ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第84章

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es　of　worship；　that　it　became　imbued　with　the　aura　of　magic　and　the　supernatural。
　　It　was　not；　of　course；　supernatural。　What　Ishak　ben　Yonannon　did…blind　under　the　white　moon　and　stars　and　the　torches　brought　for　those　who　assisted　him…was　as　precise　and　carefully　worked　out　as　what　he　had　done　five　years　before　in　Cartada；　delivering　the　last　child　of　Almalik　I；　and　it　was　as　wondrous　as　that。
　　Indeed；　it　was　more　than　that　had　been。　Sightless；　unable　to　municate　except　through　his　wife　who　understood　every　mangled　syllable　he　spoke；　handling　a　surgeon's　blades　and　implements　for　the　first　time　since　his　blinding；　working　by　touch　and　memory　and　instinct；　ben　Yonannon　did　something　even　Galinus　had　only　hinted　might　possibly　be　done。
　　He　carved　an　opening　in　the　skull　of　Diego　Belmonte；　around　the　place　where　the　Muwardi　blow　had　broken　the　boy's　head；　and　he　drew　forth　the　shattered　bone　that　had　been　driven　down　into　what　was　shockingly　exposed　beneath　the　peeled…back　scalp　and　the　opened　skull。　The　intruded　fragment　of　bone　that　would　have　killed　Rodrigo〃s　son　before　the　blue　moon　joined　the　white　one　in　the　sky。
　　Trepanning；　it　was　called　in　the　text　of　Galinus。　Jehane　knew　that；　and　so；　it　appeared；　did　Bernart　d'Inigo；　the　Jaddite　physician　assisting　them。　And　they　both　knew；　as　well；　that　it　had　never　been　done。
　　She　would　have　never　even　tried；　Jehane　was　aware；　all　through　what　happened。　Never　have　thought　to　try；　or　dreamed　it　was　possible。　With　awe；　fighting　back　the　desire　to　cry　all　the　time；　she　watched　her　father's　sure；　steady　hands　probe　and　define　the　wound；　circumscribe　it；　then　wield　the　small　saw　and　chisel　with　which　he　cut　a　hole　in　Diego　Belmonte's　head。
　　He　gave　them　instructions　when　he　needed　to；　her　mother；　standing　above　them；　under　a　torch　held　by　the　king　of　Valledo　himself；　translated　his　words。　Jehane　or　Bernart　moved；　as　ordered；　to　offer　a　blade；　a　saw；　a　clamp；　to　sponge　away　the　heavily　flowing　blood　where　Ishak　had　peeled　back　the　skin　of　the　boy's　scalp。　Diego　was　being　held　in　a　sitting　position；　that　the　blood　might　drain　away　and　not　into　the　wound。
　　It　was　his　father　who　was　holding　him。
　　Rodrigo's　eyes　were　closed　most　of　the　time；　concentrating　on　keeping　utterly　still；　which　Ishak；　through　Eliane；　had　said　was　imperative。　Perhaps　he　was　praying。　Jehane　didn't　know。　She　did　know；　moved　beyond　words；　that　Diego　never　budged。　Rodrigo　held　his　child　rock…steady；　without　shifting　his　position　once　through　the　whole　of　that　impossible；　blind　surgery　on　the　plain。
　　Jehane　had　a　strange　illusion　at　one　point：　that　Rodrigo　could　have　sat　like　this　with　his　child　in　his　arms　forever　if　need　be。　That　he　might　almost　want　to　do　that。　A　stone；　a　statue；　a　father　doing　the　one　thing　left　for　him　to　do；　and　allowed。
　　The　shattered　bone　of　the　skull　came　out　in　one　ugly；　jagged　piece。　Ishak　had　Jehane　probe　the　open　wound　to　be　sure　he　had　it　all。　She　found　two　small　fragments　and　removed　them　with　pincers　d'Inigo　handed　her。　Then　she　and　the　Valledan　doctor　sutured　the　flaps　of　skin　and　bandaged　the　wound　and　when　that　was　done　they　remained；　on　their　knees；　on　either　side　of　the　boy。
　　They　laid　Diego　down　then；　Rodrigo　moving　to　stand　silently　above　him　beside　Miranda。　The　brother…Fernan…was　behind　his　mother。　To　Jehane's　eyes　he　had　an　obvious　need　for　something　to　make　him　sleep。　She　doubted　he　would　accept　it。
　　The　white　moon　was　directly　overhead　by　then；　the　blue　climbing　in　the　eastern　sky。　The　fires　had　been　put　out。　Other　doctors　had　e；　summoned　from　the　body　of　the　army　north　of　them。　They　were　dealing　with　the　survivors。　There　didn't　appear　to　be　very　many　of　those。
