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〃Or of any remembrance at all in the world after the death that Rian is even now making ready for him；〃 added the countess of Arbonne； and of all those there it was her voice that was grimmest of all； as if she were truly speaking for some power beyond the world。
For the first time the king of Gorhaut； turning from one of them to the other； looked shaken。 And so smoothly； predictably； his adviser moved to fill the silence that followed。
〃These；〃 Galbert said in the deep； manding voice； 〃are the last strident posturings of the doomed。 Shall we quail before this mumbling？ Rather； you should all be on your knees even now； begging the mercy of a gentle death。〃
〃You would like that； wouldn't you？〃 said Ariane de Carenzu； moving her horse forward a little。 She was smiling； but not with her eyes。 〃You would like the women of Arbonne kneeling before you； I see。 I do see it now； actually。 No wonder your son's wife fled from you。 What does Corannos say about such desires； Galbert de Garsenc？〃
〃They are abominations；〃 said Blaise quietly。 〃For which atonement must be made。〃 He himself was pale now。
〃This；〃 said the king of Gorhaut； regaining his posure； 〃has grown tedious。 I am here only because the protocols of war pel this meeting of heralds。 Hear me then： we have e south because the countess of Arbonne has given shelter and succour to a woman of Gorhaut and has refused to return her to us。 All else； as the High Elder says； is posturing。 I have patience for no more of it。 Prepare yourselves to die on the morrow。〃
〃What if I do return？〃 said Rosala suddenly。 〃If I e back north； will you take your army home？〃
Galbert de Garsenc laughed thickly。 He opened his mouth to reply but was forestalled by the king's lifted hand。 〃This es；〃 said Ademar softly； 〃very much too late。 There is a lesson now to be taught to those who have denied our most proper demands。 I am pleased to see you eager to return； but it makes no matter at this point。 There is no power here； or anywhere in the world； Rosala； that can stop me now from bringing you back to Cortil。〃
〃With the child；〃 said Galbert quickly。
He was ignored。
〃To Cortil； my lord？〃 Rosala asked； lifting her voice。 〃Are you so open about this now？ Do you not mean： back to Garsenc and my lord husband？〃
In the stillness that followed this； Lisseut realized that the king of Gorhaut had just made； in some fashion she did not entirely understand； a mistake。
A long way south； on the Island of Rian in the sea； where the wind was not blowing on this day and the waters lay calm and blue under the pale winter sun； Beatritz de Barbentain； High Priestess of Rian； rose suddenly from before a fire into which she had been gazing sightlessly for most of the day。
〃Something has just happened；〃 she said aloud； though there was no one in her room with her save the white owl on her shoulder。 〃Something that might matter。 Oh； sweet Rian remember us； have mercy upon your children。〃
She was silent then； waiting； reaching out in her darkness for the elusive； un…coercible vision of the goddess that might let her know at least a part of what was now happening so far away in the place of the wind。
And in that precise moment； by the lake； among that gathering of enemies； a voice was heard for the first time。
〃I am afraid；〃 said Ranald； duke of Garsenc； moving his horse into the open space between the two panies； 〃that this is rather too openly said for my taste and for the honour of my family。〃 He was staring at the king of Gorhaut。 He had not used a title。
No one responded。 No one else moved。 It seemed to Lisseut； afterwards； that the duke's words had virtually frozen them all with astonishment。 Ranald de Garsenc； the only moving figure in a still world； turned to his wife。 He looked remarkably at ease now； as if this action or decision； this movement； had somehow granted him release from something。 He said； 〃Forgive me； my lady； but I must ask this； and I will accept the truth of what you say： has the king of Gorhaut been your lover？〃
Lisseut realized she was holding her breath。 Out of the side of her vision she saw that Blaise had gone bone…white。 Sitting her horse easily； Rosala de Garsenc seemed almost as posed as her husband though。 She said； as clearly as before； 〃He has not； my lord； though he has sought to be that for some time now。 He was only delaying while I was with child。 Your father； I am sorry to say； has been urging the thought upon him for purposes of his own。 I will swear to you though； upon the life of my child； that I have not lain with Ademar； and that I will die before I willingly do so。〃
〃This is why you left？〃 A different note in Ranald's voice； almost too exposed； it made Lisseut wish； suddenly； that she was not here。 None of us has a right to be listening to this； she thought。
But Rosala said； her handsome； strong head held high； 〃It is indeed why I left； my lord。 I feared you could not； or would not； guard us against your father and your king； for the one had claimed the child I was carrying； as you know； and the other wanted me。〃
Ranald was nodding slowly； as if the words were striking echoes within himself。
〃Ranald； in the god's name； do not shame me；〃 Galbert de Garsenc began； the beautiful voice being harsh； 〃by allowing this depraved； contemptible woman to give voice to such…〃
〃You be silent；〃 said the duke of Garsenc bluntly。 〃I will consider how to deal with you after。〃 The tone was so curt it was shocking。
〃After what？〃 asked Ademar of Gorhaut。 His own head was lifted； his carriage in the saddle magnificent。 There was a glitter to his gaze。 He knows； Lisseut thought。 He knows the answer to that。
〃After I have publicly dealt with you for the dishonour you have willed upon my house。 No king of Gorhaut has ever been free to wreak what havoc he will among the high lords of our land。 I am not about to let you be the first。 The wife of the duke of Garsenc is not a trinket to be played for； however blind the duke might be。〃 He paused for a moment； then： 〃This is a formal challenge； Ademar。 Will you fight me yourself； or name a champion to shelter behind？〃
〃Are you mad？〃 Galbert de Garsenc cried out。
〃That；〃 said Ranald gravely； 〃is the second time that question has been asked of one of your sons。 In fact； I think it is true of neither of us。〃 He turned to Rosala。 〃Other accusations may fairly be made against me。 I will hope to have a chance to address them after。〃
She met his glance but said nothing； stern and proud； Lisseut thought； as some yellow…haired goddess of the north。 But that； she realized immediately after； was idle fantasy： they didn't allow goddesses in the north。
Ranald turned back to Ademar。 They all turned back to Ademar。 The king of Gorhaut； past the first surprise of this； was smiling； only with his lips though； his eyes were hard as stone。
〃We are in a foreign county and at war；〃 he said。 〃You are a mander of my army。 You are now proposing that we fight each other because your wife； whose flight from your home is the cause of our being here； alleges that I expressed a desire for her。 Is this what I understand from you； my lord of Garsenc？〃
It sounded absurd； mad indeed； when put that way； but Ranald de Garsenc did not quail。 He； too； was smiling now； a smaller man than the king but as easy in the saddle。 〃You might not remember it；〃 he said； 〃but I was in that room in Cortil with my father last autumn when you came in and demanded that Rosala be brought back。 Back to you； you said。〃 They saw the king's expression change。 His eyes flicked away from Ranald's； and then returned。
The duke went on。 〃I should have made this challenge then； Ademar。 You have been using Rosala's flight from me as your excuse for war…my father's idea； of course。 You aren't nearly clever enough。 She didn't fly from me； Ademar； I think I dare say that。 She left her husband and put our child at terrible risk because of you and my father。 I think I am seeing things clearly for the first time in a great many years。 If you have any honour or courage left in you； draw your sword。〃
〃I will have you arrested and then gelded before burning；〃 Galber