ggk.asongforarbonne-第40节

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ather。
　　As　they　approached　the　end　of　the　courtyard　a　pair　of　doors　were　opened　by　a　footman　in　the　dark　red　livery。　Behind　him；　in　a　wide　hallway；　bearing　flame　in　a　slender　candlestick；　a　lady…in…waiting　stood；　in　the　same　colours；　with　white　at　wrist　and　throat　and　binding　her　dark　hair。　The　footman　bowed；　the　woman　sank　low　in　a　curtsey。　The　candle　in　her　hand　did　not　even　waver。　〃Will　you　honour　me　by　following？〃　she　asked。
　　Blaise　was　still　under　no　illusions。　Two　of　the　guards　had　remained；　he　noted；　waiting　just　inside　the　doorway。　He　was　almost　inclined　to　berate　them　all；　to　demand　an　end　to　this　protracted　charade　of　courtesy；　but　something　in　the　perfection；　the　gravity　of　it；　made　him　hold　his　peace。　Whoever　it　was　who　had　sent　for　him　very　clearly　placed　an　exaggerated　value　on　such　things；　it　might　be　a　useful　piece　of　information。
　　And　it　was　with　that　thought；　following　the　woman's　neat…footed　progress　down　a　corridor　and　up　a　wide；　curving　flight　of　stairs；　with　two　guards　in　careful　step　behind　him；　that　Blaise　understood　where　he　had　to　be；　and　something　the　singer　had　said；　at　the　end；　became　belatedly　clear　to　him。
　　They　stopped　before　a　closed　door。　The　woman　knocked　twice　and　opened　it；　she　stepped　aside；　gesturing　with　easy　grace　for　Blaise　to　pass　within。　He　did。　They　closed　the　door　behind　him；　leaving　him　in　that　room　without　attendant　or　guard。
　　There　was　a　fireplace；　not　lit。　Candles　in　sconces　on　the　walls　and　on　tables　placed　around　a　richly　furnished　and　carpeted　room　done　in　shades　of　dark　blue　and　gold。　Wine　on　one　table；　he　saw；　goblets　beside　a　flask。　Two；　no；　three　doorways　opening　to　inner　rooms；　a　pair　of　very　deep；　high…backed　chairs　facing　the　fire。　The　windows　on　the　outer　wall　were　open　to　the　breeze；　Blaise　could　hear　noises　of　revelry　from　below。　There　was　a　familiar；　hard　bitterness　in　him　now；　and　a　curiosity　he　could　not　deny；　and　a　third　thing；　like　the　quickening　hammer　of　a　pulse；　beneath　both　of　these。
　　〃Thank　you　for　ing；〃　said　Ariane　de　Carenzu；　rising　from　a　divan　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　Her　black　hair　was　still　down　about　her　shoulders；　as　it　should　not　have　been。　She　was　dressed　as　before；　jewellery　upon　her　like　fire　and　ice。
　　〃I　would　accept　the　thanks　if　I　had　had　a　choice　in　the　matter；〃　Blaise　said　grimly。　He　remained　just　inside　the　doorway；　assessing　the　room；　trying　not　to　stare　too　intently　at　the　woman。
　　She　laughed　aloud。　〃Had　I　been　certain　you　would　elect　to　e　I　would　have　been　happy　to　grant　you　that　choice。〃　Her　smile　made　it　clear　she　knew　exactly　what　she　was　saying。　She　was　very　beautiful；　the　dark　hair　framing　and　setting　off　flawless　white　skin。　Her　dark　eyes　were　wide…set　and　serene；　the　mouth　was　firm；　and　in　her　voice　Blaise　heard　the　note　of　control　he　had　registered　in　the　tavern　when　she　had　issued　a　mand　to　the　dukes　of　Talair　and　Miraval；　and　both　had　accepted　without　demur。
