ggk.asongforarbonne-第7部分

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nkets。　They　bound　and　gagged　both　the　man　and　the　woman；　though　not　so　tightly　as　to　cripple　them；　and　then　steered　the　boat　towards　their　own　skiff。
　　〃Maffour；〃　he　said；　keeping　his　voice　low；　〃take　charge　there。　Follow　us　in。　We're　going　up　to　find　a　landing　place。　Luth；　if　you　prefer；　you　can　kill　yourself　now　before　I　get　to　you。　It　might　be　more　pleasant。〃　With　some　satisfaction　he　heard　Luth　moan　in　distress。　The　man　believed　him。　Beside　Blaise　in　the　sailboat　Hirnan　grunted　with　a　sour；　chilled　amusement。　With　a　degree　of　surprise　Blaise　recognized　within　himself　the　once…familiar　sensation　of　sharing　petence　and　respect　with　another　man　on　a　task　of　some　danger。
　　Danger；　yes；　rather　more　evidently　now；　given　what　they　had　just　done　to　two　of　Rian's　anointed。　But　tonight's　was　still　a　quest　of　sheerest　stupidity…as　to　that　Blaise's　opinion　was　not　about　to　change　simply　because　they　had　dealt　neatly　with　their　first　obstacle。　Shivering　and　wet；　rubbing　his　arms　in　an　effort　to　generate　necessary　warmth；　he　realized；　though；　almost　against　his　will；　that　he　had　enjoyed　the　moments　just　past。
　　And；　as　so　often　seemed　to　happen；　the　surmounting　of　a　crisis　seemed　to　incline　chance　or　fate　or　Corannos　the　god…one　or　all　of　them…to　show　favour　in　the　next　stage　of　a　difficult　enterprise。　Hirnan　grunted　again　a　few　minutes　later；　this　time　with　a　note　of　satisfaction；　and　a　second　afterwards　Blaise　saw　why。　Gliding　westward；　as　close　to　shore　as　he　dared；　Hirnan　had　brought　them　abreast　of　a　small　inlet　among　the　rocks。　Blaise　saw　trees　above；　their　tops　silvered　by　the　high　moon；　and　a　gently　sloping　plateau　beneath　them　giving　way　to　a　short　cliff　down　to　the　sea。　An　almost　perfect　place　for　a　landing；　given　that　the　beaches　were　barred　to　them。　The　inlet　would　offer　shelter　and　concealment　for　the　two　boats　and　the　climb　to　the　plateau　was　unlikely　to　be　difficult　for　men　used　to　the　steepness　of　the　goat　runs　above　the　olive　trees　near　Baude。
　　Hirnan　guided　the　two　craft　carefully　into　the　cove。　In　the　boat　he　quickly　lowered　sail　and　set　about　dropping　anchor。　In　the　skiff；　Maffour；　without　a　word　spoken；　looped　one　of　the　ropes　about　his　shoulders　and；　leaping　to　the　nearest　of　the　rocks；　adroitly　scrambled　up　the　short　face　of　the　cliff　to　the　plateau。　He　tied　the　rope　to　one　of　the　pines　above　and　dropped　it　over　for　the　rest　of　them。　Two　good　men　here；　Blaise　thought；　realizing　that　he　really　hadn't　given　much　thought　at　all；　in　the　time　he'd　been　here；　to　taking　the　measure　of　the　corans　of　Mallin　de　Baude。　He　acknowledged　inwardly　that　Mallin　had　been　right　in　at　least　one　thing：　the　truest　test　of　a　man's　mettle　was　a　task　where　the　danger　was　real。
　　Hirnan　finished　with　the　anchor　and　turned　to　Blaise　with　an　arched　eyebrow　of　inquiry。　Blaise　glanced　down　at　the　two　tied…up　clerics　in　the　boat。　Both　were　unconscious　and　would　likely　be　so　for　awhile。　〃We'll　leave　them　here；〃　he　said。　〃They'll　be　all　right。〃
　　The　men　in　the　skiff　were　already　proceeding　up　Maffour's　rope　towards　the　plateau。　They　watched　the　last　one　climb；　then　Hirnan　stepped　carefully　from　the　boat　to　one　slippery　boulder　and　then　another　before　reaching　the　rope　and　smoothly　pulling　himself　up　the　rock　face。　Behind　him；　Blaise　did　the　same。　The　salt　of　the　wet　rope　stung　his　palms。
