ggk.asongforarbonne-第31部分

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uld　never　have　left　your　studies；　my　dear。　A　little　more　Rhetoric　would　have　done　you　a　world　of　good。　That　is　as　false　a　dichotomy　as　ever　I've　heard。〃
　　Remy　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　the　real　world；　no　scholar's　cloudland　of　dreams。　In　the　real　world　choices　have　to　be　made。〃
　　Lisseut　saw　the　duke's　amused　expression　change　then；　and　even　at　a　distance　she　was　chilled　by　what　succeeded　it。　It　was　as　if　de　Talair's　tolerance　had　just　been　taken　past　some　breaking　point。
　　〃And　are　you　now　going　to　tell　me；〃　he　said　coldly　to　Remy　of　Orreze；　〃how　things　operate　in　the　real　world？　Are　you；　Remy？　With　two　Arimondans　here　that　I　can　see　and　a　table　from　Portezza；　none　of　whom　I　know；　and　a　Gotzlander　at　the　bar；　and　the　goddess　knows　how　many　others　upstairs　in　Marotte's　bedrooms　。。。　you　are　going　to　tell　me　that　in　the　real　world；　as　you　choose　to　conceive　of　it；　a　duke　of　Arbonne　should　have　let　himself　be　dunked　in　a　barrel　of　water　just　now？　I　can　tolerate　insolence　sometimes；　but　I'm　afraid　I　can't　indulge　it。　Think；　lad。　Sober　up　a　little　and　use　your　brain。〃
　　〃It　isn't　water；〃　someone　said。　Uneasy　laughter　slid　through　the　grim　stillness　that　had　followed　the　duke's　words。　Lisseut　could　see　a　crimson　flush　on　the　back　of　Remy's　neck。　She　looked　over　at　Aurelian；　he　was　gazing　back　at　her。　They　exchanged　a　glance　of　shared　apprehension　and　concern。
　　〃He　filled　the　basin　with　Cauvas　gold；　my　lord；〃　Marotte　added；　bustling　busily　out　from　behind　the　bar　now；　striving　to　lighten　the　mood。　〃If　you　want　him　bloodied　again　I'll　be　pleased　to　volunteer。〃
　　〃A　whole　basin　of　Cauvas？〃　En　Bertran　was　smiling　again；　helping　the　innkeeper。　〃If　that　is　true　I　may　have　been　too　hasty。　Perhaps　I　should　let　myself　be　ducked！〃　There　was　a　gust　of　relieved　laughter；　Lisseut　found　herself　breathing　more　easily。　〃e　on；　Remy；〃　the　Duke　added；　〃let　me　buy　us　a　bottle　while　Blaise　takes　care　of　that　arm　he　cut。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　no；〃　said　Remy　with　stiff　pride。　Lisseut　knew　all　about　that　pride；　she　shook　her　head　in　exasperation。　〃I'll　look　after　it　myself。〃　He　paused。　〃And　as　it　happens；　I　prefer　drinking　with　other　musicians　during　Carnival；　not　dukes　of　Arbonne。〃
　　His　head　high；　he　turned　his　back　on　Bertran　and　walked　across　the　room　and　through　the　door　beside　the　bar　towards　the　chambers　at　the　rear　of　the　inn。　He　went　past　Lisseut　without　even　acknowledging　her　presence。　A　moment　later；　Aurelian　offered　Bertran　an　apologetic　grimace；　shrugged　at　Lisseut　and　followed　Remy　out；　pausing　to　collect　a　pitcher　of　water　and　clean　towels　from　Marotte。
　　It　was　all　very　interesting；　Lisseut　thought。　Ten　minutes　before；　Remy　of　Orreze　had　been　utterly　in　mand　of　this　room；　a　man　in　his　element；　shaping　the　mood　of　a　late　afternoon　at　Carnival。　Now　he　suddenly　seemed　to　be　no　more　than　a　young　inebriate；　his　last　words　sounding　childish　more　than　anything　else；　for　all　the　proud　dignity　of　his　exit。　He　would　know　it；　too；　she　realized；　which　probably　accounted　for　the　aggrieved　tone　she'd　heard　creeping　into　his　voice　at　the　end。
　　She　actually　felt　sorry　for　him；　and　not　because　of　the　wound；　which　didn't　appear　to　be　serious。　She　was　fully　aware　of　how　much　Remy　would　hate　knowing　she　felt　that　way。　Smiling　inwardly；　Lisseut　happily　resolved　to　make　a　point　of　telling　him　later…a　first　measure　of　retaliation　for　her　ruined　tunic　and　trampled　hat。　Remy's　art　might　demand　respect　and　admiration；　and　his　manic　humour　and　inventiveness　had　shaped　memorable　nights　for　all　of　them；　but　that　didn't　mean　there　was　no　room　for　the　taking　of　small　revenges。
　　Looking　over　towards　the　duke；　Lisseut　saw　the　bearded　Gorhaut　coran　glancing　about　the　crowded　room　of　musicians　with　an　undisguised　look　of　disdain　on　his　face。　She　was　suddenly　sorry　he'd　been　the　one　to　wound　Remy。　No　one　should　be　allowed　to　draw　a　blade　against　a　troubadour　in　this　tavern　and　then　wear　an　expression　like　that　afterwards；　particularly　not　a　stranger；　and　most　particularly　not　one　from　Gorhaut。　Until　the　sun　dies　and　the　moons　fall；　Gorhaut　and　Arbonne　shall　not　lie　easily　beside　each　other。　Her　grandfather　used　to　say　that；　and　her　father　had　continued　to　use　the　phrase；　often　after　returning　from　the　Autumn　Fair　in　Lussan　with　whatever　profit　he'd　made　from　his　olives　and　olive　oil；　trading　with　the　northerners。
