《Tigana》


 PROLOGUE

    BOt OF ALL BUt test stars. tretco t. Quietly flo t and t t led to o   dying and the life hed lived.

    to t, Saevar t, breater and er flocion of blue moonligant singing from around too, ed, listening to t e any absolute sense of evil to to e te as blindly as being a soldier seemed to require.  really a soldier, t ing.

    actually see any figures moving in t   o judge ed for the dawn.

    Almost certainly t.  since ttle at t gallantry  matcwo young sons wh him.

    tiful boys, botted t o sculpt eitimes. t could not be said, Saevar t, t y life. , t and to see it praised by t ones of he whole peninsula.

    And  of een years ago. And oo young by a year to o come norto ed.  mucime, in silence; all times turned, quickly, so t see ears, and mounted edly ao  the sea.

    tread, beo , from une a syrenya played. urned to the sound.

    quot;Be careful,quot; ly. quot;Unless you  to trip over a sculptor.”

    quot;Saevar?quot; an amused voice murmured. A voice he knew well.

    quot;It is, my lord Prince,quot; ;Can you remember a nigiful?”

    Valentin  by ly do;Not readily,quot; ;Can you see? Vidomnis ches Ilarions wane.

    together would make one whole.”

    quot;A strange ; Saevar said.

    quot;tis a strange night.”

    quot;Is it? Is t c we do down al men in our folly?”

    quot;t is,quot; Valentin said softly, ion. quot;ty  in part, by he morning will bring.”

    quot;  bring, my lord?quot; Saevar asked, before op   to ing across to all t of all, to terrible King of Ygratred t  least omorrow.

    Valentin , looking out at tar fall, angling across t of to plunge, most likely, into tting tion; time to be putting a burden of false certitude upon the Prince.

    Just as  to apologize, Valentin spoke,  to carry beyond their small circle of dark.

    quot;I  and er as o ease men into sleep. t much else we can do.”

    quot;t; Saevar offered. quot;I  Ive never sculpted eithem.”

    quot;Im sorry for t,quot; Valentin said. quot;If anyts for any lengtime after us it  suce to; urned to . quot;teen and nineteen, and if I could  ther . . . and your son.”

    It  Valentin  sucime as this.

    to t and a little berialla suddenly began to sing and bot, listening to t sound. Saevars   taken for fear.

    Valentin said, quot;But I  ansion, old friend. trut trut almost all of t will be all of ours. Forgive me.”

    quot;to forgive,quot; Saevar said quickly, and as firmly as ;t a  be a soldier but I  a fool. It ion: I can see the river.”

    quot;And t; Valentin added quietly. quot;More t, t back greater numbers, even  tle. But Brandins magic is  t be blood for t o the boy?”

    Saevar turned to look at t, disbelieving. , t;I ; ion, quot;and o ture I ever made of you.”

    A second later  took  to realize t Valentin  laughter like any Saevar had ever heard.

    quot;O; t lengt;I t. Oerrible pride. ill t most about us, do you ter we are gone?”

    quot;Per; Saevar said. quot;But tainty is t t over ts Empire. e will leave a name.”

    quot;And in said. quot;ters ory

    of t  he fall.

    Brandin of Ygratroy us tomorroake a we have been.”

    quot;,quot; Saevar eced lift to . quot;I am sure t you are right.

    e are not t free generation. tomorro run do lie tamely under the yoke.”

    quot;And if any of to,quot; Valentin added in a different tone, quot;tain sculptor herwise.”

    Saevar smiled in ted to laug it  in  t;I .”

    quot;No t bet t. triad guard and ser you tomorroer, and guard and ser all t you have loved,”

    Saevar s;You kno of t, my lord. A part of w I have loved.”

    Valentin did not reply. Only, after a moment, he brow.

    tor, ouco palm in farein rose and ohe fires of his army.

    to opped, on bot e. Saevar kneling doc o rise and surrender t beauty of t nigars, the fires.

    In to stay ter.  alone in trong  c and all t of  er rialla sang for  long.

 PART ONE - A BLADE IN THE SOUL Chapter 1

    IN tUMN SEASON OF t FORtry estate t Sandre, Duke of Astibar, once ruler of t city and its province,  bitter breath of his exile and age and died.

    No servants of triad uals at  te-robed priests of Eanna, nor tals, nor tesses of Adaon, the god.

    ticular surprise in Astibar to triad and its clergy t eig. And impiety ibar, even in the days of his power, had shied away.

    ty lying distrada and far beyond on tival of Vines. In taverns and krut traded back and fortifiable terror at a summons to t in Astibar.

    All alk and speculation to alter t fact at time of  Alberico of Barbadior  Empire overseas and exiled Sandre into trada eighe memory of power lingers.

    Perainly because ended to be cautious and circumspect in all ed ocol.

    By noon of to  by tern gate of ty. A messenger bearing ted, carefully co Sandres c tate seven miles beyond the walls.

    In ttier sort  season, it  tyrant  a single message-bearer— suc. Before tive, eye-to-ening, ripple of amusement at t e died ainerant musician—tibar t o come, t from tival was over.

    quot;too ricunity,quot; teaming mug of k lined t;Brandin ting slip a co remind Alberico— and t of us—t t and learning is quite tilted  toily rout Doarde or some silly acrostic to puzzle out, ops in Astibar three days from now.”

    ter, t ival, ion t Alberico of Barbadior ly indulged alloions of sailing-time and tumn seas norte on t existed for just sucy prone to gambling.

    But sly after t all er ten. Someone in a steep cap h a

    curled feated for attention, and ed t tyrants messenger  been seen returning tern gate from  t an appreciably greater speed to, and t, not to ibar being broug request to lie a nigate in ty he once had ruled.

    In tion e and predictable: men began sing fiercely to be ics and ticipated pleasures of tival made for a ty afternoon. So brisk  table proprietor of tently serving full measures of liqueur in tic disposition, continued to s-measure all rons  lack of favoritism.

    quot;turned back!quot; young Adreano t cried, decisively banging do boot;Alberico !”

    t from ered about ticular table.

    Adreano stole a glance at traveling musician s on Cably in to time ago. Adreano felt seriously offended by t kno Camena di Cating for t .

    Adreano elligent enougo be a t be a contradiction in in t  quantity of k ao remain s.

    uous rustic. tly journeyed into ty to sa some country instrument or otins to squander at tival. o t fasern Palm and to a c t coveted table in t room?

    Adreano still carried painfully vivid memories of t aken er  verses —to circle  h.

    ually  to contradict  already prepared, about rabble of tters in tters.

    As if on cue to t t, tably back in roked a prematurely silvered temple ly to Adreano, quot;to be my afternoon for  to ter t Alberico is too cautious to ruffle tival over too many people in Astibar rigs are running too o people wter.”

    o take some of ting from t ;Far better for tyrant to be gracious,”

    on. quot;to lay o rest once and for all, and to  t be to abandon t of freedom t Sandre stood for in un-gelded Astibar.”

    By t smiling, nor did t grey eyes look away from

    Adreanos own.

    And  time, ruly dangerous ly spoken, but turally quiet space amid t, so sly composed, norivial and inappropriate in  beating curiously fast. it  he musicians.

    urning, quot;Do we have a wager, friend?”

    Parrying for time ;ould you care to enligo o come and ters suchis?”

    te teet;Im no farmer,quot; ested genially, quot;nor from your distrada eitregea mountains and Ill tell you a thing.”

    to include tire boot;A flock of seac men to ts . . . s ter ts of Morian to make you a p on a mountain in rain cer t coming on together.”

    ter around tted someension. Adreano tried unsuccessfully to keep ernly repressive.

    quot;; time, his manner friendly and relaxed.

    Adreano o reply, and several of  of grief and lost astins by tous t of tted tale-bearer, of Nerone ter.

    quot;Albericos given permission!quot; rumpeted over t; decreed t Sandres exile ended ate tomorro tes! Providedquot;—ically— quot;provided triad are alloo do t of it.”

    tions of all too large for Adreano to brood mucuous poets  o t t events! urned to terested, but certainly not triump.

    quot;A; t;I suppose being rigo compensate me for being poor—tory of my life, I fear.”

    Adreano laugly, breated over to make room for ter. quot;Eanna bless us bot; o ;You just saved yourself more astins touco make a  idings.”

    By  a pull. imistically, but ters s very re-gea proffered augo query largesse, Nerone quaffed it down. he khav was drained.

    Adreano noted t o an unexpected conclusion.

    quot;You ; ly, addressing Nerone but speaking to t large, quot;just reaffirmed igriad.  condition upon ting of t  t t agree to somet even begin to guess ins its going to cost to assuage ts and priestesses enougo get to tomorrohe man

    ibar back to triad at h.”

    ed by t;By t reminds me of trigues of tlety!  guided te line of the whole peninsula.”

    quot;ell, no; said tregean, urning grave, quot;t may be t insig tell me,quot;  on, as Adreano flus;if , t likely as sly—of to conquer, and before Brandin took Cern provinces, t not possiblequot;— of t;t played at ter all? Outplayed by a dead man?”

    Around ttling ts in loud e to be outside, ude seemed to be unfolding so sly. tern gate er eiger of an  riple cloak, racing to reace in time for a good vie. Not noo folloregeans voice doanding flas in darkness.

    “You see, don’t you?quot; ance said flatly. t to precipitously drain o tumn sunshe breeze.

    “I t out. “Sandre wins by losing.

    “By losing a battle ,” t ttered to  all. t le Alberico may be, t is t regea and Ferraut and Certando because of ern Palm only tibar ruled ty and its province for ty-five years tion attempts t I’ve  imes loyal troops,   o tion t o let ts and priestesses into  nigo induce Alberico to seize t as a face-saving condition today?

    Adreano didn’t knoement, t left   ed just to e do arting to tumble about inside him.

    quot; do you t;  would onished his friends.

    quot;Im not sure,quot; t;But I  tival of Vines ted.”

    as if , but did not.

    Instead o table to pay for ;I must go. Reime: Im  years plague caused raveling musicians— ts  my reprieve from ts.”

    t;tell your friends Ill be  to settle tter of Cic condolences. Farewell for now.”

    quot;Fare; Adreano said automatically, and c empty room.

    t collecting mugs and glasses and ables and benc drink. A moment later, sipping ime to clear  ten to ask the musician his name.

 Chapter 2

    DEVIN AS hAVING A BAD DAY.

    At nineteen  completely reconciled o o triad o go . It ime since  of  from trees in triving to stretctle more  out of his frame.

    to  a number of t came  . e o be able to forget ternoon urning ing  ree upside doer it still rankled  use, ely grasped o do.

    quot;ell tle one!quot; Povar  , and retc good  of Devins precociously profane vocabulary.

    ell, t  time ually tried to make aller. Very late t same nigo t of pig slop over eacing like Adaon on ain e almost before tarted.

    ayed ao ed to o olidly good-natured, ten t.

    Devin, cursed or blessed . t impossible, in fact—but t did noto lessen  farm in t  long after t incident t Devin  iced as a singer to Menico di Ferraut hird spring.

    Devin  been back since, taking a  spring. It  t reated on t  t  fit in, and all four of t. Farming in Asoli imes grim tling to y against tant encroacs of t, ony of the days.

    If  mig, but te aken able perureless spaces of tlands, but no source of nurture or ive youngest cs,  turn out to be,  the land.

    After t t Devins voice ry ballads it ain collective relief t tanding in table greyness and rain. urning back to c of t before ting o ale, odd brothe shoulder.

    quot;If t treat you rig; ;you can come heres a place.”

    Devin remembered botle bloure s he

    trut everyt for e.

    But ing doaken h.

    Since t everything was held in his mind.

    And if ,  muco put a cin do t  recall feeling trated in years. Since, if trutold, t looked as if  all.

    , Devin dAsoli asked o do to get a drink in Astibar? And on tival, no less!

    tively laug not so infuriating. It  inn t refused to serve ed flask of Senzio green tocked, joy-killing priests of Eanna. t fervently, deserved better of s.

    It appeared t a year ago, in t of terminable jockeying for ascendancy s yrants token council t too muciousness among tibar and t, more to t of course, suc And since it  taverns and khav rooms bred license . . .

    It aken less to promulgate and begin enforcing a la no youteen years could buy a drink in Astibar.

    Eannas dust-dry priests celebrated—in ic fased—tty triumps of Morian and t priestesses of ties ed ably, wine.

    tavern-keepers ly un didnt do to be loudly unibar) t so mucrade as for ted laavern, or k time, if any of tous Barbadian mercenaries so drop by, and srarily—to decide t a given patron looked too young . . .  avern closed for a montavern-keeper locked up for time.

    All of een-year-olds in Astibar truly out of luck. Along  gradually became evident teen-year-old singer from Asoli.

    After tions along t side of treet of temples, Devin empted to go across to tasy, and atic. As anotional, option emplated breaking a ing if any of tc.

    o do so, as muc of genuine devotion to Eanna of to an oppressive areets of As- tibar. tern Palm of course, but no as it ibar where Alberico had based himself.

    In t tounately still-functioning sense of smell, toannery Lane. And t ill by tanners craft, tle of green, no questions asked, in a tavern called te to tablis.

    Even t, evil-smelling ely full. Astibar o overfloomorroart of tival of Vines. t  in Cer-

    tando, Devin kney of people ins or co spend, and in a mood to spend too.

    tainly no free tables to be o a corner  took a judicious sip of ered but not unusually so, oation upon the perfidy and unreasonableness of women.

    As embodied, specifically, by Catriana dAstibar t two weeks.

    ed t ime before te-afternoon re before t at ty ate oomorroo muse  of a bottle and still srouper any indignantly.

    ner. ines like a ra re of troupe.

    Including impossible Catriana. o be tormed out of t o call to a . o react  morning?

    Cursed ed back room on triana, and . t;Song of Love,quot; a piece ratably requested by ts wife, a piece Devin upor, a coma, sound asleep.

    And so pertle bored, a little distracted, tle closer tely necessary to t, red-ting per so  still, even so ...

    quot;Devin, in triad,quot; riana dAs-tibar, breaking up tirely, quot;do you t your mind a  a difficult song!”

    tion of a fair complexion led Devins face all to brigion—was laughem.

    Unable to to compromise tattered sy by yielding to ial impulse to reac.

    Menico as  but  assuaged: troupe-leaders ample pauncer as ears from his round, bearded face.

    So Devin tle of Senzio green and a dark place to drink it in on a brilliant autumn morning in Astibar. enuous comfort of sed to figure out, about tle from no arrogant red-maned creature back in the rehearsal room.

    If only s so depressingly tall, . Morosely  templated imes sake.

    quot;S; someone said.

    iturned to cope able aspects of being small and looking very young while drinking alone in a sailors bar.

    reassuring. ioner er radiating at emples. Even so: quot;t; Devin said, quot;but Ive most of my otle left and I prefer o being one for sailors. Im also older than I look.”

    t;In t case,quot; ;you can give me a drink if you like  my t age sooner tibar, master of t in from do in tregea.”

    Devin grinned and stretcoo croo botrying to catc ing to signal the man.

    quot;Ill be o stle ; o Rovigo, quot;to be well pleased if you press your daugraveling musician.”

    quot;My ; said Rovigo feelingly, quot;urn ponderous cart one.”

    Devin ;t bad?quot; ;A least drink to your safe return from tregea, and in time for Festival by a fingernail. Im Devin dAsoli bar Garin, at your service.”

    quot;And I at yours, friend Devin, not-as-young-as-you-look. Did you rouble getting a drink?”

    Rovigo asked shrewdly.

    quot;I  of more doorals kno; Devin rase tannery stencside ill painfully discernible. quot;t  or my tenth choice as a place for drinking a flask of wine.”

    Rovigo smiled. quot;A sensible attitude. ill I seem eccentric if I tell you I alraigo me. tells me Im back.”

    quot;You dont like the sea?”

    quot;I am quite convinced t any man ; ending to ruck by a t. quot;Come to t . . .quot; ed reflectiveness. then he winked.

    Devin laug;hen?”

    quot;trade is good,quot; Rovigo said frankly. quot;to slip into ports do or around on tern side of Senzio or Ferraut t traders never boto make it  tains to Quileia. It isnt sanctioned, of course, rade embargo do if you acts in a remote enoug da your business it isnt too risky and t to be made. I can take Barbadian spices from t  to places in Quileia t s, or Quileian imes casks of buinato sell to taverns— a good price. I cant do volume so I o c t as long as insurance stays do. I go from o temple before heading home.”

    quot;But ,quot; Devin smiled.

    quot;.quot; touch.

    quot;s ne; he asked.

    quot;As a matter of fact, I  t; Rovigo said. quot;tregea op on tidings, actually. Marius his summer.”

    quot;I did  t,quot; Devin said, sion. quot;A crippled man, and  be fifty years old by no make it—six times in a row?”

    quot;Seven,quot; Rovigo said soberly. ing a reaction.

    quot;Im sorry,quot; Devin said. quot;Is to t?”

    quot;Marius decided t announced t test triump declared  of tess.”

    quot;?quot; Devin exclaimed, loudly enougo cause some o turn. ; triarchere.”

    quot;So,quot; said Rovigo, quot;did te ess.”

    traveling across tain village to remote castle or manor, to ties t ers of affairs, musicians could not   events.

    Alalk : a o ease ters nigando, or to try to impress a traveler in a tavern in Corte  a pro-Barbadior party o be forming in t Ygrathen province.

    It alk, Devin  and  across tly in  Senzio not formally occupied by eiter bots Governor remained paralytically unable to decide ill  ty years, eaco expose itself by moving first.

    to Devin to cone from time of  ail one of to live a very long time—not ter.

    Quileia, tter. One far beyond Devins limited experience to sort out or define.

    even guess range country soutains.  migransitory King, one o tually maimed, and unarmed, meet to slay ake  been slain, times  been slain.

    And noess  possible to miss t. A little overawed, Devin shook his head.

    ance aring at h an odd expression.

    quot;Youre a tful young man, arent you?quot; t said.

    Devin s;Not unduly. I dont knoainly not . I dont ernoon.  do you t will mean?”

    One anso receive.

    tavern-keeper, ly succeeded in ignoring Rovigos intermittent signaling for anottle of rode to tures even in the darkened room.

    quot;You!quot; ;Your name Devin?”

    taken aback, Devin nodded reflexive agreement. tavern-keepers expression gre.

    quot;Get out of ; ;Your triad-cursed sisters outside. Says your fat you bot o turn me in for serving an underage. You gutter- spa, Ill teaco put me at risk of being s doival!”

    Before Devin could move, a full pitco inging like fire.  reaming eyes, swearing furiously.

    o observe an extraordinary sight.

    Rovigo—not a big man—unic. it apparent effort op, feet kicking ineffectually in mid-air. ted to a degree sufficient to cause tavern-oo begin turning a mottled shade of crimson.

    quot;Goro, I do not like my friends being abused,quot; Rovigo said calmly. quot;t er.quot;  Devin wly.

    quot;As I say,quot; Rovigo continued, not even breat;er ently not underage—as so any tavern-o blinded by ss of er e me a little by apologizing to Devin dAsoli, my netles of corked vintage Certando red, by ion? In return I may be persuaded to let you s sitting on t an appropriate price or course, given ort for t stuff at Festival-time.”

    Goros face ruly dangerous  as Devin felt obliged to caution Rovigo, tavern-o unted ttle. Goro dragged fetid tavern air into  ed ain tainflotered a to Devin.

    quot;And t; Rovigo reminded him kindly.

    ill  any evident exertion— enougo fumble belotles of ainly appeared to be Certandan red.

    Rovigo let slip anotcightened collar.

    quot;Vintage?quot; iently.

    Goro tched his head up and down.

    quot;ell t; Rovigo declared, releasing Goro completely, quot;it appears s. I suppose,quot; urning to Devin, quot;t you sending to be your sister outside.”

    quot;I kno; Devin said grimly. quot;to figtles, but its pleasant to have an ally now and again.”

    quot;It is al to ; Rovigo amended. quot;But it seems obvious to me t you arent keen on dealing er, so Ill leave you to do it in private. Do let me once more commend my oe well broughings considered.”

    quot;I  of t at all,quot; Devin said. quot;If I can do you a service in return I  and her of our public performances, free of charge.”

    quot;I ty leads you sout of toer in t five miles along t-emple of Adaon just before and my gate  . One of t. t; ;very talented.”

    Devin laugoucurned back to reclaim t -bro, ains splotcside clutctles of Certandan red.

    ed oing Catriana dAstibar on t , a h her nose.

    Devin strode briskly into t collided anners cart. A brief and satisfying excanner rumbled on and Devin, vo to be put on time, crossed to wriana he

    altercation.

    quot;ell,quot; ically, quot;I do appreciate your coming all to apologize, but you mig urated o washem for me, of course.”

    Catriana simply ignored all of t;You are going to need a ed on t mucion inside. But not ins to spend on bribes I couldnt tter o get tavern-oo bot; It ion, Devin noted, but not an apology.

    quot;Forgive me,quot; ed contrition. quot;I must talk  seems  paying you enougion to all our otransgressions. You must be used to better things.”

    Sated for t time. quot;Must annery Lane?quot; she said.

    it a cured for o lead tarted ride beside  for several minutes, until out of tannery smells. it sigriana put away her handkerchief.

    quot;aking me?quot; Devin asked.

    Anotransgression, it seemed. th anger.

    quot;In triad ; Catri-anas voice dripped ;e are going to my room at t the dawn of days.”

    quot;O; Devin snapped, ; o come play Morian —just so I dont get bored, you understand.”

    Catriana paled, but before so face reet. Looking up into t t o do t) ;Catriana, ly o you?  sort of ans to you from t isnt alroupes on t kno friend in tando. I could  and Im not. I did let you kno t I found you attractive. Im not a t if it is done esy.”

    ly conscious t  very  tremely public place, even ernoon lull. Instinctively  tig, as of turn of pain, t al of Marra. t true friend of his life.

    ted c s of Eanna, telling eac nig lover. First death.

    Catriana, released, remained  made ly revise imate of  s sure.

    ed, breater burst, and at lengtly, quot;You sing too well.”

    Devin blinked. It  at all w ed.

    quot;I o ; s on,  time. quot;Rauder is  even t it, amusing trying to co concentrate w people when Im nervous.”

    Devin drey sunlit street for a moment, thinking. he

    said, quot;Do you kno it is possible and even useful to tell to people—especially to h you?”

    S;Not for me. Ive never been able to talk like t, not ever.”

    quot; no; ;er me?”

    A longer pause ter of artisans apprentices s around ting  t of tanding toget t by  causing any trouble. A fehe breeze.

    quot;Somet; Catriana dAstibar said, quot;and Menico told us all t you are to our chances.”

    quot;Menico sent you after me?quot; It  completely improbable, after nearly six years together.

    quot;No,quot; Catriana said, quickly s;No, ime, t you al stake. I couldnt just  around. Youd left a little, urn, upset, after all.”

    quot;A little,quot; Devin agreed gravely, noting t so look apologetic.  even more secure if  continued to find tractive.  stop  s iffness of  bodice.

    Marra  for eacales after, traveling t last year on tando where she died.

    quot;You ter tell me o t. tasies and in memories, both.

    quot;t nig; Catriana said. S treet y again. quot;For some reason—no one is sure ate at tonigomorrohen . . .”

    S. Devin,  for ;A funeral? Full rites? Dont tell me!”

    quot;Full rites! And Devin, Menicos been asked to audition ternoon! e o do t talked-about performance in t; Se unsettlingly beautiful. her eyes were shining like a childs.

    quot;So you came to get me,quot; ;before I drank myself into a useless stupor of frustrated desire.quot;  time. It  turnabout, especially coupled ement of o fall in stride h him. For a change.

    quot;It isnt like t,quot; sested. quot;Its just t tant. Menico said your voice o our  you  your best in tes.”

    quot;I dont knotered by t, or insulted t you actually t Id be so unprofessional as to miss a reival.”

    quot;Dont be eit; Catriana dAstibar said,  of returning asperity. quot;e dont ime for eit be good ternoon. Be t youve ever been.”

    to resist it, Devin kne s were suddenly mucoo high.

    quot;In t case, are you sure  going to your room?quot; he asked blandly.

    More t t folloriana dAstibar laug time.

    quot;No,quot; said Devin, grinning, quot;is mucter. I ly  sure if you had a sense of

    humor.”

    S. quot;Sometimes Im not sure eit; s absently. t voice: quot;Devin, I  tract more tell you.”

    quot;ell of course,quot; ;It could make our careers.”

    quot;ts rig; Catriana said. Souced, quot;I  than I can say.”

    a promise in t touctle less perceptive, and  not been for t, not all of ambition in t tone, nor of desire in t Devin o know desire.

    reacohere.

    quot;Ill do ; er a moment, tears hed shed.

    On ted e early but it ed place and none of to properly judge or measure suchings.

    One of Devins first memories of  en because it  image of a une of some old cradle song to  when he was feverish.

    tune to  pitcaken on t Devin er learn to associate  morning t cime Devin could remember t happening.

    tune became a to a limited intimacy. t togetutored attempts at er Garin bougring syrenya for  crips to t in Asoli toer t tually a feo remember,  nig flatness of Asoli.

    o sing for some of t raveling priest of Morian erpoint during tumn Ember Days on t;o Morian of Portals.quot; t ed to bed er, but by to avoid sucs  giving offense.

    Later yet, o be called upon in taverns. t bled.

    And it avern called toself on a market day t Devin, just turned fourteen, ;to Cortequot; and ly, bearded man  to be a troupe-leader named Menico di Ferraut and waken  week and changed his life.

    quot;ere next,quot; Menico said, nervously smoot satin doublet over   cradle song on one of t his employer.

    ner noually.

    Devin  been an apprentice since een. Menico, tired of refusing offers to buy tract of enor atus in ter first making clear y e o repay suc of gratitude. Devin kne, in fact, and he liked Menico anyway.

    A year later, after anotroupe-leaders during te, Menico en-percent partner in ter making t  time.

    tandan deep strings, and erm contract. Especially noroupe in t of bodies and scrambling to fill emporary musicians, dancers, or singers.

    A ing ttention aracing tregea it sounded uneartrange.

    Alessan, black- temples,  ogetenor voice.

    quot;I fully as t;My fataug tune as a c .”

    Alessans lean, mobile face ive. Devin knetle about tregean after traordinarily good on te reliable. As Meniccs partner, t  ster to side of practice- time, but ual for ted.

    quot;I migo dredge t about it,quot; eristic gesture. quot;Its been a long time but I kne; he smiled.

    quot;Dont  it,quot; Devin said. quot;Ive survived t ts just an old song, a memento of my fatay  a er project to try to track them down.”

    Menico  last bit, roupe-leader regea to be a find, and c the wages hed asked.

    ttle ;Old songs and memories of fatant,quot; ;Is yours dead then?”

    Devin made t and two fingers curled down.

    quot;Not last I  seen  six years. Menico spoke to  t time, took  go back to the farm.”

    Alessan considered t. quot;Dour Asolini stock?quot; ;No place for a boy ion and a voice like yours?quot; one was shrewd.

    quot;Almost exactly,quot; Devin admitted ruefully. quot;t ious.

    Restless, more. And  originally from Asoli in fact. Came te when I was a small child.”

    Alessan nodded. quot;Even so,quot;  of a kno-all manner, Devin decided, but regean pipes. t even ain in th.

    In any case, time to pursue tter.

    quot;ere on!quot; Menico said, ily re-entering ting amid t and covered furniture of the long-unused Sandreni Palace.

    quot;e do t for Adaon first,quot; elling t. quot;Devin t ones yours—make me proud, lad.quot; andard exation. quot;togetriana my love you are sure you can go ch down?”

    quot;Ill go ; Catriana replied tersely. Devin t one spoke to simple nervousness,

    but  reacowards a s know.

    quot;Id very muco get tract,quot; Alessan di tregea said just then, mildly enough.

    quot;remely surprising!quot; Devin snapped, discovering as  oo er all. Alessan laugoo mucoo many years of touring to ever be made edgy by a mere audition. it saying a  on Devin.

    quot;Ill do t I can,quot; Devin said after a moment and for time t afternoon, not really certain to w, or why.

    In triad or in spite of to say— was enough.

    tor ely scented, extravagantly dressed scion of te ties, Devin guessed—, in ure and tificially exaggerated s ringed yrant didnt appear to be muc ts of Sandre dAstibar.

    Ranged being personage s of Eanna and Morian in rast, sat a priestess of Adaon in crimson, .

    It umn of course, and t surprised by her hair.

    o see tion. table—anot t a situation o affect s.

    son, ttered no inside himself.

    Menico cued Nieri and Aldine, t translucent, c later, after t linked pass across t Devin.

    And Devin gave  for Adaons autumnal dying among tain cypresses, as he never had before.

    Alessan di tregea -piercing grief of togeto lift and carry Nieri and Aldine beyond teps of tly s floor and into ticulation of ritual t t;Lament”

    demanded and ed.

    raveling sloo tregea  Sandre dAstibars son racks of ears , Devin realized abruptly, t   for any of them.

    Marra, young and intolerantly professional errupted or marked by displays from trons.

    Devin ern back tely fig di Corte es in Certando as a gesture of courtesy to Menico.

    Devin also kneransparent glance from Morians fat-fingered priest— riad so ill-served!—t t  he Sandreni

    contract o o be careful in tomorroe to bring his knife.

    tract. ttered, .quot; Afterroduced Devin as ner  urned out to be tomasso. tige to co so august an occasion as es.

    Devin, used to tely retrieved eful for Menicos experienced tact: presented as a partner  immunity from overly aggressive y. roduced to t, and promptly knelt before Adaons priestess in red.

    quot;Your sanction, sister-of-t I sang, and for o do tomorrow.”

    Out of t of Morian clenc his sides.

    ed tection of Adaon—tesss index finger tracing t s burgeoning desire. urned, it o catc room and among t company—from Alessan di tregea, at t not ingly perceptive.

    Menicos first price ely accepted by tomasso dAs-tibar bar Sandre, confirming in Devins mind ure o bear suc name and lineage.

    It ed ep or tourity—to learn t Duke Sandre ed t quite ty times  tory  ed even more tortionate sum  received in full.

    Only Egly drumming trestle table, said, quot;Leave it eacemples tomorro back erest whe Ember Days.”

    Menico, in ly t intention to offer Egito t of Morian instead. Egootinued  drumming.

    Menico ordered to bed not long after tart tomorroing to important performance of tly as Aldine led Nieri from t nig time, ed.  toget afternoon and also kno o  could spill over into te night in bed.

    riana but sairs already. S after Menicos fierce embrace back in t art; it migart.

    to t up to t our budget after Marra had died.

    ed to dream of es, because of unslaked desire, because  of  nigead he god.

    ainside in tregea, naked and magnificent. orn apart in frenzy and in floumn

    morning of every turning year to ter, bride, all tars.

    S on t o come, of ers end. tain orn and slain, to be put into o become tured in turn by tears and t sorroreams ting in to be reborn and so loved aneime of dying on ts. Slain to be lamented and to rise as a god rises, as a man does, as t of summer fields. to rise and ter and er, ars and the silver.

    Devin dreamt, terribly, t primal scene of ainside, treaming beo t orrent of Casadel.

    orn from to t. Sarees, of spiny, bristling ss aely naked for greater speed to to intoxicate t ers of Casadel.

    urn at last, ood at tag at bay at to teetheir nails.

    And t t to eacasy or anguisrained desire or madness or bitter grief, but in  all to tead, piercing t ainside, tregean sune of his own childhood fever, high and far away.

    And at t t, Devin sa  urned to  of Alessan.

 Chapter 3

    EVEN BEFORE tIOUS ALBERICO FROM OVERseas in Barbadior to rule in Astibar, ty t liked to call itself quot;t Rules t; ain degree of asceticism. In Astibar tes ice in t provinces: sucoo fevered an appeal to emotion.

    to perform in tral courtyard of tcyard, and from terior rooms on te ibar, coins over o pay t t portal of Morian, food in , for no one living could knoo the goddess was.

    doo tyard later, so t all tizens of y and its distrada ed outside—could file past ree in tal vase t stood on a plintyard even now.

    tizens—isans, ss, lesser mercs— er ter. tside noo es. ting into tyard in time  extraordinary collection of petty and y, and of accumulated mercantile  Devin had ever seen in one place.

    Because of tival of Vines, all tibar distrada o tory estates. And being in to be present to see Sandre mourned—for all t many or most of tterly ed y years ago and more in t tes migaken place long since.

    ts and Adaons priestess s, seeming, in to be privy to a mystery t tively sals y of their repose.

    Menicos company ed in a small room off tyard t tomasso  aside for ties   remember seeing blue o performers before. An extravagant gesture, t.  tempted t oo early and oo muco calm o Ego be, on a tabletop.

    Eg ;Its just a performance,quot;  sibilant voice. quot;e do w we always do. e make music. e move on.”

    Devin nodded, and forced a smile in return.   to tables, and one of to pour er in a gold and crystal goblet  later Menico signaled and t out into tyard.

    t, backed by rings and pipes. No voices. Not yet.

    If Aldine and Nieri e last nig didnt s did, only in tration and intensity of ts t morning.

    Sometimes seeming to pull times follo, tened faces, tunics and t-black gloves t ruly otherworldly.

    rained o be. Not inviting or alluring as some otroupes approaces, nor a merely graceful prelude to tain ot. Menicos dancers os, t in  restive, preening audience.

    And in t silence t;Invocationquot; to Eanna of ts tered stars t he diamonds of her diadem.

    Rapt and attentive to rivances of professional skill to s artlessness, t carried t princes of Astibar ing of sorroibar, triads mortal c tals to move on Adaons earts for so s a time. So s and bitter and s a season of days.

    Devin rianas voice reacoo be calling ere. , even more tatues in a frieze, norap of time— and at t t o t  for to fill, in tals lived and died.

    So Menico di Ferraut o tes long ago, bringing forty years of art and a full, mucraveled life to t t this morning had become.

    Even as o sing, Devins  sund, unassuming leader hey were shaping.

    topped, as planned, after tage, for teners. tomasso  Sandres bier ake place upstairs. After, t tes, ending on Devins quot;Lament,quot; and t doside admitted al vase.

    Menico led t from tyard amid a silence so deep it  possible accolade.

    tered t  up in ted, no one spoke. Devin moved to o tcer of t-like in ted a glass of green s but declined te of food.

    not a smile —not no over truments, adjusting trings. Egic as ever, ing less and distracted. he arm.

    Devin looked for Catriana and sa for a second, t on. Ligrangely filtered, fell from a he space where she had been.

    Devin really didnt knoerions like ripples in er from t, o say exactly why he followed her.

    Simple curiosity. Desire. A complex longing born of trange, floating place of stillness and sorro as if t quite as it he dancers had begun.

    triana hrough,

    oo looked back. Alessan c in tregeans glance, only an intent expression Devin could not understand. For t time t day he was reminded of his dream.

    And because of t, pero Morian as  on the archway.

    taircase ained-glass -floor landing. In t  a glimpse of a blue-silver goo t at top of tairs. ruggling to clear it, to slip free of tanding slid into place and tered a curse at himself.

    Sibar. Sairs as irely fit and proper to pay o t  to deny  to do so. Not after e to enter t upstairs room ion.

    ated, and urned back t not been for t ibar lay o t, not t, at top of tairs.

    Devin  up. ook care noill not kno. At t as Catriana . An empty room, long unused, dusty , ts, but t came to  print of o.

    Silently Devin follo trail t floor of tures and objects of glass, exquisite in t. Mucure   of ttered. A great many darkened, begrimed portraits of stern lords and ladies gazed inimically down upon him as he passed.

    and again rigracing trianas feet, careful to keep from getting too close. S straiger t ter side of t offered onto trades overlooking tyard. It riana o tate.

    At lengto be t. Sanding by telpiece and traits on t Devin kneer  tables laden ly cleaned, but tains ill dra tness and tside.

    In tered ligely letting tc.

    t in tillness.

    Catriana  Devin could see t w blazed in  fear.

    quot; do you t; she whispered harshly.

    ook a ant step foricism, a mild, deflecting remark to ster t seemed to lie upon  find one.

    ;I dont kno; ly. quot;I sa ... isnt ; he finished lamely.

    quot; I t; so calm  of ;I ed to be alone for a fes,quot; Catriana said, controlling ;ted me and I needed to be by myself. I can see t you urbed too, but can I ask you as a courtesy to leave me to my privacy for just a little while?”

    It eously said.  Devin al of Morians.

    ured at tables and said, gravely, a quiet observation of fact and not a cion, quot;t a room for privacy, Catriana. ont you tell me why you are here?”

    o flare again, but once more s for a long moment, s lengt;You  so be oo t. truly it ter if you go. For both of us.”

    ill o t of trange room s laden, sumptuously covered tables and traits on to be a crance. riana singing t morning, o irely a in the world he knew.

    And in t mood Devin riction in , quot;Could  begin t a sart?”

    Once more sated.  impossible to read in tain liganding straigill on the room.

    quot;I t,quot; sly. quot;Not on t I t deny t a part of me migtle time no do here. Please—will you leave me?”

    ed to find or feel so muc, over and above all to do or say, and time urn to go.

    But a portal  morning and in exactly t t Devin turned t time from behind him.

    quot;Oriad!quot; Catriana ;I am cursed in all I turn my o!quot; So tically feeling around telpiece.

    quot;For t!quot; she whispered harshly.

    the urgency in her voice made Devin freeze and obey.

    quot; t; ter under ;t it s over—”

    Sopped. Devin cion of to t of tly open to reveal a tiny cubbyhole beyond. his eyes widened.

    quot;Dont stand t; Catriana ; A neoget s.

    A moment later the room click open.

    quot;O; Catriana groaned, from t. quot;Oh, Devin, why are you here?”

    Addressed te incapable of framing an adequate response. For one till couldnt say  t Catrianas perfume iny space tling scent.

    If  ago ly found y to a wo weeks.

    Catriana seemed to arrive, belatedly, at t of a from before. Devin closed  che

    . ickling  t by moving tle .

    ionless, tilting back from  ely s more tly a fool for ed tuation— about to compound alogue of sins by making a grope for he darkness.

    Catrianas robe rustled gently as sed position. o in tirely good for uous resolutions.

    quot;Sorry,quot;  beads of perspiration on o distract ried to focus on tside. Be and a steady, diffused murmur made it clear t people ill filing past Sandres bier.

    to , in t fled, tinguis recognizable.

    quot;I s posted  gives us a moment before thers come.”

    quot;Did you notice t; a muco ter ;Very amusing.”

    quot;Of course I noticed,quot; t man replied acerbically.  tone? And recently. quot; an evening scrounging up tins from ty years ago? his?”

    tly. quot;And a fine table of food it is,quot; ly.

    quot;t is not !”

    Laug;I kno isnt, but its a fine table all the same.”

    quot;taeri, t a time for jests, particularly bad ones. e only  before ten to me carefully. Only t is happening.”

    quot;It is only us, t; t;No one else? Not even my father?”

    quot;Not Gianno, and you knoen, pup!”

    Just t e in a quite unmistakable ly because of riana  sed  again,  sig ly against  one of her long arms had somehow slipped around his neck.

    quot;Do you kno; s soundlessly, mouto ;I rat of t?quot; tip of ongue, for just an instant, touche lobe of his ear.

    Devins mout bone dry even as o full, painful erection side  voice  kneerse explanation of someting lodge, but ts explanations ly been rendered definitively trivial.

    trivial,  of test importance imaginable  t Catrianas lips   even as ive accord—to touc and t doo t-of s , setting him free.

    Oriad!quot; roked ; you tell me before t you liked it dangerous?quot; ed  fiercely for t time.  her hips.

    Stled back on a ledge against to make it easier for h now rapid and shallow as well.

    quot;t; Devin side. quot;By second moonrise I  you to be...”

    Catrianas ig painfully, and at t moment t folds of s and found tal hed been longing for.

    Sed sound and  rigid for just a second, before becoming extremely soft in ly stroked t folds of ed again, very sligo eeto , lost in astonisionless, o  soundlessly, not knowing w he was saying.

    quot;Enoug; tside rasped crisply.

    quot;Even so,quot; said t. quot;Remember to togeto join us tonigever you do be sure you are not followed or we are dead.”

    t side of to t sloly into Catriana, finally recognized the voice hed been hearing.

    For tinued talking, but noonations of the day before.

    quot;At last!quot; fluted tomasso dAstibar bar Sandre. quot;e feared dreadfully t youd all contrived to lose yourselves in ty recesses, never to be found again!”

    quot;No suc; a voice gro;ter eig  ting still for t kind of music all morning is cursed ty work.”

    In t Devin and Catriana clung to eacer. t seemed to  tered ing rs together.

    Devin felt er eeto ime and in t moment  ly, into her.

    For an unmeasured, enervated space of time t, t  skin. to Devin tside seemed to come from infinitely far airely.   to move at all.

    At lengtriana carefully loo bear . raced he blackness.

    Bes of Astibar ill s ted and some fe tion of te and drank, toasting an end to exile. Devin, riana, still s o find o say w he was feeling.

    Suddenly sracing fingers and bit it,  . S say anythough.

    After t, Catriana found tc into to seize a cily retraced to tair ts coming tionally alert and alive norianas fingers and

    ts as they passed.

    S later.

    ;s wrong?”

    S;Id as soon it  proclaimed t t; sraight ahead.

    Devin lifted ;  about us being upstairs? I just gave tion. t even boto talk about it. t of time.”

    quot;Not to me,quot; said Catriana quietly.

    quot;I didnt mean it t ; Devin protested, taken aback. But unfortunately tairs by t e unexpected sense of estrangement t o let er the room before him.

    More ttle confused, ook o go back out into tyard.

    ing role in t t played out upstairs. Back, and t seemed to be  focusing like a beam of sunligail ting and revealing ime around.

    And so it  by time it o step foro end and croes, seeing tantly, noting omasso struck a pose of rapt atten- tiveness, Devin o give t;Lament for Adaonquot; an undivided soul, for  quite decided in w o do.

    ly in tory of t o t from mountain glen to crag to chasm brink.

    and ces to rise above t courtyard and beyond it, out among treets and squares of ibar.

    ended to pass beyond t nigrail o a o gating t Catriana dAstibar  done t s of murder to prevent . rove to turn taste of t knoo grief for Adaon, to let it guide and infuse t;Lament.”

    Better for boture in  and ted softness in  a certain kind of pride at Devins age is perronger t any otal man, and o sing, yard among t of Astibar, t o be t ter, not she.

    So Devin sang t t dying on tregean mountain slope all o give it, making o seek t of everyone who heard.

    Adaon fall from t o Casadel as to its end.

    And so too, t morning, did a part of Devins life. For wal of Morians urning back.

 Chapter 4

    ESCORtING  tERN GAtE IN t, tomasso bar Sandre settled o an easy  for t time in forty-eigensely stressful hours.

    t. Normally it urning to trada before curfey gates. Normally sundoreets of Astibar of all save trolling Barbadian mercenaries and to defy the dark.

    t a normal time, onig tradas  a triump one, tival of Vines reets for all ts. For ts in tibar tried to pretend it  Senzio. No Duke in t even dour Alberico no release from the year.

    tomasso glanced back at y. tting sun emple- domes and toibar in an eerily beautiful gloo it. tomasso t about putting on  it: o remove some of e liked transitory ligumn ely upon t. It  be long, a matter of days, before t frost touc fe  on co become—if all fell rig ibar.

    Be servants plodded stolidly along t above—of tomassos fature of tioned reds t ted betwo men.

    tomasso corrected  o count to tail of o mention tail of exactly ibar so be s to ting lodge for t-long vigil and from to t at dao put tter rato t, t: ed  to learn during t t night.

    At t t tomasso felt a nudge of appre, as augo do over tters her.

    But no to upon t. tomasso, t iet were  careful he could easily feel like a child again.

    tables een-year-old son of the chief groom.

    ed of course, tly, to keep tter quiet. tomasso iculously rediscovering to come to o him.

    One of akes, tomasso reflected, ty years in autumn taste for t was one of w o call ies.

    t  manner.  became clear—past t of nursing any ion t tomassos preferences o put it mildly, not going to be co acknoence of his middle son.

    For more ten years t on t iently trying to train Gianno to succeed ime aeri—making it clear to everyone t  son  in line to . For over a decade tomasso simply did not exist he Sandreni Palace.

    t certainly did elseher provinces as well.

    For reasons t  to eclipse te nobility t Astibar still told sales about, even them had been dead four hundred years.

    o a certain degree, succeeded.

    Certainly t;raidquot; on temple of Morian t Ember Nigo linger a o perspective, as hen) of sacrilegious debauchery.

    t  on ionsionso impact upon ever since t morning in tra to speak to or even acknoate functions. If tomasso learned somet Sandre sen enougimes—old  one of ts togetomasso also kne t it mattered, really.

    S for ill o t morning of oion betheir middle child.

    Greater romantics t o t, as tigogetaliatory aftermat poisoning, sful hope by dying.

    Bot  so.

    In fact, it al efficiency of  brougomasso and Sandre to a certain very late-nigalk during t al, irredeemable, inescapable stupidity of Gianno dAstibar bar Sandre, titular o ttered fortunes of their family.

    And to tter trut  all denial, t s ed in t generation, y and perception, y to cloak s and discern tever of suco , to to tomasso.

    o be spoken, let alone ibar or anywhe Palm.

    In t inomasso ainly no evening road Sandre ravel—t one of truest measures of tature as a ruler of men  er nig ony silence and spoke to his

    middle son and made .

    in tious eig to drive Alberico and ibar and tern Palm. A quest t omassos public manner became more and more eccentric and decayed,  a parody—a self-parody, in fact— of the mincing, lisping lover of boys.

    It , in late-nigalks ate outside ty walls.

    Sandres parallel role o settle visibly and loudly into impotent, brooding, triad-cursing exile, marked by querulous, blustering s and too much drinking of his own wine.

    tomasso ually drunk, and ing voice .

    Eigried an assassination. A craceable only to try inn in Ferraut near tibar. For over ibar outed t inn as a place of groinction. No one remembered, aftero plant casual rumors of t among emples. ts of Morian, in particular, ites.

    All tites.

    A full year from time t tion, Alberico of Barbadior ed on riad Games— exactly as Sandre o take  a ed inn in Ferraut near tibar border.

    By time t do t brige-summer day every person in t inn— servants, masters, stable-boys, crons—s broken and t off, before being bound, living, upon ily erected Barbadian sky-wo die.

    to taxes in t  tibar, tregea and Certando. During tortured and burned in tibar uffed in t t not trouble Alberico or ate above the square.

    In tomasso discovered t sorcerers cannot, in fact, be poisoned.

    For t six years t talk at nig knos to t in Barbadior, h each passing year.

    tomasso began commissioning and collecting icks   ed. Gianno, ted a burgeoning reputation as a genial, uncomplicated seducer of e and illegitimate. to maintain modest y as part of Albericos overall policy to be as discreet a ruler as possible—except ened him.

    At ly stered, empty and dusty. A useful, potent symbol of t resist tyrant. titious claimed to see gly lig nig, or on tumn Ember Nigo walk abroad.

    try Sandre old tomasso,   o die on tival of Vines tumns o name t it ime to tell taeri, t son, .  stupid, and migain t Gianno  illegitimate, and

    t y-one by t and ambition— ion s Sandre o create just after time of his dying.

    It , in fact, a question of ed: family er all, family. t o mind.

    It irely dispassionate conversation, tomasso remembered, leading  betrees t flanked tions ; t. Aftero fall asleep, te of tival to e omasso a co try again, a different way.

    te t  tibar to omasso made a ure to avert evil at t t. Bees to ligorc greinted a somber s upomasso t of souls, hers and his own. he shivered.

    te moon, Vidomni, rose, and t long after, came blue Ilarion to c torc, so brigorc suited task and omasso let t off to to come at lengto ting lodge her had loved.

    ts laid trestles ing in ter of t room. Candles  and t up at opposite ends of t up earlier t day. It o air t the breeze.

    At a nod from tomasso tes ao t and return at daybreak. At vigils end.

    And so t alone, finally. tomasso and two years before.

    quot;ine, my lords?quot; tomasso asked. quot;e will ly.”

    , deliberately, in ural voice, dropping tificial, fluting tone t ibar. o see bote t immediately, turned to him.

    quot;; groomassos voice, nor ions gave too muctle indeed.

    quot;My brotaeri and nep.quot; tles of Sandreni red reserve as ing to see wher had said would follow. Scalvaia would ask, Sandre had said.

    quot;; Lord Scalvaia asked softly.

    Inomasso saluted em to release t, ;I dont kno name o come  our council tonight.”

    t oo had been carefully chosen.

    quot;Council?quot; elegant Scalvaia ec;It appears t I he

    impression t t; Nievoles dark eyes glo tomasso.

    quot;A little more t,quot; said taeri as ered the room, herado behind him.

    tomasso o see te sobriety, and to note t, for all t timing of taeris entrance, his expression was profoundly serious.

    quot;You ; tomasso murmured, moving to pour t;You may not  herado, Giannos son.”

    t silent, as omasso carried to her and nephew.

    tillness lasted a moment longer, to a cretc in front of ed ed it at tomasso. tip did not waver.

    quot;I asked you a question,quot; iful voice. quot;omasso bar Sandre?  enses?”

    tomasso stopped playing o t at last. o burly Nievole.

    quot;t; ;o be t lords of any real po in Astibar. ters past  ended to die on tival. At a time o refuse es of burial—ime wibar, wo name you his vigil-keepers.”

    e recitation and let ;My fat  suspicion, or interruption, or risk of being detected, to set in motion certain plans for tibar.”

    c Sandre o wrayed surprise or dismay by so much as a flicker of a muscle.

    Sloable by ick range  moments suchis.

    quot;Do you kno; said bluff Nievole from by t;do you kno t ually crossed my mind o riad-cursed fats die ; ic, and it did not reac;—o  imes I tried to en tes along in the days when he ruled.”

    tomasso smiled in return, just as t;ain you ; ely to t sure  ;e certain you o come, being one of t of a dying breed in Astibar. Indeed, in the Palm.”

    Bearded Nievole raised ;You flatter  say I do prefer your voice as it is no all tters and y t normally go .”

    Scalvaia looked amused. taeri laugcomasso liked , as o assure ing conversation, in icular fashion.

    quot;I prefer t; o t;You  fees, being ain aspects of my life in certain ages to being seen as aimlessly degenerate.”

    quot;t; Scalvaia agreed blandly, quot;if you  is served by sucion.

    You named a name a moment ago, and intimated he

    bearer of t name dead or gone. e  ies migic eventuality.”

    e unreadable; tomasso   blessedly kept quiet, as instructed. ook one of the bier.

    Scalvaia  on, quot;e cannot be una by saying ely in our  migially appear. At time, I do surmise t , to rise and begin to ride back toibar carrying reac these woods.”

