ggk.asongforarbonne-第27部分

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　　Pushed　back　under；　her　ears　stopped；　Lisseut　heard　no　more；　but　a　small；　inner　glint　of　satisfaction　made　the　last　ducking　easier　to　endure。　She　even　took　a　quick　swig　of　the　wine　before　they　pulled　her　out　for　the　third　and　final　time。　Cauvas　sparkling　gold　was　not　something　young　joglars　tasted　very　often；　even　conceding　that　being　dunked　head　first　into　a　basin　of　it　after　an　oiled　and　perfumed　Arimondan　was　not　the　connoisseur's　preferred　mode　of　consumption。
　　They　swung　her　out　and　righted　her　in　time　for　Lisseut　to　see　a　red…faced　Marotte　confronting　Remy　across　the　bar　top。
　　〃Carnival　tithe；　Marotte！〃　the　fair…haired　darling　of　the　troubadours　was　saying；　eyes　alight　with　mischief。　〃You'll　make　more　than　enough　off　all　of　us　this　week　to　cover　the　cost。〃
　　〃You　madman；　this　is　a　sacrilege！〃　Marotte　expostulated；　looking　as　truly　outraged　as　only　a　lover　of　fine　wines　could。　〃Do　you　know　what　Cauvas　wine　costs？　And　how　many　bottles　you've　wasted　in　there？　How　in　the　name　of　Rian　did　you　get　into　my　cellars？〃
　　〃Really；　Marotte；〃　Remy　retorted　with　lofty；　exaggerated　disdain；　〃did　you　really　expect　a　padlock　to　keep　me　out？〃　A　number　of　people　laughed。
　　〃Seven！〃　Aurelian　said　crisply；　his　low　voice　cutting　through　the　hilarity　in　the　room。　Everyone…including　Lisseut；　vigorously　drying　her　face　and　hair　with　the　towel　one　of　the　servers　had　kindly　offered…turned　expectantly　towards　the　door。　A　young；　red…headed　student　came　in；　blinked　a　little　at　the　scrutiny　he　was　subjected　to　and　made　his　way　uncertainly　towards　the　bar。　He　ordered　a　flagon　of　ale。　No　one　paid　him　any　attention。　They　were　watching　the　entrance。
　　They　didn't　have　long　to　wait。　The　eighth　person　in　was　a　broad…shouldered；　petent…looking　coran　of　middle　years。　As　it　happened；　a　number　of　those　in　the　tavern　knew　him　very　well；　including　Lisseut。　But　before　she　had　a　chance　to　properly　register　and　react　to　the　enormity　of　what　was　about　to　happen　the　next　man；　the　ninth；　had　already　passed　through　the　door。
　　〃Oh；　dearest　god！〃　Marotte　the　innkeeper　murmured；　in　an　entirely　uncharacteristic　appeal　to　Corannos。　In　the　abrupt　silence　his　voice　sounded　very　loud。　The　ninth　was　Duke　Bertran　de　Talair。
　　〃Nine；〃　said　Aurelian；　an　unnecessary　confirmation。　His　voice　was　hushed；　almost　reverential。　He　turned　to　Remy。　〃But　I　really　don't　think　。。。　〃　he　began。
　　Remy　of　Orreze　was　already　moving　forward；　his　handsome　face　shining；　a　wild；　hilarious　look　in　the　blue　eyes　beneath　the　damp　ringlets　of　his　hair。
　　〃Hoist　him！〃　he　cried。　〃We　all　know　the　rules…the　ninth　is　ducked　in　Rian's　name！　Seize　the　duke　of　Talair！〃
　　Valery；　the　coran；　Bertran's　cousin　and　old　friend；　actually　stepped　aside；　grinning　broadly　as　he　sized　up　the　situation。　The　duke　himself；　beginning　to　laugh；　held　up　both　hands　to　forestall　the　swiftly　approaching　Remy。　Jourdain；　very　drunk　already；　was　right　behind　Remy；　with　Alain　and　Elisse　and　a　handful　of　others　following　a　little　more　cautiously。　Lisseut；　mouth　open　in　disbelief；　realized　in　that　moment　that　Remy　was　actually　going　to　do　it：　he　was　about　to　lay　hands　on　one　of　the　most　powerful　men　in　Arbonne　in　order　to　dunk　him　in　a　tub　of　water。　Correction；　she　thought；　a　tub　of　vintage；　insanely　expensive　sparkling　Cauvas　wine。　Remy…mad；　cursed；　blessed；　impossible　Remy…was　going　to　do　it。
