“O;   ALESSAN   FUL   REGREt   INfusing ;I could  o your judgment even now. A c an arrow in his eye from here.”

    Not t ruefully, gauging tance and t from  ridden along.  t Alessan and t on the way here.

    quot;S; Baerd said prosaically. quot;And you are t  it o no good if eitoo soon.”

    Alessan grunted. quot;Did I s?quot; edly.

    Baerds teet. quot;I would opped you in any case.”

    Alessan sly. t later, relaxed into quiet amusement. to long familiarity. Catriana, Devin saainly not at o be t circumstances made it a little  anxious and proud and excited, all at once.

    noticed tomasso, bound at  and ankle to his horse.

    quot;ed better c; Baerd said as transient mood slipped a;to travel very fast. Sandres son he boy.”

    quot;e ter alk about t,quot; Catriana said in a tone t made it suddenly very easy for Devin to reclaim his anger.

    quot;t; ed, raising ;I to trary.quot;   coldly on o see urn away. Briefly rewarded.

    quot;Un; Alessan said. quot;I  to  note from you again. Catriana violated all I kno enougo elligent enougo noand  how she is feeling.”

    It  Devin felt as if  been puncomaco Catriana, but ars, a t floor.  fourteen years old again.

    quot;I dont particularly appreciate t, Alessan,quot; riana saying coldly. quot;I fight my own wars.

    You kno.”

    quot;Not to mention,quot; Baerd added casually, quot;teness of your cising anyone alive for oo much pride.”

    Alessan co ignore t. to Catriana ;Brigar of Eanna, do you t kno t  be alloo matter. I cant tle beto be one of us.”

    quot;If ?quot; Catriana  the music? Because he can sing? hy should someone from Asoli possibly be—”

    quot;; Alessan said sriana fell abruptly silent. Not o look or o feel, Devin continued to simulate an intense interest in t soil beneat.  were wh confusion.

    Alessans voice ler riana,  to blame  you felt you o do and it did not succeed. he

    cannot be blamed or cursed for folloly as , curse me for not stopping  the door. I could have.”

    quot; you t; Baerd asked.

    Devin remembered Alessan looking at  inner door t eo a land of dreaming.

    quot;Yes, w; ; me follow?”

    t  beops of trees. Only Ilarion  strange ligry folk called it whe blue moon rode alone.

    Alessan  be t noises of t: rustle of leaf in breeze, of grass, to a branc and anot.

    Alessan said: quot;Because I kneune aug from Asoli. Catriana, my dear, it isnt just tever you may test him?”

    On t conscious, rational level, Devin understood almost none of t o gro o wal he waxing blue moon.

    Nor o Baerd and saricken look on torting moonlight he could see how pale Baerd had become.

    quot;Alessan . . .quot; Baerd began, his voice roughened.

    quot;You are dearer to me t; Alessan said, calm and grave. quot;You o me. I   you for t in t ask unless I est him, Baerd.”

    Still Baerd ated,  seemed to matter to t deal.

    For a long moment no one moved. Finally Baerd, rol of ook Devin by teps furto to a small clearing among a circle of trees.

    Neatly o sit cross-legged on ter a moments ation Devin did t follo on triana saying in t morning. ogeto keep teady;  cold, and it tle to do .

    riana follo  look back. For t ant ever it  lessly competent until t and noered tling ease. Abruptly, and for time in t long day, Devin felt as if o a country of dream, leaving be world.

    And in t of Ilarion, ale, so t it came to  first time like a spell, somet of t spaces of , in t was.

    quot;In took Astibar,quot; said Baerd, quot;ando his

    peninsula from t.  into t ook took it easily, for t t you know.”

    raining to rialla ly, sadly, from a brancriana made no sound at all. Baerd  on.

    quot;In t year ttleground in an enormous balancing game bet it could afford to give ter-beloved son, Stevan. Brandin of Ygrat to carve out a second realm for o rule.  hing else.”

    trialla ill singing. Baerd paused to listen, as if finding in its liquescent voice, gentler even tingales, an eco something in his own.

    quot;ttempting to rally a resistance in tains, ook Asoli province soon after, and , ely loyal and better trained. For  realm. te almost effortlessly, defeating eaced toget year. Or after, naturally.quot; Baerds voice  quite detacrying for.

    quot;From Corte, Brandin urned east  of o meet Alberico in Ferraut and pin  Stevan souto take t free province in t and to join  to meet ttle t I ted he Palm.

    quot;It ake, t really  teen years ago. Neures of t provinces in ted Stevan to aste of leaders of t commanders, relying on o il thers joined him.”

