ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第16章

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ance　of　posure。
　　This　is　my　day　for　meeting　famous　men；　she　thought　suddenly。
　　It　could　almost　have　been　amusing；　if　so　much　tragedy　had　not　been　embedded　in　the　day。　The　realization；　though；　was　inescapable。　The　man　she　was　riding　behind　had　been　known；　for　almost　twenty　years…since　the　late　days　of　the　Khalifate…as　the　Scourge　of　Al…Rassan。　The　wadjis　still　singled　him　out　by　name　for　cursing　in　the　temples　at　the　darkfall　prayers。　She　wondered　if　he　knew　that；　if　he　prided　himself　upon　it。
　　〃My　temper　is　a　problem；〃　he　said　quietly；　breaking　the　silence　in　remarkably　unaccented　Asharic。　〃I　really　shouldn't　have　whipped　him。〃
　　〃I　don't　see　why　not；〃　Jehane　said。
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃You　kill　men　like　that　or　you　leave　them　alone。〃
　　〃Then　you　should　have　killed　him。〃
　　〃Probably。　I　could　have；　in　the　first　attack　when　we　arrived；　but　not　after　they　had　surrendered　and　sued　for　ransom。〃
　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　Jehane　said；　aware　that　her　bitterness　was　audible；　〃The　code　of　warriors。　Would　you　like　to　ride　back　and　look　at　that　mother　and　child？〃
　　〃I　have　seen　such　things；　doctor。　Believe　me。〃　She　did　believe　him。　He　had　probably　done　them；　too。
　　〃I　knew　your　father；　incidentally；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　after　another　silence。　Jehane　felt　herself　go　rigid。　〃Ishak　of　the　Kindath。　I　was　sorry　to　learn　of　his　fate。〃
　　〃How　。。。　how　do　you　know　who　my　father　is？　How　do　you　know　who　I　am？〃　she　stammered。
　　He　chuckled。　And　answered　her；　astonishingly；　in　fluent　Kindath　now。　〃Not　a　particularly　difficult　guess。　How　many　blue…eyed　Kindath　female　physicians　are　there　in　Fezana？　You　have　your　father's　eyes。〃
　　〃My　father　has　no　eyes；〃　Jehane　said　bitterly。　〃As　you　know　if　you　know　his　story。　How　do　you　know　our　language？〃
　　〃Soldiers　tend　to　learn　bits　of　many　languages。〃
　　〃Not　that　well；　and　not　Kindath。　How　do　you　know　it？〃
　　〃I　fell　in　love　once；　a　long　time　ago。　Best　way　to　learn　a　language；　actually。〃
　　Jehane　was　feeling　angry　again。　〃When　did　you　learn　Asharic？〃　she　demanded。
　　He　switched　easily　back　into　that　language。　〃I　lived　in　Al…Rassan　for　a　time。　When　Prince　Raimundo　was　exiled　by　his　father　for　a　multitude　of　mostly　imagined　sins　he　spent　a　year　in　Silvenes　and　Fezana；　and　I　came　south　with　him。〃
　　〃You　lived　in　Fezana？〃
　　〃Part　of　the　time。　Why　so　surprised？〃
　　She　didn't　answer。　It　wasn't　so　unusual；　in　fact。　For　decades；　if　not　centuries；　the　feuds　among　the　Jaddite　monarchs　of　Esperana　and　their　families　had　often　led　noblemen　and　their　retinues　to　sojourn　in　exile　among　the　delights　of　Al…Rassan。　And　during　the　Khalifate　not　a　few　of　the　Asharite　nobility　had　similarly　found　it　prudent　to　distance　themselves　from　the　long　reach　of　Silvenes；　dwelling　among　the　Horsemen　of　the　north。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered　his　question。　〃I　suppose　because　I'd　have　expected　to　remember　you。〃
　　〃Seventeen　years　ago？　You　would　have　been　little　more　than　a　child。　I　think　I　might　even　have　seen　you　once；　unless　you　have　a　sister；　in　the　market　at　your　father's　booth。　There's　no　reason　for　you　to　have　remembered　me。　I　was　much　the　same　age　young　Alvar　is　now。　And　about　as　experienced。〃
　　The　mention　of　the　young　soldier　reminded　her　of　something。　〃Alvar？　The　one　who　took　Velaz　with　him？　When　are　you　going　to　let　him　in　on　the　stirrup　joke　you're　playing？〃
　　A　short　silence　as　he　registered　that。　Then　Rodrigo　laughed　aloud。　〃You　noticed？　Clever　you。　But　how　would　you　know　it　was　a　joke？〃
　　〃Not　a　particularly　difficult　guess；〃　she　said；　mimicking　his　phrase　deliberately。　〃He's　riding　with　knees　high　as　his　waist。　They　play　the　same　trick　on　new　recruits　in　Batiara。　Do　you　want　to　cripple　the　boy？〃