　　He　would　have；　if　another　man；　clad　in　the　blue…on…blue　colours　of　Talair　but　with　a　full；　reddish…brown　beard　and　features　that　stamped　him　unmistakably　as　from　Gorhaut；　had　not　stepped　forward　from　the　doorway　behind　Bertran　just　then　and　levelled　a　drawn　blade　at　Remy's　breast。
　　Remy's　reckless；　giddy　motion　was　carrying　him　forward　over　the　slippery　floor　too　swiftly　to　stop。　From　her　place　by　the　basin；　Lisseut；　hands　flying　to　her　mouth；　saw　the　whole　thing　clearly。　Bertran　quickly　spoke　a　name；　but　even　before　he　did　the　man　with　the　sword　had　shifted　it　aside。　Not　all　the　way；　though；　just　enough　for　the　tip　to　glance　off　Remy's　left　arm　and　away。
　　It　drew　blood。　The　man　had　meant　to　draw　blood；　Lisseut　was　almost　certain　of　it。　She　saw　her　former　lover　e　to　an　awkward；　stumbling　halt　and　clutch　at　his　arm　below　the　shoulder。　His　hand　came　away　streaked　with　crimson。　She　couldn't　see　his　expression；　but　it　was　easy　enough　to　guess。　There　was　a　collective　growl　of　anger　from　the　musicians　and　students　gathered　in　The　Liensenne。　The　rule　against　drawn　blades　in　taverns　was　as　old　as　the　university；　indeed；　it　was　one　of　the　things　that　had　permitted　the　university　to　survive。　And　Remy　of　Orreze；　for　all　his　impossible　ways；　was　one　of　them。　One　of　their　leaders；　in　fact；　and　the　big　man　who　had　just　bloodied　him　with　a　blade　was　from　Gorhaut。
　　In　that　tense　moment；　with　the　scene　in　the　tavern　on　the　brink　of　turning　ugly；　Bertran　de　Talair　laughed　aloud。
　　〃Really；　Remy；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　think　that　would　have　been　a　good　idea；　much　as　Valery　might　have　enjoyed　suspending　his　own　good　judgment　long　enough　to　see　me　ducked。〃　He　flicked　a　sidelong　glance　at　his　cousin　who；　surprisingly；　flushed。　The　bearded　man　with　the　drawn　sword　had　not　yet　sheathed　it。　Now　he　did；　at　a　nod　from　de　Talair。
　　〃I　think　Aurelian　might　have　been　trying　to　tell　you　as　much；〃　En　Bertran　went　on。　Lanky；　dark…haired　Aurelian　had　indeed　remained　by　the　bar；　not　far　from　Lisseut。　He　said　nothing；　watching　the　scene　with　sober；　careful　attention。
　　〃You　know　the　rules　of　Carnival；〃　Remy　said　stoutly；　his　head　high。　〃And　your　hired　northern　lout　has　just　broken　the　city　laws　of　Tavernel。　Shall　I　report　him　to　the　seneschal？〃
　　〃Probably；〃　Bertran　said　carelessly。　〃Report　me　as　well。　I　should　have　told　Blaise　about　the　sword　laws　before　we　came。　Report　us　both；　Remy。〃
　　Remy　gave　a　hollow　laugh。　〃Much　good　that　would　do；　me　sending　the　duke　of　Talair　to　justice。〃　He　paused；　breathing　hard。　〃Bertran；　you're　going　to　have　to　decide　one　day：　are　you　one　of　us；　or　are　you　a　duke　of　Arbonne。　By　all　rights　you　should　be　upside…down　now　over　that　basin；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　Genuinely　amused；　ignoring　the　presumption　of　Remy's　using　his　name　without　a　title；　de　Talair　laughed　again。　〃You　should　never　have　left　your　studies；　my　dear。　A　little　more　Rhetoric　would　have　done　you　a　world　of　good。　That　is　as　false　a　dichotomy　as　ever　I've　heard。〃
