ggk.asongforarbonne-第30章

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　　In　the　chaos　around　her　she　noticed　that　Aurelian　had　already　turned　back　to　the　door　to　resume　his　counting。　Remy　had　her　around　the　waist　from　below　and　was　tickling　now；　which　was　inexcusable；　given　what　he　ought　to　have　remembered　about　her。　Cursing；　giggling　helplessly；　Lisseut　felt　her　flailing　elbow　crack　into　something　and　was　unconscionably　pleased　a　second　later　to　note　that　it　was　Elisse　who　staggered　back；　swearing　like　a　soldier　herself　and　holding　a　hand　to　the　side　of　her　head。　Holy　Rian　must　have　guided　her　elbow；　there　was　no　one　else　in　the　room　she　would　actually　have　wanted　to　hit！　Well；　with　the　exception　of　Remy；　perhaps。　She　frequently　wanted　to　hit　Remy　of　Orreze。　Many　of　them　did；　when　they　weren't　listening　intently　to　some　favoured　joglar　singing　his　newest　song。
　　Lisseut　saw　the　basin　loom　beneath　her。　She　felt　herself　being　swung　pletely　upside…down。　Her　feathered　hat；　which　was　also　new；　and　expensive；　flew　from　her　head　undoubtedly　to　be　crushed　underfoot　amid　the　densely　packed；　raucously　shouting　crowd。　Through　the　arc　of　a　swiftly　inverting　world　she　glimpsed　her　dripping…wet　Arimondan　predecessor　being　unceremoniously　bundled　aside。　Dragging　a　quick　breath　of　tavern　air　into　her　lungs；　still　cursing　herself　for　a　dewy…eyed　fool；　Lisseut　closed　her　eyes　tightly　as　they　swung　her　down　into　the　water。
　　It　wasn't　water。
　　〃Marotte！〃　she　cried；　spluttering　and　gasping　when　they　finally　lifted　her　out。　〃Marotte；　do　you　know　what　he's　done！　This　isn't…〃
　　〃Down！〃　Remy　manded；　cackling　uproariously。　Lisseut　frantically　sucked　air　again　just　before　she　was　once　more　submerged。
　　They　held　her　under　for　a　long　time。　When　she　finally　surfaced；　it　took　all　her　strength　to　twist　her　neck　towards　the　bar　and　croak；　〃It's　wine；　Marotte！　Cauvas　sparkling！　He's　using…〃
　　〃Down！〃　Remy　shrieked　again；　but　not　before　Lisseut　heard　a　howl　of　outrage　from　Marotte。
　　〃What？　Cauvas？　Remy；　I'll　flay　you　alive！　Are　you　dunking　people　in　my　best…？〃
　　Pushed　back　under；　her　ears　stopped；　Lisseut　heard　no　more；　but　a　small；　inner　glint　of　satisfaction　made　the　last　ducking　easier　to　endure。　She　even　took　a　quick　swig　of　the　wine　before　they　pulled　her　out　for　the　third　and　final　time。　Cauvas　sparkling　gold　was　not　something　young　joglars　tasted　very　often；　even　conceding　that　being　dunked　head　first　into　a　basin　of　it　after　an　oiled　and　perfumed　Arimondan　was　not　the　connoisseur's　preferred　mode　of　consumption。
　　They　swung　her　out　and　righted　her　in　time　for　Lisseut　to　see　a　red…faced　Marotte　confronting　Remy　across　the　bar　top。
　　〃Carnival　tithe；　Marotte！〃　the　fair…haired　darling　of　the　troubadours　was　saying；　eyes　alight　with　mischief。　〃You'll　make　more　than　enough　off　all　of　us　this　week　to　cover　the　cost。〃
　　〃You　madman；　this　is　a　sacrilege！〃　Marotte　expostulated；　looking　as　truly　outraged　as　only　a　lover　of　fine　wines　could。　〃Do　you　know　what　Cauvas　wine　costs？　And　how　many　bottles　you've　wasted　in　there？　How　in　the　name　of　Rian　did　you　get　into　my　cellars？〃
　　〃Really；　Marotte；〃　Remy　retorted　with　lofty；　exaggerated　disdain；　〃did　you　really　expect　a　padlock　to　keep　me　out？〃　A　number　of　people　laughed。
　　〃Seven！〃　Aurelian　said　crisply；　his　low　voice　cutting　through　the　hilarity　in　the　room。　Everyone…including　Lisseut；　vigorously　drying　her　face　and　hair　with　the　towel　one　of　the　servers　had　kindly　offered…turned　expectantly　towards　the　door。　A　young；　red…headed　student　came　in；　blinked　a　little　at　the　scrutiny　he　was　subjected　to　and　made　his　way　uncertainly　towards　the　bar。　He　ordered　a　flagon　of　ale。　No　one　paid　him　any　attention。　They　were　watching　the　entrance。
　　They　didn't　have　long　to　wait。　The　eighth　person　in　was　a　broad…shouldered；　petent…looking　coran　of　middle　years。　As　it　happened；　a　number　of　those　in　the　tavern　knew　him　very　well；　including　Lisseut。　But　before　she　had　a　chance　to　properly　register　and　react　to　the　enormity　of　what　was　about　to　happen　the　next　man；　the　ninth；　had　already　passed　through　the　door。
