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w the world； to miss their father。
Then one morning Diego woke with an image of Rodrigo in his mind。 It was blurred； because his father was riding very fast； and the landscape changed too quickly for Diego to get a clear picture。 But he was ing towards them from the east； and he wasn't far away。
Diego lay under his blanket for a little while； eyes closed； concentrating。 He heard Fernan wake up beside him； and start to say something。 Then Fernan was quiet。 He could usually tell when Diego was reaching out； or reaching in。 It was hard to know the right words for this。
The landscape refused to bee clearer。 He saw that his father was with only a few people； not a large pany； and there seemed to be a river beyond him…which would make sense； if Diego remembered the maps correctly。 Rodrigo would be riding along the Tavares。 He seemed to be agitated about something； but Diego had no sense of immediate danger。 He tried casting his mind a little away from his father； to see if he could place him more exactly。 He saw the river； grasslands； hills。
Then； vividly； an image of a city and its walls。 That had to be Fezana。
His father was going into Fezana。
Diego opened his eyes。 Fernan was there； watching him。 Without speaking； his brother offered him an orange； already sliced。 Diego bit into it。
〃Why；〃 he asked softly； 〃would Papa be going into Fezana？〃
Fernan's brow knitted。 〃No idea；〃 he said at length。 〃Is he？ Are you going to tell the king？〃
〃Guess so。 That's why we're here； isn't it？〃
Fernan didn't like thinking of it that way； Diego knew； but it was the truth。 They told Ibero first。 Then Diego and his brother and their tutor went to find King Ramiro。
A remarkably short time after that conversation they were racing； with the king and the constable and one hundred of Valledo's best Horsemen towards Fezana； a full day's fast ride away。
〃This is very important；〃 the king had said to Diego。 〃You have now justified your being here。 We thank you。〃
〃Papa isn't in trouble； is he？〃 Fernan had asked sharply。 He was no longer shy in this pany。 〃He isn't exiled from here； is he？ Only Valledo。〃
King Ramiro had paused then； and looked at both boys。 His expression had softened。 〃Is that what you have been fearing？ Your father isn't in trouble at all。 Not from me。 I have to catch him before he gets to Fezana。 I have no idea why he's going there； but I want to stop him and end his exile。 I need him badly on this campaign。 I can't afford to have my best captain trapped inside the city I'm about to besiege； can I？〃
Fernan had nodded gravely； as if he'd been thinking along these same lines。 Perhaps he had。 Diego； different in nature and response； had looked quickly at Count Gonzalez when the king named Rodrigo his best captain。 He had been able to read nothing in the constable's features； though。
They rode so rapidly through the morning and into midday； that they actually caught and passed several groups of farmers and villagers heading for Fezana； fleeing their approach。 People began screaming as the Horsemen raced by； but it wasn't until noontime that the king ordered a party of Asharites killed。 Their first killings in this war。
It was important； Diego was given to understand。 The people streaming into Fezana； and those already waiting there； had to fear them terribly…to be made to doubt the wisdom of resistance。 Walled cities as well…defended as Fezana couldn't be stormed； they had to be besieged； and the morale of those inside was critical to that。 A certain number of people had to die so that word of killings might run ahead into the city。
Neither he nor Fernan was part of the contingent that peeled away from their ranks and began cutting a swath through the cluster of families the king had indicated。 Diego； for his own part； was entirely happy not to be involved。 He saw Fernan looking back over his shoulder as they rode； watching the slaughter。
Diego didn't look at all； after his first glance。 He thought his brother was secretly relieved； as well； not to be part of that group。 He didn't say this； of course。 But Fernan's play…battles had always been against the veiled Muwardis； where despite being hideously outnumbered； the lords Fernan and Diego Belmonte with their gallant riders had managed to prevail； breaking through the ranks of the desert…spawned to rescue their captive father and the king and earn great praise。
