ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第8章

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hadn't　been　enough。　Not　yet。　Only　fifteen　or　twenty　families；　clearly　leaving　hopeless　situations　in　the　north；　had　been　brave　or　rash　or　desperate　enough　to　try　making　lives　for　themselves　here　on　the　threshold　of　Al…Rassan。
　　Things　might　be　changing　year　by　year；　but　the　memory　of　the　Khalifate's　armies　thundering　north　through　these　high　plains　was　a　raw　one　yet。　And　everyone　with　a　head　above　the　ground　knew　the　king　was　too　fiercely　engaged　by　his　brother　and　uncle　in　Ruenda　and　Jalona　to　be　reckless　in　support　of　two　speculative　garrisons　in　the　tagra　and　the　families　who　huddled　around　them。
　　The　balance　might　be　shifting；　but　it　was　still　a　balance；　and　one　could　ignore　that　only　at　peril。　Thinking；　as　they　continued　south；　about　the　narrowed　eyes　and　apprehensive　faces　of　the　men　and　women　he'd　seen　in　the　fields　beside　the　two　forts；　Alvar　had　decided　there　were　worse　things　for　a　farmer　to　contend　with　than　thin　soil　and　early　frosts　in　the　north　by　the　Ruenda　border。　Even　the　fields　themselves　down　here　had　seemed　pathetic　and　frail；　small　scratchings　in　the　wide　space　of　the　otherwise　empty　land。
　　The　Captain　hadn't　seemed　to　see　it　that　way；　though。　Ser　Rodrigo　had　made　a　point　of　dismounting　to　speak　to　each　of　the　farmers　they　saw。　Alvar　had　been　close　enough　to　overhear　him　once：　the　talk　was　of　crop　rotation　and　the　pattern　of　rainfall　here　in　the　tagra　lands。
　　〃We　aren't　the　real　warriors　of　Valledo；〃　he'd　said　to　his　pany　upon　mounting　up　again　after　one　such　conversation。　〃These　people　are。　It　will　be　a　mistake　for　any　man　who　rides　with　me　to　forget　that。〃
　　His　expression　had　been　unusually　grim　as　he　spoke；　as　if　daring　any　of　them　to　disagree。　Alvar　hadn't　been　inclined　to　say　anything　at　all。　Thinking；　he'd　rubbed　his　bruised　jaw　through　the　beginnings　of　a　sand…colored　beard　and　kept　silent。
　　The　flat；　high　landscape　of　the　plateau　did　not　change；　and　there　were　no　border　markings　of　any　kind；　but　late　the　following　afternoon　old　Lain　Nunez　said　aloud　to　no　one　in　particular；　〃We're　in　Al…Rassan　now。〃
　　
　　Three　days　later；　nearing　sundown；　the　outriders　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　Tavares　River　and；　not　long　after；　Alvar　saw　for　the　first　time　the　towers　and　walls　of　Fezana；　tucked　into　a　northward　bend　of　the　river；　honey…colored　in　the　westering　light。
　　It　was　Ludus　who　first　noticed　the　strange　thing。　An　astonishing　number　of　carrion　birds　seemed　to　be　circling　and　swooping　above　the　river　by　the　northern　wall　of　the　city。　Alvar　had　never　seen　anything　like　it。　There　had　to　be　thousands　of　them。
　　〃That's　what　happens　on　a　battlefield；〃　Martin　said　quietly。　〃When　the　battle's　over；　I　mean。〃
　　Lain　Nunez；　squinting　to　see　more　clearly；　turned　after　a　moment　to　look　at　the　Captain；　a　question　in　his　eyes。　Ser　Rodrigo　had　not　dismounted；　and　so　none　of　them　had。　He　stared　at　Fezana　in　the　distance　for　a　long　time。
　　〃There　are　dead　men　in　the　water；〃　he　said　finally。　〃We'll　camp　here　tonight。　I　don't　want　to　go　closer；　or　enter　the　city；　until　we　know　what's　happened。〃
　　〃Do　you　want　me　to　take　two　or　three　men　and　try　to　find　out？〃　Martin　asked。
　　The　Captain　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　think　we'll　have　to。　We'll　light　a　good　fire　tonight。　Double　the　guards；　Lain；　but　I　want　them　to　know　we're　here。〃
　　Some　time　later；　after　the　evening　meal　and　after　the　sunset　prayer　for　the　god's　safe　night　journey；　they　gathered　around　the　fire　while　Martin　played　his　guitar　and　Ludus　and　Barano　sang　under　the　brilliant　stars。
　　It　was　just　after　the　white　moon　had　risen　in　the　east；　almost　full；　that　three　people　rode　into　their　camp；　with　no　attempt　at　concealment。
