ggk.asongforarbonne-第69章

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　　〃I　gave　back　what　was　left　of　it；　under　some　impolite　pressure　from　Gorhaut's　ambassador　to　the　court　in　Aulensburg。　Not　a　pleasant　man；　I　can　tell　you。　I　had　to　approach　my　father's　branch　bank　for　certain　sums　that　were　not　。。。　readily　available　to　me　privately。〃
　　〃After　only　a　fortnight？〃　Blaise　raised　his　eyebrows　in　feigned　surprise。　〃What　did　you　buy？　All　the　gems　of　the　east？　How　much　could　you　have　spent　in　two　weeks？〃
　　〃Enough；〃　said　Rudel　tersely；　his　handsome　face　colouring。　〃Enough　that　you　may　consider　our　personal　slate　from　that　night　in　Tavernel　to　be　balanced；　at　the　very　least。　My　father　currently　has　a　view　of　me　that　may　well　match　the　one　yours　has　of　you。　Paying　out　money　does　that　to　him；　I'm　afraid。〃
　　〃Sad　tidings；〃　said　Bertran　de　Talair；　his　equanimity　regained。　Blaise　recognized　the　tone　and　the　glint　in　his　eyes。　〃But　leaving；　as　I　suppose　we　must；　past　trials　for　present　affairs；　I　do　think　it　reasonable　to　ask　what　you　are　doing　here。〃
　　〃It　is　entirely　reasonable。〃　Rudel　paused；　looked　over　at　the　long　table　by　the　far　wall。　〃I　did　hear　you　were　known　for　serving　a　good　wine；〃　he　said　politely。
　　Shaking　his　head；　Valery　walked　over　to　the　table　and　poured　him　a　glass。　He　came　back；　handed　it　to　the　Portezzan；　then　stood　near　him；　waiting。　Bertran　did　not　speak　again；　and　neither；　now；　did　Blaise。　Rudel　sipped；　smiled　his　approval；　and　went　on。
　　〃I　am　sadly　between　contracts　at　the　moment；〃　he　said　calmly；　and　Blaise　saw　Bertran　and　Valery　both　take　the　point。　〃Given　last　summer's　events；　and　the　unexpected　involvement　of　my　old　friend　Blaise；　I　still　had　something　of　an　interest　in　you；　En　Bertran。　With　nothing　better　to　do　before　the　tournament；　I　made　a　point　of　tracking　your　movements　the　past　two　days　since　we　all　arrived　in　Lussan　and　settled　in　for　the　fair…lamentably　lacking　the　pany　of　the　choleric　lord　of　Andoria。〃　He　drank　again；　with　obvious　pleasure。　〃When　you　took　these　quarters　outside　the　walls　in　addition　to　your　usual　town　residence；　and　then　rode　out　here　at　day's　end　with　only　our　cousin　and　my　friend　Blaise；　it　seemed　appropriate　to　conclude　that　some　meeting　of　a　private　nature　was　about　to　take　place。〃
　　However　posed　Rudel　might　be；　the　duke　of　Talair　was　a　match　for　him。　Coolly；　not　smiling　now；　Bertran　said；　〃Such　a　conclusion　might　indeed　seem　appropriate。　The　question　is；　why；　having　made　that　deduction；　would　you　take　it　upon　yourself　to　intrude　upon　that　meeting？〃　There　was　something　unreal；　an　almost　hallucinatory　quality　to　the　dialogue　taking　place；　Blaise　thought。　One　of　the　men　talking　so　pleasantly　here　had　attempted　to　kill　the　other　just　three　months　ago　for　a　quarter　of　a　million　in　gold。　He　couldn't　think　of　any　other　men　he　knew　who　could　have　had　this　conversation。
　　Rudel　sipped　his　wine　again。　He　favoured　them　all　with　his　most　brilliant　smile。　〃To　be　honest；〃　he　murmured；　〃I　thought　it　might　be　amusing。〃
　　Looking　at　his　friend；　at　the　clever；　handsome　face；　Blaise　knew　with　certainty　that　this　was　at　least　part　of　the　truth；　possibly　even　the　largest　part。　He　saw　that　Bertran　realized　it；　too。　The　duke's　own　amusement　was　obvious。　He　shook　his　head　and　looked　over　at　Valery。　His　cousin's　expression　was　wry。
　　〃Does　this　fellow　remind　you　of　anyone？〃　Bertran　asked。
　　〃Someone　I　grew　up　with；　yes；〃　Valery　said。　〃A　cousin　I　never　expected　to　see　reach　the　age　you　seem　to　have　attained。〃　Blaise　turned　his　head　towards　the　door；　he　had　heard　voices；　and　now　there　were　footsteps　outside。　〃What；〃　Valery　went　on　calmly；　〃do　you　want　us　to　do　with　him？〃
　　〃I　should　mention；〃　Rudel　said　quickly；　before　Bertran　could　reply；　〃that　I　had　one　more　piece　of　information　in　solving　this　riddle。　While　I　was　watching　by　the　walls　this　evening；　at　the　gate　from　which　you　left；　I　did　see　a　small　party　of　men；　one　of　them　masked；　the　others　hooded；　ride　out　at　darkfall。　They　were　not　in　a　hurry。　It　gave　me　the　opportunity　to　have　this　most　enjoyable　encounter　in　private　with　you。〃
　　There　came　a　diffident　knocking　at　the　door。　〃Yes；　Serlo；　what　is　it？〃
