ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第52部分

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　　〃Now　there's　news；〃　said　Gonzalez　de　Rada　sarcastically；　his　own　beautiful　voice　cutting　into　the　mood。　〃More　than　fifteen　years　old。〃　He　glanced　at　the　king。　Ramiro　understood：　the　count　had　finally　grasped　where　this　was　heading；　and　was　trying　to　steer　it　aside。
　　Too　late；　of　course。
　　〃But　there　is　fresher　news；　I　understand；〃　the　tall　cleric　from　Ferrieres　said；　undeterred。　〃The　vicious　king　of　Cartada　is　also　dead　now；　summoned　to　the　black　judgment　Jad　visits　upon　all　unbelievers。　Surely　there　is　a　message　here　for　us！　Surely　with　the　leader　of　the　jackals　gone　it　is　a　time　to　act！〃
　　The　voice　had　risen；　modulating　smoothly　towards　a　first　crescendo。　Ramiro　had　heard　this　sort　of　thing　before；　but　never　from　such　a　master。　In　a　kind　of　horrified　admiration；　he　waited。
　　〃To　act？　Now？〃　Gonzalez　didn't　bother　to　mask　his　irony。　〃A　trifle　cold　is　it　not？〃
　　Another　good　effort；　the　dry　tone　as　much　as　the　words；　but　Geraud　de　Chervalles　overmastered　it。　〃The　fires　of　the　god　warm　those　who　serve　his　will！〃　His　gaze　as　he　looked　at　the　constable　was　scornful　and　unyielding。　Gonzalez　de　Rada　was　unlikely　to　tolerate　this；　the　king　knew　from　experience；　and　wondered　if　he　ought　to　intervene　before　something　serious　happened。
　　But　then；　unexpectedly；　the　cleric　smiled；　much　as　any　man　might　smile。　His　stem　features　relaxed；　he　lowered　his　voice。　〃Of　course　I　do　not　speak　of　a　winter　war。　I　hope　I　am　not　so　foolish　as　that。　I　know　these　matters　take　time；　much　planning；　the　right　season。　These　are　issues　for　brave　men　of　the　sword　such　as　the　valiant　kings　of　Esperana　and　their　legendary　Horsemen。　I　can　only　try；　in　my　small　way；　to　help　light　a　fire；　and　to　offer　tidings　that　may　aid　and　inspire　you。〃
　　He　waited。　There　was　a　silence。　Rain　drummed　on　the　windows。　A　log　shifted　in　one　of　the　fires；　then　fell　with　a　crash　and　a　flurry　of　sparks。　Ramiro　expected　Ines　to　ask　the　awaited　question；　but　she　had　fallen　unexpectedly　silent。　He　looked　at　her。　She　had　lowered　the　sun　disk　to　her　lap　and　was　staring　at　the　cleric；　biting　her　lip。　Her　expression　was　unreadable　now。　Inwardly；　the　king　shrugged。　The　game　had　begun；　it　was　going　to　have　to　be　played　out。
　　〃What　tidings？〃　he　asked　politely。
　　Geraud　de　Chervalles's　smile　became　a　radiant　thing。　He　said；　〃I　thought　it　might　be　so。　You　have　not　yet　heard。〃　He　paused；　raised　his　voice。　〃Hear；　then；　news　to　cause　all　hearts　to　exult　and　offer　praise：　the　king　of　Ferrieres　and　both　counts　of　Waleska；　the　mightiest　lords　of　the　Karch　Lowlands　and　most　of　the　nobility　of　Batiara　have　e　together　to　wage　war。〃
　　〃What？　Where？〃　Gonzalez　this　time；　the　sharp　words　pulled　from　him。
　　The　cleric's　smile　grew　even　more　triumphant。　His　blue　eyes　shone。
　　〃In　Soriyya；〃　he　whispered　into　the　stillness。　〃In　Ammuz。　In　the　desert　homelands　of　the　infidels；　where　Jad　is　denied　and　his　life…bringing　sun　is　cursed。　The　army　of　the　god　is　assembling　even　now。　It　will　winter　south　by　the　sea　in　Batiara　and　take　ship　in　the　spring。　Already；　though；　a　first　battle　has　been　fought　in　this　holy　war；　we　heard　the　tidings　before　we　left　to　e　to　you。〃