    It ated—a minor fact to be confirmed before moving on to more important issues.

    tomasso s;; ;You do us irely free to leave. Indeed,  you if you  t I migo point out t alted and deater torture, it is exceedingly likely, approacainty, t Alberico o do to bot o ter t unfortunate incident in Ferraut some years ago?”

    this.

    It ;t  it?quot; ;Not t all!”

    quot;It ; tomasso agreed calmly. quot;e learned a great deal, I must say.”

    quot;So,quot; Scalvaia murmured drily, quot;did ted Fabro bar Canzian.”

    quot;t o be on t of terms,quot; tomasso said blandly. quot;t say t if you focus on t aspect of t miss t.”

    quot;t you prefer us to take,quot; Nievole amended pointedly.

    Unexpectedly, Scalvaia came to tomassos aid. quot;Not fair, my lord,quot; o Nievole. quot;If  anytrue in times it is t Sandres red and arget was Alberico.”

    , and finally ted in  a pain in ed leg.

    quot;Very ; o tomasso. quot;You old us  of trut a deat being ruled by a coarse, vicious, overbearing minor lord from Barbadior brings little joy to my aged . I am o . On my oathis.”

    tomasso s tion of t ;Your oaties beyond measure,quot;  it.

    quot;t; said Nievole, taking a ep for;And I o say t t lesser coin. t o lie dead and cut to pieces—triad oo am h and honor.”

    quot;Sucerribly splendid ; said an amused voice from te the door.

    Five faces, four ood outside ting on tiny, he window frame.

    quot;I ,quot; ;kno p a lineage to succeed in ousting a tyrant. In t; ition ed himself upwards,

    so t comfortably perc;On t; ;agreeing on a cause does make a starting point, I  much.”

    quot;You are t; tomasso asked warily.

    t .  not ty, in to s. t ,  ornament.

    quot;I ion t,quot; t;I actually , because if I am tions are unsettling, to say t. t is, I never spoke to your fativities and someed me to find out about ting and be  flattered by  raturbed t  me. On t; ime, quot;it is Sandre dAstibar alking about, and I do seem to make six  I?quot;  any visible irony, tos trestles.

    quot;You are, t Alberico?quot; Nievoles eyes chful.

    quot;I am not,quot; said te bluntly. quot;Alberico means noto me. Except as a tool. A o open a door of my own.”

    quot;And  lies be door?quot; Scalvaia asked from deep in his armchair.

    But in t moment tomasso remembered.

    quot;I kno; ly. quot;I saregean ses!quot; taeri snapped ion came o him as well.

    quot;I played t; te unruffled. quot;But I am not a sregea. It ed my purposes to play a role, many different roles, in fact, for a great many years. tomasso bar Sandre ougo appreciate t.quot; he grinned.

    tomasso did not return t;Perances, you mig;  as politely as tuation seemed to . quot;My fat  .”

    quot;Nor, Im afraid, s yet,quot; t;t o s onight.”

    It ter-of-factly said,  less.

    to forestall Nievoles predictable burst of anger tomasso said quickly, quot;You  deny us some information surely, even if you co sool for you. A tool for -of-tregea?quot; o find t  ioned yesterday. quot; is your oo this lodge?”

    till, almost masklike. And into ting silence t ensued ;I  Brandin. I  Brandin of Ygrat my souls immortality beyond t portal of Morian.”

    tumn fires on to tomasso as if ter o t speech.

    t;Sucerribly splendid ; murmured Scalvaia lazily, stering t of laugaeri, bot smile.

    t  nod of ;t, my lord, a subject about y. If o oget o remember t.”

    quot;You, I am forced to say, are an overly proud young man,quot; replied Scalvaia s;It might be

    appropriate for you to remember to whom you speak.”

    t back  retort. quot;Pride is a family failing,quot; ;I  escaped it, Im afraid. But I am indeed mindful of o be a t times I , discreetly. t instance in his.”

    quot;But you old us t Alberico is noto you.quot; tomasso iner prepared h figure.

    quot;Not; ted. quot;ill you allo; it ing for a reply ed o the wine.

    quot;Please,quot; said tomasso, belatedly.

    tage red. , and poured anoturn back to address tching him, were enormous.

    quot;ts,quot; t;Learn t freedom in t or slay Alberico you ed or slain Alberico  same period of time.”

    opped. omasso noticed noo toyed he handle of his cane.

    quot;t be understood,quot; tranger  on in tone. quot;Neit, nor you in yours, can afford to lose sigrutime. t no een years ago. today only t  take ther.”

    quot;; taeri asked, too eagerly.

    turely silvering dark urned to ;Patience, taeri bar Sandre. I  to tell you about carelessness before deciding if our pato join. And I say te respect for to o o agree to submit yourselves to my guidance or oget all.”

    quot;tted to notory,quot; t vulpine lord said, texture of velvet in ;I am not readily of a mind to become t to do so.”

    quot;ould you prefer,quot; t;to  like candles on tions?”

    quot;You ter explain yourself,quot; tomasso said icily.

    quot;I intend to.   double moonrise to meet?quot; Alessan retorted, ting like a blade. quot;ed along t pato  ernoon to guard test ao your ts— who I am?”

    quot;My fat Alberico  ; tomasso stammered furiously. quot;ely certain of t.”

    quot;And o ely rig you cannot let your focus be so narroo o say it —oo long. oo intent upon Alberico. It s the

    greedy? tty informer o follo to see o ory to tell in tavern tomorro to suchings?

    Or to t o come and arranged to be here before you?”

    tile silence. A log on ttled h a crack and a shower of sparks.

    arily at the sound.

    quot;ill it interest you to kno; t on, more gently, quot;t my people o t Ive ernoon keeping an eye on ts setting up, and hem?”

    quot;?quot; taeri exclaimed. quot;In ing lodge!”

    quot;For your protection and my o; to t above, s ored.

    quot;I t s, my friend,quot; co carry. quot;Youve earned a glass of er so long dry-ted among t. You may as well come down now, Devin.”

    It ually been very easy.

    Menico, purse jingling  at ts o Burnet di Corte. Burnet,  first, ariff ion t morning.

    So, in t, Devin and t of t of ted out for everyone an immediate bonus of five astins and benevolently o ts of tival.  even offer ure.

    Already, just past noon, tands on every corner, more t the busier squares.

    Eacibar province, and even some from fart or Senzio, s vintages from previous years available as  ts looking to buy in quantity her less so.

    Fruit vendors  ando.

    Over by t ty and its distrada canvassed tinerant tradesmen. Overates flapped brigumn breeze as Devin strode purposefully toold  fasibar.

    ts to fame.  tedly announced, and in a matter of moments  t kions asked about anyones age, thank you very much.

    It o find out  Sandre dAstibar. ions seemed entirely natural, coming from tenor .

    Devin learned about Sandres long rule, ter exile, and  feo a blustering, drunken er of small game, a o w he once had been.

    In t last context, rat wo .

    told old e ing lodge  to wine.

    It s strained sensitivity after t of  tacance t time to glimpsing Alessan di tregea at a booters and poets. t some ain verses of condolence t  yet arrived from Ced eacely s delighe packed room.

    Back at t ardent of t upstairs alone. ed in o be sure t of them had gone.

    o a dark-brounic and breec on a cap to  against ticed teeming croreets over to tern gate of ty.

    And out, among several empty o trada by sober, prudent farmers urn in tead of celebrating all nigo earned.

    Devin c part of ting axes and tes being paid t year for lambs ually o t.

    At one point ion, a temple of Adaon on t. Just past it, as promised, ely rendered image of a se of a modest country house.

    Rovigos  Devin could see of it, set rees— looked comfortable and cared for.

    A day ago, a different person, opped. But someto  morning y spaces of t going.

    A   to , souto t led to t coast and Ardin tohe sea.

    It  in t and cooler rees and Devin began to follo, toing lodge of tion. On tumn countryside; respasser  all for being where he was.

    Unless pride and trange, dreamlike events of t past could be called adequate excuses. Devin rated it. At time, it remained to be seen ive red-o dictate to come.

    If s o dupe—a o o anyt ernoon and to s girl could be.

    else t reveal, Devin didnt knoion.

    to tly among trees for a long time to be certain. t door  inside, opened a  to relock t, and took a look around.

    ttle option, really. t very useful if ed to o make it up to t on tempt.

    Nursing a sook a pillos stored up to est, darkest corner uffed lered corbin stag. By lying on  side, eye to a c complete viehe room below.

    ried to guide oience. Unfortunately, ionally conscious of t t tteringly fixed upon ances it made ually  up, turned tnut o one side and

    settled in to his hiding-place again.

    And rig tivities of to a time , Devin began to be afraid.

    ension in tomasso bar Sandres  morning made t clear enoug riana  to overo prevent  time Devin began to contemplate wum of his wounded pride had carried him.

    s came er to prepare ts. Bad enoug, to make  olid er buffaloes. tures, er buffaloes, patient, uncomplaining.

    to be said for table grey skies of Asoli in autumn and table people. None of tatingly superior as Catriana dAstibar , Devin e certain, ever eered, as one triad-bligo bring do from t in case one of the vigil-keeping lords should grow weary.

    quot;Goc be more of a fool tely must be!quot; te;to keep a c—a pallet in t to teful you arent dependent on your brain to feed your belly, Goch!”

    Devin fervently seconded timents of t and ive existence. For tentime since ts ered triana, and for tietime, io seemed about right.

    Finally ts left; ibar to bear teructions akingly explicit. its like Goc spitefully, to be.

    From owards dusk. ly op.

    urned back to to ty, dusty rooms of to t at triana wed above her hips.

    op t too.

    It greeadily darker. t o far a ing in t ting of t to rustling.

    tly, te ligains and Devin kne Vidomni all trees of t t blue Ilarion   be very much longer.

    It . torc and ttled, and teomasso came in wo lords whe Paelion.

    ts uncovered and laid out t, Gocumbling on t. te to go, s apology, bohe door behind him.

    quot;ine, my lords?quot; said tomasso dAstibar in t closet. quot;e will ly.”

    And from t t ude of he peril he was in.

    t te the door.

    Devin couldnt, in fact, see t  ely and it upefaction t  of a fortnigregea at all and ting target of e.

    Rasainly o be.

    So by time Alessan named ed o come doogetly took th offered him.

    quot;All quiet, since mid-afternoon,quot; , extricating epping past tlers to t. quot;Only ts  do muco pick. t seeing eache wiser.”

    as coolly as ely so tered t certainly recognized  ration, and isfaction, lay in the brief smile of approval he received from Alessan.

    For t irely different. Alessan imacy o trolling events in ts  spanned to figo control ement.

    tomasso  over to ted courtesy and tuated eyes, t alting voice migomasso, in certain matters and propensities, ill very muc o be. Devin accepted t to let touch.

    quot;I ; dra;are o be treated to a recital o be a quantity of musicians onight.”

    Devin said not follo smile.

    quot;S; there was real anger in Alessans voice.

    quot;And call Nievole a grain-farmer from tern distrada?  side ttle to do wo ways only.”

    ;One: as musicians ages I need not belabor.quot; A second finger s up beside t. quot;trains tics, or logic, to precision of detail. t of precision, my lords, t   defer to riving.”

    o anotly: quot;I mig I mig. It is a vanisune, t one, never to be sung. As matters stand I can only say again t if o oget ask you to accept my lead.”

    directly to Scalvaia  and expressionless, in his deep chair.

    It .

    quot;I am not in t of delaying my judgment of men. I t you say and t you are more versed in t. I ion.”

    quot;hich is?”

    quot;t you tell us your name.”

    Devin, censity, anxious not to miss a ant, as if to  miged t silence.

    t;It is a fair condition, my lord. Under tances it is entirely fair. I can only pray you  o it t is a grief—I cannot tell you  is—but I am unable to accede.”

    For t time o be reac;Names are poyrant-sorcerers from overseas most certainly knoterest  of our triump comes, and not before. I  t is not a co be truly to let t suffice you, my lord, or must  ways?”

    t question one bereft of t  of his arrival.

    Just as Devins earlier fear o excitement, so noement surrender to somet yet identify. ared at Alessan. to prevent t naked showing of his need.

    Nievole cleared  loudly, as if to dispel an aura, a resonance of somet seemed to ered t of tside. Anoted from to reply to Alessan.

    t he would have said, or Scalvaia.

    Afterars in Eannas Diadem in a moonless dark, Devin   moment carry rying—for reasons  to explain—to imagine e lines run differently from t lodge.

    scenarios in   rut became a queer, private sorroer. A symbol, a displacement of regret. A reminder of  o be mortal and so doomed to tread one road only and t one only once, until Morian called ts . e can never truly kno walked.

    t eac lodge o e portals to endings near or far  cried a second time, very clearly, just as Nievole began to speak.

    Alessan flung up ;trouble!quot; ;Baerd?”

    t .  and leggings cut in t, gleamed a dazzling blue. he carried a drawn sword.

    o Astibar.

    quot;Lets go!quot; tly. quot;You and t son and tions. Get rid of tra glasses.”

    quot; is it?quot; tomasso dAstibar asked quickly, his eyes wide.

    quot;ty  patinue your vigil and be as calm as you can— be

    far aurn after. Alessan, come on!”

    tone of o tomasso, and t look,  Devin never forgot, or fully understood.

    For a long moment—a very long moment, it seemed to Devin, y  and a dra;It seems inue tremely interesting discussion at a later ; tomasso bar Sandre murmured, ;ill you take a last glass before you go, in my fathers name?”

    Alessan smiled t;I o o do so later,quot; ;I o your fat I  I dont tisfy in time we have.”

    tomassos mout;Ive satisfied a number of s in my day. Do tell me yours.”

    t, Devin o strain to hear.

    quot;My t is blue,quot; Alessan said. quot;t. Lest on any single nig  is I am alive to do.”

    quot;Not forever lost, I ; said tomasso, equally softly.

    quot;Not forever, I  has gone.”

    quot;t er tonig; said tomasso, quot;if it is at all in my poo provide it. And I  o our fathers souls.”

    quot;Alessan!quot; snapped t;In Adaons name, I said ty horsemen!

    ill you come?”

    quot;I ; said Alessan.  o t;triad guard you all,quot; o to t she clearing.

    itly around to t from t led to t go far. o tiously out from under a cluster of dark-green serrano bus she open windows.

    A moment later Devins  lurc by a s bo behind him.

    quot;ty-t; a voice said. tly to ther side.

    quot;them is hooded.”

    Devin looked over. And by t of triana dAstibar.

    quot;; Alessan repeated, on a saken breat;You are certain?”

    quot;Of course I am,quot; said Catriana. quot; does it mean?”

    quot;Eanna be gracious to us all,quot; Alessan murmured, not answering.

    quot;I  be counting on it no; t;I they will search.”

    For a moment Alessan looked as if  just the lodge.

    it anotly moved away.

    quot;t; murmured Scalvaia, quot;groful by t.”

    tomasso eful for t lords equanimity. It eady his own nerves. he looked

    over at aeri seemed all rige-faced, omasso  the boy.

    quot;ely prettier o fear. e are ly w we o be doing.”

    t over to t at a gulp. Just as  t doo t, and four enormous, fully-armed Barbadian soldiers strode in, making the lodge seem suddenly small.

    quot;Gentlemen!quot; tomasso fluted expertly, ?  brings you o interrupt a vigil?quot; o sound petulant, not angry.

    t even deign to look at  alone reply. t to c to examine t ered appreaking up positions outside eac deal of noise outside among torches.

    tomasso abruptly stamped  in frustration. quot; is t; inued to ignore ;tell me! I sest directly to your lord. e o conduct tomorroing under ; ain standing by the door.

    Again it ely did t to their expressions blank and dangerous.

    quot;tolerable!quot; tomasso o Alber-ico! I s you all be sraigo your ched hovels in Barbadior!”

    quot;t  be necessary,quot; said a burly, he doorway.

    epped for;You may make your c ; said Alberico of Barbadior, tyrant of Astibar, tregea, Ferraut and Certando.

    tomassos o  even as o oo, knelt immediately, even old Scalvaia ened to descend over tomasso, trammeling all speec.

    quot;My lord,quot; ammered, quot;I did not ... I could ...  know!”

    Alberico , gazing blankly doer error and be. quot;You are most ;most  oo muc my fates.”

    quot;I do,quot; said Alberico bluntly. tomasso received t of a iny from t and unblinking deep in t. s of ;I y palm.

    quot;But of course, of course.”

    tomasso stumbled to obey, intimidated as aly of Alberico and ed  about tern Palm yrant could crack  t having done so.

    It  a comforting line of t. Only eigo s eady as to Alberico. t. Nievole aeri and ogetood, braced upon ting.

    It ime, tomasso judged, to sound more confident, less guilty. quot;You o your soldiers. Not knowing you were ing in ignorance of your wishes.”

    quot;My o knohose changes before you, bar San-dre.”

    quot;Of course, my lord. But of course. they—”

    quot;I ed,quot; said Alberico of Barbadior, quot;to look upon to look, and to laug; race of an inclination to. tomassos blood felt suddenly icy in his veins.

    Alberico stepped past ood massively over t;t; ly, quot;is tcuous old man wo no purpose.

    No purpose at all. Is it not amusing?”

    ,  ruly frigomasso had ever heard in his life. how had he known?

    quot;ill you not laugent Lord Scalvaia? Is it not diverting to t oo long to understand ings of ime could be so easily smas today.”

    ering t sound of distress Scalvaia sank back into his chair.

    quot;My lord,quot; tomasso gulped, gesticulating. quot; can you possibly mean?  are you—”

    no furt. ily across tomasso staggered backtering from h.

    quot;You ural voice, son of a fool,quot; terrifying because spoken in t tone as before. quot;ill it at least amuse you to knoo me?quot; And  came down.

    terror tomasso ing desperately to hold back.

    O, stricken to  it s they were now undone. By family. Family!

    Several tremely s span of time.

    quot;My lord!quot;  in c;You promised! You said t know!

    You told me—”

    It  to expostulate .

    quot;t under t; said aeri, inuous motion, s in .

    quot;One less Sandreni for your sky-ed, gasping. quot;triad send a plague to eat t; o ; blood  tomassos. quot;Fare; ;Morian grant our sher in her halls.”

    Sometomassos , squeezing and squeezing, as crained to  sort of blo tepped foraeri over on oes of ts.

    quot;Fools!quot; spat Alberico, visibly upset for t time. quot;I needed ed bot; t tten in ures.

    t elsewirely.

    itibar, a very big man  to ering ed as t the coffin.

    Still roaring, Nievole grappled for ims sword.

    ually  out and urning to do battle wook  and c.

    dully slack for an instant, to a macabre smile of triumpo the floor.

    And t to do. Slumped deep in ionless t forgotten rician raised eady ed it straig Albericos face, and squeezed tche handle.

    Sorcerers cannot, indeed, be poisoned—a minor protective art, one t most of ter in t certainly can be slain, by arroruments of violent deat be.

    trut men and triad in tars or single as of space.

    It is trut mortal man cannot understand  off in fullest floo sue must sometimes be trampled and evil flourisy of a country garden. e lines of men.

    It  t  for deatent upon taut, bleeding form of tomasso. No one he crippled lord in his chair.

    It —mercilessly random—t t evenings Captain of to o t cory in things so achingly small are lives measured and marred.

    Alberico, turning in a o snap an order at ain, saraigurning tile bursting into his brain.

    It o urned tiest   ook all time for ture. t t was his ending had already been loosed.

    Alberico released his hold upon his body.

    atcerror and disbelief, tomasso sa he wall above a window.

    And in t same scintilla of time, kno an instant later ant too late—t  forever,  to ently in te t lay in ambuss of o himself.

    It hing.

    o  eyelid from t day on, and rengt it ired, ever after,  foot o splay outracing trange release of t momentary magic. hen, much as Scalvaia had done.

    t fougo focus properly, Alberico of Barbadior sareated by ted sain of ted of stones and metals Alberico did not recognize, clattered loudly to to turally dense. tling sound to rembling at the back of his knees.

    It , etcunned silence of trusted o even try to speak.

    quot;You are dung,quot; o tain. quot;You are less t. You are filt;  he swallowed his saliva.

    Ferociously straining to make cain bo to o a palsied tremor in  .

    t many dead men in t even entirely feel as if o self in not quite t t ill, nauseous. to breato be outside, aifling lodge of his enemies.

    Noto pass as ed. t left of  mig offer a kind of pleasure, t migtle of w ely awry.

    urned, sloo look at Sandres son. At to a smile, unaware of how hideous he looked.

    quot;Bring ; o ;Bind o die. te to w he was.”

    ill not  omasso bar Sandre closed hey were done.

    Alberico put up ed up tain and supported the man whose face had been broken by Nievole.

    to yrant mount ing, but o feel better during torc ride back to Astibar. terly devoid of magic tions of ered, reassembled body   least t all came back. If it all came back.   instant in t of magic ever had in his life.

    stered t dangerous families left in tern Palm. Even more, o come. t he recesses of his hood.

    It o be done by la from taken porary exercise of migted to rear its dangerous  e e  not one citizen of his four provinces

    o doubt tice or deny timacy of o t.

    Or miss t of  response  to be.

    it caution t ruest ions of t ant danger and needed stern governing, but t blind, could see t o give it   tless things.

    And the Emperor was old.

    Alberico s from too seductive cail again; detail ters suc steps of o place like beads on a djarra string as  caused ion omasso bar Sandre. t least, did not o be made public and t be. Only ts revealing details needed to be knoside ever took place in certain rooms underground could be extremely private indeed. tle icipation .

    At one point  ed ting lodge torc. Smooted . Let ts find t da t  a little while.

    to be made extremely clear.

 Chapter 5

    “O;   ALESSAN   FUL   REGREt   INfusing ;I could  o your judgment even now. A c an arrow in his eye from here.”

    Not t ruefully, gauging tance and t from  ridden along.  t Alessan and t on the way here.

    quot;S; Baerd said prosaically. quot;And you are t  it o no good if eitoo soon.”

    Alessan grunted. quot;Did I s?quot; edly.

    Baerds teet. quot;I would opped you in any case.”

    Alessan sly. t later, relaxed into quiet amusement. to long familiarity. Catriana, Devin saainly not at o be t circumstances made it a little  anxious and proud and excited, all at once.

    noticed tomasso, bound at  and ankle to his horse.

    quot;ed better c; Baerd said as transient mood slipped a;to travel very fast. Sandres son he boy.”

    quot;e ter alk about t,quot; Catriana said in a tone t made it suddenly very easy for Devin to reclaim his anger.

    quot;t; ed, raising ;I to trary.quot;   coldly on o see urn away. Briefly rewarded.

    quot;Un; Alessan said. quot;I  to  note from you again. Catriana violated all I kno enougo elligent enougo noand  how she is feeling.”

    It  Devin felt as if  been puncomaco Catriana, but ars, a t floor.  fourteen years old again.

    quot;I dont particularly appreciate t, Alessan,quot; riana saying coldly. quot;I fight my own wars.

    You kno.”

    quot;Not to mention,quot; Baerd added casually, quot;teness of your cising anyone alive for oo much pride.”

    Alessan co ignore t. to Catriana ;Brigar of Eanna, do you t kno t  be alloo matter. I cant tle beto be one of us.”

    quot;If ?quot; Catriana  the music? Because he can sing? hy should someone from Asoli possibly be—”

    quot;; Alessan said sriana fell abruptly silent. Not o look or o feel, Devin continued to simulate an intense interest in t soil beneat.  were wh confusion.

    Alessans voice ler riana,  to blame  you felt you o do and it did not succeed. he

    cannot be blamed or cursed for folloly as , curse me for not stopping  the door. I could have.”

    quot; you t; Baerd asked.

    Devin remembered Alessan looking at  inner door t eo a land of dreaming.

    quot;Yes, w; ; me follow?”

    t  beops of trees. Only Ilarion  strange ligry folk called it whe blue moon rode alone.

    Alessan  be t noises of t: rustle of leaf in breeze, of grass, to a branc and anot.

    Alessan said: quot;Because I kneune aug from Asoli. Catriana, my dear, it isnt just tever you may test him?”

    On t conscious, rational level, Devin understood almost none of t o gro o wal he waxing blue moon.

    Nor o Baerd and saricken look on torting moonlight he could see how pale Baerd had become.

    quot;Alessan . . .quot; Baerd began, his voice roughened.

    quot;You are dearer to me t; Alessan said, calm and grave. quot;You o me. I   you for t in t ask unless I est him, Baerd.”

    Still Baerd ated,  seemed to matter to t deal.

    For a long moment no one moved. Finally Baerd, rol of ook Devin by teps furto to a small clearing among a circle of trees.

    Neatly o sit cross-legged on ter a moments ation Devin did t follo on triana saying in t morning. ogeto keep teady;  cold, and it tle to do .

    riana follo  look back. For t ant ever it  lessly competent until t and noered tling ease. Abruptly, and for time in t long day, Devin felt as if o a country of dream, leaving be world.

    And in t of Ilarion, ale, so t it came to  first time like a spell, somet of t spaces of , in t was.

    quot;In took Astibar,quot; said Baerd, quot;ando his

    peninsula from t.  into t ook took it easily, for t t you know.”

    raining to rialla ly, sadly, from a brancriana made no sound at all. Baerd  on.

    quot;In t year ttleground in an enormous balancing game bet it could afford to give ter-beloved son, Stevan. Brandin of Ygrat to carve out a second realm for o rule.  hing else.”

    trialla ill singing. Baerd paused to listen, as if finding in its liquescent voice, gentler even tingales, an eco something in his own.

    quot;ttempting to rally a resistance in tains, ook Asoli province soon after, and , ely loyal and better trained. For  realm. te almost effortlessly, defeating eaced toget year. Or after, naturally.quot; Baerds voice  quite detacrying for.

    quot;From Corte, Brandin urned east  of o meet Alberico in Ferraut and pin  Stevan souto take t free province in t and to join  to meet ttle t I ted he Palm.

    quot;It ake, t really  teen years ago. Neures of t provinces in ted Stevan to aste of leaders of t commanders, relying on o il thers joined him.”

    Baerd paused for a moment, imbre to  seemed to Devin to be carrying many different them sorrowful.

    quot;At t; Baerd said, quot;a little more tando and t Corte, Stevan  by tterest resistance eito find in the Palm.

    Led by t last province in t met t th sides.

    quot;And Prince Valentin of t province . . . te, sleevan of Ygrat sunset after a bitter day of death.”

    Devin could almost taste t time to ook rated as if reating eac o be set into t was his own pride.

    And rig t seemed to Devin t a distant bell began to toll in some recess of his mind.

    Ranging a ly back from t but clear, from over morning fields of waving yellow grain.

    quot;Brandin kne; Baerd said, ; back sout, leaving Alberico a free  and Certando. he

    came do of  t of  foes wed for he Deisa.”

    Once more Baerd looked over at Alessan. ly in t. ;Brandin annied to pieces  mercy or respite. Drove to try soutook no prisoners.  first marc a t noevan of Ygrat province in blood and fire. Before t oy in tains—tevanien. On t o rubble and sand ty by ttle by took ter t year ortured and mutilated and killed in Chiara.”

    Baerds voice  till t bell  to come, tolling in Devins mind, louder no;Brandin of Ygrat  land suc spell ore its name a name utterly from t been born in t province. It e revenge.  as if e, after tterest of our ancient enemies among the provinces.”

    Be Catriana ;Brandin made it come to pass t no one living could  land, or of its royal city by t oains. ion, and tripped away our name.”

    And t  umn dark of Astibar. tion, an indictment, to trees and t and stars—tars t co pass.

    t accusation clencself like a fist ig memory meant to Devin dAsoli: t o be toucone of his soul.

    Memory alisman and

    dead and gone forever. Marra could live; ern fato  t of o  nig , pounding to ter of   cut him like a fresh and killing wound.

    it o steadiness, ration t o matter more t terrible . Devin looked at t ed. ood  o place.

    Older by far t;t last province, Devin. A song of ty of to of t place could  tune in told me you did. It is  is op you  it to Morian to see w mig doorway.”

    Devin nodded, absorbing t later ;If this is so, if I have

    properly understood you, till  aken away.”

    Alessan said, quot;It is so.”

    Devin discovered t  trating, but  make top.

    ;t olen from me all my life. ill you . . . give it back to me? ill you tell me the land where I was born?”

    Baerd by starligoo  beyond trees.

    Alessan  o tell. Devin didnt knoime, a long, descending note, and t time in ;tigana.”

    it. And  abrupt, absolute inner stillness a surge of loss broke over er t -deep pride.  a strange ligion as of a summons rushe corridors of his blood.

    taring at e, transparent even by starligterest t—an acood, and gave to the release he needed.

    quot;t; Devin said.  seem to be trembling anymore. Around a difficult t  on, for it : quot;tigana. tigana. I igana. My name . . . my true name is Devin di tigana bar Garin.”

    Even as o glory blazed in Baerds face. tig as if to  glory in, to keep it from escaping into to clutc fiercely to eady breat Catriana touchdraw her hand.

    Baerd  in a place beyond speec  is one of taken a. tigana y by t city under Eannas lig named. Or per fair.”

    A t seemed to genuinely long to become lauger and love toget time Devin turned to look up at him.

    Alessan said, quot;If you o y s run o find t said t second ies.”

    In tried, his voice could only carry loss.

    quot;You  inland city, Devin, and so ain river. e owers.”

    t name, but time it  from time it  took o her and his childhood.

    ;You do kno you?”

    quot;Of course I do,quot; said Alessan gently.

    quot;Please?quot; Devin asked.

    But it riana ime morning in Avalle And I dont care s say: Im going doo today On a springtime morning in Avalle.

    may, Ill build a boat to carry me aake it to tigana Bay And ther from Avalle.

    But ly or rees so a dream of towers of Avalle.

    A dream of my home in Avalle.

    t sad o tune ed doo Devin, and  almost dro grace of Catrianas song. No breaking rumpets along ters of longing. A longing for sometaken aely, so compre  ever kno was gone.

    And so Devin  as Catriana sang. Small boys, young-looking for t o cry  sometoo large for Devin to deal aken  tonight.

    If ood properly o him.

    to sears, and listened as Catriana finis bitter-s cradle song: a song of a cy, even  to build a so  to sail it into turning back. Nor ever losing or forgetting t all began.

    A child very much as Devin saw himself.

    . For o lose and forget tos bay.

    So ears folloher and his home.

    And in t  far from Astibar to eac  memory meant to  of t blazing sometook s o c night.

    Baerd  him.

    Very deliberately Devin  . Very carefully  w she Palm.

    tion for taking an oath.

    Baerd lifted  ure. toucips toget ther mans larger, callused one.

    Devin said, quot;If you  break faith you.”

    quot;Nor I ; said Baerd. quot;In tigana gone.quot; tling as Alessan sank to ;Devin, I sioning you,quot; ;t a to move too fast. You can be one  o break your life apart to come h us.”

    quot;; Catriana murmured, moving nearer on t;tomasso bar Sandre o torturers tonigomorrohe singing career of Devin dAsoli may be

    over just as it truly begins.quot; She darkness.

    quot;It is over,quot; Devin said quietly. quot;It ended rianas expression did not c shinking.

    quot;Very ; said Alessan.   it . Alessan ated. quot;An oatronger for me than you could have guessed,”

    he said.

    quot;You knew her?”

    quot;e bot; Baerd said quietly. quot;Sen years older t every adolescent boy in tigana tle in love  of too, I think.”

    Anot t came . Devins fat. o sorro than Devin could have imagined.

    quot;e all envied and admired your fatell you,quot; Alessan added. quot;t an Avalle man  to your naming day. I dont remember  was.”

    quot;You admired my fat; Devin said, stunned.

    Alessan  and ;Do not judge  er Brandin smasion and ting their souls.

    Your motigana gone.  and survived bottles by t; Above triana made a small sound.

    quot;I never kne; Devin protested. quot;old us any of t.quot; there was a new ache inside him. So many avenues.

    quot;Fe; Baerd said.

    quot;Neits did,quot; said Catriana a;took us as far ao a fisibar do from Ardin, and never spoke a his.”

    quot;to s; Alessan said gently. ill touc ;A great many of ts  t  a life unmarred by tigma t bore do still bear doigana. Or Loe as  name it now.”

    quot;t; said Devin stubbornly.  ced, deprived, betrayed.

    Alessan s;Devin, t judge yet: t tune by c to burden you or your brotage, but  a stamp upon you—a tune, y— and  you out into t akably, to anyone from tigana, but to no one else. I do not t er a ring t marked o anyone born where she was born.”

    Devin glanced back. Catriana  o see. It  ed to t, and  a strange, the sea. he swallowed.

    quot;ill you tell me of ; urning back to Alessan. quot;Of my father?”

    Of stolid, dour Garin, grim farmer in a  grey land.  noigana and errible battles by a river and ure—very deliberately sent out into tive c o onight.

    ly realized, almost certainly lied o

    t was all suddenly very hard.

    quot;I ell you w I know of ; Alessan said.

    quot;But not tonigriana is rig get ourselves ao me from noil the ending of my days.”

    Devin turned to look up at Catriana. quot;ill you accept me?”

    Sossed ;I dont ; s;You seem to angled yourself rat; S ouch.

    quot;Be ; s;I sigana.”

    quot;And I  t; Devin offered.

    arlig. quot;O; s;Im sure you are. It able you found the experience!”

    Alessan snorted . quot;Catriana, my darling,quot; ;I just forbade o mention any details of hem up yourself?”

    it test trace of a smile Catriana said, quot;I am ty  enforce anyt the same.”

    Baerd c;t; ; been t?”

    Catriana tossed  did not deign to reply.

    tood up. Devin flexed o relieve tiffness of sitting so long in one position.

    quot;Ferraut or tregea?quot; Baerd asked. quot;hich border?”

    quot;Ferraut,quot; Alessan said. quot;tregean as soon as tomasso talks—poor man. If Id been t hey rode by.”

    quot;O,quot; Baerd retorted. quot;ity soldiers surrounding ibar by now.”

    quot;You ; Alessan said wryly.

    quot;Is t speak?quot; Devin interjected a;Im t Menico, you see. If Im named . . .”

    Alessan s;Everyone talks under torture,quot; ;Especially if sorcery is involved. Im t Menico too, but t anyt it, Devin. It is one of ties of t at risk by almost everyt; ;t I knew w  lodge.”

    quot;You ed to c,quot; Catriana reminded ;Can ime?”

    quot;I did, and yes, I t; said Alessan crisply. quot;till dont knoo be the—”

    opped t for tling leaves it  in trialla ly raised one  roughrough his hair. he shook his head.

    quot;Do you kno; o Baerd, in  a conversational tone, quot; times? It ; ;Come on—and pray  too late!”

    tars ser of Eannas Diadem , folloingale was

    singing, as if in anso trialla of before, as tated for a moment ture Devin already recognized. through.

    By tomed by noo darkness—on thin.

    till rested on its trestles, altered and knocked a t tibar.

    t Scalvaias severed errible distance ao control the lurch of sickness in his gorge.

    quot;O; Alessan o time.”

    quot;t; came a ed voice from deep in one of t;trangled at birth.”

    Devin jumped ,  h shock.

    tood beside tirely ;I t you ; he said.

    truggling to understand, straining to make out tall, gaunt form by t glohe embers.

    Alessan seemed quite unruffled. quot;Im sorry I kept you ing t; ;It took me too long to riddle to express my sorro for you, my lord Sandre.”

    Devins jas oo fast for him.

    quot;I  t,quot; said t figure in front of t;I do not deserve your respect t of anyone else. Once per anymore. You are speaking to an old vain fool—exactly as t too many years alone, tangled in  in everyt carelessness. It  me tonighe Sandreni will be no more.”

    te, objectively damning, devoid of self-pity. tone of a judge in some dark ion.

    quot; ; Alessan asked quietly.

    quot;traitor.quot; Flat, uninflected, final.

    quot;O; Baerd exclaimed. quot;Family?”

    quot;My grandson. Giannos boy.”

    quot;t; Baerd said, quiet and fierce. quot;ody norammeled in darkness until time.”

    t to ;taeri killed ; ;I  t abbed o deny tever t  t ; ed absently.

    t to eac interty coffin.

    quot;You said you ed for us,quot; Alessan murmured. quot;ill you tell me why?”

    quot;For t; Sandre moved for t time, stiffly making o t on ttering flame. A shower of sparks flew up. he

    nursed it, poking il a tongue of flame licked free of the ash bed.

    turned and nos, but th a cold defiance.

    quot;I am ; Sandre said, quot;and you are  goes on. It goes on o e. My quest and your oil hey go on.”

    quot;You ening, t; said Alessan. quot;From in t I said?”

    quot;t deal of o say,quot; traigeur in ;I  you named yourself, and o tell t I know who you are.”

    ook a step to straig him.

    quot;I knoly igana!”

    It oo mucrying to understand. too many pieces of information  oo many different directions, contradicting eac dizzy, overal violence t to come upon. At time, to be dead—tes  very morning—ibar left alive in this lodge.

    If ibar!

    For if  spoken tigana, given  Alessan oo, Devin fougo assimilate—a Prince? t Valentin  Brandins vengeance dohem all.

    Devin simply stopped trying to put it all toget o listen and look—to absorb as muco t —and to let understanding come after, o think.

    So resolved, er a blank silence more to reveal t;Noand. Finally I understand. My lord, I t you al among men. From t time I sa my first triad Games ty-took you for. ay alive?  from these years?”

    quot;?quot; It riana,  immediately made Devin feel better:  tely treading er here.

    quot;; Baerd said flatly.

    t;to spells not directed specifically at t; Alessan added. quot;true of all magic-users, ing doo this peninsula.”

    quot;And to do ; Sandre dAstibar said in a corrosive voice. urned and jabbed viciously at t fully time and roared into red light.

    quot;I survived,quot; said t;simply because no one kne involved not. I used my po a flicker, since t even use it to feign my deatronger tronger. It ime each of

    t of t o t kno?  good is a finding spell, or a fledgling mental arro leads one straigo a Barbadian deat; tterness in the old Dukes voice.

    quot;Or one of Brandins,quot; Alessan murmured.

    quot;Or Brandins,quot; Sandre ec;It is this land.”

    quot;And it is,quot; said Alessan, quot;or so nearly so as to be thing. I have been searching for a wizard for a dozen years or more.”

    quot;Alessan!quot; Baerd said quickly.

    quot;; t.

    quot;Alessan!quot; Baerd repeated, more urgently.

    t learned to be tigana looked over at ;Not t; ically. quot;Not Sandre dAstibar.”

    urned back to tated, cakable pride, ;You rue. tigana, all t descent, can bind a o to death.”

    For t time a gleam of curiosity, of an actual interest in somet;I do kno story. t I er I came into my oo be igana. ually claim t w rue?”

    quot;It ain it still is. I o test it t is our primal story: tigana is t of our Princes, Ra Micaela he Princes has never been broken.”

    Devin felt a complex stir of emotions  even try to enumerate angling t. Micaela. ened and c o remember.

    And ibar laugh.

    quot;I kno story too,quot; t;t iganese arrogance. Princes of tigana! Not Dukes, o;  to;You and oniginking reality of tyrants and of today and spe old lie at me? You ?”

    quot;It is trut; said Alessan quietly, not moving. quot;It is  o ts to claim a lesser title. t of Adaon to al son could not be immortality—t, Eanna and Morian forbade. But ted a binding poo o ters of igana lived in t direct line. If you doubt me and  it to test I  to be ligibar. If  is because we o be.”

    quot;Not any more,quot; t;Not since Brandin came!”

    Alessans face ted. .

    quot;; Catriana snapped. Bravely, Devin t.

    Prince and Duke ignored ent on eac gradually receded into tcterness remained, in eyes and stance and th.

    Alessan said, quot;I  expected t from you. Under all tances.”

    quot;You are in no position to  to expect from me,quot; the Duke replied, very low.

    quot;Under all tances.”

    quot;S company nohen?”

    For a long moment sometion, complicated immeasurably by deatiff, reflexive pride of boto tension, found t h.

    quot;I ,quot; said Sandre dAstibar finally. quot;Not like t; ;ill you accept an apology from one who is sunken as low as he has ever been?”

    quot;I ; said Alessan simply. quot;And I , indeed, part ime. Your middle son aken alive. omorro tonight.”

    quot;Not tonig; t absently. quot;Alberico appree seriously debilitated by il a time w o ... play.”

    quot;tonigomorro; said Baerd,  voice jarring t;It makes little difference. alk. e must be away before he does.”

    quot;Per,quot; Sandre murmured in trangely detac t;I  I can tell you t Alberico used a magic onigrong it is still pulsating. And  to save  kno ;  Alessan. quot;Near to giving Brandin of Ygrathe whole peninsula.”

    quot;You ?quot; Alessan said. quot;You agree h me?”

    quot;I t to be true, and I kno ibar. I needed to  said, but once aken doogether.”

    Alessan nodded, and some of rolled tension seemed to ease aill t.”

    Baerd, smiling a little o t;You mentioned Albericos use of magic as if it s meaning t in tters.”

    quot;No s a  to be ignorant.quot; Sandre smiled t;traig from tonig any paltry po I invoke ely screened. I t your names are not given to torturers tomorrow.”

    quot;I see,quot; said Alessan, nodding slo see anyt as if urbulent ion. quot;You can take yourself t?quot; Alessans eyes .

    Sandre o ted. I cant say I regret it—I  constrains o do. I can go in t I am not strong enougo bring someone else out. I can take hough.”

    quot;I see,quot; said Alessan again, but in a different voice. t;I am sorry,quot;  lengtly.

    te beard and t cheeks his eyes gave

    not all. Beo the room.

    quot;I ion,quot; Sandre said.

    quot;hich is?”

    “t you alloo come o Morian. ibar I can speak to no one, aco preserve any purpose noo tcion of my dying I must go igana,  a feeble ourage? A  bound by some legend?”

    For a long time Alessan , looking at t at edly,  he room.

    quot;tac; e unexpected tone of voice, quot;to your beard and your we hair?”

    A second later Devin range sound. It took  to recognize t ibar.

    quot;Do  you ; Sandre said as ; inge my locks red as the maids?”

    Alessan s;I . One of t for a single company. I leave tters to Baerd t many to Baerd.”

    quot;t; Sandre said. o the yellow-haired man.

    Baerd, Devin sa look entirely  too.

    quot;I  s; to ;I s vo s of my days to ensure t you do not regret t content you?”

    Slo;It will.”

    Listening, Devin uitive sense t too, tered, t neitly, or less trut.  t Catriana and discovered t scurned quickly a look back.

    Sandre said, quot;I t set about doing urn from t I dare say you need not spend a nigrious there?”

    ttling to Devin still, but Sandres  since tered the lodge.

    quot;Are you sure youll be able to stop your son from talking?quot; ly.

    quot;Quite sure,quot; Sandre replied briefly.

    Devins bro. quot;ell t seems to me none of us is in immediate danger. Except for you, my lord. You must not be seen.”

    quot;Until Baerds done ; Alessan interposed. quot;But go on.”

    Devin turned to ;Id like to say fareo Menico and try to to give for leaving. I o  o e me.”

    Alessan looked tful. quot;e you a little, Devin, even t t kind of man.

    a lifelong trouper like Menico dreams about. And no explanation you come up o alter t t o make t dream a real thing now.”

    Devin srut. A season or t t alked about for so many years. to settle ern for o old friends

    and nerails. ell tories er nigake out a place by to be to and out of all the songs he knew.

    Devin so ts of  a;I just dont like disappearing on  once. eve got concerts tomorrooo.”

    Alessans mout;I do seem to recall t,quot; ;them.”

    quot;t; said Catriana unexpectedly.

    quot;t; Alessan agreed c;And one t day at t  occurred to me—a substantial  I expect to win.”

    able gro;Do you seriously tival of Vines is going to bliter o go make music in Astibar as if not like it.”

    quot;Actually, Im quite certain tival ; It ;Alberico is cautious almost before onig in ions, let trada scatter and go ely after. But only on t  is, frankly, w I would do myself.”

    quot;taxes?quot; Alessan asked.

    quot;Perer t t . An actual assassination attempt in a public place.   time—three families here.”

    Devin found it unsettling  son, grandco be fodder for Barbadian killing- degree. ried to trusively  evil.

    trut just t Menico, and t ter of costing troupe to troupe all time. Or left to start tired from to a business t offered ty. ting o go on er  s, but it . Someed to make it appear as if t.

    Someto ;ont it look a bit odd, too, if es? Riger Albericos unmasked a plot t ed  of linked to ttention to ourselves like t? It isnt as if our disappearance  be noticed.”

    , for some reason, to Baerd. And  later .

    quot;No clot; Baerd said. quot;t does make sense, to say it.”

    quot;A good deal of sense,quot; Sandre agreed. Devin fidgeted a little as iny of t;t;—tured at Devin and Catriana—quot;may yet redeem your generation for me.”

    time Devin refused to look at tead  over to t slashed by a family blade.

    Alessan broke te coug;t; one, quot;anot entirely. Only t as many nigdoors as I e t  bed at nig,quot; ;your eloquence e overcome me, Devin. Lead me back to Menico at two

    syrenya-players ive silence.”

    Baerd favored  Alessan appeared to e easily. quot;I ; Baerd said darkly, quot;from a recitation of your ournal s. I  o return. ell o burn tonig s come back in t t to rise from your pillo; ;t soft city living doesnt prevent you from being able to find the cache.”

    quot;Ill find it if s lost,quot; Catriana said.

    Alessan looked from one to t;t isnt fair,quot; ested.

    quot;It is just t.”

    Devin . Alessan ill gazing at Baerd. quot;You kno is only the music Im going back for.”

    quot;Of course I kno,quot; Baerd said softly. ;Im only afraid t these days.”

    Intercepting t passed beted—on a nig ture of bonding and about love.

    quot;Go,quot; said Baerd ill ated. Catriana ;e  you after tival. By t,quot; ;expect to recognize us.”

    Alessan grinned suddenly, and a moment later Baerd allo c deal. , Devin realized, smile very often.

    ill t t as ri-ana out to the wood again.

 Chapter 6

    It  DAY AND NIG lead back to ter all.

    turned t to tibar to Ardin toumn stars, cicadas loud in t; it  tonight.

    It range to be abroad in te. raveling Menico o ered and settled by tern measures botyrants aken against t often traveled by decent folk at night.

    Folk sucriumps or security, and  marked  ually, if tomasso bar Sandre talked.

    It ed trusted t came to t—but  kno like er so many years.

    It occurred to  to t so make  knoigana eit of ory told under tion of  purely an abstraction for him. A name.

    enougo —for t Alessan and Baerd and ted—as for t in t tonig kno knoted into o t.

    trut if Sandre dAstibar could stop alking, as o do, to prevent Devin from carrying on exactly as  six years. From riump seemed to lie before  onis t course, o t inconceivable to o tremendous divide. Devin  ed and easily understood as they were happening.

    ed from ly raising a  a o trees again beside ter a moment torc to t and Devin  approacurning e, ival going on. In some  o seem anoted for t to go by.

    It did not. t slap and jingle of reins just in front of we.

    quot;I really am ,quot; t;Every single time I look at t I am reminded t I sisan design it. ts, or t to be, to her allows!”

    Devin recognized t. An impulse, a striving back toer w , made him rise.

    quot;trust me,quot; ;this is a friend.”

    tepped out into the road.

    quot;I t it ter t artisans I knoo tell truto me yesterday afternoon in the Bird.”

    quot;I kno voice,quot; Rovigo replied instantly. quot;I kno voice and I am exceedingly glad to —even t unmasked me before a ser e existence. Devin dAsoli, if I am not mistaken!”

    rode fore, seizing t lantern from its bracket. Devin er from t. Beriana stepped into the road.

    quot;You are not mistaken,quot; Devin said. quot;May I introduce triana dAstibar and Alessan di tregea. t tle in elegant surroundings o ed and ejected yesterday.”

    quot;A; Rovigo exclaimed, ern ;ter!”

    Catriana, lit by t of t;I needed to talk to ; sion. quot;I didnt muc to go inside t place.”

    quot;A ial ; Rovigo approved, grinning. quot;ould t my clutcers . No one,quot; ;s to go inside t t it defeats all sense of smell.”

    Alessan burst out laug;ell-met on a dark road, Master Rovigo—the Sea Maid.”

    Devin blinked in astonis.

    quot;I  misfortune to o un-sea; Rovigo admitted c;o kno, friend?”

    Alessan seemed ;Because I o seek you out if I could. I idings for you from Ferraut toly, red-faced personage named taccio.”

    quot;My esteemed factor in Ferraut!quot; Rovigo exclaimed. quot;ell met, indeed! By ter him?”

    quot;In anotavern, I am sorry to o say. A tavern where I had been playing music and he was . . .

    ribution   patrons of t.

    in any great o return  seemed to me prudent reasons, and o talking.”

    quot;It is never o fall to talking accio,quot; Rovigo assented.

    Devin . It didn’t sound like t of a ponderous, unmarriageable daugo take ttitude to he darkness he found himself grinning.

    Alessan said, quot;taccio explained o me, and ion t I  joined t and ival o seek you out and carry verbal confirmation of a letter o you.”

    quot;ters,quot; Rovigo groaned. quot;to it, tion, friend Alessan.”

    quot;Good taccio bade me tell you, and to s as true by triads grace and t;—Alessans voice became a flaentious stage messenger—quot;t did t arrive from Astibar before ter frosts, t slumbers uneasily by  a violent end to eemed service.”

    ter and applause from t. t, didnt sound even remotely shrewish.

    quot;Eanna and Adaon,  suco pass,quot; Rovigo said piously. quot;t is made and it is ready to be sely

    tival is over.”

    quot;t ease and taccio be saved,quot; Alessan intoned, assuming t;moralquot; at t-show.

    quot;t; came a mild, still-amused female voice from t, quot;all of you simidated by poor Ingonida I ly dont kno entirely of our manners toniganding in the cold and dark?”

    quot;Absolutely not, my beloved,quot; ily. quot;Alix, it  addled my brain.quot; Devin found t  stop grinning; even Catriana, iced, ual expression of superior indifference.

    quot;ere you going back to to; Rovigo asked.

    t tricky moment—and Alessan left it to ;e ; Devin said. quot;ed taken a long o clear our   about ready to brave ty again.”

    quot;I imagine t,quot; Rovigo said.

    quot;e do seem to ain notoriety,quot; Alessan admitted.

    quot;ell,quot; said Rovigo earnestly, quot;all jesting aside, I could and if you ed to rejoin tions—t. It  like leaving too late, and my unfortunate oldest, Alais, suffers from tcing spells wed.”

    quot;; said Alessan raight face.

    quot;Fat; came a softly urgent protest from t.

    quot;Rovigo, stop t at once or I sy a basin on you in your sleep,quot; , Devin judged, h any genuine anger.

    quot;You see t; t said, gesturing expressively ;I am  respite even into my dreams. But, if you are not entirely put off by tridency of my  of t, you are all most  o se repast and a quieter drink to find in Astibar tonight.”

    quot;And to ; Alix added. quot;e  tes. truly, it would be an honor if you joined us.”

    quot;You ; Devin asked, surprised.

    quot;; Rovigo murmured in a self-deprecating tone. quot;e reet outside among t; ated. quot;Sandre dAstibar ly  east of my oed to  my ne young friends company ed to perform tes, h us?”

    time Devin left it to Alessan.

    ill eete in t;e could not dream of refusing an offer so gracious. It o toast taccios neful slumbers of his Dragon!”

    quot;O; said Alix from t, trying unsuccessfully not to laug;you are all so unfair!”

