ggk.asongforarbonne-第68部分

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aise　recognized　the　livery　and　relaxed　a　little：　the　countess　of　Arbonne　was　evidently　taking　pains　to　guard　her　wayward　duke。
　　〃Do　they　ride　into　the　bedrooms；　too？〃　he　asked。　
　　Valery　chuckled　and　twitched　his　horse's　reins。　〃In　the　bedrooms；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　assume　he　can　take　care　of　himself。〃
　　Rudel　laughed。　〃Does　he　know　he's　being　watched？〃　
　　〃Probably；〃　said　Valery。　〃I　think　it　amuses　him。〃　
　　〃Most　things　seem　to；〃　Rudel　assented。　
　　Valery　turned　in　the　saddle　to　look　at　him。　〃Most　things；　but　not　all。　Don't　be　misled；　not　if　you're　joining　us。　What　you　heard　him　say　to　Daufridi　this　evening；　how　he　dealt　with　him；　was　the　real　thing。　Much　of　the　rest；　what　he's　doing　now；　is　part　of　a　long　escape。〃
　　There　was　a　short　silence。　〃A　successful　one？〃　Rudel　Coreze　was　an　extremely　clever　man。　His　tone　was　thoughtful。
　　Blaise　was　remembering　that　stairwell　in　Castle　Baude　again；　a　flask　of　seguignac　passing　back　and　forth。　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　he　said　quietly。　Thai's　why　he　works　so　hard。　I　think；〃　he　said　to　Valery；　〃that　he　should　have　killed　Urté　de　Miraval　a　long　time　ago。〃
　　Valery's　face　was　hidden　in　the　darkness　as　they　rode　under　a　covered　archway　spanning　the　street。　〃So　do　I；〃　said　Bertran's　cousin　finally。　They　came　out　into　blue　moonlight　again；　slanting　down　past　the　steep　roofs　of　houses。　〃But　we　aren't　poets；　are　we；　and　there　was　a　child。〃　An　old；　tired　anger　was　in　his　voice；　embers　raked　over　but　not　dead。
　　〃This；〃　said　Rudel；　〃is　going　to　have　to　be　explained　to　me。〃
　　〃Later；〃　said　Blaise。　〃Too　tangled　for　tonight。〃
　　
　　They　rode　on。　Some　of　the　streets　by　the　market　were　lit；　but　there　were　no　great　crowds。　The　Lussan　Fair；　as　all　the　other　fairs；　was　not　like　a　carnival。　For　one　thing；　it　lasted　for　a　month；　and　not　even　Bertran　de　Talair；　Blaise　thought；　would　survive　that　much　revelry。　The　fairs　were　for　doing　business；　with　some　nocturnal　activities　for　spice。
　　Rudel；　perhaps　predictably；　seemed　to　be　thinking　about　just　that；　as　they　came　up　to　the　two　lanterns　burning　outside　the　honey…coloured　walls　of　the　Talair　palace　and　walked　their　horses　to　the　stables　at　the　back。　The　ostler　came　sleepily　forward　from　the　shadows　and　took　their　mounts。　The　three　of　them　went　back　around　to　the　front　doors。　Under　the　lanterns　again；　Rudel　had　an　expression　on　his　face　that　Blaise　knew　well。
　　〃There　is　an　amusing　tavern　I　know；〃　he　said；　〃just　beyond　the　Portezzan　quarter　of　the　market。　Are　we　really　going　to　put　the　night　to　bed；　or　is　there　some　life　left　in　us？　I　would　enjoy　buying　a　drink　for　the　pretender　to　the　crown　of　Gorhaut。〃
　　Valery　looked　around　quickly；　but　Rudel's　voice　had　been　carefully　low　and　the　square　before　the　house　was　empty。　Even　so；　Blaise　felt　his　pulse　jump　at　the　mention　of　what　he'd　said　tonight。　It　had　certainly　had　results。