    Baerd paused for a moment, imbre to  seemed to Devin to be carrying many different them sorrowful.

    quot;At t; Baerd said, quot;a little more tando and t Corte, Stevan  by tterest resistance eito find in the Palm.

    Led by t last province in t met t th sides.

    quot;And Prince Valentin of t province . . . te, sleevan of Ygrat sunset after a bitter day of death.”

    Devin could almost taste t time to ook rated as if reating eac o be set into t was his own pride.

    And rig t seemed to Devin t a distant bell began to toll in some recess of his mind.

    Ranging a ly back from t but clear, from over morning fields of waving yellow grain.

    quot;Brandin kne; Baerd said, ; back sout, leaving Alberico a free  and Certando. he

    came do of  t of  foes wed for he Deisa.”

    Once more Baerd looked over at Alessan. ly in t. ;Brandin annied to pieces  mercy or respite. Drove to try soutook no prisoners.  first marc a t noevan of Ygrat province in blood and fire. Before t oy in tains—tevanien. On t o rubble and sand ty by ttle by took ter t year ortured and mutilated and killed in Chiara.”

    Baerds voice  till t bell  to come, tolling in Devins mind, louder no;Brandin of Ygrat  land suc spell ore its name a name utterly from t been born in t province. It e revenge.  as if e, after tterest of our ancient enemies among the provinces.”

    Be Catriana ;Brandin made it come to pass t no one living could  land, or of its royal city by t oains. ion, and tripped away our name.”

    And t  umn dark of Astibar. tion, an indictment, to trees and t and stars—tars t co pass.

    t accusation clencself like a fist ig memory meant to Devin dAsoli: t o be toucone of his soul.

    Memory alisman and

    dead and gone forever. Marra could live; ern fato  t of o  nig , pounding to ter of   cut him like a fresh and killing wound.

    it o steadiness, ration t o matter more t terrible . Devin looked at t ed. ood  o place.

    Older by far t;t last province, Devin. A song of ty of to of t place could  tune in told me you did. It is  is op you  it to Morian to see w mig doorway.”

    Devin nodded, absorbing t later ;If this is so, if I have

    properly understood you, till  aken away.”

    Alessan said, quot;It is so.”

    Devin discovered t  trating, but  make top.

    ;t olen from me all my life. ill you . . . give it back to me? ill you tell me the land where I was born?”

    Baerd by starligoo  beyond trees.

    Alessan  o tell. Devin didnt knoime, a long, descending note, and t time in ;tigana.”

    it. And  abrupt, absolute inner stillness a surge of loss broke over er t -deep pride.  a strange ligion as of a summons rushe corridors of his blood.

    taring at e, transparent even by starligterest t—an acood, and gave to the release he needed.

    quot;t; Devin said.  seem to be trembling anymore. Around a difficult t  on, for it : quot;tigana. tigana. I igana. My name . . . my true name is Devin di tigana bar Garin.”

    Even as o glory blazed in Baerds face. tig as if to  glory in, to keep it from escaping into to clutc fiercely to eady breat Catriana touchdraw her hand.

    Baerd  in a place beyond speec  is one of taken a. tigana y by t city under Eannas lig named. Or per fair.”

    A t seemed to genuinely long to become lauger and love toget time Devin turned to look up at him.

    Alessan said, quot;If you o y s run o find t said t second ies.”

    In tried, his voice could only carry loss.

    quot;You  inland city, Devin, and so ain river. e owers.”

    t name, but time it  from time it  took o her and his childhood.

    ;You do kno you?”

    quot;Of course I do,quot; said Alessan gently.

    quot;Please?quot; Devin asked.

    But it riana ime morning in Avalle And I dont care s say: Im going doo today On a springtime morning in Avalle.

    may, Ill build a boat to carry me aake it to tigana Bay And ther from Avalle.

    But ly or rees so a dream of towers of Avalle.

