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 held up a finger and shook his head and Diego watched his brother stop； crestfallen。
It was the first time he had been alone with the king。 Kings weren't alone very often； he thought。
They walked through the stand of trees…beech and oak； a few cypresses like sentries at the edge of the wood。 There were small white flowers everywhere； like a carpet on the forest floor。 Diego wondered how they grew in such profusion in the dark； cool shade。 They came to a place near the eastern end of the woods and here the king stopped。 He turned to look south and Diego did the same。
In the light of the setting sun they could see the gleam of the Tavares River。 Beyond it was Fezana。 River and city had been nothing more than names on a map for Diego once； tests from their tutor： 〃Name the cities owing allegiance at this time to the king of Cartada。 Name that king。 Now write those names； and spell them correctly。〃
Tavares。 Fezana。 Almalik。 Not just names any more。 He was in Al…Rassan； land of terror and legend。 Here with the army of Valledo； e to conquer。 To reconquer； for all of this had once been their own； when Esperana was a name of power in the world； long ago。
Truth to tell； looking out at those massive stone walls the color of honey in the slanting light； Diego Belmonte found himself wondering how even this king and this army dared imagine taking such a city。 Nothing in his experience…he had only seen Esteren once； and then Carcasia…could pare with this splendor。 Even as he stood looking south； his image of Valledo grew smaller。
Rising behind the walls Diego could see domes gleaming in the last of the light。 Places of worship； he knew。 Shrines to beliefs the clerics of Jad named foul and evil。
They looked beautiful； though； to Diego。
As if reading his thoughts or following his gaze； the king said softly； 〃The two nearer domes…the blue and white…are those of the Kindath sanctuary。 The silver ones that shine； the larger ones； are the temples of Ashar。 At sundown； soon； we ought to be able to hear the bells for prayer； even from here。 I remember loving that sound。〃
The king had spent a year exiled in Al…Rassan； Diego knew。 Just as； earlier； Raimundo and Diego's own father had been exiled by King Sancho the Fat to the cities of the infidels。 That episode was part of their family history； tangled up with why Rodrigo wasn't constable of Valledo any more。
Diego； feeling he was expected to say something； murmured； 〃My father ought to know this city well enough。 He's been here before。〃
〃I know that； Diego。 Do you think you'll be able to tell me when he is ing out； and where？ There will have to be a way out through the walls。 The gates will be locked by now。〃
Diego looked up at his king。 〃I'll try。〃
〃We need some warning。 I want to be there； wherever he es out。 Will you know where he's going？ Which part of the city？〃
〃Sometimes I can do that。 Not always。〃 Diego felt guilty again。 〃I'm sorry； my lord。 I don't 。。。 I can't tell very well what I'll see。 Sometimes there's nothing。 I'm afraid I'm not very…〃
A hand came down on his shoulder。 〃You have already been a help and if Jad finds us both worthy you will be again。 Believe this。 I am not saying words to ease you。〃
〃But how； my lord？〃 Diego knew he probably shouldn't ask this but he had been wondering about it since leaving home。
The king looked down at him for a moment。 〃It isn't plex； if you understand war。〃 His brow furrowed as he reached for words。 〃Diego； think of it this way： you know men cannot see very well in the dark of night。 Think of war as all taking place in darkness。 During battle or before battle； a captain； a king； knows only what is happening next to him； and not even that much very clearly。 But if I have you with me and I have your father manding a wing of my army…and by Jad I hope I will soon…then you can tell me something of what is happening where he is。 Anything you give me is more than I would otherwise have had。 Diego； you can be my beam of light； like a gift from the god； to see by in darkness。〃
There was a stirring of the wind； leaves rustled。 Diego； looked up at his king； swallowing hard。 It was odd； but in that moment he felt both larger and smaller than he was。 He looked away； abashed。 But his gaze fell once more upon the mighty walls and gleaming domes of Fezana and there was no fort there。
He closed his eyes。 The familiar spinning came。 He reached out a hand and braced himself against a tree。
Then he was with his father； and aware of something else in the same moment。 In a stillness at the edge of a wood Diego Belmonte reached out； trying to serve his country and his king； and he found himself enmeshed in Fezana's streets。 He felt danger surrounding his father like a ring of fire。
It was fire； he realized。
Heart pounding； eyes still closed； concentrating as hard as he could； he said； 〃There are torches and a large crowd。 People running。 Houses are burning； my lord。 There is an old man with my father。〃
〃Is he blind？〃 the king asked quickly。
〃I cannot tell that。 Everything is burning。〃
〃You're right！ I see smoke now。 In Jad's name； what are they doing there？ Where is your father going？〃
〃My lord； I cannot； I 。。。 wait。〃
Diego struggled to orient himself。 He never saw actual faces with this sight； only presences； auras； an awareness of people； with his father…or mother； or brother…at the center。 He sensed tall houses； walls； a fountain。 A press of running figures。 Then two domes； blue and white。 Behind his father。 East。 He opened his eyes； fought the dizziness； looking south。 He pointed。
〃They are going towards a place in the walls on this side of the city。 There must be a way out； as you said。 There is fighting。 Why is there fighting； my lord？〃
He looked anxiously up at the king。 Ramiro's expression was grim。
〃I don't know。 I can only guess。 If your father is with ben Yonannon and he is fighting； then it may be the Asharites are attacking the Kindath in th