　　It　seems　we　do　have　some　things　to　talk　about　after　all；　Daufridi　of　Valensa　had　said；　looking　with　hard　appraisal　at　Blaise；　and　then　had　listened　intently；　heavy　brows　drawn　together；　as　Bertran　de　Talair　outlined　a　number　of　propositions；　some　of　them　startling；　one；　at　least；　quite　terrifying。
　　In　the　street　outside　the　house　Valery　was　shaking　his　head。　〃I'm　an　old　man　tonight。　Too　many　twists　in　the　road　for　my　poor　head。　I　want　a　pillow　more　than　I　can　say。　You　two　go　on。　Be　young　a　little　longer　yet。〃
　　Blaise　was　torn；　in　fact；　between　equally　strong　desires：　one　for　the　quiet　of　his　room；　and　another　for　some　adequate　external　response　to　the　excitement　within　himself。　In　the　past　when　Rudel　had　suggested　a　night　abroad；　he　had　seldom　demurred。
　　In　those　first　months　in　Gotzland　and　then　Portezza；　after　he'd　left　Gorhaut　the　first　time…the　thought　came　suddenly；　new…minted；　to　him…he　himself　seemed　to　have　been　performing　his　own　driven　search　for　an　avenue　of　escape。　It　seemed；　after　all；　that　the　winding　route　through　so　many　taverns　and　towns；　all　the　tournaments　and　courts　and　castles；　the　night　and　morning　roads；　dawn　mist　above　battlefields　and　a　murder　in　Faenna；　had　brought　him　back；　on　this　cool　autumn　evening　in　Arbonne；　to　Gorhaut；　to　the　country　that　was　his　home；　and　to　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge；　which　he　had　twice　sworn…the　second　time　on　his　mother's　blood　on　a　night　of　storm　at　Garsenc…that　he　would　never　accept。
　　Oaths　by　younger　sons；　even　those　of　the　most　powerful　families；　rarely　meant　a　great　deal　in　the　world。　It　seemed；　tonight；　as　if　his　own　vow　might　just　possibly　be　different。　Either　that；　or　the　paths　of　folly　were　even　wider　and　smoother　and　more　weling　than　they　were　said　to　be；　and　he　was　squarely　set　upon　one　of　them　now。
　　He　was　not　going　to　fall　asleep；　he　realized。　Valery；　with　a　crooked　smile　at　the　two　of　them；　walked　up　to　the　palace　door　and　knocked　softly。　The　viewing　grille　slid　back；　and　then　the　door　was　opened　by　the　coran　on　watch。　〃Good　night；〃　Bertran's　cousin　called；　over　his　shoulder。　〃Try　to　be　quiet　when　you　do　e　back。　I　promise　you　I'll　be　sleeping。〃
　　Blaise　watched　him　go　in；　then　turned　to　Rudel。　By　the　lamplight　he　saw　his　friend's　head　tilted　to　one　side；　eyebrows　arched　expectantly　in　that　expression　he　well　remembered。　Valery　had　said　earlier　that　the　young　Bertran　had　been　much　like　this；　it　wasn't　hard　to　see　the　similarity。
　　〃Lead　on；〃　he　said。　〃If　events　continue　as　they　seem　to　have　begun；　and　you　do　intend　to　stay　the　course　with　me；　this　may　be　the　last　chance　we'll　have　to　enter　a　tavern　as　corans　for　hire　and　nothing　more。〃
　　〃Stay　the　course？〃　Rudel　said；　his　voice　swirling　upwards　as　they　began　to　walk。　〃Do　you　think　you　could　possibly　get　rid　of　me　now？〃　He　turned　a　corner；　heading　towards　the　distant　glow　of　lights　by　the　market。　It　was　a　lovely　night；　clear　as　a　shepherd's　dream。　〃All　the　riches　of　my　father　wouldn't　make　me　leave　a　game　as　diverting　as　this　one　has　bee。〃
　　〃Oh　good；〃　said　Blaise　dourly。　〃I'm　pleased　to　be　amusing　you　again。　What　happens　when　I　send　you　to　your　father　to　ask　for　all　his　riches　to　support　us？〃
　　Rudel　Correze　laughed。　He　was　still　laughing　when　six　men　ran　out　from　the　alley　and　blocked　their　path；　before　and　behind；　bows　levelled　at　the　two　of　them。
