ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第47部分

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with　you　was　of　help　to　him。〃
　　〃I　am　honored　that　you　think　so。〃
　　No　irony　in　the　voice　now。　She　had　heard　his　lament　tonight。　He　had　slain　a　man　she　herself　had　sworn　to　destroy。　Had　made　her　own　vain；　childish　oath　the　meaningless　thing　it　always　had　been。　She　had　actually　been　close　to　grief；　hearing　the　cadenced　verses。　The　sorrow　behind　the　sword。
　　She　said；　〃I　had　intended　to　kill　Almalik　myself。　For　my　father。　That's　why　I　left　Fezana。〃　As　she　spoke　the　words；　as　she　told　him；　Jehane　understood　that　this　was　why　she　had　e　out　into　the　cold　of　the　night。
　　〃I　am　not　surprised；〃　he　murmured；　after　a　pause。　A　generous　thing　to　say。　Taking　her　seriously。　A　Kindath　woman。　A　child's　rash　vow。　〃Are　you　angry　that　I　forestalled　you？〃
　　She　hadn't　expected　that　either。　She　walked　beside　him　a　while　in　silence。　They　turned　a　corner。　〃I'm　a　little　ashamed；〃　she　said。　〃I　did　nothing　at　all　for　four　years；　then　came　here　and　did　nothing　again。〃
　　〃Some　tasks　take　longer　than　others。　As　it　happens；　it　was　a　little　easier　for　me。〃
　　Disguised　as　a　slave。　She　had　heard　the　tale　from　Mazur　just　before　the　banquet　this　evening。　Poison　on　a　towel。　The　royal　son　entirely　plicitous；　then　exiling　ibn　Khairan。　There　had　to　be　pain　there。
　　They　turned　another　corner。　Two　lights　shone　ahead　of　them　now　at　the　end　of　the　street；　outside　the　infirmary。　Another　memory　rising　suddenly；　against　her　will。　That　same　summer's　night　in　Fezana；　the　same　room。　Herself　with　this　man　at　the　window；　rising　on　her　toes　to　kiss　him。　A　challenge。
　　I　must　have　been　mad；　she　thought。　She　stopped　at　the　entrance　to　the　infirmary。
　　And　as　if　he　could　actually　trace　the　course　of　her　thoughts；　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　said；　〃Was　I　right　about　the　chancellor；　by　the　way？〃　A　revealed　edge　of　amusement　again；　infuriatingly。
　　〃Right　about　what？〃　she　temporized。
　　He　would　have　seen　where　she　had　been　placed　tonight；　at　the　banquet。　He　would　have　duly　noted　the　fact　that　she　was　there　at　all。　She　hoped；　fiercely；　that　he　could　not　see　her　flushing。　She　almost　regretted　now　that　she　had　e。
　　He　laughed　softly。　〃I　see；〃　he　said。　And　then；　mildly；　〃Are　you　looking　in　on　your　patients；　or　going　home？〃
　　She　glared　up　at　him。　Anger　again。　Useful。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　she　said　coldly。　In　the　light　from　the　torches　she　could　see　his　face　clearly　now。　He　regarded　her　with　posure；　but　she　thought　she　saw　laughter　lingering　in　his　eyes。　〃What　does　'I　see'　mean？〃　she　demanded。
　　A　brief　silence。　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃Have　I　offended？〃
　　〃With　that　tone　you　did；　yes；〃　she　said　sturdily。
　　〃Then　I　shall　have　to　chastise　him　for　you。〃
　　The　voice　was　behind　her；　and　known。　She　wheeled；　but　not　before　she　saw　ibn　Khairan's　gaze　shift　beyond　her　and　his　expression　change。
　　In　the　doorway　to　the　infirmary　Rodrigo　Belmonte　stood　in　a　spill　of　candlelight；　wearing　the　same　overtunic　and　vest　he'd　worn　to　the　banquet；　with　his　sword　on　one　hip。
