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ing this lucrative season。 The proprietor of The Silver Tree； a well…regarded country inn among fig and olive groves about three miles outside the city walls； had been surprised and more than pleased to join this small but select group。 He accepted a considerable sum from Duke Bertran de Talair to house a number of the duke's corans and household during the fair。 En Bertran himself would obviously spend most of his time in Lussan in his city palace there； or； indeed； in Barbentain itself with the countess； but he clearly found it useful to have a less conspicuous residence at his disposal； perhaps one where approaches to and from could be more closely monitored。 The innkeeper speculated； but kept his thoughts to himself。
Sitting in the smaller； more fortably furnished of the two ground…level rooms of that inn； with a fire blazing and the night wind blowing outside； Blaise fingered his wine glass and looked over again at Valery。 He raised his eyebrows pointedly。 Bertran's cousin merely shrugged。 The duke himself was sitting at a table scribbling on a parchment； at times consulting other crumpled documents at hand。 If Blaise hadn't known better he would have assumed that Bertran was dealing with affairs of importance。 In fact； the duke was writing a song and had told them as much when he'd asked for silence some time ago。
They were waiting for someone。 Corans were posted outside to warn them of an impending arrival。 Bertran； needless to say； hadn't bothered to tell them who it was he was expecting。 A surprise； he'd said blandly。 Blaise didn't like surprises。 He didn't like waiting。 There were times when he wasn't sure if he liked Bertran de Talair。
The Talair wine； at least； was superb； and Blaise was fortably warm in a deep…cushioned chair by the fire。 There was food on a second； long table； and tapestries offered warmth and colour on the stone walls。 He should； he told himself； be grateful for these blessings of continued life and give thanks to Corannos。 He might so easily have died on the road four days ago。 The talk since their arrival in Lussan was all about the banning of the Andoria from the fair。 Blaise didn't normally spend much time listening to gossip and he didn't linger in places where he might hear it； but this was rather close to his own interests； and they had been given the details by Valery as soon as they'd entered the city。
They'd spent the first night in the Talair palace in town。 Or rather； Blaise and Valery had。 Bertran had had a nocturnal tryst he was characteristically unwilling to forego or postpone。 There had been a curious incident when Roban； the chancellor of Arbonne…a hollow…cheeked； peremptory man Blaise had not met before…came looking for the duke in the hour before dawn。 Valery； roused from sleep； had reluctantly named a house where Bertran might be found。 The chancellor had grimaced in dismay。 Valery had offered to go with the small party； but Roban； wrapped in fur against the cold； had declined。 He'd looked over at Blaise with an expression of poorly concealed misgiving before riding off。 Valery； seeing that look and catching Blaise's eye； had shrugged then； too。 They'd yawned together and had gone back to their beds for what little remained of the night。
When they descended the stairs again Bertran had not yet returned。 He came back later in the morning in a silent mood and had remained that way all day； venturing out alone twice for brief periods。 He didn't enlighten them as to why。 He went out again that night； smiling and scented； to a different house in the city。 Blaise didn't bother asking Valery who lived there； he didn't want to know。
Towards the end of the next afternoon； the three of them had taken their horses and ridden out of Lussan and then along a winding country lane to The Silver Tree； where the larger part of the duke's men were staying。 Bertran had again been silent during that ride。 〃We're meeting someone；〃 was all he'd said when they set out。 〃After dark。〃 Valery had only shrugged when Blaise looked at him。 Blaise had decided that he was growing tired of Valery's shrugs； too。
He was gazing into the fire； trying with only marginal success to do some reflecting upon the larger； grimmer issues that awaited them； when Serlo appeared suddenly in the doorway leading to the larger room； making him start。 〃Someone has e； my lord。 He is alone； cloaked and hooded； with his face concealed。 He will not reveal himself。〃
Bertran shuffled his papers together before standing up。 〃That's all right。 Show him in as he is and then guard the door for us。 We should not be disturbed； Serlo； unless I call for you。〃
The young coran nodded and went out。 Valery rose to his feet and Blaise did the same。 There was a look of anticipation and of something else now…a kind of youthful； infectious delight…in the blue eyes of the duke。 Blaise； against his will； began to feel a quickening excitement。
Serlo returned moments later escorting a man who was indeed wrapped in a long black mantle with a cloth wrapped about his face； concealing all but his eyes。 The man wore a sword； but had； as Serlo noted； e alone。 He waited until the young coran had withdrawn and closed the door behind himself。 Then； with a neat sequence of movements； he let fall his cloak and hood and removed the scarf。
Blaise looked sharply over at Bertran； saw the genuine astonishment in the duke's expression and the swift beginning of anger； and then he began； helplessly； to laugh。
〃Well； good evening to you all； at any rate；〃 said Rudel Correze brightly as no one spoke。 〃I hope I'm not late； or early； or anything。〃
Bertran's colour had risen； the scar showed white on his face。 〃You had best tell me； very quickly； who you are and what you think you are doing；〃 he said icily。 Valery had now moved forward； a hand to his sword hilt； his glance moving uncertainly towards Blaise and then to the man in the doorway again。
Still laughing at the sheer audacity of it all； Blaise said； 〃Actually； you did say on the road to Lussan that you wanted to meet this man。 Shall I perform the introductions？〃
Bertran looked from Blaise back to the new arrival。 〃Ah；〃 he said； his tone changing。 He lifted one eyebrow。 〃The Correze son？ With the poisoned arrows？〃
Rudel bowed deeply。 His hair was bright in the blazing light of the fire and the candles。 He grimaced wryly when he straightened。 〃I do apologize for that。 It was a long shot at night。 I am glad to see you well； my lord。〃 He turned to Valery。 〃And you。 I trust you are recovered？〃
〃Entirely recovered； thank you；〃 said Valery politely； letting go of his sword。 〃I am a walking tribute to the arts of the priestesses of Rian。〃 There was a flicker of amusement in his eyes； Blaise saw。
His old friend turned to him last of all。 〃You must have greatly enjoyed that last conversation of ours；〃 Rudel Correze said quietly。 〃Knowing what you knew； and chose to keep from me。〃
〃Not really；〃 Blaise said。 〃Not at the time； at any rate。 I thought Valery was dead； and you caught me unawares with almost everything you told me。 I had a difficult time； actually。 I wouldn't have told you about your mistake； though； even if I had been inclined to。 If you had learned the duke was alive you might have felt obliged to try again； and I would have had to have you taken then； with problems for everyone in Arbonne。〃
〃Not to mention for myself；〃 Rudel said lightly。 He was listening carefully though。
〃You would have deserved it；〃 Blaise said。 〃I'll concede that afterwards I did enjoy the thought of you showing up in Gotzland to claim the money。〃
Rudel made a sour face。 〃I'm sure you did。 You ensured I would arrive triumphantly in Aulensburg； report a successful mission； confirm the deposit of my ridiculous fee…and then deal with the discovery； a fortnight later； that the esteemed duke of Talair…〃 he smiled briefly at Bertran 〃…was engaged in ongoing diplomatic exchanges with King Jorg at Aulensburg and not； evidently； from beyond the grave。〃
〃So you gave the money back？〃 Blaise feigned ignorance。 He was now enjoying this。
〃I gave back what was left of it； under some impolite pressure from Gorhaut's ambassador to the court in Aulen