tIFFNESS OKE DEVIN ABOUt AN  took  to remember ill dark in tened to Catrianas quiet breats in the bed. A rueful expression crossed his face.

    It range, ed, ting o side to try to ease t armcted and uncomfortable t out on cold ground  surprisingly a   t  o  realized t  going to be able to sleep any more t nigo go doo tcaff could be induced to make  of khav.

    trating on closing tly be c of arily.

    the Prince walked over, eyebrows arched.

    Devin s;e just talked. I slept in t a kink in my neck to s.”

    quot;Im sure,quot; Alessan murmured.

    quot;No, really,quot; Devin insisted.

    quot;Im sure,quot; Alessan repeated. ;I believe you. If you  injury, most likely.”

    quot;Very likely,quot; Devin agreed. trianas door.

    quot;hough?”

    Devin felt ;; ion of iny Alessan eresting,quot; he offered.

    Alessan smiled again. quot;Come doairs he road anyhow.”

    quot;I o tces to ches.”

    quot;Not a bad idea,quot; Alessan murmured, eyeing torn s. quot;Ill meet you dohere.”

    Devin ducked into  Alais  ered, quiet innocence, took y—to ock-still in t and tried to properly grasp w o him.

    Interesting,  called it. Language. tile exercise sometimes. A remnant of t, leaving Alienor, rianas sorrooo.  as if  a bleak hour.

    quot;K; Devin said aloud. quot;Or Ill never get out of this mood.”

    On tairs edly, ;for t; ing, oday— ter ting toward for half a year.

    And after t . to tigana. uary of Eanna.

    ide aions into tations of t to tcle Borso and hin.

    Sitting by teaming ko tir and bustle in tchen.

    Devin stood in t, unnoticed, and found  two men.

    In t gravity to o be a part of a frieze, a tableau, emblematic in some complex way of all suche long roads.

    Neitranger to to sitting tle kitcs in t dark o ive ever turnings it mig  yet begun.

    It seemed to Devin t Alessan and Erlein, sitting toget  beyond t  t stream in Ferraut. It  o do  ruly ser hem.

    For years traveling. to be so many images t overlapped and could evoke tions, tside, tle stir tside t by tceam and smell rising from turning foro t lay a. Looking at tillness amid tle of tc anoturn of t seemed to be range nighe highlands.

    Sadness, and a distinct stir of longing. Devin realized t ed t sory for ed to be a part of t self-contained, accomplisernity of men whis scene so well.

    o savor t, but old enouger t er and ime o guess at tained, solitary, competent look of t of him.

    epped tty servant noticed  a o a position near efully doiffened neck ill bothering him.

    quot;I didnt even o be c; Alessan reported c;Erlein ed in on a fres of kc to keep the fires going.

    Couldnt  new ones on an Ember Day.”

    Devin nodded, sipping carefully and ense gratitude from eaming mug. quot;And tion you mentioned?quot;  Erlein.

    quot;Solved,quot; tly. urally brigtle as kindling. quot;Erleins going to o come ablis I cant let  too far a s to go o be tied toget ; eet t boto respond; inued to sip o the fire.

    quot;; Devin asked er a moment.

    Erlein made a sour face. quot;Slavery doesnt agree ,quot; o his khav.

    Devin elected to ignore t. times  ted out y.

    A t struck Devin. urned to Alessan. quot;Is o your meeting too?”

    quot;I suppose,quot; Alessan said  carelessness. quot;A small reer to travel  stopping very muc; one oo deliberately casual, as if denying ty of strain.

    quot;I see,quot; Devin said, as neutrally as urned o t it there.

    t stretc him.

    quot;Do you  to come?quot; the Prince asked.

    Did  to come? For  Devin and Sandre elling t everyted to ac to upon a meeting in t of the Ember Days.

    Did  to come?

    Devin cougone floor. quot;ell,quot; ;not if Im in turally. Only if you think I could be useful and if maybe I could . . .”

    railed off because Alessan was laug him.

