ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第60部分

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　　〃More！〃　the　elder　of　Zabira's　boys　cried。　The　younger　one　simply　sat　cross…legged　on　the　floor；　staring　at　the　shadow…figures　on　the　wall；　his　eyes　wide。
　　〃There　is　no　more；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　the　lord　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。　〃Once　the　wolf　eats　the　pig；　or　the　fowl；　whichever；　there　is　no　more　to　see。〃
　　〃Later？〃　the　older　child　asked；　with　some　deference。
　　〃Later；　indeed；〃　said　ibn　Khairan。　〃I　will　e　back。　I　must　practice　my　pigs；　and　I'll　need　your　help。　The　doctor　thought　it　was　a　chicken；　which　is　a　bad　sign。　But　for　now；　go　with　the　steward。　I　believe　he　has　chocolate　for　you？〃
　　The　steward；　in　the　doorway　behind　Alvar；　nodded　his　head。
　　〃The　bad　man　have　gone？〃　It　was　the　smaller　one；　speaking　for　the　first　time。　The　one　her　father　had　delivered　through　his　mother's　belly。
　　〃The　bad　man　have　gone；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　gravely。　Jehane　was　aware　that　she　was　close　to　crying。　She　didn't　want　to　cry。　〃It　is　as　if　they　never　came　looking　at　all；〃　ibn　Khairan　added　gently；　still　addressing　the　smaller　child。　He　looked　over　then；　to　Alvar　and　the　steward　by　the　door；　eyebrows　raised　in　inquiry。
　　Alvar　said；　〃Nothing　out　there。　Some　stains　on　the　floor。　A　broken　urn。〃
　　〃Of　course。　The　urn。　I'd　forgotten。〃　Ibn　Khairan　grinned　suddenly。　Jehane　knew　that　grin　by　now。
　　〃I　doubt　the　owner　of　this　house　will　forget；〃　Alvar　said　virtuously。　〃You　chose　a　destructive　way　of　signalling　their　arrival。〃
　　〃I　suppose；〃　said　ibn　Khairan。　〃But　the　owner　of　this　house　has　some　answering　to　do　to　the　king　for　the　absence　of　any　proper　security　here；　wouldn't　you　say？〃
　　Alvar's　manner　altered。　Jehane　could　see　him　tracking　the　thought；　and　adjusting。　She　had　made　that　sort　of　adjustment　herself　many　times；　during　the　campaign　to　the　east。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　almost　never　did　anything　randomly。
　　〃Where　is　Rodrigo？〃　she　asked　suddenly。
　　〃Now　we　are　offended；〃　Ammar　said；　the　blue　gaze　returning　to　her。　It　was　brighter　in　the　room；　Idar　had　drawn　back　the　shutters。　The　two　boys　had　left　with　the　steward。　〃All　these　loyal　men　hastening　to　your　aid；　and　you　ask　only　about　the　one　who　is　obviously　indifferent　to　your　fate。〃　He　smiled　as　he　said　it；　though。
　　〃He's　on　patrol　outside　the　walls；〃　Alvar　said　loyally。　〃And　besides；　it　was　Ser　Rodrigo　who　had　Ziri　watching　you　in　the　first　place。　That's　how　we　knew。〃
　　〃In　the　first　place？　What　does　that　mean？〃　Jehane；　reaching　for　something　normal；　tried　to　grab　hold　of　indignation。
　　〃I　came　here　some　time　ago；〃　Ziri　said　softly。　She　was　trying；　unsuccessfully；　to　glare　at　him。　〃After　I　was　certain　my　sisters　were　all　right　with　my　aunt；　I　went　to　your　mother　in　Fezana　and　learned　where　you　had　gone。　Then　I　came　through　the　mountains　after　you。〃　He　said　it　with　the　utmost　simplicity；　as　if　it　was　nothing　at　all。
　　It　was；　though。　He　had　left　his　home；　what　was　left　of　his　family；　all　of　the　world　he　knew；　had　crossed　the　country　alone；　and　。。。　
　　〃You　went　to　my　。。。　you　what？　Why；　Ziri？〃
　　〃Because　of　what　you　did　in　my　village；〃　he　said；　with　the　same　simplicity。
　　〃But　I　didn't　do　anything　there。〃
　　〃Yes；　you　did；　doctor。　You　made　them　allow　me　to　execute　the　man　who　killed　my　mother　and　my　father。〃　Ziri's　eyes　were　very　dark。　〃It　would　not　have　happened　without　you。　He　would　have　lived；　ridden　back　to　Jaddite　lands　to　tell　that　tale　as　a　boast。　I　would　have　had　to　walk　there　after　him；　and　I　fear　I　would　not　have　been　able　to　kill　him　there。〃