　　On　the　plateau　he　set　his　feet　squarely　on　solid　ground　for　the　first　time　since　leaving　the　mainland。　The　sensation　was　odd；　as　if　there　were　a　tremor　in　the　earth　beneath　him。　They　were　standing　on　Rian's　Island；　and　illicitly　consecrated；　Blaise　thought　unexpectedly。　None　of　the　others　seemed　to　have　reacted；　though；　and　a　moment　later　he　grinned　with　wry　amusement　at　himself：　he　was　from　Gorhaut；　in　the　god's　name…they　didn't　even　worship　Rian　in　the　north。　This　was　hardly　a　useful　time　to　be　yielding　to　the　superstitions　that　had　afflicted　Luth　all　night。
　　Young　Giresse；　without　a　word；　handed　him　his　boots　and　sword；　and　Thiers　did　the　same　for　Hirnan。　Blaise　leaned　against　a　tree　to　pull　on　the　boots　and　buckled　his　sword　belt　again；　thinking　quickly。　When　he　looked　up　he　saw　seven　tense　men　looking　at　him；　waiting　for　orders。　Deliberately　he　smiled。
　　〃Luth；　I　have　decided　to　let　you　live　to　trouble　the　world　a　little　longer　yet；〃　he　said　softly。　〃You'll　guard　the　two　boats　here　with　Vanne。　If　those　two　down　below　show　signs　of　rousing　I　want　them　rendered　unconscious　again。　But　conceal　your　faces　if　you　have　to　go　down　to　do　it。　If　we　are　very　lucky　none　of　us　will　have　been　recognized　when　this　is　over。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　They　seemed　to。　Luth　looked　almost　ically　relieved　at　the　assignment。　Vanne's　expression　by　moonlight　showed　a　struggle　to　conceal　disappointment…a　good　sign　actually；　if　he　was　sorry　to　be　missing　the　next　stage　of　their　journey。　But　Blaise　was　not　about　to　leave　Luth　alone　now　with　any　task；　however　simple。　He　turned　away　from　them。
　　〃Hirnan；　I　take　it　you　can　find　the　guest　quarters　once　we　reach　the　temple　plex？〃　The　red…headed　coran　nodded　briefly。　〃You　lead　then；〃　Blaise　said。　〃I'm　behind　you；　Maffour's　rear　guard。　We　go　in　single　file。　No　words　unless　vital。　Touch　each　other　for　warnings　rather　than　speak。　Understood？　〃
　　〃One　question：　how　do　we　find　Evrard　when　we　get　there？〃　Maffour　asked　quietly。　〃There　must　be　a　great　many　dwellings　in　the　plex。〃
　　〃There　are；〃　Hirnan　murmured。
　　Blaise　had　been　privately　worrying　about　the　same　thing。　He　shrugged　though；　his　men　weren't　to　know　what　was　concerning　him。　〃I'm　assuming　he'll　have　one　of　the　larger　ones。　We'll　head　for　those。〃　He　grinned　suddenly。　〃Then　Maffour　can　walk　in　and　wake　him　with　a　kiss。〃　There　was　a　ripple　of　laughter。　Behind　him；　Luth　giggled　loudly　but　controlled　himself　before　Blaise　could　turn。
　　Blaise　let　the　tension…easing　amusement　subside。　He　looked　at　Hirnan。　Without　another　word　spoken　the　coran　turned　and　stepped　into　the　forest　of　the　holy　Island　of　the　goddess。　Blaise　followed　and　heard　the　others　fall　into　line　behind。　He　didn't　look　back。
　　It　was　very　dark　in　the　woods。　There　were　sounds　all　around　them：　wind　in　the　leaves；　the　chitter　of　small　animals；　the　quick；　unsettling　flap　of　wings　alighting　from　a　branch　above。　The　pines　and　the　oak　trees　blocked　the　moon　except　in　the　occasional　place　where　a　slant　of　pale　silver　fell　across　their　path；　strangely　beautiful；　intensifying　the　blackness　as　soon　as　they　had　moved　on。　Blaise　checked　his　blade　in　its　scabbard。　It　would　be　close　and　awkward　ground　here　if　anything　large　chose　to　attack。　He　wondered　if　any　of　the　big　hunting　cats　made　their　home　on　Rian's　Island；　he　had　a　feeling　they　did；　which　was　not　reassuring。
