ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第77章

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ould。　Next　to　Alvar；　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　murmured　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth；　〃Sword　down；　look　easy。　If　he　holds　them　long　enough　the　governor　will　have　troops　here。　He　can't　afford　a　fire　tonight。〃
　　Alvar　obeyed；　trying　to　find　a　balance　between　watchfulness　and　the　appearance　of　calm。　It　was　hard　to　feign　ease　with　those　bobbing；　severed　heads　on　pikes　in　front　of　him。　Two　of　them　were　women。
　　〃Husari！〃　someone　cried。　〃Have　you　heard？　The　Jaddites　are　ing！〃
　　〃So　they　are；〃　ibn　Musa　agreed　soberly。　〃Our　walls　have　held　against　worse　in　their　time。　But　in　Ashar's　holy　name；　are　we　madmen；　to　riot　in　our　own　city　when　an　enemy　appears？〃
　　〃The　Kindath　are　in　league　with　them！〃　someone　shouted　thickly。　It　was　the　man　who'd　thrown　the　knife。　There　was　a　quick　rumble　of　agreement。
　　Husari　laughed　then。　〃Ibn　Bashir；　count　the　blessings　of　your　birth　stars　that　a　butcher　needs　no　more　brains　than　the　meat　he　carves。　The　Kindath　fear　the　Jaddites　more　than　we　do！　They　are　slaves　in　the　north！　Here　they　live　freely；　and　pay　half　our　taxes　for　us；　and　buy　your　stringy　meat；　even　with　your　fat　thumb　on　the　scale！〃　Alvar　saw　someone　smile　at　that。
　　〃None　of　them　died　on　the　Day　of　the　Moat！〃　Another　voice；　harsh　as　the　butcher's。　Alvar　felt　a　movement　beside　him；　then　realized　he　was　standing　alone。
　　〃And　what；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　stepping　forward　into　the　sunlight；　〃would　have　been　the　point　of　that？〃　He　made　a　production　of　sheathing　his　magnificent　sword；　giving　them　time　to　look　at　him。
　　He　was　known。　Immediately。　Alvar　could　see　it　happen。　He　saw　shock；　confusion；　fear　again；　a　measure　of　awe。　Whispers　ran　backwards　like　water　down　a　hill。
　　Ibn　Khairan　looked　out　over　the　crowd　in　the　laneway；　taking　his　time。　〃The　last　king　of　Cartada　wished　to　eliminate　the　leading　citizens　of　this　city　last　year　as　a　message　to　all　of　you。　Which　man　here　would　name　a　Kindath　as　one　such？　A　leading　citizen？　One　of　the　Kindath？　It　is；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　〃an　amusing　thought。〃
　　〃You　were　exiled！〃　one　brave　person　shouted。　〃It　was　proclaimed　last　summer！〃
　　〃And　revoked　this　spring；〃　Husari　said　calmly。　〃The　man　beside　me…I　see　you　know　him…has　been　sent　by　King　Almalik　II　to　take　charge　of　our　defense　against　the　rabble　from　the　north。〃
　　Someone　cheered；　then　more　people　did。　There　was　a　perceptible　brightening　of　countenances；　another　shift　of　mood。　Alvar　drew　a　breath。
　　〃Why　is　he　here　then；　why　not　with　the　governor？〃
　　〃With　that　stuffed　pork　chop？〃　ibn　Khairan　said　indignantly。
　　Another　ripple　of　laughter。　The　governor　would　not　be　well…liked；　governors　seldom　were。　Ammar　shook　his　head。　〃Spare　me；　please！　I'd　far　rather　be　with　ibn　Bashir's　wife；　if　you　want　to　know　the　truth。　But　if　I'm　charged　with　your　defense；　I　can　hardly　let　the　city　be　fired；　can　I？〃
　　〃Oh！　Oh！　My　heart！　I'm　here；　my　lard！　I'm　right　here！〃
　　A　woman's　hands　could　be　seen　waving　vigorously；　part　of　the　way　up　the　lane。　Ibn　Bashir；　the　butcher；　turned　to　look；　his　face　reddening。　General　laughter　now。
　　〃You　do　know；〃　Ammar　said　gravely；　as　the　amusement　subsided；　〃that　the　Muwardis　are　ing　here　even　as　we　speak。　They　have　orders　to　quell　any　disturbance。　I'm　afraid　my　control　over　them　is　not　perfect　yet。　I　have　just　arrived。　I　do　not　want　anyone　killed　here　this　afternoon。　It　might　spoil　my　pleasure　in　what　I　have　planned　for　tonight。〃　He　grinned　slyly。
　　〃Here；　my　lord！　Why　wait　for　tonight？〃　A　different　woman　this　time。　And　suddenly　there　were　more　than　a　dozen　waving　hands　and　imploring　female　voices　through　the　crowd。
