ggk.asongforarbonne-第51部分
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t recognize。
He turned to Bertran。 The duke was bareheaded as usual； in the nondescript riding clothes he favoured on the road。 It had saved his life once； Valery had told Blaise； when another would…be assassin had been unable to tell which man in their party was de Talair himself。
〃There's no decision to make； really。 Not now。〃 Blaise kept his voice calm。 Three men could now be seen riding back towards them； dust rising about their horses' hooves。 〃If we're to ride with the Portezzans there are a number of them who know me。 There's no point in my trying to remain unrecognized。〃
〃I thought as much；〃 Bertran said。 〃Very well。 From this time on may I assume it is Blaise de Garsenc who honours me by joining my corans for a time； despite his father's evident desire to have me killed？〃
It was a watershed of sorts； a moment when many things could change。 〃As you like；〃 said Blaise quietly。
The three riders had e nearer。 He didn't recognize them。 They were extravagantly garbed； even on the dusty road。 Portezzans were like that。
〃And on the other matter？〃 Bertran asked； the faintest hint of tension in his voice now。 〃The one we have been delaying upon？〃
Blaise knew what the duke meant； of course he knew： What would you have me do； declare myself the true king of Gorhaut？ His own words。
He shook his head。 Something in his chest grew tight and heavy whenever he thought about that。 It was a step across a chasm so wide he had never thought to see such a thing； even in his mind's eye。 〃No；〃 he said。 〃Leave that。 It is autumn now； and the truce of the fair。 Gorhaut will do nothing here； if any of them even e； and then Ademar will have to wait until spring opens the mountains again。 Let us wait and see what happens。〃
Valery said in his measured voice； 〃We might be doing things ourselves in winter； instead of waiting to see what others do。〃
Blaise turned to him。 〃I'm sorry；〃 he said sharply； 〃if my reluctance to be used as a figurehead will spoil your winter。〃
Bertran； on his other side； laughed aloud。 〃Fair enough；〃 he said； 〃though you are hardly a figurehead； if you are honest with yourself。 If Ademar is seen as having betrayed his country with the Treaty of Iersen Bridge； is there a man in Gorhaut with a better claim to succeed him than you？ Your brother； perhaps？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Blaise said。 〃He won't do anything； though。 My father rules him。〃 He hesitated。 〃Leave it； Bertran。 Leave it for now。〃
There was a silence。 In it； the three riders came up； trailed by young Serlo。 They were clad in a magnificent black and crimson livery Blaise knew。 He realized abruptly whose these men must be。 His heart began beating quickly again。 It seemed that whatever he did； wherever he went； events drew him back into his past。 The first of the riders pulled up his horse and bowed unctuously low in his saddle。
〃Very well； we will leave it for now；〃 Bertran said quietly to Blaise。 And then launched himself； almost before he'd finished speaking； in a hard； fluid； uncoiled movement from his horse。
He slammed into Blaise with his shoulder； knocking the wind from him； driving him from his own mount。 The two of them landed hard in the dust of the road as the knife thrown by the second man in black and red whipped over the bowed head of the first and through the empty space where Blaise had been a moment before。 Portezzans were legendary for their skill with knives。
But the corans of Bertran de Talair were the best trained in Arbonne。 Valery killed the knife…thrower with a short； precise sword thrust； and Serlo； with an oath； dispatched the third man from behind without ceremony。 Only the leader was left then； as Bertran and Blaise disentangled themselves and stood up。 Bertran winced and flexed a knee。
Serlo and Valery had their blades levelled at the Portezzan from before and behind。 It had all happened so quickly； so silently； that no one up ahead had even realized anything had taken place。 There were two dead men on the ground； though。 The Portezzan looked down at them and then at Bertran。 He had a lean； tanned face and a carefully curled moustache。 There were several rings on his fingers； over his riding gloves。
〃I am perfectly content to surrender myself to your mercy；〃 he said calmly； in flawless； aristocratic Arbonnais。 〃I will be ransomed by my cousin at a fair price； I can assure you of that。〃
〃Your cousin has just violated a truce formally guaranteed by the countess of Arbonne；〃 Bertran said icily。 〃He will answer to her for that even more than you。〃
