ggk.asongforarbonne-第68章

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ing　this　lucrative　season。　The　proprietor　of　The　Silver　Tree；　a　well…regarded　country　inn　among　fig　and　olive　groves　about　three　miles　outside　the　city　walls；　had　been　surprised　and　more　than　pleased　to　join　this　small　but　select　group。　He　accepted　a　considerable　sum　from　Duke　Bertran　de　Talair　to　house　a　number　of　the　duke's　corans　and　household　during　the　fair。　En　Bertran　himself　would　obviously　spend　most　of　his　time　in　Lussan　in　his　city　palace　there；　or；　indeed；　in　Barbentain　itself　with　the　countess；　but　he　clearly　found　it　useful　to　have　a　less　conspicuous　residence　at　his　disposal；　perhaps　one　where　approaches　to　and　from　could　be　more　closely　monitored。　The　innkeeper　speculated；　but　kept　his　thoughts　to　himself。
　　Sitting　in　the　smaller；　more　fortably　furnished　of　the　two　ground…level　rooms　of　that　inn；　with　a　fire　blazing　and　the　night　wind　blowing　outside；　Blaise　fingered　his　wine　glass　and　looked　over　again　at　Valery。　He　raised　his　eyebrows　pointedly。　Bertran's　cousin　merely　shrugged。　The　duke　himself　was　sitting　at　a　table　scribbling　on　a　parchment；　at　times　consulting　other　crumpled　documents　at　hand。　If　Blaise　hadn't　known　better　he　would　have　assumed　that　Bertran　was　dealing　with　affairs　of　importance。　In　fact；　the　duke　was　writing　a　song　and　had　told　them　as　much　when　he'd　asked　for　silence　some　time　ago。
　　They　were　waiting　for　someone。　Corans　were　posted　outside　to　warn　them　of　an　impending　arrival。　Bertran；　needless　to　say；　hadn't　bothered　to　tell　them　who　it　was　he　was　expecting。　A　surprise；　he'd　said　blandly。　Blaise　didn't　like　surprises。　He　didn't　like　waiting。　There　were　times　when　he　wasn't　sure　if　he　liked　Bertran　de　Talair。
　　The　Talair　wine；　at　least；　was　superb；　and　Blaise　was　fortably　warm　in　a　deep…cushioned　chair　by　the　fire。　There　was　food　on　a　second；　long　table；　and　tapestries　offered　warmth　and　colour　on　the　stone　walls。　He　should；　he　told　himself；　be　grateful　for　these　blessings　of　continued　life　and　give　thanks　to　Corannos。　He　might　so　easily　have　died　on　the　road　four　days　ago。　The　talk　since　their　arrival　in　Lussan　was　all　about　the　banning　of　the　Andoria　from　the　fair。　Blaise　didn't　normally　spend　much　time　listening　to　gossip　and　he　didn't　linger　in　places　where　he　might　hear　it；　but　this　was　rather　close　to　his　own　interests；　and　they　had　been　given　the　details　by　Valery　as　soon　as　they'd　entered　the　city。
　　They'd　spent　the　first　night　in　the　Talair　palace　in　town。　Or　rather；　Blaise　and　Valery　had。　Bertran　had　had　a　nocturnal　tryst　he　was　characteristically　unwilling　to　forego　or　postpone。　There　had　been　a　curious　incident　when　Roban；　the　chancellor　of　Arbonne…a　hollow…cheeked；　peremptory　man　Blaise　had　not　met　before…came　looking　for　the　duke　in　the　hour　before　dawn。　Valery；　roused　from　sleep；　had　reluctantly　named　a　house　where　Bertran　might　be　found。　The　chancellor　had　grimaced　in　dismay。　Valery　had　offered　to　go　with　the　small　party；　but　Roban；　wrapped　in　fur　against　the　cold；　had　declined。　He'd　looked　over　at　Blaise　with　an　expression　of　poorly　concealed　misgiving　before　riding　off。　Valery；　seeing　that　look　and　catching　Blaise's　eye；　had　shrugged　then；　too。　They'd　yawned　together　and　had　gone　back　to　their　beds　for　what　little　remained　of　the　night。
　　When　they　descended　the　stairs　again　Bertran　had　not　yet　returned。　He　came　back　later　in　the　morning　in　a　silent　mood　and　had　remained　that　way　all　day；　venturing　out　alone　twice　for　brief　periods。　He　didn't　enlighten　them　as　to　why。　He　went　out　again　that　night；　smiling　and　scented；　to　a　different　house　in　the　city。　Blaise　didn't　bother　asking　Valery　who　lived　there；　he　didn't　want　to　know。
　　Towards　the　end　of　the　next　afternoon；　the　three　of　them　had　taken　their　horses　and　ridden　out　of　Lussan　and　then　along　a　winding　country　lane　to　The　Silver　Tree；　where　the　larger　part　of　the　duke's　men　were　staying。　Bertran　had　again　been　silent　during　that　ride。　〃We're　meeting　someone；〃　was　all　he'd　said　when　they　set　out。　〃After　dark。〃　Valery　had　only　shrugged　when　Blaise　looked　at　him。　Blaise　had　decided　that　he　was　growing　tired　of　Valery's　shrugs；　too。
