ggk.asongforarbonne-第2章

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f　the　Ancients　stood　at　the　end　of　a　double　row　of　elm　trees；　its　stones　honey…coloured　in　the　morning　sunlight。　Ariane　hadn't　taken　this　ride　before；　Aelis　realized；　she　would　never　have　seen　the　arch。
　　There　were　ruins　of　the　Ancients　all　over　the　fertile　land　named　for　the　Arbonne　River　that　watered　it：　columns　by　the　roadside；　temples　on　cliffs　by　the　sea　or　in　the　mountain　passes；　foundations　of　houses　in　the　cities；　bridge　stones　tumbled　into　the　mountain　streams　and　some　still　standing；　some　still　in　use。　Many　of　the　roads　they　rode　or　walked　today　had　been　built　by　the　Ancients　long　ago。　The　great　high　road　beside　the　Arbonne　itself；　from　the　sea　at　Tavernel　north　to　Barbentain　and　Lussan　and　beyond　them　into　and　through　the　mountains　to　Gorhaut；　was　one　of　the　old　straight　roads。　All　along　its　length　were　marker　stones；　some　standing；　many　toppled　into　the　roadside　grass；　with　words　upon　them　in　a　language　no　one　living　knew；　not　even　the　scholars　of　the　university。
　　The　Ancients　were　everywhere　in　Arbonne；　the　simple　sight　of　one　of　their　ruins　or　artifacts；　however　unexpected；　would　not　have　drawn　a　cry　from　Ariane。
　　But　the　arch　by　Lake　Dierne　was　something　else　again。
　　Rising　ten　times　the　height　of　a　man；　and　almost　as　broad；　it　stood　alone　in　the　countryside　at　the　end　of　its　avenue　of　elms；　seeming　to　master　and　subdue　the　gentle；　vine…clad　landscape　between　the　forests　and　the　lake；　which；　Aelis　had　long　suspected；　was　precisely　the　purpose　for　which　it　had　been　raised。　The　friezes　sculpted　on　both　the　near　face　and　the　far　were　of　war　and　conquest：　armoured　men　in　chariots　carrying　round　shields　and　heavy　swords；　battling　others　armed　with　only　clubs　and　spears。　And　the　warriors　with　the　clubs　were　dying　on　the　friezes；　their　pain　made　vivid　in　the　sculptor's　art。　On　the　sides　of　the　arch　were　images　of　men　and　women　clad　in　animal　skins；　manacled；　their　heads　bowed　and　averted　in　defeat；　slaves。　Whoever　they　were；　wherever　they　now　had　gone；　the　Ancients　who　had　set　their　marks　upon　this　land　had　not　e　in　peace。
　　〃Would　you　like　to　see　it　more　nearly？〃　she　asked　Ariane　mildly。　The　girl　nodded；　never　taking　her　eyes　from　the　arch。　Aelis　lifted　her　voice；　calling　ahead　to　Riquier；　the　leader　of　the　corans　detailed　to　ride　with　her。　He　dropped　hastily　back　to　her　side。
　　〃My　lady？〃
　　She　smiled　up　at　him。　Balding　and　humourless；　Riquier　was　much　the　best　of　the　household　corans；　and　she　was；　in　any　case；　prepared　to　smile　at　almost　anyone　this　morning。　There　was　a　song　winding　through　her　heart；　a　song　written　this　winter；　after　the　festive　season；　in　response　to　a　promise　a　lady　had　made。　Every　joglar　in　Arbonne　had　been　singing　that　song。　No　one　knew　the　troubadour　who　had　written　it；　no　one　knew　the　lady。
　　〃If　you　think　it　safe；〃　she　said；　〃I　should　like　to　stop　for　a　few　moments　that　my　cousin　might　see　the　arch　more　closely。　Do　you　think　we　could　do　that？〃
　　Riquier　looked　cautiously　around　at　the　serene；　sunlit　countryside。　His　expression　was　earnest；　it　was　always　earnest　when　he　spoke　with　her。　She　had　never　once　been　able　to　make　him　laugh。　Not　any　of　them；　actually；　the　corans　of　Miraval　were　men　cut　from　her　husband's　cloth；　not　surprisingly。
　　〃I　think　that　would　be　all　right；〃　he　said。
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Aelis　murmured。　〃I　am　happy　to　be　in　your　hands；　En　Riquier；　in　this　as　in　all　things。〃　A　younger；　better…educated　man　would　have　returned　her　smile；　and　a　witty　one　would　have　known　how　to　reply　to　the　shameless　flattery　of　the　honorific　she　had　granted　him。　Riquier　merely　flushed；　nodded　once　and　dropped　back　to　give　his　orders　to　the　rear　guard。　Aelis　often　wondered　what　he　thought　of　her；　at　other　times　she　wasn't　really　sure　she　wanted　to　know。
