ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第96部分

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　　Jehane　glanced　up　at　her　mother。　〃How　do　you　know　about　them？〃
　　Eliane's　expression　was　bitter。　〃They　warned　me。　We　were　too　slow　to　move。〃
　　〃Then　we　must　not　be　now；〃　said　Ammar　ibn　Khairan。　〃e。〃
　　〃I'll　go；〃　Alvar　said。　〃Wait　for　my　signal。〃　Who　knew　what　lay　outside　in　the　darkness？　Whatever　it　was；　Alvar　was　going　to　be　first　to　meet　it。
　　〃There's　another　key　inside；〃　Jehane　said。　〃You　need　to　use　it　to　push　the　outer　piece　open。〃
　　He　slipped　behind　the　hushes　and　then　wriggled　into　a　hollowed…out　space　in　the　thick　stone　city　wall。　In　the　close　blackness　he　found　the　second　key　by　touch　and　then　the　keyhole。　He　inserted；　turned；　pushed。　The　outer　wall　piece　swung　away　and　Alvar　crawled　through。　He　felt　grass；　stood　up　and　looked　around；　blade　quickly　to　hand　again。
　　Only　twilight；　damp　earth　by　the　river；　the　first　stars　and　a　rising　white　moon。　The　water　rippled　just　ahead；　reflecting　the　pale　moonlight。
　　〃e　on；〃　he　said；　mouth　to　the　hollow　space　in　the　stone。
　　The　others　came　through　then；　one　by　one。　He　helped　them　slip　out　and　then　stand　outside　the　wall　between　stone　and　dark　water。　Rodrigo；　last　through；　dropped　the　key　back　inside　and　pushed　the　opening　shut。
　　They　crossed　the　water　immediately；　those　who　could　swim　helping　the　others。　The　river　was　very　cold　this　early　in　the　year。　They　climbed　up　on　the　far　bank　in　the　dark。　Alvar　collapsed　among　the　high　grass　and　the　reeds；　sucking　in　deep　breaths　of　the　clean　air。　His　face　stung；　it　felt　raw　and　burnt。
　　He　became　aware　of　something。　Slowly　he　rose　to　his　feet　again。　Rodrigo　had　walked　a　few　steps　from　the　rest　of　them　and　was　staring　out　into　the　darkness。　His　sword　was　drawn。
　　〃Who's　there？〃　the　Captain　called。
　　There　was　silence。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　also　stood　up。
　　Then　there　came　an　answer　from　the　dark：　〃A　friend。　Someone　is　here　to　bid　you　wele；　Ser　Rodrigo。〃　The　speaker　had　a　deep；　calm　voice。
　　But　it　wasn't　the　tone；　it　was　the　language　spoken　that　caused　Alvar　to　step　forward　beside　Rodrigo；　his　heart　hammering　again。
　　He　was　close　enough　to　hear　the　Captain　draw　breath。
　　〃Light　a　torch；　then；〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃Darkness　offers　no　true　wele。〃
　　They　heard　a　mand。　Flint　was　struck。　Light　blazed。
　　〃Wele　back；　truly；〃　said　the　very　tall；　bearded　man　illuminated　by　that　torch。　Alvar　had　seen　him　twice　in　his　life。　He　forgot　to　breathe。
　　〃My　lord；〃　said　Rodrigo；　after　a　moment。　〃This　is　unexpected。〃
　　King　Ramiro　of　Valledo；　surrounded　by　a　pany　of　men；　smiled　his　pleasure。　〃I　had　hoped　it　might　be。　It　is　rare　that　any　of　us　are　able　to　surprise　you。〃
　　〃How　e　you　to　be　here？〃　Rodrigo　said。　His　voice　was　controlled；　but　Alvar　was　near　enough　to　know　there　was　effort　involved　in　that。　He　heard　ibn　Khairan　e　quietly　up　beside　them。
　　King　Ramiro's　smile　deepened。　He　gestured；　and　someone　stepped　from　the　group　of　men　behind　him。
　　〃Hello；　Papa；〃　said　a　young　boy；　ing　to　stand　beside　the　king。