    Even Erlein o a faint, reluctant snort of amusement. two older men exchanged a glance.

    quot;You are a terrible liar,quot; to Devin.

    quot;,quot; Alessan said, still c;But never mind. I dont actually t isnt in ture of  Im certain you  do any ertained. Itll be a very long ride.”

    quot;? to ting?quot; Devin asked, startled.

    Alessan s;Only tate of ting you  ; ered. quot;home.”

    quot;Pigeon!quot; ted man cried, till some distance a not very many tone yielded to forest. Furto there was only rock and snow.

    Carrying-poles taco tood be in burgundy livery. Devin t ts, but w hese were soldiers, and guards.

    quot;Pigeon,quot; ted loudly. quot;You ime!”

    It ation t Devin realized t to Alessan.

    look to o ted; be rise to greet t , small eyes follo Alessan made. ionless on t least six rings; t of ten face t sing do, raked redly across o t ear.

    quot;Company for t; Alessan said mildly. quot;I  sure if youd come. trous fat in a year.”

    quot;And ?quot; t. quot;And  t I  fait; tone erous in treme, but Devin sa t and very chful.

    quot;Not ever,quot; Alessan agreed calmly. o be replaced by an almost preternatural calm. quot;But t need me anymore. Not since last summer.”

    quot;Not need you!quot; t;Pigeon, of course I need you. You are my yout I alisman of fortune in battle.”

    quot;No more battles t; said Alessan quietly. quot;ill you alloo offer my  congratulations?”

    quot;No!quot; t;No, I  allorap from you.

    I  is for you to come op to be cluttering like two of us!”

    And  wo muscled arms.

    to balance it.

    took trode to meet  moment Devin abruptly realized—a bucket of ice doo be.

    quot;Bear!quot; said Alessan, laugc.  ther man.

    quot;Oruly didnt know if you would come.”

    Marius.

    Stupefied by more titude and a sleepless nig tigana clean off  and kiss o t arms lengtiny.

    quot;It is true,quot;  lengt;I can see it. You really did doubt me. I sraged, Pigeon. I s.  did Pigeon two say?”

    quot;Baerd ted ruefully. quot;Im afraid I owe him money.”

    quot;At least one of you o have some sense,”

    Marius groo register ;? You tagger.

    Marius o  doruck by ture of turned on tant did it flit over Devin   Marius  one second, sized e compre  by chance even a decade hence.

    ing moment of pity for to battle to meet  grove.

    tree-trunks and told Devin all o kno ed in ttles despite tual maiming—tendons—of t o ter glory of tess.

    Marius  died. For anyones greater glory. Seven times  died. And no seventime, true King in Quileia again and t ess   given  neavern called time ago.

    quot;You must  last summer in t; Alessan was saying.

    ured to;tonalius so get t close to you h a blade.”

    t, in trut to see. quot;,”

    Marius said grimly. quot;I used our kick-drop from ty-seven tree and  token from my late  encounter. May t. ill you take wine and a midday meal?”

    Alessans grey eyes blinked. quot;e o,quot; he said.

    quot;Good,quot; said Marius. ured to ;In t case, o laying t for us you can tell me, Pigeon, and I ell me, ed just noing t invitation.”

    It urn to blink;  even registered the pause.

    Alessan ;I  of ;t you ; Marius smiled t did not speak. quot;I  least t out. Someone I must get to, as soon as I can.”

    quot;More important ted.”

    Alessan s;Not more important, or I  be here now. More compelling perhaps.

    ting for me at Borso last nigher is dying.”

    Mariuss expression cly. quot;I am deeply sorry,quot; ;Alessan, truly I am.quot; he paused.

    quot;It could not o come , kno.”

    Alessan gave eristic s oe extravagant golden clot of t multi-colored cus and putting dos and dishes of food.

    quot;e oget; Marius said crisply, quot;and discuss  go. You trust turning?”

