ggk.asongforarbonne-第82部分

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　　Blaise　heard　that。　〃Let　them　know？〃　he　echoed　in　mock　indignation。　〃Of　course　I'll　let　them　know。　I'm　the　wayward　son　e　home　to　his　father's　open　arms。　There　ought　to　be　music；　a　feast；　wine　and　burning　women　for　my　delight。　Perhaps　that　is　why　you　came；　father？　To　surprise　me　with　the　warmth　of　your　wele？〃　His　tone　was　brittle；　febrile。　Beside　Thaune；　Valery　of　Talair　made　a　small　sound　but　said　nothing。
　　Thaune　became　aware　that　the　High　Elder　had　now　begun　murmuring　softly；　but　not　to　any　of　them。　Somehow　the　quality　of　the　man's　voice；　his　inward；　intense　manner；　shaped　a　silence　on　the　bridge　in　the　mist；　and　gradually；　with　a　growing　horror　that　bit　deeper　than　the　cold；　Thaune　became　aware　that　the　High　Elder　was　intoning　the　denunciation　of　the　god。
　　〃　。。。　to　the　infinite　cold　that　was　before　the　world　was　or　the　moons　were　spoken；　before　the　sun　was　moved　and　the　stars　allowed　their　light。　O；　most　holy　Corannos　of　ice　and　all　the　sacred　tongues　of　fire；　unworthy　as　I　surely　am　in　your　sight；　I　beseech　thee；　in　the　name　of　your　own　ancient　gifts　to　us；　that　there　shall　be　for　this　man　torments　without　number　to　the　ending　of　time。　Maggots　beneath　the　skin　and　worms　in　his　heart；　the　rotting　sickness　and　the　black　blood　that　cannot　be　stanched。　I　pray　that　you　send　down　upon　this　man　who　is　my　son　no　longer…〃
　　〃That　is　enough。〃　A　second　voice；　cold　with　distaste。　Bertran　de　Talair。　Blaise　himself　was　silent；　immobile　in　the　face　of　what　his　rather　was　doing。
　　〃…foul　madness　and　a　twisting　agony　in　his　bowels；　blindness；　boils；　the　stinking　corruption　of　his　flesh…〃
　　〃I　said　that　is　enough！〃
　　〃…all　of　these　and　more；　I　most　holy　Corannos。　I　pray　that　he　be　stricken　also　with　the　pestilence　that…〃
　　Bertran　came　around　in　front　of　Galbert　and；　in　the　midst　of　this　pronunciation　of　the　blackest　curse　known　to　the　Elders　of　Corannos；　struck　him　full　in　the　face　with　an　open　palm；　the　way　one　might　slap　a　servant。　Galbert　stopped；　out　of　genuine　shock　as　much　as　anything　else。　Blaise　still　hadn't　moved。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　and　then　closed　it　wordlessly。　Ranald　de　Garsenc　looked　pale　and　unsteady　beside　his　father。
　　〃You　will　be　silent；〃　Bertran　said　savagely。　〃Ten　more　words　and　an　archer　will　shoot。　Your　son　may　be　unwilling　to　give　such　an　order；　for　reasons　that　escape　me；　but　he　assured　that　I　am　not。　Do　not　put　this；　I　beg　you；　to　the　test。〃
　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Galbert　snarled；　through　gritted　teeth。
　　En　Bertran　laughed　aloud　then；　as　strange　a　sound　in　the　fog　as　Thaune　had　heard　all　night。　〃That　is　three　words；〃　he　said。　〃Seven　left。　Hoard　your　store。　I　am　sorely　offended；　though；　I　would　have　thought　you　would　surely　know　the　appearance　of　a　man　you　paid　so　much　to　kill　last　summer。〃
　　〃Bertran　de　Talair；〃　said　Ranald　de　Garsenc；　his　first　words。　〃I　remember　you　from　the　tournaments。〃
　　Galbert's　eyes　narrowed　to　slits；　but　he　kept　silent；　his　body　rigid　with　anger。　His　gloved　hands；　Thaune　saw；　were　ceaselessly　working；　opening　and　closing　at　his　sides；　as　if　longing　for　someone's　throat。
　　Ranald　turned　from　the　duke　of　Talair　to　stare　at　his　brother。　〃What　have　you　done？　Turned　traitor　entirely？　Invaded　with　Arbonne？〃
