ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第76章

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ished　or　expanded　possibilities　the　future　might　enpass　in　the　mingled　signs　of　their　stars　and　moons；　would　have　to　be　considered　afterwards。　If　time　and　the　world　allowed。
　　She　had　no　doubts　of　him。　It　was　astonishing　in　a　way；　but　she'd　had　none　at　all　from　those　first　moments　in　the　street　at　Carnival。　Sometimes　the　heart's　arrow　found　its　way　to　certainty　despite　the　cautionings　of　a　careful　nature。
　　He　was　what　he　was　and　she　knew　something　about　that。　He　had　done　what　he　had　done；　and　the　stories　ran　the　length　of　the　peninsula。
　　And　he　had　said　he　loved　her　and　she　believed　him；　and　there　was　no　need　for　fear。　Not　of　him。　Of　the　world；　perhaps；　of　darkness；　blood；　fire；　but　not　of　this　man　who　was；　it　seemed；　amazingly；　the　destination　of　her　soul。
　　They　entered　Fezana　in　the　midst　of　a　milling；　terrified　mass　of　people　from　the　countryside　fleeing　the　advance　of　the　Jaddite　army。　Wagons　and　pushcarts　clogged　the　road　into　the　city　and　the　bridge　before　the　wall；　blocking　the　gates。　They　were　enmeshed　among　crying　children；　barking　dogs；　mules；　chickens；　shouting　men　and　women；　Jehane　saw　all　the　signs　of　a　general　panic。
　　Ammar　looked　over　at　Rodrigo。　〃We　may　be　just　in　time。　There　could　be　violence　here　tonight。〃　He　said　it　quietly。　Jehane　felt　fear；　like　the　pounding　of　a　drum　inside　her。
　　〃Let's　get　inside；〃　Belmonte　said。
　　Ammar　hesitated。　〃Rodrigo；　you　may　be　trapped　in　a　city　your　army　is　besieging。〃
　　〃My　army　is　in　Ragosa；　preparing　to　set　out　for　Cartada；　remember？〃　Rodrigo's　voice　was　grim。　〃I'll　deal　with　changes　as　they　arise。〃
　　The　other　man　hesitated　again；　as　if　about　to　add　something；　but　merely　nodded　his　head。　〃Cloak　yourself；　then。　You'll　be　slain　on　the　spot　if　they　know　you　for　a　Valledan。〃　He　looked　over　at　Alvar　and　then；　improbably；　flashed　the　grin　they　all　knew。　〃You；　on　the　other　hand；　look　more　like　a　native　than　I　do。〃
　　Alvar　returned　the　smile。　〃Worry　about　Husari；〃　he　said　in　effortless　Asharic。　〃He'll　get　us　all　killed　with　his　hat。〃　He　looked　over　at　Jehane　and　smiled。　〃We'll　get　them　out。〃
　　She　managed　to　nod　her　head。　It　was　extraordinary　what　the　passage　of　less　than　a　year　had　done　to　him。　Or　perhaps　not　so：　there　had　been　steel　and　a　mind　in　Alvar　de　Pellino　from　the　beginning　and　he　had　spent　much　of　this　year　in　the　pany　of　two　of　the　most　exceptional　men　in　their　world。　He　was　on　the　way；　Jehane　thought　suddenly；　to　being　something　out　of　the　ordinary　himself。
　　Husari　and　Ammar　led　them；　urging　their　horses　steadily　through　the　crowd。　Stumbling　out　of　their　path；　men　swore　at　them；　but　not　loudly。　They　were　armed　and　mounted；　and　that　was　enough。　They　forced　a　way　through。
　　There　were　guards　at　the　gate　but　they　were　overwhelmed　by　the　clamor　and　chaos。　No　one　took　note　of　them；　no　one　stayed　their　course。　Late　in　the　afternoon　of　the　day　the　Valledans　arrived。　Jehane　came　back　into　the　city　where　she　had　been　born　and　raised。
　　They　reached　the　Kindath　Quarter　just　ahead　of　the　mob　bearing　weapons　and　brands　of　fire。
　　
　　Since　Ishak　had　begun　to　talk　again；　Eliane　had　discovered　that　her　husband's　hearing　was　extremely　good。　It　was　he　who　first　heard　the　sounds　from　outside　the　Quarter　and　drew　her　attention　to　them。　She　could　understand　him　almost　perfectly　now：　the　mangled　words；　because　they　were　his；　were　to　her　as　water　in　a　dry　place。
　　She　put　down　the　letter　she　had　been　reading　him…Rezzoni　ben　Corli　had　written　from　Padrino　where　he　was　living　now　with　his　family。　He　had　sent　news　of　Batiara　in　the　aftermath　of　the　massacre　in　Sorenica。
　　She　was　to　remember；　later；　that　this　was　what　she　had　been　reading　when　Ishak　said　he　heard　a　noise　outside。　Crossing　to　the　window；　Eliane　opened　it　and　stood　listening。　An　angry　sound；　a　crowd　in　the　distant　streets。
