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Esteren or one of the larger sanctuaries； but Ibero was not an ambitious man and he had never had much appetite for courts or the equally faction…riven retreats of Jad。
He was a quiet man； somewhat old before his years； but not without a sense of humor or an awareness of how the stern precepts of the god had； at times； to be measured against an awareness of human frailty and passions。 The short…term position had turned； as sometimes happened without one's noticing； into a permanent one。 He had been with the Belmontes now for twenty…eight years； since the Captain himself had been a boy。 They had built a chapel and a library for him； and then expanded both。 He had taught young Rodrigo his letters； and then his wife； and later his sons。
It had been a good； gentle life。 Pleasures came from the books he was able to obtain with the sums allocated him； from his herb garden； from correspondents in many places。 He had taught himself a little of medicine； and had a reputation for extracting teeth efficiently。 Excitement…not inconsiderable…arrived home at intervals with the Captain and his pany。 Ibero would listen in the dining hall to the tales of warfare and intrigue they brought with them。 He'd formed an unlikely friendship with gruff old Lain Nunez； whose profanity masked a generous spirit； in the little cleric's view。
For Ibero di Vaquez the stories he heard were enough turbulence for him； and more than close enough to real conflict。 He liked the seasonal rhythms of existence here； the measured routine of the days and years。
His first intervention on the wider stage of the world； seven years ago； had been a brief； respectful essay on a doctrinal clash between the clerics of Ferrieres and Batiara on the meaning of solar eclipses。 That clash； and the battle for precedence it represented； was still unresolved。 Ibero's contribution appeared to have been ignored； so far as he could tell。
His second intervention had been to write a letter； in the late autumn of last year； to the holy person of Geraud de Chervalles； High Cleric of Ferrieres； dwelling in Esteren。
A pany of men had arrived this morning in response to that。 They had e and had gone； with the boys。 And now Ibero； late that same afternoon； stood with his head bowed and trembling hands clasped before him； learning that he； too； was to quit this house。 Leave chapel； library； garden； home。 After almost thirty years。
He was weeping。 He had never been spoken to； in all his life； in the tones with which he was being addressed by Miranda Belmonte in her small sitting room； as the sun went down。
〃Understand me perfectly；〃 she was saying； pacing before the fire； her face bloodless； unheeded tears sparkling on her cheeks。 〃This was a traitor's betrayal of our family。 The betrayal of a confidence we had reposed in you； regarding Diego。 I will not kill you； or order your death。 I have known you； and loved you； for too long。〃 Her voice caught。 She stopped her pacing。
〃Rodrigo might；〃 she said。 〃He might find you； wherever you go； and kill you for this。〃
〃He will not do that；〃 the little cleric whispered。 It was difficult to speak。 It was also hard for him； now； to imagine what he had expected her response might be； back in the autumn； when he wrote that letter to Esteren。
She glared at him。 He found it impossible to sustain her glance。 It wasn't the fury； it was the tears。
〃No；〃 Miranda Belmonte said； 〃no； you're right； he won't。 He loves you much too dearly。 He will simply tell you； or write to you； how you have wounded him。〃
Which would break Ibero's heart。 He knew it would。
He tried； again； to explain。 〃Dearest lady； this is a time of holiness； of men riding beneath the god's banner。 They will be taking ship in Batiara for the east soon。 There is hope they may be riding south here； in the name of Jad。 In our time； my lady。 The Reconquest may begin！〃
〃And it could begin and continue without my children！〃 She had clenched her fists at her sides like a man； but he saw that her lips were trembling。 〃Diego's is a special gift； a frightening one。 Something we have kept to ourselves all his life。 You know…you know； Ibero！…that clerics have burned such people。 What have you done to him！〃
He swallowed hard。 He said； 〃The high lord Geraud de Chervalles is an enlightened man。 The king of Valledo is the same。 It is my belief that Diego and Fernan will be weled with honor into the army。 That if Diego is able to help in this holy cause he will win renown in his own name； not simply his father's。〃
