ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第79章

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　　〃It　was　Diego；〃　the　boy　said；　a　little　too　brightly。　He　wore　light　armor　and　a　sword。　〃He　knew　where　you　were；　this　morning；　and　told　us　where　to　wait　tonight。〃　Rodrigo　was　silent。　〃He　sometimes　knows　where　you　are；　remember？〃　The　boy's　voice　betrayed　uncertainty。　〃Are　you　not　pleased　to　see　me；　Papa？〃
　　〃Oh；　Jad；〃　Alvar　heard　the　Captain　say。　And　then；　to　the　king　of　Valledo；　〃What　have　you　done？　Why　are　my　sons　with　this　army？〃
　　〃There　will　be　time　to　explain；〃　said　Ramiro　calmly。　〃This　is　not　the　place。　Will　you　e　with　us？　We　can　offer　dry　clothing　and　food。〃
　　〃And　those　I　am　with？〃　Rodrigo's　tone　was　ice…cold。
　　〃They　are　my　guests　if　you　speak　for　them；　whoever　they　may　be。　e　now；　greet　your　son；　Ser　Rodrigo。　He　has　been　dreaming　of　this　moment。〃
　　Rodrigo　opened　his　mouth　quickly；　then　closed　it。　Slowly　he　sheathed　his　blade。
　　〃e　to　me；〃　he　said　to　the　boy；　and　with　an　involuntary　sound；　Fernan　Belmonte　ran　forward　and　was　gathered　fiercely　in　his　father's　embrace。　Alvar　saw　the　Captain　close　his　eyes　as　he　gripped　his　son。
　　〃Your　mother；〃　said　Rodrigo；　when　he　finally　stepped　back；　〃is　going　to　kill　all　of　us　for　this；　you　realize。　Starting　with　me。〃
　　〃Mother's　with　the　queen；　Papa。　We　haven't　seen　her　yet　but　there　was　a　message　she　came　south　and　joined　Queen　Ines　with　the　rest　of　the　army　following　us。　We　tried　to　cut　you　off　before　you　reached　the　city。　That's　why　we　came　so　fast。　Why　are　you　here；　Papa？　What　happened　to　your　moustache？〃
　　〃I　had　friends　in　danger。　I　came　to　get　them　out。　Where　is　Diego？〃
　　〃They　are　taking　great　care　of　him；〃　Fernan　said。　〃He's　angry　about　it。　They　wouldn't　let　him　e　here。　They　made　him　stay　with　the　food　train；　in　some　village　by　the　river　west。〃
　　〃Ashar；　no！　Not　there！〃
　　All　his　days　Alvar　would　remember　those　words　and　the　expression　on　Ammar　ibn　Khairan's　face；　crying　them。　Rodrigo　wheeled　on　him。
　　〃What　is　it？　Tell　me。'〃
　　〃Ambush！〃　snapped　the　other　man；　already　moving。　〃The　Muwardis。　Almalik　planned　it；　years　ago。　Pray　to　your　god　and　ride！〃
　　Rodrigo　was　already　running　towards　the　horses。
　　
　　And　so；　moments　later；　for　the　second　time　in　less　than　a　year；　Alvar　de　Pellino…wet　and　burnt　and　cold；　pushing　past　exhaustion　and　half　a　dozen　small　wounds…found　himself　galloping　flat…out　through　darkness　over　the　plain　north　of　Fezana　towards　a　hamlet　named　Orvilla。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　was　beside　him；　against　all　allegiances；　and　the　king　of　Valledo　was　on　his　other　side　with　Jehane　and　her　parents　and　Husart　and　two　children　and　a　party　of　fifty　of　the　king's　guard　streaming　behind　them　in　the　cool；　clear　night。
　　Ahead　of　them　all；　whipping　his　mount　like　a　madman　under　the　stars　and　the　white　moon；　was　a　father　racing　time　and　the　turning　heavens　to　his　child。
　　
Sixteen
　　Until　the　very　moment；　under　the　stars　and　the　white　moon　in　Al…Rassan　of　the　infidels；　when　the　veiled　ones　appeared　out　of　the　darkening　plain；　Ibero　the　cleric　had　succeeded　in　persuading　himself　that　the　hand　of　Jad　was　upon　his　shoulder　after　all；　guiding　him。
　　He　had　shaped　his　plan　on　that　first　morning；　riding　west　from　Rancho　Belmonte　in　the　rain。　It　was　possible…he'd　been　forced　to　admit　it…that　Miranda　had　been　right。　That　in　furthering　the　demands　of　holy　faith　Ibero　had　done　wrong　by　the　family　he　so　dearly　loved。　If　that　were　so；　he　had　vowed　on　that　grey；　cold　morning　he　would　do　all　he　could　to　ensure　that　the　wrong　was　contained　and　redressed。　Miranda　Belmonte　might　have　turned　him　away；　driven　him　from　his　home；　but　he　would　not　turn　his　back　on　her　or　her　family。
