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between stone and dark water。 Rodrigo； last through； dropped the key back inside and pushed the opening shut。
They crossed the water immediately； those who could swim helping the others。 The river was very cold this early in the year。 They climbed up on the far bank in the dark。 Alvar collapsed among the high grass and the reeds； sucking in deep breaths of the clean air。 His face stung； it felt raw and burnt。
He became aware of something。 Slowly he rose to his feet again。 Rodrigo had walked a few steps from the rest of them and was staring out into the darkness。 His sword was drawn。
〃Who's there？〃 the Captain called。
There was silence。 Ammar ibn Khairan also stood up。
Then there came an answer from the dark： 〃A friend。 Someone is here to bid you wele； Ser Rodrigo。〃 The speaker had a deep； calm voice。
But it wasn't the tone； it was the language spoken that caused Alvar to step forward beside Rodrigo； his heart hammering again。
He was close enough to hear the Captain draw breath。
〃Light a torch； then；〃 Rodrigo said。 〃Darkness offers no true wele。〃
They heard a mand。 Flint was struck。 Light blazed。
〃Wele back； truly；〃 said the very tall； bearded man illuminated by that torch。 Alvar had seen him twice in his life。 He forgot to breathe。
〃My lord；〃 said Rodrigo； after a moment。 〃This is unexpected。〃
King Ramiro of Valledo； surrounded by a pany of men； smiled his pleasure。 〃I had hoped it might be。 It is rare that any of us are able to surprise you。〃
〃How e you to be here？〃 Rodrigo said。 His voice was controlled； but Alvar was near enough to know there was effort involved in that。 He heard ibn Khairan e quietly up beside them。
King Ramiro's smile deepened。 He gestured； and someone stepped from the group of men behind him。
〃Hello； Papa；〃 said a young boy； ing to stand beside the king。
Rodrigo sucked in his breath； his control gone。 〃Fernan？ In Jad's name； what…〃
〃It was Diego；〃 the boy said； a little too brightly。 He wore light armor and a sword。 〃He knew where you were； this morning； and told us where to wait tonight。〃 Rodrigo was silent。 〃He sometimes knows where you are； remember？〃 The boy's voice betrayed uncertainty。 〃Are you not pleased to see me； Papa？〃
〃Oh； Jad；〃 Alvar heard the Captain say。 And then； to the king of Valledo； 〃What have you done？ Why are my sons with this army？〃
〃There will be time to explain；〃 said Ramiro calmly。 〃This is not the place。 Will you e with us？ We can offer dry clothing and food。〃
〃And those I am with？〃 Rodrigo's tone was ice…cold。
〃They are my guests if you speak for them； whoever they may be。 e now； greet your son； Ser Rodrigo。 He has been dreaming of this moment。〃
Rodrigo opened his mouth quickly； then closed it。 Slowly he sheathed his blade。
〃e to me；〃 he said to the boy； and with an involuntary sound； Fernan Belmonte ran forward and was gathered fiercely in his father's embrace。 Alvar saw the Captain close his eyes as he gripped his son。
〃Your mother；〃 said Rodrigo； when he finally stepped back； 〃is going to kill all of us for this； you realize。 Starting with me。〃
〃Mother's with the queen； Papa。 We haven't seen her yet but there was a message she came south and joined Queen Ines with the rest of the army following us。 We tried to cut you off before you reached the city。 That's why we came so fast。 Why are you here； Papa？ What happened to your moustache？〃
〃I had friends in danger。 I came to get them out。 Where is Diego？〃
〃They are taking great care of him；〃 Fernan said。 〃He's angry about it。 They wouldn't let him e here。 They made him stay with the food train； in some village by the river west。〃
〃Ashar； no！ Not there！〃
All his days Alvar would remember those words and the expression on Ammar ibn Khairan's face； crying them。 Rodrigo wheeled on him。
〃What is it？ Tell me。'〃
〃Ambush！〃 snapped the other man； already moving。 〃The Muwardis。 Almalik planned it； years ago。 Pray to your god and ride！〃
Rodrigo was already running towards the horses。
And so； moments later； for the second time in less than a year； Alvar de Pellino…wet and burnt and cold； pushing past exhaustion and half a dozen small wounds…found himself galloping flat…out through darkness over the plain north of Fezana towards a hamlet named Orvilla。
Ammar ibn Khairan was beside him； against all allegiances； and the king of Valledo was on his other side with Jehane and her parents and Husart and two children and a party of fifty of the king's guard streaming behind them in the cool； clear night。
Ahead of them all； whipping his mount like a madman under the stars and the white moon； was a father racing time and the turning heavens to his child。
Sixteen
Until the very moment； under the stars and the white moon in Al…Rassan of the infidels； when the veiled ones appeared out of the darkening plain； Ibero the cleric had succeeded in persuading himself that the hand of Jad was upon his shoulder after all； guiding him。
He had shaped his plan on that first morning； riding west from Rancho Belmonte in the rain。 It was possible…he'd been forced to admit it…that Miranda had been right。 That in furthering the demands of holy faith Ibero had done wrong by the family he so dearly loved。 If that were so； he had vowed on that grey； cold morning he would do all he could to ensure that the wrong was contained and redressed。 Miranda Belmonte might have turned him away； driven him from his home； but he would not turn his back on her or her family。
He had fallen in with a pany of soldiers from the ranch country； heading towards Carcasia in response to the king's summons： the same summons that had claimed the two boys。 He went with the soldiers。 This was a holy war； in name at least； and clerics were not unwele if they could keep up on the ride。 Ibero knew how to handle a horse。 Years with the Belmonte had made certain of that。
He found Fernan and Diego among the king's party seven days later in the plain south of Carcasia； amid the tents and banners of a war camp。 Rodrigo's sons were being treated with evident respect； although the scrutiny afforded Diego by those who knew why he was here made Ibero unfortable。 Against his will； he was reminded of Miranda's words： those with the far…sight； or whatever name was given it； had been burned in the past。 In the not…so…distant past。 This； Ibero told himself again； was a more enlightened age。
The boys weren't entirely pleased to see him； but Ibero had a streak of stubbornness in his nature and he made it clear to all concerned； including the elegant High Cleric from Ferrieres； that where the sons of Rodrigo Belmonte went； Ibero also would go。 He didn't tell the boys he had been driven from the ranch by their mother； perhaps he ought to have； but he couldn't manage to do it。 That meant his presence with them involved a deception； but he trusted the god to forgive him for that。 He meant well。 He had always meant well。
Fernan and Diego had obviously been up to mischief on the way here and since arriving。 They were high…spirited and too clever for their own good sometimes。 It was judged useful to have their tutor about for discipline。 There was a tale doing the rounds of the camp about the rock…laden saddlebags of one of the soldiers who had brought them here。 It was quite a funny story； but Ibero was practised at not encouraging his charges with visible amusement。
Soon afterwards they rode south through the no…man's…land with the army of reconquest； with the vanguard； in fact； for Diego and Fernan were kept close to the king himself。
Ibero had never seen his king before。 Ramiro of Valledo was a handsome； impressive man。 Worthy； the little cleric thought humbly； to be the instrument of Esperana's reconquest。 If the god allowed。 He was acutely aware that all the men in this army were a part of something momentous。 The king kept speaking of a limited campaign； a tactical capture of Fezana； but even Ibero the cleric knew that once Valledo was in Al…Rassan the shape and tenor of their age would have changed forever。
The lean； elegant constable； Count Gonzalez de Rada； hovered unsettlingly close to the boy