    Devin  even t about t.

    quot;I suppose t; Alessan said indifferently. quot;But yes, I trust Danoleon. Of course I do. ook me to you in t place.”

    quot;I am a,quot; Marius said mildly. quot;I remember  unless tly c t in t Sanctuary of Eanna, and your clergy in t been noted for ty.”

    Alessan gave ; can I do? My mot seen  t; ;I dont to be recognized by many people, even  Baerds disguises. ould you not say I  since I een?quot; t che words.

    quot;Some; Marius said quietly. quot;Not so muc to join you.”

    Again Alessans eyes seemed to drift ao te sense t than he was hearing.

    quot;Come,quot; Marius said, levering ;ill you join me on our carpet in the meadow?”

    quot;Stay in t; Alessan rapped sroubled. quot;h you, Bear?”

    Marius  moved. quot;A company to the pass. hy?”

    Moving easily, smiling carelessly, Alessan sat do t. quot;o bring so few up here.”

    quot;ttle enougoo superstitious to venture into tains. You kno, Pigeon. taboo long ago rade he Palm.”

    quot;In t case,quot; Alessan said, still smiling, quot;I am at a loss to explain t saw berail.”

    quot;You are certain?quot; Mariuss voice  there was suddenly ice in his eyes.

    quot;twice now.”

    quot;I am deeply distressed,quot; said t;Suco be o kill me. And if tain taboo I am going to be forced to retions. ill you take some ; ured, and one of t trembled slightly.

    quot;t; Alessan murmured. quot;Erlein, can you do anyt it being known?”

    t pale, but oo kept ;Not any sort of attack. It ake too muco screen it from any tracker in the highlands.”

    quot;A she King?”

    Erlein ated.

    quot;My friend,quot; Alessan said gravely, quot;I need you and I am going to continue to need you. I kno  anso make intelligent decisions. Pour ; o the Quileian soldier.

    Erlein accepted a glass and drank. quot;I can do a lo; opped. quot;Do you  it? there is some risk.”

    quot;I t; Alessan said. quot;Put up trusively as you can.”

    Erleins moutig  ly from side to side.

    Devin could see t notell.

    quot;It is done,quot; Erlein said grimly. quot;t up.quot; he drank again from his wine.

    Alessan nodded, accepting a eful of meat and c;Devin?”

    Devin ing. quot;I see t; ly. quot;Up t side. Arrow range. Send me home.”

    quot;take my he saddle.”

    Devin s;ice—and Im not good enoug I can. Can you arrange to be noisy in about ty minutes?”

    quot;e can be very noisy,quot; said Marius of Quileia. quot;to your left as you go do past t whe way.”

    Devin smiled. Marius suddenly roared er and Alessan follo. Erlein  as Alessan s an imperious  toward Devin.

    quot;If you forgot it tc, thing for you.”

    quot;It  my fault!quot; Devin protested loudly, letting o petulance. urned back to e, ed hey had come.

    As far as trail.

    ed and teter a moments t

    mig o climb.

    Cutting to t rees. errain allo  and ions for a lack of size. eep slopes, ain trees and dark serrano buss o ting soil.

    Part of trees briefly gave out before a s, steep cliff to t. oried to guess  it —no sounds reacrail.  be sure if y minutes, old tted eeto Adaon, and began to climb t occurred to  t an Asolini farmers son from truggling up a cliff- face in the Braccio Range.

    an Asolini farmers son tigana and o do thing.

    Devin skittered siderying not to dislodge any pebbles. crop of stone, ced raigo it.

    on omaco th.

    And traig  directly beloainly been visible on t part of rees. o ent on ting on t see t to inctively flattened  as to gauge t.

    For an arc ter, Devin kne ime, most likely, for only one arrow. ips were poisoned.

    Probably, he decided.

    Very carefully arted crao work he assassin.

    o a and of trees. o get close enougo deal h an archer?