    A dream of my home in Avalle.

    t sad o tune ed doo Devin, and  almost dro grace of Catrianas song. No breaking rumpets along ters of longing. A longing for sometaken aely, so compre  ever kno was gone.

    And so Devin  as Catriana sang. Small boys, young-looking for t o cry  sometoo large for Devin to deal aken  tonight.

    If ood properly o him.

    to sears, and listened as Catriana finis bitter-s cradle song: a song of a cy, even  to build a so  to sail it into turning back. Nor ever losing or forgetting t all began.

    A child very much as Devin saw himself.

    . For o lose and forget tos bay.

    So ears folloher and his home.

    And in t  far from Astibar to eac  memory meant to  of t blazing sometook s o c night.

    Baerd  him.

    Very deliberately Devin  . Very carefully  w she Palm.

    tion for taking an oath.

    Baerd lifted  ure. toucips toget ther mans larger, callused one.

    Devin said, quot;If you  break faith you.”

    quot;Nor I ; said Baerd. quot;In tigana gone.quot; tling as Alessan sank to ;Devin, I sioning you,quot; ;t a to move too fast. You can be one  o break your life apart to come h us.”

    quot;; Catriana murmured, moving nearer on t;tomasso bar Sandre o torturers tonigomorrohe singing career of Devin dAsoli may be

    over just as it truly begins.quot; She darkness.

    quot;It is over,quot; Devin said quietly. quot;It ended rianas expression did not c shinking.

    quot;Very ; said Alessan.   it . Alessan ated. quot;An oatronger for me than you could have guessed,”

    he said.

    quot;You knew her?”

    quot;e bot; Baerd said quietly. quot;Sen years older t every adolescent boy in tigana tle in love  of too, I think.”

    Anot t came . Devins fat. o sorro than Devin could have imagined.

    quot;e all envied and admired your fatell you,quot; Alessan added. quot;t an Avalle man  to your naming day. I dont remember  was.”

    quot;You admired my fat; Devin said, stunned.

    Alessan  and ;Do not judge  er Brandin smasion and ting their souls.

    Your motigana gone.  and survived bottles by t; Above triana made a small sound.

    quot;I never kne; Devin protested. quot;old us any of t.quot; there was a new ache inside him. So many avenues.

    quot;Fe; Baerd said.

    quot;Neits did,quot; said Catriana a;took us as far ao a fisibar do from Ardin, and never spoke a his.”

    quot;to s; Alessan said gently. ill touc ;A great many of ts  t  a life unmarred by tigma t bore do still bear doigana. Or Loe as  name it now.”

    quot;t; said Devin stubbornly.  ced, deprived, betrayed.

    Alessan s;Devin, t judge yet: t tune by c to burden you or your brotage, but  a stamp upon you—a tune, y— and  you out into t akably, to anyone from tigana, but to no one else. I do not t er a ring t marked o anyone born where she was born.”

    Devin glanced back. Catriana  o see. It  ed to t, and  a strange, the sea. he swallowed.

    quot;ill you tell me of ; urning back to Alessan. quot;Of my father?”

    Of stolid, dour Garin, grim farmer in a  grey land.  noigana and errible battles by a river and ure—very deliberately sent out into tive c o onight.

    ly realized, almost certainly lied o

    t was all suddenly very hard.

    quot;I ell you w I know of ; Alessan said.

    quot;But not tonigriana is rig get ourselves ao me from noil the ending of my days.”

    Devin turned to look up at Catriana. quot;ill you accept me?”

    Sossed ;I dont ; s;You seem to angled yourself rat; S ouch.

    quot;Be ; s;I sigana.”

    quot;And I  t; Devin offered.

    arlig. quot;O; s;Im sure you are. It able you found the experience!”

    Alessan snorted . quot;Catriana, my darling,quot; ;I just forbade o mention any details of hem up yourself?”

    it test trace of a smile Catriana said, quot;I am ty  enforce anyt the same.”

    Baerd c;t; ; been t?”

    Catriana tossed  did not deign to reply.

    tood up. Devin flexed o relieve tiffness of sitting so long in one position.

    quot;Ferraut or tregea?quot; Baerd asked. quot;hich border?”

    quot;Ferraut,quot; Alessan said. quot;tregean as soon as tomasso talks—poor man. If Id been t hey rode by.”

    quot;O,quot; Baerd retorted. quot;ity soldiers surrounding ibar by now.”

    quot;You ; Alessan said wryly.

    quot;Is t speak?quot; Devin interjected a;Im t Menico, you see. If Im named . . .”

