ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第74节

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；　and　people　claim　they　can　decipher　my　hand。〃　He　smiled。
　　His　spoken　Asharic；　Jehane　thought；　had　always　been　excellent。　He　might　have　been　a　native；　though　unlike　Alvar　and　some　of　the　other　northerners；　Rodrigo　had　maintained　his　style　of　dress。　He　still　carried　his　whip　in　his　belt；　even　when　he　walked　out；　as　now；　without　a　sword。
　　〃Are　they　really　for　ransom　notes？〃　she　asked。
　　〃To　your　father；〃　he　murmured。　〃I've　tired　of　having　a　physician　who's　even　sharper　with　me　than　Lain　is。　What　will　he　give　me　for　you？〃
　　〃Lain？〃
　　〃Your　father。〃
　　〃Not　much；　I　fear。　He　also　thinks　I'm　too　sharp。〃
　　Rodrigo　took　a　silver　coin　from　his　purse　and　paid　the　man。　He　waited　for　his　purchases　and　accepted　his　change；　counting　it。
　　Jehane　walked　out　with　him。　She　saw　him　assess　the　street；　instinctively；　and　note　the　presence　of　Ziri　in　a　doorway　halfway　down。　It　must　be　odd；　she　thought　suddenly；　to　have　a　view　of　the　world　that　made　such　appraisals　routine。
　　〃Why；〃　he　asked；　beginning　to　walk　east；　〃do　you　think　you　are　so　astringent　towards　those　who　genuinely　like　you？〃
　　She　hadn't　expected　to　be　immediately　in　this　sort　of　conversation；　though　it　jibed　with　where　her　thoughts　had　been　going　before。
　　She　gave　her　quick　shrug。　〃A　way　of　coping。　You　all　drink　together；　brawl；　train；　swear　at　each　other。　I　have　only　my　tongue；　and　a　manner　with　it；　sometimes。〃
　　〃Fair　enough。　Are　you　having　trouble　coping；　Jehane？〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　she　said　quickly。
　　〃No；　really。　You're　a　member　of　my　pany。　This　is　a　captain's　question；　doctor。　Would　you　like　some　time　off　duty？　There　will　be　little　chance　once　the　season　changes　for　good；　I　should　warn　you。〃
　　Jehane　bit　back　a　quick　retort。　It　was　a　fair　question。　〃I'm　happiest　working；〃　she　said　at　length。　〃I　wouldn't　know　what　to　do　with　time　away。　It　wouldn't　be　safe　to　go　home；　I　don't　think。〃
　　〃Fezana？　No　it　wouldn't；〃　he　said。　〃Not　this　spring。〃
　　She　picked　up　on　the　intonation。　〃It　is　ing　soon；　you　think？　Will　Badir　really　send　the　army　west？〃
　　They　turned　a　corner；　walking　north　now。　The　crowds　were　thinning　out；　nearing　midday。　The　lake　was　ahead　of　them　and　the　curved　arms　of　the　walls；　reaching　out　over　the　water。　Jehane　could　see　the　masts　of　fishing　boats。
　　Rodrigo　said；　〃I　think　a　number　of　armies　will　be　moving　soon。　I　believe　ours　will　be　one　of　them。〃
　　〃You　are　being　careful；〃　she　said。
　　He　glanced　at　her。　Grinned　suddenly　beneath　the　thick　moustache。　〃I'm　always　careful　with　you；　Jehane。〃
　　She　left　a　silence；　not　responding。　He　went　on；　〃If　I　knew　more　for　certain　I'd　tell　you。　Lain　is　quite　sure　this　rumored　gathering　of　all　three　northern　kings　will　lead　to　one　army　ing　down。　I　doubt　it；　myself；　but　that　doesn't　mean　there　won't　be　three　Jaddite　kings　riding；　each　with　his　own　little　holy　war。〃　His　tone　was　dry。
　　〃And　where；〃　she　asked；　stopping　by　a　bench　outside　a　large　warehouse；　〃would　that　leave　Rodrigo　Belmonte　of　Valledo？〃　It　was　a　trait　of　hers：　when　uncertain　she　tended　to　be　most　direct。　To　cut　through；　like　a　surgeon。