　　〃Hardly；〃　said　Blaise；　beginning　to　regain　his　posure　but　carefully　not　looking　at　his　father。　〃Bertran　is　here　as　a　friend。　My　men　are　mercenaries　recruited　by　Rudel　Correze　for　me；　you'll　very　likely　know　a　number　of　them…mostly　from　Gotzland。　This　is　a　seizing　of　Garsenc　Castle　from　you；　brother。　I　am　sorry；　but　it　seems　a　necessary　first　step；　since　you　yourself　are　doing　nothing　at　all。　Worse　than　nothing；　actually。　I　intend　to　take　Gorhaut　from　Ademar　with　my　own　countrymen；　and　without　burning　women；　either。〃
　　〃I　had　no　choice　about　that；〃　Ranald　said　fiercely。　
　　〃Not　so。〃　It　was；　surprisingly；　Valery　of　Talair；　behind　Thaune　by　the　portcullis。　He　was　invisible　in　the　fog；　his　disembodied　voice　flat　and　final　as　that　of　some　judge　at　the　iron　gates　of　the　afterworld。　〃We　can　say　no　and　die。　It　is　a　choice；　my　lord　of　Garsenc。　In　the　face　of　some　things　asked　of　us　it　is　the　only　choice。〃
　　No　one　spoke　in　reply。　There　was　silence　on　the　bridge；　heavy　as　the　fog。　Thaune　heard　only　quick　footsteps　and　saw　cloaked　and　hurrying　shapes　as　Blaise's　mercenaries　went　by　him　into　the　forecourt。　There　had　been　no　alarm　raised　within　Garsenc；　the　world　was　wrapped　in　mist　like　a　creation　of　dream。
　　And　it　was　in　that　stillness；　as　if　it　were　a　part　of　such　a　dreaming；　that　Thaune　then　heard　the　rumble　of　hoof　beats　to　the　east。　A　great　many；　as　if　the　horsemen　of　the　Night　Ride　were　e　down　among　them　from　the　sky；　from　the　train　of　the　god；　to　ride　over　the　fog…shrouded　earth　and　destroy。
　　〃What　is　that？〃　Valery　took　two　steps　forward　and　stopped。
　　〃Get　the　men　inside！〃　said　Blaise　sharply。　〃We　have　to　control　the　castle。　They　did　send　an　army！　Thaune；　have　the　portcullis　lowered；　quickly！〃
　　Thaune　was　already　moving；　shouting　a　mand　to　his　two　guardsmen。　From　beyond；　in　the　fog；　the　drum　roll　of　unseen　hooves　grew　louder。　There　were　torches　visible　now；　and　shadowy　horses；　and　from　the　distance　between　the　first　and　the　last　of　those　carried　flames；　Thaune　realized　that　an　army　had　indeed　e。
　　It　had　always　been　likely　they　would　fail。　He　had　not　made　his　choice　last　autumn　because　of　any　measured　assessment　of　the　chances　of　success。　He　did　not　want　to　die　on　a　pyre；　though。　His　only　prayer　in　that　moment　was　that　so　much　mercy　might　be　allowed。　He　wondered　if；　when　he　crossed　to　the　god；　he　would　be　allowed　to　walk　with　his　father　again；　in　the　wide　meadows　of　Corannos；　in　the　gentle　light。
　　〃I　shall　set　the　torch　to　your　burning　myself；〃　said　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　speaking　to　his　son；　as　if　giving　voice　to　Thaune's　own　terror。　He　was　smiling　again　now；　a　glittering　triumph　in　his　eyes；　reflecting　the　torches'　glow。
　　〃That；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair；　〃is　two　words　too　many。〃
　　〃Bertran！〃　said　Blaise　quickly。
　　〃Valery；〃　said　the　duke　of　Talair　in　the　same　moment。　And　simultaneous　with　the　two　names　spoken　something　sang　past　Thaune　in　the　fog　and　he　heard　the　High　Elder　of　Corannos　cry　out　as　an　arrow　embedded　itself　in　his　shoulder　through　the　links　of　the　mail　he　wore。
　　〃Ten　more；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair　calmly；　〃and　we　will　twin　that　in　your　other　arm。　Tell　me…in　less　than　ten　words；　mind　you…do　you　think　these　horsemen　will　attack　us　at　risk　of　your　life；　my　lord　High　Elder？　Why　don't　we　wait　for　them　here　and　consider　the　question　at　leisure？〃
　　He　was；　thought　Thaune；　unbelievably　calm。
　　The　hoofbeats　had　been　a　rolling　as　of　thunder　but　gradually　stopped　now　beyond　the　end　of　the　bridge　in　the　wide；　clear　space　before　the　woods。　There　were　a　great　many　torches；　Thaune　could　see　the　outline　of　horses　and　riders；　bulky　figures　heavily　armed。