　　The　women　of　Arbonne；　he　thought；　trying　to　summon　anger　like　a　shield。　He　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。　A　little　more　than　a　year　ago；　on　a　spring　night　with　the　god's　thunder　outside　on　the　northern　hills；　he　had　answered　a　different　kind　of　summons　to　another　black…haired　woman's　chambers。　His　life　had　been　changed　that　night；　and　not；　in　the　end；　for　the　better。
　　There　is　wine　by　the　fire；　Lucianna　Delonghi　had　said　then；　lying　across　her　bed　beneath　the　canopy　of　coupling　figures。　Shall　we　begin　with　that　thirst？
　　There　was　no　bed　here；　no　lit　fire；　and　the　woman　with　him　now　poured　the　wine　for　both　of　them　herself；　and　then　neatly；　without　artifice；　walked　over　to　offer　him　a　goblet。　He　took　it　without　speaking。　She　did　not　linger　beside　him　but　turned　and　walked　back　to　the　divan。　Almost　without　knowing　he　was　doing　so；　Blaise　followed。　She　sat　and　gestured　with　one　hand　and　he　took　the　chair　she　indicated。　She　was　wearing　perfume；　a　subtle　scent；　and　not　a　great　deal　of　it。　There　was　a　lute　on　a　table　at　one　end　of　the　divan。
　　She　said；　without　preamble；　the　dark　brown　eyes　steady　on　his；　〃There　are　a　number　of　matters　we　might　wish　to　consider；　you　and　I；　before　this　night　is　over；　but　do　you　want　to　begin　by　telling　me　what　happened　after　you　left　the　river？〃
　　He　was　tired；　and　his　mind　and　heart　had　been　dealt　double　blows　tonight；　but　he　was　not　so　far　unmanned　as　that。
　　He　even　found　himself　smiling；　though　he　could　not　have　said　why。　Perhaps　the　pure　challenge　of　it；　the　directness　of　what　she　seemed　to　be　trying　to　do。　〃I　might；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　might　possibly　want　to　tell　you；　but　until　I　know　who　else　is　listening　at　the　door　behind　you　I　would　prefer　to　keep　my　own　counsel；　my　lady。　You　will　forgive　me。〃
　　He　had　expected　many　things；　but　not　delight。　Her　laughter　chimed　with　her　two　hands　clapping　happily　together；　the　long　fingers　momentarily　obscuring　the　rubies　about　her　throat。
　　〃Of　course　I　will　forgive　you！〃　Ariane　de　Carenzu　cried；　〃You　have　just　won　me　a　wager　of　twenty…five　silver　barbens。　You　really　shouldn't　work　in　the　service　of　men　who　undervalue　you　so　much。〃
　　〃I　object　to　that；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair；　entering　the　room　from　the　door　behind　her。　〃I　did　not　underestimate　Blaise。　I　might　possibly　have　judged　your　charms　to　be　rather　more　distracting　then　they　seem　to　be　of　late。〃
　　〃I　know　your　lute；〃　Blaise　said　briefly。　〃I　may　not　think　much　of　your　music；　but　I　know　the　instrument。〃　He　was　making　an　effort　to　keep　his　posure。　He　wasn't　really　looking　at　Bertran；　either；　because　another　woman；　very　tall；　had　walked　in　behind　the　duke。　This　one　had　grey　in　her　dark　hair　and　she　was　blind　and　there　was　a　white　owl　on　her　shoulder。　The　last　time　he'd　seen　her　was　on　an　island　in　the　sea　when　she'd　told　him　the　secrets　of　his　own　heart　in　the　night　dark　of　a　forest。
　　〃You　might　at　least　have　tried；〃　Bertran　went　on　plaintively；　addressing　Ariane。　〃I'm　minded　to　renege　on　our　wager。　You　were　about　as　seductive　as　a　wet　goat　in　a　cave。〃
　　〃Spare　us　a　recitation　of　your　preferences；〃　Ariane　replied　sweetly。
