ggk.asongforarbonne-第65部分

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　　She　said　gravely；　〃I　am　sorry　you　are　discovering　it　in　this　fashion。　I　was　told　you　were　here；　but　there　seemed　to　be　no　easy　way　to　inform　you；　given　that　I　have　left　Garsenc　without　Ranald's　knowledge　and　am　not　going　back。〃　She　paused　for　a　moment；　to　let　him　begin　dealing　with　that。　〃I　did　give　birth　two　days　ago；　by　grace　of　Corannos；　and　Rian。　My　son　is　asleep　down　the　hall。　His　name　is　Cadar。　Cadar　de　Savaric。〃　She　stopped　a　second　time。　Blaise　was　feeling　as　if　he　had　been　struck　again；　a　second　blow　to　the　head；　in　the　same　place　the　staff　had　hit　before。　〃You　may　see　him　if　you　like；〃　his　sister…in…law　concluded。
　　〃How　sweet　this　is；　how　truly　touching；〃　came　an　amused　voice　just　behind　him。　〃The　lost　children　of　Gorhaut。　Surely　I　was　right；　there　will　have　to　be　a　ballad　about　this。　Why　don't　we　all　go　dote　upon　the　child？〃　He　hadn't　heard　Lucianna　ing　up；　once；　his　whole　being　would　have　been　focused　on　knowing　exactly　where　she　was　in　any　room。　In　the　strangest　way；　Blaise　felt　an　obscure　sadness　in　this　change。
　　〃I　don't　recall　inviting　you；〃　Rosala　said　calmly。　〃You　might　still　feel　like　using　the　blade　I　saw。〃
　　So　she　had　seen　that　knife；　and　probably　the　blood　on　him　where　the　dancing　blade　had　pricked。　Blaise　wondered　what　she　had　thought。　He　wondered　what　there　was　to　think。　Lucianna　Delonghi；　however；　was　not　accustomed　to　being　disfited　by　other　women。　〃I　only　stab　babies　when　they　wake　me　at　night；〃　she　murmured　in　her　laziest　drawl。　〃Grown　men　tend　to　give　greater　cause；　and　different　pleasures。　Since　I　am　awake；　your　child　is　safe　for　the　moment。　From　me；　at　any　rate。　Are　you　not　afraid；　though；　that　dear；　impetuous　Blaise　will　seize　and　spirit　him　home　to　his　brother　and　father？〃
　　〃Not　really；〃　said　Rosala。　She　looked　at　Blaise。　〃Should　I　be？〃
　　Lucianna　laughed。　The　countess　of　Arbonne　stood　quietly；　looking　at　Massena　Delonghi's　daughter；　her　expression　thoughtful　now；　and　under　that　level；　appraising　scrutiny　Lucianna　grew　still。　Blaise's　mind　was　racing；　despite　the　pulses　of　pain；　struggling　to　sort　through　the　towering　implications　of　all　of　this。　And　there　was　something　else　as　well；　half…buried　at　the　base　of　that　tower：　a　night　of　storm　in　Garsenc　Castle　eight　months　ago；　when　he　had　left　for　the　last　time。
　　Quickly；　he　pushed　that　thought　away。　She　had　asked　him　a　question　and　was　waiting　for　his　reply。　He　said；　〃Having　left　them　myself；　I　am　unlikely　to　be　the　one　to　take　anyone　back　to　that　castle。　As　to　that；　at　least；　you　need　not　be　concerned。　You　know　they　are　unlikely　to　accept　this；　though。〃
　　〃We　all　know　that；〃　asked　Signe　de　Barbentain。　〃There　was　some　hope　earlier　that　you　might　have　a　suggestion。〃
　　〃A　suggestion　about　what？〃　asked　Rudel；　ing　up　to　them。　〃Cures　for　a　cracked　skull？〃
　　〃Family　affairs；〃　Blaise　said　shortly；　though　it　was　more　than　that；　a　great　deal　more；　given　who　and　what　his　family　were。
　　And　it　was　precisely　in　that　moment　that　the　new　thought　appeared　and　immediately　began；　with　unsettling　speed；　to　take　shape　in　him。　He　made　the　required　introductions　and　then　turned　back　to　look　at　the　others　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　He　was　suddenly　thinking　hard；　and　there　was　a　cold　logic；　a　kind　of　inexorability　to　where　those　thoughts　were　leading　him。　They　didn't　make　him　happy　though；　not　at　all。
