ggk.asongforarbonne-第20章

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　　〃En　Bertran　de　Talair　has　hired　me　for　a　season；〃　he　said。
　　They　shot　the　horse。
　　But　Blaise　had　had　his　clue　from　the　one　archer's　straining　manner　the　first　time　the　question　had　been　asked；　and　he　had　kicked　his　legs　free　of　the　stirrups　even　as　he　spoke。　He　landed　on　the　far　side　of　the　screaming　stallion　and　pulled　his　bow　free　and　the　dying　horse　downwards　towards　him　in　the　same　motion　so　that　it　offered　protection　when　he　dropped　behind　it。　Firing　from　an　almost　prone　position　he　killed　the　northernmost　coran　and；　turning；　shot　the　one　guarding　the　southern　path　in　the　neck　before　the　three　archers　could　loose　another　volley。　Then　he　dropped　flat。
　　Two　arrows　hit　his　horse　again　and　the　third　whizzed　above　his　head。　Blaise　rose　to　one　knee　and　fired　twice；　at　speed。　One　archer　died；　screaming　like　the　horse；　and　the　second　dropped　in　silence　with　an　arrow　in　his　throat。　The　third　man　hesitated；　his　mouth　falling　open　with　dismay。　Blaise　notched　his　fifth　arrow　and　shot　him　calmly　in　the　chest。　He　saw　bright　blood　stain　the　dark　green　tunic　before　the　man　fell。
　　It　was　suddenly　extremely　quiet。
　　The　Arimondan　had　not　moved。　His　magnificent　black　thoroughbred　was　still　as　a　statue；　though　with　nostrils　flared　wide。
　　〃Now　you　have　given　offense；〃　the　dark…skinned　man　said；　his　voice　still　silky　and　soft。　〃I　see　that　you　can　shoot　from　hiding。　e　now　and　we　will　see　if　you　are　a　man　among　men　with　a　sword　as　well。　I　will　dismount。〃
　　Blaise　stood　up。　〃If　I　thought　you　a　man　I　would　do　so；〃　he　said。　His　voice　sounded　oddly　hollow　to　his　own　ears。　The　too…familiar　pounding　was　in　his　head　and　his　rage　was　still　with　him。　〃I　want　your　horse。　I　will　think　of　you　with　pleasure　when　I　ride　it。〃　And　with　the　words　he　loosed　his　sixth　arrow　and　took　the　Arimondan　through　the　heart。
　　The　man　rocked　violently　backwards　with　the　impact；　clinging　to　his　last　seconds　of　life　under　the　brilliant　sun。　Blaise　saw　him　draw　a　dagger　then；　one　of　the　wickedly　curved；　bejewelled　blades　of　his　own　country；　and　plunge　it；　even　as　he　began　to　topple　from　his　saddle；　deep　into　the　throat　of　his　black　stallion。
　　The　man　hit　the　ground　as　his　horse　surged　high　into　the　air　on　its　hind　legs；　screaming　in　rage　and　fear。　It　came　down　and　rose　again　immediately；　trumpeting；　lashing　out　with　its　hooves。　Blaise　notched　a　last　arrow　and　let　it　fly；　with　passionate　regret；　to　put　the　glorious　creature　out　of　pain。　The　stallion　dropped　and　then　rolled　on　one　side。　Its　legs　kicked　out　one　more　time　and　then　were　motionless。
　　Blaise　stepped　forward；　moving　around　his　own　dead　horse。　The　stillness　in　the　clearing　was　eerie；　broken　only　by　the　nervous　whickering　of　the　archers'　mounts　and　the　sound　of　the　breeze　picking　up　again。　He　realized　that　no　birds　were　singing　now。
　　A　short　while　ago　he　had　imagined　that　the　wind　of　Arbonne　in　the　leaves　and　vines　whispered　of　refreshment　and　ease；　of　easy　grace　here　in　the　warm　south。　Now　there　were　six　dead　men　in　the　grass　by　the　side　of　the　road。　Not　far　away；　looming　in　silence　at　the　end　of　its　avenue　of　elms；　the　massive　arch　looked　down　upon　them　all；　keeping　its　secrets；　bearing　its　own　grim　friezes　of　battle　and　death　carved　long　ago。
　　Blaise's　anger　began　to　drain　away；　leaving　behind　the　disorientation　and　nausea　that　seemed　always　to　follow　bat。　Battle　seldom　hazed　him　now　after　so　many　years　of　it；　but　the　aftermath　left　him　vulnerable　for　a　long　time；　trying　to　e　to　terms　with　what　he　was　capable　of　doing　when　the　fury　of　war　swept　over　him。　He　looked　across　the　grass　at　the　Arimondan　and　shook　his　head。　He　had　wanted；　for　a　moment；　to　walk　over　and　cut　the　dead　man　into　pieces；　to　make　things　easier　for　the　carrion　dogs　when　they　came。　He　swallowed　and　turned　away。
