ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第92章

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h　them　north　of　the　swift　and　gleaming　Guadiara。
　　The　forces　of　Ashar　and　Jad　had　finally　e　together　after　a　summer　and　autumn　and　then　a　spring　of　siege　and　skirmish；　bracketing　a　harsh　winter　with　its　enforced　inactivity。　A　great　many　people　had　died　that　winter；　of　hunger　and　cold　and　the　illnesses　that　followed　on　the　heels　of　hardship　and　war。　It　had　snowed　as　far　south　as　Lonza　and　Ronizza；　and　Ardeno　in　the　west。
　　All　three　cities　were　Jaddite　now。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　manding　the　joined　armies　of　Ruenda　and　Valledo　and　Jalona；　had　taken　them　this　spring。　At　Ardeno…first　of　the　three　to　fall…he'd　led　the　western　part　of　the　Esperanan　army　himself　in　a　first　engagement　with　the　tribesmen；　and　he　had　killed　Ghalib　ibn　Q'arif。
　　No　man　had　so　much　as　wounded　Ghalib　in　bat　since　he'd　ridden　east　beside　his　brother　more　than　twenty　years　ago。　Men　had　lost　count　of　the　times　he　had　championed　the　Zuhrites　and　Ashar's　visions　against　the　best　man　of　another　tribe　in　the　ritual　bat　before　a　battle　began。　There　had　been　no　such　rituals　at　Ardeno。　Rodrigo　Belmonte　had　singled　him　out；　though；　on　the　difficult　side…slipping　ground　east　of　the　city；　and　he　had　broken　Ghalib's　helm　and　shield　with　a　blow；　and　thrown　him　from　his　horse；　and　then；　leaping　down；　had　gashed　his　thigh　to　the　bone　and　almost　severed　one　arm　before　killing　him　with　a　swordstroke　down　through　neck　and　collarbone。
　　No　one　in　either　army　had　ever　seen　a　man　fight　like　that。
　　It　was　understood　that　Ser　Rodrigo's　son　had　very　nearly　died　in　a　Muwardi　ambush　the　summer　before。　It　was　pointed　out　that　Ardeno　marked　the　first　time　the　new　constable　of　Valledo　had　been　able　to　confront　an　army　of　the　veiled　ones　on　open　ground。
　　Leaving　the　citizens　of　Ardeno；　for　the　moment；　to　their　fate；　the　Muwardis　had　retreated　south；　though　in　good　order　and　doing　damage　to　those　who　pursued　too　rashly。
　　They　had　fallen　back　towards　Silvenes；　where　Yazir　and　the　bulk　of　his　forces…both　those　of　Al…Rassan；　and　newly　arriving　tribesmen…were　assembling。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　had　left　the　king　of　Ruenda　with　the　western　army　to　pin　down　the　Asharites　there。　With　only　his　own　band　of　one　hundred　and　fifty　men　he　had　raced　east　towards　Lonza　and　King　Ramiro。
　　The　walls　of　that　small　city　were　breached　fifteen　days　after　he　arrived。　Further　east；　Ronizza　on　the　River　Larrios；　under　siege　from　Jalonan　forces　that　had　bypassed　still…unconquered　Ragosa；　surrendered　immediately　when　word　of　the　fall　of　Lonza　came。
　　Ronizza's　gates　were　not　opened；　however；　until　Ser　Rodrigo's　own　herald　arrived　with　a　pany　of　Valledans　to　accept　their　surrender。　There　had　been　lessons　learned　from　the　occupations　of　Fezana　and　Salos　the　year　before。
　　The　northern　armies　left　a　garrison　and　a　governor　in　each　city。　A　number　of　people　were　executed　to　promote　order　but；　for　the　moment；　the　transitions　were　calm。　There　were　no　burnings。　King　Ramiro　and　his　constable　had　firm　control　of　the　northern　forces　now。　The　armies　of　Jalona　and　Valledo　joined　ranks　and　doubled　back　west　to　merge　with　the　Ruendans　north　of　Silvenes。
　　What　was　left　of　the　Ruendans；　that　is。
　　
　　The　strong　army　on　its　high　ground　that　Belmonte　had　left　behind　had　been　chopped　to　pieces　by　a　beaten　foe。