    Inside, t and inuing laugtractive young  to be caug of t seventeen,  to ionally flirtatious glance.

    Alais .

    In t of ts oldest daugurned out to be small and grave and slender. Sraig srianas own blue gaze looked more cumbling red he mane of a lioness.

    tent female o immensely comfortable cting-room furnisry fire blazed on ting tumn c in a design t akably Quileian, even to Devins untutored eye, covered teen-year-old—Selvena, it emerged—sank gracefully do at Devins feet. S o ignore, a quick, sardonic glance from Catriana as sook a seat -nearer to t, her.

    Just triump from some back room, carrying ttles.

    quot;I ; ;t you all aste for Astibars blue wine?”

    And for Devin t simple question cast an entirely benevolent aura of fate over ion in tside.  Alessan, and  seemed to o acknohings.

    Rovigo quickly began uncorking and pouring t;If any of my c; ;feel free to s ts.quot; A curl of blue smoke could be seen rising from each glass.

    Selvena settled  , ignoring  bespoke long familiarity  of t, trim, competent, a laugion in t. In a very s wy of food.

    Devin accepted a glass from Rovigo, savoring t. o be extremely content for t little o fill a plate of food for Devin. S it back to tled on t again, marginally nearer triana  daug eachem.

    Devin doubted if o be  che look, shrugged.

    quot;Daug; ed, sorrowfully shaking his head.

    quot; Ponderous cart ts wife. Rovigo winced. Alix, laug emples, he exchange.

    quot; again, did ; silting o one side. quot;Let me guess: I ions and formidably evil disposition, and tures among to make up one passably acceptable ?”

    Laugurned to see Rovigo—not at all discomfited—beaming  his wife.

    quot;Exactly rig; Devin said to Alix, quot;but I must say in  Ive never ion so happily.”

    er and a he sideboard.

    Rovigo raised  in small circles to make a pattern in the icy smoke.

    quot;ill you join me in drinking to to t believe in making idle toasts h blue wine.”

    quot;Nor do I,quot; Alessan said quietly. ed ;to memory,quot; ely. quot;to Sandre dAstibar. to music.quot; the wine.

    Devin drank, tasting, for only time in onisy of Astibars blue  anyed t fact. ed Rovigo h his glass.

    quot;to all of you,quot; Catriana said suddenly. quot;to kindness on a dark road.quot; S any edge or mockery to it. Devin   way.

    Not on t and no road after all, despite o catc failed. Salking to Alix, noed beside ive, Devin turned tention to his food.

    A moment later Selvena touc lig;ill you sing for us?quot; s move ;Alais s, but t of us have been here all day.”

    quot;Selvena!quot; Moter snapped togetruck but, Devin noticed, it o  surned, biting  her soberly.

    quot;Dear ,quot; ;you o learn.

    Our friends make music for ts onig, ligs to ears. She lowered her head.

    In tone Rovigo said to Devin, quot;ill you accept an apology? S it in good fait.”

    quot;I knoested, as Selvena sniffled softly at . quot;there is no apology needed.”

    quot;truly, none,quot; Alessan added, setting e of food aside. quot;e make music to live, indeed, but  truly to live. It is not o play among friends, Rovigo.”

    Selvena wiped  efully.

    quot;I so sing,quot; Catriana said. S Selvena. quot;Unless of course it was only Devin you had in mind?”

    Devin  been directed at ered for time in as many minutes. Out of triguing expression cross Alaiss face.

    Selvena began protesting earnestly t of course s all tire excuition, looking at  t least as close to ter of tigana as ly precise figure  cabin.

    suddenly. And even as tered  it rue. ;Lament for Adaon.”

    quot;ell,quot; said Rovigo, smiling at Catriana, quot;if you are gracious enougo indulge a so ackno  I do  of tregean pipes in triad alone kno one of tures migalent of some sort.”

    Alix, from several feet a s restored, Rovigo sent t girl off to fetc about refilling everyones glass.

    Devin caug  saken next to t  smile back, but  break atling

    skip to t.

    As it turned out, after triana sang for better to Alessans pipes. Part of tandan  briefly and returned  first, very softly, ent at t as at everytriana favored icularly dazzling smile. Rovigo needed no furt to stay  song, and t.

    No man, Devin found  to do anyt look from t t Catriana ely resembling suc confused all of a sudden.

    Someone—Alais evidently—ime. tle more quickly tency of blue o t number: t one for tests.

    sing of tigana, and ainly not about to sing of passion or love, so ars and committing to  not ever be lost or forgotten in time.

    It  o   to o whe choice he had.

    As , ful and knoic glance from Catriana as t time as t listened. Devin sacration. ly to y to t o  all as o Eanna o names and things.

    Some image in e star named Micaela aloft in a black nig t carry ori-anas ly to an end.

    In t of t to bed ranquility. A fes later Alix rose as o Devins disappointment, did Alais.

    In turned and looked at Catriana. quot;You must be very tired,quot; Rovigos daughter said.

    quot;If you like I can s mind s sonight.”

    Devin expected Catriana to demur, or  transparent separation of tating only a second before rising. quot;I am tired, and I dont mind s all,quot; s;It will remind me of home.”

    Devin, uation suddenly found te t. Catriana ly, t s. So misunderstand. It occurred to y, t toget morning.

    For some time after t in silence, eac in s.

    Rovigo rose at lengt of t anotcil it caugo oying o ts.

    It ; ly. quot;e can talk, Rovigo. t to be extremely angry h of us.”

    Devin sat up abruptly and put aside  his lips,

    glanced briefly over at urned Alessans gaze tranquilly.

    quot;I ; ;ted  be ances.”

    Alessan oo. turned to Devin.

    ically back over ts of t Rovigo. quot;You didnt find me in t. Alessan sent you. You  you?quot; urning to the Prince.

    two men excher glance before Alessan replied.

    quot;I did,quot; ted. quot;I ain suspicion t tes for Sandre dAstibar coming up and t ion. I couldnt afford to lose track of you, Devin.”

    quot;Im afraid I reet of temples yesterday,quot; Rovigo added. o look embarrassed, Devin noted.

    ill furious t;You lied about t talk about going there whenever you came back from a journey.”

    quot;No, t part rue,quot; Rovigo said. quot;Everytrue, Devin. Once you o terfront you o end up in a place I know very well.”

    quot;And Catriana?quot; Devin pursued angrily. quot; about her? how did she—”

    quot;I paid a boy to run a message back to your inn ting you stay inside t be angry. to all of this.”

    quot;t; Alessan ec;You sand some of it by noriana and I ibar roupe ed to see h.”

    quot;ait a minute!quot; Devin exclaimed. quot;Expected? o die?”

    quot;Rovigo told me,quot; Alessan said simply.  a small silence register. quot;act in Astibar for nine years no you did yesterday, and about as quickly.”

    Devin,  t, the day before.

    urned out to be not so casual at all. Rovigo put down his glass.

    quot;I feel t tyrants t you do,quot; ly. quot;Alberico e and Asoli, and in t province Alessan comes from ry.”

    Devin s;And Duke Sandre?quot; ;how did you know—?”

    quot;I spied on t; Rovigo said calmly. quot;It  o monitor tomassos comings and goings. trada, it o tomassos deception years ago, and —t say it is a t year I side t tate and at t nigails of Sandres death.”

    Devin looked quickly over at Alessan. o say somet speaking, .

    Alessan nodded. quot;t; urned to Rovigo. quot;t you are better off not knoy and your familys. I t isnt a matter of trust, or any suching.”

    quot;After nine years I t,quot; Rovigo murmured. quot; s ?”

    quot;Alberico arrived just after I joined tomasso and triana o o the cabin on his own.”

    quot;On ; Rovigo asked sharply.

    Devin lifted ;I ; y. Out of t ridiculous. S;I overalking upstairs betes.”

    Rovigo looked as if ion or t,  Alessan, hem in.

    Devin eful.

    Alessan said, quot; back to teromasso aken. Baerd o take care of a number of tonig later.”

    quot;e passed t ty,quot; Rovigo said quietly, absorbing t;I saomasso bar Sandre hem. I feared for you, Alessan.”

    quot;it; Alessan said drily. quot;the service of Alberico.”

    Rovigos face registered s;Family? Morian damn o darkness for t!quot; he rasped harshly.

    quot;hing?”

    Alessan gave eristic s;A great deal yrants came,  say?”

    t to master : quot;Your o; ;Do they—”

    quot;t; t said, regaining ;Neitriana before tonig Alessan and Baerd in tregea to t ain enemies in common. told me somet told to assist in ts as best I could  unduly endangering my o do t. I inue to try. It is my o live long enougo be able to h Alessan offers when he drinks blue wine.”

    ly but  th before he drank.

    Alessan gazed steadily at Rovigo. quot;t by accident yesterday afternoon. oo  fell. hich is why he is here.”

    Rovigo said nothing.

    quot; is t; Devin asked. And tly, quot;Is it somet I should know?”

    quot;Not as anyt matters in t; Alessans voice ;I aligana, let my memory of you be like a blade in my soul.”

    Devin closed  Rovigo.

    ted in fierce, angry consternation.

    quot;My friend, Devin sand t; Alessan said to ly. quot;It is a part of taken on.  did you hear me say?”

    Rovigo gestured ration. quot;t time t nigco blue  I didnt  thing.”

    quot;tigana,quot; Alessan said again. tenderly, clear as cal.

    But Devin sa reac. quot;ill you . . . one more time?”

    quot;tigana,quot; Devin said before Alessan could speak. to make t t of truly   of . taken away.

    quot;Let my memory of you be like a blade in my soul,quot; ering at tried o keep it as steady as Alessans had been.

    ondering, disoriented, visibly distressed, Rovigo shook his head.

    quot;And Brandins magic is be; he asked.

    quot;It is,quot; Alessan said flatly.

    After a moment Rovigo sig;I am sorry,quot; ly. quot;Forgive me, bot have asked. I have opened a wound.”

    quot;I ; Devin said quickly.

    quot;t; said Alessan, a moment later.

    traordinary compassion in Rovigos face. It  to realize t ting about Senzian rustics as ers. t rose abruptly and became busy tending to tly  ed a little, and o know.

    quot; do ; asked Rovigo dAstibar, returning to stand beside ;I am as disturbed by t met. I do not like magic.

    Especially t remains a matter of some . . . significance to me to be able to  I  debarred from hearing.”

    Devin felt a rusement run t to his evening.

    irely gone. to be reckoned  migook a long drink of his blue wine.

    Alessans expression roubled t ime.

    turning from one man to t abruptly lost again, ement fading almost as quickly as it had come.

    quot;Rovigo,  involved you enoug; Alessan asked at lengt;I must admit t I  your o tell you  cabin tonigibar in to come. It o keep an ear open ravels, to quietly monitor Albericos doings and Sandres, for you and Baerd and I to meet every so often and toucalk, friend to friend. But tale is cly fear to put you in danger.”

    Rovigo nodded. quot;I t you mig. I am grateful for your concern. But Alessan, I made up my mind on time ago. I ...  expect t freedom could be found or  a price paid. You said t t mark a turning-point for all of us. If t I can o come you must tell me.quot; ated, t;One of t Alix would ech us and did she know.”

    Alessans expression ill troubled. quot;But s  kno; ;there

    , and ter tonigo endanger them?”

    quot;; Rovigo replied softly, but  ation. quot;? I  to do anyt  to actual danger, and I cannot afford to suspend my business entirely. But  will make a difference?”

    Finally understanding ts, Devin kept grimly silent. to  all,  all along.  cened and sobered, and afraid no for himself.

    t at risk by everyt, speaking of Menico. And noo understand, painfully, ty of t.

    t. In any  all. ement quite gone, Devin  time, t lay on to  face-to-face ance t road imposed bet no everyone t meet. Even friends. Even people  of Catriana in tood han he had an hour ago.

    atcting to silence, Devin focused on Alessans momentarily unguarded face and o cook a deep, slo he price of his blood.

    Alessan smiled, an odd, rueful smile. quot;Actually, t; o Rovigo. quot;t ed, tedly, t reached his eyes.

    quot;,quot; ely casual voice, quot;to taking on some business partners?”

    For just a moment Rovigo seemed nonplussed, tanding broadened across ; ;You need access to some places.”

    Alessan nodded. quot;t, and t from t o triana joined us,”

    one from t seen t;In business togetimate means of excion and Im going to need information regularly ter. As partners ing eac any affairs t toucrade. And of course all affairs toucrade.”

    quot;Indeed t; said Rovigo, ent on Alessans face.

    quot;e can communicate directly if you , or taccio in Ferraut.quot;  Devin. quot;I knoac-cio, by t  a coincidence eit out?quot; Devin  even t about it actually, but before urned back to Rovigo. quot;I assume you rust?quot; Rovigo nodded.

    Alessan said, quot;You see, t problem is t altill travel as musicians, after torious  it in time Id ctle, or told Devin to be a little less impressive.”

    quot;No you  ; Devin said quietly. quot;ever ot one of them.”

    Alessans mout. Rovigo smiled.

    quot;Per; t;It  it?”

    t up and put one more log on the fire.

    Alessan said, quot;It all makes sense. tain places and certain activities t would be awkward for us as performers. Especially well-known performers. As mercs, we would o such places.”

    quot;Certain islands, per; Rovigo asked quietly, from by the fire.

    quot;Per; Alessan agreed. quot;If it comes to t. t may be a matter of five of one ists are  Brandins court on Cion, tions to  o disappear, or die.quot; , matter-of-fact. ook a sip of his wine.

    After a moment urned back to Rovigo. roking ation of a shrewdly avaricious businessman.

    quot;ell,quot; t said in a greedy, o  . . .

    intriguing proposal, gentlemen. I do o ask one or tions. Ive knoime, but ticular issue and.quot; ed cunning. quot;, if anyt business?”

    Alessan gave a sudden burst of laug;o ; he asked.

    quot;Ive my s in,quot; Rovigo replied. quot;Casransactions and easy credit based on profits over t few weeks. hy?”

    quot;I  buying a reasonable but not indiscreet amount of grain in t forty-eight hours.

    ty-four ually, if you can.”

    Rovigo looked tful. quot;I could do t,quot; ;And my means are sufficiently limited t no purco be indiscreet. I act, too—te t border.”

    quot;Not from Nievole,quot; Alessan said quickly.

    Anot;I see,quot; artling Devin again ;You t some confiscation after tival?”

    quot;You can,quot; Alessan said. quot;Among all t ther source for buying up grain?”

    quot;I mig; Rovigo looked from Alessan to Devin and back again. quot;Four partners, t; ;t right?”

    Alessan nodded. quot;Almost rig make it five partners. t in to divide our s is all righ you?”

    quot; not be?quot; Rovigo s;t doesnt touc all. ill I meet this person?”

    quot;I er,quot; said Alessan. quot;I expect you will be her.”

    quot;Fine,quot; Rovigo said crisply. quot;terms for a contraina association are to ting to traveling and put in time. Based on old me I  t you are likely to be able to offer information ure. I propose a erest eacly conduct. Is t acceptable?”

    Devin. it;It is quite acceptable.”

    quot;It is more t; Alessan agreed. roubled again; he looked as if he would go on.

    quot;It is done, t; said Rovigo quickly. quot;No more to be said, Alessan. e o toomorroo raina formally draer tival?”

    quot;Ferraut, I t; said Alessan slo;e can discuss er, but I o do trade   to consider.”

    quot;Ferraut?quot; said Rovigo, ignoring tter remarks. A smile slo!

    t is splendid. Absolutely splendid! You can save us some money already. Ill give you a cart and all of you can take Ingonida her new bed!”

    On tairs Alais couldnt remember  so moodiness like Selvena, but life at ended to be very quiet, especially wher was away.

    And noo be  once.

    Rovigo rip t. Alix and Alais  ease ains into Quileia, no matter imes ion. And on top of t, trip tlingly late in tumn  o palm urn ival of Vines. It , absorbing  eyes all she saw.

    Drinking it in.

    In t of t morning sood extremely still, listening to a clear voice soar from tyard out among tural silence of t lamented Adaons deatregea so bitterly, so sly, t Alais had been afraid she would cry. She had closed her eyes.

    It onisioned to es. ed to come meet easing bot at all. S t somet ters nursed any anxieties about tion.

    to look at his eyes.

    On te at nigtled by tter of t ty o te.

    to understand op from sement. Sell-tale color rising in her cheeks.

    became clear t t aken a supreme act of self- control for o regain to s oldest, most trusted child.

    In t became easier because tant ts stepped to able mating frenzy. A course of beransparent to er t it drove Alais straigo ual, detacco sleep for muc looked more and more as if sill be unmarried he spring.

    Devin, ted. But  and litelligent eyes under sandy-brown  curled halfway over his ears.

    Sed o be arrogant or pretentious, despite  all.

    t fifteen years older, perangled urely greying—silvering, actually—at temples. imidated tle, even t from tart, in exactly t enjoyed.

    Per , Alais t: feing or in anytures appeared to be doing so effortlessly. S t tle arrogant on , regean musician could manage t. On ted, s kno all.

    t Catriana erribly beautiful.

    it and tartlingly blue eyes under t combined rageous flirtation to relax rattle  of activity, competition, exercise,  someto get involved. atcriana register Selvenas soft flouncing at Devins feet and sercepted ted at her fellow musician.

    Alais decided to go into tc need ful glance  comment.

    t a meal toget room Alais  tened and ce c to ter so bless Selvenas s of t of asking ts to sing.

    time s ly to  to look a of t last song about Eanna naming tars sraying into c of ted about at nigime, in detail. Alais tribute o the fire.

    S one t of riana, but it certainly  love, or even tenderness as sood eit eacime to time, usually han she could even imagine.

    ts. Selvena doing so est, and toucip to palm  a glance from  later sher did.

    It  led o invite Catriana to come up ely t sound to t and obviously at ease in t -rianas smile, tood.

    quot;It will remind me of ; she said.

    t t as t up tairs past ts and t back souto Kried to fat ure out among tumble of long roads and uncertain lodging. Of late nig if so be available. Alais tried, but sly couldnt grasp it. Despite t, or per, somet opened out toher woman.

    quot;t; she said shyly.

    quot;Small return for your kindness,quot; Catriana said lightly.

    quot;Not as small as you t; Alais said. quot;Our room is over his reminds you of home . .

    . I  is a good memory.quot; t tle, but not rudely sed to talk to to be friends, to learn e from her own.

    tepped into two bedspreads

    turned back. ts umn, more contraband brougers were so muchan here.

    Catriana laugtle under he chamber.

    quot;Stage.quot; Alais flus before sriana turned to ill very ;tell me, o tie your sister do t.”

    Alais  from feeling spoiled and insensitive to red-faced sy and guilt.

    quot;S terrible isnt so kill ic ival next year.”

    Catriana s;I kneoo. Ive never been able to understand it.”

    quot;Nor I,quot; said Alais a little too quickly. Catriana glanced at her.

    Alais ventured a ant smile. quot;I guess ts a thing we have in common?”

    quot;One t; tly, turning ao one of t;t; s. quot;?”

    quot;I made it,quot; Alais said sly. S patronized suddenly, and it irritated her.

    It must riana looked quickly back over ; s lengt;I doubt its .”

    quot;No effort,quot; said Alais quietly. quot;Besides,quot; sured, quot;I may need your ying Selvena doer.”

    Surprised, Catriana c;S,quot; sting on one of t;Neitoucs in your fato t a single red glove.”

    Sime, but finding tion oddly enjoyable, Alais giggled and sat do, siced ruefully, easily reac.

    quot;S mig,quot; s t;I think she even has a red glove hidden somewhere!”

    Catriana s;ts roping rusting t as I say, t do anything.”

    quot;You kno; Alais ill  sure , so deal h.

    quot;Alessan, I knoter,quot; Catriana said. quot;But Devins been on time and I  ; S last, tle high.

    Still ion Alais said cautiously, quot;I  t, actually. Are travel?”

    Catriana s;ters longing to find? Not from the musicians.

    tten code, or else t a certain kind of o tour and t ter to most of troupes. t last, anyway.

    Men can be quite badly  for botoo mucainly t oo often.”

    quot;I see,quot; said Alais, trying to imagine it.

    quot;You are expected to pair off ; Catriana added. quot;As if its t you can do.

    Remove yourself as a temptation. So you find a man you like, or some of t of t, too.”

    quot;O; said Alais, clasping her hands in her lap.

    Catriana, ;Dont ; sly, looking pointedly at ;t glove doesnt fit me.”

    Abruptly Alais put o either side of her, blushing furiously.

    quot;I  particularly ; srying to sound casual. t back: quot; glove does fit you, then?”

    t quickly disappeared. t;You do  in you, after all,quot; Catriana said judiciously. quot;I  sure.”

    quot;t,quot; said Alais, moved to a rare anger, quot;is patronizing.  me? And ?”

    Again triana surprised ;Im sorry,quot; s;truly. Im really not very good at t; S;As it  a nerve and I tend to las w occurs.”

    Alaiss anger, as quick to recede as it o kindle, her woman spoke.

    ternly, a guest in her house.

    Se co reply to try to mend t, because just tled importantly into ter ed over tc of Rovigos apprentices oely cast doaining to table by the window.

    tably stirred up irely—bots of it, Alais t. After ts left, the women washed up in silence.

    Alais, stealing a glance at t even more inadequate in e softness and tered life so bed, feeling as if so begin tion over again.

    quot;Good nig; she said.

    quot;Good nig; Catriana replied, after a moment. Alais tried to read an invitation to furtion in one, but s sure. If Catriana ed to talk, so say something.

    t tly in tcoes around t brick Menka  at t of  ruefully t tance to Selvenas side of t.

    Sometime later, still unsleeping to its embers, s of y from tairs. ter somes o ress.  sered and safe. Alais smiled to airs soon after, and go to te rooms.

    So catcer in t really believe even Selvena . Sually she fell asleep.

    S of lying on a op in a strange place. Of a man t glittering ars. S windy  amid a

    scattering of deh complex yearnings she could never have named aloud.

    It terly cold in t last. tones o put back on s in t see t o ten twice already as he dozed.

    Earlier, ain of t for tted o play . tomassos reputation. Everyone kneion. ; it  of the plan.

    So tripped ness of ted poker from ttocks or tomasso ed only to close  all away.

    For some reason it aeri t  let . ill couldnt believe  taeri  t made  to cry, t it, but  going to let t. o mean more to  ever had before.

    So  ain.  to ignore to al suggestions as to w would omorrow.

    t very imaginative actually. y o be olerably worse.

    t tle imes, but notomasso kneo save  then, as well.

    t play.

    Eventually tain greired of tomassos steady gaze, or else  to stop. tomassos bonds  and ts and a filt-infested strip of blanket and took airs to tibar and to them.

    trance  even on one  didnt actually seem to matter very much.

    ed ts ts.  as tigried to use it as a feeble club. It was he dark.

    tomasso , no urned o jelly.

    later t  to keep control of s.

    entirely keep t as if   lay in jagged pieces at odd angles in . Among ts ried to assemble a curse for rayal, but noto .

    and las blindly  somet t sound.  . One of them.

    rembling, but tivity seemed to  back  weep

    any more.  tone .

    It

    of pain: one of ts ten viciously at   for a fes, but o feel genuinely ill.  painful to swallow.  his forehead and decided he was feverish.

    of a candle, ing. o look around ts gloiny. t near  leg and ts—near tc image of tc into t  face tomasso could ever remember seeing.  it for a long time.

    to and realized ainty t tion, or a dream.

    from any tomasso could ever remember seeing on his face.

    t be extreme, tered  so desperately desired. A look of kindness—and even, if one ed to reaced ting against a tyrant.

    onigruly end, most omasso in t even y to imagine. asy.

    t in it. It kept ts a even seemed to ease t stones beneat his back.

    ed an unsteady o and torn, puffy lips  ed to say ;Im sorry,quot; to t  make t.

    to understand.

    quot;You o be sorry for,quot; tomasso ly. quot;It  and only mine. t tations from tart. I oo many  ... affected me too mucer.”

    to tle. A part of tomasso, a corner of , seemed to be knitting itself slooget feeble fantasy of being loved before they flayed him.

    quot;ill you let me tell you  o tell you I have been proud of you, in my fashion?”

    tomasso let  ac blur and s trying to ears ao speak but tered mout form o.

    And sloten in turning of time and pride, and fatoucips together.

    It act tomasso  it o tensity of o be  to understand.

    quot;t t; t said in a strange, unexpectedly ful voice. quot;If I

    ronger I could do more, but at least t  you in t  you any more, my son. Drink it tomasso, drink it and this will all be gone. All go away, I promise you.

    t for me tomasso,  if you can in Morians o here.”

    tomasso still did not understand, but tone he dream-vial.

    Again it antial ted it to be.

    . itrembling omasso fumbled and removed topper.

    t gesture—a final mocking parody of  in a e salute to asy and  to tter.

    supposed to be sad, tomasso ed to say.  to a boy once, in a temple of Morian at nig supposed to be.   as if  to fall alseep, even t understand.  understand  in Morians halls.

    ing to ask about t. o be going completely strange on hough.

    o be crying.

    tears in hers eyes.

    hich was impossible. Even in a dream.

    quot;Fare; he heard.

    Fareo say, in return.

    sure if ually managed to form t it, but just t or a mantle, and to matter anymore.

 Chapter 8

    It AS StRANGE,  DIANORA t,  StILL MOVING t filtered do from tained- glass s of youtime into ties of adult life.

    Sipping from ernative. t so become nuanced and difficult. t trutly t all s s s yet done.

    It ral question of  ao t today. Not in any daytime. ts belonged to nigo by  knoears along o wake he morning.

    Nigs, and t day, in a very public place.

    So so ce to tly, soberly dressed personage  his neck.

    quot;Greetings,quot; sraig;t is rare indeed t to spare a moment from o visit old friends.”

    Unfortunately Ro ruffle or disconcert as rying to get a rise out of   of treet in front of to the river galley.

    Noerly, ies, but unmistakably t her here.

    One of th she genuinely liked.

    quot;Not so muc; ;It is not for idle  to criticize tern and arduous tasks t sen our nig grey in our hair.”

    Dianora laug a trace of grey. S her gaze linger expressively on his dark locks.

    quot;Im a liar,quot; Rroubled equanimity, leaning forward so only she could hear.

    quot;Its been a dead-quiet er. Not muco do at all. I could o visit but you kno court. My buttons pop when I bow.”

    Dianora laugo eous and friendly ever since, even orious one—in t tribute Sain  and a fair administrator.

    S ting four years ago. It  ts of Cself. It o judge from Rly ttle too near t of poo be extracted.

    tongue against eet Brandin teased .  al or a suggestion. ened  least as muc did anything else.

    quot;t t,quot; so Rly, quot;but  at

    all in living in nort t I  to get rid of you. Its a dreadful place, everyone kno, but tunities and Id as soon a decent man reaped tc are  here.”

    quot;taxing office?quot; ly.

    Sly but, sco discretion, erest or surprise.

    ant later, urning by t an antenna, ed her.

    So s by time taff rapped t loudly, and Brandin came into ts, and tess of Adaon. Ro stand near by, dressed identically to t for his cap.

    truer measure of poy  attention t esting course, truer measure, o enter unobtrusively and observe w happened.

    al ten minutes, ing. No as collectively, t plummeted into obeisance. Not one person in till speaking by time ted staff of office proclaimed t raps on thunder.

    Brandin  from   from R ing very fast. It alill, and despite everyto or from togetertwined, in him.

    o dEymon first, as alcurned and smiled at Solores.

    t Dianora. Braced as sried to be, sill could not quite master w o ouch—as Brandin was.

    And all this from a look across a very crowded room.

    Once, in bed, years before, so ask ion t roubled her.

    quot;Is t meet in a public place?”

    S knoo expect by ion. S  be flattered by tion, or at least amused. You could never be sure oo many different coo muclety. ions, especially revealing ones, ant to o try to use t to kindle o  range  he Island.

    urned on o regard h level brows. he shook his head.

    quot;Not in any  I control or ster of c .quot; S; all his women did.

    er a pause, carefully, quot; o you?”

    For a second s sainty in  one could never be sure of suc;too muc; s;too muc; And s one time, trut . te understanding in his

    clear eyes. ened o slide over against  t it mig: betrayal and memory mixed riad o drink— too potent for mortals to taste.

    quot;Are you truly serious about t posting in Asoli?quot; R. Brandin  gone to t  of th his lopsided smile, shambled in his wake.

    quot;I confess I  a t,quot; tribute captain added.

    it Dianora forced s back to ten  to   a good t. For many reasons it  a good thing.

    Surned again to R;Im quite serious,quot; s;But Im not sure if you  tion—even if it us  I t ters to you, Rhamanus?”

    It ly put tesy h a friend.

    he blinked, and fingered one of his chains of office.

    quot;Is t  comes doo?quot; antly. quot;Is t ? Can a man not per of a neo serve his King?”

    urn to blink.

    quot;You s; ser a moment. quot;R; Silled ests ;Sometimes I riguing t goes on here.”

    Ssteps approac s o t of ;Sometimes I  is doing to me.”

    quot;S; asked Brandin of Ygrath.

    Smiling,  toucoucion. their lives were shaped by his rules.

    quot;My lord,quot; surning and sketcation. S ive. quot;Do you find me more cynical terrible man brought me here?”

    Brandins amused glance  from o R  as if ribute captain  , and   of telligence stretco s, and t ts were.

    Siced, per  there was as much grey in his beard now as black.

    ing a deep concern over tion. quot;I would o say so, yes.

    You ive in almost exactly tion as terrible man .”

    quot;So muc; Dianora protested. quot;My lord, !”

    Botted ionately.

    quot;t; ;is  for ty years at sea and to ts of ty.”

    quot;ell t; said Brandin, quot;we may o send you away somewil you are sleek as a seal again.”

    quot;My lord,quot; said Rantly, quot;I am yours to command in all t; ense.

    Brandin registered t and one c;I kno,quot; ;I  I  court. At bots. Portly or sleek, R unmindful of you, hink.”

    Very s, and a dismissal for t. Brighdrew. Brandin walked a couple of paces away, Rhun shuffling along beside him.

    Dianora folloo. Once out of ears of anyone but turned to o see, suppressing a smile.

    quot; did you do? Offer h Asoli?”

    Dianora felt sigration. time. quot;No,quot; sested, quot;is unfair. You are using magic.”

    t people c t eacher.

    quot;; Brandin murmured. quot;I  e it or drain myself on sometransparent.”

    quot;transparent!quot; she bridled.

    quot;Not you, my cynical manipulator. But Roo serious too quickly  posting ion of significance currently available is north Asoli and so . . .”

    tence trail off. Laughter lingered in his eyes.

    quot;ould ; Dianora asked defiantly. It ing o d sened again.

    quot; do you t; he asked by way of reply.

    quot;I? t; Sed ed arc; of ture to ters?”

    quot;No,quot; said Brandin nodding briskly, quot;is an intelligent observation. I so consult Solores, instead.”

    quot;If you get an intelligent observation out of ; Dianora said tartly, quot;I so the sea.”

    quot;All t; said Brandin mildly.

    quot;So,quot; s;is an intelligent observation for Solores.”

    And at t  ening. Everyone  to, sed, o receive discreet contributions from sources ot.

    quot;I saeresting on tain t; Brandin said,  subsiding.

    quot;Somete unusual.”

    ted to speak to  morning; s it. Brandin kept ture quiet, in case o tease  it.

    At t as to c snoed in Certando and tregea and t igana, came t marked turning of the year.

    No fires not already burning  anyed for at least t of triad temples . Men stayed  niger darkfall on t day whe Dead.

    tumn as regea, ryside, because so muc ers passing, to come.

    In Cual, different from anythe Palm.

    On tale old t Adaon and Eanna  come togets on t of Sangarios. t in t Eanna of ts ed tars of rehe dark.

    And tale old t nine monter—riad ed  same mountain.

    And o tal man to ars, ts he sun of day.

    And for ted its preeminence among ts destiny.

    Morian of Portals, o t to come to an island o come to anotrutars and moons, if not al of day.

    Every t t of time Ember Days, to t of San-garios, to pluck a blood-dark sprig of sonrai, toxicating berries of tain, under tcs of Morian  long among ts of t man doain ed Lord of Sangarios until t sucime.

    In ted doer on t of the Ember Days of fall.

    Not anymore. Not for a long time. Noo find  sort of , Dianora o Brandin once.

    laug find tual amusing. In fact, six years ago ted to run tual race.  again t. No small ac, really, for a man of rained for t knoo find more  Brandin  masculine pride  botimes  up to t of Sangarios and down again.

    In tion sed to ask: quot; did you see, then?”

    S knoals seldom do knoion urning of her days.

    quot;Somet; Brandin repeated. quot;I stripped th me.”

    quot;Of course,quot; she murmured, giving him a sidelong glance.

    ;I  of trees ill very tain asly, some sejoias.”

    quot;eresting,quot; she said.

    time  ifully.

    quot;I looked over to my rig; Brandin said, quot;and sa like a platform at the

    edge of trees. And sitting on ture. A woman, I would swear, and very nearly human.”

    quot;Very nearly?”

    S teasing anymore. itual arcal of Morian imes do kno a tance is happening.

    quot;ts  entirely  e I s srick of ligering trees. But s move, or copped to look at her.”

    And noly where she was.

    t creatures of er and  back in time as far as triad did almost, and from tion s hings as well and was suddenly afraid.

    quot; did you do?quot; she asked, as casually as she could.

    quot;I  sure o do. I spoke; s ansook a step torees. I  my open palms, but so be startled by t, or offended, and a moment later she fled.”

    quot;Did you follow?”

    quot;I  to, but by t up to me.”

    quot;Did ; soo quickly.

    Brandin gave ;I asked.  way, regardless. hy do you ask?”

    S;It would ; she lied.

    Brandin s;S,quot;   occurred to ;she reminded me of you.”

    quot;it ? Green skin and blue ; sting  instincts guide o urmoil s. quot;I talked to Scelto and Vencel es you so dramatically . . .”

    did not laug;Green  blue,quot;  absently. quot;And she did, Dianora,”

    ed, looking at ;S sucures?”

    quot;I do not,quot; s;In Certando ; S. S s  he had seen.

    Brandins good ill h him.

    quot; mountain tales do you ando?quot; antly.

    quot;Stories of  ree stumps and eat goats and virgins in t.”

    ;Are there any?”

    quot;Goats, yes,quot; sraig;Feites are not an incentive to city. Are you sending out a party to searcure?quot; A question so important sing his reply.

    quot;I t,quot; Brandin said. quot;I suspect suc to be.”

    , ely true.

    quot;I  told anyone but you,quot; edly.

    t come over  t. But over and above everytidings. So be alone to t get t cime yet today; best to pusory as far back as so the edges of her mind.

    quot;t; s talking privately for some time.

    Arued.

    quot;In time,quot; Brandin suddenly said, in a quite different tone, quot;you still  yet asked me o tell you, made it  question.”

    o familiar ground.

    quot;Very ; s;Do tell me. ers?”

    A glint of royal indignation nickered in t;You are presumptuous sometimes,quot; ;I indulge you too muc, if you please, all to t and came doer of sonrai berries. I remely interested to see if any of tomorrows runners are up and down as quickly.”

    quot;ell,quot; s;t o hem.”

    quot;Dianora, have done!”

    And t tone soo far. As al sucs s gaping at .

    S Brandin needed from ed o be outrageous and impertinent. Sood o tant to erbalance to Soloress soft, unquestioning, undemanding ser. turn, balancing dEymons ascetic exercise of politics and government.

    And all t around tar t Brandin arily exiled sun, removed from t kneo this alien peninsula by loss and grief and revenge decreed.

    S. S often stray across t  inviolate.  o be over sometly trivial as t e ic commentary on court and colony—and yet bridle like a boy ed pride if seased about y to run up and doain in a morning.

    At sucimes o say ain he Audience Chamber.

    Sive esan, at t of a tyrant. Sor, living an ongoing lie o kill tal blood.

    Curned.

    And noing back o so arco bland unconcern.

    quot;t; s ;You profess to be pleased, even touclessly agitated query about your mountain run. t t  you succeeded! And yet w you

    treat it lig . . . o  tell me, my lord, in all fairness, wruly, has honored you more?”

    For a long time  and s t  s, or er on tainside. t began and ended in t were now searching her own.

    voice again, but tone so knoe of everyt  been said, and in spite of  not h fear now.

    quot;I could take you,quot; said Brandin, King of Ygrat;on t no.”

    ter beneat. y.

    quot;Peronig; srying to keep one lig not really managing it, unable to  response in o spark like t of a blaze. trembled in , and s

    o self-control.

    quot;Better tonig; s  t, in tate t and emissaries from home.

    S, looking iculating carefully: quot;After all my lord, at your age you srengtway up a his morning.”

    An instant later, for time, t of Brandin of Ygrat. Not far away, Raneous glee.

    quot;Isolla of Ygrath!”

    time trumpets and a drum, as aff resounding as it struck t the Audience Chamber.

    Standing most of toime to observe tately progress of t musician in Ygrat of Co the King.

    quot;A ill,quot; murmured Neso of Ygrat;and sy years old if shes a day.”

    Someo end up next to  row.

    uous tone irritated  sried not to let it s possible robe of dark blue, belted at t s of grey,  unfas—alt cer today, Dianora t. took its cue in tters from Ygrath.

    Isolla ly, not iers. Brandin s made ten dangerous, sea voyage to .

    Several steps bee in its case as if it ifact of immeasurable  Camena di Cous triple- layered cloak. t t off guard by this.

    Instinctively so er.

    Sime to see te and fear t flickered across ant later t Camenas vulgar loer for an Ygrathen.

    Still, Dianora considered, t. Camena, suition,  to music. If Isolla  to sing a song of  . More t to explain  Isolla—and Ygratists—by serving as a bearer for her.

    tics of art, Dianora decided,  least as complex as t of provinces and nations.

    Isolla opped, as  fifteen steps from to wood.

    Neatly so perform triple obeisance. Very graciously—a mark of o  to bid o .

    For no reason sero name or explain Dianora turned from monarco t bearing te. Camena opped a furt on the marble floor.

    detracted from tableau ion of antly. ion on ts bro  he Audience Chamber.

    quot;You are most ; Brandin ;It oo long since we have seen you, or heard you play.”

    Dianora sament in te. S o open t did not look like an ordinary lute t— Afterainty: it ory of t made o see. tory, and t t Brandin  certain if t.

    One man meant a fork in t a death.

    Eito  did.

    All eyes but  cover off te. Only Dianora sa it , in fact, a lute. And only sale of the riselka.

    quot;Die, Isolla of Ygat; Camena screamed  ahe crossbow he carried.

    itning reaction of a man  o cast a sorcerers sened singer.

    Exactly as ed to, Dianora realized.

    quot;Brandin, no!quot; s;Its you!”

    And seizing to the aisle.

    t, aimed meticulously to t of Isolla on a line for Brandins , buried itself instead in tupefied Neso. he shrieked in pain and shock.

    um drove Dianora stumbling to  of  t in the singers eyes.

    Surned a. tion, tred oo raerso stand; s Brandin.  even loective barrier around Isolla.

    all.

    to . Dianora e. Even e, from t s o faint, but th, as if in agony.

    quot;C; ;Freedom for C; before tally.

    time. tillness  absolute. No one dared to move. Dianora  t  even breated test attention drao them.

    On tableau. t to tend to ill afraid so be sick; s make op trembling. Isolla of Ygrat moved.

    S move, Dianora realized: Brandin ed Neso and epped back een very proper paces away.

    quot;Camena ool,quot; Brandin said softly. quot;Cually noto do  t I am una, I can offer you not an easier deat tell me reaking orted features.

    Brandin lowered o move and speak.

    tred left ures. In its place  pride. Dianora  tion er ted to —if s expected to do so— mean?

    raig of an ans;I am dying,quot; so Brandin. quot;t y years.”

    quot;I am sorry to ,quot; said Brandin formally, esy so perfect it seemed a violation of ure. ;All of us die, Isolla. Some very young. Not all of us plot to tell me before I may grant you release from pain.”

    For t time Isolla seemed to  did s;You o  t you did.”

    quot;Exactly  t I did?”

    ;You exalted a dead che living one, and revenge above your wife.

    And more , a fraction of a t, for any of tural vengeance for Stevan?”

    Dianoras  t  spoken in Cigimes. But wrolled as before.

    quot;I judged t I o . Dorotea I invited imes a year for t several years.”

    quot;Invited  s  yourself young. A t t impiety. But for Ygrat, did you? And Girald?  is your title, not his.

    does to a sais t reality? o die before you, Brandin, unless you are slain. And ural! It is all unnatural, and to be paid.”

    quot;t; ly. quot;A price for everyt expected to pay it in my o; t;Isolla, I must extend my years to do w I am o do.”

    quot;t,quot; Isolla repeated, quot;and Girald pays and Dorotea. And Ygrath.”

    And tigana, Dianora t, no longer trembling, her own ache come back like a wound in her.

    tigana pays too; in broken statues and fallen towers, in children slain and a name gone.

    Sched Brandins face. And Rhuns.

    quot;I ; t lengto t;I o say. I need only one t tell me  .

    Rigured h a random helplessness.

    quot;And o lose, quot;so be at odds in t; ,  bore.

    Sloood and spoke, rolled  even need to look at Rhun.

    quot;Very ; Brandin said. quot;And you, Isolla?  could to make you do thing.

    Can you really e me so much?”

    tated only for an instant. tly as before, s;I can love the Queen so much.”

    Brandin closed ;how so?”

    quot;In all t you forsook he bed of your wife.”

    In any normal, any ime tion to t.

    to be. Dianora  many people breato look doriumphen womans face.

    quot;Sed ; ed almost fully. quot;I could  I c to do so. S to  it ion. It  my sin lies in not o take shis peninsula.”

    So many different griefs and so be hin Dianora.

    Be ant ter s to use t rig only pity for to resign tonigo kill er t after te the same.

    For a great many reasons.

    Brandin said, quot;I told me w I o know.”

    quot;ted alone,quot; Isolla volunteered unexpectedly. Sured at Camena, in t;ed Ygrato marcogethis far.”

    Brandin nodded. quot;t; ly. quot;I t t mig,quot; he added gravely.

    t;You promised me an easy deat; Isolla said, raight.

    quot;I did,quot; Brandin said. quot;I did promise you t.quot; Dianora stopped breat Isolla  expression for ime.

    quot;You can ;  last, in a voice little above a w; you

    o make music for me again.”

    t ly ture o dismiss a servant or a petitioner.

    Isollas  smas from anding too near; ttered tumbled backures ing in to a formless, oozing pulp.

    t backed aumbling, almost falling in its e, t a s clumsy the singer.

    orted corso. Someto undulate from tump of Isollas srail of glistening black slime. Beh horror.

    quot;Stevan!quot; serror, an overically laboring Fool, clad exactly like ttle flew from h.

    quot;Music! Stevan! Music! Stevan!quot; Red obsessively, and iculation of t s up and doing brilliantly in treaming lig.  ing on to alks appeared to attacself like a bloodleeco his knee.

    quot;Music,quot; R time, softly, ed clarity. t in a puddle of blood beside tilated corpse of to one side, e-and-gold court garments  was broken.

    Dianora turned to Brandin. tionless, standing exactly as ,   t of ening detac.

    quot;t; ly, almost to  screaming and tumult t filled took one ant step to the dais.

    iture tures immediately disappeared, but not tiful, crumpled figure of to be alone near to  w had landed on her skin.

    People ripping and pusic e to quit t tling Camena di C to cover Isollas body. to move Ro do it;  seem to understand w was ill weeping, esquely screwed up like a  childs.

    Dianora moved a o  reaked  over t under t as o be blood all over rol she looked around for help, any kind of help.

    quot;Come, my lady,quot; said a desperately needed voice t  me take you back to the saishan.”

    quot;Oo,quot; s;Please. Please do t, Scelto.”

    tinder of tting it afire ion attempt from Ygraticipation.

    And it had very nearly succeeded.

    Scelto led Dianora doo ling protectiveness slammed ttering cro clung and inuously o  robe. Srollably, unable to speak.  t before it.

    In docile submission si tea ive. t, one after tually trembling stopped. Sill found it difficult to speak. ay in t  to leave it anyway.

    battered, numb. So be utterly incapable of marsanding, of se response to w  happened.

    One t only kept driving taff on t so impossible, so disabling, t sried, o block it out. S. through, again and again: she had saved his life.

    tigana  ao t of Brandin t the crossbow would have ended.

    erday. A place oains, by a river, on curving s the sea.

    e dream, a name in ernoon so bar t name from to lock it into a dream. Until all too, died.

    o deal ?  it meant? So kill Brandin of Ygrato end  lost tigana migead . . .

    tarted once more. Fussing and murmuring, Scelto built up t yet anot for . ears on ress. Someone knocked loudly on ime later and so driving to use before.

    Gradually, very slo t gently drifted do ternoon oo the saishan.

    So find t eadier. Scelto rusesting, but  o ttendants t ruck t act. Not since  his own manhood.

    S t ted oils soften  t afternoon.

    ters sendants o painted toes. A soft sy rose. Far from the color of blood, far from anger or grief.

    Later s ed t back to o  for the summons.

    From t so Scelto outside, to receive t came.

    A s time after old  Brandin  for Solores.

    Anger flamed  exploded like . . . like t anyte  caldron in . After tigana fell, after red rolled, c so burn a long time.

    tering, s like a lava flo moment s out eetore Adaon on tainside. So take an involuntary backep a an observation t mattered now.

    mattered, all t mattered, t soday, trampling into muck and spattered blood ted ted  upstairs room in Certando.

    And in return? In return, Brandin  sent for Solores di Corte, leaving o spend tonight alone.

    Not, not a thing he should have done.

    It did not matter t even  of and le need onig or intelligence, for sparkle, for questions or suggestions. Or desire. , untleness t Solores gave. t sly did not. tenderness, ter tonigand: it ely, after w had happened.

    But s from him.

    And so it came to be t, alone in  nigered by no one and by noto  came whe fires of rage finally died.

    S and t marked off triads of t before t hin her.

    t urn of trand of memory so block out from among all tigana  sruly  Ember Niging terribly far from wever moorings her soul had found.

    e, Dianora lay as in an open space and alone, unable to deflect any of t no oo keen—too icy keen a —to be allo any normal time.

    But ted on Brandin of Ygrat day, and s aeering t t portal of Morian, and tonig, a nigs and s could not be anytime, and it .  came to Dianora, terribly, one after anot memories of  away.

    oo young to figeen, Prince Valentin ernly norto  caken a of Eanna, hem.

    t er Stevan er tory. the weary men who

    and survived, and t be Brandins coming hey had lived in and loved.

    t knoerally true t  o learn in t follo greumor and tered in those who survived.

    t en, in he dying.

    Dianora and  ring idings of Second Deisa. Even as tered ty itself, occupying treets and squares of tigana, tely colored Palace by to let slip  ao e and gentle, travel to h her.

    Sometimes s invisible t amid tyard t summer, ers  would acer.

    Dianora set o run t ss and apprentices  long after truction began. S even blame t of tices stayed hem.

    ice ed until tion  ed rebuilding started under Ygrato return toy. Or y in a city noe in a province of t name.

    In a  be opped using it in public places. too great: ting feeling inside t came raders and bankers from Corte  ty. It here was no name.

    Dianora could remember, y, t time se. t  t year.

    Sco a bitter maturity t first summer and fall, grieving for er lost, too soon gone, not knoe summer, urned fifteen in tice, ts; assembly of any kind  t year.  Dia-nora o do hem.

    too. Preternaturally grave er, and  into t. It o be abroad after nig somet driving  to reets, past t still smoldered on almost every corner. It o catco puniseen in the season of war.

    t fall. ty deated in s response.

    Six o die. Dianora kne of t so very many people left in ty, ter from in s forever after.

    No more soldiers were killed.

    inued to go out at nigil sely, so so fall asleep. Somehough she had never said a word.

    been so t s a great deal of food t first er—most of t  confiscated—but Dianora did t so feed t t look t year. S in her mirror.

    t. It able t t sprang from the deep-sown seeds of Brandins vengeance.

    Dianora remembered being at an upstairs  began. Scice—no longer an apprentice, of course—ened early morning across to te e side and accosted tc all.

    quot;; one of ted ;ere lost,quot; he ribs.

    quot;; the soldier begged.

    Eyes carefully los leading from it.

    quot;ts no good!quot; t; good are street names to me? I dont even knoo; ter; Dianora  w s.

    quot;Loe,quot; tice muttered quickly, as  silent. ticed though.

    quot; toell me,quot; the shoulder.

    quot;I just told you. Loe,quot; tice intervened loudly. One of taggered and almost fell; o lift a o touch his head.

    , Dianora sarike t t blo errible silence in t.

    quot;Loe,quot; he words.

    Laug them go.

    For t morning.

    te victims of t company, rict beter of toood. None of temples of triad atuary t stood outside and wo hers work.

    A young, seductively graceful Morian, and a retco make tars.

    taking roundabout routes in an attempt to avoid t mornings, till found. ts to elude t.

    Dianora used to go to t same upstairs  t of t by cever , she pain among

    t t for t aled t as tco something worse.

    It ernoon t time. A riad  of termato time Ember Days. to t,  to tamper riad and ter t out to do an afternoons work.

    to tire of t.

    But t afternoon, just as tany of being lost a group of four mercs came trudging up tion born of s malice.

    quot;Stop!quot; s did, very abruptly. One obeyed Ygrate, w be from.

    quot;Come ; ts to stand in front of the boys.

    A premonition of sometouc moment like a cold finger on her spine.

    traders reported t t hing.

    quot;Good,quot; t;I knoen to me. ts are going to name ty and to you. If you can tell me  man y gold ygras.”

    It une. Even from . t o . Sed  moment e s .

    ed tears and opened ched.

    quot;You,quot; said to tice—tarted ;your province ell t it was.”

    Se s, oblivious to t irrelevance, leaned forraining icipation. Dianora sa ion.

    t;None of t!quot; ;For your life, say t; Naddo, very clearly, said, quot;tigana.”

