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e that。 It was past time for Valledo to move west。
No mands came。
Ramiro appeared from those meetings with a sternly resolute expression。 So did the men with whom he had been speaking。 No one said a word； though； as to what had transpired。 It was noted that de Chervalles； the cleric； shocked and sobered as he might be by what had happened； did not look censorious。
King Ramiro seemed subtly changed； with a new manner that unsettled his courtiers。 He appeared to be reaching inward for strength or resolution。 Perhaps he was nurturing the desire for bloodshed； someone suggested。 Men could understand that。 Spring was the time for war in any case； and war was where a brave man found his truest sense of life。
Still no one was certain what was afoot。 The king showed no signs of leaving Carcasia for Esteren。 Messengers went out in all directions。 A single herald was sent west along the river towards Ruenda。 Only a herald。 No army。 Men cursed in the taverns of Carcasia。 No one knew what message he carried。 Another small party set out east。 One of them told a friend they were bound for the ranching lands where the horses of Valledo were bred。 No one knew what to make of that either。
Through the ensuing days and then weeks； the king remained inscrutable。 He hunted most mornings； though in a distracted fashion。 He spent a great deal of time with the queen； as if her passage near to death had drawn the two of them closer。 The constable was a busy man； and he too offered no hint； by word or expression； of what was happening。 Only the High Cleric from Ferrieres could be seen to be smiling when he thought he was unobserved； as if something he'd thought lost had been unexpectedly found。
Then； as the spring ripened and flowers bloomed in the meadows and the forest clearings； the Horsemen of Valledo began to ride into Carcasia。
They were the finest riders in the world； on the finest horses； and they came armed and equipped for war。 As more and more of them appeared； it slowly became apparent； to even the dullest courtier in Carcasia； what was taking place。
An air of disbelief mingled with a trembling excitement began to pervade the city and castle as the soldiers continued to gather； pany after pany。 Men and women who had been markedly lax in their observances for some time； if not all their lives； began to be seen at the services in Carcasia's ancient chapel； built in those long…ago days when Esperana had ruled all of the peninsula； not just the northlands。
At those services； frequently led by the High Cleric from Ferrieres； the king of Valledo and； after she was allowed to leave her rooms； his queen were present； morning and evening； kneeling side by side in prayer； sun disks of the god clasped in their hands。
Over a span of centuries； the golden； fabulously wealthy khalifs of Al…Rassan had led their armies thundering north； irresistible as the sea； to raid and enslave the Jaddites cowering at the hard fringes of a land that had once been their own。 Year after year after year； back beyond the memories of men。
The last； weak puppet khalif in Silvenes had been slain； though； nearly sixteen years ago。 There were no khalifs any more。
It was time to start rolling back the tide the other way； in Jad's fierce； bright； holy name。
Eliane bet Danel； wife to a physician and mother of one； was not unused to strangers speaking to her in the street。 She was known in the city； and her husband and daughter had both had a great many patients over the years here in Fezana。 Some might wish to express gratitude； others to seek a speedy or a less expensive access to the doctor。 Eliane had learned to deal briskly with both sorts。
The woman who stopped her on a cool market morning in the early spring of that year fell into neither category。 In fact； Eliane was later to reflect； this marked the first time in her life she'd ever been accosted by a prostitute of either sex。
〃My lady；〃 the woman said； without stepping from the shaded side of the lane； and speaking much more politely than was customary for an Asharite addressing a Kindath； 〃might I have a moment only of your time？〃
Eliane had been too surprised to do more than nod and follow the woman…a girl； truly； she realized…further back into the shadows。 A small alleyway ran off the lane。 Eliane had e this way twice a week for much of her life and had never noticed it。 There was a smell of decay here； and she saw what she hoped were small cats moving quickly about further along the alley。 She wrinkled her nose。
