ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第15部分

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　　〃He's　right！〃　another　man　shouted。　〃Spread　the　bastards　on　their　own　beams；　then　spread　their　women　another　way！〃　There　was　laughter。
　　With　some　speed　and　even　a　measure　of　efficiency　amid　the　chaos　of　fire　the　raiders　began　gathering　and　constructing　wooden　beams。　The　night　had　begun　to　show　promise　of　entertainment。　They　had　plenty　of　nails。　Meant　for　shoeing　any　horses　they　took　on　the　raid；　they　would　do　as　well　for　hammering　men　to　wood。
　　They　had　just　selected　the　first　of　the　peasants　for　nailing…a　blank…faced　boy　who　would　doubtless　have　grown　up　to　kill　innocent　men　and　women　north　of　the　tagra　lands…when　someone　shrieked　a　grievously　tardy　warning。
　　A　whirlwind　of　men　on　horses　thundered　in　among　them；　twisting　between　the　fires；　carrying　swords　and　using　them。　Most　of　the　raiders　had　dismounted　by　then；　many　had　laid　down　their　weapons　to　prepare　the　diagonal　beams　for　nailing　the　Asharites。　They　were　easy　prey。　As　easy　as　the　villagers　had　been　for　them。
　　The　raiders　were　men　of　breeding　though；　not　lice…ridden　outlaw　brigands。　They　knew　how　these　things　were　done；　even　in　Al…Rassan。　Peasants　were　one　thing…on　both　sides　of　the　no…man's…land…but　men　of　means　and　status　were　another。　All　over　the　hamlet　of　Orvilla；　Jaddites　began　throwing　up　their　hands　in　submission　and　loudly　voicing　the　well…known　cry：　〃Ransom！　Ransom！〃
　　Those　who　were　killed　in　the　first　sweep　of　the　new　horsemen　must　have　died　in　astonished　disbelief。　This　was　not　supposed　to　happen。　If；　before　they　were　dispatched；　they　realized　who　had　e；　that　astonishment　would　likely　have　been　redoubled；　but　these　are　not　things　one　can　know；　with　any　certainty；　of　the　dead。
　　
　　Alvar　hadn't　given　the　matter　any　real　thought；　but　he　had　certainly　never　imagined　that　the　first　man　he　killed　in　Al…Rassan　would　be　from　Valledo。　The　man　wasn't　even　on　his　horse　at　the　time。　In　a　way；　that　didn't　feel　right；　but　Lain　Nunez's　instructions　had　been　precise：　kill　them　until　you　hear　the　order　to　stop。　Every　man　was　fair　game　except　the　stocky；　black…haired　one　who　would　be　leading　them。　He　was　to　be　left　for　the　Captain。
　　The　Captain　was　in　a　terrifying　state。　He　had　been　from　the　moment　the　three　riders　from　Fezana　came　into　the　camp　with　their　story。　The　fat　merchant…Abenmuza；　he　called　himself…had　told　them　what　the　king　of　Cartada　had　ordered　done　in　Fezana　that　day。　Searching　for　clues　as　to　how　to　react；　Alvar　had　looked　to　his　leaders。　If　Lain　Nunez　had　seemed　indifferent　to　the　bloody　tale；　almost　as　if　he'd　expected　such　foul　deeds　here　in　Al…Rassan；　Ser　Rodrigo's　expression　told　a　different　story。　He'd　said　nothing　though；　when　the　merchant　finished；　save　to　ask　the　doctor…her　name　was　Jehane…if　she　had　ever　served　with　a　military　pany。
　　〃I　have　not；〃　she'd　murmured　calmly；　〃though　I'd　consider　it　some　other　time。　For　now；　I　have　my　own　route　to　follow。　I'm　happy　to　leave　Husari　ibn　Musa〃…which　was　evidently　the　right　way　to　say　the　name…〃in　your　pany　to　pursue　his　affairs　and　perhaps　your　own。　I'll　be　away；　with　your　leave；　in　the　morning。〃
