ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第80章

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he　fact　was；　people　didn't　understand　his　limits；　they　couldn't　possibly；　because　they　didn't　understand　how　he　did　what　he　did。
　　Not　that　Diego　really　understood　his　own　gift；　where　it　came　from；　why　he　had　it；　what　it　meant。　He　knew　some　things；　of　course。　He　knew　that　what　he　could　do　marked　him　as　different　from　others。　He　knew…from　his　mother　long　ago…that　there　was　some　undefined　danger　associated　with　being　different　in　this　way；　and　that　he　was　not　to　tell　others　about　what　he　could　do。
　　All　that；　of　course；　had　changed　now。　Horsemen　had　e　from　the　king　of　Valledo　and　taken　him　to　war。　Fernan；　naturally；　had　e　too。　Fernan　was　the　one　who　really　wanted　to　go　to　war；　but　when　they　had　reached　the　encampment　by　Carcasia's　walls　it　had　bee　clear…during　a　first　intimidating　meeting　with　the　king　himself　and　the　cleric　from　over　the　mountains…that　Diego　was　the　one　they　wanted。　He'd　had　to　explain；　shyly；　what　it　was　he　could　do。
　　Not　so　much；　really。　He　could　see　their　disappointment。　At　times　over　the　years；　he　had　wondered　about　all　the　secrecy　and　anxiety。　It　wasn't　a　plicated　gift：　he　could　sometimes　tell　where　his　family　was；　even　when　they　were　far　away。　His　father；　his　mother；　his　brother；　though　Fernan　was　never　far　from　him；　and　his　mother　very　seldom　was。
　　Also；　he　could　sometimes　sense　danger　ing　for　any　of　the　three　of　them。　As　to　that；　it　had　almost　always　been　his　father。　His　father's　life　involved　quite　a　lot　of　danger。
　　Fernan　wanted　to　be　exactly　like　their　father。　He　dreamed　of　it；　practiced　for　it；　had　rushed　through　his　childhood　hungry　for　a　man's　weapons；　and　war。
　　Fernan　was　stronger　and　quicker；　though　they　had　been　born　identical。　There　were　times　when　Diego　thought　their　father　preferred　Fernan；　but　there　were　other　times　when　he　thought　otherwise。　He　loved　his　father　without　reservation。　Other　people　found　Rodrigo　intimidating；　he　knew。　Diego　thought　that　was　funny。　Fernan　didn't；　Fernan　considered　it　useful。　They　differed　in　such　small　things。
　　It　didn't　much　matter；　really。　Nothing　was　ever　going　to　separate　the　sons　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　they　had　realized　that；　definitively；　when　they　were　very　young。
　　Fernan　was　enjoying　almost　everything　about　the　campaign　they　had　joined。　Diego　thought　it　was　an　interesting　place　to　be；　certainly　better　than　another　summer　on　the　ranch；　but　he　had　a　recurrence　of　his　old　feelings　of　anxiety　when　it　appeared　that　he　was　disappointing　those　who　had　brought　him　here　to　help。　At　that　first　meeting　he　had　answered　the　sharp　questions　from　the　High　Cleric　as　best　he　could；　and　a　few　from　the　constable　and　the　king；　too。　He　liked　the　king　most；　though　he　supposed　it　wasn't　really　his　place　to　like　the　king　or　not。
　　In　any　case；　he　couldn't　be　much　help　to　them　and　he　did　his　best　to　make　that　clear。　Some　days　ago　he　had　sensed　his　mother's　arrival　among　the　main　body　of　the　army；　half　a　day　behind　them。　He　had　told　Fernan；　of　course。　He'd　considered　telling　the　king　and　the　cleric　from　Ferrieres　just　to　have　something　to　offer　them；　but　thinking　about　his　mother　led　him　to　keep　quiet。　Her　movements；　surely；　weren't　a　part　of　this　campaign。　It　felt　like　a　kind　of　betrayal　to　talk　about　her；　and　so　he　didn't。　Besides；　he　knew　why　she　had　e。　Fernan　did；　too。　It　made　Fernan　prickly　and　angry；　Diego　just　felt　sad。　They　probably　ought　to　have　waited　for　her　to　e　home　that　day　before　riding　off。　He'd　been　thinking　guiltily　about　that　since　they　left。
　　He　knew　she　would　not　have　let　them　join　this　army　had　she　been　at　the　ranch　when　the　soldiers　arrived。　Fernan　had　scoffed　at　that　suggestion　when　Diego　mentioned　it；　pointing　out　that　their　mother；　forceful　as　she　might　be；　was　hardly　likely　to　have　defied　a　direct　summons　from　the　king。
