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red all about the clearing…〃there will be no feud to follow from this。 We forbid it。 We make the following decree before these high…born of Valledo： Count Gonzalez de Rada； our constable； will stand surety with his own life for the next two years for the lives and safety of the family of Ser Rodrigo Belmonte。 Should death or grievous harm befall any of them from any source during this time we will execute mortal judgment upon his body。〃
A buzzing again； and this one did not subside。 Nothing remotely like this had ever been heard before。
〃Why two years？〃
It was Rodrigo。 The first time the Captain had spoken since the hearing had begun。 The angle of the sun had changed now； his face was in shadow。 The question brought a silence； as the king's gaze turned to Belmonte。
〃Because you will not be able to defend them；〃 Ramiro said levelly； still on his feet。 〃Officers of the king have a responsibility to exercise control both over their weapons and their words。 You failed us twice over。 What you did to Ser Garcia； and what you said to him； are direct causes of his death and this hard trouble in our kingdom。 Rodrigo Belmonte； you are condemned to a term of exile from Valledo of two years。 At the end of such time you may present yourself before us and we will rule upon your case。〃
〃He goes alone； I take it？〃 It was Count Gonzalez； reacting quickly。 〃Not with his pany？〃
It mattered； all the listeners knew。 Rodrigo Belmonte's pany prised one hundred and fifty of the finest fighting men in the peninsula。
Rodrigo laughed aloud； the sound almost shocking； given the tension among the trees。 〃You are most wele；〃 he said； 〃to try to stop them from following me。〃
King Ramiro was shaking his head。 〃I will not do so。 Your men are yours and blameless in this。 They may go or stay as they please。 I will ask only for one undertaking from you； Ser Rodrigo。〃
〃After exiling me from my home？〃 The question was pointed。 Rodrigo's face was still in shadow。
〃Even so。〃 It was interesting how calm the king was。 A number of men reached the same conclusion at the same time： Ramiro had anticipated almost every point of this exchange。 〃I do not think you can truly quarrel with our ruling； Ser Rodrigo。 Take your pany； if you will。 We ask only that they not be used in warfare against us。〃
Silence again； as every man struggled to think through the implications。 It could be seen that Rodrigo Belmonte was staring down at the forest floor； his forehead creased with thought。 The king gazed upon him； waiting。
When Rodrigo looked up； his brow had cleared。 He lifted his right hand towards the sky overhead； and shaped the sun circle of the god with thumb and fingers。 〃I swear by holy Jad；〃 he said formally； 〃that I will never lead my pany in warfare into the lands of Valledo。〃
It was almost what the king had asked。 Almost； but not quite； and Ramiro knew it。
〃And if you find a Valledan army beyond our borders？〃 he asked。
〃I can swear no oath；〃 Rodrigo said quietly。 〃Not an honorable one。 Not if I am forced to take service elsewhere for my livelihood and that of my pany。 My lord； this is not；〃 he added； meeting the king's gaze squarely； 〃a departure of my choosing。〃
A long stillness。
〃Do not take service with Cartada；〃 said the king at length； his voice extremely soft。
Rodrigo stood motionless； visibly thinking。
〃Really； my lord？ You will begin so soon？ Within two years？〃 he asked cryptically。
〃It may be so；〃 Ramiro said； no less ambiguously。
Men were struggling to understand； but the two of them seemed to be in the midst of a private exchange。
Rodrigo was nodding his head slowly。 〃I suppose。 I will regret being elsewhere if it does happen。〃 He paused。 〃I will not serve Almalik of Cartada。 I don't like what he did in Fezana。 I will not serve him there； or anywhere else。〃
Fezana。
At the mention of the name a few men began to nod their heads； looking at their tall； proud king。 A glimmering of what this seemed to be about began to e to them； like shafts of the god's sunlight falling into the clearing。 Ramiro wasn't a jurist or a cleric； after all； and there might be more than hunting in the days to e。
〃I accept your oath；〃 said the king of Valledo calmly。 〃We have never found you lacking in honor； Ser Rodrigo。 We see no reason to doubt it now。〃
〃Well； I am grateful for that；〃 said the Captain。 It was impossible to tell if there was mockery in his voice。 He took a step forward； fully into the light。 〃I do have a request of my own。〃
〃Which is？〃
〃I will ask Count Gonzalez to swear before the god to guard my family and possessions as if they were his own while I am away。 That is enough for me。 I need no binding of his death。 The world is a dangerous place； and the days to e may make it more so。 Should accident befall a Belmonte； Valledo could ill afford to lose its constable as well。 I am content with his sworn word； if it pleases the king。〃
He was looking at the constable as he spoke。 It could be seen that de Rada was taken by surprise。
〃Why？〃 he asked softly； an intimate question in a very public space。 The two men faced each other for the first time。
〃I believe I just told you；〃 Rodrigo replied。 〃It isn't so difficult。 Valledo has enemies in all directions。 With your life in bond someone might strike at this kingdom through my family。 I would not want the king bound to your death in such a cause。 I think it places them more at risk； not less。 I need not like you； de Rada； to trust your word。〃
〃Despite my brother？〃
The Captain shrugged。 〃He is being judged by Jad。〃
It wasn't an answer； and yet it was。 After another brief silence； in which the sound of birdsong could clearly be heard from the trees around； the constable raised his right hand in the same gesture Rodrigo had used。
〃Before Jad； and before my lord the king of Valledo； and before all men here； I make oath that the family of Rodrigo Belmonte shall be as my own from this day until his return from exile。 I take this upon my honor and that of my lineage。〃 The sonorous voice filled and defined the forest space。
Both men turned back to the king。 Unsmiling； standing very tall； he looked down upon them。 〃I am unused to having my decrees superseded by the parties involved；〃 he murmured。
〃Only you can do that；〃 Rodrigo said。 〃We merely offer an alternative for the king to accept or reject。〃
And now it could be seen that Ramiro smiled at the man he had just condemned to exile。 〃So be it；〃 he said。 〃We accept these oaths。〃
Both men bowed。 Rodrigo straightened and said； 〃Then； with your permission； my lord； I will make immediate arrangements to depart； much as I might enjoy continuing to hunt with you。〃
〃One moment；〃 said the king。 〃Where will you go？〃 His voice betrayed； for the very first time； a shadow of doubt。
Rodrigo Belmonte's grin； caught by the falling sunlight； was wide； and unmistakably genuine。 〃I haven't the least idea；〃 he said。 〃Though on my way to wherever I go I'll have to stop and deal with a frail and terrified woman first。〃 His smile faded。 〃You might all pray for me；〃 said the Captain of Valledo。
Then he turned； collected his horse's reins from a groom； mounted up and rode alone from the clearing back the way they had e through the trees。
Ines； the queen of Valledo； was clasping a well…worn sun disk and listening； eyes devoutly closed； as her favorite cleric read aloud from the Book of the Sons of Jad…the passage about the end of the world； as it happened…when her husband's messenger arrived and indicated the king would presently be with her。
Apologetically； she bade her religious counsellor suspend his reading。 The man； not unused to this； marked her Book and laid it aside。 With a sigh； a pointed glance and a bow to the queen he withdrew from the chamber through an inner doorway。 It was well known that King Ramiro was uneasy with intensities of faith； and the queen's best efforts over many years had done nothing to amend this unfortunate circumstance。
It had everything to do； Ines had long since decided； with the time when he had lived among the infidels。 All three of the difficult； ambitious s