ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第70章

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　　〃Then　find　better　men！　They　exist。　All　over　Al…Rassan。　Put　your　labors　into　that。〃
　　〃And　into　what　else？〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　hesitated。　Old　habits　died　very　hard。　〃You　are　probably　right：　Fezana　is　in　danger。　Whether　the　Jaddite　army　in　Batiara　sails　this　spring　or　not；　there　is　a　changed　mood　in　the　north。　And　if　you　lose　Fezana；　I　do　not　think　you　can　hold　your　dais。　The　wadjis　will　not　allow　it。〃
　　〃Or　the　Muwardis；〃　said　Almalik；　with　a　glance　at　the　guards　in　the　room。　The　veiled　ones　remained　impassive。　〃I　have　already　done　one　further　thing　about　this。　Tonight；　actually；　here　in　Ragosa。　You　will　approve。〃
　　Odd；　odd　and　sometimes　frightening；　how　a　lifetime's　instincts　could　put　the　soldier　in　one　on　such　instantaneous　alert。
　　〃Approve　of　what？〃　he　asked；　keeping　his　voice　calm。
　　Later；　he　would　realize　that　he　had　somehow　known；　though；　even　before　the　king　of　Cartada　answered　him。
　　〃As　I　told　you；　six　others　came　with　me。　I've　had　them　find　and　kill　the　Valledan　mercenary　Belmonte。　He　is　too　dangerous　to　be　permitted　to　go　back　to　King　Ramiro　from　his　own　exile。　It　seems　he　never　left　his　room　tonight；　they　know　where　he　is；　and　there　is　only　one　guard　at　the　street　door。〃　Almalik　of　Cartada　smiled。　〃It　is　a　useful　blow；　Amman　I　hurt　Badir　and　Ramiro　both；　very　badly；　by　taking　this　man　away　from　them。〃
　　And　me；　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　was　thinking　then；　but　did　not　say。　And　me。　Very　badly。
　　They　had　defeated　five　men　together；　in　a　display　last　autumn。　Rodrigo　would　have　been　alone　tonight；　however；　and　not　expecting　an　assault。　There　were　people　costumed　as　Muwardis　all　over　the　city。　Six　silent　killers；　one　frustrated　guard　at　the　street　door。　He　could　picture　how　it　would　have　been。　It　would　be　over　by　now。
　　Even　so；　there　were　things　one　did；　movements　shaped　without　actual　thought。　The　drive　towards　action　as　a　blocking　of　pain。　Even　as　the　king　of　Cartada　finished　speaking；　ibn　Khairan　had　spun　back　to　the　door　of　his　room；　and　was　pulling　it　open。　As　he　did　so；　in　the　same　smooth　movement；　he　ducked　down　low；　so　the　blade　thrown　at　his　back　embedded　itself　instead　in　the　dark　wood　of　the　door。
　　Then　he　was　out；　running　down　the　corridor；　taking　the　stairs　three　and　then　four　at　a　time；　knowing　that　if　Almalik　had　told　him　about　this　it　was　much　too　late　already；　but　running；　running。
　　Even　in　his　haste；　he　remembered　to　do　one　thing　before　hurtling　out　the　door　and　back　into　the　street。
　　
　　〃Fool！〃　Jehane　heard　the　king　of　Cartada　shout。　〃What　were　you　doing　with　that　knife？　I　want　him　with　us；　you　worm！〃
　　〃He　will　not　be。〃
　　The　other　man；　the　Muwardi；　had　a　desert　accent　and　a　voice　deep　as　an　old　grave。　She　could　see　none　of　them。　Just　out　of　sight　on　the　double　balcony；　Jehane　felt　a　grief　heavy　as　a　smith's　anvil　pulling　on　her　heart。　She　clenched　her　fists；　nails　biting　into　palms。　She　could　do　nothing。　She　had　to　wait　for　them　to　leave。　She　wanted　to　scream。
　　〃He　will　e　back；〃　she　heard　the　young　king　rasp。　〃He　is　upset　about　the　Valledan；　a　rade…at…arms。　I　thought　he　might　be；　but　ibn　Khairan　is　not　a　man　who　makes　decisions　based　on　such　things。　He　would　have　been　the　first　to　tell　me　to　plan　a　stroke　such　as　this。〃
　　〃He　will　not　be　with　you；〃　the　other　man　said　again；　blunt；　quiet；　sure。
　　There　was　a　short　silence。
　　〃Kill　this　man；〃　said　Almalik　II　of　Cartada　calmly。　〃This　is　a　mand。　You　were　under　orders　not　to　harm　ibn　Khairan。　These　orders　were　violated　with　that　blade。　Execute　him。　Now。〃
　　Jehane　caught　her　breath。　Then；　more　quickly　than　she　could　have　imagined；　she　heard　a　grunting　sound。　Someone　fell。
