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ildflowers here in Arbonne that he'd never seen before； even among the celebrated； rolling countryside between the cities of Portezza。
The land here was beautiful； he conceded； without grudging the thought this time。 He wasn't in a grudging mood this afternoon； the light was too benevolent； the country through which he rode too genuinely resplendent at the beginning of summer。 There were vineyards to the west and the dense trees of a forest beyond them。 The only sounds were the wind and the chatter of birds and the steady jingle of harness on his horse and the pack pony behind。 In the distance ahead Blaise could see at intervals the blue sparkle of water on a lake。 If the directions he'd been given at last night's inn were correct； the lake would be Dierne and Castle Talair would be visible soon； nestled against the northern shore。 He should be able to make it by day's end at a fortable pace。
It was hard not to be in a good humour today； whatever one's thoughts might be about country and family and the slowly darkening tenor of events in the world。 For one thing； Blaise's leave…taking at Baude four days ago had been a genuinely cordial parting。 He'd worried for a time about how Mallin would receive his defection to the ranks of the corans of Bertran de Talair； but the young lord of Castle Baude seemed to have almost expected Blaise's announcement when it came； two days after En Bertran rode off； and even…or so it seemed to Blaise…to almost wele it。
There might； in fact； have been pragmatic reasons for that。 Mallin was a fortable but not a wealthy man； and the expenses of aspiring towards a place of honour on the higher ramparts of the world might have begun to give him pause。 After a fortnight's extravagant entertainment of the troubadour lord of Talair； it was possible that Mallin de Baude was not averse to some measures of economizing； and seasoned mercenary captains such as Blaise of Gorhaut were not inexpensive。
On the morning of Blaise's departure； Mallin had wished him the blessing of the god and of Rian the goddess as well； this was Arbonne； after all。 Blaise accepted the one with gratitude and the other with good grace。 He'd surprised himself with the degree of regret he felt bidding farewell to the baron and to the corans he'd trained： Hirnan； Maffour and the others。 He hadn't expected to miss these men； it seemed as if he was going to； for a little while at least。
Soresina； in the last days before he went； was a different； more unsettling sort of surprise。 The simple truth was； however much Blaise might want to deny it； that the lady of Castle Baude； always an attractive woman and aware of it； seemed to have grown in both dignity and grace in a very short period。 Specifically； the short period since Bertran de Talair's visit to the highlands。 Was it possible that a single furtive night with the duke could have effected such a change？ Blaise hated the very notion； but could not deny the poised courtesy of Soresina's subsequent treatment of him； or the elegance of her appearance at her husband's side in the days that passed between Bertran's departure and Blaise's own。 There was not even the shadow of a hint in her expression or manner of what had taken place on the stairway below her chambers so little time ago。 She did seem pensive at times； almost grave； as if inwardly ing to terms with some shift in her relations with the world。
Soresina was with Mallin when the baron and his corans rode part of the way with Blaise on the morning he took leave of the western highlands。 She'd offered him her cheek to kiss； not merely her hand。 After the briefest hesitation Blaise had leaned sideways in his saddle and plied。
Soresina had glanced up at him as he straightened。 He remembered a glance she'd offered him shortly after he'd arrived； when she'd told him how she liked men after the older fashion； warlike and hard。 There was an echo of that now； she was still the same woman after all； but there was also something else that was new。
〃I hope some woman elsewhere in your travels through Arbonne persuades you to remove that beard；〃 she said。 〃It scratches； Blaise。 Grow it back； if you must； when you return to Gorhaut。〃
She was smiling at him as she spoke； entirely at ease； and Mallin de Baude； visibly proud of her； laughed and gripped Blaise's arm a last time in farewell。
There had been a number of farewells in his life during the past few years； Blaise thought now； three days after that morning departure； riding amid the scent and colours of wildflowers； past the green and purple beginnings of grapes on the vines； with blue water in the distance beckoning him with flashes of mirrored sunlight。 Too many goodbyes； perhaps； but they were a part of the life he'd chosen for himself； or had had chosen for him by his birth and his family's rank； and the laws； written or unwritten； that guided the country of Gorhaut through the shoals of a rocky world。
There had been regret； anger at twists of fate； real pain in Portezza the last time he was there； but it seemed that in the end he truly was most content as he was now； on his own； answerable to no man…and certainly no woman…save for service honourably owed by contract freely entered into。 There was little that was greatly unusual about any of the patterns of his life。 It was a well…enough trodden path in the lives of younger sons of noble families in the world as they knew it。 The eldest son married； fathered other children； inherited all： the lands…fiercely guarded； scrupulously undivided…the family goods； and whatever titles had been earned and not lost as one monarch succeeded another in Gorhaut。 The daughters of such houses were expensively dowried pawns； though often vital ones； married off to consolidate alliances； expand holdings； lay claim or siege to even higher rank for the family。
Which left little enough for the other sons。 Younger sons were a problem； and had been so for a long time； ever since the dwindling sizes of partitioned estates had changed the system of inheritance。 All but barred from a useful marriage by virtue of their lack of land or chattels； forced to leave the family dwellings by friction or pride or sheerest self…protection； many entered the clergy of Corannos or attached themselves to the household corans of another high lord。 Some followed a third； less predictable course； going out into the world beyond the country of their birth； alone on the always dangerous roads or more often in smaller or larger groupings to seek their fortune。 In a season of war they would be found at the battlefields； in the rarer times of tranquility they would be stirring up strife themselves with a restless champing at the bit of peace； or maiming and hammering each other in the tournament melees that moved with the trade fairs from town to town through the known lands of the world。
Nor was this pattern only true in Gorhaut。 Bertran de Talair； until his older brother died childless and he became the duke； had been among this roving number in his own day； one of the most celebrated； bringing a sword and a harp； both； and later a joglar expensively outfitted in his livery； to battlefield and tournament in Gotzland and Portezza and watery Valensa in the north。
Blaise of Gorhaut； years later； and for a variety of reasons； had bee another such man； ever since he'd been anointed as a coran by King Duergar himself。
He'd left home with his horse and armour and weapons and his skills with them； skills that had travelled well and not without profit…most of it banked in Portezza now with Rudel's family。 It was a life that had left him； riding alone under the sun of summer in Arbonne； untied and untrammelled by the bonds that seemed to ensnare so many of the men he knew。
He would have scorned the question and the questioner both； but if asked that day； Blaise would have said that he was not an unhappy man； for all the bitterness that lay behind him at home and among the dangerous cities of Portezza。 He would have said he knew the future he wanted for himself； and that for the foreseeable future it was not unlike the present through which he rode； in whatever country it might chance to fall。 He wasn't particular abo