ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第42部分

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　　〃And　you？〃
　　〃Long　enough；〃　she　said。　〃Where　you　injured　I　tried　to　heal。　I've　e　from　the　infirmary。〃　What　was　it；　she　asked　herself；　that　kept　causing　her　to　challenge　him？
　　He　looked　at　her。　The　steady；　unrevealing　gaze。　The　pearl　in　his　ear　gleamed　palely　in　the　moonlight。　He　said；　〃It's　too　cold　to　stand　here。　e。〃　He　started　walking　again；　back　towards　the　center　of　the　city。
　　She　fell　into　stride。　The　wind　was　behind　them；　cutting　through　her　cloak。　It　was　cold；　and　despite　what　she'd　implied；　Jehane　was　unused　to　being　abroad　this　late。　In　fact；　the　last　time　had　been　the　night　of　the　day　she　met　this　man。　The　Day　of　the　Moat。　She　had　thought　it　had　been　his　savage　device；　that　slaughter　of　innocent　men。　All　of　Al…Rassan　had　thought　so。
　　She　said；　〃I　remember　what　you　said　in　Fezana。　That　it　was　none　of　your　doing。〃
　　〃You　didn't　believe　me。〃
　　〃Yes；　I　did。〃
　　He　glanced　at　her。　They　continued　walking。
　　She　had　seen　him　go　by　earlier；　from　the　doorway　of　the　infirmary。　Her　two　patients　had　been　sleeping；　one　drugged　against　the　pain　of　a　shattered　arm；　the　other　still　deeply　confused；　a　contusion　the　size　of　an　ostrich　egg　on　the　side　of　his　head。　Jehane　had　left　instructions　that　he　be　awakened　after　each　of　the　night　bells。　Too　deep　a　sleep　tonight　carried　a　risk。
　　She　had　been　standing　near　the　open　doorway；　breathing　the　night　air；　struggling　against　fatigue；　when　ibn　Khairan　went　past。　She　had　put　on　her　cloak　and　followed　him；　without　thinking　about　it；　no　reason　save　impulse　for　justification。
　　They　had　done　something　astonishing　that　day；　he　and　Rodrigo　Belmonte。　Two　men　against　five　and　had　she　not　known　better　it　might　have　seemed　that　the　five　had　consented　to　be　cut　down；　so　swift　and　crisply　defined　and　elegant　had　it　been。　She　did　know　better；　though。　She　was　treating　two　of　the　five　tonight。　The　Karcher　with　the　broken　arm　was　struggling　to　deal　with　what　had　happened。　He　was　bitter；　humiliated。　Not　a　man　accustomed　to　losing　battles。　Not　that　way；　at　any　rate。
　　Stepping　out　into　the　street　after　ibn　Khairan　Jehane　had　been　awkwardly　aware　that　there　were　other　kinds　of　women　who　did　this　sort　of　thing；　especially　after　what　had　happened　today。　She　half…expected　to　see　some　of　them　trailing　behind　the　man；　adorned；　perfumed。　Pursuing　the　hero　of　the　moment；　approaching　to　touch…to　be　touched　by…glory；　the　shimmer　that　clung　to　fame。　She　had　nothing　but　contempt　for　such　women。
　　What　she'd　done　in　following　him　was　not　remotely　the　same　thing；　she　told　herself。　She　wasn't　young　or　bedazzled；　she　wore　a　plain　white　cloth　cap　to　keep　her　hair　from　her　eyes　while　she　worked；　no　jewelry；　mud…stained　boots。　She　was　level…headed；　a　physician；　and　observant。
　　〃Weren't　you　hurt　this　afternoon？〃　she　said；　glancing　sideways　and　up　at　him。　〃I　thought　I　saw　you　take　a　sword　in　the　leg。〃
　　He　looked　dryly　amused；　an　expression　she　remembered。　〃A　scratch；　truly。　One　of　them　caught　me　with　his　blade　when　he　fell。　It　is　kind　of　you　to　ask；　doctor。　How　are　your　patients？〃
　　She　shrugged。　〃The　broken　arm　will　be　all　right。　It　set　easily　enough。　The　Batiaran　that　Ser　Rodrigo　felled　was　still　having　trouble　remembering　his　mother's　name　before　he　fell　asleep。〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　grinned；　the　white　teeth　flashing。　〃Now　that　is　serious。　If　it　were　his　father's　name；　of　course；　I'd　call　that　normal　for　Batiara。〃
