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e sense of what you are saying； Benigaris。〃 His tight grin displayed surprisingly good teeth。 〃And I am touched at the concern you show for an old friend of your father's。〃
〃I honor you just as I honored him。〃
〃Indeed。〃 Streawe's smile now became almost gentle。 〃How lovely that is。 Honor is in such short supply in these grim days。〃 He waved a knobby hand； summoning his bearers。 〃I suspect that I should send another letter to Ansis Pellipe； urging my castellain and boatwrights to hasten their efforts even more。〃
〃That sounds like a very good idea。 Count。 A very good idea。〃 Benigaris sat back against the throne and finger…brushed his mustache。 〃Will we see you at table to night？〃
〃Oh； I think you will。 Where else would I find such kind and considerate friends？〃 He leaned forward on his chair； sketching a bow。 〃Duchess Nessalanta…a pleasure as always； gracious lady。〃
Nessalanta smiled and nodded。 〃Count Streawe。〃
The old man was lifted back into his litter。 After the curtain was drawn； his four servitors carried him from the throne room。
〃I do not think you needed to be so ham…fisted；〃 said Nessalanta when the count had gone。 〃He is no danger to us。 Since when have sticky…fingered Perdruinese ever wanted more than to earn a little gold？〃
〃They have been known to accept coins from more than one pocket。〃 Benigaris lifted his cup。 〃This way； Streawe will have a much stronger wish to see us victorious。 He is not a stupid man。〃
〃No； he certainly is not。 That is why I don't understand the need to use such a heavy hand。〃
〃Everything I know。 Mother；〃 said Benigaris heartily； 〃I learned from you。〃
Isgrimnur was growing annoyed。
Josua could not seem to keep his attention on the matters at hand； instead； every few moments he went to the door of the tent and stared back up the valley at the monastery standing on the hillside； a humble collection of stone buildings that glowed golden…brown in the slanting sunlight。
〃She is not dying； Josua；〃 the duke finally growled。 〃She is only expecting a child。〃
The prince looked up guiltily。 〃What？〃
〃You have been staring at that place all afternoon。〃 He levered his bulk off the stool and walked to Josua's side； then placed a hand on the prince's shoulder。 〃If you are so consumed； Josua； then go to her。 But I assure you she is in good hands。 What my wife doesn't know about babies isn't worth knowing。〃
〃I know； I know。〃 The prince returned to the map spread out on the tabletop。 〃I cannot stop my mind chuming； old friend。 Tell me what we were talking about。〃
Isgrimnur sighed。 〃Very well。〃 He bent to the map。 〃Camaris says there is a shepherd's trail that runs above the valley。。。。〃
Someone made a discreet noise in the doorway of the tent。 Josua looked up。 〃Ah； Baron。 Wele back。 Please e in。〃
Seriddan was acpanied by Sludig and Freosel。 All exchanged greetings as Josua brought out a jug of Teligure wine。 The baron and Josua's lieutenants bore the marks of a day's muddy riding。
〃Young Varellan has dug in his heels just before Chasu Yarinna；〃 the baron said； grinning。 〃He has more grit than I thought。 I had expected him to fall back all the way to the Onestrine Pass。〃
〃And why hasn't he？〃 Isgrimnur asked。
Seriddan shook his head。 〃Perhaps because he feels that once the battle for the pass begins； there is no turning back。〃
〃That might mean that he is not so sure of our weakness as his brother Benigaris is；〃 Josua mused。 〃Perhaps he may prove willing to talk。〃
〃What is just as likely；〃 said Sludig； 〃is that he is trying to keep us out of the pass until Duke Benigaris es up with reinforcements。 Whatever they might have thought of our strength to start with； Sir Camaris has changed their minds； I promise you。〃
〃Where is Camaris？〃 Josua asked。
〃With Hotvig and the rest up at the front。〃 Sludig shook his head in wonderment。 〃Merciful Aedon； I heard all the stories； but I thought they were just cradle songs。 Prince Josua； I have never seen anything like him！ When he and Hotvig's horsemen were caught between two wings of Varellan's knights two days ago； we were all sure that he was as good as dead or captured。 But he broke the Nabbanai knights like they were kindling wood！ One he cut nearly in half with a single stroke。 Sheared right through him； armor and all！ Surely that sword is magical！〃
〃Thorn is a powerful weapon；〃 said Josua。 〃But with it or without it； there has never been a knight like Camaris。〃
〃His horn Cellian has bee a terror to the Nabbanmen；〃 Sludig continued。 〃When it echoes down the valley； some of them turn and ride away。 And out of every troop Camaris defeats； he takes one of the prisoners and sends him back to say： 'Prince Josua and the others wish to talk with your lord。' He has beaten down so many that he must have sent two dozen Nabbanai prisoners back by now； each one carrying the same message。〃
Seriddan raised his wine cup。 〃Here's to him。 If he is a terror now； what must he have been like in the height of his powers？ I was a boy when Camaris 。。。〃 he laughed shortly； 〃…I almost said 'died。' When he disappeared。 I never saw him。〃
〃He was little different；〃 Isgrimnur said thoughtfully。 〃That is what surprises me。 His body has aged； but his skills and fighting heart have not。 As though his powers have been preserved。〃
〃As though for one final test；〃 Josua said； measuring out the words。 〃God grant that it is so…and that he succeeds； for all our sakes。〃
〃But I am puzzled。〃 Seriddan took another sip。 〃You have told me that Camaris hates war； that he would rather do anything than fight。 Yet I have never seen such a killing engine。〃
Josua's smile was sad； his look troubled。 〃Camaris at war is like a lady's maid swatting spiders。〃
〃What？〃 Seriddan lowered his eyebrows and squinted； wondering if he was being mocked。
〃If you tell a maid to go and kill the spiders in her lady's chamber；〃 the prince explained； 〃she will think of a hundred excuses not to do anything。 But when she is finally convinced that it must be done； no matter the horror she feels； she will dispatch every single spider with great thoroughness； just to make sure she does not have to take up the task again。〃 His faint smile disappeared。 〃And that is Camaris。 The only thing he hates worse than warfare is unnecessary warfare…especially killings which could have been avoided by making a clean ending the first time。 So once he is mitted； Camaris makes sure that he does not have to do the same thing twice。〃 He raised his glass in salute to the absent knight。 〃Imagine how'it must feel to do best in all the world what you least wish to do。〃
After that； they drank their wine in silence for a time。
Tiamak limped out across the terrace。 He found a place on the low wall and hoisted himself up； then sat with his legs dangling and basked in the late afternoon light。 The Frasilis Valley stretched before him； two rippling banks of dark soil and gray…green treetops with the Anitullean Road snaking between them。 If he narrowed his eyes； Tiamak could make out the