ggk.asongforarbonne-第52部分

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　　〃Take　as　many　men　as　you　need；〃　said　Bertran　calmly　to　Valery。　〃Surround　the　tree。　If　those　people　attempt　to　stop　the　hanging　you　are　to　kill　them。　Blaise；　wait　here　with　me。〃
　　Without　a　word　Valery　moved　to　obey。　The　remaining　corans　of　Talair　had　already　begun　moving　swiftly　into　position；　anticipating　this。　Swords　out；　arrows　to　bows；　they　formed　a　wide　ring　around　the　hanging　tree。　At　the　rear　of　the　column　beside　Bertran；　with　two　dead　men　on　the　ground　beside　them；　Blaise　watched　the　third　Portezzan　bundled　onto　the　back　of　a　horse；　his　hands　tied　before　him；　the　knotted　rope　around　his　neck。　There　was　blood　dripping　down　his　face　from　Serlo's　branding。　The　five　men　racing　back　were　shouting　now；　gesticulating　wildly。　Serlo　looked　back　to　Bertran；　for　the　confirmation。　The　duke　nodded　once。　Serlo　stabbed　the　horse　in　the　haunch　with　his　blade。　The　animal　bolted　forward。　The　Portezzan　seemed　to　actually　spring　backwards　off　the　horse　into　the　air。　Then　he　dangled；　swinging；　an　oddly　disconnected　figure。　They　had　heard　the　cracking　sound。　He　was　already　dead。
　　The　five　shouting　Portezzans　reined　up　hard　at　the　very　edge　of　Valery's　ring　of　men。　They　were　hopelessly　outnumbered；　of　course。　The　leader　screamed　something　at　Valery；　lashing　his　handsome　horse　in　impotent　rage。　Bertran　turned　to　Blaise；　as　if　bored　by　what　was　now　happening。
　　〃We　have　another　small　thing　to　sort　out　between　us；〃　he　said；　for　all　the　world　as　if　they　were　alone　in　the　pleasant　autumn　countryside。　〃I　have　only　just　realized　it　myself。　You　may　not　be　ready　to　assert　any　sort　of　claim　in　Gorhaut；　but　if　we　are　riding　to　Lussan　now　with　you　clearly　acknowledged　as　who　you　are…and　with　what　has　just　now　happened　that　decision　has　been　made　for　us…then　I　cannot　treat　you　as　simply　another　of　my　corans。　You　may　not　like　this…for　reasons　I　can　appreciate…but　it　would　ill　behoove　us　both　for　me　to　be　seen　giving　you　mands　now。　Will　you　accept　a　discharge　from　my　service？　Will　you　accept　the　hospitality　and　panionship　of　Talair　as　my　friend　and　guest？〃
　　It　was；　of　course；　the　only　action　proper　under　the　circumstances。　And　yes；　Blaise　was　bothered　by　the　change；　it　marked　a　transition；　yet　another；　in　a　year　when　his　life　seemed　to　be　careening　with　unsettling　speed　towards　some　destination　as　yet　hidden　in　the　distance。
　　He　managed　a　smile；　〃I　was　wondering　when　my　wages　would　begin　to　grate　upon　you。　I　confess　I　had　not　thought　you　were　so　careful　with　your　money；　my　lord；　it　does　go　against　the　image　all　the　world　has　of　you。〃
　　Bertran；　genuinely　startled；　laughed　aloud。　There　was；　just　then；　a　silence　in　the　gesticulating　knot　of　men　by　the　tree。　Then　sudden　laughter　carried。　The　five　Portezzans　turned　to　look　at　them。　Their　leader；　a　short；　dark　man　on　that　splendid　horse；　stared　across　the　distance　for　a　long　moment；　ignoring　the　corans　around　him。　Then　he　turned　his　horse　without　another　word　and　rode　back　north。　The　other　Portezzans　followed。
　　〃That；〃　said　Bertran；　〃was　slightly　unfortunate。〃　
