ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第69章

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im；　all　of　them　did。　His　whole　life　was　a　sustained　assault　upon　their　grim　piety。　It　was　a　sentiment　he　returned：　their　way　of　life…single…minded　faith；　single…minded　hatred…affronted　all　his　sensibilities；　his　perception　of　what　life　ought　to　be。
　　〃Will　you　take　a　glass　of　wine？〃　he　asked　the　king　of　Cartada；　deliberately　provoking　the　Muwardis。　Unworthy；　perhaps；　but　he　couldn't　help　this。
　　Almalik　shrugged；　nodded　his　head。　Ibn　Khairan　poured　for　both　of　them　and　carried　the　glasses　over。　They　saluted　each　other；　top　of　glass　touching　bottom；　then　bottom　to　top。
　　〃It　took　courage　for　you　to　do　this；〃　Ammar　said。　It　was　right　that　he　acknowledge　this。
　　Almalik　shook　his　head；　looking　up　at　him　from　the　chair。　In　the　candlelight　it　could　be　seen　how　young　he　still　was。　And　standing　more　closely　now；　ibn　Khairan　could　see　the　marks　of　strain。
　　〃It　took　only　an　awareness　that　if　you　do　not　return　I　do　not　know　what　I　will　do。　And　I　understand　you　very　well；　Ammar；　in　some　things。　What　was　I　to　do？　Write　you　pleading　letters？　You　would　not　have　e。　You　know　you　would　not。〃
　　〃Surely　the　king　of　Cartada　is　surrounded　by　men　of　wisdom　and　experience？〃
　　〃Now　you　are　jesting。　Do　not。〃
　　Quick　anger　flared；　surprising　him。　Before　it　could　be　suppressed；　ibn　Khairan　snapped；　〃It　was　you　who　exiled　me。　Be　so　good　as　to　remember　that；　'Malik。〃
　　A　raw　wound：　the　pupil　turning　upon　the　teacher　in　the　moment　of　shared　ascendancy。　An　old　story；　in　truth；　but　he　had　never　thought　it　would　happen　to　him。　First　the　father；　and　then　the　son。
　　〃I　do　remember　it；〃　Almalik　said　quietly。　〃I　made　a　mistake；　Ammar。〃
　　Weakness　or　strength；　it　had　always　been　hard　to　tell。　This　trait　might　even　be；　at　different　times；　a　sign　of　both。　The　father　had　never；　in　twenty　years　together；　admitted　to　an　error。
　　〃Not　all　mistakes　can　be　undone。〃　He　was　stalling；　waiting　for　something　to　make　this　clearer　for　him。　Behind；　beneath　all　these　words　lay　a　decision　that　had　to　be　made。
　　Almalik　stood　up。　〃I　know　that；　of　course。　I　am　here　in　the　hope　that　this　was　not　one　such。　What　is　it　you　want；　Ammar？　What　must　I　say？〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　looked　at　him　a　moment　before　answering。　〃What　is　it　I　want？　To　write　in　peace；　I　could　answer；　but　that　would　be　dissembling；　wouldn't　it？　To　live　my　life　with　a　measure　of　honor…and　be　seen　by　the　world　to　be　doing　so。　That　would　be　true　enough　and　that；　incidentally；　is　why　I　had　to　kill　your　father。〃
　　〃I　know　that。　I　know　it　better　than　anyone。〃　The　king　hesitated。　〃Ammar；　I　believe　the　Jaddites　will　be　ing　south　this　summer。　My　brother　is　with　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif　in　the　desert；　still。　We　have　learned　they　are　building　ships。　In　Abeneven。　And　I　don't　know　what　King　Badir　intends。〃
　　〃So　you　tried　to　kill　the　boys？〃
　　Almalik　blinked。　It　was　an　unfair　thrust；　but　he　was　a　clever　man；　very　much　his　father's　son。　He　said；　〃Those　two　men　weren't　killed　in　a　tavern　brawl；　then？　I　wondered　about　that。〃　The　king　shrugged。　〃Am　I　the　first　ruler　in　Al…Rassan　to　try　to　strengthen　himself　by　dealing　with　siblings？　Were　you　not　my　teacher　of　history；　Ammar？〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　smiled。　〃Did　I　criticize？〃
　　Almalik　flushed　suddenly。　〃But　you　stopped　them。　You　saved　the　boys。　Zabira's　sons。〃
　　〃Others　did。　I　was　a　small　part　of　it。　I　am　exiled　here；　Almalik；　remember？　I　have　signed　a　contract　in　Ragosa；　and　have　been　honoring　it。〃
　　〃With　my　enemies！〃　A　young　man's　voice　now；　the　control　slipping；　a　boy's　words。
　　Ibn　Khairan　felt　something　twist　within　him　like　a　soft　blade。　He　knew　this　part　of　the　man。　Of　the　king。　He　said；　〃It　seems　we　live　in　a　world　where　boundaries　are　shifting　all　the　time。　This　makes　it　more　difficult　for　a　man　to　do　what　is　right。〃
