ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第90章

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Where　are　the　dancing　girls　with　slender　ankles；
And　where　the　music　beneath　the　almond　trees？
Where　is　the　palace　whence　the　khalifs　of　all…fame
Thundered　forth　with　armies？
What　wild　beasts　wander　now　at　will
Between　the　ruined　pillars？
Wolves　are　seen　by　white　moonlight　there。
　　Another　stir；　quickly　suppressed；　for　the　poet　had　not　paused　this　time。
Ask　in　stern…walled　Cartada　for　news　of　Silvenes；
but　ask　here　in　Ragosa　about　Al…Rassan。
Ask　of　ourselves；　between　river　and　lake；
if　we　will　suffer　the　stars　to　be　blotted　out。
Ask　of　the　river；　ask　of　the　lake；
ask　of　the　wine　that　flows　tonight
between　the　torches　and　the　stars。
　　The　poet　ended。　He　rose　without　ceremony　and　stepped　down　from　the　dais。　He　could　not　avoid　the　applause；　however；　the　sound　of　genuine　appreciation；　nor　the　speculative　glances　that　followed　him　to　the　bar。
　　Ozra；　following　tradition　here　as　well；　offered　him　a　glass　of　his　best　white　wine。　He　usually　made　a　quip　at　this　time；　but　could　think　of　nothing　to　say。
　　Ask　of　the　wine　that　flows　tonight。
　　Ozra　di　Cozari　was　seldom　moved　by　what　was　read　or　sung　in　his　tavern；　but　there　was　something　about　what　he　had　just　heard。　The　man　in　the　greyhound　disguise　lifted　the　glass　and　saluted　him　briefly；　before　drinking。　It　was　with　no　great　surprise　that　Ozra　noticed；　just　then；　that　the　stag　had　e　in　from　the　doorway　and　was　standing　beside　them。
　　The　greyhound　turned　and　looked　at　him。　They　were　of　a　height；　the　two　men；　though　the　horns　of　the　stag　made　him　seem　taller。
　　Very　softly；　so　that　Ozra　di　Cazari　was　almost　certain　he　was　the　only　other　man　to　hear；　the　seven…lined　stag　said；　〃　'Beloved　of　Ashar？'　〃
　　The　poet　laughed；　quietly。　〃Ah；　well。　What　would　you　have　me　do？〃
　　Ozra　didn't　understand；　but　he　hadn't　expected　to。
　　The　other　man　said；　〃Exactly　what　you　did　do；　I　suppose。〃　His　eyes　were　pletely　hidden　behind　his　mask。　He　said；　〃It　was　very　fine。　Dark　thoughts　for　a　Carnival。〃
　　〃I　know。〃　The　greyhound　hesitated。　〃There　is　a　darker　side　to　Carnivals；　in　my　experience。〃
　　〃In　mine；　as　well。〃
　　〃Are　we　to　have　a　verse　from　you？〃
　　〃I　think　not。　I　am　humbled　by　what　I　have　just　heard。〃
　　The　greyhound　inclined　his　head。　〃You　are　far　too　generous。　Are　you　enjoying　the　night？〃
　　〃A　pleasant　beginning。　I　gather　it　has　only　begun。〃
　　〃For　some。〃
　　〃Not　you？　Will　you　not　e　wandering？　With　me？〃
　　Another　hesitation。　〃Thank　you；　no。　I　will　drink　a　little　more　of　Ozra's　good　wine　and　listen　to　the　verses　and　the　music　a　while　before　bed。〃
　　〃Are　we　expecting　any　crows　tonight？〃
　　The　greyhound　laughed　again。　〃You　heard　about　that？　We　never　expect　anything　at　Carnival；　and　so　hope　never　to　be　disappointed　and　never　greatly　surprised。〃
　　The　stag　lifted　its　head。　〃We　differ　there；　at　least。　I　am　always；　endlessly；　hoping　to　be　surprised。〃
　　〃Then　I　wish　it　for　you。〃
　　They　exchanged　a　glance；　then　the　stag　turned　away　and　found　a　passage　to　the　doorway　and　out　into　the　street。　A　black　bull　had　taken　the　dais　now；　holding　a　small　harp。
　　〃I　think；〃　said　the　greyhound；　〃I　will　have　another　glass；　Ozra；　if　you　will。〃
　　〃Yes；　my　lord；〃　said　Ozra；　before　he　could　stop　himself。　He'd　said　it　softly　though；　and　didn't　think　anyone　had　heard。
　　As　he　poured　the　wine　he　saw　the　first　of　the　women　approaching　the　poet　where　he　stood　at　the　bar。　This　always　happened；　too；　at　Carnival。
　　〃Might　we　talk　a　moment　in　private？〃　asked　the　lioness　softly。　The　greyhound　turned　to　look　at　her。　So　did　Ozra。　It　was　not　a　woman's　voice。
　　〃Private　speech　is　difficult　to　arrange　tonight；〃　the　poet　said。
　　〃I'm　certain　you　can　manage　it。　I　have　some　information　for　you。〃
　　〃Indeed？〃
　　〃I　will　want　something　in　return。〃
　　〃Imagine　my　astonishment。〃　
　　The　greyhound　sipped　from　his　wine；　eyeing　the　newer　carefully。　The　lioness　laughed；　a　deep；　disconcerting　sound　beneath　the　mask。
　　Ozra　felt　a　flicker　of　unease。　From　the　tone　of　this；　this　man　masked　as　a　woman　knew　exactly　who　the　poet　was；　which　posed　more　than　a　measure　of　danger。
