ggk.asongforarbonne-第51节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　recognize。
　　He　turned　to　Bertran。　The　duke　was　bareheaded　as　usual；　in　the　nondescript　riding　clothes　he　favoured　on　the　road。　It　had　saved　his　life　once；　Valery　had　told　Blaise；　when　another　would…be　assassin　had　been　unable　to　tell　which　man　in　their　party　was　de　Talair　himself。
　　〃There's　no　decision　to　make；　really。　Not　now。〃　Blaise　kept　his　voice　calm。　Three　men　could　now　be　seen　riding　back　towards　them；　dust　rising　about　their　horses'　hooves。　〃If　we're　to　ride　with　the　Portezzans　there　are　a　number　of　them　who　know　me。　There's　no　point　in　my　trying　to　remain　unrecognized。〃
　　〃I　thought　as　much；〃　Bertran　said。　〃Very　well。　From　this　time　on　may　I　assume　it　is　Blaise　de　Garsenc　who　honours　me　by　joining　my　corans　for　a　time；　despite　his　father's　evident　desire　to　have　me　killed？〃
　　It　was　a　watershed　of　sorts；　a　moment　when　many　things　could　change。　〃As　you　like；〃　said　Blaise　quietly。
　　The　three　riders　had　e　nearer。　He　didn't　recognize　them。　They　were　extravagantly　garbed；　even　on　the　dusty　road。　Portezzans　were　like　that。
　　〃And　on　the　other　matter？〃　Bertran　asked；　the　faintest　hint　of　tension　in　his　voice　now。　〃The　one　we　have　been　delaying　upon？〃
　　Blaise　knew　what　the　duke　meant；　of　course　he　knew：　What　would　you　have　me　do；　declare　myself　the　true　king　of　Gorhaut？　His　own　words。
　　He　shook　his　head。　Something　in　his　chest　grew　tight　and　heavy　whenever　he　thought　about　that。　It　was　a　step　across　a　chasm　so　wide　he　had　never　thought　to　see　such　a　thing；　even　in　his　mind's　eye。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃Leave　that。　It　is　autumn　now；　and　the　truce　of　the　fair。　Gorhaut　will　do　nothing　here；　if　any　of　them　even　e；　and　then　Ademar　will　have　to　wait　until　spring　opens　the　mountains　again。　Let　us　wait　and　see　what　happens。〃
　　Valery　said　in　his　measured　voice；　〃We　might　be　doing　things　ourselves　in　winter；　instead　of　waiting　to　see　what　others　do。〃
　　Blaise　turned　to　him。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　sharply；　〃if　my　reluctance　to　be　used　as　a　figurehead　will　spoil　your　winter。〃
　　Bertran；　on　his　other　side；　laughed　aloud。　〃Fair　enough；〃　he　said；　〃though　you　are　hardly　a　figurehead；　if　you　are　honest　with　yourself。　If　Ademar　is　seen　as　having　betrayed　his　country　with　the　Treaty　of　Iersen　Bridge；　is　there　a　man　in　Gorhaut　with　a　better　claim　to　succeed　him　than　you？　Your　brother；　perhaps？〃
　　〃Perhaps；〃　Blaise　said。　〃He　won't　do　anything；　though。　My　father　rules　him。〃　He　hesitated。　〃Leave　it；　Bertran。　Leave　it　for　now。〃
　　There　was　a　silence。　In　it；　the　three　riders　came　up；　trailed　by　young　Serlo。　They　were　clad　in　a　magnificent　black　and　crimson　livery　Blaise　knew。　He　realized　abruptly　whose　these　men　must　be。　His　heart　began　beating　quickly　again。　It　seemed　that　whatever　he　did；　wherever　he　went；　events　drew　him　back　into　his　past。　The　first　of　the　riders　pulled　up　his　horse　and　bowed　unctuously　low　in　his　saddle。
　　〃Very　well；　we　will　leave　it　for　now；〃　Bertran　said　quietly　to　Blaise。　And　then　launched　himself；　almost　before　he'd　finished　speaking；　in　a　hard；　fluid；　uncoiled　movement　from　his　horse。
