ggk.asongforarbonne-第37部分
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within your anger； hide away from everyone you know； down here in Arbonne； and forget such painful things？ Be honest with yourself； what is my sin； Blaise？〃
Lisseut； flat on the wall； screened by the leaves of the plane tree with a bird now silent in the branches above； heard what she should not have heard and felt her hands beginning to tremble。 This was too raw； too profoundly private； and she was sorry now that she had e。 She was spying on this garden exactly like one of the evil； envious audrades who spied on the lovers in all the dawnsongs； bent on ruin and malice。 The steady； quiet splashing of the fountain was the only sound for a long time。 There were usually fountains in the songs； too。
When Blaise next spoke it was； surprisingly； in Arbonnais。 〃If I am honest with myself and with you； I will say that there are only two people on earth； one man and one woman； it seems I cannot deal with； and you are linked with both of them now； not just the one。 It makes things 。。。 difficult。〃 He took a deep breath。 〃I'm not going to leave Arbonne。 Among other things； it would seem an admission of a guilt I do not bear。 I will wait until morning before I report to the appropriate people who it was who shot that arrow。 You should have no trouble being out to sea on one of your father's ships before that。 I'll take my chances here。〃
The other man took a step forward into the full light of the candles on the table and the torches。 There was no levity or guile in his face now。 〃We have been friends a long time and have been through a great deal together。 If we are enemies now I will be sorry for it。 You might even make me regret taking this contract。〃
Blaise shrugged。 〃It was a great deal of money。 My father tends to get what he wants。 Did you ever ask yourself why； of all possible assassins in the six countries； he hired the one who had been my closest friend？
Rudel's face slowly changed as he thought about this。 Lisseut saw it happen in the glow of the light。 He shook his head。 〃Truly？ Would that have been it？ I never even thought of that。〃 He laughed softly again； but without any amusement now。 〃With my pride； I simply assumed he'd judged me the best of all of us。〃
〃He was buying a friend I had made for myself in the world away from home； away from him。 Be flattered…he decided your price would be very high。〃
〃High enough； though I confess I'm less happy now than I was a moment ago。 Tell me one thing； though。 I think I do know why you left us all and came away by yourself； but why stay now？ What has Arbonne done to buy you and hold you？ What was Bertran de Talair that you will cast your lot in this way？〃
Blaise shrugged again。 〃It has done nothing； really。 Certainly not to buy me。 I don't even like it here； truthfully。 Too much goddess for me； as you might have guessed。〃 He shifted a little； from one foot to the other。 〃But I have a contract of my own； just as you did。 I'll wrap that up as honestly as I can； and then see where I end up。 I don't think I'm casting any lots； really。〃
〃Then think again； Blaise。 Think harder。 If your father was sending a message to the world by killing the duke of Talair what shall we take that message to be？ What is Gorhaut telling us all？ My father says there is a war ing； Blaise。 If it es； I think Arbonne is doomed。〃
〃It is possible；〃 said Blaise of Gorhaut； as Lisseut felt the colour leaving her face。 〃As I say； I will see where I am in a little while。〃
〃There is nothing I can do for you？〃
Lisseut heard a tired amusement in Blaise's voice。 〃Don't let the wine make you sentimental； Rudel。 I am going to report you as an assassin at sunrise。 You had best begin making your own plans。〃
The other did not move。 〃There is one thing；〃 he said slowly； as if to himself。 He hesitated。 〃The factors in all of the Correze branch houses will be sent a letter from me ordering them to receive and conceal you should the need ever arise。〃
〃I will not go to them。〃
It was Rudel's turn to sound amused。 〃That much is out of my control。 I can take no responsibility for your pride。 But the letter will be written。 I take it you are leaving your money with us？〃
〃But of course；〃 said Blaise。 〃With whom else should I trust it？〃
〃Good；〃 said Rudel Correze。 〃The one thing my father most hates is investors withdrawing their accounts。 He would have been deeply unhappy with me。〃
〃I would regret being the cause of such unhappiness。〃