　　〃Who　was　that　man？〃
　　The　duke　turned　to　him　with　surprise。　〃You　were　telling　the　truth；　weren't　you？　You　have　really　never　met　him。　That　was　Borsiard　d'Andoria；　Blaise。　You　must　at　least　have　heard　the　name。　He　was　recently　married；　in　fact；　to…〃
　　〃To　Lucianna　Delonghi。　I　know；〃　Blaise　interrupted。　And　then　added；　〃That's　why　he　wants　to　kill　me。〃
　　Even　amid　the　churning　of　all　the　emotions　of　this　morning　there　was；　deep　within　Blaise；　a　curious　flicker　of　pride。　Even　now；　after　everything；　Lucianna　would　have　been　speaking　of　him；　that　had　to　be　it；　of　course。　Borsiard　d'Andoria　was　seeking　to　kill　his　new　wife's　former　lover　from　Gorhaut。
　　Bertran　de　Talair　was　very　quick。　〃Ah；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Engarro　di　Faenna？　It　was　true　then；　the　rumour？〃
　　〃That　I　killed　him　for　the　Delonghi？　Yes。〃　Blaise　surprised　himself　with　how　easy　it　was　to　say　this　now　to　the　duke。　He　hesitated　over　the　next　thing；　but　then　went　on：　〃With　Rudel　Correze。〃
　　He　saw　Bertran　absorbing　this。　〃And　so　she　wants　you　dead　now？〃　He　looked　dubious。
　　Blaise　shook　his　head。　〃I　doubt　it。　She　wouldn't　care　enough　to　bother　covering　that　trail。　Borsiard　does；　though。　He　probably　had　a　part　in　the　assassination　of　Engarro；　though　I　didn't　know　it　then。　He's　uneasy　about　me。　Afraid　of　what　I　might　say　or　do。　Rudel　they'll　trust；　he's　a　Delonghi　cousin。　I'm　an　unknown　quantity。〃　He　stopped。
　　〃And　that　would　be　his　〃mortal　grievance〃　against　you？〃
　　Blaise　looked　at　the　duke。　Bertran's　blue　eyes　were　searching；　skeptical；　and　there　was　a　glint　in　them　now　of　something　else。
　　〃That　would　be　a　part　of　it；〃　Blaise　said　carefully。
　　Bertran　nodded　his　head　slowly。　〃I　thought　so；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃The　jewel　of　the　Delonghi；　the　exquisite　Lucianna。　He's　a　jealous　man　then；　our　friend　Borsiard。　That　is　worth　knowing。〃　He　nodded　again。　〃It　begins　to　make　sense。　One　day　you　must　tell　me　more　about　her。　Are　all　the　stories　true？　I've　spoken　to　her　of　course；　but　in　a　crowded　room；　nothing　more；　and　that　was　years　ago　when　she　was　very　young。　Should　I　be　grateful　for　that　limited　exposure？　Is　she　as　deadly　as　word　has　it？〃
　　Blaise　shrugged。　〃I　have　survived。　So　far。〃
　　〃Damaged？〃
　　〃Scars。　I'm　dealing　with　them。〃
　　Bertran's　mouth　crooked。　〃That　is　the　most　that　can　be　said　of　any　of　us　in　such　affairs。〃
　　〃You　were　in　love；〃　said　Blaise；　surprising　himself　again。　〃That　goes　deeper。〃
　　〃So　does　death。〃　After　a　moment　Bertran　shrugged；　and　then　shook　his　head　as　if　to　break　free　of　such　thoughts。　〃Are　we　friends？　Are　you　visiting　Talair　and　sparing　me　the　cost　of　a　trained　coran？〃
　　Blaise　nodded。　〃I　suppose　I　am。　This　has　bee　a　strange　path；　though。　Where　do　you　think　it　will　bring　us　out？〃
　　Bertran　looked　amused。　〃That；　at　least；　is　easy　enough：　Barbentain　Castle　and　Lussan　town　below　it。　Hadn't　you　heard？　There's　a　fair　about　to　start。〃　He　turned　his　horse　and　they　began　to　ride。
　　Endlessly　witty；　Blaise　thought；　and　at　the　price　of　almost　everything　else　it　sometimes　seemed。　He　realized　that　he　hadn't　said　anything　to　Bertran　about　saving　his　life。