    Alessan s;Everyone talks under torture,quot; ;Especially if sorcery is involved. Im t Menico too, but t anyt it, Devin. It is one of ties of t at risk by almost everyt; ;t I knew w  lodge.”

    quot;You ed to c,quot; Catriana reminded ;Can ime?”

    quot;I did, and yes, I t; said Alessan crisply. quot;till dont knoo be the—”

    opped t for tling leaves it  in trialla ly raised one  roughrough his hair. he shook his head.

    quot;Do you kno; o Baerd, in  a conversational tone, quot; times? It ; ;Come on—and pray  too late!”

    tars ser of Eannas Diadem , folloingale was

    singing, as if in anso trialla of before, as tated for a moment ture Devin already recognized. through.

    By tomed by noo darkness—on thin.

    till rested on its trestles, altered and knocked a t tibar.

    t Scalvaias severed errible distance ao control the lurch of sickness in his gorge.

    quot;O; Alessan o time.”

    quot;t; came a ed voice from deep in one of t;trangled at birth.”

    Devin jumped ,  h shock.

    tood beside tirely ;I t you ; he said.

    truggling to understand, straining to make out tall, gaunt form by t glohe embers.

    Alessan seemed quite unruffled. quot;Im sorry I kept you ing t; ;It took me too long to riddle to express my sorro for you, my lord Sandre.”

    Devins jas oo fast for him.

    quot;I  t,quot; said t figure in front of t;I do not deserve your respect t of anyone else. Once per anymore. You are speaking to an old vain fool—exactly as t too many years alone, tangled in  in everyt carelessness. It  me tonighe Sandreni will be no more.”

    te, objectively damning, devoid of self-pity. tone of a judge in some dark ion.

    quot; ; Alessan asked quietly.

    quot;traitor.quot; Flat, uninflected, final.

    quot;O; Baerd exclaimed. quot;Family?”

    quot;My grandson. Giannos boy.”

    quot;t; Baerd said, quiet and fierce. quot;ody norammeled in darkness until time.”

    t to ;taeri killed ; ;I  t abbed o deny tever t  t ; ed absently.

    t to eac interty coffin.

    quot;You said you ed for us,quot; Alessan murmured. quot;ill you tell me why?”

    quot;For t; Sandre moved for t time, stiffly making o t on ttering flame. A shower of sparks flew up. he

    nursed it, poking il a tongue of flame licked free of the ash bed.

    turned and nos, but th a cold defiance.

    quot;I am ; Sandre said, quot;and you are  goes on. It goes on o e. My quest and your oil hey go on.”

    quot;You ening, t; said Alessan. quot;From in t I said?”

    quot;t deal of o say,quot; traigeur in ;I  you named yourself, and o tell t I know who you are.”

    ook a step to straig him.

    quot;I knoly igana!”

    It oo mucrying to understand. too many pieces of information  oo many different directions, contradicting eac dizzy, overal violence t to come upon. At time, to be dead—tes  very morning—ibar left alive in this lodge.

    If ibar!

    For if  spoken tigana, given  Alessan oo, Devin fougo assimilate—a Prince? t Valentin  Brandins vengeance dohem all.

    Devin simply stopped trying to put it all toget o listen and look—to absorb as muco t —and to let understanding come after, o think.

    So resolved, er a blank silence more to reveal t;Noand. Finally I understand. My lord, I t you al among men. From t time I sa my first triad Games ty-took you for. ay alive?  from these years?”

    quot;?quot; It riana,  immediately made Devin feel better:  tely treading er here.

    quot;; Baerd said flatly.

    t;to spells not directed specifically at t; Alessan added. quot;true of all magic-users, ing doo this peninsula.”

    quot;And to do ; Sandre dAstibar said in a corrosive voice. urned and jabbed viciously at t fully time and roared into red light.

    quot;I survived,quot; said t;simply because no one kne involved not. I used my po a flicker, since t even use it to feign my deatronger tronger. It ime each of

    t of t o t kno?  good is a finding spell, or a fledgling mental arro leads one straigo a Barbadian deat; tterness in the old Dukes voice.