　　Hirnan；　threading　his　way　around　roots　and　under　branches；　finally　struck　a　rough　east…west　track　in　the　wood　and　Blaise　drew　a　calmer　breath　again。　He　was　surprisingly　conscious　of　where　they　were。　Not　that　he　had　any　real　superstition　in　him；　but　there　was　something　about　this　forest　that；　even　more　than　the　thought　of　tawncat　or　boar；　would　make　him　very　happy　when　they　left。　In　fact；　that　same　truth　applied　to　all　of　this　island；　he　realized：　the　sooner　they　left　the　more　pleased　he　would　be。　Just　then　a　bird　of　some　sort…owl　or　corfe　almost　certainly…landed　with　a　slight；　rushing　sound　of　wings　in　air　in　the　tree　directly　above　him。　Luth；　Blaise　thought；　would　have　soiled　his　clothing。　Refusing　to　look　up；　he　moved　on；　following　Hirnan's　shadowy　form　eastward　towards　the　temples　of　the　goddess　worshipped　here　in　the　south　as　a　huntress　and　a　mother；　as　a　lover　and　a　bride；　and　as　a　dark　and　final　gatherer　and　layer…out；　by　moonlight；　of　the　dead。　If　we're　luckier　than　we　deserve；　Blaise　of　Gorhaut　thought　grimly；　more　unsettled　than　he　really　wanted　to　acknowledge；　even　to　himself；　maybe　he'll　be　outside　singing　at　the　moon。
　　
　　Which；　as　it　happened；　was　exactly　what　Evrard　of　Lussan　was　doing。　Troubadours　seldom　in　fact　sang　their　own　songs；　musical　performance　was　seen　as　a　lesser　art　than　posing。　It　was　the　joglars　who　did　the　actual　singing；　to　the　music　of　varied　instruments。　But　here　on　Rian's　Island　there　were　no　joglars　now；　and　Evrard　had　always　found　it　a　help　when　writing　to　hear　his　own　words　and　evolving　tune；　even　in　his　own　thin　voice。　And　he　liked　to　pose　at　night。
　　They　heard　him　as　they　approached　the　sanctuary　grounds；　emerging　from　the　blackness　of　the　forest　into　moonlight　and　a　sight　of　distant　lanterns。　Drawing　a　breath；　Blaise　registered　the　fact　that　there　were　no　walls　around　the　guest　quarters　south　of　the　temple　plex；　though　a　high　wooden　palisade　surrounded　the　inner　buildings　where　the　priests　and　priestesses　would　be　sleeping。　There　didn't　appear　to　be　any　guards　manning　the　ramparts　behind　those　walls；　or　none　that　could　be　seen。　Silver　light　fell　on　the　temples；　lending　a　soft　white　shimmer　to　the　three　domes。　They　didn't　have　to　go　that　way。　On　the　extreme　southern　edge　of　the　goddess's　pound；　not　far　from　where　they　stood；　there　was　a　garden。　Palm　trees　swayed　in　the　gentle　breeze；　and　the　scent　of　roses　and　anemones　and　early　lavender　drifted　towards　them。　So　did　a　voice。
Grant；　bright　goddess；　that　the　words　of　my　heart　
Find　favour　and　haven　in　the　shrine　of　your　love。　
Yours　are　the　seafoam　and　the　groves　in　the　wood　
And　yours　ever　the　moonlight　in　the　skies　above　。。。　
　　There　was　a　brief；　meditative　pause。　Then：
And　yours　the　moonlight　that　falls　from　above　。。。　
　　Another　ruminating　silence；　then　again　Evrard's　voice：
Yours　is　the　moonlight　and　the　stars　overhead　
And　the　moonlit　seafoam　and　each　forest　grove。
　　Blaise　saw　Hirnan　glancing　at　him；　an　ironic　look　on　his　expressive　face。　Blaise　shrugged。　〃Mallin　wants　him　back；〃　he　murmured。　〃Don't　look　at　me。〃　Hirnan　grinned。
　　Blaise　stepped　past　the　other　man　and；　keeping　to　the　shadowy　cover　at　the　edge　of　the　wood；　began　working　his　way　around　towards　the　garden；　where　the　thin　voice　was　still　essaying　variants　of　the　same　sentiment。　Blaise　wondered　if　the　clergy　and　the　other　guests　of　Rian　minded　having　their　sleep　disturbed　by　this　late…night　warbling。　He　wondered　if　it　happened　every　night。　He　had　a　suspicion；　knowing　Evrard　of　Lussan；　that　it　might。
　　They　reached　the　southern　end　of　the　wood。　Only　grass；