　　〃Good；〃　she　heard　the　king　of　Cartada　say；　after　a　moment。　〃At　least　some　of　you　are　loyal。　Leave　his　body。　I　want　Ammar　to　know　I　had　him　killed。〃　Jehane　heard　footsteps。　The　king's　voice　came　from　farther　away。　〃e。　It　is　time　to　leave　Ragosa。　I　have　done　what　I　could。　We　can　do　nothing　but　wait　on　Ammar　now。〃
　　〃You　can　kill　him；〃　the　second　Muwardi　said　in　a　soft；　uninflected　tone。　〃If　he　refuses　you；　why　should　he　be　permitted　to　live？〃
　　The　king　of　Cartada　made　no　reply。
　　A　moment　later；　Jehane　heard　them　going　out；　and　then　down　the　stairs。
　　She　waited　until　she　heard　the　front　door　open　and　close　again；　and　then　she　raced　to　follow…through　the　second　bedroom；　and　out　into　the　corridor。　She　spared　one　quick　glance　into　Ammar's　chamber。　There　was　a　man　lying　on　the　floor。
　　The　doctor　in　her　pelled　a　pause；　for　too　many　years　this　had　been　an　instinct。　She　rushed　in；　knelt　beside　him；　felt　for　a　heartbeat。　He　was；　of　course；　dead。　No　blade　remained；　but　the　wound　was　in　his　throat。　The　Muwardis　knew　how　to　kill。
　　Rodrigo　would　have　been　at　his　desk。　Writing　a　letter　home。　Expecting　carousing　friends；　if　any　knock　had　e。
　　Jehane　scrambled　to　her　feet　and　sped　down　the　stairs　into　the　entranceway。　She　looked　for　her　mask　on　the　small　table。　It　was　not　there。　She　froze。
　　Then　she　understood。　Ammar　had　taken　it：　that　the　Cartadans　not　see　an　owl　mask　and　surmise　the　presence　of　a　woman　here。　For　all　she　knew；　King　Almalik　might　even　have　understood　the　symbol　of　the　owl　as　physician：　he　had　been　Ammar's　pupil；　hadn't　he？
　　Which　was　a　part　of　the　grief　that　now　lay　like　a　stone　at　the　center　of　a　spinning　night。　She　pushed　open　the　door　and　ran　out；　unmasked　now；　into　the　roiling　street。　She　began　forcing　her　way　through　the　crowd　towards　the　barracks。　Someone　groped　for　her；　playfully。　Jehane　twisted　away　and　kept　moving。　It　was　difficult；　people　were　everywhere；　amid　torches　and　smoke。　It　took　her　a　long　time　to　get　through。
　　Afterwards；　she　realized　that　it　was　the　silence　that　had　warned　her。
　　When　she　came　back　into　the　square　before　the　barracks；　she　saw　that　the　huge　crowd　had　grown　unnaturally　still　and　had　forced　itself　back　towards　the　perimeter　of　the　square；　away　from　a　place　where　someone　lay　on　the　ground。
　　By　the　torches　and　the　one　moon；　she　saw　Ammar　standing　there；　unmasked；　ashen…faced；　with　a　number　of　other　men　she　knew　extremely　well。　She　pushed　her　way　through　the　murmuring　onlookers　and　knelt　beside　the　wounded　man　on　the　cobblestones。　It　only　took　one　glance。　It　was　too　late　for　a　doctor's　art　here。　Heartsick；　too　shocked　to　speak；　she　began；　helplessly；　to　weep。
　　〃Jehane；〃　whispered　the　dying　man。　His　eyes　had　opened　and　were　locked　on　hers。　〃Jehane　。。。　I　。。。　so　very　。。。　〃
　　She　put　her　fingers　gently　to　his　lips。　Then　laid　her　hand　against　his　cheek。　There　was　a　Muwardi　knife　embedded　in　his　chest；　and　a　hideous；　pouring　sword　wound　deep　in　his　collarbone；　and　that　was　what　was　going　to　kill　him。
　　A　moment　later；　it　did。　She　watched　him　reach　for　a　last；　inadequate　breath　and　then　close　his　eyes；　as　if　in　weariness。　This　was　one　of　the　ways　men　died。　She　had　seen　it　so　many　times。　Her　fingers　were　still　against　his　cheek　when　he　went　away　from　all　of　them；　to　whatever　lay　in　wait　beyond　the　dark。
　　〃My　dear；〃　she　said；　brokenly。　〃Oh；　my　dear。〃
　　Was　it　always　like　this？　That　one　thought　of　all　the　things　one　so　much　wanted　to　say；　endlessly　too　late？
　　Above　her　the　circle　of　soldiers　parted。　Someone　passed　between　them　and　sank　to　his　knees　on　the　other　side　of　the　body；　heedless　of　the　dark　blood　soaking　the　cobblestones。　He　was　breathing　quickly；　as　if　he'd　been　running。　Jehane　didn't　look　up；　but　then　she　saw　him　reach　forward　and　take　the　dead　man　by　the　hand。