　　As　he　did　he　saw　a　small　boat　with　a　white　sail　pulling　up　to　the　stony　shore　of　the　lake　on　the　far　side　of　the　road。　There　was　a　grating　sound　as　the　craft　grounded　itself；　and　Blaise　saw　two　men　help　a　woman　to　alight。　His　heart　thumped　once；　hard。　The　woman　was　tall；　robed　in　crimson　fringed　with　silver；　and　she　had　an　owl　on　her　shoulder。
　　Then　he　looked　more　closely；　and　with　a　second　glance；　undistorted　by　memory　or　fear；　he　saw　that　this　was　not　the　High　Priestess　from　Rian's　Island　in　the　sea。　This　one　was　much　younger　and　brown…haired　and；　manifestly；　she　had　eyes　with　which　to　see。　Nor　was　her　bird　white；　as　the　one　on　the　other　island　had　been。　She　was　a　priestess；　though；　and　the　two　men　with　her　and　the　one　other　woman　were　also　clergy　of　Rian。　The　boat　was　the　one　he'd　seen　tacking　into　the　wind　before。　Beyond　them；　on　the　isle；　the　three　plumes　of　smoke　still　rose　into　the　summer　sky。
　　〃You　are　fortunate；〃　the　woman　said；　walking　steadily　across　sand　and　gravel　to　stand　before　him　on　the　grass　beside　the　road。　Her　voice　was　mild　but　her　eyes；　appraising　him；　were　steady　and　unreadable。　Her　hair　was　heavy　and　hung　down　her　back；　not　covered　or　pinned。　Blaise　endured　her　scrutiny　impassively；　remembering　the　blindness　of　the　High　Priestess　who　had　seen　right　through　him　nonetheless。　He　looked　at　the　bird　this　one　carried　on　her　shoulder　and　felt　an　echo　of　the　anxiety　he'd　felt　in　the　forest　on　the　island。　It　was　almost　unfair；　the　aftermath　of　bat　left　him　susceptible　to　this。
　　〃I　daresay　I　am；〃　he　said；　as　calmly　as　he　could。　〃I　could　not　have　expected　to　prevail　against　six。　It　seems　the　god　has　favoured　me。〃　That　last　was　a　challenge　of　sorts。
　　She　didn't　rise　to　the　bait。　〃And　Rian　as　well。　We　can　bear　witness　for　you　that　they　attacked　first。〃
　　〃Bear　witness？〃
　　She　smiled　then；　and　that　smile；　too；　took　him　back　to　the　High　Priestess　in　her　night　forest。　〃It　would　have　served　you　better；　Blaise　of　Gorhaut；　to　have　been　more　curious　about　affairs　in　this　part　of　the　world。〃
　　He　didn't　like　her　tone；　and　he　didn't　know　what　she　was　talking　about。　His　uneasiness　increased；　the　women　in　this　country　were　unimaginably　difficult　to　deal　with。
　　〃How　do　you　know　my　name？〃
　　Again　the　secretive；　superior　smile；　but　this　time　he　had　expected　it。　〃Did　you　imagine　that　once　having　been　allowed　to　leave　Rian's　Island　alive　you　were　free　of　the　goddess？　We　have　marked　you；　Northerner。　Thank　us　for　it。〃
　　〃Why？　For　following　me？〃
　　〃Not　following。　We　have　been　waiting　for　you。　We　knew　you　were　ing。　And　as　to　the　why　。。。　hear　now　what　you　should　have　learned　already　for　yourself。　A　fortnight　past；　the　countess　in　Barbentain　had　an　edict　proclaimed　that　any　further　killings　among　the　corans　of　Talair　or　Miraval　would　result　in　property　of　the　offending　party　being　ceded　to　the　crown。　The　troubadours　and　the　clergy　are　carrying　the　tidings；　and　all　the　lords　of　Arbonne　have　been　cited　by　name　and　formally　bound　to　impose　the　edict　by　force　if　need　be。　You　might　have　cost　En　Bertran　a　part　of　his　land　today　had　we　not　been　here　to　give　a　report　in　your　defence。〃
　　Blaise　scowled；　in　part　with　relief；　in　part　because　this　was　indeed　something　he　should　have　made　a　point　of　knowing　before。　〃You　will　forgive　me　if　I　do　not　express　dismay；〃　he　said。　〃I　must　admit　I　would　not　have　valued　his　vineyards　over　my　life；　however　much　he　proposes　to　pay　me　in　wages。〃
　　The　priestess　laughed　aloud。　She　was　younger　than　a　first　impression　had　suggested。　〃Our　forgiveness　hardly　need　concern　you　。。。　in　this；　at　least。　But　Bertran　de　Talair　is　another　matter。　He　might　have　fairly　expected　an　experienced　coran　to　avoid　giving　provocation　before　even　arriving　at　his　castle。　There　is　an　eastern　way　around　the　lake　if　you　hadn't　noticed；　one　that　does　not　pass　by　the　vineyards　of　Miraval。〃