    quot;Or one of Brandins,quot; Alessan murmured.

    quot;Or Brandins,quot; Sandre ec;It is this land.”

    quot;And it is,quot; said Alessan, quot;or so nearly so as to be thing. I have been searching for a wizard for a dozen years or more.”

    quot;Alessan!quot; Baerd said quickly.

    quot;; t.

    quot;Alessan!quot; Baerd repeated, more urgently.

    t learned to be tigana looked over at ;Not t; ically. quot;Not Sandre dAstibar.”

    urned back to tated, cakable pride, ;You rue. tigana, all t descent, can bind a o to death.”

    For t time a gleam of curiosity, of an actual interest in somet;I do kno story. t I er I came into my oo be igana. ually claim t w rue?”

    quot;It ain it still is. I o test it t is our primal story: tigana is t of our Princes, Ra Micaela he Princes has never been broken.”

    Devin felt a complex stir of emotions  even try to enumerate angling t. Micaela. ened and c o remember.

    And ibar laugh.

    quot;I kno story too,quot; t;t iganese arrogance. Princes of tigana! Not Dukes, o;  to;You and oniginking reality of tyrants and of today and spe old lie at me? You ?”

    quot;It is trut; said Alessan quietly, not moving. quot;It is  o ts to claim a lesser title. t of Adaon to al son could not be immortality—t, Eanna and Morian forbade. But ted a binding poo o ters of igana lived in t direct line. If you doubt me and  it to test I  to be ligibar. If  is because we o be.”

    quot;Not any more,quot; t;Not since Brandin came!”

    Alessans face ted. .

    quot;; Catriana snapped. Bravely, Devin t.

    Prince and Duke ignored ent on eac gradually receded into tcterness remained, in eyes and stance and th.

    Alessan said, quot;I  expected t from you. Under all tances.”

    quot;You are in no position to  to expect from me,quot; the Duke replied, very low.

    quot;Under all tances.”

    quot;S company nohen?”

    For a long moment sometion, complicated immeasurably by deatiff, reflexive pride of boto tension, found t h.

    quot;I ,quot; said Sandre dAstibar finally. quot;Not like t; ;ill you accept an apology from one who is sunken as low as he has ever been?”

    quot;I ; said Alessan simply. quot;And I , indeed, part ime. Your middle son aken alive. omorro tonight.”

    quot;Not tonig; t absently. quot;Alberico appree seriously debilitated by il a time w o ... play.”

    quot;tonigomorro; said Baerd,  voice jarring t;It makes little difference. alk. e must be away before he does.”

    quot;Per,quot; Sandre murmured in trangely detac t;I  I can tell you t Alberico used a magic onigrong it is still pulsating. And  to save  kno ;  Alessan. quot;Near to giving Brandin of Ygrathe whole peninsula.”

    quot;You ?quot; Alessan said. quot;You agree h me?”

    quot;I t to be true, and I kno ibar. I needed to  said, but once aken doogether.”

    Alessan nodded, and some of rolled tension seemed to ease aill t.”

    Baerd, smiling a little o t;You mentioned Albericos use of magic as if it s meaning t in tters.”

    quot;No s a  to be ignorant.quot; Sandre smiled t;traig from tonig any paltry po I invoke ely screened. I t your names are not given to torturers tomorrow.”

    quot;I see,quot; said Alessan, nodding slo see anyt as if urbulent ion. quot;You can take yourself t?quot; Alessans eyes .

    Sandre o ted. I cant say I regret it—I  constrains o do. I can go in t I am not strong enougo bring someone else out. I can take hough.”

    quot;I see,quot; said Alessan again, but in a different voice. t;I am sorry,quot;  lengtly.

    te beard and t cheeks his eyes gave

    not all. Beo the room.

    quot;I ion,quot; Sandre said.

    quot;hich is?”

    “t you alloo come o Morian. ibar I can speak to no one, aco preserve any purpose noo tcion of my dying I must go igana,  a feeble ourage? A  bound by some legend?”

    For a long time Alessan , looking at t at edly,  he room.

    quot;tac; e unexpected tone of voice, quot;to your beard and your we hair?”