　　He　put　a　booted　foot　on　the　stone　bench　and　set　down　his　package。　He　gestured　and　she　sat。　There　was　a　plane　tree　for　shade。　It　was　warmer　now；　with　the　sun　high。　She　caught　a　glimpse　of　Ziri　perched　on　a　fountain　rim；　playing　with　his　knife；　looking　for　all　the　world　like　an　apprentice　off　duty　for　an　hour；　or　dawdling　on　the　way　back　from　an　errand。
　　Rodrigo　said；　〃I　have　no　easier　answer　to　that　than　I　did　in　the　winter。　Remember；　ibn　Khairan　asked　me　the　same　thing？〃
　　She　did　remember：　the　morning　she　had　nearly　died；　with　two　small　boys　who'd　mitted　no　sin　other　than　to　be　the　half…brothers　of　a　king。
　　〃Would　the　money　you　are　earning　here　truly　e　before　loyalty　to　Valledo？〃
　　〃Put　that　way；　no。　There　are　other　ways　to　put　it；　Jehane。〃
　　〃Tell　me。〃
　　He　looked　at　her；　the　grey　eyes　calm。　Very　little　ruffled　him。　It　almost　made　you　want　to　try。　But　this　man；　she　thought　suddenly；　spoke　to　her　exactly　as　to　a　trusted　officer。　No　condescension；　no　placency。　Well；　almost　none。　She　wasn't　sure　he　teased　Lain　Nunez　in　the　same　way。
　　〃Should　loyalty　to　my　own　idea　of　honor　outweigh　a　duty　to　my　wife　and　the　future　of　my　sons。〃
　　There　was　a　breeze　now；　nearer　the　water。　Jehane　said；　〃Will　you　explain　that？〃
　　〃Lain　and　Martin　are　both　afraid　we　might　miss　a　real　chance；　being　exiled　this　particular　year。　They've　been　urging　me　to　petition　Ramiro　to　allow　me　to　return　and　then　break　my　contract　here　if　he　does。　I've　chosen　not　to　do　so。　There　are　some　things　I　won't　do。〃
　　〃Which？　Break　a　contract　or　petition　for　return？〃
　　He　smiled。　〃Both；　actually。　The　second　more　than　the　first。　I　could　return　my　salary；　I　certainly　haven't　spent　it。　But　Jehane；　think　about　this。　The　larger　point。　If　Valledo　moves　south　through　the　tagra　and　besieges　Fezana；　what　men　do　you　think　Ramiro　will　give　land　to；　should　he　succeed？〃　He　looked　at　her。　〃Do　you　see？〃
　　Being　quick；　and　her　father's　daughter；　she　did。　〃You　could　be　riding　around　Ragosa　chasing　bandits　for　a　salary　when　there　are　kingdoms　to　be　won。〃
　　〃Not　quite　kingdoms；　perhaps；　but　something　substantial；　certainly。　Much　more　than　a　salary；　however　generous。　So；　you　tell　me；　doctor？　Do　I　owe　my　two　boys　a　chance　to　be　the　heirs　of；　say；　the　king's　governor　of　Fezana？　Or　of　a　tract　of　newly　conquered　land　between　there　and　Carcasia；　with　permission　to　build　a　castle？〃
　　〃I　can't　answer　that。　I　don't　know　your　boys。〃
　　〃Doesn't　matter。　They　are　boys。　The　question　is；　what　should　a　man　strive　for；　Jehane？　Honorably？〃　His　eyes　were　direct　and　even　a　little　intimidating　now。　Ser　Rezzoni　used　to　have　a　look　like　that　sometimes。　She　tended　to　forget；　until　reminded；　as　now；　that　Rodrigo　was　a　teacher；　besides　being　one　of　the　most　feared　fighting　men　in　the　peninsula。
　　〃I　still　can't　answer；〃　she　said。
　　He　shook　his　head；　impatient　for　the　first　time。　〃Do　you　think　I　go　to　war　and　kill；　order　surrendering　foes　to　be　slain；　women　burned　alive…I　have　done　that；　Jehane…out　of　some　simple…minded　battle…lust？〃
　　〃You　tell　me。〃
