ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第85章

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n　waiting　to　happen　for　a　long　time。
　　〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　flatly。　Alvar　blinked。　The　Captain　was　speaking　to　his　anointed　monarch。　〃What　happened　at　Carcasia？　You　had　best　tell　me　about　that。〃
　　〃I　intended　to。　Almalik　II　used　a　spy　at　the　court　of　my　brother　of　Ruenda　to　try　to　kill　the　queen。　His　purpose　was　subtle　and　nearly　succeeded。　If　the　queen　had　died　and　I　blamed　Sanchez　it　would　have　shattered　any　alliance　and　sent　us　to　war　against　each　other。　I　nearly　rode　against　Ruenda。　I　would　have；　had　she　died。〃
　　〃But？〃
　　〃The　physician；　d'Inigo…who　assisted　with　your　boy　tonight…was　able　to　save　the　queen　where　her　own　doctors　could　not。　He　realized；　from　the　nature　of　the　wound；　that　there　had　been　poison　on　the　arrow；　and　provided　the　remedy。〃
　　〃We　owe　him　a　great　deal；　then；〃　said　Rodrigo。
　　〃We　do。　He　said　he　learned　of　that　poison　from　the　writings　of　a　certain　Kindath　physician　in　Fezana。〃
　　Another　silence。　Alvar　saw　a　star　fall　across　the　sky　in　the　west。　A　birth；　a　death。　One　or　the　other；　in　the　folk　tales　at　home。　He　was　far　from　home。
　　〃I　see。　I　had　intended　to　ask　you；〃　said　Rodrigo；　〃whatever　else　happens；　to　look　to　the　well…being　of　Ser　Ishak　and　his　family。〃
　　〃You　need　not　ask；〃　said　the　king。　〃It　is　done。　For　the　queen's　sake；　and　your　son's。　Whatever　else　happens。〃
　　Alvar　saw　Rodrigo　incline　his　head　in　the　moonlight。　A　cloud　drifted　across　the　face　of　the　white　moon；　deepening　the　darkness。
　　〃D'Inigo　also　told　me　something　else；〃　the　king　said　quietly。　〃He　said　the　poison　used　was　one　known　only　in　Al…Rassan。　The　Ruendans　would　have　had　no　ready　access　to　it；　or　knowledge　of　it。〃
　　〃I　see。〃　Rodrigo's　tone　changed。　〃You　wrote　to　your　brother　of　Ruenda？〃
　　〃I　did。　I　told　him　what　we　had　learned。　He　had　fled　the　meeting；　fearing　we　might　attack　them。　As　I　said；　I　nearly　did；　Ser　Rodrigo。　If　the　queen　had　died　。。。　〃
　　〃I　believe　I　can　understand　that；　my　lord。〃
　　〃Sanchez　wrote　back。　They　had　unmasked　the　Cartadan　spy　and　found　arrows　in　his　home　with　the　same　poison。　My　brother　was　grateful。〃
　　〃Of　course。　Insofar　as　he　can　be。〃　The　tone　was　dry。
　　〃It　went　far　enough。　He　agreed　to　e　south　at　the　same　time　I　did。　He　is　riding　for　Salos　even　now。〃
　　This　was　news。　Alvar　could　see　Rodrigo　absorbing　it。
　　〃And　Jalofia？〃　he　asked　softly。　〃Your　uncle？〃
　　〃Is　driving　towards　Ragosa　and　Fibaz。　It　is　happening。　The　clerics　have　their　holy　war；　after　all；　Ser　Rodrigo。〃
　　Rodrigo　shook　his　head。　〃Three　wars　of　conquest；　it　would　seem　to　me。〃
　　〃Of　course。〃　The　king's　turn　to　sound　wry。　〃But　the　clergy　ride　with　us；　and　so　far　as　I　trust　my　uncle　and　brother　not　to　turn　back　and　attack　Valledo；　it　is　because　of　them。〃
　　〃And　because　of　them　my　son　was　brought　here？〃
　　〃He　was　summoned　because　in　my　anger　I　allowed　an　offered　weapon　to　be　brought　to　me。〃
　　〃He　is　a　child；　not　a　weapon；　my　lord。〃
　　〃He　is　both；　Ser　Rodrigo。　With　respect。　And　our　country　is　at　war。　How　old　were　you　when　you　first　rode　in　my　father's　army　beside　Raimundo？〃
　　No　answer。　Wind　in　the　tall　grass。
　　〃That　is　my　tale。　Am　I　still　to　be　punished？〃　King　Ramiro　asked　softly。　〃I　hope　not　so。　I　need　you；　Ser　Rodrigo。　Valledo　has　no　constable　tonight；　no　war　leader；　and　we　stand　in　Al…Rassan。〃
　　Alvar　sucked　in　his　breath　sharply。　Neither　of　the　other　men　so　much　as　glanced　at　him。　He　might　not　even　have　been　here　in　the　darkness　with　them。
　　〃You　mentioned　the　name；〃　said　Rodrigo；　his　voice　suddenly　no　more　than　a　whisper；　〃of　your　late　brother。〃
　　Alvar　shivered　suddenly。　He　was　very　tired；　and　the　night　breeze　was　growing　colder；　and　he　had　begun　to　feel　the　places　where　he'd　been　wounded；　but　none　of　these　were　the　reason。
