ggk.asongforarbonne-第98章

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　　On　the　other　hand；　what　innocuous　reason　could　she　offer　for　being　here？　Truth　was；　the　young　coran　was　right；　if　not　about　the　women　of　Vezét；　then　rather　definitely　about　this　particular　one。　We　are　friends；　she　had　said。　If　a　friendship　could　be　built　on　a　night's　clandestine　spying　like　an　audrade　on　a　garden　wall　followed　by　a　rejected　invitation　to　share　her　Midsummer　bed。　He　had　smiled　at　her　two　nights　ago　here　in　Barbentain。　Did　that　count？　She　had　even　thought　he　was　about　to　e　over　to　her；　before　Rudel　Correze　had　appeared　at　his　elbow　and　the　two　men　had　walked　away。
　　That　had　been　before　this　morning's　challenge；　though：　before　everything　had　changed。　These　corans　in　the　hallway　were；　she　made　herself　repeat　it　again　in　her　mind；　the　guards　appointed　for　a　man　who　had　claimed　a　throne。
　　She　bit　her　lip。　Began　her　retreat。　〃It　is　late；　I　know　。。。　〃　she　murmured。
　　〃He　is　awake；〃　Fabrise　said；　〃but　not　in　his　room。　He　went　to　see　his　sister。　His　brother's　wife；　I　mean。　The　one　who　gave　birth　last　week。　I　think　he　wanted　to　be　the　one　to　tell　her　the　news。〃
　　〃Her　husband　was　there；〃　the　coran　she'd　reprimanded　now　confided；　as　if　anxious　to　make　amends。　〃At　Aubry；　I　mean。　And　also　her…〃　He　stopped　with　a　grunt　as　one　of　the　others　sank　an　elbow　in　his　ribs。
　　The　four　men　looked　quickly　down　the　corridor；　and　so　Lisseut　turned　with　them…to　see　Blaise　de　Garsenc　approaching　from　the　shadows。
　　〃And　also　her　brother；〃　Blaise　said；　finishing　the　sentence。　He　was　walking　quite　slowly；　limping　a　little；　he　looked　pale　beneath　the　beard　and　there　were　smudged　circles　of　fatigue　under　his　eyes。　He　came　up　to　them　and　stopped；　looking　at　the　four　men；　not　at　her。　〃There　is　going　to　be　gossip；　of　course；　but　we　might　appropriately　leave　it　to　others；　don't　you　think？〃
　　It　was　mildly　said；　but　the　young　coran　went　crimson　to　the　roots　of　his　hair。　Lisseut　actually　felt　sorry　for　him。　Then　she　forgot　about　the　man　entirely　as　she　met　Blaise's　scrutiny。
　　〃Hello；　Lisseut；〃　he　said。　She　hadn't　been　positive　he　would　remember　her　name。　He　seemed　unsurprised　to　find　her　in　the　hallway　outside　his　room。
　　She　took　a　breath　and　said；　straining　for　a　normal　tone；　〃I'm　not　sure；　do　I　curtsey？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure　either；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃Why　don't　we　omit　it　for　now？　I　thought　I　heard　your　voice　earlier。　The　song　from　Midsummer；　the　woman　singing　in　the　garden？〃
　　〃I　didn't　think　you　had　listened　so　carefully　back　then；〃　she　said。
　　〃I　didn't　either；〃　he　murmured。　〃Evidently　some　of　it　stayed　with　me。　Will　you　e　in？〃　He　opened　the　door　to　his　room　and　stepped　aside　for　her　to　enter。
　　Feeling　suddenly　shy；　Lisseut　walked　in。　He　followed；　closing　the　door　behind　them。　There　were　candles　on　chests　beside　and　at　the　foot　of　the　bed　and　on　the　two　tables　in　the　room。　They　were　guttering　low；　though；　and　others　had　gone　out。　He　busied　himself　for　a　moment　lighting　new　ones。
　　〃There　is　wine　by　the　far　wall；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃Pour　us　each　a　cup；　if　you　will。〃　Glad　of　something　to　do；　she　moved　to　the　sideboard　and　did　so。　A　faint　scent　of　perfume　lingered　in　the　air。　She　thought　that　if　she　tried　she　would　recognize　it；　she　didn't　try。　She　carried　the　cups　back　and　stood　uncertainly　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　The　bed；　she　noticed；　was　rumpled；　the　covers　in　disarray。　He　seemed　to　notice　this　at　about　the　same　time；　moving　over　to　smooth　them　as　best　he　could。
　　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said。　〃This　room　is　in　no　condition　to　receive　a　lady。〃
　　He　was　being　astonishingly　kind；　she　thought。　Kindness　wasn't　what　she　needed；　though。　She　said；　〃Even　the　sort　of　lady　who　spies　on　you　at　night？〃
　　He　grinned；　though　his　fatigue　was　still　evident。　He　came　over　and　took　his　wine；　motioning　her　to　one　of　the　chairs　by　the　window。　He　sank　into　the　other；　with　a　half…suppressed　sigh　of　relief。
　　〃You　are　in　pain；〃　Lisseut　said　quickly。　〃I　have　no　right　to　keep　you　awake。〃
