ggk.asongforarbonne-第56章

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　　Rudel；　perhaps　predictably；　seemed　to　be　thinking　about　just　that；　as　they　came　up　to　the　two　lanterns　burning　outside　the　honey…coloured　walls　of　the　Talair　palace　and　walked　their　horses　to　the　stables　at　the　back。　The　ostler　came　sleepily　forward　from　the　shadows　and　took　their　mounts。　The　three　of　them　went　back　around　to　the　front　doors。　Under　the　lanterns　again；　Rudel　had　an　expression　on　his　face　that　Blaise　knew　well。
　　〃There　is　an　amusing　tavern　I　know；〃　he　said；　〃just　beyond　the　Portezzan　quarter　of　the　market。　Are　we　really　going　to　put　the　night　to　bed；　or　is　there　some　life　left　in　us？　I　would　enjoy　buying　a　drink　for　the　pretender　to　the　crown　of　Gorhaut。〃
　　Valery　looked　around　quickly；　but　Rudel's　voice　had　been　carefully　low　and　the　square　before　the　house　was　empty。　Even　so；　Blaise　felt　his　pulse　jump　at　the　mention　of　what　he'd　said　tonight。　It　had　certainly　had　results。
　　It　seems　we　do　have　some　things　to　talk　about　after　all；　Daufridi　of　Valensa　had　said；　looking　with　hard　appraisal　at　Blaise；　and　then　had　listened　intently；　heavy　brows　drawn　together；　as　Bertran　de　Talair　outlined　a　number　of　propositions；　some　of　them　startling；　one；　at　least；　quite　terrifying。
　　In　the　street　outside　the　house　Valery　was　shaking　his　head。　〃I'm　an　old　man　tonight。　Too　many　twists　in　the　road　for　my　poor　head。　I　want　a　pillow　more　than　I　can　say。　You　two　go　on。　Be　young　a　little　longer　yet。〃
　　Blaise　was　torn；　in　fact；　between　equally　strong　desires：　one　for　the　quiet　of　his　room；　and　another　for　some　adequate　external　response　to　the　excitement　within　himself。　In　the　past　when　Rudel　had　suggested　a　night　abroad；　he　had　seldom　demurred。
　　In　those　first　months　in　Gotzland　and　then　Portezza；　after　he'd　left　Gorhaut　the　first　time…the　thought　came　suddenly；　new…minted；　to　him…he　himself　seemed　to　have　been　performing　his　own　driven　search　for　an　avenue　of　escape。　It　seemed；　after　all；　that　the　winding　route　through　so　many　taverns　and　towns；　all　the　tournaments　and　courts　and　castles；　the　night　and　morning　roads；　dawn　mist　above　battlefields　and　a　murder　in　Faenna；　had　brought　him　back；　on　this　cool　autumn　evening　in　Arbonne；　to　Gorhaut；　to　the　country　that　was　his　home；　and　to　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge；　which　he　had　twice　sworn…the　second　time　on　his　mother's　blood　on　a　night　of　storm　at　Garsenc…that　he　would　never　accept。
　　Oaths　by　younger　sons；　even　those　of　the　most　powerful　families；　rarely　meant　a　great　deal　in　the　world。　It　seemed；　tonight；　as　if　his　own　vow　might　just　possibly　be　different。　Either　that；　or　the　paths　of　folly　were　even　wider　and　smoother　and　more　weling　than　they　were　said　to　be；　and　he　was　squarely　set　upon　one　of　them　now。
　　He　was　not　going　to　fall　asleep；　he　realized。　Valery；　with　a　crooked　smile　at　the　two　of　them；　walked　up　to　the　palace　door　and　knocked　softly。　The　viewing　grille　slid　back；　and　then　the　door　was　opened　by　the　coran　on　watch。　〃Good　night；〃　Bertran's　cousin　called；　over　his　shoulder。　〃Try　to　be　quiet　when　you　do　e　back。　I　promise　you　I'll　be　sleeping。〃
　　Blaise　watched　him　go　in；　then　turned　to　Rudel。　By　the　lamplight　he　saw　his　friend's　head　tilted　to　one　side；　eyebrows　arched　expectantly　in　that　expression　he　well　remembered。　Valery　had　said　earlier　that　the　young　Bertran　had　been　much　like　this；　it　wasn't　hard　to　see　the　similarity。
　　〃Lead　on；〃　he　said。　〃If　events　continue　as　they　seem　to　have　begun；　and　you　do　intend　to　stay　the　course　with　me；　this　may　be　the　last　chance　we'll　have　to　enter　a　tavern　as　corans　for　hire　and　nothing　more。〃