    And of course not one of ts could say back t for ty golden ygras or ty times so many. Dianora could read t, t confronting sorcery al.

    tled eacer. turned to her.

    quot;No,quot; ly before t;You . t —  to prove?”

    een, and mucoo too long over   it for o do so all   off to c  otreet and across topped doering of men, sensing tension t aken shape.

    o clearly establisy.  e ed to turn ain back and alive, her

    back from ry shrough.

    Sco s. to bear ness and remember, kno suco matter, if anyttered in to come.

    tip of it very carefully against . ternoon sunliged from it. It he square.

    tle desperately, quot;t . You royed us. Is it necessary to go on causing pain? Is it necessary?”

    een, Dianora prayed, gripping too young to fig allowed. Forgive his. Please.

    traders, as one man, stepped quickly out of range. One of ted uncomfortably, as if regretting o. But there was really no choice now.

    tely fororn blue tunic a  broke and slid doaining the blue.

    quot;t; said tly. ty in o kill, Dianora realized.

    A ness, a memory, s to anco fists at ing tohe sky.

    And then she heard his cry.

    t not sullenly or diffidently, and not in sed in tanding before to a name burst forth from his soul.

    quot;tigana!quot;  all s: quot;tigana!quot; And t time, at t of ing, unredeemed defiance of t.

    quot;tIGANA!”

    t cry rang, along treets, up to tco to temples, and far beyond all of tness of the air.

    And ts could not cling to t , t ted stone-still in street and square could  clearly, and clutc to t t spiraling cry.

    And t mucand. It ten in t to do, but turned inside out, it urned out  dimly comprehend.

    t him of course.

    its and feet and s of too—for being t of it. t disperse ting took place. tcural for so many people. t of t and t speak.

    tered tions. Croo form. In a fes everyone here were

    only faces beains at upstairs y save for ttling dust, blood brig. t had happened. Dianora could remember.

    So remain o run doo to let t. And at lengtated movements of a very old man. So Naddo and to . And t  a backoe  day.

    Scurned t t did se- claains drao fall: in love, and for s, and terrible pride.

    nig-er and dreer  they could.

    Later, over dinner, Naddo told t same nig oo mucing in , speaking to Dianora, for urned  Naddos first announcement.

    to be made e urgency torn and s axes. If a young man, a young man suco o get aely  anding.  glancing nervously over to wurned hem.

    here will you go, Dianora had asked him.

    Asoli, old   to t. o Corte or Cigana did not go t t but did not turn; Naddo glanced over at .

    to Dianora. Plans to slip out from ty tonig it for some time,  been sure.  knoo do.  his morning had made up his mind for him.

    Eanna lig. ice and time. te ime. Naddos left eye ely sernoon.

    Later, urned back again, still crying.

    quot;Goodbye,quot; o taring stonily into t-room h.

    Seeing tly urn around. .

    Deliberately  and laid anothe fire.

    Naddo stared at  longer, turned to look at Dianora, failed to acremulous, tearful smile, and slipped out into the dark and away.

    Mucer,  as  and c to bed.  seemed to  a er.

    Sep loudly on t, to let  s  sound, which should have been

    the opening and closing of his bedroom door.

    It e. Sill for anot, surrounded and mastered by all t a candle. S to .

    anding in tside. And by t sears t  surcease doed face. o shake.

    S speak.

    quot; I say goodbye to ; srangled voice. quot; you make me say goodbye to ; S in  even he river.

    ac t once rait bust of ance and took  so  togetime. S have said how long.

    side. A bird sang, and anot from across tuary of nigunic over  ing like t of a captured forest creature. Souc. Bot. tside. And so.

    And so in all t darkness, dark over and about and close-gat and t a pitiful illicit ser in eacheir world.

    quot; are ; her whispered once.

    And time later errifying need, le in ; have we done?”

    And all ter, alone in t hidden memory came back, Dianora could remember her reply.

    quot;O; s; o us?”

    It lasted from t first nigo t o er at time, and Morian heir child.

    Dianora didnt feel like a goddess, and oo taring eyes. S errified , and t  frig as muconis misgave antly, even as tive joy: too brigness  or not allowed.

    o . t doairs; t—and woke—in o eache knowledge of wrong in search of innocence.

    ill driven to go out some nigo y streets. Not as often as before, for ification for  after curfe spring. If  lay in  for her in Morians halls.

    S keep  times a need s sruly understand o explain. y  under tars. er lig  as tigana again. ly doo could some in o had been before.

    , ed t even  to see to ted.  needed to be abroad inside y t imes, Baerd told ening to the sea.

    By day  a strong mans job, o rebuild ted to rebuild. Rics from Corte—t enemies—o settle in ty, to buy up tial palaces very inexpensively, and to set about restoring their own purposes.

    Baerd imes  if one company of soldiers  o pick it up. It o consolidate  Barbadior.

    In Loe they had killed his son.

    S t to ask o deny  city at nigerrors and died ime t door closed beer dark—until s open again and step on tairs, and to o take and hold her in his arms.

    It  on into summer and t ended. It all ended, as   first time in darkness, listening to trees outside.

    er t e by c falling on tops. S ermingling of relief and guilt and need. o her room.

    come to bed. Instead, o t in by truck tinder and lit  up and looked at e, s even by candleliged.

    quot;I ; Baerd said quietly. quot;I sahere.”

    S  it o end.

    Sinctive question. quot;Did anyone else see her?”

    he shook his head.

    t eac eady er. And in t silence a truto ime. quot;You aying for me, in any case,quot; satement. No reproac. he had seen a riselka.

    ;You knew?”

    quot;Yes,quot; she lied.

    quot;Im sorry,quot;   s to ually  she would give him.

    quot;Dont be sorry,quot; sill, ruly, I understand.quot; truly, s tering in small circles to the ground.

    quot;t; ed. It was an enormous, frighing, she knew.

    quot;S clear,quot;  on earnestly. quot;t I o go a; So be strong enougrong enougo hinking. And will you leave me now?

    S;I kno ; S;; My love, s not aloud, only inside, in .

    quot;Ive t about t,quot;  up straigaking strengto t hing she had.

    quot;Im going to look for t; he said.

    quot;, Alessan? e dont even know if ; se of herself.

    quot;t; Baerd said. quot;t s of Eanna, and t t aigana, it h Alessan.”

    quot;een years old,quot; s stop .

    Baerd, where did our childhood go?

    By candlelig t;I dont tters,quot; ;t going to be a quick or an easy t can ever be done at all. een wime comes.”

    quot;So ; she said.

    quot;And so ; Baerd ec;O ; No one else but . Stupidly it  nearly broke rol.

    S;I dont kno; sly. quot;Look after mot if Im careful.quot; Sricken look and moved to quell it. quot;You are not to  it, Baerd. Listen to me: you  seen a riselka! ill you fige to clear rubble in ty for t of your days? No one  be as . I may,quot; silting ly, quot;try to to che same dream as you.”

    It astonis sually said t very nigh had been made clear, even as Baerds forked away from her.

    Lonely and cold in t  nig lingered once sion. Sly refused any of tc sunrise on t t, t , as if botime for tears had passed.

    quot;If t; Baerd said, quot; again. I hink of you each and every day of my life. I love you, Dianora.”

    quot;And I you,quot; so ;I t your pat; t was all so say.

    After  in t room  t nigil the hard kernel of her own plan had been formed.

    t  er, to t of gs hey

    carried, and t so o . h Brandin.

    And so it  to Dianora t Ember Nighe saishan.

    t, sil t dead fire.

    t same long-ago year, born of memory, of guilt, of ts t came erribly exposed on t of all nigerion. A decision, after so many years. A course of action so take. o take,  follow.

    S t came far more from . Someurers tending to Camena di Cried to kill a tyrant and free his home. ho had done so knowing he would die and how he would die.

    Even noering ts and oes and ankles and legs. t carefully, even tenderly, solicitously guarding t of , so t after t—trap ake  to to die in t of his people.

    S Camena . Srivial artist angling for ascension at court.

    Not anymore. Yesterday afternoon o

    o torturers and tion t could no more be buried t tonig unsered as she was and so awake.

    , t came knifing er  make her?

    did it make of t long-ago quest a sixteen-year-old girl

    a  by the sea and gone in search of his Prince.

    S belonged to rove one more time to sc to begin t successful, journey back to  room on th.

    t nig t nig y, teness of w she Audience Chamber.

    Ackno, trying to deal , Dianora began to sense, as if from a very great distance, s sloreat from turning, and turning back, to t y burning, a palace set aflame.

    No comfort t anye reminder of who she was and why she was here.

    And lying very still in darkness on an Ember Nigry doors and  told over softly to elling verse: One man sees a riselka

    here.

    them shall die.

    three men see a riselka one is blessed, one forks, one shall die.

    One woman sees a riselka o her.

    them shall bear a child.

    three women see a riselka one is blessed, one is clear, one shall bear a child.

    In to . In t  should have begun and ended long ago.

    triad kneer, o  and elusive  all come rig of one trutain: so be made clear along ting pato betrayal t seemed to  clear pat be offered her.

    In the morning she would begin.

    Until t at home so many years ago, and she could remember.

 chapter 10

    FIVE DAYS LAtER, ON to Castle Borso.

    All t last afternoon as tcains. Any cery lo  be aoando, t toregea and, t of all, over  wigana once had been.

    It e in to t same afternoon Isolla of Ygrat in the palace on Chiara.

    tting be spur of tains dyed to burgundy and red and a somber purple  summits till s of t.

    Devin could just make out t came do o th.

    In triarcaken deep root in Quileia trade across tains, and ty of time Ember Days ir of commercial life oress-castles  and vital too, because  no King of Quileia o lead an army nort esses standing by at o see ando te armies ly bloodied t eac ranged over generations and became tuff of legend.

    And triarco poer all, in time of Acesses self like a flo dusk and the caravans ended.

    ties do villages, or, if flexible and energetic enouger and turned to otoering court in tles became living anactles egral to ts in tial, t tter or vicious for t.

    to Devin, touring , it imes seemed t every second ballad ted soutred of tamed as ern les among the Braccio.

    And of ttle and blood and villages set afire, or lamenting parted lovers dro pools y  seemed to Devin,  in and around tle Borso hard under Braccio Pass.

    t been any neime, very fe since topped. But of fresories and rumors t t many. In icular le Borso he road.

    And if tories  love, as so many of ttle to do e on  crags, and rato tell about certain cle Borso itself. About deep s and tapestries, about imported silk and lace and

    velvet, and profoundly disconcerting  in rooms t  raids at trestle-tables, he floor.

    Riding beside Erlein in t, Devin dragged  s on t tle tucked into a fold of  around it and a small village just beyond, Borso  in t ligil the Ember Days.

    quot;Alienor is a friend,quot;  Alessan eered. quot;An old friend.”

    t muc least,  from ting sall and stooped,

    hall.

    Alessans color erestingly, epped back, smiling a little, to survey his companions.

    Sion. quot;elcome back, troubadour. t?”

    quot;Even so, my lady. I am  you remember.quot; Erleins boo theyd seen before Alessan had bound him.

    quot;You o see you now in such splendid company.”

    Erlein opened   replying. Alienor glanced at Alessan, a fleeting inquiry in her very dark eyes.

    Receiving no response surned to ty in fully s ilted ly to one side. tiny impassively.

    quot;Very ; said Alienor of Borso, softly so ts and t ;I imagine t Baerd aking you for a K.quot; e ravishing.

    Devin didnt knotled. An instant later t particular dilemma .

    quot;You dont kno; said Erlein di Senzio loudly. quot;A terrible oversigroduction. My lady, may I present to you the—”

    no further.

    Devin  to react,  aftero t o do— s as hard as he could in Erleins belly.

    As it o clap  of pain. turn ended effect of triana off balance and stumbling foro be smoot and braced by Alienor.

    taken perhree seconds.

    Erlein sank to  carpet. Devin knelt beside s from the room.

    quot;You are a fool!quot; Baerd snarled at the wizard.

    quot;ainly is,quot; Alienor agreed in a rat tone, all exaggerated petulance and flounce.

    quot; true identity of a disguised K; Sill riana around t, quite unnecessarily. Noreat.

    quot;You are an impetuous creature, arent you?quot; she murmured silk-ily.

    quot;Not especially,quot; said Catriana opping a fe away.

    Alienors moutriana up and do eye. quot;I am ; s lengt;And I  men you are traveling h!”

    quot;Are t; Catrianas voice , but her color was suddenly high.

    quot;Are t; Alienor ec;You mean you  establis for yourself? Dear c s? Of course t e your youth, my dear.”

    Catriana looked at ;I dont t; s;But I doubt  subject.”

    Devin  Alienors ans;Per,quot; s;But, in trutually be greater t; S;You may also find as you get older t ice is for deat for beginnings. Any kind of beginnings. On t; s ;t you s to keep you onight.”

    Erlein groaned, dragging Devins attention a;I tude,quot; but one   would be.

    ed Erleins o get hem.

    Sing Baerd noy—a tone t inctively, by Baerds oowards her.

    quot;Im sorry,quot; o Erlein. quot;I couldnt thing else.”

    Erlein ill-uned on removing tered tle. quot;Im sorry,quot; ;I forgot about ts.”

    ;I  ac us all killed. Not my idea of freedom, t. Nor, frankly, is ture my notion of middle-aged dignity. Since you knocked me do time Devin  note of amusement in troubadours voice. A survivor, Sandre had said.

    As tactfully as and.

    quot;tremely violent one,quot; Alessan ;is Devin dAsoli. he also sings. If you are very good he may sing for you.”

    Devin turned a perracted by o deal ered.

    t ty years old. caugo cover  forty and : Alienor er sando. tories and descriptions of tiful er t.

    t come even near to catc s anding before  udded endrils of lessly alloo fall free, framing t oval of  violet under te smile as s Devin.

    o meet t look. Doing so,  as tes in eep  an ever- increasing speed. e, as if sually see t ant.

    quot;I suppose,quot; said Alienor di Certando, before turning back to Alessan, quot;t I so try to be very good t o sing for me.”

    s  very lo  e fire.

    ing to clear it, a little s ion. told ernly. ed by tories told, ion rendered unruly by t, sensuous furnisraction and t.

    On t a stranger to t of love ed Adaons primal coupling  of Alienor and ting s as clearly—t s of rapture o being from asy.

    tars streaming all across t o look at t ing Catrianas glance just tic irony and a second t quite recognize. For all riana looked exceptionally young just t a c sagely, not yet fully realized or accomplished in her womanhood.

    tle Borso e in o trous iced belatedly, ed the same blue-black dangerous color as her gown.

    he swallowed, and looked away again.

    quot;I expected you yesterday,quot; Alienor o Alessan. quot;I ing for you and Id made myself beautiful for you but you didnt come.”

    quot;Just as ; Alessan murmured, smiling. quot;iful t never rengto leave.”

    urned to t;You see orments me? Not a quarter of an hour in my home and he speaks of leaving. Am I well served in such a friend?”

    tion  ly to Devin.  o to tongue. ing rat tuous and the imbecilic.

    ine, Devin t desperately. ive glass of something.

    As if summoned by an art of timing more subtle ts in blue livery reappeared, eacray. trays, Devin sa  certainly Certandan.

    t of glasses was blue.

    Devin turned to Alessan. t Alienor  spoke to somete and s. For a moment ered: as if sant ticement. And Devin, a far more perceptive man t  of a sadness in her eyes.

    tain t . In some subtle  calmed , milder lighe room.

    quot;It is not a to forget,quot; sly to Alessan, gesturing tohe blue wine.

    quot;Nor I,quot; ;Since it began here.”

    S a moment, eyelids lo passed. Alienors eyes ;I ion of letters for you. But one is very recent,quot; she said.

    quot;Broug of Eanna ime he was

    even stay t t sunset. I s  have feared Id have his robe off if he lingered for a meal.”

    quot;And would you ; Alessan grinned.

    S;Unlikely. Eannas sort are seldom rouble. tty. Almost as pretty as Baerd, come to t.”

    Baerd, quite unperturbed, simply smiled. Alienors glance lingered flirtatiously on oo, Devin noted. An exc spoke to events and t young suddenly, and out of h.

    quot;; Alessan asked.

    Alienor ated. quot;est,quot;  of tion in her eyes.

    Alessan noted it. quot;You may speak freely. I trust every man and o even look at Erlein. Devin did look, but if ed a reaction from ted.

    iture Alienor dismissed s. to see to tion of to a ing-table by one of t to Alessan.

    quot;It is from Danoleon ; s;From your o hear or say.”

    And t, Devin  expected at all.

    quot;Forgive me,quot; Alessan murmured. rode quickly to fire, tearing tter open as . Alienor became very busy offering glasses of took a long drink from his.

    ticed t Baerd  touc anding rigidly, staring into the fire.

    quot;Alessan?quot; Baerd said.

    Alienor turned sly at t. Alessan did not move; seemed not to have even heard.

    quot;Alessan?quot; Baerd said again, more urgently. quot; is it?”

    Sloigana turned from to look at t really at t Baerd. t involuntarily.

    quot;It is from Danoleon, Im afraid. From tuary.quot; Alessans voice . quot;My mother is dying.

    I art omorrow.”

    Baerds face e as Alessans. quot;ting?quot; ;ting tomorrow?”

    quot;t first,quot; Alessan said. quot;After ting, wever  ride home.”

    Given t ne Alessans  niging surprise.

    been asleep. quot;ait,quot; ly and struggled quickly into  on over ockings across t tones wing ended. he door.

    In tside,  cast weird, flickering she corridor wall was Alienor herself.

    quot;Come,quot;  ened at t but Devin could discern ts beneatumbling over her shoulders and down her back in a black

    cascade.

    Devin ated, tered and lagging.  up a o try to straigangle of his hair.

    S;Leave it like t,quot; s;Leave it,quot; surned.

    er one, ty public rooms t of stairs.

    At top of tairs an orange spill of ligle Borso. ime to register tricate ravagant carpets on treing dog, grey and graceful, regarded  did not rise.

    Alienor laid urned to  t he rush of his blood seemed loud in his veins.

    quot;I am burning up,quot; Alienor said.

    Someook sed to protest, even to be amused at suc. But as   s oouc was burning .

    it Alienor trapped eethe flesh of his palm.

    And  pain desire  never orted sound and realized it ook a ep toed in   raked to a point wed far away.

    Everytigana. Alessan, Alais, Catriana. self, t  led to this one. And her.

    ore at tenings of   until it came ahe skin along his back.

    ed  asted blood. he heard her laugh.

    Never, ever, hing before.

    Someo be on to oget t strove to cast t could be hurled.

    For an instant Devin t ood. In some untion  ure of   seemed to be.

    Given anot, a still place in t,  to put a name to it, a frame for the blurred awareness. he reached . . .

    S erated t, any straining to. it ually to one side and sered around tig, h forming soundless words.

    Devin began to drive o o drive as, all tal deadening trut  came left him

    s to wo w o be his name.

    softly, over and over. Sly out from under   move. S from  and belly, over iated sex and furthighs and legs, and down.

    By time  s to ts of artled and alarmed. ruggled. Uselessly—ted.

    quot;t,quot; said Alienor in a ;o a nigeac; S, flus somet it was she held.

    quot;You are binding me against my ; Devin said, a little desperately. quot;t my idea of o come toget; ed  she silken bonds held firm.

    Alienors ans moment tirred, primal and dangerous and terrifyingly arousing. , improbably soon, a quickening in . roked lig meditatively along umescence.

    quot;It ; murmured le Borso. ed se teetered taut firmness of o straddle  s by ts chem.

    quot;It ; Alienor said again. quot;trust me. Let me teac oget will be very soon.”

    S ed and truggled but only for a moment for   as s above raining of h.

    And before t   candles of er burning doerribly, over and over again. And at t o her own.

    t some time later. ted drifting of smoke. ttern of ligiced it. to its embers; till lay before it, its magnificent retc on its paws.

    quot;You ter go,quot; Alienor said, stroking ly. quot;o carry. It is easy to lose your he dark.”

    quot;You observe t; tle surprised at sucy. quot;No fires?”

    quot;No fires,quot; s;aif  even  to guess at enant farmers or torm tle. Call do curse ake tes seriously up here.”

    quot;As seriously as you take yours?”

    S t and stretc. quot;I suppose so. tonigomorro I prefer not to kno.quot; ition so of t by ts.  curve of we flesill showing red.

    Sraig felt abrupt, a dismissal, and Devin gave are, not moving. S t her hard nor dismissive.

    quot;Dont be angry,quot; Alienor said softly. quot;You oo splendid to be leaving in anger. Im telling you trutes and it is o find your  a lig; Sated a moment, t;And I  alone since my husband died.”

    Devin said not  , , a more complex ttered pillo e t ir his desire again.

    But as   t surfaced from  fe o claim one of the candles in a brass holder.

    Surned on o follo o  as a gift, a glory in ting lig, her smile generous, even kind.

    quot;Good-nig; s;I dont kno you are welcome back so come one day.”

    expected t.  o be told, t s ,  from before rong noermingled , alturn and nodded, it  .

    quot;Good-nig; urned to go.

    At topped and, as muc t er—Devin turned back to her.

    S moved. y of tood the room.

    quot;Is t o us?quot; Devin said tly, reaco frame t. quot; o our love?”

    ance and in t and dark. For a long time s him.

    quot;You are clever,quot; s;Alessan has chosen well in you.”

    ed.

    quot;A; said Alienor tily, simulating astonis. quot;ually s an ansrue ans t; It may rick of tain lig so look aood, even beyond tapestried walls of her room.

    quot;It is one of t o us,quot; s last. quot;A kind of insurrection in t someands against t bind us and cannot be broken now.”

    Devin t about it.

    quot;Possibly t,quot; ly,  t;Or else an admission some goes deeper. Since  free and ed t.”

    hen, and close her eyes.

    quot;Did I deserve t?quot; she asked.

    A terrible sadness passed over Devin. y. quot;No,quot; ;No, you didnt.”

    ill closed he room.

    ired; laden  of s, sloumbled going doair o brace  tone ion left t  out.

    It le terly still. Moving carefully, Devin reactom of tairs and  t flame do intervals, all t slanting moonlig t alloion.

    Briefly  ter standing still a moment to let , Devin set out along o be they had come.

    very soon, t really alarmed. In  mood to be somete about padding tly do le in t, tones cold against .

    turnings. Only pat kno to o urned into an unfamiliar corridor and passed tings. Part of t  of Morian at temple by augo read and do sums, and  t boy, t lessons in ts of harmony.

    No urnings, Devin t again. And t suppress,  t just t, it er, t of to walk abroad.

    tigana? Could a country, a province, be said to  be lost and mourned like a living soul?  of the Nievolene barn.

    stones of t and silent castle.

    It seemed to Devin t ime—or a time outside of time—passing no one,  tread of , before atue in an alcove.  by torc earlier in t ao t. Someirely tle Borso.

    tly opposite tatue of trianas.

    saer and lesser se moonligened, and .

    No urnings, Ploto t old him long ago.

    of Alienor, lying  cus o  ther was dying. his own was dead.

    Ice is for deato Catriana in the hall.

    ly on Catrianas door.

    Sless nigurbed  emanated from t sh Alessan and Baerd.

    Catriana ed unknoion ill didnt knoo do tomorroerious meeting in t, and ignorance made her uneasy and even, on a less acknowledged level, afraid.

    Simes, matcranquil acceptance of  iently ing to receive anotting togetiles of a childrens puzzle game.

    Sometimes s, sometimes it made emptuous to see ing of Alessans occasional reticence or Baerds criana needed to kno tiny fisibar. S t t time to be regained. Sometimes it made  to weep.

    t o a sen dreamt of , especially of her.

    time s after sunrise, passing t endos, so  cottage and repaired it and raised a family.

    In  already far out, tra seemed to be springtime. tage mending nets in t of t riana aken over t-time needle home.

    It iful morning in tones of t off ter. All ts  as aking advantage of t it o tell ood by ting for o look up and see o  er in her arms.

    only to gaze seaing to, to cion of t. An old , a nervous one, and one t o   small boat though.

    S see er at all. Catriana realized  she was invisible here.

    Because s t t acood t to see ired t of il tiena, ter t.

    It isnt fair, s, and in t heard.

    on a s, occasionally looking up to cion of one small boat among so many bobbing on tern sea so far from the one shed loved.

    Catriana ing violently as embedded in t image. Sing for beat to slos in a room in Castle Borso.

    Alienors castle.

    Alienor, ired mot truly  fair. , seeing sucful images in

    marked igana and by t symbols, and for no one else.

    t in telanquy in Ardin to up t from the village.

    S been a trusting person at eig rusted t  of to Baerd t had reassured her.

    It   told   tigana, and tilted anotime  moment, and  to know.

    At  evening after dinner, after to bed, sold s t s . And s o do to igana back, and ime in ime ruck her.

    ormed about to raging, and riad t  taken er ao be sucked back into t ancient grief now.

    And triana learned t had changed her life.

    t of tomped out ttling triana and  eacime riana  four years. Sion  ed to be t.

    Catriana  t-knoo  nig c t airs toified.

    So icipating a burden or a grief.

    quot;I am coming ; s;My fatend to make t up. I  sleep  rust you both?”

    Ale Borso s.  o t t.

    quot;Can you sing?quot;  Alessan had said.

    S music, about all time   er—about s est, sest joy. Diving for s summer tled flaser wrap her like a second skin.

    t ransition tregea again in a gater dark and errified to blame, o make redress for t t t and balance on tumultuous er far below,  . . .

    And ime just before tmare of  s of   her door.

    quot;?quot; she called.

    quot;Devin. ill you let me come in?”

    Abruptly s up in bed and pulled topmost blanket to her chin.

    quot; is it?quot; she called.

    quot;Im not sure, actually. May I come in?”

    quot;t locked,quot; ss  didnt really matter.

    Ser, but saline of his form.

    quot;t; ;You should lock your door, you know.”

    Sed being told t. quot;to be roaming tonigess, and so be coming for me. to your left.”

    S and sink back o t;I suppose ts true enoug; ;And Im sorry, you dont really need me to be telling you o take care of yourself.”

    Sened for irony but ;I seem to olerably  your guidance,quot; she said mildly.

    . t;Catriana, I ly dont knoonight. I feel ridiculously sad.”

    tremely odd in ated a moment, ting ts, reaco strike a flint.

    quot;You lig; he asked.

    quot;Evidently.”

    S t regretting t reply, added, quot;My moto lig one, as a reminder to triad, so say. tood er I met Alessan.”

    quot;ts strange. So did my fat; Devin said ;Ive never t about t. I never kne a man whings.”

    Surned to look at  he wings hid his face.

    quot;A reminder of tigana?quot; she said.

    quot;It  deserve full devotion or observance because of ; ative tone added, quot;Its anot it? Of t tiganese arrogance Sandre alalks about. e make bargains riad, ake aake a of tes.”

    quot;I suppose so,quot; s didnt really strike  alked like times.

    S see tion as one of pride, or bargaining, just as a reminder to t a wrong o pass. A reminder, like Alessans blue wine.

    quot;My mot a proud ; she said, surprising herself.

    quot;I dont kno;  tig;I dont even kno my fat know very muc ; he really did sound peculiar.

    quot;Devin,quot; s;lean for me look at you.quot; Ss; to the chin.

    Slo spilled across orn s and tceet a quick surge of anger, and ty t o do  directly.

    Sions be;So war.”

    it  t even by candlelight.

    It unsettled ; is it t; s;You tired  and came ing more? I can tell you—”

    quot;No,quot; ;No, it isnt t. It is ... , Catriana. It  night.”

    quot;You certainly look as if it ; sorted, s.

    ;Not t s so strange. So complicated. I think—”

    quot;Devin, I really dont  tails!quot; S of thing made her feel.

    quot;No, no. Not like t, t at t . . .quot; ;I t I learned  yrants o us. Not just Brandin, and not just in tigana. Alberico too. Boto all of us.”

    quot;Suc,quot; s;S be even more skillful than you imagined.”

    see  t followed hing grew calmer.

    quot;Im sorry,quot; s lengt;I didnt mean t. Im tired. Ive onig do you  from me, Devin?”

    quot;Im not sure,quot; ;I guess, to be a friend.”

    Again s pused an instinctive, nervous urge to suggest e a letter to one of Rovigos daug;Ive never been good at t, even as a child.”

    quot;Nor I,quot; ing for is more t bete me sometimes, dont you.”

    S  t;e do not o discuss t e you.”

    quot;Sometimes you do,quot;  strange, dogged tone. quot;Because of  man you ever made love h.”

    Sried, unsuccessfully, to  last sentence not to ;You knew?”

    quot;Not t out later.”

    Pieces of anotiently putting it toget. S ;And is it your idea t discussing teresting subject will make us friends?”

    ;Probably not. I dont kno Id tell you I  to be.quot; t;I ly dont knoriana. Im sorry.”

    Surprisingly, ed, and s t for a w .

    quot;I dont e you, Devin,quot; s;truly, I dont. Not. It is an a deny t, but I dont t  ters, isnt it?”

    quot;I suppose so,quot;  see ;If t is all t matters.”

    quot;I mean, its true  making friends.”

    quot;hy?”

    Pieces of t s;As a girl, Im not sure. Maybe I was shy, perhaps proud. I

    never felt easy in our village, even t  since Baerd named tigana for me, since I   counts for anyt all.”

    S  t.

    ;Ice is for endings.”

    ly ;You are still a living person, Catriana.

    it, a life to live, access to friendso love. o thing only?”

    And s;Because my fat. igana like a cotles at the river.”

    Songue bleeding from  at t, t she had spoken.

    quot;O; he said.

    quot;Not a  say a word!”

    ting very still, almost invisible in tly s t  lig rol of o move past t   took a long time in t eventually so draeady breat.

    quot;t; s entirely sure he silence.

    ted a moment tly called ened, and eventually o make out teady rise and fall of hing in sleep.

    So find t amusing. ly  nig just in the obvious ways.

    S about  certainly raise eyebrooget s really care. S sed t  trut  learned anot  really more about  t,  bother her more.

    Sting one of ts over  resisted t really  . Rovigos daug sort of t ser anding. t at miraculous speed and tucked it around e attaco t ory of ttern shed chosen.

    Catriana smiled to tled back to sleep. lessness seemed to  dream again.  after dail later just how far.

 chapter 11

    ELENA StOOD BY ttIOS o t and tc one by one in tle Borso. At intervals people  o ting if anyt all. It le t lay a.

    From t all, and no lig, fires banked,  t of ts, everyone kne.

    ttle noise from een or ty people must o Mattios  t knoo join ter, at ting-place; s too fe been enoug year, or t, and t ttles very badly. t er to replace t certainly lose tonight.

    It arry nige crescent of Vidomni as s

    sky, a different feel to t entirely, in only a fele began.

    Carenna  stopping to talk. It  a time for talking. Elena  Carenna tonig  oo soon for o be doing t s  tarry for any man or  he world of day.

    So a couple s kno o the house.

    t on t, timing ter to in t of ting in darkness and praying.

    Praying for rain and to be fruitful to tall  of fall. For to nourisake root and t, giving soil. Praying —t ually onig alkers to save their lives.

    Elena instinctively reaco finger t s  t  of transparent birthe womb.

    A symbol of good fortune, birt sac o be destined for a life blessed by triad.

    te soutains, teac.  rites  deeper, furto o moutando a c said to be guarded from deat sea, or naively named for fortune.

    It was marked for war.

    For t eac of ts t began the

    year. Foug yet risen seedlings t  cities, cut off from trut of suc for all tando, o pray and to be afraid of sounds in t t mighe dead abroad.

    From beoucurned to see Mattio looking quizzically at her.

    Sh one hand.

    quot;Not,quot; she said.

    Mattio did not speak, but t s of a  of reassurance more turning to go back inside.

    Elena criding, solid and capable. t do trestle-table, across from Donar. S t, t Verzar, about love and then desire.

    Surned ao look out into t toline of tle in tages errible battle a year ago riump.

    Verzar er t defeat, as all tims of t battles did.

    touc  fall in t cold, final touc, Verzar o o sleep and o t s own.

    In ties, t portal of Morian, of longed-for grace in ly intercessions invoked ears.

    t in to battle t speak in such a way.

    Not t to deny Morian of Portals or Eanna or Adaon; only t t triad, po  beyond told s ts sun. Once a year t alkers of Certando   their own.

    Elena sonigo fig year, and fe. And ed in sucy-ts daug alkers into a time , year by year.

    So  eyesigtio c come.

    It , as ed,  stocked ures t could kill a man. Baerd didnt expect to find suc no for a long time now.

    ars and t of Vidomni in t  it s bot disturb o be abroad on an Ember Nig ual of  all across ting in silent darkness beheir walls

    offered ude o need. o t lay as if croucive darkness under tars al fires cast back at tever flames triad created for tning out of the heavens.

    If ts and spirits a ed to see t o beg their forgiveness.

    let y, of pale marble under moonligicos s spend a lifetime studying to understand, of quiet voices  understood by a droyard and a steady, strong, sculptors hers hand.

    turning the noon sun red.

    Smoke and deato fragments, to bounce like a boulder on scorco poer t year, infinite and meaningless by the cold uncaring sea.

    tants, ts, t nineteen years.  yoked to one in , images of royed, terated. truly obliterated: a sound t ing, year by year, furtide er da different as ides came back.

    o live  was a co surrender.

    to die. Or retreat into madness as heir own hands.

    But t could drive terly from t, ead, over and above everythose ashes of ruin.

    Against ter,  he dark.

    And so Baerd  into ts across t, or singly, or dark ars. Among t, or tumn in Astibar or Senzio, along snoled mountain slopes in tregea, or  at the highlands.

    to o smell ten to ters aste grapes and moonlit er, lie motionless in a forest tree to c predators at t. And once in a great or in ion, restless and soon gone. Anot, a part of he River Deisa.

    In every corner of t urning of t in t and t field, by t mountain ridge, reac or back or inime to was ever and again denied.

    imes before on t.  back a long o tains at t of the

    ne. From ter and  misgave  t omorro — as ed—to ease or s.

    tonig called to  le. Alo tonigsteps led . to t lay beneatle edly open door, Baerd sa as if sing for opped.

    Sitting at table, resisting temptation to count time, trying to appear as if all  could be on t of tio side t, as it al coward hey had been for years. Even before poor Verzar had died.

    able at Donar, but tco stio follo ttio forced o smile reassuringly. Carenna caugo a fehe more visibly nervous people.

    Not at all easy tio stepped outside  someone ly bearded and of middle , stood motionless before Elena, glancing from o t speaking. regean fashion.

    Mattio looked over at Donar   repress a shiver.

    quot;Someone may come,quot; tereve. And notle. Mattio looked over at Elena;  left tranger. Sanding very straigionless,  s Mattio  years c . illness, and for ing to hide her fear.

    Donar again, and tepped forending to tranger.

    Calmly ;Be  is not to be abroad.”

    t ed o use ;Nor, as I understand t a nigo have doors and windows open.”

    quot;and t; Mattio said. too quickly. Elena still  looked ahere was an odd expression on her face.

    Moving a little nearer to stand beside tio realized t imes to tle. A musician, o remember, or a merc of some sort. One of t, o see ttle.

    tranger  responded to ort.  revealed, to be giving tter t. ttio.

    quot;Im sorry,quot; ;If I am trespassing upon a custom in ignorance, forgive me. I o your peace.”

    ually turned aending to leave.

    quot;No!quot; Elena said urgently.

    And in t Donar spoke for t time.

    quot;tonig; rusted so muc;And you are not

    trespassing. I t someone migching for you.”

    And at t tranger turned. hem now.

    quot;Come for ; he asked.

    ted co one side to let and in front of tranger. Mattio looked across at e-gold in t. Sook he dark-haired man.

    eadily at Donar. quot;Come for ; ed, mildly enough.

    Still Donar ated, and in t moment Mattio realized  ttio, for ood  to do.

    And t. o one from th.

    quot;e are t alkers of Certando,quot; eady and deep. quot;And t of ts of spring. t. I must ask you: where a mark .

    . . did ttended declare a blessing found?quot; And slo  h.

    Out of ttio saing  tranger, c Donar  so t.

    time tretced sounds from ted tio could see t  lay be  been revealed.

    till not speaking, tranger moved one o  and reac  out, so t tarlig, too wore.

    Mattio edly t  himself.

    quot;Eart; Elena murmured, unable to stop herself. She had closed her eyes.

    quot;Eart springs from it and returns,quot; Donar added. rembled.

    t it for Mattio to finis;Returns, to spring fort ;  tranger, at t identical to Mattios oo Elenas, to Donars, to them.

    It ion spoken in sequence by t Baerd finally understood w umbled upon.

    time of  failures, of violence and blood, taken root  o spread t tum and ads ening speed. And against Carlozzis central teac triad ies, subject to and agents of an older, darker set of po set their hands.

    Faced e unity among t up in tarvation, ti, Prince of tigana, ed doried and executed all across tever means executions ed in eac time.

    A time of violence and blood. two hundred years ago.

    And no declared to be Carlozzini.

    And more. Nig army of t. C no one kne noo   be in danger noo be holding himself carefully, as if prepared for violence.

    tood ciful, t in t, every spoken  a feline undercurrent of danger. too young, too s make  from  s  not in a  e danger. Deliberately Baerd forced o relax. ; o tell me, then?”

    Elena ears from  tranger again, absorbing , quiet solidity, y, t t y, painfully a, trying to move past t and before erval o touco be sure t tio and Donar. Someto be o rate on w Donar was saying.

    quot; I tell you no many people,quot; ly.

    quot;For till  us destroyed and tyrant in Astibar his.”

    quot;I kno; tly. quot;ill you say why you are confiding in me?”

    quot;Because tonig of battle,quot; Donar said. quot;tonig alkers into erday at sunset I fell into a sleep and dreamt of a stranger coming to us. I o trust my dreams, t to know whey will come.”

    Elena saranger nod, calm, unruffled, ackno , and t ing in o be a sadness in  it oo dark to tell so mucting ion run free at sucime.

    On t. Men  griefs of tain. So ask.

    quot;You are t; o Donar.

    quot;; Mattio cut in s;And you  to d; From tone it ed tion. Elena kneive   respected in  too oo important a moment for misunderstandings. Surned to ly.

    quot;Mattio!quot; s Donar  moment tranger smiled for t time.

    quot;You leap at a slig is not meant,quot; ;I o find my bearings. It is darker  is for you.”

    Mattio opened . ure of apology  was Donar who replied.

    quot;I am Elder of t; ;And so mine, tios aid, is leaderstle. But you must kno to figonig like any battle you mig again from t  sky entirely t sky, in t cs and shadows, few of us will appear as we do here.”

    ted uneasily for t time.  reluctantly, to

    look at Donars hands.

    Donar smiled, and   hand, five fingers spread wide.

    quot;I am not a ; ly. quot;t ep into it and are marked for it,  s. t wizardry.”

    tranger nodded at lengtesy, quot;I can see t. I do not understand it, but I can only assume you are telling me to a purpose. ill it please you noo tell me  is?”

    And so Donar said t;Because tle tonight.”

    In t follotio spoke, and Elena ;e  need.”

    quot;?quot; ther man said.

    quot;e call t; Elena said tio spoke. quot;to us year by year. Generation after generation.”

    quot;to ruin t t,quot; Donar said. quot;For tando tle t, and for all time o .”

    Mattio said, quot;For almost ty years no  ts , and about they have—”

    But tranger ed gesture.

    quot;Almost ty years? And from t?quot; ep nearer and turned to Donar. quot;tyrants came almost ty years ago. And Brandin of Ygrat.”

    Donars gaze eady as c t;true,quot; ;and it is a t t o some of us, but I do not t signifies. Our battles on t eacion, and hey come.”

    quot;But still—quot; tranger began.

    quot;But still,quot; Donar said, nodding ;teries to t are beyond my poo grasp. If you discern a pattern t I do not . . . ion or deny t it migrue?”

    o ouc;You carry t your presence oniganding t,  tell you t deato meet us in t I can also tell you t our need goes beyond tando, and even, I the Palm.

    ill you figonight?”

    tranger  a long time. urned a tars, but Elena  ruer vision   really looking up at ts.

    quot;Please?quot; s;ill you please?”

    urned back it o look at Donar once more.

    ;I understand little of ttles to figo ake. If you dreamt my coming  myself be guided by your dream.”

    And tears again, Elena sao ;Yes, I ;  smiling, ;I . My name is Baerd.”

    And so it seemed t er all.

    Elena mastered ears, standing as straigumult, a terrible c of t c seemed to Elena t se plucked on . Beyond Donar, Mattio said somet s  it ranger, and realizing, as   s before, t incts  misled. t could not possibly be missed by any man or o see, even in night and shadow.

    Sig, trying to  for  all  seeking in trangeness of t. O. Oh, my dead love.

    Sook a careful breat;I am Elena,quot; s;ill you come in and meet thers?”

    quot;Yes,quot; said Mattio gruffly, quot;come in ; time s t came tried to mask it. S t sound, caring for rengty, ing so muco give sorro t and tides of t could scarcely be ruled even by t of day.

    Besides, s, already, as turned to go into to find in o or called by Donars dream.

    Baerd looked at t t placed in  o touc one edge, ted color of red soil.

    o Donar, to to t in  urned a as somet deal  noeen of t women, all ing for him.

    t ting-place, Mattio  tell.

    a, by trut t ting for   come up to empting of fate, t aspect of it, something he seldom did.

    But  no to do it.  of Ales-san, and of all times ting ake  ongued Catriana? Or Devin? No, Devin c careful, focused attention, and come to ime. Sandre would call him a fool.

    And per someto the words Donar had spoken.

    rivial superstition. A c dro .

    Almost ty years, Mattio had said.

    t, Donar had said.

    t be little in it, or a great deal, or not all, or everything.

    to the lees.

    It ter, deatter. For one panicked, irrational moment e of spring.

    ttio wince

    ruefully at taste of he panic passed.

    table  aed from its trestles. Pallets  to lie upon. Elena moved to ook t s do.

    Baerd t of er, of t clear image of he wide world.

    Donar to on Baerds otc t.

    quot;Leave your s;It will be useless whe fields.”

    Baerd ated a moment longer; ter recklessness, of a mystic folly   against tches.

    quot;Close your eyes,quot; ;It is easier t ; ant. ever o act upon ;It ; s;but it  be. Eart us grace, and t.quot; It  thing he heard.

    It  sleep. ever it   sleep, for no dream could be this keen in his face.

    all of coming  many people—tios.

    t range. he looked up.

    And Baerd sa t  green-gold of spring. It s green and golden ligars in constellations ed,  pounding, searctern t o  retc sains at all. No snole Borso to nort. Or ?

    est. ition urned to look t trees, of grass, bare of flower and se and barren.

    quot;Yes, look t; Donars deep voice said from be;and understand e as t year  ttles of t years. e are fig not far from noo t battle of our war.”

    quot;And?quot; Baerds eyes ill on t, on tony ruin of the hills.

    quot;And all t just ando. And people will die. Of hunger or of plague.”

    quot;All over t;  look aion t .  was sickening.

    quot;take, ttle for a small peninsula. All over t is said t ours is not ttered by time and tars.”

    quot;Carlozzi taughis?”

    quot;Carlozzi taugand eacly, our oroubles  perhaps in dream.”

    Baerd sill looking out at t. quot;t is too remote for me. too difficult. I am a one and a sometime merc and I o fig my ion, over many years. I live in a peninsula overrun by enemies from overseas. t is the level of evil I can grasp.”

    urned aern  Donar. And despite t. tood on traight and his head held high, a man in his prime.

    A o t greatly cer, till e trangeness of t. her eyes, he saw, were a very deep blue.

    quot;ere your eyes t same color an ; he asked.

    S;It  knohis year.

    It ctle for me every time.  color are they now?”

    quot;Blue. Extremely blue.”

    quot;ell t extremely blue, but blue.quot; ;Sell you ; ty, a lig his lips.

    quot;tell me.”

    quot;You look like a boy,quot; stle laug;A fourteen-or fifteen-year-old boy, beardless noo cut if we  half a chance.”

    Baerd felt  t in . It actually seemed to stop for an instant before beginning again, laboriously, to beat. urned s his hands.

    t. Smoot in tregea five years ago  there. he closed his eyes, feeling suddenly weak.

    quot;Baerd?quot; Elena said be;Im sorry. I did not mean to—”

    ried to speak but found t . ed to reassure  it  time in almost ty years.

    For t time since teen-year-old boy forbidden to go to war by o figo an end.

    quot;Be easy, Baerd,quot; le. quot;Be easy. trangeness here.”

    to meet and clasp at . ed against rong and s o cover his face as he cried.

    Above t trange fields ing-time, or utterly bare and desolate and lost, in t.

    quot;t; someone said, o t;Look. e  claim our weapons.”

    tios voice. Elena released epped back. Baerd wiped his eyes and looked

    to t again.

    And  to make rig terly een.

    Over t, far off yet but unnaturally clear in tural ligh.

    quot;O; aken breath.

    quot; do you see?quot; Mattio said.

    Baerd turned. tly trimmed, but ;Ygrat; e of excitement. quot;Soldiers of t, but t is exactly hers.”

    Mattio looked suddenly tful.  it was Donar who spoke.

    quot;Be not deceived, Baerd. Remember  in our peninsula, ttle of t your invaders from overseas.”

    quot;I see t I see.”

    quot;And sell you t  their numbers?”

    quot;And t again,quot; Mattio said bluntly, almost angrily. quot;to a tail like tain cats. t teeths.”

    Baerd  of ill, in tance, pouring do of ting knives of Ygrath.

    urned to Elena, a little desperate.

    quot;I do not like to name ; s;ten me too much.

    tures of my c it is not s e, but t ttle of your daytime world.”

    , a rusreaming out of the hills.

    quot;I am alle,quot; o o ;All my life.

    I see out tell you t I am fifteen years old no fourteen or I could not be  ; A t struck ;tell me: is tream  of us, a river below whey are descending now?”

    quot;t; Donar said. quot;Do you  to join battle there?”

    A red, fierce joy rollable.

    quot;I do,quot; ;Otio, where do we claim our weapons?”

    quot;t; Mattio pointed sout to a small nearby field alks of corn  your stream very soon.”

    Baerd did not speak. tios lead. Elena and Donar   field of corn already and Baerd sa to pluck a stalk to be t. It  o take a part of to understand t  ern logic of day, grasped t tall yello onig for their hands.

    epped in among t cornfield, careful of alk for  came free easily, even o  green nig on to fallo in  cautiously, and  already talk iffened like metal forged. It sliced tling sound. ested it alk rue to  uries ago.

    o t. t of t of t a dream, old  a dream.

    Donar io stood beyond, a passionate defiance in his face.

    Men and ern and resolute and unafraid.

    quot;S; Donar said turning to look out upon t;S to the Ember war?”

    quot;For t; t alkers cried, and raised t to the sky.

    Baerd di tigana bar Saevar cried  and not aloud, but  foralk of corn like a long blade in o do battle under t enced place.

    s, there was never any blood.

    Elena understood onige, of any kind of life. o to th.

    t of to tream and.

    Elena prepared o figinted c. Sened, but s. S Ember ime tle sucures as tmare ones she saw.

    But Donar and Verzar  of magic it  t mattered,   s so mucronger on ts, so muc ened oo, t time and even after ion so deal ment to be made. to one degree or anotly  image of w he once had been.

    Just as Baerds very clearly, reac ed.

    Fifteen,  fourteen, or   understand t, but sime to puzzle suc. Not noream, and norying to clamber out, clad in them.

    Sure dripping er as it scrambled up toed eetinctive deadliness s self in t-infested body of her foe.

    S, ing ely more. Surned—barely in time to block anotep before ts on . Sed e attempt to ward.

    tanding them.

    S Baerd. At ranger on t.  iganding over t killed.  o  all. urned and  foro tcride into ttle, and s sure o a ruso grieve for too young eyes.

    Again, no time for sucs. to it. Screams of pain, cries of rage and fury cut t like blades of sound. So tio beside abbing, neat-footed among te in his courage.

    All about  alkers of Certando plunged into their war.

    Sures from t.

    S o to oniger t, and again and again on eacs, t t be fruitful, t to bear its bounty in t year, and t.

    In t of t cion, Elena glanced up. S of till- climbing moon, and t stop o t of tated ream, apprec . t yet.

    t certain t.   of ther side.

    Sore s from truck doo a scabrous s, bubbly sound. S barely in time to block a sideo keep ing. Carennas free  even ime to look but s was.

    It ars, under t of t moon, it es and open sores. Seet, letting t bodys grace be guided by alk t o come from self as muc did from er, and s be blood, but time to cime noo do anyt all but parry and  to keep ones footing on to fall o die.

    Stered, ory flasime. tride ao quell a movement to t at one point, guarding  ing for to come to tacking ter, screaming inco and. iful, and deadly. S like grey sludge blocking tream. ly, sold t yrant in t.

    to vanis moved so fast. Knee-deep in tream ood rooted like a tree and t force  of o rying to o get furtream. tling alone in ter, t strange on

    range on talk t .

    Elenas  ac an overwhelming weariness.

    So ing beside Donar. toget for tretcrying to move in concert, to be of one mind.

    t fig trained for battle. t eaceacs apex and ting noaugo speak for life all grain had become.

    So t alkers of Certando did battle by t river, fig, oldest dream of try fields beyond all ty  and flouriss cycle of seasons and years; a dream of t year none of to see.

    And time, amid tumult and te for t to look up and s tream  t, disorganized and confused  of to ter, o come to ormented it was scarcely knowable as his own.

    Elena could barely stand. Sterly spent.

    S one of t beside c s beside earing  rip to bind it opped hough.

    opped oucely, ed across tream. Sed, ao t, fear rising in  moment of seeming victory Elena sa t  empty anymore. t tanding there.

    quot;Look!quot; a man cried just t;hem again! e are undone!”

    Otook up t cry along t t spaces of  Elena  he would.

    Just as  aleen years, ty; t, Donar o set, green and full, just  seemed as if t o force t dark figure o stand  as  the enemy ranks.

    And it s, ing,  o tterly contested places of battle, t fields, and claim t and disease and desolation spread wh.

    ood no of ted  of t rising and flo smoke and darkness sretc to a sudden s of coldness come into , a terrible, numbing co tremble. S  seemed t t all, to o her.

    Across tream tions of , saw

    retcotlefield. Elena ation in t of to come at t, o , t tly   year, and t, and t aco come, even as s to find a o ready ed body to face another charge.

    Mattio ; sence, blindly fig figure on t;Not time! Not! Let t retreat again!”

    side, anotraigo move to t  to t  t a sob escape .

    And noruggled gamely up from   arm dangling at anding ting ting of pride t o pain, Elena sa t alkers  retreating. None of to o try. And some of to die now shem would die.

    t ;No,quot; he said.

    quot;t fall back. e oo many tonig  spring. I o play for time, to  .

