ggk.asongforarbonne-第101部分

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　with　Guibor　and　now　alone。　Images　of　power　mattered：　in　Gorhaut　they　could　not　be　allowed　to　think　they　were　so　weak　and　soft　here　in　woman…ruled　Arbonne。　They　already　had　that　impression；　Signe　knew。　They　could　not　be　allowed　to　indulge　in　it。　She　had　looked　at　Blaise；　her　expression　forbidding；　and　had　waited　for　him　to　nod　his　head。
　　〃I　cannot　save　a　fool；〃　he'd　said　to　the　merchants　and　corans　of　Gorhaut。　The　right　thing　to　say；　it　would　be　remembered　by　the　others。　He　was　learning　quickly。　Later　that　morning　they　executed　the　man；　though　cleanly；　without　branding　or　breaking　him；　he　was　a　symbol；　not　a　truce…breaker　himself。　Here　in　Arbonne　they　were　not　the　same　as　those　they　were　now　to　fight。　She　would　defend　that　assertion　to　the　last　of　her　days。
　　That　had　all　been　back　in　the　autumn；　with　the　grape　harvest　in　and　the　leaves　turning。　Now；　in　the　cold；　clear　glitter　of　a　winter's　night；　she　listened　to　the　sirnal　rattle　the　windows　like　a　spirit　of　the　dead　and　sipped　at　her　mulled；　spiced　wine；　holding　the　goblet　in　both　hands；　its　warmth　forting　her　as　much　as　the　scent　and　taste　of　the　wine。　The　two　girls　were　sitting　on　their　benches　near　the　door；　their　hands　cupped　around　hollow　silver　balls　with　burning　coals　inside　them。　Bertran　had　brought　that　idea　back；　years　ago　she　remembered；　from　a　journey　into　the　wild　places　east　of　Gotzland。　He　had　done　a　great　deal　of　such　dangerous　travelling　in　the　years　after　Aelis　died。　〃He　is　blaming　himself；〃　Guibor　had　said　patiently。　〃There　is　nothing　we　can　do　about　it。〃
　　Looking　more　closely　at　the　two　girls；　Signe　saw　that　Perrette；　the　younger　one；　was　shivering。　Impatiently；　she　shook　her　head。　〃In　Rian's　name；　e　nearer　the　fire；　both　of　you；〃　she　said；　sounding　more　irritated　than　she　meant　to。　〃You'll　be　no　use　to　me　at　all　if　you　catch　a　chill　and　die。〃
　　This　was　wrong；　of　course；　she　shouldn't　be　taking　out　anxieties　on　those　around　her。　But　what　was　there　for　her　to　do；　otherwise？　She　was　an　old　woman　in　a　cold　castle　in　winter。　She　could　only　sit　or　stand　by　a　fireside　now　and　wait　to　see　if　the　goddess　and　the　god　would　allow　them　to　throw　successfully　at　dice　with　so　many　lives　and　two　nations'　destinies。
　　Nervously；　the　girls　hastened　to　obey　her。　Rosala　glanced　up　from　her　work　and　smiled。
　　〃How　are　you　so　calm？〃　Signe　demanded　abruptly。　〃How　can　you　sit　there　so　easily？〃
　　The　smile　faded。　Mutely　Rosala　held　up　her　work；　and　the　countess　saw；　for　the　first　time；　the　raddled；　spoiled　stitching　and　the　visibly　trembling　hands　that　were　lifting　it　for　her　to　see。
　　The　fog　made　things　horrendously　difficult。　Thaune　still　couldn't　see　a　thing　down　below；　though　he　kept　straining　his　eyes　into　the　thick；　grey　gloom。　There　was　to　have　been　a　single　torch　lit　briefly　at　the　edge　of　the　woods　and　then　doused。　He　couldn't　have　seen　a　torch　from　these　ramparts　tonight　if　it　was　directly　below　where　he　stood。
　　Even　sounds　were　muffled；　but　not　so　much　that…just　there！…he　could　not　make　out；　finally；　the　jingle　of　a　horse's　harness　and　then　the　same　sound　a　second　time；　not　far　away。　They　had　e。　It　was　time。　With　an　awareness　of　all　that　might　turn　on　this　in　the　next　moments；　and　with　the　fear　that　came…that　had　to　e…hand…in…glove　with　that；　Thaune　went　quickly　along　the　rampart　walk　to　the　stairwell　and　started　down　to　the　guardhouse；　one　hand　on　the　wall　for　balance　in　the　murk。
　　When　he　appeared　in　the　doorway　all　four　guards　jumped　up　from　the　table。　He　nodded　his　head　briefly。
　　〃It　is　time；〃　he　said。
　　〃Time　for　what？〃　said　Erthon；　just　before　Girart　brought　the　hilt　of　his　knife　smartly　down　on　the　back　of　his　fellow　guard's　head。　Erthon；　whom　Thaune　hadn't　been　able　to　decide　whether　or　not　to　trust；　slumped　forward；　and　Thaune　had　to　be　quick　to　catch　him　before　he　knocked　over　the　table　and　sent　the　dice　rattling。
　　〃My　luck；〃　said　Girart。　〃I　was　about　to　win　for　the　first　time　all　night。〃　Thaune　was　able　to　smile；　the　other　two　guards；　younger；　visibly　nervous；　were　not。
