ggk.asongforarbonne-第75部分

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　　He　had　fought　at　Iersen　Bridge　himself。　Fought　and　won　in　ice　and　blood　among　the　army　of　Gorhaut；　though　grieving　solely　for　his　king　after　swords　were　sheathed　and　spears　laid　aside。　A　season　later；　no　more　than　that；　back　in　the　south　at　Garsenc　Castle　where　he　served　the　young　duke　as　an　anointed　coran；　to　the　vast　pride　of　his　family；　he　had　learned　that　his　parents；　along　with　all　the　other　farmers　and　the　inhabitants　of　entire　villages　of　the　north；　were　being　told　to　pack　and　travel　south　to　wherever　they　would；　wherever　they　could　find　shelter。
　　It　was　only　for　a　time；　they　were　advised　by　the　messengers　of　the　new　king；　Ademar。　The　new　king；　in　his　wisdom；　had　taken　thought　for　them；　the　messengers　said…there　would　be　wider；　richer　lands　for　all　of　them　very　soon。　In　the　meantime；　his　father's　lifelong　dream　and　prayer　of　his　own　farm　was　gone；　handed　over　to　the　Valensans　they　had　been　fighting　for　fifty　years。　Just　like　that。
　　His　parents　had　actually　been　among　the　fortunate；　in　a　way　of　thinking；　finding　a　place　with　his　mother's　sister's　husband　east　of　Cortil；　working　for　someone　else　again；　but　with　a　roof　over　their　heads　at　least。　He　had　seen　his　father　twice　there；　but　though　the　old　man　said　little　at　the　best　of　times；　after　the　northern　fashion；　his　eyes　didn't　convey　any　sense　of　good　fortune　to　his　son。
　　Everyone　knew　where　the　promised　new　lands　were　supposed　to　be。　It　was　mon　talk　in　the　country　as　much　as　in　the　taverns　and　castles。　His　father　had　said　only　one　thing　about　that；　at　the　end　of　his　second　visit；　his　last；　to　the　farmyard　hut　that　was　now　his　parents'　home。
　　They　had　been　walking　out　together；　he　and　his　father；　at　twilight；　looking　out　over　the　grey　moorland　in　a　drizzle　of　rain。　〃What；〃　his　father　had　said；　turning　aside　to　spit　into　the　mud；　〃do　I　know　about　olive　trees？〃
　　His　son　had　not　replied。　He　had　watched　the　thin　rain　falling　on　the　moor。　There　was　nothing　to　say。　Nothing；　that　is；　that　would　not　be　treason；　or　a　lie。
　　This　morning；　though；　on　a　challenge　ground　in　Arbonne　under　a　clear　sky　he　had　heard　the　younger　son　of　Garsenc　name　Ademar　a　traitor　and　claim　the　throne　of　Gorhaut　before　lords　and　ladies　of　all　six　countries。　And　the　simple　truth　was；　he　realized　finally；　sitting　his　horse　on　that　ridge　above　a　burning　hamlet；　he　agreed　with　Blaise　de　Garsenc。　His　father　would　have　felt　the　same　way；　he　knew　with　certainty；　though　he　would　never　have　put　such　a　thought　into　words。　They　were　people　of　Gorhaut；　their　lives　and　lands　charged　to　the　protection　of　the　king…and　their　safety　and　history　and　trust　had　been　given　away　by　him　with　a　signed　piece　of　paper。　It　was　said　that　Galbert　the　High　Elder　had　been　behind　the　whole　thing。　That　he　wanted　to　destroy　Arbonne　because　of　the　goddess　they　had　down　here。　He　didn't　know　much　about　that　or　very　much　care；　but　he　had　seen　his　father　destroyed　by　living　on　another　man's　farm　far　from　the　northern　lands　he　had　known　all　his　life。
　　His　father　had　died　at　the　end　of　that　same　summer；　taking　to　his　bed　one　morning；　the　scribe's　letter　had　said；　and　passing　to　the　god　four　days　after　without　any　last　word　spoken。　He　had　not　appeared　to　be　in　great　pain；　the　scribe　wrote。　His　mother　had　made　her　mark　at　the　end；　after　the　part　wishing　him　all　best　fortune。　He　still　carried　it；　that　letter。
