按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
main in Arbonne as an ordinary coran any more than Bertran can pretend to be just another troubadour drinking and dicing in The Liensenne。〃 Her voice was even and precise； carrying the tones； in fact； of a mander of men on a battlefield。
And what she said was true。 He knew it； even as the old； sour anger came back。 It was happening again： wherever he went in the world； alone or in pany； in secret or carrying the bright flourish of his reputation into battle or tournament； it seemed that his father was there； with him or before him； barring and bolting doorways； a shadow across the light。
Blaise became aware that his hands were clenched at his sides。 Deliberately he forced them to relax。 He took a deep breath and turned to the duke。
〃I honour my contracts；〃 he said。 〃I believe you know that。〃
Bertran gave his small shrug。 〃Of course I do； but that hardly matters any more。 Men； even kings and clerics of the god； do not spend two hundred and fifty thousand to dispose of a singer whose song they feel has embarrassed them。 The game had changed； Blaise； it is larger than you and I and our private dealings。 You are a player of significance now； whether you want to be or not。〃
Stubbornly； Blaise shook his head。 〃I am a coran for hire。 Pay me enough and I will serve you in war or peace。 Turn me off and I'll seek other employment。〃
〃Stop mouthing rote words； Blaise de Garsenc。 It ill bees you to pretend you do not understand what is being said。〃 Beatritz； tall and implacable； spoke in a voice of grim adjudication。 〃You are the son of the most important man in Gorhaut。 The king is a tool in Galbert's hands； and we all know it。 Your family； whatever their inner turmoil； have holdings more powerful than any other in that country； the more so since all the northern lords have been dispossessed by the Treaty。 Will you stand before us； before the countess of Arbonne； and claim that the only difference between you and Luth of Baude is that you are better with a sword？ Have you been running from your father all these years because you will not oppose him？〃
〃Not oppose him？〃 Blaise echoed； shocked into genuine fury。 〃I have spent my life opposing him； at home and then beyond our walls。 I hate everything the Treaty represents。 I left Gorhaut so as not to live in a country so stripped of its pride。 Everyone there knows it。 I have made my statement。 What else would you have me do？ Ride home in fell wrath and declare myself the true king of Gorhaut？
And stopped； abashed and appalled by the quality of the silence that followed。 By the intent； focused； deeply revealing expressions of the two women and the man by the divan。 Blaise swallowed with difficulty； his mouth was dry。 He closed his eyes for a moment； hearing his own last words as a weirdly distorted echo in the chamber of his skull。 Opening his eyes again he turned； slowly； his heart pounding now as if he'd been running a long distance； and looked towards the fire； to where the countess of Arbonne was standing； small and delicate； white…haired； still beautiful； one hand on the back of a chair for support； her astonishing eyes gazing into his； and smiling； smiling now； he saw； with the radiant； indulgent approval of a mother for a child who has passed； all unexpectedly； a test thought to be beyond him。
No one spoke。 In the rigid stillness of that room in Tavernel on Midsummer Night； at the hinge； the axis； the heart of the year； the white owl suddenly lifted itself； gliding silently on wide wings to settle on Blaise's shoulder like a benediction or a burden beyond all mon measure。
CHAPTER 8
The crimson…clad guard of Carenzu took Lisseut through the late night streets and left her； with another flawless bow； at the doorway of The Liensenne。 She stood there for a moment； undecided； listening to the uproar inside； a confused flurry of emotions working within her。 As she hesitated； debating whether she wanted the conviviality of the tavern itself or the relative intimacy of a chamber upstairs； the noise subsided and a thin； reedy voice came drifting through the window； singing a plangent hymn to Rian。
Lisseut walked quickly around the corner； went down the laneway in back of the tavern； opened the rear door and started up the stairs。 She was truly not of a mind just then to listen to Evrard of Lussan in his pious mode。 On the stairway and then in the corridor she passed couples in ardent clinches…most of the chambers had been booked and overbooked long ago…before ing to the doorway of a room that was always reserved for this week and had been for years。
She knocked。 It wouldn't be locked； she knew； but she had caused some embarrassment two years ago by walking in on three men and a woman； at what turned out to be an extremely inopportune time。 Her difficult relations with Elisse dated from that moment。
By way of reply to her knocking； a reflective； mellifluous voice could be heard singing：
Alone am I and sorrowful for love has gone away；
Gone away on a white horse and left me here to mourn 。。。
She smiled and opened the door。 Aurelian； indeed alone； was sitting on one of the two beds； leaning back against the wall as he fingered his lute。 His shirt was open at the throat and he had taken off his boots。 His long legs extended well out over the side of the bed。 He gave her a grave smile of wele and； still singing； indicated with a motion of his head the table where an open bottle of wine stood； a number of glasses beside it。 There was a rumpled scattering of clothes on the other bed and Lisseut saw blood on a shirt。 She poured herself some wine； took a quick； much…needed drink； and carried the bottle over to refill Aurelian's goblet as well。 There was one small window in the room。 She walked to it and looked down。 It overlooked the alley； there was no one below； but she could hear sounds from the street and Evrard's music drifting up from the downstairs room。 Aurelian continued his own quiet singing； another son； the same theme：
My heart is lonely and brim…full of grief
When I remember the nights that are past；
When my sweet love would offer me
Delights beyond all earthly measure 。。。
〃I've never liked that verse；〃 he said； breaking off abruptly； 〃but it isn't much good trying to talk to Jourdain about anything he's written； is it？ I don't even know why I keep singing it。〃
〃The tune；〃 said Lisseut absently； still gazing out the window。 〃I've told you that before。 Jourdain's always better at the music than the words。〃
Aurelian chuckled。 〃Fine。 You be the one to tell him that。〃 He paused； behind her she could almost feel his scrutiny。 〃You're too pensive for a Carnival night； my dear。 You do know that Valery is recovering？〃
〃What？〃 She spun around。 〃I didn't 。。。 he's all right。 How？〃
〃The High Priestess was in Tavernel tonight； don't ask this ignorant troubadour why。 Affairs among the great。 Valery should probably tithe the goddess from what he earns of Bertran for the rest of his life。 She was able to deal with the poison； and the wound itself was minor。 He'll be fine； they told us at the temple。 So most of us came back here in a wonderful mood。 Can't you hear？ There ar