ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第96部分

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ffices　in　Al…Rassan　and　ultimately　the　rank　of　constable　of　Valledo；　shared　with　myself。〃
　　Jehane　heard　Alvar　de　Pellino　gasp　and　saw　the　king　make　an　abrupt；　uncontrolled　movement。　Rodrigo　had　just　proposed　to　cut　his　own　position　in　half　and　give　it　to　an　Asharite。
　　Ammar　laughed　softly。　He　looked　at　the　king　and　then　back　to　Rodrigo。　〃You　do　enjoy　surprising　people；　don't　you？　I　thought　that　was　my　vice。〃
　　Again；　Rodrigo　did　not　smile。　〃It　seems　simple　enough　to　me。　We　haven't　nearly　enough　people　to　take　and　settle　Al…Rassan。　We　need　the　Star…born…and　the　Kindath…to　stay　here；　farm　the　land；　conduct　their　business；　pay　taxes　。。。　perhaps　one　day　bee　Jaddites　in　the　same　way　our　people　have　turned　to　Ashar　here　over　the　centuries。　If　this　campaign　succeeds；　we　will　be　a　very　few　people　in　a　large　land。　To　keep　the　sons　and　daughters　of　Ashar　calm　and　well…governed　we　need　men　of　their　own　faith。　A　great　many　of　them　eventually；　but　at　the　moment　there　is　only　one　man　I　trust　to　wield　so　much　power　and　strive　towards　this　balancing　and　you　are　that　man。　Will　you　help　govern　Al…Rassan　for　us？　So　much　of　it　as　we　control？〃
　　Ammar　turned　to　the　king　again。　〃He　is　eloquent　when　he　chooses　to　be；　is　he　not？　Does　he　persuade　you？〃　The　cutting　edge　of　irony　was　in　his　voice　again。　〃Does　it　sound　simple　enough　to　you？〃
　　The　horses　were　running　away　in　the　night。　Jehane　could　almost　see　them；　so　vivid　was　the　image　for　her…manes　lifting　with　their　speed　under　the　moons　and　the　racing　clouds。
　　〃He　has　surprised　me；〃　said　King　Ramiro　carefully。　〃Though　not　more　than　I　am　surprised　to　discover　you　in　my　camp。　But　yes；　Ser　Rodrigo　speaks　simple　truths　and　I　can　hear　those　as　well　as　any　man；　I　hope。　Speaking　for　myself；　I　also　prefer　a　palace　or　a　chapel　with　some　grace　to　one　that　merely　keeps　out　wind　and　rain。　I　am　not　unaware　of　what　Al…Rassan　has　been。　I　have　read　your　verses；　and　that　of　other　poets　here。　There　are　those　among　us　who　might　be　hoping　for　bonfires　of　flesh　as　we　move　south。　I　would　prefer　to　disappoint　their　expectations。〃
　　〃And　your　brother？　And　your　uncle？〃
　　King　Ramiro's　mouth　twitched　again。　〃I　would　prefer；〃　he　murmured；　〃to　disappoint　their　expectations　as　well。〃
　　Ammar　laughed　aloud。　Again　Rodrigo　did　not　smile。　Absolutely　self…contained；　he　was　waiting　for　his　answer；　Jehane　understood。　And　he　wanted　this。　She　thought　she　understood　that　too。　His　son　had　nearly　died　tonight。　Might　yet　die。　Rodrigo　Belmonte　did　not　want　to　endure　another　loss　now。
　　Ammar's　laughter　stopped。　Unexpectedly　he　looked　over　at　her。　She　held　his　gaze；　but　it　was　difficult　to　read　expressions　in　the　moonlight。　He　turned　back　to　Rodrigo。
　　〃I　can't；〃　he　said；　with　finality。　In　Jehane's　mind　the　horses　were　gone　now；　out　of　sight。
　　〃It　will　be　the　Muwardis；〃　Rodrigo　said　quickly。　〃You　know　it；　Ammar！　Ragosa　cannot　even　hold　against　Jalona　with　half　its　army　mercenaries　from　Jaddite　lands。　When　High　Clerics　appear　outside　the　walls　and　speak　of　holy　war…
　　〃I　know　this！〃
　　〃And　Fezana　falls　to　us。　You　know　that；　too！　Before　summer's　end。〃
　　〃I　know　this　city；〃　King　Ramiro　interposed　quietly。　〃I　was　in　exile　here　in　my　youth。　I　observed　certain　things。　Unless　the　defenses　are　greatly　altered；　I　believe　I　can　take　Fezana；　even　with　its　new　garrison。〃
　　〃It　is　possible。〃