　　A　great　deal　of　time　seemed　to　have　passed；　Jehane　realized。　Ishak；　guided　by　Eliane　and　Ammar；　had　moved　a　little　apart；　to　a　camp　stool　provided　for　him。
　　Jehane　and　the　Jaddite　doctor；　d'Inigo；　looked　at　each　other　across　the　body　of　the　boy。　D'Inigo　had　an　unfortunate　face　but　kind　eyes；　Jehane　thought。　He　had　been　calmly　petent　all　through　what　had　just　been　done。　She　hadn't　expected　that　of　a　Valledan　physician。
　　He　cleared　his　throat；　struggling　with　fatigue　and　emotion。
　　〃Whatever　。。。　〃　he　began；　and　then　stopped。　He　swallowed。　〃Whatever　happens　to　me；　whatever　else　I　do；　this　will　always　be　the　proudest　moment　of　my　life　as　a　doctor。　To　have　been　a　small　part　of　this。　With　your　father；　who　is　my　。。。　who　I　respect　so　much。　In　his　writings；　and　。。。　〃　He　stopped；　overe。
　　Jehane　discovered　that　she　was　overwhelmingly　tired。　Her　father　must　be　exhausted。　It　hadn't　shown。　If　she　wasn't　careful　she　would　begin　remembering　what　had　happened　in　Fezana；　before　all　this；　and　that　wouldn't　do。　Not　yet。　She　had　to　stay　in　control。
　　She　said；　〃He　may　not　survive。　You　know　that。〃
　　D'Inigo　shook　his　head。　〃He　will。　He　will　survive！　That　is　the　wonder　of　it。　You　saw　what　was　done　as　well　as　I。　The　bone　came　out！　It　was　flawless。〃
　　〃And　we　have　no　idea　whether　anyone　can　live　through　an　opening　up　of　their　skull　like　that。〃
　　〃Galinus　said…〃
　　〃Galinus　never　did　it！　It　was　sacrilege　to　him。　To　the　Asharites；　the　Kindath。　To　all　of　us。　You　know　that！〃　She　hadn't　meant　to　raise　her　voice。　People　looked　over　at　them。
　　Jehane　gazed　back　down　at　the　unconscious　boy。　He　was　lying　now　on　a　pallet　and　pillow；　covered　in　blankets。　He　was　utterly　white；　from　the　loss　of　so　much　blood。　That　was　one　of　the　dangers　now。　One　of　them。　Jehane　laid　her　fingers　against　his　throat。　The　pulse　was　steady；　if　too　fast。　But　even　as　she　did　this　and　studied　Diego's　face；　Jehane　realized　that　she；　too；　was　certain　he　would　live。　It　was　unprofessional；　hopelessly　emotional。
　　It　was　an　absolute　conviction。
　　She　looked　up；　at　Rodrigo；　and　the　wife　he　loved；　the　mother　of　this　child；　and　she　nodded　her　head。　〃He　is　doing　well。　As　well　as　we　could　hope；〃　she　said。　Then　she　rose　and　went　to　where　her　father　and　mother　were。　Ammar　was　with　them；　which　was　good。　It　was　very　good。
　　Jehane　knelt　at　Ishak's　feet　and　laid　her　head　in　his　lap；　the　way　she　used　to　when　she　was　a　child；　and　she　felt　her　father's　hands…his　strong；　calm；　steady　hands…e　to　rest　upon　her　head。
　　After　a　time　she　stood　up…because　she　was　not；　in　truth；　a　little　girl　any　more；　dwelling　in　her　parents'　house…and　she　turned　to　the　man　she　loved　among　all　others　in　the　world　and　Ammar　opened　his　arms　for　her　and　she　let　him　draw　away　a　little　of　what　had　happened　to　her　people　in　the　city　that　night；　with　his　touch。
　　
Seventeen
　　After　holding　a　steady　torch　over　Diego　Belmonte　in　the　dark　of　that　night；　Alvar　de　Pellino　watched　Jehane's　father　walk　wearily　with　his　wife　to　the　edge　of　the　village　and　then　stumble　alone　through　the　eastern　gate　out　into　the　grass。　There　he　knelt　down　and；　rocking　slowly　back　and　forth　on　his　knees；　began　to　pray。
　　It　was　Husari；　ing　to　stand　with　Alvar；　stained　with　blood　and　ash　and　sweat…as　Alvar　knew　himself　to　be…who　murmured；　softly；　〃This　will　be　the　Kindath　lament。　Under　both　moons。　For　the　dead。〃
　　〃In　Fezana？〃
　　〃Of　course。　But　if　I　know　this　man　he　is　offering　a　part　of　it　for　Velaz。〃
　　Alvar　winced。　He　looked　back　out　at　the　shape　of　the　man　on　his　knees　in　darkness。　He　had；　shamefully；　forgotten　about　Velaz。　Jehane's　parents　would　only　have　heard　those　tidings　tonight。　Watching　the　old　physician　rocking　slowly　back　and　forth；　Alvar　felt　an　unexpected　renewal；　quiet　and　sure；　of　what　he　had　begun　to　realize　on　the　ride　west：　he　was　not　going　to　be　a　soldier；　after　all。
