ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第9章

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　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　man　in　the　bed。　He　gazed　at　her　for　a　disquieting　moment；　no　longer　a　patient；　in　some　unexpected　way。　No　longer　the　man　she　had　known　for　so　long。　〃This　is　for　your　father？〃
　　Jehane　nodded。　There　was　no　point　dissembling。　He　had　always　been　clever。
　　〃Past　time；〃　she　said。
　　
　　There　was　a　great　deal　to　be　done。　Jehane　realized；　walking　quickly　through　the　tumult　of　the　streets　with　Velaz；　that　it　was　only　the　mention　of　her　father　that　had　induced　Husari　to　accept　her　plan。　That　wasn't　a　surprising　thing；　if　one　looked　at　the　matter　in　a　certain　light。　If　there　was　anything　the　Asharites　understood；　after　centuries　of　killing　each　other　in　their　homelands　far　to　the　east；　and　here　in　Al…Rassan；　it　was　the　enduring　power　of　a　blood　feud；　however　long　vengeance　might　be　deferred。
　　No　matter　how　absurd　it　might　appear…a　Kindath　woman　declaring　her　intention　of　taking　revenge　against　the　most　powerful　monarch　to　emerge　since　the　Khalifate　fell…she　had　spoken　a　language　even　a　placid；　innocuous　Asharite　merchant　could　understand。
　　And；　in　any　case；　the　merchant　was　not　so　placid　any　more。
　　Velaz；　seizing　the　ancient　prerogative　of　longtime　servants；　was　blistering　her　ears　with　objections　and　admonitions。　His　voice　was；　as　always；　appreciably　less　deferential　than　it　was　when　others　were　with　them。　She　could　remember　him　doing　this　to　her　father　as　well；　on　nights　when　Ishak　would　be　preparing　to　rush　outside　to　a　patient's　summons　without　properly　clothing　himself　against　rain　or　wind；　or　without　finishing　his　meal；　or　when　he　drove　himself　too　hard；　reading　late　into　the　night　by　candlelight。
　　She　was　doing　a　little　bit　more　than　staying　up　too　late；　and　the　frightened　concern　in　Velaz's　voice　was　going　to　erode　her　confidence　if　she　let　him　go　on。　Besides　which；　she　had　a　more　difficult　confrontation　waiting　at　home。
　　〃This　has　nothing　to　do　with　us；〃　Velaz　was　saying　urgently；　in　step　with　her　and　not　behind；　which　was　pletely　uncharacteristic；　the　surest　sign　of　his　agitation。　〃Except　if　they　find　a　way　to　blame　the　Kindath　for　it；　which　I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if…
　　〃Velaz。　Enough。　Please。　We　are　more　than　Kindath。　We　are　people　who　live　in　Fezana；　and　have　for　many　years。　This　is　our　home。　We　pay　taxes；　we　pay　our　share　of　the　filthy　parias　to　Valledo；　we　shelter　from　danger　behind　these　walls；　and　we　suffer　with　others　if　Cartada's　hand…or　any　other　hand…falls　too　heavily　on　this　city。　What　happened　here　today　does　matter　to　us。〃
　　〃We　will　suffer　no　matter　what　they　do　to　each　other；　Jehane。〃　He　was　as　stubborn　as　she　was　and；　after　years　with　Ishak；　as　versed　in　argument。　His　normally　mild　blue　eyes　were　intense。　〃This　is　Asharite　killing　Asharite。　Why　let　it　throw　our　own　lives　into　chaos？　Think　what　you　are　doing　to　those　who　love　you。　Think…
　　Again　she　had　to　interrupt。　He　sounded　too　much　like　her　mother　for　fort　now。　〃Don't　exaggerate；〃　she　said；　though　he　wasn't；　actually。　〃I　am　a　physician。　I　am　going　to　look　for　work　outside　the　city。　To　expand　my　knowledge。　To　make　a　name。　My　father　did　that　for　years　and　years；　riding　with　the　khalif's　armies　some　seasons；　signing　contracts　at　different　courts　after　Silvenes　fell。　That's　how　he　ended　up　in　Cartada。　You　know　that。　You　were　with　him。〃
　　〃And　I　know　what　happened　there；〃　Velaz　shot　back。
　　Jehane　stopped　dead　in　the　street。　Someone　running　behind　them　almost　crashed　into　her。　It　was　a　woman；　Jehane　saw；　her　face　blank；　a　mask；　as　at　the　spring　Processional。　But　this　was　a　real　face；　and　what　lay　behind　the　appearance　of　a　mask　was　horror。