　　He　slammed　into　Blaise　with　his　shoulder；　knocking　the　wind　from　him；　driving　him　from　his　own　mount。　The　two　of　them　landed　hard　in　the　dust　of　the　road　as　the　knife　thrown　by　the　second　man　in　black　and　red　whipped　over　the　bowed　head　of　the　first　and　through　the　empty　space　where　Blaise　had　been　a　moment　before。　Portezzans　were　legendary　for　their　skill　with　knives。
　　But　the　corans　of　Bertran　de　Talair　were　the　best　trained　in　Arbonne。　Valery　killed　the　knife…thrower　with　a　short；　precise　sword　thrust；　and　Serlo；　with　an　oath；　dispatched　the　third　man　from　behind　without　ceremony。　Only　the　leader　was　left　then；　as　Bertran　and　Blaise　disentangled　themselves　and　stood　up。　Bertran　winced　and　flexed　a　knee。
　　Serlo　and　Valery　had　their　blades　levelled　at　the　Portezzan　from　before　and　behind。　It　had　all　happened　so　quickly；　so　silently；　that　no　one　up　ahead　had　even　realized　anything　had　taken　place。　There　were　two　dead　men　on　the　ground；　though。　The　Portezzan　looked　down　at　them　and　then　at　Bertran。　He　had　a　lean；　tanned　face　and　a　carefully　curled　moustache。　There　were　several　rings　on　his　fingers；　over　his　riding　gloves。
　　〃I　am　perfectly　content　to　surrender　myself　to　your　mercy；〃　he　said　calmly；　in　flawless；　aristocratic　Arbonnais。　〃I　will　be　ransomed　by　my　cousin　at　a　fair　price；　I　can　assure　you　of　that。〃
　　〃Your　cousin　has　just　violated　a　truce　formally　guaranteed　by　the　countess　of　Arbonne；〃　Bertran　said　icily。　〃He　will　answer　to　her　for　that　even　more　than　you。〃
　　〃I　am　certain　he　will　answer　adequately；〃　the　man　said　blandly。
　　Bertran's　face　grew　pale；　Blaise　recognized　the　signs　of　real　rage　building。　He　was　still　too　much　in　shock　to　frame　his　own　response。
　　〃I　am　rather　less　certain　than　you；〃　the　duke　said　softly　to　the　Portezzan。　〃But　in　the　interim；　you　will　now　make　reply　to　me：　why　would　you　seek　to　kill　one　of　my　panions？　〃
　　For　the　first　time　the　man's　expression　grew　hesitant。　He　looked　sidelong　at　Blaise　as　if　to　verify　something。　His　face　cleared；　and　as　it　did；　even　before　he　spoke；　Blaise　understood　what　had　just　happened。　Something　in　him；　in　his　heart　actually；　seemed　to　make　a　sound　like　a　bowstring　plucked　or　the　string　of　a　lute。
　　〃My　lord　and　cousin　Borsiard　d'Andoria　has　a　mortal　grievance　against　this　man；〃　the　Portezzan　said。　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　you；　En　Bertran。　He　has　nothing　but　respect　and　affection　for　you；　my　lord；　and　for　the　countess　of　Arbonne。〃　The　words　were　honeyed；　mellifluous。
　　〃An　assault　against　a　man　in　my　pany　has　a　great　deal　to　do　with　me；　I'm　afraid。　And　words　of　respect　are　meaningless　when　an　assault　takes　place　during　the　truce　of　a　fair。　Your　lord　and　cousin　has　made　a　mistake。〃
　　〃And　I　have　never　met　Borsiard　d'Andoria　in　my　life；〃　Blaise　added。　〃I　would　be　interested　to　know　what　his　mortal　grievance　is。〃　He　knew；　though；　or　thought　he　could　guess。
　　〃It　is　not　a　matter　for　proclaiming　in　public；〃　the　Portezzan　said　haughtily。　〃Nor　do　the　Andoria　explain　themselves。〃
