¡¶ggk.thelionsofal-rassan¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

ggk.thelionsofal-rassan- µÚ76½Ú


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
heard¡¡me¡¡say¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡I¡¡am¡¡in¡¡a¡¡better¡¡circumstance¡¡than¡¡you£»¡¡because¡¡if¡¡I¡¡give¡¡the¡¡same¡¡answer£»¡¡no¡¡woman¡¡is¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡Ibn¡¡Khairan¡¡smiled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Don't£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jehane£»¡¡¡¨be¡¡quite¡¡so¡¡sure¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡They¡¡all¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡uncertainly£»¡¡until¡¡she¡¡smiled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡to¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡
Twelve
¡¡¡¡Towards¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡winter£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡first¡¡wildflowers¡¡were¡¡appearing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meadows£»¡¡but¡¡while¡¡snow¡¡still¡¡lay¡¡thick¡¡in¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡plateaus¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡passes£»¡¡the¡¡three¡¡kings¡¡of¡¡Esperana¡¡gathered¡¡near¡¡Carcasia¡¡in¡¡Valledo¡¡to¡¡hunt¡¡elk¡¡and¡¡boar¡¡in¡¡the¡¡oak¡¡woods¡¡where¡¡the¡¡smells¡¡were¡¡of¡¡rebirth¡¡and¡¡the¡¡burgeoning¡¡of¡¡spring¡¡could¡¡be¡¡felt¡¡along¡¡the¡¡blood¡£
¡¡¡¡Though¡¡even¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡straight¡¡roads¡¡were¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡muddy¡¡impediments¡¡to¡¡travel£»¡¡their¡¡queens¡¡were¡¡with¡¡them¡¡and¡¡substantial¡¡retinues¡¡from¡¡their¡¡courts£»¡¡for¡¡hunting¡­pleasurable¡¡as¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡­was¡¡merely¡¡a¡¡pretext¡¡for¡¡this¡¡meeting¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡Geraud¡¡de¡¡Chervalles£»¡¡the¡¡formidable¡¡cleric¡¡from¡¡Ferrieres¡¡who£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡colleagues¡¡wintering¡¡at¡¡Eschalou¡¡and¡¡Orvedo£»¡¡had¡¡prevailed¡¡upon¡¡three¡¡men¡¡who¡¡hated¡¡and¡¡feared¡¡each¡¡other¡¡to¡¡e¡¡together¡¡early¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡afternoon¡¡converse¡¡after¡¡chases¡¡in¡¡field¡¡and¡¡wood¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡greater¡¡hunt¡¡was¡¡near¡¡to¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡clerics¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡court¡¡of¡¡each¡¡king£»¡¡one¡¡that¡¡redounded¡¡both¡¡to¡¡the¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡Jad¡¡and¡¡the¡¡vastly¡¡increased¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡fame¡¡and¡¡power¡¡of¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡lands¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡carved¡¡from¡¡what¡¡was¡¡left¡¡of¡¡Esperana¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡Jad¡¡was£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡an¡¡entirely¡¡good¡¡thing¡£¡¡Everyone¡¡agreed¡¡on¡¡that¡£¡¡Wealth¡¡and¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡certainly¡¡fame£»¡¡were¡¡prospects¡¡worth¡¡a¡¡journey¡£¡¡Whether¡¡these¡¡things¡¡were¡¡also¡¡worth¡¡the¡¡associated¡¡pany¡¡remained£»¡¡as¡¡yet£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡£
¡¡¡¡Two¡¡days¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡since¡¡the¡¡Ruendans£»¡¡last¡¡to¡¡arrive£»¡¡had¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡others¡¡within¡¡Carcasia's¡¡walls¡£¡¡No¡¡untoward¡¡incidents¡¡had¡¡yet¡¡transpired¡­little¡¡of¡¡note¡¡either£»¡¡though¡¡King¡¡Bermudo¡¡of¡¡Jalona¡¡had¡¡proven¡¡himself¡¡still¡¡the¡¡equal¡¡of¡¡his¡¡nephews¡¡on¡¡horseback¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡boar¡¡spear¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡queens£»¡¡the¡¡accolades¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡red¡­haired¡¡Ines¡¡of¡¡Valledo£»¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hunting¡­mad¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Ferrieres£»¡¡clearly¡¡the¡¡best¡¡rider¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women¡¡there¡­and¡¡better¡¡than¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡courtiers¡£
¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡man¡¡known¡¡to¡¡be¡¡clever¡¡and¡¡ambitious£»¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡appeared¡¡preoccupied¡¡and¡¡inattentive¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡even¡¡during¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡and¡¡evening¡¡discussions¡¡of¡¡policy¡¡and¡¡war¡£¡¡He¡¡left¡¡it¡¡to¡¡his¡¡constable¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡questions¡¡and¡¡objections¡£
