ggk.asongforarbonne-第94部分

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il。〃
　　〃With　the　child；〃　said　Galbert　quickly。
　　He　was　ignored。
　　〃To　Cortil；　my　lord？〃　Rosala　asked；　lifting　her　voice。　〃Are　you　so　open　about　this　now？　Do　you　not　mean：　back　to　Garsenc　and　my　lord　husband？〃
　　In　the　stillness　that　followed　this；　Lisseut　realized　that　the　king　of　Gorhaut　had　just　made；　in　some　fashion　she　did　not　entirely　understand；　a　mistake。
　　
　　A　long　way　south；　on　the　Island　of　Rian　in　the　sea；　where　the　wind　was　not　blowing　on　this　day　and　the　waters　lay　calm　and　blue　under　the　pale　winter　sun；　Beatritz　de　Barbentain；　High　Priestess　of　Rian；　rose　suddenly　from　before　a　fire　into　which　she　had　been　gazing　sightlessly　for　most　of　the　day。
　　〃Something　has　just　happened；〃　she　said　aloud；　though　there　was　no　one　in　her　room　with　her　save　the　white　owl　on　her　shoulder。　〃Something　that　might　matter。　Oh；　sweet　Rian　remember　us；　have　mercy　upon　your　children。〃
　　She　was　silent　then；　waiting；　reaching　out　in　her　darkness　for　the　elusive；　un…coercible　vision　of　the　goddess　that　might　let　her　know　at　least　a　part　of　what　was　now　happening　so　far　away　in　the　place　of　the　wind。
　　
　　And　in　that　precise　moment；　by　the　lake；　among　that　gathering　of　enemies；　a　voice　was　heard　for　the　first　time。
　　〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Ranald；　duke　of　Garsenc；　moving　his　horse　into　the　open　space　between　the　two　panies；　〃that　this　is　rather　too　openly　said　for　my　taste　and　for　the　honour　of　my　family。〃　He　was　staring　at　the　king　of　Gorhaut。　He　had　not　used　a　title。
　　No　one　responded。　No　one　else　moved。　It　seemed　to　Lisseut；　afterwards；　that　the　duke's　words　had　virtually　frozen　them　all　with　astonishment。　Ranald　de　Garsenc；　the　only　moving　figure　in　a　still　world；　turned　to　his　wife。　He　looked　remarkably　at　ease　now；　as　if　this　action　or　decision；　this　movement；　had　somehow　granted　him　release　from　something。　He　said；　〃Forgive　me；　my　lady；　but　I　must　ask　this；　and　I　will　accept　the　truth　of　what　you　say：　has　the　king　of　Gorhaut　been　your　lover？〃
　　Lisseut　realized　she　was　holding　her　breath。　Out　of　the　side　of　her　vision　she　saw　that　Blaise　had　gone　bone…white。　Sitting　her　horse　easily；　Rosala　de　Garsenc　seemed　almost　as　posed　as　her　husband　though。　She　said；　as　clearly　as　before；　〃He　has　not；　my　lord；　though　he　has　sought　to　be　that　for　some　time　now。　He　was　only　delaying　while　I　was　with　child。　Your　father；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　has　been　urging　the　thought　upon　him　for　purposes　of　his　own。　I　will　swear　to　you　though；　upon　the　life　of　my　child；　that　I　have　not　lain　with　Ademar；　and　that　I　will　die　before　I　willingly　do　so。〃
　　〃This　is　why　you　left？〃　A　different　note　in　Ranald's　voice；　almost　too　exposed；　it　made　Lisseut　wish；　suddenly；　that　she　was　not　here。　None　of　us　has　a　right　to　be　listening　to　this；　she　thought。
　　But　Rosala　said；　her　handsome；　strong　head　held　high；　〃It　is　indeed　why　I　left；　my　lord。　I　feared　you　could　not；　or　would　not；　guard　us　against　your　father　and　your　king；　for　the　one　had　claimed　the　child　I　was　carrying；　as　you　know；　and　the　other　wanted　me。〃
　　Ranald　was　nodding　slowly；　as　if　the　words　were　striking　echoes　within　himself。
　　〃Ranald；　in　the　god's　name；　do　not　shame　me；〃　Galbert　de　Garsenc　began；　the　beautiful　voice　being　harsh；　〃by　allowing　this　depraved；　contemptible　woman　to　give　voice　to　such…〃
