ggk.asongforarbonne-第3部分

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　Ariane；　the　girl　was　big…eyed；　trembling　with　fear。　Riquier　lay　face　down　on　the　grass。　He　seemed　to　be　unconscious；　but　there　was　no　blade　wound　she　could　see。
　　〃The　others　will　not　be　hurt？〃　she　said。
　　〃I　said　that。　I　don't　like　repeating　myself。〃　The　voice　was　muffled　by　the　festive　mask；　but　the　arrogance　came　through　clearly。
　　Aelis　dropped　her　bow。　Without　another　word　the　leader　turned　and　nodded　his　head。　From　behind　the　arch；　having　been　hidden　by　its　massive　shape；　another　man　stepped　out　leading　two　horses。　The　leader　swung　himself　up　on　a　big　grey；　and　beside　him　the　wounded　man　awkwardly　mounted　a　black　mare。　No　one　else　moved。　The　others　were　clearly　going　to　stay　and　deal　with　the　corans。
　　〃What　will　you　do　with　the　girl？〃　Aelis　called　out。
　　The　outlaw　turned　back。　〃I　am　done　with　questions；〃　he　said　bluntly。　〃Will　you　e；　or　will　you　need　to　be　trussed　and　carried　like　an　heifer？〃
　　With　deliberate　slowness；　Aelis　moved　her　horse　forward。　When　she　was　beside　Ariane　she　stopped　and　said；　very　clearly；　〃Be　gallant；　bright　one；　they　will　not；　they　dare　not　do　you　any　harm。　With　Rian's　grace　I　shall　see　you　very　soon。〃
　　She　moved　on；　still　slowly；　sitting　her　horse　with　head　high　and　shoulders　straight　as　befitted　her　father's　daughter。　The　leader　paid　her　no　attention；　he　had　already　wheeled　his　mount　and　had　begun　to　ride；　not　even　glancing　back。　The　wounded　man　fell　in　behind　Aelis。　The　three　of　them　went　forward　in　a　soft　jingling　of　harness；　passing　under　the　Arch　of　the　Ancients；　through　the　cold　shadow　of　it；　and　then　out　into　sunlight　again　on　the　other　side。
　　
　　They　rode　through　the　young　grasses；　travelling　almost　due　north。　Behind　them　the　shoreline　of　Lake　Dierne　fell　away；　curving　to　the　east。　On　their　left　Urté's　vineyards　stretched　into　the　distance。　Ahead　of　them　was　the　forest。　Aelis　kept　her　silence　and　neither　of　the　masked　men　spoke。　As　they　approached　the　outlying　pines　and　balsams　of　the　wood　Aelis　saw　a　charcoal…burner's　cottage　lying　just　off　the　lightly　worn　path。　The　door　was　open。　There　was　no　one　in　sight；　nor　were　there　any　sounds　in　the　morning　light　save　their　horses　and　the　calling　of　birds。
　　The　leader　stopped。　He　had　not　even　looked　at　her　since　they　had　begun　to　ride；　nor　did　he　now。　〃Valery；〃　he　said；　scanning　the　edges　of　the　forest　to　either　side；　〃keep　watch　for　the　next　while；　but　find　Garnoth　first…he　won't　be　far　away…and　have　him　clean　and　bind　your　shoulder。　There's　water　in　the　stream。〃
　　〃There　is　usually　water　in　a　stream；〃　the　wounded　man　said　in　a　deep　voice；　his　tone　unexpectedly　tart。　The　leader　laughed；　the　sound　carried　in　the　stillness。
　　〃You　have　no　one　to　blame　for　that　wound　but　yourself；〃　he　said；　〃don't　take　your　grievances　out　on　me。〃　He　swung　down　from　his　horse；　and　then　he　looked　at　Aelis　for　the　first　time。　He　motioned　for　her　to　dismount。　Slowly　she　did。　With　an　elaborately　graceful　gesture…almost　a　parody　given　where　they　were…he　indicated　the　entrance　to　the　cottage。
　　Aelis　looked　around。　They　were　quite　alone；　a　long　way　from　where　anyone　might　chance　to　pass。　The　man　Valery；　masked　in　fur　like　a　grey　wolf；　was　already　turning　away　to　find　Garnoth；　whoever　that　was…probably　the　charcoal…burner。　Her　arrow　was　still　in　his　shoulder。
