ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-µÚ8½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
nd¡¡soldiers¡¡awaited£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡simpler¡¡world¡¡by¡¡far¡¡than¡¡the¡¡one¡¡into¡¡which¡¡he'd¡¡stumbled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wagon¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Late¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡of¡¡that¡¡same¡¡day£»¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡had¡¡dropped¡¡back¡¡from¡¡his¡¡position¡¡near¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡column¡¡and¡¡signalled¡¡Alvar¡¡with¡¡a¡¡motion¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡¡to¡¡join¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡His¡¡heart¡¡pounding¡¡with¡¡the¡¡apprehension¡¡of¡¡disaster£»¡¡Alvar¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡Captain¡¡to¡¡a¡¡position¡¡off¡¡one¡¡flank¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡Vargas¡¡Hills£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡beautiful¡¡country¡¡in¡¡Valledo¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Lain¡¡was¡¡born¡¡in¡¡a¡¡village¡¡beyond¡¡that¡¡western¡¡range£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡began¡¡conversationally¡£¡¡¡¨Or¡¡so¡¡he¡¡says¡£¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡lie¡£¡¡That¡¡he¡¡was¡¡hatched¡¡from¡¡an¡¡egg¡¡in¡¡a¡¡swamp£»¡¡as¡¡bald¡¡at¡¡birth¡¡as¡¡he¡¡is¡¡today¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡was¡¡too¡¡nervous¡¡to¡¡laugh¡£¡¡He¡¡managed¡¡a¡¡feeble¡¡grin¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡he'd¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡alone¡¡with¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡£¡¡The¡¡slandered¡¡Lain¡¡Nunez¡¡was¡¡up¡¡ahead£»¡¡rasping¡¡orders¡¡again¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡be¡¡taking¡¡their¡¡midday¡¡break¡¡soon¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡Captain¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡mild¡¡voice£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡Al¡Rassan¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡who¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡khalif's¡¡banquet¡¡table¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡piss¡£¡¡He¡¡held¡¡it¡¡in¡¡so¡¡long¡¡he¡¡ruptured¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡died¡¡before¡¡dessert¡¡was¡¡served¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡believe¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Alvar¡¡said¡¡fervently¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡ought¡¡you¡¡to¡¡have¡¡done¡¡back¡¡there£¿¡¨¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡asked¡£¡¡His¡¡tone¡¡had¡¡changed£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡slightly¡£
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡had¡¡been¡¡thinking¡¡about¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡since¡¡they¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡Esteren¡¡behind¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡small¡¡voice£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡cleared¡¡my¡¡throat£»¡¡or¡¡coughed¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨Whistled£»¡¡sung£»¡¡spat¡¡on¡¡a¡¡wheel¡£¡¡Anything¡¡to¡¡let¡¡us¡¡know¡¡you¡¡were¡¡there¡£¡¡Why¡¡didn't¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡good£»¡¡clever¡¡answer¡¡so¡¡he¡¡offered¡¡the¡¡truth£º¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡afraid¡£¡¡I¡¡still¡¡couldn't¡¡believe¡¡you¡¡were¡¡bringing¡¡me¡¡on¡¡this¡¡ride¡£¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡noticed¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡Captain¡¡nodded¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡gazed¡¡past¡¡Alvar¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rolling¡¡hills¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡pine¡¡forest¡¡to¡¡the¡¡west¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡grey¡¡eyes¡¡shifted¡¡and¡¡Alvar¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡pinned¡¡by¡¡a¡¡vivid¡¡gaze¡£¡¡¡¨All¡¡right¡£¡¡First¡¡lesson¡£¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡choose¡¡men¡¡for¡¡my¡¡pany£»¡¡even¡¡for¡¡a¡¡short¡¡journey£»¡¡by¡¡mistake¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡were¡¡named¡¡to¡¡be¡¡with¡¡us¡¡it¡¡was¡¡for¡¡a¡¡reason¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡little¡¡patience¡¡with¡¡that¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fighting¡¡man¡£¡¡Understood£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡jerked¡¡his¡¡head¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡a¡¡breath¡¡and¡¡let¡¡it¡¡out¡£¡¡Before¡¡he¡¡could¡¡speak£»¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¨Second¡¡lesson¡£¡¡Tell¡¡me£»¡¡why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡I¡¡called¡¡you¡¡out¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡wagon£¿¡¡I¡¡made¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡for¡¡you¡the¡¡second¡¡most¡¡powerful¡¡man¡¡in¡¡Valledo¡£¡¡That¡¡wasn't¡¡a¡¡generous¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡Why¡¡did¡¡I¡¡do¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡looked¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡¡thinking¡¡hard¡£¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡face¡¡bore¡¡an¡¡expression¡¡that¡¡used¡¡to¡¡induce¡¡apprehension¡¡in¡¡his¡¡family¡£¡¡His¡¡thoughts¡¡sometimes¡¡took¡¡him¡¡to¡¡unexpected£»¡¡dangerous¡¡places¡£¡¡This£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡happened£»¡¡was¡¡such¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡over¡¡at¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡and¡¡then¡¡away¡¡again£»¡¡uncharacteristically¡¡cautious¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Say¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡snapped¡£
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡suddenly¡¡wished¡¡he¡¡were¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡farm£»¡¡planting¡¡grain¡¡with¡¡his¡¡father¡¡and¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡hands£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sisters¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡out¡¡with¡¡beer¡¡and¡¡cheese¡¡and¡¡bread£»¡¡and¡¡gossip¡¡from¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡He¡¡swallowed¡£¡¡He¡¡might¡¡be¡¡back¡¡there£»¡¡soon¡¡enough¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡said¡¡that¡¡Pellino¡¡de¡¡Damon's¡¡son¡¡was¡¡a¡¡coward¡¡or£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡matter£»¡¡overly¡¡shy¡¡with¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡weren't¡¡thinking¡¡about¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡as¡¡firmly¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡manage¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡point¡¡saying¡¡this¡¡if¡¡he¡¡sounded¡¡like¡¡a¡¡quavering¡¡child¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡pulled¡¡me¡¡out¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡body¡¡between¡¡Count¡¡Gonzalez¡¡and¡¡your¡¡family¡£¡¡I¡¡may¡¡be¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡myself£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡father¡¡was¡¡known£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡constable¡¡now¡¡realizes¡¡that¡¡I'm¡¡a¡¡witness¡¡to¡¡what¡¡happened¡¡this¡¡morning¡£¡¡I'm¡¡protection¡¡for¡¡your¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡sons¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡He¡¡closed¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡them¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡grinning¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡Miraculously£»¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡didn't¡¡seem¡¡angry¡£¡¡¡¨As¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡reason¡¡you¡¡were¡¡chosen¡¡to¡¡be¡¡tested¡¡on¡¡this¡¡ride¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡mind¡¡a¡¡clever¡¡man£»¡¡Alvar¡£¡¡Within¡¡limits£»¡¡mind¡¡you¡£¡¡You¡¡may¡¡even¡¡be¡¡right¡£¡¡I¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡entirely¡¡selfish¡£¡¡When¡¡it¡¡es¡¡to¡¡threats¡¡against¡¡my¡¡family£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡be¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡make¡¡a¡¡possible¡¡enemy¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡even¡¡put¡¡your¡¡life¡¡at¡¡some¡¡risk¡£¡¡Not¡¡a¡¡very¡¡honorable¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡a¡¡leader¡¡to¡¡do¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pany£»¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡another¡¡test£»¡¡and¡¡Alvar¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡His¡¡father¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡once£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡do¡¡better¡¡if¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡a¡¡little¡¡less¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡less¡£¡¡But¡¡this¡¡was¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡himself£»¡¡the¡¡Captain£»¡¡asking¡¡questions¡¡that¡¡demanded¡¡thought¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡dodge¡¡it£»¡¡Alvar¡¡supposed¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡he¡¡was¡¡expected¡¡to¡£¡¡But¡¡here¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡riding¡¡towards¡¡Al¡Rassan¡¡through¡¡the¡¡pine¡clad¡¡hills¡¡of¡¡Vargas£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡this¡¡pany¡¡for¡¡a¡¡reason¡£¡¡The¡¡Captain¡¡had¡¡just¡¡said¡¡so¡£¡¡They¡¡weren't¡¡going¡¡to¡¡send¡¡him¡¡back¡£¡¡Alvar's¡¡customary¡¡nature¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡him¡¡with¡¡every¡¡passing¡¡moment¡£
