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He had shaped his plan on that first morning； riding west from Rancho Belmonte in the rain。 It was possible…he'd been forced to admit it…that Miranda had been right。 That in furthering the demands of holy faith Ibero had done wrong by the family he so dearly loved。 If that were so； he had vowed on that grey； cold morning he would do all he could to ensure that the wrong was contained and redressed。 Miranda Belmonte might have turned him away； driven him from his home； but he would not turn his back on her or her family。
He had fallen in with a pany of soldiers from the ranch country； heading towards Carcasia in response to the king's summons： the same summons that had claimed the two boys。 He went with the soldiers。 This was a holy war； in name at least； and clerics were not unwele if they could keep up on the ride。 Ibero knew how to handle a horse。 Years with the Belmonte had made certain of that。
He found Fernan and Diego among the king's party seven days later in the plain south of Carcasia； amid the tents and banners of a war camp。 Rodrigo's sons were being treated with evident respect； although the scrutiny afforded Diego by those who knew why he was here made Ibero unfortable。 Against his will； he was reminded of Miranda's words： those with the far…sight； or whatever name was given it； had been burned in the past。 In the not…so…distant past。 This； Ibero told himself again； was a more enlightened age。
The boys weren't entirely pleased to see him； but Ibero had a streak of stubbornness in his nature and he made it clear to all concerned； including the elegant High Cleric from Ferrieres； that where the sons of Rodrigo Belmonte went； Ibero also would go。 He didn't tell the boys he had been driven from the ranch by their mother； perhaps he ought to have； but he couldn't manage to do it。 That meant his presence with them involved a deception； but he trusted the god to forgive him for that。 He meant well。 He had always meant well。
Fernan and Diego had obviously been up to mischief on the way here and since arriving。 They were high…spirited and too clever for their own good sometimes。 It was judged useful to have their tutor about for discipline。 There was a tale doing the rounds of the camp about the rock…laden saddlebags of one of the soldiers who had brought them here。 It was quite a funny story； but Ibero was practised at not encouraging his charges with visible amusement。
Soon afterwards they rode south through the no…man's…land with the army of reconquest； with the vanguard； in fact； for Diego and Fernan were kept close to the king himself。
Ibero had never seen his king before。 Ramiro of Valledo was a handsome； impressive man。 Worthy； the little cleric thought humbly； to be the instrument of Esperana's reconquest。 If the god allowed。 He was acutely aware that all the men in this army were a part of something momentous。 The king kept speaking of a limited campaign； a tactical capture of Fezana； but even Ibero the cleric knew that once Valledo was in Al…Rassan the shape and tenor of their age would have changed forever。
The lean； elegant constable； Count Gonzalez de Rada； hovered unsettlingly close to the boys all the way south。 Ibero knew that Ser Rodrigo and this man had no love for each other； but he also remembered that de Rada had sworn to guard Belmonte's family when Rodrigo had been exiled。 Ibero hoped…and prayed； each morning and when the sun went down…that the sardonic constable's proximity was a manifestation of that vow and nothing else。
South of the two small tagra forts the king's vanguard began to open a distance from the rest of the army； with outriders galloping back and forth to keep munications flowing。
This was how Ibero learned that Miranda Belmonte d'Alveda had also bee a part of their army； joining the entourage of Queen Ines； who had chosen to e with her husband into the lands of the infidels。 When he told the boys they seemed unsurprised。 Ibero was disconcerted by that until he remembered the obvious。
Diego's gift was difficult to deal with at times。 He would have known before the messengers came； Ibero realized。 A little reluctantly； he admonished Diego。
〃You ought to be telling the rest of us if you 。。。 see anything。 It might be important。 That is why we are here； after all。〃
Diego's expression had been ical。 〃My mother？〃 he asked。 〃Ibero； my mother's arrival is important to the war？〃
Put that way； he did have a point。 Fernan； predictably； had a different perspective entirely。
〃Isn't this wonderful；〃 he had exclaimed indignantly。 〃Our first campaign and everyone from home es trotting along。 Who else should we expect？ The cook； our nurses from childhood？ This is ridiculous！ Are you here to make sure we keep warm at night？〃
Diego had laughed。 Ibero was too uneasy about the tidings of Miranda to be amused or chastising。 Fernan's words were disrespectful； but Ibero could understand how a young man on his first campaign might feel 。。。 crowded by his tutor's arrival； and now his mother's。
Nothing for it。 If the boys felt unhappy or the soldiers teased them they would have to deal with that themselves。 The truth was； they were too young to be here； and would not have e had Diego not been what he was。 And had not Ibero sent a certain letter to Esteren。
He sent another letter…a formal message to Miranda by one of the outriders。 He reported his own presence and the good health and respectful treatment of the two boys。 No word came back。
They did hear； indirectly； that the queen was entirely recovered from her unfortunate accident and that she had great faith in her new physician； a doctor from one of the tagra forts。
The story was that he had saved Queen Ines's life at the very brink of death。 Diego； in particular； was fascinated by the tale and ferreted out all the details he could from those who had been at that meeting of the three kings。 Fernan was more interested in uping events。 He managed to attach himself to the king's entourage； staying close to Count Gonzalez； in fact。 It was Fernan who explained to the other two why they were leaving the Asharite farms and hamlets untouched as they rode。
They had passed a number of them since leaving the tagra lands。 The villagers and farmers had fled into the hills with most of their belongings； but it had always been customary； in the wars of Ashar and Jad； to fire the houses and fields。
Things were different this time。
Despite a visible disagreement emanating from Geraud de Chervalles； King Ramiro was insistent on the point。 This was not a raid； Fernan reported the king as saying。 They were ing south to take Fezana and to stay。 And if they did that； they would need Asharites to resettle these villages and farmhouses； to pay taxes and till the fields。 Time and steady governance would bring Jad back into Al…Rassan； the king had declared； not burnings and destruction。 Ibero wasn't entirely sure how that meshed with holy doctrine； but he kept silent in the presence of his betters。
Fernan would spend the time after twilight prayers； before dark and bed； drawing maps for his brother and the cleric； explaining what might happen when they reached Fezana； an