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heart of it。 Alvar longed to be a part of this； to see it e to be； to ride his own horse into those oceans and up that mountain with his king。 Yet； even as his heart heard this call to glory； he was aware of slaughter embedded in the sweep of the king's dream； or swooping above it like the carrion birds that followed the battlefields of men。
Will I ever； he thought； with a knifing of despair； be at peace between these things？
He heard Rodrigo Belmonte say then； very calmly； 〃You might have told me about Garcia a long time ago； my lord。 I think I should have believed you。 I do believe you now。 I am your man； since you want me。〃
And he knelt before the king and held up his hands together； palms touching。 Ramiro looked down upon him； unspeaking for a moment。
〃You would not have believed；〃 he said。 〃You would always have doubted。 We needed to grow older； you and I； for me to say this and you to hear it。 I wonder if your young soldier can possibly understand that。〃
Alvar flushed in the darkness； then heard the Captain say； 〃You might be surprised； my lord。 He's more than a soldier； though I will tell you later what he did in Fezana this evening。 If I am to be your constable I have my first request： I would ask that Alvar de Pellino be named my herald； to bear Valledo's staff and carry our words to the Star…born。〃
〃It is an honor；〃 the king said。 〃He is very young。 It is also a dangerous post in this war。〃 He motioned towards the hamlet behind them。 〃The Asharites may not observe the laws of heralds and their codes。〃
Rodrigo shook his head。 〃They will。 That much I know。 They value their own honor as much as we do ours。 Even the Muwardis。 In a way； especially the Muwardis。 And Alvar will acquit himself。〃
Ramiro looked at Alvar； that appraising glance in the moonlight。 〃You wish this for yourself？〃 he asked。 〃There is less glory than might be found in battle by a courageous young man。〃
Alvar knelt beside Rodrigo Belmonte and lifted his joined palms。 〃I wish for this；〃 he replied； discovering as he spoke that he did； that it was exactly what he wanted。 〃I； too； am your sworn man if you will have me； my lord。〃
The king placed his hands around those of Rodrigo； and then he touched Alvar's the same way。 He said； 〃Let us go forward from this place and begin to reclaim our lost land。〃
He looked as if he would say more； but did not。 They rose then； and began walking back to Orvilla。 But Alvar； unable to stop the thought from ing…even now…found himself saying； inwardly； And whose land will be broken and lost in that claiming？
He knew the answer。 It wasn't a real question。 In the newest royal herald of Valledo； pride and bone…cold apprehension came together and warred for dominion。
Then； nearing the hamlet； he saw Jehane。 She was standing by the northern gate waiting for them with Ammar ibn Khairan beside her。 And looking at her small； straight…backed figure in the mingled light of the moons； Alvar felt love e back； too； bittersweet among the weapons and shed blood； tonight and yet to e。
She saw them both kneel： Rodrigo first； and then Alvar。
Beside her； Ammar said softly； 〃He is being made constable now。〃 And then； as she looked quickly up at him； 〃It is best for both of them； Rodrigo and the king。 He ought to have been； all these years。〃
She took his hand。 Smoke drifted behind them； though the fires were mostly out。 Husari was with her parents and the two children they had saved from the Kindath Quarter。 The queen of Valledo had e to them。 She had said that Ishak and his family were her guests and would be； for so long as they desired。 She had been gracious and well…spoken； but it was evident…to Jehane； at least…that Queen Ines had never met or talked with a Kindath before and didn't quite know how to deal with that。
That shouldn't have bothered her； perhaps； but tonight it did。 She had almost wanted to ask Ines of Valledo if there were any plump babies around； to cook for a proper Kindath breakfast； but too many children had died that evening； and Jehane had nothing left in her for the force of real anger。 She was very tired。
It was Bernart d'Inigo； the doctor from the tagra forts； who had readied this wele for them； she understood。 It seemed he had saved the life of the queen using knowledge gained from reading Ishak's writings。 He had taught himself Asharic and Kindath years ago； he confided to Jehane。 The lanky； sad…faced man was a good physician； there was no denying it。
Why shouldn't he be？ Jehane had thought。 If he's bothered to learn from us 。。。
Not a fair thought； really； but tonight she wasn't putting much stress on trying to be fair。 D'Inigo had volunteered to take the first watch beside Rodrigo's son。 Diego's mother and brother were with him as well。 Jehane wasn't needed。 Valledan doctors were tending to the handful of people who had survived the assault。 Only a handful； the rest were dead； butchered hideously。
They e from the desert； Jehane remembered； seeing the chopped…up bodies； smelling charred human flesh。 Her father's words； from so long ago。 If you would understand the Star…born of Ashar 。
〃Who are my enemies？〃 Jehane had said then； aloud； looking around the hamlet。
There must have been something in her voice； a hint of vanishing control。 Ammar； without speaking； had placed an arm about her shoulders and guided her away。 They had walked around the perimeter of Orvilla but Jehane； unable to be eased； had found herself both looking back at dying fires and remembering them。
Who are my enemies？ The citizens of Fezana？ The Muwardis here？ The soldiers of a Jaddite holy army who had run wild through Sorenica？ The Valledans who burned this hamlet last summer？ She wanted to weep； but was afraid to let herself。
Ammar had a gash on one arm； which she examined by torchlight； it wasn't serious。 He'd told her that； but she'd needed to look。 She led him down to the river and cleaned the cut and bandaged it。 A thing to do。 On her knees； she dipped a cloth in the cold water and washed her face； looking down at the rippling lines of moonlight in the Tavares。 She took a deep breath of the night air。
They had walked again； following the perimeter fence to the north。 And there they saw King Ramiro with Rodrigo and Alvar out among the grasses； the dark； wide emptiness beyond them。 At one point； watching； Jehane saw Rodrigo cross his arms tightly over his breast。 It was very late。 A wind was blowing in the night。
Whichever way the wind blows。
Then they saw Rodrigo and Alvar kneel before the king and then rise。
〃Who are my enemies？〃 Jehane asked； at length。
〃Mine； I hope；〃 said Ammar。
〃And yours are？〃
〃We'll know more of that soon enough； my love。 Watch and listen。 I will likely be made a handsome offer soon。〃
His tone had a coolness now； but that was as much a defense as anything else； she knew。 More than anyone in the world； perhaps； she had a sense of what had e； however improbably； to bind Ammar ibn Khairan and Rodrigo Belmonte； each to the other。
There was an anticipation of partings in her now； Jehane realized： endings had e upon them tonight。 As much as anything else； that was what made her want to weep。
They waited。 The three men came over the dark grass and approached them by the gate。 She saw that Alvar； too； was wounded。 There was blood on his shoulder。 Without speaking she went over to him and began carefully tearing at his loose shirt to expose the gash below。 He looked at her and then away； standing quietly as she examined the cut。
〃Ammar。 I was hoping to find you；〃 Rodrigo said quietly。 〃Have you a moment to speak？〃 He spoke in Esperanan。
〃With you； always；〃 ibn Khairan said gravely； in the same tongue。
〃The king of Valledo has done me the honor of asking me to be his constable。〃
Jehane looked over at him。 Ammar inclined his head。 〃He is equally honored if you have accepted。〃
〃I have。〃
Ammar smiled thinly。 〃Badir of Ragosa will be distressed。〃
〃I imagine so。 I propose to give him； unfortunately； even greater cause for regret。〃
〃How so？〃
It was like a dance； Jehane thought； this formality screening things so much deeper t