　　Remy　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　the　real　world；　no　scholar's　cloudland　of　dreams。　In　the　real　world　choices　have　to　be　made。〃
　　Lisseut　saw　the　duke's　amused　expression　change　then；　and　even　at　a　distance　she　was　chilled　by　what　succeeded　it。　It　was　as　if　de　Talair's　tolerance　had　just　been　taken　past　some　breaking　point。
　　〃And　are　you　now　going　to　tell　me；〃　he　said　coldly　to　Remy　of　Orreze；　〃how　things　operate　in　the　real　world？　Are　you；　Remy？　With　two　Arimondans　here　that　I　can　see　and　a　table　from　Portezza；　none　of　whom　I　know；　and　a　Gotzlander　at　the　bar；　and　the　goddess　knows　how　many　others　upstairs　in　Marotte's　bedrooms　。。。　you　are　going　to　tell　me　that　in　the　real　world；　as　you　choose　to　conceive　of　it；　a　duke　of　Arbonne　should　have　let　himself　be　dunked　in　a　barrel　of　water　just　now？　I　can　tolerate　insolence　sometimes；　but　I'm　afraid　I　can't　indulge　it。　Think；　lad。　Sober　up　a　little　and　use　your　brain。〃
　　〃It　isn't　water；〃　someone　said。　Uneasy　laughter　slid　through　the　grim　stillness　that　had　followed　the　duke's　words。　Lisseut　could　see　a　crimson　flush　on　the　back　of　Remy's　neck。　She　looked　over　at　Aurelian；　he　was　gazing　back　at　her。　They　exchanged　a　glance　of　shared　apprehension　and　concern。
　　〃He　filled　the　basin　with　Cauvas　gold；　my　lord；〃　Marotte　added；　bustling　busily　out　from　behind　the　bar　now；　striving　to　lighten　the　mood。　〃If　you　want　him　bloodied　again　I'll　be　pleased　to　volunteer。〃
　　〃A　whole　basin　of　Cauvas？〃　En　Bertran　was　smiling　again；　helping　the　innkeeper。　〃If　that　is　true　I　may　have　been　too　hasty。　Perhaps　I　should　let　myself　be　ducked！〃　There　was　a　gust　of　relieved　laughter；　Lisseut　found　herself　breathing　more　easily。　〃e　on；　Remy；〃　the　Duke　added；　〃let　me　buy　us　a　bottle　while　Blaise　takes　care　of　that　arm　he　cut。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　no；〃　said　Remy　with　stiff　pride。　Lisseut　knew　all　about　that　pride；　she　shook　her　head　in　exasperation。　〃I'll　look　after　it　myself。〃　He　paused。　〃And　as　it　happens；　I　prefer　drinking　with　other　musicians　during　Carnival；　not　dukes　of　Arbonne。〃
　　His　head　high；　he　turned　his　back　on　Bertran　and　walked　across　the　room　and　through　the　door　beside　the　bar　towards　the　chambers　at　the　rear　of　the　inn。　He　went　past　Lisseut　without　even　acknowledging　her　presence。　A　moment　later；　Aurelian　offered　Bertran　an　apologetic　grimace；　shrugged　at　Lisseut　and　followed　Remy　out；　pausing　to　collect　a　pitcher　of　water　and　clean　towels　from　Marotte。
　　It　was　all　very　interesting；　Lisseut　thought。　Ten　minutes　before；　Remy　of　Orreze　had　been　utterly　in　mand　of　this　room；　a　man　in　his　element；　shaping　the　mood　of　a　late　afternoon　at　Carnival。　Now　he　suddenly　seemed　to　be　no　more　than　a　young　inebriate；　his　last　words　sounding　childish　more　than　anything　else；　for　all　the　proud　dignity　of　his　exit。　He　would　know　it；　too；　she　realized；　which　probably　accounted　for　the　aggrieved　tone　she'd　heard　creeping　into　his　voice　at　the　e