　　〃Go　ahead　and　jest；〃　she　said；　refusing　to　laugh。　〃You　don't　have　to　deal　with　it。〃　A　silly　thing　to　say。
　　〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　he　murmured；　all　solicitude。　〃Did　I　add　to　your　burdens　today？〃
　　She　winced。　She'd　asked　for　that。　It　was　important　to　watch　what　one　said　with　this　man。　He　was　as　sharp　as　Mazur　was。　At　least　as　sharp。
　　〃How　is　your　father？〃　he　said；　changing　tone。　She　glanced　over　in　surprise　and　then　away。　She　had　a　clear　memory；　as　they　walked　through　the　dark　streets；　of　this　man　on　his　knees　before　Ishak　last　summer；　their　hands　clasped　together。
　　〃My　parents　are　well　enough；　I　thank　you。　My　father　。。。　has　dictated　some　letters　to　me　since　that　night　in　Fezana。　I　believe　that　。。。　speaking　with　you　was　of　help　to　him。〃
　　〃I　am　honored　that　you　think　so。〃
　　No　irony　in　the　voice　now。　She　had　heard　his　lament　tonight。　He　had　slain　a　man　she　herself　had　sworn　to　destroy。　Had　made　her　own　vain；　childish　oath　the　meaningless　thing　it　always　had　been。　She　had　actually　been　close　to　grief；　hearing　the　cadenced　verses。　The　sorrow　behind　the　sword。
　　She　said；　〃I　had　intended　to　kill　Almalik　myself。　For　my　father。　That's　why　I　left　Fezana。〃　As　she　spoke　the　words；　as　she　told　him；　Jehane　understood　that　this　was　why　she　had　e　out　into　the　cold　of　the　night。
　　〃I　am　not　surprised；〃　he　murmured；　after　a　pause。　A　generous　thing　to　say。　Taking　her　seriously。　A　Kindath　woman。　A　child's　rash　vow。　〃Are　you　angry　that　I　forestalled　you？〃
　　She　hadn't　expected　that　either。　She　walked　beside　him　a　while　in　silence。　They　turned　a　corner。　〃I'm　a　little　ashamed；〃　she　said。　〃I　did　nothing　at　all　for　four　years；　then　came　here　and　did　nothing　again。〃
　　〃Some　tasks　take　longer　than　others。　As　it　happens；　it　was　a　little　easier　for　me。〃
　　Disguised　as　a　slave。　She　had　heard　the　tale　from　Mazur　just　before　the　banquet　this　evening。　Poison　on　a　towel。　The　royal　son　entirely　plicitous；　then　exiling　ibn　Khairan。　There　had　to　be　pain　there。
　　They　turned　another　corner。　Two　lights　shone　ahead　of　them　now　at　the　end　of　the　street；　outside　the　infirmary。　Another　memory　rising　suddenly；　against　her　will。　That　same　summer's　night　in　Fezana；　the　same　room。　Herself　with　this　man　at　the　window；　rising　on　her　toes　to　kiss　him。　A　challenge。
　　I　must　have　been　mad；　she　thought。　She　stopped　at　the　entrance　to　the　infirmary。
　　And　as　if　he　could　actually　trace　the　course　of　her　thoughts；　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　said；　〃Was　I　right　about　the　chancellor；　by　the　way？〃　A　revealed　edge　of　amusement　again；　infuriatingly。
　　〃Right　about　what？〃　she　temporized。
　　He　would　have　seen　where　she　had　been　placed　tonight；　at　the　banquet。　He　would　have　duly　noted　the　fact　that　she　was　there　at　all。　She　hoped；　fiercely；　that　he　could　not　see　her　flushing。　She　almost　regretted　now　that　she　had　e。
　　He　laughed　softly。　〃I　see；〃　he　said。　And　then；　mildly；　〃Are　you　looking　in　on　your　patients；　or　going　home？〃
　　She　glared　up　at　him。　Anger　again。　Useful。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　she　said　coldly。　In　the　light　from　the　torches　she　could　see　his　face　clearly　now。　He　regarded　her　with　posure；　but　she　thought　she　saw　laughter　lingering　in　his　eyes。　〃What　does　'I　see'　mean？〃　she　demanded。
　　A　brief　silence。　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃Have　I　offended？〃
　　〃With　that　tone　you　did；　yes；〃　she　said　sturdily。
　　〃Then　I　shall　have　to　chastise　him　for　you。〃
