ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第87章

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　　〃I　daresay　there　is　no　love　shared　there；〃　King　Ramiro　murmured。　He　was　a　tall；　handsome　man。　He　had　also　recognized　a　line　from　a　poem　by　Ammar。　〃Is　there　any　shared　here？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　am　attempting　to　find　out；〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃Ammar；　we　have　always　thought　that　if　this　army　and　the　other　two　moved　south；　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif　would　probably　be　in　the　peninsula　by　summer's　end　or　next　spring。　Al…Rassan；　as　it　has　been；　is　ing　to　an　end。〃
　　〃Sorrowfully；　I　believe　that；〃　Jehane　heard　the　man　she　loved　say　quietly。　〃Tell　me；　who　will　remember　the　gardens　of　the　Al…Fontina　in　time　to　e？　Or　the　ivories　in　the　holy　places　of　Ragosa？〃
　　〃I　cannot　answer　that；〃　Rodrigo　replied。　〃Perhaps　you　will　help　us　all　remember；　I　do　not　know。　I　have　more　immediate　concerns。　The　king　has　instructed　me　that　this　is　to　be　a　Valledan　campaign　of　conquest；　not　a　holy　war；　though　there　are　clerics　with　us　and　it　might　appear　otherwise。〃
　　〃Oh；　good！〃　Ammar　said；　too　brightly。　〃Does　that　mean　only　those　who　resist　you　are　nailed　to　wood　or　burned　alive　while　the　clerics　sing　paeans　to　Jad？〃
　　〃Something　of　the　sort；〃　Rodrigo　said　levelly。
　　〃Almalik　of　Cartada　is　a　dead　man；〃　King　Ramiro　interjected　quietly；　〃for　what　he　tried　to　do　to　the　queen。　And　the　Muwardis；　when　we　find　them；　will　be　offered　no　kindness　by　me。　Not　after　tonight。　But　my　heart　is　not　set　on　slaughter；　either　for　its　own　sake　or　to　make　the　clerics　happy。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　Ammar　in　his　most　sardonic　voice；　〃a　gentle　conquest。　Horsemen　of　Jad　waving　to　happy　Asharite　farmers　as　they　trot　by。　And　to　keep　your　brave　soldiers　content…what？　Chop　up　a　few　Kindath　on　the　way？　No　one　will　miss　them；　will　they？〃
　　Rodrigo　refused　to　rise　to　the　bait。　〃This　is　warfare；　Ammar。　Neither　of　us　are　children。　It　is　still　Ashar　and　Jad　and　there　will　be　ugliness。　After　several　hundred　years　and　with　that　other　army　sailing　for　Soriyya　there　will　be　worse　than　ugliness。〃
　　〃What；　I　wonder；　is　worse　than　ugliness？〃
　　〃You　do　not　really　mean　that；〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃I　have　part　of　an　answer；　though。　Worse；　is　when　what　little　space　there　is　for　men　to　move　back　and　forth　between　worlds　disappears　because　the　worlds　are　lost　to　hatred。　That　may　happen　to　us　yet。〃　He　hesitated。　〃It　probably　will；　Ammar。　I　have　no　more　illusions　than　you　do。　There　will　be　no　happy　farmers　where　this　army　passes。　We　will　conquer　if　we　can；　and　do　what　we　must　do；　and　then　we　will　try　to　govern　here；　as　the　khalifs　and　the　city…kings　have　governed　the　Jaddites　and　Kindath　among　you。〃
　　〃How　。。。　pragmatic　of　you；〃　Ammar　said；　with　an　icy　smile。　He　was　angry；　Jehane　saw；　and　not　trying　to　hide　it。
　　Rodrigo　saw　it　too。　He　said；　〃Are　we　the　proper　targets　for　your　feelings　right　now？〃
　　〃You　are　adequate；　failing　something　better。〃
　　〃What　would　you　have　me　do？〃　Rodrigo　cried　suddenly。　In　the　silence　that　followed；　Jehane　had　a　sense；　as　once　before　in　Ragosa；　that　for　these　two　men；　staring　fixedly　at　each　other　now；　no　one　else　was　in　the　world；　just　for　a　moment。
　　The　moment　came；　and　was　briefly　held；　and　then　it　passed。　Jehane　felt　as　if　she　could　almost　see　it　happen：　something　receding　from　the　two　of　them；　faster　than　any　horses　could　run；　into　the　dark。
　　〃What　would　I　have　you　do？〃　Ammar's　voice　had　softened。　He　spoke　Asharic　now。　〃What　you　cannot　do；　I　suppose。　Go　home。　Breed　horses；　raise　your　sons；　love　your　wife。〃　He　turned　to　the　king　of　Valledo。　〃Make　your　country…all　of　Esperana　if　you　can　unite　it…into　a　land　that　understands　more　than　only　war　and　righteous　piety。　Allow　space　in　your　lives　for　more　than　battle　chants　to　inspire　soldiers。　Teach　your　people　to　。。。　understand　a　garden；　the　reason　for　a　fountain；　music。〃
