ggk.asongforarbonne-第15部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


oothly　loosed　arrow。　Blaise　felt　pleased　to　keep　all　his　own　flights　anywhere　on　the　distant　targets；　and　Hirnan；　scowling　ferociously；　couldn't　even　manage　that。　Blaise　had　a　suspicion　that　Bertran's　cousin　would　have　fared　as　well　at　a　hundred　paces　if　he　had　chosen　to；　but　Valery　was　too　polite　to　suggest　such　a　distance　and　the　exhibition　ended　there；　with　applause　for　all　three　of　them。
　　They　hunted　the　next　day。　Soresina；　clad　in　green　and　brown　like　a　forest　creature　of　legend；　flew　a　new　falcon　for　the　first　time　and；　to　her　prettily　expressed　delight；　the　bird　brought　down　a　plump　hare　in　the　high　fields　north　of　the　castle。　Later；　beaters　in　the　fields　stirred　up　a　loud…winged　plenitude　of　corfe　and　quail　for　their　party。　Blaise；　familiar　with　the　unwritten　rules　of　hunting　in　this　sort　of　pany；　was　careful　not　to　shoot　at　anything　until　he　was　certain　neither　Mallin　nor　the　duke　had　a　line　on　the　same　prey。　He　waited　until　the　two　nobles　had　each　killed　several　birds　and　then　allowed　himself　two　at　the　very　end　with　a　pair　of　swift　arrows　fired　into　the　line　of　the　sun。
　　On　the　third　night　there　was　a　storm。　The　sort　of　cataclysm　the　mountain　highlands　often　knew　in　summer。　Lightning　streaked　the　sky　like　the　white　spears　of　Corannos；　and　after　the　spears　came　the　god's　thunder　voice　and　the　driving　rain。　The　wind　was　wild；　howling　like　a　haunted　spirit　about　the　stone　walls　of　the　castle；　lashing　the　panes　of　the　windows　as　if　to　force　its　way　in。　They　had　firelight　and　torches；　though；　in　the　great　hall　of　Baude；　and　the　walls　and　windows　were　stronger　than　wind　or　rain。　Ramir　the　joglar　sang　for　them　again；　pitching　his　voice　over　the　noises　outside；　shaping　a　mood　of　warmth　and　close…gathered　intimacy。　Even　Blaise　had　to　concede　that　there　were　occasional　times；　such　as　this；　when　music　and　the　attention　to　physical　forts　here　in　the　south　were　indeed　of　value。　He　thought　about　the　people　in　the　hamlets　around　the　castle　though；　in　their　small；　ramshackle　wooden　homes；　and　then　about　the　shepherds　up　on　the　mountains　with　their　flocks；　lashed　by　the　driving　rain。　Early　to　bed　in　the　wild　night　he　pulled　the　quilted　coverlet　up　to　his　chin　and　gave　thanks　to　Corannos　for　the　small　blessings　of　life。
　　The　morning　after　the　storm　dawned　cool　and　still　windy；　as　if　the　onset　of　summer　had　been　driven　back　by　the　violence　of　the　night。　Bertran　and　Valery　insisted　on　joining　with　the　men　of　Castle　Baude　in　riding　up　into　the　hills　in　the　thankless；　wet；　necessary　task　of　helping　the　shepherds　locate　and　retrieve　any　of　the　baron's　sheep　scattered　by　the　storm。　The　sheep　and　their　wool　were　the　economic　foundation　of　whatever　aspirations　Mallin　de　Baude　had；　and　his　corans　were　never　allowed　to　nurture　the　illusion　that　they　were　above　performing　any　labours　associated　with　that。
　　It　was　two　hours'　steep　ride　up　to　the　high　pastures；　and　the　better　part　of　a　day's　hard；　sometimes　dangerous　work　at　the　task。　Late　in　the　afternoon；　Blaise；　swearing　for　what　seemed　to　him　entirely　sufficient　reasons；　clambered　awkwardly　up　out　of　a　slippery　defile　with　a　wet；　shivering　lamb　in　his　arms　to　see　Bertran　de　Talair　lounging　on　the　grass　in　front　of　him；　leaning　fortably　back　against　the　trunk　of　an　olive　tree。　There　was　no　one　else　in　sight。
