ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第7部分

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　　The　two　men　were　known　throughout　the　three　Jaddite　kingdoms　of　Esperana　to　have　no　love　for　one　another。　Even　the　youngest　soldiers；　new　to　the　king's　army；　managed　to　hear　some　of　the　court　stories。　The　tale　of　how　Rodrigo　Belmonte　had　demanded　at　the　coronation　of　King　Ramiro　that　the　new　king　swear　an　oath　of　nonplicity　in　the　death　of　his　brother　before　Ser　Rodrigo　would　offer　his　own　oath　of　allegiance　was　one　that　every　one　of　them　knew。　It　was　a　part　of　the　legend　of　the　Captain。
　　It　might　even　be　true；　Alvar　had　cynically　murmured　to　some　drinking　panions　one　night　in　a　soldier's　tavern。　He　was　already　being　known　for　remarks　like　that。　It　was　a　good　thing　he　knew　how　to　fight。　His　father　had　warned　him；　more　than　once　back　on　the　farm；　that　a　quick　tongue　could　be　more　of　a　hindrance　than　it　was　an　asset　in　the　army　of　Valledo。
　　Clever　remarks　by　young　soldiers　notwithstanding；　what　was　true　was　that　although　Rodrigo　Belmonte　did　swear　his　oath　of　fealty　and　King　Ramiro　accepted　him　as　his　man；　it　was　Gonzalez　de　Rada　who　was　named　by　the　new　king　as　his　constable…the　office　Rodrigo　had　held　for　the　late　King　Raimundo。　It　was；　therefore；　Count　Gonzalez　who　was　formally　responsible；　among　other　things；　for　overseeing　the　selection　and　promotion　of　young　men　throughout　Valledo　to　posts　in　the　king's　army。
　　Not　that　many　of　the　younger　horsemen　had　been　observed　to　deviate　greatly　from　the　collective　view　that　if　you　wanted　to　be　properly　trained　you　did　whatever　you　could　to　ride　with　the　Captain。　And　if　you　wanted　to　be　numbered　among　the　elite　soldiers　of　the　peninsula；　of　the　world；　you　offered　money；　land；　your　sisters；　your　own　young　body　if　need　be；　as　a　bribe　to　whomever　could　get　you　into　Rodrigo's　band。
　　Not　that　anyone　could　get　you　in；　for　any　of　those　offerings。　The　Captain　made　his　own　choices；　often　unexpected　ones；　with　gap…toothed　old　Lain　Nunez　his　only　counsellor。　Lain　was　manifestly　uninterested　in　the　alleged　pleasures　of　boys；　and　the　Captain　。。。　well；　the　very　thought　was　near　to　sacrilege；　besides　which；　Miranda　Belmonte　d'Alveda　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world。　So　all　the　young　men　in　Esteren　agreed；　though　almost　none　of　them　had　ever　seen　her。
　　On　the　morning　he　stood　pissing　against　a　wagon　wheel　in　a　sidecourt　of　Esteren's　palace　and　overheard　certain　things　he　ought　not　to　have　heard；　Alvar　de　Pellino　was　one　of　those　who　had　never　met　the　Captain's　wife。　He　hadn't　met　anyone；　really。　He　was　less　than　a　year　in　from　a　farm　in　the　northwest。　He　still　couldn't　believe　they　were　going　to　let　him　ride　with　them　this　morning。
　　He　heard　footsteps　and　voices　approaching　from　the　far　side　of　the　wagon；　that　was　not　of　great　concern。　Some　men　might　have　to　be　alone　to　empty　their　bladder　or　bowels；　they　didn't　last　long　in　an　army。　But　then；　on　that　very　thought；　Alvar's　groin　muscles　clenched　in　a　spasm　so　hard　they　cut　off　the　splashing　flow　of　his　water。　He　gasped；　recognizing　the　Captain's　wry　tones；　and　then　realized　that　the　second　man's　voice…the　one　that　sounded　like　slow　honey　being　poured…belonged　to　Count　Gonzalez。