　　It　was　the　High　Priestess　of　Rian；　her　blank　eye　sockets　turned　unerringly　to　where　Blaise　had　risen　from　his　chair；　who　told　him　the　thing　he　most　needed　to　know；　as　de　Talair　threw　back　his　head　in　laughter。
　　〃The　wounded　coran　will　live。　He　should　be　pletely　recovered　after　the　shoulder　injury　heals。〃
　　〃That　cannot　be；〃　Blaise　said；　his　mind　clamping　shut　in　denial。　〃There　was　syvaren　on　that　arrow。〃
　　〃And　he　owes　you　his　life　for　telling　them　as　much　by　the　river；〃　the　priestess　went　on　gravely。　She　was　robed　in　a　gown　grey　as　the　streaks　in　her　hair。　Her　skin　was　darkened　and　roughened　by　sun　and　wind　and　the　salt　of　the　sea；　a　plete　contrast　to　Ariane's　alabaster　smoothness。　〃They　brought　him　to　me　in　the　temple　here；　and　because　I　knew　what　this　was　and　because　it　happened　tonight；　I　was　able　to　deal　with　it。〃
　　〃You　can't；　though。　You　can't　cure　a　man　poisoned　by　syvaren。　No　surgeon　in　the　world　can　do　that。〃
　　She　permitted　herself　the　small；　superior　smile　he　remembered。　〃That　last　is　true；　at　any　rate。　Nor　could　I　have　done　so　if　too　much　time　has　passed　and　if　I　had　not　been　in　a　consecrated　place。　It　is　also　Midsummer　Eve。　You　should　have　cause　to　remember；　Northerner；　that　the　goddess's　servants　can　do　things　you　might　not　expect　when　we　are　centred　in　her　mysteries。〃
　　〃We　burn　women　in　Gorhaut　when　they　traffic　in　the　magic　of　darkness。〃　He　wasn't　sure　why　he'd　said　that；　but　he　did　indeed　recall　the　apprehension　he'd　felt　on　the　island；　the　pulsing　of　the　forest　floor　beneath　his　feet；　and　something　of　that　was　ing　back　now。　He　was　also　remembering；　as　through　a　tunnel　of　smoke　and　years；　the　first　witch…burning　he'd　ever　seen。　His　father　had　pronounced　the　excoriation　and　had　had　both　his　young　sons　stand　by　him　and　watch。
　　The　High　Priestess　of　Rian　was　no　longer　smiling。　〃Fear　makes　men　label　women's　power　an　act　of　darkness。　Only　fear。　Consider　the　price　of　that：　no　woman　would　have　dared　try　to　save　Valery　of　Talair　if　that　arrow　had　been　loosed　in　Gorhaut。〃　She　paused；　as　if　waiting　for　a　response；　as　a　tutor　with　her　charge。　Blaise　said　nothing；　keeping　his　face　as　impassive　as　he　could。　The　owl　flapped　its　wings　suddenly　but　settled　again　on　the　priestess's　shoulder。　In　a　different　tone　she　said；　〃I　bring　greetings　for　you　from　Luth　of　Baude；　who　now　serves　Rian　with　dignity　on　her　Island。〃　
　　Blaise　grimaced　at　the　recollection。　〃Luth　couldn't　serve　a　flask　of　ale　with　dignity；〃　he　said；　anger　and　confusion　overing　him。
　　〃You　do　not　mean　that；　you　are　only　unsettled。　You　might　also　be　surprised　at　what　any　man　may　do　when　he；　too；　feels　centred　in　his　own　being。〃　The　reproach　was　mild　enough；　but　Blaise　felt；　as　he　had　before　with　this　woman；　that　there　were　meanings　beneath　the　surface　of　her　words；　that　she　was　speaking　to　a　part　of　him　that　no　one　should　have　been　able　to　address。
　　The　very　old　woman　who　had　burned　on　the　Garsenc　lands　all　those　years　ago　had　been　pitiful　more　than　anything　else。　A　village　neighbour　had　accused　her　at　the　year　end　godmoot　of　witching　a　cow　so　its　milk　would　dry。　Galbert　had　decided　to　make　an　example　of　the　case。　Every　year；　sometimes　more　often；　such　a　course　was