　　She　felt　a　little　cold　now；　in　the　shade。　This　was　not　what　she'd　expected　from　a　morning　walk　through　the　city。
　　〃There　is　pleasure　in　warfare；　yes。〃　He　was　measuring　his　words。　〃I　would　never　deny　that。　For　good　or　ill；　I　feel　most　alive　in　the　presence　of　death。　I　need　danger；　radeship；　pride　of　mastery。　The　chance　to　win　honor；　glory；　even　fortune…all　of　which　matter　in　this　world；　if　not　in　Jad's　Paradise　of　Souls。　But　it　takes　me　away　from　those　I　love　and　leaves　them　exposed　to　danger　in　my　absence。　And　surely；　surely；　if　we　are　not　simply　animals　that　live　to　fight；　there　must　be　a　reason　for　bloodshed。〃
　　〃And　the　reason　is？　For　you？〃
　　〃Power；　Jehane。　A　bastion。　A　way　to　be　as　secure　as　this　uncertain　world　allows；　with　a　chance　to　build　something　for　my　sons　to　hold　on　to　after　I　die。〃
　　〃And　you　all　want　this？　This　is　what　drives　you？〃
　　He　thought　about　it。　〃I　would　never　speak　for　all　men。　For　some　the　sweet　excitement　is　enough。　The　blood。　Some　do　kill　for　the　love　of　it。　You　met　some　of　that　sort　at　Orvilla。　But　I'd　wager　。。。　I'd　wager　that　if　you　asked　Ammar　ibn　Khairan　he　would　tell　you　he　is　here　in　this　city　because　he　hopes　to　govern　Cartada　for　King　Badir　before　summer's　end。〃
　　Jehane　stood　up　abruptly。　She　resumed　walking；　thinking　hard　now。　Rodrigo　collected　his　small　package　and　caught　up；　falling　into　stride　beside　her。　They　walked　in　silence　past　all　the　warehouses　until　they　came　to　the　end　of　a　long　pier　and　stood　above　the　blue　water。　The　fishing　boats　were　being　decorated　for　Carnival。　There　were　lanterns　and　banners　in　the　riggings　and　on　the　masts。　The　sun　was　overhead　now；　few　people　were　about　in　the　middle　of　the　day。
　　〃You　can't　both　win　those　things；　can　you？〃　she　said　finally。　〃You　and　Ammar。　Or　not　for　long。　Ramiro　can't　conquer　Fezana　and　hold　it　if　Badir　takes　Cartada　and　holds　it。〃
　　〃They　could；　I　suppose。　But　no；　I　don't　think　both　things　will　happen。　And　certainly　not　if　I　stay　here。〃
　　He　was　not　a　vain　man；　but　he　knew　his　own　worth。　She　looked　up　at　him。　He　was　gazing　out　at　the　water。
　　〃You　do　have　a　problem；　don't　you？〃
　　〃As　I　told　you；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃There　will　be　armies　moving　soon；　and　I　don't　know　what　will　be　the　result。　Also；　you　may　have　forgotten；　but　there　is　another　set　of　players。〃
　　〃No；　I　haven't；〃　said　Jehane。　〃I　never　forget　about　them。〃　Out　on　the　lake　one　late　boat　was　turning　now；　white　sails　bright　in　the　sun；　heading　back　to　harbor　with　the　morning's　catch。　〃Will　the　Muwardis　allow　your　people　to　begin　conquering　in　Al…Rassan？〃
　　〃Re…conquering；　we　say。　But　no；　I　doubt　they　will；〃　said　Rodrigo　Belmonte。
　　〃Will　they　e　too；　then？　This　summer？〃
　　〃Possibly。　If　the　northern　kings　do。〃
　　They　watched　the　gulls　swoop　and　dart　above　the　water。　White　clouds；　swift　as　birds；　raced　by　overhead。
　　Jehane　looked　at　the　man　she　was　with。
　　〃This　summer　ends　something　then；　doesn't　it？〃
　　〃We　could　say　that　every　year　each　season　ends　something。〃
　　〃We　could　say　that。　Are　you　going　to？〃
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃No。　I　have　felt　for　some　time