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on； whether this development had been anticipated； or whether it was as much a surprise to them as to those assembled。
〃We have all the witnesses we require；〃 the king murmured； 〃and I am loath to submit men such as yourselves to a court hearing in the palace。 It seems fitting to me that this affair be dealt with here。 Does anyone object？ Speak； if so。〃
Even as he was talking； two court officials could be seen approaching the tree trunk upon which the king was seated。 They carried satchels and when these were opened parchments and scrolls were set down near the king。 〃No objection； my liege；〃 said Count Gonzalez de Rada。
His smooth； beautiful voice filled the clearing。 Servants were moving about now； pouring wine from flasks into what appeared to be genuine silver drinking goblets。 The hunters exchanged glances yet again。 Whatever else might be said of him； Ramiro was not stinting on the largess appropriate to a royal host。 Some dismounted and handed their reins to the grooms。 Others preferred to remain on horseback； reaching down for their wine and drinking in the saddle。
〃I would never dream；〃 said Rodrigo Belmonte； 〃of putting so many of the king's people to such a deal of preparation without acceding to whatever the king proposed。〃 He sounded amused； but he often did； so that meant little。
〃The allegations；〃 said the king of Valledo； ignoring Ser Rodrigo's tone； 〃are substantial。〃 King Ramiro； tall； broad…shouldered； prematurely greying； now wore an expression appropriate to a monarch faced with lethal hostility between two of the most important men in his realm。 The festive； careening mood of the morning was gone。 The gathered aristocracy； as they gradually came to terms with what was happening； were more intrigued than anything else； this sort of possibly mortal conflict provided the best entertainment in the world。
In the open space before the king's fallen tree Belmonte and de Rada stood side by side。 The former constable of the realm and the man who had succeeded him when Ramiro took the throne。 The two men had placed themselves a careful distance apart。 Neither had deigned to glance at the other。 Given what was known about what had happened earlier this summer； the possibility of bloodshed was strong； whatever efforts the king might expend to avoid it。
A good many of those in attendance； especially those from the countryside； were rather hoping King Ramiro would fail in his attempt at resolution。 A trial by bat would make this a memorable gathering。 Perhaps； some thought optimistically； that was why this was taking place away from the city walls。
〃It need hardly be said that Ser Rodrigo is responsible； in law； for the actions of his wife and children； given that they have no legal standing or capacity；〃 the king said soberly。 〃At the same time； the sworn and uncontested statements of Ser Rodrigo indicate that the constable was formally put on notice here in Esteren that his brother would not be permitted to do harm in lands paying parias to us。 In giving this notice；〃 the king added； 〃Ser Rodrigo was acting properly； and as our officer。〃
More than one rancher or baron in that forest clearing found this entirely too legalistic for his taste。 Why； they wondered； didn't Ramiro just let them fight it out here under the sun of Jad in the open spaces that best became a man…and have done with this dry…mouthed； dusty verbiage？
Such a pleasing possibility seemed to be being less likely with each passing moment。 The smug expressions of the three yellow…robed clerics who had moved to stand behind the king indicated as much。 Ramiro wasn't known for his close relations with the clerics of Jad； but these three certainly looked happy enough。
This； a number of the lords of Valledo thought； was what happened when a king became too full of himself； when he started making changes。 Even that new throne room back in the palace； with its veined marble pillars： didn't it look more like something designed for a decadent court in Al…Rassan than a Jaddite warrior hall？ What was happening here in Valledo？ It was an increasingly urgent question。
〃Having considered the words of both parties and the depositions that have been rendered； including one by the Asharite silk merchant Husari ibn Musa of Fezana； we will be brief in our judgment。〃
The king's expression continued to match his stern words。 The blunt fact was； if Belmonte and de Rada chose to pursue a blood feud Valledo was likely to be torn apart in the choosing of sides； and Ramiro's sweeping changes would fall like butchered bodies。
〃It is our decision that Garcia de Rada…may his soul reside with Jad in light…violated both our laws and our obligations in his attack upon the village of Orvilla by Fezana。 Ser Rodrigo's
120 Guy Gavriel Kay
interruption of that attack was entirely proper。 It was his duty； given the parias being paid to us for protection。 It is also our judgment that ordering the death of Parazor de Rada was reasonable； if unfortunate； given the need to demonstrate both our fairness and our authority in Fezana。 No blame or criticism falls to Ser Rodrigo for these things。〃
Count Gonzalez stirred restlessly； but grew still under the king's flat gaze。 Light fell through the trees； dappling the clearing in bands of brightness and shadow。
〃At the same time；〃 King Ramiro went on； 〃Ser Rodrigo had no right to wound Garcia de Rada after accepting his surrender。 It was not a deed that bees a man of rank。〃 The king hesitated and shifted a little on his tree trunk。 Rodrigo Belmonte was looking straight at him； waiting。 Ramiro met his gaze。 〃Further；〃 he said； his voice quiet but extremely clear； 〃the public accusation he is reported to have made with respect to the death of my lamented brother King Raimundo is a slander beneath the dignity of both a nobleman and an officer of the king。〃
A number of men in that forest clearing caught their breath at this point。 They had reached a matter that touched perilously near to Ramiro's position on the throne itself。 The extremely abrupt death of his brother had never been satisfactorily explained。
Ser Rodrigo did not move； nor； at this juncture； did he speak。 In the slanting sunlight his expression was unreadable； save for the frown of concentration as he listened。 Ramiro picked up a parchment from the trunk beside him。
〃That leaves us with an attack on women and children at Rancho Belmonte； and then the killing of a man who had sheathed his sword。〃 King Ramiro looked down at the parchment for a moment and then back up。 〃Garcia de Rada had formally surrendered in Orvilla； and accepted terms of ransom to be determined。 His obligation by his oath was to e straight here to Esteren and await the ruling of our royal heralds。 Instead he recklessly stripped our defenses in the tagra lands to pursue a personal attack on Rancho Belmonte。 For this；〃 said the king of Valledo； speaking slowly and carefully now； 〃I would have ordered his public execution。〃
There came a swiftly rising sound of protest between the trees。 This was new； a prodigious assertion of authority。
Ramiro went on； unruffled。 〃Dona Miranda Belmonte d'Alveda was a frail woman with