ggk.asongforarbonne-第50部分

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vitation　lent　a　sanction　of　control　to　what　could　hardly　have　been　prevented。　Signe　hoped　it　might　be　seen　that　way；　at　any　rate。　She　was　also；　privately；　somewhat　curious　to　meet　the　woman　again。　The　last　time　Lucianna　Delonghi　had　been　in　Barbentain　was　six　or　seven　years　ago；　before　the　first　of　her　marriages。　Her　father　had　presented　her　to　the　count　and　countess。　She'd　been　clever；　as　all　her　family　were；　beautiful　already；　watchful；　very　young。　A　great　deal　had　evidently　happened　to　her　in　the　intervening　years。
　　It　might　be　interesting　to　see　exactly　what。　Later；　though；　Signe　thought。　She　didn't　want　to　see　anyone　at　the　moment。　She　had　retired　early；　leaving　to　Roban　and　the　Keepers　of　the　Fair　the　task　of　carrying　out　her　orders　regarding　the　Andoria。　She　doubted　there　would　be　difficulties；　Borsiard　had　few　corans　with　him　this　far　from　home；　and　was　unlikely　to　embarrass　himself　by　forcing　a　public　removal　from　Lussan。　He　was；　however；　quite　likely　to　go　north　to　Gorhaut…as　Roban　had　gloomily　predicted。　The　chancellor　was　usually　right　about　such　things。　What　Borsiard　would　do　there　was　harder　to　guess。　But　the　implications　could　not　be　lost　on　anyone：　Andoria　was　one　less　source　of　funding　for　Arbonne；　one　less　ally　if　war　did　e；　and　possibly　one　more　contingent　of　arms　in　the　field　if　Gorhaut　asked　for　them。
　　Signe　sighed　in　the　darkness　of　her　room。　She　knew　Bertran　had　acted　properly　in　what　he'd　done；　that　he'd　made　it　easier　for　her　by　taking　the　burden　upon　himself。　She　only　wished　。。。　she　only　wished　he　didn't　seem　to　always　find　himself　in　situations　where　doing　the　proper　thing　meant　so　much　trouble　for　all　of　them。
　　At　the　moment　all　she　wanted　to　do　was　rest。　There　was　sometimes　a　curious　easing　of　care　for　her　in　the　nighttime；　in　the　embrace　of　sleep。　It　didn't　always　e　to　her　easily；　but　when　it　did　her　dreams　were　almost　always　benign；　forting。　She　would　be　walking　in　the　castle　gardens；　or　with　Guibor；　young　again；　in　that　meadow　she　had　loved　beneath　the　Ancients'　aqueduct　near　Carenzu；　and　sometimes　the　four　children　would　be　with　them：　clever　Beatritz　with　her　shining　hair；　the　boys…Guibor　eager　and　adventuresome；　Piers　watchful；　a　little　apart…and　then　Aelis　trailing　behind　them　through　the　green；　green　grass。　Aelis；　in　her　mother's　dreams；　always　seemed　older　than　the　others；　though　she　was　the　youngest　child。　She　would　appear　in　the　dreams　as　she　had　looked；　ing　into　the　flourish　of　her　own　late；　fierce　beauty；　in　the　year　before　she　died。
　　Signe　reached　towards　sleep　that　night　as　a　woman　reaching　for　the　last　gentle　lover　of　her　days。　The　anxieties　of　day　would　still　be　waiting　in　the　morning；　with　newer　concerns　appearing　to　join　them；　new　dangers　from　the　north　。。。　tonight　she　sought　her　dreams。　She　was　not　allowed　to　have　them。　The　knocking　at　the　outer　door　of　her　suite　of　rooms　was　so　soft　she　would　not　have　even　heard　it　had　she　actually　been　asleep。　One　of　the　girls　in　the　antechamber　would　have；　though。　Already　Brisseau；　the　older　of　the　two；　hovered；　anxious　and　wraithlike　in　her　white　night…robe；　at　the　entrance　to　Signe's　chamber。
　　〃See　who　it　is；〃　the　countess　said；　though　there　was　only　one　person　it　could　be　at　this　hour。
