tIFFNESS OKE DEVIN ABOUt AN    took    to remember ill dark in teo Catrianas quiet breats in the bed. A rueful expression crossed his face.

        It range, ed, ting o side to try to ease t armcted and unfortable t out on cold ground    surprisingly a     t    o    realized t    going to be able to sleep any more t nigo go doo tcaff could be io make    of khav.

        trating on closing tly be c of arily.

        the Prince walked over, eyebrows arched.

        Devin s;e just talked. I slept in t a kink in my o s.”

        "Im sure," Alessan murmured.

        "No, really," Devin insisted.

        "Im sure," Alessaed. ;I believe you. If you    injury, most likely.”

        "Very likely," Devin agreed. trianas door.

        "hough?”

        Devi ;; ion of iny Alessaing," he offered.

        Alessan smiled again. "e doairs he road anyhow.”

        "I o tces to ches.”

        "Not a bad idea," Alessan murmured, eyeing torn s. "Ill meet you dohere.”

        Devin ducked into    Alais    ered, quiet innoce, took y—to ock-still in t and tried to prrasp w o him.

        Iing,    called it. Language. tile exercise sometimes. A remnant of t, leaving Alienor, rianas sorrooo.    as if    a bleak hour.

        "K; Devin said aloud. "Or Ill never get out of this mood.”

        On tairs edly, ;for t; ing, oday— ter ting toward for half a year.

        And after t . to tigana. uary of Eanna.

        ide aions into tations of t to tcle Borso and hin.

        Sitting by teaming ko tir and bustle in t.

        Devin stood in t, unnoticed, and found    two men.

        In t gravity to o be a part of a frieze, a tableau, emblemati some plex way of all suche long roads.

        rao to sitting tle kit t dark o ive ever turnings it mig    yet begun.

        It seemed to Devin t Alessan and Erlein, sitting toget    beyond t    t stream in Ferraut. It    o do    ruly ser hem.

        For years traveling. to be so many images t overlapped and could evoke tions, tside, tle stir tside t by tceam and smell rising from turning foro t lay a. Looking at tillness amid tle of toturn of t seemed to be range nighe highlands.

        Sadness, and a distinct stir of longing. Devin realized t ed t sory for ed to be a part of t self-tained, aplisernity of men whis se so well.

        o savor t, but old e er and ime o guess at tained, solitary, petent look of t of him.

        epped tty servant noticed    a o a position near efully doiffened neck ill b him.

        "I didnt even o be c; Alessaed c;Erlein ed in on a fres of kc to keep the fires going.

        Couldnt    new ones on an Ember Day.”

        Devin nodded, sipping carefully and ense gratitude from eaming mug. "And tion you mentioned?"    Erlein.

        "Solved," tly. urally brigtle as kindling. "Erleins going to o e ablis I t let    too far a s to go o be tied toget ; eet t boto respond; io sip o the fire.

        "; Devin asked er a moment.

        Erlein made a sour face. "Slavery doesnt agree ," o his khav.

        Devied to ig. times    ted out y.

        A t struck Devin. uro Alessan. "Is o your meeting too?”

        "I suppose," Alessan said    carelessness. "A small reer to travel    stopping very mue oo deliberately casual, as if denying ty of strain.

        "I see," Devin said, as rally as urned o t it there.

        t stretc him.

        "Do you    to e?" the Prince asked.

        Did    to e? For    Devin and Sandre elling t everyted to ac to upon a meeting in t of the Ember Days.

        Did    to e?

        Devin cougone floor. "ell," ;not if Im in turally. Only if you think I could be useful and if maybe I could . . .”

        railed off because Alessan was laug him.

        Even Erlein o a faint, relut snort of amusement. two older men exged a glance.

        "You are a terrible liar," to Devin.

        "," Alessan said, still c;But never mind. I dont actually t isnt in ture of    Im certain you    do aained. Itll be a very long ride.”

        "? to ting?" Devin asked, startled.

        Alessan s;Only tate of ting you    ; ered. "home.”

        "Pigeon!" ted man cried, till some distance a not very many tone yielded to forest. Furto there was only rod snow.

        Carrying-poles taco tood be in burgundy livery. Devin t ts, but w hese were soldiers, and guards.

        "Pigeon," ted loudly. "You ime!”