　　〃We　have　the　High　Elder　here；　and　the　duke　of　Garsenc；〃　Blaise　called　out；　his　voice　knifing　into　the　fog。　〃Have　a　care　for　their　lives。　Will　you　declare　yourselves？〃
　　His　father；　clutching　at　his　left　arm；　laughed　then。　A　harsh；　ugly　sound；　at　odds　with　the　effortless　beauty　of　his　voice。　〃Who　do　you　think　it　is？〃　he　snarled。
　　〃Six　words；〃　said　Bertran　quietly。
　　From　amid　the　mist　and　the　weaving　torches　a　voice　called　back；　cold　and　austere；　〃There　is　no　hostage　you　could　name　who　will　stay　my　hand　or　those　of　my　men　if　we　are　minded　to　strike。　Is　it　Blaise　de　Garsenc　to　whom　I　speak？〃
　　〃Careful！〃　said　Rudel　Correze　sharply；　under　his　breath。
　　〃No　point　denying　it；〃　Thaune　heard　Blaise　reply　softly。　〃Our　only　hope　is　the　hostages；　whatever　he　says。　He　might　be　bluffing。　He　must　be　bluffing。〃
　　There　was　a　sound　of　horses　approaching　the　far　end　of　the　bridge；　and　then　the　creak　of　an　armoured　rider　dismounting。　From　behind；　Thaune　finally　heard　the　rattle　and　the　clang　of　the　portcullis　as　the　guards　finished　lowering　it。　Valery　of　Talair　was　beside　him；　another　arrow　to　his　bow。　Thaune　drew　his　sword。
　　〃I　am　Blaise　de　Garsenc；〃　said　the　tall　coran　Thaune　had　sworn　an　oath　to　serve　and　to　have　for　his　king。
　　〃I　thought　it　might　be　so；〃　said　the　unseen　man　in　a　voice　crisp　with　resolution。　〃I　had　hoped　my　information　was　correct；　that　I　would　find　you　here　tonight。〃
　　And　into　the　torchlight；　heavily　cloaked　against　the　cold；　strode　Fulk　de　Savaric；　to　kneel　on　the　planks　of　the　bridge　before　Blaise。
　　He　looked　up；　and　the　hovering　torchlight　fell　upon　the　square；　fair…haired；　intelligent　features　he　shared　with　all　his　family。　Thaune；　catching　his　breath；　taking　an　involuntary　step　forward；　saw　that　the　duke　of　Savaric　was　not　smiling。　〃My　lord；　will　you　accept　my　sworn　homage　and　the　hand　of　a　friend？　Can　you　make　use　of　a　thousand　men　from　Savaric　and　the　lands　of　the　north　who　share　your　feelings　about　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge　and　the　men　who　rule　us　now？〃
　　
　　Long　afterwards；　Thaune　remembered　looking　up　then；　almost　expecting　to　see　the　moons　appear　like　beacons　in　the　fog；　as　if　the　heavens　and　the　dark　earth　around　them　must　somehow　mirror　the　glow　that　seemed　to　be　emanating　from　this　bridge。　It　was　still　thick　as　river　mud　overhead；　though；　the　sky　lost　to　sight　in　the　fog　and　only　the　nearest　torches　lending　their　light　to　the　tableau　before　him　as　he　looked　back　down　to　see　En　Blaise　take　Fulk　de　Savaric's　offered　hands　formally　between　his　own。
　　It　was　in　his　heart；　not　in　the　sky；　Thaune　realized；　that　the　moons　were　beginning　to　shine　again。　The　cold　of　the　long　night　seemed　lessened　by　the　warmth　of　that　inner　light。　He　wondered；　after；　if　the　others　on　the　bridge　had　had　such　an　illusion；　if　they　had　all　looked　up　to　see　if　the　sky　had　truly　changed。
　　That　might　have　been　an　explanation；　though　not；　by　any　means；　an　excuse　for　what　happened。
　　What　happened　was　that　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　in　the　very　moment　his　younger　son　was　formally　accepting　the　homage　of　the　most　powerful　lord　of　the　northern　marches　of　Gor…haut；　rammed　one　burly　shoulder　into　the　coran　on　his　right；　hammered　a　muscled　forearm　into　the　face　of　his　other　guard　and　leaped　off　the　bridge；　an　arrow　still　quivering　in　his　left
　　WINTER
　　399
　　arm；　to　disappear　into　the　shrouded　darkness　of　the　dry　moat。