　　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif…visibly　shaken　by　his　brother's　death；　wearing　a　grey　veil　of　mourning　now…had　wasted　no　time　in　naming　the　new　leader　of　the　Asharite　forces　in　Al…Rassan。　It　was　not　a　popular　choice　among　the　tribesmen；　but　Yazir　had　had　a　winter　and　spring　to　learn　the　way　of　things　in　this　peninsula…who　knew　how　to　lead；　who　could　be　trusted；　who　needed　to　be　watched…and　he　did　not　hesitate　once　the　rites　for　his　brother　were　done。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　the　newly　named　ka'id；　had　regrouped　the　Muwardis；　linked　to　them　a　fresh　contingent　of　soldiers　from　Cartada；　and　surprised　the　Ruendans　with　a　two…pronged　attack　from　south　and　east。　The　timing；　on　difficult　ground；　had　had　to　be　flawless；　and　it　was。　He　had　chased　the　northerners　all　the　way　back　into　Ardefio。
　　The　Muwardis；　grieving　for　Ghalib；　had　been　impossible　to　control　in　that　pursuit。　Prisoners　weren't　being　taken　anywhere　in　this　war；　but　the　captured　Ruendans　were　savagely　abused　before　and　after　they　were　killed。　When　the　surviving　northerners　were　safely　within　the　walls　of　Ardefio；　they　promptly　began　nailing　men　and　women　to　wood　and　burning　them；　by　way　of　response。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　came　back　west。　The　Asharites　withdrew　towards　Silvenes　again　and　reinforcements　came　to　them　from　Cartada　and　Tudesca　and　up　from　Elvira　on　the　coast。
　　Five　hundred　men　also　arrived　from　the　fortress　of　Arbastro…led　by　Tarif　ibn　Hassan　himself。　The　outlaw　and　his　sons　had　stopped　at　Cartada　to　receive　formal　pardons　from　the　new　king。　Almalik　II；　the　parricide；　had　been　executed　by　Yazir…one　of　his　first　actions　upon　arriving　the　autumn　before。　His　brother　Hazem；　called　One…hand；　had　been　installed　in　Cartada。
　　The　Ruendan　army；　what　was　left　of　it；　emerged　from　Ardefio　again　and　moved　cautiously　south；　joining　the　rest　of　the　Esperansan　forces　near　Silvenes。
　　Silvenes。　It　seemed　that　here　the　seasons　of　war　were　to　e　to　an　end。　Either　Yazir　and　his　army　of　rescue；　here　in　response　to　the　importunities　of　fleeing　kings　and　panic…stricken　wadjis；　would　bring　Ashar　back　in　triumph　to　this　land；　or　。。。　or　the　Khalifate's　fall　a　generation　ago　would　be　as　nothing　pared　to　what　came　now。　The　necklace　of　Al…Rassan　had　been　broken　then；　the　pearls　scattering。　Now　they　could　be　lost。
　　
　　Heralds　met　on　the　ground　between　two　armies。
　　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif；　weighing　possibilities；　accustomed　to　swift　decisions；　instructed　his　herald　to　make　a　proposal。　The　representative　of　King　Ramiro；　a　man　clearly　too　young　for　his　task…he　was　white…faced　with　what　he　heard…carried　that　message　back　to　Ramiro　and　his　constable。
　　A　short　time　later；　grim　and　precise；　the　same　young　herald　rode　back　and　met　his　counterpart　again；　bearing　a　reply。
　　It　was　as　had　been　expected。
　　There　had　been；　in　truth；　no　way　to　refuse。　Not　in　honor；　not　in　pride；　not　before　a　battle　such　as　this　one　was　to　be。　The　weight　of　centuries　had　e　down。
　　Waking　in　the　morning　before　Ammar；　Jehane　lay　quietly；　looking　at　him；　trying　to　prehend　how　time　and　the　gods　had　brought　them　to　this。　From　outside　the　tent；　she　heard　the　sounds　of　men　beginning　to　stir　in　the　camp；　the　first　prayers　of　the　morning　would　soon　begin。
　　Her　last　dream　before　waking　had　been　of　Mazur。　Prince　of　the　Kindath。　Dead　now；　half　a　year　ago。　She　was　still　unable　to　stop　herself　from　picturing　him　emerging　from　the　walls　of　Ragosa　and　walking　to　the　Jaddite　camp。　Where　did　men　find　it　in　themselves　to　do　such　things？
　　The　Muwardis　had　landed　in　Al…Rassan　that　same　season。　Later；　in　winter；　they　had　learned　how　those　two　crossings…ben　Avren　through　the　walls　to　his　death　and　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif　across　the　straits…were　linked　to　each　other。　Lines　of　movement；　so　far　apart；　joined　at　their　source。　Mazur's　last　gift　to　his　king　and　Ragosa。
　　There　had　been　terrible　stories　of　what　Queen　Fruela　had　ordered　done　to　the　grey…haired　Kindath　chancellor　after　he　had　walked；　unarmed；　into　her　camp。　Jehane　knew　that　the　worst　of　them　would　be　true。　She　also　knew；　bitter　and　grieving；　that　the　Muwardis　would　have　done　much　the　same；　had　they　been　the　ones　outside　Ragosa's　walls。
