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It was Husari who was weeping。
Alvar felt his heart twist for his friend。 This was Husari's city； he would have known so many of these maddened people； he had probably killed men he had known all his life。 Alvar opened his mouth and then closed it。 There was nothing he could think of to say。 There were places into which words could not go。 Not the words he knew。
Jehane was on her knees； scrabbling at a stone in the wall。 It came loose。 She reached in a hand； swore as a scorpion scurried away； and pulled out a key。 She stood up。
〃Over here；〃 she gasped。 She ran a short distance along the wall to a clump of raspberry bushes。 Ducking in behind them； she dropped to her knees again； inserted the key and pulled； hard。
A small； low section of the stone wall swung outwards。 The hinging mechanism was ingenious； they had no time to admire it。
〃Is this；〃 said Eliane； 〃one of the ways out your friends taught you？〃
Jehane glanced up at her mother。 〃How do you know about them？〃
Eliane's expression was bitter。 〃They warned me。 We were too slow to move。〃
〃Then we must not be now；〃 said Ammar ibn Khairan。 〃e。〃
〃I'll go；〃 Alvar said。 〃Wait for my signal。〃 Who knew what lay outside in the darkness？ Whatever it was； Alvar was going to be first to meet it。
〃There's another key inside；〃 Jehane said。 〃You need to use it to push the outer piece open。〃
He slipped behind the hushes and then wriggled into a hollowed…out space in the thick stone city wall。 In the close blackness he found the second key by touch and then the keyhole。 He inserted； turned； pushed。 The outer wall piece swung away and Alvar crawled through。 He felt grass； stood up and looked around； blade quickly to hand again。
Only twilight； damp earth by the river； the first stars and a rising white moon。 The water rippled just ahead； reflecting the pale moonlight。
〃e on；〃 he said； mouth to the hollow space in the stone。
The others came through then； one by one。 He helped them slip out and then stand outside the wall between stone and dark water。 Rodrigo； last through； dropped the key back inside and pushed the opening shut。
They crossed the water immediately； those who could swim helping the others。 The river was very cold this early in the year。 They climbed up on the far bank in the dark。 Alvar collapsed among the high grass and the reeds； sucking in deep breaths of the clean air。 His face stung； it felt raw and burnt。
He became aware of something。 Slowly he rose to his feet again。 Rodrigo had walked a few steps from the rest of them and was staring out into the darkness。 His sword was drawn。
〃Who's there？〃 the Captain called。
There was silence。 Ammar ibn Khairan also stood up。
Then there came an answer from the dark： 〃A friend。 Someone is here to bid you wele； Ser Rodrigo。〃 The speaker had a deep； calm voice。
But it wasn't the tone； it was the language spoken that caused Alvar to step forward beside Rodrigo； his heart hammering again。
He was close enough to hear the Captain draw breath。
〃Light a torch； then；〃 Rodrigo said。 〃Darkness offers no true wele。〃
They heard a mand。 Flint was struck。 Light blazed。
〃Wele back； truly；〃 said the very tall； bearded man illuminated by that torch。 Alvar had seen him twice in his life。 He forgot to breathe。
〃My lord；〃 said Rodrigo； after a moment。 〃This is unexpected。〃
King Ramiro of Valledo； surrounded by a pany of men； smiled his pleasure。 〃I had hoped it might be。 It is rare that any of us are able to surprise you。〃
〃How e you to be here？〃 Rodrigo said。 His voice was controlled； but Alvar was near enough to know there was effort involved in that。 He heard ibn Khairan e quietly up beside them。
King Ramiro's smile deepened。 He gestured； and someone stepped from the group of men behind him。
〃Hello； Papa；〃 said a young boy； ing to stand beside the king。
Rodrigo sucked in his breath； his control gone。 〃Fernan？ In Jad's name； what…〃
〃It was Diego；〃 the boy said； a little too brightly。 He wore light armor and a sword。 〃He knew where you were； this morning； and told us where to wait tonight。〃 Rodrigo was silent。 〃He sometimes knows where you are； remember？〃 The boy's voice betrayed uncertainty。 〃Are you not pleased to see me； Papa？〃
〃Oh； Jad；〃 Alvar heard the Captain say。 And then； to the king of Valledo； 〃What have you done？ Why are my sons with this army？〃
〃There will be time to explain；〃 said Ramiro calmly。 〃This is not the place。 Will you e with us？ We can offer dry clothing and food。〃
〃And those I am with？〃 Rodrigo's tone was ice…cold。
〃They are my guests if you speak for them； whoever they may be。 e now； greet your son； Ser Rodrigo。 He has been dreaming of this moment。〃
Rodrigo opened his mouth quickly； then closed it。 Slowly he sheathed his blade。
〃e to me；〃 he said to the boy； and with an involuntary sound； Fernan Belmonte ran forward and was gathered fiercely in his father's embrace。 Alvar saw the Captain close his eyes as he gripped his son。
〃Your mother；〃 said Rodrigo； when he finally stepped back； 〃is going to kill all of us for this； you realize。 Starting with me。〃
〃Mother's with the queen； Papa。 We haven't seen her yet but there was a message she came south and joined Queen Ines with the rest of the army following us。 We tried to cut you off before you reached the city。 That's why we came so fast。 Why are you here； Papa？ What happened to your moustache？〃
〃I had friends in danger。 I came to get them out。 Where is Diego？〃
〃They are taking great care of him；〃 Fernan said。 〃He's angry about it。 They wouldn't let him e here。 They made him stay with the food train； in some village by the river west。〃
〃Ashar； no！ Not there！〃
All his days Alvar would remember those words and the expression on Ammar ibn Khairan's face； crying them。 Rodrigo wheeled on him。
〃What is it？ Tell me。'〃
〃Ambush！〃 snapped the other man； already moving。 〃The Muwardis。 Almalik planned it； years ago。 Pray to your god and ride！〃
Rodrigo was already running towards the horses。
And so； moments later； for the second time in less than a year； Alvar de Pellino…wet and burnt and cold； pushing past exhaustion and half a dozen small wounds…found himself galloping flat…out through darkness over the plain north of Fezana towards a hamlet named Orvilla。
Ammar ibn Khairan was beside him； against all allegiances； and the king of Valledo was on his other side with Jehane and her parents and Husart and two children and a party of fifty of the king's guard streaming behind them in the cool； clear night。
Ahead of them all； whipping his mount like a madman under the stars and the white moon； was a father racing time and the turning heavens to his child。
Sixteen
Until the very moment； under the stars and the white moon in Al…Rassan of the infidels； when the veiled ones appeared out of the darkening plain； Ibero the cleric had succeeded in persuading himself that the hand of Jad was upon his shoulder after all； guiding him。
He had shaped his plan on that first morning； riding west from Rancho Belmonte in the rain。 It was possible…he'd been