ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第43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！


　　〃Of　course　you　didn't；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte。　〃That's　why　you　killed　the　king。〃
　　〃That's　why　I　had　to　kill　the　king；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　grave　in　his　black　robe。　Another　murmur　of　sound　rose　and　fell　away。
　　It　was　the　chancellor's　turn　to　sound　irritated。　Deliberately　breaking　the　mood；　Mazur　said；　〃And　are　we　to　offer　a　position　here　to　a　man　who　slays　whenever　his　pride　is　wounded？〃
　　Jehane　realized；　with　an　unexpected　flicker　of　amusement；　that　he　was　irked　because　Rodrigo　had　pieced　together　this　part　of　the　puzzle　first。　On　the　subject　of　wounded　pride；　she　thought　。。。　
　　〃Not　whenever；〃　said　ibn　Khairan　quietly。　〃Once　in　my　life；　and　with　regret；　and　for　something　very　large。〃
　　〃Ah！〃　said　the　chancellor　sardonically；　〃with　regret。　Well；　that　changes　everything。〃
　　For　the　first　time　Jehane　saw　ibn　Khairan　betray　an　unguarded　reaction。　She　watched　his　blue　gaze　go　cold　before　he　lowered　his　eyes　from　ben　Avren's　face。　Drawing　a　breath；　he　unclasped　his　hands　and　let　them　fall　to　his　sides。　She　saw　that　he　wasn't　wearing　his　rings。　He　looked　up　again　at　the　chancellor；　saying　nothing；　waiting。　Very　much；　Jehane　thought；　like　someone　braced　for　what　further　blows　might　be　levelled　against　him。
　　No　blows　fell；　verbal　or　otherwise。　Instead；　it　was　the　king　who　spoke　again；　his　equanimity　restored。　〃If　we　should　agree　with　our　Valledan　friend；　what　could　you　offer　us？〃
　　Zabira　of　Cartada；　nearly　forgotten　in　all　this；　turned　and　looked　back　at　the　man　who　had　e　here　as　her　steward。　Her　dark；　carefully　accentuated　eyes　were　quite　unreadable。　Another　fringe　of　cloud　trailed　past　the　sun　and　then　away；　taking　the　light　and　giving　it　back。
　　〃Myself；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。
　　In　that　exquisite　garden　no　one's　gaze　was　anywhere　but　upon　him。　The　arrogance　was　dazzling；　but　the　man　had　been　known；　for　fifteen　years　and　more；　not　only　as　a　diplomat　and　a　strategist；　but　as　a　military　mander　and　the　purest　swordsman　in　Al…Rassan。
　　〃That　will　be　sufficient；〃　said　King　Badir；　visibly　diverted　now。　〃We　offer　you　service　in　our　court　and　armed　panies　for　a　term　of　one　year。　On　your　honor；　you　will　not　take　or　offer　service　elsewhere　in　that　time　without　our　leave。　We　shall　allow　our　advisors　to　propose　and　discuss　terms。　Do　you　accept？〃
　　An　answering　smile　came；　the　one　Jehane　remembered　from　her　father's　chamber。
　　〃I　do；〃　said　ibn　Khairan。　〃I　find　I　rather　like　the　idea　of　being　bought。　And　the　terms　will　be　easy。〃　The　smile　deepened。　〃Exactly　those　you　have　offered　our　Valledan　friend。〃
　　〃Ser　Rodrigo　came　here　with　one　hundred　and　fifty　horsemen！〃　said　Mazur　ben　Avren；　with　the　just　indignation　of　a　man　tasked　with　monitoring　purse　strings　in　difficult　times。
　　〃Even　so；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　with　an　indifferent　shrug。　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　Jehane　saw；　was　smiling。　The　other　captains　were　not。　A　palpable　ripple　of　anger　moved　through　them。
