ggk.asongforarbonne-第39部分

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father　all　these　years　because　you　will　not　oppose　him？〃
　　〃Not　oppose　him？〃　Blaise　echoed；　shocked　into　genuine　fury。　〃I　have　spent　my　life　opposing　him；　at　home　and　then　beyond　our　walls。　I　hate　everything　the　Treaty　represents。　I　left　Gorhaut　so　as　not　to　live　in　a　country　so　stripped　of　its　pride。　Everyone　there　knows　it。　I　have　made　my　statement。　What　else　would　you　have　me　do？　Ride　home　in　fell　wrath　and　declare　myself　the　true　king　of　Gorhaut？
　　And　stopped；　abashed　and　appalled　by　the　quality　of　the　silence　that　followed。　By　the　intent；　focused；　deeply　revealing　expressions　of　the　two　women　and　the　man　by　the　divan。　Blaise　swallowed　with　difficulty；　his　mouth　was　dry。　He　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　hearing　his　own　last　words　as　a　weirdly　distorted　echo　in　the　chamber　of　his　skull。　Opening　his　eyes　again　he　turned；　slowly；　his　heart　pounding　now　as　if　he'd　been　running　a　long　distance；　and　looked　towards　the　fire；　to　where　the　countess　of　Arbonne　was　standing；　small　and　delicate；　white…haired；　still　beautiful；　one　hand　on　the　back　of　a　chair　for　support；　her　astonishing　eyes　gazing　into　his；　and　smiling；　smiling　now；　he　saw；　with　the　radiant；　indulgent　approval　of　a　mother　for　a　child　who　has　passed；　all　unexpectedly；　a　test　thought　to　be　beyond　him。
　　No　one　spoke。　In　the　rigid　stillness　of　that　room　in　Tavernel　on　Midsummer　Night；　at　the　hinge；　the　axis；　the　heart　of　the　year；　the　white　owl　suddenly　lifted　itself；　gliding　silently　on　wide　wings　to　settle　on　Blaise's　shoulder　like　a　benediction　or　a　burden　beyond　all　mon　measure。
　　
　　CHAPTER　8
　　The　crimson…clad　guard　of　Carenzu　took　Lisseut　through　the　late　night　streets　and　left　her；　with　another　flawless　bow；　at　the　doorway　of　The　Liensenne。　She　stood　there　for　a　moment；　undecided；　listening　to　the　uproar　inside；　a　confused　flurry　of　emotions　working　within　her。　As　she　hesitated；　debating　whether　she　wanted　the　conviviality　of　the　tavern　itself　or　the　relative　intimacy　of　a　chamber　upstairs；　the　noise　subsided　and　a　thin；　reedy　voice　came　drifting　through　the　window；　singing　a　plangent　hymn　to　Rian。
　　Lisseut　walked　quickly　around　the　corner；　went　down　the　laneway　in　back　of　the　tavern；　opened　the　rear　door　and　started　up　the　stairs。　She　was　truly　not　of　a　mind　just　then　to　listen　to　Evrard　of　Lussan　in　his　pious　mode。　On　the　stairway　and　then　in　the　corridor　she　passed　couples　in　ardent　clinches…most　of　the　chambers　had　been　booked　and　overbooked　long　ago…before　ing　to　the　doorway　of　a　room　that　was　always　reserved　for　this　week　and　had　been　for　years。
　　She　knocked。　It　wouldn't　be　locked；　she　knew；　but　she　had　caused　some　embarrassment　two　years　ago　by　walking　in　on　three　men　and　a　woman；　at　what　turned　out　to　be　an　extremely　inopportune　time。　Her　difficult　relations　with　Elisse　dated　from　that　moment。
　　By　way　of　reply　to　her　knocking；　a　reflective；　mellifluous　voice　could　be　heard　singing：
　　Alone　am　I　and　sorrowful　for　love　has　gone　away；
　　Gone　away　on　a　white　horse　and　left　me　here　to　mourn　。。。　