　　〃Stay　the　course？〃　Rudel　said；　his　voice　swirling　upwards　as　they　began　to　walk。　〃Do　you　think　you　could　possibly　get　rid　of　me　now？〃　He　turned　a　corner；　heading　towards　the　distant　glow　of　lights　by　the　market。　It　was　a　lovely　night；　clear　as　a　shepherd's　dream。　〃All　the　riches　of　my　father　wouldn't　make　me　leave　a　game　as　diverting　as　this　one　has　bee。〃
　　〃Oh　good；〃　said　Blaise　dourly。　〃I'm　pleased　to　be　amusing　you　again。　What　happens　when　I　send　you　to　your　father　to　ask　for　all　his　riches　to　support　us？〃
　　Rudel　Correze　laughed。　He　was　still　laughing　when　six　men　ran　out　from　the　alley　and　blocked　their　path；　before　and　behind；　bows　levelled　at　the　two　of　them。
　　
　　It　was　quiet　in　the　dark　street　then；　with　the　only　lights　a　long　way　ahead　or　behind。　Blaise；　looking　at　the　deadly　purposeful　shapes　in　front　of　them；　had　a　brief　image　of　Bertran　somewhere　in　the　city　with　Soresina　de　Baude；　then　another　of　Valery　slowly　climbing　the　winding　stairs　in　the　Talair　city　palace；　heading　peacefully　to　his　rest。
　　〃I　find　this；〃　he　heard　Rudel　say；　〃deeply　offensive；　I　must　say。　I　was　greatly　looking　forward　to　that　drink　in　The　Senhal。　You　do　know；〃　he　said；　raising　his　voice　for　the　benefit　of　the　silent　men　surrounding　them；　〃that　I　am　the　son　of　Vitalle　Correze；　and　you　are　certainly　dead　men…dead　in　a　most　unpleasant　fashion…if　you　molest　us　further。〃
　　One　thing　about　Rudel；　Blaise　thought；　using　the　time　his　friend　was　buying　them　to　scan　the　shadowy　street　and　alleys　for　possibilities　of　escape…he　was　never　shy　about　invoking　his　father's　name。　Came　with　a　good　relationship；　perhaps。　Blaise　would　prefer　to　die　before　calling　upon　Galbert　de　Garsenc's　even　more　prominent　name　as　a　means　of　succor。
　　A　preference　that　might　well　be　about　to　find　its　own　grim　realization。　These　weren't　outlaws　or　renegades。　With　a　sinking　feeling；　Blaise　thought　he　recognized　one　of　the　bowmen。　They　wore　no　identifiable　livery…naturally…but　he　was　almost　certain　he'd　seen　the　nearest　man　before：　last　summer；　in　Tavernel；　standing　with　En　Urté　de　Miraval　in　the　entrance　to　The　Liensenne　on　Midsummer　Eve。
　　〃I　think　I　know　them；〃　he　murmured　to　Rudel。　I'm　afraid　this　is　bad。〃
　　〃I　didn't　think　it　was　particularly　good；〃　Rudel　replied　tartly。　〃You　cut　left；　I　go　right？〃　They　had　swords；　useless　against　archers。　Blaise　could　think　of　no　better　plan。　The　streets　were　empty　here。　They　were　a　long　way　from　the　market。　They　would　have　to　hope　uncertain　light　might　make　the　bowmen　miss。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　better　off　being　angry　with　me。〃
　　〃Not　really。　Bad　for　the　heart　and　liver；　anger。　That's　what　my　father's　doctor　says。　Live　a　placid　life；　he　advises。　I　think　I　might　try　that　next。〃
　　Poised；　preparing　to　spring　as　soon　as　Rudel　moved；　Blaise　briefly　wondered　why　none　of　the　archers　had　spoken　a　word　or　even　made　a　gesture　of　mand。
　　Then；　when　four　more　men　strode　quickly　out　from　the　alley　and　came　up　behind　them；　he　understood。　Why　give　mands　when　all　you　want　to　do　is　freeze　your　victims　long　enough　for　their　executioners　to　slaughter　them？　He　recognized　one　of　these　men；　too。　It　was　his　last　clear　thought。
　　〃A　placid　life；　that's　the　thing；〃　he　heard　Rudel　repeat　dreamily。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　his　slender；　aristocratic　friend　crumple　to　his　knees；　just　before　the　swinging　blow　from　a　wooden　staff　knocked　him　senseless　too。
　　When　he　came　to；　it　was　with　a　headache　so　brutal　the　room　lurched　sickeningly　as　soon　as　he　opened　his　eyes。　He　closed　them　quickly。　What　remained；　as　consciousness　lingered　tenuously；　was　an　awareness　that　he　was　lying　on　something　unexpectedly　soft　and　there　was　a　scent　surrounding　him。　He　knew　that　scent；　it　had　associations　for　him；　a　great　many。　And　an　instant　later；　as　full　awareness　returned；　Blaise　realized　where　he　must　be。　His　eyes　snapped　open　with　the　shock　and　he　twisted　his　head　around　to　see。　The　movement　made　him　immediately　nauseated　and　he　gasped　with　pain。
