ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第59部分

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　　〃Ask　for　the　mother；〃　the　bigger　man　muttered　quickly。　He　betrayed；　for　the　first　time；　a　tension　in　his　voice。　In　a　curious　way；　that　calmed　Jehane。　They　were　not　quite　so　unruffled　as　they　seemed。　Kindath　offal；　he　had　named　Velaz。　She　wanted　these　men　dead。
　　The　door　opened。　A　steward　stood　in　the　entrance；　a　well…lit　hallway　behind　him　and　an　inner　courtyard　beyond。　It　was　a　gracious　house。　She　remembered　the　steward　from　before；　an　innocuous；　earnest　man。　His　eyes　widened　in　surprise。
　　〃Doctor？　What　is　it？〃
　　Jehane　took　a　deep　breath。　Unseen　beneath　the　cloaks；　a　knife　pressed　against　her　back。　〃The　Lady　Zabira？　She　is　waiting　for　me？〃
　　〃But　no；　doctor。〃　The　steward　looked　apologetic　and　anxious。　〃She　is　at　court　this　morning。　She　left　no　word　about　your　visit。〃
　　The　smaller　of　the　two　men　with　Jehane　offered　a　dry　chuckle。　〃A　typical　mother！　Only　when　the　little　ones　are　gravely　ill　do　they　wait　for　us。　We　made　an　appointment　two　days　ago。　Jehane　bet　Ishak　has　been　kind　enough　to　allow　us　to　attend　upon　her　visits　to　her　younger　patients。　We　are　studying　to　improve　our　own　skills　with　the　young　ones。〃　He　lifted　his　flask　slightly。
　　The　steward　looked　uncertainly　at　Jehane。　The　knife　pressed；　she　felt　the　point　fret　through　her　clothing　against　her　skin。
　　〃This　is　so；〃　she　said；　despairing。　〃Did　your　mistress　leave　no　word　at　all？〃
　　〃Not　with　me；　doctor。〃　He　was　still　apologetic。　Were　he　a　sterner　man；　she　thought；　he　would　now　close　the　door　upon　them　and　tell　them　to　e　back　when　Zabira　was　in　residence。
　　〃Well　then；〃　Jehane　tried；　〃if　she　left　no…〃
　　〃But　doctor；　I　do　know　you；　and　I　know　she　trusts　you。　It　must　have　been　an　oversight。　The　boys　are　making　mischief；　I'm　afraid；　but　please　e　in。〃　The　steward　smiled　ingratiatingly。　One　of　the　men　with　her　gave　him　a　kindly　glance　and　a　silver　coin。　Too　much　money；　in　fact；　it　ought　to　have　warned　a　good　servant　something　was　amiss。　The　steward　palmed　it　and　bowed　them　in。　Jehane　would　have　happily　dissected　him。
　　〃Go　right　upstairs；　doctor；〃　he　murmured　to　Jehane。　〃Shall　I　have　hot　drinks　prepared？　It　is　bitter　this　morning。〃
　　〃That　would　be　wonderful；〃　the　smaller　assassin　said；　removing　his　cloak　and　then；　courteously；　Jehane's。　The　knife　was　nowhere　to　be　seen　for　a　moment　but　then；　as　the　steward　hastily　claimed　all　three　outer　garments；　Jehane　felt　the　blade　against　her　side。
　　From　upstairs　the　sound　of　laughing　children　could　now　be　heard；　and　the　protests　of　an　evidently　overmatched　servant。　Something　fell　with　a　reverberating　crash。　There　was　a　moment　of　silence；　then　renewed　high…pitched　laughter。
　　The　steward　looked　anxious　again。
　　〃Sedatives　may　be　called　for；〃　one　of　her　abductors　murmured　suavely；　and　smiled　to　let　the　man　see　it　was　a　jest。
　　They　moved　to　the　stairway　and　started　up。　The　steward　watched　for　a　moment　then　turned　away　to　give　his　orders　for　their　refreshments。
　　〃They　are　only　children；〃　Jehane　said　softly。　There　was　a　hammering　in　her　breast　and　a　growing　fear；　colder　than　anything　outside。　She　was　being　aware　that　it　was　not　going　to　be　possible　for　her　to　do　this。
　　At　the　top　of　the　stairs；　she　thought。　Last　chance。　She　prayed　there　might　be　someone　there。
　　〃Children　die　all　the　time；〃　the　man　with　the　knife　beside　her　murmured。　〃You　are　a　physician；　you　know　this。　One　of　them　ought　never　to　have　been　born。　You　know　this　too。　They　will　not　suffer　pain。〃