　　She　smiled　and　opened　the　door。　Aurelian；　indeed　alone；　was　sitting　on　one　of　the　two　beds；　leaning　back　against　the　wall　as　he　fingered　his　lute。　His　shirt　was　open　at　the　throat　and　he　had　taken　off　his　boots。　His　long　legs　extended　well　out　over　the　side　of　the　bed。　He　gave　her　a　grave　smile　of　wele　and；　still　singing；　indicated　with　a　motion　of　his　head　the　table　where　an　open　bottle　of　wine　stood；　a　number　of　glasses　beside　it。　There　was　a　rumpled　scattering　of　clothes　on　the　other　bed　and　Lisseut　saw　blood　on　a　shirt。　She　poured　herself　some　wine；　took　a　quick；　much…needed　drink；　and　carried　the　bottle　over　to　refill　Aurelian's　goblet　as　well。　There　was　one　small　window　in　the　room。　She　walked　to　it　and　looked　down。　It　overlooked　the　alley；　there　was　no　one　below；　but　she　could　hear　sounds　from　the　street　and　Evrard's　music　drifting　up　from　the　downstairs　room。　Aurelian　continued　his　own　quiet　singing；　another　son；　the　same　theme：
　　My　heart　is　lonely　and　brim…full　of　grief　
　　When　I　remember　the　nights　that　are　past；　
　　When　my　sweet　love　would　offer　me　
　　Delights　beyond　all　earthly　measure　。。。　
　　〃I've　never　liked　that　verse；〃　he　said；　breaking　off　abruptly；　〃but　it　isn't　much　good　trying　to　talk　to　Jourdain　about　anything　he's　written；　is　it？　I　don't　even　know　why　I　keep　singing　it。〃
　　〃The　tune；〃　said　Lisseut　absently；　still　gazing　out　the　window。　〃I've　told　you　that　before。　Jourdain's　always　better　at　the　music　than　the　words。〃
　　Aurelian　chuckled。　〃Fine。　You　be　the　one　to　tell　him　that。〃　He　paused；　behind　her　she　could　almost　feel　his　scrutiny。　〃You're　too　pensive　for　a　Carnival　night；　my　dear。　You　do　know　that　Valery　is　recovering？〃
　　〃What？〃　She　spun　around。　〃I　didn't　。。。　he's　all　right。　How？〃
　　〃The　High　Priestess　was　in　Tavernel　tonight；　don't　ask　this　ignorant　troubadour　why。　Affairs　among　the　great。　Valery　should　probably　tithe　the　goddess　from　what　he　earns　of　Bertran　for　the　rest　of　his　life。　She　was　able　to　deal　with　the　poison；　and　the　wound　itself　was　minor。　He'll　be　fine；　they　told　us　at　the　temple。　So　most　of　us　came　back　here　in　a　wonderful　mood。　Can't　you　hear？　There　are　a　great　many　people　you　know　celebrating　downstairs；　why　don't　you　go　down？〃
　　〃Why　don't　you？〃　She　and　Aurelian　knew　each　other　very　well。
　　He　reached　for　his　goblet。　〃There's　only　so　much　carousing　I　can　take　these　days；　even　at　Midsummer。　Am　I　getting　old；　Lisseut？〃
　　Lisseut　made　a　face　at　him。　〃I　don't　know；　most　venerable　sage。　Are　you？〃　Aurelian　was；　in　fact；　only　two　or　three　years　older　than　she　was；　but　he'd　always　been　the　quietest　of　them　all；　slightly　removed　from　the　wilder　elements　of　the　troubadour　life。
　　〃Where　is　Remy？〃　she　asked；　a　natural　extension　of　that　last　thought。　She　looked　at　the　second；　disordered　bed；　and　back　to　Aurelian。
　　He　arched　one　eyebrow　elaborately。　〃Silly　question。　Rather　depends　on　the　hour；　I'd　imagine。　He　had　a　few　assignations　arranged。〃
　　〃How　is　he？〃
　　〃Wounded　pride。　Nothing　more；　but　a　good　deal　of　that。　He'll　probably　drink　himself　into　a　fury　tonight。　We'd　all　best　tread　warily　for　a　few　days。〃
　　Lisseut　shook　her　head。　〃Not　I。　He　owes　me　for　a　hat　and　a　shirt。　Not　to　mention　my　own　pride。　I've　no　intention　whatever　of　being　nice　to　him。　I　plan　to　tell　him　that　he　looked　like　a　sulky　little　boy　when　En　Bertran　was　chastising　him。〃
　　Aurelian　winced。　〃The　women　of　Vezét　。。。　what　is　it；　do　you　think？　The　olive　oil？　Something　about　its　sweetness　that　makes　you　all　so　fierce；　to　pensate？〃
　　From　the　room　below；　the　insistent　voice　of　Evrard　penetrated；　still　invoking　Rian　in　the　same　tired　ways。　Feeling　suddenly　tired　herself；　Lisseut　smiled　wanly；　laid　her　glass　aside　and　sat　beside　Aurelian　on　the　bed；　leaning　against　his　shoulder。　Obligingly；　he　shifted　a　little　and　put　a　long　arm　around　her。
　　〃I　don't　feel　very　fierce；〃　she　said。　〃It's　been　a　difficult　night。〃　He　squeezed　her　arm。　〃I　didn't　like　that　Arimondan；〃　she　said　after　a　moment。
　　〃Or　the　northerner；　I　saw。　But　don't　think　about　them。　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　us。　Think　about　your　song。　Alain's　downstairs；　by　the　way；　happy　as　a　crow　in　a　grainfield。　They're　all　talking　about　it；　you　know；　even　with　everything　else　that　happened。〃
　　〃Are　they？　Oh；　good；　I'm　so　happy　for　Alain。〃
　　〃Be　happy　for　his　joglar；　Lisseut。　And　don't　sign　any　contracts　tomorrow　without　talking　to　me　first…you're　worth　a　great　deal　more　now　than　you　were　this　afternoon。　Believe　it。〃
　　〃Then　why　don't　you　offer　me　a　job？〃　An　old　tease；　though　his　news　was　genuinely　exciting。　Too　much　had　happened　though；　she　couldn't　reach　through　to　any　clear　emotion；　even　for　something　like　this。
　　Characteristically；　he　chose　to　take　her　seriously。　〃If　I　write　a　woman's　song　like　Alain　did；　trust　me；　it　will　be　yours。　But　for　the　rest；　I'm　not　proud；　my　dear　。。。　I　sing　my　own　work　still。　I　started　on　the　roads　as　a　joglar；　and　I'll　end　as　one；　I　expect。〃
　　She　squeezed　his　knee。　〃I　wasn't　being　serious；　Aurelian。〃　One　of　the　first　rank　of　the　troubadours；　Aurelian　was　probably　the　very　best　of　the　joglars；　with　the　possible　exception　of　Bertran's　own　Ramir；　who　was　getting　old　now　and　on　the　roads　far　less　than　he　used　to　be。
　　Polite　applause　floated　up　from　below。　A　new　performer　began　tuning　his　instrument。　Aurelian　and　Lisseut　exchanged　wry　glances　of　relief；　and　then　laughed　quietly　together。　She　lifted　her　head　and　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。　〃How　many　years　in　a　row　now？〃　she　asked；　knowing　the　answer　very　well。
　　〃Together　at　Carnival？　I　am　aggrieved　and　affronted　that　the　nights　are　etched　on　my　heart　while　you　can't　even　remember。　Four；　now；　my　dear。　Does　that　make　us　a　tradition？〃
　　〃Would　you　like　to　be　one？〃　she　asked。　His　hand　had　moved　upwards；　stroking　the　nape　of　her　neck。　He　had　a　gentle　touch；　he　was　a　gentle　man。
　　〃I　would　like　to　know　you　and　be　your　friend　for　the　rest　of　my　life；〃　said　Aurelian　quietly。　His　dark　head　came　down　and　they　kissed。
　　Feeling　a　physical　sense　of　release；　and　a　genuine　fort　on　a　night　when　she　needed　exactly　that；　Lisseut　slid　slowly　back　down　on　the　bed　and　laced　her　fingers　through　his　black；　thick　hair；　pulling　him　down　to　her。　They　made　love　as　they　had　before；　three　years　running　on　this　night　。。。　with　tenderness　and　some　laughter；　and　an　awareness　of　shaping　a　still　place　together　amid　the　wildness　outside　and　the　music　below　and　the　wheeling　of　the　summer　stars　about　the　axis　of　the　year。
　　
　　Some　time　later；　her　head　on　his　chest；　his　arm　around　her　again；　the　two　of　them　listened　to　a　voice　singing　one　of　the　oldest　tunes；　Anselme　of　Cauvas's　most　tender　song。　In　The　Liensenne　someone　always　came　back　to　it　on　Midsummer　Eve：
When　all　the　world　is　dark　as　night
There　is；　where　she　dwells；　a　shining　light　。。。　
　　Softly；　not　entirely　certain　why　she　was　asking；　Lisseut　said；　〃Aurelian；　what　do　you　know　about　Lucianna　Delonghi？〃
　　〃Enough　to　avoid　her。　It's　Lucianna　d'Andoria　now；　actually；　since　she's　remarried；　but　no　one　but　her　husband's　family　will　ever　call　her　that。　I　would　not　place　any　sizable　wager　on　Borsiard　d'Andoria's　long　life　or　domestic　happiness。〃
　　〃Then　why　did　he　marry　her？　He's　a　powerful　man；　isn