    Elena felt o cry, from exion as mucrying to let Donar see anding, , ing to ease triump, ly realized t Baerd  ohe miracle begin.

    , none at all. From t t- it was. In an odd way he shadow-figure came.

    It  kno, but teps t nigaken o tc seemed to ime ago.

    see t t didnt matter, it really didnt.  t.

    It oget o t someone  knoly ure of its po alkers  been able to and because t understand.

    inctively t it tio. it turning range se—ern bank.

    ools. Rig matter at all. ten by t o deal . Not a pro even  t now.

    ed up at t sly as ting do t full to overfloainty, conscious t Alessan  better, but kno task, and knorangeness of t

    nig;Be gone! e do not fear you! I knorengt—onight!”

    Gradually t greill, deatill. Baerd could tios labored, painful breat be look back. ed, straining to penetrate t t he hill.

    And as ared it seemed to , t tly.

    t t dissipated a very little.

    ed no longer.

    quot;Be gone!quot; , a ringing sureness in ;I  of tors yranny in a land t  and t to sion, to obliterate a name. Yours is a power of darkness and s I know you and can name you, and so all your shadows are gone/”

    came to  true! It ing apart, as if taken by a  even in t of joy somet tory y at one and time.  of  flat and rigid at  his back.

    Mattio w would be a prayer.

    t in disarray  of tream. Even as Baerd cionless, urmoil, more of ted and spread, beginning to blo Baerd t   bearded and slim, and of medium , and yrants t one  t sigo t his soul.

    quot;My s; ;Quickly!”

    tio placed it in  of tarting to fall back, slo first, ter, and suddenly t t didnt even matter; t didnt matter at all.

    Baerd looked up at t of ted ;Stay for me! If you are Ygratruly t you noay for me—I am coming! In tigana bar Saevar!”

    ildly, still screaming  of tream, scrambling up t cold as ice t boots.  ered a terrain t  tonig figure before  didnt matter eit didnt matter if he died.

    t, to gainsay o be setting unnaturally fast. It looked as if it ing noted against t green moon; t  clearly again across tween.

    to  er of er of till laug  all, the

    surned and stepped doo t.

    Baerd began to run.

    quot;Baerd, !quot; ;You must not be on telands whe moon goes down! Come back! e have won!”

    t ,  ttle, ion t onigever  alkers of Certando, ts victory   could not be.  in . And e, kne as  of sig low hill.

    quot;Stay for me!quot; Baerd screamed again,  voice ripping t.

    bursting ook stragglers among t even breaking stride. It tered, it  year. ttered nort led to the hill.

    Baerd reac straige ground.

    ted th a surge and a gasp.

    And ood upon t, exactly , toy valleys and ruined  all.

    urned quickly nort  too, seemed to irely melted a and tood.

    t.

    eland under a clear, , alien stars and tigana o coming back t ill dead and o er  somewhe world.

    Baerd sank to er. It ime in t Ember Nig as t  broken long ago.

    Elena reaco climb. S t steep. Mattio arted to enter t migo be among ter moonset, but Donar old  op smiling since Baerd unned, incredulous glory in his face.

    Most of toxicated riumpo t had always happened.

    Carefully avoiding Mattios eyes, Elena er Baerd. Be s ering  field after an Ember victory. Elena felt e . S Mattios face  s ride as s did not falter, and to to run, suddenly afraid for t, and for iness.

    Baerd ting on tood in front of tting moon just before ened expression flickered

    for an instant across arlit dark.

    Elena stopped, uncertain.

    quot;It is only me,quot; srying to catch.

    a moment. quot;Im sorry,quot; ;I  expecting anyone. For a moment ... for a moment you looked almost exactly like a ... like somet changed my life.”

    Elena didnt knoo say to t. S no furtting  s doc said nothing else.

    Sook a deep breat;You sed someone. You s I ; S pounding.

    For a long moment Baerd ill, ilted a little to one side, as if listening to t lit up oo the hollow, wounded eyes.

    quot;t; ;t, Elena.quot; It  time ance tars  impossibly brighe sky.

    Elena felt  gaze. S;After all, it is dangerous

    even kno back home.”

    quot;I ; ;I imagine  tonig the ground where you walked.”

    Surned to look back. And caug to see t along taken to te flowers were blooming in w h.

    Even as sc tions from o ood. to onige o life under tars  beautiful things she had seen in all her days.

    Quietly, Baerd said, quot;You  teac is not only a matter of tle. You must follo is possible to regain lands lost in battle years before.”

    Sten long ago. S;truly dead. It can al; Sears a him.

    oo sad for a moment suco dispel t sorro only for tonig;t is mostly true, I suppose. Or true for t things can die. People, dreams, a home.”

    Impulsively Elena reacook   lay in ly but  response. In tance, east of t alkers o celebrate and o cry t summer would see.

    Elena  s s o his man.

    S;If  is part of t; But t ,  her own.

    Baerd . S  so say t  sound

    ead, t migo speak, s;You said you kneell me?quot; It range, almost an illicit pleasure to speak his name.

    ly. le face, especially young as it ;Donar tio, all of you. You y years or so told me. Donar said I oo mucied to transitory battles of day, do you remember?”

    Elena nodded.

    quot;  on. quot;I sa truly so of course. I understand t no I   time  an ansself. And transitory, must add to t you face s.

    t, Elena, it cannot but be so. Everyts. e cannot afford to look only at our o is t friend of my life augyrants in our peninsula  goes deeper t evil o ttlefield .”

    quot;Darkness adding to Darkness,quot; s certain .

    quot;Exactly,quot; Baerd said. quot;Exactly so. I understand your battles   going far beyond doesnt mean tion. t ake. It was before him all along, if only he could have seen.”

    quot;And t; Elena asked. quot; did to do ?”

    quot;Naming o do ,quot; Baerd said quietly.  across ;Names matter even more  als live and die.quot; ated. And after a silence made deeper by t;Did you hear me name myself?”

    It seemed almost a silly question.  at top of  oo intense for o do anyt answer.

    quot;I did,quot; s;You named yourself Baerd di tigana bar Saevar.”

    And moving very sloely, Baerd reac it to les, and not only ts widowed daughe village below Borso.

    quot;t; ;t ... I t it mig tonight. here.”

    tingling . Fig;I dont understand.  did I do?”

    ill t some seemed gentler no;tigana is t aken as loss is part of t brougo to all your ottlefields for ty years no understand tely, you cant, but believe me  you could not  land back in your village,  even if I spoke it to you from as near as  louder tream.”

    And no t sum of o convey, but t mattered more for  look in the dark of his eyes.

    quot;And tigana is your ; s a question. She knew.

    ill ;tigana is my ; he echoed.

    quot;Men call it Loe now.”

    S a long moment, t;You must speak of to Donar,quot; she said.

    quot;Before morning takes us back. t sucters, someto  to help.”

    Somet;Ill do t,quot; ;Ill speak to him before I go.”

    t t a s  ill pounding, almost as it tle. Baerd did not move.

    een, ain again, and sa all around tself  of we flowers.

    quot;Look!quot; sed and awed.

    .

    quot;You broug; he said.

    Belo, in till singing. Elena kne  of ts of spring. t. And tonig o o be almost as close to the flowers.

    S;t are different about tonight. here.”

    quot;I kno; Baerd said softly.

    And te floo take o ouc o ans—before o hers.

    S er t, for desire and need cras of bark—carried by a ogete flo hill.

    And as so enderness, Elena looked up for a moment past  all tars of t.

    And it came to  t every single diamond of tars would have a name.

    t, and all ts scattered from  strears. So  t o the beginning of spring.

 chapter 12

    tIFFNESS OKE DEVIN ABOUt AN  took  to remember ill dark in tened to Catrianas quiet breats in the bed. A rueful expression crossed his face.

    It range, ed, ting o side to try to ease t armcted and uncomfortable t out on cold ground  surprisingly a   t  o  realized t  going to be able to sleep any more t nigo go doo tcaff could be induced to make  of khav.

    trating on closing tly be c of arily.

    the Prince walked over, eyebrows arched.

    Devin s;e just talked. I slept in t a kink in my neck to s.”

    quot;Im sure,quot; Alessan murmured.

    quot;No, really,quot; Devin insisted.

    quot;Im sure,quot; Alessan repeated. ;I believe you. If you  injury, most likely.”

    quot;Very likely,quot; Devin agreed. trianas door.

    quot;hough?”

    Devin felt ;; ion of iny Alessan eresting,quot; he offered.

    Alessan smiled again. quot;Come doairs he road anyhow.”

    quot;I o tces to ches.”

    quot;Not a bad idea,quot; Alessan murmured, eyeing torn s. quot;Ill meet you dohere.”

    Devin ducked into  Alais  ered, quiet innocence, took y—to ock-still in t and tried to properly grasp w o him.

    Interesting,  called it. Language. tile exercise sometimes. A remnant of t, leaving Alienor, rianas sorrooo.  as if  a bleak hour.

    quot;K; Devin said aloud. quot;Or Ill never get out of this mood.”

    On tairs edly, ;for t; ing, oday— ter ting toward for half a year.

    And after t . to tigana. uary of Eanna.

    ide aions into tations of t to tcle Borso and hin.

    Sitting by teaming ko tir and bustle in tchen.

    Devin stood in t, unnoticed, and found  two men.

    In t gravity to o be a part of a frieze, a tableau, emblematic in some complex way of all suche long roads.

    Neitranger to to sitting tle kitcs in t dark o ive ever turnings it mig  yet begun.

    It seemed to Devin t Alessan and Erlein, sitting toget  beyond t  t stream in Ferraut. It  o do  ruly ser hem.

    For years traveling. to be so many images t overlapped and could evoke tions, tside, tle stir tside t by tceam and smell rising from turning foro t lay a. Looking at tillness amid tle of tc anoturn of t seemed to be range nighe highlands.

    Sadness, and a distinct stir of longing. Devin realized t ed t sory for ed to be a part of t self-contained, accomplisernity of men whis scene so well.

    o savor t, but old enouger t er and ime o guess at tained, solitary, competent look of t of him.

    epped tty servant noticed  a o a position near efully doiffened neck ill bothering him.

    quot;I didnt even o be c; Alessan reported c;Erlein ed in on a fres of kc to keep the fires going.

    Couldnt  new ones on an Ember Day.”

    Devin nodded, sipping carefully and ense gratitude from eaming mug. quot;And tion you mentioned?quot;  Erlein.

    quot;Solved,quot; tly. urally brigtle as kindling. quot;Erleins going to o come ablis I cant let  too far a s to go o be tied toget ; eet t boto respond; inued to sip o the fire.

    quot;; Devin asked er a moment.

    Erlein made a sour face. quot;Slavery doesnt agree ,quot; o his khav.

    Devin elected to ignore t. times  ted out y.

    A t struck Devin. urned to Alessan. quot;Is o your meeting too?”

    quot;I suppose,quot; Alessan said  carelessness. quot;A small reer to travel  stopping very muc; one oo deliberately casual, as if denying ty of strain.

    quot;I see,quot; Devin said, as neutrally as urned o t it there.

    t stretc him.

    quot;Do you  to come?quot; the Prince asked.

    Did  to come? For  Devin and Sandre elling t everyted to ac to upon a meeting in t of the Ember Days.

    Did  to come?

    Devin cougone floor. quot;ell,quot; ;not if Im in turally. Only if you think I could be useful and if maybe I could . . .”

    railed off because Alessan was laug him.

    Even Erlein o a faint, reluctant snort of amusement. two older men exchanged a glance.

    quot;You are a terrible liar,quot; to Devin.

    quot;,quot; Alessan said, still c;But never mind. I dont actually t isnt in ture of  Im certain you  do any ertained. Itll be a very long ride.”

    quot;? to ting?quot; Devin asked, startled.

    Alessan s;Only tate of ting you  ; ered. quot;home.”

    quot;Pigeon!quot; ted man cried, till some distance a not very many tone yielded to forest. Furto there was only rock and snow.

    Carrying-poles taco tood be in burgundy livery. Devin t ts, but w hese were soldiers, and guards.

    quot;Pigeon,quot; ted loudly. quot;You ime!”

    It ation t Devin realized t to Alessan.

    look to o ted; be rise to greet t , small eyes follo Alessan made. ionless on t least six rings; t of ten face t sing do, raked redly across o t ear.

    quot;Company for t; Alessan said mildly. quot;I  sure if youd come. trous fat in a year.”

    quot;And ?quot; t. quot;And  t I  fait; tone erous in treme, but Devin sa t and very chful.

    quot;Not ever,quot; Alessan agreed calmly. o be replaced by an almost preternatural calm. quot;But t need me anymore. Not since last summer.”

    quot;Not need you!quot; t;Pigeon, of course I need you. You are my yout I alisman of fortune in battle.”

    quot;No more battles t; said Alessan quietly. quot;ill you alloo offer my  congratulations?”

    quot;No!quot; t;No, I  allorap from you.

    I  is for you to come op to be cluttering like two of us!”

    And  wo muscled arms.

    to balance it.

    took trode to meet  moment Devin abruptly realized—a bucket of ice doo be.

    quot;Bear!quot; said Alessan, laugc.  ther man.

    quot;Oruly didnt know if you would come.”

    Marius.

    Stupefied by more titude and a sleepless nig tigana clean off  and kiss o t arms lengtiny.

    quot;It is true,quot;  lengt;I can see it. You really did doubt me. I sraged, Pigeon. I s.  did Pigeon two say?”

    quot;Baerd ted ruefully. quot;Im afraid I owe him money.”

    quot;At least one of you o have some sense,”

    Marius groo register ;? You tagger.

    Marius o  doruck by ture of turned on tant did it flit over Devin   Marius  one second, sized e compre  by chance even a decade hence.

    ing moment of pity for to battle to meet  grove.

    tree-trunks and told Devin all o kno ed in ttles despite tual maiming—tendons—of t o ter glory of tess.

    Marius  died. For anyones greater glory. Seven times  died. And no seventime, true King in Quileia again and t ess   given  neavern called time ago.

    quot;You must  last summer in t; Alessan was saying.

    ured to;tonalius so get t close to you h a blade.”

    t, in trut to see. quot;,”

    Marius said grimly. quot;I used our kick-drop from ty-seven tree and  token from my late  encounter. May t. ill you take wine and a midday meal?”

    Alessans grey eyes blinked. quot;e o,quot; he said.

    quot;Good,quot; said Marius. ured to ;In t case, o laying t for us you can tell me, Pigeon, and I ell me, ed just noing t invitation.”

    It urn to blink;  even registered the pause.

    Alessan ;I  of ;t you ; Marius smiled t did not speak. quot;I  least t out. Someone I must get to, as soon as I can.”

    quot;More important ted.”

    Alessan s;Not more important, or I  be here now. More compelling perhaps.

    ting for me at Borso last nigher is dying.”

    Mariuss expression cly. quot;I am deeply sorry,quot; ;Alessan, truly I am.quot; he paused.

    quot;It could not o come , kno.”

    Alessan gave eristic s oe extravagant golden clot of t multi-colored cus and putting dos and dishes of food.

    quot;e oget; Marius said crisply, quot;and discuss  go. You trust turning?”

    Devin  even t about t.

    quot;I suppose t; Alessan said indifferently. quot;But yes, I trust Danoleon. Of course I do. ook me to you in t place.”

    quot;I am a,quot; Marius said mildly. quot;I remember  unless tly c t in t Sanctuary of Eanna, and your clergy in t been noted for ty.”

    Alessan gave ; can I do? My mot seen  t; ;I dont to be recognized by many people, even  Baerds disguises. ould you not say I  since I een?quot; t che words.

    quot;Some; Marius said quietly. quot;Not so muc to join you.”

    Again Alessans eyes seemed to drift ao te sense t than he was hearing.

    quot;Come,quot; Marius said, levering ;ill you join me on our carpet in the meadow?”

    quot;Stay in t; Alessan rapped sroubled. quot;h you, Bear?”

    Marius  moved. quot;A company to the pass. hy?”

    Moving easily, smiling carelessly, Alessan sat do t. quot;o bring so few up here.”

    quot;ttle enougoo superstitious to venture into tains. You kno, Pigeon. taboo long ago rade he Palm.”

    quot;In t case,quot; Alessan said, still smiling, quot;I am at a loss to explain t saw berail.”

    quot;You are certain?quot; Mariuss voice  there was suddenly ice in his eyes.

    quot;twice now.”

    quot;I am deeply distressed,quot; said t;Suco be o kill me. And if tain taboo I am going to be forced to retions. ill you take some ; ured, and one of t trembled slightly.

    quot;t; Alessan murmured. quot;Erlein, can you do anyt it being known?”

    t pale, but oo kept ;Not any sort of attack. It ake too muco screen it from any tracker in the highlands.”

    quot;A she King?”

    Erlein ated.

    quot;My friend,quot; Alessan said gravely, quot;I need you and I am going to continue to need you. I kno  anso make intelligent decisions. Pour ; o the Quileian soldier.

    Erlein accepted a glass and drank. quot;I can do a lo; opped. quot;Do you  it? there is some risk.”

    quot;I t; Alessan said. quot;Put up trusively as you can.”

    Erleins moutig  ly from side to side.

    Devin could see t notell.

    quot;It is done,quot; Erlein said grimly. quot;t up.quot; he drank again from his wine.

    Alessan nodded, accepting a eful of meat and c;Devin?”

    Devin ing. quot;I see t; ly. quot;Up t side. Arrow range. Send me home.”

    quot;take my he saddle.”

    Devin s;ice—and Im not good enoug I can. Can you arrange to be noisy in about ty minutes?”

    quot;e can be very noisy,quot; said Marius of Quileia. quot;to your left as you go do past t whe way.”

    Devin smiled. Marius suddenly roared er and Alessan follo. Erlein  as Alessan s an imperious  toward Devin.

    quot;If you forgot it tc, thing for you.”

    quot;It  my fault!quot; Devin protested loudly, letting o petulance. urned back to e, ed hey had come.

    As far as trail.

    ed and teter a moments t

    mig o climb.

    Cutting to t rees. errain allo  and ions for a lack of size. eep slopes, ain trees and dark serrano buss o ting soil.

    Part of trees briefly gave out before a s, steep cliff to t. oried to guess  it —no sounds reacrail.  be sure if y minutes, old tted eeto Adaon, and began to climb t occurred to  t an Asolini farmers son from truggling up a cliff- face in the Braccio Range.

    an Asolini farmers son tigana and o do thing.

    Devin skittered siderying not to dislodge any pebbles. crop of stone, ced raigo it.

    on omaco th.

    And traig  directly beloainly been visible on t part of rees. o ent on ting on t see t to inctively flattened  as to gauge t.

    For an arc ter, Devin kne ime, most likely, for only one arrow. ips were poisoned.

    Probably, he decided.

    Very carefully arted crao work he assassin.

    o a and of trees. o get close enougo deal h an archer?

    Just ter, by Erleins  after t a number of voices started in on one of t, most rollicking  a legendary band of mountain outlay until ted by Quileia and Certando together.

    ty brave men rode apace from ty Quileians met tains eaco t defied!

    to t o try to do.  t of lunacy in   ime, or many options.

    een feet east of ty feet belo from behe clouds.

    Devin was above and be all accomplis his mercy.

    Instead, rust in ion, and a tall giant of a mountain pine tree rising all to  be sered tain trail, rung bow and o hand.

    Devin kneain passes—t  climb do tree  even he loud, seriously off-key voices screening his sounds from below.

    , so far as ion. Ot  better, but ot on trating on a large branc stretc and a migried to calculate angle and distance as best  total lack of experience at ticular maneuver.   to try  a tice, anywhere.

    , ime, and stood up. Absurdly, t came to ree, trying to stretc.

    Devin smiled tigepped to t  if o teaco use a bow properly.

    From tically toain s And o glen, But seventy brave men tracked o  the peaks were free again!

    Devin jumped. Air  o meet . retcc, stle. Only enougo c, cut um. Bring ly dohe rock.

    t ted. artled glance skyhe bow.

    Not nearly fast enoug top of ed like some ing bird of time arget began to move Devin here.

    Our kick-drop from ty-seven tree, .

    Falling, ilted orso so t it angled side  as  , even as o the air from his own lungs.

    to togetumbling and rolling ahe boulder.

    Devin gasped agonizingly for breat t. ted eeth and groped for his dagger.

    t  necessary.

    Dead before  to ortured lungs. t leg. o ignore it.

    ruggled, gasping and when he looked.

    tances, not a great surprise. S dead. o  of . Ss and scrapes from tumble dohe slope.

    So, Devin noted, did  orn and cime in  ougo be amusing in t, but  reaco it. Not yet.

    o o  o do. o draeadying breat as Alessan and one of ting up t beh surprise.

    arted to stand, but tically and o be braced by Alessan. tood staring doely, into her bleeding face.

    Devin looked away.

    Alessans. quot;e sao rying t sort of t; t;Didnt anyone ever tell you?”

    tness of one. quot;I feared for you,quot; ly.

    quot;I couldnt to do,quot; Devin said apologetically. o ;to do someto stop it.”

    Alessans smile oo, in the Nievolene barn.

    It ;Come back do; t;Ill o clean out ts for you.”

    t it  black, and o a semblance of a crescent moon.

    From one end of it ted lock of greying  would be.

    Marius was on , one cening.

    And t, because not at all afraid.

    quot;I t to dance in ;I o tell you ell me if you can do it and t will be all we need say.”

    Marius o stop him.

    s aken to ed. ted some distance a  at noon t urned into a mild, generous day.

    quot;t; t;You kno.

    You probably kno o deny you any request at all. I o do tly. I o tell you  do, so you  ask it and force me to refuse.”

    Alessan nodded. , che King.

    quot;I cannot give you an army,quot; Marius said flatly. quot;Not yet, and peroo green in

    pooo far from tability I need at o lead or even order troops over tains. tradition I o set about ctle time. I am not a young man anymore, Pigeon.”

    Devin felt a leap of excitement ruggled to master it. too serious an occasion for co—at t of—sometude. ole a sidelong glance at Erlein and terest ravels, Devin seriously doubted if troubadour- events.

    Alessan ; ;I . For our sake as muc  invited t of Quileia norto tures from Quileia t  to be slaug no King in tries again.”

    quot;If t anotesses.

    Very ; Marius said, quot;tell me  is you do need.”

    Alessans legs ly crossed, er moment the sequence of songs for an evenings performance.

    Except t igogete.

    quot;A question first,quot; Alessan said, controlling ;ters offering to open trade?”

    Marius nodded. quot;From botyrants. Gifts, messages of felicitation, and generous offers to reopen trade routes by sea and land.”

    quot;And eaco scorn trustable in his power.”

    Marius ly no;Are you intercepting my mail, Pigeon? Eacly t.”

    quot;And ; Alessan asked, direct as an arro;; For t time, unmistakably, taut cord of tension in his voice.

    Marius  too. quot;Not,quot; ;I  a few more messages from eachem before I move.”

    Alessan looked doo notice  time. ably, through his hair.

    quot;You ; y. quot;You rade. In your position you o begin ss you can offer. traffic nort  it?quot; tone.

    quot;Of course,quot; Marius said simply. quot;I o do it.  is only a question of timing—and  iming  been moved up.”

    Alessan nodded, as if his already.

    quot; ; he asked.

    quot;Open tariffs for eit Alberico and Brandin send me all ts and goods and envoys t. Ill let trade make me truly a King—a King o o start doing it soon. Immediately, I no. I o put Quileia so firmly on a ne t as I can make it.

    Ot live some Year Kings, and tesses will be in power again before my bones are picked clean underground.”

    Alessan closed ling of leaves all around t Marius again, the grey eyes wide and calm, and he

    said, bluntly: quot;My request: t you give me six montrade. And somet interval.”

    quot;time alone is a great deal,quot; Marius said very softly. quot;But tell me t, Pigeon. thing else.”

    quot;tters, Bear. I need tters sent nort letter: you say yes to Brandin, conditionally.

    You ask for time to consolidate your oion before exposing Quileia to outside influences. You make it clear t your inclination too endure. Second letter: you reject, sorroures from Astibar. You e Alberico t you are intimidated by Brandins ts. t you o trade o trade  too strong in to risk offending une. You ask o keep in contact ly.

    You say you cs in terest. You  yet given Brandin a final decision, and  regards to the Emperor.”

    Devin . ed to rick of ter: listen, remember, t it later. Mariuss eyes ling smile was back.

    quot;And my tter?quot; he asked.

    quot;Is to te trade, no tariffs, first cion for Senzios brave independence and enterprise in ty.quot; Alessan paused. quot;And tter, naturally—”

    quot;ill be intercepted by Alberico of Barbadior. Pigeon, do you knoting in motion? his is?”

    quot;ait a minute!quot; Erlein di Senzio suddenly interjected, starting to rise.

    quot;You be silent!quot; Alessan literally snarled the command in a voice Devin had never heard him use.

    Erleins mout. anding. Alessan didnt even look at  on a golden carpet ains, seemingly oblivious to tence of anyt eacher.

    quot;You do kno you?quot; Marius said finally. quot;You knoly.quot; tain wonder in his voice.

    Alessan nodded. quot;Ive ime to t it, triad knorade routes open I ts name are lost. it you can offer , not a tyrant.  thing I can do, Bear. Your Kingship may be my undoing. And my homes.”

    quot;Are you sorry you o it?”

    Devin cle . ts of emotion running  and. ened, and remembered.

    quot;I s; Alessan murmured at lengt;In a  is a kind of treac I am not. But no,  w we worked so o ac; ful.

    Marius said, quot;You knoh of you.”

    quot;I knoh know.”

    quot;You know w I am facing back home.”

    quot;I do. I o remember.”

    In t follo a sadness come over  t. A sense of terrible spaces t alo lie bet o be

    crossed for even a simple touching.

    And  be for men suc.  seemed, ally o reac across so mucory and suc of responsibility and loss.

    quot;O; said Marius of Quileia, tle more t;you may  from te moon into my  eigin. I ters. Build a bonfire to my memory if you  I have died.”

    Even  little ood, on ttermost edges of t a lump gat, making it difficult to s  moment. t   o travel—a distance  never traverse—before er two.

    quot;Does eit; Erlein di Senzio broke into tillness, ; men and c you are about to do?”

    Marius said nothough.

    quot;; ;o killing you for saying t?quot; Erlein paled but did not draw back. Nor did his own eyes flinch away.

    quot;I did not ask to be born into time, crying to set it rig; Alessan said, ig;I  c; Bitterness cracked t.

    And en back. quot;I am trying to act for t just for tigana and  name. I raitor and a fool for doing so. My mot t from o able for blood and deatruction of igana   to your judgment, Erlein di Senzio! I do not need you to tell me  risk in to do ell you, noto die a slave you migo figh me, Senzian.

    it you are going to figh me for freedom!”

    . Devin felt rembling, as if a titanic torm ains and gone.

    quot; ; Marius of Quileia asked.

    Alessan fougo collect o consider tter. quot;Because ;  lengt;Because it is true t  danger by ts, and by my own. And because I have need of him.”

    Marius s;It is bad to have need of a man.”

    quot;I know, Bear.”

    quot;o you, even years later, and ask you for somet  let you refuse.”

    quot;I kno; said Alessan. t eacting motionless on t.

    Devin turned aruder on t excillness of t pass belos of t ness and, looking up to t t of te clouds ed apart, revealing t snoo be a place of more beauty and more pain than he could ever have

    imagined it to be.

    ing for tle, alone on hills.

    of him.

    quot;You,quot; said Baerd, quot;are even  te everything you say.”

    quot;Not er all, your only reason for refusing to come   feel any extra pressure to—”

    quot;And after las, you go and take te strangers to reduce tand my ground: you are han I am.”

    quot;Las; Alessan said.

    Baerd s;how is he?”

    quot;ell enougrain. Devin stopped an assassination attempt up there.”

    quot;?quot; Baerd glanced quickly at Devin, noting torn s and s.

    quot;You are going to o teaco use a bo; Devin said. quot;tear.”

    Baerd smiled. quot;I  c; to occur to ;An assassination?quot; o Alessan. quot;In tains? Surely not!”

    Alessans expression ;Im afraid so. Sain taboo ed—at least for the purposes of murder.”

    Baerds features creased  on ly a moment, t;So ion really. o act immediately. he said no?”

    quot;ters.quot; Alessan ated. quot;o build a bonfire to his memory if he dies.”

    Baerd suddenly turned  staring fixedly off to t. te-afternoon sun was she hills.

    quot;I love t man,quot; Baerd said, still gazing into tance.

    quot;I kno; said Alessan. Slourned back to hey exchanged a look in silence.

    quot;Senzio?quot; said Baerd.

    Alessan nodded. quot;You o Alienor o set up in terception. t riana and to tregea. e start reaping iming as o do until  again, . Im not sure about Rovigo—Ill leave t to you.”

    quot;Im not  separate roads,quot; Baerd murmured.

    quot;Neit knoive Id be grateful to .”

    Baerd s; will you do?”

    quot;Speak to some people on ter t it depends on  before summer comes.”

    Baerd glanced briefly at Devin and Erlein. quot;try not to let yourself be ,quot; he said.

    Alessan gave ;S een years.”

    quot;You !quot; t;You only  way.”

    Alessan sig;Suary of Eanna in a province called Loe. S in tigana. Do not say s been .”

    quot;But not by you!quot; Baerd protested. quot;o yourself?”

    Again t;I ain co accept t ot; o Erlein. quot;Leave it, Baerd. I promise not to let t you there. Devin will help if I need help.”

    Baerd grimaced beter furt  voice. quot;You t, t truly might happen now?”

    quot;I t o  never o stasis  all to  my mot many ot. In o Corm tcpost of Barbadiors Empire. And igana then?”

    inued in a lo;Marius is ting for and  agreed to let us play  may not  to do some praying, all of us, in to come. this has been long enough in arriving.”

    Baerd ill. quot;Long enoug;  a co Devin. quot;Eanna lig;  Erlein. quot;All three of you.”

    Alessans expression spoke a ;And yours, t; ed ao t.

    Folloride c fell on o meeting. oo far away for o be discerned.

    Devin raised a ly do the same.

    Baerd lifted one arm e to tcurned norto ride away.

    Alessan, setting a steady pace into tting sun, did not look back at all.

 PART FOUR - THE PRICE OF BLOOD chapter 13

    tIME BEFORE DAN—S SURE   o t slept all nig o ting in top he Darkness.

    S niged by gs and memories. No tle in it of springtime or to come. te stars still s. A  make out ts of the Ring Dive pier.

    One of t   carry her back.

    quot;K; Scelto said quietly from behind her.

    S turning. quot;Please. And t o talk about.”

    If s, if s it all in motion  giving ime for ation or fear, s possibly do t.

    So bustling efficiently in tc  of e of rooms.

    t going all nig not observe tumn rituals as t Brandin erfered oms or religion, and Dianora never lit a ne of t came to t. tern er sunset for ts.

    S about stepping out on t it looked mucoo cold. t do Camena di C sunrise t, o die on a urned  image too.

    quot;; Scelto said. quot;I made it very strong,quot; he added awkwardly.

    Surn at t, and  actle to see t nig look ted t o ing, even before she drank.

    S in one of tioned o tated a moment and t do so do tly. So muc or of t.

    taking a deep breat;Scelto, I need to be out on tain ties, but I ant. ?”

    an anso ion, not trying to judge or understand it. S sort of reaction, but realized, belatedly, t s h him.

    ;It oday.”

    s even asked ; run it?”

    supidly, and realized the answer even as he replied.

    quot;Camena,quot; ;I dont knoion. If ted to come che meadow as you always are.”

    quot;I o be alone,quot; sed. quot;And up tain.”

    quot;Alone ;   a plea.

    S part. quot;Some of to,quot; s;t do to leave you partway up.”

    Scle . Before ;I  say t  necessary. ther have by my side.”

    S say  o ion.  back t it would  him.

    ;Ill o find out  o be outside. If t, his.”

    Sefully and c and trim, infinitely reassuring in ence.

    S t ill dark outside. So to er today. Sed it at t. t a time for splendor of apparel.

    to  too migter.

    By time so urned. he had a queer expression on his face.

    quot;t; ;And Camena is not going to be executed on the wheel.”

    quot; o ; sinctive dread.

    Scelto ated. quot;t about t ed a merciful death already.

    Because tual conspiracy im, a tool.”

    S;And w has really happened.”

    Sceltos face roubled. quot;tter not to know, my lady.”

    It probably  soo far in t, and oo far yet to go. tering, or trying to seek ser. quot;Per;  I o tell me, Scelto.”

    er a moment: quot;I old t o be . . . altered. R  is necessary to  can take a long time, depending on tances.”

    tances, Dianora t, sickened. Sucing ed, normal young man h a love of his home.

    Even understanding o t Camena ed  erday, sill could not stop omacurning at tions of Sceltos erday. S. S afford to t Brandin t, ster off not t anyt all.

    quot;?quot; sersely.

    quot;Not yet. You ; Sension in  Camena ly disturbed him as well.

    quot;I kno; s;I dont t t  o slip aried to ogether now?”

    one eady and calm; Sceltos face greful. quot;e can try,quot; er a moment.

    quot;then come.”

    ed too long, or considered too muc. to move, and to keep on moving, until sain place.

    riads grace.

    beating rapidly, so out of o the main saishan corridor.

    t treaks of lig tern end. t trates raig t time—to see fear spark in today fear ool, and sools she could find.

    Scelto led  airo led to tside o  as side opened sepped t ing for os announcement. S by, and sa t  yesterday. today s smile.

    Beo speak one quick, cryptic sentence, and to a question. tsteps coming do later t beo caugo her.

    quot;I t ake a brave man to stop you today,quot; ly. quot;t erday. It is a good morning to be trying this.”

    It rying t.

    quot; did you tell t; sinuing to walk.

    quot;to a meeting  w erday.”

    Stle, considering t, and as so  faint illumination of t above tains.

    quot;Good,quot; s;Very good, Scelto. t is exactly ; t taking no notice at all. quot;Scelto,quot; s;I need you to find dEymon. Say I  to speak  ternoon for tell ing in two hours from now.”

    t somee t led out to the slopes of Sangarios beyond.

    Scelto stopped, forcing o do the same.

    quot;You are going to go  me, arent you?quot; he said.

    S lie to ;I am,quot; s;I expect to be back in time for t meeting. After you give o t kno already, so o send for me. Make sure tly to you, I dont care how.”

    quot;t; ly, clearly unhappy.

    quot;I kno. . two here.”

    quot;And if you arent?”

    S;Stall. o do to, I told you.”

    longer, and t on. Just before reacaircase on t Scelto turned rig doairo t broug into anot- corridor. there.

    t beginning to stir.

    S Scelto. t. For a fleeting moment sempted to confide in o make an ally of a friend.

    could s and train of years t had led her here?

    S a ;Go no; s;Ill be all right.”

    it looking back stle o t out into the grey, cold beginning of dawn.

    It  al al ions, and it astes and styles in t had changed.

    arrived it tering exercise in topiary: fully trimmed in trees precisely spaced and arranged t ted benc easy intervals, eaced for fragrance and sidy box- at ter, and roary colors.

    tame and boring, t t time hrough.

    it deal time. ted seemingly at random ted groves of trees—brougain slopes and ts on ted benc flo t to go, and t, symmetrically pruned so gro, rees. the garden was a maze now.

    An underground stream apped and diverted and noer umble upon, rees for s. trange place no overgro certainly not neglected, but deliberately so give a sense of stillness and isolation and even, at times, of danger.

    times sucill cold and t beginning to  buds rees, and only t floo ter trees stood tall and dark against the grey sky.

    Dianora sook a deep breat tain, o t to break up; it er. Not yet tood at ter garden and tried to guide oeadiness and calm.

    Se in t s sure s to  years ago er splasorc pat o a gate umbled upon one day,  to orchem and blue Ilarion overhead.

    nigalked to  ies of flo princess born in some far distant oted bed of sno bloomed only in the dark.

    Dianora s off briskly do trees. After ty strides so sing. It ill cold. S up ess of some unknown sylvan god.

    And to to Morian and Eanna, t triad mig s to find. Sensely ahis was.

    At almost exactly t, Alessan, Prince of tigana  from Castle Borso in tandan oing in t  mighe world.

    Dianora  a bed of anemones, mucoo small and delicate yet to pick. te, regea ained by tain. Sopped and looked do tals s s ale of tars, cradled on such flowers.

    S t do.

    And sloely, searc pain as a spur, a goad, s up a mental image of o go on tales in .

    ted  to tain and s t in front of  s range to be  lost among trees, and Dianora realized, art, t it  many years since s been so alone.

    Sle later t and t time s of t t blue. S tone of trees.

    Vines and clumps of laren moss  t and . Sood a moment, irresolute, trying to orient orc nig , because  al.

    ten minutes later,  a pool and a ruffled reflection of , Dianora came to te.

    Sopped, suddenly cold again, t ted iron e o  once, but irely e  on t day of spring, but t, as rusted as t sain . S gone te into t about climbing, and looked up. ten feet  s t be oe to move forward when she heard a sound behind her.

    t it aftero understand  t ainside arting point. to expect t s find t rock, or find w shere.

    Surned in trees and t flohe riselka combing her long green hair beside a pool.

    t to be, s and so see if anyone else here.

    te alone in t of t  almost served ranslucent as Brandin   frige face.

    S  . She year

    tigana fell, too t as he hollows of her face.

    Brandin hen.

    s. Dianora didnt kno really knoo find. Selling verse, and it seemed t if so find it, it ely he Kings Garden.

    tiful, breakingly so, in a fas tle to do al beauty.

    Dianoras mout even try to speak. Sood very still in ce comb doone bencion to her.

    Sloremble, Dianora rees to stand before t pale, elusive creature of legend. S morning ligo ted one s fingers longer and more slender tals could be, and s it up to Dianoras face and touched her.

    touc not so cold as s ly, troked . And tic, alien smile deepening again, ston of Dianoras robe, and reaco toucs. One, and t  entirely secret smile all the while.

    Dianora rembling; s make op. Incredulous and afraid, s arily to tion of t toucs ain of e teet inside  even begin to understand. Sely, unable to speak. S o weep.

    t apologetically it seemed, did up tly as before, and toucears on Dianoras c o asted it.

    S suddenly, a t cast up on tide.

    And even as it came to  true, ure mig under moonlig  away.

    toucasted anotear.  so t again. It ive imagining, a pato oblivion. S and t, shook her head again.

    quot;Please?quot; s, needing, and afraid of  hing—could drive a riselka away.

    ture turned, and Dianoras   tood t so follow.

    to to ter and so Dianora did tion of blue sky overe gull slicing across tinels and trees not yet in leaf. And even as ser come back too soon,  among trees and feel it on  ter of tely calm, unruffled by so mucendril of t in its ohs.

    Dianora dreurned to ture  ed by te face. the eyes were darker now, cloudy,

    and sural al man or  Dianora, fig s come er, but for a signing of  te stone in  stone into the pool.

    No ripples. No movement at all. tone sank  a trace of its passage. But ter cer, and darkened, and tions  of gulls. ter oo dark, it cast not Dianora felt take ly but inexorably back to t from to find truthis signing.

    And in ters sion.

    Not  all of t of the Ember Days.

    Instead, an image of anote spring or summer, anot  many people gat sound, constantly, he surge and sigh of waves.

    And in teps were leading her.

    Fear touc moment  beat slo. A deep calm came over  later, not  its burden of sorroance. For years s had known dreams of such an ending.

    t of tainty. And noo  last and Dianora sa it led to the sea.

    t sun of summer. t all.

    Some time later, it migs or ill beside o ter ted ers but seemingly as deep, and s not so many, a blink of an eye or t it took an autumn leaf to fall, as ture ime.

    quot;t; s;I understand.”

    And sood very still, not flinc all, as tiptoe and kissed  as tterfly, upon t of desire time, in termation asted of salt. t, Dianora kne all; only a quiet sadness like a smootone in t.

    Surned back to ted again, t of ter in the wind.

    she was alone.

    to ting for  ting on one of tone bencaff resting beside o   from among trees.

    Sopped and looked at t smile to s ifice of course, but an act sable expression s erday. , s , amazingly difficult, to sco tate. It  o be done.

    quot;You e,quot; soesy, as s;I  here are anemones beginning already.”

    quot;I ime,quot; dEymon said.

    S once imidated, but not noempt to reinforce y, but serday led ain o kill  nigraditions mattered. In any case, s his morning.

    quot;t ; s;Forgive me. It is good to see you looking so er yesterdays . . . confusions. ing long?”

    quot;Long enouged to talk about yesterday, I gat is it?quot; Dianora didnt tial remark from dEymon, let alone a pleasantry.

    Refusing to be rus do vacated and brusting her expression grow suddenly as cold as his own.

    quot; died yesterday,quot; sly, deciding only in t moment w ack would be.

    quot;; S  for ;t died because your people oo complacent or too slovenly to boty of Ygrathens.

    did you t danger could only come from t yesterdays guards to be dealt h, dEymon. And soon.”

    t itle e. , visibly biting back a s retort. Sriad kneo be a co do so, t. DEymons face ook a deep breato control himself.

    quot;t ; ;they are dead.”

    S expected t. S, to keep ure out of her eyes.

    quot;t; s on pressing age. quot;I  to knoc to Ygrat year.”

    quot;c tack.

    You heard.”

    quot;e all  kno Isolla and t; time te s into t merely tactical.

    For t time sation in o become a o here was a brief silence.

    quot;I did kno;  ion in them like an angry challenge.

    quot;I see,quot; said Dianora a moment later, and looked aing across most of ttle along ts ion in dEymons eyes old t his Queen?

    Dianora , tracking implications to t already been so after erday and he King.

    S, in fairly immediate danger as a consequence. t a man to be treated lig of to en years ago, and why.

    S y from s;onderful,quot; she said acidly.

    quot;Suc security. And noo do your pet courtier Neso simply o receive ting in Asoli, doesnt he

    King. how marvelously clever of you, dEymon!”

    Sed. For t time ;Is t ?quot; ly.

    S back a s denial. It  inconvenient for o think so, she realized.

    quot;Among ot; sted, as if grudgingly. quot;I  to knoalk to you about this.”

    quot;I t as muc; urning. quot;I rack of some—not all, I —of ts Scelto   erday, by t? In an attempt to o his side?”

    o underestimate the Chancellor.

    quot;It ,quot; s;You  ansion. hy do you favor him?

    You must kno of man he is.”

    quot;Of course I kno; dEymon replied impatiently. quot;  of  ed to Asoli because I dont trust  court. I   undue inconvenience. I trust t ansion?”

    Simate old ;It does,quot; s;Killed by whom?”

    quot;t s  about t t t it  take Neso long to give them cause.”

    quot;Of course. And then?”

    quot;And tigate and find t Neso y of gross corruption,  e some man or ot tion of Nesos mets a neaxing Master and promises fairer measures in ture. I t s affairs in nortime.”

    quot;Good,quot; said Dianora, trying to ignore t some man or ot;And very tidy. I o add: t; Saking anot came doo bedrock, sive and a concubine, and ern Palm. On to measure t to focus on those.

    DEymon looked coolly do  her gaze on his, her eyes wide and disingenuous.

    quot;It ;  lengt;t you so favored tured you. One  minded, t you ed to come.”

    Perilously, uncannily near to t sing  serious in .

    So relax, and smiled. quot; pleasant meetings suc; s one c;I do favor  t  many suchens, Im afraid.”

    a moment. t;t; But before so interpret eit;I seriously t of  nig, or suggesting you be freed and made a citizen of Ygrath.”

    quot; extremes, my dear!quot; S;Didnt you teac balance is everything?”

    quot;I did,quot;  rising to . ; youve done to

    t t?”

    quot;,quot; sy, quot;erday?”

    quot;t is not at all t. Obviously.quot; t of color in  ;I  s. In time, I very nearly forgot to mention t t for you. I intercepted t reacing in the library.”

    S to , as agitated as  ;; she asked quickly.

    quot;Not very.  seem to mind being late. tell .”

    quot;I could tell ; Anger almost c for control.

    quot;And so could I. And so, I suppose, could Solores. e seldom do, do  pointed out, is everyt is e  forget it.”

    Sried to t  failed. ened es! And all ting for her, and dEymon had known.

    Surned, abruptly and dismally conscious of  robe and t t sime to go back up to ty.

    Scelto ly over remarks. ic, tercepting thing he could have done.

    Sopped by tood alone in tick, a tall, gray, t trees. turned overcast again.

    Of course it  spitefully.

    t did t maneuvers matter, in t o do, and so noting t inner quiet descend upon one of sorro its center still. Ssey. DEymon, taken aback, sketched an awkward bow.

    Dianora turned and  t Scelto airs, along a nort t of t of reflex and  more tion in t ed hrough her hopelessly wind-blown hair.

    tered, o one of kno s in  and keep it from flying away.

    Brandin anding o t a very old map of t  turn. S t, tains running all to ts Empire to t and by Ygrato t overseas.

    t ains of t t and a fire  to deal s. s

    were muddy;   riding very early.

    S ter  not ter of ever else  , but t  night.

    S;Forgive me, my lord. I o only just noell me you ing ; quot;ing ; terested. he map.

    S lie to t;taxing Master question in Asoli. I ed to know why he favored Neso.”

    t  of amusement in ;Im sure dEymon told you something plausible.”

    urned finally, and gazed at  time. ly t al.

    But so  leave  stayed ant, but more to ackno crut t s extremely careful now.

    Brandin sank into a cired, as muc s sime. quot;I  to Neso no; ;I t. Im sorry.”

    Some t seemed,  c grave, unexpected courtesy o iers over anoto to ion, and at ure sook te ed on  a detaciny. S he would see.

    Sting by ture-book.  her anger suddenly come back.

    quot;Of course you o offer it to Neso,quot; s;Asoli is ry in t; ill seemed preoccupied ttending to w she said.

    quot;Gallantry, courage. t somet sort,quot; ly. quot;Not getting out of time, it really  nigo  it was Neso who saved my life.”

    S rise to t. S even understand wo her.

    Sead, looking across t R at t;t makes sense, and you must surely kno I dont care.  I do not understand is  lies about Camenas fate.quot; Sook a breat;I knorut is suco do.

    If you must prepare a Fool to follow Rhing?”

    ansime and so look at oo far ao opped leafing t them.

    quot;As it s,quot;  lengtone still mild. But t later, ;I saken Scelto aime ago. You botoo mucoo quickly.”

    S no .  could sly this.

    But t of t Brandin range about  ;As it also o  idings are wrong by now.”

    quot; do you mean?quot; S tirrings of a genuine uneasiness. trangeness to  s lay a finger on. It iredness t much.

    quot;I rescinded yesterdays orders after my ride,quot; Brandin said quietly. quot;Camena is probably dead by noly as .”

    S cuously,  t;Is true?”

    s ;I o deceive you, Dianora. I told to arrange for nesses among t.   for you: s to your rooms?”

    Sing like a smas. S ure of  tely s  ride?  was happening here?

    tly, s else o erday. On tainside, at a place rack. One man sees a riselka: here.

    Brandin turned back to of tone, leaning it against his chair.

    quot;You  asked me ws unlike you, Dianora.”

    quot;Im afraid to,quot; sruthfully.

    t, imidating elligence.

    quot;ts unlike you as well.”

    quot;You arent very . . . like yourself eithis morning.”

    quot;Fair enoug; ly.   in silence, to consider somet;tell me, did dEymon make t for you just now? Did en?”

    It  sorcery, sold  mind-reading. It ed ts around him.

    quot;Not directly,quot; s unity, but trange. quot; about yesterday. Afraid, I ting  t. Once  t it  be a difficult story for o spread; t. I doubt anyone sa clearly.”

    time, Brandins smile as ened rack of a complex t. But when she finished, his expression changed.

    quot;I did,quot; ;I sa clearly.”

    S old ernly as s. S  nigone  t.

    Brandin said, quot;It o tell tory, I agree. But I did a great deal of t nigalking to dEymon later today, after cale t goes around rue one, Dianora.”

    S sure sly, and to reactle, like an overflowing wineglass inside her.

    quot;You sen,quot; sly but s look up.

    Srong sense t s afford to look up.

    quot;; sent on erlocked fingers. quot;o bote, and nohis?”

    so long t eventually siously. urned back to t anding beside able looking over at tly like the King.

    quot;Did I ever tell you,quot; said Brandin of Ygratly, quot;to tell me as a c Finavir?”

    one, tting, tinuity of his reply.

    quot;No,quot; sried to tty to add, but failed.

    quot;Finavir, or Finvair,quot;  on, not really ing for  looking over at ;ales it ten eitimes. t often ories t come from before te things down.”

    t back, still gazing into ttle nearer to tory.  one of t in both hands.

    Brandin said, quot;In Ygratale is sometimes told and sometimes believed t ts and ts— one of many  into time. to be far off, scattered among tars, invisible to us.”

    quot;t; Dianora said quietly ando. In teac riad burned people for saying as muc; It rue; the plague years, long ago.

    Brandin said, quot;e never burned or . t sometimes, but t is anothing.

    my nurse used to tell me  some of us are born over and again into various of til, at t, if ime into Finavir or Finvair o wrue gods dwell.”

    quot;And after t?quot; s o  of this day.

    quot;After, no one kneell me. Nor did any of ts and books I read ;I never liked my nurses legend of Finavir. tories, some of te different and many of t for some reason t one stayed  bot seemed to make our lives ial in tance only for  ters, here and now.”

    quot;I t; sle in  mood. quot;But ory?”

    t of questions.

    And Brandin said, quot;Because during ts t year and more I have had recurring dreams of

    being reborn far a; raig  time since beginning tale, and eady as ;And in all of t my side and not, and no one ween.”

    S all, too blind to see. And suddenly sears of se, urgent  so be .

    Brandin said, quot;Dianora, I needed you so muc nigened myself. I did not send for you only because I o somery to come to terms  o me ion, no more t: so t not t t pacing or at my desk, trying to riddle out where my life has now come.

    it means t my o kill me, and fail only because of you. And t t, consumed by it, I only realized near da I  you alone all nig?”

    I  time to stop, s ears, trying to see  never to leave t to il I die.

    quot;I made a decision on my ride,quot; ;I   t s. Since I , since I cannot possibly c I am committed to doing  be prepared to pay all of t th.”

    Se unable to stop ears.  toucowards her.

    Beed mask of pain and need, and sometimes sa face. She closed her eyes.

    quot; ; s was o speak.

    And told . Named for ened, ears falling more slo lengto understand t the wheel was coming full circle.

    Listening to Brandins grave voice over ter in ers of t of foreknoaking tood the pool.

    S and kne it o er all. Yet even so, and most terribly of all, s  to come, w so do.

    S on ots alone t , listening to ance beto t at  and laid oucroking it, do t o  t love.

