ggk.asongforarbonne-第73节

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　　He　thought　he　saw　a　flicker　of　understanding；　and　then　sorrow　chasing　it　away；　but　he　was　certain　of　neither　thing。　Impulsively；　he　knelt　before　her。　He　felt　her　hand　upon　his　head。　The　slender　fingers　curled　in　his　hair　and　then　down　his　cheek　and　beard。　She　lifted　his　chin　to　look　at　him。
　　〃We　are　fond　of　you；　Blaise　of　Gorhaut；〃　she　said　formally。　〃We　can　only　hope　that　this　challenge　does　not　bring　us　a　new　source　of　grief。　We　consent　to　it；　because　you　have　asked　us　to　do　so。〃　She　looked　out　over　Blaise's　head。　〃The　Arimondan　will　remain　in　custody　until　this　duel　occurs；　though　he　is　not　to　be　abused　in　any　way。　These　two　men　will　fight　before　us　until　one　of　them　is　dead；　and　this　bat　will　take　place　on　the　first　morning　of　the　tournament　by　our　decree。　We　will　retire　now。　These　matters　are　distasteful　to　us；　and　there　is　a　child　we　have　not　seen　all　day。〃
　　In　the　end；　Blaise　went　down　the　hall　with　the　countess　and　Rosala。　When　they　walked　in；　the　baby　was　awake　and　nursing　with　the　wet…nurse　they　had　found　for　him。　Blaise　looked　at　him　for　a　long　time　and　then　turned　to　Rosala。　He　said　nothing；　nor　did　he　find　any　answers　to　unspoken　questions　in　her　face。　He　had　not；　in　fact；　expected　to。
　　On　his　way　back　down　the　corridor　alone　some　time　after；　he　saw　Imera　waiting　for　him　at　a　dark　place　by　the　stairwell。　He　had　been　half　expecting　this。　She　gestured　with　one　hand。　Looking　beyond　her；　he　saw　that　Lucianna's　door　stood　ajar。　Torchlight　flickered　and　shifted　in　the　corridor。
　　Once　again；　desire　for　her　was　in　Blaise　like　a　wave；　like　the　hard　surge　of　the　black；　starlit　sea　against　a　stony　shore。　And　Blaise　understood；　standing　there　in　the　shadows　with　Lucianna's　servant；　that　he　was　unlikely　ever　to　be　wholly　free　of　this。　In　the　next　heartbeat；　he　realized；　with　a　feeling　akin　to　that　which　sometimes　came　when　the　white　moon　broke　free　of　clouds　to　shine　serenely　down　upon　the　earth　where　men　and　women　lived　and　died；　that　he　could　deal　with　that　desire。　He　was　not　a　slave　to　it。　He　could　ride　above　the　wave。　He　took　a　slow　breath；　shook　his　head　gently　and　went　past　Imera　down　the　dark；　winding　stairs。　
　　There　were　people　still　awake　and　lights　burning　in　the　great　hall　of　Barbentain。　A　lanky；　dark…haired　man　was　singing。　Blaise　paused　in　the　doorway；　listening　for　a　moment。　The　voice　was　resonant　and　sad；　quite　beautiful　actually。　He　thought　he　recognized　the　man；　and　one　or　two　of　the　other　musicians。　Then　he　saw　a　woman　he　did　know　for　certain：　the　joglar　from　Midsummer　Eve；　Lisseut。　Her　brown　hair　looked　different　tonight。　He　realized　why　after　a　moment：　it　was　bright　and　clean；　not　soaked　and　tangled　about　her　shoulders。　Amused　at　the　vivid　memory；　he　waited　until　her　gaze　moved　away　from　the　singer　to　scan　the　room。　When　she　saw　him　in　the　doorway；　she　smiled　quickly　and　lifted　a　hand。　Blaise；　after　a　second；　smiled　back。
　　He　was　actually　thinking　about　crossing　the　room　to　speak　with　her；　but　just　then　someone　was　at　his　elbow。