        It ation t Devin realized t to Alessan.

        look to o ted; be rise to greet t , small eyes follo Alessan made. ionless on t least six rings; t of ten face t sing do, raked redly across o t ear.

        "pany for t; Alessan said mildly. "I    sure if youd e. trous fat in a year.”

        "And ?" t. "And    t I    fait; tone erous in treme, but Devin sa t and very chful.

        "Not ever," Alessan agreed calmly. o be replaced by an almost preternatural calm. "But t need me anymore. Not since last summer.”

        "Not need you!" t;Pigeon, of course I need you. You are my yout I alisman of fortune in battle.”

        "No more battles t; said Alessan quietly. "ill you alloo offer my    gratulations?”

        "No!" t;No, I    allorap from you.

        I    is for you to e op to be cluttering like two of us!”

        And    wo muscled arms.

        to bala.

        took trode to meet    moment Devin abruptly realized—a bucket of ice doo be.

        "Bear!" said Alessan, laugc.    ther man.

        "Oruly didnt know if you would e.”

        Marius.

        Stupefied by more titude and a sleepless nig tigana    off    and kiss o t arms lengtiny.

        "It is true,"    lengt;I    see it. You really did doubt me. I sraged, Pigeon. I s.    did Pigeon two say?”

        "Baerd ted ruefully. "Im afraid I owe him money.”

        "At least one of you o have some sense,”

        Marius grister ;? You tagger.

        Marius o    doruck by ture of turned on tant did it flit over Devin     Marius    one sed, sized e pre    by ce even a decade hence.

        ing moment of pity for to battle to meet    grove.

        tree-trunks and told Devin all o kno ed in ttles despite tual maiming—tendons—of t lory of tess.

        Marius    died. For anyones greater glory. Seven times    died. And ime, true King in Quileia again and t ess     given    neavern called time ago.

        "You must    last summer in t; Alessan was saying.

        ured to;tonalius so get t close to you h a blade.”

        t, in trut to see. ",”

        Marius said grimly. "I used our kick-drop from ty-seven tree and    token from my late    enter. May t. ill you take wine and a midday meal?”

        Alessans grey eyes blinked. "e o," he said.

        "Good," said Marius. ured to ;In t case, o laying t for us you    tell me, Pigeon, and I ell me, ed just noing t invitation.”

        It urn to blink;    eveered the pause.

        Alessan ;I    of ;t you ; Marius smiled t did not speak. "I    least t out. Someone I must get to, as soon as I .”

        "More important ted.”

        Alessan s;Not more important, or I    be here now. More pelling perhaps.

        ting for me at Borso last nigher is dying.”

        Mariuss expression cly. "I am deeply sorry," ;Alessan, truly I am." he paused.

        "It could not o e , kno.”

        Alessan gave eristic s oe extravagant golden clot of t multi-colored cus and putting dos and dishes of food.

        "e oget; Marius said crisply, "and discuss    go. You trust turning?”

        Devin    even t about t.

        "I suppose t; Alessan said indifferently. "But yes, I trust Danoleon. Of course I do. ook me to you in t place.”

        "I am a," Marius said mildly. "I remember    uly c t in t Sanctuary of Eanna, and your clergy in t been noted for ty.”

        Alessan gave ;    I do? My mot seen    t; ;I dont to be reized by many people, even    Baerds disguises. ould you not say I    since I een?" t che words.

        "Some; Marius said quietly. "Not so muc to join you.”

        Again Alessans eyes seemed to drift ao te sehan he was hearing.

        "e," Marius said, levering ;ill you join me on our carpet in the meadow?”

        "Stay in t; Alessan rapped sroubled. "h you, Bear?”

        Marius    moved. "A pany to the pass. hy?”

        Moving easily, smiling carelessly, Alessan sat do t. " so few up here.”

        "ttle enougoo superstitious to veo tains. You kno, Pigeon. taboo long ago rade he Palm.”

        "In t case," Alessan said, still smiling, "I am at a loss to explain t saw berail.”

        "You are certain?" Mariuss voice    there was suddenly i his eyes.

        "twiow.”

        "I am deeply distressed," said t;Suco be o kill me. And if tain taboo I am going to be forced to retions. ill you take some ; ured, and one of t trembled slightly.

        "t; Alessan murmured. "Erlein,    you do anyt it being known?”

        t pale, but oo kept ;Not any sort of attack. It ake too muco s it from any tracker in the highlands.”

        "A she King?”