　　The　window　of　Ishak's　study　overlooked　a　mon　courtyard　shared　by　a　dozen　of　the　larger　homes　in　the　Quarter。　Looking　down；　Eliane　saw　a　number　of　people　below；　talking　nervously；　gesticulating。　Someone　ran　into　the　courtyard：　her　friend　Nasreh　bet　Rivek's　younger　son。
　　〃They　are　ing！〃　he　shouted。　〃They've　killed　Mezira　ben　Mores！　They　are　ing　for　us　with　fire！〃
　　Someone　screamed　from　a　window　across　the　way。　Eliane　closed　her　eyes；　clutching　the　ledge。　She　was　briefly　afraid　she　would　fall。　She　had　been　warned　of　this；　explicitly。　They　had　been　making　plans　to　leave；　hard　as　it　was　to　abandon　a　home　at　their　age。　It　seemed　they　had　waited　too　long。
　　There　was　a　scraping　sound　as　Ishak　rose　from　his　chair　behind　her。　Eliane　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　out；　drawing　a　ragged　breath。　Faces　appeared　at　windows；　people　ran　into　the　courtyard。　The　sun　was　westering；　the　cobblestones　sliced　by　a　diagonal　line　of　shadow。　Frightened　men　and　women　crossed　in　and　out　of　the　light。　Someone　appeared　carrying　a　spear…Nasreh's　older　son。　Frenzied　movement　in　a　once…quiet　place；　a　babble　of　sound。　The　huge　noise　was　nearer　now。　Was　this；　then；　how　the　world　ended？
　　Ishak　spoke　her　name。　She　started　to　turn　back　to　him；　but　in　that　moment；　blinking　in　disbelief；　she　realized　that　one　of　the　people　running　into　the　courtyard　below　was　her　daughter。
　　Jehane　had　known　the　guards　at　the　iron　gates　to　the　Quarter。　They　let　her　enter　with　the　men　acpanying　her。　They　had　heard　and　seen　the　mob　gathering　by　the　market　square。　The　Kindath　guards　were　armed…against　regulations…and　posed。
　　No　signs　of　panic　that　Alvar　could　see。　They　knew　what　was　ing。　They　knew　about　the　Jaddites　too。
　　Jehane　hesitated　just　inside　the　gates。　Alvar　saw　her　look　at　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。　And　in　that　moment…not　before；　in　fact…he　finally　understood　something。　He　felt　a　quick；　hard　pain；　much　like　a　blade；　then　it　was　gone。　A　different　feeling　lingered；　nearer　to　sorrow。
　　He　had　never　really　imagined　she　might　be　for　him。
　　〃Ser　Rodrigo；　you　take　her　in；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　quickly。　〃You're　still　a　danger　if　you　are　seen。　Husari　and　Alvar　and　I　will　help　out　at　this　gate。　We　may　be　able　to　do　something。　We　can　gain　you　time；　if　nothing　else。〃
　　If　nothing　else。　Alvar　knew　what　that　meant。
　　Jehane　said；　〃Ammar；　it　isn't　just　my　parents　any　more。〃
　　〃I　know　that。　We'll　do　all　we　can。　Go　get　them。　I　know　the　house。　Be　downstairs。　If　we　can；　we'll　be　with　you。〃　He　turned　to　Rodrigo。　〃If　you　hear　we've　broken；　get　them　out。〃　He　paused；　blue　eyes　on　grey　in　the　light　of　late　afternoon。　〃I　charge　you　with　this；〃　he　said。
　　Belmonte　said　nothing。　Only　nodded。
　　Jehane　and　the　Captain　left　them。　No　time　for　more　words；　of　farewell　or　otherwise。　It　didn't　seem　as　if　the　world　was　allowing　any　space　for　such　things。　The　noise　from　the　streets　was　louder　now。　Alvar　felt　fear　touch　him　then；　a　quick　finger　beneath　the　skin。　He　had　never　dealt　with　a　mob；　he　had　never　even　seen　one。
　　〃They　have　already　killed　three　of　us；〃　one　of　the　Kindath　guards　said　grimly。
　　The　gates　to　the　Kindath　Quarter　were　recessed　into　a　narrow　laneway。　The　crowd　would　be　channelled　and　backed　up　here　when　they　arrived。　That　would　have　been　deliberate；　Alvar　realized。　The　Kindath　had　experience　with　these　things。　A　terrible　truth。　It　occurred　to　him　that　Queen　Vasca；　whom　his　mother　worshipped　as　holy；　would　have　been　urging　on　the　people　that　were　ing　now。
　　Eyes　on　the　open　space　before　the　gates；　Alvar　lifted　the　round　shield　from　his　back；　looped　his　left　arm　through　the　strap'　and　drew　his　sword。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　did　the　same。　Husari　touched　his　weapon；　then　let　it　go。