〃I hope this isn't where you do business；〃 she said in her crispest tones。
〃Used to be； up above；〃 the girl said carelessly； 〃before they moved us outside the walls。 Sorry about the smell。 I won't keep you long。〃
〃I'm sure；〃 Eliane said。 〃How may I help you？〃
〃You can't。 Your daughter has； though； most of us； one way or another。 That's why I'm here。〃
Eliane liked things to be as clear as possible。 〃Jehane； my daughter； has treated you medically； is that what you are saying？〃
〃That's it。 And she's been good to us； too。 Almost a friend； if that doesn't shame you。〃 She said it with a youthful defiance that touched Eliane unexpectedly。
〃It doesn't shame me；〃 she said。 〃Jehane has good judgment in whom she befriends。〃
That surprised the girl。 As Eliane's eyes adjusted further to the darkness here； she saw that the woman with whom she spoke was thin…boned and small； no more than fifteen or sixteen years old； and that she was wrapped only in a torn shawl over a faded green knee…length tunic。 Not nearly enough for a day this cold and windy。 She almost said something about that； but kept silent。
〃I wanted to tell you； there's trouble ing；〃 the girl said abruptly。 〃For the Kindath； I mean。〃
Eliane felt something icy slide into her。 〃What does that mean？〃 she said； involuntarily looking over her shoulder； back where the sunlight was； where people were moving； and might be listening。
〃We're hearing things； outside。 From the men that e。 There's been sheets posted on walls。 A nasty poem。 A 。。。 what do they call it 。。。 an allegation。 About the Kindath and the Day of the Moat。 Nunaya thinks something's being planned。 That the governor may be under orders。〃
〃Who is Nunaya？〃 Eliane realized that she had begun to shiver。
〃Our leader。 Outside the walls。 She's older。 Knows a lot。〃 The girl hesitated。 〃She's a friend of Jehane's。 She sold her mules when Jehane left。〃
〃You know about that？〃
〃I took her to Nunaya myself that night。 We wouldn't have let Jehane down。〃 Defiance again； a note of pride。
〃Thank you； then。 I'm sure you wouldn't have let her down。 I told you； she knew where to choose her friends。〃
〃She was always good to me；〃 the girl said； with a shrug； trying to seem indifferent。 〃Don't see what's so wrong with calling the moons sisters； anyhow； myself。〃
Eliane had to be careful not to smile； despite the fear in her。 Fifteen years old。 〃Some disagree with you； unfortunately；〃 was all she said。
〃I know that；〃 the girl replied。 〃Jehane's all right？〃
〃I think so。〃 Eliane hesitated。 〃She's in Ragosa； working there。〃
The girl nodded； satisfied。 〃I'll tell Nunaya。 Anyhow； that's all I wanted to say。 Nunaya says you should be careful。 Think about leaving。 She says people here are nervous again because of this claim by that other king in the north 。。。 from Ruensa？〃
〃Ruenda；〃 Eliane said。 〃About the parias？ Why should that affect the Kindath？〃
〃Now you're asking the wrong person； aren't you？〃 The girl shrugged again。 〃I hear things； but I don't know much。 Nunaya thinks there's something funny about it； that's all。〃
Eliane stood in silence for a moment； looking at the girl。 That shawl really wasn't at all warm enough for this time of year。 Impulsively； surprising herself again； she took off her own blue cloak and draped it over the girl。 〃I have another；〃 she said。 〃Will this be stolen from you？〃
The girl's eyes had widened。 She fingered the warm； woven cloak。 〃Not unless someone wants to wake up dead；〃 she said。
〃Good。 Thank you for the warning。〃 Eliane turned to go。
〃My lady。〃
She stopped and looked back。
〃Do you know the toy…maker's shop； at the end of the Street of Seven Windings？〃
〃I have seen it。〃
〃Just past it； by the city wall； there's a linden tree。 There's bushes behind it； along the wall。 There's a way out there。 It's a small gate； and locked； but the key is hanging from a nail on the tree； on the back side； about my height。〃 She indicated with her hand。 〃If you ever need to get out that's one way that will bring you to us。〃
Eliane was silent again； then she nodded her head。
〃I am glad my daughter has such friends；〃 she said； and went back into the sunlight； which did not warm her now； without her cloak。
She decided to forgo the market this morning； though it normally gave her pleasure。 One of the servants could go。 She was cold。 She turned back towards the Kindath Quarter and the house that had been her home for thirty years。
Think about leaving。 Just like that。
The Wanderers。 They were always thinking about leaving。 Moving like the moons against the fixed and gleam