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ere a penetrating blue； set beneath straight eyebrows and above a long nose and a thin； wide mouth。 His bearing was patrician； courtly； the manner of an ambassador to a lesser court； not that of a servant of the god appearing before a monarch。 Garbed in the blue robes of the Ferrieres clerics； fringed and belted with yellow for the sun； Geraud de Chervalles was an undeniably imposing man。
The king saw no deference at all in that aristocratic face。 Nor did he find it…sparing a quick glance…in the expressions of the four lesser clerics who had now e to a halt behind de Chervalles。 No hostility or aggression； nothing as ill…bred as that； but clerics didn't have to be hostile to cause a world of trouble； and amiro now； belatedly； had a sense that trouble was what had arrived beneath his arches to stand upon the newly laid carpets and mosaics this cold and drizzly morning in autumn。
It didn't help to know that his wife had requested their presence。
He pulled his fur…collared robe more closely about himself。 Out of the corner of one eye he saw Gonzalez make a discreet gesture and servants hastened to build up the fires。 His constable was endlessly solicitous of the king's forts in such small matters。 Unfortunately he had missed something large here。 On the other hand； so had Ramiro himself； and he was not a man to task others for failings he shared。
〃Be wele to Valledo；〃 he said calmly； as the tall cleric stopped a proper distance before the throne。 〃In the holy name of Jad。〃
Geraud of Ferrieres bowed then…not before； Ramiro noted。 The bow was proper； though； a full； formal salutation。 He straightened。
〃We are honored； my lord king。〃 The High Cleric's voice was rich and cultured。 He spoke Esperanan flawlessly； even to the patrician lisp。 〃Honored by the invitation from our own beloved Ines； your most devout queen； and by your royal wele。 Only the prospect of a winter's fort here at Esteren's much…celebrated court could have drawn us forth upon the roads and through the mountains so late in the year。〃
No bones about it then。 His very first remarks。 They were staying。 Not really a surprise； though they might have been intending to push on to Ruenda。 That would have been pleasant。 Ramiro was aware of Ines beaming beside him； elegant and desirable。 She had been looking forward to this for a long time。
〃We shall offer what forts we may；〃 the king said； 〃though we fear we cannot match the fame of Ferrieres for the delights of the flesh。〃 He smiled； to make clear it was a jest。
The High Cleric shook his head。 There was an unwele hint of admonition in his expression。 Already。 〃We live simple lives； your grace；〃 he murmured。 〃We will be well content with any meager space and amenities you are able to spare。 Our delight and sustenance will e from the presence of the god in this mighty stronghold of Jad in the west。〃
Ramiro schooled his features。 He was aware that Ines had already allocated and sumptuously furnished a suite of connecting rooms for the Ferrieres clerics in the new wing of the palace； in the event that they elected to linger for more than a short time。 There was even a chapel there； at her insistence。 Geraud de Chervalles would not be forced to deal with any meager spaces here。 The king was also aware of the detailed exchange of letters between his queen and the clerics of her birthplace。 It would be unseemly； of course； to betray knowledge of this。 He felt like being unseemly。
〃We are certain our dearly beloved queen has been at pains to ply with every point of your instructions regarding what acmodations would be adequate for your needs。 The hot water has been arranged for your rooms； your personal masseur for each afternoon。 The food as stipulated。 The requested Farlenian wine。〃
He smiled genially。 Ines stiffened beside him。 Geraud de Chervalles looked briefly disfited； then sorrowful； in the manner of all clerics。 He had； however； no easy reply。 It was useful； Ramiro thought； to bring them up short early； like a horse in the breaking； before all the smooth； rolling phrases began to pour endlessly forth。 He doubted； though； that this man was susceptible to being checked。 A moment later this was confirmed。
〃I do regret that my advancing years have made it necessary to beg certain solicitous favors from those who honor us with a request to visit。 Especially in winter； I fear。 Your majesty is young yet； in the flush of your god…granted vigor。 Those of us who have begun our mortal decline can only look to you as our stern arm of support； under the holy sun of Jad。〃