    S quietly, s stop o flo for love of  to t , and s most bitterly of all for trayals yet to come. All trayals t lay ing outside time, op, o carry them.

 chapter 14

    “RIDE!” ALESSAN CRIED,  POINtING tOARDS A GAP IN t;theres a village beyond!”

    Devin s tohe sun.

    Be of t eig looked back, after t startled glimpse of tlaed command to .

    t be. t a bone-jarring pace for ired. If to be a flat-out race against fresed outlated eeting of reopened cuts from ains earlier t day.

    tled past urn in co o te attempt at suche wind.

    tic arrohem.

    quot;t; Erlein rasped, glancing back as ;o this village!”

    quot;ty minutes beyond! Ride!quot; Alessan did not s again, bending loo urge more speed from o track of tween.

    t get out.

    Just o follo riders ing in a line across t them.

    to rearing s. Devin flung a glance back over laering tc ill embedded.

    Alessan, sae, defiant look in the Princes eye.

    quot;Dont be a fool!quot; Erlein snapped. quot;You cant run t kill this many men.”

    quot;I can try,quot; Alessan said, ing across teep o find a . opped  raise the bow.

    quot;Straigo a trap.  a splendid ending to t; ter, raion.

    It rue too late. tural place for an ambusriad knelao t.

    On t o go, and .

    It didnt seem as if to get till enoug to make out tla reassure. t be random and carelessly  ten-doures most brigands rode. t of t trap.

    One man rode a fe line. quot;Release your bo; h easy

    auty. quot;I dont like talking h armed men.”

    quot;Neit; Alessan replied grimly, staring at t a moment later  o the same.

    quot;And t; tlaill softly.  s.  t hid his eyes.

    quot;I dont carry a bo; Devin said sly, letting fall er at t from t of them.

    quot;Magian,  laug;You kneructions. You know his.”

    quot;I didnt t; came an angry voice betering of rap was closed, before and be; and wind. he was lucky, Ducas.”

    quot; o be lucky if you had done your job properly. heres Abhar?”

    quot;took an arroorres gone back to bring him.”

    quot;aste,quot; t;I dont like e.quot; ted against t their bows leveled.

    Alessan said, quot;If e offends you, you  like t all. e o give you beyond our  who kill for pleasure.”

    quot;Sometimes,quot; t raising tlingly calm, Devin t, and very mucrol of ;ill my two men die? Do you use poisoned arrows?”

    Alessans expression emptuous. quot;Not even against the Barbadians. hy? Do you?”

    quot;Sometimes,quot; tla;Especially against ter all.quot;  time, a cold,  to his mans memories, or his dreams.

    Alessan said not  Erlein, a se, almost invisible gesture. quot;too many,quot; ;And besides—”

    quot;t; came an empic voice from the line beyond Ducas.

    A c;Dont even t,quot; inued, looking straig Erlein. quot;I could block anytried.quot; Startled, Devin glanced at t at tance it oo dark for o see if to be though.

    t hem.

    quot;And precisely  ake a tracker to find you t; Erlein o this place?”

    quot;trained on your  and t,quot; terjected, quot;to ensure t suc   I confess teresting every moment. An arc you afraid of t does the boy do?”

    quot;Im a singer,quot; Devin said grimly. quot;Devin dAsoli, lately from t, if t means anyto you.quot; to keep talk going someories—o ;You t  you? From a distance. ts wrap.”

    quot;A singer. A clever singer,quot; Ducas murmured. quot;If not clever enougo stay indoors on an Ember

    Day. Of course  you  Barbadians and outlaoday? And all of tlay miles around are part of my band.”

    quot;tlala; Alessan said softly. quot;But if you s as ours. I can tell you—and I do not lie, Ducas—t if you  to Barbadior —and to Ygrat  of asking of you.quot; t surprisingly, a silence. to tirring the growing dark.

    quot;You  appears,quot; Ducas said at lengtfully. quot;Per is time for you to tell me exactly w dusk on an Ember Day, and I will draw my own conclusions.”

    quot;My name is Alessan. I am riding . My moto her side.”

    quot;ed of you,quot; Ducas said. quot;But one name tells me not is a big place, my friend ; time.

    Devin jumped. Berings were drawn back.

    Devin,  pounding, sae. t gone no in o be bloo come after t day of spring.

    t Erlein, and discovered t taring at ing. Alessan  yet spoken. Ducas sed meaningfully in his saddle.

    Devin s  o be easier t igana. igana, and so am I.”

    o look straig tla Ducas or t of t Alessan  to o see t. izards could he name.

    A murmur rose from t lonely place. A voice from them.

    quot;By t; t voice cried from t. Devin riding quickly foro stand in front of t t mucy years old or a little more, and t h Alessans arrow in his arm.

    Ducas  ;Sertino, ; ;I do not—”

    quot;Sorcery,quot; tly.

    quot;? ; Ducas nodded towards Erlein.

    quot;No, not ; It ;Not t is real sorcery, t is t keeps you from he name.”

    ition Ducas s  off, revealing a balding dome  red ;And you, Naddo? , then?”

    teadily on  before replying. quot;Because I oo, and so Im immune to tim of it, ness in o rol.  Alessan. quot;You . ill you tell us t?

    ill you tell me?quot; It ory.

    Alessan ting on er a day in t seemed to deny

    even ty of ension of  angled ure, kne he man he followed.

    And tillness of t pass, le of irring of t;My name is Alessan di tigana bar Valen-tin.

    If you are as old as you appear to be, Naddo di tigana, you will know who I am.”

    it control, Devin sao  words were spoken.

    quot;O; t.

    quot;Prince?quot; said Ducas, very softly. tive movement among tla;Sertino, you o me!”

    Sertino to Erlein, and t t a frightened, expression crossed his pale, round face.

    ;te. It  name before Brandin of Ygrato take t name arue name. t is w is happening here.”

    quot;And Prince? Naddo called .”

    Sertino .  Erlein, and till t odd, uneasy look on ;Is it true?”

    And Erlein di Senzio, ;Just dont let  your her.

    Unless you like being bound into slavery.”

    Sertinos mout. quot;No,quot; ;I do not understand at all. too muc understand. I  explanations, from all of you!quot;  look at Alessan though.

    quot;I understand it ain of t o turned to look at ;I understand t oniges take  to Fort Forese across turn o there.

    ito boot. And woo. Singing boys.”

    he shadows.

    ;there will be rewards. Land. Perhaps even . . .”

    . Ever. In rigid disbelief Devin sao fall ter of she ground beside Erlein.

    there was a long-handled dagger in his back.

    One of tla  all, dismounted and pulled t carefully clean on t before s again at .

    quot;Not a good idea, Magians,quot; ly, straigo look at Ducas. quot;Not a good idea at all.

    e arent informers  serve tyrants.”

    Ducas slapped  back on ing for control. ook a deep breat;As it  as it also   eacher.”

    Arkin all, almost gaunt, and e, Devin sa;I kno, Ducas. It is eful. I know. You will o forgive me.”

    Ducas said notime. Neit t eache shadows.

    Arkin ill looking at Ducas.

    ;You are fortunate t I agree ; he said.

    Arkin s;e  ayed togetherwise.”

    Alessan neatly dismounted from oill trained on ;If you are ing Barbadians,quot; ly, quot;I o ed. quot;You can do as your dead man suggested: turn me in to Ygrat t us go our o te different thing you can do.”

    quot;; Ducas seemed to rol.   the beginning.

    quot;Join me. In o do.”

    quot;hich is?”

    quot;to drive botyrants from t.”

    Naddo looked up suddenly, a brig;Really, my lord? e can do this? Even now?”

    quot;t; Alessan said. quot;Especially no time t;  Ducas. quot;here were you born?”

    quot;In tregea,quot; ter a pause. quot;In tains.”

    Devin  to t ely ted  Alessan sions noirring hin him, of hope renewed and of pride.

    t;I t it migories of a red-ain Ducas  in tregea during ter t fell.quot; ated. quot;I could not  notice the color of your hair.”

    For a moment tionless as in a tableau, one on ther on his horse.

    te suddenly, Ducas di tregea smiled.

    quot; is left of my ;  again ure.

    Releasing riding foro Alessan.  both his own.

    Devin found  s over  top of y outla dark Certandan pass.

    iced t neiting. Erlein and Sertino sat very still, almost rigid on trating on something.

    t eacically grim.

    And because iced, because o be becoming t of man o fall silent, and inctively raised a o quiet turned to t the wizards.

    quot; is it?quot; Ducas said.

    Sertino turned to ;tracker. Nort of us, quite close. I just felt t find me time.”

    quot;I ; said Erlein di Senzio. quot;Earlier today, in t spell, a screen for someone. Evidently it s.”

    quot;t al; Sertino said flatly.

    quot;,quot; Ducas said, quot;he Braccio Pass?”

    quot;Gat; Alessan said. quot;Ill tell you later. Rigo deal h.

    racker?”

    quot;Not less ty. Probably more. e ?”

    quot;t; Erlein said. quot; me traced. t least.”

    quot;I dont muc; Alessan said softly.

    Devin turned quickly to look at o .

    quot;ly, are your men ; Alessan said, a cone and in the grey eyes.

    And in t  full-dark Devin saregean outlaeet;to spare, to deal ackled, but ive voice, quot;t I too am groired of hiding, suddenly.”

    Devin looked over at t  tures in t Erlein said, in a ;Alessan, tracker ely, or o Alberico.”

    quot;; said Alessan quietly. And in oo, te. ter  it h.

    Alessans cloak flapped in a gust of ely he drew his hood over his face.

    t Albericos tracker turned out to be twelve years old.

    t Erlein riding  out of tino di Certando, ted on being of use even t figaken t as best t  y, but even more clear t in t about to give o t.

    A s ars and t of Vidomni, tered ty-five of tracker. Six carried torchings easier.

    t for them.

    Alessans arro in trackers breast, fired from slopes on opposite sides of t first rain of arro in he pass.

    to close tern exit, even as Ducas and nine men sealed off tern end tered from.

    And so on t Ember Niglaando far from  in, Prince of tigana, foug true battle of urn. After t years of maneuvering, a subtle gatelligence and te guiding of events,  tyrant in t moonlit pass.

    No subterfuge, no ion anymore from tage. ttle, for time had come.

    Marius of Quileia o  day, against igoniger, in t year ted to die.

    ted ains, ain of tesss guard. A man ering and concealing a young

    Prince from t  nineteen years ago, whe hiding had begun.

    ired of ime of running rue, it  Ygrat t in t he same.

    Botyrants  for all to t ruto sal on t. to take than before.

    And in taking one  in tonig-up passion,  his sword arm free.

    Devin, laboring to keep up o  combat ion vying for mastery in .  s as most of tlaing as muc for  augry morning lessons t seemed unimaginably remote from ts happenings.

    raigo to put be of direct response all t allowed.

    Frantically, gritting eeths behind, when a yellow-bearded Barbadian loomed up beside him, enormous on his horse.

    Devin cried out in sinct and to t, veering for a space o , as loo t uprengt a searing pain in  fell. ty air  later Devin felt o flesh.

    t as  one o ure. toppling of a mountain tree, o the ground.

    Devin ig to meet Ducas and Arkins group pressing for.

    It  over, Devin realized. to do. iture of emotions t  even try to understand just tcimes and orco tinguiss after to t seemed to Devin —t of t down and slain.

    It

    of tracker and realized rampled in t lay ted and splayed unnaturally. Some ually t till embedded in t of one of them had been broken off.

    Devin turned ao it. to ride back to t , old racker come upon  all, as to e would have been.

    It  t hin himself once again, as he gradually became aware

    of ting calm t seemed to ill ble Alessan ly ridden to  tamped and snorted, made restless by t past and the smell of blood.

    quot;Devin, believe me, I am sorry,quot; Alessan murmured softly, so t no one else  is  t time, and I gave you no co prepare.”

    Devin s drained, almost numb. quot;You didnt  ter t;  a;Alessan, you o . I c fall. You arent responsible for me.”

    quot;In a way I am.”

    quot;Not in a  matters. I made my o;Doesnt friendster?”

    Devin , rendered suddenly diffident. Alessan  to you. After a moment t as an aftert, quot;I was your age when I came back from Quileia.”

    For a moment  to add somet in t. Devin   tly hin him like a candle.

    For a moment longer t t, Vidomnis pale ligill brigo saring pain in his face.

    Devin said, quot;I cand t I dont to get used to this.”

    quot;I knoed. quot;Eitter at  alive to do.”

    Devin turned trying to read ter a moment ;I never kne o say t I doubt it? truly I doubt it, Alessan.quot; After a moment touc;those who would disagree, Im afraid.

    But theless.”

    And o remember someto somet;e ter ride. I must speak o catc of ground to cover yet.quot;  Devin apprais-ingly. quot;You must be exed. I should have asked before: how is your leg? Can you ride?”

    quot;Im fine,quot; Devin protested quickly. quot;Of course I can ride.quot; Someone beurned. to discover t Erlein and t, returned to the pass.

    quot;tell me,quot; to Alessan, s; o say?

    Of course ell you , ;—ured too s of men?”

    Ducas  oo dark noorcinguiso make out anyones features clearly. One o judge by tions given them.

    Alessan said quietly, quot;I to t. In any case, Im unlikely to too o point t to me.quot; ;triad for-fend you eer to ride all nig your own.”

    quot;I,quot; said Erlein flatly, quot;ter anymore. Or ten?”

    quot;I . But Ive no mind to repeat t quarrel no t risk to save your own. If you—”

    quot;to save my oo—”

    quot;Erlein, enoug many to do and I am not of a mind to debate.”

    In tc;I most ; ed tone. quot;You really must let me knoe.

    Youll concede it is an issue of some importance to me.”

    Alessan  for ime. t;I t is beand. It is meeting anot it? itino  o you the more.”

    quot;Dont pretend you understand me, Alessan!quot; said Erlein furiously.

    Still calmly, Alessan said, quot;Very . In some and you and old you t t. But for noo discuss it tyrants are gone from t before.”

    quot;You . e h be dead.”

    quot;Dont touc; Alessan said sedly Devin sao strike tly t;If s can  deal to do togeto come.”

    Ducas coug;As to t,quot; ;er speak. t Id like to knos work, muc has pleased me.”

    quot;I kno; said Alessan, turning to ated. quot;ill you ride tle.

    Only as far as the village. You and Naddo, because of his arm.”

    quot; understand,quot; Ducas said. quot;You s  muche village. For obvious reasons.”

    quot;I can guess. It  matter. Not on an Ember Nigand here. Come.

    I  my good friend Erlein di Senzio to see sometino ter join us too.”

    quot;I  miss tibar,quot; said tandan  eresting, at anotime it migo note o keep bet one was deadly serious.

    quot;Come on t; said Alessan brusquely. urned  Erleins, almost brus tarted  out of to folloerse commands to Arkin, too loo ated for a moment, clearly torn, ing to come  t speaking, urned  later,  tlahe Barbadians bodies for weapons.

    urned to look over s later but try by to t and a grassy plain rolling nortrance to t soon, Devin kneher one a child.

    t and tion. Far from sleep, ened to tside and to toning tany over and over.

    quot;Eanna love us, Adaon preserve us, Morian guard our souls. Eanna love us, Adaon preserve us, Morian guard our souls. Eanna love us . . .”

    ion most of time, but sometimes—as toniged t icularly insidious kind. She was using

    ell ting tanc of time s ring, but not on t back to  of ts.

    In t years  ts in turb  s suc to s and endured  he could.

    quot;Eanna love us always, Adaon preserve us from all perils, Morian guard our souls and ser us.

    Eanna love us . . .”

    time of contrition and atonement, but time  and give ts.  and varied reasons, but  , in fact, e t two decades. o power.

    too  first, a diversion, it  in they had come here.

    t of skill, t.  been oto s life in t life ial because ill.

    t of less journey all t ty of s. to stay ed to stay.

    t young nor s any longer. t-room floor in t small farm in t years, but in t, as gratefully as for anything he had ever been given himself.

    Eit s, to escape t  presume to ask so muc on ts, not on any nig e, and besides, he passing years.

    quot;Eanna love us as her children, Adaon preserve us as his children . . .”

    , clearly, going to be able to fall asleep.  about getting up to polisaff or a bo  ery porridge, sour wine, hem down.

    quot;t; s meat, undrinkable kter bread. For a  least. Menna ting  mattered to er all tacit understandings muchough of course he had never married her.

    e, even in tate, far from   long, blind journey seventeen years ago, sure t a murderous pursuit was riding close behind.

    o tumn long ago: strangers arriving in a dark time. A time ed all across tyrants coming. But to make t fortandos bad years latterly

    o deplete   for, at t?

    Really,  be for? Menna and t count t still came in s.

    deal in ter, in a different   so burdened by irony as to defeat  of  t.  being unique in this.

    quot;Eanna love us, Adaon preserve us from—triad save us!”

    Menna fell silent, very abruptly. And for t suddenly uprig a sest from : a sound outside in t. In t, when no one should be abroad.

    Listening carefully  it again: te and faint, of pipes playing in tside, passing by trating, t footsteps. ed them.

    t beating dangerously fast,  of bed as quickly as o dress.

    quot;It is t; Menna ;Adaon preserve us from vengeful gs, from all als guard our souls!”

    Despite ation to note t Menna, even in ill included   moment  t t— o be s domestic torment.

    side, of course. ly ick by tly as  t as good as  in trying to slip out un he price.

    Because ts and ots for almost ten years no inside t to t door and used ick to roll back t out. Menna ;Eanna love me, Adaon preserve me, Morian guard my soul.quot; try smile. t least. atery porridge in t, tasteless kter mai tea. ood still for a moment, still smiling faintly, breattle,  fine. Lifting o t breeze  taste to come.

    apping ick along toick imes  in tation at a dissolute court. ed to need it in ts ailed, .

    Perime in  nig oter just past, in Astibar.

    t. Only t rao admit traools along tly laid and stacked.

    In fact, if  careful, take  er: back to tried never to t. ired tired, after ted it on tain. It o ts normal size and sive to touco  not to limp.

    No one spoke. No one skirts of ty  fes after teto oo—a certain nursery melody from Avalle.

    ill playing, as gently as before. tune  seemed to be trying to carry Devin back to ed: if  t ion  now he would probably end up crying.

    Devin tried to imagine ing, elusive melody o anyone less . A company of gs passing by, t o be. tten tune. riana singing in t ly or rees so a dream of towers of Avalle.

    onigo t  to die. And noy-five Barbadians lao Alessan play a cradle song.

    tand trangeness of life if o be a hundred years old.

    tside and tiffened involuntarily. So did Ducas di tregea, a  t ered on tinued.

    An old man, sligooped, but e ood for a moment, backlit by t, before epped inside and pusick er t it o see for a fes.

    No one spoke. Alessan did not even look up again. tenderly, une. Devin looked at ood  to t about   ed and airred in  as ened to tful ending of t ion of regret. Laying do seemed to be he price of his blood.

    quot;t; ly, to the doorway.

    quot;You o; trong voice. quot;You o sour milk and spoiled meat for a month.”

    quot;I ,quot; Alessan said in tion and an unexpected amusement in ;Menna  chen?”

    ted. quot;Menna and c coexist,quot; ;You are  ?”

    quot;. to tell. I came h some reason, Rinaldo.”

    quot;So muco me. One man  is torn inside. Anot  I can do not t  be.”

    Devin gasped onis. Beside him Ducas swore aloud.

    quot;Explain t; ;Explain everything!”

    Alessan ;You are a spoiled and petty old man,quot; till c;and you enjoy s. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

    quot;t to me in my age,quot; torted. quot;ould you deny me too? to tell, you say? tell me.”

    Alessans voice gre;I ing in tains this morning.”

    quot;A t! And w follows?”

    quot;Everytters. One to Alberico, one to Brandin, and one to the Governor of Senzio.”

    quot;A; said Rinaldo again. quot;t;  softly, but could not quite disguise tement in ook a step foro t;I never dreamt I o see to act?”

    quot;e onigtle. e killed a number of Barbadians and a tracker pursuing a h us.”

    quot;Ducas? t is le, a curiously incongruous sound. quot;Now I know whis village, my friend.”

    quot;I am a,quot; said Ducas drily.

    quot;Rinaldo,quot; Alessan said, quot;do you remember t ories about a red-bearded captain, one of tregeans the one who was never found?”

    quot;Ducas di tregea? t; Again tle. quot;ell met tain, t, as a matter of fact, for t time. If I remember rigregea y years ago.”

    quot;A visit from ruggling to get ;From . . . from Alessans province?quot; Ducas hazarded.

    quot;tigana? But of course,quot; Erlein di Senzio interjected ;Of course  anotty injured lordling from t. Is t his lesson.”

    quot;I didnt .quot; It ly to t; did you say?”

    Erlein fell silent, turning from Alessan to the door. Even in darkness Devin could see his sudden confusion.

    quot;; Alessan said. quot;think you are from my home.”

    quot;An outrageous slander,quot; Rinaldo said calmly. o;I am vain enougo  you might know me by now. My name is Rinaldo di Senzio.”

    quot;! Senzio?quot; Erlein exclaimed, s of ;You cant be!”

    there was a silence.

    quot;ly, is tuous man?quot; Rinaldo asked, of no one in particular.

    quot;My ; Alessan replied. quot;I o me  to to you of t once, I think. his name is Erlein. Erlein di Senzio.”

    quot;A; said Rinaldo letting  slo;I see. A bound  explains ; eps for of him.

    It  moment t Devin realized t Rinaldo ered it in t: quot;You ; he said.

    quot;No,quot; Rinaldo said equably. quot;I used to, of course, but te for me by my nep tion of botyrants seventeen years ago temerity to oppose

    Casalias decision to lay dous and become a Governor instead.”

    Alessan aring fixedly at Erlein as Rinaldo spoke. Devin followed han Devin had ever seen him.

    quot;I do knoammering.

    quot;Of course you do. Just as I knoo t real Duke of Senzio and am uncle to tyles o be to call myself ther.”

    Visibly figrol, Erlein said, quot;But t Alessan  tters. old you. You knoo do  it ill ; ically at the end.

    quot;You stupid, petty little man,quot; Rinaldo said slo, one. quot;Of course I am o deal yrants?  ottleground is possible in today but our poor Senzio whe backsides of whores!

    Do you  freedom to be easy, Erlein bar Alein? Do you t drops like acorns from trees in the fall?”

    quot;; Alessan said bluntly. quot;Or   for me. il  me by a river in Ferraut last week.”

    quot;to say to ; said Rinaldo di Senzio, empt.

    quot;; It ino, speaking to Alessan. tandan ill kept to ted.

    quot;Finding suc; Alessan said. quot;Men and regea ... all over t could be trusted and yrants as muco be free t matcruly free,quot;  Erlein again. quot;Masters of our own peninsula.”

    it smile urned to Ducas. quot;As it  you mig regea on and off for more t no one o kne your fate. I o be terribly clever tonigo lure you into finding me instead.”

    Ducas laug t, a deep sound in . t;I wis had happened earlier.”

    quot;So do I. You ake to you as muco him.”

    quot;S him?”

    quot;In Senzio, later ts fall rig.”

    quot;If t is so, you  start by telling us o fall,quot; Rinaldo said prosaically.

    quot;Let me tend to your two wounded well w we should know.”

    apping to Devin. quot;I am a ; ;Your leg is bad and needs dealing  me try?”

    quot;So t is ; Ducas said, wonder in ;I rue healer before.”

    quot;t many of us and end not to announce ourselves,quot; Rinaldo said, ty sockets of ;t yrants came: it is a gift s and a price. Noyrants are o seize us, and force us serve til t.”

    quot;Can t?quot; Devin asked.   spoken for a long time.  t of o sing tonig remember t time ed.

    quot;Of course t; said Rinaldo simply. quot;Unless ead.

    o happen.”

    quot;I  coercion and o me,”

    Erlein said coldly.

    quot;And I ell you,quot; Rinaldo s back, quot;as soon as I finis; to Devin ;traw be me see w I can do?”

    In a fes Devin found raion Rinaldo knelt beside  eacher.

    Over ;Alessan, Im serious. talk h you.”

    quot;Baerd!quot; a voice interrupted. quot;Is t your friend? Baerd bar Saevar?quot; It umbled foro traw.

    quot;Saevar ;You knew him?”

    Naddo raug;Knew him? Of course I knew him. I was ... I ...”

    ;I ice. I loved Baerd as ... as an older brother. I ... we ...

    parted badly. I  aer the fall.”

    quot;So did ; Alessan said gently, laying a rembling s;Not long after you did. I knoo me of t parting. I can tell you t . t ill does. I expect ell you .”

    quot;tioned?quot; Ducas asked softly.

    quot;It is.”

    quot;o you of me?quot; Naddos voice skirled h wonder.

    quot;he has.”

    Alessan hen.

    quot;Do you . . . does  o er? to Dianora?quot; Naddo asked.

    Alessans smile faded. quot;e do not. e  many places, er  in searc, and t long after. t  I know in Baerd.”

    Naddo ; a moment later t ing back tears. quot;I can understand t,quot; ;S girl I ever kne woman.

    And if s really beautiful sill so very . . .quot; opped for a moment, struggling for composure, and tly: quot;I teen years old t year.”

    quot;If t; Alessan said softly, quot;we will find .”

    Devin  knoo be so many t knoo ask, maybe even more t just topped rubbing ogether and leaned forward.

    quot;You need rest quite badly,quot; ly none of t;You need sleep as muc; As ly on Devins foreions and all urbation, felt o drift, as on a oheir

    need. And  all of  night.

 Chapter 15

    tER At SUNRISE ts and Devin entered tigana for t time since her had carried him away as a child.

    Only t struggling musicians came into Loe, te for engagements of any kind,  ter tyrants inerant performers of t Loe meant bad luck and  t.

    It  as if tory  knoeans ally . It did not make for a congenial setting, tists of talking it over in taverns or  or Corte. Only tured to take t sad province in t. By time Devin  raveling for a very long time and ation to be able to esc particular one of the nine provinces.

    too; no one really understood it, but travelers of titious lot and, given an alternative, feure into a place  e. Everyone kneories.

    So t time for Devin. t ing for t of passage, kno since t Sinave nortime ago, to be near, knoher side.

    And no pale ligo t stretcs, and  t of t it, o tigana.

    And o   to to respond.  scattered and confused. rollably a fe ligion restlessly at work. I’ll be old he land where I was born.

    No past t claimed tops of rees and finally batime world as far as he could see.

    It  tains visible beyond.  its  a stream. It froze for a minute, co flee.

    tando, too.

    told  s and ried to picture it: , one of t beside  aken turns—in t goods t darkened by smoke and fires on the horizon.

    It seemed a false picture in some   exactly false, it  migrue, it migly true, but Devin didnt knos, no ory. t it . It  really even tigana they rode. he had never

    even  name until  alone any stories, legends, cs past.

    te; so  all his life.

    tled. Beside  able. Ahem Alessan was riding alone.

    said a he border.

    ed  be. ted and absolute and sruly his home.

    ever Alessan . It ally actual, trampled fabric of ried, riding to imagine  be feeling.  t  only just: a guess more t of all to a place w speaking now.

    itled, Devin t, craigained in front of titled to ude,  even kno.

    And t of ruggling adjustment to o to w ill e.

    And somes of a long er of t, and of listening in silence as older and   t and  be t person to find in a single man ts for traction or a dream.

    It  t Devin felt somet trings of  as if it  be seemed to Devin t t drumming rings as they galloped.

    tiny ing for t in riad Games t took place every t ttered, it could make a difference. t ter of events in time. Devin felt someting and bearing o tide, trom of ture. Into w  w was over.

    ime Devin smiled back at ual, reflexive irony leave t. Devin almost felt sorry for the man again.

    Impulsively o Erleins broo squeeze ther mans shoulder.

    quot;ere going to do it!quot; ly, almost gaily.

    Erleins face seemed to pincself toget;You are a fool,quot; ersely. quot;A young, ignorant fool.quot;   conviction tinctive response.

    Devin laughed aloud.

    Later  too. er under t, blue cloudless sky. Forests and tains on t and in tance before t glimpse of ting ribbon floly norts curve  to find the

    sea.

    tuary of Eanna lay in a  ering and isolating circle of  of t   far from t rade back and fortigana and Quileia the Sfaroni Pass.

    In all nine provinces Eannas priests and Morians, and tesses of Adaon reats.

    Founded in out-of-ts of times dramatically so—ters of learning and teaciated clergy, repositories of riad, and as places of s and priestesses side for a time or for a lifetime.

    And not just ty imes do t;contributionsquot; t e offerings for tering for a space of days or years  of treats.

    Many  led people to tuaries. It  t tesses of Adaon  birtors in ters of distinguis elected to sojourn at one of treats at times t mig for t  an indeterminately age of ters left beurned to tayed  to Morian. te-robed priests of Eanna  to do  tories belying t, as well.

    Little of tyrants came. Neito stir up triad against ts and tesses o do as ted tive as it migo the new rulers from overseas.

    botyrants did do, er or lesser success, emples against eac  to see—tensions and ilities t rippled and flared among triad. t, in eacion, to turn ting tion to . Many patterns mig c all recognition, and some mig or forgotten entirely, but not t te, reciprocal dance of state and clergy.

    And so temples still stood, and t important ones still flourisatuary, and tments for services. Save in one place only: in Loe, ues and ted and burned. t  of somet after t years of tyrants. Even in ted province, to continue ty and touaries.

    And to treats came a great variety of men and ime to time. It  only to ride or be carried aurbulence of times of strife, uaries ous eyries or  in ty valleys.

    And t—for a price—suco ted reats sucs valley, could be time. For a lifetime.  ies beyond the hills.

    have been.

    For a time, for a lifetime, t, looking out t the valley in

    sunlig springs return. So keep s from going back. ting for  and so little  of ter season falling to t birds, arros, time t was her own, and her only one.

    A lifetime of remembering, by curle dao prayer, by candlelig dusk, by sigraigo ers ers end, by t nigo prayer again, by drone of priests at prayer, by a star falling  in tern cold dark of tion of t borne by t  to bring one to te-robed priests es and ttiness, and tance of hem all.

    is o Danoleon—-p say about growt.

    tions and a flus  doion tled and ouceady and t unpleasant weariness.

    ed grief in  , not caring w was w be dying.

    quot;It ; ly. quot;It oo far. I  save you. thing I can do.”

    quot;; she had asked. her only words.

    old rong she was.

    rong? Srong. More so t by far. S to leave, and t ts o tate nortevanien.

    As it ually knoity s for a time. A fair-o laugh.

    Melina bren tonaro. A . She Sea when word came of Second Deisa.

    tion y: Danoleons suggestion. Almost nineteen years ago. t aking away, heir dreams carried in his person, a hope living so long as he lived.

    S ime ago. Sonaro and o tuary of Eanna in its high valley above Avalle.

    Above Stevanien.

    ed. ted for t boy to groo a man suc a descendant in direct line of Micaela and to do.

    ed. Season after season; s birds falling from the sky.

    Until last autumn, wold rong.

    S t at trees. t once; e season for riding. As a girl, as a  o  t fall leaves she would ever see.

    Surned s and o calculate. Days and montic time to be sure of it. So Danoleon, not t oo soon.

    Not until ter,  beginning to melt from t and instruct o tter sed sent to ts— began this spring.

    Sions. Many times.

    Simed it very  by cing to protest, to dissuade, to speak of dangers and circumspection. But t from under , s in tless and t t on ted patiently for o meet  last, as sance.

    o reaty to t co come bid o Morian. Especially o w so  dreams of her people?

    Danoleon promised to e tter and  sent. Ser  out. S  to see o her.

    ttle t ill cold t day. Outside, tle drifting folds in t upon it but s, unexpectedly,   since everyt once, not ever, so break and fall on te sands of ts along the curving beach.

    So Pasitigana bren Serazi. Once a princess in a palace by ting, as er near tains turned to spring in t year.

    quot;t, ; said Alessan. quot;A ne use my name. Not ; aken on t nighis had all begun for him.

    t in t of afternoon. ts  point. And norees and grass touc green-gold of spring. A tributary stream, s-running ing snoed nort out of t. temple dome in t of tuary gleamed silver in tance.

    quot; name, t; Erlein asked quietly. one or t know.

    quot;Adreano,quot; ter a moment. quot;I am Adreano dAstibar today. I  for triump, joyous homecoming.”

    Devin remembered t deat er, after t;Sandreni Elegies.quot;  t and t a day to probe. If  o try, someo make t kno doing t t badly out of h again, his

    earlier rusement fading before the Princes manner.

    Soutoains above Castle Borso. ter did not retreat so sly toured footered east running of trees. A grey  for a moment, almost motionless, before  against tuary seemed to lie s y, he world.

    Devin kne  so.

    t   o tigana.  Brandin of Ygrato Alessan if trayed and taken after so many years. ain pass: Do you trust this message?

    Devin rusted ts of Eanna in oo s subtle of t apt to steer events to t lie out of sigions as of a goddess,  find it easier to take t everyone kne all across triad riple understanding yrants from abroad: tive silence, tacit complicity, bougo preserve tes t mattered more to t seemed, the Palm.

    Even before meeting Alessan, Devin s about t. On t of t speaking s of  o t it, to be a great many nuances to ts of to olid fat time to  path.

    rack finally s o ting touary in t one outer rees began on eito early leaf. Beyond ts and some of ts, clad not in te of ceremony, but in nondescript robes of beige, beginning t t ers end. One man , clear tenor voice.

    tern gates of tuary complex ar-symbol of Eanna. tes  enclosed tuary oervals around t, o and adversity. Set emple s as to tes and passed hin.

    Just inside Alessan pulled o a . From aance over to t ted sound of cer. In an open, grassy field set beyond a stable and a large residence unics icks and a ball, supervised by a young priest in the beige work-robes.

    Devin calgia. o to cut and carry  maracco stick. And tes more often —snatcicks and one of ttered succession of balls Nico iently oget of layers and layers of cloto  the

    barnyard, pretending team at triad Games.

    quot;I scored four times one game in my last year of temple sc; Erlein di Senzio said in a musing voice. quot;Ive never forgotten it. I doubt I ever will.”

    Surprised and amused, Devin glanced over at turned in o look back as er a moment tance ts and laug  trangers  er ting of the snow.

    t  ts and co in pens on tral avenue. Some distance in front of trance to temple and beside it on t and a little beory— for in all uaries ts of Eanna tracked and observed tars she had named.

    t  many priests and servants moving about tering and leaving temple itself, able gardens Devin could see beyond tory. From t direction as akable clanging of a blacksmito be caug one, circling lazily against the blue.

    Alessan dismounted and Devin and Erlein did t as ts came up to t almost exactly t. tured at himself and his colleague.

    quot;Not mucing party, Im afraid. e  expecting visitors t admit. No one even noticed you riding do o Eannas Sanctuary, o us. May t; he had a cheerful manner and an easy smile.

    Alessan returned t;May so be ,  ain o deal ing. e  actually  our entrance routines yet. And as for early in to get moving sooner tabliso starve.”

    quot;You are musical performers?quot; t asked eet to have been.

    quot;e are,quot; said Alessan tempt at a grand manner. quot;My name is Adreano dAstibar. I play tregean pipes, and   tell you truly, you  il youve listened to our young companion Devin dAsoli.”

    t laug;Oo ter sco give a lesson to my coric.”

    quot;Id do better to teac; Alessan smiled. quot;If music is part of your program here.”

    ts moutc;Formal music,quot; ;t Morian, after all.”

    quot;Of course,quot; said Alessan ily. quot;Very formal music for t for ts of t; he arched one of his dark eyebrows.

    quot;I ,quot; said t, smiling again, quot;to a preference for Rauders early music myself.”

    quot;And no one plays it better t; Alessan said smoot;I can see  place. So t?”

    quot;You s; said t smiling. ying trings at ;Ill take you to  to commit assault upon eacrol at all over them?”

    Savandi spun to look, se unpriestly fasoing imprecations. From tance it did indeed seem to Devin t ticks ly at variance ed rules of the game.

    Devin saw Erlein grinning as che wizards lean face changed when he smiled.

    rue one, not ten used to indicate a sour, superior disdain.

    t, grim-faced, pulled  neatly, and draped it over one of t s make out and anot time—ily emerged from tables on t.

    quot;take t; t ordered bluntly. quot;See t t to t house.”

    quot;Ill keep my pipes,quot; Alessan said quickly.

    quot;And I my ; Erlein added. quot;No lack of trust, you understand, but a musician and rument...”

    t able manner. quot;As you ; was all he said.

    quot;Come. My name is torre, I am ter of tuary. You must be brougo t.quot; urned and set off  ing for to t of temple.

    Devin and Erlein looked at eacorre and Alessan, passing a number of ots and lay servants, most  making up for ted guide.

    t up to temple. torre opped, Alessan beside er looked around, quite casually, t as casually:

    420 tIGANA quot;trust no one. Speak truto none but Danoleon or myself. ted. e t it , per s oday.”

    quot;t. ifying,quot; said Alessan in an odd voice.

    Devin felt suddenly cold. Off to t, in ter a ly, ting. ternoon invocations. ts in formal e direction, arm in arm, disputing animatedly.

    quot;tc; torre said clearly, pointing as ;Over t.”

    quot;Of course ely, as Alessan said nothing.

    ts sloered trangers and truments, and  on. quot;Just over ts ; torre continued, quot;beyond tcer school.”

    ts, resuming t, s briskly around t led to t of temple.

    torre fell silent. tly, ;Eanna be praised for  gracious love. May all tongues give  last.”

    Devin sorre to Alessan. An uncontrollable sears, brig sunligers eyes.

    Alessan made no reply.  see er, tes of a sung prayer.

    quot;Sill alive t; Alessan asked, looking up at last.

    quot;S; said torre emotionally. quot;Sill alive. S;  finisence.

    quot;t in to spill tears like a c; Alessan said s;Enoug, unless you  me dead.”

    torre gulped. quot;Forgive me,quot; ;Forgive me, my lord.”

    quot;No! Not my lord. Not even ; Alessans voice ake me to Danoleon.”

    ter  raig;;  managing one again. rode up th.

    quot;Good,quot; Alessan murmured to t, from be;Very good, my friend.quot; trailing torres  at t Erlein but time tful, did not return the look.

    tcer scs, sent o be educated—udy and sleep. All across teac of tion of tuaries vied o draudent boarders—and thers money.

    It  udents in tuary in Loe  doing very well.

    On t, e could afford Sanctuary sc se or C up c send o be educated? Loe ants, but it  a place to put

    dos. ed to be rooted in te?

    torre led teps of a covered portico and ts o be open to ter ttered  past.

    tood in a large, ting-room. A ed tern end and a number of comfortable cables . Crystal decanters on a sideboard y of  no books. t to stand, disconcertingly empty. tigana old about t.

    Arcern and ern  to porc could be caug eve.

    On t certainly leading to the bedchamber.

    tatues oo ous silver stars of Eanna served for painted decoration on the walls.

    to ts came out.

    t not unduly so, to see ter ing ors. One man -and-pepper ray of  of ed on a t his neck.

    It  t Devin stared, t s staff of office. tention even  it, Devin t, gazing at t o be Danoleon.

    t raige  covered  e as ne teness of raig in t taff of office  as if it ch.

    If t, a t of Eanna in tigana  men he fall.

    t  from today;  rationally. It y years ago,   even so, it o feel daunted in turned from Danoleon to Alessan: sligurely silvered c, dusty, road-stained riding clothes he wore.

    But o t  Danoleon  Devin realized,  o pain, rut  prince of tigana, soutains all those years ago.

    And   time. tired man  no, trying to deal . Devin found ing for t about t years t umbled and spun and drifted like leaves or snohen and now.

    and-big. to be so many trutions of late,  ting to be grasped and claimed, just out of reach.

    quot;e s,quot; torre said in ;three musicians, a newly formed company.”

    quot;; t ray grunted ;Neo be to venture  remember t time someone of any talent suary. Can you t  clear a room of people, eh?”

    quot;It depends on t; said Alessan mildly.

    Danoleon smiled, to be trying not to. urned to t. quot;Idrisi, it is just barely possible t if .quot; ted  iny of t placid blue gaze.

    Danoleon turned back to t;You ; ;e ing nely, and rigient in some pain. Idrisi di Corte, ends to be distressed whe case.”

    Privately, Devin doubted if distress o do ean priests rudeness, but  ed Danoleons apology  bow.

    quot;I am sorry to ,quot; o Idrisi. quot;Is it possible ients.quot; , Devin noted, tioned. It o be an accident t Danoleon  e.

    t;As you please. Sainly not sleeping, and it can do no  out of my

    my will.

    Not t I can do very mucruto Morian no; urned to Danoleon.

    quot;If tire , fine. If s is a blessing. I onight, unless I have word from you before.”

    quot;ill you not stay to ; Alessan asked. quot;e might surprise you.”

    Idrisi grimaced. quot;I onighe dining hall, perhaps. Surprise me.”

    ed smile, gone as quickly as it appeared, and  past tated strides out the door.

    t silence.

    quot;; Danoleon said softly, almost apologetically.

    quot;ean,quot; torre muttered darkly.

    t s;; ed. quot;It angers ;  back to Alessan. ed a little on aff. o speak.

    quot;My lord, my name is Adreano dAstibar,quot; Alessan said firmly. quot;tevanien.quot; ed. Danoleons blue eyes  Devin. quot;And t; Alessan finis;is our friend Erlein di Senzio, ws of his hands.”

    As   Erlein, and to t t was a very old man.

    quot;Eanna guard us all,quot; torre whem.

    Alessan looked pointedly around at to t;ticular patient is near deatake it?”

    Danoleons gaze, Devin t, seemed to be devouring Alessan. t palpable , tarving man. quot;Im afraid s; one steady only h an

    obvious effort. quot;I  s be able to emple. too far away.”

    Alessan nodded o igs and rolled. ed tregean pipes in t them.

    quot;t sounds as if ternoon prayers are done.”

    ting opped. In ter scill running and laug. Devin could ated, unsure of ;Per like to play alone for hey may help her fall asleep.”

    Danoleon  Ales-san turned back to look at Devin, and t Erlein. his expression was veiled, unreadable.

    quot;?quot;  lengt;ould you abandon me so soon after our company is formed?quot; And tly: quot;t you cannot kno you should hear.”

    quot;But s; Devin protested, feeling somet of balance. quot;S; opped himself.

    Alessans eyes range.

    quot;S; ;I kno is o be some neer .”

    urned and oanding just before it. Alessan stopped before t and t eac he cheek.

    t past  t and dreeadying breated a o run it t stopped himself. A queer smile crossed his face as if chasing a memory.

    quot;A bad , t,quot; o no one in particular. t in and they followed him.

    ts bedc as large as tting room in t, but its furnisarkly simple. ts, a ing desk, a trunk for storage, a small privy set apart in tern corner. to t room, s, despite tains drao admit some slanting ligicoes to t.

    tar of Eanna  it too s in the four corners, and a pine headboard.

    It y.

    Devin, nervously follo ted to see a dying tle embarrassed, to jumped  from t fall.

    quot;rangers?”

    Alessan urned unerringly to ered t sense, Devin never knew —and so rolled and unsurprised w cold voice

    spoke. Or and by one of t do, raig  all of them.

    Pasitigana bren Serazi, o Valentin t y in  beauty still s t portal of Morian. Sall and very t of t, clearly, o ting  s to translucence, t into too siff collar self uating ural, ot , so Morian and  ther shore.

    But t , a style long out of fase certainty t current faso t  t, unsettling appraisal, before moving on to Erlein, and ting, finally, upon her son.

    t seen since een years old.

    ttering and cold, one  and set just beloed, fierce and c of t before s even ing for an anso  question—Devin realized t hose eyes was rage.

    It  face, in t o the arms of her chair.

    An inner fire of anger t

    ale.

    Devin so of range. A moment later   bothing.

    even tion  been meant to be ansh.

    For a long time, a sequence of moments t seemed to  speaking, e, imperious features quite unreadable. At last, sloher was such a handsome man.”

    Devin flinc tone, but Alessan seemed scarcely to react at all. . quot;I knorain must  just before it got to me.”

    read a message turn, murmured someto torre he room.

    to stand guard in front, Devin realized, feeling a ce t been spoken  could kill t Erlein and sa t of its case. ook a position near tern ly began tuning rument.

    Of course, Devin t: Erlein kneo play for a dying   muc now.

    quot;Musicians,quot; tempt to ;o play a jingle for me noo sant to ease a mot; t unbearable in one.

    Alessan did not move, too ray ension t too casual stance, ted simulation of ease.

    quot;If it ; ly. quot;time I can remember w of music would indeed  you pleasure.”

    ttered coldly. quot;time for music. han name.”

    quot;O; said Alessan, a little s;true men and ormed ts of C terror at termination. Mot let it rest, even no of our family and een years.quot; ened, greedly a;Must , can our speecters en so many times?”

    t and grim, implacable as t had come for her.

    quot;No, not t,quot; s;I  so muco e. I summoned you o receive a mothers dying curse upon your blood.”

    quot;No!quot; Devin exclaimed before op himself.

    In took a long stride for;My lady, no indeed,quot; ;t—”

    quot;I am dying,quot; Pasiterrupted s of brigural color in ;I do not o listen to you anymore, Danoleon. to anyone. ait, you told me, all tient, you said. ell, I ime for patience. I s for me. I ime to linger ties at rustic weddings.”

    t jangling of rings.

    quot;t,quot; said Erlein di Senzio from tern ;is ignorant and unfair!quot; opped, as if startled by burst. quot;triad kno is noo me rying to kill Brandin of Ygrato be perfectly frank, does not surprise me at all in this province!”

    t no one. In t followed Alessan finally moved. illness ural, now o hers chair.

    quot;You ; ;Remember? I . In many  rying to kill tyrant in Cervention. Do you knoo speak of it at nig, ion on ter deats name restored because of us.”

    ic in its cadences. Devin sao till as marble, as expressionless and cold. Devin moved quietly totempt to quell t ill by tly, single notes and random c quite a tune.

    quot;But ; Alessan  on, and an urgency, a terrible need to be understood o ;And one Midsummers Eve Marius became Year King in Quileia, er t . Baerd and I began to learn some true t po  time, building and building, a t, a dream, larger and deeper trying to kill a tyrant. e came back to to travel. As musicians, yes. And as artisans, mercs, ates one time in a triad Game year, as

    masons and builders, guards to a Senzian banker, sailors on a dozen different merc-s even before tains, it  ask in life o be. About ried. You kno, Danoleon knoe you years ago anding . It o take botyrants toget t again be free.”

    eady passion t;I remember. I remember t letter came. And I ell you again e you to t s castle in Certando: you es freedom, and Astibars and tregeas at tiganas name. Of our very existence in t t of everyt the price of vengeance and our pride.”

    quot;Our pride,quot; Alessan ecly no;O our pride, motaug I learned someter, as a man. In my exile. I learned about Astibars pride. About Senzios and Asolis and Certandos. I learned yrants came.”

    quot;t; Pasit; is ter.  is a peninsula t we s?”

    quot; is tigana?quot; Erlein di Senzio asked bluntly,  in his hands.

    Pasit;I ; so  tion; no one old  Erlein, s in minutes from a scattering of clues.

    S;tigana is t of poo t cer. And no nig descendant of t union is in tire past of ; Sment. quot;Falling tion at stake in this!”

    S in  up from urn  t beside her Alessan bowed his head.

    Erlein di Senzio, from too far to see t;And sell you tibars? ill you ory of Eanna on tars from tandos claim to be t and soul of t alkers in two hundred years ago?”

    traig ing errible to  he face of so much courage and such a force of will.

    quot;But t is t,quot; sly, sparing rengt;t is t of t see it? I do remember tories. Anyone ion or a library, any fool imental y different songs of Eanna and Adaon on Sangarios. Not us, t you see? Not tigana anymore. ars by to sing, wion he world?”

    quot;I ; said Devin,  his sides.

    urned to fix ;e all ; he

    said, as firmly as  to t;t song again, my lady. Because your son is not a corying for to do it. Somet o do o the world.”

    later,  ification. Pasiter turned into anote fit of coug  deal of blood stain. Sc to steady herself.

    quot;You are a c; s;And my son is a c t Baerd bar Saevar is exactly ts her had.

    Somet; ser ice: quot;Do you infants   he Palm?”

    Sloand before ;e s. e idings.  is it?”

    quot;I told you t; Danoleon said quickly. quot;But I o give you the—”

    quot;I am pleased,quot; Pasiterrupted. quot;So very pleased. It seems I still o tell my son before I leave  learned or t out all by ; S again in t like frost under blue moonlig in rying to break terrible fear, and of more t;A messenger came yesterday at sunset, at tevanien  Brandin  it by o all ructions to spread tidings.”

    quot;And tidings are?quot; Alessan o receive a blow.

    quot;tidings? tidings, my feckless c Brandin  abdicated as King of Ygrath.

    o stay  become citizens of tern Palm. Ce, Asoli, Loe. Four provinces under Brandin on t axes are to be s in half.

    Beginning yesterday. Cut by considerably more te. Our burden  treets of Stevanien.”

    Alessan, moving very carefully, as if  mig and fall, turned toward Danoleon. ho was nodding his head.

    quot;It seems t tion attempt on t; t said.

    quot;Originating in Ygrat. It apparently failed only because of one of ribute ando arted a , teen years ago? It seems t in t  staying in t tigana and  about  be done in Ygratinues here.”

    quot;And o continue ; Pasit;tigana ill be lost forever to  our people yrants name as it dies. ther.”

    Alessan o be listening, as if irely inside  in t, looking at

    greill in tside, far arolled ss and laugo tened to t distant mirtried to slo, to attempt to deal  t heard.

    Erlein, o troubled and ried desperately to to gattered ts, but t  ted,  it? Except t it . Brandin aying, t free of  of igana?  of tigana now?

    And te unexpectedly, t. A distracting, niggling augging at telling hing he should know, should remember.

    t o place. In fact . . .

    In fact, ly w was wrong.

    Devin closed , figly as ern anding all time.

    Alessan  to ;t c deal. Im going to need time to t t I believe it may actually ruly be a gift not a curse.”

    quot;; ;tyrants name in treets of Avalle!”

    Devin  te pain at t of t cry, but o keep moving. A terrifying certainty hin him.

    quot;I and. But dont you see?quot; Alessan dropped to  again, close to ;to fig  feay  ... o do you tibar will do whis?”

    quot;; Pasitly. quot;Alberico is a timorous man spun neck-deep in o tiara. At least a quarter of tay  oppressed people in t do you t imagine an army can be raised in Ce and Asoli to fig Barbadior for a man whis peninsula?”

    Shan before.

    Devin didnt kno even begin to guess.  tely sed, t and played hing else.

    s ledge  t of .  for t time ted it. tions, offered a quick prayer to Eanna and,  on t to tico. ill coug.

    umbled and fell, craso a pillar o  in time to see a figure in beige robes leap up from a crouc a , a blind, t-obliterating rage rising in  oo uproarious in t  them alone.

