ggk.asongforarbonne-第53章

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ould　have　known　better　than　to　threaten　to　take　her　child。〃
　　〃Threaten？　Her　child？〃　Galbert　had　made　sure　the　instrument　of　his　deep　voice　carried　all　possible　nuances　of　contempt。　〃Is　that　how　you　see　it？　Not　your　own　child？　Not　ours？　Are　you　truly　so　feeble？　I　am　shamed　by　you　in　the　eyes　of　the　god　and　all　men。〃
　　There　had　been　a　servant　in　the　room；　and　almost　certainly　men　listening　on　the　outside　of　each　of　the　three　doors　to　the　chamber　where　they'd　been。　King　Ademar's　palace　in　Cortil　was　not　the　place　for　private　discussions。　Flushing；　feeling　suddenly　defensive；　Ranald　had　said；　〃We　will　talk　later；　when　you　have　calmed　your　choler。　It　is　clear　you　are　in　no　condition　to　be　spoken　with　now。　I　will　await　you　here　at　midday；　father。　Until　then。〃
　　He'd　stalked　quickly　out　of　the　room　before　Galbert　could　reply。　A　coran　in　the　antechamber　barely　had　time　to　be　busy　at　the　window。　Ranald　had　ignored　him。　In　fact　he　had　been　guardedly　pleased　with　himself　for　that　exit　until；　alone　in　his　own　rooms　in　the　palace；　he'd　begun　thinking　more　carefully　through　the　implications　of　what　his　wife　had　done。
　　He'd　sent　a　servant　for　ale　and　sat　in　a　chair　by　the　window　looking　out　over　a　landscape　where　the　sun　was　trying　to　break　free　of　windblown　autumn　clouds。　The　king　was　hunting　that　morning。　Someone　had　probably　ridden　out　already　to　tell　him　the　news；　at　Ademar's　court　ambitious　men　fell　over　each　other　to　be　the　first　to　bring　him　tidings；　particularly　tidings　damaging　to　the　de　Garsenc　family。　Galbert　was　seen　as　too　powerful；　Ranald　knew。　He　probably　was　too　powerful。　Their　family　had　blood　as　royal　as　Ademar's　if　one　went　back　only　two　generations；　and　the　High　Elder　was　now　first　of　all　the　king's　advisers。　Not　much　need　to　wonder　why　they　were　feared。　There　were　those　at　court…and　not　a　few　of　them…who　would　exult　in　Rosala's　flight　and　their　own　disfiture。
　　The　servant　had　e　back　with　a　pitcher　of　beer　and　Ranald　had　gratefully　drained　his　first　flagon　of　the　day。　He'd　stretched　out　his　legs　and　closed　his　eyes。　There　was　no　fort　waiting　for　him　though。　His　wife　had　lied　to　him　in　her　last　letter；　had　fled；　carrying　her　child。　His　child。　Had　already　given　birth；　it　now　appeared；　in　Arbonne。　The　corans　who'd　brought　the　tidings；　riding　north　through　the　pass　at　horse…killing　speed　for　two　nights　and　a　day；　hadn't　known　if　it　was　a　boy　or　a　girl。　That　mattered；　of　course；　quite　a　lot。　Ranald　had　found　it　hard　to　weigh　political　implications　that　morning　though。　He　wasn't　very　good　at　it；　for　one　thing。　He　would　have　preferred　to　be　hunting　with　the　king　just　then。　In　fact；　what　he　really　would　have　preferred　was　to　be　back　at　Garsenc；　riding　with　his　own　men　in　his　own　forest。　Slumped　back；　eyes　closed；　in　that　chair；　he'd　tried　to　picture　Rosala　with　a　babe。　He　had　even　tried；　briefly；　to　imagine　himself　with　one。　He'd　opened　his　eyes　and　filled　his　flagon　from　the　pitcher　on　the　table　by　his　elbow。
　　He'd　allowed　himself　no　more。　He　would　be　meeting　his　father　again　at　midday。　It　was　necessary　to　be　sober　for　such　meetings；　as　he　had　learned；　at　a　cost；　over　the　years。
　　
　　〃I　do　not　want　her　back；〃　he　repeats。　It　is　noon；　the　clouds　are　gone　and　the　sun　is　high　in　a　pale　sky；　shining　through　the　western　windows。　Ranald　tries　to　keep　his　voice　calm。　He　even　moves　nearer　to　his　father　so　they　can　speak　more　softly。　The　servants　have　been　dismissed　this　time。　Ranald　doesn't　want　this　discussion　to　be　mon　knowledge　through　the　palace…or　all　of　Gorhaut；　for　that　matter。