As expected。 Not someone who could be quelled as he had managed to quell the yellow…garbed clerics here over the years。 Erratic men； ambitious； but without leadership or force。 Without looking he could picture the smug expressions on their faces。 They had a champion now； and things might be about to change。 Well； he ought to have known this was ing。 He ought to have given it more thought。 He had no one to blame but himself for agreeing to Ines's request that they invite one of the High Clerics from her own country to stop here on his way to the Isle； for the fort of her soul。
He'd known the name of de Chervalles； known he was a figure of power。 Beyond that he had not concerned himself。 A weakness。 He didn't like thinking about clerics。 He did have a vague memory of the afternoon she'd asked his permission to invite the man。 He had been lulled and languorous in the aftermath of lovemaking。 His queen； thought Ramiro of Valledo； looking straight ahead； knew him altogether too well。
He forced himself to smile again at the tall； grey…haired man in the luxurious blue and yellow robe。 〃You are unlikely to need defending here in winter。 Except against cold and boredom； perhaps。 We will do what we can to make you fortable during your brief time with us。〃 He allowed his tone to hint at dismissal。 Perhaps this first encounter； at least； could be kept short。 That would give him time to think things through a little。
De Chervalles's expression grew dark； troubled。 〃The god knows our fears are not for ourselves or our own fort； gracious king。 We e hither on the hard roads heavy with thoughts of the Children of Jad who live not beneath the benevolent rule of the kings in the lands of Esperana。 This； I confess； is what will make the ing winter hard for me。〃
Well； that had been a vain thought： that they might keep the first meeting brief。 And trouble lay ahead now like a thicket of spears。 Ramiro said nothing。 It was still possible he might deflect the worst of this； for the moment。 He really was going to need time to think。
〃What can you mean； most holy sire？〃 Ines's question was transparently earnest。 Her hands were clasped together； holding the sun disk in her lap； her face betrayed anxious concern。 The king of Valledo swore inwardly； but refused to permit any flicker of emotion to cross his face。
〃How can I not think of all our pious brethren of the god who must endure yet another winter under the cruel torments of the infidels of Ashar；〃 said Geraud de Chervalles。 Said it smoothly； flowingly； sorrowfully。 Loudly enough for the whole court to hear。
It was upon him； Ramiro thought grimly。 It had arrived； with this assured； dangerous man from Ferrieres。 De Chervalles had e here to say this one thing。 Say it this morning； and then again； and again； until he made kings and riders and farmers from the fields dance to his tune and die。
Despite his earlier resolutions； Ramiro felt a flicker of anger against his constable。 Gonzalez ought to have been alert to this。 Was that not part of his office？ Did Ramiro have to plan and prepare for everything of importance？ He knew the answer to that； actually。
No one to blame but himself。 The king thought of Rodrigo Belmonte； far away in Al…Rassan。 Exiled among the infidels。 They weren't even certain where he'd gone yet。 He had promised not to attack Valledo with anyone； promised that much but no more。 He had been Raimundo's man： his boyhood friend then his constable。 Not entirely trusted by Ramiro； or trusting him； if it came to that。 Raimundo's death。 The shadows around it。 Too much history there。 And Belmonte was too proud； too independent a man。 Needed； though； badly needed； in fact。
〃But most holy sire； what can we do？〃 Ines asked； lifting her clasped hands to her breast。 〃Our hearts are heavy to hear your words。〃 Her golden disk shone in the muted light falling down through the new windows。 It had begun to rain outside； the king could hear it on the glass。
Had he not known better； Ramiro would have thought his queen had been given her words by de Chervalles； so patly did they lead to the High Cleric's next speech。 The king wanted to close his eyes； his ears。 Wanted urgently to be away from here； riding a horse in the rain。 The words came； entirely predictable； but sonorous and pelling nonetheless。
〃We can do what those charged by Jad with his holy mission on earth can do…that； and no more or less； most revered queen。 The accursed Khalifate of the Asharites is no more；〃 said Geraud of Ferrieres； and paused； suggestively。
〃Now there's news；〃 said Gonzalez de Rada sarcastically； his own beautiful voice cutting into the mood。 〃