　　〃You　be　silent；〃　said　the　duke　of　Garsenc　bluntly。　〃I　will　consider　how　to　deal　with　you　after。〃　The　tone　was　so　curt　it　was　shocking。
　　〃After　what？〃　asked　Ademar　of　Gorhaut。　His　own　head　was　lifted；　his　carriage　in　the　saddle　magnificent。　There　was　a　glitter　to　his　gaze。　He　knows；　Lisseut　thought。　He　knows　the　answer　to　that。
　　〃After　I　have　publicly　dealt　with　you　for　the　dishonour　you　have　willed　upon　my　house。　No　king　of　Gorhaut　has　ever　been　free　to　wreak　what　havoc　he　will　among　the　high　lords　of　our　land。　I　am　not　about　to　let　you　be　the　first。　The　wife　of　the　duke　of　Garsenc　is　not　a　trinket　to　be　played　for；　however　blind　the　duke　might　be。〃　He　paused　for　a　moment；　then：　〃This　is　a　formal　challenge；　Ademar。　Will　you　fight　me　yourself；　or　name　a　champion　to　shelter　behind？〃
　　〃Are　you　mad？〃　Galbert　de　Garsenc　cried　out。
　　〃That；〃　said　Ranald　gravely；　〃is　the　second　time　that　question　has　been　asked　of　one　of　your　sons。　In　fact；　I　think　it　is　true　of　neither　of　us。〃　He　turned　to　Rosala。　〃Other　accusations　may　fairly　be　made　against　me。　I　will　hope　to　have　a　chance　to　address　them　after。〃
　　She　met　his　glance　but　said　nothing；　stern　and　proud；　Lisseut　thought；　as　some　yellow…haired　goddess　of　the　north。　But　that；　she　realized　immediately　after；　was　idle　fantasy：　they　didn't　allow　goddesses　in　the　north。
　　Ranald　turned　back　to　Ademar。　They　all　turned　back　to　Ademar。　The　king　of　Gorhaut；　past　the　first　surprise　of　this；　was　smiling；　only　with　his　lips　though；　his　eyes　were　hard　as　stone。
　　〃We　are　in　a　foreign　county　and　at　war；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　a　mander　of　my　army。　You　are　now　proposing　that　we　fight　each　other　because　your　wife；　whose　flight　from　your　home　is　the　cause　of　our　being　here；　alleges　that　I　expressed　a　desire　for　her。　Is　this　what　I　understand　from　you；　my　lord　of　Garsenc？〃
　　It　sounded　absurd；　mad　indeed；　when　put　that　way；　but　Ranald　de　Garsenc　did　not　quail。　He；　too；　was　smiling　now；　a　smaller　man　than　the　king　but　as　easy　in　the　saddle。　〃You　might　not　remember　it；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　was　in　that　room　in　Cortil　with　my　father　last　autumn　when　you　came　in　and　demanded　that　Rosala　be　brought　back。　Back　to　you；　you　said。〃　They　saw　the　king's　expression　change。　His　eyes　flicked　away　from　Ranald's；　and　then　returned。
　　The　duke　went　on。　〃I　should　have　made　this　challenge　then；　Ademar。　You　have　been　using　Rosala's　flight　from　me　as　your　excuse　for　war…my　father's　idea；　of　course。　You　aren't　nearly　clever　enough。　She　didn't　fly　from　me；　Ademar；　I　think　I　dare　say　that。　She　left　her　husband　and　put　our　child　at　terrible　risk　because　of　you　and　my　father。　I　think　I　am　seeing　things　clearly　for　the　first　time　in　a　great　many　years。　If　you　have　any　honour　or　courage　left　in　you；　draw　your　sword。〃
　　〃I　will　have　you　arrested　and　then　gelded　before　burning；〃　Galbert　de　Garsenc　snarled；　pointing　a　gauntleted　finger　at　his　older　son。
　　Ranald　actually　laughed。　〃More　burning？　Do　what　you　will；〃　he　said。　〃The　king　might　well　be　grateful　for　that　protection。　I　will　not；　however；〃　he　added；　still　with　that　unnatural　calm；　〃speak　further　to　procurers。〃　He　had　not　even　bothered　to　look　away　from　Ademar。　To　the　king　he　said：　〃There　have　been　allegations　of　treason　thrown　about　freely　here。　At　my　brother；　by　my　brother　at　my　father；　at　you。　I　find　it　all　a　game　of　words。　I　prefer　to　name　you　what　you　are；　Ademar：　a　dupe；　and　a　coward　hiding　behind　his　counsellor；　unwilling　to　use　his　own　sword　in　a　matter　of　honour。〃