　　Urté　de　Miraval　was　talking　quietly　with　Massena　Delonghi　beside　the　fire。　Quzman　the　Arimondan　was　in　the　process　of　being　bound　by　the　corans　of　Barbentain；　they　weren't　being　especially　gentle　about　it。　The　man's　head　was　held　arrogantly　high；　however；　he　didn't　bother　to　struggle。　Next　to　Blaise；　Rudel　Correze　bowed　to　the　countess　and　then　bent　low　and　kissed　Rosala's　hand。　Lucianna　murdered　something　to　her　cousin；　under　her　breath；　Blaise　didn't　hear　what　it　was。
　　He　took　a　deep　breath。　Life　might　be　easier；　he　reflected　just　before　he　spoke；　if　he　didn't　keep　making　it　harder　for　himself。
　　〃One　moment；　if　you　will；〃　he　said　quietly；　addressing　the　chancellor　of　Arbonne。　It　was　interesting；　actually：　the　other　conversations　stopped　the　moment　he　spoke；　as　if　they　had　been　waiting　for　him。　He　wasn't　used　to　being　the　key　to　a　gathering　such　as　this。　He　wondered　how　it　had　happened。　Lucianna　was　standing　unnecessarily　close　to　him。　He　tried　to　ignore　that　fact。
　　Roban　the　chancellor；　who　did　not　much　like　him；　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　　Blaise　said；　〃I　do　have　a　suggestion　to　make。　This　affair　ultimately　concerns　only　that　man　and　myself。〃　He　nodded　at　the　Arimondan。　〃There　is　nothing　that　need　involve　the　countess　or　the　。。。　wider　issues　of　our　time。　I　killed　his　brother　when　attacked　some　time　ago。　He　sees　that　as　cause　for　vengeance。　I　might　say　I　would　feel　the　same；　had　it　been　my　own　brother　slain。〃　He　heard　Rosala　make　a　small　sound；　an　indrawn　breath　behind　him。　That　was　interesting　too；　of　all　of　them；　she　seemed　to　be　the　first　to　sense　where　he　was　going。　Or　part　of　his　path；　at　any　rate。　She　could　not　know　it　all。
　　〃What　you　say　is　not　strictly　true。〃　said　Massena　Delonghi；　interjecting　soberly。　〃There　remains　the　matter　of　the　violated　truce。　Whatever　might　lie　between　the　two　of　you；　which　is　indeed　your　own　affair；　he　was　bound　to　hold　back　until　the　fair　was　over。〃
　　〃And　it　isn't　even　their　own　affair　in　any　case；〃　said　Rudel；　irritatingly　intruding　himself。　〃Correct　me　if　I　err；　but　I　do　seem　to　recall　hearing　last　summer　of　a　decree　by　the　countess　of　Arbonne　regarding　killings　between　Talair　and　Miraval。〃
　　Blaise　understood　what　his　friend　was　doing　then；　and　reproached　himself。　He　ought　to　have　known　better。　Rudel　wasn't　intruding：　he　was　handing　Blaise　the　next　thing　to　say；　if　he　wanted　to　say　it。　And　it　seemed　that　he　did　want　to　say　it；　or　he　would　not　have　begun　this　at　all。
　　〃As　to　that；　I　am　in　fact　no　longer　a　coran　of　Talair。　Not　since　the　attempt　on　my　life　on　the　road。　With　my　identity　revealed　there　it　seemed　inappropriate　to　Duke　Bertran　that　he　be　giving　Galbert　de　Garsenc's　son　mands　as　if　to　any　other　mercenary。　I　am　with　him　now　only　as　a　friend。　There　is　therefore　no　breach　of　the　countess's　decree　in　anything　that　passes　between　Quzman　of　Arimonda　and　myself。〃
　　The　Arimondan　had　begun；　again；　to　smile；　the　white　teeth　showing　against　his　dark　skin。　His　magnificent　body　was　ridged　and　corded　with　muscle。　He　was　clever；　and　extremely　dangerous。
　　〃I　propose；〃　said　Blaise　calmly；　〃that　this　man　and　I　fight　each　other　at　the　tournament；　and　that　all　affairs　of　tonight　be　considered　ended　with　whatever　happens　then。〃
　　Quzman　was　looking　at　him。　〃I　might　be　forced　to　regard　you　as　a　man；　after　all；〃　he　said。　〃To　the　death？〃　
　　Blaise　shrugged。　It　had　e。　〃Why　bother；　otherwise。〃　