　　Ibn　Khairan　threw　his　head　back　and　laughed　aloud。　〃I　am　honored；〃　he　said；　〃and　exhausted　by　the　very　thought。〃　A　ripple　of　amusement　again；　a　further　softening　of　mood。　The　westering　sun　left　most　of　the　lane　in　shadow　now。
　　Ibn　Khairan's　tone　changed。　〃Good　people；　go　to　your　homes　before　the　veiled　ones　e。　Put　out　your　torches。　We　must　not　do　the　Jaddites'　work　for　them。　Our　walls　are　strong；　the　king　of　Cartada　has　sent　me　to　you　and　others　are　ing　even　now。　We　have　food　and　water　in　plenty　and　the　Valledans　are　far　from　their　homes　in　a　land　they　do　not　know。　We　need　only　fear　weakness　in　ourselves；　or　folly。　This　gathering　has　been　folly。　It　is　time　to　go　home。　See；　the　sun　is　setting；　the　prayer　bells　will　be　ringing　soon。　It　is　a　good　evening　for　prayer；　my　friends；　an　evening　to　be　as　pure　as　we　can　be；　in　the　sight　of　Ashar　and　beneath　his　stars　when　they　appear。〃
　　The　beautiful　voice　had　bee　lyric；　cadenced；　soothing。　He　was　a　poet；　Alvar　remembered。　Jehane　had　told　him　once　that　ibn　Khairan　still　thought　of　himself　as　such；　over　and　above　anything　else。
　　The　crowd　in　the　laneway　seemed　to　have　been　lulled。　Alvar　saw　one　of　the　men　holding　a　spear　with　a　severed　head　look　up　at　what　he　carried；　and　he　saw　repugnance　and　dismay　cross　the　man's　features。　These　were　frightened　people；　not　evil　ones。　Leaderless　and　under　assault；　they　had　turned　to　the　nearest；　most　accessible　targets　to　purge　their　own　terror。　It　seemed　that　the　presence　of　a　strong　clear　voice　before　them　had　blunted　the　edge　of　that。
　　It　ought　to　have。
　　It　might　indeed　have　done　so；　but　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　had　only　been　seen　and　heard　by　the　leading　edge　of　that　mob　and　the　Kindath　Quarter　of　Fezana　had　been　designed　to　keep　the　Kindath　in　at　night；　not　to　protect　them　in　any　real　way。
　　It　was　not　particularly　hard　to　penetrate　through　means　other　than　the　gates　of　the　entrance。　A　few　makeshift　ladders；　broken　windows　in　the　outer　houses　and　someone　angry　and　determined　enough　could　be　right　in　among　the　treacherous；　child…killing…
　　〃Fire！〃
　　The　wild　shout　came　from　one　of　the　guards　on　the　platform　behind　them。　Alvar　wheeled；　saw　black　smoke。　Heard　a　child　cry　from　inside　the　Quarter；　and　then　the　screaming　began。　Fire　was　the　purest　terror。　Fire　destroyed　cities。
　　He　slung　his　shield　on　his　back；　took　three　quick；　running　steps　towards　the　gates；　and　leaped。　One　of　the　guards　reached　down　a　hand；　gripped　Alvar's　wrist；　and　pulled　him　up。　Ammar　was　right　beside　him；　and　Husari　too；　more　agile　than　he　had　ever　been　in　his　life。
　　Ibn　Khairan　turned　back　to　the　suddenly　agitated　crowd　in　the　lane。　〃To　your　homes！〃　he　shouted；　hard　authority　in　his　voice　now。　〃I　will　order　the　Muwardis　to　kill　any　man　or　woman　who　enters　this　Quarter。　We　cannot　have　the　city　burn！〃
　　It　was　burning；　though；　and　people　would　already　be　dying　in　the　Kindath　Quarter。　Alvar　didn't　wait　to　see　what　happened　in　front　of　the　gates。　He　jumped　down　from　the　platform；　out　of　the　last　sunlight　of　the　day。　He　stumbled　and　fell　on　the　cobblestones；　rose　up　and　drew　his　sword。
　　How　do　you　put　out　fires　when　attackers；　crazed　with　hatred　and　fear；　are　spilling　into　your　streets　and　killing　you？　One　of　those　questions；　Alvar　thought；　sprinting　towards　the　smoke　and　the　screaming；　for　which　there　were　no　answers：　only　the　swirling　images　of　nightmare。
　　The　Kindath　were　streaming　towards　a　part　of　the　Quarter　where　the　twin　domes　of　the　sanctuary　could　be　seen。　All　the　twisting；　narrow　streets　seemed　to　lead　that　way。　The　fires　had　started　in　the　houses　nearest　the　streets　beyond　the　gate。　The　Asharites　had　penetrated　through　outer　windows　and　torched　the　homes　through　which　they　passed。