　　Roban　waited　in　the　outer　room　while　she　donned　her　own　robe。　She　went　out　to　him；　she　disliked　receiving　men　or　conducting　affairs　of　state　in　her　bedchamber。　He　was　still　in　the　doublet　he'd　worn　earlier　in　the　day。　Signe　understood；　with　something　of　a　shock；　that　he　had　not　yet　even　gone　to　bed。　It　was　very　late；　and　the　chancellor　did　not　look　well。　His　face　was　haggard　and　in　the　light　of　the　candles　the　girls　were　hastily　lighting　his　eyes　were　deep…sunken。　He　looked　older　than　his　years；　she　thought　suddenly：　they　had　worn　him　down　in　their　service；　she　and　Guibor。　She　wondered　if　he　felt　the　labours　had　been　worth　the　price。　She　wondered；　for　the　first　time；　what　he　actually　thought　of　the　two　of　them。　Or　of　her；　more　properly。　Guibor　was　dead；　one　thought　nothing　but　good　of　the　dead。　She　realized　she　didn't　really　know　what　her　chancellor's　opinion　of　her　might　be。　Frivolous；　she　decided；　he'd　probably　concluded　she　was　frivolous　and　impetuous　and　needed　a　steady；　guiding　hand。　That　might　answer　her　question　of　earlier　in　the　day　about　why　he　had　pushed　his　views　so　urgently　of　late。
　　He　really　didn't　look　well；　though。
　　〃Sit；〃　she　said。　〃Before　you　begin；　sit　down。　Brisseau；　a　flask　of　cider　for　the　chancellor。〃
　　She　thought　Roban　would　refuse　the　chair　but　he　did　not；　that　only　served　to　increase　her　own　disquiet。　Forcing　herself　to　be　patient　she　waited；　sitting　opposite　him；　until　the　cider　had　been　brought　and　placed　on　the　table。　She　waited　again　until　he　drank。
　　〃Tell　me；〃　she　said；　finally。
　　〃My　lady；　a　message　came　to　me　from　Rian's　temple　in　the　town　earlier　tonight；〃　he　said；　his　voice　curiously　faint。　〃It　purported　to　be　from　someone　who　could　not　possibly　have　been　in　Lussan；　requesting　audience　and　。。。　and　sanctuary　with　you。〃
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃Yes；　so　I　went　down　into　town　myself　to　see　if　it　might　possibly　be　a　true　message。　I　am　afraid　it　is；　my　lady。　I　fear　that　we　have　the　gravest　crisis　upon　us　now；　one　that　makes　the　Andoria　matter　seem　as　nothing。〃
　　〃Who　is　it？　Who　is　in　the　town？〃
　　〃Not　in　town　any　longer。　I　had　no　choice；　my　lady；　I　had　to　bring　her　up　to　the　castle　before　anyone　else　knew　she　was　here　or　what　was　happening。〃　The　chancellor　drew　an　unsteady　breath。　〃Countess；　it　seems　that　the　Lady　Rosala　de　Garsenc　of　Gorhaut　has　left　the　duke　her　husband　without　his　knowledge。　She　seeks　refuge　with　us。　She　is　in　Barbentain　now；　and；　my　lady　。。。　though　I　am　far　from　expert　in　these　matters；　I　believe　that　she　may　be　about　to　give　birth；　even　as　we　speak。〃
　　
　　Cadar　de　Savaric；　defiantly　named　and　surnamed　for　his　mother's　father　and　family；　entered　the　world　in　Barbentain　Castle　shortly　before　dawn　that　night。
　　Brought　early　to　his　time　by　the　rigours　of　his　mother's　journey　through　the　mountains　to　Arbonne；　he　was　nonetheless　sturdy　and　pink　when　he　emerged；　letting　out　a　loud　cry　his　exhausted　mother　heard　as　triumphant　when　the　priestess　of　Rian；　summoned　hastily　to　the　castle；　drew　him　from　her　womb　and　clipped　the　birthing　cord。
　　They　washed　him　ceremoniously　in　milk　warmed　by　the　fire；　as　befitted　a　child　of　rank；　and　the　older　of　the　two　priestesses　swaddled　him　expertly　in　blue　samite　before　handing　him　to　the　countess　of　Arbonne；　who　had　remained　in　the　room　for　the　last　long　hours　of　Rosala's　travail。　Signe　de　Barbentain；　white…haired；　with　the　delicate　blue　veins　showing　in　her　pale；　flawless　skin；　cradled　the　child　and　looked　down　upon　it　with　an　expression　Rosala　could　not　entirely　prehend　but　which　she　found　deeply　reassuring　nonetheless。　After　a　moment　Signe　walked　over　to　the　bed　and　laid　the　infant　gently　in　his　mother's　arms。
