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heard me say that。〃
〃Then I suppose I am in a better circumstance than you； because if I give the same answer； no woman is likely to kill me。〃 Ibn Khairan smiled。
〃Don't；〃 said Jehane； 〃be quite so sure。〃
They all looked at her uncertainly； until she smiled。
〃Thank you； by the way；〃 she said； to all of them。
Twelve
Towards the end of winter； when the first wildflowers were appearing in the meadows； but while snow still lay thick in the higher plateaus and the mountain passes； the three kings of Esperana gathered near Carcasia in Valledo to hunt elk and boar in the oak woods where the smells were of rebirth and the burgeoning of spring could be felt along the blood。
Though even the best of the ancient straight roads were little more than muddy impediments to travel； their queens were with them and substantial retinues from their courts； for hunting…pleasurable as it might be…was merely a pretext for this meeting。
It had been Geraud de Chervalles； the formidable cleric from Ferrieres who； together with colleagues wintering at Eschalou and Orvedo； had prevailed upon three men who hated and feared each other to e together early in the year to hold afternoon converse after chases in field and wood。
A greater hunt was near to hand； the clerics had declared in the court of each king； one that redounded both to the glory of Jad and the vastly increased wealth and fame and power of each of the three lands that had been carved from what was left of Esperana。
The glory of Jad was； of course； an entirely good thing。 Everyone agreed on that。 Wealth and power； and certainly fame； were prospects worth a journey。 Whether these things were also worth the associated pany remained； as yet； to be seen。
Two days had passed since the Ruendans； last to arrive； had joined the others within Carcasia's walls。 No untoward incidents had yet transpired…little of note either； though King Bermudo of Jalona had proven himself still the equal of his nephews on horseback and with a boar spear。 Of the queens； the accolades had gone to red…haired Ines of Valledo； daughter of the hunting…mad king of Ferrieres； clearly the best rider of the women there…and better than most of the courtiers。
For a man known to be clever and ambitious； her husband appeared preoccupied and inattentive much of the time； even during the afternoon and evening discussions of policy and war。 He left it to his constable to raise questions and objections。
For his part； Bermudo of Jalona hunted with fury in the mornings and spoke during the meetings of vengeance against the cities of Ragosa and Fibaz； which had defaulted on his first…ever parias claim。 He accepted condolences on the death of a favored courtier； the young Count Nino di Carrera； ambushed by outlaws in a valley in Al…Rassan。 No one was quite clear how a party of one hundred trained and well…mounted Horsemen could have been slaughtered by a mere outlaw band； but no one was unkind or impolitic enough to raise that question directly。 Queen Fruela； still a handsome woman； was seen to grow misty…eyed at the mention of the slain young gallant。
King Sanchez of Ruenda drank steadily from a flask at his saddle horn； or a brimming cup at the afternoon meetings or the banquet hall。 The wine had little evident effect on him； but neither did he hunt with notable success。 His arrows of a morning were surprisingly erratic； though his horsemanship remained impeccable。 Say what you liked about the hot…headed king of Ruenda； but he could ride。
The three High Clerics from Ferrieres； schooled in dealing with royalty； and beginning to prehend…if belatedly…the depths of distrust they had to contend with here； carried the discussion for the kings。
The two brothers never even looked at each other； and they regarded their uncle with evident contempt。 All； however； appeared to have taken due note of the implications of the army now assembled in Batiara； ready to sail with the first fair winds。 They wouldn't be here had they not given thought to that。
There was a movement abroad in the world； and the men in this room were privileged to be reigning at such a time； Geraud of Ferrieres declaimed ringingly on the first afternoon。 The carrion dogs of Ashar in Al…Rassan； he said； were ready to be swept back across the straits。 The whole peninsula was there to be retaken。 If only they would act together the great kings of Valledo and Ruenda and Jalona might ride their stallions into the southern sea by summer's end； in the glorious name of Jad。
〃How would you divide it？〃 King Bermudo asked bluntly。 Ramiro of Valledo laughed aloud at that； his first sign of animation all day。 Sanchez drank and scowled。
Geraud of Ferrieres； who had been ready for this question； and had spent time with maps over the winter； made a suggestion。 None of the kings bothered to reply。 They all rose instead； without apology…moving in unison for the first time…and walked quickly from the room。 Sanchez carried his flask with him。 The clerics； left behind； looked at each other。
On the third day they flew falcons and hawks at small birds and rabbits in the wet grass for the delight of the ladies of each court。 Queen Ines carried a small eagle； caught and trained in the mountains near Jalona； and loosed it to triumphant effect。
Younger than Fruela； undeniably more acplished than Bearte of Ruenda； the queen of Valledo； her red hair bound up in a golden net； her eyes flashing and her color high in the cool air； rode between her husband and the High Cleric from her homeland and was very much the focus of all men's eyes that day。
Which made it the more disturbing； afterwards； that no one was able to identify with certainty the source of the arrow that struck her shortly after the dogs had flushed a boar at the edge of the forest。 It seemed obvious； however； that the arrow was either a terrible accident； having been intended for the boar beyond her…or that it had been aimed at one of the two men beside her。 There was； it was generally agreed； no evident reason for anyone to desire the death of the queen of Valledo。
It did not appear at first to be a deadly wound； for she was struck only on the arm； but…despite the standard treatment of a thick mud…coating； followed by bleedings； both congruent and transverse…Ines of Valledo； clutching a sun disk； took a marked turn for the worse； feverish and in great pain； before the sun went down that day。
It was at this point that the chancellor of Valledo was seen entering the royal quarters of the castle； striding past the grim…faced guards； escorting a lean man of loutish appearance。
She had never been injured in such a fashion in her life。 She had no idea how it was supposed to feel。
It felt as if she were dying。 Her arm had swollen to twice its normal size…she could see that； even through the coating of mud。 When they bled her…working through a screen for decency…that； too； had hurt； almost unbearably。 There had been a quarrel between the two physicians from Esteren and her own longtime doctor from Ferrieres。 Her own had won： they had given her nothing for pain。 Peire d'Alorre was of the view that soporifics dulled the body's ability to fight injury caused by sharp edges。 He had lectured on the subject in all the universities。
Her head was on fire。 Even the slightest movement of her arm was intolerable。 She was dimly conscious that Ramiro had hardly left her side； that he was holding her good hand； gripping it steadily； and had been doing so since she had been brought here； withdrawing only when the doctors pelled him to； for the bleeding。 The odd thing was； she could see him holding her hand； but she couldn't really feel his touch。
She was dying。 That seemed clear to her； if not yet to them。 She had caused a sun disk to be brought for her。 She was trying to pray； but it was difficult。
In a haze of pain she understood that someone new had entered the room。 Count Gonzalez； and another man。 Another doctor。 His features…a long； ugly face…swam into view； very close。 He apologized to her and the king； and then laid a hand directly upon her forehead。 He took her good hand from Ramiro and pinched the back of it。 He asked