　　Diego　wasn't　so　sure　about　that。　He　found　that　he　missed　his　mother。　She　was　gentler　with　him　than　with　most　people。　He　knew　Fernan　missed　her　too；　but　his　brother　would　deny　that　if　Diego　spoke　of　it；　so　he　didn't。　They　talked　about　their　father；　instead。　It　was　all　right；　the　way　Fernan　saw　the　world；　to　miss　their　father。
　　Then　one　morning　Diego　woke　with　an　image　of　Rodrigo　in　his　mind。　It　was　blurred；　because　his　father　was　riding　very　fast；　and　the　landscape　changed　too　quickly　for　Diego　to　get　a　clear　picture。　But　he　was　ing　towards　them　from　the　east；　and　he　wasn't　far　away。
　　Diego　lay　under　his　blanket　for　a　little　while；　eyes　closed；　concentrating。　He　heard　Fernan　wake　up　beside　him；　and　start　to　say　something。　Then　Fernan　was　quiet。　He　could　usually　tell　when　Diego　was　reaching　out；　or　reaching　in。　It　was　hard　to　know　the　right　words　for　this。
　　The　landscape　refused　to　bee　clearer。　He　saw　that　his　father　was　with　only　a　few　people；　not　a　large　pany；　and　there　seemed　to　be　a　river　beyond　him…which　would　make　sense；　if　Diego　remembered　the　maps　correctly。　Rodrigo　would　be　riding　along　the　Tavares。　He　seemed　to　be　agitated　about　something；　but　Diego　had　no　sense　of　immediate　danger。　He　tried　casting　his　mind　a　little　away　from　his　father；　to　see　if　he　could　place　him　more　exactly。　He　saw　the　river；　grasslands；　hills。
　　Then；　vividly；　an　image　of　a　city　and　its　walls。　That　had　to　be　Fezana。
　　His　father　was　going　into　Fezana。
　　Diego　opened　his　eyes。　Fernan　was　there；　watching　him。　Without　speaking；　his　brother　offered　him　an　orange；　already　sliced。　Diego　bit　into　it。
　　〃Why；〃　he　asked　softly；　〃would　Papa　be　going　into　Fezana？〃
　　Fernan's　brow　knitted。　〃No　idea；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃Is　he？　Are　you　going　to　tell　the　king？〃
　　〃Guess　so。　That's　why　we're　here；　isn't　it？〃
　　Fernan　didn't　like　thinking　of　it　that　way；　Diego　knew；　but　it　was　the　truth。　They　told　Ibero　first。　Then　Diego　and　his　brother　and　their　tutor　went　to　find　King　Ramiro。
　　A　remarkably　short　time　after　that　conversation　they　were　racing；　with　the　king　and　the　constable　and　one　hundred　of　Valledo's　best　Horsemen　towards　Fezana；　a　full　day's　fast　ride　away。
　　〃This　is　very　important；〃　the　king　had　said　to　Diego。　〃You　have　now　justified　your　being　here。　We　thank　you。〃
　　〃Papa　isn't　in　trouble；　is　he？〃　Fernan　had　asked　sharply。　He　was　no　longer　shy　in　this　pany。　〃He　isn't　exiled　from　here；　is　he？　Only　Valledo。〃
　　King　Ramiro　had　paused　then；　and　looked　at　both　boys。　His　expression　had　softened。　〃Is　that　what　you　have　been　fearing？　Your　father　isn't　in　trouble　at　all。　Not　from　me。　I　have　to　catch　him　before　he　gets　to　Fezana。　I　have　no　idea　why　he's　going　there；　but　I　want　to　stop　him　and　end　his　exile。　I　need　him　badly　on　this　campaign。　I　can't　afford　to　have　my　best　captain　trapped　inside　the　city　I'm　about　to　besiege；　can　I？〃
　　Fernan　had　nodded　gravely；　as　if　he'd　been　thinking　along　these　same　lines。　Perhaps　he　had。　Diego；　different　in　nature　and　response；　had　looked　quickly　at　Count　Gonzalez　when　the　king　named　Rodrigo　his　best　captain。　He　had　been　able　to　read　nothing　in　the　constable's　features；　though。
　　They　rode　so　rapidly　through　the　morning　and　into　midday；　that　they　actually　caught　and　passed　several　groups　of　farmers　and　villagers　heading　for　Fezana；　fleeing　their　approach。　People　began　screaming　as　the　Horsemen　raced　by；　but　it　wasn't　until　noontime　that　the　king　ordered　a　party　of　Asharites　killed。　Their　first　killings　in　this　war。