　　Velaz　was　forced　to　stop　as　well。　He　looked　at　her；　his　expression　angry　and　afraid。　A　small　man；　and　not　young；　nearly　sixty　years　of　age　now；　Jehane　knew。　He　had　been　with　her　parents　for　a　long　time　before　her　own　birth。　A　Waleskan　slave；　bought　as　a　young　man　in　the　market　at　Lonza；　freed　after　ten　years；　which　was　the　Kindath　practice。
　　He　could　have　gone　anywhere　then。　Fluent　in　five　languages　after　the　years　abroad　with　Ishak　in　Batiara　and　Ferrieres；　and　at　the　khalifs'　courts　in　Silvenes　itself；　trained　flawlessly　as　a　physician's　aide；　more　knowledgeable　than　most　doctors　were。　Discreet；　fiercely　intelligent；　Velaz　would　have　had　opportunities　all　over　the　peninsula　or　beyond　the　mountains　east。　The　Al…Fontina　of　the　khalifs；　in　those　days；　had　been　largely　staffed　and　run　by　former　slaves　from　the　north；　few　of　them　as　clever　or　versed　in　nuances　of　diplomacy　as　Velaz　had　been　after　ten　years　with　Ishak　ben　Yonannon。
　　Such　a　course　seemed　never　even　to　have　been　contemplated。　Perhaps　he　lacked　ambition；　perhaps　he　was　simply　happy。　He　had　converted　to　the　Kindath　faith　immediately　after　being　freed。　Had　willingly　shouldered　the　difficult　weight　of　their　history。　He　prayed　after　that　to　the　white　and　blue　moons…the　two　sisters　of　the　god…rather　than　invoking　the　images　of　Jad　from　his　boyhood　in　Waleska　or　the　stars　of　Ashar　painted　on　the　domed　temple　ceilings　of　Al…Rassan。
　　He　had　stayed　with　Ishak　and　Eliane　and　their　small　child　from　that　day　until　this　one；　and　if　anyone　in　the　world　besides　her　parents　truly　loved　her；　Jehane　knew　it　was　this　man。
　　Which　made　it　harder　to　look　at　the　apprehension　in　his　eyes　and　realize　that　she　really　couldn't　clearly　explain　why　the　path　of　her　life　seemed　to　have　forked　so　sharply　with　the　news　of　this　massacre。　Why　it　seemed　so　obvious　what　she　now　had　to　do。　Obvious；　but　inexplicable。　She　could　imagine　what　Ser　Rezzoni　of　Sorenica　would　have　said　in　response　to　such　a　conjunction。　She　could　almost　hear　her　father's　words；　as　well。　〃An　obvious　failure　to　think　clearly　enough；〃　Ishak　would　have　murmured。　〃Start　at　the　beginning；　Jehane。　Take　all　the　time　you　need。〃
　　She　didn't　have　that　much　time。　She　had　to　get　Husari　ibn　Musa　into　the　Kindath　Quarter　tonight；　and　do　something　even　harder　before　that。
　　She　said；　〃Velaz；　I　know　what　happened　to　my　father　in　Cartada。　This　isn't　a　debate。　I　can't　explain　fully。　I　would　do　so　if　I　could。　You　know　that。　I　can　only　say　that　past　a　certain　point　accepting　the　things　Almalik　has　done　feels　like　sharing　in　them。　Being　responsible　for　them。　If　I　stay　here　and　simply　open　the　treatment　rooms　in　the　morning　and　then　the　next　day　and　the　next；　as　if　nothing　has　happened；　that's　how　I'll　feel。〃
　　There　was　a　certain　quality　to　Velaz；　one　of　the　measures　of　the　man：　he　knew　when　what　he　heard　was　final。
　　They　walked　the　rest　of　the　way　in　silence。
　　
　　At　the　heavy；　unadorned　iron　gates　that　marked　the　enclosed　Kindath　Quarter　of　Fezana；　Jehane　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　She　knew　both　of　the　men　posted　there。　One　had　been　a　lover；　one　a　friend　for　much　of　her　life。
　　She　was　as　direct　as　she　could　afford　to　be。　There　was　very　little　time。　〃Shimon；　Bakir；　I　need　your　help；〃　she　said　to　them；　even　before　they　had　finished　unlocking　the　gates。
　　〃You　have　it；〃　Shimon　grunted；　〃but　hurry　up　and　get　inside。　Do　you　know　what　is　happening　out　there？〃
　　〃I　know　what　has　happened；　yes；　which　is　why　I　need　you。〃
　　Bakir　groaned　as　he　swung　the　gate　open。　〃Jehane；　what　have　you　done　now？〃
　　He　was　a　big；　broad…shouldered　man；　undeniably　handsome。　They　had　begun　to　bore　each　other　within　weeks　of　their　liaison's　beginning。　Fortunately　they　had　parted　soon　enough　for　affection　to　linger。　He　was　married　now；　with　two　children。　Jehane　had　delivered　both　of　them。
