ggk.asongforarbonne-第31章

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　　A　little　further　down　she　came　to　the　arched　doorway　she'd　watched　from　before；　when　Blaise　went　down　the　alley。　She　slipped　back　into　it；　looking　out　from　behind　the　elongated　eye…slits　of　her　mask。
　　She　didn't　have　long　to　wait。　Blaise　of　Gorhaut　came　striding　out　of　the　alleyway　a　few　moments　later。　He　stopped　in　the　street　and　looked　up　at　the　stern；　square　tower　of　Mignano。　She　knew　why　now；　she　knew　more　than　she　should；　or　even　wanted　to　know：　Mignano　was　controlled　by　the　Delonghi　family；　it　had　been　for　a　great　many　years；　and　the　only　daughter　of　Massena　Delonghi　was　a　woman　named　Lucianna；　twice　married；　twice　widowed　prematurely。
　　Three　times　married；　she　corrected　herself。　To　Count　Borsiard　d'Andoria　now。　She　wondered；　briefly；　why　a　man　of　power　and　means　would　marry　her；　knowing　her　family's　ambition；　knowing　her　own　reputation。　She　was　said　to　be　very　beautiful。　How　much　could　beauty　excuse　or　pel？　Blaise　had　turned　away　from　the　tower　and　was　ing　back　down　the　street；　walking　quickly。　The　lantern　light　burnished　his　hair　again；　and　the　full　beard。
　　She　didn't　know；　until　the　moment　she　actually　called　his　name；　that　she　was　going　to　do　so。　He　stopped；　a　hand　moving　swiftly　to　his　sword；　then　wavering　before　it　dropped　to　his　side。　A　woman's　voice；　he　wouldn't　fear　a　woman。
　　Lisseut　came　out　from　her　archway　into　the　light。　Her　mask　was　on。　She　reached　up　and　removed　it；　the　makeshift　coiling　she'd　done　with　her　hair　came　undone　as　she　did；　and　she　felt　the　tangled　tendrils　ing　down　about　her　face。　She　could　imagine　what　she　looked　like。
　　〃Ah；〃　he　said。　〃The　singer。〃　Some　surprise　in　his　voice；　not　a　great　deal。　Not　a　great　deal　of　interest；　either。　At　least　he　recognized　her。　〃You　are　a　long　way　from　the　Carnival　here。　Do　you　want　an　escort　back　to　where　there　will　be　people？〃
　　His　tone　was　courteous　and　detached；　a　coran　of　the　god　doing　his　sworn　duty　by　someone　in　need。　It　hadn't　even　occurred　to　him　why　she　was　here；　she　realized。　She　was　merely　an　Arbonnais　female；　presumably　in　need　of　assistance。
　　Her　mother　had　always　said　she　did　too　many　things　on　impulse　and　that　it　would　cost　her　one　day。　It　already　had；　more　than　once。　It　was　probably　about　to　do　so　again；　she　thought；　even　as　she　opened　her　mouth。
　　〃I　followed　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　on　the　garden　wall　under　the　plane　tree。　I　heard　what　you　both　said；　you　and　Rudel　Correze。　I'm　trying　to　decide　what　to　do　about　it。〃
　　She　was　briefly　gratified　at　the　level　of　astonishment　that　showed　in　his　face；　even　behind　the　beard…as　much　a　screen　in　its　own　way　as　all　the　masks　were　tonight。　The　feeling　didn't　last　long。　It　was　entirely　possible；　she　realized；　that　he　might　kill　her　now。　She　didn't　think　so；　but　it　was　possible。
　　She　braced　herself　for　his　fury。　She　thought；　in　the　uncertain　light；　that　she　saw　it　e；　a　lifted　head；　a　narrowed　gaze　upon　her。　He　had　stabbed　Remy；　she　remembered。　He　had　killed　six　men　by　Lake　Dierne。　His　hands　remained　still；　though。　She　saw　him　working　out　implications；　surprise　and　anger　giving　way　to　a　flatly　professional　appraisal。　He　was　quick　to　control　himself；　had　she　not　watched　him　earlier　in　the　garden　spilling　wine　in　response　to　a　woman's　name　spoken　she　would　have　thought　him　a　cold；　grim　man。
　　〃Why？〃　was　all　he　said　finally。
　　She'd　been　afraid　of　that　question。　She　still　didn't　have　an　answer。　She　wished　her　hair　was　pinned　properly；　that　her　clothing　was　clean　and　dry。　She　felt　like　a　street　urchin。　Her　mother　would　be　so　ashamed。
　　〃You　seemed　to　be　hurrying　somewhere；〃　she　said　hesitantly。　〃The　way　you　left　the　pier。　I　think　I　was　very　。。。　irritated　with　you　in　the　tavern；　I　wanted　to　。。。　know　more。〃