　　〃Give　me　a　moment；　first；〃　he　said；　his　words　were　quiet；　scarcely　audible　over　the　rising　volume　of　sound　from　beyond。　Husari　stepped　out　from　behind　the　gates　into　the　open　space。
　　Seeing　him　do　so；　Alvar　instinctively　did　the　same…in　the　precise　moment　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　also　moved　forward　and　out。
　　〃Lock　your　gates；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　over　his　shoulder。
　　The　guards　didn't　need　instructions。　Alvar　heard　the　clang　of　metal　behind　him；　and　a　key　turning。　He　looked　back　and　up：　four　more　Kindath　guards　stood　on　a　platform　above　and　behind　the　double　gates。　They　had　bows　to　hand；　nocked　with　arrows。　All　weapons　were　forbidden　to　the　Kindath　in　Al…Rassan。　He　didn't　think　these　men　were　greatly　concerned　with　such　laws　at　this　moment。
　　He　stood　with　Husari　and　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　exposed　and　alone　in　the　narrow　lane。　The　gates　were　locked　behind　them；　there　was　nowhere　to　run。　Ibn　Khairan　glanced　at　Husari　and　then　at　Alvar。　〃This；〃　he　said　lightly；　〃may　not　be　the　most　intelligent　thing　we　have　ever　done。〃
　　The　rumble　became　a　roar　and　then　the　mob　was　there。
　　The　first　things　Alvar　registered；　sickeningly；　were　the　three　severed　heads　on　spears。　The　noise　was　huge；　a　wall　of　sound　that　did　not　seem　entirely　human。　The　howling；　screaming　press　of　people　spilled　around　the　corner　into　the　space　before　the　gates；　and　then；　seeing　three　men　standing　there；　the　vanguard　drew　to　a　skidding　halt；　pushing　back　hard　against　those　behind　them。
　　There　were　half　a　hundred　torches。　Alvar　saw　swords　and　pikes；　wooden　cudgels；　knives。　Faces　were　contorted；　filled　with　hatred；　but　what　Alvar　sensed　was　fear　more　than　rage。　His　gaze　kept　returning　to　those　severed；　dripping　heads。　Terror　or　anger：　it　didn't　much　matter；　did　it？　This　crowd　had　already　killed。　After　the　first　deaths　others　would　e　easily。
　　In　that　moment　Husari　ibn　Musa　stepped　forward；　moving　from　the　shadow　of　the　gates　into　the　last　of　the　afternoon　sunlight。　He　lifted　both　hands；　showing　them　empty。　He　still　wore　his　Jaddite　hat；　recklessly。
　　There　was　a　gradual　spilling　backwards　of　silence。　They　were　going　to　let　him　speak；　it　seemed。　Then　Alvar　caught　a　glint　of　sunlight　on　a　moving　blade。　He　moved；　without　conscious　thought。
　　His　shield；　thrust　in　front　of　Husari；　blocked　the　flung　knife；　a　butcher's　heavy　blade。　It　fell　with　a　clatter　to　the　stones。　There　was　blood　on　that　knife；　Alvar　saw。　He　heard　a　flurry　of　shouts；　and　then　stillness　again。
　　〃Are　you　a　plete　fool；　Mutafa　ibn　Bashir？〃　Husari's　voice　was　sharp；　clear；　mocking；　it　filled　the　space　before　the　gates。　〃It's　ibn　Abazi；　right　beside　you；　that　your　wife's　sleeping　with；　not　me！〃
　　In　the　shocked　stillness　that　followed　this；　someone　actually　laughed。　A　thin；　nervous　sound；　but　it　was　laughter。
　　〃Who　are　you？〃　another　voice　cried。　〃Why　do　you　stand　before　the　gates　of　those　who　kill　children？〃
　　〃Who　am　I？〃　Husari　exclaimed；　spreading　his　arms　wide。　〃I　am　insulted　and　offended。　Among　other　things；　you　owe　me　money；　ibn　Dinaz。　How　dare　you　pretend　not　to　know　me！〃
　　Another　pause；　another　subtle　shifting　of　mood。　Alvar　could　see　those　near　the　front　relaying　rapid　explanations　backwards。　Most　of　the　huge　crowd　was　still　around　the　corner；　out　of　sight　of　this。
　　〃It's　Husari！〃　someone　exclaimed。　〃It's　Husari　ibn　Musa！〃
　　Husari　promptly　swept　off　the　leather　hat　and　offered　an　elaborate　bow。　〃And　a　bolt　of　good　cloth　goes　to　you　tomorrow　morning；　ibn　Zhani。　Am　I　so　changed　that　even　my　friends　do　not　know　me？　Not　to　mention　my　debtors？〃
　　He　was；　of　course。　He　was　very　greatly　changed。　He　was　also；　Alvar　realized；　buying　them　as　much　time　as　he　could。　Next　to　Alvar；　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　murmured　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth；　〃Sword　down；　look　easy