　　〃I　do　regret　that；〃　a　woman's　voice　said；　〃but　I　had　to　advise　them　you　might　not　e　willingly。〃
　　〃Why　bother？〃　Blaise　gasped。　He　couldn't　see　her。　She　was　behind　him。　It　was　only　when　he　tried；　with　another　painful　effort；　to　turn　his　body　that　he　realized　that　his　limbs　were　bound。　He　was　on　her　bed；　which　explained　the　softness；　and　his　hands　and　feet　were　tied　to　the　four　bedposts。　The　never…forgotten　scent　of　her　perfume　was　all　around　him。　〃Why　didn't　you　just　have　me　killed　in　the　street？〃
　　〃What？〃　said　Lucianna　Delonghi；　moving　at　last　into　his　field　of　vision。　〃And　deprive　myself　of　this　pleasure？〃
　　He　had　not　seen　her　for　more　than　a　year。　She　was　clad　in　silk　so　diaphanous　she　might　as　well　have　been　naked　to　his　sight。　The　glitter　of　jewellery　was　all　about　her：　a　diadem　in　her　hair；　sapphires　at　each　ear；　diamonds　and　sea　pearls　around　her　throat。　There　were　rings　on　her　long　fingers；　gold　and　silver　or　ivory　at　each　wrist　and　one　spectacular；　memorable　pendant　suspended　between　her　breasts；　red　like　the　fire　crackling　on　the　hearth。　She　liked　jewellery；　he　remembered；　she　liked　fires　in　her　rooms　even　when　it　wasn't　cold；　she　liked　cords　and　knots　and　toys　in　her　bed。
　　His　clothing　and　boots　had　been　taken　away；　he　was　clad　only　in　an　undergarment　that　shielded　his　sex。　He　tried　again；　without　success；　to　move　his　hands　and　realized；　with　a　kind　of　despair；　that　what　he　was　feeling；　as　much　as　fury　and　the　several　layers　of　pain；　was　the　returning　of　desire；　inexorable　as　the　tides　of　the　sea。
　　She　was　so　beautiful　it　caused　a　kind　of　constriction　around　his　heart。　She　was　an　incarnated　vision　from　the　legend　of　the　paradise　that　waited　for　corans　who　died　in　battle。　His　mouth　was　dry。　He　looked　at　her；　in　her　shining；　long…limbed　near…nakedness；　and　the　memory　of　their　love…making　two　summers　ago；　her　body　intertwined　with　his；　legs　wrapped　high　around　him　or　straddling　his　waist　as　she　rode　above；　her　fingernails　scoring　his　shoulders　and　arms；　the　eloquent；　striving；　backwards　arch　of　her　throat　when　she　came　to　her　culmination…it　was　with　him　again　as　if　happening　now；　enveloping　as　the　scent　in　the　room。　He　became　aware；　helplessly；　that　his　excitement　would　be　visible。　Lucianna；　glancing　downward；　noted　that。　She　had　never　been　slow　to　observe　such　things。　She　looked　away　briefly；　a　small；　satisfied　smile　curling　about　her　lips。
　　〃How　sweet；〃　she　murmured；　in　the　nuanced；　husky　voice。　She　moved　out　of　his　sight　for　a　moment　and　then　came　back。　〃And　all　along　I　thought　you　left　because　you　were　angry；　because　you　had　lost　your　desire　for　me。〃　She　looked　down　upon　him　from　the　side　of　the　bed。　〃I　don't　like　it　when　men　leave　me；　Blaise。　Did　I　never　tell　you　that？〃　There　was　a　knife　in　her　fingers　now；　taken　from　the　bedside　table。　It　too　had　gems　in　the　hilt；　rubies　the　colour　of　blood。　She　began　to　play　with　it；　moving　towards　the　foot　of　the　bed；　biting　her　lower　lip　as　if　thinking　of　something；　chasing　a　memory；　and　then　idly　stroking　the　blade；　as　if　unaware　that　she　was　doing　so；　along　the　sole　of　his　foot。　She　twisted　it　suddenly　and　Blaise　felt　the　point　break　the　skin；　drawing　blood。　He　had　been　waiting　for　that。
　　〃I　left　because　you　wanted　me　to；　Lucianna。　Do　not　pretend　anything　else。〃　It　was　difficult　to　be　coherent　amid　both　the　aftermath　of　the　blow　and　the　increasingly　intense　reality　of　desire。　Her　scent　was　all　around　him；　pushing　clear　thought　even　further　away。　She　continued　to　move　about　the　bed；　the　curves　and　planes　of　her　body　lit　by　the　fire's　glow。　He　said；　〃Had　you　wanted　to　hold　me　you　know　you　could　have　done　so。　I　would　not　have　been　able　to　refuse；　even　after　Engarro。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　she　sa