　　Rosala　had　not　expected　the　gentleness。　She　had　not　known　what　to　expect。　She　had　only　realized；　when　Galbert　de　Garsenc　had　ridden　away　from　her　a　week　ago；　that　she　was　going　to　go　south；　however　she　possibly　could。　Beyond　that　she　had　not　clearly　thought。
　　The　ing　of　the　Lussan　Fair　had　given　her　the　chance。　Garsenc　lay　near　to　the　principal　road　that　ran　up　into　the　mountain　pass；　and　each　day　Rosala　had　seen　small　troupes　of　corans　and　tradesmen　passing　by　their　lands；　often　stopping　to　worship　at　the　chapel；　or　do　a　bit　of　business　in　the　castle　or　the　village　below。
　　Two　days　after　her　father…in…law's　visit；　Rosala　wrote　a　note　to　her　husband；　saying　that　she　was　journeying　north　to　her　own　family　estate　to　await　the　birth　of　the　child。　She'd　had　a　dream；　she　lied；　a　terrible　nightmare　of　premonition。　Too　many　infants　and　women　had　died　in　labour　at　Garsenc　Castle；　she　wrote　Ranald。　It　had　frightened　her　for　their　child。　She　felt　safer　going　home　to　Savaric。　She　hoped　he　would　understand。　She　hoped　he　would　e　to　her　there　when　affairs　at　court　allowed。　She　signed　it　with　her　name。　She　left　the　castle；　unseen；　by　the　postern　gate　that　same　night。　Her　favourite　horse　was　kept　in　the　coran's　stables　outside　the　walls　so　it　could　be　readily　exercised　while　she　was　unable　to　ride。　There　was　no　guard　at　the　stables…no　one　would　be　rash　enough　to　tempt　the　wrath　of　the　Garsenc　by　approaching　their　horses。　She　had　mounted　awkwardly　and　ridden　away；　side…saddle；　by　the　twin　lights　of　the　moons；　the　landscape　both　beautiful　and　frightening　at　night；　the　child　large　and　heavy　in　her　belly。　She　had　only　the　faintest　hope；　dim　as　the　stars　beside　bright　Vidonne；　of　reaching　her　destination。
　　That　one　night　was　all　she　was　capable　of　riding。　Reluctantly；　in　real　distress；　she　left　the　horse　near　a　small　hamlet　before　dawn　and　made　her　way　on　foot　back　to　the　road。　At　sunrise；　walking　slowly；　hungry　and　extremely　tired；　she　came　upon　the　encampment　of　some　travelling　entertainers。　Two　women　were　bathing　in　a　stream　when　she　came　up　to　them。　They　exclaimed　at　her　condition。　She　used　the　first　name　that　came　into　her　head　and　told　them　she　was　travelling　to　Arbonne　in　search　of　aid　in　childbirth。　Two　infants　had　already　died　at　birth；　she　lied；　making　the　warding　sign　behind　her　hip。　She　was　willing　to　do　anything　to　save　this　one；　she　said。　That　last　was　true。　It　was　entirely　true。
　　The　women　made　their　own　warding　signs　at　the　hint　that　she　was　seeking　magic　but　generously　weled　her　into　their　pany　for　the　journey　south。　Rosala　rode　through　the　mountains　in　a　jouncing；　lurching　wagon　with　two　thievish　grey　monkeys；　a　talking　bird　from　the　northern　swamplands；　an　adder　in　a　basket　and　a　garrulous　animal…trainer；　whose　teeth　were　bizarrely　blue。　Poison；　he　explained；　from　the　snake　before　it　was　defanged。　He　fed　it　mice　and　small　lizards　that　he　caught。　Every　time　the　wagon　hit　a　rut　in　the　road；　and　there　were　a　great　many　as　they　went　through　the　pass；　Rosala　looked　anxiously　to　the　basket；　to　make　sure　the　clasp　still　held。　The　bear　and　the　mountain　cat；　thankfully；　rode　in　their　own　wagon　just　behind　them。　She　talked　as　little　as　she　could；　to　avoid　having　to　sustain　an　accent　that　would　not　give　her　away。　It　was　relatively　easy　with　Othon　in　the　wagon：　he　was　one　of　those　men　who　would　have　pined　away　had　he　lost　the