　　The　voice　was　behind　her；　and　known。　She　wheeled；　but　not　before　she　saw　ibn　Khairan's　gaze　shift　beyond　her　and　his　expression　change。
　　In　the　doorway　to　the　infirmary　Rodrigo　Belmonte　stood　in　a　spill　of　candlelight；　wearing　the　same　overtunic　and　vest　he'd　worn　to　the　banquet；　with　his　sword　on　one　hip。
　　〃I　am　always　being　chastised　by　someone；〃　ibn　Khairan　plained。
　　Rodrigo　gave　a　snort　of　amusement。　〃I　doubt　that；〃　he　said。　〃But　you　ought　to　know；　if　you　don't　already；　that　Mazur　ben　Avren's　lack　of　success　with　our　doctor　here　has　been　the　talk　of　Ragosa　for　months。〃
　　〃It　has？〃　said　Ammar　politely。
　　〃It　has？〃　said　Jehane　in　a　very　different　tone。
　　〃I'm　afraid　so；〃　Rodrigo　replied；　looking　at　her。　He；　too；　was　amused　now；　a　certain　wryness　to　the　expression　beneath　the　full　moustache。　〃I　must　confess　I've　made　a　sum　of　money　in　this　matter。〃
　　〃You've　been　wagering　on　me？〃　Jehane　heard　her　voice　swirling　upwards。
　　〃I　have　great　confidence　in　all　the　members　of　my　pany；〃　Rodrigo　said。
　　〃I　am　not　a　member　of　your　pany！〃
　　〃I　continue　to　live　in　hope；〃　he　murmured　blandly。
　　Behind　her；　ibn　Khairan　laughed　aloud。　She　wheeled　on　him。　He　held　up　his　hands　in　a　quick；　warding　gesture。　Jehane　was　silent；　speechless　in　fact。　And　then；　resisting　all　the　way；　she　felt　her　own　amusement　welling　up。　She　began　to　laugh；　helplessly。
　　She　leaned　in　the　doorway；　wiping　at　her　eyes；　looking　from　one　man　to　the　other。　From　within　the　infirmary　the　two　night　attendants　looked　disapprovingly　towards　the　three　of　them。　Jehane；　who　had　to　give　the　attendants　firm　instructions　in　a　moment；　struggled　for　posure。
　　〃She　can't　join　us；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。　He　had　moved　into　the　entranceway；　out　of　the　cutting　wind。　〃Ben　Avren　will　never　let　her　leave　the　city。〃
　　〃Us？〃　said　Rodrigo。
　　〃Leave　the　city？〃　said　Jehane；　in　the　same　moment。
　　The　handsome；　smooth…shaven　face　turned　from　one　of　them　to　the　other。　He　took　his　time　before　speaking。
　　〃Some　things　do　seem　obvious；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　looking　at　the　Valledan。　〃King　Badir　will　be　exceedingly　nervous　about　having　both　of　us　in　Ragosa　this　winter　without　gainful　activity。　We　will　be　sent　somewhere。　Together。　I'll　place　a　wager　on　that。　And　given　what　you　have　just　told　me　about　the　chancellor's　entirely　understandable　interest　in　our　splendid　physician　he　is　not　going　to　permit　her　to　leave　Fezana　with　two　such　irresponsible　men。〃
　　〃I　am　not　an　irresponsible　man；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　indignantly。
　　〃I　beg　to　dissent；〃　Ammar　said　calmly。　〃Jehane　told　me　that　you　caused　a　Batiaran　mercenary…a　fine　man；　a　doughty　soldier…to　forget　his　own　mother's　name　this　afternoon！　Deeply　irresponsible；　I　call　that。〃
　　〃His　mother's？〃　Rodrigo　exclaimed。　〃Not　his　father's？　If　it　was　his　father's　name…〃
　　〃You　could　understand　it。　I　know；〃　said　Jehane。　〃The　high　lord　ibn　Khairan　has　already　made　that　feeble　jest。　Among　other　things　the　two　of　you　appear　to　share　the　same　childish　humor。〃
　　〃Other　things？　What　other　things？　I　may　now　be　offended。〃　Ibn　Khairan's　expression　belied　the　words。　He　didn't　look　weary　or　unfocused　any　more；　she　noted。　The　physician　in　her　was　pleased　with　that。　She　chose　to　ignore　the　question。
　　〃I　am　the　one　offended；　remember？　And　you　haven't　apologized　yet。　Nor　have　you；〃　she　said；　turning　upon　Belmonte。　〃Wagering　on　my　conduct！　And　how　dare　you　assume　that　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa…or　anyone　else…dictate