ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第38部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


y　nothing　at　all。
　　For　the　first　time　the　woman　hesitated。　〃The　city　is　in　peril。　We　have　learned　that　the　usurper's　brother　Hazem　is　away　to　the　south　across　the　straits。　He　is　a　zealot；　and　seeks　aid　and　alliance　from　the　tribes　in　the　Majriti　deserts。　He　has　been　in　open　defiance　of　his　father　and　was　formally　disinherited　years　ago。〃
　　〃That　last　we　know；〃　Badir　said　softly。　〃That　much　all　men　know。　But　who　then　should　reign　in　Cartada？〃　he　asked　again。　By　now　even　Alvar　could　see　where　this　was　going。
　　The　woman　had　courage；　there　was　no　denying　it。　〃You　are　guardian　here　in　Ragosa　of　the　only　two　loyal　children　of　King　Almalik；〃　she　said；　with　no　hesitation　now。　〃It　is　my　formal　petition　that　you　take　that　city　in　the　god's　name　and　place　there　as　king　his　son；　Abadi　ibn　Almalik。　And　that　you　lend　to　him　all　such　aid　and　support　as　you　may　during　the　time　of　his　minority。〃　It　was　said；　then。　Openly。　An　invitation　to　take　Cartada；　and　the　cloak　of　right　under　which　to　do　it。
　　Jehane；　listening　with　fierce　attention；　looked　beyond　the　woman　in　crimson　and　black　and　saw　that　Alvar　had　managed　to　obtain　admittance　here。　She　turned　again　to　the　king。
　　But　it　was　the　chancellor　who　now　spoke；　for　the　first　time；　the　deep　voice　measured　and　grave。　〃I　would　know；　if　I　might；　is　this　also　the　thought　and　desire　of　the　steward　you　bring　with　you？〃
　　Looking　quickly　back　to　Zabira；　Jehane　realized　that　the　woman　did　not　know　the　answer　to　that　question；　that　she　had　played　a　card　of　her　own；　and　was　waiting　on　what　would　follow。
　　She　played　the　next；　necessary　card。　〃He　is　not　my　steward；〃　Zabira　said。　〃You　will　know；　I　believe；　who　this　man　is。　He　has　been　gracious　enough　to　escort　me　here；　a　woman　without　defenders　or　any　recourse　at　home。　I　will　not　dare　presume　to　speak　for　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　my　lord　chancellor；　my　lord　king。　No　one　alive　would　do　that。〃
　　〃Then　perhaps　the　man　who　appears　before　us　in　the　false　garb　of　a　steward　might　presume　to　speak　for　himself？〃　King　Badir　betrayed　the　slightest　tension　in　his　voice　now。　It　wasn't　surprising；　Jehane　thought。　The　woman　had　raised　the　stakes　of　the　game　extraordinarily　high。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　whom　she　had　kissed…amazingly…in　her　father's　study；　turned　his　gaze　to　the　king　of　Ragosa。　There　was　a　measure　of　respect　to　be　seen　in　him；　but　no　real　deference。　For　the　first　time　Jehane　realized　just　how　difficult　a　man　this　one　could　be；　if　he　chose。　He　had　also；　she　reminded　herself　again；　killed　a　khalif　and　now　a　king。
　　He　said；　〃Most　gracious　king；　I　find　myself　in　a　troubling　circumstance。　I　have　just　heard　words　of　open　treason　to　my　own　kingdom　of　Cartada。　My　course　ought　to　be　clear；　but　I　am　doubly　constrained。〃
　　〃Why？　And　why　doubly？〃　King　Badir　asked；　sounding　vexed。
　　Ibn　Khairan　shrugged　gracefully。　And　waited。　As　if　the　issue　was　a　test；　not　for　him；　but　for　the　assembled　court　of　Ragosa　in　that　garden。
　　And　it　was　Mazur　the　chancellor　who　said；　〃He　ought　to　kill　her；　but　will　not　attack　a　woman；　and　he　may　not　draw　a　weapon　in　your　presence。〃　There　was　irritation　in　his　voice。　〃In　fact　you　ought　not　to　even　have　a　weapon　here。〃
　　〃This　is　true；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　mildly。　〃Your　guards　were　。。。　courteous。　Perhaps　too　much　so。〃
　　〃Perhaps　they　saw　no　reason　to　fear　a　man　of　your　。。。　repute；〃　the　chancellor　murmured　silkily。