　　〃I　always　thought；〃　said　King　Ramiro；　〃that　we　would　have　to　arrive　here　eventually；　you　and　I。〃
　　He　stopped；　and　after　a　moment　Alvar　realized　that　the　king　was　looking　at　him；　evaluating。　It　was　for　this；　Alvar　understood；　that　the　Captain　had　wanted　him　here。
　　The　king　spoke　again；　finally；　in　a　very　different　tone。　〃You　genuinely　loved　him；　didn't　you？　I　could　not　。。。　I　could　never　understand　why　everyone　loved　Raimundo　so　much。　Even　our　father。　Obviously。　Even　he　was　seduced　by　my　brother。　He　gave　him　Valledo。　Tell　me；　Ser　Rodrigo；　answer　a　question　for　me　this　time：　do　you　truly　think　Raimundo　would　have　been　a　better　king；　had　he　lived；　than　I　have　been？〃
　　〃Doesn't　matter；〃　Rodrigo　said；　in　that　same　stiff；　difficult　whisper。
　　〃It　does　matter。　Answer　me。〃
　　Silence。　Wind；　and　swift　clouds　overhead。　Alvar　heard　an　animal　cry　out　far　off　on　the　plain。　He　looked　at　the　Captain　in　the　moonlight。　He　is　afraid；　he　thought。
　　Rodrigo　said；　〃I　can't　answer　that　question。　He　died　too　young。　We　can't　know　what　he　would　have　grown　into。　I　know　what　you　want　me　to　say。　That　he　had　more　charm　than　strength。　That　he　was　selfish　and　reckless　and　even　cruel。　He　was。　All　of　these　things；　at　times。　But；　as　Jad　will　judge　my　life　when　I　make　my　end；　I　have　only　known　one　other　man；　ever；　who　came　even　close　to　making　。。。　the　act　of　living　through　days　and　nights　so　full　of　richness　and　delight。　You　have　been　a　far…sighted　and　a　strong　king；　my　lord。　I　grant　you　that　freely。　But　I　did　love　your　brother；　yes。　We　were　young…exiled　together　and　then　home　together　in　triumph…and　I　have　always　believed　he　was　killed。〃
　　〃He　was；〃　said　King　Ramiro。
　　Alvar　swallowed；　hard。
　　Rodrigo　brought　one　hand　up；　involuntarily；　and　touched　his　forehead。　He　stayed　thus　a　moment；　then　lowered　his　arm。　〃And　who　was　it　who　killed　him？〃　His　voice　actually　cracked　on　the　question。
　　〃Garcia　de　Rada。〃　The　king's　words　were　flat；　uninflected。　〃You　always　thought　so；　didn't　you？〃
　　Alvar　had　another　memory　then；　torchlit。　This　same　hamlet。　Rodrigo's　whip　lashing　out；　catching　Garcia　de　Rada　on　the　face；　ripping　his　cheek　open。　Lain　Nunez　struggling　to　control　the　Captain's　black　rage。　The　cold；　ferocious　words　spoken…accusation　of　a　king's　murder。
　　He　heard　Rodrigo　slowly　release　his　breath。　He　couldn't　make　out　his　features　clearly　but　he　saw　the　Captain　cross　his　arms　on　his　breast；　as　if　holding　tightly　to　something　there。
　　〃Garcia　was…what？…seventeen；　eighteen　that　year？〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃He　acted　on　his　brother's　orders？〃
　　Ramiro　hesitated。　〃I　am　speaking　truth；　Ser　Rodrigo；　believe　it。　The　answer　is；　I　do　not　know。　Even　tonight；　with　Gonzalez　dead；　I　do　not　know　for　certain。　My　thought　has　always　been；　he　did　not。　I　believe　Count　Gonzalez　innocent　of　my　brother's　blood。〃
　　〃I　do　not　share　your　belief；　I　fear。　Would　an　eighteen…year…old　have　killed　his　king；　unprompted？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　King　Ramiro　again。　He　paused。　〃Should　I　point　out　that　Gonzalez　de　Rada　died　terribly　tonight　because　he　would　not　leave　Diego's　side　from　the　time　your　boys　joined　this　army？〃
　　Rodrigo　was　unmoved。　〃He　swore　an　oath　to　me　last　year。　He　valued　his　family　honor。〃
　　〃Then　would　he　have　murdered　his　king？〃
　　〃He　valued　many　other　things；　my　lord。　Power　and　wealth　among　them。　He；　too；　was　younger　then。　He　might　have　done　so；　yes。　I　thought　you　could　tell　me。〃
　　〃I　have　given　you　my　belief。〃
　　〃You　have。　Which　leaves　us　with　only　the　last　question；　doesn't　it？　You　know　what　it　is；　my　lord。〃
　　Alvar　knew　it　as　well；　by　now。　The　last　question。　What　followed　the　last　question？　He　wished　he　were　somewhere　else。