　　〃Ammar；　no。　Your　place　is　in　Cartada。　You　have　always　served　Cartada；　striven　for　it。〃　He　hesitated；　then　set　down　his　glass　and　said；　〃You　killed　a　khalif　for　my　father；　can　you　not　at　least　e　home　for　me？〃
　　It　seemed　that　with　understanding　there　so　often　came　sadness。　This　one　was　measuring　himself；　still；　against　a　dead　man；　just　as　he　had　when　his　father　lived。　He　would　probably　do　this　all　his　life；　whether　long　or　short。　Testing。　paring　allotments　of　love。　Demanding　to　be　cared　for　as　much；　and　more。
　　It　occurred　to　ibn　Khairan；　for　the　first　time；　to　wonder　how　the　young　king　had　reacted　to　the　lament　Ammar　had　written　for　his　father。　Where　lesser　beasts　now　gather　。。。　He　also　realized；　in　that　same　moment；　that　Zabira　had　been　right：　'Malik　would　not　have　suffered　the　concubine　who　had　loved　his　father　to　live。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said；　answering　the　question。　〃I　do　not　know　where　my　place　is　now。〃
　　Somewhere　inside　him　though；　even　as　he　spoke　those　words；　a　voice　was　saying：　This　is　a　lie；　though　once　it　might　have　been　true。　There　is　something　new。　The　world　can　change；　so　can　you。　The　world　has　changed。　And　in　his　mind；　amazingly；　he　could　hear　her　name；　as　if　in　the　sound　of　bells。　There　was　a　momentary　wonder　that　no　one　else　in　the　room　seemed　to　notice　this。
　　He　went　on；　straining　to　concentrate。　〃May　I　take　it　that　this　visit　is　intended　to　convey　a　rescinding　of　my　exile　and　an　invitation　to　return　to　my　position？〃
　　He　made　his　words　deliberately　formal；　to　pull　them　back　from　the　raw　place　where　the　king's　question　had　taken　them。　Can　you　not　e　home　for　me？
　　The　young　king　opened　his　mouth　and　closed　it。　There　was　hurt　in　his　eyes。　He　said；　stiffly；　〃You　may　take　it　as　such。〃
　　〃What　position；　precisely？〃
　　Another　hesitation。　Almalik　had　not　been　prepared　for　a　negotiating　session。　That　was　fine。　Ammar　had　not　been　prepared　for　any　of　this。
　　〃Chancellor　of　Cartada。　Of　course。〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　nodded。　〃And　your　formally　declared　successor；　pending　marriage　and　legitimate　heirs？〃　The　thought…monstrous　thought！…had　only　e　to　him　in　this　moment。
　　One　of　the　Muwardis　shifted　by　the　fireplace。　Ibn　Khairan　turned　and　looked　at　him。　The　man's　eyes　locked　on　his　this　time；　black　with　hatred。　Ammar　smiled　affably　and　drank　slowly　from　his　glass　without　looking　away。
　　Almalik　II　of　Cartada　said；　softly；　〃Is　this　your　condition；　Ammar？　Is　it　wise？〃
　　Of　course　it　wasn't　wise。　It　was　sheerest　folly。
　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　ibn　Khairan　said　carelessly。　〃Leave　that　in　reserve。　Have　you　begun　negotiations　for　a　marriage？〃
　　〃Some　overtures　have　been　made　to　us；　yes。〃　Almalik's　tone　was　awkward。
　　〃You　had　best　accept　one　of　them　soon。　Killing　children　is　less　useful　than　begetting　them。　What　have　you　done　about　Valledo？〃
　　The　king　picked　up　his　glass　again　and　drained　it　before　answering。　〃I　am　receiving　useless　advice；　Ammar。　They　agonize；　they　wring　their　hands。　They　advise　doubling　the　parias；　then　delaying　it；　then　refusing　it！　I　took　some　measures　of　my　own　to　stir　up　Ruenda　and　we　have　a　man　there；　do　you　remember　him？〃
　　〃Centuro　d'Arrosa。　Your　father　bought　him　years　ago。　What　of　him？〃
　　〃I　instructed　him　to　do　whatever　he　had　to　do　to　cause　a　mortal　breach　between　Ruenda　and　Valledo。　You　know　they　were　all　to　be　meeting　this　spring。　They　may　have　done　so　by　now。〃
　　Thoughtfully；　ibn　Khairan　said；　〃King　Ramiro　doesn't　need　his　brother's　aid　to　menace　you。〃
　　〃No；　but　what　if　he　is　induced　to　ride　against　Ruenda；　instead　of　against　me？〃　Almalik's　expression　was　that　of　a　schoolboy　who　thinks　he　has　passed　a　test。
　　〃What　have　you　done？〃
　　King　Almalik　smiled。　〃Is　it　my　loyal　chancellor　who　asks？〃