　　A　dagger　of　sorts　there；　Jehane　thought；　chasing　nuances　as　quickly　as　she　could。　Ibn　Khairan's　reputation　enpassed　many　things；　and　it　included　a　new　dimension　as　of　this　morning's　news。　He　could　not；　on　the　face　of　things；　be　said　to　be　a　harmless　man。　Perhaps　especially　not　for　kings。
　　Ammar　smiled；　as　if　savoring　the　innuendo。　〃It　has　been　long；〃　he　said；　with　apparent　inconsequentiality；　〃since　I　have　had　the　privilege　of　exchanging　words　with　the　estimable　chancellor　of　Ragosa。　Whatever　our　jealous　wadjis　might　say；　he　remains　a　credit　to　his　people　and　the　great　king　he　serves。　In　my　most　humble　view。〃
　　At　which　point　the　king　mentioned　appeared　to　lose　patience。　〃You　were　asked　a　question；〃　Badir　said　bluntly；　and　those　assembled　in　that　garden　were　made　sharply　aware　that　whatever　poise　or　subtlety　might　be　here　on　display；　only　one　man　ruled。　〃You　have　not　answered　it。〃
　　〃Ah。　Yes；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。　〃That　question。〃　He　clasped　his　hands　loosely　before　him。　Alvar　de　Pellino；　watching　closely；　found　himself　wondering　where　the　hidden　weapon　was。　If　there　was　one。　Ibn　Khairan　said；　〃The　lady　Zabira；　I　will　confess；　has　surprised　me。　Not　for　the　first　time；　mind　you。〃　Alvar　saw　the　woman　glance　away　at　the　flowing　water。
　　〃I　was　of　the　impression；　innocently；　that　she　wished　to　be　escorted　here　to　see　her　children；〃　said　the　man　garbed　as　her　steward；　〃and　because　there　was　no　haven　for　her　in　Cartada。　Being　of　a　regrettably　short…sighted　nature　I　thought　no　further　on　these　matters。〃
　　〃These　are　games；〃　said　the　king　of　Ragosa。　〃We　may　or　may　not　have　time　for　them　later。　You　are　the　least　short…sighted　man　in　this　peninsula。〃
　　〃I　am　honored　by　your　words；　my　lord　king。　Unworthy　as　I　am；　I　can　only　repeat　that　I　did　not　expect　to　hear　what　I　heard　just　now。　At　the　moment　my　position　is　delicate。　You　must　appreciate　that。　I　am　still　sworn　to　allegiance　to　the　kingdom　of　Cartada。〃　His　blue　eyes　flashed。　〃If　I　speak　with　some　care；　perhaps　that　might　be　indulged　by　a　king　as　august　and　wise　as　Badir　of　Ragosa。〃
　　It　occurred　to　Jehane　just　about　then　that　ibn　Khairan　might　easily　be　killed　here　today。　There　was　a　silence。　The　king　glared；　and　shifted　impatiently　on　his　bench。
　　〃I　see。　You　have　already　been　exiled　by　the　new　king　of　Cartada。　Immediately　after　you　did　his　killing　for　him。　How　extremely　clever　of　the　young　man。〃　It　was　Mazur　again；　and　not　a　question。
　　Badir　glanced　at　his　chancellor　and　then　back　to　ibn　Khairan；　his　expression　had　changed。
　　Of　course；　Jehane　thought。　That　had　to　be　it。　Why　else　was　the　prince's　advisor　and　confidant　here　with　Zabira　instead　of　controlling　the　transfer　of　power　in　Cartada？　She　felt　like　a　fool　for　missing　the　point。　She　hadn't　been　alone；　though。　Throughout　the　garden　Jehane　saw　men…and　the　handful　of　women…nodding　their　heads。　〃Alas；　the　chancellor　in　his　wisdom　speaks　the　sad　truth。　I　am　exiled；　yes。　For　my　many　vices。〃　Ibn　Khairan's　voice　was　calm。　〃There　appears　some　hope　of　my　being　pardoned；　after　I　purge　myself　of　sundry　unspeakable　iniquities。〃　He　smiled；　and　a　moment　later；　quite　unexpectedly；　one　man's　laughter　was　heard；　the　sound　startling　amid　the　tension　of　the　garden。
　　The　king　and　his　chancellor　and　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　all　turned　to　stare　at　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　who　was　still　laughing。
　　〃The　king　of　Ragosa；〃　Rodrigo　said；　greatly　amused；　〃had　best　be　careful；　or　every　exile　in　the　peninsula　will　be　beating　a　path　to　his　palace　doors。〃　Ibn　Khairan；　Jehane　noticed；　was　no　longer　smiling　as　he　looked　at　him。