　　She　walked　forward　and　entered　the　hut。　The　outlaw　leader　followed　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。　It　shut　with　a　loud　click　of　the　latch。　There　were　windows　on　either　side；　open　so　that　the　breeze　could　enter。　Aelis　walked　to　the　centre　of　the　small；　sparsely　furnished　room；　noting　that　it　had　been　recently　swept　clean。　She　turned　around。
　　Bertran　de　Talair；　the　younger　son；　the　troubadour；　removed　the　falcon　mask　he　wore。
　　〃By　all　the　holy　names　of　Rian；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　never　known　a　woman　like　you　in　my　life。　Aelis；　you　were　magnificent。〃
　　With　some　difficulty　she　kept　her　expression　stern；　despite　what　seeing　his　face　again；　the　flash　of　his　quick；　remembered　smile；　was　suddenly　doing　to　her。　She　forced　herself　to　gaze　coolly　into　the　unnerving　clarity　of　his　blue　eyes。　She　was　not　a　kitchen　girl；　not　a　tavern　wench　in　Tavernel；　to　swoon　into　his　arms。
　　〃Your　man　is　badly　wounded；〃　she　said　sharply。　〃I　might　have　killed　him。　I　sent　specific　word　with　Brette　that　I　was　going　to　shoot　an　arrow　when　you　stopped　us。　That　you　should　tell　your　men　to　wear　chain　mail　under　their　clothing。〃
　　〃And　I　told　them；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair　with　an　easy　shrug。　He　moved　towards　the　table；　discarding　his　mask；　and　Aelis　saw　belatedly　that　there　was　wine　waiting　for　them。　It　was　being　more　difficult　by　the　moment；　but　she　continued　to　fight　the　impulse　to　smile　back　at　him；　or　even　to　laugh　aloud。
　　〃I　did　tell　them；　truly；〃　Bertran　repeated；　attending　to　the　wine　bottle。　〃Valery　chose　not　to。　He　doesn't　like　armour。　Says　it　impedes　his　movement。　He'll　never　make　a　proper　coran；　my　cousin　Valery。〃　He　shook　his　head　in　mock　sorrow　and　then　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　her　again。　〃Green　bees　you；　as　the　leaves；　the　trees。　I　cannot　believe　you　are　here　with　me。〃
　　She　seemed　to　be　smiling；　after　all。　She　struggled　to　keep　control　of　the　subject　though；　there　was　a　real　issue　here。　She　could　easily　have　killed　the　man；　Valery。　〃But　you　chose　not　to　tell　him　why　he　ought　to　protect　himself；　correct？　You　didn't　tell　him　I　planned　to　shoot。　Even　though　you　knew　he　would　be　the　one　standing　beside　you。〃
　　Smoothly　he　opened　the　bottle。　He　grinned　at　her。　〃Correct　and　correct。　Why　are　all　the　de　Barbentain　so　unfairly　clever？　It　makes　it　terribly　difficult　for　the　rest　of　us；　you　know。　I　thought　it　might　be　a　lesson　for　him…Valery　should　know　by　now　that　he　ought　to　listen　when　I　make　a　suggestion；　and　not　ask　for　reasons。〃
　　〃I　might　have　killed　him；〃　Aelis　said　again。
　　Bertran　was　pouring　the　wine　into　two　goblets。　Silver　and　machial；　she　saw；　not　remotely　belonging　in　a　cabin　such　as　this。　She　wondered　what　the　charcoal…burner　was　being　paid。　The　goblets　were　each　worth　more　than　the　man　would　earn　in　his　whole　life。
　　Bertran　came　towards　her；　offering　wine。　〃I　trusted　your　aim；〃　he　said　simply。　The　simple　brown　jacket　and　leggings　became　him；　accenting　his　burnished　outdoor　colour　and　the　bronze　of　his　hair。　The　eyes　were　genuinely　extraordinary；　most　of　the　lineage　of　Talair　had　those　eyes。　In　the　women；　that　shade　of　blue　had　broken　hearts　in　Arbonne　and　beyond　for　generations。　In　the　men　too；　Aelis　supposed。
　　She　made　no　motion　towards　the　extended　goblet。　Not　yet。　She　was　the　daughter　of　Guibor　de　Barbentain；　count　of　Arbonne；　ruler　of　this　land。
　　〃You　trusted　your　cousin's　life　to　my　aim？〃　she　asked。　〃Your　own？　An　irrational　trust；　surely？　I　might　have　wounded　you　as　easily　as　he。〃