〃And be named a sorcerer all his life？〃 Miranda swiped at the tears on her face。 〃Had you thought of that； Ibero？ Had you？ What price renown； then？ His own； or his father's？〃
Ibero swallowed again。 〃It will be a holy war； my lady。 If he aids in the cause of Jad…〃
〃Oh； Ibero； you innocent fool！ I could kill you； I swear I could！ It is not a holy war。 If it happens； this will be a Valledan campaign to take Fezana and expand south into the tagra。 That is all。 King Ramiro has been thinking about this for years。 Your precious High Cleric simply showed up at the right time to put a gloss on it。 Ibero； this is no Reconquest by a united Esperana。 There is no Esperana any more！ This is just Valledo expanding。 Ramiro is as likely to turn west and besiege his brother in Orvedo as anything else before autumn es。 What does your holy god say to that？〃
She was blaspheming； now； and her soul was in his care； but he feared to chide her。 It was also possible that she was right about much of this。 He was an innocent man； he would never have denied that； but even so 。。。
〃Kings may err； Miranda； my lady。 So may humble clerics。 I do what I do； always； in the name of Jad and his holy light。〃
She sat down； abruptly； as if the last of her strength had given out。 She looked as if she had been physically injured； he saw； and there seemed to be a lost place in her eyes。 She had been alone； without Ser Rodrigo； for a long time。 His heart ached。
Labelled a sorcerer all his life。
It might be true。 He had thought only of the triumph； the glory Diego might accrue should he help the king in battle with his gift of sight。
Miranda said； her voice low now； uninflected。 〃You were here at Rancho Belmonte to serve Jad and this family。 For all these years there has been no conflict in that。 Here； for once； it seems there was。 You made a choice。 You chose； as you say； the god and his light over the needs and the trust of the Belmonte。 You are entitled to do so。 Perhaps you are required to do so。 I don't know。 I only know that you cannot make such a choice and remain here。 You will be gone in the morning。 I will not see you。 Goodbye； Ibero。 Leave me now。 I wish to cry alone； for my sons。〃
He tried； heartsick； to think of something to say。 He could not。 She would not even look at him。 He left the room。 He went to his own chambers。 He sat in his bedroom for a time； desolate； lost； and then went next door to the chapel。 He knelt and prayed； without finding any fort。
In the morning he packed a very few belongings。 In the kitchen； when he went there to say farewell； they gave him food and wine to begin his journey。 They asked for his blessing； which he gave； making the sign of the god's disk over them。 They were weeping； so was he。 Rain was falling when he went back out； the good； much…needed rain of spring。
Outside the stables there was a horse saddled for him。 By the lady's orders； he was given to understand。 She was true to her word； however。 She did not e out to see him ride away in the rain。
His heart hammering the way it had in battle； Alvar watched as the grey iguana spider approached him slowly。 The igwarra was poisonous； sometimes fatally so。 The son of one of the farm workers had died of a bite。 He tried to move； but could not。 The spider came up and kissed him on the lips。
Alvar； twisting； managed to free his arms in the press of people and put them around the spider。 He kissed her back as best he could from behind his eagle mask。 He was improving； he thought。 He had learned a great deal since sundown。
The spider stepped back。 Some people seemed to have a knack of finding space to maneuver in the crowd。 That trick； Alvar hadn't learned yet。
〃Nice。 Find me later； eagle；〃 said the iguana。 She reached downwards and gave him a quick squeeze on his private parts。 Alvar hoped the others hadn't seen。
Not much chance of that。
A hard； bony elbow was driven into his ribs as the spider drifted away。 〃What I'd give；〃 cackled Lain Nunez； 〃to be young and broad…shouldered again！ Did she hurt you； child？〃
〃What do you mean again？〃 roared Martin； on Alvar's other side。 He was a fox for the Carnival； it suited him。 〃You were never built like Alvar； except in your dreams！〃
〃I assume；〃 said Lain； with dignity； 〃that you are speaking of his shoulders； and not elsewhere？〃
There was a raucous whoop of laughter in response to that。 Not that the noise level could possibly get much higher； Alvar thought。 Just ahead of them…he had to walk ahead of them； given his spectacular mask…Husari ibn Musa carefully turned around and gave Lain a gesture of encouragement。 The normally dour old warrior wave