　　〃Another　mistake；〃　said　Bertran；　in　a　blunt　tone　of　finality。　〃I　see　no　reason　to　delay　this。　As　a　duke　of　Arbonne　sworn　to　uphold　the　countess's　peace；　I　have　an　obvious　duty　here。〃　He　turned　to　Serlo。　〃Take　three　corans　and　string　this　man　from　a　tree。　You　will　strip　and　brand　him　first。　The　whole　world　knows　the　punishment　decreed　for　those　who　violate　a　truce。〃
　　The　Portezzan　was　a　brave　man；　for　all　his　posturing。　〃I　am　a　man　of　rank　and　cousin　to　Borsiard　d'Andoria；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　entitled　to　the　treatment　appropriate　to　my　status。〃
　　Bertran　de　Talair　shook　his　head。　Blaise　registered　Valery's　look　of　growing　concern。　He　felt　the　same　anxiety　himself。　The　duke　ignored　them。　He　said；　〃Your　status　is　that　of　an　attempted　murderer；　violator　of　a　truce　all　six　countries　have　sworn　to　keep。　No　one　will　speak　for　you　today。〃　He　turned　back　to　Serlo。　〃Hang　him。〃
　　Serlo　had　already　summoned　three　other　men。　They　pulled　the　Portezzan　roughly　from　his　horse。　One　man　had　a　rope　looped　through　his　saddle。　There　was　an　oak　tree　at　the　edge　of　a　field　east　of　the　road；　they　took　him　there。
　　〃You　cannot　do　this！〃　the　Portezzan　shouted；　craning　his　neck　to　look　back　at　Bertran；　the　first　edge　of　fear　entering　his　voice。　He　had　truly　never　thought　he　might　be　in　danger；　Blaise　realized。　The　immunity　of　his　rank　and　kinship　had　led　him　to　believe　he　could　kill　freely　and　be　ransomed；　that　money　and　status　could　be　an　answer　to　anything。
　　〃Are　you　sure　of　this？〃　Valery　said　quietly　to　his　cousin。　〃We　may　need　the　Andoria　later。〃
　　There　was　something　nearly　cruel　in　the　blue　eyes　as　Bertran　de　Talair　watched　his　corans　over　by　the　tree。　They　were　stripping　the　Portezzan；　the　man　had　begun　to　shout　now。　Bertran's　voice　was　bleak　as　he　answered　Valery　without　turning；　〃We　need　no　one　so　much　that　we　lose　our　honour　in　pursuing　them。　Wherever　the　fairs　are；　the　ruler　of　that　country　is　bound　to　uphold　the　truce　that　allows　us　all　to　trade。　You　know　it。　Everyone　knows　it。　What　just　happened　was　an　insult　to　the　countess　and　to　Arbonne　so　arrogant　I　will　not　countenance　it。　Let　Borsiard　d'Andoria　do　what　he　will；　those　three　men　have　to　die。　When　we　reach　Lussan　and　Barbentain；　my　advice　to　the　countess　will　be　to　ban　the　Andoria　from　entry　to　the　fair。　I　expect　she　will　do　so。〃
　　He　walked　over　and　remounted　his　horse；　Blaise；　after　a　moment；　did　the　same。
　　From　up　ahead；　beyond　the　front　of　their　column；　a　new　motion　could　now　be　heard。　Beside　the　road；　Bertran's　corans　had　rigged　a　hanging　rope　around　a　branch　of　the　tree。　The　condemned　man　had　been　stripped　to　his　undergarments。　Now　Serlo　resolutely　pulled　a　knife　from　his　belt；　and　while　the　others　held　the　thrashing　Portezzan；　he　set　about　carving　into　his　forehead　the　brand　of　an　oathbreaker。　Blaise　had　seen　this　before。　He　resisted　an　impulse　to　turn　away。　They　heard　the　man　scream　suddenly；　high　and　desperate。　Five　riders　had　now　peeled　away　from　the　party　in　front　of　them　and　were　galloping　furiously　back　through　the　grass　at　the　side　of　the　road。
　　〃Take　as　many　men　as　you　need；〃　said　Bertran　calmly　to　Valery。　〃Surround　the　tree。　If　those　people　attempt　to　s