¡¡¡¡For¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡Bermudo¡¡of¡¡Jalona¡¡hunted¡¡with¡¡fury¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mornings¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡during¡¡the¡¡meetings¡¡of¡¡vengeance¡¡against¡¡the¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡Ragosa¡¡and¡¡Fibaz£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡defaulted¡¡on¡¡his¡¡first¡­ever¡¡parias¡¡claim¡£¡¡He¡¡accepted¡¡condolences¡¡on¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡a¡¡favored¡¡courtier£»¡¡the¡¡young¡¡Count¡¡Nino¡¡di¡¡Carrera£»¡¡ambushed¡¡by¡¡outlaws¡¡in¡¡a¡¡valley¡¡in¡¡Al¡­Rassan¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡clear¡¡how¡¡a¡¡party¡¡of¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡trained¡¡and¡¡well¡­mounted¡¡Horsemen¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡slaughtered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡outlaw¡¡band£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡one¡¡was¡¡unkind¡¡or¡¡impolitic¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡that¡¡question¡¡directly¡£¡¡Queen¡¡Fruela£»¡¡still¡¡a¡¡handsome¡¡woman£»¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡misty¡­eyed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slain¡¡young¡¡gallant¡£
¡¡¡¡King¡¡Sanchez¡¡of¡¡Ruenda¡¡drank¡¡steadily¡¡from¡¡a¡¡flask¡¡at¡¡his¡¡saddle¡¡horn£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡brimming¡¡cup¡¡at¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡meetings¡¡or¡¡the¡¡banquet¡¡hall¡£¡¡The¡¡wine¡¡had¡¡little¡¡evident¡¡effect¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡neither¡¡did¡¡he¡¡hunt¡¡with¡¡notable¡¡success¡£¡¡His¡¡arrows¡¡of¡¡a¡¡morning¡¡were¡¡surprisingly¡¡erratic£»¡¡though¡¡his¡¡horsemanship¡¡remained¡¡impeccable¡£¡¡Say¡¡what¡¡you¡¡liked¡¡about¡¡the¡¡hot¡­headed¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Ruenda£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡ride¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡three¡¡High¡¡Clerics¡¡from¡¡Ferrieres£»¡¡schooled¡¡in¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡royalty£»¡¡and¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡prehend¡­if¡¡belatedly¡­the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡distrust¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡contend¡¡with¡¡here£»¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡discussion¡¡for¡¡the¡¡kings¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡brothers¡¡never¡¡even¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡regarded¡¡their¡¡uncle¡¡with¡¡evident¡¡contempt¡£¡¡All£»¡¡however£»¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡due¡¡note¡¡of¡¡the¡¡implications¡¡of¡¡the¡¡army¡¡now¡¡assembled¡¡in¡¡Batiara£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡with¡¡the¡¡first¡¡fair¡¡winds¡£¡¡They¡¡wouldn't¡¡be¡¡here¡¡had¡¡they¡¡not¡¡given¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡that¡£
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡movement¡¡abroad¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡this¡¡room¡¡were¡¡privileged¡¡to¡¡be¡¡reigning¡¡at¡¡such¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡Geraud¡¡of¡¡Ferrieres¡¡declaimed¡¡ringingly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡afternoon¡£¡¡The¡¡carrion¡¡dogs¡¡of¡¡Ashar¡¡in¡¡Al¡­Rassan£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡be¡¡swept¡¡back¡¡across¡¡the¡¡straits¡£¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡peninsula¡¡was¡¡there¡¡to¡¡be¡¡retaken¡£¡¡If¡¡only¡¡they¡¡would¡¡act¡¡together¡¡the¡¡great¡¡kings¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡¡and¡¡Ruenda¡¡and¡¡Jalona¡¡might¡¡ride¡¡their¡¡stallions¡¡into¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡sea¡¡by¡¡summer's¡¡end£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡glorious¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Jad¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡would¡¡you¡¡divide¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡King¡¡Bermudo¡¡asked¡¡bluntly¡£¡¡Ramiro¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡¡laughed¡¡aloud¡¡at¡¡that£»¡¡his¡¡first¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡animation¡¡all¡¡day¡£¡¡Sanchez¡¡drank¡¡and¡¡scowled¡£
¡¡¡¡Geraud¡¡of¡¡Ferrieres£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡this¡¡question£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡time¡¡with¡¡maps¡¡over¡¡the¡¡winter£»¡¡made¡¡a¡¡suggestion¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kings¡¡bothered¡¡to¡¡reply¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡rose¡¡instead£»¡¡without¡¡apology¡­moving¡¡in¡¡unison¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡­and¡¡walked¡¡quickly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡Sanchez¡¡carried¡¡his¡¡flask¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡clerics£»¡¡left¡¡behind£»¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡third¡¡day¡¡they¡¡flew¡¡falcons¡¡and¡¡hawks¡¡at¡¡small¡¡birds¡¡and¡¡rabbits¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wet¡¡grass¡¡for¡¡the¡¡delight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ladies¡¡of¡¡each¡¡court¡£¡¡Queen¡¡Ines¡¡carried¡¡a¡¡small¡¡eagle£»¡¡caught¡¡and¡¡trained¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡near¡¡Jalona£»¡¡and¡¡loosed¡¡it¡¡to¡¡triumphant¡¡effect¡£