　　
　　It　was　quiet　in　the　dark　street　then；　with　the　only　lights　a　long　way　ahead　or　behind。　Blaise；　looking　at　the　deadly　purposeful　shapes　in　front　of　them；　had　a　brief　image　of　Bertran　somewhere　in　the　city　with　Soresina　de　Baude；　then　another　of　Valery　slowly　climbing　the　winding　stairs　in　the　Talair　city　palace；　heading　peacefully　to　his　rest。
　　〃I　find　this；〃　he　heard　Rudel　say；　〃deeply　offensive；　I　must　say。　I　was　greatly　looking　forward　to　that　drink　in　The　Senhal。　You　do　know；〃　he　said；　raising　his　voice　for　the　benefit　of　the　silent　men　surrounding　them；　〃that　I　am　the　son　of　Vitalle　Correze；　and　you　are　certainly　dead　men…dead　in　a　most　unpleasant　fashion…if　you　molest　us　further。〃
　　One　thing　about　Rudel；　Blaise　thought；　using　the　time　his　friend　was　buying　them　to　scan　the　shadowy　street　and　alleys　for　possibilities　of　escape…he　was　never　shy　about　invoking　his　father's　name。　Came　with　a　good　relationship；　perhaps。　Blaise　would　prefer　to　die　before　calling　upon　Galbert　de　Garsenc's　even　more　prominent　name　as　a　means　of　succor。
　　A　preference　that　might　well　be　about　to　find　its　own　grim　realization。　These　weren't　outlaws　or　renegades。　With　a　sinking　feeling；　Blaise　thought　he　recognized　one　of　the　bowmen。　They　wore　no　identifiable　livery…naturally…but　he　was　almost　certain　he'd　seen　the　nearest　man　before：　last　summer；　in　Tavernel；　standing　with　En　Urté　de　Miraval　in　the　entrance　to　The　Liensenne　on　Midsummer　Eve。
　　〃I　think　I　know　them；〃　he　murmured　to　Rudel。　I'm　afraid　this　is　bad。〃
　　〃I　didn't　think　it　was　particularly　good；〃　Rudel　replied　tartly。　〃You　cut　left；　I　go　right？〃　They　had　swords；　useless　against　archers。　Blaise　could　think　of　no　better　plan。　The　streets　were　empty　here。　They　were　a　long　way　from　the　market。　They　would　have　to　hope　uncertain　light　might　make　the　bowmen　miss。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　better　off　being　angry　with　me。〃
　　〃Not　really。　Bad　for　the　heart　and　liver；　anger。　That's　what　my　father's　doctor　says。　Live　a　placid　life；　he　advises。　I　think　I　might　try　that　next。〃
　　Poised；　preparing　to　spring　as　soon　as　Rudel　moved；　Blaise　briefly　wondered　why　none　of　the　archers　had　spoken　a　word　or　even　made　a　gesture　of　mand。
　　Then；　when　four　more　men　strode　quickly　out　from　the　alley　and　came　up　behind　them；　he　understood。　Why　give　mands　when　all　you　want　to　do　is　freeze　your　victims　long　enough　for　their　executioners　to　slaughter　them？　He　recognized　one　of　these　men；　too。　It　was　his　last　clear　thought。
　　〃A　placid　life；　that's　the　thing；〃　he　heard　Rudel　repeat　dreamily。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　his　slender；　aristocratic　friend　crumple　to　his　knees；　just　before　the　swinging　blow　from　a　wooden　staff　knocked　him　senseless　too。
　　When　he　came　to；　it　was　with　a　headache　so　brutal　the　room　lurched　sickeningly　as　soon　as　he　opened　his　eyes。　He　closed　them　quickly。　What　remained；　as　consciousness　lingered　tenuously；　was　an　awareness　that　he　was　lying　on　something　unexpectedly　soft　and　there　was　a　scent　surrounding　him。　He