    Only time t  this room.

    Alessan  t behind him.

    quot;Savandi!quot; Devin gasped. quot;ening!quot;  ter ting moment of tever Rinaldo to  Certandan barn. t over e need to catcher man.

    ed tone balustrade at tico  breaking stride. Savandi, sprinting for all   touary grounds. In tance on t Devin could see tted eets!  ching, even now?

    If Alessans identity became knole doubt ly t kno all about w would hen.

    And t, one t terrified o even greater speed, legs pumping,  if Savandi could link to t if Brandins spy could directly contact him in Chiara now?

    Devin cursed in t but not aloud, sparing  a small building on t and cut s, about ty strides a of temple itself.

    Devin sped around to be seen. , seized by panic. to temple  coming into green on t.

    t spot. to ching his arms and face.

    ered area, large, beautifully serene, gracefully laid out, ain at ter. ime to value suc t corner ter gave onto anotico and a long building  t noing up teps to tico and to t one second-story  cloister.

    Running flat out for temple for t t of Eanna but could not venture doo her larger dome.

    ook teps to tico in one flying leap and burst the doorway, knife in hand.

    follo arget for an ambuso lie in .

    t would hough—which only increased his deeper fear.

    to be racing aself, tcory or t t  expect   really be o escape.

    , in turn, t to try to do, if Devin gave ime.

    to a long corridor and a stair of sig Devin, glancing doo Eanna: running across ter t rail akable on tone floor and it  do up tairs.

    Devin sped in pursuit, flying doo a left turn around a corner at t intervals all along and an arcrance to temple at te end. Most of t of ty.

    But t s corridor o one closed door; Savandis trail led topped.

    Devin clutc the heavy wood. Locked. Immovable.

    Sobbing for breato  for t of  since Marra aug locks. ed and tried to s rembling. S streamed into  furiously a t t roy them all.

    An exterior door opened beeps the hallway.

    it looking up, Devin said: quot;touchis door!”

    quot;It is done!quot; came a voice ;It is open. Go!”

    Devin flung a glance over anding th a sword in his hand.

    Springing to  Devin ted to truments on tables. Savandi  emples, visibly straining to concentrate.

    quot;Plague rot your soul!quot; Devin screamed at top of o snap awake. able beside him.

    .

    Still screaming, Devin s eyes.  in a , grinding against bone ion. ts moutonis. , ward from hen he died.

    Devin released ing for breat emple.  and  ill shaking.

    Erlein o stand beside Devin.

    quot;Did . . . did ; Devin found t  even speak properly.

    quot;No.quot; t;You came in time.  link. No message .”

    Devin stared do taring eyes and t o betray this?

    quot; ; ill ster on tabletop.

    quot;I follo until I lost you around temple. traced Savandis aura here.”

    quot;e came ter. rying to shake me.”

    quot;I can see t. Youre bleeding again.”

    quot;Doesnt matter.quot; Devin took a deep breatsteps in tside. quot;his for us?”

    Erlein looked defensive for an instant, but quickly regained ;For you? Dont be a fool, Devin. I die if Alessan does. Im bound, remember? tion. Nothing else.”

    Devin looked up at ing to say sometant, but just tsteps reacered quickly orre close beaking in the scene.

    quot;rying to mind-link ; Devin said. quot;Erlein and I got to ime.”

    Erlein made a dismissive sound. quot;Devin did. But I o use a spell to follo trong enougo dratention, but in case tracker any moving before morning.”

    Danoleon seemed not to  Savandis body. tears on his face.

    quot;Dont e your grief on a carrion bird,quot; torre said harshly.

    quot;I must,quot; t said softly, leaning upon aff. quot;I must. Dont you understand? he was born in Avalle. he was one of us.”

    Devin abruptly turned  sick to omac by a resurgence of te fury t o kill so violently. One of us. ibar in trayed by o be ill. One of us.

    Erlein di Senzio laugo fists. And t h.

    t silence.

    Danoleon dreo be dealt ory  raced to our guests. torre, er dark, wh him.”

    quot; dinner,quot; torre said.

    quot;No . You are ter. You e ternoon. o see  fits, just after t often enoug alo unately for Savandi, time o be killed by someone on t outside our valley.”

    to ts voice t Devin   t t. t to to do. Loyal to ture, true to t cause.   ogethem.

    Savandi . Devin searc  grieve for s corrosive treaco , apped some violence of passion Devin  knohin him.

    Almost exactly,  suddenly, t Alienor of Castle Borso  sphere of life.

    Or, per t of t so very different after all. But t oo oo dangerous a knot to try to untie just noaring presence of deat Danoleon.

    quot;; ; he follow?”

    But even before  come.

    t looked do ;ill in my c may be over by now.”

    quot;No,quot; Devin said. quot;O; And rose, and  to to t tern dooro ting lige afternoon, and began, again, to run.

    Along temple dome, past ttle garden  noticed coming o ts o tico bets like a ball of o ttle  Savandi, past t all t longing, to s came.

    But time  re nor in t. It moved on, and tter or for  by, darkness fell and lingered and gave o lig daer eacriads grace, and they died.

    And they died.

    Alessan ill in till on , but beside t by time  along the curving sky.

    Devin ed to somes t  Alessan mig  alone, not  day in tigana since ime y years ime had run and he was home again.

    And s bed. Alessans tly as one mig  but would fly away forever if released.

    Devin must  t.

    Devin ac felt bruised, besieged.  e to time as t Baerd o do better than he.

    ; ime.quot; Alessan nodded, ackno doo   been before. As it very likely  been for t long years of ime, moving inexorably foraking pride. taking love.

    quot;Im sorry,quot; Devin said. quot;Alessan, Im so sorry.”

    t terribly far a. Instead, after anot, ion of acceptance, of s they all knew so well.

    Devin suddenly felt as if  bear it anymore. Alessans quiet acquiescence orn open, ruto t like a coo large for y.

    In t in silence by ternoon sent lig to fall upon  covered her grey eyes.

 chapter 16

    SPRING CAME EARLY IN AStIBAR tON. It ALMOSt ALAYS did along t sered nortern side of trung-out islands of t and soutart of t ts close to she year.

    Senzio raders in Astibar ed, te blossoms of trees making t o come. Cill cold it  t imes in early spring on t  be long before tled the seas around her.

    Senzio and Chiara.

    Alberico of Barbadior lay do nig ter intense, agitated nigtle rest, s turbing dreams.

    If ter tling, rife s and rumors, ts of early spring irely. And tive about them.

    Everyto be  once. Coming doe, Alberico icipation of ed to him.

    to let t ime since it o do t and for mucumn and er tting on deats  conducive to opening . Necessary tive, after ion of tors lands. y and gain came toget didnt en but o Alberico of Barbadior to represent almost t pleasure to be found in power.

    trivial in scope, and troubles made ter seem like minor, epions—brief flurries of snow in a nig h now were rivers in flood, everywhere he looked.

    At tected using  tracker and ty-five men Siferval ely sent after ered in a pass by outlao t man. An act of arrogance and revolt almost impossible to believe.

    And  even properly exact retribution: ttered ted tla man abroad to see  a  Ortiz to  trace. Only long dead campfires in t y-five men s:   after all, and everyone knes. tribution.

    quot;o use nec; Sifervals ten report  tains to carry tidings nortreated quickly in  t er all, ty-five of its men to be killed, and  out anotents to do no more t laug in the hills.

    It orcandan  nearest to t ructive t  s of traint . t night his eyelid

    began to droop again, t umn.

    tly after, came the news from Quileia.

    er triarc rade, an absolute  for t importantly, t  ever vigilant guardian of tern borders of tern Palm. So muctle actual prospect of difficulty. Even if tess-killer on o trade   t y botime. Soon enoug so make ted advantages of focusing owards Barbadior.

    In tion of t many time- le, some rato see ticular ligs of  even nety monarco vieters usefully. ended to explore them, once he was home.

    , after all, , t of absolutely everyt t ts of tterly refused to cooperate.

    Marius of Quileia sent a gratifyingly s reply to Albericos latest benevolent offer to trade. An emissary delivered it directly into t Ortiz.

    Unfortunately, t brief gratification ed ime, in recognition of its importance, by Siferval edly sopicated language it contained a message t, ely and circuitously p and clear: tfully judged t Brandin of Ygrater, firmer po green in  risk incurring trading   to.

    It ter t could easily drive a man into a killing rage.

    Figrol, Alberico ain of tter, t o extract and copy from t all control deserting him.

    o turn ao stride alone to t tate and drao calm ell-tale tremor beginning again in  eyelid; ttering o get rid of since t nig died in truggled for ty t  ions of tercepted message, but calm ly receding illusion and s in t orm.

    Senzio! t to link e puppets in t  impossible to credit t a man, o tage, could be such an imbecile.

    o ains, staring blindly out too brigly began to consider o look to to t of t mattered: to Alberico. idings be read, if Brandin of Ygratrading souts  t beyond tregea and tains to Quileian ports and all t land, so long kept to tesses?

    If to t. Denied access because Alberico of

    Barbadior oo infirm in o t . . . Alberico felt o s; a cold trickle of moisture slid doil it passed.

    From t suddenly seemed as if a dagger erialized, more s have fashioned.

    Senzio.  tless nigo break out, to regain control of a situation t increasingly seemed to be operating upon ead of , as master of iny.

    And t er, even before tains.

    tly after, even as t floibar, t t someone ried to kill Brandin of Ygrath.

    ried, and failed. For one blissful nig glorious scenarios of triump t  ly  , a sire Peninsula of ter ely, erms of trade Alberico to offer him.

    And ter all of t, at t.

    it o  for to finally die.  sh of Quileia.

    It o tate and found all tains ing, grim-faced. A ne again, a single day after t,  smasy years of balancing into tiny, ss t hey had been.

    Brandin ed in Ygratern Palm.

    On Ced, trembling at ing .

    quot;And t; Karalius of t asked s to speak.

    quot;Most ;If tay t become citizens, only equal citizens, of the new kingdom.”

    quot;You say t; AJberico said,  and ions. quot;Do you knoold t to be so?”

    turned grey, stammering some reply about logic and obvious consequences and  . . .

    quot;ongue cut out t; Alberico said. quot;I dont care o t conclusions are to be drawn.”

    ted dead aoppling sideo t could be seen t o carry .

    Alberico didnt boto cuously as o kill just then.

    ured  tains. Not t any of to linger at t particular moment. hich

    s trust any of them very much.

    entirely trust ains eit o keep t odds and on edge  . Or it il now.

    But notered, and Brandin  to c t tually mattered, not in itself. It eepping-stone.  of Barbadior as a young man, in order to rise in turn as a leader in , no point at all to ty years of exile if  sail riumpriumpery.

    urned ains and  to titiously massaging ed, to see o , none of ion and discretion seemed to  it should.

    Karalius said, very softly from be;My lord, tunity  opportunity.”

    ly rue and because it meant moving again, and quickly, committing o dangerous, decisive action. But action  in t back o return. ar far ae peninsula riving for a conquest .

    quot;e  go carefully,quot; Grancial said quickly. More to oppose Karalius t ed t we.

    urned and fixed tain ry glance. quot;I  t,quot;  word. Grancial flicked his eyes away.

    Siferval smiled beneataches.

    Karalius did not. ful.  of t dangerous, for t  do Company leader and ed.

    Karalius said again, quot;tunity nourmoil in t, disruption, Ygratell you ; ement. Alberico understood t: th for himself.

    It ake to let Karalius unfold too muc;I knoly o t. I kno  one t yet kno most o tery over all t come o become inconsequential figures in the Palm.”

    quot;Neit; said Siferval pointedly, quot;did we.”

    Alberico suppressed  again. It seemed o do t so muce  t plans, and  t of to be for all ambitious men in toward w else sious man aspire?

    quot;I am a,quot; he said, as calmly as he could.

    quot;t do ; Grancial asked. A real question, not a c and t loyal—because of t hree.

    Alberico looked up. At Karalius, not at Grancial.

    quot;You gat; ely, t. t be final, every instinct old . But  time and ttering gem doo would fall away.

    quot;You gatake t together as soon as possible.”

    quot;; Karaliuss eyes  sicipation.

    quot;Ferraut, of course. On t; Senzio, tleground.

    quot; take you?quot; hem.

    quot;Five ; Grancial said quickly.

    quot;Four,quot; said Siferval, smiling.

    quot;t Company,quot; said Karalius, quot; on it.”

    quot;I ; said Alberico. And dismissed them.

    alone at ime after, toying , t. But  all to slide into place.

    to be grasped riump see t ser, over land, into his reaching hand.

    ing. Ss  being impacted upon. il ttled in t. Quileias c all. to see, on t ruly, falling from ting to be clasped.

    to be set upon his brow.

    ill uneasy t uncannily so, sitting alone as tened, trying to convince rut seemed strange to  painful.  in darkness at t corners of s. o turn to, trying to make a torcionality, to look  out ty.

    And t, and understood, in t same moment, t it could not be rooted out, not ever be acknoo a living soul.

    For trutrut  interly.

    trutly as it  ty years.

    A s  doairs and underground to see he messenger.

    Alais knely ed gift of a journey in tting married at the end of summer.

    Catini bar Edinio, e of olive trees and vineyards nortibar, and a modest but successful banking y, ers ly foreed, among oto forestall Selvenas oft-proclaimed intention to do aill be living at umn. Catini  and pleasant if a little dull, and Rovigo  and liked the man.

    Selvena empestuously ecstatic, about plans for t t of running her

    o telling t ticipated pleasures of the marriage bed.

    o tion of ts of sadness t rove to mask, tributed it to tural feelings of a man ed Rovigo more t it er to Alais, neat and quiet and co sadness ouc amid ticipatory bustle of the house.

    Alix seemed to understand, perter taken to patting  sporadic, unexpected moments, as if gentling a restive creature.

    ive. table and of seemingly enormous consequence. Barbadian troops o clog to nort, on tern Palm  to tion. Or none t ibar. Rovigo   old a long time ago t t mark thing new.

    And somet fit itself to t beyond it, into danger and tential for violence. o  and see it everyaverns, looking up too quickly whe door.

    One morning  of Quileia. And in ure, as  ice breaking up and ters beginning to run again, carrying to the sea.

    Over k same morning, standing in tc o too see about equipping t run of to tregea, o trade for a sregean goats cheese.

    It  not an inappropriate one. tle later in tly for trade, partly to learn  Alessan and Baerd, spending a long nigavern  migime in the unfolding.

    So t of ine.  , ruly impulsive, o take Alais h him.

    ,  iful beyond  grieving at all for  stop  sorro of Selvenas ions.

    So tle too casually, if sed to come c;Oriad, yes! I o come!”

    It o be her dream.

    One of  dreams, never requested, never even spoken aloud. Alais could feel ell-tale color chere were

    times  seem to need urned in time to catco t, and so sea in t time in her life.

    Sed to do so for so long s even to a time  enougo be lifted up by o tibar to see t o tune in the world.

    And s so mucs—tall to o t-blue coat of fres along timber. And tself: tcs laden o some far part of tant places  o her.

    A sailor in red and green ing to o be at ic places from  of t of t. t t t hem.

    Selvena o cry at all tion, Alais remembered, and to t sly after and ridden a tcibar. Soo young to understand , but  silence and expressionless face, riding by told er, s deal more, groo ty of her world.

    o ter. It er, o even in spring and summer and early fall so accompany o too he waves.

    Dreams. S go to sea. And dutiful, intelligent daugroubled to be allo seemed t, sometimes, on some mornings completely unforeseen, Eanna could look do be freely offered t would never .

    It seemed sing easily to tline of Astibar scrolled by on t. to t seemed to ed, censity t made tease .

    ts t of her life.

    tip of torms, one of told  t spring day it  turned back soutco te sand of tted along t.

    A feorm, off tregea. Rovigo  coming at sunset, or smelled it in t tline  in for ser. tful distance off so keep clear of t , Alais  of the way.

    Even teful to discover, didnt bothing

    pleasant about it, feeling ted in darkness by  sold  ely y years at sea, and s going to let ened or discomfited by a minor spring squall from t.

    S of going back up on deck as soon as s t ill raining, and so stay clear of  one rail and looked up. East of tly scudding clouds revealed rifts of clear sky and briefly Vidomnis liger topped and t, far stars come out above t. S ook a deep breat of perfect happiness.

    S c  return t as  ender and grave.  at tline. ater glistened in  beard  far aouc—tregea moved slowly by.

    quot;It is in you,quot; ly, over t;In your  and in your blood. You  more t;  a moment, t;But Alais, my darling, a  live a life at sea. Not in t is.”

    as tter of hen undone in such simple words.

    S;You . ill you surrender to aco pursue this life?”

    quot;;  gently, but sometful took s.

    Sigo o lean her head on his shoulder.

    t, c on t, but s made. S fe song.

    Sill on ;Could I be taugo help you in your business, I mean.

    Even if not to actually sail on the journeys.”

    ime. Leaning against eady breatogethe rail.

    ;t can be done, Alais. If you  it, it can be done. omen run businesses all over t often, but not only t; ated. quot;Your moted to, if s; urned o look do  s lift ;It is a s a  t love to carry you outward and home.”

    S t. t  to t of t ty years old and it ime, it  time. And s one strange dream many niger just past:  tars, o o gather him.

    Sed  t;I like Catini. Im ed to  fat s kno is, but I need more.”

    irred tc it out. quot;I kno; she

    ;I kno would be yours.

    tars of Eanna would all be yours.”

    S s noe moon on ter torm o know again.

    Catriana couldnt see t from tant sounds and tanding, rigidly c trees, sell t sometly  uations suchis.

    ill  after bate place of ime t back and fort and Certando—so see w was happening.

    t o to graze. Baerds borees, close to  troops passing by, marc all around them.

    quot;More of t; Sandre said, a cold anger in his voice.

    quot;It looks like t it?quot; Baerd murmured grimly.

    ly ed. t inctive male response to triana felt like sh.

    It o o Alienor of Borso on t Marius of Quileia in tains and rode  h Devin and Erlein.

    And listening t day, forcing o be composed in Alien-ors presence, Catriana ood ime,  until spring.

    ting for Marius to say yes or no. to say if able croold ttle, a very little, about why.

    ten days later scside Fort Ortiz side ted he Barbadians.

    Next morning t o ture tes of t  in extreme e. One of t —hird Company.

    quot;It is done,quot; Baerd ;I cannot believe it, but I t!”

    A little more ter t troops o move, and t. It  until some days after t, in an artisans village in nortando, trading for carvings and finis tedly, ern Palm.

    quot;Are you a gambling man?quot; Sandre o Baerd. quot;trol til top.quot; Baerd  sometunned, near to sriana go over and take  really like  all.

    But everyt tay at Castle Borso. Someto oo, but t  explain. Ales-

    san ed to admit it, s as muche Prince.

    Even t ely altered now.

    ted in t no t speed from too too speak to men and to some riana , telling to be ready, t t be a summer rising.

    And  many, only a select few, o Senzio before Midsummer. h you if you can.

    And it   brougo Catriana most s potently, t t time for action ruly come. It ions or s. Events er noo  yet knoelling.

    ell oo, he names of people.

    Scores of trusted. o be told,  t of Albericos troops o be ready at last. to cs and be prepared to respond.

    t toget nigars or in a secluded corner of an inn in some  or village, and Baerd e for to know.

    It , falling asleep after Catriana belatedly realized t to be told to die, .

    quot;Ricaso bar Dellano,quot; Baerd ;A cooper in Marsilian, t village sout Ciorone.  go to . Speak to  be able to come nort kno district if the need for a rising comes.”

    quot;Ricaso bar Dellano,quot; s. quot;In Marsilian.”

    quot;Porrena bren Cullion. In Delong inside tregean border on t.

    Stle older triana.  to speak to.”

    quot;Porrena,quot; Sandre rating, oget;In Delong; And Catriana marveled at o be, oucravels turning from Quileia, readying time, a season, a moment in ture—which was now.

    o see. And  o alismans of power.

    t  an almost reckless pace, barely simulating ts. Making bad, y transactions o linger to bargain for better ones. Pausing only long enougo find t village or ter of farms, the word.

    t tins to spare from Alie-nor. Catriana, being   sill reluctant to ackno woman ibar.

    Once, Baerd let act in a toriana  triana tle younger tain tructed, had shown her

    dolphe message.

    tell to be armed if they can.

    tanding up abruptly as Catriana began to speak. Sall, even more so triana ionless a moment and tepped foro kiss Catriana on th.

    quot;triad bless you and keep you and t; s;I did not to see t; Sriana tasted salt on her lips.

    S into to Baerd and Sandre. t finisandan ale. A cransaction.

    quot;ere going nort; sed, rade instincts taking over.

    quot;t like ale in Ferraut! You kno.”

    quot;to drink it ourselves,quot; Sandre said, sing beside  as t of too t seemed, t.

    It  same day, early in ternoon, t to t off to let o tche Barbadians go by.

    It anding t caused trouble, s. But by time s oo late. It ention. Sandre in ter of almost complete indifference to the Barbadians.

    But a merc, a minor trader  and a second scra an army passing in t tly  even remotely submissive or cened let alone so sucuation . . .

    triana t, could be oo clearly sometimes. S Baerd beside ony appraisal of t  arrogance, s just a male pride. It ive response to tyrants po .

    quot;Stop it!quot; s even as serse command and acorianas mout dry. So er. Sandre did the same.

    quot; are you doing?quot; s;Remember where we are!”

    Sime for no more. to t, grey-haired relic from Khardhun.

    quot;I dont like t; taring at Baerd. t of t his eyes were pale and hard.

    Catriana s time in a year tation so direct o be calm, to say t things.

    s kno Baerd  moment.

    Not six Barbadians on ando, but as many Ygratill sharp as a wound from only

    yesterday. All time seemed to fall apart and blos suchis.

    Baerd forced o avert ake, kneake  careful. oo eupoo fast on a floodtide of emotion, seeing to tune  it , far too early, so mucrollable in ture. And to live to see t future or everyted. Years and lives, tient conjuring of dream into reality.

    do;I am sorry if I  you. e  seen so many soldiers on the road in years.”

    quot;e moved aside to make ; Sandre added in his deep voice.

    quot;You be silent,quot; t;If I s I will inform you.”

    One of toep backriana, be  and gripped t; h fear.

    Saring at o er he pond.

    quot;Forgive us,quot; Baerd repeated, in a muffled tone. quot;e meant no  all.”

    quot;Really? ing our numbers?”

    quot;Counting? Your numbers? hing?”

    quot;You tell me, merc.”

    quot;It is not so,quot; Baerd protested, iner tuation  of control, and t  ing t;e are only traders,quot; ;Only minor traders.”

    quot;it so minor, I would say.”

    Baerd blinked, and clutcogetially. errible mistake. this man was dangerously sharp.

    quot;I ; ;tla unrest.”

    rue. t, more ty-five Barbadians ered in a pass. ain Alessan here.

    quot;Your ; one of t;e knoo ood, and t  to see t was in  kind of laug.  could lead.

    igana eig, eyes do, murder in , bound close h memory.

    quot; are you carrying?quot; t Barbadian rapped out,  as a trowel.

    quot;Ale,quot; Baerd said, squeezing oget;Only barrels of ale for th.”

    quot;Ale for Ferraut? You are a liar. Or a fool.”

    quot;No, no,quot; Baerd said ily. quot;Not Ferraut. e got a very good price. Eleven astins to be aking all tibar  for times t.”

    rue,  paid ty-tins for eachese.

    At a gesture from ted. t, eartandan beer surrounded them all.

    turned back to Baerd. there was a malicious smile on his face.

    quot;Eleven astins a barrel? truly a good price. So good, t even a grasping merc  ate to donate to t defends you and your kind.”

    Baerd ing to stay in cer, ;If . . . if it is your desire, to buy it, at only the price I paid?”

    till marc  passed t estimate of  of riana make a small sound beended, and delicately touc of his blade.

    quot;e do not bargain,quot; ly. quot;Nor do eal. e accept gifts. Offer us a gift, merc.quot; tle. Baerd could feel it nicking and fretting against his face.

    quot;Please accept . . . please accept t to t; he said.

    it  ed from the mans face.

    quot;,quot; t along Baerds c;And since you  begrudge us t t carry them?”

    quot;take t as ; Baerd  suddenly as if  ing above this scene, looking down.

    And it  acage point t o see to claim ttac-o traces again. One of t onto t Catriana, a little abased quickly up on t and clucked at t rolled sloo er er of men among eac ain arting ervene.

    move. None of til t of t of sig rumbling after it. Baerd turned t Catriana. Srembling, but o kno was as much fear.

    quot;Im sorry,quot; o touch her arm.

    quot;I could kill you Baerd for giving me suc.”

    quot;I kno; ;And I o be dead. I underestimated them.”

    quot;Could ; Sandre said prosaically.

    quot;O,quot; Catriana said tartly. quot;e could all be lying dead here now.”

    quot;t  took  to realize easing tle wildly.

    Sandre, e unexpected t;You ; ;er, granddaugo take pride in w you are?”

    So say. A moment later, deeply moved, s for, carefully, as if s remember t time someone  way.

    epped back, clearing  aedly soft, looking at them.

    quot;tremely lovely,quot; sely dry. quot;Selling each

    ot splendid people hink we are?”

    Baerd grinned. quot;Not a bad idea, but not t. I to double back to  and horse.”

    quot;Good. I could use a flask of ale,quot; Sandre said. Catriana glanced quickly back at  t  sed to be able to lauger seeing a s Baerds face.

    Baerd collected . Sed to argue but couldnt. And sly grateful for to ride; ill weak.

    It y along t to t. artled a rabbit and before ser t, Baerd c, and traded it a s  a farmc on.

    Late in time to triana bad convinced  t unate, but not really important after all.

    Eiger tregea toervening aken t t and goods at to tral market. It e in ternoon, a oriana could see ts of t so come up ter ter. Sandre opped at a leatall to o t t , moving umbled out of a tavern, sa s and between her legs.

    Sartled thing else.

    And a moment later  s done so. Baerd, just a , flattened to the side of his head.

    And Catriana kne moment ter and absolute certainty—t riking out not just against a drunken reserve guard, but against touc grove in Certando a week before.

    tened silence around te babble of sound. t eacher for a blurred, flashing second.

    quot;Run!quot; Baerd ordered ;Meet tonig er. If I am not t. Eanna guard you all!”

    ting ter of mercenaries began fanning out quickly to moved.

    Catriana didnt  to see if  off t as s of t tall cely careful, not to look at  to run t  one of triad please be  make it from till carried toward Midsummerss fires.

    Sed doreet and t at t crossing into ting lanes t made up t quarter of tregea near tories of  toered t ely blocked in places by t connected t ramsreet.

    She lane. One

    of ted a command to . If any of triana t, se likely to die in t feo side s to  do again at t crossing, doubling back the way she had come.

    t regea, and s be found, but to t he Barbadians so close behind.

    So lose t  to Sandre to make tact. Or Baerd, if he survived.

    Sreet, and knifed over to  toer. t in ty as s by. t, ser her.

    treets ain  fleeting intervals sopmost masts of terfront oo open and exposed. Se ss and curses.

    Sumbled going around anoto . Every moment, every turning, sed to lead raigo  ss cart blocked ttened  t. Came to anoted straigime, past urned at the second crossing.

    And ed to scream, but a eeto bite, violently ting to escape. then suddenly she froze in disbelief.

    quot;Quietly, my . And come t; said Rovigo dAstibar removing h.

    quot;No running. treets over. Look as if youre ; o a tiny, almost deserted lane, looked back once over ;Now down beer, quickly.”

    quot;; she gasped.

    quot;Sahe square. Followed you here. Move, girl!”

    Sook , ted a er and Catriana ducked to t. A moment later t stopped as a shing long and sharp.

    quot;Forgive me,quot;  give you away w; She scissors she carried.

    Catriana  rigid for a moment, t a er s resses gatters scissors rasped cleanly t in the shadows.

    t of noise outside, a clatter and ing. It approac loudly past. Catriana realized t soucly er t in to be seen. Catrianas breat side ac o something in her wild careen. She had no memory of doing so.

    t. Sain of   sime to realize w was being done.

    quot;Catriana, Im so sorry,quot; Alais where was real grief in her voice.

    Catriana s;Not; s  to speak.

    quot;Only vanity.  does it matter?quot; So be erribly. S a oucurned sidetle, on ter, and leaned  then, holding her close while she cried.

    On ter tunelessly to ed clot textures,  of afternoon as it filtered doo treet in a quarter he sun.

    Baerd lay in t  time ing  er triana ing doo them.

    t regea very urn from Quileia, rigainous province as a good place to seek out and nurture any sloion.

    tain from t, but to to times over ty itself and in tains of its distrada, finding in trengtness t erribly sloingly indirect patheir lives.

    ys maze of streets infinitely better to oto avoid as dangerous dead-ends. It ant, in to know suchings.

    sout from t, and to tavern ing cover of t cer curfereet by craop of one of t linked her side.

    Be being balked by seemingly inadvertent t t be: a milk-cart creet, a keg of  avern. regea,  of its people too.

    In a s time  square, ance entirely from roof to roof, flitting liged and unseen.  enjoyed t been so  Catriana. At tregea taller and treets o continue ill o t and leaped to land on its roof.

    s, listening carefully for sounds of alarm in treet below.

    raffic of late afternoon t from its old  s trapdoor and slipped doo tremazzos attic.

    ed for o adjust to tself e clearly, and  takable rumble of tremazzos bass tones. It ime, but some to change.

    Around ringent or s, of various medications. tle in tattered armc tremazzo used to leave up o it. tion brought back memories from years ago.

    Some t change.

    Eventually t. Listening carefully  only tinctive, read in tely scratc migtic room. But only a rat t could scratcimes quickly, and then once again.

    triad as a igana s link to Adaon, and to mark it wheir signal.

    steps beloop, and t later, resume tread, as if noto .

    It didnt take long. It e in time to close up sremazzo ser and floor and t door being s and t driven  later to place, footsteps ascended, tremazzo came into ttic, carrying a candle. ion, bulkier than ever.

    te and stood,  Baerd. ly trimmed to a point. And scented, Baerd realized a second later.

    Grinning, o  and gestured at tremazzos finery, pretending to sniff t;Customers,quot; ed. quot;It is t t no caused all ternoon?”

    No more t; no greeting, no effusions. tremazzo  as a  of tains.

    quot;Im afraid so,quot; Baerd replied. quot;Did the soldier die?”

    quot;; tremazzo said in ones. quot;You arent strong enoug.”

    quot;as t?”

    quot;Not t I heard. ho is she?”

    quot;One of us, tremazzo. Noen, to find a Khardu warrior and give him a message from me.”

    tremazzos eyes ration as tory unfolded. It didnt take long to explain. tremazzo  quick. t a man to venture norto Senzio  act ot to find Sandre at t dourned, puffing, , and a flask of good o go hem.

    touc in searcting among tems stored above an apote and drank, ing for darkness to fall.   onto tarted back nortoer a orccreets to t ty  do led o .

    . oo many years of living to remember to seize and act upon opportunity.

    None of  to t place.  t of untupidity, regardless of t t it  most of t square o do t one time or anotyrants today one suppressed sucched people one cared for die.

    o Catriana. In tarry spring darkness  from er er.  in ter a time, perably, of Elena. And tain as daurning of t to he world.

    tle, too small to be alarming, in tree be later a trialla began to sing. ened to it, and to t ude and t play of memory.

    before he died.

    A s time later an o  of ed softly in reply, silencing triallas song. Sandre came up silently, scarcely disturbing t, grunting slig eacher.

    quot;Catriana?quot; Baerd murmured.

    quot;I dont kno caug.

    Sa is all rig er. I this will pass.”

    Baerd deliberately relaxed ensed muscles. ionally, quot;I am a very great fool sometimes, iced?”

    quot;Not really. Youll o tell me about it some time. remely large man wed me?”

    quot;tremazzo. orage room for meetings wer.”

    Sandre grunted. quot;o me outside to sell me a potion to ensure t of any woman or boy I desired.”

    Baerd found ;Rumors of Ks precede you.”

    quot;Evidently.quot; Sandres teete in t;Mind you, it uff.”

    Laugly, Baerd felt a curious sensation, as if  o t,   come to an end until to go into Albericos dungeons and kill his own son.

    tomasso. Any woman or boy I desired.

    Baerd felt rengt once in raveling, tter cold and rutted tracks of er,  for a  or an easier pace. Not once  a task, so rise in t once given any sign of t must ibar.  of all imes lety and leaders arrogance and  reserve, nothing held back.

    It reds and t  tyrants come and take tary pride.

    And sitting t again, ainty, in t, t  triving for, t for s driven aoget s of a mans life,  oget and bitter tigana and her name.

    Certain t impossible in fact, and orn a  just past, in a place of deepest magic, and  in t green darkness as if tern bindings t

    oo, a quiet one o take s he had feared would never happen while he lived.

    quot;My lord,quot; ly to tting t;do you kno I o love you in time her?”

    quot;By triad!quot; Sandre said, a little too quickly. quot;And I  even given you tion!”

    Baerd smiled, said noto guess at t  later t voice: quot;And I you, my friend. All of you. You . Even a  a future  lie a you il I die.”

    Gravely,  a palm and toucting tionless, er. Botly, reac from the river.

    Baerd called softly back, and a moment later a small boat bumped  gently  against  triana,  stepping lightly, came ashore.

    At t of   t yet risen and Baerd couldnt see w was.

    Catriana said, quot;t e a bloered?”

    Sandre, be as t ter-of-factness of cone  ;You s regea t you were being ravished.”

    quot;Yes, ; s;Do forgive me. I  sure myself.”

    quot; o your ; Sandre asked suddenly from be it had indeed been cropped away, in a ragged line above her shoulders.

    Sed indifference. quot;It o cut it off.”

    quot;; Baerd asked. Somet;? I assume a friend, given where we are.”

    quot;A fair assumption,quot; t ans say I could ter place for our con-traina to ing.”

    quot;Rovigo!quot; Baerd murmured, onis and a s surge of delig;ell met! It oo long.”

    quot;Rovigo dAstibar?quot; Sandre said suddenly, coming for;Is t whis is?”

    quot;I t I kne voice,quot; Rovigo said, sanding up abruptly. Baerd moved quickly doo to steady t. Rovigo took trides and leaped past o t;I do kno, but I cannot believe I am . In tals, he dead, my lord?”

    Even as  in tall grass before Sandre, Duke of Astibar. East of t along ter and over the bank.

    quot;In a manner of speaking I ; Sandre said. quot;it altered by Baerds craft.quot; o . t eacher.

    quot;Alessan  tell me last fall, but ner ; Rovigo his possible, my lord?”

    quot;I never died,quot; Sandre said simply. quot;It ion. Part of a poor, foolis returned to t niger t.quot; ; I o t state, neigs tside my ening to ts.”

    Under ting blue moonligain glint in epped back a little, but  avert ;It  you no; ;A cause you  out my tongue before betraying you to Barbadior. I t kno.”

    quot;I do kno,quot; Sandre said after a moment. quot; deal more than I can say for my own kin.”

    quot;Only one of t; Rovigo said quickly, quot;and he is dead.”

    quot;; Sandre repeated. quot;t of t s it, Rovigo?  sh Alberico of Barbadior?”

    Rovigo said not was Baerd wers edge.

    quot;Destroy ; ;Destroy th.”

 PART FIVE - THE MEMORY OF A FLAME chapter 17

    SCELtO OKE ual. S t alone, as emples of Adaon and Morian boto be seen observing all rites and proprieties of temples ts and tesses  faude. In w s.

    S and restless sleep and oucly, and o   dream of t slipping ao c, sensing trying to reclaim an image t  as it seemed about to fade and be lost, she remembered.

    S up slo t t s day it  t  beyond foreboding and toucainty.

    tle less t—s. Sea ers closing over errible, approaco draw o lighs.

    S in bed, uncertain of where she even was.

    And to , murmuring, rocking il tic sobbing ceased. ed , s t he doorway.

    tle brotoo, she hall by her screams.

    o  t on Dianoras bed w lighe dark.

    quot;tell me about it,quot; serell me the dream, love.”

    tell me t ty years after, Dianora felt an ac  a little  all.  to he dark?

    Sold ly so as not to umbling ers closing over  evil, to unbind trut it away.

    t morning, before opening udio and beginning aken bot tes and souto teaco s o be afraid  ter.

    Srange, t Baerd, bending over in t first morning,  a small darting fised er and pride.

    Every fine morning t summer to to sime autumn came s c as easy in ter as if it o her.

    Once, so t tinue, Valentin strolled o to plunge into traig into ter Saevar stopped, past tering o tecaps of turned around and come back to t as a gods, s of er sparkling in his golden beard.

    ter s rig it really didnt matter. o be better at everything.

    o c.

    Not, so drater world, in his imaginary Finavir, perhaps . . .

    Sill struggling to come aually looked eac terrible day by the Deisa.

    ful t t s s begin to cry.  do. Not today. No one, not even Scelto—especially not Scelto,  be alloo see anyt fe pride, and a certainty of success.

    t few  few hours.

    t o ters  and t before time, and not  a certain relief beneato an end.

    It  simplicity, from t sood by ter, drao, finally, of release.

    t same day, in told ing in Ygrat t Dorotea o o die for w so spare her, he would have no real choice.

    wiso spare her, Brandin said.

    t else o  morning ts of tern Palm. o make t vision real, he said.

    For tself, and for the people here in his provinces. And for his own soul. And for her.

    Only to become people of o stay, o sail o Girald.

    just for Stevan and t to  ant; but to build a united realm ter han he had known.

    t ant.

    Dianora ened to  ears beginning to fall, and o lay hrough her dark hair.

    he would need a Queen, he had said.

    In a voice s of for so long. ed to have sons and

    daugo start again and build upon tevans loss, t somet and fair mighe years of sorrow.

    And tly t truto . Once, s it far more likely t s grasp and o her.

    S, unable to stop, for in   ogety and prescience oo mucal soul. For al soul. triads oo mucter sorro ttom of t s, s ead of leaving  t  as muching ever had in all her life.

    Let it go! sed to say, ed so muco say t s  t tigana come back and all tness urn.

    S  do so, and kno be come by so easily. Not after all t igana and Stevan toget  o  in they lived.

    Besides o be said, everyt  as a kind of sohe sea.

    Almost a tayed. It ed, Brandin told anding on ter, c of illa sail ao to han he had ever been before.

    old er t same day t Dorotea  ever  to face.

    Sly after t came bad tidings to move norto, all tly  expected t, s nearly so soon. It oo unlike careful Alberico to move h such decisiveness.

    quot;Somet; Brandin said. quot;And I  was.”

    ime and t. itly gone Brandin needed a co sructure of order in tern provinces. to turn t giddy eup into t ruly forge a kingdom. t  o figely so hard-oppressed.

    ime, desperately, and Alberico  giving it to him.

    quot;You could send us,quot; dEymon to take s;Send t and position t of Senzio. See if t will ime.”

    tayed  t rauma—er Brandins announcement—Dianora kne dEymons deepest loyalty,  o t to tion. Moving t numbed by t s simplicity.

    But Brandin flatly refused to follow ion. She remembered his face as he explained,

    looking up from a map and streogetable in tting-room off t tern Palm still h was named Girald now.

    quot;I cannot make t alone,quot; Brandin said quietly. quot;Not to carry t made to. t be an Ygrat enoug it is more t. If  it must be made up of all of us art.”

    DEymon able, agitated, visibly disturbed. quot;t say again o go  here.”

    quot;Not really, dEymon. I  flatter myself. Girald y years.”

    quot;Girald is a traitor and sed as sucher!”

    Brandin looked up at he grey eyes suddenly chilly.

    quot;Must  t reason. I cannot go back on t: it  against t I am.quot; ;No man need stay  I am bound myself to ture, and things will hold me here.”

    quot;tea dead you h and she would be—”

    quot;DEymonl ; tone he discussion.

    But t;My lord,quot; ense, quot;if I cannot speak of t send our fleet to face Barbadior I kno o advise you.

    t go to , . It is too soon. time to see and to believe t you are one of them.”

    quot;And I ime,quot; Brandin replied  ural calm after tension of t;So I o do it immediately. Advise me on t, C noo the Palm?”

    So t  t o  last.

    I cannot go back on t; it  against t I am. Sasies of oo he defining shape of his pride.

    Sood up. tain sretcraig on t before urn back.

    tigana floo the sea.

    S . t seemed, eacime siced it, but  in t  seemed to o  seemed to ed for t to arrive.

    quot;I  for you,quot; s;I he Grand

    Dukes of C used to be done on to to good fortune in the sea.”

    S eady on  last, after so many years, t set  set  t, on t pat, she lied.

    So ains back and s beginning to lig be seen, moving lazily in to start. A great many people  t in to be sure of a place near to see  siny figure at sucance, lift a o point to epped quickly back.

    Scelto  ts of ritual. Dark green for ter robe and sandals, t t er se, rico represent, to be the King.

    After she came back. If she came back.

    S astonis  ually because s seen Brandin since early te. Easier too, because of ly clear all to be,  down somewhere else and long ago.

    Easier, finally, because so understand and accept, deeply, and itude, t so a   let her be whole.

    Not ever. t Finavir, or any suco be allo life Brandin of Ygrato to sin di tigana evan, Prince of Ygrat be unmade.

    And because of t deatigana and orn t of t and till unfolding pages of taying o seal t trute—in vengeance for o be unmade.

    So so kill  and ruined people of  on C islands ruly a  t so understand t ried to unmake it, and had failed.

    a life meant to be made  clarity, t final understanding, Dianora found the wellspring of her calm.

    Some lives  botrue of her.

    Of Dianora di tigana bren Saevar, a sculptors daug and tenderness, beauty coming to e, and er, too mucer. Coming only now.

    Sook no food, t concession to years of . S t doing so e any rituals. S didnt really matter. Scelto  in t t

    would  back from her eyes when she dived.

    ted  into to iny. ts ligains. In tance t be very large by noo to look. Sy of anticipation to teady murmur of sound t gave evidence, more clearly takes being played for this morning.

    A peninsula. t dominions  came to t. Per tigana. t coin lying on table, he name of love.

    quot;ill I do?quot; so, erminedly casual.

    follo lead. quot;You frig; ly. quot;You look as tirely of t us all behind.”

    It o o deceive  to  t to give he doing so.

    quot;Im not at all sure ts flattering,quot; sill lig;but I tempt to t t way.”

    o smile. quot;I ttle I like t; he said.

    quot;Scelto, Albericos entire army  stop t co link o time. You kno; So sound a little angry.

    It rue, it rue. But none of it rutrut and t alone he years.

    quot;I kno; Scelto said, clearly un;Of course I knoters at all. It is just . . .”

    quot;Please!quot; so stop ;I dont te to. S; Oo, you .

    opped, flinc er a moment he looked up again.

    quot;Forgive me, my lady,quot; epped foredly, took o ;It is only for you t I speak. I am afraid. Please forgive.”

    quot;Of course,quot; s;Of course. to forgive, Scelto.quot; Sightly.

    But in  s not cry. So , caring face, truest friend sually, since   in to come,  the casual, careless sound of her words.

    quot;Lets go,quot; surned o begin t into to the sea.

    t dramatic single ritual of temporal po ted by and subject to ters t surrounded them.

    t gave t armada in to trade and plunder, and it  and enclosed tale-tellers said, no   Eanna and Adaon ogether

    to engender Morian and make triad complete.

    A he sea.

    It o  of t became t  in t actually a dive, for one t into tiation and token of ackno, in turned its face to.

    time after t, a o ter t time cast it in. Some said later s sious.

    In eiters of t in her hand.

    And as t o ced and babbled in  of Morian in C o be lost: quot;Look and see! See  to to a lover!”

    And t moved to t to  in motion everyt folloe t neo  unizia, y from a farm in trada and ed togeter by Mellidar, t  of Morian, and Saronte placed tizias finger.

    t Midsummer. t autumn against Asoli and Astibar, and young Saronte di Criumply in a naval battle in te, soutory  time onual of time of Chiaras need.

    ty years later, near tes long reign, in one of triads clergy, a need  of Eanna revealed t Letizia o Mellidar, t of Morian  invited to dra triving for preeminence and power.

    A number of events, none of t, riads servants in t revelation, but none of turbances o touc neity of tual itself. taken ion of t seemed to speak to sometrue binding to ters of the sea.

    So ter all triad o t, t in tory of the Dive.

    an end to t times, ra, o Grand Duke Cazal, two y years ago.

    It , by any means, t suceered to dive for t made absolutely clear to t tely less t to reclaim from to come back  t one an exile from t ted il one of thrown rings was found and claimed.

    By contrast, to tune o nobility. More to o ts throne. Girls from

    families of little prospect  c risking ttering, ory future.

    Onestra di C, and because of er hing had changed.

    Beautiful as a legend and as proud, Grand Duke Cazals young bride ed on doing to allocate suctering ceremony to some ill-bred creature from trada on t beautiful vision any of to tual.

    ed, lifeless, to ter some distance from t of tced dead away.

    After errified pandemonium unmatced temple of Adaon on tesses  back t  ents rangled on its fear.

    Duke Cazal, fooltle t summer against te and Ferraut, after ions of eclipse, rising to poer tter, destructive . Suce .

    But no woman ra died.

    All takes oo o die in t legacy of c . . .

    It oo dangerous, successive Grand Dukes declared, ter to keep ts sea-girt po tion of t most potent ceremony.

    ed nineteen years ago t Grand Duke of Ceps of Eannas temple, and so to cast a ring into t year, even o dive for it, in searcercession and the gods.

    It  in to left  tir and bustle of trates, fragrant and colorful ed presence of o to today . ty and still save for tsteps. Dianora suppressed a srange did ted, echoing saishan seem.

    to trance to ty and silent. turned a corner toair led do of t one person at least ing for them.

    quot;Let me look at you,quot; Vencel said, t;I must approve you before you go down.”

    tform.

    Dianora almost smiled to see  bulk, and to he familiar words spoken.

    quot;Of course,quot; surned full circle before iny.

    quot;Acceptable,quot;  lengtomary judgment, tinctive voice sounded more subdued t. quot;But pero  vairstone from K your t? For luck? I broug reasures.”

    Almost diffidently Vencel extended a large soft  ried to kill the King.

    S to demur o  t day, just before so go do, and moved by VencePs gesture, s;to .quot; Sated. quot;ould you put it on for me?”

    s before  and delicate fingers ts c  of tainflo he always wore.

    Vencel o look at edly soft. quot;In Ko say to someone going on a journey Fortune find you today.quot; e robe and looked ay corridor.

    quot;t; so say more. S Scelto; tears in ily ao lead airs.  Vencel, an almost in figure, draped in billoly colored panoply of ic creature from anotirely, someranded he saishan of Chiara.

    At ttom of tairs s to  o knock. Not today. o let her pass.

    In tside ts of Morian and tesses of Adaon ing for her.

    Sriumpive glittering of expectation.

    te t  been performed in the sea.

    trained to control, being . And in silence to follow behind in orderly rows of crimson and smoke-grey.

    So trail be be part of tes. S properly said fareo  a life meant to be made whole.

    t  doo taircase. At top of tairs Dianora paused and looked dorates , permitted to come to see  nor rig  on t stair and started do only Dianora.

    So legend ep sook.

    And t ttom of taircase, as sepped onto tiles of ting by to escort  and  almost stopped.

    ter of men tayed in t Lord of t. Beside t, representing ted   ticipation of one Island poet could erbalance t to Doarde  from Corte, and a successful one clearly enougune preying on tigana t them.

    S of ting for e and sernal legends, from t ained  froze the blood in her veins.

    In ic as saff t ure, and toood Danoleon t of Eanna in tigana.

    taken Prince Alessan ao told  he saw his

    o ao follohem.

    Sriding, broad-srument t  of ernly controlling here was no way he could recognize her.

    daugist loosely attaco t? And sely chen.

    S take o be te, but ed Danoleon evanien it  Eannas  o tuary in thern hills.

    No an absurd, an almost overe, merely by here.

    It  so do  it  Dianora dre yet been opened, so see ter all time.

    Sopped and to ting a straige not used for centuries. But tion of many kinds of po s noo tic figure out of tapestry scrolls of tant past.

    quot;My lady,quot; said dEymon gravely, quot;if it pleases you and you are minded to allotend upon you noo tern Palm.”

    Carefully said, and clearly, for all to be remembered and repeated. Everyto be remembered. One reason ts were .

    quot;It pleases me,quot; s;Let us go.quot; S say more; ter less.

    It   o be remembered.

    Sill could not take  man from tigana, s so t  eased  t Eanna,  into the sea.

    DEymon nodded a command. Slo croo t ends of t anceady murmur of sound t  all morning so a crescendo as t abruptly stopped and fell a sigraining silence seemed to claim C into t stillness Dianora .

    And it o t suns  sing by t extravagance, bare of spring.

    Someted  t of  tle longer no will all be over soon enough.

    S to . And s s if  driven a er born to those years ago.

    For someone as small as  ry to see anytself

    and even t  te ain for a co vieage point. Devin o t and scrambled up to join anoto the sea.

    tions in in agility.

    Erlein errified, after ty to t o elude trackers in to o a sorcerer.

    Alessan ed  one point  couldnt see self, representing Loe in t  over it. ried not to because it made hem.

    But Alessan eously p  to travel nortnesses to the Ring Dive.

    quot;You ; t  natural t;And ake this change.”

    quot;Are you absolutely mad?quot; Erlein  boto hide his disbelief.

    Alessan , Devin t, . ually impossible to read since  quite inadequate to task of bridging t space or breaking times in tely hem.

    quot; about Savandi?quot; Erlein ;Couldnt trap for Danoleon. Or for you, even?”

    Alessan s;. And it is entirely plausible t ryside as torre made it seem. tern Palm o  rigty spies. Im not concerned about t, Erlein, but I do tude.quot; ry smile. Erlein alked away.

    quot; are you concerned about?quot; Devin he Prince.

    But Alessan  ans.

    ed o open, and tried to control t. It  tement and anticipation t arted to become over palpable so tinue, including one stooped, balding old man dressed exactly like the King.

    quot;Brandins Fool,quot; tean in t to ing.

    quot;Someto do ; ed. quot;ere better off not knowing.”

    Devin  time at troyed tigana and tried to imagine  o  no arc  not an impossible s, doer to strike a single soberly clad, bearded man standing by the sea.

    Imagining t of t arroion  t they reached Chiara.

    quot; do  to ; Devin had asked.

    ord e just before t most of the Second Company of

    Albericos Barbadian mercenaries s and cities in Ferraut and er in his gray eyes.

    Muc, but  dream of saying.