　　With　a　decision　to　be　swiftly　made；　Alvar　de　Pellino　made　what　turned　out　to　be　the　wrong　one。　Panic…stricken；　irrationally　preoccupied　with　remaining　unnoticed；　Alvar　almost　injured　himself　holding　in　the　last　of　his　water　and　kept　silent。　He　hoped；　fervently；　that　the　two　men　were　only　here　to　exchange　parting　pleasantries。
　　〃I　could　arrange　to　have　your　sons　killed　and　your　ranch　burned；〃　Gonzalez　de　Rada　said；　pleasantly　enough；　〃if　you　make　any　trouble　about　this。〃
　　Alvar　decided　that　it　was　by　far　the　wisest　course　not　to　breathe　for　a　time。
　　〃Try　it；〃　the　Captain　said　briskly。　〃The　boys　could　use　some　practice　against　assault；　however　inpetent。　But　before　you　leave；　do　explain　how　I　would　be　the　one　making　trouble　and　not　your　pig　of　a　brother。〃
　　〃If　a　de　Rada　chooses　to　go　raiding　in　Al…Rassan；　what　business　is　it　of　yours；　Belmonte？〃
　　〃Ah。　Well。　If　such　is　the　case；　why　bother　asking　me　to　close　my　eyes　and　pretend　not　to　see　him？〃
　　〃I　am　merely　trying　to　save　you　an　embarrassing…〃
　　〃Don't　assume　everyone　else　is　a　fool；　de　Rada。　I'm　collecting　tribute　from　Fezana　for　the　king。　The　only　legitimacy　to　such　a　claim　is　that　Ramiro　has　formally　guaranteed　the　security　of　the　city　and　its　countryside。　Not　only　from　brigands；　or　his　brother　in　Ruenda；　or　the　other　petty…kings　in　Al…Rassan；　but　from　buffoons　in　his　own　country。　If　your　brother　wants　to　play　at　raiding　games　for　the　fun　of　it；　he'd　best　not　do　it　on　my　watch。　If　I　see　him　anywhere　in　the　country　around　Fezana；　I'll　deal　with　him　in　the　name　of　the　king。　You'll　be　doing　him　a　kindness　if　you　make　that　clear。〃　There　was　nothing　wry　or　ironic；　no　hint　of　anything　but　iron　in　the　voice　now。
　　There　was　a　silence。　Alvar　could　hear　Lain　Nunez　barking　instructions　over　by　the　horses。　He　sounded　angry。　He　often　did。　It　became　necessary；　despite　all　his　best　efforts；　to　breathe。　Alvar　did　so　as　quietly　as　he　could。
　　〃Doesn't　it　cause　you　some　concern；〃　Gonzalez　de　Rada　said　in　a　deceptively　grave；　an　almost　gentle　tone；　〃to　be　riding　off　into　infidel　lands　after　speaking　so　rashly　to　the　constable　of　Valledo；　leaving　your　poor　wife　alone　on　a　ranch　with　children　and　ranch　hands？〃
　　〃In　a　word；〃　said　the　Captain；　〃no。　For　one　thing；　you　value　your　own　life　too　much　to　make　a　real　enemy　of　me。　I　will　not　be　subtle　about　this：　if　any　man　I　can　trace　to　your　authority　is　found　within　half　a　day's　ride　of　my　ranch　I　will　know　how　to　proceed　and　I　will。　I　hope　you　understand　me。　I　am　speaking　about　killing　you。　For　another　thing；　I　may　have　my　own　thoughts　about　our　king's　ascension；　but　I　believe　him　to　be　a　fair　man。　What；　think　you；　will　Ramiro　do　when　a　messenger　reports　to　him　the　precise　words　of　this　conversation？〃
　　Gonzalez　de　Rada　sounded　amused。　〃You　would　actually　try　your　word　against　mine　with　the　king？〃
　　〃Think；　man；〃　the　Captain　said　impatiently。　Alvar　knew　that　tone　already。　〃He　doesn't　have　to　believe　me。　But　once　word　of　your　threat　does　reach　him…and　in　public；　I　promise　you…what　can　the　king　do　should　any　harm　befall　my　family？〃
