ere laden with such folk wisdom； carrying it like their travelling baggage； well…worn； never far from reach。
So Jehane fought against her tears on Rodrigo Belmonte's black horse； riding east under moons that spelled a journey for her； against the backdrop of the summer stars； and the man with whom she rode kept blessedly silent until they reached the camp and saw that the Muwardis had been there。
For Alvar； a good part of the considerable strain of that night came from feeling so hopelessly behind what was happening。 He had always thought of himself as clever。 In fact； he knew he was intelligent。 The problem was； the events unfolding tonight in Al…Rassan were so far outside the scope of his experience that cleverness was not nearly enough to show him how to deal with what was taking place。
He understood enough to know that with his share of the ransom to be negotiated for Garcia de Rada and his surviving men he was already wealthier than he had ever imagined being in his first year as a soldier of the king in Esteren。 Even now； before any further negotiations took place； Alvar had been assigned a new horse and armor by Lain Nunez…and both of them were better than his own。
This was how soldiers rose in the world； if they did； through the plunder and ransom of war。 Only he had really not expected to take that wealth from fellow Valledans。
〃Happens all the time；〃 Lain Nunez had said gruffly as they divided the spoils in the village。 〃Remind me to tell you of the time Rodrigo and I served as privately hired mercenaries of the Asharites of Salos downriver。 We raided into Ruenda for them more than once。〃
〃But not into Valledo；〃 Alvar had protested； still troubled。
〃All one back then； remember？ King Sancho was still on the throne of united Esperana。 Three provinces of one country； lad。 Not the division we've got now。〃
Alvar had thought about that on the way back to the camp。 He was struggling with so many difficult things…including his own first killing…that he didn't even have a chance to enjoy his spoils of battle。 He did notice that Lain Nunez was careful to allocate a substantial share of the ransomed weapons and mounts to the survivors of the village； though。 He hadn't expected that。
Then； back at the camp； where the Captain and the Kindath doctor were waiting for them； Alvar saw the chests and sacks and barrels； and came to understand that this was the summer parias from Fezana； delivered by the Muwardis…the Veiled Ones…out here at night on the plain。
〃The merchant？〃 Lain Nunez asked urgently； swinging down from his horse。 〃They came for him？〃 And Alvar abruptly remembered that the plump Asharite had been marked to die in Fezana's castle that day。
The Captain was shaking his head slowly。 〃The merchant；〃 he said； 〃is no more。〃
〃Rot their souls！〃 Lain Nunez swore violently。 〃By Jad's fingers and toes； I hate the Muwardis！〃
〃Instead of the merchant；〃 the Captain went on placidly； 〃we appear to have a new outrider to join Martin and Ludus。 We'll have to work some weight off him before he's much use； mind you。〃
Lain Nunez gave his sharp bark of laughter as a ponderous figure rose from the far side of the fire； clad…barely…in the garb of a Jaddite Horseman。 Husari ibn Musa seemed； improbably； quite at ease。
〃I've been a wadji already today；〃 he said calmly； speaking passable Esperanan。 〃This is no more of a stretch； I suppose。〃
〃Untrue；〃 the Captain murmured。 〃Looking at Ramon's clothing on you； I'd call it a big stretch。〃 There was laughter。 The merchant smiled； and patted his stomach cheerfully。
Alvar； joining uncertainly in the amusement； saw the Kindath doctor； Jehane； sitting on a saddle blanket by the fire； hands about her drawn…up knees。 She was looking into the flames。
〃How many of the desert dogs were here？〃 Lain Nunez asked。
〃Only ten； Martin says。 Which is why they didn't e to Orvilla。〃
〃He told them we were dealing with it？〃
〃Yes。 They are obviously under orders to give us our gold and hope we leave quickly。〃