　　Rodrigo　continued；　with　a　note　of　desperation。　〃And　then　Yazir　and　Ghalib　e　across　the　straits　to　meet　us。　Al…Rassan　is　theirs；　or　it　is　ours；　Ammar。　By　my　god　and　yours；　you　must　see　that！　Cartada；　Ragosa；　your　memory　of　Silvenes　。。。　they　cannot　be　saved。　Even　you　cannot　dance　that　dance　between　fires。　And　surely；　Ammar；　surely　you　know…〃
　　〃I　have　to　try。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Rodrigo；　I　have　to　try。　To　dance　that　dance。〃
　　Rodrigo　stopped；　breathing　hard；　like　a　horse　reined　up　too　harshly。
　　〃Your　faith　means　so　much　to　you？〃　King　Ramiro's　voice　was　thoughtful。　〃I　had　heard　tales　otherwise。　It　means　so　much　that　you　would　serve　the　veiled　ones　of　the　desert；　knowing　their　ways　and　what　they　will　bring　to　your　land？〃
　　〃My　faith？　I　would　put　it　differently；　my　lord。　I　would　say；　my　history。　Not　just　Al…Rassan；　but　Ammuz；　Soriyya　。。。　Ashar　in　the　desert　of　the　homelands　under　stars。　Our　sages；　our　singers；　the　khalifs　of　the　eastern　world。〃　Ammar　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃The　Muwardis？　They　are　a　part　of　that。　Every　people　has　its　zealots。　They　e；　and　change；　and　e　again　in　a　new　guise。　Forgive　me　for　saying　this；　but　if　a　king　of　Valledo　can　be　as　reflective　as　you；　my　lord…a　descendant　of　Queen　Vasca　of　blessed　name！…shall　I　be　the　one　to　deny　the　possibility　of　like　grace　descending　upon　a　veiled　son　of　the　sands？　Perhaps　among　the　seductive　fountains；　the　flowing　rivers　of　Al…Rassan　。。。　？〃
　　〃You　would　rather　be　with　them。〃　Jehane　heard　the　bitterness　in　Rodrigo's　voice。
　　Ammar　looked　at　him。　〃As　panions？　Friends？　Am　I　mad？　Rodrigo；　do　I　look　mad？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃But　the　Muwardis；　what　are　they？　Exactly　the　same　as　Queen　Vasca　was；　as　most　of　the　people　of　your　north　still　are　today。　Righteous；　convinced；　unforgiving。　Terrified　of　anything　beyond　their　understanding　of　the　world。　The　tribes　are　uncivilized？　I　think　so。　But　I　confess　I　find　little　of　value　in　the　cities　of　Esperana　either。　The　desert　is　a　hard　place；　harder　even　than　your　northlands　in　winter。　Ashar　knows；　I　have　no　bonding　of　spirit　with　the　veiled　ones；　but　I　share　even　less　with　those　who　make　pilgrimage　on　their　knees　to　Vasca's　Isle。　Would　I　rather　be　with　the　tribesmen？　Again；　put　it　a　little　differently；　and　then　leave　it；　Rodrigo；　as　my　last　words；　lest　we　quarrel　before　we　part。　I　suppose　I　would　rather；　if　Al…Rassan　is　to　be　lost；　herd　camels　in　the　Majriti　than　be　a　shepherd　in　Esperana。〃
　　〃No！　That　cannot　be　a　last　word；　Ammar！〃　Rodrigo　shook　his　head　vehemently。　〃How　do　I　let　you　ride　to　them？　Do　you　know　what　they　will　do　to　you？〃
　　Ammar　smiled　again；　wryly　this　time。　〃What　will　they　do？　Take　away　my　ink　and　paper？　For　a　start；　I　will　almost　certainly　be　named　ka'id　of　all　Cartada's　armies　by　Almalik　II。　I　expect　Ghalib　ibn　Q'arif　and　I　will　one　day　have　a　disagreement　over　who　leads　our　conjoined　forces；　and　I　will　politely　defer　to　him。　I　am　reliably　informed　he　wears　a　neck　thong　made　of　the　foreskins　of　those　who　do　not　defer　to　him。〃　He　let　the　smile　fade。　〃After　that；　I　truly　do　not　know。　It　may　e　to　camel　herding；　after　all。　Leave　it；　Rodrigo；　please。〃　He　paused。　〃There　is　a　question　about　Jehane；　however。〃
　　〃No　there　isn't。〃
　　She　had　actually　been　expecting　this　and　she　was　ready　when　it　came。　The　four　men　turned　to　her。　〃Ammar；　if　I　can　have　some　assurance　that　my　parents　are　safe　with　Rodrigo　and　the　king；　then　I'm　afraid　you　must　let　me　e　with　you…or　I'll　kill　you　before　you　leave　this　camp。〃
