ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-µÚ99ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
uring¡¡wound¡£¡¡The¡¡wrongness¡¡of¡¡it¡¡was¡¡appalling¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡dead£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡dying¡¡man's¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡open£»¡¡fierce£»¡¡clear£»¡¡fighting¡¡pain¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡You¡¡saved¡¡my¡¡life¡£¡¡What¡¡words¡¡can¡¡I¡¡say¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Velaz¡¡swallowed£»¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡again£»¡¡then¡¡had¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡as¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡high¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡crashed¡¡over¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Care¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡¨Please£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡felt¡¡sorrow¡¡threaten¡¡to¡¡overwhelm¡¡him¡£¡¡This¡¡oldest£»¡¡endless¡¡sorrow¡¡of¡¡mankind£»¡¡and¡¡new¡¡every¡¡single¡¡time¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡this¡¡would¡¡be¡¡what¡¡Velaz¡¡of¡¡Fezana¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡before¡¡he¡¡died¡£¡¡How¡¡did¡¡the¡¡world¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡cause¡¡such¡¡things¡¡as¡¡this¡¡to¡¡happen£¿¡¡Why¡¡hadn't¡¡Lain£»¡¡or¡¡Ludus£»¡¡Martin¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡any¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡soldiers¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡been¡¡nearest¡¡when¡¡Rodrigo¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡among¡¡enemies£¿¡¡Any¡¡one¡¡of¡¡so¡¡many¡¡men¡¡who¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡bitterly¡¡mourned£»¡¡but¡¡whose¡¡death¡¡in¡¡this¡¡fashion¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡as¡¡something¡¡embedded¡a¡¡known¡¡and¡¡courted¡¡risk¡in¡¡the¡¡life¡¡they¡¡had¡¡chosen£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡will¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡quietly¡£¡¡¡¨On¡¡my¡¡oath¡£¡¡She¡¡will¡¡be¡¡cherished£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡cherished¡¡her¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Velaz¡¡nodded¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡satisfied¡£¡¡Even¡¡that¡¡small¡¡movement¡¡caused¡¡a¡¡pumping¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡in¡¡his¡¡terrible¡¡wound¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡closed¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡again¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡color¡¡in¡¡his¡¡face¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡He¡¡said£»¡¡eyes¡¡still¡¡closed£»¡¡¡¨Can¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡find£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡And¡¡this£»¡¡too£»¡¡Rodrigo¡¡understood¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡£¡¡I'll¡¡find¡¡her¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡strode¡¡away£»¡¡blood¡¡soaking¡¡his¡¡clothes£»¡¡moving¡¡swiftly£»¡¡purposefully£»¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡do¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡was£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡beyond¡¡him¡¡or¡¡any¡¡man¡¡that¡¡night£º¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡single£»¡¡masked¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡the¡¡careening¡¡dark¡¡of¡¡Carnival¡£
