ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第25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！


en。　As　they　paused　there　at　the　edge　of　the　trees　the　rain　stopped。　Garcia　smiled；　savoring　the　moment。
　　〃How's　that　for　an　omen　from　the　god？〃　he　said　to　no　one　in　particular。
　　He　looked　up　pointedly　at　the　horseman　beside　him。　After　a　moment　the　man　took　his　meaning　and　dismounted。　Garcia　swung　up　on　the　horse。　〃Straight　for　the　ranch；〃　he　ordered。　〃First　man　over　the　wall　has　his　choice　of　the　women。　We'll　get　their　horses　after。　They　owe　us　more　than　horseflesh。〃
　　And　then；　like　the　thundering；　heroic　ancestors　of　his　lineage；　Garcia　de　Rada　drew　his　borrowed　sword；　thrust　it　high　over　his　head；　and　kicked　the　horse　from　Lobar　into　a　gallop。　Behind　him　his　panions　gave　a　shout　and　streamed　out　of　the　woods　into　the　greyness　of　the　afternoon。
　　Six　died　in　the　first　volley　of　arrows；　and　four　in　the　second。　No　arrows　came　anywhere　near　Garcia　himself；　but　by　the　time　he　was　halfway　to　the　walled　enclosure　of　the　ranch　there　were　only　five　riders　behind　him　and　five　others　desperately　running　on　foot　across　the　wet　and　open　grass。
　　Given　such　a　sobering　development　it　began　to　seem　less　and　less　prudent　to　be　galloping　furiously；　well　ahead　of　the　others；　towards　the　pound　walls。　Garcia　slowed　his　horse　and　then；　when　he　saw　one　of　the　running　men　shot　in　the　chest；　he　reined　his　mount　to　a　stop；　too　stupefied　to　give　voice　to　the　rage　in　his　heart。
　　To　his　right；　south；　six　horsemen　now　appeared；　riding　quickly。　He　looked　back　again　and　saw　another　group　rise　up；　like　wraiths；　from　two　depressions　he　had　not　noticed　in　the　level　plain。　These　figures；　armed　with　bows　and　swords；　began　walking　steadily　towards　him；　not　hurrying。　On　the　wall…walk　of　the　ranch　he　saw　a　dozen　or　so　people　appear；　also　armed。
　　It　seemed　a　good　time　to　sheath　his　sword。　The　four　horsemen　left　to　him　hastily　did　the　same。　The　remaining　runners　straggled　up；　one　clutching　an　injured　shoulder。
　　The　bowmen　from　the　hollows　surrounded　them　as　the　six　riders　drew　near；　and　Garcia　saw　then；　with　disgust；　that　they　were　mostly　boys。　It　gave　him　a　flicker　of　hope；　though。
　　〃Dismount；〃　said　a　well…built；　brown…haired　boy。
　　〃Not　until　you　say　why　you　have　just　killed　visitors　without　provocation；〃　Garcia　temporized；　his　voice　stern　and　repressive。　〃What　sort　of　conduct　is　that？〃
　　The　boy　so　addressed　blinked；　as　if　in　surprise。　Then　he　nodded　his　head　briefly。　Three　archers　shot　Garcia's　horse　from　under　him。　Kicking　his　feet　out　of　the　stirrups；　de　Rada　leaped　free　just　in　time　to　avoid　being　crushed　by　the　falling　horse。　He　stumbled　to　one　knee　in　the　wet　grass。
　　〃I　don't　like　having　to　kill　horses；〃　the　boy　said　calmly。　〃But　I　can't　remember　the　last　time　visitors　approached　us　unannounced　at　full　gallop　with　swords　drawn。〃　He　paused；　then　smiled　thinly。　The　smile　was　oddly　familiar。　〃What　sort　of　conduct　is　that？〃
　　Garcia　de　Rada　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。　He　looked　around。　They　had　been　bested　by　children　and　stable　hands　and　it　hadn't　even　been　a　fight。
