ggk.asongforarbonne-第43章

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　with　a　vigorous　tug　forced　him　to　slow　his　pace。
　　〃The　god　wouldn't　want　you　to　make　me　run；〃　she　murmured。　He　opened　his　mouth　and　then　closed　it。　She　thought　he　had　nearly　laughed　but　wasn't　sure；　glancing　up　in　the　uncertain　light　and　shadow。
　　
　　It　was　then　though；　unfortunately；　hand　holding　his　sleeve；　that　she　remembered　that　it　was　Carnival　night；　Midsummer　Eve。　It　was　said　in　Tavernel　to　be　bad　luck　to　lie　alone　tonight。　She　felt　her　mouth　go　dry。　She　swallowed　and　let　go　of　his　sleeve。　He　didn't　even　notice；　striding　along　beside　her　at　a　more　decent　pace；　broad…shouldered　and　petent；　with　the　celebrated；　notorious　Lucianna　Delonghi　somewhere　in　his　past。　Unbidden；　the　image　of　the　entwined　couple　in　the　dark　laneway　came　vividly　back　to　her。　Oh；　good；　the　woman　had　said；　in　a　voice　made　husky　by　desire；　and　their　hands　had　reached　out　to　draw　her　into　a　shadowed　sanctity。
　　Lisseut　shook　her　head　and　swore　to　herself；　breathing　deeply　of　the　night　air。　This　was；　of　course；　all　Remy's　fault。　Before　him　such　thoughts；　such　images；　would　have　been　alien　to　her。　Well；　mostly　alien。
　　〃Why　are　you　letting　him　leave？〃　she　asked；　to　change　the　pattern　of　her　thoughts；　to　break　the　silence。　There　were　more　people　around　them　now；　mostly　couples　at　this　point　in　the　evening　she　noted；　and　quickly　suppressed　that　thought。　〃Because　he's　your　friend？〃
　　Blaise　glanced　down　at　her。　She　wondered　if　her　voice　sounded　strained。　He　hesitated。　Lisseut　had　a　quick；　flaring　sense　that　if　she　had　been　a　man　he　wouldn't　have。　He　did　answer；　thought。　〃Partly　that；　obviously。　We　have　been　through　。。。　a　great　many　things　together。　But　there's　more　to　it。　Rudel　Correze　is　an　important　man。　He's　his　father's　son；　and　his　father　is　a　very　important　man。　If　he's　captured　here　we　would　have　to　decide　what　to　do　with　him；　and　that　could　prove　awkward。　If　a　war　es；　the　cities　of　Portezza　will　be　important；　for　money；　and　possibly　more　than　that。〃
　　She　took　another　chance。　A　large　chance。　〃We？〃　she　asked。
　　He　was　silent　for　a　few　strides。　〃You　are；〃　he　said　finally；　〃a　clever　woman；　and　obviously　a　brave　one。〃　She　thought　of　sketching　a　mock　bow　in　the　roadway　but　refrained。　〃I　suggest　you　try　hard　not　to　bee　too　sentimental　about　this。　I'm　a　professional　coran；　at　the　moment　under　contract　to　Duke　Bertran；　who　is　not　dead　though　a　man　I　had　e　to　like　is。　In　my　profession　one　gets　used　to　the　deaths　of　people　one　likes；　or　one　finds　another　profession。　I　could　as　easily　be　in　Aulensburg　serving　Jorg　of　Gotzland　by　this　autumn；　and　if　he　decides　to　join　Gorhaut　and　if　there　is　a　war　。。。　I'll　be　back　here　and　fighting　for　him　against　you。　You　must　understand　that。　For　now；　I　try　to　serve；　as　best　I　can；　the　needs　of　the　man　who　pays　me。〃
　　〃Payment　is　all？　Wouldn't　you　fight　for　Gorhaut　because　it　is　your　country？　Only　for　that　reason；　money　aside？〃　She　found　that　she　was　breathing　hard　again。
　　He　fell　silent　as　they　walked；　looking　over　and　down　at　her。　Their　eyes　met　for　a　moment；　then　he　glanced　away。　〃No；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Once　I　would　have。　Once　I　did。　Not　any　more。〃　He　drew　a　slow　breath。　〃Not　since　Iersen　Bridge。　I　am　a　professional　coran。　Payment　is　all。〃
　　〃And　you　can　change　sides　that　easily？　There　are　no　attachments　that　matter？　No　people；　no　principles？〃
　　〃You　started　the　evening　attacking　me；〃　he　murmured。　〃Is　it　being　a　habit？〃
　　Lisseut　felt　herself　blushing。
　　〃If　you　are　fair；〃　he　went　on；　〃you　will　acknowledge　that　there　are　principles　behind　what　I　do。　Attachments　are　dangerous　in　my　profession。　So　is　sentiment。〃
　　〃You've　used　that　word　at　least　four　times　tonight；〃　she　said；　more　tartly　than　she'd　intended。　〃Is　that　your　only　word　for　human　affection？〃
　　He　laughed　again；　surprising　her。　〃If　I　concede　you　the　point　will　you　leave　it？〃　he　asked。
