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！
streaming torrent of abuse。 She actually wishes Ranald were home； his presence might have served to temper or at least deflect onto himself some of Galbert's viciousness。 She has brought this upon herself； she thinks shakily。 Better to have swallowed pride； to have meekly gone within。 How can she； alone and at his mercy； possibly fight this man？
She looks up at him； a sickness within her。 Her family is as good as this one； she tells herself fiercely； or so very nearly as to make no difference。 She knows what has to be said now。 Fighting for self…control； she speaks。
〃Hear me。 I will kill myself before I let him touch me。 Do not ever doubt that this is so。 And do not try to deny that you have encouraged the king's shameful thoughts； contemptuous of your son or any true sense of family honour； seeking only to bind a weak man more tightly to your use with whatever tools you may find。 My lord； I am not a tool that will ever fit your hand。 I will die before Ademar ever lies with me。〃
She watches his face narrowly； and adds； 〃Or you； my lord High Elder of Corannos。 I will end my life before I suffer you to lay a hand or a lash upon this white flesh you dream about in the dark of the god's house at night。〃 A shaft loosed wildly that one； but she sees it hit； squarely。 Galbert's ruddy face goes suddenly white； his eyes creasing to slits and flicking away from hers for the first time。 Rosala feels no triumph； only a renewed wave of nausea。
She turns abruptly away and begins to walk across the drawbridge into the forecourt。 The corans have stopped their duelling； their attention caught by something in the manner of the two of them here outside the walls。 She holds her head high and walks with what posure she can achieve。
〃My lady Rosala。〃 Galbert says from behind her； his voice raised slightly。 She had known he would call her。 He would need to have the final word。 His nature will not permit otherwise。 She thinks of not turning； of continuing on； but the corans have heard him call her。 What she might do at some risk privately she dares not do in public： she might defy him to a certain point； but open shame he will not allow。 A woman can be killed for that in Gorhaut。
She stops on the drawbridge and turns slowly back to look at him。 After； she will remember that moment； the sun high； a breeze stirring the red and golden leaves of the chestnut trees along the avenue； birdsong in the branches； the stream beyond； glinting blue。 A glorious autumn day。
〃I wonder；〃 says Galbert de Garsenc； lowering his voice； moving the horse nearer； 〃has your dear husband told you of our latest agreement？ He has probably neglected to； in that forgetful way of his。 We have decided that if you should bear a son it is mine。 Ah！ You seem surprised； Lady Rosala！ It is just as I thought； the careless lad has not informed you。 A boy is promised to Corannos； a daughter you may keep； a daughter is no use to me immediately； though I am sure I will devise a purpose for her later。〃
Rosala is actually afraid she is going to faint。 The sun swings in an erratic arc in the blue sky。 She takes a stumbling； sidelong step to keep her balance。 Her heart is a thudding hammer in her breast。 She tastes blood； she has bitten through her lip。
〃You 。。。 you would deprive your family of an heir？〃 she stammers； her brain stunned； refusing to believe what she has just heard。
〃No； no； no； not necessarily。〃 He chuckles now； all benign good humour for the watching eyes of those inside the forecourt。 〃Though we need another Elder in our family at least as much as we need an heir in this castle。 Ranald's brother〃…he never speaks Blaise's name…〃was to have followed me to the god。 A great deal of our future depended upon that。 His refusal has marred my planning； put me in a difficult position； but if you present me with a boy matters may yet be remedied。 I will； of course； delay final consecration for a time； to judge how best to make use of the child…here at Garsenc or in the god's house。 There will be many matters to be considered； but I daresay you will help me by having other children； dear daughter…in…law。 And if you do not…seeing as it did take some time to conceive this one…why then I imagine Ranald could find a second wife who will。 I am not greatly concerned on that score。 And I must confess； I am looking forward to attending to a grandson's education and upbringing personally。 I pray you； do not disappoint me； lady Rosala。 Bear a strong boy child for me to take back to Corannos。〃
She can say nothing at all。 She seems to have lost the power of speech。 She can scarcely stand。 She feels suddenly exposed； naked in this place to the indifferent or mildly curious scrutiny of her household corans and the serfs of the estate。
〃You really ought to go in now；〃 says Galbert kindly。 〃You do not look well at all。 You ought to be in your bed； my child。 I would escort you there myself but I am afraid I have no time to linger for such domestic intimacies。 The press of affairs demands my attention back at court。 I do trust you have taken my meaning； though； and I will not have to e again？〃
He turns； not waiting for any reply； lifting one hand to her that the corans might note his salute； it is the hand that holds his whip； though。 That will not be an accident； nothing with this man is an accident。 She sees that he is smiling as he rides away。
Inside the castle a short time later； alone in her suite of rooms； white…knuckled hands gripping each other； Rosala de Garsenc realizes； without knowing the actual moment of making her decision； that she is going to leave。
Galbert made a mistake； she thinks。 He never meant to tell her about these plans； he must have known how she would feel about them； she had angered him though； revealed an awareness of his thoughts； and he replied rashly； to frighten and wound her； to have the final word。
She doesn't know how she is going to do it； she only knows she will not stay and surrender her child to that man。 I am at war now； she thinks； realizing that her only possible advantage is that she knows it and Galbert might not。 Inside her； as if in response； the baby kicks hard against her ribs for the first time that morning。
〃Hush；〃 she whispers。 〃Hush； my love。 It will not happen。 Fear no harm； for none shall find you。 Wherever in the world your father is； whether he ever es to shelter you or no； I will guard you； little one。 I swear it upon my life； and yours。〃
Blaise was thinking of the child as the men of Talair rode north through the cool breezes of autumn in Arbonne： of Aelis de Miraval's son； and Bertran's。 Since Ariane had told him the tale that Midsummer night three months ago； he had thought about it more often than he would have expected to； unable not to gaze curiously at such times at the man his own father had paid a quarter of a million in gold to have killed。
A tragedy had unfolded here some twenty…three years ago； and the effects of it were still rippling through Arbonne today。 He remembered Ariane's quiet； measured voice telling him the tale as dawn broke over the littered streets and alleys of Tavernel。
〃As I told you just now；〃 she had said； 〃discretion is everything in love。 My cousin Aelis had none； though she was very young； and that might be considered an excuse。 There was something uncontrolled in her； something too fierce。 Hatred and love drove her hard； and she was not a woman to accept her fate； or work within walls built to house her。〃
〃Neither are you；〃 Blaise remembered saying。 〃What was the difference？〃
She had smiled at that； a little sadly； and had not answered for a time。
〃The difference； I suppose； is that I saw what she did； and what followed upon it。 Aelis is the difference in my own life。 She told her husband； you see。 She hoarded the truth for a last； bitter swordstroke…with its own slow； killing poison； if you will。 When the priestess who had e to her said she was not going to live they brought Urté to her confinement bed。 He was sorrowful； I think。 I have always thought he was genuinely in sorrow； though perhaps more for the loss of the power she offered him than anything else。 Aelis had no softness in her though； she w