    On turned to  tion and t to sea. It e, nearer da. Neito sleep. Boter gleamed and sparkled .

    quot; do  to ; Alessan repeated. quot;Im not completely sure. I t I cant be certain yet. ts chis Dive.”

    tened to t sea. Devin cleared .

    quot;If s; he asked.

    Alessan  for so long Devin didnt to ansly, ;If tandan  I t sure.”

    Devin looked quickly over at ;ell t means . . .”

    quot;t means a number of t, almost certainly.”

    Devin tried to absorb t. If ake t take t above.

    quot;And if s; he asked.

    Alessan s ;You tell me.  against to this peninsula?”

    Devin t about it.

    quot;A lot,quot;  lengt;I t of people .”

    quot;So do I,quot; said Alessan. quot;t question becomes,  is: Is t it?”

    quot;Is there?”

    Alessan looked over at ;I  put to test very soon.”

    Devin stopped ions t ouced ance.

    quot;C; said Alessan.

    And so Devin sa time.

    quot;; ly.

    Alessan saking  dark, mountainous she horizon.

    quot;Only in my dreams,quot; he said.

    quot;S; someone sed from topmost rigging of t to tely picked up and strung from so sicipation.

    And to an eerie, co reveal thin.

    Even  oblivious of too far ao see her face clearly

    yet, but errible beauty and grace. It is told  is only because of ohem.

    And tinct, urned from to Brandin of Ygrato  angle. che woman approach.

    terly expressionless. Icy cold.

    ing tuation. Devin t. tual, everyone gatical end.  , over and above everyted ionless gaze co risk riad, o be in love h her!

    Even t old man beside ly like Brandin, was wringing  eacy and concern vivid in his face.

    By contrast, tern Palm  even  to look at urned back to the woman, who had come much nearer now.

    And because s at ters edge,   sense  and ion ando clad in t beautiful woman he had ever seen in all his life.

    do  to s ago, sailing to this Island.

    ill didnt kno looking do tirely unexpected pity. ig o ch from high, high above.

    Ster t o survive, especially in to say and do t tally dangerous place. ty o someto love, actually, bitterly  o acknoead, sanding ter ttered half so much.

    And so o breaking  multitude of people to truggling not to s raining to escape to po necessary to  in, here among so many people.

    But   from  even o look at Ro read Brandin noo any kind of future here, or anywhere.

    But tiganas ruin lay bet,  love  enougever troubadours migever  migo offer, love  enougo bridge the chasm in her world.

    to terrible, bottomless divisions in . At a price,   negotiable. One did not bargain he gods.

    So Brandin at topped and topped berick of to detacself from , to look do appear to therworldly.

    As Onestra must  Dive. Onestra  come back, and devastation . ory offered to release, and to tion of he saishan.

    t o look at Brandin. It o, infinitely easier, but s t meeting  the man she loved.

    Last nigcransit of tried to t so ual, to carry layers of meaning dohe years.

    But too, lay danger, a risk of undoing everyt o become. And  to say,  anot to to ,  it? there was no bridge across for her.

    Not in this life.

    quot;My lord,quot; s;I knoo presume, but if it is pleasing to you and to try to bring you the sea.”

    Brandins eyes ;tion, love, and infinite h your presence here.”

    t turning a.

    quot;People of tern Palm!quot; rong, a Kings, a leader of men, carrying resonantly across t among tall ss. quot;e are asked by to dive for us. If riads blessing in t is your reply? Ss to hear!”

    And amid t t follo er so muc-up anticipation, Dianora felt tal irony of it, tter jest, seize hold of her.

    Our une. In riads blessing. through her?

    In t moment, for t time,  t fear come in to lay a finger on . For truly ual of t age and numinous power and s for al . Could suche cause?

    S tains t   summit t Eanna o ars.

    And named t  . So t  and back time to take strengtude.

    . It atues and t  t sriad and t o ing for the Names would be merciful?

    Slo, tess of the dark-green robe.

    tanding by ter, clad only in tunic t barely reached her knees, and Brandin was holding a ring in his hand.

    quot;In t; ual, re;and als, ure er. ill t as a mot a ring of offering in my name and in t back to us in token of our fates bound togetern Palm, and I seek your blessing now.”

    turned to onis began at   , hing else, words only she could hear.

    turned tooness of the dazzling sun.

    S reacs apex and begin to fall. S strike the sea and she dived.

    ter

    simply toss it near to too many people . Srokes, raining aered light.

    S as o Morian.

    irely gone. Or per  so amazing after all.   did its vision offer if not tainty, a sureness to carry  terror of dark ers, to t portal of Morian? It  should have ended long ago.

    S, towards whe ring had fallen.

    t clarity, an a. A moment . Sory of Onestra and Cazal; every person in t disasters ras death.

    Brandin tle brougo oo soon. But Alberico ake . Sly  of triad upon tly self-styled King of tern Palm. t to oppose to  like a vineyard, or grind like grain beneatones of ion.

    y, s redressing t particular sorroask. t of anotion. ask s s pride, sitting by a dead fire in o bring tiganas name back into the world.

    Brandin o go far from t  someo kno ,  gift of her love.

    matter. t raitors and t ways. Drowning would do.

    Sure of t of destiny, guardian of t vision before the end. If Adaon would

    come for ern and glorious god, appearing as o Micaela on t Micaela t brig in  t she god.

    Instead, she ring.

    It o  and just above, drifting like a promise or an ansers so far belo. S, in tion in t and put it on  s die as a sea-bride h sea-gold upon her hand.

    Sered lig disappeared t gative, reflexive. S t and only  it to , and turned , a, and love.

    Do t to come.

    S,  covered yard, Valentins arm familiarly t o war.

    t-natured, seemingly al t ly in t  a as if so ime le toucill soothe dark.

    It  t agitation of e need for air. to tes of er s ando. Smoke over Avalle seen from tant fields. t even remember ed to marry  small room upstairs. tevanien. Arduini. Raking o.

    Brandin.

    And so, at t  ing to ried not to even and, for fear of  do to   do.

    My love, o me. Stevan is gone. I cannot lose you both or I will die.

    S ed to ; anyt. ords ried to co s no one could ever really cross.

    Or I will die, he had said.

    And s even try to deny  it rue. t   vision of Brandin living someo kno to t  in him.

    er so far belo as if to burst. So one side, y.

    to be someting figure furt to sea. A glimmer, glimpse of a form, of a man or a god s say. But it could not be a man down here.

    Not so far belo and t glohis form was.

    Anotold  one, to be sed to follo gentle, impossible ligo rest, to be ed,  desire.

    And tood, or t s figure o be Adaon. It o be t urned owards blackness he sea.

    S belong to  yet.

    S   invisible, so faint . But s t was. She knew.

    Far doerribly far beloal men and urned. Soucogeted ter up and love.

    . Even before ed in  t see the ring.

    iping at reaming eyes, hing else.

    Brandin of Ygrato ood t t, after all, a man ratagem had worked.

    ito t and priestess ed e and gold. Sand. But Devin, still o Brandin and offered rembling hand.

    tyrant, tter, anniing poo ly, enderness, but akable urgency of a man deprived and oo long.

    Alessan reacting it carefully dos mot  found urning ao t pe substantial level of jubilant cing all around in tomacing nausea and dizziness, tumultuous overflow.

    o gaze at t tling to see c grip of transparent need, te, seemed suddenly empty and ed sadness to s discontinuity amid tation all around. Rill, silent point of numbness amid a umult and er.

    Alessan looked at t, balding figure  a blurred, disorienting kinso ty to kno to all of this.

    o ed in entime, tieth.

    o.  Brandin again, and ting h confusion and grief.

    For  plots of making tyrant and killing iganas name ringing in tling back into the world.

    And teen feet aed, unkno  and only one roured and killed her.

    o  a blade.

    But t  Alessan couldnt kno.  tested it;  tried. ood and c s, steering toraction.

    ; too brig moved a o understand.  kno  t greatly care just no eresting, ,  perverse, detac o see hs from now.

    arted back alone ting, uproarious croo t  now, .

    Very often music   ill racing  arted to do er so long undersea.

    So long a time ually begun to calculate if to make use of t o follow upon h.

    And ter and, in tionless from t so ruck from be rength.

    And Alessan riumpasy began to she ships.

    told  a , it can be made to fit. It is coming together. In Senzio. As I planned.

    een feet a.

    It oo brigoo loud. Someone grabbed  by and tried to dra, trying numbly to steer orialla, where his room was, and a drink, and music.

    Devin  t back. Erlein . Probably still on taying afloat, as far from Brandin as est scintilla of interest in pursuing  now.

    Devin, mercifully, said not all. Only pusasted a touc p ten hird glass.

    he flagon away and buried his head in his hands.

    Someone was speaking beside wo men arguing.

    quot;Youre actually going to do it? Youre a goat-begotten fool!quot; t one snarled.

    quot;Im joining up,quot; t accents of Asoli. quot;After  ter t butc are you, friend, afraid of fighting?”

    ter. quot;You simple-minded dolt,quot; tened ;After  er nig yrants o a Queen over you.”

    Alessan pused , pivoting for leverage. t a rengtormented confusion of  into t bones crack under o t, scattering glasses and bottles ering crash.

    Alessan looked do . It o s of tupidity.

    It didnt rialla—t—grinned broadly, completely ignoring the bar.

    quot;I  in t amazingly. ting insistent demands to buy ing  on ttered face as he was carried by.

    Alessan turned a, back to tibar blue  of  Devin w all.

    tigana, ean sailor beo pound igana, let my memory of you be like a blade in my soul.

    Devin—immediately reaco pick it up and smas on tarted a predictable sequence of otly could  of t upstairs. o touc. In t the wizard glanced over as Alessan came in, and his eyes quickly narrowed and grew frankly curious.

    Alessan said noto  and closed ill ing. turally   stop t t sural creature from t force out of yrant falling to his knees and burying his face in his hands.

    not before Alessan, fifteen feet a, tering relief and t e ligar.

    terribly, but  gingerly and didnt tly couldnt  man. Everyt tando rue. All of it rue, yet none of it rut today ally confusing.

    Erlein, unexpectedly tactful, cleared  in a  offered a question.

    quot;Yes?quot; Alessan said  opening his eyes.

    quot;t you ed to  it?quot; tedly ant.

    it Alessan opened  ful and subdued. quot;Yes,quot;  lengt;t I ed.”

    Erlein nodded slo;It means hen. In my province.”

    ill t less t er up ill penetrated, a dull, steady background of celebration.

    quot;In Senzio, yes,quot; he said.

    a terrible sadness. So many years of planning, and no they?

    ake  did t mean? Could it be made to mean o?

    iful ted o be.

    Devin o give  believe t.  a  man so brutally just noered t look truly terrible, , for even Erlein to be so gentle o  I ed, ed to himself.

    quot;Erlein, Im sorry,quot; , trying to struggle uphis sorrow.

    inging reply,  ed one, but Erlein said not all at first. And ;I t is time,quot; was w ;S help?”

    ould t o minister to him so much?

    t back doairs. Devin ing for t stage at trialla. Alessan took up regean pipes.  ing and s it  going to keep o play.

    t for ed, ionless on to reaco e le while.

 chapter 18

    NORMALLY

    UP  ON  tS  OF  le at sunset it o look soutc and tains. Of late time turned toing for, Alienor found o ts instead, to pace tions or lean upon tone, gazing into tance,  still came w down.

    As if sually see as far as Senzio.

    t by t Baerd old t could, if all  rigurn the whole world upside down.

    Not just too, self  survive.

    topped on to Fort Ortiz, as e, to pay ts to tle Borso and to bring  from t impossible to find y in Quileia, It  t Alessan old t about   seemed, , as Baerd  ternoon after Alessan o t, Marius o everything.

    ter t of springtime rides t took o necessitate one or t neigles. At o a hah 0  dozen equally specific people.

    Senzio. Before Midsummer Not long aftero Castle Borso remendous troop movements among tely clogged ification, but omary eacer her own fashion.

    Up on ts at sunset noep on tair being for it.

    it turning, s;You are almost too late. t; rue; t clouds in t  of to t her shoulders.

    Elena stepped out on t.

    quot;Im sorry,quot; sely. Sill uneasy in tle. So t over te-spring fields. ing in the breeze.

    Ostensibly so serve as a neing to Alienor. S er t  sablisime t migter. It appeared, incredibly enoug tually come a time ter.

    tomaz, t, aged K it o stay omaz, o say  t.  mattered  Baerd and Alessan trusted ter Baerd o tely,

    quot;One of ; Alienor omaz, and t like riana.

    Baerd ated a long time. quot;One of t alkers,quot; he said finally.

    S t, ture serving to so reveal of onis.

    quot;Really? ill about?”

    Baerd nodded.

    quot;And t is ?”

    After a second Baerd nodded again.

    triana blinked in manifest surprise. Se beautiful, Alienor t, but sill  deal to learn.

    quot;Doing ; Alienor asked Baerd.

    But time ed t. ts rying to puso, ten years ago, sly . Surprisingly per time on.

    Noedly, ;You could ay  just one.”

    Saste only partly feigned. quot;One , t is enougever t; S last to t s Baerds techniques of disguise.

    Over tive diversity of appearances.

    quot;Im not absolutely sure ; tomaz ;But insofar as s us to at least be able to try, one of tle should be enough.”

    quot;Enoug?quot; s really expecting anything.

    quot;Enougo reac and find t; tomaz ly.

    time it   ed. Alienor o find to feel a little regretful wriana had gone.

    terake care of  t as well.

    On ts sed, Alienor abruptly removed  over thers shoulders.

    quot;You ster by no; s;It gets cold up he sun goes down.”

    quot;Im sorry,quot; Elena said again, quickly motioning to remove t;But youll be c something for myself.”

    quot;Stay   t  in  stars of training nortion o whering now, or soon.

    quot;Stay ; sly. quot;Stay h me.”

    Elenas blue eyes ful.

    Unexpectedly, sonishingly, she moved nearer and drew her arm

    tiffened for a second, to relax against t time in more years tely different kind of intimacy. It felt, of late, as if someted for t it might mean, for so many years.

    being alloransience of desire, if only one believed it  upon towards w she had become.

    , letting s stream like birds arroo wes would be decided when Midsummer came.

    Dark  bloood toget ime, s and ting time.

    It imes in mockery, sometimes  t bordered on a as ted up in summer, so did t-time passions of Senzio. tic self- indulgence of t nortile soil and gentle  ed in Senzio, it o pay for it. And figo keep it, tiated often added.

    to year it mig t burgeoning tensions and t of ors—for ions, and for braaverns and streets.

    Someone mig suc not anyone  actually seemed as if tents of disaster—t border, tilla anc Farsaro Island off tern tip of to t in Senzio to been for ly e le, Senzians still boasted t the Palm.

    A boast t began to ring more ic nigire peninsula braced itself for a conflagration.

    In trusion of reality Senzio toensified ts dark ering-aping, sing patrons every nigo wream of available flesairs.

    ted, for  to trade in purco offer substantially different inducements to trons. For tavern not far from tle, good food, decent vintages and ales, and clean rooms in able if not an extravagant living, derived primarily from mercs and traders disinclined to traffic in ty of nig least to sleep and eat amid t overripe corruption.

    Solingself on offering, by day or nig music to be found in ty at any given time.

    At ticular moment, sly before te in table patrons of t full tavern rio: a Senzian ibar, and a young Asolini tenor arted a couple of days before—er performing Sandre dAstibars funeral rites last fall.

    Rumors of every kind  spring, but fehis one: such a prodigy was

    unlikely in treme to be singing in a put-toget in fact tenor ional voice and c week.

    trut and a room upstairs if t. Solingibar for almost ten years. A friend, and more t; as it  rons of to Senzio expressly to meet t , poured s every nig to sleep t Alessan knew w he was doing.

    ticular afternoon trons enjoying tenors rousing rendition of a Certandan ballad  of to treet omers. Note in t, of course. Or not until t ed greeting, tage, and trument and followed, if more slowly.

    t ensued ably cynical conclusions about ture of ty not included a pair of exceptionally attractive young  red  against o to be crus t of a cadaverous looking Ko of ty.

    A moment later anot resonance t even stilled tement of tly over to t arrived. t rembling.

    quot;Baerd?quot; they heard him say.

    t of silence. t;Naddo?quot; in a tone even t innocent Senzian could interpret. Any lingering doubts about t o rest a second later by two men embraced eacher.

    t.

    More tion, decided t ion, and er t appeared if t.

    Alais regea in a state of excitement t broug continuous fluso ely beautiful t so come.

    From t t ly returned to t regea, bearing riana and to meet, Alais  somethan friendship was involved here.

    t  Rovigo ating for only a moment, old ly, but ing confidence in  tners,  many years.

    It appeared t it  been entirely a coincidence after all t t tside tival of Vines last fall.

    Listening intently, trying not to miss a syllable or an implication, Alais measured o all of to discover t s afraid. o do . And t t rusting his.

    It o Rovigo, quot;If you are truly set on coming o Senzio, to find a place on t to put your daughter ashore.”

    quot;ly?quot; Alais urned to hers cabin.

    Baerds eyes were very dark by candlelig  unkind.

    quot;Because I dont believe in subjecting people to unnecessary risks. t  to do. to face tance and t of rusts tant to us. For you to come  necessity. Does t make sense?”

    So be calm. quot;Only if you judge me a cribution.quot; S;I am triana and I tand o do. I  I o be free.”

    quot;trut. I t; It riana. quot;Baerd,quot; s on, quot;if truly time t will decide, we he way we do.

    No rigo decide t t ing to see if till slaves or not whe summer ends.”

    Baerd looked at Catriana for a long time but said noturned to Rovigo, deferring to ure. In  of t inner battle end.

    quot;If  t; Rovigo dAstibar said to er, ;your mot, dont you?”

    quot;Ill try to protect you,quot; Alais said gravely, t hing.

    It alk at t absolutely. t t after torm.

    I dont kno is, s I need more.

    I kno ars of Eanna would all be yours.

    It , because  o o the balance.

    Of t journey to Senzio sicularly. Standing at triana as t of Astibar. One tiny village, and t in ts bobbing bethe shore.

    quot;t one is my ; Catriana said suddenly, breaking a silence, speaking so softly only Alais could ;And t boat ually my fat; ache words.

    quot;e o stop, t; Alais ly. quot;Ill tell my father! hell—”

    Catriana laid a hand on her arm.

    quot;Not yet,quot; s;I cant see . After. After Senzio. Perhaps.”

    t , ip of Farsaro Island early in tern Palm anchere.

    aiting for o once brig s Catriana, and  tomaz noy in eacing tilla,

    kind of expression on his face.

    If so put a name to t look santly, t it was desire.

    t afternoon to Senzio, and  to an inn all to kno. And t tavern into a flas and sudden as the sea.

    Devin embraced iger a moments visible anxiety at  ly tavern came up—Naddo ick. It  extraordinary carved eagles  to be a compensation for the loss of his own.

    t seemed. S of t deal of noise. t ttles of Senzio green and a tibars blue o sort tic babble of all t  for a moment, siced; o table botful and somew grim.

    to go back and make te, and Alais, fluserribly excited, in ly w she was feeling.

    Afterairs beo ter,  on t upper level Catriana led  in, doo the bedroom Devin and Alessan and Erlein shared.

    t met, and a fe later riana  to feel a little strange about t, and to t  as Alessan puso speak.

    And as rating, gradually came to understand ruly frig o do.

    At a certain point opped and looked at t Duke Sandre first, t a round-faced Certandan named Sertino sitting  c Erlein di Senzio.

    tood. It o terms ibar. trada all her life.

    tting on  t.

    hing hard.

    quot;It is clear to me no you  your mind,quot; ;You  sigo kill people in your madness.”

    Alais sa speaking.

    quot;All of t; Alessan said, ed mildness. quot;It is possible I am pursuing a pat. But yes, to be a great many people killed. e al; tending ot t and ease your soul. You knohing is happening.”

    quot;Not do you mean?quot; It was her.

    Alessans expression  bitter. quot; you noticed? You o?

    Notire army massed on to order th!”

    quot;; said Sandre flatly in t follo;hes afraid of Brandin.”

    quot;Per; fully. quot;Or else  cautious. too cautious.”

    quot; do ; asked tregean named Ducas.

    Alessan s;I dont kno knoed. You tell me,quot; ;o ;  Ducas and t eache room.

    No one answered him.

    t ligo . Senzio?

    t did tter? Sy years ahem?

    Every time a messenger arrived from back in Astibar somethe Emperor had died . . .

    If ted peninsula, o claim an Emperors tiara in Barbadior. t o fig mattered, t tered all t tiara from t favorites ual fluttering moths.

    And after t  of Barbadior. t Brandin of Ygratern Palm, o stand before Alberico, Emperor of Barbadior.

    Gods, tness of it ...

    But no suc, no suctering reprieve. And so ty   and Senzio, preparing to face tern Palm, kno tire ,  everyt depended on t. If too many of  kind of an army would o lead home?

    And too many men dying  noly as anticipated, leaving Brandin crippled and exposed. s o be on t possible way.

    tandan woman er for Brandin.

    Sed  never-seen imes noo figain orming across to Loe and sacking Stevanien itself.

    Gods. Alberico ser, at t of suco t against t east. Even t he real prize back home.

    But   effort t fallen from t same Dianora di Certando  saved t ly floating doed tern provinces would .

    Quileias crippled King o abase rade e letters t fearing ty po would .

    But it  so, because of ting, it he only reason Brandin was alive.

    And noilla ancing for Alberico to make test move.

    quot;t; ed daily. quot;And not as well armed.”

    Feains ecany. Not as  move, t close togetoo near th.

    Angle at Senzio, sent  Casalia still favored t t Brandin  as strong as t o see tue of tilting even furtoern Palm, one of to stay  time eac Angic Casalia almost every night.

    So no as any Senzian during ing.

    Come!

    Ripe for ing? Didnt tand? Didnt any of t to reckon h?

    rong Brandin er almost being killed in t cursed Sandreni lodge last year.  t, if none of t to  o be a decision made in t of t. ary edge o be enougo offset to be certain. Surely any man not a fool could see t t o do unities.

    In ent on t tains back up into t t body of tando.

    ting messages like rancid food, o le again, endlessly,  was nagging ed wound.

    Somet irely  about ts—from tumn on jarred  chord.

    o feel as if ire Palm to respond to une. Seizing control again after a er of being impacted upon in all trivial, disconcerting, cumulative  Quileia o seek , so t back  mistake s.

    t  Brandin ed in Ygrato the border of Senzio.

    But somet day and it  tion noing in t even talk about it—even if o talk to— couldnt even pin it do it  him like an old wound in rain.

    Alberico of Barbadior  got to iara ,  subtlety and tfulness,  learning to trust incts.

    And incts told ains and erally begging o marc something was wrong.

    t  calling tune. Someone else ruly no idea  t  be s come clear for  border meado of the surrounding pines.

    So ed, praying to  t soon be laug  ening sout Brandin ting stronger in Farsaro every day, but iness, inct for survival, by t ac. aiting for someto come clear.

    Refusing, as t, to dance to  play.

    Sely regea. ted danger because t er doo claim o life.

    tonig. Catriana realized  opped in to try to steady herself.

    So adjust  in it. On to doing so for ers,  cropping on tregea. Catriana kneable no, actually, if tions of men in Senzio t days meant anything.

    And to mean somet ing noo pass by in treet before ter part of tole, but truly safe quarter of Senzio for a reets at night.

    S out y t   any of take anythis.

    th. She was under no illusions.

    All afternoon,   single candle al at sunset on t of t it riad because of o  a proud  neitted o forget.

    tonigriana saly like t  last t, but one t, if triad  all for  sion before s out.

    taggered by, ion of taverns. Sed anot and t quickly into treet, keeping to t and started tole.

    It er, s, if sill and slow her

    racing . S Solingside back stairs so t none of t Alais doo dinner alone, pleading a o follow soon if she could.

    S precise instant, as tly closed, t shers again.

    In treet s eady; s  for support, dra air. tainflo far aakable fragrance of sejoia trees. So tle gardens t o force color into them.

    Overars o follo street over. A er.

    tar fell in ts track to  sle. trance  rances and endings, faced alone. But sary cary as a o an orbit of  took est of tried. t. Sude.

    Pride. Again.

    igana before ttles at the river.

    t  was.

    Carefully situde s eady no in o  in t t afternoon and sreet and around to t at trance to tle of Senzio.

    tside tes, t o let th.

    tside tes glanced at eacter to see by torc.

    Sopped in front of t pair. S;ould you be kind enoug; s;to let Ang ; And s  red glove.

    Sually been amused at first by Devins reaction and Rovigos in tplace. Casalia, togetern Palm er of lesser Senzians. they could be made.

    Alais and Catriana anding at a silk-mercs stall. turned to see the Governor go by.

    gone by. Instead, Angraining ed  and topped tly in front of t, Catriana realized t s riking pair. Angurned moustacly t so.

    quot;A mink and a red vixen!quot; coo quickly, a little too loudly. Angripped to t sun.

    Alais looked a not doriana met teadily as she could. She would

    not turn a;A red vixen, truly,quot; ed, but time to  to Casalia.

    ty follohe morning.

    Catriana  er. S tered t  s amusement, however briefly.

    quot;t,quot; sly, quot;is exactly  regea. I dont to repeat t to cut.”

    It riana  first, . them walked on.

    quot;I ly to h.

    quot;Of course you  e serious in hey all were.

    But just about t and anger botriana began to t somet seemed to  tness of tly into s t all.

    Ser so do it almost as soon as took shape in her mind.

    Before t o be alone long enougo purc she needed. Earrings, gown, black comb. Red glove.

    And it  o remember tregea. Not surprisingly: tterns like t. Sucterns .  fell so come a for Alais. No fareop  as sopped any of them.

    But someto be done, t. A move o be made, and t morning in t Catriana  s t move might be.

    S t part of tary   tremble as t topped ser all  sky.

    quot;ell o searcand,quot; said one of tside tes, a crooked smile on his face.

    quot;Of course,quot; sepping nearer. quot;ts to standing c t; t ungently, into t of torctle past to te s tcercation bete, ending in a concise six-ly outranked, reluctantly began yard to find Angell  come true, or some sucily unlocked tes   and came out to join thers.

    took some   unkind, nor did too muco t risk in offending ed on somet. So laugly once or t not so muco encourage them.

    Sterns still, remembering t evening so Alessan and Baerd.

    t porter at t by, leering, sure of where.

    I  sleep o  h any man.

    So mucangled she guards hands moving over her.

    mortal knee line ably per about Devin in t of tly in almost every ed it to. Not t sures or fates t day. Not then.

    And noerns began to unfold again? told o trances and endings, a candle starting a blaze.

    By time too. But treated esy as tes and across tral courtyard. Ligically doerior  tars. Eannas ligh a name.

    t into tle t t ly open. Beyond it, as triana caugely furnished in dark, rich colors.

    In tself stood Ango matcime t day.

    S ake o there were candles burning everywhere.

    quot;Red vixen,quot; ;o play?”

    Devin  tion of building tension and enforced idleness, coupled o look at Alessans face sometimes—of o a culmination, created a pervasive, dangerous irritability among them all.

    In traordinary, a blessing of grace t few days.

    Rovigos daugo groler and yet more at ease among to be o fill t need. Observant, unceasingly clessly conversational, ions and briges from all of t single-ed times from degenerating into sullen grimness or fractious rancor. Blind Rinaldo t in love o flouris t, almost grateful t tensions of time ing him from addressing his own inward feelings.

    In tmospe, pale beauty and diffident grace singled  like some floransplanted ly true. An observer c er as so conversation, and the mans eyes spoke volumes.

    No t t urning t expedition of ternoon into a veritable sea-voyage of discovery, Alais excused  back upstairs. ure  return of grimness to table, an inexorable reversion to ting preoccupation of t immune: o test foray outside ty walls.

    Alessan and Baerd, ing trada, searc likely battlefields, and so t place for to position time came for t roll of dice. Devin didnt muc t. It o do o be a battle for anyto happen, and AJberico of Barbadior

    was enougo drive men mad.

    time apart from eacly for reasons of caution, but undeniably because too mucy in them.

    Baerd and Ducas averns tonigs of ts to keep in toucregeans men and Rovigos sailors, and a number of to a long-aed summons.

    to spread: about Rinaldo di Senzio, to be someirring up revolution against Casalia and tyrants. Devin  t, but Alessan ly ceen years; feralize  it very quiet tly noo be recognized, and tribute as muco raising tensions in ty. If ttle more uneasy . . .

    Rinaldo tle, t ed starting to be coiling or gato come t young anymore.  ly ime before tyrants, noracted eacions from bygone years, stories of men and o Morian long ago.

    Erlein di Senzio  feended to eat and drink alone, sometimes in Solingen elseime y. Devin er.  of o be introduced, but  felt up to enduring Erleins abrasiveness. One mig t as events   so.

    Erleins absences because Alessan . For to betray tain deat be enraged and bitter and sullen, but , by any stretch, a fool.

    o dine to be back in Solingo play in a fees and for te. tuary of  fe Devin kne only really applied to t some of ttered about ty were doing for release  imagine. Or, yes his was Senzio.

    quot;Somet; Blind Rinaldo said abruptly beside ilting he air.

    Alessan stopped sketcrada terrain on tablecloth and looked up quickly. So did Rovigo.

    Sandre had already half-risen from his chair.

    Alais o table. Even before s a finger of dread touch him.

    quot;Catrianas gone!quot; sing to keep o Devin, ted on Alessan.

    quot;? ; Rovigo said s;e would o see her when she came down, surely?”

    quot;tairs outside,quot; Alessan said. iced, tened on the

    tabletop. tared at Alais. quot; else?”

    te. quot;S understand  ternoon. I o ask  it but I ... I didnt  to presume. So ask questions of. But t.”

    quot;A silk go; Alessan said incredulously, ; in Morians name . . . ?”

    But Devin already knew. ely.

    Alessan  been  morning, neitanding.

    A bone-deep fear dried  . ood up, tipping over his chair, spilling his wine.

    quot;Oriana,quot; ;Catriana, no!quot; Stupidly, fatuously, as if sill be stopped, still be kept among t into thomable courage and her pride.

    quot;? Devin, tell me, ?quot; Sandre, voice like a knife. Alessan said noturned, the grey eyes bracing for pain.

    quot;So tle,quot; Devin said flatly. quot;So kill Ang art the war.”

    Even as ional t quite gone, somet, infinitely deeper, driving le already t all.

    beside ep be into t look back.

    Eanna, sly, over and over as to, let it not be like t like this.

    ole in t like a living terrible knoh.

    Devin kneoucle.

    to topped, looking up tree. t turn to see. t thing.

    tted against torc in one of t hey knew.

    earing a long dark gown.

    Devin dropped to  lane.  about climbing t screaming  scent of tainflo here.

    o play?

    Mostly, s, and especially not like t been tly alone. Oto ti leaves for tea. Sing Alessan. And yes, some six or seven years ago so ermittent dreams of finding love and passion someen those dreams.

    t a dream. Nor  play. It h.

    Entrances and endings. A candle s  out.

    So  and touc  and t and ears and in  blazed from all corners of t seemed t Ango co w op of me, er, she had replied.

    , and o be above e s we blond .

    he end.

    o s before entering ook one nipple in ly, and began to run ongue in circles over it.

    Catriana closed . S clike above h and hands.

    Souc . Sc e, as if sime in t s of   into .

    t his life was over.

    You could buy anyted in Senzios . Anyt all. Including a   for t freed te, deadly thing.

    Grafted in Ygrat ral to onight.

    Anged in an involuntary snarl as aring agony. t, soaking into ts and the pillows, covering her.

    errible sound. o ted floor, clutcely at . ried to stop it, pressing o t didnt matter. It  t , bubbling sound. Angoppled sloill open, blood leaking from  onto t. And then his blue eyes clouded and closed.

    Catriana looked do eady as stone. And so  of . In a moment t s in rances and endings.

    tic sing, a panic-stricken volley of curses.

    S yet done. t be alloo take  sorcery could do to tep from time shis plan.

    ttering against t   to be naked now, s have really said why.

    Bending over took t glittering agency of deatreated blade, laid it beside Ango be quickly found. It  it be found.

    tering sound from ting, a tumult of noise in the corridor.

    S about setting fire to to blaze, it appealed to  no, to find Angly epped up on tly designed, easily tall enougo stand uprig. S. t. More t of trees came drifting up, and tness of tainflo floc t but it o Morian s oal of all.

    S of  o die in a land not  of o do

    ion seemed to put its mark upon t, one  it be enoug like an arrooward Morian in her halls.

    t inumbled into t ime.

    Catriana turned back from tars and t t, a crescendo of hope and pride.

    quot;Deato Barbadiors servants!quot; s top of ;Freedom for Senziolquot; s;Long live King Brandin of the Palm!”

    One man, quicker ted, springing across t quite quick enoug as fast as surned, t, necessary ing in ars, ting darkness bethem and beyond.

    S t o, and t all, only t seemed. Endings. A candle. Memories. A dream, a prayer of flames, t t come. t dooredly gentle darkness seemed to open hrough.

 chapter 19

    AARM NIG on trees, on tones of tanding in the high window.

    Devin o  and quickly turns. Rovigo running up, to stop, rigid h Alais.

    quot;; to tones beside Devin. raught, he has a knife in his hand.

    quot;?quot; Devin gasps, uncompre; do you . . . ?”

    quot;My fingers! No t; And Sandre dAstibar slaps t of to Devins palm and curls  one in treet. Only ended. to the Palm.

    quot;Sandre . . .quot; Devin begins, stammering.

    quot;No  me, Devin!”

    Devin does as old. incing, gritting eet pain against grief,  do.

    Alais, not the Duke.

    But in t ts clean to grind against stone t and dazzling flased by a corona of ar about  in ter-image of its glow.

    Alais is on to quickly  his bleeding hand.

    Sandre lifts t , silent in t a word spoken, Alais ing his arm.

    From ant crasing. Silted in tall riana becomes suddenly taut. Soo far ao make out too terribly far. turn to to t.

    quot;O t; Alessans voice is a ragged w.

    too late. Far, far too late.

    On y road, Devin sees her fall.

    Not o deat graceful as s dos forand. torting blur in t, a sural  in traig t stops for a moment, seizing at this wild, impossible hope.

    t starts beating again, ever Sandre ried, it is not enougoo far, it is too oo neo triana falls. Unstayed, unciful as a moonlit fantasy of a woman wo a broken, crumpled ending behe garden wall.

    Alais bursts into desperate sobs. Sandre covers ears in ood, to the garden.

    quot;e o move a; Rovigo croaks, telligible. quot;they will be searching.”

    It is true. Devin kno is. And if t, anyt all to Catriana noo c is t  have been meaningless

    or in vain.

    Devin forces o rise. turns to Alessan.  moved, nor taken ill men standing and gesturing.

    Devin remembers ternoon  urns to Rovigo: quot;e are too many to stay togetake Alais. Be very careful. triana w you in our rooms.”

    takes Alessan by turns  resist, folloart soutumbling do ake tle, from till  into .

    t o s familiar tricks ime and memory—a nig fall.  nig old t take tomasso out of the wizards binding.

    And no o no good at all. t s so mucomasso is nine montigana whe Deisa years ago.

    for old le. o cry again, unable to stop  later he feels Alessans hand upon his shoulder.

    quot;tle longer yet,quot; t eroget; he hand on Devins shoulder.

    torc ones.

    treets of Senzio as t some  tle. ts feverising  t from a avern. Sreets yet; t stopped by anyone.

    t er, Devin realizes t never, not for a single moment, did  t Catriana he Barbadian before she jumped.

    Back at Solinged noto go upstairs to umult of t as tient c room, running sly to of to side.

    Devin and Alessan exchanged a glance. Music.

    t to tform in took up ood beside ing. testing, tuning notes and t a he song Devin had known he would begin.

    As t es of t;Lament For Adaonquot; spun out into ted murmur, and to ing . But not for time, t c for Adaon falling from  for Catriana di tigana fallen from hers.

    Men said after t tillness, suc attention among tables in Solings ing on patrons and tcopped ood listening. No one moved, no one made a sound. tary voice singing t song of mourning in the Palm.

    In a room upstairs Alais lifted ear-soaked pillo up. Rinaldo, tending to Sandres maimed urned oill. And Baerd, idings t smas in a  could ever o ened to Alessan and Devin beloo fly t-of his way.

    Out in treet ing voice carried, people stopped in t of rumor or tless cs pleasures and tood outside tening to tes of grief, t in the spell of a music shaped by loss.

    For a long time after it  ing, breaking, utterly unexpected offering of t;Lamentquot; on t nig marked the beginning of war.

    t in eittles of ly open: Alaiss, t rianas too. Baerd ing in tepped foro the hallway and Alessan embraced him.

    For a long time tood locked togettle. o there and Rovigo. San-dre.

    Rinaldo, Ducas and Naddo. Sertino to t nearer to them.

    quot;Did anyone to bring ; Rinaldo asked in a faint voice.

    quot;I did,quot; Devin said, going over to ted. Devin glanced at Sandres left  topped. o one of ttles and t boto ask for a glass. Devin gave ttle to Ducas, whe same.

    Sertino  Sandres ;Youre going to o get in t of masking t;  eness.

    quot;I kno; Sandre said. quot;I feel very weak righough.”

    quot;Doesnt matter,quot; Sertino replied. quot;t be constant. Do it. Now.”

    Sandre looked up at  tandan   seem to stop t tomasso, dead in a dungeon in Astibar.

    Ducas le. ook it and drank. Passed it over to Naddo, and  to sit beside Alais on took  the wall.

    of t, the cheekbones showing in angular relief.

    Ducas cleared . quot;e  do some planning,quot; ;If sy tonigriad knoomorrow.”

    quot;Sandre used magic, as ; Alessan said, not opening ;If tracker in Senzio hes in danger.”

    quot;t ; Naddo said fiercely, looking from Ducas to Sertino. quot;e did it once already, remember. And ty men  tracker.”

    quot;You arent in tando no; Rovigo said mildly.

    quot;Doesnt matter,quot; Ducas said. quot;Naddos rigreet and Sertinos o point out tracker t contrive a bra killed him.”

    quot;t; Baerd said.

    Ducas suddenly smiled like a race of mirt;Id be grateful for a risk to take tonig; ood exactly w .

    Alessan opened  t;Do it, t; ;Devin can run any messages back o us. ell move Sandre out, back to to. If you send —”

    opped, and t to . Baerd   tood up, releasing Alaiss hand.

    ttle of sound from tairside tepped carefully over to triana in his arms.

    In tony silence  t, taking in turned to Alessan. quot;If you are  magic,quot; ;t be very  deal of po noracker in Senzio tremely likely to be captured and killed.quot; opped, tly. quot;But I caugime. She is alive.”

    t iculate joy. Sandre literally leaped to  and ruso claim Catrianas unconscious body from Erleins arms. ened to tedly, was Rovigo.

    Devin ime to see Alessan cross t strides and ed ed Erlein, feebly protesting, clean off the ground.

    Alessan released epped back, t by a grin  seem to control. Erlein tried,  success, to preserve omary cynical expression. t h cheeks.

    Again troubadour struggled to look fierce and displeased. Again irely unconvincing attempt at ;Careful, you. Devin flattened me to t till bruised.quot;  Devin, w him.

    Sertino tle. y pull.  ;It  o guess from t sometarted to follo I dont run very fast anymore so I decided to use magic. I got to t as Alessan and Devin reache near side.”

    quot;; Alessan asked s;You never use your magic. hy now?”

    Erlein sely. quot;Id never seen all of you run any; he grimaced.

    quot;I suppose I was carried away.”

    Alessan o  in for very long. Every feo reassure ;t?quot; he asked.

    quot;t  over ting in t; urned to Sandre. quot;You sent an astonis you didnt  kno you cant stop someone falling t o be unconscious. t kind of magic  exclusively; if  to apply it to someone else to be suspended or everyts muddled w is o fig.”

    Sandre  it  I just  strong enough, even

    he binding.”

    Erleins expression o respond to t, but instead ale. quot;I used a spell to make ronger one to catc. t to get us over tely spent, and terrified trace us immediately if tracker any t, too mucemple of Eanna for a time, and then I carried her here.”

    quot;Carried reets?quot; Alais asked. quot;No one noticed t?”

    Erlein grinned at  unkindly. quot;It isnt t unusual in Senzio, my dear.quot; Alais flus Devin could see t s really mind. It was all rig.

    quot;e ter get doo treet t; Baerd said to Ducas. quot;ell o get Arkin and some of trackers, t find o be an unbelievable searcoonigo be some fighting.”

    Ducas smiled again, more like a ;I ; was all he said.

    quot;One moment,quot; said Alessan quietly. quot;I  you all to ness somet; urned back to Erlein and ated, c;e bot you did tonig any coercion from me, and against your o interests, in every way.”

    Erlein glanced over at ts of red forming on eac;Dont make too muc,quot; ;Every man s of folly. I like red-s all. ts rapped me in t place, remember?”

    Alessan s;t may be true, but it is not all, Erlein di Senzio. I bound you to t your  I t joined it freely.”

    Erlein s;Dont be a fool, Alessan! I just told you, I ...”

    quot;I kno told me. I make my os truto realize tonigriana, bot ts to w I wiso do or see done for any cause. Even my own.”

    As AJessan finisepped foreadied ;I am Alessan, Prince of tigana,quot; ;direct in descent from Micaela. In t to o your freedom, wizard!”

    Botaggered apart, as if a taut cord . Erleins face ;I tell you again,quot; ;you are a fool!”

    Alessan s;You ,  noe: I  man, o be free as any of us   co me your oyrants. If you co leave us, you can. I do not expect you o our company.”

    Erlein looked cornered, assailed. uation o ed he wizard.

    quot;Im glad,quot; ;Im glad youre h us.”

    quot;Im not! I  said t!quot; Erlein snapped. quot;I  said or done any suching!”

    quot;Of course you ; It ion and pain still vivid in ;You did it tonig. ter tter, in some roubadour. ried to make yourself believe t nottered

    to you but your o rue? Im one. Baerd and Devin. Perriana. Not Alessan, Erlein.  set you free to prove us all wrong.”

    ting from treets belosteps. Erlein turned to Alessan and t eacrusions of memory: t campfire in Ferraut, Alessan playing songs of Senzio for Erlein, an enraged shere were so many layers here, so many charges of meaning.

    ion of five fingers t to Alessan.  it  so touched.

    quot;I suppose I am ; Erlein said. quot;After all.”

    quot;I kno; said Alessan.

    quot;Come!quot; said Baerd, a second later. quot;e o do.quot; Devin follooairs beyond the window.

    Just before stepping turned to look back at ticed, and followed his gaze.

    quot;S; tly. quot;S fine. Do o us.”

    Devin glanced up at  s;t; Devin said, meaning a number of to tumult of treets.

    Sually as before s and unexpectedly familiar, and ting to  first s quite make t. So open her eyes.

    quot;I t; someone ;ill you all do me a great courtesy and leave me alone s?”

    S voice the room.

    A door closed. t voice was Alessans.

    s be dead. t Morians er all, he dead surrounding her. She opened her eyes.

    ting on a co w in bed. Someone  ained from .

    the rush of memory was dizzying.

    Quietly, Alessan said, quot;You are alive. Erlein ing in t you  you back.”

    S  again as sruggled to deal  of life, t as s of , t-ion, as if s drift aest of breezes.

    But s. So leave. Surned  remely pale.

    quot;e t you ; ;e saside t Erlein did,  you ; ed after a moment.

    S about t. t;Did I aching happening?”

    ;It is too soon to tell for certain. I t deal of commotion in treets. If you listen you can .”

    Concentrating, s ting and running feet passing beneath

    the window.

    Alessan seemed unnaturally subdued, struggling  er t being. Sed, looking at ing t.

    ;Catriana, I cannot tell you ened I onig listen to me nory to t is somet matters very muc;  quite pin down.

    and laid  lay upon t. quot;Catriana, I do not measure your  stop doing to yourself. to redeem. You are w you are, in and of yourself.”

    t ground for  difficult of all, and s beat ched him, blue eyes on his grey ones. his long, slender fingers were covering her own.

    S;e arrive , a ory. Families matter. he was a coward and he fled.”

    Alessan sill sometrained in ;e o be so careful,quot; ;So very careful  daug co stay ry to keep t aheir children.”

    Sears starting noo blink ted talking about this.

    It  the core of all she did.

    quot;But it ; s; before ttles. Even the one we won.”

    Again  t of ress. ed  to  remember  before. tely strange about all of this.

    quot;Parents and c; ly s missed t;It is so o judge.quot; ated. quot;I dont knoold you, but my motraitor and a coward.”

    So sit up. too suddenly. Serribly old  to not t day.

    quot;; s t;You? A co . . . didnt s . . .”

    quot;S all of it,quot; ly. quot;So  is rying to say, Catriana: it is possible to differ on sucters, and to reacerrible as t one e. In think, or we are all alone.”

    Sime to pus  day, t so  nig  ly out of to till been out there somewhere, alone, when she had gone away.

    S;Did it ... did it end like t  how she died?”

    quot;S s me take  t meant . . .”

    quot;Of course it did!quot; s;Of course it did, Alessan. e all do t. e do  o say.quot; S known shing.

    o will covered  herself coloring. he

    said, quot;trut noriana. Perer all.”

    t ill beating very fast. S  after   sed not understanding  time to be traordinary ion of liger the room should have allowed.

    Figo control  absurdly afraid of  migammered, quot;I ...  to me? Please?”

    Scime, c kindled in hey moved.

    quot;; ill ;I realized t I ood, too late, , even ts possibility, ill gone. t . . . s oriana, and trutrut you are t  before you leaped I kne I loved you. Brigar of Eanna, forgive me t you are the harbor of my souls journeying.”

    Brigar of Eanna. , from tly, easily, a name among oteasing for werm of praise whe harbor of his soul.

    So be crying, silently, tears o slide slowly down her cheeks.

    quot;O; co ;I am so sorry. I am a fool. too sudden, toniger onig even know if you—”

    opped just t only because so make op.

    Sill crying, but to be t amazing brig like to rise beyond the rim of darkness.

    S  say. Sill said not speak. Srembling. S earlier tonigtle time ago sood in a castle o die. ears fell on  ot falling. S as t rialla, only neo give voice to ts days.

    ttempt at smoot. It seemed to be someted to do for a long time.  and yet never known, never acknowledged or allowed?

    quot;; s needing to speak, quot;I used to dream of this. Alessan, have I died and come back? Am I dreaming now?”

    s ted o be o offer t  t .

    But tedly, o rest it against t covering er, one t o ood; it seemed— o goddess could old t so offer er all. Sed o

    seemed to Catriana in t moment as if t nerialla in o sing. Of trials endured and trials to come, of doubt and dark and all tainties t defined ter boundaries of mortal life, but  at t all, like lig stone of a rising tower.

    tracker in Senzio, Devin learned later t nig not by to deal y t ime tory together.

    It seemed t the Barbadians had gone wild.

    Finding t to all the murderously obvious conclusions.

    ty of to tern le. t in upon Cullion of Ygratative, as ruggled into ook time about killing le.

    t back doairs and tyard to t gates and o deat t a proper searc  tain of tle Guard came into tyard o lay doheir arms.

    to most reports later, about to do so, e purposes,  tc tantly dead, one mortally racker.

    to-torc courtyard of tle, soon slippery h blood.

    tered to t man, taking some ty or forty Senzians hem.

    No one kneily doairs screaming  to stop.

    In t follo deat to going doo tarted it all. ty as t. A errified croside tle. Sly after midnig long after t ty in Senzio rode aiger under t nortoward Farsaro w was anchored.

    Catriana roubled, almost cs peace.

    Alais could not find rest too mucumult in treets and sever was happening.

    Even after Rovigo came back in and stopped at to look in on t t to be no immediate danger, Alais ill unable to sleep. too muconig none of it to  riana ed and unsettled in oddly discontinuous ways. S even  were working upon her.

    Eventually s on t t and  to sit on the open window.

    It e by t, do see too far inland—but s  anc breeze. treets even noion of tavern quarter, but noty  a curfeo be a night.

    So da ay ao see t s  for it. t a nig for her, Alais

    amended, glancing back at Catriana. Sime them had shared a room.

    home.

    S , receiving Rovigos letter of carefully p-explanation sent by courier across Astibar from t of Ardin too Senzio. S in anotrust saining, defining elements of her own world.

    S t ill dark, tars over no tting; it probably lacked several  till daion t t   nigumult in treets. In a curious, quite unexpected  served to reassure  of all else, ill continue as they always had.

    tstep on tairside. Alais leaned backedly realizing she could probably be seen from below.

    quot;?quot; sly, so as not to disturb Catri-ana.

    quot;Only me,quot; Devin said, coming up to stand on tside t umbled or rolled someoo dark to properly see ;; he asked.

    Sured, not sure o say. quot;too many t once, I suppose. Im not used to this.”

    Seet;None of us are,quot; ;Believe me. But I dont tonigo bed.”

    quot;My fat seemed to ed down.”

    Devin nodded. quot;For nole. Catriana did kill to  tracker. I t was w saved us.”

    Alais s;My fat tell me about t.”

    quot;  to disturb your nig;  o;how is she?”

    quot;S, really. Asleep.quot; Sered t Catriana  concern, t caring, tonigonighin her mind.

    quot;And ; Devin asked, in a different tone, turning back to  altered, deeper voice t made it difficult for o breathe.

    quot;Im fine too, ly.”

    quot;I kno; ;Actually, you are a great deal more t, Alais.quot; ated for a moment, seeming suddenly aand t, until o kiss ime, if you counted tairs, but te amazingly unlike t. For one t   in her hair.

    eadily. Alais opened ened, steps  past in t running as before. t, looking at eac. ;It is ... till to morning. You sry to sleep, Alais. t deal o come.”

    Sated anot, turned to er landing toh Alessan and Erlein.

    Sting  tness of tars, letting  gradually sloy and o o someone scion, t voice  deal. And it ouc o o t it and relive t of t kiss, a most astonishing.

    Sill smiling urned to er all, for t fely altered  long night.

    All t day everyone ed. A pall of doom like smoke y treasurer attempted to assert control in tle, but to take orders from ed confrontations  on all day. By time someone t to go doaken away; no one knew where or by whose orders.

    ty ground to a . Men and reets, feeding on rumor, c every corner a different story  Rinaldo, t Dukes broto ty to take command in tle; by tale, but no one he man.

    A restless, nervous darkness fell. treets remained cro no one in Senzio could sleep. t hrough a clear sky.

    Outside Soling all inside—to . Songs not sung since Casalia o o be called Governor instead yrants to advise ed out from Solingo ted summer nigoars.

    Just after da. Before noon t ed anch a favorable wind.

    ar had come.

    All to t taverns and treets and began tedly, to temples of triad.

    In t deserted front room of Soling afternoon one man continued to play tregean pipes, faster and faster and  forgotten tune.