　　Rodrigo　chuckled　again；　highly　amused。　〃If　I　may　be　forgiven；　perhaps　a　soldier　may　help　cut　a　path　through　the　difficulty　here？〃　He　waited　for　the　king　to　nod；　before　going　on。　〃The　lord　ibn　Khairan　appears　in　a　situation　oddly　akin　to　my　own。　He　stands　here　exiled　but　with　no　offered　allegiance　to　supersede　the　one　he　owes　Cartada。　In　the　absence　of　such　an　offer；　he　cannot　possibly　endorse　or　even　honorably　be　asked　to　ment　upon　what　the　lady　Zabira　has　suggested。　Indeed；　he　ought　properly　to　kill　her　with　the　blade　taped　to　the　inside　of　his　left　arm。　Make　him；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　〃an　offer。〃
　　A　rigid　stillness　followed　this。　The　day　seemed　almost　too　bright　now；　as　if　the　sunlight　were　at　odds　with　the　gravity　of　what　was　happening　here　below。
　　〃Shall　I　bee　a　mercenary？〃　Ibn　Khairan　was　still　gazing　at　the　Jaddite　captain；　as　if　oblivious　to　those　on　the　isle　now。　Again　Jehane　felt　that　odd；　uncanny　chill。
　　〃We　are　a　lowly　folk；　I　concede。　But　there　are　lower　sorts。〃　Rodrigo　was　still　amused；　or　he　appeared　to　be。
　　Ibn　Khairan　was　not。　He　said　carefully；　〃I　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　Day　of　the　Moat。〃　Jehane　caught　her　breath。
　　〃Of　course　you　didn't；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte。　〃That's　why　you　killed　the　king。〃
　　〃That's　why　I　had　to　kill　the　king；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　grave　in　his　black　robe。　Another　murmur　of　sound　rose　and　fell　away。
　　It　was　the　chancellor's　turn　to　sound　irritated。　Deliberately　breaking　the　mood；　Mazur　said；　〃And　are　we　to　offer　a　position　here　to　a　man　who　slays　whenever　his　pride　is　wounded？〃
　　Jehane　realized；　with　an　unexpected　flicker　of　amusement；　that　he　was　irked　because　Rodrigo　had　pieced　together　this　part　of　the　puzzle　first。　On　the　subject　of　wounded　pride；　she　thought　。。。　
　　〃Not　whenever；〃　said　ibn　Khairan　quietly。　〃Once　in　my　life；　and　with　regret；　and　for　something　very　large。〃
　　〃Ah！〃　said　the　chancellor　sardonically；　〃with　regret。　Well；　that　changes　everything。〃
　　For　the　first　time　Jehane　saw　ibn　Khairan　betray　an　unguarded　reaction。　She　watched　his　blue　gaze　go　cold　before　he　lowered　his　eyes　from　ben　Avren's　face。　Drawing　a　breath；　he　unclasped　his　hands　and　let　them　fall　to　his　sides。　She　saw　that　he　wasn't　wearing　his　rings。　He　looked　up　again　at　the　chancellor；　saying　nothing；　waiting。　Very　much；　Jehane　thought；　like　someone　braced　for　what　further　blows　might　be　levelled　against　him。
　　No　blows　fell；　verbal　or　otherwise。　Instead；　it　was　the　king　who　spoke　again；　his　equanimity　restored。　〃If　we　should　agree　with　our　Valledan　friend；　what　could　you　offer　us？〃
　　Zabira　of　Cartada；　nearly　forgotten　in　all　this；　turned　and　looked　back　at　the　man　who　had　e　here　as　her　steward。　Her　dark；　carefully　accentuated　eyes　were　quite　unreadable。　Another　fringe　of　cloud　trailed　past　the　sun　and　then　away；　taking　the　light　and　giving　it　back。
　　〃Myself；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。
　　In　that　exquisite　garden　no　one's　gaze　was　anywhere　but　upon　him。　The　arrogance　was　dazzling；　but　the　man　had　been　known；　for　fifteen　years　and　more；　not　only　as　a　diplomat　and　a　strategist；　but　as　a　military　mander　and　the　purest　swordsman　in　Al…Rassan。
　　〃That　will　be　sufficient；〃　said　King　Badir；　visibly　diverted　now。　〃We　offer　you　service　in　our　court　and　armed　panies　for　a　term　of　one　year。　On　your　honor；　you　will　not　take