　　〃I　thought　I'd　wait　a　little　while；〃　Rudel　said。　〃I　wasn't　entirely　certain　if　you　would　be　ing　down　before　morning。〃
　　Blaise　looked　over　at　his　friend。　〃Neither　was　I；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃until　just　now。　I　feel　free　of　something；　actually。〃　
　　Rudel's　expression　was　sober。　〃Free　to　die？〃
　　〃We　are　always　free　for　that。　It　is　the　god's　gift　and　his　burden。〃
　　〃Don't　be　so　pious。　Not　all　of　us　are　fool　enough　to　invite　it；　Blaise。〃
　　Blaise　smiled。　〃Is　this　Rudel　Correze　I　am　hearing？　The　most　reckless　mercenary　of　us　all？　If　it　will　make　you　feel　happier　I　will　let　you　tell　me；　on　the　way　home；　all　the　reasons　why　I　am　a　fool。〃
　　〃It　will　make　me　feel　a　great　deal　happier；〃　Rudel　said。　And　proceeded　to　take　up　the　invitation；　in　meticulous；　lucid　detail；　all　the　way　back　from　the　castle　to　Bertran　de　Talair's　palace　in　Lussan。
　　Blaise　listened；　for　the　most　part；　but　as　they　neared　Bertran's　house　again　his　mind　wandered　away；　touching　and　withdrawing　and　then　reaching　hesitantly　back　to　touch　again　the　last；　most　difficult　thing　of　a　difficult　night。
　　He　had　never　seen　a　new…born　babe　before。　The　child　had　had　a　surprisingly　full　head　of　reddish　hair　and　the　Garsenc　nose　already；　indisputably。　He　looked　like　Ranald。　He　also　looked　like　Blaise。　Rosala；　holding　him　when　he　had　finished　nursing　with　the　woman；　before　he　was　swaddled　again；　had　revealed　nothing　at　all　in　words　or　with　her　eyes。　Nothing；　that　is；　save　love；　as　Blaise　watched　her　watch　her　son　sleep　in　her　arms。　They　would　be　ing　for　him；　of　course。　There　was　no　question　at　all　but　that　his　grandfather　and　the　king　of　Gorhaut　would　be　ing　after　that　child。　Rosala　had　told　Blaise；　tersely；　about　her　last　encounter　with　Galbert。　He　wondered　if　his　father　had　provoked　that　clash　deliberately。　It　wasn't　a　thought　he　could　share　with　her。
　　〃You　haven't　even　uttered　a　word　in　your　own　defence；〃　Rudel　plained　sharply　as　they　came　up　for　the　second　time　in　a　long　night　to　stand　beneath　the　lights　burning　outside　Bertran's　palace。
　　〃I　have　none　to　offer。　Every　word　you　speak　is　true。〃
　　〃Well；　then？〃
　　Blaise　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃Tell　me；　why　did　you　spend　so　much　of　the　assassination　money　on　a　jewel　for　Lucianna？〃
　　Rudel　grew　still。　It　was　quiet　on　the　cobble…stoned　street；　with　the　stars　shining　far　above。
　　〃How　do　you　know　that？　Did　she　tell　you　I…〃
　　〃No。　She　would　never　do　that。　Rudel；　I　recognized　it。　You　pointed　out　that　red　gem　to　me　once；　at　that　jeweller's　in　Aulensburg。　It　wasn't　a　difficult　connection　to　make。　Take　my　meaning　though；　Rudel：　we　are　all　foolish　in　our　different　ways。〃　It　was　quite　dark　where　they　stood；　even　with　the　two　torches　behind　them。　The　sky　was　clear　and　a　breeze　was　blowing。　Both　moons　were　down。
　　〃I　love　her；〃　his　friend　said　finally。　〃I　have　no　business　calling　any　other　man；　living　or　dead；　a　fool。〃
　　Blaise　honestly　hadn't　known；　not　until　he　had　seen　that　memorable　crimson　gem　blazing　between　Lucianna's　breasts　tonight。　There　was　a　sadness　in　him；　shaped　of　many　things。
