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n waiting to happen for a long time。
〃I don't know yet；〃 said Rodrigo Belmonte flatly。 Alvar blinked。 The Captain was speaking to his anointed monarch。 〃What happened at Carcasia？ You had best tell me about that。〃
〃I intended to。 Almalik II used a spy at the court of my brother of Ruenda to try to kill the queen。 His purpose was subtle and nearly succeeded。 If the queen had died and I blamed Sanchez it would have shattered any alliance and sent us to war against each other。 I nearly rode against Ruenda。 I would have； had she died。〃
〃But？〃
〃The physician； d'Inigo…who assisted with your boy tonight…was able to save the queen where her own doctors could not。 He realized； from the nature of the wound； that there had been poison on the arrow； and provided the remedy。〃
〃We owe him a great deal； then；〃 said Rodrigo。
〃We do。 He said he learned of that poison from the writings of a certain Kindath physician in Fezana。〃
Another silence。 Alvar saw a star fall across the sky in the west。 A birth； a death。 One or the other； in the folk tales at home。 He was far from home。
〃I see。 I had intended to ask you；〃 said Rodrigo； 〃whatever else happens； to look to the well…being of Ser Ishak and his family。〃
〃You need not ask；〃 said the king。 〃It is done。 For the queen's sake； and your son's。 Whatever else happens。〃
Alvar saw Rodrigo incline his head in the moonlight。 A cloud drifted across the face of the white moon； deepening the darkness。
〃D'Inigo also told me something else；〃 the king said quietly。 〃He said the poison used was one known only in Al…Rassan。 The Ruendans would have had no ready access to it； or knowledge of it。〃
〃I see。〃 Rodrigo's tone changed。 〃You wrote to your brother of Ruenda？〃
〃I did。 I told him what we had learned。 He had fled the meeting； fearing we might attack them。 As I said； I nearly did； Ser Rodrigo。 If the queen had died 。。。 〃
〃I believe I can understand that； my lord。〃
〃Sanchez wrote back。 They had unmasked the Cartadan spy and found arrows in his home with the same poison。 My brother was grateful。〃
〃Of course。 Insofar as he can be。〃 The tone was dry。
〃It went far enough。 He agreed to e south at the same time I did。 He is riding for Salos even now。〃
This was news。 Alvar could see Rodrigo absorbing it。
〃And Jalofia？〃 he asked softly。 〃Your uncle？〃
〃Is driving towards Ragosa and Fibaz。 It is happening。 The clerics have their holy war； after all； Ser Rodrigo。〃
Rodrigo shook his head。 〃Three wars of conquest； it would seem to me。〃
〃Of course。〃 The king's turn to sound wry。 〃But the clergy ride with us； and so far as I trust my uncle and brother not to turn back and attack Valledo； it is because of them。〃
〃And because of them my son was brought here？〃
〃He was summoned because in my anger I allowed an offered weapon to be brought to me。〃
〃He is a child； not a weapon； my lord。〃
〃He is both； Ser Rodrigo。 With respect。 And our country is at war。 How old were you when you first rode in my father's army beside Raimundo？〃
No answer。 Wind in the tall grass。
〃That is my tale。 Am I still to be punished？〃 King Ramiro asked softly。 〃I hope not so。 I need you； Ser Rodrigo。 Valledo has no constable tonight； no war leader； and we stand in Al…Rassan。〃
Alvar sucked in his breath sharply。 Neither of the other men so much as glanced at him。 He might not even have been here in the darkness with them。
〃You mentioned the name；〃 said Rodrigo； his voice suddenly no more than a whisper； 〃of your late brother。〃
Alvar shivered suddenly。 He was very tired； and the night breeze was growing colder； and he had begun to feel the places where he'd been wounded； but none of these were the reason。
〃I always thought；〃 said King Ramiro； 〃that we would have to arrive here eventually； you and I。〃
He stopped； and after a moment Alvar realized that the king was looking at him； evaluating。 It was for this； Alvar understood； that the Captain had wanted him here。
The king spoke again； finally； in a very different tone。 〃You genuinely loved him； didn't you？ I could not 。。。 I could never understand why everyone loved Raimundo so much。 Even our father。 Obviously。 Even he was seduced by my brother。 He gave him Valledo。 Tell me； Ser Rodrigo； answer a question for me this time： do you truly think Raimundo would have been a better king； had he lived； than I have been？〃
〃Doesn't matter；〃 Rodrigo said； in that same stiff； difficult whisper。
〃It does matter。 Answer me。〃
Silence。 Wind； and swift clouds overhead。 Alvar heard an animal cry out far off on the plain。 He looked at the Captain in the moonlight。 He is afraid； he thought。
Rodrigo said； 〃I can't answer that question。 He died too young。 We can't know what he would have grown into。 I know what you want me to say。 That he had more charm than strength。 That he was selfish and reckless and even cruel。 He was。 All of these things； at times。 But； as Jad will judge my life when I make my end； I have only known one other man； ever； who came even close to making 。。。 the act of living through days and nights so full of richness and delight。 You have been a far…sighted and a strong king； my lord。 I grant you that freely。 But I did love your brother； yes。 We were young…exiled together and then home together in triumph…and I have always believed he was killed。〃
〃He was；〃 said King Ramiro。
Alvar swallowed； hard。
Rodrigo brought one hand up； involuntarily； and touched his forehead。 He stayed thus a moment； then lowered his arm。 〃And who was it who killed him？〃 His voice actually cracked on the question。
〃Garcia de Rada。〃 The king's words were flat； uninflected。 〃You always thought so； didn't you？〃
Alvar had another memory then； torchlit。 This same hamlet。 Rodrigo's whip lashing out； catching Garcia de Rada on the face； ripping his cheek open。 Lain Nunez struggling to control the Captain's black rage。 The cold； ferocious words spoken…accusation of a king's murder。
He heard Rodrigo slowly release his breath。 He couldn't make out his features clearly but he saw the Captain cross his arms on his breast； as if holding tightly to something there。
〃Garcia was…what？…seventeen； eighteen that year？〃 Rodrigo said。 〃He acted on his brother's orders？〃
Ramiro hesitated。 〃I am speaking truth； Ser Rodrigo； believe it。 The answer is； I do not know。 Even tonight； with Gonzalez dead； I do not know for certain。 My thought has always been； he did not。 I believe Count Gonzalez innocent of my brother's blood。〃
〃I do not share your belief； I fear。 Would an eighteen…year…old have killed his king； unprompted？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said King Ramiro again。 He paused。 〃Should I point out that Gonzalez de Rada died terribly tonight because he would not leave Diego's side from the time your boys joined this army？〃
Rodrigo was unmoved。 〃He swore an oath to me last year。 He valued his family honor。〃
〃Then would he have murdered his king？〃
〃He valued many other things； my lord。 Power and wealth among them。 He； too； was younger then。 He might have done so； yes。 I thought you could tell me。〃
〃I have given you my belief。〃