　　They　reached　the　top　of　the　stairs。
　　Corridors　in　two　directions；　ahead　and　to　the　right；　the　hallways　wrapped　around　the　inner　courtyard　of　the　house。　She　saw　elaborate；　glass…paned　doors　opening　out　to　the　ambulatory　overlooking　the　garden。　Other　doorways　led　into　the　rooms。　The　laughter　had　ceased　now。　It　was　very　quiet。　Jehane　looked　both　ways；　a　little　frantically。　Death　was　here；　in　this　house；　and　she　was　not　ready　for　it。
　　No　aid；　though；　no　answers　to　anything。　Only　one　young　servant；　little　more　than　a　boy　himself；　could　be　seen；　hurriedly　sweeping　with　a　broom　at　the　shards　of　what　had　evidently　been　a　large　display　urn。
　　He　looked　up；　saw　them。　Dropped　the　broom　in　dismay。
　　〃Doctors！　Holy　Ashar；　forgive　us！　An　accident　。。。　the　children。〃　He　nervously　picked　up　and　then　laid　aside　the　broom。　He　hurried　anxiously　forward。　〃May　I　assist　you？　The　steward…
　　〃We　are　here　to　see　the　children；〃　the　bigger　man　with　her　said。　His　tone　was　crisp；　but　again　with　its　inflection　of　tension。　〃Take　us　to　them。〃
　　〃Of　course！〃　the　young　servant　smiled；　eagerly。　Why　were　they　all　so　eager　here？　Jehane's　heart　was　a　drum　in　her　breast。　She　could　stand　here；　walk　with　them；　let　this　happen；　probably　live。
　　She　could　not　do　that。
　　The　boy　stepped　forward；　one　hand　extended。　〃May　I　take　your　satchels　for　you；　doctors？〃
　　〃No；　no；　that　is　fine。　Just　lead　on。〃　The　nearer　man　withdrew　his　bag　slightly。
　　It　will　take　them　time　to　find　the　boys；　Jehane　thought。　There　are　many　rooms。　Help　might　e　in　time。　She　drew　breath　to　scream；　knowing　it　meant　her　death。
　　In　that　same　moment　she　thought；　absurdly；　that　she　recognized　this　servant。　But　before　the　memory　could　coalesce　into　something　more；　he　had　continued　his　reaching　motion；　stumbled　slightly；　and　bumped　into　the　small　man　who　was　holding　the　blade　against　her　side。　The　assassin　grunted；　a　surprised　sound。　The　boy　straightened；　withdrawing　his　right　hand；　and　shoving　Jehane　hard　with　his　left。
　　Jehane　stumbled；　falling…and　cried　out　then；　at　the　top　of　her　voice：　〃Help！　They　are　killers！　Help　us！〃
　　She　dropped　to　her　knees；　heard　something　shatter。　She　turned　back；　expecting　a　blade；　her　death；　the　soft　dark　presence　of　the　sisters　of　the　god。
　　Tardily；　she　saw　the　stiletto　that　had　materialized　in　the　boy's　hand。　The　smaller　assassin　was　on　the　floor；　clutching　with　both　hands　at　his　belly。　Jehane　saw　blood　welling　between　his　ringers；　and　then　much　more　of　it。　The　bigger　man　had　turned；　snarling；　balancing　his　own　drawn　blade。　The　boy　stepped　back　a　little；　ready　for　him。
　　Jehane　screamed　again；　at　the　top　of　her　voice。
　　Someone　had　already　appeared　down　the　corridor　straight　ahead。　Someone；　unbelievably；　carrying　a　bow。　The　big　man　saw　this；　turned　swiftly　back　towards　the　stairway。
　　The　steward　was　standing　there；　holding　a　sword；　no　longer　smiling　or　innocuous。
　　The　assassin　pivoted　again；　ducked；　and　without　warning　sprang　at　Jehane。　The　young　servant　shouted　with　alarm；　lifting　his　blade　to　intervene。
　　Before　the　knives　engaged　there　came　a　clear　sound；　a　note　of　music　almost；　and　then　Jehane　saw　an　arrow　in　the　assassin's　throat；　and　blood。　His　hands　flew　upwards；　the　knife　falling　away。　He　clattered　to　the　floor。　His　flask　shattered　on　the　tiles。
　　There　was　a　stillness；　as　after　thunder　has　e　and　rolled　away。
