ggk.asongforarbonne-第26章

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　　Urté　de　Miraval's　head　snapped　back；　as　if　from　an　actual　lashing。　It　was　the　first　time　he'd　lost　his　posure；　Blaise　realized；　and　wondered　why。　Something　he'd　overheard　weeks　ago　tugged　vaguely　at　his　memory：　there　was　a　woman　somewhere　at　the　root　of　what　lay　between　these　two。
　　〃Bertran；〃　began　Ariane　de　Carenzu　sharply；　〃I　do　not　think　that…〃
　　〃Ariane；　have　done！　You　have　imposed　your　will　here；　and　we　are　mindful　of　you。　Do　not　overreach；　it　is　a　failing。　I　told　you　when　you　walked　in　and　I　have　told　you　as　much　before。〃　Bertran's　blue　eyes　as　he　wheeled　to　face　her　were　hard　and　carried　their　own　measure　of　authority　now。　〃We　will　play　games　tonight　on　the　river　for　your　amusement。　No　one　will　be　killed；　by　your　mand。　Be　content　with　what　you　may　control。　The　past　is　not　in　your　province。〃
　　〃Indeed　it　is　not；〃　said　Urté　de　Miraval　very　softly；　his　self…control　regained。　Blaise　had　to　lean　forward　to　hear　him。　〃None　of　the　dead　are。　Men　or　women。　Even　children。　Even　children；　if　it　es　to　that。〃
　　Which；　for　some　reason；　drew　a　response　from　Bertran　de　Talair。　He　turned　from　the　dark…haired　woman　to　look　full　into　the　face　of　the　other　duke　standing　not　far　away。　There　was　a　suddenly　dangerous　stillness　in　the　room　again；　a　sense　of　genuine　menace　radiating　outward　from　where　the　two　men　stood。
　　〃It　es　to　that；〃　said　Bertran　finally；　his　own　voice　little　more　than　a　whisper　now。　〃Oh；　believe　me；　my　lord；　it　does。〃　As　the　two　of　them　locked　gazes　to　the　manifest　exclusion　of　everyone　else　in　the　tavern；　in　the　world；　Blaise　of　Gorhaut　realized；　rather　late；　that　the　hatred　here；　the　palpable　weight　of　whatever　lay　in　the　past　between　them；　was　of　a　depth　and　texture　infinitely　greater　than　he　had　understood。
　　Beside　him　Valery　muttered　something　under　his　breath　that　Blaise　could　not　quite　hear。
　　〃e；〃　Bertran　added；　breaking　free　of　the　frozen　stare；　his　tone　a　sudden；　exaggerated　parody　of　ritual；　〃let　us　go。　Let　us　all　go　forth　by　the　light　of　the　mingled　summer　moons　to　make　sport　on　the　river　for　the　queen　of　the　Court　of　Love。〃
　　He　moved　towards　the　door　without　looking　back。　Valery　followed　quickly。　Blaise　glanced　around　the　tavern　one　more　time。　Ariane　de　Carenzu's　expression　was　odd　now；　vulnerable　for　the　first　time。　People　were　beginning　to　stir；　shaking　their　heads；　blinking　vaguely；　as　if　freed　of　an　enchanter's　cast　spell。　On　the　upper　landing　the　legs　were　moving；　black　and　white　hose；　white　and　blue；　wheat…coloured　and　russet；　crimson　and　gold；　pale　and　forest　green…the　brilliant　colours　of　festival　time。
　　He　watched　for　another　moment；　thinking　about　the　words　just　spoken；　nagged　by　the　thread　of　a　thought；　and　then　moved　with　the　crowd　out　the　doorway　and　into　the　noisy　street。　On　the　way　he　passed　very　close　to　Quzman　the　Arimondan；　closer　than　he　needed　to；　in　fact。　He　made　a　point　of　smiling　as　he　did。
　　Valery　was　waiting　just　outside　the　door。　A　man　and　a　woman　masked　as　a　crow　and　a　fox　bumped　into　Blaise　as　they　stumbled　past；　laughing　uproariously。　The　man　carried　an　open　flask　of　wine；　the　woman's　tunic　was　mostly　unbuttoned。　In　the　light　of　the　lanterns　above　the　doorway　of　The　Liensenne；　her　breasts　showed　clearly　for　a　moment。　There　was　laughter　ahead　of　them　and　behind　and　a　constant；　cacophonous　sound　of　noisemakers　being　whirled　and　banged　and　thumped。
　　〃You　don't　have　any　of　this　in　Gorhaut；　I　suppose；〃　said　Valery　panionably；　as　if　nothing　of　note　had　happened　in　the　tavern。　Blaise　realized　that　he　liked　Bertran's　cousin　for　this　relaxed；　unruffled　quality；　as　much　as　for　anything　else。　Just　ahead　of　them　the　duke　was　walking　amid　a　cluster　of　musicians；　including　the　woman　who　had　sung　for　them；　she　was　still　wearing　Bertran's　blue　cloak。
