estate had not been planned by those who arrived at the ranch house； but they regarded it； nonetheless； as a highly fortuitous circumstance。 The lady was known to be headstrong and even violent。 She had killed a man here not long ago。 Put an arrow through him； in fact。 Nor was it assumed by those who arrived that day charged with a particular and delicate mission that Miranda Belmonte d'Alveda would regard them and their task with favor。
Mothers were chancy； at best。
There had not； in fact； been any great press of volunteers in Carcasia for this task； when word came from the castle that one of the sons of Ser Rodrigo Belmonte was to be brought west to join the army as it assembled just north of the tagra lands。
This absence of enthusiasm was accentuated when it became clear that the request for the presence of the young fellow came not from the king directly； but from the Ferrieres cleric Geraud de Chervalles。 It was de Chervalles who wanted the boy； for some reason。 A messy business； the soldiers agreed； getting tangled in the affairs of foreign clerics。 Still； the king had endorsed the request and orders were orders。 A pany of ten men had been mustered to ride east along the muddy roads to Rancho Belmonte and bring back the lad。
Many of them； it emerged in campfire discussions along the way； had had their own first taste of warfare…against the Asharites or the pigs from Jalona or Ruenda…at fourteen or fifteen years of age。 The boy was said to be almost fourteen now； and as Rodrigo Belmonte's son 。。。 well； Jad knew； he ought to be able to fight。 No one knew why the army of Valledo needed a boy； but no one put that question openly。
They came to Rancho Belmonte； riding beneath the banner of the kings of Valledo； and were met in a cleared space before the wooden pound walls by several household officials； a small； nervous cleric and two boys； one of whom they were there to claim。
The lady of the household…who would； in fact； have cheerfully killed the lot of them had she been present to learn of their mission…was elsewhere on the estate； the cleric informed them。 The leader of the troop showed him the king's seal and his mand。 The cleric…Ibero was his name…tore open the seal； read the letter then surprised them by handing it over to the two boys； who read it together。
They were utterly identical； Ser Rodrigo's two sons。 A few of the horsemen had already made the sign of Jad； discreetly。 Magic and witchcraft were said to attend upon such mirrored twins。
〃But of course；〃 said one of the boys； looking up as he finished reading。 It was evident that they could read。 〃If the king believes my 。。。 gift may be of use； if he wishes me to e； I am honored to do so。〃
The captain of the pany didn't know anything about a gift。 He didn't much care； he was simply relieved to find things going smoothly。
〃And I；〃 said the other brother quickly。 〃Where Diego goes； I also go。〃
This was not expected； but it didn't seem to pose a great problem； and the captain agreed。 If the king didn't want this other brother in Carcasia； for whatever reason； he could send him back。 With someone else。 The two boys glanced at each other and flashed identical smiles before dashing off to get ready。 Some of the soldiers glanced at each other with ironic expressions。 Youngsters； everywhere； looked forward to war。
They were very young； and not especially prepossessing either。 Slightly built； if anything。 Still； it was not a soldier's place to dwell upon orders； and these were the sons of Rodrigo Belmonte。 The riders were offered refreshments； which they accepted； and a night's lodging； which they courteously declined。 It would be imprudent； their captain decided； to push the luck that had caused the lady of Rancho Belmonte to be absent this day。 They took a cold lunch； fed and watered the horses； and provisioned themselves。
Ten men； escorting two boys and a squire of little more than the boys' age； rode west from the ranch house towards mid…afternoon of that same day； passing to the south of a copse of trees； and crossing the stream at a place Rodrigo's sons suggested。 The ranch dogs followed them that far and then went loping back。
Ibero di Vaquez had lived an uneventful； even a sedate life； given the turbulent times into which he had been born。 He was fifty…two years old。 Raised in what was now Jalona； he had e west to Esteren to study with the clerics there when quite young。 Thirteen years old； in fact。
He was a good acolyte； attentive and disciplined。 In his early twenties； he had been sent as part of a holy mission bearing relics of Queen Vasca to the High Clerics in Ferrieres and had lingered there； with permission； for two years； spending most of his time in the magnificent libraries of the great sanctuaries there。
Upon his return to Esperana he had been assigned…and had cheerfully accepted…the short…term position of cleric to the Belmontes； a moderately important ranching family in the breeding lands of the southeast。 The possibilities for advancement were certainly greater in Esteren or one of the larger sanctuaries； but Ibero was not an ambitious man and he had never had much appetite for courts or the equally faction…riven retreats of Jad。
He was a quiet man； somewhat old before his years； but not without a sense of humor or an awareness of how the stern precepts of the god had； at times； to be measured against an awareness of human frailty and passions。 The short…term position had turned； as sometimes happened without one's noticing； into a permanent one。 He had been with the Belmontes now for twenty…eight years； since the Captain himself had been a boy。 They had built a chapel and a library for him； and then expanded both。 He had taught young Rodrigo his letters； and then his wife； and later his sons。
It had been a good； gentle life。 Pleasures came from the books he was able to obtain with the sums allocated him； from his herb garden； from correspondents in many places。 He had taught himself a little of medicine； and had a reputation for extracting teeth efficiently。 Excitement…not inconsiderable…arrived home at intervals with the Captain and his pany。 Ibero would listen in the dining hall to the tales of warfare and intrigue they brought with them。 He'd formed an unlikely friendship with gruff old Lain Nunez； whose profanity masked a generous spirit； in the little cleric's view。
For Ibero di Vaquez the stories he heard were enough turbulence for him； and more than close enough to real conflict。 He liked the seasonal rhythms of existence here； the measured routine of the days and years。
His first intervention on the wider stage of the world； seven years ago； had been a brief； respectful essay on a doctrinal clash between the clerics of Ferrieres and Batiara on the meaning of solar eclipses。 That clash； and the battle for precedence it represented； was still unresolved。 Ibero's contribution appeared to have been ignored； so far as he could tell。
His second intervention had been to write a letter； in the late autumn of last year； to the holy person of Geraud de Chervalles； High Cleric of Ferrieres； dwelling in Esteren。
A pany of men had arrived this morning in response to that。 They had e and had gone； with the boys。 And now Ibero； late that same afternoon； stood with his head bowed and trembling hands clasped before him； learning that he； too； was to quit this house。 Leave chapel； library； garden； home。 After almost thirty years。
He was weeping。 He had never been spoken to； in all his life； in the tones with which he was being addressed by Miranda Belmonte in her small sitting room； as the sun went down。
〃Understand me perfectly；〃 she was saying； pacing before the fire； her face bloodless； unheeded tears sparkling on her cheeks。 〃This was a traitor's betrayal of our family。 The betrayal of a confidence we had reposed in you； regarding Diego。 I will not kill you； or order your death。 I have known you； and loved you； for too long。〃 Her voice caught。 She stopped her pacing。
〃Rodrigo might；〃 she said。 〃He might find you； wherever you go； and kill you for this。〃
〃He will not do that；〃 the little cleric whispered。 It was difficult to speak