¡¡¡¡Which¡¡is¡¡why¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡square£»¡¡but¡¡hammering¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡her¡¡house¡¡and¡¡then¡¡doubling¡¡back¡¡through¡¡the¡¡streets£»¡¡shouting¡¡her¡¡name¡¡at¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡a¡¡world¡¡of¡¡noise¡¡and¡¡laughter£»¡¡when¡¡first¡¡Ammar¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Jehane¡¡herself¡¡came¡¡running¡¡up£»¡¡fearing¡¡to¡¡find¡¡Rodrigo¡¡dead£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Velaz¡¡lying¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stones¡¡under¡¡torches¡¡held¡¡by¡¡silent¡¡soldiers¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Jehane¡¡had¡¡never¡¡realized¡¡how¡¡much¡¡affection¡¡had¡¡been¡¡won¡¡from¡¡a¡¡pany¡¡of¡¡Valledan¡¡soldiers¡¡by¡¡the¡¡little¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡served¡¡her¡¡father¡¡and¡¡then¡¡herself¡¡all¡¡these¡¡years¡£¡¡It¡¡ought¡¡not£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡such¡¡a¡¡surprise¡£¡¡Military¡¡men¡¡recognized¡¡petence¡¡and¡¡inner¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡loyalty£»¡¡and¡¡Velaz¡¡had¡¡embodied¡¡these¡¡things¡£
¡¡¡¡Alvar£»¡¡in¡¡particular£»¡¡was¡¡taking¡¡this¡¡death¡¡very¡¡badly£»¡¡almost¡¡blaming¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡appeared¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡second¡¡man¡¡to¡¡arrive¡¡when¡¡Rodrigo¡¡was¡¡attacked¡£¡¡Jehane¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡where¡¡he'd¡¡e¡¡from£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡gathered¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡with¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡not¡¡far¡¡away¡£
¡¡¡¡Her¡¡thinking¡¡wasn't¡¡really¡¡very¡¡clear¡£¡¡The¡¡night¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡done¡£¡¡The¡¡thin¡¡crescent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡white¡¡moon¡¡was¡¡overhead¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡already¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡grey¡¡through¡¡the¡¡open¡¡windows¡¡facing¡¡east¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡barracks£»¡¡the¡¡dining¡¡room¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡floor¡£¡¡The¡¡streets¡¡seemed¡¡quieter¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡an¡¡illusion£»¡¡behind¡¡these¡¡walls¡£¡¡Jehane¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡Alvar¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡inappropriate¡¡about¡¡having¡¡been¡¡with¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡at¡¡Carnival£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡manage¡¡any¡¡words¡¡yet¡£
¡¡¡¡Someone¡Husari£»¡¡she¡¡thought¡had¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡a¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡something¡¡warm¡£¡¡She¡¡gripped¡¡it¡¡in¡¡both¡¡hands£»¡¡shivering¡£¡¡Someone¡¡else¡¡had¡¡draped¡¡a¡¡cloak¡¡over¡¡her¡£¡¡Another¡¡cloak¡¡lay¡¡over¡¡Velaz£»¡¡on¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tables¡¡not¡¡far¡¡away¡£¡¡A¡¡third¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡soldier¡¡who¡¡had¡¡died¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Muwardis¡¡burst¡¡in¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡had¡¡been¡¡unlocked¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡dancing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡square¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡crying£»¡¡off¡¡and¡¡on£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡numb£»¡¡hollow£»¡¡light¡headed¡£¡¡Very¡¡cold£»¡¡even¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡cloak¡£¡¡In¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡she¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡father¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡and¡¡then¡¡stopped¡£¡¡The¡¡process¡¡of¡¡forming¡¡those¡¡necessary¡¡words¡¡threatened¡¡to¡¡make¡¡her¡¡weep¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡all¡¡her¡¡life£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡center£»¡¡then¡¡never¡¡far¡¡away¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡ever£»¡¡as¡¡best¡¡she¡¡knew£»¡¡done¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡or¡¡a¡¡hurtful¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡any¡¡man¡¡or¡¡woman¡¡until¡¡tonight¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡attacked¡¡a¡¡Muwardi¡¡warrior¡¡and¡¡saved¡¡Rodrigo's¡¡life¡£