　　He　looked　down　a　last　time　on　the　burning　of　Aubry。　He　drew　a　long　breath；　finally　clear　in　his　mind；　though　not　any　the　less　afraid　for　that。　When　he　began　to　ride　again　it　was　south；　the　way　he　had　e；　carrying　a　different　message；　grim　with　fire　and　death　and　with　more　of　each　to　e；　certain　as　mortal　man　was　born　to　die。
　　He　had　actually　made　his　choice；　he　realized；　on　the　evening　of　that　last　walk　with　his　father　in　the　rain。　He　had　had　no　way　to　put　that　decision　into　action。　Now　he　did。
　　He　put　spurs　to　his　horse；　leaving　the　fires　of　Aubry　behind　him。　His　eyes　were　on　the　empty　road　before　him；　seeing　how　bright　and　strange　it　had　bee　in　the　mingling　of　the　moons。
　　
　　Blaise　hadn't　been　happy　about　it；　but　the　priestess　and　the　physician；　agreeing　with　each　other；　had　insisted　that　he　drink　an　herbal　concoction　that　led　him　to　sleep　for　most　of　the　day。
　　When　he　awoke；　in　a　room　in　Barbentain；　the　western　sky　outside　his　window　was　soft　with　the　hues　of　sunset；　dark　rose　and　purple；　with　the　blue…black　of　twilight　soon　to　e。　He　couldn't　see　the　river　from　his　bed；　but　through　the　open　window　he　could　hear　it　rushing　past；　in　the　middle　distance　lights　were　beginning　to　e　on　in　the　houses　of　Lussan。　He　watched　for　a　while；　feeling　curiously　at　peace　though　conscious　of　pain　in　his　legs　and　aware　of　bandages　about　his　left　ear。　He　brought　one　hand　up　and　felt　them。
　　Tentatively　he　turned　his　head　back　the　other　way　and　so　realized；　for　the　first　time；　that　he　was　not　alone。
　　〃It　could　have　been　worse；〃　Ariane　said　quietly。　She　was　sitting　in　a　chair　halfway　to　the　door。　〃You　lost　part　of　the　earlobe；　but　they　say　it　will　be　no　more　than　that。　Much　the　same　as　Bertran；　actually。〃
　　〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃
　　〃Not　long。　They　said　you　would　sleep　until　sundown。　I　asked　if　I　could　speak　with　you　alone　when　you　woke。〃
　　She　had　changed　to　sober　clothing　from　the　bright　regalia　of　the　morning；　her　gown　was　a　dark　blue　in　colour；　with　her　customary　crimson　only　in　the　trim　of　the　sleeves。　She　looked　very　beautiful　to　him。　She　smiled。　〃Bertran　has　been　going　about　the　castle　all　day　claiming　that　the　two　of　you　are　now　clearly　revealed　as　long…separated　brothers。　The　current　version　is　that　you　were　stolen　by　brigands　from　your　cradle　in　Talair　Castle　and　sold　for　three　goats　in　a　village　in　Gorhaut。〃
　　〃Three　goats？　I'm　outraged；〃　Blaise　said　with　a　sigh。　〃Five　at　least。　Tell　him　I　refuse　to　be　undervalued；　even　in　a　story。〃
　　Ariane's　smiled　faded。　〃You　are　unlikely　to　be　undervalued；　Blaise；　here　or　anywhere　else。　Not　after　this　morning。　Your　problems　are　almost　certainly　going　to　be　of　the　opposite　kind。〃
　　He　nodded　slowly。　It　seemed　that　he　could　do　that　much　without　pain。　With　an　effort；　he　pushed　himself　up　until　he　was　sitting。　There　was　a　flask　on　a　table　by　the　bed。
　　〃What　is　this？〃　he　asked。
　　〃More　of　what　you　had　before。　They　said　you　might　want　it。〃
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃Is　there　anything　else？〃
　　There　was　wine；　in　a　decanter　by　the　far　wall。　There　was　food　as　well；　cold　meats　and　cheeses　and　fresh…baked　bread　from　the　castle　kitchen。　He　was；　he　discovered；　ravenous。　Ariane　watered　the　wine　and　brought　him　a　tray。　Blaise　ate　swiftly　for　a　few　moments；　then　looked　up　again。　She　was　smiling；　scrutinizing　him　carefully　from　her　chair。
　　〃They　said　the　herbs　might　make　you　hungry　when　you　woke。〃
　　He　grunted。　〃What　else　did　they　say；　since　they　seem　to　know　me　so　well？〃