        Erlein ated.

        "My friend," Alessan said gravely, "I need you and I am going to tio need you. I kno    anso make intelligent decisions. Pour ; o the Quileian soldier.

        Erlein accepted a glass and drank. "I    do a lo; opped. "Do you    it? there is some risk.”

        "I t; Alessan said. "Put up trusively as you .”

        Erleins moutig    ly from side to side.

        Devin could see t notell.

        "It is done," Erlein said grimly. "t up." he drank again from his wine.

        Alessan nodded, accepting a eful of meat and c;Devin?”

        Devin ing. "I see t; ly. "Up t side. Arre. Send me home.”

        "take my he saddle.”

        Devin s;id Im not good enoug I .    ye to be noisy in about ty minutes?”

        "e    be very noisy," said Marius of Quileia. "to your left as you go do past t whe way.”

        Devin smiled. Marius suddenly roared er and Alessan follo. Erlein    as Alessan s an imperious    toward Devin.

        "If you fot it tc, thing for you.”

        "It    my fault!" Devin protested loudly, letting o petulance. urned back to e, ed hey had e.

        As far as trail.

        ed aer a moments t         mig o climb.

        Cutting to t rees. errain allo    and ions for a lack of size. eep slopes, ain trees and dark serrano buss o ting soil.

        Part of trees briefly gave out before a s, steep cliff to t. oried to guess    it —no sounds reacrail.    be sure if y minutes, old tted eeto Adaon, and began to climb t occurred to    t an Asolini farmers son frling up a cliff- fa the Braccie.

        an Asolini farmers son tigana and o do thing.

        Devin skittered siderying not to dislodge any pebbles. crop of stone, ced raigo it.

        on omaco th.

        And traig    directly beloainly been visible on t part of rees. o ent on ting on t see t to inctively flattened    as to gauge t.

        For an arc ter, Devin kne ime, most likely, for only one arrow. ips were poisoned.

        Probably, he decided.

        Very carefully arted crao work he assassin.

        o a and of trees. o get close enougo deal h an archer?

        Just ter, by Erleins    after t a number of voices started in on one of t, most rollig    a legendary band of mountain outlay until ted by Quileia aando together.

        ty brave men rode apace from ty Quileiaains eaco t defied!

        to t o try to do.    t of luna     ime, or many options.

        ee east of ty feet belo from behe clouds.

        Devin was above and be all aplis his mercy.

        Instead, rust in ion, and a tall giant of a mountain piree rising all to    be sered tain trail, rung bow and o hand.

        Devin kneain passes—t    climb do tree    even he loud, seriously off-key voices sing his sounds from below.

        , so far as ion. Ot    better, but ot on trating on a large branc stretd a migried to calculate angle and distance as best    total lack of experie ticular maneuver.     to try    a tice, anywhere.

        , ime, and stood up. Absurdly, t came to ree, trying to stretc.

        Devin smiled tigepped to t    if o teaco use a bow properly.

        From tically toain s And o glen, But seventy brave men tracked o    the peaks were free again!

        Devin jumped. Air    o meet . retcc, stle. Only enougo c, cut um. Bring ly dohe rock.

        t ted. artled glance skyhe bow.

        Not nearly fast enoug top of ed like some ing bird of time arget began to move Devin here.

        Our kick-drop from ty-seven tree, .

        Falling, ilted orso so t it angled side    as    , even as o the air from his own lungs.

        to togetumbling and rolling ahe boulder.

        Devin gasped agonizingly for breat t. ted eeth and groped for his dagger.

        t    necessary.

        Dead before    to ortured lungs. t leg. o ig.

        ruggled, gasping and when he looked.

        tances, not a great surprise. S dead. o    of . Ss and scrapes from tumble dohe slope.

        So, Devin noted, did    orn and cime in    ougo be amusing in t, but    reaco it. Not yet.

        o o    o do. o draeadying breat as Alessan and one of ting up t beh surprise.

        arted to stand, but tically and o be braced by Alessan. tood staring doely, into her bleeding face.

        Devin looked away.

        Alessans. "e sa t sort of t; t;Didnt anyone ever tell you?”

        tness of one. "I feared for you," ly.

        "I couldnt to do," Devin said apologetically. o ;to do someto stop it.”

        Alessans smile oo, in the Nievolene barn.

        It ;e back do; t;Ill o    out ts for you.”

        t it    black, and o a semblance of a crest moon.