¡¡¡¡Younger¡¡than¡¡Fruela£»¡¡undeniably¡¡more¡¡acplished¡¡than¡¡Bearte¡¡of¡¡Ruenda£»¡¡the¡¡queen¡¡of¡¡Valledo£»¡¡her¡¡red¡¡hair¡¡bound¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡golden¡¡net£»¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡flashing¡¡and¡¡her¡¡color¡¡high¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cool¡¡air£»¡¡rode¡¡between¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡and¡¡the¡¡High¡¡Cleric¡¡from¡¡her¡¡homeland¡¡and¡¡was¡¡very¡¡much¡¡the¡¡focus¡¡of¡¡all¡¡men's¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡day¡£
¡¡¡¡Which¡¡made¡¡it¡¡the¡¡more¡¡disturbing£»¡¡afterwards£»¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡identify¡¡with¡¡certainty¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡that¡¡struck¡¡her¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡the¡¡dogs¡¡had¡¡flushed¡¡a¡¡boar¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡obvious£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡was¡¡either¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡accident£»¡¡having¡¡been¡¡intended¡¡for¡¡the¡¡boar¡¡beyond¡¡her¡­or¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡aimed¡¡at¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡beside¡¡her¡£¡¡There¡¡was£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡generally¡¡agreed£»¡¡no¡¡evident¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡anyone¡¡to¡¡desire¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡the¡¡queen¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear¡¡at¡¡first¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡wound£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡was¡¡struck¡¡only¡¡on¡¡the¡¡arm£»¡¡but¡­despite¡¡the¡¡standard¡¡treatment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡mud¡­coating£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡bleedings£»¡¡both¡¡congruent¡¡and¡¡transverse¡­Ines¡¡of¡¡Valledo£»¡¡clutching¡¡a¡¡sun¡¡disk£»¡¡took¡¡a¡¡marked¡¡turn¡¡for¡¡the¡¡worse£»¡¡feverish¡¡and¡¡in¡¡great¡¡pain£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡went¡¡down¡¡that¡¡day¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡at¡¡this¡¡point¡¡that¡¡the¡¡chancellor¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡quarters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡castle£»¡¡striding¡¡past¡¡the¡¡grim¡­faced¡¡guards£»¡¡escorting¡¡a¡¡lean¡¡man¡¡of¡¡loutish¡¡appearance¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡injured¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡fashion¡¡in¡¡her¡¡life¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡feel¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡were¡¡dying¡£¡¡Her¡¡arm¡¡had¡¡swollen¡¡to¡¡twice¡¡its¡¡normal¡¡size¡­she¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that£»¡¡even¡¡through¡¡the¡¡coating¡¡of¡¡mud¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡bled¡¡her¡­working¡¡through¡¡a¡¡screen¡¡for¡¡decency¡­that£»¡¡too£»¡¡had¡¡hurt£»¡¡almost¡¡unbearably¡£¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡quarrel¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡physicians¡¡from¡¡Esteren¡¡and¡¡her¡¡own¡¡longtime¡¡doctor¡¡from¡¡Ferrieres¡£¡¡Her¡¡own¡¡had¡¡won£º¡¡they¡¡had¡¡given¡¡her¡¡nothing¡¡for¡¡pain¡£¡¡Peire¡¡d'Alorre¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the¡¡view¡¡that¡¡soporifics¡¡dulled¡¡the¡¡body's¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡injury¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡sharp¡¡edges¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡lectured¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡universities¡£
¡¡¡¡Her¡¡head¡¡was¡¡on¡¡fire¡£¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡her¡¡arm¡¡was¡¡intolerable¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡dimly¡¡conscious¡¡that¡¡Ramiro¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡left¡¡her¡¡side£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡good¡¡hand£»¡¡gripping¡¡it¡¡steadily£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡so¡¡since¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡here£»¡¡withdrawing¡¡only¡¡when¡¡the¡¡doctors¡¡pelled¡¡him¡¡to£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bleeding¡£¡¡The¡¡odd¡¡thing¡¡was£»¡¡she¡¡could¡¡see¡¡him¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡really¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡touch¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡dying¡£¡¡That¡¡seemed¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡caused¡¡a¡¡sun¡¡disk¡¡to¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡pray£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡difficult¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡haze¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡she¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡someone¡¡new¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡Count¡¡Gonzalez£»¡¡and¡¡another¡¡man¡£¡¡Another¡¡doctor¡£¡¡His¡¡features¡­a¡¡long£»¡¡ugly¡¡face¡­swam¡¡into¡¡view£»¡¡very¡¡close¡£¡¡He¡¡apologized¡¡to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡king£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡directly¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡forehead¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡her¡¡good¡¡hand¡¡from¡¡Ramiro¡¡and¡¡pinched¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡asked
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü