ggk.asongforarbonne-第41部分

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er　and　a　father　then。　There　are　only　the　two　of　us　left；　Signe　thought；　humming　a　tune　she'd　almost　forgotten。　Only　the　two。
　　
　　Walking　back　from　the　chapel　of　the　god　to　Bertran's　city　palace；　Blaise　made　a　determined　effort　to　empty　his　mind。　There　would　be　time　in　the　morning　and　the　days　to　e　to　think；　to　try　to　deal　with　the　revelations　of　this　night　and　the　improbably；　treacherous　pathways　that　seemed　to　have　been　opened　up　before　him。　It　was　very　late　now；　and　he　was　bone…weary。
　　The　streets　were　quiet；　only　occasional　couples　or　small　groups　of　apprentices　went　by；　carrying　wine　and　crumpled　masks。　Both　moons　were　over　west　and　the　clouds　were　gone；　chased　by　the　breeze。　It　was　still　some　time　before　dawn　though；　even　on　this　shortest　night　of　the　year；　overhead　the　stars　were　bright。　They　were　said　to　be　the　god's　lights　in　Gorhaut；　Rian's　here；　Blaise　wondered；　for　the　first　time；　how　much　that　difference　mattered　in　the　end。　They　would　still　be　there；　still　as　remote　and　coldly　bright；　whichever　power　mortal　man　linked　them　with。　There　were　said　to　be　lands…fabled　and　mysterious…far　to　the　south　beyond　deserts　and　seas　where　different　gods　and　goddesses　were　worshipped。　Did　the　same　stars　shine　there；　and　as　brightly？
　　Blaise　shook　his　head。　These　were　late…night　thoughts　and　useless　ones。　He　was　ready　to　fall　into　his　bed　and　sleep　for　hours。　In　fact；　he　could　probably　drop　off　here　in　the　street　like　the　figures　he　could　see　sprawled　in　doorways。　Most　of　those　figures　were　not　alone；　and　he　could　guess　what　had　preceded　their　slumbers。
　　He　had　gone　earlier　to　the　largest　of　the　domed　temples　of　Rian；　his　first　time　ever　inside　such　a　place。　He'd　wanted　to　see　Valery　before　the　night　was　done。　They'd　let　him　in　without　demur；　he'd　expected　to　have　to　offer　blood　or　some　such　ritual；　but　nothing　of　the　sort　took　place。　Valery　had　been　sleeping。　They'd　let　him　stand　in　the　doorway　of　the　coran's　room　and　look　in　by　candlelight。　Blaise　could　see　that　the　shoulder　had　been　carefully　bandaged；　as　for　the　other　healing　thing　that　had　happened　here；　that　he　had　no　way　of　judging；　or　even　prehending。　In　his　experience　syvaren　had　always　killed。
　　On　his　way　out　he　had　seen　an　assembled　pany　of　people；　both　men　and　women；　gathered　in　the　largest　part　of　the　temple　under　the　high　dome。　A　priestess　in　a　white　robe　was　leading　them　through　a　service。　Blaise　hadn't　lingered。　He'd　gone　from　there　to　the　nearest　house　of　Corannos；　washing　his　hands　ritually　at　the　entrance；　with　both　the　supplication　and　the　invocation　spoken；　and　had　knelt　on　the　floor　in　the　small；　bare；　stone…walled　coran's　chapel　in　front　of　the　frieze。　He'd　been　alone　there；　for　the　first　time　in　a　long　time；　and　he'd　tried　to　let　the　deep；　enveloping　silence　lead　him　back　into　the　presence　and　serenity　of　the　god。
　　It　hadn't　happened　though；　not　this　night。　Even　in　the　chapel　his　mind　had　kept　on　circling　back；　like　a　hunting　bird　above　a　field　where　a　hare　has　been　seen；　to　that　room　in　the　Carenzu　palace　when　he　had　said　what　he　had　said。　He　hadn't　been　serious；　not　even　remotely　so；　the　words　had　been　meant　to　make　clear　to　them　all　how　helpless　he　truly　was；　whatever　he　might　feel　about　what　his　father　and　King　Ademar　had　done　in　Gorhaut。　But　they　hadn't　heard　it　that　way；　and　in　the　silence　that　followed　his　outburst；　when　the　white　bird　had　lifted　itself　and　settled　on　his　shoulder；　Blaise　had　felt　the　knock　of　his　heart　like　a　fist　on　the　door　of　destiny。
　　He　felt　it　again　now；　walking　home　through　the　quiet　disarray　of　the　streets；　and　he　tried　to　force　his　mind　away　from　such　thoughts。　He　was　too　tired；　this　was　too　large。
　　Young　Serlo　was　on　guard　under　the　lamps　burning　at　the　entrance　to　the　duke's　city　palace。　He　nodded　at　Blaise　from　inside　the　iron　gates；　looked　to　left　and　right　up　the　street　and　moved　to　open　the　gates。　They　hadn't　been　locked…one　of　the　traditions　of　Midsummer　here…but　after　an　assassination　attempt；　a　guard　at　the　main　entrance　had　seemed　appropriate。　Bertran's　corans；　led　by　Valery　of　Talair；　were　very　good；　there　had　been　no　training　needed　here；　and　even　some　things　for　Blaise　to　learn。　The　ongoing　skirmishes　with　the　corans　of　Miraval　had　had　more　than　a　little　to　do　with　that。　A　long…simmering　feud　among　neighbouring　castles　shaped　its　own　rules　of　conflict；　very　different　from　the　clashes　of　armies。
　　〃I　looked　in　on　Valery；〃　Blaise　said　as　he　entered。　〃He's　sleeping　easily。〃
　　Serlo　nodded。　〃I'll　sleep　more　easily　myself　when　we've　found　out　who　shot　that　arrow；〃　he　said。　〃I　only　hope　the　goddess　and　the　god　have　decreed　an　eternal　place　of　pain　for　men　who　use　syvaren。〃
　　〃I've　seen　worse　things　in　war；〃　Blaise　said　quietly。　He　had　another　thought；　but　he　was　too　tired　to　shape　it　properly。　〃Good　night；〃　he　said。
　　〃Good　night。〃
　　He　heard　the　gate　swing　shut　behind　him。　He　would　have　felt　better　himself　if　a　key　had　turned　in　the　lock；　he　had　his　own　views　about　the　traditions　of　Arbonne。　On　the　other　hand；　knowing　what　he　knew　about　Bertran　de　Talair；　it　was　unlikely　in　the　extreme　that　the　duke　was　in　the　palace　tonight。　Blaise　shook　his　head。　He　went　across　the　courtyard；　through　the　inner　doors；　up　the　stairs　and　then　down　the　corridor　to　the　small　room　his　status　as　a　mercenary　captain　had　earned　him。　Not　a　minor　benefit；　most　of　the　corans　slept　together　in　dormitories　or　the　great　hall　of　Talair；　with　seniority　merely　placing　one　nearer　the　fire　in　winter　or　the　windows　in　the　summer　heat。
　　He　opened　his　door；　almost　stumbling　with　fatigue。　He　was　aware　of　the　scent　of　perfume　an　instant　before　he　saw　the　woman　sitting　on　his　bed。
　　〃You　may　remember；〃　said　Ariane　de　Carenzu；　〃that　we　had　a　number　of　matters　to　consider；　you　and　I。　We　seem　to　have　only　dealt　with　the　most　public　ones。〃
　　〃How　did　you　get　past　the　guard？〃　Blaise　said。　His　pulse　had　quickened　again。　He　didn't　feel　tired　any　more。　It　was　odd　how　swiftly　that　could　happen。
　　〃I　didn't。　There　are　other　ways　into　this　palace。　And　into　mine；　if　it　es　to　that。〃
　　〃Does　Bertran　know　you　are　here？〃
　　〃I　rather　hope　not。　I　doubt　it。　He　was　going　out　himself；　I　think。　It　is　Midsummer；　Blaise；　and　we　are　in　Tavernel。〃　He　knew　what　that　meant；　the　singer　had　told　him　just　before　this　woman's　soldiers　had　e　to　lead　him　away。
　　Her　hair　was　down；　of　course；　it　always　was；　and　her　delicate　scent　imbued　the　small　chamber　with　subtle；　unsettling　nuances。　But　Blaise　de　Garsenc　had　his　own　rules　and　his　own　code；　and　he　had　broken　those　rules　and　that　code　last　summer　in　Portezza；　enmeshed　in　a　world　of　woman's　perfume。　He　said；　〃I　know　where　we　are；　actually。　Where　is　the　duke　of　Carenzu？〃　He　meant　it　to　be　wounding；　he　wasn't　sure　why。
　　She　was　unruffled；　at　least　to　his　eye；　by　candlelight。　〃My　husband？　In　Ravenc　Castle　with　En　Gaufroy；　I　suspect。　They　have　their　own　particular　traditions　at　Midsummer　and　I'm　afraid　women　aren't　a　part　of　them。〃
　　Blaise　had　heard　about　Gaufroy　de　Ravenc。　His　young　bride　was　said　to　be　still　a　virgin　after　almost　three　years　of　marriage。　He　hadn't　heard　the　same　sort　of　stories　about　Thierry　de　Carenzu；　but　then　he　hadn't　asked；　or　been　much　interested。
　　〃I　see；〃　he　said　heavily。
　　〃No　you　don't；〃　said　Ariane　de　Carenzu　sharply；　irony　and　amusement　gone　from　her　voice。　〃I　don't　think　you　see　at　all。　You　will　have　just　now　concluded　that　I　am　wandering　in　the　night　because　my　husband's　preference　in　bed　partners　is　for　boys。　You　will　be　deciding　that　I　am　to　be　understood　in　the　light　of　that　fact。　Hear　me　then：　I　am　here　of　my　own　choice；　and　no　taste　or　orientation　of　the　man　my　father　married　me　to　would　affect　that　decision；　short　of　physical　restraint。〃
　　〃So　pleasure　is　all？　What　of　loyalty？〃
　　She　shook　her　head　impatiently。　〃When　the　day　es　that　a　man　and　woman　of　our　society　may　wed　because　they　choose　each　other　freely；　then　talk　to　me　of　loyalty。　But　so　long　as　women　are　coinage　in　a　game　of　castles　and　nations；　even　in　Arbonne；　then　I　will　admit　no　such　duty　and　will　dedicate　my　life　to　changing　the　way　of　things。　And　this　has　nothing；　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　Thierry's　habits　or　preferences。〃　She　stood　up；　moving　between　him　and　the　candle；　her　vivid　face　suddenly　in　shadow。　〃On　the　other　hand；　I　know　nothing　of　your　own　habits　or　tastes。　Would　you　prefer　me　to　leave？　I　can　be　gone　quietly　the　same　way　I　came　in。〃
　　〃Why　should　it　matter　if　you　are　quiet　or　not？〃　he　said；　stubbornly　holding　to　his　anger。　〃We're　in　Arbonne　aren't　we？　In　Tavernel　at　Midsummer。〃
　　He　couldn't　read　her　eyes；　with　the　one　flickering　candle　behind　her；　but　he　saw　again　the　impatient　motions　of　her　head。　〃e；　Blaise；　you　are　cleverer　than　that。　Discretion　is　at　the　heart　of　all　of　this。　I　am　not　here　to　bring　shame　to　anyone；　least　of　all　myself。　There　is　no　public　duty　I　owe　my　lord　or　my　people　in　which　I　have　been　found　wanting。　I　dare　say　that；　and　I　know　it　to　be　true。　Thierry　has　my　respect　and　I　am　quite　certain　I　have　his。　The　duties　I　owe　myself　are　different。　What　happens　alone　at　night　between　two　people　who　are　adults　about　it　need　not　impact　upon　the　world　in　any　way　that　matters。〃
　　〃Then　why　bother？　Why　bother　to　be　together？　Has　your　Court　of　Love　ruled　on　that？〃　He　meant　to　sound　sardonic；　but　it　didn't　e　out　that　way。
　　〃Of　course　it　has；〃　she　said。　〃We　e　together　to　glory　in　the　gift　of　life　the　goddess　gave　us　。。。　or　the　god；　if　you　prefer。　Sometimes　the　best　things　in　our　lives　e　to　us　of　a　night　and　are　gone　in　the　morning。　Have　you　never　found　that？〃
　　He　had　found　something　very　near　to　that；　but　the　morning's　ultimate　legacy　had　been　lasting　pain。　He　almost　said　as　much。　There　was　a　silence。　In　the　shadows；　her　silhouetted　form　might　almost　have　been　Lucianna's。　He　could　imagine　the　same　feel　to　her　black　hair　and　remember　the　light　touch　that　traced　a　path　along　。。。　
　　But　no。　Remembering　the　past　was　where　his　anger　lay。　This　woman　had　done　him　no　wrong　that　he　knew　of；　and　was；　by　her　own　lights；　honouring　him　with　her　presence　here。　He　swallowed。
　　She　said；　〃It　is　all　right。　You　are　tired。　I　did　not　mean　to　offend　you。　I　will　leave。〃
　　Blaise　could　not　afterwards　have　said　what　sequence　of　movements　brought