　　He　had　fallen　in　with　a　pany　of　soldiers　from　the　ranch　country；　heading　towards　Carcasia　in　response　to　the　king's　summons：　the　same　summons　that　had　claimed　the　two　boys。　He　went　with　the　soldiers。　This　was　a　holy　war；　in　name　at　least；　and　clerics　were　not　unwele　if　they　could　keep　up　on　the　ride。　Ibero　knew　how　to　handle　a　horse。　Years　with　the　Belmonte　had　made　certain　of　that。
　　He　found　Fernan　and　Diego　among　the　king's　party　seven　days　later　in　the　plain　south　of　Carcasia；　amid　the　tents　and　banners　of　a　war　camp。　Rodrigo's　sons　were　being　treated　with　evident　respect；　although　the　scrutiny　afforded　Diego　by　those　who　knew　why　he　was　here　made　Ibero　unfortable。　Against　his　will；　he　was　reminded　of　Miranda's　words：　those　with　the　far…sight；　or　whatever　name　was　given　it；　had　been　burned　in　the　past。　In　the　not…so…distant　past。　This；　Ibero　told　himself　again；　was　a　more　enlightened　age。
　　The　boys　weren't　entirely　pleased　to　see　him；　but　Ibero　had　a　streak　of　stubbornness　in　his　nature　and　he　made　it　clear　to　all　concerned；　including　the　elegant　High　Cleric　from　Ferrieres；　that　where　the　sons　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte　went；　Ibero　also　would　go。　He　didn't　tell　the　boys　he　had　been　driven　from　the　ranch　by　their　mother；　perhaps　he　ought　to　have；　but　he　couldn't　manage　to　do　it。　That　meant　his　presence　with　them　involved　a　deception；　but　he　trusted　the　god　to　forgive　him　for　that。　He　meant　well。　He　had　always　meant　well。
　　Fernan　and　Diego　had　obviously　been　up　to　mischief　on　the　way　here　and　since　arriving。　They　were　high…spirited　and　too　clever　for　their　own　good　sometimes。　It　was　judged　useful　to　have　their　tutor　about　for　discipline。　There　was　a　tale　doing　the　rounds　of　the　camp　about　the　rock…laden　saddlebags　of　one　of　the　soldiers　who　had　brought　them　here。　It　was　quite　a　funny　story；　but　Ibero　was　practised　at　not　encouraging　his　charges　with　visible　amusement。
　　Soon　afterwards　they　rode　south　through　the　no…man's…land　with　the　army　of　reconquest；　with　the　vanguard；　in　fact；　for　Diego　and　Fernan　were　kept　close　to　the　king　himself。
　　Ibero　had　never　seen　his　king　before。　Ramiro　of　Valledo　was　a　handsome；　impressive　man。　Worthy；　the　little　cleric　thought　humbly；　to　be　the　instrument　of　Esperana's　reconquest。　If　the　god　allowed。　He　was　acutely　aware　that　all　the　men　in　this　army　were　a　part　of　something　momentous。　The　king　kept　speaking　of　a　limited　campaign；　a　tactical　capture　of　Fezana；　but　even　Ibero　the　cleric　knew　that　once　Valledo　was　in　Al…Rassan　the　shape　and　tenor　of　their　age　would　have　changed　forever。
　　The　lean；　elegant　constable；　Count　Gonzalez　de　Rada；　hovered　unsettlingly　close　to　the　boys　all　the　way　south。　Ibero　knew　that　Ser　Rodrigo　and　this　man　had　no　love　for　each　other；　but　he　also　remembered　that　de　Rada　had　sworn　to　guard　Belmonte's　family　when　Rodrigo　had　been　exiled。　Ibero　hoped…and　prayed；　each　morning　and　when　the　sun　went　down…that　the　sardonic　constable's　proximity　was　a　manifestation　of　that　vow　and　nothing　else。
　　South　of　the　two　small　tagra　forts　the　king's　vanguard　began　to　open　a　distance　from　the　rest　of　the　army；　with　outriders　galloping　back　and　forth　to　keep　munications　flowing。
　　This　was　how　Ibero　learned　that　Miranda　Belmonte　d'Alveda　had　also　bee　a　part　of　their　army；　joining　the　entourage　of　Queen　Ines；　who　had　chosen　to　e　with　her　husband　into　the　lands　of　the　infidels。　When　he　told　the　boys　they　seemed　unsurprised。　Ibero　was　disconcerted　by　that　until　he　remembered　the　obvious。
　　Diego's　gift　was　difficult　to　deal　with　at　times。　He　would　have　known　before　the　messengers　came；　Ibero　realized。　A　little　reluctantly；　he　admonished　Diego。
　　〃You　ought　to　be　telling　the　rest　of　us　if　you　。。。　see　anything。　It　might　be　important。　That　is　why　we　are　here；　after　all。〃