　　Behind　him；　Rudel　Correze　swore　violently　under　his　breath。　Which　meant　that　he　had　not；　after　all；　seen　exactly　where　this　had　been　going。　There　was　some　small　pleasure　in　that；　he　was　rarely　so　far　ahead　of　Rudel。　Behind　him；　Rosala　was　silent　now。　It　was　the　countess　who　spoke；　very　softly。　〃I　should　not　allow　this。　You　have　a　reason；　I　dare　hope？〃
　　〃I　hope　so　as　well；〃　Blaise　said；　not　turning；　his　gaze　holding　the　Arimondan's。　The　first　moments　of　a　challenge；　he　had　been　taught　long　ago；　often　determined　what　followed。　It　was　important　not　to　look　away。
　　Urté　de　Miraval　smiled　broadly。　〃One　thousand　in　gold　on　the　Arimondan；〃　he　said。　〃If　anyone　chooses　to　cover。〃　
　　〃I　will；〃　said　Massena　Delonghi。　〃It　will　add　spice　to　the　watching。〃
　　His　daughter　laughed。
　　〃It　appears；〃　said　Signe　de　Barbentain；　〃that　I　am　expected　to　consent　to　this。　I　cannot　imagine　whence　that　expectation　es。　Why　should　the　Arimondan　be　allowed　an　even　chance　at　his　life？〃
　　Blaise　turned　to　the　courageous；　exquisitely　beautiful　woman　who　ruled　this　country。　〃There　is　no　reason　but　my　asking　it　of　you；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃Arbonne　has　always　been　known　for　the　greatness　of　its　rulers　and　their　generosity。　There　are　those　in　Gorhaut　who　might　prefer　to　deny　that。〃
　　He　paused；　her　blue　gaze　was　intently　searching　his　eyes。　〃I　am　not　one　of　them；　your　grace。　Not　any　longer。〃
　　He　thought　he　saw　a　flicker　of　understanding；　and　then　sorrow　chasing　it　away；　but　he　was　certain　of　neither　thing。　Impulsively；　he　knelt　before　her。　He　felt　her　hand　upon　his　head。　The　slender　fingers　curled　in　his　hair　and　then　down　his　cheek　and　beard。　She　lifted　his　chin　to　look　at　him。
　　〃We　are　fond　of　you；　Blaise　of　Gorhaut；〃　she　said　formally。　〃We　can　only　hope　that　this　challenge　does　not　bring　us　a　new　source　of　grief。　We　consent　to　it；　because　you　have　asked　us　to　do　so。〃　She　looked　out　over　Blaise's　head。　〃The　Arimondan　will　remain　in　custody　until　this　duel　occurs；　though　he　is　not　to　be　abused　in　any　way。　These　two　men　will　fight　before　us　until　one　of　them　is　dead；　and　this　bat　will　take　place　on　the　first　morning　of　the　tournament　by　our　decree。　We　will　retire　now。　These　matters　are　distasteful　to　us；　and　there　is　a　child　we　have　not　seen　all　day。〃
　　In　the　end；　Blaise　went　down　the　hall　with　the　countess　and　Rosala。　When　they　walked　in；　the　baby　was　awake　and　nursing　with　the　wet…nurse　they　had　found　for　him。　Blaise　looked　at　him　for　a　long　time　and　then　turned　to　Rosala。　He　said　nothing；　nor　did　he　find　any　answers　to　unspoken　questions　in　her　face。　He　had　not；　in　fact；　expected　to。
　　On　his　way　back　down　the　corridor　alone　some　time　after；　he　saw　Imera　waiting　for　him　at　a　dark　place　by　the　stairwell。　He　had　been　half　expecting　this。　She　gestured　with　one　hand。　Looking　beyond　her；　he　saw　that　Lucianna's　door　stood　ajar。　Torchlight　flickered　and　shifted　in　the　corridor。
　　Once　again；　desire　for　her　was　in　Blaise　like　a　wave；　like　the　hard　surge　of　the　black；　starlit　sea　against　a　stony　shore。　And　Blaise　understood；　standing　there　in　the　shadows　with　Lucianna's　servant；　that　he　was　unlikely　ever　to　be　wholly　free　of　this。　In　the　next　heartbeat；　he　realized；　with　a　feeling　akin　to　that　which　sometimes　came　when　the　white　moon　broke　free　of　clouds　to　shine　serenely　down　upon　the　earth　where　men　and　women　lived　and　died；　that　he　could　deal　with　that　desire。　He　was　not　a　slave　to　it。　He　could　ride　above　the　wave。　He　took　a　slow　breath；　shook　his　head　gently　and　went　past　Imera　down　the