ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第95章

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　　Clutching　the　letter；　Alvar　broke　into　a　run。　People　looked　at　him　curiously；　but　there　were　other　running　figures　in　the　street　now；　carrying　the　same　tidings。　He　cut　along　a　laneway　and　past　their　treatment　rooms。　Closed。　Everyone　would　be　at　his　house　by　now。　For　the　party。　His　happy　celebration。
　　Alvar　was　aware　that　he　would　need　to　weep　before　this　day　was　done。　He　wouldn't　be　the　only　one。
　　The　outer　doors　of　the　house　were　open。　He　walked　in。　No　one　to　be　seen。　They　would　all　be　in　the　courtyard；　waiting　for　him。　He　paused　before　the　looking　glass；　startled　by　his　reflection。　A　brown…haired　man；　unfashionably　bearded；　beginning　to　grey。　White…faced；　just　now。　So　much　so　that　were　he　his　own　patient；　Alvar　would　have　ordered　immediate　rest。　He'd　had　a　blow。　An　extreme　one。
　　He　heard　sounds　from　the　kitchen　and　turned　that　way。　In　the　doorway　he　stopped。　His　wife　was　there；　still　dressed　for　work；　checking　on　the　small　cakes　and　pies　the　girls　had　been　making。　Even　now；　even　with　what　had　just　happened　to　him；　Alvar　offered　his　prayer　of　thanksgiving　to　the　god　and　the　moons　that　he　had　been　vouchsafed　this　gift　of　love；　so　unexpectedly；　so　profoundly　undeserved。
　　He　cleared　his　throat。　She　turned　to　look　at　him。
　　〃You're　late；〃　she　said　lightly。　〃Dina；　your　darling　little　girl；　has　been　threatening　to…〃　She　stopped。　〃What　has　happened？〃
　　How　did　one　say　this？
　　〃Al…Rassan　has　fallen。〃　He　heard　himself　speaking　the　words　as　in　a　place　that　echoed；　like　the　valley　of　the　Emin　ha'Nazar。　〃This　summer。　All　of　the　peninsula　is　Jaddite　now。〃
　　His　wife　leaned　back；　her　hands　behind　her；　against　the　table　by　the　hearth。　Then；　pushing　herself　forward；　she　took　three　steps　across　the　stone　floor　and　wrapped　her　arms　around　him；　her　head　against　his　chest。
　　〃Oh；　my　love；〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　Alvar；　this　must　be　so　hard　for　you。　What　can　I　say？〃
　　〃Is　everyone　here？〃
　　〃Almost。　Oh；　my　dear；〃　said　Marisa　bet　Rezzoni；　his　wife；　his　colleague　and　Jehane's；　daughter　of　his　teacher；　mother　of　his　children；　light　of　his　days　and　nights。　〃Oh；　Alvar；　how　are　you　going　to　tell　them？〃
　　〃Tell　them　what？〃　Jehane　asked；　ing　into　the　kitchen。　〃What　is　it？　One　of　the　children？〃
　　〃No。　No；　not　that；〃　Alvar　said；　and　fell　silent。
　　He　looked　at　the　first　woman　he　had　ever　loved。　He　knew　he　would　love　her　and　in　more　than　a　way　of　speaking　until　he　died。　She　was　still；　with　silver　in　her　hair　and　a　softening　to　her　features　now；　the　same　astonishing；　courageous　woman　with　whom　he　had　ridden　across　the　Serrana　Range　to　King　Badir's　Ragosa　all　those　years　ago。
　　Another　known　footfall　in　the　hallway　outside。　〃We're　in　here；〃　Alvar　said；　lifting　his　voice。　〃In　the　kitchen。〃　In　a　way　it　was　better　like　this。
　　Ammar；　hardly　using　his　stick　today；　paused　in　the　doorway　and　then　came　to　stand　beside　his　wife。　He　looked　at　Jehane；　at　Marisa；　at　Alvar。　He　laid　a　hand　on　Jehane's　shoulder　and　said；　in　his　beautiful　voice；　〃Alvar　has　had　the　same　tidings　I　have。　He　is　trying　to　think　of　how　to　shelter　us。　Me；　mostly；　I　suppose。〃
　　〃You；　mostly；〃　Alvar　agreed　quietly。　〃Ammar；　I'm　so　sorry。〃
　　〃Please！〃　Jehane　said。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　Her　husband　released　her　and　she　turned　to　look　at　him。　〃I　was　going　to　wait　until　Alvar's　celebration　was　done；　but　there　is　no　point　now。　A　ship　from　Esperana　is　in；　my　love。　Fernan　Belmonte　took　Cartada；　and　my　own　Aljais　of　the　nightingales　this　summer。　Tudesca　opened　her　gates　immediately　after。　They　were　the　last；　those　three。〃
　　Alvar　saw　that　his　wife；　who　alone　of　the　four　of　them　had　never　even　been　in　that　beloved；　tormented　peninsula；　was　weeping。　Marisa　could　feel　for　the　pain　she　saw；　could　almost　take　it　into　herself。　It　was　a　part　of　her　physician's　gift；　and　it　frightened　him　sometimes。