　　He　smiled　though；　and　touched　his　friend　on　the　arm。　〃You　mentioned　an　amusing　tavern　quite　some　time　ago。　We　appear　to　have　been　interrupted。　If　you　are　willing；　I　wouldn't　mind　trying　again。〃
　　He　waited；　and　saw　Rudel；　slowly；　return　his　smile。
　　Sunrise　saw　them　homeward；　when　the　morning　broke。
　　
　　CHAPTER　13
　　Tournaments　in　Arbonne　and　duels　performed　in　the　presence　of　women　were　under　the　aegis　of　the　queen　of　the　Court　of　Love。　It　was　Ariane　de　Carenzu；　therefore；　who　was　responsible　for　supervising　the　formalities　attendant　upon　the　challenge　issued　at　the　Lussan　Fair　between　Blaise　de　Garsenc　of　Gorhaut　and　Quzman　di　Perano　of　Arimonda。
　　It　was　also　Ariane　who　offered　the　most　drily　prosaic　response　of　all　to　what　Blaise　had　done　the　night　before。　They　had　gone　to　the　Carenzu　mansion　in　the　morning：　Blaise；　Bertran；　Valery　and　an　extremely　pale…looking　Rudel　Correze。　A　long　night　of　drinking　after　a　substantial　blow　to　the　head　had　not；　it　appeared；　worked　greatly　to　the　advantage　of　the　normally　urbane　scion　of　the　Correze　family。
　　For　that　matter；　Blaise　wasn't　feeling　entirely　well　himself；　but　he'd　been　more　careful　than　Rudel　in　the　tavern；　and　expected　to　bee　more　functional　as　the　day　progressed；　certainly　by　tomorrow　at　any　rate；　which　was　a　good　thing。　Tomorrow　he　was　going　to　be　fighting　a　man　to　the　death。
　　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　Ariane　said；　reclining　prettily　on　an　upholstered　divan　in　the　room　where　she　received　them；　〃whether　what　you　have　done　is　sheerest　folly　or　only　moderately　so。〃
　　Her　tone　was　astringent　and　sardonic；　a　controlling　voice　more　than　a　little　at　odds　with　the　morning　freshness　of　her　appearance。　She　was　dressed　in　pale　yellow；　the　fabric　cut　with　sky　blue　at　bodice　and　sleeve；　with　a　soft　hat　of　the　same　mild　blue　shade　on　her　dark　hair；　She　was　looking　at　Blaise　as　she　spoke　and　her　expression　was　not　particularly　mild。
　　〃I　cannot　decide；　because　I　do　not　know　how　well　you　fight。　I　do　know　that　Urté　would　not　have　hired　the　Arimondan…the　two　Arimondans…if　they　were　not　very　good　indeed。〃
　　〃Quzman？　He　is　good；〃　Bertran　de　Talair　murmured。　He　was　pouring　an　early　glass　of　wine　from　a　flask　on　a　tray。　He　seemed　more　amused　now　than　anything　else；　though　his　first　reaction；　when　they　told　him　what　had　happened；　had　been　one　of　grimly　silent　reflection。　He　hadn't　shared　those　thoughts。
　　〃So　is　Blaise；〃　said　Rudel　faintly　from　the　depths　of　the　chair　into　which　he　had　carefully　lowered　himself。　They　could　see　only　the　top　of　his　head。　〃Consider　the　dead　brother　and　five　corans　of　Miraval。〃
　　〃Those　were　arrows；〃　Valery　said　quietly。　Of　all　of　them；　he　seemed　the　most　unhappy　this　morning。　〃This　will　be　with　swords。〃
　　〃It　need　not　be；〃　Ariane　said。　〃I　could　easily…〃
　　Blaise　shook　his　head　quickly。　〃No　point。　He　uses　what　he　wants；　so　do　I。　I　would　be　shamed　by　an　attempt　to　control　the　weapons。〃
　　〃You　may　be　killed　by　a　failure　to　do　so；〃　Ariane　said　tartly。
　　It　was　gradually　being　clear　to　Blaise；　a　knowledge　acpanied　by　a　growing　bemusement；　that　the　reactions　of　those　around　him　to　what　was　about　to　happen　tomorrow　were　not　entirely