　　Rodrigo　sucked　in　his　breath；　his　control　gone。　〃Fernan？　In　Jad's　name；　what…〃
　　〃It　was　Diego；〃　the　boy　said；　a　little　too　brightly。　He　wore　light　armor　and　a　sword。　〃He　knew　where　you　were；　this　morning；　and　told　us　where　to　wait　tonight。〃　Rodrigo　was　silent。　〃He　sometimes　knows　where　you　are；　remember？〃　The　boy's　voice　betrayed　uncertainty。　〃Are　you　not　pleased　to　see　me；　Papa？〃
　　〃Oh；　Jad；〃　Alvar　heard　the　Captain　say。　And　then；　to　the　king　of　Valledo；　〃What　have　you　done？　Why　are　my　sons　with　this　army？〃
　　〃There　will　be　time　to　explain；〃　said　Ramiro　calmly。　〃This　is　not　the　place。　Will　you　e　with　us？　We　can　offer　dry　clothing　and　food。〃
　　〃And　those　I　am　with？〃　Rodrigo's　tone　was　ice…cold。
　　〃They　are　my　guests　if　you　speak　for　them；　whoever　they　may　be。　e　now；　greet　your　son；　Ser　Rodrigo。　He　has　been　dreaming　of　this　moment。〃
　　Rodrigo　opened　his　mouth　quickly；　then　closed　it。　Slowly　he　sheathed　his　blade。
　　〃e　to　me；〃　he　said　to　the　boy；　and　with　an　involuntary　sound；　Fernan　Belmonte　ran　forward　and　was　gathered　fiercely　in　his　father's　embrace。　Alvar　saw　the　Captain　close　his　eyes　as　he　gripped　his　son。
　　〃Your　mother；〃　said　Rodrigo；　when　he　finally　stepped　back；　〃is　going　to　kill　all　of　us　for　this；　you　realize。　Starting　with　me。〃
　　〃Mother's　with　the　queen；　Papa。　We　haven't　seen　her　yet　but　there　was　a　message　she　came　south　and　joined　Queen　Ines　with　the　rest　of　the　army　following　us。　We　tried　to　cut　you　off　before　you　reached　the　city。　That's　why　we　came　so　fast。　Why　are　you　here；　Papa？　What　happened　to　your　moustache？〃
　　〃I　had　friends　in　danger。　I　came　to　get　them　out。　Where　is　Diego？〃
　　〃They　are　taking　great　care　of　him；〃　Fernan　said。　〃He's　angry　about　it。　They　wouldn't　let　him　e　here。　They　made　him　stay　with　the　food　train；　in　some　village　by　the　river　west。〃
　　〃Ashar；　no！　Not　there！〃
　　All　his　days　Alvar　would　remember　those　words　and　the　expression　on　Ammar　ibn　Khairan's　face；　crying　them。　Rodrigo　wheeled　on　him。
　　〃What　is　it？　Tell　me。'〃
　　〃Ambush！〃　snapped　the　other　man；　already　moving。　〃The　Muwardis。　Almalik　planned　it；　years　ago。　Pray　to　your　god　and　ride！〃
　　Rodrigo　was　already　running　towards　the　horses。
　　
　　And　so；　moments　later；　for　the　second　time　in　less　than　a　year；　Alvar　de　Pellino…wet　and　burnt　and　cold；　pushing　past　exhaustion　and　half　a　dozen　small　wounds…found　himself　galloping　flat…out　through　darkness　over　the　plain　north　of　Fezana　towards　a　hamlet　named　Orvilla。
　　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　was　beside　him；　against　all　allegiances；　and　the　king　of　Valledo　was　on　his　other　side　with　Jehane　and　her　parents　and　Husart　and　two　children　and　a　party　of　fifty　of　the　king's　guard　streaming　behind　them　in　the　cool；　clear　night。
　　Ahead　of　them　all；　whipping　his　mount　like　a　madman　under　the　stars　and　the　white　moon；　was　a　father　racing　time　and　the　turning　heavens　to　his　child。
　　
Sixteen
　　Until　the　very　moment；　under　the　stars　and　the　white　moon　in　Al…Rassan　of　the　infidels；　when　the　veiled　ones　appeared　out　of　the　darkening　plain；　Ibero　the　cleric　had　succeeded　in　persuading　himself　that　the　hand　of　Jad　was　upon　his　shoulder　after　all；　guiding　him。