　　The　wind　blew　past　them。　Ibn　Khairan　shook　his　head。　〃Forgive　me。　I　am　being　extremely　foolish。　I　am　tired　and　I　know　you　are　as　well。　These　tidings　you　bring　are　not　unexpected；　but　they　do　mark　the　death　of　something　I　have　。。。　held　dear。〃
　　〃I　know　this。〃　Rodrigo's　voice　was　rock…steady。　〃I　would　like　you　to　help　keep　some　part　of　Al…Rassan　alive。　I　said　I　had　a　proposal。　If　the　king　does　not　disagree；　I　would　offer　you　certain　offices　in　Al…Rassan　and　ultimately　the　rank　of　constable　of　Valledo；　shared　with　myself。〃
　　Jehane　heard　Alvar　de　Pellino　gasp　and　saw　the　king　make　an　abrupt；　uncontrolled　movement。　Rodrigo　had　just　proposed　to　cut　his　own　position　in　half　and　give　it　to　an　Asharite。
　　Ammar　laughed　softly。　He　looked　at　the　king　and　then　back　to　Rodrigo。　〃You　do　enjoy　surprising　people；　don't　you？　I　thought　that　was　my　vice。〃
　　Again；　Rodrigo　did　not　smile。　〃It　seems　simple　enough　to　me。　We　haven't　nearly　enough　people　to　take　and　settle　Al…Rassan。　We　need　the　Star…born…and　the　Kindath…to　stay　here；　farm　the　land；　conduct　their　business；　pay　taxes　。。。　perhaps　one　day　bee　Jaddites　in　the　same　way　our　people　have　turned　to　Ashar　here　over　the　centuries。　If　this　campaign　succeeds；　we　will　be　a　very　few　people　in　a　large　land。　To　keep　the　sons　and　daughters　of　Ashar　calm　and　well…governed　we　need　men　of　their　own　faith。　A　great　many　of　them　eventually；　but　at　the　moment　there　is　only　one　man　I　trust　to　wield　so　much　power　and　strive　towards　this　balancing　and　you　are　that　man。　Will　you　help　govern　Al…Rassan　for　us？　So　much　of　it　as　we　control？〃
　　Ammar　turned　to　the　king　again。　〃He　is　eloquent　when　he　chooses　to　be；　is　he　not？　Does　he　persuade　you？〃　The　cutting　edge　of　irony　was　in　his　voice　again。　〃Does　it　sound　simple　enough　to　you？〃
　　The　horses　were　running　away　in　the　night。　Jehane　could　almost　see　them；　so　vivid　was　the　image　for　her…manes　lifting　with　their　speed　under　the　moons　and　the　racing　clouds。
　　〃He　has　surprised　me；〃　said　King　Ramiro　carefully。　〃Though　not　more　than　I　am　surprised　to　discover　you　in　my　camp。　But　yes；　Ser　Rodrigo　speaks　simple　truths　and　I　can　hear　those　as　well　as　any　man；　I　hope。　Speaking　for　myself；　I　also　prefer　a　palace　or　a　chapel　with　some　grace　to　one　that　merely　keeps　out　wind　and　rain。　I　am　not　unaware　of　what　Al…Rassan　has　been。　I　have　read　your　verses；　and　that　of　other　poets　here。　There　are　those　among　us　who　might　be　hoping　for　bonfires　of　flesh　as　we　move　south。　I　would　prefer　to　disappoint　their　expectations。〃
　　〃And　your　brother？　And　your　uncle？〃
　　King　Ramiro's　mouth　twitched　again。　〃I　would　prefer；〃　he　murmured；　〃to　disappoint　their　expectations　as　well。〃
　　Ammar　laughed　aloud。　Again　Rodrigo　did　not　smile。　Absolutely　self…contained；　he　was　waiting　for　his　answer；　Jehane　understood。　And　he　wanted　this。　She　thought　she　understood　that　too。　His　son　had　nearly　died　tonight。　Might　yet　die。　Rodrigo　Belmonte　did　not　want　to　endure　another　loss　now。
　　Ammar's　laughter　stopped。　Unexpectedly　he　looked　over　at　her。　She　held　his　gaze；　but　it　was　difficult　to　read　expressions　in　the　moonlight。　He　turned　back　to　Rodrigo。
　　〃I　can't；〃　he　said；　with　finality。　In　Jehane's　mind　the　horses　were　gone　now；　out　of　sight。
　　〃It　will　be　the　Muwardis；〃　Rodrigo　said　quickly。　〃You　know　it；　Ammar！　Ragosa　cannot　even　hold　against　Jalona　with　half　its　army　mercenaries　from　Jaddite　lands。　When　High　Clerics　appear　outside　the　walls　and　speak　of　holy　war…
　　〃I　know　this！〃
　　〃And　Fezana　falls　to　us。　You　know　that；　too！　Before　summer's　end。〃
　　〃I　know　this　city；〃　King　Ramiro　interposed　quietly。　〃I　was　in　exile　here　in　my　youth。　I　observed　certain　things。　Unless　the　defenses　are　greatly　altered；　I　believe　I　can　take　Fezana；　even　with　its　new　garrison。〃