　　One　man　stepped　forward。　A　blond　giant　from　Karch。　〃Let　them　fight；〃　he　said；　in　thickly　accented　Asharic。　〃He　says　he　is　worth　so　much。　Let　us　see　it。　Good　soldiers　here　are　paid　much　less。　Let　Belmonte　and　this　man　try　swords　for　proof。〃
　　Jehane　saw　the　idea　spark　and　kindle　through　the　garden。　The　novelty；　the　hint　of　danger。　The　testing。　The　king　looked　at　the　Karcher　soldier　speculatively。
　　〃I　think　not。〃
　　Jehane　bet　Ishak　would　always　remember　that　moment。　How　three　voices　chimed　together；　as　in　trained　harmony；　the　same　words　in　the　same　moment。
　　〃We　cannot　afford　to　risk　such　men　in　idle　games；〃　said　ben　Avren　the　chancellor；　first　of　the　three　to　continue。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　and　Ammar　ibn　Khairan；　each　of　whom　had　also　spoken　those　words；　remained　silent；　staring　at　each　other　again。　Rodrigo　was　no　longer　smiling。
　　Mazur　stopped。　The　stillness　stretched。　Even　the　captain　from　Karch　looked　from　one　to　the　other　and　took　a　step　backwards；　muttering　under　his　breath。
　　〃I　think；〃　said　ibn　Khairan　finally；　so　softly　Jehane　had　to　lean　forward　to　hear；　〃that　if　this　man　and　I　ever　cross　swords；　it　will　not　be　for　anyone's　diversion；　or　to　determine　yearly　wages。　Forgive　me；　but　I　will　decline　this　suggestion。〃
　　King　Badir　looked　as　if　he　would　say　something；　but　then；　glancing　over　at　his　chancellor；　he　did　not。
　　〃I　do　have　a　thought；〃　Rodrigo　murmured。　〃Though　I　have　no　doubt　at　all　that　the　lord　ibn　Khairan　is　worth　whatever　the　king　of　Ragosa　chooses　to　offer　him；　I　can　appreciate　why　some　of　our　panions　might　wish　to　see　his　mettle。　I　should　be　honored　to　fight　beside　him　for　the　king's　pleasure　against　our　friend　from　Karch　and　any　four　men　he　would　like　to　have　join　him　in　the　lists　this　afternoon。〃
　　〃No！〃　said　Mazur。
　　〃Done；〃　said　King　Badir　of　Ragosa。　The　chancellor　checked　himself　with　an　effort。　The　king　went　on；　〃I　should　enjoy　such　a　display。　So　would　the　people　of　my　city。　Let　them　applaud　the　valiant　men　who　defend　their　liberty。　But　as　to　the　contract；　I　accept　your　terms；　ibn　Khairan。　The　same　wages　for　both　my　exiled　captains。　That　amuses　me；　in　truth。〃
　　He　did　look　pleased；　as　if　having　discerned　a　path　through　the　thicket　of　nuances　that　had　been　woven　in　the　garden。　〃My　lord　ibn　Khairan；　it　is　past　time　to　begin　earning　your　fee。　We　shall　require　your　presence　immediately　to　consider　certain　matters　raised　here　this　morning。　You　will　do　battle　for　our　pleasure　this　afternoon。　We　shall　then　require　something　further。〃　He　smiled　with　anticipation。　〃A　verse　to　be　offered　after　the　banquet　we　will　have　prepared　in　the　lady　Zabira's　honor　and　your　own　tonight。　I　have　agreed　to　your　terms；　frankly；　because　I　am　also　acquiring　a　poet。〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　had　been　looking　at　Rodrigo　at　the　beginning　of　this；　but　by　the　end　the　king　had　his　steady；　courteous　regard。　〃I　am　honored　to　be　of　service　in　any　capacity　at　all；　my　lord　king。　Have　you　a　preferred　subject　for　tonight？〃
　　〃I　do；　with　the　king's　gracious　permission；〃　said　Mazur　ben　Avren；　one　index　finger　stroking　his　beard。　He　paused　for　effect。　〃A　lament　for　the　slain　king　of　Cartada。〃