　　There　was　a　silence　again。　When　de　Rada　next　spoke　the　amusement　was　gone。　〃You　would　really　tell　him　about　this？　Unwise。　You　might　force　my　hand；　Belmonte。〃
　　〃As　you　have　now　forced　mine。　Consider　an　alternative；　I　beg　of　you。　Act　the　part　of　an　older；　wiser　brother。　Tell　that　bullying　man…child　Garcia　that　his　games　cannot　be　allowed　to　promise　the　king's　laws　and　diplomacy。　Is　that　really　too　much　authority　to　ask　of　the　constable　of　Valledo？〃
　　Another　silence；　a　longer　one　this　time。　Then；　carefully；　〃I　will　do　what　I　can　to　keep　him　from　crossing　your　path。〃
　　〃And　I　will　do　what　I　can　to　make　him　regret　it　if　he　does。　If　he　fails　to　respect　his　older　brother's　words。〃　Rodrigo's　voice　betrayed　neither　triumph　nor　concession。
　　〃You　will　not　report　this　to　the　king　now？〃
　　〃I　will　have　to　think　on　that。　Fortunately　I　do　have　a　witness　should　I　have　need。〃　With　no　more　warning　than　that　he　raised　his　voice。　〃Alvar；　finish　doing　what　you　have　to；　in　the　god's　name；　you've　been　at　it　long　enough　to　flood　the　yard。　e　let　me　present　you　to　the　constable。〃
　　Alvar；　feeling　his　heart　suddenly　lodged　considerably　higher　than　it　was　wont　to　be　found；　discovered　that　he　had　gone　dry　as　the　desert　sands。　He　fumbled　to　button　his　trousers　and　stepped　gingerly　out　from　behind　the　wagon。　Crimson　with　embarrassment　and　apprehension；　he　discovered　that　Count　Gonzalez's　features　were　no　less　flushed…though　what　he　read　in　the　deep…set　brown　eyes　was　rage。
　　Rodrigo's　voice　was　bland；　as　if　he　was　oblivious　to　the　feelings　of　either　of　them。　〃My　lord　count；　please　accept　the　salute　of　one　of　my　pany　for　this　ride；　Pellino　de　Damon's　son。　Alvar；　make　a　bow　to　the　constable。〃
　　Confused；　horribly　shaken；　Alvar　followed　instructions。　Gonzalez　de　Rada　nodded　curtly　at　his　salute。　The　count's　expression　was　bleak　as　winter　in　the　north　when　the　winds　came　down。　He　said；　〃I　believe　I　know　of　your　father。　He　held　a　fort　in　the　southwest　for　King　Sancho；　did　he　not？〃
　　〃Marana　Guard；　yes；　my　lord。　I　am　honored　you　are　so　good　as　to　call　him　to　mind。〃　Alvar　was　surprised　his　voice　was　working　well　enough　to　manage　this。　He　kept　his　gaze　lowered。
　　〃And　where　is　your　father　now？〃
　　An　innocuous　question；　a　polite　one；　but　Alvar；　after　what　he'd　heard　from　the　far　side　of　the　wagon；　seemed　to　catch　a　feathery　hint　of　danger。　He　had　no　choice；　though。　This　was　the　constable　of　Valledo。
　　〃He　was　allowed　to　retire　from　the　army；　my　lord；　after　suffering　an　injury　in　an　Asharite　raid。　We　have　a　farm　now；　in　the　north。〃
　　Gonzalez　de　Rada　was　silent　a　long　moment。　At　length　he　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃He　was；　if　memory　serves；　a　man　famous　for　his　discretion；　your　father。〃
　　〃And　for　loyal　service　to　his　leaders；〃　the　Captain　interjected　briskly；　before　Alvar　could　say　anything　to　that。　〃Alvar；　best　mount　up　before　Lain　blisters　you　raw　for　delaying　us。〃
　　Gratefully；　Alvar　hastily　bowed　to　both　men　and　hurried　off　to　the　other　side　of　the　yard　where　horses　and　soldiers　a