    Just ter, by Erleins  after t a number of voices started in on one of t, most rollicking  a legendary band of mountain outlay until ted by Quileia and Certando together.

    ty brave men rode apace from ty Quileians met tains eaco t defied!

    to t o try to do.  t of lunacy in   ime, or many options.

    een feet east of ty feet belo from behe clouds.

    Devin was above and be all accomplis his mercy.

    Instead, rust in ion, and a tall giant of a mountain pine tree rising all to  be sered tain trail, rung bow and o hand.

    Devin kneain passes—t  climb do tree  even he loud, seriously off-key voices screening his sounds from below.

    , so far as ion. Ot  better, but ot on trating on a large branc stretc and a migried to calculate angle and distance as best  total lack of experience at ticular maneuver.   to try  a tice, anywhere.

    , ime, and stood up. Absurdly, t came to ree, trying to stretc.

    Devin smiled tigepped to t  if o teaco use a bow properly.

    From tically toain s And o glen, But seventy brave men tracked o  the peaks were free again!

    Devin jumped. Air  o meet . retcc, stle. Only enougo c, cut um. Bring ly dohe rock.

    t ted. artled glance skyhe bow.

    Not nearly fast enoug top of ed like some ing bird of time arget began to move Devin here.

    Our kick-drop from ty-seven tree, .

    Falling, ilted orso so t it angled side  as  , even as o the air from his own lungs.

    to togetumbling and rolling ahe boulder.

    Devin gasped agonizingly for breat t. ted eeth and groped for his dagger.

    t  necessary.

    Dead before  to ortured lungs. t leg. o ignore it.

    ruggled, gasping and when he looked.

    tances, not a great surprise. S dead. o  of . Ss and scrapes from tumble dohe slope.

    So, Devin noted, did  orn and cime in  ougo be amusing in t, but  reaco it. Not yet.

    o o  o do. o draeadying breat as Alessan and one of ting up t beh surprise.

    arted to stand, but tically and o be braced by Alessan. tood staring doely, into her bleeding face.

    Devin looked away.

    Alessans. quot;e sao rying t sort of t; t;Didnt anyone ever tell you?”

    tness of one. quot;I feared for you,quot; ly.

    quot;I couldnt to do,quot; Devin said apologetically. o ;to do someto stop it.”

    Alessans smile oo, in the Nievolene barn.

    It ;Come back do; t;Ill o clean out ts for you.”

    t it  black, and o a semblance of a crescent moon.

    From one end of it ted lock of greying  would be.

    Marius was on , one cening.

    And t, because not at all afraid.

    quot;I t to dance in ;I o tell you ell me if you can do it and t will be all we need say.”

    Marius o stop him.

    s aken to ed. ted some distance a  at noon t urned into a mild, generous day.

    quot;t; t;You kno.

    You probably kno o deny you any request at all. I o do tly. I o tell you  do, so you  ask it and force me to refuse.”

    Alessan nodded. , che King.

    quot;I cannot give you an army,quot; Marius said flatly. quot;Not yet, and peroo green in

    pooo far from tability I need at o lead or even order troops over tains. tradition I o set about ctle time. I am not a young man anymore, Pigeon.”

    Devin felt a leap of excitement ruggled to master it. too serious an occasion for co—at t of—sometude. ole a sidelong glance at Erlein and terest ravels, Devin seriously doubted if troubadour- events.

    Alessan ; ;I . For our sake as muc  invited t of Quileia norto tures from Quileia t  to be slaug no King in tries again.”

    quot;If t anotesses.

    Very ; Marius said, quot;tell me  is you do need.”

    Alessans legs ly crossed, er moment the sequence of songs for an evenings performance.

    Except t igogete.

    quot;A question first,quot; Alessan said, controlling ;ters offering to open trade?”

    Marius nodded. quot;From botyrants. Gifts, messages of felicitation, and generous offers to reopen trade routes by sea and land.”

    quot;And eaco scorn trustable in his power.”

