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〃Now there's news；〃 said Gonzalez de Rada sarcastically； his own beautiful voice cutting into the mood。 〃More than fifteen years old。〃 He glanced at the king。 Ramiro understood： the count had finally grasped where this was heading； and was trying to steer it aside。
Too late； of course。
〃But there is fresher news； I understand；〃 the tall cleric from Ferrieres said； undeterred。 〃The vicious king of Cartada is also dead now； summoned to the black judgment Jad visits upon all unbelievers。 Surely there is a message here for us！ Surely with the leader of the jackals gone it is a time to act！〃
The voice had risen； modulating smoothly towards a first crescendo。 Ramiro had heard this sort of thing before； but never from such a master。 In a kind of horrified admiration； he waited。
〃To act？ Now？〃 Gonzalez didn't bother to mask his irony。 〃A trifle cold is it not？〃
Another good effort； the dry tone as much as the words； but Geraud de Chervalles overmastered it。 〃The fires of the god warm those who serve his will！〃 His gaze as he looked at the constable was scornful and unyielding。 Gonzalez de Rada was unlikely to tolerate this； the king knew from experience； and wondered if he ought to intervene before something serious happened。
But then； unexpectedly； the cleric smiled； much as any man might smile。 His stem features relaxed； he lowered his voice。 〃Of course I do not speak of a winter war。 I hope I am not so foolish as that。 I know these matters take time； much planning； the right season。 These are issues for brave men of the sword such as the valiant kings of Esperana and their legendary Horsemen。 I can only try； in my small way； to help light a fire； and to offer tidings that may aid and inspire you。〃
He waited。 There was a silence。 Rain drummed on the windows。 A log shifted in one of the fires； then fell with a crash and a flurry of sparks。 Ramiro expected Ines to ask the awaited question； but she had fallen unexpectedly silent。 He looked at her。 She had lowered the sun disk to her lap and was staring at the cleric； biting her lip。 Her expression was unreadable now。 Inwardly； the king shrugged。 The game had begun； it was going to have to be played out。
〃What tidings？〃 he asked politely。
Geraud de Chervalles's smile became a radiant thing。 He said； 〃I thought it might be so。 You have not yet heard。〃 He paused； raised his voice。 〃Hear； then； news to cause all hearts to exult and offer praise： the king of Ferrieres and both counts of Waleska； the mightiest lords of the Karch Lowlands and most of the nobility of Batiara have e together to wage war。〃
〃What？ Where？〃 Gonzalez this time； the sharp words pulled from him。
The cleric's smile grew even more triumphant。 His blue eyes shone。
〃In Soriyya；〃 he whispered into the stillness。 〃In Ammuz。 In the desert homelands of the infidels； where Jad is denied and his life…bringing sun is cursed。 The army of the god is assembling even now。 It will winter south by the sea in Batiara and take ship in the spring。 Already； though； a first battle has been fought in this holy war； we heard the tidings before we left to e to you。〃
〃Where was this battle？〃 Gonzalez again。
〃A city called Sorenica。 Do you know it？〃
〃I do；〃 said Ramiro quietly。 〃It is the Kindath city in the south of Batiara； granted them as their own long ago； for aid given the princes of Batiara in peace and war。 What Asharite armies were there； may I ask？〃
Geraud's smile faded。 There was a coldness in his eyes now。 The belated recognition of a possible foe。 Be careful； Ramiro told himself。
The cleric said； 〃Think you the so…called Star…born of the desert are the only infidels we must face？ Do you not know the rites the Kindath practice on the nights of two full moons？〃
〃Most of them；〃 said Ramiro of Valledo calmly。 It seemed he was not going to be careful； after all。 His slow； deep anger was beginning to rise。 He feared that anger； but not enough to resist it。 He was aware that his wife was looking at him now。 He stared at the cleric from Ferrieres。 〃I've given thought to inviting the Kindath back； you see。 We need their industry and their knowledge in Valledo。 We need all kinds of people here。 I wanted to know as much as I could about Kindath beliefs before I proceeded further。 There is nothing I've ever heard； or read； to suggest blood or desecration are part of their faith。〃
〃Invite them back？〃 Geraud de Chervalles's voice had lost its modulated control。 〃At the very time when all the kings and princes of the Jaddite world are joining together to cleanse the world of heresy？〃 He turned to Ines。 〃You told us nothing of this； my lady。〃 The words were an accusation； stiff and grim。
