ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第88章

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e　her　behind　in　such　a　circumstance　as　this；　Ser　Rodrigo？〃
　　Ammar　said　quickly；　〃It　is　not　the…
　　〃It　is　the　same。　Enough　so　as　to　make　no　difference；〃　Jehane　snapped。　She　was　afraid　weariness　would　make　her　cry　again；　and　she　didn't　want　that　at　all。
　　〃Well　now；〃　said　the　king　of　Valledo；　〃I　do　regret　having　to　add　my　voice　to　what　seems　a　matter　of　the　heart；　but　I　need　to　be　told　why　I　ought　to　allow　the　self…proclaimed　future　ka'id　of　my　enemies　to　depart。〃
　　Jehane　swallowed　abruptly。　Her　heart　thudded。　She　hadn't　even　thought　of　this。
　　〃You　must　let　him　leave；〃　Rodrigo　said　quietly。
　　King　Ramiro　looked　sharply　at　him；　and　Jehane　saw　his　temper；　now　being　kept　in　check。　What　he　had　just　said　terrified　her。
　　In　truth；　given　the　war　that　had　begun；　she　could　see　no　reason　why　he　ought　to　let　them　go。　Ammar　had　had　his　chance；　his　astonishing　offer；　and　now　。。。　
　　〃I　must？〃　said　Ramiro　of　Valledo。　〃I　am　never　happy　with　the　word；　Ser　Rodrigo。〃
　　〃My　lord；　forgive　me；〃　said　Rodrigo　calmly；　〃but　I　have…we　have…one　hundred　and　fifty　men　in　the　army　of　Ragosa。　Trapped　there。　When　word　es　that　you　are　in　Al…Rassan　and　I　am　with　you；　and　that　the　king　of　Jalona　has　e　south　as　well；　I　believe　Badir　of　Ragosa　will　receive　counsel　that　he　should　eliminate　my　pany　before　they　are　deployed　against　him。〃
　　Ammar's　expression　had　grown　sober。　〃You　believe　Mazur　would　propose　this？〃
　　Rodrigo　said；　〃Ben　Avren；　or　one　of　the　others。　Remember？　Last　autumn？　Badir　valued　you　at　your　named　price…equal；　in　yourself；　to　me　and　all　my　pany。　By　that　measure；　he　does　a　lesser　thing　in　destroying　them　than　we　would　in　killing　you。〃
　　〃You　are　playing　with　words。　That　isn't　a　true　measure；　Rodrigo。〃
　　〃What　is？　In　wartime？　They　are　in　mortal　danger。　I　must　try　to　deal　with　that。　You　are　my　best…at　the　moment　my　only　way。　The　price　of　your　freedom　is　this：　you　ensure；　upon　your　oath　and　your　honor；　that　my　men　are　allowed　to　leave　that　army　and　e　here。〃
　　〃And　if　I　cannot？〃
　　It　was　the　king　who　answered。　His　anger　had　passed。　〃You　agree　to　return；　on　your　oath　and　honor；　and　submit　to　my　judgment。　True　measure；　or　not；　if　King　Badir　accepted　such　a　value　for　your　service；　so　will　I。〃
　　It　was　monstrous；　Jehane　thought；　monstrous；　and　somehow　inevitable；　as　if　the　careless　banter　about　mercenary　wages　that　bright；　autumn　day　in　Ragosa　had　led　straight　to　this　moment　on　a　dark　plain。　She　heard　sounds　from　the　camp　behind　them；　and　the　wind　blowing。
　　〃It　is　agreed；〃　said　Ammar　quietly。
　　〃You　can　free　them　and　e　back；〃　Rodrigo　added　quickly。　He　was　not　a　man　who　surrendered　easily；　if　at　all；　Jehane　realized。　And　he　would　not　stand　on　pride。　There　was　a　plea　in　his　voice。