Lain Nunez removed his hat and ran a hand through his thinning grey hair。 〃And are we？ Leaving？〃
〃I think so；〃 the Captain said。 〃I can't think of a point to make down here。 There's nothing but trouble in Fezana right now。〃
〃And trouble heading home。〃
〃Well； walking home。〃
〃They'll get there eventually。〃
Rodrigo grimaced。 〃What would you have had me do？〃
His lieutenant shrugged； and then spat carefully into the grass。 〃We leave at first light； then？〃 he asked； without answering the question。
The Captain looked at him closely for a moment longer； opened his mouth as if to say something more； but in the end he merely shook his head。 〃The Muwardis will be watching us。 We leave； but not in any hurry。 We can take our time about breaking camp。 You can pick a dozen men to ride back to Orvilla in the morning。 Spend the day working there and catch us up later。 There are men and women to be buried； among other things。〃
Alvar dismounted and walked over to the fire where the doctor was sitting。 〃Is there 。。。 can I help you with anything？〃
She looked very tired； but she did favor him with a quick smile。 〃Not really； thank you。〃 She hesitated。 〃This is your first time in Al…Rassan？〃
Alvar nodded。 He sank down on his haunches beside her。 〃I was hoping to see Fezana tomorrow；〃 he said。 He wished he spoke better Asharic； but he tried。 〃I am told it is a city of marvels。〃
〃Not really；〃 she repeated carelessly。 〃Ragosa； Cartada 。。。 Silvenes； of course。 What's left of it。 Those are the great cities。 Seria is beautiful。 There is nothing marvellous about Fezana。 It has always been too close to the tagra lands to afford the luxury of display。 You won't be seeing it tomorrow？〃
〃We're leaving in the morning。〃 Again； Alvar had the unpleasant sense that he was struggling to stay afloat in waters closing over his head。 〃The Captain just told us。 I'm not sure why。 I think because the Muwardis came。〃
〃Well； of course。 Look around you。 The parias gold is here。 They don't want to open the gates tomorrow； and they particularly won't want Jaddite soldiers in the city。 Not with what happened today。〃
〃So we're just going to turn around and…〃
〃I'm afraid so； lad。〃 It was the Captain。 〃No taste of decadent Al…Rassan for you this time。〃 Alvar felt himself flushing。
〃Well； the women are mostly outside the walls this year；〃 the doctor said； with a demure expression。 She was looking at Ser Rodrigo； not at Alvar。
The Captain swore。 〃Don't tell my men that！ Alvar； you are bound to secrecy。 I don't want anyone crossing the river。 Any man who leaves camp walks home。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 Alvar said hastily。
〃Which reminds me；〃 the Captain said to him； with a sidelong glance at the doctor； 〃you might as well lower your stirrups now。 For the ride back。〃
And with those words； for the first time in a long while； Alvar felt a little more like his usual self。 He'd been waiting for this moment since they'd left Valledo behind。
〃Must I； Captain？〃 he asked； keeping his expression innocent。 〃I'm just getting used to them this way。 I thought I'd even try bringing them up a bit higher； with your approval。〃
The Captain looked at the doctor again。 He cleared his throat。 〃Well； no； Alvar。 It isn't really 。。。 I don't think 。。。 〃
〃I thought； if I had my knees up high enough； really high； I might be able to rest my chin on them when I rode； and that would keep me fresher on a long ride。 If that makes sense to you； Captain？〃
Alvar de Pellino had his reward； then； for uncharacteristic silence and biding his time。 He saw the doctor smile slowly at him； and then look with arched eyebrows of inquiry at the Captain。
Rodrigo Belmonte was； however； a man unlikely to be long disfited by this sort of thing。 He looked at Alvar for a moment； then he； too； broke into a smile。
〃Your father？〃 he asked。
Alvar nodded his head。 〃He did warn me of some things I might encounter as a soldier。〃
〃And you chose to accept the stirrup business nonetheless？ To say nothing at all？〃
〃It was you who did it； Captain。 And I want to remain in your pany。〃
The Kindath d