　　〃You　won't　be　able　to　for　very　long；〃　he　said；　somewhat　ruefully。　〃Much　as　I'd　like　to　talk；　they　gave　me　some　herbal　thing　earlier　and　I'm　still　sleepy　with　it。　They　wanted　me　to　have　more　but　I　said　no。〃
　　〃You　probably　should　have　taken　it；〃　she　said。
　　He　grinned　mockingly。　She　remembered　that　quickness　from　Midsummer。　It　had　been　one　of　the　things　she　hadn't　expected　from　a　coran　of　Gorhaut。　〃I　wouldn't　have　taken　you　for　so　obedient　a　woman。　Do　you　always　do　what　you're　told？〃　he　asked。
　　She　smiled　then　herself；　for　the　first　time。　〃Always；〃　she　said。　〃I　can't　remember　the　last　time　I　didn't　obey　instructions　。〃
　　He　laughed；　and　sipped　his　wine。　〃I　saw　you　in　the　troubadours'　pavilion　this　morning；〃　he　said；　surprising　her　again。　〃Ariane　told　me　only　those　of　the　first　rank　are　invited　there。　Is　this　new　for　you？　Should　I　be　offering　congratulations？〃
　　Ariane。　That　was　the　perfume。　Of　course；　she　told　herself：　they　would　have　had　a　council　here　when　the　tidings　came。　But　what　she　was　remembering　was　five　corans　in　crimson　escorting　him　away　on　Midsummer　Eve。
　　He　had　asked　a　question；　Lisseut　shook　her　head；　pushing　such　thoughts　away。　She　said；　〃Congratulations？　Wouldn't　that　be　absurd？　After　you　didn't　let　me　salute　you？〃
　　His　eyes　were　bright　in　the　light　of　the　candle　on　the　table　and　the　beard　showed　quite　red。　〃Go　ahead　if　you　really　want　to。　Curtsey　and　kneel。　Kiss　my　foot　three　times。　You'll　help　me　get　used　to　it。〃　There　was　a　bitterness　she　hadn't　expected　in　his　voice。　He　paused　a　moment。　〃I'm　not　a　king　yet；　you　know。　I　probably　never　will　be。　I'm　only　someone　who's　made　a　large　and　foolish　claim　because　I　hate　what's　happened　to　my　country。〃
　　〃From　what　I　understand　of　the　men　of　Gorhaut；　that's　worthy　of　honour　in　itself；〃　she　murmured。
　　His　expression　changed。　〃I'm　not　sure　that　isn't　as　much　an　attack　as　a　pliment。〃
　　〃Can　you　blame　me；　tonight？〃
　　There　was　a　silence。　Without　speaking；　he　shook　his　head。　She　took　a　quick　sip　of　her　wine　and　averted　her　eyes。　This　wasn't　at　all　how　she　had　wanted　this　conversation　to　go。　She　didn't　really　know　what　she　had　wanted；　but　it　wasn't　this。　Thinking　quickly；　reaching　for　a　new　direction；　she　said；　〃You　did　miss　something　。。。　unique　in　the　hall　tonight。　A　canzone　about　your　morning's　triumph；　written　at　dazzling　speed；　rhymed　in　triplets；　with　a　refrain　that　was　simply　your　name　sung　four　times　on　a　descending　scale。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　She　kept　her　tone　blandly　innocuous。　〃We　should　be　fair　about　that　last　bit；　though：　〃Garsenc〃　is　a　difficult　rhyme　in　Arbonnais。〃
　　He　looked　pained。　〃You're　not　being　serious？〃
　　〃I'm　a　serious　person；　hadn't　you　noticed？　It　was　posed　by　an　old　panion　of　yours；　too；　Evrard　of　Lussan。〃
　　〃An　old　what？〃　He　blinked。　〃Evrard？　He　called　himself　that？〃　He　looked　so　astonished　she　had　to　laugh。　〃How　。。。　how　does　anyone　know　my　connection　with　him？〃
　　She　was　smiling　now；　enjoying　this。　〃From　Rian's　Island？　He　began　telling　us　all　about　it　immediately　after　the　challenge　this　morning。　No　one　knew　before；　but　as　of　today　you　are　a　link　worth　exploiting。　Apparently　you　yourself　and　no　lesser　mortal　were　entrusted　by　En　Mallin　de　Baude　with　the　delicate　task　of　assuaging　Evrard's　wounded　sensibilities　last　spring。　Is　it　true；　Blaise？〃
　　He　was　slowly　shaking　his　head；　though　in　wonder；　not　denial。　〃I　thought　he　was　a　pompous；　offensive　fool；　but　Mallin　asked　me　to　bring　him　back　so　I　did。　Unconscious；　actually。　My　panion。〃　He　snorted。　〃We　slung　him　like　a　sack　of　grain　into　a　skiff。　I　wouldn't　have　been　greatly　distressed　if　he'd　fallen　overboard。〃　He　shook　his　head　again；　as　if　bemused　by　the　memory。　〃I　thought　all　the　troubadours　were　like　that。〃
　　〃And　all　the　joglars？　Do　you　still　think　so？〃　
　　〃Hardly；〃　he　said　directly；　not　bothering　to　make　a　jest　of　it　or　a　pliment；　or　anything　at　all。　He　met　her　gaze　for　a　moment；　and　it　was　Lisseut　who　looked　away；　out　the　window。　There　was　silence　then　for　a　while。　She　sat　gazing　out　at　the　late…night　stars；　listening　to　the　river。　It　was　not　a　difficult　stillness；　she　decided。
　　〃May　I　ask　something　of　you？〃　he　said　at　length；　quietly。　She　looked　back　at　him。　〃I　am　genuinely　weary；　Lisseut。　I　'm　afraid　I　m　too　tired　to　entertain　you　p