　　〃It　is　possible。〃
　　Rodrigo　continued；　with　a　note　of　desperation。　〃And　then　Yazir　and　Ghalib　e　across　the　straits　to　meet　us。　Al…Rassan　is　theirs；　or　it　is　ours；　Ammar。　By　my　god　and　yours；　you　must　see　that！　Cartada；　Ragosa；　your　memory　of　Silvenes　。。。　they　cannot　be　saved。　Even　you　cannot　dance　that　dance　between　fires。　And　surely；　Ammar；　surely　you　know…〃
　　〃I　have　to　try。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Rodrigo；　I　have　to　try。　To　dance　that　dance。〃
　　Rodrigo　stopped；　breathing　hard；　like　a　horse　reined　up　too　harshly。
　　〃Your　faith　means　so　much　to　you？〃　King　Ramiro's　voice　was　thoughtful。　〃I　had　heard　tales　otherwise。　It　means　so　much　that　you　would　serve　the　veiled　ones　of　the　desert；　knowing　their　ways　and　what　they　will　bring　to　your　land？〃
　　〃My　faith？　I　would　put　it　differently；　my　lord。　I　would　say；　my　history。　Not　just　Al…Rassan；　but　Ammuz；　Soriyya　。。。　Ashar　in　the　desert　of　the　homelands　under　stars。　Our　sages；　our　singers；　the　khalifs　of　the　eastern　world。〃　Ammar　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃The　Muwardis？　They　are　a　part　of　that。　Every　people　has　its　zealots。　They　e；　and　change；　and　e　again　in　a　new　guise。　Forgive　me　for　saying　this；　but　if　a　king　of　Valledo　can　be　as　reflective　as　you；　my　lord…a　descendant　of　Queen　Vasca　of　blessed　name！…shall　I　be　the　one　to　deny　the　possibility　of　like　grace　descending　upon　a　veiled　son　of　the　sands？　Perhaps　among　the　seductive　fountains；　the　flowing　rivers　of　Al…Rassan　。。。　？〃
　　〃You　would　rather　be　with　them。〃　Jehane　heard　the　bitterness　in　Rodrigo's　voice。
　　Ammar　looked　at　him。　〃As　panions？　Friends？　Am　I　mad？　Rodrigo；　do　I　look　mad？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃But　the　Muwardis；　what　are　they？　Exactly　the　same　as　Queen　Vasca　was；　as　most　of　the　people　of　your　north　still　are　today。　Righteous；　convinced；　unforgiving。　Terrified　of　anything　beyond　their　understanding　of　the　world。　The　tribes　are　uncivilized？　I　think　so。　But　I　confess　I　find　little　of　value　in　the　cities　of　Esperana　either。　The　desert　is　a　hard　place；　harder　even　than　your　northlands　in　winter。　Ashar　knows；　I　have　no　bonding　of　spirit　with　the　veiled　ones；　but　I　share　even　less　with　those　who　make　pilgrimage　on　their　knees　to　Vasca's　Isle。　Would　I　rather　be　with　the　tribesmen？　Again；　put　it　a　little　differently；　and　then　leave　it；　Rodrigo；　as　my　last　words；　lest　we　quarrel　before　we　part。　I　suppose　I　would　rather；　if　Al…Rassan　is　to　be　lost；　herd　camels　in　the　Majriti　than　be　a　shepherd　in　Esperana。〃
　　〃No！　That　cannot　be　a　last　word；　Ammar！〃　Rodrigo　shook　his　head　vehemently。　〃How　do　I　let　you　ride　to　them？　Do　you　know　what　they　will　do　to　you？〃
　　Ammar　smiled　again；　wryly　this　time。　〃What　will　they　do？　Take　away　my　ink　and　paper？　For　a　start；　I　will　almost　certainly　be　named　ka'id　of　all　Cartada's　armies　by　Almalik　II。　I　expect　Ghalib　ibn　Q'arif　and　I　will　one　day　have　a　disagreement　over　who　leads　our　conjoined　forces；　and　I　will　politely　defer　to　him。　I　am　reliably　informed　he　wears　a　neck　thong　made　of　the　foreskins　of　those　who　do　not　defer　to　him。〃　He　let　the　smile　fade。　〃After　that；　I　truly　do　not　know。　It　may　e　to　camel　herding；　after　all。　Leave　it；　Rodrigo；　please。〃　He　paused。　〃There　is　a　question　about　Jehane；　however。〃
　　〃No　there　isn't。〃
　　She　had　actually　been　expecting　this　and　she　was　ready　when　it　came。　The　four　men　turned　to　her。　〃Ammar；　if　I　can　have　some　assurance　that　my　parents　are　safe　with　Rodrigo　and　the　king；　then　I'm　afraid　you　must　let　me　e　with　you…or　I'll　kill　you　before　you　leave　this　camp。〃
　　She　saw　Rodrigo　Belmonte　smile　then　for　the　first　time　that　night；　the　remembered　look　softening　his　face。　〃Ah。　You've　met　my　wife；　then？〃　he　said。
　　Jehane　turned　to　him。　〃I　have。　The　lady　Miranda　is　as　gracious　and　as　beautiful　as　I　was　told…by　others…she　would　be。　Would　she　let　you　leave