　　〃And　now　you　do。〃　He　sounded　more　tired　than　angry；　actually。　〃So；　what　will　you　do？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　was　hoping　you　would　tell　me；〃　Lisseut　said；　looking　down　at　the　cat　mask　in　her　hands。　〃I　heard　you　say　that　you　were　going　to　stay　instead　of　leaving　with　him。　I　heard　him　say　there　might　be　a　war；　and　I　。。。　I　heard　who　paid　for　the　killing。〃　She　forced　her　head　up　to　meet　his　gaze。
　　〃My　father；〃　he　said　bluntly。　〃Yes；　go　on。〃
　　She　felt　her　brow　knit　with　concentration。　〃I'm　not　famous　for　my　self…discipline；　but　I　don't　want　to　go　charging　into　something　that　is　out　of　my　depth。〃
　　〃Oh；　really；〃　he　said　with　mild　sarcasm。　〃How　restrained　of　you。　More　people　should　think　that　way。　But　the　obvious　question　is：　why　trust　me？　Why　are　you　telling　me　this　on　a　dark　street　when　no　one　in　the　world　knows　we're　here　together　or　knows　what　you　just　heard？　Why　are　you　asking　Galbert　de　Garsenc's　son　what　to　do？　You　know　who　he　is；　you　know　who　I　am　now。　You　know　that　Rudel　Correze；　my　friend；　is　the　man　who　killed　Valery。　You　spied；　you　learned　things　that　are　important。　Why　are　you　standing　with　me　now？　Do　you　care　so　little　for　your　life；　or　are　you　simply　ignorant　about　what　happens　in　the　real　world　to　people　who　do　things　like　this？〃
　　She　swallowed。　He　was　not　an　easy　man；　not　at　all。　She　pushed　her　hair　back　from　her　eyes　again；　it　was　snarled；　miserably。
　　〃Because　I　believe　what　you　said　to　him。　You　didn't　know　I　was　there；　you　had　no　reason　to　lie。　You　had　nothing　to　do　with　this　killing。　And　you　said　you　would　not　leave　Arbonne　and　。。。　and　then　you　didn't　tell　him　he　killed　the　wrong　man。〃　She　felt　her　forehead　smooth　as　she　realized　the　truth　of　what　she　was　saying。　These　were　her　reasons；　she　was　discovering　them　as　she　spoke。　She　even　smiled。　〃I　think　you　are　an　uncivilized　northerner　upon　whom　the　better　things　in　life　are　wasted；　but　I　don't　think　you're　evil　and　I　do　think　you　meant　what　you　said。〃
　　〃Why；〃　said　Blaise　of　Gorhaut　in　an　odd；　musing　voice；　〃am　I　so　pletely　surrounded　by　sentimental　people　tonight？〃
　　She　laughed　aloud。　A　moment　later；　as　if　surprised　by　himself；　Blaise　grinned　crookedly。　〃e　on；〃　he　said。　〃We　shouldn't　be　seen　in　the　neighbourhood。　Connections　will　be　made。〃　He　began　walking　back　down　the　wide　street。　His　long　strides　made　no　concession　to　her　size　and　she　had　to　take　quick；　skipping　steps　to　keep　up。　It　was；　in　fact；　irritating　again；　and　after　a　short　while　she　grabbed　his　sleeve　and　with　a　vigorous　tug　forced　him　to　slow　his　pace。
　　〃The　god　wouldn't　want　you　to　make　me　run；〃　she　murmured。　He　opened　his　mouth　and　then　closed　it。　She　thought　he　had　nearly　laughed　but　wasn't　sure；　glancing　up　in　the　uncertain　light　and　shadow。
　　
　　It　was　then　though；　unfortunately；　hand　holding　his　sleeve；　that　she　remembered　that　it　was　Carnival　night；　Midsummer　Eve。　It　was　said　in　Tavernel　to　be　bad　luck　to　lie　alone　tonight。　She　felt　her　mouth　go　dry。　She　swallowed　and　let　go　of　his　sleeve。　He　didn't　even　notice；　striding　along　beside　her　at　a　more　decent　pace；　broad…shouldered　and　petent；　with　the　celebrated；　notorious　Lucianna　Delonghi　somewhere　in　his　past。　Unbidden；　the　image　of　the　entwined　couple　in　the　dark　laneway　came　vividly　back　to　her。　Oh；　good；　the　woman　had　said；　in　a　voice　made　husky　by　desire；　and　their　hands　had　reached　out　to　draw　her　into　a　shadowed　sanctity。
　　Lisseut　shook　her　head　and　swore　to　herself；　breathing　deeply　of　the　night　air。　This　was；　of　course；　all　Remy's　fault。　Before　him　such　thoughts；　such　images；　would　have　been　alien　to　her。　Well；　mostly　alien。
　　〃Why　are　you　letting　him　leave？〃　she　asked；　to　change　the　pattern　of　her　thoughts；　to　break　the　silence。　There　were　more　people　around　them　now；　mostly　couples　at　this　point　in　the　evening　she　noted；　and　quickly　suppressed　that　thought。　〃Because　he's　your　friend？〃