　　His　expression　was　grave。　The　story　he　was　telling　her　was　almost　overwhelming。
　　〃You　would　have　gone　to　Valledo　after　him？〃
　　〃He　killed　my　parents。　And　the　brother　I　have　never　had。〃
　　No　more　than　fifteen；　Jehane　thought。　〃And　you　have　been　following　me　here　in　Ragosa？〃
　　〃Since　I　arrived。　I　found　your　place　in　the　market。　Your　mother　said　you　would　have　a　booth　there。　Then　I　sought　out　the　Captain；　Ser　Rodrigo。　And　he　remembered　me；　and　was　pleased　that　I　had　e。　He　gave　me　a　place　to　sleep；　with　his　pany；　and　instructed　me　to　watch　you　whenever　you　were　not　at　court　or　with　his　men。〃
　　〃I　told　you　all　I　didn't　want　to　be　watched　or　followed；〃　Jehane　protested。
　　Idar　ibn　Tarif　reached　down　and　squeezed　her　shoulder。　He　wasn't　much　like　any　outlaw　she'd　heard　about。
　　〃You　did；　indeed；　tell　us　that；〃　Ammar　said；　without　levity。　He　was　sitting　on　one　of　the　small　beds　now　and　was　regarding　her　carefully。　The　candlelight　burnished　his　hair　and　was　reflected　in　his　eyes。　〃We　all　apologize；　in　a　measured　degree；　for　not　obeying。　Rodrigo　felt；　and　I　agreed；　that　there　was　some　chance　you　were　at　risk；　because　of　your　rescue　of　Husari　from　the　Muwardis　among　other　things。〃
　　〃But　how　could　you　know　I　wouldn't　recognize　Ziri？　I　should　have　recognized　him。〃
　　〃We　couldn't　know　that；　of　course。　He　was　urged　to　be　cautious　in　how　he　followed　you；　and　had　a　story　to　tell　if　you　did　see　him。　Your　parents　approved　of　this；　by　the　way。〃
　　〃How　would　you　know　that？〃
　　〃I　promised　your　father　I　would　write　him。　Remember？　I　try　to　keep　my　promises。〃
　　It　seemed　to　have　been　quite　thoroughly　worked　out。　She　looked　at　Ziri。　〃Where　did　you　learn　to　use　a　knife　like　that？〃
　　He　looked　both　pleased　and　abashed。　〃I　have　been　with　the　Captain's　men；　doctor。　They　have　been　teaching　me。　Ser　Rodrigo　himself　gave　me　my　blade。　The　lord　ibn　Khairan　showed　me　how　to　conceal　it　inside　my　sleeve　and　draw　it　down。〃
　　Jehane　looked　back　at　Ammar。　〃And　Velaz？　What　if　he　had　known　him；　even　if　I　didn't？〃
　　〃Velaz　did　know　him；　Jehane。〃　Ibn　Khairan's　voice　was　gentle；　rather　like　the　tone　in　which　he'd　spoken　to　the　younger　boy。　〃He　spotted　Ziri　some　time　ago　and　went　to　Rodrigo。　An　understanding　was　achieved。　Velaz　shared　our　view　that　Ziri　was　a　wise　precaution。　And　so　he　was；　my　dear。　It　was　Ziri　who　was　on　top　of　the　wall　of　that　courtyard　this　morning　and　heard　the　men　from　Cartada　tell　you　their　purpose。　He　found　Alvar；　who　found　me。　We　had　time　to　be　here　before　you。〃
　　〃I　feel　like　a　child；〃　Jehane　said。　She　heard　Alvar's　wordless　protest　behind　her。
　　〃Not　that；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　rising　from　the　bed。　〃Never　that；　Jehane。　But　just　as　you　may　have　to　care　for　us；　if　arrow　or　blade　or　illness　es；　so　we　must；　surely；　offer　our　care　to　you？　If　only　to　set　things　in　balance；　as　your　Kindath　moons　balance　the　sun　and　stars。〃
　　She　looked　up　at　him。　〃Don't　be　such　a　poet；〃　she　said　tartly。　〃I'm　not　distracted　by　images。　I　am　going　to　think　about　this；　and　then　let　you　all　know　exactly　how　I　feel。　Especially　Rodrigo；〃　she　added。　〃He　was　the　one　who　promised　I　would　be　left　alone。〃
　　〃I　was　afraid　you　would　remember　that；〃　said　someone　entering　from　the　corridor。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　still　in　boots　and　winter　cloak；　with　his　sword　on　and　the　whip　in　his　belt；　strode　into　the　room。　He　had；　incongruously；　a　cup　of　chocolate　in　each　hand。