　　He　was　gazing　into　the　fire；　trying　with　only　marginal　success　to　do　some　reflecting　upon　the　larger；　grimmer　issues　that　awaited　them；　when　Serlo　appeared　suddenly　in　the　doorway　leading　to　the　larger　room；　making　him　start。　〃Someone　has　e；　my　lord。　He　is　alone；　cloaked　and　hooded；　with　his　face　concealed。　He　will　not　reveal　himself。〃
　　Bertran　shuffled　his　papers　together　before　standing　up。　〃That's　all　right。　Show　him　in　as　he　is　and　then　guard　the　door　for　us。　We　should　not　be　disturbed；　Serlo；　unless　I　call　for　you。〃
　　The　young　coran　nodded　and　went　out。　Valery　rose　to　his　feet　and　Blaise　did　the　same。　There　was　a　look　of　anticipation　and　of　something　else　now…a　kind　of　youthful；　infectious　delight…in　the　blue　eyes　of　the　duke。　Blaise；　against　his　will；　began　to　feel　a　quickening　excitement。
　　Serlo　returned　moments　later　escorting　a　man　who　was　indeed　wrapped　in　a　long　black　mantle　with　a　cloth　wrapped　about　his　face；　concealing　all　but　his　eyes。　The　man　wore　a　sword；　but　had；　as　Serlo　noted；　e　alone。　He　waited　until　the　young　coran　had　withdrawn　and　closed　the　door　behind　himself。　Then；　with　a　neat　sequence　of　movements；　he　let　fall　his　cloak　and　hood　and　removed　the　scarf。
　　Blaise　looked　sharply　over　at　Bertran；　saw　the　genuine　astonishment　in　the　duke's　expression　and　the　swift　beginning　of　anger；　and　then　he　began；　helplessly；　to　laugh。
　　〃Well；　good　evening　to　you　all；　at　any　rate；〃　said　Rudel　Correze　brightly　as　no　one　spoke。　〃I　hope　I'm　not　late；　or　early；　or　anything。〃
　　Bertran's　colour　had　risen；　the　scar　showed　white　on　his　face。　〃You　had　best　tell　me；　very　quickly；　who　you　are　and　what　you　think　you　are　doing；〃　he　said　icily。　Valery　had　now　moved　forward；　a　hand　to　his　sword　hilt；　his　glance　moving　uncertainly　towards　Blaise　and　then　to　the　man　in　the　doorway　again。
　　Still　laughing　at　the　sheer　audacity　of　it　all；　Blaise　said；　〃Actually；　you　did　say　on　the　road　to　Lussan　that　you　wanted　to　meet　this　man。　Shall　I　perform　the　introductions？〃
　　Bertran　looked　from　Blaise　back　to　the　new　arrival。　〃Ah；〃　he　said；　his　tone　changing。　He　lifted　one　eyebrow。　〃The　Correze　son？　With　the　poisoned　arrows？〃
　　Rudel　bowed　deeply。　His　hair　was　bright　in　the　blazing　light　of　the　fire　and　the　candles。　He　grimaced　wryly　when　he　straightened。　〃I　do　apologize　for　that。　It　was　a　long　shot　at　night。　I　am　glad　to　see　you　well；　my　lord。〃　He　turned　to　Valery。　〃And　you。　I　trust　you　are　recovered？〃
　　〃Entirely　recovered；　thank　you；〃　said　Valery　politely；　letting　go　of　his　sword。　〃I　am　a　walking　tribute　to　the　arts　of　the　priestesses　of　Rian。〃　There　was　a　flicker　of　amusement　in　his　eyes；　Blaise　saw。
　　His　old　friend　turned　to　him　last　of　all。　〃You　must　have　greatly　enjoyed　that　last　conversation　of　ours；〃　Rudel　Correze　said　quietly。　〃Knowing　what　you　knew；　and　chose　to　keep　from　me。〃
　　〃Not　really；〃　Blaise　said。　〃Not　at　the　time；　at　any　rate。　I　thought　Valery　was　dead；　and　you　caught　me　unawares　with　almost　everything　you　told　me。　I　had　a　difficult　time；　actually。　I　wouldn't　have　told　you　about　your　mistake；　though；　even　if　I　had　been　inclined　to。　If　you　had　learned　the　duke　was　alive　you　might　have　felt　obliged　to　try　again；　and　I　would　have　had　to　have　you　taken　then；　with　problems　for　everyone　in　Arbonne。〃
　　〃Not　to　mention　for　myself；〃　Rudel　said　lightly。　He　was　listening　carefully　though。
　　〃You　would　have　deserved　it；〃　Blaise　said。　〃I'll　concede　that　afterwards　I　did　enjoy　the　thought　of　you　showing　up　in　Gotzland　to　claim　the　money。〃
　　Rudel　made　a　sour　face。　〃I'm　sure　you　did。　You　ensured　I　would　arrive　triumphantly　in　Aulensburg；　report　a　successful　mission；　confirm　the　deposit　of　my　ridiculous　fee…and　then　deal　with　the　discovery；　a　fortnight　later；　that　the　esteemed　duke　of　Talair…〃　he　smiled　briefly　at　Bertran　〃…was　engaged　in　ongoing　diplomatic　exchanges　with　King　Jorg　at　Aulensburg　and　not；　evidently；　from　beyond　the　grave。〃
　　〃So　you　gave　the　money　back？〃　Blaise　feigned　ignorance。　He　was　now　enjoying　this。
　　〃I　gave　back　what　was　left　of　it；　under　some　impolite　pressure　from　Gorhaut's　ambassador　to　the　court　in　Aulen