　　〃You'd　best　put　that　little　one　down　before　she　pisses　all　over　you；〃　the　duke　said　cheerfully。　〃I've　a　flask　of　Arimondan　brandy　if　it　suits　you。〃
　　〃She　already　has；〃　Blaise　said　sourly；　setting　the　bleating　lamb　free　on　the　level　ground。　〃And　thank　you；　but　no；　I　work　better　with　a　clear　head。〃
　　〃Work's　done。　According　to　your　red…headed　coran…Hirnan；　is　it？…there's　three　or　four　sheep　who　somehow　got　up　to　the　top　of　this　range　and　then　down　towards　the　valley　south　of　us；　but　the　shepherds　can　manage　them　alone。〃　He　held　out　the　flask。
　　With　a　sigh；　Blaise　sank　down　on　his　haunches　beside　the　tree　and　accepted　the　drink。　It　was　more　than　merely　Arimondan　brandy；　one　sip　was　enough　to　tell　him　as　much。　He　licked　his　lips　and　then　arched　his　eyebrows　questioningly。　〃You　carry　seguignac　in　a　flask　to　chase　sheep　on　a　hill？〃
　　Bertran　de　Talair's　clever；　oddly　youthful　face　relaxed　in　a　smile。　〃I　see　that　you　know　good　brandy；〃　he　murmured　with　deceptive　tranquillity。　〃The　next　questions　are　how；　and　why？　You　are　trying　extremely　hard　to　seem　like　just　another　young　mercenary；　a　petent　sword　and　bow　for　hire　like　half　the　men　of　Gotzland。　I　watched　you　during　the　hunt；　though。　You　didn't　bring　down　anything　till　the　very　end；　despite　half　a　dozen　clear　opportunities　for　a　man　who　can　hit　a　target　every　time　at　eighty　paces。　You　were　too　conscious　of　not　showing　up　either　Mallin　de　Baude　or　myself。　Do　you　know　what　that　says　to　me；　Northerner？〃
　　〃I　can't　imagine；〃　Blaise　said。
　　〃Yes；　you　can。　It　says　that　you've　experience　of　a　court。　Are　you　going　to　tell　me　who　you　are；　Northerner？〃
　　Schooling　his　face　carefully；　Blaise　handed　back　the　handsome　flask　and　settled　himself　more　fortably　on　the　grass；　stalling　for　time。　Beside　them　the　lamb　was　cropping　contentedly；　seeming　to　have　forgotten　its　bleating　terror　of　moments　before。　Despite　insistent　alarm　bells　of　caution　in　his　head；　Blaise　was　intrigued　and　even　a　little　amused　by　the　directness　of　the　duke's　approach。
　　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　he　said　frankly；　〃but　I've　been　to　more　than　one　court　in　the　past；　in　Gotzland　and　Portezza　both。　I　am　curious　as　to　why　it　matters　to　you　who　I　am。〃
　　〃Easy　enough；〃　said　de　Talair。　〃I　want　to　hire　you；　and　I　prefer　to　know　the　backgrounds　of　the　men　who　work　for　me。〃
　　This　was　too　fast　in　too　many　ways　for　Blaise　to　run　with。　〃I've　been　hired　already；〃　he　said。　〃Remember？　Mallin　de　Baude；　youngish　fellow；　a　baron　in　Arbonne。　Pretty　wife。〃
　　Bertran　laughed　aloud。　The　lamb　tilted　its　head　and　looked　at　them　a　moment；　then　resumed　his　own　affairs。　〃Really；〃　said　the　duke；　〃you　belie　your　country's　reputation　with　jests　like　that：　everyone　knows　the　Gorhautians　have　no　sense　of　humour。〃
　　Blaise　allowed　himself　a　thin　smile。　〃We　say　the　same　thing　back　home　about　the　Gotzlanders。　And　Valensans　smell　of　fish　and　beer；　Portezzans　always　lie；　and　the　men　of　Arimonda　mostly　sleep　with　each　other。〃
　　〃And　what　do　you　say　back　home；〃　Bertran　de　Talair　asked　quietly；　〃about　Arbonne？〃
　　Blaise　shook　his　head。　〃I　haven't　spent　much　time　back　home　in　a　long　while；〃　he　said；　dodging　the　question。
　　〃About　four　months；〃　de　Talair　said。　〃That　much　I　checked。　Not　so　long。　What　do　they　say？〃　His　hands　were　loosely　clasped　about　the　flask。　Late…afternoon　sunlight　glinted　in　his　short　brown　hair。　He　wasn't　smiling　any　longer。