　　Diego's　expression　had　been　ical。　〃My　mother？〃　he　asked。　〃Ibero；　my　mother's　arrival　is　important　to　the　war？〃
　　Put　that　way；　he　did　have　a　point。　Fernan；　predictably；　had　a　different　perspective　entirely。
　　〃Isn't　this　wonderful；〃　he　had　exclaimed　indignantly。　〃Our　first　campaign　and　everyone　from　home　es　trotting　along。　Who　else　should　we　expect？　The　cook；　our　nurses　from　childhood？　This　is　ridiculous！　Are　you　here　to　make　sure　we　keep　warm　at　night？〃
　　Diego　had　laughed。　Ibero　was　too　uneasy　about　the　tidings　of　Miranda　to　be　amused　or　chastising。　Fernan's　words　were　disrespectful；　but　Ibero　could　understand　how　a　young　man　on　his　first　campaign　might　feel　。。。　crowded　by　his　tutor's　arrival；　and　now　his　mother's。
　　Nothing　for　it。　If　the　boys　felt　unhappy　or　the　soldiers　teased　them　they　would　have　to　deal　with　that　themselves。　The　truth　was；　they　were　too　young　to　be　here；　and　would　not　have　e　had　Diego　not　been　what　he　was。　And　had　not　Ibero　sent　a　certain　letter　to　Esteren。
　　He　sent　another　letter…a　formal　message　to　Miranda　by　one　of　the　outriders。　He　reported　his　own　presence　and　the　good　health　and　respectful　treatment　of　the　two　boys。　No　word　came　back。
　　They　did　hear；　indirectly；　that　the　queen　was　entirely　recovered　from　her　unfortunate　accident　and　that　she　had　great　faith　in　her　new　physician；　a　doctor　from　one　of　the　tagra　forts。
　　The　story　was　that　he　had　saved　Queen　Ines's　life　at　the　very　brink　of　death。　Diego；　in　particular；　was　fascinated　by　the　tale　and　ferreted　out　all　the　details　he　could　from　those　who　had　been　at　that　meeting　of　the　three　kings。　Fernan　was　more　interested　in　uping　events。　He　managed　to　attach　himself　to　the　king's　entourage；　staying　close　to　Count　Gonzalez；　in　fact。　It　was　Fernan　who　explained　to　the　other　two　why　they　were　leaving　the　Asharite　farms　and　hamlets　untouched　as　they　rode。
　　They　had　passed　a　number　of　them　since　leaving　the　tagra　lands。　The　villagers　and　farmers　had　fled　into　the　hills　with　most　of　their　belongings；　but　it　had　always　been　customary；　in　the　wars　of　Ashar　and　Jad；　to　fire　the　houses　and　fields。
　　Things　were　different　this　time。
　　Despite　a　visible　disagreement　emanating　from　Geraud　de　Chervalles；　King　Ramiro　was　insistent　on　the　point。　This　was　not　a　raid；　Fernan　reported　the　king　as　saying。　They　were　ing　south　to　take　Fezana　and　to　stay。　And　if　they　did　that；　they　would　need　Asharites　to　resettle　these　villages　and　farmhouses；　to　pay　taxes　and　till　the　fields。　Time　and　steady　governance　would　bring　Jad　back　into　Al…Rassan；　the　king　had　declared；　not　burnings　and　destruction。　Ibero　wasn't　entirely　sure　how　that　meshed　with　holy　doctrine；　but　he　kept　silent　in　the　presence　of　his　betters。
　　Fernan　would　spend　the　time　after　twilight　prayers；　before　dark　and　bed；　drawing　maps　for　his　brother　and　the　cleric；　explaining　what　might　happen　when　they　reached　Fezana；　and　after。　Ibero　noted；　a　little　wryly；　that　he　was　entirely　conversant　now　with　the　location…and　the　proper　spelling…of　all　the　major　cities　and　rivers　in　Al…Rassan。
　　Four　more　days　passed。　The　spring　weather　remained　mild；　they　made　steady　progress；　drumming　hooves　and　the　dust　of　an　army　moving　over　the　grasslands　of　Al…Rassan。
　　
　　Then　Diego　announced；　shortly　before　they　broke　camp　one　morning；　that　he　had　seen　his　father　riding　west。
　　The　king　and　the　constable　and　the　tall　cleric　from　Ferrieres　had　asked　all　sorts　of　questions　he　couldn't　answer。
　　Once；　such　questions　had　made　Diego　feel　inadequate；　as　if　he　was　letting　the　questioners　down　by　not　being　able　to　reply。　He　didn't　like　disappointing　people。　Later；　though；　the　queries…even　from　his　parents…had　begun　to　irritate　him；　betraying；　as　they　did；　such　a　failure　to　understand　the　limits　of　his　capability。　Diego　had　made　himself　practice　being　patient　at　such　times。　The　fact　was；　people