　　〃I　am　always　being　chastised　by　someone；〃　ibn　Khairan　plained。
　　Rodrigo　gave　a　snort　of　amusement。　〃I　doubt　that；〃　he　said。　〃But　you　ought　to　know；　if　you　don't　already；　that　Mazur　ben　Avren's　lack　of　success　with　our　doctor　here　has　been　the　talk　of　Ragosa　for　months。〃
　　〃It　has？〃　said　Ammar　politely。
　　〃It　has？〃　said　Jehane　in　a　very　different　tone。
　　〃I'm　afraid　so；〃　Rodrigo　replied；　looking　at　her。　He；　too；　was　amused　now；　a　certain　wryness　to　the　expression　beneath　the　full　moustache。　〃I　must　confess　I've　made　a　sum　of　money　in　this　matter。〃
　　〃You've　been　wagering　on　me？〃　Jehane　heard　her　voice　swirling　upwards。
　　〃I　have　great　confidence　in　all　the　members　of　my　pany；〃　Rodrigo　said。
　　〃I　am　not　a　member　of　your　pany！〃
　　〃I　continue　to　live　in　hope；〃　he　murmured　blandly。
　　Behind　her；　ibn　Khairan　laughed　aloud。　She　wheeled　on　him。　He　held　up　his　hands　in　a　quick；　warding　gesture。　Jehane　was　silent；　speechless　in　fact。　And　then；　resisting　all　the　way；　she　felt　her　own　amusement　welling　up。　She　began　to　laugh；　helplessly。
　　She　leaned　in　the　doorway；　wiping　at　her　eyes；　looking　from　one　man　to　the　other。　From　within　the　infirmary　the　two　night　attendants　looked　disapprovingly　towards　the　three　of　them。　Jehane；　who　had　to　give　the　attendants　firm　instructions　in　a　moment；　struggled　for　posure。
　　〃She　can't　join　us；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。　He　had　moved　into　the　entranceway；　out　of　the　cutting　wind。　〃Ben　Avren　will　never　let　her　leave　the　city。〃
　　〃Us？〃　said　Rodrigo。
　　〃Leave　the　city？〃　said　Jehane；　in　the　same　moment。
　　The　handsome；　smooth…shaven　face　turned　from　one　of　them　to　the　other。　He　took　his　time　before　speaking。
　　〃Some　things　do　seem　obvious；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　looking　at　the　Valledan。　〃King　Badir　will　be　exceedingly　nervous　about　having　both　of　us　in　Ragosa　this　winter　without　gainful　activity。　We　will　be　sent　somewhere。　Together。　I'll　place　a　wager　on　that。　And　given　what　you　have　just　told　me　about　the　chancellor's　entirely　understandable　interest　in　our　splendid　physician　he　is　not　going　to　permit　her　to　leave　Fezana　with　two　such　irresponsible　men。〃
　　〃I　am　not　an　irresponsible　man；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　indignantly。
　　〃I　beg　to　dissent；〃　Ammar　said　calmly。　〃Jehane　told　me　that　you　caused　a　Batiaran　mercenary…a　fine　man；　a　doughty　soldier…to　forget　his　own　mother's　name　this　afternoon！　Deeply　irresponsible；　I　call　that。〃
　　〃His　mother's？〃　Rodrigo　exclaimed。　〃Not　his　father's？　If　it　was　his　father's　name…〃
　　〃You　could　understand　it。　I　know；〃　said　Jehane。　〃The　high　lord　ibn　Khairan　has　already　made　that　feeble　jest。　Among　other　things　the　two　of　you　appear　to　share　the　same　childish　humor。〃
　　〃Other　things？　What　other　things？　I　may　now　be　offended。〃　Ibn　Khairan's　expression　belied　the　words。　He　didn't　look　weary　or　unfocused　any　more；　she　noted。　The　physician　in　her　was　pleased　with　that。　She　chose　to　ignore　the　question。
　　〃I　am　the　one　offended；　remember？　And　you　haven't　apologized　yet。　Nor　have　you；〃　she　said；　turning　upon　Belmonte。　〃Wagering　on　my　conduct！　And　how　dare　you　assume　that　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa…or　anyone　else…dictates　where　and　when　I　travel？〃