　　Struggling　for　self…control；　Jehane　looked　back　down　the　hall。　The　man　with　the　bow；　walking　forward　now；　was　Idar　ibn　Tarif；　whose　brother　she　had　saved　and　then　tended。　He　was　smiling　in　calm　reassurance。
　　Jehane；　still　on　her　knees；　began　to　tremble。　She　looked　at　the　boy　beside　her。　He　had　sheathed　his　knife；　she　couldn't　tell　where。　The　first　assassin　made　a　sudden　rattling　sound　in　his　throat　and　slid　sideways　beside　the　larger　one。　She　knew　that　sound。　She　was　a　doctor。　He　had　just　died。
　　There　was　broken　glass　all　around　them；　and　blood　staining　the　sand…colored　tiles　of　the　floor。　A　trickle　of　it　ran　towards　her。　She　rose　to　her　feet　and　stepped　aside。
　　Broken　glass。
　　Jehane　turned　and　looked　behind　her。　Her　father's　flask　lay　shattered　on　the　floor。　She　swallowed　hard。　Closed　her　eyes。
　　〃Are　you　all　right；　doctor？〃　It　was　the　boy。　He　could　be　no　more　than　fifteen。　He　had　saved　her　life。
　　She　nodded　her　head。　Opened　her　eyes　again。　And　then　she　knew　him。
　　〃Ziri？〃　she　said；　incredulously。　〃Ziri；　from　Orvilla？〃
　　〃I　am　honored；　doctor；〃　he　said；　bowing。　〃I　am　honored　that　you　remember　me。〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　She　had　last　seen　this　boy　killing　a　Jaddite　with　Alvar　de　Pellino's　sword　amid　the　burning　of　his　village。　Nothing　made　any　sense　at　all。
　　〃He's　been　guarding　you；〃　said　a　voice　she　knew。　She　looked　quickly　over。　In　an　open　doorway；　a　little　distance　down　the　hall；　stood　Alvar　himself；　that　same　sword　in　his　hand。
　　〃e；〃　he　said。　〃See　if　you　can　quiet　two　impossible　children。〃　He　sheathed　the　sword；　walked　forward；　took　both　her　hands。　His　grip　was　steady　and　strong。
　　As　if　in　a　trance；　surrounded　by　these　calm；　smiling　men；　Jehane　went　down　the　corridor　and　entered　the　indicated　room。
　　The　two　boys；　one　seven；　the　other　almost　five　years　old；　as　she　knew　very　well；　weren't　being　particularly　loud；　in　fact。　There　was　a　fire　burning　in　the　hearth；　but　the　windows　above　each　of　the　two　beds　had　been　shuttered　so　the　room　was　mostly　dark。　Candles　had　been　lit　opposite　the　fire　and　using　those　for　light　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　dressed　in　black　and　gold；　his　earring　gleaming　palely；　was　energetically　making　shadow…figures　on　the　far　wall　for　the　boys'　entertainment。　Jehane　saw　his　sword；　unsheathed；　on　a　pillow　by　his　side。
　　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃I'm　proud　of　my　wolf；　actually。〃
　　〃It　is　a　magnificent　achievement；〃　Jehane　said。
　　The　two　boys　evidently　thought　so　too；　they　were　raptly　attentive。　The　wolf；　even　as　she　watched；　stalked　and　then　devoured　what　was　presumably　meant　to　be　a　chicken。
　　〃I'm　not　impressed　by　the　fowl；〃　Jehane　managed　to　say。
　　〃It's　a　pig！〃　ibn　Khairan　protested。　〃Anyone　should　be　able　to　see　that。〃
　　〃May　I　sit　down？〃　Jehane　said。　Her　legs　seemed　to　be　failing　her。
　　A　stool　materialized。　Idar　ibn　Tarif　smilingly　motioned　for　her　to　sit。
　　She　did；　then　sprang　to　her　feet　again。
　　〃Velaz！　We　have　to　free　him！〃
　　〃It　is　done；〃　said　Alvar　from　the　doorway。　〃Ziri　told　us　where　the　courtyard　is。　Husari　and　two　others　have　gone　to　release　him。　He'll　be　safe　by　now；　Jehane。〃
　　〃It　is　over；〃　said　Idar　gently。　〃Sit；　doctor。　You　are　all　safe　now。〃
　　Jehane　sat。　Odd；　how　the　worst　reactions　seemed　to　occur　after　the　danger　had　passed。
　　〃More！〃　the　elder　of　Zabira's　boys　cried。　The　younger　one　simply　sat　cross…legged　on　the　floor；　staring　at　the