　　The　king　said；　quietly；　〃I　had　no　love　for　Raimundo。　Or　Sanchez；　for　that　matter。　Nor　they　for　me。　It　was　no　secret；　Jad　knows。　Our　father　chose　a　certain　way　to　raise　his　three　sons。　But　I　knew　I　could　do　more　for　Valledo；　and　perhaps　all　of　Esperana　one　day；　than　either　of　my　brothers　ever　could。　I　knew　it。　In　my　own　time　of　exile　here　in　Al…Rassan；　when　men　came　south　to　speak　with　me；　I　will　not　deny　that　I　voiced　anger　that　Valledo　was　probably　going　to　be　given　to　Raimundo　when　our　father　died。　Which　is　what　happened；　of　course。〃
　　The　king　stopped。　Alvar　heard　the　animal　call　out　again；　far　off　in　darkness。　King　Ramiro　said；　〃It　is　。。。　very　possible　。。。　that　someone　listening　to　me　in　a　tavern　or　wine　shop　here　might　have　concluded　that　were　Raimundo　to　die　。。。　unexpectedly；　I　would　not　be　displeased。〃
　　Clouds　slid　from　the　white　moon。　Alvar　saw　the　king　look　at　Rodrigo　in　the　doubled　moonlight。　〃I　would　not　have　been　displeased。　I　was　not；　in　the　event。　I　will　not　lie　about　this。　But　before　Jad；　and　on　the　life　of　my　queen；　and　by　whatever　else　you　would　wish　me　to　swear；　I　did　not　mand　his　murder；　nor　do　I　know　how　it　was　achieved。〃
　　〃Then　how；〃　Rodrigo　asked；　implacable；　〃do　you　know　it　was　Garcia？〃
　　〃He　told　me。　He　wanted　to　tell　me　more。　I　stopped　him。〃
　　Rodrigo's　hands　were　fists　at　his　sides。　〃And　that　is　all　you　did？　Stop　him　from　telling　you？　Shall　I　believe　this？　No　punishment；　no　exposure？　For　the　killing　of　a　king？　You　made　his　brother　constable　of　Valledo。　You　let　Garcia　live　as　he　chose；　doing　what　he　wished　all　these　years；　until　he　nearly　killed　my　wife　and　my　boys？〃
　　〃I　did；〃　said　Ramiro　quietly。　〃I　let　him　live　his　life。　Gonzalez　de　Rada　became　constable　because　he　was　worthy　of　the　post…do　not　deny　that…and　because　you　would　not　serve　me　after　Raimundo　died。〃
　　〃After　he　was　murdered！〃
　　The　king　made　a　small　movement　of　hands　and　shoulders。　〃After　he　was　murdered。　Garcia　was　never　given　rank；　status；　office；　power　。。。　none　of　these　things。　You　might　consider　that　a　moment；　given　what　he　could　have　expected　from　his　birth。　I　thought　of　having　him　killed；　frankly；　because　he　was　a　risk　and　an　embarrassment；　and　because　I　loathed　the　man。　But　I　was　。。。　aware　that　Raimundo　had　been　killed　by　him　because　he　thought　I　would　approve　and　because　he　had　。。。　enough　reason　to　think　so。　I　would　not　kill　a　man　for　that。　Yes；　I　let　him　live。　I　kept　the　secret。　I　allowed　Gonzalez　to　serve　me　and　Valledo。　Honorably。　You　had　been　my　brother's　man。　I　would　not　beg　you　for　aid　or　approval；　Ser　Rodrigo；　at　my　ascension；　or　after。　I　will　not　do　so　now。　I　think　you　were　one　of　those　blind　to　what　Raimundo　really　was；　and　that　your　youth　excused　this；　then。〃
　　Alvar　heard　the　king's　voice　change。　〃It　is　no　excuse　now。　Not　any　more。　We　are　no　longer　young；　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　and　all　these　events　are　done　with；　in　the　past。　Though　I　will　not　beg；　I　will　ask。　What　I　have　told　you　tonight　is　truth。　It　is　all　truth。　Will　you　be　my　constable？　Will　you　mand　this　army　for　me？〃
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　had　a　quality；　Alvar　had　long　ago　observed；　of　being　able　to　hold　himself　utterly；　disconcertingly　still。　He　was　like　that　now；　for　what　seemed　a　very　long　time。
　　〃I　don't　think；〃　he　murmured　finally；　〃that　the　past　is　ever　really　done　with　us。〃　But　then；　in　a　firmer　voice　he　asked；　〃mand　the　army　to　achieve　what　end；　my　lord　king？〃
　　〃To　take　Fezana。　And　Cartada。　And　Silvenes。　Lonza。　Aljais。　Elvira。　Everything　I　can。〃　The　answer　was　decisive。
　　Alvar　discovered　that　he　was　shivering　again。
　　〃And　then？〃
　　〃And　then；〃　said　King　Ramiro；　as　bluntly　as　before；　〃I　intend　to　occupy　my　uncle's　kingdom　of　Jalona。　And　then　my　brother's　Ruenda。　As　you　said；　this　campaign　is　a　holy　war　in　name　alone。　I　want　Esperana　back；　Ser　Rodrigo；　and　not　only　the　land　my　father　r