　　〃You　do　not　trust　yourself　with　me？〃
　　〃If　I　knew　who　you　were；　I　might。　Why　have　you　worn　a　mask　to　change　your　sex？〃
　　Only　the　briefest　hesitation。　〃It　amused　me。　There　is　no　beast　more　fierce；　in　the　legends；　in　defense　of　her　young。〃
　　The　greyhound　carefully　laid　down　his　glass。
　　〃I　see；〃　he　said　finally。　〃You　are　very　bold。　I　must　say；　I　am　surprised；　after　all。〃　He　looked　at　Ozra。　〃Is　there　a　room　upstairs？〃
　　〃Use　mine；〃　said　the　innkeeper。　He　reached　beneath　the　counter　and　handed　across　a　key。　The　greyhound　and　the　lioness　moved　together　across　the　room　and　up　the　stairs。　A　number　of　eyes　watched　them　go；　as　the　black　bull　on　the　dais　finished　tuning　his　instrument　and　began　to　play。
　　〃How　did　you　find　me？〃　Mazur　ben　Avren　asked；　removing　the　greyhound　mask　in　the　small　bedchamber。
　　The　other　man　struggled　with　his　own　mask　a　moment；　then　pulled　it　off。　〃I　was　led　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　a　choice　of　two　people　to　follow；　and　made　the　right　choice。　The　stag　brought　me　here。〃
　　〃You　knew　him？〃
　　〃I　tend　to　know　men　by　how　they　move　as　much　as　how　they　look。　Yes；　I　knew　him；〃　said　Tarif　ibn　Hassan；　scratching　at　his　chin　where　the　full　white　beard　had　been　shaved　away。　He　smiled。
　　So；　too；　after　a　moment；　did　the　chancellor　of　Ragosa。
　　〃I　had　not　ever　thought　to　meet　you；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　there　is　a　price　on　your　life　here？〃
　　〃Of　course　I　do。　I　am　offended　by　it：　Cartada　has　offered　more。〃
　　〃Cartada　has　suffered　more。〃
　　〃I　suppose。　Shall　I　rectify　that？〃
　　〃Shall　I　let　you　leave　the　city？〃
　　〃How　would　you　stop　me　if　I　killed　you　now？〃
　　The　chancellor　appeared　to　be　considering　that。　After　a　moment；　he　moved　to　a　small　table　and　picked　up　a　beaker　of　wine　sitting　there。　There　were　glasses；　as　well。　He　gestured　with　the　wine。
　　〃As　you　will　perhaps　have　realized；　I　have　an　arrangement　here　with　the　innkeeper。　We　are　private；　but　not　entirely　alone。　I　hope　you　will　not　require　me　to　demonstrate。〃
　　The　outlaw　looked　around　then　and　noted　the　inner　door　ajar　and　another　door　to　the　balcony。　〃I　see；〃　he　said。　〃I　ought　to　have　expected　this。〃
　　〃I　suppose　so。　I　do　have　responsibilities；　and　cannot　be　entirely　reckless；　even　tonight。〃
　　Ibn　Hassan　accepted　the　glass　the　chancellor　offered。　〃If　I　wanted　to　kill　you　I　could　still　do　it。　If　you　wanted　to　take　me；　you　could　have　done　so　by　now。〃
　　〃You　mentioned　tidings。　And　a　price。　I　am　curious。〃
　　〃The　price　you　ought　to　know。〃　Ibn　Hassan　looked　pointedly　over　at　his　discarded　mask。
　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　chancellor。　〃Of　course。　Your　sons？〃
　　〃My　sons。　I　find　I　miss　them　in　my　old　age。〃
　　〃I　can　understand　that。　Good　sons　are　a　great　fort。　They　are　fine　men；　we　enjoy　having　them　with　us。〃
　　〃They　are　missed　in　Arbastro。〃
　　〃The　sad　fortunes　of　war；〃　said　ben　Avren　calmly。　〃What　is　it　you　have　to　tell　me？〃
　　Tarif　ibn　Hassan　drank　deeply　and　held　out　his　glass。　The　chancellor　refilled　it。
　　〃The　Muwardis　have　been　building　boats　all　winter。　In　the　new　shipyards　at　Abeneven。　Hazem　ibn　Almalik　is　still　with　them。　He　has　lost　a　hand。　I　don't　know　how；　or　why。〃
　　Mazur's　turn　to　drink；　thoughtfully。　〃That　is　all？〃
　　〃Hardly。　I　try　to　offer　fair　coinage　when　I　make　a　request。　Almalik　II　of　Cartada　has　been　seeding　rumors　about　the　Kindath　of　Fezana。　I　do　not　know　to　what　purpose。　There　is　growing　tension　there；　however。〃
　　The　chancellor　set　down　the　beaker　of　wine。　〃How　do　you　know　this？〃
　　Tarif　shrugged。　〃I　know　a　good　deal　of　what　happens　in　lands　controlled　by　Cartada。　They　have　a　large　price　on　my　life；　remember？〃
　　Mazur　looked　at　him　a　long　moment。　〃Almalik　is　anxious；〃　he　said　finally。　〃He　feels　exposed。　But　he　is　clever　and　unpredictable。　I　will　admit　I　have　no　great　certainty　about　what　he　will　do。〃
　　〃Nor　I；〃　the　outlaw　chieftain　agreed。　〃Does　it　matter？　If　it　es　to　armies？〃
　　〃Perhaps　not。　Have　you　anything　more？　Brighter　coinage？〃
　　〃I　have　given　good　weight　already；　I　think。　But　one　more　thing。　Not　brighter；　though。　The　Jaddite　army　in　Batiara。　It　is　sailing　for　Soriyya　after　all。　I　never　thought　it　w