　　〃Ranald；〃　said　Ademar；　almost　gently；　〃Ranald；　Ranald；　you　know　I　can　kill　you。　You　have　done　nothing　but　drink　for　ten　years…that　is　why　your　wife　fled　south。　I　doubt　you　have　given　her　a　night's　satisfaction　in　years。　Do　not　deceive　yourself　before　you　go　to　the　god。〃
　　〃This　means；　I　take　it；　that　you　will　fight。〃
　　〃He　will　do　no　such　thing！〃　Galbert　snapped。
　　〃Yes；　I　will　fight；〃　said　Ademar　in　the　same　moment。　〃The　sons　of　my　High　Elder　have　finally　grown　too　tiresome　to　endure。　I　would　be　done　with　them。〃
　　And　the　king　of　Gorhaut　drew　his　sword。　There　came　a　sound　from　among　the　armies　north　of　them；　for　the　light　was　brilliantly　clear　and　all　men　there　could　see　that　blade　drawn。　Then　the　sound　changed；　grew　high…pitched　with　surprise；　as　Ranald　de　Garsenc　drew　his　own　blade　in　reply；　and　moved　his　horse　apart　from　the　others　by　the　lake。　Ademar　followed　him。　As　he　lowered　the　visor　of　his　helmet；　they　saw　that　the　king　was　smiling。　To　the　west；　not　far　away；　the　stones　of　the　Arch　of　the　Ancients　gleamed；　honey…coloured　in　the　light。
　　
　　〃Well？〃　Lisseut　heard　Bertran　murmur　under　his　breath。　
　　〃Ten　years　ago；〃　said　Fulk　de　Savaric　softly；　〃it　might　have　been　a　match。　Not　now；　I　am　sorry　to　say。〃
　　Blaise　said　nothing；　though　he　had　to　have　heard　that。　He　was　watching　his　brother　with　something　hurtful　in　his　eyes。　Rosala　was　watching　too；　but　there　was　nothing　to　be　read　in　her　expression　at　all。　Ranald；　Lisseut　noted；　had　not　bothered　to　lower　his　helm。
　　〃It　will　make　no　difference；　you　know　that；〃　said　Galbert　de　Garsenc　heavily；　speaking　to　the　Arbonne　party。　〃Even　if　Ademar　dies　we　will　destroy　you　tomorrow。　And　he　will　not　die。　Ranald　has　been　drinking　all　day。　He　would　never　have　done　this　otherwise。　Look　at　his　face。　He　is　about　to　meet　the　judgment　of　the　god；　sodden　and　disgraced。〃
　　〃Redeemed；　I　should　have　said。〃　Blaise's　voice　was　hollow。　He　did　not　take　his　eyes　from　the　two　men　circling　each　other　now　on　the　roadway　by　the　strand。
　　And　what　they　saw　then；　as　the　long；　bright　swords　touched　for　the　first　time；　delicately；　and　then　again　with　a　sharp；　wrist…grinding　clash；　was　indeed　redemption　of　a　kind。　There　is　a　grace　here；　thought　Lisseut　suddenly；　resisting　the　thought。　She　had　never　seen　Ranald　de　Garsenc　before　and　so　she　had　never　seen　him　fight。　He　had　been　King's　Champion　of　Gorhaut　once；　for　Ademar's　father；　someone　had　told　her。　That　had　been　a　long　time　ago。
　　For　a　moment　it　seemed　not　to　have　been；　as　he　pivoted　his　war　horse　using　knees　and　hips　and　rang　a　hard；　quick　downward　blow　against　Ademar's　side。　The　curved　armour　caught　the　blade　and　deflected　it；　but　the　king　of　Gorhaut　swayed　in　his　saddle；　and　there　came　a　rumble　again　from　the　armies。　Lisseut　looked　over　at　Blaise；　she　couldn't　help　herself；　but　then　she　turned　away　from　what　she　saw　in　his　face；　back　to　the　two　men　fighting　in　the　road。
　　Blaise　didn't　even　see　Ranald's　first　blow　land。　He　had　actually　closed　his　eyes　when　the　bat　began。　He　heard　the　clang　of　sword　on　armour；　though；　and　looked　up　in　time　to　see　Ademar　rock　in　his　saddle　before　righting　himself　to　deliver　a　slashing　backhand　of　his　own。　Ranald　blunted　that　with　a　twist　of　his　sword…arm　and　sidled　his　horse　away　from　Ademar's　attempt　at　a　cut　back　the　other　way。
　　It　was　that　horseman's　movement；　the　instinctive；　almost　unconscious　product　of　a　lifetime　in　the　saddle　with　blade　in　hand；　that　took　Blaise　back；