　　Neither　was　Blaise。　He　met　the　clear　blue　gaze　as　directly　as　he　could。　After　a　long　moment　he　said；　in　the　silence　of　that　high　meadow；　〃They　say　that　a　woman　rules　you。　That　women　have　always　ruled　you。　And　that　Tavernel　at　the　mouth　of　the　Arbonne　River　has　the　finest　natural　harbour　for　shipping　and　trade　in　the　world。〃
　　〃And　Ademar　of　Gorhaut；　alas；　has　no　sheltered　harbour　on　the　sea　at　all；　hemmed　in　by　Valensa　on　the　north　and　womanish　Arbonne　to　the　south。　What　a　sad　king。　Why　are　you　here；　Blaise　of　Gorhaut？〃
　　〃Seeking　my　fortune。　There's　less　of　a　mystery　than　you　might　want　to　make　out。〃
　　〃Not　much　of　a　fortune　to　be　found　chasing　sheep　for　a　minor　baron　in　these　hills。〃
　　Blaise　smiled。　〃It　was　a　start；〃　he　said。　〃The　first　contract　I　was　offered。　A　chance　to　learn　your　language　better；　to　see　what　else　might　emerge。　There　are　reasons　why　it　was　a　good　idea　for　me　to　leave　the　Portezzan　cities　for　a　time。〃　
　　〃Your　own　reasons？　Or　those　of　Ademar　of　Gorhaut？　Would　there　by　any　chance　be　a　spy　behind　that　beard；　my　green…eyed　young　man　from　the　north？〃
　　It　had　always　been　possible　that　this　might　be　said。　Blaise　was　surprised　at　how　calm　he　felt；　now　that　the　accusation　was　out　in　the　open。　He　gestured；　and　de　Talair　handed　him　the　brandy　flask　again。　Blaise　took　another　short　pull　and　wiped　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand；　the　seguignac　was　really　extraordinarily　good。
　　〃Indeed。　Very　important　information　to　be　gathered　up　here；〃　he　said；　finding　himself　for　some　inexplicable　reason　in　a　good　humour。　〃I'm　sure　Ademar　will　pay　handsomely　for　a　precise　numbering　of　the　sheep　in　these　hills。〃
　　Bertran　de　Talair　smiled　again　and　shifted　position；　resting　on　one　elbow　now；　his　booted　feet　stretched　out　in　front　of　him。　〃This　could　be　just　a　start；　as　you　say。　An　entry　to　our　councils。〃
　　〃And　so　I　cleverly　lured　you　into　offering　me　a　position　by　failing　to　shoot　well　on　a　hunt？　You　do　me　too　much　credit；　my　lord。〃
　　〃Perhaps；〃　said　de　Talair。　〃What　does　Mallin　pay　you？〃　Blaise　named　the　figure。　The　duke　shrugged　indifferently。　〃I'll　double　that。　When　can　you　start？〃　
　　〃I'm　paid　through　to　a　fortnight　from　now。〃
　　〃Good。　I'll　expect　you　at　Talair　three　days　after　that。〃　
　　Blaise　held　up　a　hand。　〃One　thing　clear　from　the　start。　The　same　thing　I　told　En　Mallin　de　Baude。　I'm　a　mercenary；　not　a　liegeman。　No　oaths。〃
　　Bertran's　lazy；　mocking　smiled　returned。　〃But　of　course。　I　wouldn't　dream　of　asking　you　to　swear　to　anything。　I　wonder；　though；　what　will　you　do　if　Ademar　es　south？　Kill　me　in　my　sleep？　Could　you　be　an　assassin　as　well　as　a　spy？〃　
　　Which；　as　it　happened；　was　nearer　to　the　bone　than　was　at　all　fortable。　Blaise　thought　suddenly　of　the　High　Priestess　of　Rian　on　her　island　in　the　sea。　He　looked　down　at　his　hands；　remembering　Rudel；　a　moonless　night　in　Portezzan　Faenna；　the　garden　of　a　palace　in　that　dangerous　city；　fireflies；　the　scent　of　oranges；　a　dagger　in　his　hand。
　　He　shook　his　head　slowly；　bringing　his　mind　back　to　Arbonne；　to　this　high　plateau　and　the　disturbingly　perceptive　man　looking　steadily　at　him　now　with　those　vivid　blue　eyes。　〃I'm　no　more　a　sworn　man　of　Ademar's　than　I　will　be　of　yours；〃　Blaise　said　carefully　to　Bertran　de　Talair。　He　hesitated。　〃Do　you　really　think　he　might　e　south？〃
　　〃Might？〃　In　Rian's　holy　name；　why　else　did　he　make　that　peace　with　Valensa　I'm　trying　so　hard　to　undermine　with　my　songs？　You　said　it　yourself：　woman…ruled　Arbonne。　Our　count　dead；　an　ageing　woman　in　Barbentain；　no　obvious　heir　in　sight；　wine　fields　and　grainlands　and