　　〃The　only　things　that　belong　in　that　one's　hand　are　a　sword　or　a　flask　of　unmixed　wine；〃　Ariane　said　tartly　and　not　quite　softly　enough　at　Aelis's　side。　〃And　if　he　deserves　a　lord's　title；　so　does　the　man　who　saddled　my　horse。〃　Her　expression　was　scornful。
　　Aelis　had　to　suppress　a　smile。　For　the　second　time　that　morning　she　had　cause　to　wonder　about　her　young　cousin。　The　girl　was　disconcertingly　quick。　Despite　the　fact　that　Ariane's　words　reflected　her　own　thoughts　exactly；　Aelis　tendered　her　a　reproving　glance。　She　had　duties　here…the　duties　of　a　duchess　towards　the　girl…woman　who　had　been　sent　to　her　as　a　lady…in…waiting　for　fostering　and　to　learn　the　manners　proper　to　a　court。　Which　was　not；　Aelis　thought；　going　to　happen　in　Miraval。　She　had　considered　writing　her　aunt　at　Malmont　and　saying　as　much；　but　had　so　far　refrained；　for　selfish　reasons　as　much　as　any　others：　Ariane's　brightness；　since　she　had　arrived　last　fall；　had　been　a　source　of　genuine　pleasure；　one　of　the　very　few　Aelis　had。　Not　counting　certain　songs。　Even　the　birds　above　the　lake　are　singing　of　my　love　。。。　
　　〃Not　all　men　are　made　for　gallantry　or　the　forms　of　courtliness；〃　she　said　to　her　cousin；　keeping　her　voice　low。　〃Riquier　is　loyal　and　petent；　and　the　remark　about　the　wine　is　uncalled　for…you've　seen　him　in　the　hall　yourself。〃
　　〃Indeed　I　have；〃　Ariane　said　ambiguously。　Aelis　raised　her　eyebrows；　but　had　neither　time　or　inclination　to　pursue　the　matter。
　　Riquier　cantered　his　horse　past　them　again　and　swung　off　the　path；　angling　through　the　roadside　grass　and　then　between　the　flanking　trees　towards　the　arch。　The　two　woman　followed；　with　corans　on　either　side　and　behind。
　　They　never　reached　it。
　　There　was　a　crackling　sound；　a　surge　and　rustle　of　leaves。　Six　men　plummeted　from　branches　overhead　and　all　six　of　Urté's　corans　were　pulled　from　their　horses　to　tumble　on　the　ground。　Other　men　sprang　instantly　from　hiding　in　the　tall　grass　and　raced　over　to　help　in　the　attack。　Ariane　screamed。　Aelis　reared　her　horse　and　a　masked　assailant　rushing　towards　her　scrambled　hastily　back。　She　saw　two　other　men　emerge　from　the　trees　to　stand　in　front　of　them　all；　not　joining　in　the　fight。　They　too　were　masked；　they　were　all　masked。　Riquier　was　down；　she　saw；　two　men　standing　over　him。　She　wheeled　her　horse；　creating　room　for　herself；　and　grappled　at　her　saddle　for　the　small　crossbow　she　always　carried。
　　She　was　her　father's　daughter；　and　had　been　taught　by　him；　and　in　his　prime　Guibor　de　Barbentain　was　said　to　have　been　the　best　archer　in　his　own　country。　Aelis　steadied　her　horse　with　her　knees；　aimed　quickly　but　with　care　and　fired。　One　of　the　two　men　in　the　road　before　her　cried　out　and　staggered　back；　clutching　at　the　arrow　in　his　shoulder。
　　Aelis　wheeled　swiftly。　There　were　four　men　around　her　now　trying　to　seize　the　horse's　reins。　She　reared　her　stallion　again　and　it　kicked　out；　scattering　them。　She　fumbled　in　the　quiver　for　a　second　arrow。
　　〃Hold！〃　the　other　man　between　the　trees　cried　then。　〃Hold；　Lady　Aelis。　If　you　harm　another　of　my　men　we　will　begin　killing　your　corans。　Besides；　there　is　the　girl。　Put　down　your　bow。〃
　　Her　mouth　dry　and　her　heart　pounding；　Aelis　looked　over　and　saw　that　Ariane's　frightened；　snorting　horse　was　firmly　in　the　grasp　of　two　of　their　attackers。　All　six　of　Urté's　corans　were　down　and　disarmed；　but　none　seemed　to　have　been　critically　injured　yet。
　　〃It　is　you　we　want；〃　the　leader　in　front　of　them　said；　as　if　answering　her　thought。　〃If　you　e　gently　the　others　will　not　be　further　hurt。　You　have　my　word。〃
　　〃Gently？〃　Aelis　snapped；　with　all　the　hauteur　she　could　manage。　〃Is　this　a　setting　for　gentleness？　And　how　highly　should　I　value　the　word　of　a　man　who　has　done　this？〃
