ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第19部分

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　　〃Yes。　They　are　obviously　under　orders　to　give　us　our　gold　and　hope　we　leave　quickly。〃
　　Lain　Nunez　removed　his　hat　and　ran　a　hand　through　his　thinning　grey　hair。　〃And　are　we？　Leaving？〃
　　〃I　think　so；〃　the　Captain　said。　〃I　can't　think　of　a　point　to　make　down　here。　There's　nothing　but　trouble　in　Fezana　right　now。〃
　　〃And　trouble　heading　home。〃
　　〃Well；　walking　home。〃
　　〃They'll　get　there　eventually。〃
　　Rodrigo　grimaced。　〃What　would　you　have　had　me　do？〃
　　His　lieutenant　shrugged；　and　then　spat　carefully　into　the　grass。　〃We　leave　at　first　light；　then？〃　he　asked；　without　answering　the　question。
　　The　Captain　looked　at　him　closely　for　a　moment　longer；　opened　his　mouth　as　if　to　say　something　more；　but　in　the　end　he　merely　shook　his　head。　〃The　Muwardis　will　be　watching　us。　We　leave；　but　not　in　any　hurry。　We　can　take　our　time　about　breaking　camp。　You　can　pick　a　dozen　men　to　ride　back　to　Orvilla　in　the　morning。　Spend　the　day　working　there　and　catch　us　up　later。　There　are　men　and　women　to　be　buried；　among　other　things。〃
　　Alvar　dismounted　and　walked　over　to　the　fire　where　the　doctor　was　sitting。　〃Is　there　。。。　can　I　help　you　with　anything？〃
　　She　looked　very　tired；　but　she　did　favor　him　with　a　quick　smile。　〃Not　really；　thank　you。〃　She　hesitated。　〃This　is　your　first　time　in　Al…Rassan？〃
　　Alvar　nodded。　He　sank　down　on　his　haunches　beside　her。　〃I　was　hoping　to　see　Fezana　tomorrow；〃　he　said。　He　wished　he　spoke　better　Asharic；　but　he　tried。　〃I　am　told　it　is　a　city　of　marvels。〃
　　〃Not　really；〃　she　repeated　carelessly。　〃Ragosa；　Cartada　。。。　Silvenes；　of　course。　What's　left　of　it。　Those　are　the　great　cities。　Seria　is　beautiful。　There　is　nothing　marvellous　about　Fezana。　It　has　always　been　too　close　to　the　tagra　lands　to　afford　the　luxury　of　display。　You　won't　be　seeing　it　tomorrow？〃
　　〃We're　leaving　in　the　morning。〃　Again；　Alvar　had　the　unpleasant　sense　that　he　was　struggling　to　stay　afloat　in　waters　closing　over　his　head。　〃The　Captain　just　told　us。　I'm　not　sure　why。　I　think　because　the　Muwardis　came。〃
　　〃Well；　of　course。　Look　around　you。　The　parias　gold　is　here。　They　don't　want　to　open　the　gates　tomorrow；　and　they　particularly　won't　want　Jaddite　soldiers　in　the　city。　Not　with　what　happened　today。〃
　　〃So　we're　just　going　to　turn　around　and…〃
　　〃I'm　afraid　so；　lad。〃　It　was　the　Captain。　〃No　taste　of　decadent　Al…Rassan　for　you　this　time。〃　Alvar　felt　himself　flushing。
　　〃Well；　the　women　are　mostly　outside　the　walls　this　year；〃　the　doctor　said；　with　a　demure　expression。　She　was　looking　at　Ser　Rodrigo；　not　at　Alvar。
　　The　Captain　swore。　〃Don't　tell　my　men　that！　Alvar；　you　are　bound　to　secrecy。　I　don't　want　anyone　crossing　the　river。　Any　man　who　leaves　camp　walks　home。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Alvar　said　hastily。
　　〃Which　reminds　me；〃　the　Captain　said　to　him；　with　a　sidelong　glance　at　the　doctor；　〃you　might　as　well　lower　your　stirrups　now。　For　the　ride　back。〃
　　And　with　those　words；　for　the　first　time　in　a　long　while；　Alvar　felt　a　little　more　like　his　usual　self。　He'd　been　waiting　for　this　moment　since　they'd　left　Valledo　behind。
　　〃Must　I；　Captain？〃　he　asked；　keeping　his　expression　innocent。　〃I'm　just　getting　used　to　them　this　way。　I　thought　I'd　even　try　bringing　them　up　a　bit　higher；　with　your　approval。〃
　　The　Captain　looked　at　the　doctor　again。　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃Well；　no；　Alvar。　It　isn't　really　。。。　I　don't　think　。。。　〃
