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Garcia said nothing。
〃Might I guess further； that it was to have been exacted upon myself and my sons？〃
There was silence in the space before the walls。 Overhead the clouds were beginning to lift and scatter as a breeze came up。
〃He had a lesson to learn；〃 said Garcia de Rada grimly。
She shot him then。 Lifting the man's bow smoothly； drawing and releasing in one motion； with considerable grace。 An arrow in the throat。
〃A lesson to learn；〃 said Miranda Belmonte d'Alveda； thoughtfully； looking down from the wall at the man she had killed。
〃The rest of you may go；〃 she added a moment later。 〃Start walking。 You will not be harmed。 You may give report in Esteren that I have executed an oath…breaker and a mon brigand who threatened a Valledan woman and her children。 I will make answer directly to the king should he wish me to do so。 Say that in Esteren。 Diego； Fernan； collect their mounts and arms。 Some of the horses look decent enough。〃
〃I don't think Father would have wanted you to shoot him；〃 Fernan ventured hesitantly。
〃Be silent。 When I wish the opinions of my child I will solicit them；〃 his mother said icily。 〃And your father may consider himself fortunate if I do not loose a like arrow at him when he ventures to return。 Now do what I told you。〃
〃Yes； Mother；〃 said her two sons； as one。
As the boys and ranch hands hastened to do her bidding and Garcia de Rada's surviving panions began stumbling away to the west； the afternoon sun broke through the clouds overhead and the green grass grew bright； wet with rain in the branching light。
Six
Esteren was a catastrophe of carpenters； masons； bricklayers and laborers。 The streets were nearly impassable； certainly so for a horse。 The palace and the square in front of it resounded to the sounds of hammers； saws and chisels； shouted curses and frantic instructions。 plex； dangerous…looking equipment was being swung overhead or carried this way and that。 It was widely reported that five workers had already died this summer。 Nor was it overlooked by even the marginally observant that at least half of the project supervisors were Asharites brought north from Al…Rassan for this endeavor； at considerable cost。
King Ramiro was expanding his capital and his palace。
There had been a time； not very long ago； in fact； when the precarious kings of Esperana…whether it was a whole country or divided as it now was again…ruled on the move。 Cities were little more than hamlets； palaces a mockery of the name。 Horses and mules； and heavy carts on the better…preserved of the ancient roads； were the trappings of monarchy as the courts settled in one town or castle after another through the round of the year。 For one thing； the kings were constantly putting out brushfires of rebellion； or hurrying to try at least to limit the predatory incursions of Al…Rassan。 For another； resources in the hard…pressed Jaddite kingdoms in the glory years of the Silvenes Khalifate were scarcely such as to allow the monarchs to feed themselves and their retinues without spreading the burdens imposed by their presence。
Much had changed in twenty years； much； it was evident； was still changing here in Valledo； wealthiest and most fertile of the three kingdoms carved out of Esperana for his sons by King Sancho the Fat。 The current frenzy of construction in the royal city was only a part of it； funded by the infusion of parias money and； equally important； the absence of raiding from the south。 It seemed that King Ramiro was now pursuing an entirely new definition of monarchy。 Over and above everything else； this past year he had made it clear that he expected all the major nobility and clerics to show up in Esteren twice a year for his assizes； when law and policy were to be resolved and promulgated。 It was rapidly being evident； as the new city walls grew higher； that Esteren was going to be more than merely the most established of his court residences。
And this business of assizes…a foreign word； Waleskan apparently…was more than slightly galling。 Without his standing army it was unlikely in the extreme that Ramiro would have been able to pel attendance from his country nobility。 But the army was here； well…paid and well…trained； and this particular summer almost every figure of importance in Valledo had elected to follow the path of prudence and show up。
Curiosity； among other things； could lead a man to travel。 So could the promise of wine and food at court； and women for hire in increasingly urbanized Esteren。 The dust and noise and the symbolism of a public submission to Ramiro's will were the prices to be paid。 Given the turbulent and usually brief tenures of kings in Esperana there was some reason to believe that the ambitions of King Sancho's most plex son might not trouble the world for too much longer。
In the meantime； it had to be conceded that he was offering entirely adequate entertainment。 On this particular day Ramiro and his court and the visiting country lords were hunting in the king's forest southwest of Esteren； within sight of the Vargas Hills。 Tomorrow they were all to attend the assizes at Ramiro's court of justice。 Today they rode in summer fields and forests killing deer and boar for sport。
There was nothing； short of actual warfare； that the nobility of Esperana could be said to enjoy more than a good hunt on a fair day。 Nor could it be overlooked that the king； for all his modern； unsettling notions； was among the best of the riders in that illustrious pany。
Sancho's son； after all； men could be overheard murmuring to each other in the morning sunshine。 Stands to reason； doesn't it？
When King Ramiro dismounted to plant the first spear in the largest boar of the day as it charged from the thicket where they had tracked it； even the most independent…minded and aggrieved of the rural lords could be seen banging swords or spears in approval。
When the boar was dead； the king of Valledo looked up and around at all of them。 Covered in blood； he smiled。 〃As long as we are all gathered here；〃 he said； 〃there is one small matter we might as well attend to now； rather than as part of the assizes tomorrow。〃
His courtiers and the country lords fell silent； looking sidelong at each other。 Trust Ramiro to do something devious like this。 He couldn't even let a hunt be a hunt。 Looking around； a number of them realized； belatedly； that this clearing seemed carefully chosen； not merely a random place where a wild beast had gone to ground。 There was space enough for all of them； and even a conveniently fallen log to which the king now strode； removing bloodied leather gloves and casually sitting down； very much as if on a throne。 The outriders began dragging the boar away； leaving a smeared trail of blood on the crushed grass。
〃Will Count Gonzalez de Rada and Ser Rodrigo Belmonte be so good as to attend upon me？〃 Speaking these words； King Ramiro used the language of high court formality； not of hunt and field； and with that the tenor and shape of the morning changed。
The two men named could be seen dismounting。 Neither betrayed； by so much as a flicker of expression； whether this development had been anticipated； or whether it was as much a surprise to them as to those assembled。
〃We have all the witnesses we require；〃 the king murmured； 〃and I am loath to submit men such as yourselves to a court hearing in the palace。 It seems fitting to me that this affair be dealt with here。 Does anyone object？ Speak； if so。〃
Even as he was talking； two court officials could be seen approaching the tree trunk upon which the king was seated。 They carried satchels and when these were opened parchments and scrolls were set down near the king。 〃No objection； my liege；〃 said Count Gonzalez de Rada。
His smooth； beautiful voice filled the clearing。 Servants were moving about now； pouring wine from flasks into what appeared to be genuine silver drinking goblets。 The hunters exchanged glances yet again。 Whatever else might be said of him； Ramiro was not stinting on the largess appropriate to a royal host。 Some dismounted and handed their reins to the grooms。 Others preferred to remain on horseback； reaching d