　　He　offered　one　to　Jehane。　〃Drink。　I　had　to　promise　this　was　for　you　and　no　one　else。　The　older　one　downstairs　is　greedy　and　wanted　it　all。〃
　　〃And　what　about　me？〃　Ibn　Khairan　plained。　〃I　did　damage　to　my　wrists　and　fingers　making　wolves　and　pigs　for　them。〃
　　Rodrigo　laughed。　He　took　a　sip　from　the　other　cup。　〃Well；　if　you　must　know　the　truth；　this　one　was　for　you　as　a　reward；　but　I　didn't　actually　promise；　and　the　chocolate　is　good　and　I　was　cold。　You've　been　inside　and　warm　for　a　while。〃　He　lowered　the　cup　and　smiled。
　　〃You've　chocolate　on　your　moustache；〃　Jehane　said。　〃And　you　are　supposed　to　be　outside　the　walls。　Defending　the　city。　Much　good　you　are　to　anyone；　arriving　now。〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　Ammar　said　with　a　vigorous　nod　of　his　head。　〃Give　me　my　chocolate。〃
　　Rodrigo　did　so。　He　looked　at　Jehane。
　　〃Martin　fetched　me。　We　weren't　far　away。　Jehane；　you'll　have　to　choose　between　being　angry　with　me　for　having　you　guarded；　or　for　not　being　here　to　defend　you　myself。〃
　　〃Why？〃　she　snapped。　〃Why　can't　I　be　angry　for　both？〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　said　Ammar　again；　sipping　the　chocolate。　His　tone　was　so　smugly　pleased　it　almost　made　her　laugh。　He　does　nothing　by　chance；　she　reminded　herself；　struggling　for　self…possession。　Ziri　and　Idar　were　grinning；　and　so；　reluctantly；　was　Alvar。
　　Jehane；　looking　around　her；　came　to　accept；　finally；　that　it　was　over。　They　had　saved　her　life　and　Velaz's；　and　the　lives　of　the　two　children。　She　was　being；　perhaps；　just　the　least　bit　ungrateful。
　　〃I　am　sorry　about　the　broken　promise；〃　Rodrigo　said　soberly。　〃I　didn't　want　to　argue　with　you　back　then；　and　Ziri's　arrival　seemed　a　stroke　of　fortune。　You　know　he　came　through　the　pass　alone？〃
　　〃So　I　gather。〃　She　was　being　ungrateful。　〃What　will　be　done　about　those　two　men？〃　she　asked。　〃Who　were　they？〃
　　〃Two　that　I　know　of；　as　it　happens。〃　It　was　Ammar。　〃Almalik　used　them　several　times。　It　seems　his　son　remembered　that。　They　were　the　best　assassins　he　had。〃
　　〃Will　this　cause　a　scandal？〃
　　Ammar　shook　his　head　and　looked　at　Rodrigo。　〃I　don't　think　it　has　to。　I　think　there　is　a　better　way　to　deal　with　this。〃
　　〃No　one　knows　they　came　so　close　but　the　servants　here；〃　Rodrigo　said　thoughtfully。　〃They　can　be　trusted；　I　think。〃
　　Ammar　nodded。　〃That　is　my　thought。　I　believe　I　heard；〃　he　said　carefully；　〃that　two　merchants　from　Cartada　were　unfortunately　murdered　in　a　tavern　quarrel　shortly　after　they　arrived　here。　I　think　the　appropriate　Guild　ought　to　send　apologies　and　condolences　to　Cartada。　Let　Almalik　believe　they　were　discerned　the　moment　they　came。　Let　him　feel　that　much　more　anxious。〃
　　〃You　know　the　man；〃　Rodrigo　said。
　　〃I　do；〃　ibn　Khairan　agreed。　〃Not　as　well　as　I　once　thought；　but　well　enough。〃
　　〃What　will　he　do　next？〃　Jehane　asked　suddenly。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　looked　at　her。　His　expression　was　very　sober　now。　He　had　laid　down　the　cup　of　chocolate。　〃I　believe；〃　he　said；　〃he　will　attempt　to　win　me　back。〃
　　There　was　a　brief　stillness。
　　〃Will　he　succeed？〃　Rodrigo　was　as　blunt　as　ever。
　　Ammar　shrugged。　〃I'm　a　mercenary　now；　remember？　Just　as　you　are。　What　would　your　answer　be？　If　King　Ramiro　summoned　you　tomorrow　would　you　abandon　your　contract　here　and　go　home？〃
　　Another　silence。　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　at　length。　〃Though　my　wife　would　stab　me　if　she　heard　me　say　that。〃
　　〃Then　I　sup