　　After　a　moment；　ibn　Khairan　returned　the　smile。　〃Fair　enough。　What　about　Fezana　itself；　then？　Defenses？〃
　　〃As　best　we　can。　Food　storage　for　half　a　year。　Some　of　the　walls　repaired；　though　money　is　an　issue；　as　you　will　know。　The　additional　soldiers　in　the　new　wing　of　the　castle。　I　have　allowed　the　wadjis　to　stir　up　anger　against　the　Kindath。〃
　　Ammar　felt　a　coldness　as　if　a　wind　had　e　into　the　room。　A　woman　was　hearing　this；　out　on　the　balcony。
　　〃Why　that？〃　he　asked；　very　quietly。
　　Almalik　shrugged。　〃My　father　used　to　do　the　same　thing。　The　wadjis　need　to　be　kept　happy。　They　inspire　the　people。　In　a　siege　that　will　matter。　And　if　they　do　push　some　of　the　Kindath　out；　or　kill　a　few；　a　siege　will　be　easier　to　withstand。　That　seems　obvious　to　me。〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　said　nothing。　The　king　of　Cartada　looked　at　him；　a　close；　suspicious　glance。　〃It　has　been　reported　to　me　that　you　spent　time　on　the　Day　of　the　Moat　with　a　Kindath　physician。　A　woman。　Was　there　a　reason？〃
　　It　seemed　that　answers　to　the　hardest　questions　life　offered　might　e　in　unexpected　ways。　In　the　strangest　fashion；　that　cold；　narrowed　gaze　came　as　a　relief　to　ibn　Khairan。　A　reminder　of　what　had　always　kept　him　from　truly　loving　the　boy　who　had　bee　this　man；　despite　a　number　of　reasons　for　doing　so。
　　〃You　had　my　movements　traced？〃
　　The　king　of　Cartada　was　unfazed。　〃You　were　the　one　who　taught　me　that　all　information　helped。　I　wanted　you　back。　I　was　searching　for　ways　to　achieve　it。〃
　　〃And　spying　out　my　activities　seemed　a　good　method　of　enlisting　my　willing　aid？〃
　　〃Aid；〃　said　the　king　of　Cartada；　〃can　e　for　many　reasons　and　in　many　guises。　I　could　have　kept　this　a　secret　from　you；　Ammar。　I　have　not。　I　am　here　in　Ragosa；　trusting　you。　Now　your　turn：　was　there　a　reason；　Ammar？〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　snorted。　〃Did　I　want　to　bed　her；　you　mean？　e　on；　'Malik。　I　went　to　find　that　doctor　because　she　was　the　physician　of　someone　invited　to　the　ceremony。　A　man　who　said　he　was　too　ill　to　e。　I　had　no　idea　who　she　was　until　later。　She　was；　incidentally；　Ishak　ben　Yonannon's　daughter。　You'll　know　that　by　now。　Does　it　mean　anything　to　you？〃
　　Almalik　nodded。　〃My　father's　physician。　I　remember　him。　They　blinded　him　when　Zabira's　last　child　was　born。〃
　　〃And　cut　out　his　tongue。〃
　　The　king　shrugged　again。　〃We　have　to　keep　the　wadjis　happy；　don't　we？　Or　if　not　happy；　at　least　not　preaching　against　us　in　the　streets。　They　wanted　the　Kindath　doctor　to　die。　My　father　surprised　me　then；　I　remember。〃　Almalik　gestured　suddenly　with　both　hands。　〃Ammar；　I　have　no　weapons　against　you　here。　I　don't　want　a　weapon。　I　want　you　as　my　sword。　What　must　I　do？〃
　　This　had　gone　on　too　long；　ibn　Khairan　realized。　It　was　painful；　and　there　was　greater　danger　the　longer　it　lasted。　He　carried　no　blade　either；　save　the　usual　one　taped　to　his　left　arm。　However　calm　Almalik　seemed；　he　was　a　man　who　could　be　pushed　to　rashness；　and　the　Muwardi　tribesmen　would　dance　under　the　desert　stars　if　they　learned　that　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　of　Aljais　had　died。
　　He　said；　〃Let　me　think　on　this；　'Malik。　I　have　a　contract　that　ends　at　the　beginning　of　autumn。　Honor　may　be　served　by　then。〃
　　〃By　autumn？　You　swear　it？　I　will　have　you…〃
　　〃I　said；　let　me　think。　That　is　all　I　will　say。〃
　　〃And　what　should　I　do　in　the　meantime？〃
　　Ibn　Khairan's　mouth　quirked　with　amusement。　He　couldn't　help　it。　He　was　a　man　who　found　many　things　in　life　inexpressibly　ironic。　〃You　want　me　to　tell　you　how　to　govern　Cartada？　Here　and　now？　In　this　room；　during　Carnival？〃
　　After　a　moment；　Almalik　laughed；　and　shook　his　head。　〃You　would　not　believe　how　badly　I　am　served；　Ammar。〃
　　〃Then　find　better　men！　They　exist。　All　over　Al…Rassan。　Put　your　labors　into　that。〃
　　〃And　into　what　else？〃
　　Ibn　Khairan　hesitated。　Old　habi