ggk.asongforarbonne-第36节

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　　〃How　spectacular？〃
　　〃You　don't　want　to　know。　You'll　be　jealous。　e；　Blaise；　take　your　wine；　I　feel　silly　standing　with　my　hand　out　like　an　almsman。　Are　you　angry　with　me？〃
　　Slowly；　Blaise　of　Gorhaut　walked　forward　over　the　grass　and　took　the　offered　goblet。　The　Portezzan　laughed　and　returned　to　his　seat。　Blaise　remained　standing　beside　the　table。
　　〃In　the　tavern；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃you　would　have　seen　that　I　was　with　the　duke；　one　of　his　men。〃
　　〃Of　course　I　did；　and　I　must　say　it　surprised　me。　I'd　heard　a　rumour　at　the　Aulensburg　tourney…you　were　missed　in　Gotzland；　by　the　way；　you　were　talked　about…that　you　were　in　Arbonne　this　spring；　but　I　doubted　it；　I　really　didn't　know　you　liked　singing　so　much。〃
　　〃I　don't；　believe　me。　But　it　isn't　important。　I'm　employed　by　the　duke　of　Talair；　and　you　saw　as　much　in　the　tavern。　Didn't　that　mean　anything　to　you？〃
　　〃A　few　things；　yes；　but　you　won't　like　them　and　you　won't　want　to　hear　them　from　me。　You　are　angry　with　me；　obviously。　Really；　Blaise；　what　was　I　supposed　to　do；　abandon　a　contract　and　payment　because　you　happened　to　be　on　the　scene　trading　insults　with　an　Arimondan　catamite？　I　gather　you　killed　his　brother。〃
　　〃How　much　money　were　you　paid？〃　Blaise　asked　again；　ignoring　that　last。　〃Tell　me。〃
　　The　fair；　handsome　head　was　in　shadow　again。　There　was　a　silence。　〃Two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand；〃　the　Portezzan　said　quietly。
　　Lisseut　suppressed　a　gasp。　She　saw　Blaise　stiffen　in　disbelief。
　　〃No　one　has　that　much　money　for　an　assassination；〃　he　said　harshly。
　　The　other　man　laughed；　cheerfully。　〃Someone　does；　someone　did。　Deposited　in　advance　with　our　Gotzland　branch；　in　trust　for　me　on　conditions。　When　word　es　of　the　musical　duke　of　Talair's　so　sad　demise　the　conditions　are　removed。　Gotzland；〃　he　said　musingly；　〃is　a　usefully　discreet　place　sometimes；　though　I　suppose　it　does　help　to　have　a　family　bank。〃
　　The　man　still　seemed　amused；　eerily　so；　as　if　there　was　some　private　jest　he　was　savouring　at　Blaise's　expense。　Lisseut　was　still　reeling　inwardly；　unable　to　even　prehend　the　size　of　the　sum　he　had　named。
　　〃Payment　in　Portezzan　coinage？〃
　　Laughter　again；　on　the　edge　of　hilarity　now；　the　sound　startling　in　the　quiet　formality　of　the　garden。　A　slow　sip　of　wine。　〃Ah；　well　now；　you　are　fishing　for　information；　my　dear。　You　were　never　good　at　that；　were　you　Blaise？　You　don't　like　poison；　you　don't　like　deceptions。　You　aren't　at　all　happy　with　me。　I've　clearly　gone　to　the　bad　since　we　parted。　You　haven't　even　asked　for　news　of　Lucianna。〃
　　〃Who　paid　you；　Rudel？〃
　　The　question　was　blunt；　hard　as　a　hammer。　Blaise's　wine　glass　was　set　down　on　the　table；　untouched；　Lisseut　saw　that　it　shook　a　little。　The　other　man…who　had　a　name　now…would　have　seen　that　too。