　　The　situation　was；　Blaise　had　to　admit；　being　belatedly　clear。　And　indeed；　had　he　known　these　lands　belonged　to　Urté　de　Miraval…or　taken　some　pains　to　know…he　would　certainly　have　gone　the　other　way。　It　was　no　secret；　even　to　Blaise　after　a　short　time　in　Arbonne；　that　for　reasons　that　apparently　went　years　back　into　the　past；　the　present　lords　of　Miraval　and　Talair　had　no　love　for　one　another。
　　Blaise　shrugged；　to　cover　his　disfiture。　〃I　have　been　riding　all　day；　this　path　seemed　easier。　And　I　thought　the　countess　of　Arbonne　stood　surety　for　the　safety　of　the　roads　in　her　land。〃
　　〃Barbentain　is　a　long　way　off；　and　local　hatred　will　usually　overmaster　larger　laws。　A　wise　traveller　will　know　where　he　is；　particularly　if　he　rides　alone。〃
　　Which　also　was　true；　if　arrogantly　spoken　by　someone　so　young。　He　tried　not　to　dwell　on　the　arrogance。　Clergy　of　all　kinds　seemed　to　have　it　as　a　collective　quality。　One　of　these　days；　though；　he　was　going　to　have　to　try　to　sort　out　why　he　was　so　reluctant　to　pay　more　attention　to　the　gossip；　or　even　the　geography　and　divisions　of　land　here　in　Arbonne。
　　Behind　the　priestess　he　saw　three　other　small　boats　being　drawn　up　on　the　shore。　Men　and　women　in　the　robes　of　Rian　disembarked　and　made　their　way　over　the　grass　to　where　the　dead　were　lying。　They　began　lifting　the　bodies　and　carrying　them　back　to　the　boats。
　　Blaise　glanced　over　his　shoulder　to　where　the　Arimondan　lay　beside　his　slain　horse。　He　turned　back　to　the　priestess。　〃Tell　me；　will　Rian　wele　such　as　he？〃
　　She　did　not　smile。　〃She　waits　for　him；〃　the　priestess　said　calmly；　〃as　she　waits　for　all　of　us。　Wele　and　grace　are　other　matters　entirely。〃　Her　dark　eyes　held　his　own　until　Blaise　looked　away；　beyond　her；　past　the　isle　in　the　lake；　to　where　a　castle　could　be　seen　on　the　northern　shore。
　　She　turned　and　followed　his　gaze。　〃We　will　take　you　if　you　like；〃　she　said；　surprising　him。　〃Unless　you　want　one　of　their　horses　for　yourself？〃
　　Blaise　shook　his　head。　〃The　only　one　worth　having　was　killed　by　its　rider。〃　He　felt　a　sour　amusement　suddenly。　〃I　will　be　grateful　for　passage。　Doesn't　it　seem　apt　。。。　that　I　should　arrive　at　Talair　Castle　in　a　craft　of　the　goddess？〃
　　〃More　apt　than　you　know；〃　she　said；　not　responding　to　his　tone　at　all。
　　She　gestured；　and　two　of　the　priests　moved　to　collect　Blaise's　armour　and　goods　from　the　dead　pony。　Blaise　himself　took　his　saddle　from　his　mount　and；　following　the　tall；　slender　form　of　the　priestess；　walked　over　grass　and　stone　to　her　boat。
　　They　put　his　gear　on　board　as　well；　and　then　the　craft　was　pushed　free　of　the　shore　and　with　the　west　wind　in　the　one　sail　and　the　sun　low　now　behind　them　it　went　skimming　across　the　waters　of　Lake　Dierne。
　　
　　As　they　approached　the　castle；　Blaise　registered　with　a　practised；　approving　eye　how　well　defended　it　was；　poised　on　a　crag　above　the　lake　with　the　water　ing　around　on　three　sides　and　a　deep　moat　carved　to　the　north。　A　cluster　of　men　had　e　down　to　the　pier　to　wait　for　them。　There　was　another　boat　already　there；　with　two　priests　and　a　priestess　in　it；　tidings　would　have　preceded　them　then。　As　they　drew　near　Blaise　recognized　Valery；　Bertran's　cousin；　and　then；　surprisingly；　Bertran　himself　stepped　forward　to　neatly　catch　the　rope　thrown　by　the　priest　at　the　prow。
　　The　duke　of　Talair　crouched　to　tie　their　craft　to　an　iron　ring　set　in　the　wooden　dock；　then　he　straightened；　looking　expressionlessly　at　Blaise。　There　was　no　hint　in　his　gaze　of　the　eerie；　late…night　intimacy　of　their　last　conversation。　Twenty…three　years；　Blaise　remembered；　suddenly。　The　last　thing　he'd　heard　this　man