　　〃Where　was　this　battle？〃　Gonzalez　again。
　　〃A　city　called　Sorenica。　Do　you　know　it？〃
　　〃I　do；〃　said　Ramiro　quietly。　〃It　is　the　Kindath　city　in　the　south　of　Batiara；　granted　them　as　their　own　long　ago；　for　aid　given　the　princes　of　Batiara　in　peace　and　war。　What　Asharite　armies　were　there；　may　I　ask？〃
　　Geraud's　smile　faded。　There　was　a　coldness　in　his　eyes　now。　The　belated　recognition　of　a　possible　foe。　Be　careful；　Ramiro　told　himself。
　　The　cleric　said；　〃Think　you　the　so…called　Star…born　of　the　desert　are　the　only　infidels　we　must　face？　Do　you　not　know　the　rites　the　Kindath　practice　on　the　nights　of　two　full　moons？〃
　　〃Most　of　them；〃　said　Ramiro　of　Valledo　calmly。　It　seemed　he　was　not　going　to　be　careful；　after　all。　His　slow；　deep　anger　was　beginning　to　rise。　He　feared　that　anger；　but　not　enough　to　resist　it。　He　was　aware　that　his　wife　was　looking　at　him　now。　He　stared　at　the　cleric　from　Ferrieres。　〃I've　given　thought　to　inviting　the　Kindath　back；　you　see。　We　need　their　industry　and　their　knowledge　in　Valledo。　We　need　all　kinds　of　people　here。　I　wanted　to　know　as　much　as　I　could　about　Kindath　beliefs　before　I　proceeded　further。　There　is　nothing　I've　ever　heard；　or　read；　to　suggest　blood　or　desecration　are　part　of　their　faith。〃
　　〃Invite　them　back？〃　Geraud　de　Chervalles's　voice　had　lost　its　modulated　control。　〃At　the　very　time　when　all　the　kings　and　princes　of　the　Jaddite　world　are　joining　together　to　cleanse　the　world　of　heresy？〃　He　turned　to　Ines。　〃You　told　us　nothing　of　this；　my　lady。〃　The　words　were　an　accusation；　stiff　and　grim。
　　Ramiro　lost　his　temper。　This　was　too　much。
　　But　before　he　could　speak；　his　queen；　his　holy；　devout　queen　from　Ferrieres　said；　〃Why；　cleric；　would　I　tell　you　such　a　thing？〃　Her　tone　was　astringent；　royal；　shockingly　cold。
　　Geraud　de　Chervalles；　utterly　unprepared　for　this；　took　an　involuntary　step　backwards。　Ines　went　on：　〃Why　would　the　plans　of　my　dear　lord　and　husband　for　our　own　land　be　a　part　of　any　munication　between　you　and　me　with　regard　to　your　pilgrimage？　I　think　you　presume；　cleric。　I　await　your　apology。〃
　　Ramiro　was　as　shocked　as　the　man　addressed。　Support　from　Ines　against　a　High　Cleric　was　not　something　he'd　ever　have　expected。　He　dared　not　even　look　at　her。　He　knew　this　ice…cold　voice　of　hers　extremely　well；　most　often　it　had　been　used　against　him；　for　one　sin　or　another。
　　Geraud　de　Chervalles；　his　color　heightened　now；　said；　〃I　beg　forgiveness；　of　course；　for　any　offense　the　queen　has　perceived。　But　I　will　say　this：　there　are　no　internal；　private　affairs　of　any　Jaddite　kingdom；　not　when　it　es　to　the　infidels；　Asharite　or　Kindath。　They　are　a　matter　for　the　clerics　of　the　god。〃
　　〃Then　burn　them　yourselves；〃　said　Ramiro　of　Valledo　grimly。　〃Or　if　you　seek　men　to　die　and　women　to　be　put　at　risk　of　losing　all　they　have　in　your　cause；　speak　a　little　more　softly；　especially　at　a　royal　court　where　you　are　a　guest。〃
　　〃I　have　a　question；〃　Ines　added　suddenly。　〃If　I　may？〃　She　looked　at　the　king。　Ramiro　nodded。　He　still　couldn't　believe　what　had　happened　to　her。　She　asked；　〃Who　is　it　has　mounted　this　war？　Who　summoned　the　armies？〃