　　〃Of　course　not。　But　he's　a　little　more　assertive　than　you　imagine。　It　won't　harm　him　to　be　chastened　a　little。　I　intended　to　let　his　legs　down　before　we　went　into　the　city　tomorrow。　If　you　want；　you　can　be　his　savior　tonight。　He's　already　smitten；　or　had　you　noticed？〃
　　She　hadn't。　It　wasn't　the　sort　of　thing　to　which　Jehane　had　ever　paid　much　attention。
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　changed　the　subject　abruptly。　〃Batiara；　you　said？　You　studied　there？　With　Ser　Rezzoni　in　Sorenica？〃
　　She　found　herself　disconcerted　yet　again。　〃And　then　at　the　university　in　Padrino　for　half　a　year。　Do　you　know　every　physician　there　is？〃
　　〃Most　of　the　good　ones；〃　he　said　crisply。　〃Part　of　my　profession。　Think　about　it；　doctor。　We　don't　have　nearly　enough　trained　physicians　in　the　north。　We　know　how　to　kill；　but　not　much　about　healing。　I　was　raising　a　serious　point　with　you　earlier　this　evening；　not　an　idle　one。〃
　　〃The　moment　I　arrived？　You　couldn't　have　known　if　I　was　a　good　doctor　or　not。〃
　　〃Ishak　of　Fezana's　daughter？　I　can　allow　myself　an　educated　guess；　surely？〃
　　〃I'm　sure　the　celebrated　Captain　of　Valledo　can　allow　himself　anything　he　wants；〃　Jehane　said　tartly。　She　felt　seriously　at　a　disadvantage；　the　man　knew　much　too　much。　He　was　far　too　clever；　Jaddite　soldiers　weren't　supposed　to　be　at　all　like　this。
　　〃Not　anything；〃　he　said　in　an　exaggeratedly　rueful　voice。　〃My　dear　wife…have　you　met　my　dear　wife？〃
　　〃Of　course　I　haven't；〃　Jehane　snapped。　He　was　playing　with　her。
　　〃My　dear　wife　has　imposed　strict　limitations　on　my　behavior　away　from　home。〃　His　tone　made　his　meaning　all　too　plain；　though　the　suggestion…from　what　she　knew　of　the　northerners…was　improbable　in　the　extreme。
　　〃How　difficult；　for　a　soldier。　She　must　be　fearsome。〃
　　〃She　is；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　with　feeling。
　　But　something…a　nuance；　a　new　shade　of　meaning　in　the　night…had　been　introduced　now；　however　flippantly；　and　Jehane　was　suddenly　aware　that　the　two　of　them　were　alone　in　the　darkness　with　his　men　and　Velaz　far　behind　and　the　camp　a　long　way　ahead　yet。　She　was　sitting　up　close　to　him；　thighs　against　his　and　her　arms　looped　around　him；　clasped　at　his　waist。　With　an　effort　she　resisted　the　urge　to　loosen　her　grip　and　change　position。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　after　a　silence。　〃This　isn't　a　night　for　joking；　and　now　I've　made　you　unfortable。〃
　　Jehane　said　nothing。　It　seemed　that　whether　she　spoke　or　kept　silent；　this　man　was　reading　her　like　an　illuminated　scroll。
　　Something　occurred　to　her。　〃Tell　me；〃　she　said　firmly；　ignoring　his　ment；　〃if　you　lived　here　for　a　time；　why　did　you　have　to　ask　what　was　burning；　back　in　camp？　Orvilla　has　been　in　the　same　place　for　fifty　years　or　more。〃
　　She　couldn't　see　his　face；　of　course；　but　somehow　she　knew　he　would　be　smiling。　〃Good；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃Very　good；　doctor。　I　shall　be　even　sorrier　now　if　you　refuse　my　offer。〃
　　〃I　have　refused　your　offer；　remember？〃　She　wouldn't　allow　herself　to　be　deflected。　〃Why　did　you　have　to　ask　what　was　burning？〃
　　〃I　didn't　have　to　ask。　I　chose　to　ask。　To　see　who　answered。　There　are　things　to　be　learned　from　questions；　beyond　the　answers　to　the　question。〃
　　She　thought　about　that。　〃And　what　did　you　learn？〃
　　〃That　you　are　quicker　than　your　merchant　friend。〃
　　〃Don't　underestimate　ibn　Musa；〃　Jehane　said　quickly。　〃He's　surprised　me　several　times　today；　and　I've　known　him　a　long　time。〃
　　〃What　should　I　do　with　him？〃　Rodrigo　Belmonte　asked。
　　It　was；　she　realized；　a　serious　question。　She　rode　for　a　while；　thinking。　The　two　moons　were　both　high　now；　they　had　risen　about　thirty　degrees　apart。　The　angle　of　a　journey；　in　fact；　in　her　own　birth　chart。　Ahead　of　them　now　she　could　see　the　campfire　where　Husari　would　be　waiting　with　the　two　men　left　on　guard。