　　They　dismounted　from　their　mules　and　were　led　into　the　glow　of　the　firelight　by　the　posted　guards　and；　as　the　music　and　the　singing　stopped；　Rodrigo　Belmonte　and　his　pany　learned　what　had　happened　in　Fezana　that　day。
　　
Three
　　From　within　Husari　ibn　Musa's　chamber　late　in　the　afternoon　they　heard　the　screaming　in　the　streets。　A　slave　was　sent　to　inquire。　Ashen…faced；　he　brought　back　word。
　　They　did　not　believe　him。　Only　when　a　friend　of　ibn　Musa；　another　merchant；　less　successful…which　appeared　to　have　saved　his　life…sent　a　servant　running　with　the　same　tidings　did　the　reality　bee　inescapable。　Every　man　who　had　gone　to　the　castle　that　morning　was　dead。　Headless　bodies　were　floating　in　the　moat　and　down　the　river；　carrion　for　the　circling　birds。　Only　thus；　the　very　efficient　king　of　Cartada　appeared　to　have　decided；　could　the　threat　of　a　rising　in　Fezana　be　utterly　dispelled。　In　one　afternoon　virtually　all　of　the　most　powerful　figures　left　in　the　city　had　been　eliminated。
　　Jehane's　patient；　the　luxury…loving　silk　merchant　who　was；　however　improbably；　to　have　been　among　the　corpses　in　the　moat；　lay　on　his　bed　with　a　hand　over　his　eyes；　trembling　and　spent　in　the　aftermath　of　passing　a　kidney　stone。　Struggling；　not　very　successfully；　to　deal　with　her　own　churning　emotions；　Jehane　looked　at　him　closely。　Her　refuge；　as　ever；　was　in　her　profession。　Quietly；　grateful　for　the　control　she　seemed　to　have　over　her　voice；　she　instructed　Velaz　to　mix　a　further　soporific。　Ibn　Musa　surprised　her；　though。
　　'〃No　more；　Jehane；　please。〃　He　lowered　the　hand　and　opened　his　eyes。　His　voice　was　weak　but　quite　clear。　〃I　need　to　be　able　to　think　carefully。　They　may　be　ing　for　me。　You　had　best　leave　this　house。〃
　　Jehane　hadn't　thought　of　that。　He　was　right；　of　course。　There　was　no　particular　reason　why　Almalik's　murderous　desert　mercenaries　would　allow　an　accident　of　ill…health　to　deprive　them　of　Husari's　head。　And　as　for　the　doctor…the　Kindath　doctor…who　had　so　inconveniently　kept　him　from　the　palace　。。。　
　　She　shrugged。　Whichever　way　the　wind　blows；　it　will　rain　upon　the　Kindath。　Her　gaze　met　Husari's。　There　was　something　terrible　in　his　face；　still　growing；　a　horror　taking　shape　and　a　name。　Jehane　wondered　how　she　must　look　herself；　weary　and　bedraggled　after　most　of　a　day　in　this　warm；　close　room；　and　now　dealing　with　what　they　had　learned。　With　slaughter。
　　〃It　doesn't　matter　whether　I　stay　or　go；〃　she　said；　surprised　again　at　how　calmly　she　said　this。　〃Ibn　Khairan　knows　who　I　am；　remember？　He　brought　me　here。〃
　　Oddly；　a　part　of　her　still　wanted　to　deny　that　it　was　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　who　had　arranged　and　achieved　this　wholesale　massacre　of　innocent　men。　She　couldn't　have　said　why　that　had　any　importance　to　her：　he　was　a　killer；　the　whole　of　Al…Rassan　knew　he　was。　Did　it　matter　that　a　killer　was　sophisticated　and　amusing？　That　he　had　known　who　her　father　was；　and　had　spoken　well　of　him？
　　Behind　her；　Velaz　offered　the　small；　discreet　cough　that　meant　he　had　something　urgent　to　say。　Usually　in　disagreement　with　a　view　she　had　expressed。　Without　looking　back　at　him；　Jehane　said；　〃I　know。　You　think　we　should　leave。〃
　　In　his　subdued　tones；　her　grey…haired　servant…her　father's　before　her…murmured；　〃I　believe　the　most　honorable　ibn　Musa　offers　wise　counsel；　doctor。　The　Muwardis　may　learn　who　you　are　from　ibn　Khairan；　but　there　is　no　great　reason　for　them　to　pursue　you。　If　they　e　for　the　lord　ibn　Musa；　though；　and　find　us　here；　you　are　a　provocation　to　them。　My　lord　ibn　Musa　will　tell　you　the　same　thing；　I　am　sure　of　it。　They　are　desert　tribesmen；　my　lady。　They　are　not　。。。　civilized。〃
　　And　now　Jehane　did　wheel　around；　aware　that　she　was　channelling　fear　and　anger　onto　her　truest　friend　in　the　world；　aware　that　this　was　not　the　first　time。　〃So　you　would　have　me　abandon　a　patient？〃　she　snapped。　〃Is　that　what　I　should　do？　How　very　civilized　of　us。〃