Ramiro lost his temper。 This was too much。
But before he could speak； his queen； his holy； devout queen from Ferrieres said； 〃Why； cleric； would I tell you such a thing？〃 Her tone was astringent； royal； shockingly cold。
Geraud de Chervalles； utterly unprepared for this； took an involuntary step backwards。 Ines went on： 〃Why would the plans of my dear lord and husband for our own land be a part of any munication between you and me with regard to your pilgrimage？ I think you presume； cleric。 I await your apology。〃
Ramiro was as shocked as the man addressed。 Support from Ines against a High Cleric was not something he'd ever have expected。 He dared not even look at her。 He knew this ice…cold voice of hers extremely well； most often it had been used against him； for one sin or another。
Geraud de Chervalles； his color heightened now； said； 〃I beg forgiveness； of course； for any offense the queen has perceived。 But I will say this： there are no internal； private affairs of any Jaddite kingdom； not when it es to the infidels； Asharite or Kindath。 They are a matter for the clerics of the god。〃
〃Then burn them yourselves；〃 said Ramiro of Valledo grimly。 〃Or if you seek men to die and women to be put at risk of losing all they have in your cause； speak a little more softly； especially at a royal court where you are a guest。〃
〃I have a question；〃 Ines added suddenly。 〃If I may？〃 She looked at the king。 Ramiro nodded。 He still couldn't believe what had happened to her。 She asked； 〃Who is it has mounted this war？ Who summoned the armies？〃
〃The clerics of Jad； of course；〃 said Geraud； his color still high； the easy smile gone。 〃Led by those of us in Ferrieres； of course。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Ines。 〃Then tell me； why are you here； cleric？ Why are you not with that mighty army in Batiara； preparing to make the long journey to those distant； dangerous eastern lands？〃
Ramiro had never seen his wife like this。 He looked at her again in frank astonishment。 His own surprise； he saw； was as nothing pared to that of the man addressed。
〃There are infidels nearer to home；〃 Geraud said darkly。
〃Of course；〃 Ines murmured。 Her expression was guileless。 〃And Soriyya is so far； and sea voyages so tedious； and war in the desert so chancy。 I think I do begin to understand。〃
〃I don't think you do。 I think…〃
〃I am fatigued；〃 Queen Ines said； rising。 〃Forgive me。 A woman's weakness。 Perhaps we might continue this another time； my lord king？〃 She looked at Ramiro。
Still unable to believe what he was hearing； the king rose。 〃Of course； my lady；〃 he said。 〃If you are unwell 。。。 〃 He extended a hand； she took it。 He felt； unmistakably； a pressure of her fingers。 〃Count Gonzalez； will you be so good as to see to our distinguished guests 。。。 〃
〃A great honor；〃 said Gonzalez de Rada。
He snapped his fingers。 Eight men came forward to flank the clerics from Ferrieres。 Ramiro nodded his head politely and waited。 Geraud de Chervalles； still red…faced； had no choice but to bow。 Ramiro turned； Ines swinging around him； still holding his hand； as in the steps of a dance…though she never danced…and they went out through the new bronze doors behind the throne。
The doors closed behind them。 It was a small retreat they entered； graciously appointed； with carpeting and new…bought tapestries。 There was wine on a table by one wall。 Ramiro walked quickly over and poured for himself。 He drained a glass； poured another； drained it。
〃Jad curse that insufferable man！ Might I have just a little of that？〃 his queen said。
The king wheeled around。 The servants had withdrawn。 They were alone。 Ines's expression was not one he could ever remember seeing。 Covering his confusion； he quickly poured for her； mixed water； brought her the glass。
She took it； looked up at him。 〃I'm sorry；〃 she said。 〃I brought this upon us； didn't I？〃
〃An unpleasant guest？〃 He managed a smile。 He felt oddly buoyant； looking at her。 〃We've dealt with such before。〃
〃He's more than that； though； isn't he？〃 He watched her sip from the glass。 She made a face； but took another sip。 His sudden high spirits faded as quickly as they'd surged。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃he is more than that。 Or； not him alone； but the tidings he's brought。〃
〃I know that。 A holy war。 All those armies together。 They will want us to join the cause； won't they？ In Al…Rassan？〃
〃And my soldiers will want it。〃
〃You don't want to go south。〃 It was not a question。
There was a di