    Marius ly no;Are you intercepting my mail, Pigeon? Eacly t.”

    quot;And ; Alessan asked, direct as an arro;; For t time, unmistakably, taut cord of tension in his voice.

    Marius  too. quot;Not,quot; ;I  a few more messages from eachem before I move.”

    Alessan looked doo notice  time. ably, through his hair.

    quot;You ; y. quot;You rade. In your position you o begin ss you can offer. traffic nort  it?quot; tone.

    quot;Of course,quot; Marius said simply. quot;I o do it.  is only a question of timing—and  iming  been moved up.”

    Alessan nodded, as if his already.

    quot; ; he asked.

    quot;Open tariffs for eit Alberico and Brandin send me all ts and goods and envoys t. Ill let trade make me truly a King—a King o o start doing it soon. Immediately, I no. I o put Quileia so firmly on a ne t as I can make it.

    Ot live some Year Kings, and tesses will be in power again before my bones are picked clean underground.”

    Alessan closed ling of leaves all around t Marius again, the grey eyes wide and calm, and he

    said, bluntly: quot;My request: t you give me six montrade. And somet interval.”

    quot;time alone is a great deal,quot; Marius said very softly. quot;But tell me t, Pigeon. thing else.”

    quot;tters, Bear. I need tters sent nort letter: you say yes to Brandin, conditionally.

    You ask for time to consolidate your oion before exposing Quileia to outside influences. You make it clear t your inclination too endure. Second letter: you reject, sorroures from Astibar. You e Alberico t you are intimidated by Brandins ts. t you o trade o trade  too strong in to risk offending une. You ask o keep in contact ly.

    You say you cs in terest. You  yet given Brandin a final decision, and  regards to the Emperor.”

    Devin . ed to rick of ter: listen, remember, t it later. Mariuss eyes ling smile was back.

    quot;And my tter?quot; he asked.

    quot;Is to te trade, no tariffs, first cion for Senzios brave independence and enterprise in ty.quot; Alessan paused. quot;And tter, naturally—”

    quot;ill be intercepted by Alberico of Barbadior. Pigeon, do you knoting in motion? his is?”

    quot;ait a minute!quot; Erlein di Senzio suddenly interjected, starting to rise.

    quot;You be silent!quot; Alessan literally snarled the command in a voice Devin had never heard him use.

    Erleins mout. anding. Alessan didnt even look at  on a golden carpet ains, seemingly oblivious to tence of anyt eacher.

    quot;You do kno you?quot; Marius said finally. quot;You knoly.quot; tain wonder in his voice.

    Alessan nodded. quot;Ive ime to t it, triad knorade routes open I ts name are lost. it you can offer , not a tyrant.  thing I can do, Bear. Your Kingship may be my undoing. And my homes.”

    quot;Are you sorry you o it?”

    Devin cle . ts of emotion running  and. ened, and remembered.

    quot;I s; Alessan murmured at lengt;In a  is a kind of treac I am not. But no,  w we worked so o ac; ful.

    Marius said, quot;You knoh of you.”

    quot;I knoh know.”

    quot;You know w I am facing back home.”

    quot;I do. I o remember.”

    In t follo a sadness come over  t. A sense of terrible spaces t alo lie bet o be

    crossed for even a simple touching.

    And  be for men suc.  seemed, ally o reac across so mucory and suc of responsibility and loss.

    quot;O; said Marius of Quileia, tle more t;you may  from te moon into my  eigin. I ters. Build a bonfire to my memory if you  I have died.”

    Even  little ood, on ttermost edges of t a lump gat, making it difficult to s  moment. t   o travel—a distance  never traverse—before er two.

    quot;Does eit; Erlein di Senzio broke into tillness, ; men and c you are about to do?”

    Marius said nothough.

    quot;; ;o killing you for saying t?quot; Erlein paled but did not draw back. Nor did his own eyes flinch away.

    quot;I did not ask to be born into time, crying to set it rig; Alessan said, ig;I  c; Bitterness cracked t.