　　That　unhurried　answer；　elegantly　spoken；　went　some　ways　to　breaking　Alvar's　heart。　He　was　already　half　in　love　before　she　spoke。　He　thought　the　doctor　was　beautiful。　Her　hair…what　he　could　see　of　it　beneath　the　blue　stole　wrapped　about　her　shoulders　and　head…was　a　rich；　dark　brown。　Her　eyes　were　enormous；　unexpectedly　blue　in　the　firelight。　Her　voice　was　the　voice　Alvar　thought　he　would　like　to　hear　speaking　when　he　died；　or　for　the　rest　of　his　life。　She　was　worldly；　astonishingly　poised；　even　here　in　the　darkness　with　fifty　riders　from　the　north。　She　would　think　him　a　child；　Alvar　knew；　and　looking　at　her；　he　felt　like　one。
　　They　never　knew　what　the　Captain　would　have　replied　to　her；　or　even　if　he　had　been　intending　a　serious　invitation　that　she　join　them；　because　just　then　Martin　said　sharply；　〃There's　fire。　To　the　west！〃
　　〃What　will　be　there？〃　the　Captain　said　to　the　three　Fezanans　as　they　all　turned　to　look。　The　flames　were　spreading　already；　and　they　weren't　very　far　away。
　　It　was　the　woman　doctor；　not　the　merchant；　who　answered。　〃A　village。　Orvilla。　I　have　patients　there。〃
　　〃e　then；〃　said　the　Captain；　his　expression　even　grimmer　than　before。　〃You　will　have　more　now。　Leave　the　mule。　Ride　with　Lain…the　older　one。　Alvar；　take　her　servant。　Ludus；　Mauro；　guard　the　camp　with　the　merchant。　e　on！　That　crawling　maggot　Garcia　de　Rada　is　here　after　all。〃
　　
　　At　least　half　of　the　Jaddite　raiders　were　slain　in　a　matter　of　moments　before　Jehane；　sheltering　with　Velaz　at　the　side　of　one　of　the　burning　houses；　heard　the　man　the　others　called　the　Captain　say　clearly；　〃It　is　enough。　Gather　the　rest。〃
　　The　Captain。　She　knew　who　this　was；　of　course。　Everyone　in　the　peninsula　knew　who　was　called　by　that　name　alone；　as　a　title。
　　His　words　were　echoed　quickly　by　two　other　riders；　including　the　older　one　who　had　ridden　here　with　her。　The　killing　stopped。
　　There　was　an　interval　of　time　during　which　the　raiders　were　herded　towards　the　center　of　the　village；　an　open　grassy　space。　Some　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte's　men　were　filling　buckets　at　the　stream；　trying　to　deal　with　the　fires　alongside　a　handful　of　the　villagers。　It　was　hopeless；　though；　even　to　Jehane's　untutored　eye　it　was　obviously　wasted　effort。
　　〃Doctor！　Oh；　thank　the　holy　stars！　e　quickly；　please！〃
　　Jehane　turned；　and　recognized　her　patient…the　woman　who　brought　her　eggs　every　week　at　the　market。
　　〃Abirab！　What　is　it？〃
　　〃My　sister！　She　has　been　terribly　hurt。　By　one　of　the　men。　She　is　bleeding；　and　with　child。　And　her　husband　is　dead。　Oh；　what　are　we　to　do；　doctor？〃
　　The　woman's　face　was　black　with　soot　and　smoke；　distorted　with　grief。　Her　eyes　were　red　from　weeping。　Jehane；　frozen　for　a　moment　by　the　brutal　reality　of　horror；　offered　a　quick　inner　prayer　to　Galinus…the　only　name　she　truly　worshipped…and　said；　〃Take　me　to　her。　We　will　do　what　we　can。〃
　　Ziri　ibn　Aram；　standing　on　the　far　side　of　the　circle；　still　did　not　know　what　had　happened　to　his　father　or　mother。　He　saw　his　aunt　approach　a　woman　who　had　e　with　the　new　men。　He　was　about　to　follow　them；　but　something　held　him　where　he　was。　A　few　moments　ago　he　had　been　preparing　to　die　nailed　to　a　beam　from　the　barn。　He　had　spoken　the　words　that　offered　his　soul　as　a　gift　to　the　stars　of　Ashar。　It　seemed　the　stars　were　not　ready　for　his　soul；　after　all。
　　He　watched　the　brown…haired　mander　of　the　new　arrivals　remove　a　glove　and　stroke　his　moustache　as　he　looked　down　from　his　black　horse　at　the　leader　of　those　who　had　destroyed　Ziri's　village。　The　man　on　the　ground　was　stocky　and　dark。　He　didn't　seem　at　all；　to　Ziri's　eyes；　like　someone　who　feared　his　approaching　death。
