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f authority。
Ramiro went on； unruffled。 〃Dona Miranda Belmonte d'Alveda was a frail woman with no men to guard her； fearing for the lives of her young children in the face of an attack by armed soldiers。〃 The king lifted another document from the tree trunk beside him and glanced at it。 〃We accept the deposition of the cleric Ibero that Ser Garcia specifically indicated to Dona Miranda that his purpose had been to exact vengeance upon herself and her sons； and not merely to claim horses from Rancho Belmonte。〃
〃That man is a servant of Belmonte's！〃 the constable said sharply。 The splendid voice was a shade less controlled than it had been before。
The king looked at him； and those in attendance； observing that glance； were made abruptly mindful that Ramiro was； in fact； a warrior when he chose to be。 Cups of wine were raised and men drank thoughtfully。
〃You were not invited to speak； Count Gonzalez。 We have carefully noted that none of your brother's surviving men have contradicted this deposition。 They appear to confirm it； in fact。 We also note that by all accounts the attack was against the ranch itself； not the pastures where the horses were grazing。 We are capable of drawing conclusions； especially when supported by the sworn word of a servant of the god。 Given that your brother had already broken his parole by attacking the ranch； it is our judgment that Dona Miranda； a frightened； defenseless woman； is not to be censured for killing him and thus protecting her husband's children and possessions。〃
〃You bring shame upon us with this；〃 said his constable bitterly。
When Ramiro of Valledo was angry his face grew white。 It did so now。 He stood up； taller than almost every man in that clearing。 Papers scattered beside him； a cleric hurried to collect them。
〃Your brother brought you shame；〃 the king said icily； 〃by refusing to accept your own authority； or ours。 We do no more than rule upon his actions。 Hear us； Gonzalez〃…no title； the listeners realized； and wine goblets were lowered all about the clearing…〃there will be no feud to follow from this。 We forbid it。 We make the following decree before these high…born of Valledo： Count Gonzalez de Rada； our constable； will stand surety with his own life for the next two years for the lives and safety of the family of Ser Rodrigo Belmonte。 Should death or grievous harm befall any of them from any source during this time we will execute mortal judgment upon his body。〃
A buzzing again； and this one did not subside。 Nothing remotely like this had ever been heard before。
〃Why two years？〃
It was Rodrigo。 The first time the Captain had spoken since the hearing had begun。 The angle of the sun had changed now； his face was in shadow。 The question brought a silence； as the king's gaze turned to Belmonte。
〃Because you will not be able to defend them；〃 Ramiro said levelly； still on his feet。 〃Officers of the king have a responsibility to exercise control both over their weapons and their words。 You failed us twice over。 What you did to Ser Garcia； and what you said to him； are direct causes of his death and this hard trouble in our kingdom。 Rodrigo Belmonte； you are condemned to a term of exile from Valledo of two years。 At the end of such time you may present yourself before us and we will rule upon your case。〃
〃He goes alone； I take it？〃 It was Count Gonzalez； reacting quickly。 〃Not with his pany？〃
It mattered； all the listeners knew。 Rodrigo Belmonte's pany prised one hundred and fifty of the finest fighting men in the peninsula。
Rodrigo laughed aloud； the sound almost shocking； given the tension among the trees。 〃You are most wele；〃 he said； 〃to try to stop them from following me。〃
King Ramiro was shaking his head。 〃I will not do so。 Your men are yours and blameless in this。 They may go or stay as they please。 I will ask only for one undertaking from you； Ser Rodrigo。〃
〃After exiling me from my home？〃 The question was pointed。 Rodrigo's face was still in shadow。
〃Even so。〃 It was interesting how calm the king was。 A number of men reached the same conclusion at the same time： Ramiro had anticipated almost every point of this exchange。 〃I do not think you can truly quarrel with our ruling； Ser Rodrigo。 Take your pany； if you will。 We ask only that they not be used in warfare against us。〃
Silence again； as every man struggled to think through the implications。 It could be seen that Rodrigo Belmonte was staring down at the forest floor； his forehead creased with thought。 The king gazed upon him； waiting。
When Rodrigo looked up； his brow had cleared。 He lifted his right hand towards the sky overhead； and shaped the sun circle of the god with thumb and fingers。 〃I swear by holy Jad；〃 he said formally； 〃that I will never lead my pany in warfare into the lands of Valledo。〃
It was almost what the king had asked。 Almost； but not quite； and Ramiro knew it。
〃And if you find a Valledan army beyond our borders？〃 he asked。
〃I can swear no oath；〃 Rodrigo said quietly。 〃Not an honorable one。 Not if I am forced to take service elsewhere for my livelihood and that of my pany。 My lord； this is not；〃 he added； meeting the king's gaze squarely； 〃a departure of my choosing。〃
A long stillness。
〃Do not take service with Cartada；〃 said the king at length； his voice extremely soft。
Rodrigo stood motionless； visibly thinking。
〃Really； my lord？ You will begin so soon？ Within two years？〃 he asked cryptically。
〃It may be so；〃 Ramiro said； no less ambiguously。
Men were struggling to understand； but the two of them seemed to be in the midst of a private exchange。
Rodrigo was nodding his head slowly。 〃I suppose。 I will regret being elsewhere if it does happen。〃 He paused。 〃I will not serve Almalik of Cartada。 I don't like what he did in Fezana。 I will not serve him there； or anywhere else。〃
Fezana。
At the mention of the name a few men began to nod their heads； looking at their tall； proud king。 A glimmering of what this seemed to be about began to e to them； like shafts of the god's sunlight falling into the clearing。 Ramiro wasn't a jurist or a cleric； after all； and there might be more than hunting in the days to e。
〃I accept your oath；〃 said the king of Valledo calmly。 〃We have never found you lacking in honor； Ser Rodrigo。 We see no reason to doubt it now。〃
〃Well； I am grateful for that；〃 said the Captain。 It was impossible to tell if there was mockery in his voice。 He took a step forward； fully into the light。 〃I do have a request of my own。〃
〃Which is？〃
〃I will ask Count Gonzalez to swear before the god to guard my family and possessions as if they were his own while I am away。 That is enough for me。 I need no binding of his death。 The world is a dangerous place； and the days to e may make it more so。 Should accident befall a Belmonte； Valledo could ill afford to lose its constable as well。 I am content with his sworn word； if it pleases the king。〃
He was looking at the constable as he spoke。 It could be seen that de Rada was taken by surprise。
〃Why？〃 he asked softly； an intimate question in a very public space。 The two men faced each other