　　He　had　shaped　his　plan　on　that　first　morning；　riding　west　from　Rancho　Belmonte　in　the　rain。　It　was　possible…he'd　been　forced　to　admit　it…that　Miranda　had　been　right。　That　in　furthering　the　demands　of　holy　faith　Ibero　had　done　wrong　by　the　family　he　so　dearly　loved。　If　that　were　so；　he　had　vowed　on　that　grey；　cold　morning　he　would　do　all　he　could　to　ensure　that　the　wrong　was　contained　and　redressed。　Miranda　Belmonte　might　have　turned　him　away；　driven　him　from　his　home；　but　he　would　not　turn　his　back　on　her　or　her　family。
　　He　had　fallen　in　with　a　pany　of　soldiers　from　the　ranch　country；　heading　towards　Carcasia　in　response　to　the　king's　summons：　the　same　summons　that　had　claimed　the　two　boys。　He　went　with　the　soldiers。　This　was　a　holy　war；　in　name　at　least；　and　clerics　were　not　unwele　if　they　could　keep　up　on　the　ride。　Ibero　knew　how　to　handle　a　horse。　Years　with　the　Belmonte　had　made　certain　of　that。
　　He　found　Fernan　and　Diego　among　the　king's　party　seven　days　later　in　the　plain　south　of　Carcasia；　amid　the　tents　and　banners　of　a　war　camp。　Rodrigo's　sons　were　being　treated　with　evident　respect；　although　the　scrutiny　afforded　Diego　by　those　who　knew　why　he　was　here　made　Ibero　unfortable。　Against　his　will；　he　was　reminded　of　Miranda's　words：　those　with　the　far…sight；　or　whatever　name　was　given　it；　had　been　burned　in　the　past。　In　the　not…so…distant　past。　This；　Ibero　told　himself　again；　was　a　more　enlightened　age。
　　The　boys　weren't　entirely　pleased　to　see　him；　but　Ibero　had　a　streak　of　stubbornness　in　his　nature　and　he　made　it　clear　to　all　concerned；　including　the　elegant　High　Cleric　from　Ferrieres；　that　where　the　sons　of　Rodrigo　Belmonte　went；　Ibero　also　would　go。　He　didn't　tell　the　boys　he　had　been　driven　from　the　ranch　by　their　mother；　perhaps　he　ought　to　have；　but　he　couldn't　manage　to　do　it。　That　meant　his　presence　with　them　involved　a　deception；　but　he　trusted　the　god　to　forgive　him　for　that。　He　meant　well。　He　had　always　meant　well。
　　Fernan　and　Diego　had　obviously　been　up　to　mischief　on　the　way　here　and　since　arriving。　They　were　high…spirited　and　too　clever　for　their　own　good　sometimes。　It　was　judged　useful　to　have　their　tutor　about　for　discipline。　There　was　a　tale　doing　the　rounds　of　the　camp　about　the　rock…laden　saddlebags　of　one　of　the　soldiers　who　had　brought　them　here。　It　was　quite　a　funny　story；　but　Ibero　was　practised　at　not　encouraging　his　charges　with　visible　amusement。
　　Soon　afterwards　they　rode　south　through　the　no…man's…land　with　the　army　of　reconquest；　with　the　vanguard；　in　fact；　for　Diego　and　Fernan　were　kept　close　to　the　king　himself。
　　Ibero　had　never　seen　his　king　before。　Ramiro　of　Valledo　was　a　handsome；　impressive　man。　Worthy；　the　little　cleric　thought　humbly；　to　be　the　instrument　of　Esperana's　reconquest。　If　the　god　allowed。　He　was　acutely　aware　that　all　the　men　in　this　army　were　a　part　of　something　momentous。　The　king　kept　speaking　of　a　limited　campaign；　a　tactical　capture　of　Fezana；　but　even　Ibero　the　cleric　knew　that　once　Valledo　was　in　Al…Rassan　the　shape　and　tenor　of　their　age　would　have　changed　forever。