Rudel smiled。 〃If I had not seen you； Blaise； I should be an extravagantly pleased man tonight； flushed with my great success。 I might even go out and join the Carnival。 Instead I am rendered curiously sad and forced to take a night voyage； which never agrees with my digestion。 What sort of a friend are you？〃
〃One who is not an enemy； at any rate。 Be careful； Rudel。〃
〃And you。 That Arimondan will kill you if he can。〃
〃I know。 If he can。〃
There was a silence。 〃A message for Lucianna？〃
〃None at all。 The god guard you； Rudel。〃
Blaise took a step forward and the two men clasped hands。 For a moment Lisseut thought they would embrace but they did not。 She moved silently back along the wall； felt below in darkness with her feet for the wooden crate and slipped down into the odours of the alleyway。 She heard the rats again as she moved quickly back towards the street。 As she left the alley； she picked up her mask； discarded on the street； and put it on。 She wanted some sort of barrier between herself and the world just then； and what she still wanted； even more than before； was a quiet time and a clear head that would let her think。
She didn't think she was going to get either tonight。 She went back down the empty street away from the square at the top； past the massive iron doors that were the entrance to what she now knew was the Arbonnais palace of the House of Correze。 She knew the name； of course。 Everyone knew the name。 She had stumbled into something very large and she didn't know what to do。
A little further down she came to the arched doorway she'd watched from before； when Blaise went down the alley。 She slipped back into it； looking out from behind the elongated eye…slits of her mask。
She didn't have long to wait。 Blaise of Gorhaut came striding out of the alleyway a few moments later。 He stopped in the street and looked up at the stern； square tower of Mignano。 She knew why now； she knew more than she should； or even wanted to know： Mignano was controlled by the Delonghi family； it had been for a great many years； and the only daughter of Massena Delonghi was a woman named Lucianna； twice married； twice widowed prematurely。
Three times married； she corrected herself。 To Count Borsiard d'Andoria now。 She wondered； briefly； why a man of power and means would marry her； knowing her family's ambition； knowing her own reputation。 She was said to be very beautiful。 How much could beauty excuse or pel？ Blaise had turned away from the tower and was ing back down the street； walking quickly。 The lantern light burnished his hair again； and the full beard。
She didn't know； until the moment she actually called his name； that she was going to do so。 He stopped； a hand moving swiftly to his sword； then wavering before it dropped to his side。 A woman's voice； he wouldn't fear a woman。
Lisseut came out from her archway into the light。 Her mask was on。 She reached up and removed it； the makeshift coiling she'd done with her hair came undone as she did； and she felt the tangled tendrils ing down about her face。 She could imagine what she looked like。
〃Ah；〃 he said。 〃The singer。〃 Some surprise in his voice； not a great deal。 Not a great deal of interest； either。 At least he recognized her。 〃You are a long way from the Carnival here。 Do you want an escort back to where there will be people？〃
His tone was courteous and detached； a coran of the god doing his sworn duty by someone in need。 It hadn't even occurred to him why she was here； she realized。 She was merely an Arbonnais female； presumably in need of assistance。
Her mother had always said she did too many things on impulse and that it would cost her one day。 It already had； more than once。 It was probably about to do so again； she thought； even as she opened her mouth。
〃I followed you；〃 she said。 〃I was on the garden wall under the plane tree。 I heard what you both said； you and Rudel Correze。 I'm trying to decide what to do about it。〃
She was briefly gratified at the level of astonishment that showed in his face； even behind the beard…as much a screen in its own way as all the masks were tonight。 The feeling didn't last long。 It was entirely possible； she realized； that he might kill her now。 She didn't think so； but it was possible。
She braced herself for his fury。 She thought； in the uncertain light； that she saw it e； a lifted head； a narrowed gaze upon her。 He had stabbed Remy； she remembered。 He had killed six men by Lake Dierne。 His hands remained still； though。 She saw him working out implications； surprise and anger giving way to a flatly professional appraisal。 He was quick to control himself； had she not watched him earlier in the garden spilling wine in response to a woman's name spoken s