　　Blaise　glanced　down　at　her。　She　wondered　if　her　voice　sounded　strained。　He　hesitated。　Lisseut　had　a　quick；　flaring　sense　that　if　she　had　been　a　man　he　wouldn't　have。　He　did　answer；　thought。　〃Partly　that；　obviously。　We　have　been　through　。。。　a　great　many　things　together。　But　there's　more　to　it。　Rudel　Correze　is　an　important　man。　He's　his　father's　son；　and　his　father　is　a　very　important　man。　If　he's　captured　here　we　would　have　to　decide　what　to　do　with　him；　and　that　could　prove　awkward。　If　a　war　es；　the　cities　of　Portezza　will　be　important；　for　money；　and　possibly　more　than　that。〃
　　She　took　another　chance。　A　large　chance。　〃We？〃　she　asked。
　　He　was　silent　for　a　few　strides。　〃You　are；〃　he　said　finally；　〃a　clever　woman；　and　obviously　a　brave　one。〃　She　thought　of　sketching　a　mock　bow　in　the　roadway　but　refrained。　〃I　suggest　you　try　hard　not　to　bee　too　sentimental　about　this。　I'm　a　professional　coran；　at　the　moment　under　contract　to　Duke　Bertran；　who　is　not　dead　though　a　man　I　had　e　to　like　is。　In　my　profession　one　gets　used　to　the　deaths　of　people　one　likes；　or　one　finds　another　profession。　I　could　as　easily　be　in　Aulensburg　serving　Jorg　of　Gotzland　by　this　autumn；　and　if　he　decides　to　join　Gorhaut　and　if　there　is　a　war　。。。　I'll　be　back　here　and　fighting　for　him　against　you。　You　must　understand　that。　For　now；　I　try　to　serve；　as　best　I　can；　the　needs　of　the　man　who　pays　me。〃
　　〃Payment　is　all？　Wouldn't　you　fight　for　Gorhaut　because　it　is　your　country？　Only　for　that　reason；　money　aside？〃　She　found　that　she　was　breathing　hard　again。
　　He　fell　silent　as　they　walked；　looking　over　and　down　at　her。　Their　eyes　met　for　a　moment；　then　he　glanced　away。　〃No；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Once　I　would　have。　Once　I　did。　Not　any　more。〃　He　drew　a　slow　breath。　〃Not　since　Iersen　Bridge。　I　am　a　professional　coran。　Payment　is　all。〃
　　〃And　you　can　change　sides　that　easily？　There　are　no　attachments　that　matter？　No　people；　no　principles？〃
　　〃You　started　the　evening　attacking　me；〃　he　murmured。　〃Is　it　being　a　habit？〃
　　Lisseut　felt　herself　blushing。
　　〃If　you　are　fair；〃　he　went　on；　〃you　will　acknowledge　that　there　are　principles　behind　what　I　do。　Attachments　are　dangerous　in　my　profession。　So　is　sentiment。〃
　　〃You've　used　that　word　at　least　four　times　tonight；〃　she　said；　more　tartly　than　she'd　intended。　〃Is　that　your　only　word　for　human　affection？〃
　　He　laughed　again；　surprising　her。　〃If　I　concede　you　the　point　will　you　leave　it？〃　he　asked。
　　He　stopped　in　the　street。　They　were　back　among　the　crowds　now。　Someone　jostled　her　going　past。　Blaise　laid　a　hand　on　her　shoulder　as　she　turned　to　look　at　him。　〃I　don't　think　I'm　up　to　debating　with　you　in　the　street　tonight。　I　think　I'd　lose。〃　He　gazed　down　at　her　soberly；　a　professional　again；　assessing　a　situation。　〃You　asked　me　earlier　what　you　should　do。　I　intend　to　speak　to　En　Bertran　in　the　morning。　He　should　not　be　taxed　with　this　tonight；　I　think　that　is　obvious；　quite　aside　from　what　I　promised　Rudel　Correze。　I　will　tell　him　everything　that　happened；　including　my　decision　to　let　Rudel　have　a　chance　to　leave。　I　expect　he'll　agree　with　that；　eventually；　if　not　immediately。　I'll　also　tell　him　who　paid　for　that　arrow。　I　promise　you　these　things。　If　you　don't　trust　me　to　do　this；　you　can　be　there　when　we　meet　in　the　morning。〃
　　It　was　more　than　she　could　have　expected；　rather　a　great　deal　more。　She　said；　however；　being　what　her　mother　had　always　said　she　was；　〃You'll　tell　him　everything？　Including　who　you　are？〃
　　His　expression　did　not　change；　he'd　been　expecting　the　question；　she　realized。　He　had　already　begun　taking　her　measure；　it　was　a　curious　thing　to　realize。
　　〃If　you　insist　that　I　do　so；　I　will。　I　cannot　stop　you