　　Who　are　my　enemies？
　　How　did　one　rise　above　hatred　at　these　times？
　　Ammar　slept　still。　It　amazed　her　that　he　could。　She　was　tempted　to　trace　his　features　with　a　hand…eyes；　mouth；　ears；　the　straight　nose…like　a　blind　woman；　to　memorize　him。　She　shook　her　head；　pushing　the　thought　away。　His　breathing　was　quiet　and　slow。　One　arm　lay　across　his　chest；　oddly　childlike。
　　He　could　die　today。　If　he　did　not；　Rodrigo　would。
　　It　had　e　to　this。　Were　mortals　only　playthings　for　the　gods　they　worshipped；　to　be　tormented　in　their　dying？
　　It　had　been　agreed　between　the　heralds　of　Ashar　and　Jad　that　leaders　of　each　army　would　fight　before　battle；　to　invoke　the　will　and　the　power　of　their　gods。　One　of　the　oldest　rituals　of　men　at　war。
　　Had　they　somehow　guessed　that　this　day　might　e；　the　two　of　them？　Had　that　been　the　terrible　foreknowing　that　lay　beneath　the　last　words　they　had　spoken　in　the　darkness　of　Orvilla？　Or　even　earlier：　in　Ragosa；　staring　at　each　other　that　first　morning　in　the　brightness　of　the　king's　garden　with　the　stream　running　through　it？　They　had　refused　to　fight　each　other。　There；　they　could　refuse。　There；　they　could　fight　side　by　side。
　　Jehane　made　herself　a　promise　at　that　moment；　watching　her　lover　sleep；　hearing　the　camp　ing　awake　outside：　she　would　do　all　she　could　not　to　weep。　Tears　were　an　easy　refuge。　What　was　to　happen　today　demanded　more　of　her。
　　Ammar's　eyes　opened　without　warning；　vivid　and　blue；　the　same　color　as　her　own。　He　looked　at　her。　She　watched　him　settle　into　an　awareness　of　the　day；　what　morning　it　was。
　　He　said；　first　words；　〃Jehane；　if　I　fall；　you　must　go　with　Alvar。　He　can　take　you　to　your　parents。　There　will　be　nowhere　else；　my　love。〃
　　She　nodded　her　head；　not　speaking。　She　didn't　trust　herself　to　speak。　She　leaned　across　and　kissed　him　on　the　lips。　Then　she　laid　her　head　down　on　his　chest；　listening　to　the　beating　of　his　heart。　When　they　spoke　afterwards；　outside；　it　was　about　inconsequential　things。　The　absurd　pretense　that　the　world　was　a　normal　place　that　day。
　　There　will　be　nowhere　else；　my　love。
　　Alternately　hot　and　cold　as　the　setting　sun　slipped　behind　and　then　out　from　the　swift　clouds　in　the　west；　Jehane　stood　on　a　windy　height　beside　Miranda　Belmonte　d'Alveda；　looking　down　on　a　plain　between　armies。
　　Alvar　de　Pellino；　a　herald　of　Valledo；　garbed　in　white　and　gold；　was　with　them　as　escort　to　Miranda。　So　was　Husari…granted　leave　by　King　Ramiro　to　acpany　his　herald。
　　Husari　was　the　governor　of　Fezana　now；　serving　Valledo。　Jehane　did　not　begrudge　him　that。　He　had　chosen　Ramiro　over　the　Muwardis；　making　his　choice　of　evils　in　a　time　that　forced　such　choices　upon　all　of　them。　Ziri　had　decided　otherwise；　it　seemed。　He　had　not　left　Ragosa　with　Rodrigo's　men。　Jehane　understood。　He　would　not　fight　under　the　banners　of　the　god　whose　followers　had　killed　his　parents。　She　had　no　idea　what　had　happened　to　him。　You　lost　people　in　war。
　　She　looked　down。　The　armies　below　were　roughly　balanced。　The　ground　was　even。　Neither　leader　would　have　been　here　with　his　forces　had　it　been　otherwise。
　　The　temporarily　united　Jaddite　troops　could　not　remain　in　the　field　another　winter；　and　the　tribesmen　had　no　disposition　for　a　war　of　siege　and　attrition　so　far　from　their　sands。　Tomorrow　would　see　a　battle　on　open　ground。　A　rare　thing。　There　might　even　be　a　decisive　result；　or　this　could　go　on　and　on。　Slow；　bitter　years　of　fire　and　sword；　disease　and　hunger　and　cold；　in　the　breaking　of　a　world。
　　But　before　tomorrow　could　e；　with　its　armies　in　that　plain　beneath　banners　of　blue…and…gold　or　silver…on…black；　there　had　first　to　be　this　evening's　sunset。　Jehane　reminded　herself　that　she　had　vowed　not　to　weep。
　　Ceremonial　battles　between　Ashar　and　Jad　took　place　at　dawn　or　at　day's　end；　in　the　balancing　moments　between　sun　and　stars。　Th