Chopping down farmers and small children on a dusty road was something else entirely。 The king's party galloped on； outrunning the screaming。 The soldiers who had been detailed to the task caught up with them a little later。 Geraud de Chervalles； looking excited and happy； blessed them and their weapons。 In a ringing voice Diego thought was too loud； he called what they had done a proud moment in the history of Esperana。
The king ordered a rest after that and men slipped down from their mounts to take water and food。 The sun was high； but it was still early in the year and not too hot。 Diego walked a little way apart； found some bushes for shade； sat down on the ground and closed his eyes； looking for his father。 It was his task。 It was why they were here。 There was nothing private or personal about his gift any more。 He would have to think more about that； later。
He found Rodrigo quickly this time and realized something immediately。 He could see the city in the same image as his father。 There was something else； too； an aura Diego recognized from many times before。
He stood up； briefly dizzy； which sometimes happened。 He went to find the king。 Fernan saw him going and rose to follow。 Diego waited for his brother and they walked over together。 King Ramiro was sitting on a saddle blanket eating food from his lap； like a soldier； and drinking from a leather wine flask。 He handed the flask and his platter to a servant when he saw Diego ing。 He stood up。
〃What is it； lad？〃
〃When will we reach Fezana； my lord？〃
〃Sunset。 A little before； if we go very fast。 Why？〃
〃My father is already there。 On a hill just east of the walls。 I don't think we can reach him。 And I think 。。。 I believe he's in danger now； after he gets inside。〃
King Ramiro looked at him thoughtfully。
〃Be more precise； in Jad's name！〃 It was the cleric from Ferrieres。
〃He would be if he could； de Chervalles。 You must see that。〃 The king didn't appear to much like the High Cleric。 He turned back to Diego。 〃You can anticipate danger as well as see it happening？〃
〃For my father； yes； but not always； my lord。〃
〃You still have no idea why he is going into Fezana？〃
Diego shook his head。
〃He is not with his pany？ A small party； you say？〃
Diego nodded。
There was a nervous cough。 They all turned to Ibero。 Diego hadn't heard him e up。 Self…conscious in the extreme； the small cleric said； 〃I may be able to offer a thought on this； my lord。〃
〃Do so。〃 Geraud de Chervalles spoke before the king。 Ramiro directed a glance at him but said nothing。
Ibero said； 〃In his letters home； Ser Rodrigo did say that his pany had retained the services of a physician。 A woman。 A Kindath from Fezana。 Jehane bet Ishak； I believe。 Perhaps 。。。 ？〃
The king was briskly nodding his head。 〃That would make sense。 Rodrigo knew we might be ing。 He would be guided by loyalty if she is part of his pany。 Would this woman still have family in Fezana？〃
〃I would not know； my lord。〃
〃I do。〃 It was Fernan； speaking with assurance。 〃He wrote my mother about that。 Her father was a physician as well； and still lives in Fezana。〃
The king quickly held up a hand。 〃Ishak of Fezana？ Is that the father？ The one blinded by Almalik？〃
Fernan blinked。 〃I don't know anything about…〃
〃It must be！ That's the man whose treatise the queen's doctor read！ That is how he saved her life！〃 King Ramiro's eyes gleamed。 〃By Jad； I see it now。 I know what is happening。 Ser Rodrigo is going in； but he'll be ing out with them any way he can。 He needs time before we arrive。〃
〃You will tell us your thinking； I hope； my lord？〃 Geraud de Chervalles wore an expression poised between pique and curiosity。
〃As much as you need to know；〃 the king of Valledo said agreeably。 The cleric reddened。 The king； appearing not to notice； turned to Gonzalez de Rada。 〃Constable； this is what I want done； and I want it done swiftly 。。。 〃
King Ramiro seemed to be extremely good at giving orders； so far as Diego could judge。 A king must spend most of his time telling people what he wanted them to do； he supposed。 A number of men were seen riding back to the main body of the army soon afterwards。 He and Fernan remained with the king's guard。
They slowed their pace； however。 And shortly before day's end； at a place to which one of the outriders led them…a stand of trees within sight of the river and the city walls； but not too close to them…they stopped； taking shelter at the edge of the trees。
King Ramiro； riding gloves in one hand； walked over； unexpectedly alone； to where Diego and Fernan and Ibero were watering their horses。 He gestured； and Diego quickly handed his horse's reins to his brother and followed。 Fernan made as if to e too； but the king he