　　〃Good！〃　said　Rodrigo。　〃I　have　been　waiting　a　long　time　to　hear　you　say　that！　A　winter　campaign　will　be　an　excellent　trial　for　all　of　us。〃
　　〃I　didn't　say…
　　〃Won't　you　e？〃　he　said。　〃Jesting　aside；　Jehane；　I　badly　need　a　good　doctor；　and　I　still　remember　something　you　said；　about　working　among　Esperanans。　Will　you　give　us　a　chance　to　prove　a　point　about　that？〃
　　Jehane　remembered　it　too。　She　remembered　that　night　extremely　well。　Even　the　sun　goes　down；　my　lady。　She　turned　her　mind　from　that　thought。
　　〃What？〃　she　said；　sardonically。　〃Are　there　no　pilgrims　heading　to　blessed　Queen　Vasca's　Isle　this　year？〃
　　〃Not　from　my　pany；〃　said　Rodrigo　quietly。
　　There　was　a　silence。　He　had　a　way　of　stilling　you；　she　thought。
　　〃You　might　also　consider　that　a　campaign　outside　the　city　would　give　you　a　respite　from　ben　Avren's　attentions；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　a　little　too　casually。
　　She　spun　to　glare　at　him。　His　hands　came　up　again；　defensively。　〃Assuming；　of　course；　you　want　a　respite；〃　he　added　quickly。　〃He's　a　remarkable　man。　A　poet；　a　chancellor；　a　genuine　scholar。　Prince　of　the　Kindath。　Your　mother　would　be　proud。〃
　　〃If　I　let　him　bed　me？〃　she　asked　sweetly。
　　〃Well　no；　not　that；　I　suppose。　I　was　thinking　of　something　more　formal；　of　course。　Something　。。。　〃
　　He　stopped；　having　registered　the　look　in　her　eyes。　His　hands　came　up　for　a　third　time；　as　if　to　block　an　assault。　His　rings　glittered。
　　Jehane　glared　at　him；　her　own　fingers　curled　into　fists。　The　problem　was；　she　kept　wanting　to　laugh；　which　made　it　difficult　to　cling　to　outrage。　〃You　are　in　grave　trouble　if　you　happen　to　get　sick　on　this　campaign；〃　she　said　grimly。　〃Did　no　one　ever　warn　you　not　to　offend　your　doctor？〃
　　〃Many　people；　many　times；〃　Ammar　admitted　ruefully。　〃I'm　just　not　a　responsible　man；　I　fear。〃
　　〃I　am；〃　said　Rodrigo　cheerfully。　〃Ask　anyone！〃
　　〃Only；〃　she　snapped　over　her　shoulder；　〃because　you're　terrified　of　your　wife。　You　told　me　so！〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　laughed。　A　moment　later；　so　did　Belmonte；　his　color　high。　Jehane　crossed　her　arms；　refusing　to　smile；　scowling　at　both　of　them。
　　She　felt　extraordinarily　happy；　though。
　　The　temple　bells　chimed；　beyond　the　rooftops　south　of　them；　bright　and　clear　in　the　cold　night；　to　awaken　the　devout　for　prayer。
　　〃Go　home；〃　said　Jehane　to　both　men；　looking　into　the　infirmary。　〃I　have　patients　to　check　on。〃
　　They　glanced　at　each　other。
　　〃And　leave　you　here　alone？　Would　your　mother　approve？〃　asked　ibn　Khairan。
　　〃My　father　would；〃　Jehane　said　crisply。　〃This　is　a　hospital。　I　am　a　doctor。〃
　　That　sobered　them。　Ibn　Khairan　bowed；　and　Belmonte　did　the　same。　They　left；　walking　together。　She　watched　them　go；　standing　in　the　doorway　until　they　were　swallowed　up　by　the　night。　She　stood　for　another　moment　there；　staring　at　the　darkness　before　going　into　the　infirmary。
　　The　Karcher　with　the　fractured　arm　still　slept。　It　was　what　he　needed。　She　had　given　him　absinthe　for　pain；　and　her　father's　mixture　to　help　him　rest。
　　She　woke　the　other　man　gently；　with　the　attendants　on　eith