　　His　expression　changed。　〃You　did　wound　me；　Aelis。　At　the　midwinter　feast。　I　fear　it　is　a　wound　that　will　be　with　me　all　my　life。〃　There　was　a　gravity　to　his　tone；　sharply　at　odds　with　what　had　gone　before。　〃Are　you　truly　displeased　with　me？　Do　you　not　know　the　power　you　have　in　this　room？〃　The　blue　eyes　were　guileless；　clear　as　a　child's；　resting　on　her　own。　The　words　and　the　voice　were　balm　and　music　to　her　parched　soul。
　　She　took　the　wine。　Their　fingers　touched　as　she　did。　He　made　no　other　movement　towards　her　though。　She　sipped　and　he　did　the　same；　not　speaking。　It　was　Talair　wine；　of　course；　from　his　family's　vineyards　on　the　eastern　shores　of　the　lake。
　　She　smiled　finally；　releasing　him　from　interrogation　for　the　moment。　She　sank　down　onto　the　one　bench　the　cottage　offered。　He　took　a　small　wooden　stool；　leaning　forward　towards　her；　his　long；　musician's　fingers　holding　the　goblet　in　two　hands。　There　was　a　bed　by　the　far　wall；　she　had　been　acutely　aware　of　that　from　the　moment　she'd　walked　in；　and　equally　aware　that　the　charcoal…burner　was　unlikely　to　have　had　a　proper　bed　for　himself　in　this　cottage。
　　Urté　de　Miraval　would　be　a　long　way　west　by　now　in　his　favourite　woods；　lathering　his　horses　and　dogs　in　pursuit　of　a　boar　or　a　stag。　The　sunlight　fell　slantwise　through　the　eastern　window；　laying　a　benison　of　light　across　the　bed。　She　saw　Bertran's　glance　follow　hers　in　that　direction。　She　saw　him　look　away。
　　And　realized　in　that　instant；　with　a　surge　of　unexpected　discovery；　that　he　was　not　nearly　so　assured　as　he　seemed。　That　it　might　actually　be　true　what　he'd　just　said；　what　was　so　often　spun　in　the　troubadours'　songs：　that　hers；　as　the　highborn　woman；　the　long…desired；　was　the　true　mastery　in　this　room。　Even　the　birds　above　the　lake　。。。　
　　〃What　will　they　do　with　Ariane　and　the　corans？〃　she　asked；　aware　that　unmixed　wine　and　excitement　were　doing　dangerous　things　to　her。　His　hair　was　tousled　from　the　confining　mask　and　his　smooth…shaven　face　looked　clever　and　young　and　a　little　bit　reckless。　Whatever　the　rules　of　the　courtly　game；　this　would　not　be　a　man　easily　or　always　controlled。　She　had　known　that　from　the　first。
　　As　if　to　bear　witness　to　that；　he　arched　his　brows；　posed　and　poised　again。　〃They　will　be　continuing　on　their　way　to　Talair　soon　enough。　My　men　will　have　removed　their　masks　by　now　and　declared　themselves。　We　brought　wine　and　food　for　a　meal　on　the　grass。　Ramir　was　there；　did　you　recognize　him？　He　has　his　harp；　and　I　wrote　a　ballad　last　week　about　a　play…acting　escapade　by　the　arch。　My　parents　will　disapprove；　and　your　husband　I　rather　imagine；　but　no　one　has　been　hurt；　except　Valery　by　you；　and　no　one　will　really　be　able　to　imagine　or　suggest　I　would　do　you　any　harm　or　dishonour。　We　will　give　Arbonne　a　story　to　be　shocked　about　for　a　month　or　so；　no　more　than　that。　This　was　fairly　carefully　thought　out；〃　he　said。　She　could　hear　the　note　of　pride。
　　〃Evidently；〃　she　murmured。　A　month　or　so；　no　more　than　that？　Not　so　swiftly；　my　lord。　She　was　trying　to　guess　how　her　mother　would　have　handled　this。　〃How　did　you　arrange　for　Brette　in　Miraval　to　help　you？〃　she　temporized。
　　He　smiled。　〃Brette　de　Vaux　and　I　were　fostered　together。　We　have　had　various　。。。　adventures　with　each　other。　I　thought　he　could　be　trusted　to　help　me　with　。。。　〃
　　〃With　another　adventure；　my　lord？〃　She　had　her　opening　now。　She　stood。　It　seemed　she　didn't　need　to　think　of　her　mother　after　all。　She　knew　exactly　what　to　do。　What　she　had　dreamt　of　doi