〃I am certain he will answer adequately；〃 the man said blandly。
Bertran's face grew pale； Blaise recognized the signs of real rage building。 He was still too much in shock to frame his own response。
〃I am rather less certain than you；〃 the duke said softly to the Portezzan。 〃But in the interim； you will now make reply to me： why would you seek to kill one of my panions？ 〃
For the first time the man's expression grew hesitant。 He looked sidelong at Blaise as if to verify something。 His face cleared； and as it did； even before he spoke； Blaise understood what had just happened。 Something in him； in his heart actually； seemed to make a sound like a bowstring plucked or the string of a lute。
〃My lord and cousin Borsiard d'Andoria has a mortal grievance against this man；〃 the Portezzan said。 〃It has nothing to do with you； En Bertran。 He has nothing but respect and affection for you； my lord； and for the countess of Arbonne。〃 The words were honeyed； mellifluous。
〃An assault against a man in my pany has a great deal to do with me； I'm afraid。 And words of respect are meaningless when an assault takes place during the truce of a fair。 Your lord and cousin has made a mistake。〃
〃And I have never met Borsiard d'Andoria in my life；〃 Blaise added。 〃I would be interested to know what his mortal grievance is。〃 He knew； though； or thought he could guess。
〃It is not a matter for proclaiming in public；〃 the Portezzan said haughtily。 〃Nor do the Andoria explain themselves。〃
〃Another mistake；〃 said Bertran； in a blunt tone of finality。 〃I see no reason to delay this。 As a duke of Arbonne sworn to uphold the countess's peace； I have an obvious duty here。〃 He turned to Serlo。 〃Take three corans and string this man from a tree。 You will strip and brand him first。 The whole world knows the punishment decreed for those who violate a truce。〃
The Portezzan was a brave man； for all his posturing。 〃I am a man of rank and cousin to Borsiard d'Andoria；〃 he said。 〃I am entitled to the treatment appropriate to my status。〃
Bertran de Talair shook his head。 Blaise registered Valery's look of growing concern。 He felt the same anxiety himself。 The duke ignored them。 He said； 〃Your status is that of an attempted murderer； violator of a truce all six countries have sworn to keep。 No one will speak for you today。〃 He turned back to Serlo。 〃Hang him。〃
Serlo had already summoned three other men。 They pulled the Portezzan roughly from his horse。 One man had a rope looped through his saddle。 There was an oak tree at the edge of a field east of the road； they took him there。
〃You cannot do this！〃 the Portezzan shouted； craning his neck to look back at Bertran； the first edge of fear entering his voice。 He had truly never thought he might be in danger； Blaise realized。 The immunity of his rank and kinship had led him to believe he could kill freely and be ransomed； that money and status could be an answer to anything。
〃Are you sure of this？〃 Valery said quietly to his cousin。 〃We may need the Andoria later。〃
There was something nearly cruel in the blue eyes as Bertran de Talair watched his corans over by the tree。 They were stripping the Portezzan； the man had begun to shout now。 Bertran's voice was bleak as he answered Valery without turning； 〃We need no one so much that we lose our honour in pursuing them。 Wherever the fairs are； the ruler of that country is bound to uphold the truce that allows us all to trade。 You know it。 Everyone knows it。 What just happened was an insult to the countess and to Arbonne so arrogant I will not countenance it。 Let Borsiard d'Andoria do what he will； those three men have to die。 When we reach Lussan and Barbentain； my advice to the countess will be to ban the Andoria from entry to the fair。 I expect she will do so。〃
He walked over and remounted his horse； Blaise； after a moment； did the same。
From up ahead； beyond the front of their column； a new motion could now be heard。 Beside the road； Bertran's corans had rigged a hanging rope around a branch of the tree。 The condemned man had been stripped to his undergarments。 Now Serlo resolutely pulled a knife from his belt； and while the others held the thrashing Portezzan； he set about carving into his forehead the brand of an oathbreaker。 Blaise had seen this before。 He resisted an impulse to turn away。 They heard the man scream suddenly； high and desperate。 Five riders had now peeled away from the party in front of them and were galloping furiously back through the grass at the side of the road。
〃Take as many men as you need；〃 said Bertran calmly to Valery。 〃Surround the tree。 If those people attempt to s