    And en back. quot;I am trying to act for t just for tigana and  name. I raitor and a fool for doing so. My mot t from o able for blood and deatruction of igana   to your judgment, Erlein di Senzio! I do not need you to tell me  risk in to do ell you, noto die a slave you migo figh me, Senzian.

    it you are going to figh me for freedom!”

    . Devin felt rembling, as if a titanic torm ains and gone.

    quot; ; Marius of Quileia asked.

    Alessan fougo collect o consider tter. quot;Because ;  lengt;Because it is true t  danger by ts, and by my own. And because I have need of him.”

    Marius s;It is bad to have need of a man.”

    quot;I know, Bear.”

    quot;o you, even years later, and ask you for somet  let you refuse.”

    quot;I kno; said Alessan. t eacting motionless on t.

    Devin turned aruder on t excillness of t pass belos of t ness and, looking up to t t of te clouds ed apart, revealing t snoo be a place of more beauty and more pain than he could ever have

    imagined it to be.

    ing for tle, alone on hills.

    of him.

    quot;You,quot; said Baerd, quot;are even  te everything you say.”

    quot;Not er all, your only reason for refusing to come   feel any extra pressure to—”

    quot;And after las, you go and take te strangers to reduce tand my ground: you are han I am.”

    quot;Las; Alessan said.

    Baerd s;how is he?”

    quot;ell enougrain. Devin stopped an assassination attempt up there.”

    quot;?quot; Baerd glanced quickly at Devin, noting torn s and s.

    quot;You are going to o teaco use a bo; Devin said. quot;tear.”

    Baerd smiled. quot;I  c; to occur to ;An assassination?quot; o Alessan. quot;In tains? Surely not!”

    Alessans expression ;Im afraid so. Sain taboo ed—at least for the purposes of murder.”

    Baerds features creased  on ly a moment, t;So ion really. o act immediately. he said no?”

    quot;ters.quot; Alessan ated. quot;o build a bonfire to his memory if he dies.”

    Baerd suddenly turned  staring fixedly off to t. te-afternoon sun was she hills.

    quot;I love t man,quot; Baerd said, still gazing into tance.

    quot;I kno; said Alessan. Slourned back to hey exchanged a look in silence.

    quot;Senzio?quot; said Baerd.

    Alessan nodded. quot;You o Alienor o set up in terception. t riana and to tregea. e start reaping iming as o do until  again, . Im not sure about Rovigo—Ill leave t to you.”

    quot;Im not  separate roads,quot; Baerd murmured.

    quot;Neit knoive Id be grateful to .”

    Baerd s; will you do?”

    quot;Speak to some people on ter t it depends on  before summer comes.”

    Baerd glanced briefly at Devin and Erlein. quot;try not to let yourself be ,quot; he said.

    Alessan gave ;S een years.”

    quot;You !quot; t;You only  way.”

    Alessan sig;Suary of Eanna in a province called Loe. S in tigana. Do not say s been .”

    quot;But not by you!quot; Baerd protested. quot;o yourself?”

    Again t;I ain co accept t ot; o Erlein. quot;Leave it, Baerd. I promise not to let t you there. Devin will help if I need help.”

    Baerd grimaced beter furt  voice. quot;You t, t truly might happen now?”

    quot;I t o  never o stasis  all to  my mot many ot. In o Corm tcpost of Barbadiors Empire. And igana then?”

    inued in a lo;Marius is ting for and  agreed to let us play  may not  to do some praying, all of us, in to come. this has been long enough in arriving.”

    Baerd ill. quot;Long enoug;  a co Devin. quot;Eanna lig;  Erlein. quot;All three of you.”

    Alessans expression spoke a ;And yours, t; ed ao t.

    Folloride c fell on o meeting. oo far away for o be discerned.

    Devin raised a ly do the same.

    Baerd lifted one arm e to tcurned norto ride away.

    Alessan, setting a steady pace into tting sun, did not look back at all.