        From one end of it ted lock of greying    would be.

        Marius was on , one g.

        And t, because not at all afraid.

        "I t to dan ;I o tell you ell me if you    do it and t will be all we need say.”

        Marius o stop him.

        s aken to ed. ted some distance a    at noon t urned into a mild, generous day.

        "t; t;You kno.

        You probably kno o deny you any request at all. I o do tly. I o tell you    do, so you    ask it and force me to refuse.”

        Alessan nodded. , che King.

        "I ot give you an army," Marius said flatly. "Not yet, and peroo green in

        pooo far from tability I    o lead or even order troops over tains. tradition I o set about ctle time. I am not a young man anymore, Pigeon.”

        Devi a leap of excitement ruggled to master it. too serious an occasion for co—at t of—sometude. ole a sidelong gla Erlein a ravels, Devin seriously doubted if troubadour- events.

        Alessan ; ;I . For our sake as muvited t of Quileia norto tures from Quileia t    to be slaug no King in tries again.”

        "If t anotesses.

        Very ; Marius said, "tell me    is you do need.”

        Alessans legs ly crossed, er moment the sequence of songs for an evenings performance.

        Except t igogete.

        "A question first," Alessan said, trolling ;ters    to open trade?”

        Marius nodded. "From botyrants. Gifts, messages of felicitation, and generous offers to reopen trade routes by sea and land.”

        "And eaco s trustable in his power.”

        Marius ly no;Are you intercepting my mail, Pigeon? Eacly t.”

        "And ; Alessan asked, direct as an arro;; For t time, unmistakably, taut cord of tension in his voice.

        Marius    too. "Not," ;I    a few more messages from eachem before I move.”

        Alessan looked doo notice    time. ably, through his hair.

        "You ; y. "You rade. In your position you o begin ss you    offer. traffiort    it?" tone.

        "Of course," Marius said simply. "I o do it.    is only a question of timing—and    iming    been moved up.”

        Alessan nodded, as if his already.

        " ; he asked.

        "Open tariffs for eit Alberid Brandin send me all ts and goods and envoys t. Ill let trade make me truly a King—a King o o start doing it soon. Immediately, I no. I o put Quileia so firmly on a    as I    make it.

        Ot live some Year Kings, and tesses will be in pain before my bones are picked    underground.”

        Alessan closed ling of leaves all around t Marius again, the grey eyes wide and calm, and he

        said, bluntly: "My request: t you give me six montrade. And somet interval.”

        "time alone is a great deal," Marius said very softly. "But tell me t, Pigeon. thing else.”

        "tters, Bear. I ers sent nort letter: you say yes to Brandin, ditionally.

        You ask for time to solidate your oion before exposing Quileia to outside influences. You make it clear t your ination too endure. Sed letter: you reject, sorroures from Astibar. You e Alberico t you are intimidated by Brandins ts. t you o trade o trade    to in to risk offending une. You ask o keep in tact ly.

        You say you    terest. You    yet given Brandin a final decision, and    regards to the Emperor.”

        Devio rick of ter: listen, remember, t it later. Mariuss eyes ling smile was back.

        "And my tter?" he asked.

        "Is to te trade, no tariffs, first    for Senzios brave independend enterprise in ty." Alessan paused. "And tter, naturally—”

        "ill be intercepted by Alberico of Barbadior. Pigeon, do you knoting in motion? his is?”

        "ait a minute!" Erlein di Senzio suddenly interjected, starting to rise.

        "You be silent!" Alessan literally she and in a voice Devin had never heard him use.

        Erleins mout. anding. Alessan didnt even look at    on a golden carpet ains, seemingly oblivious to tence of anyt eacher.

        "You do kno you?" Marius said finally. "You knoly." tain wonder in his voice.

        Alessan nodded. "Ive ime to t it, triad knorade routes open I ts name are lost. it you    offer , not a tyrant.    thing I    do, Bear. Your Kingship may be my undoing. And my homes.”

        "Are you sorry you o it?”

        Devis of emotion running    and. ened, and remembered.

        "I s; Alessan murmured at lengt;In a    is a kind of treac I am not. But no,    orked so o ac; ful.

        Marius said, "You knoh of you.”

        "I knoh know.”

        "You know w I am fag bae.”

        "I do. I o remember.”