　　〃The　clerics　of　Jad；　of　course；〃　said　Geraud；　his　color　still　high；　the　easy　smile　gone。　〃Led　by　those　of　us　in　Ferrieres；　of　course。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　said　Ines。　〃Then　tell　me；　why　are　you　here；　cleric？　Why　are　you　not　with　that　mighty　army　in　Batiara；　preparing　to　make　the　long　journey　to　those　distant；　dangerous　eastern　lands？〃
　　Ramiro　had　never　seen　his　wife　like　this。　He　looked　at　her　again　in　frank　astonishment。　His　own　surprise；　he　saw；　was　as　nothing　pared　to　that　of　the　man　addressed。
　　〃There　are　infidels　nearer　to　home；〃　Geraud　said　darkly。
　　〃Of　course；〃　Ines　murmured。　Her　expression　was　guileless。　〃And　Soriyya　is　so　far；　and　sea　voyages　so　tedious；　and　war　in　the　desert　so　chancy。　I　think　I　do　begin　to　understand。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　you　do。　I　think…〃
　　〃I　am　fatigued；〃　Queen　Ines　said；　rising。　〃Forgive　me。　A　woman's　weakness。　Perhaps　we　might　continue　this　another　time；　my　lord　king？〃　She　looked　at　Ramiro。
　　Still　unable　to　believe　what　he　was　hearing；　the　king　rose。　〃Of　course；　my　lady；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　are　unwell　。。。　〃　He　extended　a　hand；　she　took　it。　He　felt；　unmistakably；　a　pressure　of　her　fingers。　〃Count　Gonzalez；　will　you　be　so　good　as　to　see　to　our　distinguished　guests　。。。　〃
　　〃A　great　honor；〃　said　Gonzalez　de　Rada。
　　He　snapped　his　fingers。　Eight　men　came　forward　to　flank　the　clerics　from　Ferrieres。　Ramiro　nodded　his　head　politely　and　waited。　Geraud　de　Chervalles；　still　red…faced；　had　no　choice　but　to　bow。　Ramiro　turned；　Ines　swinging　around　him；　still　holding　his　hand；　as　in　the　steps　of　a　dance…though　she　never　danced…and　they　went　out　through　the　new　bronze　doors　behind　the　throne。
　　The　doors　closed　behind　them。　It　was　a　small　retreat　they　entered；　graciously　appointed；　with　carpeting　and　new…bought　tapestries。　There　was　wine　on　a　table　by　one　wall。　Ramiro　walked　quickly　over　and　poured　for　himself。　He　drained　a　glass；　poured　another；　drained　it。
　　〃Jad　curse　that　insufferable　man！　Might　I　have　just　a　little　of　that？〃　his　queen　said。
　　The　king　wheeled　around。　The　servants　had　withdrawn。　They　were　alone。　Ines's　expression　was　not　one　he　could　ever　remember　seeing。　Covering　his　confusion；　he　quickly　poured　for　her；　mixed　water；　brought　her　the　glass。
　　She　took　it；　looked　up　at　him。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃I　brought　this　upon　us；　didn't　I？〃
　　〃An　unpleasant　guest？〃　He　managed　a　smile。　He　felt　oddly　buoyant；　looking　at　her。　〃We've　dealt　with　such　before。〃
　　〃He's　more　than　that；　though；　isn't　he？〃　He　watched　her　sip　from　the　glass。　She　made　a　face；　but　took　another　sip。　His　sudden　high　spirits　faded　as　quickly　as　they'd　surged。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃he　is　more　than　that。　Or；　not　him　alone；　but　the　tidings　he's　brought。〃
　　〃I　know　that。　A　holy　war。　All　those　armies　together。　They　will　want　us　to　join　the　cause；　won't　they？　In　Al…Rassan？〃
　　〃And　my　soldiers　will　want　it。〃
　　〃You　don't　want　to　go　south。〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　　There　was　a　di