　　They　were　halfway　to　the　arch；　among　the　elms。　To　her　right；　across　the　lake；　Talair　was　clearly　visible。　Behind　her；　if　she　turned；　she　could　probably　still　see　Miraval。　They　had　been　attacked　within　sight　of　both　castles。
　　〃You　don't　really　have　a　great　deal　of　choice；　do　you？〃　the　man　before　her　said；　taking　a　few　steps　forward。　He　was　of　middling　height；　clad　in　brown；　with　a　midwinter　carnival　mask；　unsettlingly　incongruous　in　such　a　place　as　this；　covering　most　of　his　face。
　　〃Do　you　know　what　my　husband　will　do　to　you？〃　Aelis　said　grimly。　〃And　my　father　in　Barbentain？　Have　you　any　idea？〃
　　〃I　do；　actually；〃　the　masked　man　said。　Besides　him；　the　one　she　had　wounded　was　still　clutching　his　shoulder；　there　was　blood　on　his　hand。　〃And　it　has　rather　a　lot　to　do　with　money；　my　lady。　Rather　a　lot　of　money；　actually。〃
　　〃You　are　a　very　great　fool！〃　Aelis　snapped。　They　had　surrounded　her　horse　now；　but　no　one；　as　yet；　had　reached　for　the　reins。　There　seemed　to　be　about　fifteen　of　them…an　extraordinary　number　for　an　outlaw　band；　so　near　the　two　castles。　〃Do　you　expect　to　live　to　spend　anything　they　give　you？　Don't　you　know　how　you　will　be　pursued？〃
　　〃These　are　indeed　worrisome　matters；〃　the　man　in　front　of　her　said；　not　sounding　greatly　worried。　〃I　don't　expect　you　to　have　given　them　much　thought。　I　have。〃　His　voice　sharpened。　〃I　do　expect　you　to　co…operate；　though；　or　people　will　start　being　hurt；　and　I'm　afraid　that　might　include　the　girl。　I　don't　have　unlimited　time；　Lady　Aelis；　or　patience。　Drop　the　bow！〃
　　There　was　a　crack　of　mand　in　the　last　sentence　that　actually　made　Aelis　jump。　She　looked　over　at　Ariane；　the　girl　was　big…eyed；　trembling　with　fear。　Riquier　lay　face　down　on　the　grass。　He　seemed　to　be　unconscious；　but　there　was　no　blade　wound　she　could　see。
　　〃The　others　will　not　be　hurt？〃　she　said。
　　〃I　said　that。　I　don't　like　repeating　myself。〃　The　voice　was　muffled　by　the　festive　mask；　but　the　arrogance　came　through　clearly。
　　Aelis　dropped　her　bow。　Without　another　word　the　leader　turned　and　nodded　his　head。　From　behind　the　arch；　having　been　hidden　by　its　massive　shape；　another　man　stepped　out　leading　two　horses。　The　leader　swung　himself　up　on　a　big　grey；　and　beside　him　the　wounded　man　awkwardly　mounted　a　black　mare。　No　one　else　moved。　The　others　were　clearly　going　to　stay　and　deal　with　the　corans。
　　〃What　will　you　do　with　the　girl？〃　Aelis　called　out。
　　The　outlaw　turned　back。　〃I　am　done　with　questions；〃　he　said　bluntly。　〃Will　you　e；　or　will　you　need　to　be　trussed　and　carried　like　an　heifer？〃
　　With　deliberate　slowness；　Aelis　moved　her　horse　forward。　When　she　was　beside　Ariane　she　stopped　and　said；　very　clearly；　〃Be　gallant；　bright　one；　they　will　not；　they　dare　not　do　you　any　harm。　With　Rian's　grace　I　shall　see　you　very　soon。〃
　　She　moved　on；　still　slowly；　sitting　her　horse　with　head　high　and　shoulders　straight　as　befitted　her　father's　daughter。　The　leader　paid　her　no　attention；　he　had　already　wheeled　his　mount　and　had　begun　to　ride；　not　even　glancing　back。　The　wounded　man　fell　in　behind　Aelis。　The　three　of　them　went　forward　in　a　soft　jingling　of　harness；　passing　under　the　Arch　of　the　Ancients；　through　the　cold　shadow　of　it；　and　then　out　into　sunlight　again　on　the　other　side。
　　
　　They　rode　through　the　young　grasses；　travelling　almost　due　north。　Behind　them　the　shoreline　of　Lake　Dierne　fell　away；　curving　to　the　east。　On　their　left　Urté's　vineyards　stretched　into　the　distance。　Ahead　of　them　was　the　forest。　Aelis　kept　her　silence　and　neither　of　the　masked　men　spoke。　As　they　approached　the　outlying　pines　and　balsams　of　the　wood　Aelis　saw　a　charcoal…burner's　cottage　lying　just　off　the　lightly　worn　path。　The　door　was　open。　There　was　no　one　in　sight；　nor　were　there　any　sounds　in　t