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magnificence； Esteren was as the hamlet of Orvilla； where Garcia de Rada had e raiding on a night in summer。
Alvar's life had forked like a branch that night； his path in the morning running east through Al…Rassan and across the Serrana Range to these walls with Jehane bet Ishak； instead of north and home with the Captain。
His own choice； too； endorsed by Rodrigo and accepted； if grudgingly at first； by Jehane。 She would need a guard on the road； Alvar had declared in the morning after a memorable camp…fire conversation。 A soldier； he'd added； not merely a servant； however loyal and brave that servant might be。 Alvar had offered to be that guard； with the Captain's permission。 He would see her settled in Ragosa then make his way home。
He hadn't told them he was in love with her。 They wouldn't have let him e if they had known； he was sure of that much。 He was also ruefully certain Jehane had realized the truth early in their journey。 He wasn't particularly good at hiding what he felt。
He thought she was beautiful； with her dark hair and her direct； unexpectedly blue gaze。 He knew she was clever； and more than that： trained； acplished； calmly professional。 Amid the fires of Orvilla he had seen her courage； and her anger； holding the two young girls in her arms。 She was a woman entirely outside the range of his life。 She was also a Kindath； of the Wanderers； the god…diminishing heretics the clerics thundered against as loudly as they cursed the Asharites。 Alvar tried not to let that matter； but the truth was； it did： it made her seem mysterious； exotic； even a little dangerous。
She wasn't； actually。 She was sharp and practical and direct。 She'd taken him to her bed for one single night； not long after their arrival in Ragosa。 She had done it kindly； without guile or promise。 She had almost certainly intended that such a matter…of…fact physical liaison would cure him of his youthful longings。 Alvar； clever in his own right； was quite clear about that。 She allowed him no candlelit illusions at all about what a night together meant。 She felt kindly towards him； Alvar knew。 Though the journey had proved uneventful； she'd been grateful for his pany； found him reliable and trustworthy； his energy diverting。 He had e to understand； being observant in his own way； that she； too； was embarking on something new and strange without being sure of her way。
He also knew she did not love him at all； that beyond the physical act； the night's harmony of two young bodies far from their homes； their union made no sense。 But far from purging him of love； that night in her room had set a seal； as in heated wax； on his feelings。
In the old stories the kitchen women used to tell around the fire after the evening meal on the farm； brave Horsemen of the god loved endangered maidens on first sight and for life。 It wasn't supposed to happen that way in the fallen； divided world in which they really lived。 It had； for Alvar de Pellino。
He didn't make a great issue of it。 He loved Jehane bet Ishak； the Kindath physician。 It was a fact of existence； as much as where the god's sun rose in the morning； or the proper way to parry a left…handed sword stroke towards one's knees。 Walking the crowded streets of Ragosa； Alvar felt much older than he had when he rode south with Rodrigo Belmonte to collect the summer parias。
It was autumn now。 The breeze from the north off Lake Serrana was cool in the morning and sometimes sharply cold at night。 All the soldiers wore cloaks； and two layers of clothing under them if they were on duty after sunset。 Not long ago； at dawn after a night on the northwestern wall； Alvar had seen the masts and spars of the fishing boats in the harbor rimed with pale frost under the full blue moon。
In the first sunlight of the next morning the leaves of the oaks in the eastern forests had gleamed red and gold； a dazzle of brilliance。 To the west； the Serrana mountains that guarded Ragosa from Cartada's armies and had screened her from Silvenes in the days of the Khalifate had been capped with snow on the higher slopes。 The snow would last until spring。 The pass through which he and Jehane and Velaz had e was the only one open all year。 Friends had told him these things in the Jaddite taverns of the city or the food stalls of the marketplace。
