De Chervalles's expression grew dark； troubled。 〃The god knows our fears are not for ourselves or our own fort； gracious king。 We e hither on the hard roads heavy with thoughts of the Children of Jad who live not beneath the benevolent rule of the kings in the lands of Esperana。 This； I confess； is what will make the ing winter hard for me。〃
Well； that had been a vain thought： that they might keep the first meeting brief。 And trouble lay ahead now like a thicket of spears。 Ramiro said nothing。 It was still possible he might deflect the worst of this； for the moment。 He really was going to need time to think。
〃What can you mean； most holy sire？〃 Ines's question was transparently earnest。 Her hands were clasped together； holding the sun disk in her lap； her face betrayed anxious concern。 The king of Valledo swore inwardly； but refused to permit any flicker of emotion to cross his face。
〃How can I not think of all our pious brethren of the god who must endure yet another winter under the cruel torments of the infidels of Ashar；〃 said Geraud de Chervalles。 Said it smoothly； flowingly； sorrowfully。 Loudly enough for the whole court to hear。
It was upon him； Ramiro thought grimly。 It had arrived； with this assured； dangerous man from Ferrieres。 De Chervalles had e here to say this one thing。 Say it this morning； and then again； and again； until he made kings and riders and farmers from the fields dance to his tune and die。
Despite his earlier resolutions； Ramiro felt a flicker of anger against his constable。 Gonzalez ought to have been alert to this。 Was that not part of his office？ Did Ramiro have to plan and prepare for everything of importance？ He knew the answer to that； actually。
No one to blame but himself。 The king thought of Rodrigo Belmonte； far away in Al…Rassan。 Exiled among the infidels。 They weren't even certain where he'd gone yet。 He had promised not to attack Valledo with anyone； promised that much but no more。 He had been Raimundo's man： his boyhood friend then his constable。 Not entirely trusted by Ramiro； or trusting him； if it came to that。 Raimundo's death。 The shadows around it。 Too much history there。 And Belmonte was too proud； too independent a man。 Needed； though； badly needed； in fact。
〃But most holy sire； what can we do？〃 Ines asked； lifting her clasped hands to her breast。 〃Our hearts are heavy to hear your words。〃 Her golden disk shone in the muted light falling down through the new windows。 It had begun to rain outside； the king could hear it on the glass。
Had he not known better； Ramiro would have thought his queen had been given her words by de Chervalles； so patly did they lead to the High Cleric's next speech。 The king wanted to close his eyes； his ears。 Wanted urgently to be away from here； riding a horse in the rain。 The words came； entirely predictable； but sonorous and pelling nonetheless。
〃We can do what those charged by Jad with his holy mission on earth can do…that； and no more or less； most revered queen。 The accursed Khalifate of the Asharites is no more；〃 said Geraud of Ferrieres； and paused； suggestively。
〃Now there's news；〃 said Gonzalez de Rada sarcastically； his own beautiful voice cutting into the mood。 〃More than fifteen years old。〃 He glanced at the king。 Ramiro understood： the count had finally grasped where this was heading； and was trying to steer it aside。
Too late； of course。
〃But there is fresher news； I understand；〃 the tall cleric from Ferrieres said； undeterred。 〃The vicious king of Cartada is also dead now； summoned to the black judgment Jad visits upon all unbelievers。 Surely there is a message here for us！ Surely with the leader of the jackals gone it is a time to act！〃
The voice had risen； modulating smoothly towards a first crescendo。 Ramiro had heard this sort of thing before； but never from such a master。 In a kind of horrified admiration； he waited。
〃To act？ Now？〃 Gonzalez didn't bother to mask his irony。 〃A trifle cold is it not？〃
Another good effort； the dry tone as much as the words； but Geraud de Chervalles overmastered it。 〃The fires of the god warm those who serve his will！〃 His gaze as he looked at the constable was scornful and unyielding。 Gonzalez de Rada was unlikely to tolerate this； the king knew from experience； and wondered if he ought to intervene before something serious happened。
But then； unexpectedly； the cleric smiled； much as any man might smile。 His stem features relaxed； he lowered his voice。 〃Of course I do not speak of a winter war。 I hope I am not so foolish as that。 I know these matters take time； much planning； the right season。 These are issues for brave men of the sword such as the valiant kings of Esperana and their legendary Horsemen。 I can only try； in my small way； to help light a fire； and to offer tidings that may aid and inspire you。〃
He waited。 There was a silence。 Rain drummed on the windows。 A log shifted in one of the fires； then fell with a crash and a flurry of sparks。 Ramiro expected Ines to ask the awaited question； but she had fallen unexpectedly silent。 He looked at her。 She had lowered the sun disk to her lap and was staring at the cleric； biting her lip。 Her expression was unreadable now。 Inwardly； the king shrugged。 The game had begun； it was going to have to be played out。
〃What tidings？〃 he asked politely。
Geraud de Chervalles's smile became a radiant thing。 He said； 〃I thought it might be so。 You have not yet heard。〃 He paused； raised his voice。 〃Hear； then； news to cause all hearts to exult and offer praise： the king of Ferrieres and both counts of Waleska； the mightiest lords of the Karch Lowlands and most of the nobility of Batiara have e together to wage war。〃
〃What？ Where？〃 Gonzalez this time； the sharp words pulled from him。
The cleric's smile grew even more triumphant。 His blue eyes shone。
〃In Soriyya；〃 he whispered into the stillness。 〃In Ammuz。 In the desert homelands of the infidels； where Jad is denied and his life…bringing sun is cursed。 The army of the god is assembling even now。 It will winter south by the sea in Batiara and take ship in the spring。 Already； though； a first battle has been fought in this holy war； we heard the tidings before we left to e to you。〃
〃Where was this battle？〃 Gonzalez again。
〃A city called Sorenica。 Do you know it？〃
〃I do；〃 said Ramiro quietly。 〃It is the Kindath city in the south of Batiara； granted them as their own long ago； for aid given the princes of Batiara in peace and war。 What Asharite armies were there； may I ask？〃
Geraud's smile faded。 There was a coldness in his eyes now。 The belated recognition of a possible foe。 Be careful； Ramiro told himself。
The cleric said； 〃Think you the so…called Star…born of the desert are the only infidels we must face？ Do you not know the rites the Kindath practice on the nights of two full moons？〃
〃Most of them；〃 said Ramiro of Valledo calmly。 It seemed he was not going to be careful； after all。 His slow； deep anger was beginning to rise。 He feared that anger； but not enough to resist it。 He was aware that his wife was looking at him now。 He stared at the cleric from Ferrieres。 〃I've given thought to inviting the Kindath back； you see。 We need their industry and their knowledge in Valledo。 We need all kinds of people here。 I wanted to know as much as I could about Kindath beliefs before I proceeded further。 There is nothing I've ever heard； or read； to suggest blood or desecration are part of their faith。〃
〃Invite them back？〃 Geraud de Chervalles's voice had lost its modulated control。 〃At the very time when all the kings and princes of the Jaddite world are joining together to cleanse the world of heresy？〃 He turned to Ines。 〃You told us nothing of this； my lady。〃 The words were an accusation； stiff and grim。
Ramiro lost his temper。 This was too much。
But before he could speak； his queen； his holy； devout queen from Ferrieres said； 〃Why； cleric； would I tell you such a thing？〃 Her tone was astringent； royal； shockingly cold。
Geraud de Chervalles； utterly unprepared for this； took an involuntary step backwards。 Ines went on： 〃Why would the plans of my dear lord and husband for