　　Even　as　he　ran；　cutting　against　the　flow　of　running　people；　Alvar　saw　an　Asharite　with　a　sickle　chop　at　the　legs　of　a　running　boy。　The　wickedly　honed　blade　sheared　through　the　child's　legs　as　if　they　were　stalks　of　grain。　The　boy　went　down　in　blood；　screaming。　Alvar　veered　over；　not　breaking　stride　and；　shouting　incoherently；　brought　his　sword　down　with　all　his　strength；　killing　the　man　who　had　done　that　thing。
　　Half　a　dozen　Asharites　stopped　dead　in　their　tracks　just　ahead　of　him。　He　must　look　like　a　wild　man；　Alvar　realized；　their　faces　registered　gaping　apprehension。　It　was　one　thing　to　pursue　unarmed　children；　another　to　be　confronted　by　a　man　wielding　a　sword；　with　that　look　in　his　eyes。
　　〃Are　you　all　mad！〃　It　was　Husari；　running　up；　screaming　at　his　fellow　citizens。　〃Fezana　is　on　fire！　Get　water！　Now！　We　will　destroy　our　own　city！〃
　　〃We　will　destroy　the　Kindath！〃　someone　shouted　back。　〃Then　we　will　deal　with　flames。　It　is　the　holy　work　of　Ashar　we　do！〃
　　〃It　is　the　work　of　evil！〃　Husari　screamed；　his　face　distorted　with　pain　and　grief。　And　then　Alvar　saw　him　step　forward　and　thrust　his　sword　into　the　belly　of　the　man　he　addressed。　Instinctively；　Alvar　advanced；　covering　Husari　with　his　shield。　The　Asharites　in　front　of　them　retreated。
　　〃Go！〃　screamed　Husari；　his　voice　raw。　〃Or　if　you　stay；　get　water；　now！　We　give　our　city　to　the　Horsemen　if　this　goes　on！〃
　　Alvar　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。　Kindath　men　and　women　were　running　past；　some　of　the　men　had　turned　to　make　a　stand　where　the　tangle　of　streets　reached　a　square。　It　was　hard　to　make　sense　of　the　chaos　in　the　half…light　and　the　black；　blowing　smoke。
　　Even　as　he　watched　another　house　went　up　in　a　red　sheet　of　flame。　There　was　screaming　everywhere。　He　had　a　sudden；　appalling　memory　of　Orvilla　last　summer。　This　was　worse。　This　was　a　city；　with　houses　almost　all　of　wood；　and　if　one　part　of　it　caught　the　whole　of　Fezana　might　burn。　They　had　to　get　out。
　　He　had　lost　sight　of　ibn　Khairan；　and　had　no　idea　where　Jehane　and　her　family　home　might　be。　Husari　would　know。　He　seized　his　friend's　shoulder。　〃e　on！〃　he　shouted　over　the　crashing　and　the　screams。　〃Have　to　find　Jehane！〃
　　Husari　turned；　stumbling　over　the　body　of　the　man　he'd　killed。　He　seemed　dazed；　aghast；　he　carried　his　sword　as　if　he　didn't　even　know　what　it　was　any　more。　There　were　flames　at　the　head　of　this　lane　now。　Already。　Alvar；　gripping　Husari　by　the　arm；　turned　back。　His　eyes　were　stinging　from　the　smoke。
　　In　a　doorway　across　the　street　he　saw　a　girl　with　a　wooden　staff　facing　a　pair　of　men　armed　with　knives。　A　small　boy　clutched　at　the　girl's　legs　from　behind。　He　was　crying　desperately。　The　house　was　on　fire　above　them。　The　men　with　knives　were　laughing。
　　It　was　the　laughter　that　took　Alvar　past　his　own　breaking　point。　Before　he　was　aware　of　forming　the　thought；　he　had　released　Husari　and　was　running。
　　Too　many　people　in　between。　A　thronged；　roiling　street。　Only　a　dozen　strides；　but　they　were　too　far。　The　girl　stood；　smoke　billowing　around　her；　defending　her　burning　home　and　her　small　brother　against　two　men　with　blades。
　　No　one　else　seemed　to　have　seen　them；　there　was　too　much　panic　all　around。　The　nearer　of　the　two　men　feinted　with　his　blade；　then　drew　it　back　to　thrust　as　the　girl　overreacted　badly。
　　〃No！〃　Alvar　screamed；　from　the　middle　of　the　street；　battering　a　path　across　a　tide　of　fleeing　people。　〃No！〃
　　Then　he　saw；　in　the　shadows　and　flame；　the　man's　knife　hand　snap　backwards　uncontrollably。　The　Asharite　cried　out；　dropped　his　blade。
　　And　the　whip　that　had　caught　him　immediately　coiled　and　lashed　out　again；　catching　the　second　man　across　the　throat；　opening　a　red　gash。　Alvar　looked　up　and　saw　Rodrigo　at　a　window　above；　leaning　out　with　his　whip。　Alvar　didn't　break　stride。　He　came　up　to　those　two　men　and　chopped　them　down　like　animals；　a　rage　in　his　heart。
　　He　stood　there；　fighting　for　control；　and　looked　at　the　girl。