　　Jehane　had　gone　white；　much　as　he　himself　had　appeared　in　the　looking　glass。　She　did　not　cry。　She　said；　after　a　moment；　〃It　was　going　to　happen。　There　was　no　one　to　turn　the　tide　back；　and　Fernan　。。。　〃
　　〃Appears　to　have　bee　something　close　to　what　his　father　was；〃　Ammar　finished　for　her。　〃It　was　going　to　happen；　yes。〃　He　smiled；　the　smile　they　had　all　e　to　know　and　need　over　the　years　here　in　Sorenica。　〃Have　I　not　been　trying　to　write　a　history　and　an　elegy　for　Al…Rassan　all　this　time？　Would　it　not　have　been　a　cruel　jest　upon　me；　if…〃
　　〃Don't！〃　Jehane　said；　and　stepping　forward；　put　her　arms　around　her　husband。　Ammar　stopped。　He　closed　his　eyes。
　　Alvar　swallowed；　near　to　weeping；　for　reasons　too　plex　for　words。　The　Star…born　were　not　his　people。　He　was　Jaddite　born；　Kindath　by　choice…even　before　he'd　met　and　wooed　Ser　Rezzoni's　youngest　daughter。　He　had　made　that　decision；　along　with　a　resolve　to　pursue　a　doctor's　life；　by　the　time　he　left　Esteren；　escorting　Ishak　ben　Yonannon　and　his　wife　to　their　daughter　on　behalf　of　the　king　and　queen　of　Valledo。
　　Jehane　had　already　been　in　Sorenica；　having　e　with　ibn　Khairan　when　the　Muwardi　tribesmen　in　Al…Rassan　threatened　revolt　if　Ammar　continued　to　lead　their　armies。　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif　had　been　urged　to　execute　him…a　man；　the　wadjis　cried；　who　had　slain　a　khalif。　A　man　more　offensive　in　Ashar's　sight　than　even　the　Jaddites　were。
　　Yazir　had　yielded　to　the　first　pressure　but　resisted　the　second；　surprisingly。　He　had　exiled　ibn　Khairan　but　allowed　him　his　life。　Partly　for　what　he　had　achieved　as　ka'id；　but　mostly　for　one　evening's　single　bat　as　the　named；　holy；　sword　arm　of　Ashar。
　　Had　he　not　defeated　the　man　no　one　could　defeat？　Had　he　not　granted　them　victory　by　Silvenes　when　he　killed　Rodrigo　Belmonte；　the　Scourge　of　Al…Rassan？
　　And　more：　had　he　not…above　all　else…thereby　taken　blood　revenge　for　Ghalib？　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif；　who　had　travelled　the　sands　for　the　past　twenty　years　with　his　brother　at　his　side；　would　not　destroy　the　man　who　had　done　that　for　him。　Ibn　Khairan　had　been　permitted　to　leave；　with　his　Kindath　concubine。
　　〃We've　a　letter　from　Miranda；〃　Alvar　said；　clearing　his　throat。
　　Jehane　looked　at　ibn　Khairan　and；　reassured　by　what　she　saw；　let　him　go。　〃You've　read　it？〃　she　asked　Alvar。
　　〃I　started。　Go　ahead。〃　He　handed　her　the　envelope。
　　Jehane　took　it；　unfolded　the　paper　and　began　reading。　Alvar　walked　to　a　sideboard　and　poured　himself　a　glass　of　wine。　He　glanced　at　Marisa　who　shook　her　head；　and　at　Ammar　who　nodded。　He　poured　for　the　other　man；　his　dearest　friend　in　the　world；　and　carried　it　over；　unmixed。
　　Jehane　was　reading　aloud。　〃　。。。　turbulent　this　summer。　Fernan　and　the　king　have　taken　the　last　three　cities　of　Al…Rassan。　I　don't　know　the　details；　I　never　ask；　but　in　two　of　them　the　slaughter　was　bad；　it　seems。　I　know　this　can　bring　you　no　joy；　not　even　Alvar；　and　I　know　it　will　be　a　great　grief　for　Ammar。　Does　he　believe　I　bear　him　no　ill…will；　even　now？　Will　he　accept　that　I　have　an　understanding　of　his　sorrow；　and　that　Rodrigo　would　have　understood　it　as　well？
　　I　do　not　think　Fernan　does；　though　Diego　might。　I'm　not　sure。　I　don't　see　them　very　much　any　more；　of　course。　Diego　and　his　wife　have　had　a　boy　by　Jad's　grace；　my　first　grandson；　and　the　mother　is　well。　He　is　named　Rodrigo；　but　you　would　know　that。　Diego　has　been　honored　by　the　king　with　a　new　title；　created　for　him：　he　is　the　first　chancellor　of　united　Esperana。　The　people　are　saying　that　Fernan　will　win　our　wars　and　Diego　will　guide　us　in　peace。　I　am　proud　of　them　both；　of　course；　though　could　wish；　as　a　mother；　for　more　kindness　in　Fernan。　I　suppose　we　all　know　where　he　lost　his　gentleness；　but　I　may　be　the　only　one　who　remembers　when　he　had　it。
