husband for our own land be a part of any munication between you and me with regard to your pilgrimage？ I think you presume； cleric。 I await your apology。〃
Ramiro was as shocked as the man addressed。 Support from Ines against a High Cleric was not something he'd ever have expected。 He dared not even look at her。 He knew this ice…cold voice of hers extremely well； most often it had been used against him； for one sin or another。
Geraud de Chervalles； his color heightened now； said； 〃I beg forgiveness； of course； for any offense the queen has perceived。 But I will say this： there are no internal； private affairs of any Jaddite kingdom； not when it es to the infidels； Asharite or Kindath。 They are a matter for the clerics of the god。〃
〃Then burn them yourselves；〃 said Ramiro of Valledo grimly。 〃Or if you seek men to die and women to be put at risk of losing all they have in your cause； speak a little more softly； especially at a royal court where you are a guest。〃
〃I have a question；〃 Ines added suddenly。 〃If I may？〃 She looked at the king。 Ramiro nodded。 He still couldn't believe what had happened to her。 She asked； 〃Who is it has mounted this war？ Who summoned the armies？〃
〃The clerics of Jad； of course；〃 said Geraud； his color still high； the easy smile gone。 〃Led by those of us in Ferrieres； of course。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Ines。 〃Then tell me； why are you here； cleric？ Why are you not with that mighty army in Batiara； preparing to make the long journey to those distant； dangerous eastern lands？〃
Ramiro had never seen his wife like this。 He looked at her again in frank astonishment。 His own surprise； he saw； was as nothing pared to that of the man addressed。
〃There are infidels nearer to home；〃 Geraud said darkly。
〃Of course；〃 Ines murmured。 Her expression was guileless。 〃And Soriyya is so far； and sea voyages so tedious； and war in the desert so chancy。 I think I do begin to understand。〃
〃I don't think you do。 I think…〃
〃I am fatigued；〃 Queen Ines said； rising。 〃Forgive me。 A woman's weakness。 Perhaps we might continue this another time； my lord king？〃 She looked at Ramiro。
Still unable to believe what he was hearing； the king rose。 〃Of course； my lady；〃 he said。 〃If you are unwell 。。。 〃 He extended a hand； she took it。 He felt； unmistakably； a pressure of her fingers。 〃Count Gonzalez； will you be so good as to see to our distinguished guests 。。。 〃
〃A great honor；〃 said Gonzalez de Rada。
He snapped his fingers。 Eight men came forward to flank the clerics from Ferrieres。 Ramiro nodded his head politely and waited。 Geraud de Chervalles； still red…faced； had no choice but to bow。 Ramiro turned； Ines swinging around him； still holding his hand； as in the steps of a dance…though she never danced…and they went out through the new bronze doors behind the throne。
The doors closed behind them。 It was a small retreat they entered； graciously appointed； with carpeting and new…bought tapestries。 There was wine on a table by one wall。 Ramiro walked quickly over and poured for himself。 He drained a glass； poured another； drained it。
〃Jad curse that insufferable man！ Might I have just a little of that？〃 his queen said。
The king wheeled around。 The servants had withdrawn。 They were alone。 Ines's expression was not one he could ever remember seeing。 Covering his confusion； he quickly poured for her； mixed water； brought her the glass。
She took it； looked up at him。 〃I'm sorry；〃 she said。 〃I brought this upon us； didn't I？〃
〃An unpleasant guest？〃 He managed a smile。 He felt oddly buoyant； looking at her。 〃We've dealt with such before。〃
〃He's more than that； though； isn't he？〃 He watched her sip from the glass。 She made a face； but took another sip。 His sudden high spirits faded as quickly as they'd surged。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃he is more than that。 Or； not him alone； but the tidings he's brought。〃
〃I know that。 A holy war。 All those armies together。 They will want us to join the cause； won't they？ In Al…Rassan？〃
〃And my soldiers will want it。〃
〃You don't want to go south。〃 It was not a question。
There was a discreet knock。 The king spoke and Gonzalez de Rada entered。 He was very pale； his expression somber。 Ramiro went back to the table and poured another glass for himself。 This one he watered。 It was not a time for indulgence。
〃Do I want to wage a holy war in Al…Rassan？〃 He framed Ines's question again for the constable。 〃Truthful answer？〃 He shook his head。 〃I do not。 I want to go south on my own terms in my own time。 I want to take Ruenda from my feckless brother； Jalona from Uncle Bermudo…may his fingers and toes rot…take Fezana from those butchering Cartadans； and then look further afield； or let my sons look further afield when I am dead and troubling you no longer。〃 He smiled briefly at Ines。 She did not smile back。
〃If an army of kings is sailing to Ammuz and Soriyya；〃 Gonzalez said； 〃it will be hard for us not to go south in the spring。 Every cleric in the three kingdoms of Esperana will be threatening from his chapel that we endanger our souls if we do not。〃
〃I know that；〃 Ramiro murmured。 〃Pour yourself some wine。 It will ease your endangered soul。〃
〃This is my fault；〃 said Ines。 〃I brought him here。〃
The king put down his wine。 He went to her and claimed her glass and set it down。 He took her hands。 She did not pull away。 All of this was very new。
〃He would have e； my dear。 He and others。 If all the lords east of the mountains are dancing for them now； why should we be allowed to live free of the yoke？ You may be sure there are men like this one in Jalona already； and on the way to Ruenda if not there by now。 They will demand a winter meeting between the three of us。 Wait for it。 They will order us to meet； on pain of banning in the chapels； of losing our immortal places in the god's light。 And we will have to listen to them。 We will meet； Uncle Bermudo and brother Sanchez and I will sit together； and hunt。 They will watch every move I make； and I will do the same with them。 We will swear a holy truce amongst ourselves。 The clerics will sing our praises in rapture。 And we will almost certainly be riding to war in Al…Rassan by spring。〃
〃And？〃
She was direct； his queen。 Clever and surprising and direct。
Ramiro shrugged。 〃No sober man ever speaks with certainty about war。 Especially not this kind of war； with three armies that hate each other on one side； and twenty that fear each other opposing them。〃
〃And the Muwardis across the straits；〃 said Count Gonzalez softly。 〃Do not forget them。〃
Ramiro closed his eyes。 He could still hear the rain。 Ferrieres； Waleska； Karch； the cities of Batiara 。。。 all gathered together in holy war。 Despite himself； despite all his sober instincts； there was something undeniably stirring in the image。 He could almost see the assembled banners； all those mighty lords of war brought together。 How could any man of spirit not want to be there； not want to share in such an enterprise？
〃The world is a different place than it was this morning；〃 Ramiro of Valledo said gravely。 He became aware that he was still holding his wife's hands； that she was allowing him to do so。 〃Do you know what I would like to do？〃 he added suddenly； surprising himself。
She looked up at him； waiting。 He knew what she was thinking。 He always wanted the same thing when he spoke to her like that。 Well； she wasn't the only person here who could offer the unexpected。 And this new feeling was strong。
〃I would like to pray；〃 said the king of Valledo。 〃After what we have just learned； I think I would like to pray。 Will you both e with me？〃
They went to the royal chapel together； the king and his queen and their constable。 The palace cleric was there； having just arrived from the audience chamber in great dismay。 He was as astonished as might have been expected at the sight of the king； which was extremely so。 He took his place hastily at the altar before the disk。
Each of them signified the symbol of the god's sun with their right hand over their heart and then sank down upon their knees on the stone of the floor。 The light in the royal chapel was muted。 T