　　〃Oh；　dearest　god！〃　Marotte　the　innkeeper　murmured；　in　an　entirely　uncharacteristic　appeal　to　Corannos。　In　the　abrupt　silence　his　voice　sounded　very　loud。　The　ninth　was　Duke　Bertran　de　Talair。
　　〃Nine；〃　said　Aurelian；　an　unnecessary　confirmation。　His　voice　was　hushed；　almost　reverential。　He　turned　to　Remy。　〃But　I　really　don't　think　。。。　〃　he　began。
　　Remy　of　Orreze　was　already　moving　forward；　his　handsome　face　shining；　a　wild；　hilarious　look　in　the　blue　eyes　beneath　the　damp　ringlets　of　his　hair。
　　〃Hoist　him！〃　he　cried。　〃We　all　know　the　rules…the　ninth　is　ducked　in　Rian's　name！　Seize　the　duke　of　Talair！〃
　　Valery；　the　coran；　Bertran's　cousin　and　old　friend；　actually　stepped　aside；　grinning　broadly　as　he　sized　up　the　situation。　The　duke　himself；　beginning　to　laugh；　held　up　both　hands　to　forestall　the　swiftly　approaching　Remy。　Jourdain；　very　drunk　already；　was　right　behind　Remy；　with　Alain　and　Elisse　and　a　handful　of　others　following　a　little　more　cautiously。　Lisseut；　mouth　open　in　disbelief；　realized　in　that　moment　that　Remy　was　actually　going　to　do　it：　he　was　about　to　lay　hands　on　one　of　the　most　powerful　men　in　Arbonne　in　order　to　dunk　him　in　a　tub　of　water。　Correction；　she　thought；　a　tub　of　vintage；　insanely　expensive　sparkling　Cauvas　wine。　Remy…mad；　cursed；　blessed；　impossible　Remy…was　going　to　do　it。
　　He　would　have；　if　another　man；　clad　in　the　blue…on…blue　colours　of　Talair　but　with　a　full；　reddish…brown　beard　and　features　that　stamped　him　unmistakably　as　from　Gorhaut；　had　not　stepped　forward　from　the　doorway　behind　Bertran　just　then　and　levelled　a　drawn　blade　at　Remy's　breast。
　　Remy's　reckless；　giddy　motion　was　carrying　him　forward　over　the　slippery　floor　too　swiftly　to　stop。　From　her　place　by　the　basin；　Lisseut；　hands　flying　to　her　mouth；　saw　the　whole　thing　clearly。　Bertran　quickly　spoke　a　name；　but　even　before　he　did　the　man　with　the　sword　had　shifted　it　aside。　Not　all　the　way；　though；　just　enough　for　the　tip　to　glance　off　Remy's　left　arm　and　away。
　　It　drew　blood。　The　man　had　meant　to　draw　blood；　Lisseut　was　almost　certain　of　it。　She　saw　her　former　lover　e　to　an　awkward；　stumbling　halt　and　clutch　at　his　arm　below　the　shoulder。　His　hand　came　away　streaked　with　crimson。　She　couldn't　see　his　expression；　but　it　was　easy　enough　to　guess。　There　was　a　collective　growl　of　anger　from　the　musicians　and　students　gathered　in　The　Liensenne。　The　rule　against　drawn　blades　in　taverns　was　as　old　as　the　university；　indeed；　it　was　one　of　the　things　that　had　permitted　the　university　to　survive。　And　Remy　of　Orreze；　for　all　his　impossible　ways；　was　one　of　them。　One　of　their　leaders；　in　fact；　and　the　big　man　who　had　just　bloodied　him　with　a　blade　was　from　Gorhaut。
　　In　that　tense　moment；　with　the　scene　in　the　tavern　on　the　brink　of　turning　ugly；　Bertran　de　Talair　laughed　aloud。
　　〃Really；　Remy；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　think　that　would　have　been　a　good　idea；　much　as　Valery　might　have　enjoyed　suspending　his　own　good　judgment　long　enough　to　see　me　ducked。〃　He　flicked　a　sidelong　glance　at　his　cousin　who；　surprisingly；　flushed。　The　bearded　man　with　the　drawn　sword　had　not　yet　sheathed　it。　Now　he　did；　at　a　nod　from　de　Talair。
　　〃I　think　Aurelian　might　have　been　trying　to　tell　you　as　much；〃　En　Bertran　went　on。　Lanky；　dark…haired　Aurelian　had　indeed　remained　by　the　bar；　not　far　from　Lisseut。　He　said　nothing；　watching　the　scene　with　sober；　careful　attention。
　　〃You　know　the　rules　of　Carnival；〃　Remy　said　stoutly；　his　head　high。　〃And　your　hired　northern　lout　has　just　broken　the　city　laws　of　Tavernel。　Shall　I　report　him　to　the　seneschal？〃
　　〃Probably；〃　Bertran　said　carelessly。　〃Report　me　as　well。　I　should　have　told　Blaise　about　the　sword　laws　before　we　came。　Report　us　both；　Remy。〃
　　Remy　gave　a　hollow　laugh。　〃Much　good　that　would　do；　me　sending　the　duke　of　Talair　to　justice。〃　He　paused；　breathing　hard。　〃Bertran；　you're　going　to　have　to　decide　one　day：　are　you　one　of　us；　or　are　you　a　duke　of　Arbonne。　By　all　rights　you　should　be　upside…down　now　over　that　basin；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　Genuinely　amused；　ignoring　the　presumption　of　Remy's　using　his　name　without　a　title；　de　Talair　laughed　again。　〃You　should　never　have　left　your　studies；　my　dear。　A