　　〃We're　in　a　bigger　game　now；〃　Thaune　said。　〃Say　your　prayers　and　open　the　gate　and　the　bridge。〃　He　went　out　to　stand　behind　the　iron　portcullis　as　it　began　rolling　up。　There　was　a　noise；　of　course；　as　the　chains　turned；　but　for　once　the　fog　was　useful　and　Thaune　doubted　anyone　would　hear　the　muffled　sound　from　across　the　courtyard　inside　the　castle。
　　When　the　bars　were　high　enough　he　stepped　forward；　ducking　to　pass　under　the　lowest　spikes；　and　waited　again；　staring　out　into　the　cold　mist　of　the　night。　No　torches　yet；　nothing　at　all　to　be　seen；　only　the　sound　of　horses　again；　faintly；　through　the　low；　drifting　fog。　Then　another　noise　behind　him　as　the　portcullis　slotted　with　a　clang　into　its　niche　at　the　top　of　the　gate　and　the　guards　began　quickly　winding　down　the　drawbridge　over　the　dry　moat。
　　When　the　bridge　was　down；　Garsenc　Castle　lay　open　to　those　waiting　in　the　fog；　and　the　first　part　of　what　Thaune　had　e　home　to　do　was　acplished。　The　easy　part。
　　He　stepped　out　onto　the　wooden　bridge　and　felt　more　than　he　heard　the　simultaneous　tread　of　someone　approaching　from　the　other　end。　He　still　could　not　see。　The　mist　redoubled　his　anxiety；　inducing　primitive；　irrational　feelings　of　dread。　He　couldn't　even　make　out　the　planks　of　the　bridge　beneath　his　boots。　He　stopped　walking。　〃Light　your　torch；〃　he　said；　his　tone　as　calm　as　he　could　make　it。　The　sound　of　his　voice　went　out　feebly　into　the　enveloping　darkness　and　was　swallowed　up。
　　There　was　silence　as　the　approaching　footsteps　also　came　to　a　halt。　Thaune　felt　as　if　he　were　wrapped　in　a　grey　shroud；　ready　for　burial。　He　shuddered　at　the　thought。
　　〃Light　your　torch；〃　he　said　again　to　the　silent　figures　on　the　bridge　with　him。
　　Finally　he　heard　the　scraping　sound　of　flint　being　struck；　and　a　moment　later　the　resinous　scent　of　a　torch　catching　came　to　him。　In　the　fog　the　light　spun　out　only　a　little　way；　a　small　circle；　a　tenuous　island　of　illumination　on　the　bridge。
　　Bright　enough　to　reveal　Galbert　de　Garsenc；　the　High　Elder　of　Gorhaut；　huge　and　unmistakable；　standing　directly　in　front　of　him　with　two　corans　on　either　hand。
　　〃I　am　most　happy　to　oblige　you；〃　said　the　High　Elder　in　his　unforgettable　voice。　〃To　illuminate　the　first　of　the　traitors　we　will　now　be　pleased　to　burn。　I　will　light　your　own　pyre　with　the　torch　you　requested。〃
　　Thaune　felt　as　if　the　world　had　dropped　away　beneath　his　feet；　as　if　the　final　darkness　at　the　end　of　time　had　e。
　　His　breath　was　snatched　away　in　horror。　He　couldn't　move。　He　was　actually　afraid　he　was　going　to　fall　down。
　　〃Do　not　even　think　about　fleeing；〃　Galbert　added；　the　deep　tones　conveying　infinite　contempt。　〃There　are　four　archers　behind　me　with　their　bows　trained　on　you；　and　this　light　is　more　than　good　enough　for　them。〃
　　Another　tread　resounded　on　the　far　side　of　the　bridge；　approaching　from　behind　the　Elder；　just　beyond　the　spill　of　light。　〃It　would　be　good　enough；　I　agree；〃　said　a　lighter；　cooler　voice。　〃If　they　were　still　conscious　and　therefore　still　holding　their　bows。　It　is　all　right；　Thaune；〃　said　Blaise　de　Garsenc；　〃we　have　this　under　control。〃
　　There　came　another　sound；　twice　in　quick　succession；　and　the　corans　beside　Galbert　grunted　and　slid　to　the　planks；　their　swords　rattling　on　the　wood。　The　torch　was　dropped　but　then　seized　by　an　invisible　hand　before　it　could　go　out。
　　〃Do　tell　me；　father；〃　said　Blaise；　ing　forward　into　the　light；　〃what　is　it　that　makes　you　so　anxious　to　burn　people　alive？〃　His　words　were　flippant　but　Thaune　could　hear　the　stiff　tension　running　beneath　them。　He　wondered　when　father　and　son　had　last　seen　each　other。　Galbert　said　nothing　at　all；　the　rage　in　his　eyes　was　genuinely　frightening　in　the　torchlight。
　　〃Blaise；〃　came　a　Portezzan　accent　from　the　murk　beyond；　〃it　seems　your　brother　is　here　too。〃
　　〃How　splendid！　A　reunion！〃　said　Blaise；　again　with　that　forced　gaiety。　〃Bring　him；　Rudel；　let　me　see　those　dear；　kind　features　again。〃
　　Galbert　still　had　not　spoken。　Thaune　was　unable　to　look　at　the　High　Elder's　face。　He　heard　footsteps　again；　and　two　men　brought　forward　a　third　between　them。
　　〃We　have　dealt　with　all　the　others；〃　said　a　voice　Thaune　remembered　fro