　　Galbert　is　quieter　as　well　now；　Ranald　sees。　In　fact　the　High　Elder　appears　to　be　dangerously　posed。　Before　answering；　he　deliberately　selects　a　chair　and　settles　his　bulk　in　it。　He　has　changed　his　clothing：　he　is　in　the　blue　robes　of　Corannos　now。　Blaise；　before　he　left；　used　to　refuse　to　talk　to　their　father　when　he　wore　the　robes　of　the　god。　He'd　called　them　a　desecration　once。　That　had　been　the　last　time　they'd　seen　Blaise；　actually；　at　the　peak　of　yet　another　raging　argument　about　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge。　That　one　had　ended　with　Ranald's　younger　brother　storming　out　of　the　room　and　the　castle　swearing　never　to　return　to　Gorhaut　while　that　treaty　stood。　Thinking　back　to　that　night；　Ranald　suddenly　had　an　image　of　his　wife　crying　silently　in　her　seat　by　the　fire　while　the　three　of　them　screamed　at　each　other。
　　〃You　are　rejecting　her。　A　most　natural　reaction；〃　his　father　says　now；　hands　fortably　across　his　ample　belly。　He　has　gained　weight；　Ranald　decides　sourly。　It　goes　with　the　increased　power。　〃Indeed；　a　better　man　would　already　have　made　arrangements　to　have　her　killed。　Shall　I　do　that　for　you？〃
　　〃The　way　you　arranged　for　the　duke　of　Talair？　Thank　you；　but　no。　You　aren't　very　efficient；　father。〃　He　can　still　trade　barbs；　to　a　point；　but　this　subject　makes　Ranald　uneasy。　Truth　is；　he　doesn't　like　the　idea　of　Rosala　dead。　He　doesn't　want　her　back…that　much　is　clear　in　his　own　mind…but　that　doesn't　mean　she　has　to　be　executed　for　reacting　urgently　to　some　threat　by　his　father。　He　adds；　〃We　trivialize　ourselves　if　we　pursue　her　in　that　way。〃
　　Galbert　blinks；　as　if　surprised。　He　probably　is；　his　older　son　thinks。　It　isn't　often　that　Ranald　shows　up　for　encounters　in　a　state　of　such　lucidity。　He　feels　a　tired　self…contempt　rising　again。　His　father　says；　〃You　would　let　her　go；　then？　And　have　the　world　laugh　at　you。〃　Galbert　uses　the　dismissive；　flicking　gesture　Ranald　has　always　hated。　〃Well；　so　much　is　your　own　affair。　I　cannot　play　the　man　for　you　forever。　You　will　concede；〃　he　continues；　in　a　tone　of　exaggerated　civility；　〃that　there　is　an　issue　regarding　the　child？〃
　　There　is；　of　course。　Though；　in　fact；　Ranald　has　e　to　realize　during　the　course　of　the　morning　that　he　is　ambivalent　about　that；　too。　He　is；　he　has　long　ago　decided；　an　ambivalent　man。　Life　was　so　much　simpler　in　the　days　when；　as　King　Duergar's　appointed　champion；　all　he　had　to　do　was　unhorse　and　defeat　whomever　they　sent　against　him。　He'd　been　good　at　that　ten　years　ago；　he'd　been　extremely　good。　He　is　less　good　at　thinking　through　something　like　this。　But　if　Rosala　cares　so　much　that　she　would　risk　death　and　accept　exile　to　keep　a　child　from　Galbert's　hands；　well；　Ranald；　to　be　absolutely　truthful；　can　understand　such　a　feeling。　The　problem　is；　he　can't　give　way　to　it。　He　is　the　duke　of　Garsenc；　first　among　the　nobility　of　Gorhaut；　his　father；　who　ought　to　have　bee　duke　himself　when　Ereibert　his　brother　died　childless；　is　High　Elder　of　Corannos　instead；　with　even　more　power　accruing　from　that。　Rosala's　child…Ranald's　child…is　a　pawn　in　an　enormous　game　of　power。
　　〃If　it　is　a　boy；〃　Ranald　says　quietly；　〃we　take　him　back。　I　will　offer　her　her　life　and　her　freedom　to　go　where　she　will；　but　she　gives　back　the　babe…if　it　is　a　boy。　If　it　is　a　girl　child　I　truly　do　not　care。　Let　them　go。　The　king　will　free　me　to　remarry。　As　soon　as　tomorrow；　if　I　ask　him。　I'll　beget　other　children。　If　only　to　make　you　happy；　father。〃　He　smiles　bitterly　again。　〃Will　you　want　all　of　them　for　your　designs；　or　just　a　few？〃
　　Galbert　ignores　that。　〃You　say　we　should　take　a　boy　child　back。　Why　should　you　imagine　that　Rosala　would　consent　to　such　a　thing；　if　that　is　why　she　fled　in　the　first　instance？〃　His　voice；　too；　is　low。　He　won't　want　this　conversation　bruited　about　either。
　　Ranald　shrugs。　〃She　too　can　have　other　children。　For　a　life　of　freedom　from　us　she　might　be　willing　to　do　this。〃