　　It　was　important；　Diego　was　given　to　understand。　The　people　streaming　into　Fezana；　and　those　already　waiting　there；　had　to　fear　them　terribly…to　be　made　to　doubt　the　wisdom　of　resistance。　Walled　cities　as　well…defended　as　Fezana　couldn't　be　stormed；　they　had　to　be　besieged；　and　the　morale　of　those　inside　was　critical　to　that。　A　certain　number　of　people　had　to　die　so　that　word　of　killings　might　run　ahead　into　the　city。
　　Neither　he　nor　Fernan　was　part　of　the　contingent　that　peeled　away　from　their　ranks　and　began　cutting　a　swath　through　the　cluster　of　families　the　king　had　indicated。　Diego；　for　his　own　part；　was　entirely　happy　not　to　be　involved。　He　saw　Fernan　looking　back　over　his　shoulder　as　they　rode；　watching　the　slaughter。
　　Diego　didn't　look　at　all；　after　his　first　glance。　He　thought　his　brother　was　secretly　relieved；　as　well；　not　to　be　part　of　that　group。　He　didn't　say　this；　of　course。　But　Fernan's　play…battles　had　always　been　against　the　veiled　Muwardis；　where　despite　being　hideously　outnumbered；　the　lords　Fernan　and　Diego　Belmonte　with　their　gallant　riders　had　managed　to　prevail；　breaking　through　the　ranks　of　the　desert…spawned　to　rescue　their　captive　father　and　the　king　and　earn　great　praise。
　　Chopping　down　farmers　and　small　children　on　a　dusty　road　was　something　else　entirely。　The　king's　party　galloped　on；　outrunning　the　screaming。　The　soldiers　who　had　been　detailed　to　the　task　caught　up　with　them　a　little　later。　Geraud　de　Chervalles；　looking　excited　and　happy；　blessed　them　and　their　weapons。　In　a　ringing　voice　Diego　thought　was　too　loud；　he　called　what　they　had　done　a　proud　moment　in　the　history　of　Esperana。
　　The　king　ordered　a　rest　after　that　and　men　slipped　down　from　their　mounts　to　take　water　and　food。　The　sun　was　high；　but　it　was　still　early　in　the　year　and　not　too　hot。　Diego　walked　a　little　way　apart；　found　some　bushes　for　shade；　sat　down　on　the　ground　and　closed　his　eyes；　looking　for　his　father。　It　was　his　task。　It　was　why　they　were　here。　There　was　nothing　private　or　personal　about　his　gift　any　more。　He　would　have　to　think　more　about　that；　later。
　　He　found　Rodrigo　quickly　this　time　and　realized　something　immediately。　He　could　see　the　city　in　the　same　image　as　his　father。　There　was　something　else；　too；　an　aura　Diego　recognized　from　many　times　before。
　　He　stood　up；　briefly　dizzy；　which　sometimes　happened。　He　went　to　find　the　king。　Fernan　saw　him　going　and　rose　to　follow。　Diego　waited　for　his　brother　and　they　walked　over　together。　King　Ramiro　was　sitting　on　a　saddle　blanket　eating　food　from　his　lap；　like　a　soldier；　and　drinking　from　a　leather　wine　flask。　He　handed　the　flask　and　his　platter　to　a　servant　when　he　saw　Diego　ing。　He　stood　up。
　　〃What　is　it；　lad？〃
　　〃When　will　we　reach　Fezana；　my　lord？〃
　　〃Sunset。　A　little　before；　if　we　go　very　fast。　Why？〃
　　〃My　father　is　already　there。　On　a　hill　just　east　of　the　walls。　I　don't　think　we　can　reach　him。　And　I　think　。。。　I　believe　he's　in　danger　now；　after　he　gets　inside。〃
　　King　Ramiro　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。
　　〃Be　more　precise；　in　Jad's　name！〃　It　was　the　cleric　from　Ferrieres。
　　〃He　would　be　if　he　could；　de　Chervalles。　You　must　see　that。〃　The　king　didn't　appear　to　much　like　the　High　Cleric。　He　turned　back　to　Diego。　〃You　can　anticipate　danger　as　well　as　see　it　happening？〃
　　〃For　my　father；　yes；　but　not　always；　my　lord。〃
　　〃You　still　have　no　idea　why　he　is　going　into　Fezana？〃
　　Diego　shook　his　head。
　　〃He　is　not　with　his　pany？　A　small　party；　you　say？〃
　　Diego　nodded。
　　There　was　a　nervous　cough。　They　all　turned　to　Ibero。　Diego　hadn't　heard　him　e　up。　Self…conscious　in　the　extreme；　the　small　cleric　said；　〃I　may　be　able　to　offer　a　thought　on　this；　my　lord。〃
　　〃Do　so。〃　Geraud　de　Chervalles　spoke　before　the　king。　Ramiro　directed　a　glance　at　him　but　said　nothing。
　　Ibero　said；　〃In　his　letters　home；　Ser　Rodrigo　did　say　that　his　pany　had　retained　the　services　of　a　physician。　A　woman。　A　Kindath　from　Fezana。　Jehane　bet　Ishak；　I　believe。