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〃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。〃
〃You have。 Which leaves us with only the last question； doesn't it？ You know what it is； my lord。〃
Alvar knew it as well； by now。 The last question。 What followed the last question？ He wished he were somewhere else。
The king said； quietly； 〃I had no love for Raimundo。 Or Sanchez； for that matter。 Nor they for me。 It was no secret； Jad knows。 Our father chose a certain way to raise his three sons。 But I knew I could do more for Valledo； and perhaps all of Esperana one day； than either of my brothers ever could。 I knew it。 In my own time of exile here in Al…Rassan； when men came south to speak with me； I will not deny that I voiced anger that Valledo was probably going to be given to Raimundo when our father died。 Which is what happened； of course。〃
The king stopped。 Alvar heard the animal call out again； far off in darkness。 King Ramiro said； 〃It is 。。。 very possible 。。。 that someone listening to me in a tavern or wine shop here might have concluded that were Raimundo to die 。。。 unexpectedly； I would not be displeased。〃
Clouds slid from the white moon。 Alvar saw the king look at Rodrigo in the doubled moonlight。 〃I would not have been displeased。 I was not； in the event。 I will not lie about this。 But before Jad； and on the life of my queen； and by whatever else you would wish me to swear； I did not mand his murder； nor do I know how it was achieved。〃
〃Then how；〃 Rodrigo asked； implacable； 〃do you know it was Garcia？〃
〃He told me。 He wanted to tell me more。 I stopped him。〃
Rodrigo's hands were fists at his sides。 〃And that is all you did？ Stop him from telling you？ Shall I believe this？ No punishment； no exposure？ For the killing of a king？ You made his brother constable of Valledo。 You let Garcia live as he chose； doing what he wished all these years； until he nearly killed my wife and my boys？〃
〃I did；〃 said Ramiro quietly。 〃I let him live his life。 Gonzalez de Rada became constable because he was worthy of the post…do not deny that…and because you would not serve me after Raimundo died。〃
〃After he was murdered！〃
The king made a small movement of hands and shoulders。 〃After he was murdered。 Garcia was never given rank； status； office； power 。。。 none of these things。 You might consider that a moment； given what he could have expected from his birth。 I thought of having him killed； frankly； because he was a risk and an embarrassment； and because I loathed the man。 But I was 。。。 aware that Raimundo had been killed by him because he thought I would approve and because he had 。。。 enough reason to think so。 I would not kill a man for that。 Yes； I let him live。 I kept the secret。 I allowed Gonzalez to serve me and Valledo。 Honorably。 You had been my brother's man。 I would not beg you for aid or approval； Ser Rodrigo； at my ascension； or after。 I will not do so now。 I think you were one of those blind to what Raimundo really was； and that your youth excused this； then。〃
Alvar heard the king's voice change。 〃It is no excuse now。 Not any more。 We are no longer young； Rodrigo Belmonte； and all these events are done with； in the past。 Though I will not beg； I will ask。 What I have told you tonight is truth。 It is all truth。 Will you be my constable？ Will you mand this army for me？〃
Rodrigo Belmonte had a quality； Alvar had long ago observed； of being able to hold himself utterly； disconcertingly still。 He was like that now； for what seemed a very long time。
〃I don't think；〃 he murmured finally； 〃that the past is ever really done with us。〃 But then； in a firmer voice he asked； 〃mand the army to achieve what end； my lord king？〃
〃To take Fezana。 And Cartada。 And Silvenes。 Lonza。 Aljais。 Elvira。 Everything I can。〃 The answer was decisive。
Alvar discovered that he was shivering again。
〃And then？〃
〃And then；〃 said King Ramiro； as bluntly as before； 〃I intend to occupy my uncle's kingdom of Jalona。 And then my brother's Ruenda。 As you said； this campaign is a holy war in name alone。 I want Esperana back； Ser Rodrigo； and not only the land my father ruled under the khalifs' sufferance。 I want all of this peninsula。 Before I die； I intend to ride my horse into the seas to south and west and north； and up into the mountains to look down upon Ferrieres…and know that all the lands through which I rode were Esperana。〃
〃And then？〃 An odd question； in a way。
〃And then；〃 said King Ramiro； more softly； almost amused； 〃I will probably rest。 And try to make a belated peace with Jad for all my transgressions beneath his light。〃
Alvar de Pellino； having struggled through a long year and a terrible day and night towards a new awareness of himself； realized that he was thrilled by this…beyond words or clear thought。 His skin was tingling； the hairs on the nape of his neck standing up。
It was the sheer grandeur of the vision。 Lost and conquered Esperana made whole again； one Jaddite kingdom in all the wide peninsula； with Valledo and its Horsemen at the heart of it。 Alvar longed to be a part of this； to see it e to be； to ride his own horse into those oceans and up that mountain with his king。 Yet； even as his heart heard this call to glory； he was aware of slaughter embedded in the sweep of the king's dream； or swooping above it like the carrion birds that followed the battlefields of men。
Will I ever； he thought； with a knifing of despair； be at peace between these things？
He heard Rodrigo Belmonte say then； very calmly； 〃You might have told me about Garcia a long time ago； my lord。 I think I should have believed you。 I do believe you now。 I am your man； since you want me。〃
And he knelt before the king and held up his hands together； palms touching。 Ramiro looked down upon him； unspeaking for a moment。
〃You would not have believed；〃 he said。 〃You would always have doubted。 We needed to grow older； you and I； for me to say this and you to hear it。 I wonder if your young soldier can possibly understand that。〃
Alvar flushed in the darkness； then heard the Captain say； 〃You might be surprised； my lord。 He's more than a soldier； though I will tell you later what he did in Fezana this evening。 If I am to be your constable I have my first request： I would ask that Alvar de Pellino be named my herald； to bear Valledo's staff and carry our words to the Star…born。〃
〃It is an honor；〃 the king said。 〃He is very young。 It is also a dangerous post in this war。〃 He motioned towards the hamlet behind them。 〃The Asharites may not observe the laws of heralds and their codes。〃
Rodrigo shook his head。 〃They will。 That much I know。 They value their own honor as much as we do ours。 Even the Muwardis。 In a way； especially the Muwardis。 And Alvar will acquit himself。〃
Ramiro looked at Alvar； that appraising glance in the moonlight。 〃You wish this for yourself？〃 he asked。 〃There is less glory than might be found in battle by a courageous young man。〃
Alvar knelt beside Rodrigo Belmonte and lifted his joined palms。 〃I wish for this；〃 he replied； dis