　　He　stopped　in　the　street。　They　were　back　among　the　crowds　now。　Someone　jostled　her　going　past。　Blaise　laid　a　hand　on　her　shoulder　as　she　turned　to　look　at　him。　〃I　don't　think　I'm　up　to　debating　with　you　in　the　street　tonight。　I　think　I'd　lose。〃　He　gazed　down　at　her　soberly；　a　professional　again；　assessing　a　situation。　〃You　asked　me　earlier　what　you　should　do。　I　intend　to　speak　to　En　Bertran　in　the　morning。　He　should　not　be　taxed　with　this　tonight；　I　think　that　is　obvious；　quite　aside　from　what　I　promised　Rudel　Correze。　I　will　tell　him　everything　that　happened；　including　my　decision　to　let　Rudel　have　a　chance　to　leave。　I　expect　he'll　agree　with　that；　eventually；　if　not　immediately。　I'll　also　tell　him　who　paid　for　that　arrow。　I　promise　you　these　things。　If　you　don't　trust　me　to　do　this；　you　can　be　there　when　we　meet　in　the　morning。〃
　　It　was　more　than　she　could　have　expected；　rather　a　great　deal　more。　She　said；　however；　being　what　her　mother　had　always　said　she　was；　〃You'll　tell　him　everything？　Including　who　you　are？〃
　　His　expression　did　not　change；　he'd　been　expecting　the　question；　she　realized。　He　had　already　begun　taking　her　measure；　it　was　a　curious　thing　to　realize。
　　〃If　you　insist　that　I　do　so；　I　will。　I　cannot　stop　you　from　telling；　in　any　event。　I　don't　go　about　killing　women　who　learn　too　much。　I　can　only　ask　you　to　let　me　be　the　judge　as　to　when　and　whether　to　reveal　that；　as　events　unfold。〃　He　hesitated　again。　〃I　mean　no　harm　to　anyone　you　care　about。〃
　　She　thought　of　Remy；　with　a　sword　wound　in　his　shoulder。　She　said；　hardily；　trying　to　sound　cool　and　experienced。　〃Fine。　I　can　give　you　that。　But　then　I　had　better　not　be　there　when　you　speak　to　Bertran　or　he'll　summon　me　after；　alone；　and　ask　me　what　else　I　heard…and　I'm　not　very　good　at　lying。〃　She　was　conscious　of　his　hand　still　on　her　shoulder。
　　He　smiled。　〃Thank　you。　You　are　generous。〃
　　Lisseut　shrugged。　〃Don't　be　sentimental；〃　she　said。
　　He　laughed　aloud；　throwing　his　head　back。　An　artisan　with　a　noisemaker　ran　past　them　just　then；　producing　a　terrifying　blast　of　sound。　Blaise　winced。
　　〃Where　shall　I　leave　you？〃　he　asked。　〃At　the　tavern？〃
　　He　had　taken　his　hand　from　her　shoulder。　It　was　Midsummer　Eve；　in　Tavernel。　She　said；　〃You　don't　have　to　leave　me　。。。　actually。　It　is　Carnival　and　the　night　has　some　time　yet　to　run。　We　could　share　a　bottle　of　wine；　if　you　like；　and　。。。　and；　well　if　you　are　staying　in　Arbonne　for　a　while　longer　you　should　know　some　of　our　customs。〃　She　looked　away；　despite　herself；　along　the　crowded　street。　〃It　is　said　to　be　。。。　unlucky　to　spend　tonight　alone　in　this　city。〃
　　Her　mother　had　always　said　she　would　end　up　disgracing　the　family。　She　could　blame　her　uncle　for　taking　her　out　into　the　wide　world　as　a　singer。　She　could　blame　Remy　of　Orreze。　She　could　blame　the　holy　rites　of　Rian　in　Tavernel　on　Midsummer　Eve。
　　She　could　wait；　biting　her　lip；　for　the　man　with　her　to　say；　with　devastating　politeness；　〃Thank　you。　To　both　things。　But　I　am　not　of　Arbonne；　truly；　and　if　it　brings　me　ill　luck　or　no；　a　coran　I　admired　has　died　tonight　and　my　own　customs　require　that　I　keep　vigil　for　him　in　a　house　of　the　god。〃
　　〃All　night？〃　She　looked　back　up　at　him。　It　took　some　courage。
　　He　hesitated；　reaching　for　words。　Lisseut　said　then；　knowing　it　was　ill　advised；　〃I　don't　know　what　happened　in　Portezza；　obviously；　but　I　am　not　like　that。　I　mean；　I　don't　normally…〃
　　He　put　a　hand　over　her　mouth。　She　felt　his　fingers　against　her　lips。　〃Don't　say　it；〃　he　murmured。　〃Leave　me　that　much　as　my　own。〃
　　He　was　an　uncivilized　northerner；　she　thought。　He　had　stabbed　Remy　in　the　arm。　Until　the　sun　falls　and　the　moons　die；　her　grandfather　and　her　father　used　to　say；　Gorhaut　and　Arbonne　shall　not　lie　easily　beside　each　other。　His　fingers　withdrew；　he　withdrew　back　into　himself；　behind　his　own　mask。　It　was　only　the　dangerous　associations　of　Midsummer　Eve；　she　told　herself；　and　the　disturbing　intimacy　of　what　she'd　heard　in　that　garden。　There　were　other　men　to　be　with；　men　she　knew　and　trusted；　men　of　talent　and　wit　and　courtesy。　They　would　be　back　at　The　Liensenne；　in　the　downstairs　room　or　upstairs　with　Marotte's　wine　and　cheeses　and　their　own　harps　and　lutes　and　songs；　celebrating　Rian　through　the　remaining　hours　of　the　goddess's　most　holy　night。　It　was　not　likely　she　would　have　to　lie　alone。
　　Unless；　in　the　end；　she