He had friends here now。 He hadn't expected that； but shortly after their arrival it had bee obvious that he was far from the only Jaddite soldier in Ragosa。 Mercenaries went where there was money and work； and Ragosa offered both。 For how long； no one knew； but that summer and fall the city on Lake Serrana was home to an eclectic array of fighting men from Jalona and Valledo； and further afield： Ferrieres； Batiara； Karch； Waleska。 Blond； bearded Karcher giants from the far north mingled…and frequently brawled…with lean； smooth…shaven； dagger…wielding men from the dangerous cities of Batiara。 One heard half a dozen languages in the marketplace of a morning。 Alvar's Asharic was increasingly fluent now and he could swear in two Karcher dialects。
Walking a little distance aside with him on the day they had parted； Ser Rodrigo had told Alvar that he need not hurry home。 He gave him leave to linger in Ragosa； with orders to post letters of report with any tradesmen heading towards Valledo。
A captain of King Badir's army had summoned Alvar on the third day after their arrival。 It was a well…run； highly disciplined army； for all its diversity。 He had been marked as soon as they passed through the gates。 The horse and armor he'd won at Orvilla were too good for him not to be noted。 He was closely interviewed； enlisted at a salary and placed in a pany。 He was also； after a few days； permitted to leave the barracks and live with Jehane and Velaz in the Kindath Quarter； which surprised him。 It wouldn't have happened in Esteren。
It was because of Jehane's position。 She had been immediately installed at court； newest of the physicians to the king and his notorious Kindath chancellor； Mazur ben Avren。 Her formal place in a palace retinue…in Ragosa； as everywhere else in the world…carried with it certain perquisites。
None of which had stopped Alvar from being embroiled in three fights not of his choosing during the first fortnight after he left the barracks and went to live in their house。 That much was also the same everywhere： soldiers had their own codes； whatever royal courts might decree； and young fighting men granted special privileges had to be prepared to establish their right to those。
Alvar fought。 Not to the death； for that was forbidden in a city that needed its mercenaries； but he wounded two men； and took a cut on the outside of his sword arm that had Jehane briefly worried。 The sight of her concern was worth the wound and the scar that remained when it healed。 Alvar expected wounds and scars； he was a soldier； such things came with his chosen course of life。 He was also here in Ragosa as a known representative of Rodrigo Belmonte's pany； and when he fought it was with a consciousness that he was upholding the pride of the Captain's men and their eminence among the panies of the world。 It was a role he shouldered alone； with an anxious sense of responsibility。
Until； at the very end of that same summer； Ser Rodrigo had e himself through the pass to Ragosa on his black horse with one hundred and fifty soldiers and a silk merchant； the banners of Belmonte and Valledo flapping in the wind as they rode up to the walls along the shore of the lake。
Things changed then。 Things began to change everywhere。
〃By the eyeteeth of the holy god；〃 Lain Nunez had cackled in horror when Alvar reported to them that first day； 〃will you look at this！ The boy's gone and converted himself！ What will I tell his poor father？〃
The Captain； scrutinizing Alvar's clothing with amusement； had said only； 〃I've had three reports。 You appear to have done well by us。 Tell me exactly how you were wounded and what you would do differently next time。〃
Alvar； grinning for all he was worth； a warm glow rising in him as from drinking unmixed wine； had told him。
Now； some time later； running through the market under the blue skies of a crisp autumn morning to find Jehane and give her the day's huge tidings； he knew himself to be recognized； envied； even a little feared。
No one challenged him to duels any more。 The celebrated Ser Rodrigo of Valledo； in exile； had accepted a huge contract with King Badir； with the full year paid in advance； which was almost unheard of。
Rodrigo's men were soldiers of Ragosa now； the vanguard of a fighting force that was to enforce order in city and countryside； to hold back newly ambitious Jalofia； and Cartada； and the worst incursions of the outlaw chieftain ibn Hassan from his southern fortress of Arbastro。 Life was plex in Ragosa； and dangers many…faceted。
Life seemed an entirely splendid affair to young Alvar de Pellino that morning； and the brilliant； cultured Ragosa of King Badir was…who would dream of denying it？…the most civilized place in the world。
Alvar had been to the palace with Jehane； and several times with Rodrigo。 There was a stream running right through it； watering some of t