　　Lisseut；　her　anger　rising；　stared　at　the　big　coran　from　the　north；　wishing　someone　in　the　room　would　say　something　to　him。　He　looked　insufferably　smug；　gazing　down　on　them　all　from　his　great　height。　Only　Aurelian　was　as　tall　a　man；　but　Aurelian　had　gone　with　Remy；　and　the　lean　musician；　for　all　his　unassuming　brilliance；　would　not　have　been　the　man　to　face　down　this　one。　With　a　quick　shrug　that　was　more　characteristic　than　she　knew；　Lisseut　stepped　forward　herself。
　　〃You　are　arrogant；〃　she　said　to　the　northerner；　〃and　have　no　business　looking　so　pleased　with　yourself。　If　your　liege　lord　will　not　tell　you　as　much；　one　of　us　will　have　to：　the　man　you　injured　may　have　been　frivolous　just　now　in　a　Carnival　mood；　but　he　is　twice　the　man　you　are；　with　or　without　an　illegal　blade；　and　he　will　be　remembered　in　this　world　long　after　you　are　dust　and　forgotten。〃
　　The　mercenary…Blaise；　the　duke　had　called　him…blinked　in　surprise。　Up　close　he　seemed　younger　than　she'd　first　guessed；　and　there　was　actually　a　slightly　different　look　in　his　eyes　than　Lisseut　had　thought　she'd　seen　from　by　the　bar。　She　wasn't　certain　what　name　to　put　to　it；　but　it　wasn't　precisely　haughtiness。　Bertran　de　Talair　was　grinning；　and　so；　unexpectedly；　was　Valery。　Lisseut；　registering　their　glances；　was　abruptly　reminded　that　she　was　dripping　wet　from　tangled　hair　to　waist；　and　her　new　blouse　was　probably　a　dreadful　sight　and　clinging　to　her　much　more　closely　than　it　should；　in　all　decency。　She　felt　herself　flushing；　and　hoped　it　would　be　seen　as　anger。
　　〃And　there　you　have　it；　Blaise；〃　the　duke　was　saying。　〃Dust　and　forgotten。　And　more　proof　for　you…if　ever　you　needed　it…of　how　terrible　our　women　are；　especially　after　they've　been　held　upside…down。　What　would　happen　to　this　one　back　in　Gorhaut？　Do　tell　us。〃
　　For　a　long　time　the　bearded　coran　was　silent；　looking　down　at　Lisseut。　His　eyes　were　a　curious　hazel　colour；　nearly　green　in　the　lamplight。　Almost　reluctantly；　but　quite　clearly；　he　said；　〃For　speaking　so　to　an　anointed　coran　of　the　god　in　a　public　place　she　would　be　stripped　to　the　waist　and　whipped　on　her　belly　and　back　by　officers　of　the　king。　After；　if　she　survived；　the　man　so　insulted　would　be　entitled　to　do　whatever　he　wanted　with　her。　Her　husband；　if　she　had　one；　would　be　free　to　divorce　her　with　no　consequences　at　law　or　in　the　eyes　of　the　clergy　of　Corannos。〃
　　The　silence　that　followed　was　frigid。　There　was　something　deathly　in　it；　like　ice　in　the　far　north；　infinitely　removed　from　the　mood　of　Carnival。　Until　the　sun　dies　and　the　moons　fall　。。。　
　　Lisseut　suddenly　felt　faint；　her　knees　trembled；　but　she　forced　her　eyes　to　hold　those　of　the　northerner。　〃What；　then；　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　said　hardily；　using　the　voice　control　she'd　so　arduously　mastered　in　her　apprenticeship　with　her　uncle。　〃Why　don't　you　go　back　where　you　can　do　that　sort　of　thing　to　women　who　speak　their　mind　or　defend　their　friends？　Where　you　could　do　whatever　you　wanted　with　me　and　no　one　would　gainsay　you？〃
　　〃Yes；　Blaise；〃　Bertran　de　Talair　added；　still　inexplicably　cheerful。　〃Why　don't　you　go　back？〃
　　A　moment　later；　the　big　man　surprised　Lisseut。　His　mouth　quirked　sideways　in　a　wry　smile。　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　was　asked　by　the　man　who　pays　my　wages　what　would　be　done　to　you　in　Gorhaut；〃　he　answered　mildly　enough；　looking　straight　at　Lisseut；　not　at　the　duke。　〃I　think　En　Bertran　was　amusing　himself：　he　has　travelled　enough　to　know　exactly　what　the　laws　on　such　matters　are　in　Gorhaut；　and　in　Valensa　and　Gotzland；　for　that　matter…for　they　are　much　the　same。　Did　I　say；　incidentally；　that　I　agreed　with　those　laws？〃　
　　〃Do　you　agree　with　them？〃　Lisseut　pursued；　aware　that　this　room；　among　all　her　friends；　was　probably　the　only　place　on　earth　where　she　would　have　been　quite　so　aggressive。
　　The　man　called　Blaise　pursed　his　lips　reflectively　before　answering；　Lisse