    A second later Devin range sound. It took  to recognize t ibar.

    quot;Do  you ; Sandre said as ; inge my locks red as the maids?”

    Alessan s;I . One of t for a single company. I leave tters to Baerd t many to Baerd.”

    quot;t; Sandre said. o the yellow-haired man.

    Baerd, Devin sa look entirely  too.

    quot;I  s; to ;I s vo s of my days to ensure t you do not regret t content you?”

    Slo;It will.”

    Listening, Devin uitive sense t too, tered, t neitly, or less trut.  t Catriana and discovered t scurned quickly a look back.

    Sandre said, quot;I t set about doing urn from t I dare say you need not spend a nigrious there?”

    ttling to Devin still, but Sandres  since tered the lodge.

    quot;Are you sure youll be able to stop your son from talking?quot; ly.

    quot;Quite sure,quot; Sandre replied briefly.

    Devins bro. quot;ell t seems to me none of us is in immediate danger. Except for you, my lord. You must not be seen.”

    quot;Until Baerds done ; Alessan interposed. quot;But go on.”

    Devin turned to ;Id like to say fareo Menico and try to to give for leaving. I o  o e me.”

    Alessan looked tful. quot;e you a little, Devin, even t t kind of man.

    a lifelong trouper like Menico dreams about. And no explanation you come up o alter t t o make t dream a real thing now.”

    Devin srut. A season or t t alked about for so many years. to settle ern for o old friends

    and nerails. ell tories er nigake out a place by to be to and out of all the songs he knew.

    Devin so ts of  a;I just dont like disappearing on  once. eve got concerts tomorrooo.”

    Alessans mout;I do seem to recall t,quot; ;them.”

    quot;t; said Catriana unexpectedly.

    quot;t; Alessan agreed c;And one t day at t  occurred to me—a substantial  I expect to win.”

    able gro;Do you seriously tival of Vines is going to bliter o go make music in Astibar as if not like it.”

    quot;Actually, Im quite certain tival ; It ;Alberico is cautious almost before onig in ions, let trada scatter and go ely after. But only on t  is, frankly, w I would do myself.”

    quot;taxes?quot; Alessan asked.

    quot;Perer t t . An actual assassination attempt in a public place.   time—three families here.”

    Devin found it unsettling  son, grandco be fodder for Barbadian killing- degree. ried to trusively  evil.

    trut just t Menico, and t ter of costing troupe to troupe all time. Or left to start tired from to a business t offered ty. ting o go on er  s, but it . Someed to make it appear as if t.

    Someto ;ont it look a bit odd, too, if es? Riger Albericos unmasked a plot t ed  of linked to ttention to ourselves like t? It isnt as if our disappearance  be noticed.”

    , for some reason, to Baerd. And  later .

    quot;No clot; Baerd said. quot;t does make sense, to say it.”

    quot;A good deal of sense,quot; Sandre agreed. Devin fidgeted a little as iny of t;t;—tured at Devin and Catriana—quot;may yet redeem your generation for me.”

    time Devin refused to look at tead  over to t slashed by a family blade.

    Alessan broke te coug;t; one, quot;anot entirely. Only t as many nigdoors as I e t  bed at nig,quot; ;your eloquence e overcome me, Devin. Lead me back to Menico at two

    syrenya-players ive silence.”

    Baerd favored  Alessan appeared to e easily. quot;I ; Baerd said darkly, quot;from a recitation of your ournal s. I  o return. ell o burn tonig s come back in t t to rise from your pillo; ;t soft city living doesnt prevent you from being able to find the cache.”

    quot;Ill find it if s lost,quot; Catriana said.

    Alessan looked from one to t;t isnt fair,quot; ested.

    quot;It is just t.”

    Devin . Alessan ill gazing at Baerd. quot;You kno is only the music Im going back for.”

    quot;Of course I kno,quot; Baerd said softly. ;Im only afraid t these days.”

    Intercepting t passed beted—on a nig ture of bonding and about love.

    quot;Go,quot; said Baerd ill ated. Catriana ;e  you after tival. By t,quot; ;expect to recognize us.”

    Alessan grinned suddenly, and a moment later Baerd allo c deal. , Devin realized, smile very often.

    ill t t as ri-ana out to the wood again.