　　Ammar；　she　saw；　heard　it　too。　He　had　to　hear　it。　Again　the　two　men　looked　at　each　other；　but　by　now　the　horses　were　long　gone；　far　apart　in　a　too　wide；　too　dark　night。　It　was　over。
　　Ammar　said　softly；　〃We　refused　to　fight　each　other　that　day　in　Ragosa。〃
　　〃I　remember。〃
　　〃It　was　an　entertainment　they　proposed。　It　is　a　different　place　now；　the　world；〃　said　ibn　Khairan；　unwontedly　awkward。　〃I　。。。　deeply　regret　to　say　this。　More　than　I　can　tell　you。　Rodrigo；　I　could　wish　。。。　〃　He　thought　for　a　moment；　then　spread　his　hands　and　fell　silent。
　　〃You　have　a　choice；〃　Rodrigo　said。　〃You　are　making　a　choice　tonight。　You　have　had　an　offer　from　us。〃
　　Ammar　shook　his　head；　and　when　he　spoke；　for　the　first　time　there　was　something　desperate　in　his　voice；　too。　〃Not　really　a　choice；〃　he　said。　〃Not　in　this。　I　cannot　turn　my　back　on　this　land；　now　that　it　has　e　to　such　bitter　grief。　Don't　you　understand？　Rodrigo；　you　of　all　men　must　surely　understand。〃　They　heard　his　small；　known；　self…mocking　laugh。　〃I'm　the　man　who　killed　the　last　khalif　of　Al…Rassan。〃
　　And　hearing　those　words；　Rodrigo　Belmonte　bowed　his　neck；　as　if　to　accept　the　descent　of　a　sword。　Jehane　saw　Ammar　lift　a　hand；　as　if　he　would　touch　the　other　man；　but　then　he　let　his　hand　fall。
　　Beside　her；　she　realized　that　Alvar　de　Pellino　was　weeping。　She　would　remember　that　after；　and　love　him　for　it。
　　
　　Her　parents　were　asleep；　and　the　two　children　as　well；　in　tents　provided　by　the　queen。　Jehane　looked　in　on　them　briefly；　and　then　went；　as　promised；　to　relieve　Bernart　d'Inigo　beside　their　patient。　She　ought　to　have　been　sleeping；　during　this　time　but　it　was　not；　evidently；　to　be　a　night　for　sleep。　Not　for　her。
　　She　was　used　to　this。　Doctors　often　had　to　deal　with　nights　of　vigil　beside　those　who　depended　upon　them　to　fight　back　the　ing　of　final　darkness。　In　another　way；　though；　this　night　was　unlike　any　she　had　known。　It　marked　an　ending；　in　a　real　sense；　to　everything　she　had　ever　known。
　　Bernart　d'Inigo　smiled　tiredly　at　her　as　she　walked　up。　He　held　a　finger　to　his　lips。　Jehane　saw　that　Fernan　had　fallen　asleep　on　the　ground　beside　his　brother。　So；　too；　on　a　pillow；　covered　by　a　small　blanket；　had　his　mother。
　　〃Get　some　rest；〃　Jehane　whispered　to　the　Jaddite　doctor。　〃I'll　do　what's　left　of　the　night。〃　D'Inigo　nodded　and　rose。　He　stumbled　a　little　as　he　went。　They　were　all　bone…weary。
　　She　looked　down　at　Diego。　He　lay　on　his　back；　head　propped　on　folded　blankets。　The　doctor　in　her　began　to　assert　control　again。　She　knelt　and　took　his　wrist；　and　was　immediately　encouraged。　His　pulse　was　stronger　and　it　had　slowed。
　　She　looked　up　and　gestured。　A　soldier　not　far　away　came　nearer　with　a　torch。　〃Hold　it　close；〃　she　whispered。