　　Jehane　had　not　actually　known　he　could　be　cruel。　She　abruptly　remembered　that　it　had　been　ibn　Khairan；　in　her　father's　chambers；　who　had　warned　her　to　be　careful　with　Mazur。　And　with　the　thought　she　realized　that　he　was　looking　at　her。　She　felt　herself　flush；　as　if　discovered　at　something。　His　own　expression　thoughtful；　Ammar　turned　back　to　the　chancellor。
　　〃As　you　wish；〃　he　said　simply。　〃It　is　a　worthy　subject。〃
　　
　　The　poem　he　offered　them　that　night；　after　the　banquet　dishes　and　cups　had　been　cleared　away；　after　the　afternoons　extraordinary　encounter　in　the　lists　beneath　the　city　walls；　was　to　travel　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　peninsula；　even　on　the　bad　roads　of　winter。
　　By　spring　it　had　made　people　weep…more　often　than　not　against　their　will…in　a　score　of　castles　and　as　many　cities　and　towns；　notwithstanding　the　fact　that　Almalik　of　Cartada　had　been　the　most　feared　man　in　Al…Rassan。　It　is　an　old　truth　that　men　and　women　sometimes　miss　what　they　hate　as　much　as　what　they　love。
　　On　the　night　that　lament　was　first　offered；　in　the　banquet　room　of　Ragosa　by　a　man　who　still　preferred　to　name　himself　a　poet　before　anything　else；　it　had　already　been　decided　that　war　with　Cartada　would　be　premature；　whatever　the　dead　king's　woman　might　desire　for　her　sons。　There　was　no　real　dissent。　Winter　was　ing；　not　a　time　for　armies。　Spring　would　doubtless　open　a　course　of　wisdom　to　them；　much　as　flowers　would　open　in　the　gardens　and　the　countryside。
　　Guarding　Zabira's　two　boys　had　bee　rather　more　important　than　hitherto；　everyone　agreed　on　that　as　well。　Princes　were　useful；　especially　young　ones。　One　couldn't　have　too　many　royal　pawns。　It　was　another　old　truth。
　　At　the　very　end　of　that　extremely　long　day　and　night…after　the　meeting；　after　the　passage　of　arms；　after　the　banquet；　after　the　verses　and　the　toasts　and　the　last　lifted　glasses　of　wine　in　the　splendid　room　where　the　stream　ran…two　men　remained　awake；　speaking　together　in　the　king　of　Ragosa's　private　chambers　with　only　the　servants；　lighting　candles；　in　the　room　with　them。
　　〃I　don't　feel　easy　at　all；〃　said　Mazur　ben　Avren　to　his　king。
　　Badir；　leaning　back　in　a　low　chair…an　exquisite　thing；　Jaddite　in　style　but　made　of　Tudescan　redwood；　with　ivory　legs　in　smiled　at　his　chancellor　and　stretched　the　shape　of　lions'　feet…with　his　legs　upon　a　stool。
　　The　two　men　had　known　each　other　a　long　time。　Badir　had　taken　a　huge　risk　at　the　very　outset　of　his　reign　in　appointing　a　Kindath　chancellor。　The　texts　of　Ashar　were　explicit：　no　Kindath　or　Jaddite　could　hold　sovereign　authority　of　any　kind　over　the　Star…born。　No　Asharite　could　even　be　employed　by　them。　The　penalty；　if　one　followed　the　desert　code；　was　the　death　by　stones。
　　Of　course　no　one　who　mattered　in　Al…Rassan　followed　the　desert　code。　Not　during　the　Khalifate；　not　after。　The　glass　of　wine　in　the　king's　hand　was　the　most　current　evidence　of　that。　Even　so；　a　Kindath　chancellor　had　been　a　very　large　thing…a　gamble　that　the　wadjis　would　plain　as　usual　but　be　able　to　do　no　more。　There　was　a　chance　that　roll　of　dice　might　have　cost　Badir　his　newly　claimed　crown　and　his　life　if　the　people　had　risen　in　righteous　wrath。　In　ret