        In t follo a sadness e over    t. A sense of terrible spaces t alo lie bet o be

        crossed for even a simple toug.

        And    be for men suc.    seemed, ally o reac across so mucory and suc of responsibility and loss.

        "O; said Marius of Quileia, tle more t;you may    from te moon into my    eigin. I ters. Build a boo my memory if you    I have died.”

        Even    little ood, on ttermost edges of t a lump gat, making it difficult to s    moment. t     o travel—a distanever traverse—before er two.

        "Does eit; Erlein di Senzio broke into tillness, ; men and c you are about to do?”

        Marius said nothough.

        "; ;o killing you for saying t?" Erlein paled but did not draw baor did his own eyes flinch away.

        "I did not ask to be born into time, g to set it rig; Alessan said, ig;I    c; Bitterness cracked t.

        And en back. "I am trying to act for t just fana and    name. I raitor and a fool for doing so. My mot t from o able for blood aru of igana     to your judgment, Erlein di Senzio! I do not need you to tell me    risk in to do ell you, noto die a slave you migo figh me, Senzian.

        it yoing to figh me for freedom!”

        . Devi rembling, as if a titani ains and gone.

        " ; Marius of Quileia asked.

        Alessan fougo collect o sider tter. "Because ;    lengt;Because it is true t    danger by ts, and by my own. And because I have need of him.”

        Marius s;It is bad to have need of a man.”

        "I know, Bear.”

        "o you, even years later, and ask you for somet    let you refuse.”

        "I kno; said Alessan. t eag motionless on t.

        Devin turned aruder on t exess of t pass belos of t ness and, looking up to t t of te clouds ed apart, revealing t snoo be a plaore beauty and more pain than he could ever have

        imagi to be.

        ing for tle, alone on hills.

        of him.

        "You," said Baerd, "are even    te everything you say.”

        "Not er all, your only reason for refusing to e     feel ara pressure to—”

        "And after las, you go and take te strao reduce tand my ground: you are han I am.”

        "Las; Alessan said.

        Baerd s;how is he?”

        "ell enougrain. Devin stopped an assassination attempt up there.”

        "?" Baerd glanced quickly at Devin, noting torn s and s.

        "Yoing to o teaco use a bo; Devin said. "tear.”

        Baerd smiled. "I    c; to occur to ;An assassination?" o Alessan. "In tains? Surely not!”

        Alessans expression ;Im afraid so. Sain taboo ed—at least for the purposes of murder.”

        Baerds features creased    on ly a moment, t;So ion really. o act immediately. he said no?”

        "ters." Alessan ated. "o build a boo his memory if he dies.”

        Baerd suddenly turned    staring fixedly off to t. te-afternoon sun was she hills.

        "I love t man," Baerd said, still gazing into tance.

        "I kno; said Alessan. Slourned back to hey exged a look in silence.

        "Senzio?" said Baerd.

        Alessan nodded. "You o Alienor o set up in terception. t riana and tea. e start reaping iming as o do until    again, . Im not sure abo—Ill leave t to you.”

        "Im not    separate roads," Baerd murmured.

        " knoive Id be grateful to .”

        Baerd s; will you do?”

        "Speak to some people o it depends on    before summer es.”

        Baerd glanced briefly at Devin and Erlein. "try not to let yourself be ," he said.

        Alessan gave ;S een years.”

        "You !" t;You only    way.”

        Alessan sig;Suary of Eanna in a province called Loe. S in tigana. Do not say s been .”

        "But not by you!" Baerd protested. "o yourself?”

        Again t;I ain co accept t ot; o Erlein. "Leave it, Baerd. I promise not to let t you there. Devin will help if I need help.”

        Baerd grimaced beter furt    voice. "You t, t truly might happen now?”

        "I t o    never o stasis    all to    my mot many ot. In o    tcpost of Barbadiors Empire. And igana then?”

        inued in a lo;Marius is ting for and    agreed to let us play    may not    to do some praying, all of us, in to e. this has been long enough in arriving.”

        Baerd ill. "Long enoug;    a co Devin. "Eanna lig;    Erlein. "All three of you.”

        Alessans expression spoke a ;And yours, t; ed ao t.

        Folloride c fell on o meeting. oo far away for o be dised.

        Devin raised a ly do the same.

        Baerd lifted one arm e to ted norto ride away.

        Alessaing a steady pato tting sun, did not look back at all.
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