　　The　boy　who　was　evidently　leader　here　glanced　at　Garcia's　riders。　With　unbeing　celerity　they　threw　down　their　weapons　and　sprang　from　their　mounts。
　　〃Let's　go；〃　said　a　second　boy。
　　Garcia　glanced　over　at　him；　and　then　quickly　back　at　the　first　one。　The　same　face；　exactly。　And　now　he　realized　where　he　had　seen　that　smile　before。
　　〃Are　you　Belmonte's　sons？〃　he　asked；　trying　to　control　his　voice。
　　〃I　wouldn't　bother　with　questions；　were　I　you；〃　said　the　second　boy。　〃I'd　spend　my　time　preparing　answers。　My　mother　will　want　to　speak　with　you。〃
　　Which　was　an　answer　to　his　question；　of　course；　but　Garcia　decided　it　would　be　unwise　to　point　that　out。　Someone　gestured　with　a　sword　and　Garcia　began　walking　towards　the　pound。　As　he　approached　he　realized；　belatedly；　that　the　figures　on　the　wall　holding　bows　and　spears　were　women。　One　of　them；　wearing　a　man's　overtunic　and　breeches；　with　mud　stains　on　her　cheeks　and　forehead；　came　along　the　wall…walk　to　stand　above　them；　looking　down。　She　had　long；　dark　brown　hair　under　a　leather　hat。　She　held　a　bow　with　an　arrow　nocked。
　　〃Fernan；　please　tell　me　who　this　sorry　figure　is。〃　Her　voice　was　crisp　in　the　grey　stillness。
　　〃Yes；　Mother。　I　believe　it　is　Ser　Garcia　de　Rada。　The　constable's　brother。〃　It　was　the　first　of　the　boys　who　answered；　the　leader。
　　〃Is　it　so？〃　the　woman　said　icily。　〃If　he　is　indeed　of　rank　I　will　consent　to　speak　with　him。〃　She　looked　directly　at　Garcia。
　　This　was　the　woman　he　had　been　imagining　pinned　and　naked　beneath　him　since　they'd　left　Orvilla。　He　stood　in　the　wet　grass；　water　seeping　through　his　split　boot；　and　looked　up　at　her。　He　swallowed。　She　was　indeed　very　beautiful；　even　in　man's　garb　and　stained　with　mud。　That　was；　for　the　moment；　the　least　of　his　concerns。
　　〃Ser　Garcia；　you　will　explain　yourself；〃　she　said　to　him。　〃In　few　words　and　very　precisely。〃
　　The　arrogance　was　galling；　bitter　as　a　wound。　Garcia　de　Rada　had　always　been　quick…witted　though；　nor　was　he　a　coward。　This　was　a　bad　situation；　but　no　worse　in　its　way　than　Orvilla　had　been；　and　he　was　back　in　Valledo　now；　among　civilized　people。
　　〃I　have　a　grievance　with　your　husband；〃　he　said　levelly。　〃He　took　horses　belonging　to　my　men　and　myself　in　Al…Rassan。　We　were　ing　to　square　that　account。〃
　　〃What　were　you　doing　in　Al…Rassan？〃　she　asked。　He　hadn't　expected　that。
　　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃A　raiding　party。　Among　the　infidels。〃
　　〃If　you　met　Rodrigo　you　must　have　been　near　Fezana；　then。〃
　　How　did　a　woman　know　these　things？　〃Somewhat　near；〃　Garcia　agreed。　He　was　being　a　little　uneasy。
　　〃Then　Rodrigo　was　dealing　with　you　as　the　king's　officer　responsible　for　protecting　that　territory　in　exchange　for　the　parias。　On　what　basis　do　you　claim　a　right　to　steal　our　horses？〃
　　Garcia　found　himself　unable；　for　the　moment；　to　speak。
　　〃Further；　if　you　were　captured　and　released　without　your　mounts　you　will　have　given　him　your　parole　in　exchange　for　a　ransom　to　be　determined　by　the　heralds　at　court。　Is　that　not　so？〃
　　It　would　have　been　pleasant　to　be　able　to　deny　this；　but　he　could　only　nod。
