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Bertran； in the chair opposite the king； refused to be baited。 Blaise sensed that the duke had prepared himself beforehand for something of this sort。
〃All other things being equal；〃 Bertran said quietly； 〃we value our work so highly because it might be the only thing we leave behind us for later generations； the only thing that will preserve our name after we die。 One poet I know has gone so far as to say that everything men do today； everything that happens； whether of glory or beauty or pain； is merely to provide the matter of songs for those who e after us。 Our lives are lived to bee their music。〃
Daufridi steepled his long fingers before his face。 〃And you； de Talair？ Do you believe this to be true？〃
Slowly Bertran shook his head。 〃It is too rare a thought for me； too pure。 I am； somewhat to my own surprise； more caught in the toils of this world than that。 I would not have thought it once。 I lived when I was younger in an almost open courtship of death。 You may； perhaps； remember a little of that time。 I am older now。 I did not expect to live this long； to be honest。〃 He smiled briefly。 〃Rudel Correze is far from the first to seek to aid me in my passage to Rian。 But I find myself still among the living； and I have discovered that I value this world for itself； not merely as matter for someone's song。 I love it for its heady wines and its battles； for the beauty of its women and their generosity and pride； for the panionship of brave men and clever ones； the promise of spring in the depths of winter and the even surer promise that Rian and Corannos are waiting for us； whatever we may do。 And I find now； your highness； long past the fires of my heart's youth and yours； that there is one thing I love more even more than the music that remains my release from pain。〃
〃Love； de Talair？ This is a word I did not expect to hear from you。 I was told you foreswore it more than twenty years ago。 The whole world was speaking of that。 This much I am certain I remember。 My information； so far distant in our cold north； seems to have been wrong in yet another matter。 What is the one thing； then； my lord duke？ What is it you still love？〃
〃Arbonne；〃 said Bertran de Talair。 And with that； Blaise finally began to understand why they were here。 He looked from Bertran； slight； controlled； but coiled； as always； like a Gotzland crossbow； to the tall； hard figure of the king of Valensa； and he wondered； wrestling with difficult emotions of his own。
He didn't have long to wait。 Daufridi of Valensa was not a sentimental man； Blaise could have told Bertran as much。 Unlacing his fingers； the king of Valensa reached for his glass and took another sip of wine before saying； prosaically； 〃We all love our countries； I daresay。 It is not a novel emotion； de Talair。〃
〃I did not mean to suggest it was；〃 Bertran said quietly。
〃I will confess to a similar passion for Valensa； and I doubt I would be wrong in attributing the same feeling for Gorhaut to young Garsenc here…whatever he might feel about certain 。。。 political decisions that have recently been implemented。〃 He smiled thinly at Blaise； the same cool look as before； and turned to Rudel。 〃As for the Portezzans； they don't really have a country； do they？ I imagine they offer the same love to their cities； or perhaps their families。 Would that be fair； Correze？〃 He was being deliberately dry； almost pedantic； Blaise realized； smoothly resisting the emotional pull of Bertran's words。
〃It would； your highness；〃 Rudel said。 He coughed。 〃I do hope my dear father bees mindful again of that last。〃
The king showed a flash of teeth。 〃Ah。 He is unhappy with you？ You spent some of the money before you had to return it； didn't you？ What a shame。 But I'm certain your father will forgive you in time。〃 He turned back to Bertran； who had remained motionless through all of this； waiting。 The two men exchanged a long glance。 Blaise had an eerie sense that he and Rudel； and Valery over by the fire； had been forgotten。 It was as if they were not there。
Daufridi said； very softly； 〃It is unwise to love anyone or anything too greatly； de Talair。 People die； things are taken from us。 It is the way of our lives in this world。〃
〃I have reason to know this。 I have lived twenty…three years with that truth。〃
〃And have therefore moderated your passions？〃
〃And am therefore resolved that I will not live through the death of my country as I endured the death of the woman I loved。〃
There was a silence then。 Not daring to move； Blaise looked out of the corner of his eye at Rudel； and saw the rigid； focused expression on his friend's face。
〃And so you asked me here；〃 Daufridi of Valensa said at length； 〃to seek what aid I could give。〃
〃I did。 Is this a surprise？〃
〃Hardly。 Will it be a surprise in turn if I say I can give you nothing？〃
〃I should be grateful to know why。〃 Bertran was pale but quite posed。
Daufridi shrugged。 〃I have a treaty signed； and I need five years； at least； to consolidate my hold on the lands they have ceded us。 We need our own farmers there； we need to fill the villages with Valensans and give my own barons time to put down their roots in the castles that now are ours。 Those men of Gorhaut who elect to stay…and some of them will…must be given time to feel that there are worse things than being subjects of the king of Valensa。 In time； the treaty will offer us all the riches of that farmland north of the Iersen and more than recoup the money we have already paid and will pay out over the next three years。 But I need peace to make all that happen。〃 He sipped from his wine again。 〃It isn't very plex； de Talair。 I would have expected you to know all this。〃
〃So you are happy Gorhaut is looking now to the south。〃
Carefully Daufridi said； 〃I am not entirely unhappy。〃
Silence again。 But into it there came now a light； cool voice。
〃Forgive me；〃 said Rudel Correze； 〃forgive my presumption； but I do have a question。〃 Daufridi and Bertran both turned to him。 〃What do you imagine will happen to Valensa； your highness； if Gorhaut indeed es south with fire and sword and conquers here？〃
Blaise's own thought； his own question。 Rudel had always been quicker to speak his mind。 Portezzans tended to be。 For the first time； he saw Daufridi shift in his seat a little unfortably。
〃I have thought on that question；〃 he admitted。
〃And what have you concluded after such thinking？〃 It was Valery this time； from by the fire； his broad arms folded across his chest。
Bertran leaned forward a little in his chair and echoed his cousin softly。 〃What can you possibly have concluded； your highness； should Gorhaut destroy Arbonne and have all the wealth of this land and its ports on the sea to draw upon？ If there are five countries； not six； a year from now？ Do you really think you would have your five years of peace then； to 。。。 as you say； solidify your hold on that farmland north of Iersen？ How long do you think it would be before Ademar turned north again？〃
Something curious began to happen to Blaise just about then。 It seemed to him as though the words each man was speaking had bee like preordained speeches in some temple ritual of the god； or the well…known opening moves of a tavern game； each following the other； each pelling the move that followed。
Daufridi said； a slight edge to his voice； 〃As I say； I have considered this。 I do not have any immediate conclusions。〃
And so Blaise； seeing the next moves now as clearly as if they had already happened； said； 〃Of course you do not。 That is why you are here； isn't it； your highness？ To see if the duke of Talair has a conclusion for you。 And you find； to your disappointment； that what he wants is your help； which frightens you。 You know…you know it is not in the interests of Valensa for Gorhaut to rule in Arbonne。 Why will you then deny that aid； when asked for it？〃
Daufridi of Valensa turned in his seat to look appraisingly at Blaise； his hard grey eyes almost lost beneath the heavy； drawn…together brows。 〃I have a question of my own； first；〃 he said coolly。 〃One I should have asked at the outset perhaps； before being as frank as I have