　built　when　he　began　claiming　the　parias　from　Fezana。　The　garrisons　in　the　forts　had　been　desperately　glad　to　see　them；　even　if　they　stayed　only　a　single　night　in　each；　to　leave　letters　and　gossip　and　supplies。
　　It　had　to　be　a　lonely；　anxious　life　down　here　in　Lobar　and　Baeza；　Alvar　had　realized。　The　balance　in　the　peninsula　might　have　begun　to　shift　with　the　fall　of　the　Khalifate　in　Al…Rassan；　but　that　was　an　evolving　process；　not　an　acplished　reality；　and　there　had　been　more　than　a　slight　element　of　provocation　in　the　Valledans　placing　garrisons；　however　small；　in　the　tagre　lands。
　　These　were　a　handful　of　soldiers　in　a　vast　emptiness；　perilously　near　to　the　swords　and　arrows　of　the　Asharites。
　　King　Ramiro　had　tried　at　the　beginning；　two　years　ago；　to　encourage　settlement　around　the　forts。　He　couldn't　force　people　to　make　their　way　down　there；　but　he'd　offered　a　ten…year　tax　exemption…given　the　costs　of　a　steadily　expanding　army；　not　a　trivial　thing…and　the　usual　promise　of　military　support。　It　hadn't　been　enough。　Not　yet。　Only　fifteen　or　twenty　families；　clearly　leaving　hopeless　situations　in