　　He　could　kill；　well　enough　it　seemed；　lacking　neither　in　courage　nor　calm　nor　skill；　but　he　had　no　heart　for　the　butchery　of　war。　He　could　not　name　it　as　the　singers　did：　a　pageantry；　a　contest；　a　glorious　field　whereon　men　could　search　out　and　find　their　honor。
　　He　had　no　idea　what　the　alternatives　were　or　might　be；　but　he　knew　that　this　wasn't　the　night　to　sort　through　that。　He　heard　a　sound　from　behind　and　turned。　Rodrigo　walked　up　to　them。
　　〃Alvar；　I'd　be　grateful　if　you'd　e　with　me。〃　His　tone　was　grave；　there　was　a　bone…weariness　at　the　bottom　of　it。　Diego　was　still　unconscious；　Jehane　had　said　he　would　probably　be　so　all　night　and　into　the　morning。　〃I　think　I　want　a　witness　for　what　happens　next。　Are　you　all　right？〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　Alvar　said　quickly。　〃But　what　is　。。。　？〃
　　〃The　king　has　asked　to　speak　with　me。〃
　　Alvar　swallowed。　〃And　you　want　me　to　。。。　〃
　　〃I　do。　I　need　one　of　my　men。〃　Rodrigo　flashed　the　faint　ghost　of　a　smile。　〃Unless　you　have　a　need　to　urinate？〃
　　Memory；　vivid　as　a　shaft　of　light。
　　He　walked　over　with　Rodrigo　to　where　the　king　stood；　conferring　with　outriders。　Ramiro　saw　them　approaching；　raised　his　eyebrows　briefly　at　Alvar。
　　〃You　wish　a　third　man　with　us？〃　he　asked。
　　〃If　you　do　not　object；　my　lord。　Do　you　know　Pellino　de　Damon's　son？　One　of　my　most　trusted　men。〃　There　was…Alvar　heard　it…an　edge　to　Rodrigo's　voice　now。
　　〃I　do　not；〃　said　his　king；　〃but　if　you　value　him　so　highly；　I　hope　to　know　him　well　in　days　to　e。〃
　　Alvar　bowed。　〃Thank　you；　my　lord。〃　He　was　conscious　that　he　must　look　a　fearsome　sight。　Like　a　fighting　man。
　　Ramiro　dismissed　the　outriders　and　the　three　of　them　walked　towards　the　northern　fence　of　the　hamlet　and　then；　as　Alvar　opened　a　gate；　out　onto　the　plain。
　　A　wind　was　blowing。　They　carried　no　torches。　The　fires　were　behind　them　and　had　mostly　died。　The　moons　and　the　stars　shone　above　the　wide　land　all　around　them。　It　was　too　dark　for　Alvar　to　read　the　expressions　of　the　other　two　men。　He　kept　silent。　A　witness。　To　what；　he　knew　not。
　　〃I　am　pleased　you　are　back。　You　will　have　questions。　Ask　me；〃　said　Ramiro　of　Valledo。　〃Then　I　will　tell　you　some　other　things　you　do　not　know。〃
　　Rodrigo　said　coldly；　〃Very　well。　Start　with　my　sons。　How　came　they　here？　You　may　not　be　glad　of　my　presence　for　long；　my　lord　king；　depending　on　the　answers。〃
　　〃Your　cleric　wrote　a　letter　to　Geraud　de　Chervalles；　a　High　Cleric　from　Ferrieres；　wintering　with　us　on　his　pilgrimage　to　Vasca's　Isle。　He　was　preaching　a　holy　war；　along　with　his　fellows　in　Eschalou　and　Orvedo。　You　know　the　army　in　Batiara　has　sailed？〃
　　〃I　do。　What　sort　of　letter？〃
　　〃Explaining　about　your　son's　gift。　Suggesting　it　might　be　of　aid　to　us　in　a　war　against　the　infidels。〃
　　〃Ibero　did　that？〃
　　〃I　will　show　you　the　letter；　Ser　Rodrigo。　Was　it　a　betrayal？〃
　　〃It　was。〃
　　The　king　said；　〃He　has　been　punished。〃
　　〃Not　by　me。〃
　　〃Does　it　matter？　He　was　a　holy　man。　Jad　will　judge　him。〃
　　There　was　a　silence。
　　〃Go　on。　The　letter　arrived　in　Esteren？〃
　　〃And　de　Chervalles　asked　my　permission　to　send　for　the　boy。　This　was　after　what　had　happened　at　Carcasia。　You　heard　about　that？〃
　　Rodrigo　nodded。　〃A　little。〃
　　The　king　said；　〃In　the　wake　of　those　events；　I　ordered　the　army　to　assemble　and　I　sent　men　to　fetch　your　son。　His　brother　insisted　on　ing。　Your　lady　wife　followed；　joining　the　queen。　Am　I；　also；　to　be　punished；　Ser　Rodrigo？〃
　　The　tone　of　both　men　was　cold；　precise。　In　the　darkness；　in　that　keen　wind；　Alvar　had　a　sense　that　he　was　listening　to　the　first　notes　of　an　exchange　that　had　been　waiting　to　happen　for　a　long　time。
　　〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　flatly。　Alvar　bl