　　She　saw　Rodrigo　Belmonte　smile　then　for　the　first　time　that　night；　the　remembered　look　softening　his　face。　〃Ah。　You've　met　my　wife；　then？〃　he　said。
　　Jehane　turned　to　him。　〃I　have。　The　lady　Miranda　is　as　gracious　and　as　beautiful　as　I　was　told…by　others…she　would　be。　Would　she　let　you　leave　her　behind　in　such　a　circumstance　as　this；　Ser　Rodrigo？〃
　　Ammar　said　quickly；　〃It　is　not　the…
　　〃It　is　the　same。　Enough　so　as　to　make　no　difference；〃　Jehane　snapped。　She　was　afraid　weariness　would　make　her　cry　again；　and　she　didn't　want　that　at　all。
　　〃Well　now；〃　said　the　king　of　Valledo；　〃I　do　regret　having　to　add　my　voice　to　what　seems　a　matter　of　the　heart；　but　I　need　to　be　told　why　I　ought　to　allow　the　self…proclaimed　future　ka'id　of　my　enemies　to　depart。〃
　　Jehane　swallowed　abruptly。　Her　heart　thudded。　She　hadn't　even　thought　of　this。
　　〃You　must　let　him　leave；〃　Rodrigo　said　quietly。
　　King　Ramiro　looked　sharply　at　him；　and　Jehane　saw　his　temper；　now　being　kept　in　check。　What　he　had　just　said　terrified　her。
　　In　truth；　given　the　war　that　had　begun；　she　could　see　no　reason　why　he　ought　to　let　them　go。　Ammar　had　had　his　chance；　his　astonishing　offer；　and　now　。。。　
　　〃I　must？〃　said　Ramiro　of　Valledo。　〃I　am　never　happy　with　the　word；　Ser　Rodrigo。〃
　　〃My　lord；　forgive　me；〃　said　Rodrigo　calmly；　〃but　I　have…we　have…one　hundred　and　fifty　men　in　the　army　of　Ragosa。　Trapped　there。　When　word　es　that　you　are　in　Al…Rassan　and　I　am　with　you；　and　that　the　king　of　Jalona　has　e　south　as　well；　I　believe　Badir　of　Ragosa　will　receive　counsel　that　he　should　eliminate　my　pany　before　they　are　deployed　against　him。〃
　　Ammar's　expression　had　grown　sober。　〃You　believe　Mazur　would　propose　this？〃
　　Rodrigo　said；　〃Ben　Avren；　or　one　of　the　others。　Remember？　Last　autumn？　Badir　valued　you　at　your　named　price…equal；　in　yourself；　to　me　and　all　my　pany。　By　that　measure；　he　does　a　lesser　thing　in　destroying　them　than　we　would　in　killing　you。〃
　　〃You　are　playing　with　words。　That　isn't　a　true　measure；　Rodrigo。〃
　　〃What　is？　In　wartime？　They　are　in　mortal　danger。　I　must　try　to　deal　with　that。　You　are　my　best…at　the　moment　my　only　way。　The　price　of　your　freedom　is　this：　you　ensure；　upon　your　oath　and　your　honor；　that　my　men　are　allowed　to　leave　that　army　and　e　here。〃
　　〃And　if　I　cannot？〃
　　It　was　the　king　who　answered。　His　anger　had　passed。　〃You　agree　to　return；　on　your　oath　and　honor；　and　submit　to　my　judgment。　True　measure；　or　not；　if　King　Badir　accepted　such　a　value　for　your　service；　so　will　I。〃
　　It　was　monstrous；　Jehane　thought；　monstrous；　and　somehow　inevitable；　as　if　the　careless　banter　about　mercenary　wages　that　bright；　autumn　day　in　Ragosa　had　led　straight　to　this　moment　on　a　dark　plain。　She　heard　sounds　from　the　camp　behind　them；　and　the　wind　blowing。
　　〃It　is　agreed；〃　said　Ammar　quietly。
　　〃You　can　free　them　and　e　back；〃　Rodrigo　added　quickly。　He　was　not　a　man　who　surrendered　easily；　if　at　all；　Jehane　realized。　And　he　would　not　stand　on　pride。　There　was　a　plea　in　his　voice。
　　Ammar；　she　saw；　heard　it　too。　He　had　to　hear　it。　Again　the　two　men　looked　at　each　other；　but　by　now　the　horses　were　long　gone；　far　apart　in　a　too　wide；　too　dark　night。　It　was　over。
　　Ammar　said　softly；　〃We　refused　to　fight　each　other　that　day　in　Ragosa。〃
　　〃I　remember。〃
　　〃It　was　an　entertainment　they　proposed。　It　is　a　different　place　now；　the　world；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　unwontedly　awkward。　〃I　。。。　deepl