　　〃And　if　not？〃　his　father　pursues；　dangerously　calm。　〃If　she　is　not　willing？〃
　　Belatedly　Ranald　sees　where　this　is　going。　It　is　going　where　almost　everything　Galbert　de　Garsenc　has　touched　of　late　seems　to　go。　He　rises　from　his　chair；　suddenly　agitated。
　　〃Did　you　do　this　deliberately？〃　he　snaps。　〃Did　you　goad　her　into　flight　purposely？　To　create　this　situation？〃
　　Galbert　smiles　placently；　his　eyes　crinkling；　almost　disappearing　into　the　folds　of　his　skin。　〃What　do　you　think？　Of　course　I　did；〃　he　murmurs。
　　〃You　are　lying；　aren't　you。〃　Ranald　feels　his　hands　forming　into　fists　at　his　sides…his　father's　own　gestures；　he　has　tried　and　failed　to　break　himself　of　it。　〃The　truth　is　she　goaded　you　and　you　spat　out　something　you　didn't　mean　to　say。〃
　　His　father　shakes　his　head　slowly　back　and　forth；　his　jowls　waggling　with　the　motion。　〃Don't　be　pletely　the　fool；　Ranald。　Why　do　you　think　I　went　to　see　her　at　Garsenc　in　the　first　place？　Why　would　I　want　a　baby？　What　would　I　do　with　an　infant？　You　seem　sober　this　morning。　Seize　the　opportunity：　think。　It　will　be　in　your　own　interests；　incidentally…whatever　you　might　privately　imagine…to　confirm　my　version　of　the　story。　I　cannot　conceive　of　events　falling　out　better　for　our　purposes。〃
　　〃Our　purposes？　Your　own；　you　mean。　You　will　now　make　war　on　Arbonne　to　bring　back　the　child。〃　It　is　just　barely　possible　that　his　father　is　telling　the　truth；　that　this　entire　escapade　of　Rosala's　flight　was　cunningly　engineered。　It　is　the　way　he　deals　with　people；　the　way　he　has　proceeded　all　his　life。
　　With　a　crash　that　shatters　the　stillness　the　largest　door　to　the　room　bangs　open　and　thuds　against　the　stone　wall。　Father　and　son　wheel　swiftly。　Massive　in　the　doorway；　beard　and　hair　dripping　with　perspiration；　blood　and　grass　stains　on　his　broad　shoulders　and　chest；　mud　spattering　breeches　and　boots；　King　Ademar　of　Gorhaut　throws　his　riding　whip　down　on　the　stone　floor　and　snarls；　〃I　want　her　back！　You　hear　me；　Galbert？　I　want　her　back　here　immediately！〃　His　face　is　a　vivid　red；　his　pale　eyes　are　glassy　with　rage。
　　〃Of　course；　my　liege；〃　says　the　High　Elder　soothingly；　recovering　his　poise　with　speed。　〃Of　course　you　do。　You　are　conscious　of　the　insult　to　our　family　and　seek　to　help　us　respond。　We　are　profoundly　grateful。　Indeed；　my　son　and　I　were　just　discussing　how　next　to　proceed。〃
　　〃Proceed　however　you　must！　I　want　her　back！〃　Ademar　says　again；　running　a　gloved　hand　through　his　hair。
　　〃And　the　child；　too；　of　course。〃　Galbert　murmurs。　〃The　child　is　so　very　important。〃
　　His　deep；　calming　tones　seem　finally　to　take　effect。　The　king　of　Gorhaut　takes　a　breath　and　shakes　his　head　as　if　to　clear　it。　He　says；　a　little　more　lucidly；　〃Of　course。　The　child　too。　Very　important。　Heir　to　Garsenc；　if　it's　a　boy。　Of　course。〃　He　looks　at　Ranald　for　the　first　time　and　his　eyes　flick　away。
　　〃If　they　keep　a　boy　child　from　us；〃　Galbert　de　Garsenc　says　then；　still　in　the　quiet；　assuaging　voice；　〃the　world　can　scarcely　dispute　our　right　to　go　after　him。〃
　　Ademar　bends　suddenly　and　picks　up　his　whip。　He　strikes　it　sharply　against　his　own　leg。　〃Right。　You　do　it。　Gotzland；　Arimonda；　the　Portezzans　。。。　explain　it；　make　it　all　sound　right；　whatever　you　need　to　do。　But　I　want　her　back。〃
　　He　spins　on　his　heel；　not　even　looking　at　Ranald　a　second　time；　and　strides　heavily　from　the　room。　Behind　him；　expressionlessly；　a　servant　reaches　in　and　swings　the　heavy　door　closed；　leaving　the　two　Garsenc　men　alone　again。
　　Registering　his　elder　son's　expression；　Galbert　begins；　quietly；　to　laugh。　〃Ah；　well；〃　he　says；　not　bothering　to　hide　his　amusement；　his　jowls　shaking；　〃you　have　just　made　a　discovery。　It　seems　that　someone　here　at　least　desires　the　return　of　your　lady　wife。　I　do　wonder　why。〃
　　Ranald　turns　away。　He　feels　sick　to　his　stoma