　　I　sound　old；　don't　I？　I　have　a　grandchild。　I　am　old。　Most　of　the　time　I　don't　think　I've　changed　so　much；　but　I　probably　have。　You　wouldn't　recognize　the　king；　by　the　way…he's　grown　enormously　fat；　like　his　father。
　　They　moved　Rodrigo's　bones　this　spring；　before　the　summer　campaign　began。　I　didn't　want　him　to　leave　the　ranch；　but　both　boys　and　the　king　thought　he　ought　to　be　honored　in　Esteren　and　I　didn't　have　the　heart　to　fight　them　all。　I　used　to　be　better　at　fighting。　I　did　insist　on　one　thing；　and　Diego　and　King　Ramiro；　to　my　surprise；　agreed。　The　words　above　him　are　from　the　ones　Ammar　sent　me　so　long　ago。
　　I　thought　I　would　be　the　only　one　who　felt　that　was　proper　but　I　wasn't。　I　went　there　for　the　ceremony。　Esteren　is　greatly　changed；　of　course…Alvar；　you　wouldn't　know　it　at　all。　Rodrigo　lies　now　in　a　bay　to　one　side　of　the　god　disk　in　the　royal　chapel。　There's　a　statue；　in　marble；　done　by　one　of　Ramiro's　new　sculptors。　It　isn't　really　Rodrigo；　of　course…the　man　never　knew　him。　They　gave　him　his　father's　eagle　helm　and　the　whip　and　a　sword。　He　looks　terribly　stern。　They　carved　Ammar's　words　at　the　base　of　the　statue。　In　Esperanan；　I'm　afraid；　but　the　king　did　the　translation　himself；　so　I　suppose　that　counts　for　something；　doesn't　it？
　　He　did　it　like　this：
Know；　all　who　see　these　lines；
That　this　man；　by　his　appetite　for　honor；
By　his　steadfastness；
By　his　love　for　his　country；
By　his　courage；
Was　one　of　the　miracles　of　the　god。
　　Jehane　stopped　reading；　struggling　visibly。　At　times　Alvar　thought　she　would　do　better　if　she　let　herself　cry。　Marisa　had　said　the　same　thing；　more　than　once。　Jehane　had　wept　when　her　father　died；　and　when　her　third　child…her　daughter…was　stillborn；　but　Alvar　couldn't　remember　any　other　times；　not　since　a　twilit　hill　by　Silvenes。
　　Even　now　she　controlled　herself；　laid　the　letter　aside　and　said；　in　a　thin　voice；　〃Perhaps　I　ought　to　finish　this　after　the　celebration？〃
　　As　if　to　reinforce　that；　a　girl's　impatient　voice　was　heard　calling　from　the　courtyard：　〃Will　you　e　on！　We're　all　waiting！〃
　　〃Let's　go；〃　Alvar　said；　allowing　himself　to　take　charge。　〃Dina's　likely　to　assault　me　if　I　make　her　wait　any　longer。〃
　　They　went　out　to　the　courtyard。　His　friends　were　there…quite　a　few　of　them。　Eliane　bet　Danel；　Jehane's　mother；　had　e　to　honor　him　and　he　saluted　her　first　of　all。　His　daughters　skittered　about　like　a　pair　of　long…legged　colts　putting　everyone　in　their　proper　places　before　they　bolted　for　the　kitchen；　giggling。
　　〃You　are　all；〃　said　Marisa；　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　earshot；　〃on　your　oaths　not　to　mention　that　the　cakes　are　burnt。〃
　　There　was　laughter。　Alvar　looked　for　ibn　Khairan。　He　had　taken　a　chair　in　one　corner　of　the　garden　where　he　could　stretch　out　his　leg。
　　Dina　and　Razel　came　back；　more　decorously；　bearing　their　enterprise　on　silver　trays。　No　one　said　a　word　about　the　cakes。　Alvar；　who　thought　his　daughters　embodied　all　the　graces　of　both　moons；　thought　they　were　delicious　and　said　so。　Marisa　made　sure　his　wine　glass　was　always　full。
　　He　was　toasted　several　times；　made　a　few　wry　jests　in　the　speech　they　demanded：　about　being　ready　to　settle　by　the　fire　now　but　not　being　able　to　afford　to　do　so　until　his　burdens　had　been　properly　married　off。　The　girls　made　faces　at　him。
　　Ammar；　from　his　corner；　declared　that　he　and　Eliane　were　in　no　way　ready　to　surrender　their　places　by　the　fire。　Alvar　would　have　to　wait　his　turn。
　　The　afternoon　passed。　When　his　friends　rose　to　go；　Alvar　was　touched　and　a　little　surprised　by　the　warmth　with　which　they　embraced　him。　It　still　came　as　a　source　of　wonder　to　him　that　he　was　a　man　with　nearly　grown　daughters　and　a　loving　wife　and　that