　　〃Hardly；〃　he　said　shortly；　by　way　of　reply；　but　he　tried　to　keep　the　criticism　out　of　his　voice。　What　should　he　say　to　Valery：　that　he　found　this　whole　night's　goddess…inspired　exercise　in　lechery　demeaning　and　vulgar；　unworthy　of　any　man　who　aspired　to　serve　his　country　and　his　god？
　　〃I　meant　to　tell　you　that　there　were　two　Arimondans；〃　Valery　said　after　a　pause。　There　was　riotous　sound　all　around　them；　a　young　boy　raced　past；　violently　whirling　a　noise…maker　shaped　like　the　head　of　a　bull。　Two　laughing　women　leaned　precariously　far　out　of　a　window　overhead；　trading　ribald　jests　with　those　passing　in　the　crowded　street。
　　〃I'm　sure；〃　Blaise　said　drily。　〃Why　didn't　you？〃
　　Valery　glanced　briefly　at　him。　〃You　didn't　seem　interested。〃　He　said　it　mildly；　but　Blaise　heard　the　nuance　in　the　words。　〃You　haven't　seemed　much　interested　in　anything。　I　wonder　why　you　travel；　sometimes。　Most　men　leave　home　to　learn　about　the　wider　world。　You　don't　seem　to　want　to　know。〃
　　A　different　sort　of　elbow　in　the　ribs。　Blaise　thought　of　stating　as　much；　but　after　a　moment　said　only；　〃Some　men　leave　home　to　leave　home。〃
　　After　a　moment　Valery　nodded。　He　didn't　pursue　the　matter。　Turning　right；　he　followed　Bertran　and　the　troubadours　up　a　darker　laneway　leading　away　from　the　sea。
　　〃How　good　are　you　with　small　boats　on　water？〃　he　asked　after　a　moment。
　　〃Passable；〃　said　Blaise　cautiously。　〃What；　exactly；　are　we　about　to　do？〃
　　〃A　question！〃　said　Valery　of　Talair；　grinning　suddenly。　He　looked　younger；　and　very　like　his　cousin　when　he　smiled。　〃You　actually　asked　a　question！〃
　　Almost　against　his　will　Blaise　laughed。　He　sobered　quickly；　concentrating；　as　Valery　of　Talair　began　to　explain。　Then；　when　Valery　was　finished　and　they　had　e　to　the　river　and　Blaise　saw　what　was　there…the　people；　and　the　strung　lights　like　glittering　stars　e　down；　the　lanterns　and　faces　in　the　windows　of　the　merchant　houses　along　the　river；　the　ropes　across　the　water　mooring　the　rafts；　the　small　boats　waiting　and　others　drifting　downstream　towards　the　invisible　sea；　some　already　capsized　with　men　swimming　beside　them…he　laughed　aloud　again；　helplessly；　at　the　childlike　frivolity　of　it　all。
　　〃Oh；　Corannos；〃　he　said；　to　no　one　in　particular；　〃what　a　country　this　is。〃
　　But　they　had　caught　up　with　the　others　by　then；　the　troubadours　and　joglars　amid　the　crowd　on　the　riverbank；　and　Bertran　de　Talair　turned　back　to　look　at　him。
　　〃We　know　that；〃　he　said　levelly　over　the　noise。　〃Do　you？〃
　　
　　The　river　and　the　sea　and　the　night　were　sacred　to　Rian；　and　Midsummer　was　holy　to　her；　but　Carnival　was　also　a　time　when　the　order　of　the　world　was　turned　upside…down…sometimes　literally；　as　in　a　vat　of　water；　or　Cauvas　gold；　Lisseut　thought　ruefully。　The　goddess　was　celebrated　that　night　through　Arbonne　in　laughter　and　amid　noise　and　flowing　wine　and　otherwise　forbidden　linkings　in　the　darkness　of　cobbled　laneways　or　grassy　mews；　or　beds　in　houses　where　doors　were　left　unlocked　this　one　night　of　the　year。
　　It　was　also　celebrated　in　the　city　of　Tavernel；　and　had　been　for　years　beyond　number；　with　the　challenge　of　the　Boats　and　Rings　on　the　river；　here　where　the　Arbonne　came　home　to　the　sea　after　its　long　journey　south　from　the　mountains　of　Gorhaut。
　　Grateful　for　the　hooded　cloak　Duke　Bertran　had　forgotten　or　neglected　to　reclaim；　Lisseut　tried　with　only　marginal　success　to　pick　up　the　thread　of　excitement　and　anticipation　that　had　carried　her　into　The　Liensenne　earlier　in　the　day。　It　was　still　Carnival；　she　was　still　among　friends　and　had　even　had…though　there　had　been　no　time　to　properly　absorb　this…what　appeared　to　be　a　spectacular　success。　But　the　presence　of　hatred；　both　ancient　and　new；　was　too　strong　now　for　her　to　regain　the　blithe　mood　of　before。　She　looked　over　at　the　grim　figure　of　Urté　de　Miraval　and　at　the　sleek　Arimondan　beside　him；　and　she　could　not　suppress　a　shiver；　even　within　the　cloak。