　　She　lifted　the　boy's　closed　eyelids　and　watched　how　the　eyes　contracted　in　the　light：　equally；　and　both　were　centered。　Again；　good。　He　was　extremely　pale；　but　that　was　to　be　expected。　There　was　no　fever。　The　dressing　was　secure。
　　He　was　doing　wonderfully　well。　Despite　everything　else　that　had　happened；　Jehane　could　not　suppress　another　shiver　of　pride　and　disbelief。　This　boy；　by　all　rights；　by　everything　known；　ought　to　be　dead。
　　He　would　have　been；　if　Jehane　had　been　his　physician。　If　Bernart　d'Inigo　had；　if　any　doctor　she　could　name　had　been。　He　was　alive；　his　pulse　was　firm　and　his　breathing　steady；　because　Ishak　ben　Yonannon　was　still…after　five　years　in　darkness…the　most　courageous　and　the　most　gifted　surgeon　alive。　Who；　after　tonight；　would　deny　it？　Who　would　dare？
　　Jehane　shook　her　head。　False　pride。　Did　such　things　matter　so　much；　now？　They　didn't；　and　yet　they　did。　In　the　presence　of　war；　on　the　brink　of　so　many　deaths　to　e；　Ishak　had　reclaimed　a　life　that　was　lost。　No　physician…and　certainly　not　his　daughter…could　be　immune　to　the　sense　of　a　small；　precious　victory　won　back　from　the　dark。
　　She　nodded　and　the　soldier　withdrew　with　his　torch。　Jehane　settled　back　beside　the　unconscious　boy。　She　had　ordered　Ammar　to　snatch　some　rest　before　morning；　she　might　be　able　to　let　herself　doze；　after　all。
　　〃He　is　all　right？〃
　　It　was　the　mother。　Rodrigo's　wife。　Jehane；　looking　across　at　her　in　the　darkness；　thought　of　all　the　elaborately　bloodthirsty　stories　he　had　told　of　her。　And　now　here　was　a　small；　very　beautiful　woman　lying　on　the　cold　ground　beside　her　child；　speaking　with　fear　in　her　voice。
　　〃He　is　doing　well。　He　might　wake　in　the　morning。　He　needs　to　sleep　now。〃
　　Her　eyes　were　adjusting　to　the　dark　again。　She　could　make　out　the　other　woman　a　little　more　clearly；　on　the　far　side　of　Diego。
　　〃D'Inigo　told　me　。。。　that　no　one　has　ever　done　this　surgery。〃
　　〃That　is　true。〃
　　〃Your　father　。。。　he　was　blinded　for　saving　someone's　life？〃
　　〃Mother　and　infant。　In　childbirth。　He　touched　an　Asharite　woman　to　do　so。〃
　　Miranda　Belmonte　shook　her　head。　〃How　is　it　that　we　do　these　things　to　each　other？〃
　　〃I　have　no　answer　for　that；　my　lady。〃
　　There　was　a　silence。
　　〃Rodrigo　mentioned　you　many　times；〃　Miranda　said　softly。　〃In　his　letters。　He　had　nothing　but　praise　for　you。　His　Kindath　physician。〃　Jehane　thought　she　saw　the　ghost　of　a　smile。　〃I　was　jealous。〃
　　Jehane　shook　her　head。　〃No　one　loved　as　much　as　you　are　should　ever　be　jealous。〃
　　〃I　know　that；　actually；〃　said　Miranda　Belmonte。　〃It　is　the　great　gift　of　my　life。　If　Diego　lives；　because　of　your　father；　that　will　be　two　such　gifts。　It　is　too　much。　I　am　not　worthy。　It　makes　me　afraid。〃
　　There　was　a　longer　silence。　A　moment　later　Jehane　realized　that　the　other　woman　had　drifted　to　sleep　again。