　　〃You　have　achieved　your　own　destruction；〃　he　said　with　astonishing　arrogance　to　the　man　on　the　horse。　〃Do　you　know　who　your　louts　have　killed　here？〃　His　voice　was　high…pitched　for　a　man；　almost　shrill。　〃Do　you　know　what　will　happen　when　I　report　this　in　Esteren？〃
　　The　broad…shouldered；　brown…haired　man　on　the　black　horse　said　nothing。　An　older　man　beside　him；　extremely　tall　and　lean；　with　greying　hair；　said　sharply；　〃So　sure　you　are　going　back；　de　Rada？〃
　　The　stocky　man　didn't　even　look　at　him。　After　a　moment；　though；　the　first　horseman；　the　leader　said；　very　quietly；　〃Answer　him；　Garcia。　He　asked　you　a　question。〃　The　name　was　used　as　one　might　admonish　a　child；　but　the　voice　was　cold。
　　For　the　first　time　Ziri　saw　a　flicker　of　doubt　appear　in　the　face　of　the　man　named　Garcia。　Only　for　a　moment；　though。　〃You　aren't　a　plete　fool；　Belmonte。　Don't　play　games　with　me。〃
　　〃Games？〃　A　hard；　swift　anger　in　the　mounted　man's　voice。　He　swept　one　hand　in　a　slashing　arc；　indicating　all　of　Orvilla；　burning　freely　now。　Nothing　would　be　saved。　Nothing　at　all。　Ziri　began　looking　around　for　his　father。　A　feeling　of　dread　was　overtaking　him。
　　〃Would　I　play　a　game　in　the　midst　of　this？〃　the　man　on　the　black　horse　snapped。　〃Be　careful；　Garcia。　Do　not　insult　me。　Not　tonight。　I　told　your　brother　what　would　happen　if　you　came　near　Fezana。　I　assume　he　told　you。　I　must　assume　he　told　you。〃
　　The　man　on　the　ground　was　silent。
　　〃Does　it　matter？〃　said　the　grey…haired　one。　He　spat　on　the　ground。　〃This　one　is　offal。　He　is　less　than　that。〃
　　〃I　will　remember　you；〃　said　the　black…haired　man　sharply；　turning　now　to　the　speaker。　He　clenched　his　fists。　〃I　have　a　good　memory。〃
　　〃But　you　forgot　your　brother's　warning？〃　It　was　the　leader　once　more；　the　one　called　Belmonte。　His　voice　was　calm　again；　dangerously　so。　〃Or　you　chose　to　forget　it；　shall　we　say？　Garcia　de　Rada；　what　you　did　as　a　boy　on　your　family　estates　was　no　concern　of　mine。　What　you　do　here；　as　someone　who　passes　for　a　man；　unfortunately　is。　This　village　lies　under　the　protection　of　the　king　of　Valledo　whose　officer　I　am。　The　parias　I　am　here　to　collect　was　paid　in　part　by　the　people　you　have　butchered　tonight。　You　have　taken　the　promises　of　King　Ramiro　and　made　him　a　liar　in　the　eyes　of　the　world。〃　He　paused；　to　let　the　words　sink　in。　〃Given　that　fact；　what　should　I　do　with　you？〃
　　It　was　evidently　not　a　question　the　man　addressed　had　been　expecting。　But　he　was　not　slow　of　wit。　〃Given　that　fact；〃　he　mocked；　imitating　the　tone。　〃You　ought　to　have　been　a　lawyer　not　a　soldier；　Belmonte。　A　judge　in　your　eastern　pastures；　making　rulings　about　stolen　sheep。　What　is　this；　your　courthouse？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　the　other　man。　〃Now　you　begin　to　understand。　That　is　exactly　what　it　is。　We　await　your　reply。　What　should　I　do　with　you？　Shall　I　give　you　to　these　people　to　be　spread…eagled？　The　Asharites　nail　people　to　wood　as　well。　We　learned　it　from　them。　Did　you　know　that？　I　doubt　we'd　have　trouble　finding　carpenters。〃
　　〃Don't　bluster；〃　said　Garcia　de　Rada。
　　Jehane；　walking　back　towards　the　knot　of　men　in　the　midst　of　the　burning　village；　with　a　little　girl's　hand　in　each　of　hers　and　a　black　rage　in　her　heart；　saw　only　the　blurred　motion　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte's　right　arm。　She　heard　a　crack；　like　a　whip；　and　a　man　cried　out。
　　Then　she　realized　it　had　been　a　whip；　and　saw　the　black　line　of　blood　on　Garcia　de　Rada's　cheek。　He　would　be　scarred　for　life　by　that；　she　knew。　She　also　knew　she　wanted　his　life　to　end　tonight。　T