　　〃May　there　be　light　waiting　for　you；〃　she　heard　him　say；　very　softly。　〃More　and　gentler　light　than　any　of　us　can　dream　or　imagine。〃
　　She　did　look　up　then；　through　her　tears。
　　〃Oh；　Jehane；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte。　〃I　am　so　sorry。　This　should　never　have　happened。　He　saved　my　life。〃
　　
　　At　some　point；　with　all　the　unmixed　wine　he　had　drunk；　and　the　heady　smell　of　incense　burning　in　the　room；　and　the　many…colored　candles　everywhere；　and　the　useful　pillows　on　bed　and　woven　carpet；　and　the　extraordinary　ways　it　seemed　that　a　slender　golden　leash　could　be　used；　Alvar　lost　track　of　time　and　place。
　　He　moved　with　this　unknown　woman；　and　upon　her；　and　at　times　beneath　her　urgency。　They　had　removed　their　masks　when　they　entered　the　house。　It　didn't　matter：　she　was　still　a　hunting　cat　tonight；　whatever　she　was　by　daylight　in　the　customary　round　of　the　year。　He　had　raking　scratches　down　his　body；　as　if　to　prove　it。　With　some　dismay　he　realized　that　she　did；　too。　He　couldn't　remember　doing　that。　Then；　a　little　later；　he　realized　he　was　doing　it　again。　They　were　standing；　coupled；　bending　forward　against　the　bed　then。
　　〃I　don't　even　know　your　name；〃　he　gasped；　later；　on　the　carpet　before　the　fire。
　　〃And　why　should　that　matter　tonight；　in　any　possible　way？〃　she　had　replied。
　　Her　fingers　were　long；　the　painted　nails　sharp。　She　was　wondrously　skilled　with　her　hands；　among　other　things。　She　had　green　eyes　and　a　wide　mouth。　He　gathered；　through　various　signs；　that　he　was　giving　pleasure　as　well　as　taking　it。
　　Some　time　afterwards　she　chose　to　blow　out　all　the　candles　and　leash　him　in　a　particularly　intimate　fashion。　They　went　out　together；　naked；　with　the　marks　of　their　lovemaking　on　both　of　them；　to　stand　on　the　dark　balcony　one　level　above　the　teeming　square。
　　She　leaned　against　the　waist…high　balustrade　and　guided　him　into　her　from　behind。　Alvar　was　almost　convinced　by　then　that　something　had　been　put　into　his　wine。　He　ought　to　have　been　exhausted　by　this　point。
　　The　night　breeze　was　cool。　His　skin　felt　feverish；　unnaturally　sensitive。　He　could　see　past　her；　look　down　upon　the　crowd。　Music　and　cries　and　laughter　came　up　from　below　and　it　was　as　if　they　were　hovering　here；　their　movements　almost　a　part　of　the　dancing；　weaving　throng　in　the　street。　He　had　never　imagined　that　lovemaking　in　such　an　exposed　fashion　could　be　so　exhilarating。　It　was；　though。　He　would　be　a　liar　to　deny　it。　He　might　want　to　deny　many　things　tomorrow；　Alvar　thought　suddenly；　but　he　was　not　capable　of　doing　so　just　now。
　　〃Only　think；〃　she　whispered；　tilting　her　head　far　back　to　whisper　to　him。　〃If　any　of　them　were　to　look　up　。。。　what　they　would　see。〃
　　He　felt　her　tug　a　little　on　the　leash。　He　had　put　it　about　her；　earlier。　It　was　on　him　again。　Very　much　so。　His　hands；　which　had　been　gripping　the　balustrade　beside　her；　came　up　and　encircled　her　small　breasts。　A　man　was　playing　a　five…stringed　lute　directly　below　them。　A　ring　of　dancing　figures　surrounded　him。　In　the　center　of　the　ring　a　peacock　was　dancing。　The　peacock　was　Husari　ibn　Musa。
　　〃What　do　you　think？〃　Alvar　heard；　tongue　at　his　ear　again；　the　long　neck　arched　backwards。　So　much　like　a　cat。　〃Shall　we　bring　a　torch　out　here　and　carry　on？〃
　　He　thought　of　Husari　looking　up；　and　winced。　But　he　didn't　think　he　was　going　to　be　able　to　deny　this　woman　anything　tonight。　And　he　knew；　without　yet　having　tested　the　limits　of　it；　that　she　would　refuse　him　nothing　he　might　ask　of　her　between　now　and　dawn。　He　didn't　know　which　thought　excited　or　frightened　him　more。　What　he　did　know；　finally　understanding；　was　that　this　was　the　dark；　dangerous　truth　at　the　heart　of　the　Carnival。　For　this　one　night；　all　the　rules　of　the　circling　year　were　changed。
　　He　drew　a　long　breath　before　answering　her。　He　looked　up　from　the　crowd　below