　　She　sat　beside　the　sleeping　boy；　leaning　against　a　heavy　sack　of　dried　goods　someone　kind　had　placed　nearby。　She　thought　of　deaths　and　births；　sight　and　blindness；　moons　and　sun　and　stars。　Ashar　and　Jad　at　war；　rain　falling　on　the　Kindath　as　they　wandered　the　world。　She　thought　of　love　and　of　one　day　bearing　a　child　of　her　own。
　　She　heard　footsteps　approaching　and　knew　who　it　was。　She　had　been　certain；　in　fact；　somewhere　deep　within　herself；　that　this　last　conversation　lay　waiting　in　the　night。
　　〃How　is　he？〃　asked　Rodrigo　quietly；　crouching　beside　her。　He　was　looking　down　at　his　son。　His　face　was　in　darkness。
　　〃As　well　as　we　can　hope。　I　told　your　wife　he　may　wake　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃I'll　want　to　be　here。〃
　　〃Of　course。〃
　　Rodrigo　stood　up。　〃Walk　with　me？〃
　　She　had　known。　How　had　she　known？　How　did　the　heart　see　what　it　did？
　　〃Not　far　from　him；〃　she　murmured；　but　rose　and　they　walked　a　little　apart；　past　the　soldier　with　the　torch。　They　stopped　by　the　river；　near　a　small　hut　Jehane　remembered。　One　of　the　few　that　hadn't　burned　last　year。　Garcia　de　Rada's　cousin　had　killed　a　woman　here；　and　an　unborn　child。　Her　life　seemed　to　have　circled　back　to　this　place。　She　had　met　Rodrigo　that　night　and　Ammar　that　day。　Both　of　them。
　　It　was　very　quiet。　They　listened　to　the　river。　Rodrigo　said；　〃You　know　your　parents　are　safe　with　us。　This　is　。。。　the　best　possible　place　for　them　right　now。〃
　　〃I　believe　that。〃
　　〃Jehane。　It　is　。。。　probably　the　best　place　for　you；　as　well。〃
　　She　had　known　he　would　say　that。　She　shook　her　head。　〃Safest；　perhaps。　Not　best。〃　She　left　the　deeper　words　unsaid；　but　with　Rodrigo　they　didn't　have　to　be　spoken。
　　Another　silence。　The　moons　had　swung　west；　and　the　slow　stars。　The　river　murmured　below。
　　〃I've　asked　Husari　to　stay　with　me。　He　has　agreed。　I　told　the　king　a　small　lie　tonight。〃
　　〃I　guessed。　You　don't　really　think　Lain　and　Martin　will　be　unable　to　get　the　pany　out；　do　you？〃
　　'〃Not　really。　And　Husari；　in　his　way；　may　be　as　good　a　governor…in　Fezana；　or　elsewhere…as　Ammar　would　have　been。〃
　　〃Will　he　do　it？〃
　　〃I　believe　so。　He　will　not　serve　the　Muwardis。　And　he；　at　least；　trusts　me；　if　Ammar　does　not。〃
　　She　heard　the　bitterness。　〃It　isn't　a　question　of　trust。　You　know　that。〃
　　〃I　suppose。〃　He　looked　at　her。　〃I　wanted　to　be　sure　he　could　leave；　if　he　insisted；　so　I　made　up　that　story　about　my　pany　trapped　in　Ragosa。〃
　　〃I　know　that；　Rodrigo。〃
　　〃I　didn't　want　him　to　go。〃
　　〃I　know　that；　too。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　you　to　go；　Jehane。　There　is　no　place　in　Al…Rassan　for　you；　for　either　of　you；　when　the　Muwardis　e。〃
　　〃We'll　have　to　try　to　make　a　place；〃　she　said。
　　Stillness。　He　was　waiting；　she　realized；　and　so　she　did　say　it；　after　all。　〃I　will　not　leave　him；　Rodrigo。〃
　　She　heard　him　release　his　breath。
　　In　the　darkness　by　the　river's　steady；　murmurous　flow；　Jehane　said；　looking　down　at　the　water；　not　at　the　man　b