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an insult to the god。 She did like the plans for her expanded quarters though。
〃Again； my lady？〃 the king of Valledo asked his wife。
She bit at her lip。 〃If you e to chapel with me； after。〃
〃Done；〃 he said； rising from the couch。
〃And speak the prayers aloud with me；〃 she added quickly。
〃Done。〃 He came over to stand above her seat； but then he sank to his knees before her； reaching up with one hand to touch her hair。
〃And you will not make any clever ments about the liturgy。〃
〃Done。 Done。 Done； Ines。〃
It seemed a fair bargain for a summer's day。 She laid her needlework aside。 She even granted him a smile。 The work of Jad here in Esperana had turned out to be long and unexpectedly plex。 It had led her down paths she could never have foreseen back at home in Ferrieres twenty years ago； a girl dreaming at night not of a man but a god。 She slid from the bench to join her husband on the newly carpeted floor。 She liked the carpet； too。 It had e all the way north from Seria； in Al…Rassan。
Somewhat rashly； in view of all the circumstances； Rodrigo Belmonte elected to ride on alone through the last night in order to arrive home at dawn； ahead of his pany； which had travelled with him from Esteren。
He was one of the most formidable fighting men in the peninsula； and the country here was about as safe as any open country was in thinly populated Valledo； which is to say it was not； in fact； particularly safe at all。
Both of the wandering moons the Kindath named as sisters of the god were in the sky； and both were close to full。 In the far distance； beyond the ranches and the rising foothills； the faint outline of the mountains of Jalona could be seen。 Given bright moonlight and a brilliantly clear sky； Rodrigo would have been easily visible from a long way off as he rode alone over the grazing lands where the horses of Valledo still ran wild。
Of course that meant he should have been able to see trouble ing from equally far off； and his black horse was able to outrun anything on that plain。 If anyone was foolish enough to attack him； once they realized who he was。
Someone； therefore； would have had to have been almost insanely reckless； and the Captain uncharacteristically lost in night thoughts； for him to be ambushed by moonlight so near to home。
They waited until his horse was in the middle of the stream…the Carriano…that formed the western boundary of Rancho Belmonte。 He was； in fact； almost on his own land。
In late summer the stream ran shallow； not even up to the black horse's withers at the deepest point。 They were walking across； not swimming。 But when bowmen rose up； like ghosts of the dead； from the reeds at the river's edge； Rodrigo knew that someone had given thought to this。 Swift as his mount was； the water was going to slow him for the first few seconds。 Against archers that would be enough。
With the first words spoken his thought was confirmed。
〃We will shoot the horse； Ser Rodrigo。 Do not try to run。〃
He didn't want them to shoot the horse。
He looked around。 A dozen men； all with kerchiefs pulled up and hat brims low to disguise their faces。 He couldn't see their mounts。 Downstream probably。
〃Dismount。 In the water。〃 The same man spoke again； his voice muffled behind the kerchief。
〃If you know my name you know you are dead if you pursue this folly；〃 Rodrigo said softly。 He didn't get off his horse yet； but nor did he let it move。
〃Your horse is dead if you remain astride。 Get down。〃
He did so； swinging forward deliberately； where it was shallower。 The water was up to his waist。
〃Throw your sword on the bank。〃
He hesitated。
〃We will not shoot you； Ser Rodrigo。 We will kill the horse。 Throw your sword。〃
〃There are close to one hundred and fifty men behind me；〃 Rodrigo said levelly； but he was removing his sword belt as he spoke。
〃They are half a night's ride behind you。〃
The speaker seemed remarkably well informed。 Rodrigo tossed his sword and belt into the grass； carefully clear of the stream。 He marked where they landed； but then someone moved to pick them up； so it didn't matter。
〃Now walk。 Towards us。 Leave the horse where he is。 Someone will take him。〃
〃He won't take kindly to another hand；〃 Rodrigo warned。
〃That is our difficulty； then；〃 the spokesman said。 〃We are accustomed to dealing with horses。 e。〃
He went； sloshing out of the stream and through the reeds to the grass。 They took him； insultingly； further east onto his own lands。 There was no one about； however； not at the very perimeter of the estate； and not in the middle of the night。 They led him for several hundred paces； bows levelled constantly； though at the horse not at him。 Someone was clever here。
They came to one of the range huts。 Like all the huts it was small； unfurnished； no more than a primitive shelter for the herders from rainstorms or the snows that sometimes came in winter。
Someone lit a torch。 They pushed him inside。 Six of them came with him； faces hidden； not speaking save for the leader。 They took both his knives： the one in his belt and the one in his boot。 They bound his hands in front of him； and then someone hammered a stake into the packed earth floor of the hut and they forced him to lie down and pulled his bound hands up over his head and looped the thongs through the stake。 They pulled off his boots and tied his ankles together the same way。 Another stake was driven and the cord that bound his feet was looped across this。 He was unable to move； hands high over his head； legs bound together and pinned to the earth。
〃What do you think will happen；〃 Rodrigo said； breaking the silence； 〃when my pany es to this ranch tomorrow and learns I have not arrived？〃
The leader； standing by the doorway watching all that was being done； merely shook his head。 Then he gestured to the others。 The long torch was planted in the ground and they left him there in the hut； trussed like a sacrifice。
He heard footsteps receding； then the sound of horses ing up and then being ridden away。 Pinned helplessly to the earth on his own land； Rodrigo Belmonte lay in silence for a few moments； listening to the horsemen riding off。 And then； helplessly； but in an entirely different sense； he began to laugh。 It was difficult to catch his breath with his hands pulled up so high； he whooped； he gasped； tears streamed from his eyes。
〃The god burn you； Rodrigo！〃 said his wife； storming into the hut。 〃How did you know？〃
He went on laughing。 He couldn't stop。 Miranda carried； of all things； an arrow in one hand。 She was dressed in black； in the mannish clothing that was her custom on the ranch。 She glared at him in fury as he howled。 Then she stepped closer and stabbed him in the thigh with her arrow。
〃Ouch！〃 exclaimed the Captain of Valledo。 He looked down and saw blood welling through the rip in his trousers。
〃I hate when you laugh at me；〃 she said。 〃Now； how did you know？ Tell me； or I'll draw blood again。〃
〃I have no doubt；〃 Rodrigo said； struggling to regain his self…control。 He had not seen her in almost half a year。 She looked unfairly magnificent。 She w