　　You　kill　singers；　remember？　So　En　Bertran　had　said　to　the　duke　of　Miraval。　Lisseut　didn't　know　if　that　was　true；　if　it　was；　then　it　had　happened　before　her　time　and　was　not　something　anyone　talked　about。　But　Urté　had　not　denied　it。　Only　those　who　sing　what　they　should　not；　he　had　replied；　unperturbed。
　　Laughter；　jarring　incongruously　with　her　thoughts；　drew　her　attention　to　the　river　and；　in　spite　of　herself；　she　was　forced　to　smile。　Jourdain；　who　prided　himself　on　his　athleticism　even　more　than　Remy　did；　had　pushed　his　way　through　the　crowd　to　the　water's　edge　and；　prudently　removing　his　expensive　boots；　was　evidently　about　to　be　the　first　of　their　group　to　try　the　boats。
　　Lisseut　cast　a　quick　glance　up　at　the　sky；　just　as　Jourdain　did；　and　saw　that　the　moons　were　both　clear　of　clouds　and　would　be　for　a　few　moments。　That　mattered；　she　knew。　It　was　hard　enough　to　grasp　the　rings　in　a　whirling；　bouncing　toy　of　a　boat　without　contending　with　the　added　problem　of　not　being　able　to　see　them。
　　〃Are　you　sure　you　wouldn't　prefer　to　be　ducked　in　the　basin？〃　Alain　of　Rousset　called　out　from　the　safety　of　the　bank。　〃It's　an　easier　way　to　soak　yourself！〃
　　There　was　laughter。　Jourdain　said　something　impolite；　but　he　was　concentrating　on　stepping　down　and　then　settling　himself　in　the　tiny；　bobbing　craft　that　two　men　held　close　to　the　dock。　He　took　the　short；　flat…bladed　oar　one　of　them　offered　him；　glanced　once　more　at　the　two　moons…one　waxing；　one　just　past　full…and　nodded　tersely。
　　They　let　the　boat　go。　To　screams　of　encouragement；　Jourdain　shot　like　a　cork　from　a　bottle　out　into　the　swiftly　racing　river。
　　〃Ten　copper　pieces　he　doesn't　make　three　rings；〃　Alain　cried　loudly。
　　〃Done！〃　said　Elisse；　who　was　sleeping　with　Jourdain　that　season。
　　〃And　ten　more　from　me；〃　Lisseut　added　quickly；　more　to　wager　against　Elisse　than　for　any　other　reason。　〃Are　you　good　for　it？〃
　　〃More　than　good；〃　Elisse　replied　with　a　toss　of　her　golden　hair。　〃I've　been　touring　with　real　troubadours　this　spring。〃
　　It　was　such　a　patently　envious；　silly　gibe　that　Lisseut　burst　into　laughter。　Alain's　aggrieved　expression　showed　that　he　couldn't　quite　see　it　that　way。　Lisseut　squeezed　his　arm　and　then　continued　to　hold　it　as　they　watched　Jourdain　do　battle　with　the　river。
　　Sober　or　not；　he　steered　smoothly　enough　across　the　current　to　the　first　raft　and；　without　apparent　effort；　reached　up　and　across　to　gracefully　pluck　the　garland　of　olive　leaves　that　had　been　looped　on　a　pole　hanging　out　over　the　water。　The　priestess　on　the　first　raft　quickly　raised　her　torch　to　signal　success。　A　shout　of　approval　went　up　along　both　sides　of　the　river。　People　were　massed　all　the　way　down　the　banks　to　the　final　strand　of　rope　running　across　the　stream；　and　there　were　almost　as　many　leaning　out　of　windows　in　the　high　houses。
　　Paddling　vigorously；　leaning　his　body　far　over　to　one　side；　Jourdain　angled　his　boat　back　the　other　way；　trying　to　move　across　the　river　before　the　current　took　him　sweeping　past　the　second　raft。　He　made　it；　barely；　had　an　instant　to　steady　himself　and　then　reached　upwards…the　second　ring　was　higher　of　course…and　plucked　the　garland。　He　almost　slipped；　toppling　back　into　his　boat　and　very　nearly　falling　out。　But　another　torch　was　lifted　and　another　shout　went　up。
　　Jourdain's　near…fall　cost　him　precious　time；　though；　and　when　he　righted　himself　properly　and　seized　the　oar　again　Lisseut；　even　at　a　distance；　saw　him　make　a　swift　decision　to　eschew　the　third　raft　near　the　far　bank　and　head　straight　downriver　towards　the　fou