　　〃Don't　be　stupid　and　tiresome；〃　the　Portezzan　said。　〃When　have　you　ever　revealed　who　hired　you？　When　has　anyone　you　respected　done　so？　You　of　all　men　know　I've　never　done　this　for　the　money　in　any　case。〃　A　sudden；　sweeping　gesture　enpassed　the　house　and　the　garden。　〃I　was　born　to　this　and　all　it　represents　in　the　six　countries；　and　I'll　die　with　it　unless　I'm　more　stupid　than　I　plan　to　be；　because　my　father　happens　to　like　me。〃　He　paused。　〃Drink　your　wine；　Blaise；　and　sit　down　like　a　civilized　person　so　we　can　talk　about　where　we're　going　next。〃
　　〃We　aren't　very　civilized　in　Gorhaut；〃　said　Blaise。　〃Remember？〃　There　was　a　new　note　in　his　voice。
　　The　man　in　the　chair　cleared　his　throat　but　did　not　speak。　Blaise　did　not　move　from　where　he　stood。
　　〃I　see　it　now；　though；〃　he　said　softly。　Lisseut　could　barely　hear　him。　〃You've　had　too　much　wine　too　quickly；　haven't　you？　You　didn't　mean　to　say　all　of　that　did　you；　Rudel？〃　He　spoke　Portezzan　extremely　well；　much　better　than　Lisseut　did　herself。
　　〃How　do　you　know？　Perhaps　I　did；〃　the　other　man　replied；　an　edge　to　his　tone　now。　〃Lucianna　always　said　that　good　wine　at　night　made　her…〃
　　Blaise　shook　his　head。　〃No。　No；　we　aren't　talking　about　Lucianna；　Rudel。〃　He　drew　a　breath　and；　surprisingly；　reclaimed　his　own　goblet　and　drank。　He　set　it　down　again；　carefully。　〃You　told　me　too　much。　I　understand　now　why　you　find　all　of　this　so　diverting。　You　were　paid　in　Gorhaut　coinage。　You　were　hired　for　that　insane　amount　of　money　to　assassinate　the　duke　of　Talair　in　the　name　of　Ademar；　king　of　Gorhaut。　But　on　the　orders　and　doubtless　the　instigation　of　Galbert；　High　Elder　of　Corannos　in　Gorhaut。〃
　　In　shadow　the　other　man　slowly　nodded　his　head。　〃Your　father；〃　he　said。
　　〃My　father。〃
　　Lisseut　watched　as　Blaise　turned　away　from　the　table　and　the　lights　on　the　patio　and　walked　back　towards　the　fountain。　He　stood　gazing　down　at　the　rippling　waters　of　the　artificial　pool。　It　was　difficult　to　see　his　face。
　　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　with　Talair　when　I　accepted　the　contract；　Blaise。　Obviously。〃　The　Portezzan's　voice　was　more　urgent　now；　the　amusement　gone。　〃They　wanted　him　killed　for　some　songs　he　wrote。〃
　　〃I　know。　I　heard　one　of　them。〃　Blaise　didn't　look　up　from　the　pool。　〃There's　a　message　in　this。　My　father　likes　sending　messages。　No　one　is　safe；　he's　saying。　No　one　should　think　about　crossing　him。〃　He　turned　with　a　harsh　gesture。　〃You're　meant　to　tell　the　fee；　you　know。　If　you　don't；　believe　me　they　will。　It'll　get　out。　That's　a　message　in　itself。　How　far　he'll　go　if　he　has　to。　The　resources　they　can　mand。　You've　been　used；　Rudel。〃
　　The　other　man　shrugged；　unruffled。　〃We　are　always　used。　It　is　my　profession；　it's　yours。　People　hire　us　to　serve　their　needs。　But　if　you're　right；　if　they　really　intend　to　make　sure　everyone　knows　who　paid　for　this　and　how　much；　then　you　had　better　think　seriously　about　ing　away　with　me。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃Think　about　it。　In　your　clever　vein；　Blaise。　What　happens　to　you　here　when　your　own　secret's　broached？　When　people　learn　who　you　are…and　that　your　father　killed　the　duke　of　Talair　while　you　were　supposed　to　be　guarding　him。　I　have　some　idea　why　you　came　away　to　Arbonne　in　the　first　place…and　now；　we　don't　have　to　talk　about　it…but　you　can't　stay　here　now。〃