　　〃I　am　recovering；　Jehane。〃
　　She　turned　back　to　Husari。　He　had　pushed　himself　up　to　a　sitting　position。　〃You　did　all　a　physician　could　be　asked　to　do。　You　saved　my　life；　though　not　in　the　way　we　expected。〃　Amazingly；　he　managed　a　wry　smile。　It　did　not　reach　his　eyes。
　　His　voice　was　firmer　now；　sharper　than　she　could　ever　remember。　She　wondered　if　some　disordered　state　had　descended　upon　the　merchant　in　the　wake　of　overwhelming　horror：　if　this　altered　manner　was　his　way　of　reacting。　Her　father　would　have　been　able　to　tell　her。
　　Her　father；　she　thought；　would　not　tell　her　anything　again。
　　There　was　a　good　chance　the　Muwardis　would　be　ing　for　Husari；　that　they　might　indeed　take　her　if　they　found　her　here。　The　tribesmen　from　the　Majriti　were　not　civilized；　at　all。　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　knew　exactly　who　she　was。　Almalik　of　Cartada　had　ordered　this　butchery。　Almalik　of　Cartada　had　also　done　what　he　had　done　to　her　father。　Four　years　ago。
　　There　are　moments　in　some　lives　when　it　can　truly　be　said　that　everything　pivots　and　changes；　when　the　branching　paths　show　clearly；　when　one　does　make　a　choice。
　　Jehane　bet　Ishak　turned　back　to　her　patient。　〃I'm　not　leaving　you　here　to　wait　for　them　alone。〃
　　Husari　actually　smiled　again。　〃What　will　you　do；　my　dear？　Offer　sleeping　draughts　to　the　veiled　ones　when　they　e？〃
　　〃I　have　worse　than　that　to　give　them；〃　Jehane　said　darkly；　but　his　words　forced　her　to　pause。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　asked　him。　〃I　am　running　too　fast；　I'm　sorry。　It　is　possible　they　are　sated。　No　one　may　e。〃
　　He　shook　his　head　decisively。　Again；　she　registered　the　change　in　manner。　She　had　known　ibn　Musa　for　a　long　time。　She　had　never　seen　him　like　this。
　　He　said；　〃I　suppose　that　is　possible。　I　don't　greatly　care。　I　don't　intend　to　wait　to　find　out。　If　I　am　going　to　do　what　I　must　do；　I　will　have　to　leave　Fezana；　in　any　case。〃
　　Jehane　blinked。　〃And　what　is　it　you　must　do？〃
　　〃Destroy　Cartada；〃　said　the　plump；　lazy；　self…indulgent　silk　merchant；　Husari　ibn　Musa。
　　Jehane　stared　at　him。　This　was　a　man　who　liked　his　dinner　meat　turned　well；　so　he　need　not　see　blood　when　he　ate。　His　voice　was　exactly　as　calm　and　matter…of…fact　as　it　was　when　she　had　heard　him　talking　with　a　factor　about　insuring　a　shipment　of　silk　for　transport　overseas。
　　Jehane　heard　Velaz　offer　his　apologetic　cough　again。　She　turned。　〃If　that　is　so；〃　Velaz　said；　as　softly　as　before；　his　forehead　creased　with　worry　now；　〃we　cannot　be　of　aid。　Surely　it　will　be　better　if　we　are　gone　from　here　。。。　so　the　lord　ibn　Musa　can　begin　to　make　his　arrangements。〃
　　〃I　agree；〃　Husari　said。　〃I　will　call　for　an　escort　and…
　　〃I　do　not　agree；〃　Jehane　said　bluntly。　〃For　one　thing；　you　are　at　risk　of　fever　after　the　stones　pass　and　I　have　to　watch　for　that。　For　another；　you　will　not　be　able　to　leave　the　city　until　dark；　and　certainly　not　by　any　of　the　gates；　in　any　case。〃
　　Husari　laced　his　pudgy　fingers　together。　His　eyes　held　hers　now；　the　gaze　steady。　〃What　are　you　proposing？〃
　　It　seemed　obvious　to　Jehane。　〃That　you　hide　in　the　Kindath　Quarter　with　us　until　nightfall。　I'll　go　first；　to　arrange　for　them　to　let　you　in。　I'll　be　back　at　sundown　for　you。　You　ought　to　be　in　some　disguise；　I　think。　I'll　leave　that　to　you。　After　dark　we　can　leave　Fezana　by　a　way　that　I　know。〃
　　Velaz；　pushed　beyond　discretion；　made　a　strangled　sound　behind　her。
　　〃We？〃　said　ibn　Musa　carefully。
　　〃If　I　am　going　to　do　what　I　must　do；〃　said　Jehane　deliberately；　〃I；　too；　will　have　to　leave　Fezana。〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　man　in　the　bed。　He　gazed　at　her　for　a　disquieting　moment；　no　longer　a　patient；　in　some　unexpected　way。　No　longer　the　man　she　had　known　for　so　long。　〃Th