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡de¡¡Pellino¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Was¡¡it¡¡an¡¡honorable¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do£¿¡¡Not¡¡really£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡want¡¡my¡¡true¡¡thought£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¡In¡¡war¡¡a¡¡captain¡¡can¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡with¡¡his¡¡men£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡a¡¡private¡¡feud¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡if¡¡it's¡¡right¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡too¡¡far¡£¡¡Then¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡smiled¡¡again£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡real¡¡amusement¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grey¡¡eyes¡£¡¡The¡¡Captain¡¡stroked¡¡his¡¡moustache¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gloved¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡imagine¡¡you¡¡caused¡¡your¡¡father¡¡some¡¡distress¡¡with¡¡your¡¡frankness£»¡¡lad¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡grinned¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡did¡¡caution¡¡me¡¡at¡¡times£»¡¡my¡¡lord¡£¡¡Yes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Cautioned£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡in¡¡fairness£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡more¡¡he¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡small¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡nothing¡¡easy¡¡about¡¡life¡¡on¡¡a¡¡northern¡¡farm£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡less¡¡that¡¡was¡¡conducive¡¡to¡¡softness¡¡during¡¡a¡¡year¡¡of¡¡service¡¡with¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡army¡¡in¡¡Esteren¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡strong¡¡and¡¡quick£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡good¡¡rider¡£¡¡Nonetheless£»¡¡the¡¡fist¡¡he¡¡never¡¡saw¡¡ing¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡¡like¡¡a¡¡hammer¡¡and¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡flying¡¡from¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡into¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡a¡¡child¡£
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡struggled¡¡quickly¡¡to¡¡a¡¡sitting¡¡position£»¡¡spitting¡¡blood¡£¡¡One¡¡hand¡¡went¡¡feebly¡¡to¡¡his¡¡jaw£»¡¡which¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡broken¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡happened£º¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡warning¡¡had¡¡just¡¡e¡¡true¡£¡¡His¡¡imbecilic¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡speaking¡¡whatever¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡had¡¡just¡¡cost¡¡him¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡any¡¡young¡¡soldier¡¡would¡¡die¡¡for¡£¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡a¡¡door¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡Alvar£»¡¡swaggering¡¡through¡¡like¡¡the¡¡fool¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡had¡¡just¡¡fallen¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡Or¡¡on¡¡his¡¡elbow¡¡and¡¡backside£»¡¡actually¡£
¡¡¡¡Holding¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡Alvar¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡his¡¡Captain¡£¡¡A¡¡short¡¡distance¡¡away¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡a¡¡halt¡¡and¡¡was¡¡regarding¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡had¡¡to¡¡do¡¡that¡¡to¡¡my¡¡sons£»¡¡too£»¡¡once¡¡or¡¡twice£»¡¨¡¡Rodrigo¡¡said¡£¡¡He¡¡was£»¡¡improbably£»¡¡still¡¡looking¡¡amused¡£¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡doubtless¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡years¡¡yet¡£¡¡Third¡¡lesson¡¡now£»¡¡Alvar¡¡de¡¡Pellino¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡it¡¡is¡¡wrong¡¡to¡¡hide¡¡as¡¡you¡¡did¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wagon¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡it¡¡is¡¡equally¡¡wrong¡¡to¡¡push¡¡your¡¡ideas¡¡forward¡¡before¡¡they¡¡are¡¡plete¡£¡¡Take¡¡a¡¡little¡¡longer¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡yourself¡£¡¡You'll¡¡have¡¡some¡¡time¡¡to¡¡think¡¡about¡¡this¡¡while¡¡we¡¡ride¡£¡¡And¡¡while¡¡you¡¡are¡¡doing¡¡so£»¡¡you¡¡might¡¡consider¡¡whether¡¡an¡¡unauthorized¡¡raid¡¡in¡¡Al¡Rassan¡¡by¡¡a¡¡band¡¡of¡¡Garcia¡¡de¡¡Rada's¡¡cronies¡¡playing¡¡outlaw¡¡might¡¡take¡¡this¡¡affair¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡realm¡¡of¡¡a¡¡private¡¡feud¡¡and¡¡into¡¡something¡¡else¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡an¡¡officer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Valledo£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡you¡¡are¡¡in¡¡this¡¡pany£»¡¡so¡¡are¡¡you¡£¡¡The¡¡constable¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡suborn¡¡me¡¡from¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡the¡¡king¡¡with¡¡a¡¡threat¡£¡¡Is¡¡that¡¡a¡¡private¡¡matter£»¡¡my¡¡young¡¡philosopher£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨By¡¡the¡¡god's¡¡balls£»¡¡Rodrigo£¡¡¨¡¡came¡¡an¡¡unmistakable¡¡voice£»¡¡approaching¡¡from¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡column£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡did¡¡Pellino's¡¡brat¡¡do¡¡to¡¡deserve¡¡that£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡Lain¡¡Nunez¡¡trotting¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡over¡¡toward¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¨Called¡¡me¡¡selfish¡¡and¡¡unfair¡¡to¡¡my¡¡men¡£¡¡Guilty¡¡of¡¡exploiting¡¡them¡¡in¡¡my¡¡private¡¡affairs¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡all£¿¡¨¡¡Lain¡¡spat¡¡into¡¡the¡¡grass¡£¡¡¡¨His¡¡father¡¡said¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡worse¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡our¡¡day¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Really£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡Captain¡¡seemed¡¡surprised¡£¡¡¡¨De¡¡Rada¡¡just¡¡said¡¡he¡¡was¡¡famous¡¡for¡¡his¡¡discretion¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Horsepiss£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lain¡¡Nunez¡¡succinctly¡£¡¡¡¨Why¡¡would¡¡you¡¡believe¡¡anything¡¡a¡¡de¡¡Rada¡¡said£¿¡¡Pellino¡¡de¡¡Damon¡¡had¡¡an¡¡opinion¡¡about¡¡anything¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡under¡¡the¡¡god's¡¡sun¡£¡¡Drove¡¡me¡¡near¡¡crazy£»¡¡he¡¡did¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡put¡¡up¡¡with¡¡it¡¡until¡¡I¡¡wangled¡¡him¡¡a¡¡promotion¡¡to¡¡manding¡¡a¡¡fort¡¡by¡¡the¡¡no¡man's¡land¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡never¡¡as¡¡happy¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life¡¡as¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡backside¡¡on¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡going¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡goggled¡¡up¡¡at¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡his¡¡jaw¡¡would¡¡have¡¡dropped¡¡if¡¡it¡¡hadn't¡¡hurt¡¡so¡¡much¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡too¡¡stunned¡¡to¡¡even¡¡get¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡grass¡£¡¡For¡¡most¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡¡his¡¡quiet£»¡¡patient¡¡father¡¡had¡¡been¡¡gently¡¡chiding¡¡him¡¡against¡¡the¡¡evils¡¡of¡¡being¡¡too¡¡outspoken¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You£»¡¨¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡was¡¡saying£»¡¡grinning¡¡at¡¡the¡¡veteran¡¡soldier¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡¡¨are¡¡as¡¡full¡¡of¡¡horsepiss¡¡as¡¡any¡¡de¡¡Rada¡¡I've¡¡ever¡¡met¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨That£»¡¡I'll¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡insult£»¡¨¡¡Lain¡¡Nunez¡¡rasped£»¡¡the¡¡seamed¡¡and¡¡wizened¡¡face¡¡assuming¡¡an¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡fierce¡¡outrage¡£
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡laughed¡¡aloud¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡loved¡¡this¡¡man's¡¡father¡¡like¡¡a¡¡brother¡£¡¡You've¡¡been¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡that¡¡for¡¡years¡£¡¡You¡¡picked¡¡his¡¡son¡¡yourself¡¡for¡¡this¡¡ride¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡deny¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡deny¡¡anything¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to£»¡¨¡¡his¡¡lieutenant¡¡said¡¡sturdily¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡if¡¡Pellino's¡¡boy¡¡has¡¡already¡¡driven¡¡you¡¡to¡¡a¡¡blow¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡made¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡mistake¡£¡¨¡¡They¡¡both¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡Alvar£»¡¡shaking¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡slowly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡may¡¡well¡¡be¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡at¡¡length¡£¡¡He¡¡didn't