　　〃Then　you　have　broken　your　oath　by　ing　here；　have　you　not？〃　The　woman's　voice　was　flat；　her　gaze　implacable。
　　This　was　being　ridiculous。　Garcia's　temper　flared。　〃Your　husband　ordered　a　cousin　of　mine　slain；　after　we　surrendered　and　sued　for　ransom！〃
　　〃Ah。　So　it　is　more　than　horses　and　armor；　is　it？〃　The　woman　on　the　wall　smiled　grimly。　〃Would　it　not　be　the　king's　task　to　judge　whether　his　officer　exceeded　authority；　Ser　Garcia？〃　Her　formality；　in　the　circumstances；　felt　like　mockery。　He　had　never　in　his　life　been　so　spoken　to　by　a　woman。
　　〃A　man　who　slays　a　de　Rada　must　answer　for　it；〃　he　said；　glaring　up　at　her；　using　his　coldest　voice。
　　〃I　see；〃　the　woman　said；　undisturbed。　〃So　you　came　here　to　make　him　answer　for　it。　How？〃
　　He　hesitated。　〃The　horses；〃　he　replied　finally。
　　〃Just　the　horses？〃　And　abruptly　he　realized　where　this　questioning　was　going。　〃Then　why　were　you　riding　towards　these　walls；　Ser　Garcia？　The　horses　are　pastured　south　of　us；　they　are　not　hard　to　see。〃
　　〃I　am　tired　of　answering　questions；〃　Garcia　de　Rada　said；　with　as　much　dignity　as　he　could　manage。　〃I　have　surrendered　and　so　have　my　men。　I　am　content　to　let　the　king's　heralds　in　Esteren　determine　fair　ransom。〃
　　〃You　already　agreed　to　that　in　Al…Rassan　with　Rodrigo；　yet　you　are　here　with　drawn　swords　and　ill　intent。　I　regret　to　say　I　cannot　accept　your　parole。　And　tired　or　not；　you　will　answer　my　question。　Why　were　you　riding　towards　these　walls；　young　fellow？〃
　　It　was　a　deliberate　insult。　Humiliated；　seething　with　rage；　Garcia　de　Rada　looked　up　at　the　woman　on　the　wall　above　him；　and　said；　〃Your　husband　must　learn　that　there　is　a　price　to　be　paid　for　certain　kinds　of　action。〃
　　There　was　a　murmur　from　the　boys　and　ranch　hands。　It　fell　away　into　silence。　The　woman　only　nodded　her　head；　as　if　this　was　what　she　had　been　waiting　to　hear。
　　〃And　that　price　was　to　have　been　exacted　by　you？〃　she　asked　calmly。
　　Garcia　said　nothing。
　　〃Might　I　guess　further；　that　it　was　to　have　been　exacted　upon　myself　and　my　sons？〃
　　There　was　silence　in　the　space　before　the　walls。　Overhead　the　clouds　were　beginning　to　lift　and　scatter　as　a　breeze　came　up。
　　〃He　had　a　lesson　to　learn；〃　said　Garcia　de　Rada　grimly。
　　She　shot　him　then。　Lifting　the　man's　bow　smoothly；　drawing　and　releasing　in　one　motion；　with　considerable　grace。　An　arrow　in　the　throat。
　　〃A　lesson　to　learn；〃　said　Miranda　Belmonte　d'Alveda；　thoughtfully；　looking　down　from　the　wall　at　the　man　she　had　killed。
　　〃The　rest　of　you　may　go；〃　she　added　a　moment　later。　〃Start　walking。　You　will　not　be　harmed。　You　may　give　report　in　Esteren　that　I　have　executed　an　oath…breaker　and　a　mon　brigand　who　threatened　a　Valledan　woman　and　her　children。　I　will　make　answer　directly　to　the　king　should　he　wish　me　to　do　so。　Say　that　in　Esteren。　Diego；　Fernan；　collect　their　mounts　and　arms。　Some　of　the　horses　look　decent　enough。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　Father　would　have　wanted　you　to　shoot　him；〃　Fernan　ventured　hesitantly。
　　〃Be　silent。　When　I　wish　the　opinions　of　my　child　I　will　solicit　them；〃　his　mother　said　icily。　〃And　your　father　ma