　　〃I　thought；　if　I　had　my　knees　up　high　enough；　really　high；　I　might　be　able　to　rest　my　chin　on　them　when　I　rode；　and　that　would　keep　me　fresher　on　a　long　ride。　If　that　makes　sense　to　you；　Captain？〃
　　Alvar　de　Pellino　had　his　reward；　then；　for　uncharacteristic　silence　and　biding　his　time。　He　saw　the　doctor　smile　slowly　at　him；　and　then　look　with　arched　eyebrows　of　inquiry　at　the　Captain。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　was；　however；　a　man　unlikely　to　be　long　disfited　by　this　sort　of　thing。　He　looked　at　Alvar　for　a　moment；　then　he；　too；　broke　into　a　smile。
　　〃Your　father？〃　he　asked。
　　Alvar　nodded　his　head。　〃He　did　warn　me　of　some　things　I　might　encounter　as　a　soldier。〃
　　〃And　you　chose　to　accept　the　stirrup　business　nonetheless？　To　say　nothing　at　all？〃
　　〃It　was　you　who　did　it；　Captain。　And　I　want　to　remain　in　your　pany。〃
　　The　Kindath　doctor's　amusement　was　obvious。　Ser　Rodrigo's　brow　darkened。　〃In　Jad's　name；　boy；　were　you　humoring　me？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Alvar　happily。
　　The　woman　he　had　decided　he　would　love　forever　threw　back　her　head　and　laughed　aloud。　A　moment　later；　the　Captain　he　wanted　to　serve　all　his　days　did　exactly　the　same　thing。
　　Alvar　decided　it　hadn't　been　such　a　terrible　night；　after　all。
　　〃Do　you　see　how　clever　my　men　are？〃　Rodrigo　said　to　the　doctor　as　their　laughter　subsided。　〃You　are　quite　certain　you　won't　reconsider　and　join　us？〃
　　〃You　tempt　me；〃　the　doctor　said；　still　smiling。　〃I　do　like　clever　men。〃　Her　expression　changed。　〃But　Esperana　is　no　place　for　a　Kindath；　Ser　Rodrigo。　You　know　that　as　well　as　I。〃
　　〃It　will　make　no　difference　with　us；〃　the　Captain　said。　〃If　you　can　sew　a　sword　wound　and　ease　a　bowel　gripe　you　will　be　wele　among　my　pany。〃
　　〃I　can　do　both　those　things；　but　your　pany；　clever　as　its　men　may　be；　is　not　the　wider　world。〃　There　was　no　amusement　in　her　eyes　any　more。　〃Do　you　remember　what　your　Queen　Vasca　said　of　us；　when　Esperana　was　the　whole　peninsula；　before　the　Asharites　came　and　penned　you　in　the　north？〃
　　〃That　was　more　than　three　hundred　years　ago；　doctor。〃
　　〃I　know　that。　Do　you　remember？〃
　　〃I　do；　of　course；　but…
　　〃Do　you？〃　She　turned　to　Alvar。　She　was　angry　now。　Mutely；　he　shook　his　head。
　　〃She　said　the　Kindath　were　animals；　to　be　hunted　down　and　burned　from　the　face　of　the　earth。〃
　　Alvar　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。
　　〃Jehane；〃　the　Captain　said；　〃I　can　only　repeat；　that　was　three　hundred　years　ago。　She　is　long　dead　and　gone。〃
　　〃Not　gone！　You　dare　say　that？　Where　is　she？〃　She　glared　at　Alvar；　as　if　he　were　to　blame　for　this；　somehow。　〃Where　is　Queen　Vasca's　resting　place？〃
　　Alvar　swallowed。　〃On　the　Isle；〃　he　whispered。　〃Vasca's　Isle。〃
　　〃Which　is　a　shrine！　A　place　of　pilgrimage；　where　Jaddites　from　all　three　of　your　kingdoms　and　countries　beyond　the　mountains　e；　on　their　knees；　to　beg　miracles　from　the　spirit　of　the　woman　who　said　that　thing。　I　will　make　a　wager　that　half　this　so…clever　pany　have　family　members　who　have　made　that　journey　to　plead　for　blessed　Vasca's　intercession。〃
　　Alvar　kept　his　mouth　firmly　shut。　So；　too；　this　time；　did　the　Captain。
　　〃And　you　would　tell　me；〃　Jehane　of　the　Kindath　went　on　bitterly；　〃that　so　long　as　I　do　my　tasks　well　enough　it　will　not　matter　what　faith　I　profess　in　Esperanan　lands？〃