¡¡¡¡That¡¡made¡¡her¡¡remember£»¡¡much¡¡too¡¡late£»¡¡something¡¡else¡£¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡Rodrigo's¡¡wounds¡¡were¡¡being¡¡cleaned¡¡and¡¡dressed¡¡by¡¡Lain¡¡Nunez¡£¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡doing¡¡that£»¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡her¡¡said¡¡inwardly£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡have¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡done¡¡it¡¡tonight¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡Ammar¡¡had¡¡e¡¡up¡¡and¡¡was¡¡crouched¡¡on¡¡his¡¡heels¡¡beside¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡also¡¡realized£»¡¡belatedly£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡his¡¡cloak¡¡she¡¡was¡¡wearing¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡searchingly£»¡¡then¡¡took¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡not¡¡speaking¡£¡¡How¡¡to¡¡prehend¡¡that¡¡this¡¡same¡¡night¡¡they¡¡had¡¡kissed£¿¡¡And¡¡he¡¡had¡¡said¡¡certain¡¡things¡¡that¡¡opened¡¡up¡¡new¡¡horizons¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£
¡¡¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Cartada¡£
¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Velaz¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cobblestones¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡not¡¡told¡¡anyone¡¡about¡¡Almalik¡£¡¡A¡¡man¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡was¡¡here¡she¡¡could¡¡use¡¡that¡¡word¡¡now¡¡in¡¡her¡¡mind£»¡¡admit¡¡it¡¡to¡¡herself¡and¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡this¡¡night's¡¡dark¡¡spinning¡¡was¡¡his¡¡to¡¡tell£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡in¡¡silence¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡enough¡¡from¡¡the¡¡balcony¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡a¡¡little¡¡of¡¡what¡¡lay¡¡between¡¡Ammar¡¡and¡¡the¡¡young£»¡¡frightened¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Cartada¡£¡¡The¡¡king¡¡who¡¡had¡¡nonetheless¡¡been¡¡calculating¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡send¡¡killers¡¡from¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡after¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡also¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡execution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡warrior¡¡who'd¡¡thrown¡¡a¡¡blade¡¡at¡¡Ammar¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡something¡¡plex¡¡and¡¡hurtful¡¡here¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡could¡¡not¡¡seek¡¡her¡¡vengeance¡¡for¡¡Velaz¡¡by¡¡setting¡¡these¡¡men¡¡on¡¡the¡¡track¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Cartadan¡¡king¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Rodrigo¡¡he¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡kill£»¡¡and¡¡mercenary¡¡soldiers£»¡¡passing¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡across¡¡the¡¡tagra¡¡lands¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boundaries¡¡of¡¡Jad¡¡and¡¡Ashar£»¡¡lived¡¡lives¡¡that¡¡made¡¡that¡¡likely£»¡¡even¡¡probable¡£
¡¡¡¡Velaz¡¡had¡¡not¡£¡¡Velaz¡¡ben¡¡Ishak¡he¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡her¡¡father's¡¡name¡¡when¡¡he¡¡adopted¡¡the¡¡Kindath¡¡faith¡had¡¡lived¡¡a¡¡life¡¡that¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡ended¡¡in¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡and¡¡cared¡for¡¡old¡¡age¡£¡¡Not¡¡on¡¡a¡¡table¡¡in¡¡a¡¡barracks¡¡hall¡¡with¡¡that¡¡sword¡¡wound¡¡in¡¡his¡¡neck¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡Jehane¡¡then¡in¡¡the¡¡dreamy¡¡way¡¡thoughts¡¡were¡¡ing¡that¡¡she£»¡¡too£»¡¡had¡¡decisions¡¡to¡¡make¡¡in¡¡the¡¡days¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡ahead¡£¡¡The¡¡divided¡¡loyalties¡¡were¡¡not¡¡only¡¡Ammar's¡¡or¡¡Rodrigo's¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡physician¡¡to¡¡a¡¡band¡¡of¡¡Valledan¡¡mercenaries¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡court¡¡of¡¡Ragosa¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡also¡¡a¡¡citizen¡¡of¡¡Fezana£»¡¡in¡¡Cartadan¡¡lands¡£¡¡Her¡¡home¡¡was¡¡there¡¡and¡¡her¡¡family¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡her¡¡own¡¡king£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡riding¡¡away¡¡from¡¡these¡¡walls¡¡tonight£»¡¡with¡¡one¡¡panion¡¡only¡¡on¡¡a¡¡dangerous¡¡journey¡¡home¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ordered¡¡killed¡¡was¡¡a¡¡Valledan£»¡¡a¡¡Jaddite¡¡enemy£»¡¡the¡¡Scourge¡¡of¡¡Al¡Rassan¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡man¡¡who¡¡might£»¡¡through¡¡his¡¡valor¡¡and¡¡his¡¡pany's£»¡¡achieve¡¡the¡¡conquest¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡city¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡to¡¡rejoin¡¡King¡¡Ramiro¡¡and¡¡the¡¡assault¡¡upon¡¡Fezana¡¡became¡¡a¡¡reality¡£¡¡The¡¡Jaddites¡¡of¡¡Esperana¡¡had¡¡burned¡¡the¡¡Kindath£»¡¡or¡¡enslaved¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡island¡¡tomb¡¡of¡¡Queen¡¡Vasca¡¡remained¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡holiest¡¡pilgrimage¡£
¡¡¡¡Ammar¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡Husari¡¡came¡¡back¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡red¡rimmed¡£¡¡She¡¡lifted¡¡her¡¡free¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡he¡¡took¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡£¡¡Good¡¡men¡¡all¡¡around¡¡her¡¡in¡¡this¡¡room£»¡¡decent£»¡¡caring¡¡men¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡most¡¡decent£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡caring£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡loved¡¡her¡¡from¡¡the¡¡day¡¡she¡¡was¡¡born£»¡¡was¡¡dead¡¡on¡¡a¡¡table¡¡under¡¡a¡¡soldier's¡¡cloak¡£
¡¡¡¡Somewhere¡¡within¡¡her¡¡grieving¡¡soul¡¡Jehane¡¡experienced¡¡a¡¡tremor¡¡then£»¡¡an¡¡apprehension¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡to¡¡e¡£¡¡The¡¡world¡¡of¡¡Esperana£»¡¡of¡¡Al¡Rassan£»¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡her¡¡to¡¡be¡¡rushing¡¡headlong¡¡towards¡¡something¡¡vast¡¡and¡¡terrible£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡deaths¡¡of¡¡Velaz¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Rodrigo's¡¡man¡¡at¡¡the¡¡barracks¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡of¡¡seven¡¡desert¡¡warriors¡¡tonight¡all¡¡these¡¡were¡¡merely¡¡prelude¡¡to¡¡much¡¡worse¡¡to¡¡e¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡the¡¡large¡¡room¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡torches¡¡saw¡¡men¡¡she¡¡liked¡¡and¡¡admired£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡she¡¡loved£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡wondered¡in¡¡the¡¡strange£»¡¡hollowed¡out¡¡mood¡¡she¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡into¡how¡¡many¡¡of¡¡them¡¡would¡¡live¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡next¡¡Ragosa¡¡Carnival¡£
¡¡¡¡Or¡¡if¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡another¡¡one¡¡a¡¡year¡¡from¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡came¡¡over£»¡¡shirtless£»¡¡a¡¡neat£»¡¡efficient¡¡bandage¡¡covering¡¡his¡¡most¡¡serious¡¡wound¡£¡¡His¡¡upper¡¡body¡¡and¡¡arms¡¡were¡¡hard¡¡and¡¡muscled£»¡¡laced¡¡with¡¡scars¡£¡¡One¡¡more¡¡now£»¡¡when¡¡this¡¡healed¡£¡¡She¡¡would¡¡have¡¡a¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡¡later¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day¡£¡¡Work¡¡was¡¡sometimes¡¡the¡¡only¡¡barrier¡¡there¡¡was¡¡between¡¡life¡¡and¡¡the¡¡emptiness¡¡beyond¡£
¡¡¡¡His¡¡expression¡¡was¡¡strange¡£¡¡She¡¡hadn't¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡look¡¡this¡¡way¡¡since¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡since¡¡the¡¡night¡¡she'd¡¡met¡¡him¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡watched¡¡a¡¡hamlet¡¡burn¡¡north¡¡of¡¡Fezana¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡that¡¡same¡¡anger¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡hurt¡¡that¡¡didn't¡¡sort¡¡easily¡¡with¡¡his¡¡profes