　　On　impulse　he　wheeled　his　horse　and　rode　back　a　short　way。　Dismounting　again；　he　found　the　dagger。　The　hilt　was　richly　studded　with　gems　in　typically　Portezzan　fashion。　He　swung　up　into　his　saddle　again　and　cantered　to　catch　up　with　Bertran。　The　duke　looked　over；　eyebrows　raised；　as　he　came　up。
　　Blaise　extended　the　blade；　hilt　foremost。　〃A　shame　to　leave　it；〃　he　said。　〃Thank　you。　That　was　quick　moving；　for　a　man　past　his　best。〃
　　Bertran　grinned。　〃My　knee　certainly　is；　at　any　rate。〃　He　took　the　dagger；　examined　it。　〃Pretty　work；〃　he　said；　〃if　a　trifle　gaudy。〃　He　put　it　in　his　belt。
　　Nothing　more　was　said；　nothing　more　would　be　said；　Blaise　knew。　Men　familiar　with　war　had　their　codes　in　matters　such　as　this。　He　had　once　thought　that　the　Arbonnais　corans　would　fall　short　in　this；　that　they　would　be　prone　to　missioning　rapturous　troubadour　verses　to　celebrate　each　minor　deed　of　theirs　in　battle　or　tournament。　It　didn't　happen　that　way；　he　had　discovered。　He　seemed　to　have　discovered　a　number　of　things　in　half　a　year；　without　really　trying　to　do　so。
　　The　Portezzans　ahead　of　them　had　begun　to　move；　more　quickly　now。　Borsiard　d'Andoria　would　want　to　reach　Barbentain　ahead　of　Bertran。　First　plaint　sometimes　mattered　in　affairs　such　as　this。　They　were　two　days'　ride　from　the　fair；　though。
　　Valery；　as　if　reading　Blaise's　mind；　cantered　up　to　them。　Bertran　looked　at　his　cousin。　〃I'm　not　going　to　try　to　pass　them　myself。　We'll　take　our　time。　Pick　five　men　and　go　ahead；〃　the　duke　said。　〃Find　the　countess　or　Roban　the　chancellor；　either　one；　both　together　if　you　can。　It　is　my　counsel　that　all　the　Portezzans　may　freely　be　allowed　to　enter　Lussan　or　the　castle　save　the　Andoria。　Tell　them　why。〃　The　big；　greying　coran　turned　to　go。　〃Valery；〃　said　Bertran。　His　cousin　reined　his　horse　and　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃Blaise　de　Garsenc　is　no　longer　in　my　service。　He　honours　us　at　Talair　with　his　pany　and　his　friendship。　Perhaps　he　will　even　fight　with　our　men　in　the　tournament　melee。　Tell　the　countess。〃
　　Valery　nodded；　looked　briefly　at　Blaise　and　galloped　away　in　a　swirl　of　dust　up　the　line　of　their　column。
　　And　so　the　decision　was　made。　Given　what　had　happened；　it　might　have　even　seemed　forced；　obvious。　With　the　speed　of　recent　events；　they　had　forgotten　something　though；　all　three　of　them。　Under　the　circumstances　that　was；　perhaps；　not　altogether　surprising。　Which　did　not　make　it　less　of　an　oversight。
　　On　their　right；　as　Bertran　and　Blaise　went　by；　the　dead　man；　almost　naked；　swayed　from　the　oak　tree；　blood　still　dripping　from　his　forehead　where　the　oathbreaker's　brand　had　been　carved。
　　
　　CHAPTER　10
　　Roban；　the　chancellor　of　Arbonne；　had　had　an　intensely　trying　few　days；　for　all　the　usual　reasons　associated　with　the　Autumn　Fair。　For　more　years　than　he　could　remember；　his　had　been　the　responsibility　of　supervising　the　many…faceted　preparations　for　the　annual　arrival　of　what　sometimes　seemed　to　be　half　the　known　world。　In　the　early　days　of　the　Lussan　Fair；　the　burghers　of　the　town　had　proudly　taken　charge　of　preparations　the