　　For　a　long　time　Ser　Rodrigo　did　not　answer。　Alvar　became　aware　that　the　merchant；　ibn　Musa；　had　e　up　to　join　them。　He　was　standing　on　the　other　side　of　the　fire　listening。　All　through　the　camp　Alvar　could　now　hear　the　sounds　and　see　the　movements　of　men　preparing　themselves　for　sleep。　It　was　very　late。
　　At　length；　the　Captain　murmured；　〃We　live　in　a　fallen　and　imperfect　world；　Jehane　bet　Ishak。　I　am　a　man　who　kills　much　of　the　time；　for　his　livelihood。　I　will　not　presume　to　give　you　answers。　I　have　a　question；　though。　What；　think　you；　will　happen　to　the　Kindath　in　Al…Rassan　if　the　Muwardis　e？〃
　　〃The　Muwardis　are　here。　They　were　in　Fezana　today。　In　this　camp　tonight。〃
　　〃Mercenaries；　Jehane。　Perhaps　five　thousand　of　them　in　the　whole　peninsula。〃
　　Her　turn　to　be　silent。　The　silk　merchant　came　nearer。　Alvar　saw　her　glance　up　at　him　and　then　back　at　the　Captain。
　　〃What　are　you　saying？〃　she　asked。
　　Rodrigo　crouched　down　now　beside　Alvar　and　plucked　some　blades　of　grass　before　answering。
　　〃You　spoke　very　bluntly　a　little　while　ago　about　our　ing　south　to　take　Fezana　one　day。　What　do　you　think　Almalik　of　Cartada　and　the　other　kings　would　do　if　they　saw　us　ing　down　through　the　tagra　lands　and　besieging　Asharite　cities？〃
　　Again；　the　doctor　said　nothing。　Her　brow　was　knitted　in　thought。
　　〃It　would　be　the　wadjis；　first；〃　said　Husari　ibn　Musa　softly。　〃They　would　begin　it。　Not　the　kings。〃
　　Rodrigo　nodded　agreement。　〃I　imagine　that　is　so。〃
　　〃What　would　they　begin？〃　Alvar　asked。
　　〃The　process　of　summoning　the　tribes　from　the　Majriti；〃　said　the　Captain。　He　looked　gravely　at　Jehane。　〃What　happens　to　the　Kindath　if　the　city…kings　of　Al…Rassan　are　mastered？　If　Yazir　and　Ghalib　e　north　across　the　straits　with　twenty　thousand　men？　Will　the　desert　warriors　fight　us　and　then　go　quietly　home？〃
　　For　a　long　time　she　didn't　answer；　sitting　motionless　in　thought；　and　the　men　around　the　fire　kept　silent；　waiting　for　her。　Behind　her；　to　the　west；　Alvar　saw　the　white　moon　low　in　the　sky；　as　if　resting　above　the　long　sweep　of　the　plain。　It　was　a　strange　moment　for　him；　looking　back；　after；　he　would　say　that　he　grew　older　during　the　course　of　that　long　night　by　Fezana；　that　the　doors　and　windows　of　an　unplicated　life　were　opened　and　the　shadowed　plexity　of　things　was　first　made　known　to　him。　Not　the　answers；　of　course；　just　the　difficulty　of　the　questions。
　　〃These　are　the　options；　then？〃　Jehane　the　physician　asked；　breaking　the　stillness。　〃The　Veiled　Ones　or　the　Horsemen　of　Jad？　This　is　what　the　world　holds　in　store？〃
　　〃We　will　not　see　the　glory　of　the　Khalifate　again；〃　Husari　ibn　Musa　said　softly；　a　shadow　against　the　sky。　〃The　days　of　Rahman　the　Golden　and　his　sons　or　even　ibn　Zair　amid　the　fountains　of　the　Al…Fontina　are　gone。〃
　　Alvar　de　Pellino　could　not　have　said　why　this　saddened　him　so　much。　He　had　spent　his　childhood　playing　games　of　imagined　conquest　among　the　evil　Asharites；　dreaming　of　the　sack　of　Silvenes；　dreading　the　swords　and　short　bows　of　Al…Rassan。　Rashid　ibn　Zair；　last　of　the　great　khalifs；　had　put　the　Esperanan　provinces　of　Valledo　and　Ruenda　to　fire　and　sword　in　campaign　after　campaign　when　Alvar's　father　was　a　boy　and　then　a　soldier。　But　here　under　the　moons　and　the　late　night　stars　the　sad；　sweet　voice　of　the　silk　merchant　seemed　to　conjure　forth　resonances　of　unimaginable　loss。
　　〃Could　Almalik　in　Cartada　be　strong　enough？〃　The　doctor　was　looking　at　the　merchant；　and　even　Alvar；　who　knew　nothing　of　the　background　to　this；　could　see　how　hard　this　particular　question　was　for　her。