　　〃You　understand　that　he　was　to　have　been　killed　this　afternoon　with　the　others　in　the　castle？〃
　　〃I　gathered　as　much。　Why　did　he　survive？〃
　　〃I　didn't　let　him　go。　He　was　passing　a　kidney　stone。〃
　　He　laughed。　〃First　time　he'll　ever　have　been　grateful　for　that；　I'll　wager。〃　His　tone　changed。　〃Fine；　then。　He　was　marked　by　Almalik　to　die。　What　should　I　do？〃
　　〃Take　him　back　north　with　you；〃　she　said　at　length；　trying　to　think　it　through。　〃I　think　he　wants　to　do　that。　If　King　Ramiro　has　any　thoughts　of　taking　Fezana　for　himself　one　day…
　　〃Wait！　Hold；　woman！　What　kind　of　a　thing　is　that　to　say？〃
　　〃An　obvious　one；　I　should　have　thought；〃　she　said　impatiently。　〃At　some　point　he　has　to　wonder　why　he's　only　exacting　parias　and　not　ruling　the　city。〃
　　Rodrigo　Belmonte　was　laughing　again；　and　shaking　his　head。　〃You　know；　not　all　obvious　thoughts　need　be　spoken。〃
　　〃You　asked　me　a　question；〃　she　said　sweetly。　〃I　am　taking　it　seriously。　If　Ramiro　has　any　such　thoughts…however　remote　and　insubstantial　they　may　be；　of　course…it　can　only　help　to　have　the　sole　survivor　of　today's　massacre　with　him。〃
　　〃Especially　if　he　makes　sure　everyone　knows　that　man　came　straight　to　him　from　the　slaughter　and　asked　him　to　intervene。〃　Rodrigo's　tone　was　reflective；　he　didn't　bother　responding　to　her　sarcasm。
　　Jehane　felt　suddenly　weary　of　talking。　This　was　a　day　that　had　started　at　dawn　in　the　market；　in　the　most　ordinary　of　ways。　Now　here　she　was；　after　the　slaughter　in　the　city　and　the　attack　on　Orvilla；　discussing　peninsular　politics　in　the　darkness　with　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　the　Scourge　of　Al…Rassan。　It　began　to　seem　just　a　little　too　much。　She　was　going　to　set　out　on　her　own　path　in　the　morning；　and　morning　was　not　very　far　off。　〃I　suppose　you　are　right。　I'm　a　doctor；　not　a　diplomat；　you　know；〃　she　murmured　vaguely。　It　would　be　nice　to　fall　asleep；　actually。
　　〃Much　the　same；　at　times；〃　he　replied。　Which　irritated　her　enough　to　pull　her　awake　again；　mostly　because　Ser　Rezzoni　had　said　precisely　the　same　thing　to　her　more　than　once。　〃Where　are　you　riding？〃　he　asked　casually。
　　〃Ragosa；〃　she　answered；　just　before　remembering　that　she　hadn't　planned　to　tell　anyone。
　　〃Why？〃　he　pursued。
　　He　seemed　to　assume　he　had　a　right　to　an　answer。　It　must　e　with　manding　men　for　so　long；　Jehane　decided。
　　〃Because　they　tell　me　the　courtiers　and　soldiers　there　are　wondrous　skilled　in　lovemaking；〃　she　murmured；　in　her　throatiest　voice。　For　good　measure；　she　unlinked　her　hands　and　slid　them　from　his　waist　to　his　thighs　and　left　them　there　a　moment　before　clasping　them　demurely　again。
　　He　drew　a　long　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly。　She　was　sitting　very　close；　though；　try　as　he　might　to　hide　a　response；　she　could　feel　his　heartbeat　accelerate。　At　about　the　same　moment；　it　occurred　to　her　that　she　was　playing　the　most　brazen　sort　of　teasing　game　with　a　dangerous　man。
　　〃This；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte　of　Valledo　plaintively；　〃is　distressingly　familiar。　A　woman　putting　me　in　my　place。　Are　you　sure　you've　never　met　my　wife　？〃
　　A　moment　later；　very　much　against　her　will　and　any　reasonable　expectations；　Jehane　began　to　laugh。　And　then；　perhaps　because　she　was　laughing；　genuinely　amused；　she　remembered　again　what　she'd　seen　in　that　small　hut　in　Orvilla；　and　then　it　came　back　to　her　that　her　father　had　spoken　his　first　words　in　four　years　tonight；　and　she　was　leaving　him　and　her　mother；　perhaps　forever。
　　She　hated　crying。　Laughter　and　tears；　Ishak　used　to　say；　were　the　nearest　of　kin。　It　wasn't　a　physician's　observation；　that　one。　His　mother　had　told　him　that；　and　her　mother　had　told　her。　The　Kindath　had　survived　a　thousand　years；　they　were　laden　with　such　folk　wisdom；　carrying　it　like　their　travelling　baggage；　well…worn；　never　far　fro