　　〃Nothing　I　could　avoid；　given　my　doctor's　Oath　of　Galinus。〃
　　〃Burn　Galinus！〃　Shimon　said　bluntly。　〃They　are　killing　people　out　there。〃
　　〃That's　why　you　have　to　help　me；〃　Jehane　said　quickly。　〃I　have　a　patient　in　the　city　to　whom　I　must　attend　tonight。　I　don't　think　I'm　safe　outside　the　Quarter…〃
　　〃You　most　certainly　aren't！〃　Bakir　interrupted。
　　〃Fine。　I　want　you　to　let　me　bring　him　in　here　in　a　little　while。　I'll　put　him　to　bed　in　our　house　and　treat　him　there。〃
　　They　looked　at　each　other。
　　Bakir　shrugged。　〃That's　all？〃
　　Shimon　still　looked　suspicious。　〃He's　an　Asharite？〃
　　〃No；　he's　a　horse。　Of　course　he's　an　Asharite；　you　idiot。　Why　else　would　I　be　asking　permission　of　the　stupidest　men　in　the　Quarter？〃　The　insult；　she　hoped；　would　distract　them　enough　to　end　the　questioning。　Velaz　was　blessedly　silent　behind　her。
　　〃When　will　you　bring　him？〃
　　〃I'll　go　fetch　him　immediately。　I　have　to　ask　my　mother's　permission　first。　Which　is　why　I　came　ahead。〃
　　Bakir's　dark　eyes　narrowed　further。　〃You　are　being　awfully　proper　about　this；　aren't　you。　That　isn't　like　you；　Jehane。〃
　　〃Don't　be　more　of　a　fool　than　you　have　to　be；　Bakir。　You　think　I'm　going　to　play　games　after　what's　happened　this　afternoon？〃
　　Again　they　looked　at　each　other。
　　〃I　suppose　not；〃　Shimon　said　grudgingly。　〃Very　well；　your　patient　can　e　in。　But　you　aren't　leaving　the　Quarter　again。　Velaz　can　bring　him；　although　I　certainly　won't　be　the　one　to　order　him　to　do　it。〃
　　〃No；　that's　fine；〃　said　Velaz　quickly。　〃I'll　go。〃
　　Jehane　had　thought　that　might　happen。　It　was　all　right。　She　turned　to　Velaz。　〃Go　now；　then；〃　she　murmured。　〃If　my　mother　makes　a　fuss…I'm　certain　she　won't…we'll　put　him　in　one　of　the　travellers'　inns。　Go　quickly。〃
　　She　turned　back　to　the　two　guards　and　offered　her　best　smile。　〃Thank　you；　both　of　you。　I　won't　forget　this。〃
　　〃I'd　rather　you　did；〃　said　Shimon　virtuously。　〃You　know　how　irregular　this　is。〃
　　He　was　being　pompous。　It　was　irregular；　but　not　greatly　so。　Asharites　often　came　quietly　into　the　Quarter；　on　business　or　in　pursuit　of　pleasure。　The　only　trick…and　not　a　hard　one…was　to　make　sure　the　wadjis　didn't　know　about　it　outside；　or　the　Kindath　high　priests　inside　the　gates。　Jehane　didn't　think　it　was　an　appropriate　time　to　get　into　a　dispute　with　Shimon；　however。
　　Among　other　things；　the　longer　they　talked　the　more　it　was　possible　that　he　might　inquire　as　to　the　identity　of　her　patient。　And　if　he　asked　and　she　had　to　tell；　he　might　know　that　Husari　ibn　Musa　was　one　of　those　who　was　to　have　been　in　the　castle　that　day。　If　Shimon　and　Bakir　discovered　this　was　a　man　the　Muwardi　assassins　might　be　seeking　there　was　no　way　under　the　moons　that　Husari　would　be　allowed　into　the　Kindath　Quarter。
　　She　was　putting　her　own　people　at　risk　with　this；　Jehane　knew。　She　was　young　enough　to　have　decided　the　risk　was　an　acceptable　one。　The　last　Kindath　massacres　in　Al…Rassan　had　taken　place　far　to　the　south；　in　Tudesca　and　Elvira　years　before　she　was　born。
　　
　　Her　mother；　as　expected；　raised　no　objection。　Wife　and　mother　of　physicians；　Eliane　bet　Danel　was　long　accustomed　to　adapting　her　home　to　the　needs　of　patients。　The　fact　that　this　disruption　was　occurring　during　the　most　violent　day　Fezana　had　known　in　a　long　time　was　not　something　that　would　ruffle　her。　The　more　so；　because　in　this　case　Jehane　made　a　point　of　telling　her　mother　that　the　patient　was　ibn　Musa。　Eliane　would　have　recognized　him　when　he　came。　Husari　had　had　Ishak　as　a　dinner　guest　on　several　occasions　and　more　than　once　the　silk　merchant　had　discreetly　entered　the　Quarter　to　grace　their　own　table…defying　the　wadjis　and　the　high　priests；　both。　Fezana　was　not　a　particularly　devout　city。
　　Which　had　probably　done　nothing　but　add　to　the　pleasure　of　the　fiercely　pious　Muwardis