　　The　young　coran's　voice　on　the　other　side　was　angry　and　confused。　〃I　am　sorry；　my　lord；　but　another　party　is　here。　A　man　in　a　mask　who　says　he　has　a　meeting　with　you　here　tonight。　He　has　an　escort　with　him。〃　
　　〃Four　men；〃　Rudel　said　helpfully。　
　　〃Four　corans　with　weapons；〃　Serlo　went　on。　〃I　don't　recognize　the　livery。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　you　are　meant　to；〃　Bertran　said；　opening　the　door。　〃I　think　that　is　our　proper　guest。　Escort　him　here；　Serlo；　and　then　entertain　his　escort。　These　may　not；　in　the　end；　turn　out　to　be　friends；　but　they　are　guests　tonight。　Treat　them　accordingly。〃
　　Serlo；　looking　unhappy；　went　away。　
　　〃I　grow　more　and　more　curious；〃　said　Rudel　Correze　cheerfully。　〃I'm　so　glad　you　invited　me　in。〃
　　Bertran　swung　the　heavy　door　closed。　His　expression　was　quite　sober。　〃We　have　only　a　moment；〃　he　said。　〃I　can　have　my　corans　render　you　unconscious；　or　bind　and　gag　you　in　a　back　room　somewhere。　I　may　have　to。　One　last　time：　is　it　only　idle　mischief　that　brings　you　here？〃
　　Rudel's　expression；　not　surprisingly；　had　also　changed；　but　less　than　one　might　have　expected…unless　one　knew　the　man。　Eyes　bright　in　the　firelight；　he　said；　〃I　am　not　accustomed　at　this　point　in　my　career　to　having　to　solicit　missions；　but　I　did　tell　you　I　was　between　engagements。　You　might　spare　my　pride　and　regard　that　as　a　hint。〃
　　There　was　another　brief　silence；　and　then　Bertran　de　Talair　began；　helplessly；　to　laugh。　Blaise；　staring　at　his　friend；　followed　suit　a　moment　later。　Rudel　grinned　back　at　them　both；　pleased。　Whatever　one　might　ever　say　about　Rudel　Correze；　Blaise　thought　ruefully；　things　were　seldom　dull　when　he　was　around。
　　The　same；　for　that　matter；　might　be　said　of　En　Bertran　de　Talair。　The　duke　said；　〃You　are　seeking　employment　with　me；　is　that　correct？〃
　　〃I　am。〃
　　〃Might　I　ask　why？〃
　　And　now　Rudel's　expression　finally　became　serious；　and　one　was　inescapably　reminded　that　this　was　the　scion　of　one　of　the　wealthiest；　most　aristocratic　banking　houses　in　Portezza；　with　family　connections　to　most　of　the　nobility　in　that　country。　He　laid　down　his　glass　on　the　small　table　beside　him。
　　〃Shall　we　say　that　I　do　not　mind　if　my　skills　are　bought？　Indeed；　my　profession　demands　that　this　be　the　case。　I　do　mind；　however；　rather　a　great　deal；　when　my　relationships　are　similarly　exploited　without　my　knowing　it。　I　was　not　aware　that　Blaise　was　with　you　when　I　accepted　his　father's　contract。　I　would　not　have　done　so　had　I　known。　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　Galbert　de　Garsenc　chose　me　only　because　of　my　friendship　with　his　son；　and　not　for　any　flattering　appraisal　of　my　talents。　This　thought　does　not　please　me。　I　have　formally　relinquished　his　contract。　It　will　satisfy　my　own　sense　of　honour　to　work　to　ensure　that　no　one　else　successfully　fulfils　it；　if　the　sum　is　offered　again。〃
　　〃I　doubt　it　will　be。　They　have　made　their　point；　and　have　a　larger　game　to　play　now。〃
　　〃I　think　you　are　correct　in　that；　my　lord；　but　even　so；　I　would　be　pleased　and　proud　to　enter　your　employment；　En　Bertran。〃
　　Valery　coughed。　〃I　rather　doubt；〃　he　said；　〃that　we　could　afford　your　current　rates。〃
　　Blaise　grinned。　Rudel　did　not。　〃I　will　be　happy　to　forget　that。　It　was　an　unnatural　offer　in　a　number　of　ways。　I　will　be　honoured　to　accept　whatever　you　are　paying　my　friend　Blaise　at　this　moment；　though　I　cannot；　as　I'm　sure　you'll　appreciate；　work　for　less。〃
　　Blaise　and　Bertran　exchanged　a　glance；　looked　over　at　Valery；　and　then　all　three　of　them　began　to　laugh。　Rudel　attempted　to　look　dignified　which；　Blaise　reflected；　is　a　difficult　thing　to　do　when　three　men　are　laughing　at　you。
　　This　was；　however；　a　friend；　and　one　who　had　clearly　been　disturbed　by　the　dangerous　events　of　last　summer。　He　was　also　proposing　to　join　them…though　Blaise　still　felt　an　inward　disquiet　when　he　tried　to　weigh　his　own　plex　allegiances　here。
　　He　let　Rudel　in　on　the　jest。　〃You　have　undervalued　yourself；　I　fear。　I　am　not　now　being　paid　anything　at　all。　I've　left　the　duke's　employ。　I'm　with　him　as　a　friend　and　a　panion　in　the　tournament　two　days　from　now。　I'm　afraid　you　won't　want　to