　　Blaise　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest。　〃I　could　deal　with　that　problem。　I　could　turn　you　in。　Tonight。　I　am　employed　by　the　duke　of　Talair；　I'd　be　doing　my　duty。〃
　　Lisseut　couldn't　see　his　face　clearly；　but　from　the　voice　that　emerged　from　shadow　she　knew　the　man　named　Rudel　was　amused　again。
　　〃The　late；　lamented；　poetical　duke　of　Talair。　He　wrote　one　song　too　many；　alas。　Really；　Blaise。　Your　father　ordered　the　killing；　your　old　rade…in…arms　performed　it？　Stop　being　stupid。　You　are　going　to　be　blamed　for　this。　I'm　sorry　if　what　I've　done　makes　things　briefly　awkward　for　you；　but　the　only　thing　to　do　now　is　figure　out　where　we'd　like　to　go　and　leave。　Have　you　heard；　by　the　way？　Lucianna　is　married　again。　Shall　we　visit　the　newly　weds？〃
　　There　was　another　silence。　〃Where？〃　Blaise　asked　quietly。　Lisseut　had　a　sense　that　the　question　came　against　his　will。
　　〃Andoria。　To　Borsiard；　the　count；　a　fortnight　ago。　My　father　was　there。　I　wasn't　invited；　I'm　afraid。　Neither；　evidently；　were　you；　though　I　would　have　thought　you'd　have　heard。〃
　　〃I　hadn't。〃
　　〃Then　we　must　visit　them　and　plain。　If　he　hasn't　been　cuckolded　yet　you　can　take　care　of　that。　I'll　create　a　distraction　of　some　kind。〃
　　〃How？　By　poisoning　someone？〃
　　The　man　named　Rudel　stood　up　slowly。　In　the　light　now；　his　features　could　be　seen　to　have　gone　still；　no　trace　of　amusement　remained。　He　set　down　his　cup　of　wine。　〃Blaise；　when　we　parted　a　year　since　I　was　under　the　impression　we　were　friends。　I　am　not　certain　what　has　happened；　but　I　don't　have　the　same　impression　at　the　moment。　If　you　are　only　angry　for　tonight；　tell　me；　and　explain　why。　If　you　are　more　than　that；　I　would　appreciate　knowing　as　much；　so　I　can　act　accordingly。〃
　　Both　men　were　breathing　harder　now。　Blaise　uncrossed　his　arms。　〃You　took　a　contract　from　my　father；〃　he　said。　〃Knowing　what　you　knew；　you　took　a　contract　from　him。〃
　　〃For　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　Gorhaut　gold　coins。　Really；　Blaise；　I…〃
　　〃You　have　always　said　you　don't　do　this　for　the　money。　You　just　said　it　again　here。　Your　father　likes　you；　remember？　You're　going　to　inherit；　remember？〃
　　〃And　are　you　jealous　of　that？　As　jealous　as　you　are　of　any　other　man　who　is　close　to　Lucianna？〃
　　〃Careful；　Rudel。　Oh；　please　be　careful。〃
　　〃What　will　you　do？　Fight　me？　To　see　which　one　of　us　can　kill　the　other？　How　stupid　are　you　going　to　be　about　this；　Blaise？　I　had　no　idea　you　were　with　the　duke　of　Talair。　By　the　time　I　knew　I　could　not　withdraw　from　a　job　I'd　accepted。　You　are　as　much　a　professional　as　I　am。　You　know　this　is　true。　I　took　your　father's　contract　because　it　was　by　far　the　largest　sum　of　money　ever　offered　in　our　time　for　a　killing。　I　admit　it；　I　was　flattered。　I　liked　the　challenge。　I　liked　the　idea　of　being　known　as　the　man　who　was　worth　that　much　as　an　assassin。　Are　you　going　to　try　to　kill　me　for　that？　Or　are　you　really　wanting　to　kill　me　for　introducing　you　to　my　cousin；　who　decided　not　to　change　her　nature　just　because　you　appeared　on　the　scene　and　wanted　her　to？　I　told　you　exactly　what　Lucianna　and　her　family　were　before　you　ever　saw　her。　Remember？　Or　do　you　prefer　to　just　hide　within　your