　　〃That　I　wasn't　to　agitate　or　excite　you。〃　Her　expression　was　demure。
　　Blaise　felt　oddly　happy　suddenly。　A　feeling　of　well…being　suffused　him；　looking　at　the　woman；　feeling　the　calm　and　silence　of　the　twilight。　When　he　did　leave　this　room　the　burdens　of　the　world　were　waiting　to　be　taken　up。　For　the　moment　though；　however　brief　the　moment　might　be；　all　of　that　seemed　agreeably　remote。　He　was　aware　of　her　scent　again；　subtle　as　ever；　but　very　much　her　own。
　　He　said；　〃You　aren't　very　good　at　not　doing　that；　you　know。〃
　　Surprisingly；　she　flushed。　Blaise　grinned。　He　shifted　position　and　moved　the　lacquered　tray　to　the　chest　beside　his　bed。　She　remained　seated　where　she　was。
　　〃Has　anything　happened　that　I　need　to　know　about？〃　he　asked。　He　really　did　feel　remarkably　well。　More　than　well；　actually。　He　wondered　if　the　two　physicians　had　predicted　this；　too。　〃Anything　that　requires　me；　or　you；　for　the　next　little　while？〃
　　Ariane；　her　dark　eyes　wide；　shook　her　head。
　　〃Is　there　a　lock　on　that　door？〃
　　The　hint　of　a　smile　returned　to　her　face。　〃Of　course　there　is。　And　there　are　also　four　guards　of　the　countess　outside　who　would　hear　any　key　turning。　Everyone　knows　I　am　here；　Blaise。〃
　　She　was　right；　of　course。　Deflated；　he　leaned　back　against　the　pillows。
　　Ariane　rose　then；　tall　and　slender；　her　black　hair　down　as　it　always　was。　〃On　the　other　hand；〃　she　murmured；　walking　to　the　door；　〃the　corans　of　Barbentain　are　legendary　for　their　discretion。〃　She　turned　the　key　in　the　lock　with　a　click。　〃And　since　the　whole　castle　knows　I'm　here；　we　couldn't　possibly　be　doing　anything　but　discussing　what　happens　next；　could　we？〃
　　She　walked　slowly　back　towards　him　and　stood　by　the　edge　of　the　bed。　Blaise　looked　up　at　her；　drinking　in；　as　a　draught　of　cool；　reviving　wine；　the　dark…eyed；　flawless　beauty　of　her。
　　〃I　had　been　wondering　about　that；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　Her　hand　was　playing　idly　with　the　coverlet；　pulling　it　back　a　little　from　his　chest　and　then　tugging　it　up　again。　He　was　naked　beneath。　〃What　happens　next；　I　mean。〃
　　Ariane　laughed　then；　and　drew　the　coverlet　fully　back　from　him。　〃We'll　have　to　discuss　it；〃　she　said；　and；　sitting　on　the　bed；　lowered　her　mouth　to　his。　The　kiss　was　brief；　delicate；　elusive。　He　remembered　this　about　her。　Then　her　lips　moved　down；　found　the　hollow　of　his　throat；　and　then　down　again；　across　his　chest；　and　down　again。
　　〃Ariane；〃　he　said。
　　〃Hush；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　did　promise　not　to　make　you　agitate　yourself。　Don't　make　a　liar　out　of　me。〃
　　His　turn　to　laugh；　helplessly；　and　then；　not　long　after；　to　stop　laughing　as　other　sensations　took　control　of　him。　It　had　grown　dark　in　the　room　by　then；　night　deepening　outside。　They　had　lit　no　candles。　In　the　shadows　he　saw　her　lift　her　head　from　his　body　and　then　rise　to　stand　by　the　bed；　another　shadow；　and　slip　free　of　her　clothing。　Then　she　moved　again；　in　a　swirl　of　scent　and　a　rustle　of　sound；　to　rise　up　over　him　where　he　lay。
　　〃Now　remember；　you　aren't　to　get　excited；〃　Ariane　de　Carenzu　said　gravely　as；　with　a　smooth；　liquescent　motion；　she　lowered　herself　upon　his　sex。
　　Lights　were　shining　now　in　the　town　across　the　water；　someone's　footsteps　came　down　the　hall；　a　voice　answered　a　quiet　challenge　from　the　guards　and　then　the　footsteps　went　on。　The　river　ran　softly　below；　aiming　for　the　distant　sea。　Blaise　felt　Ariane's　movements　above　him　like　the