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t one had ended with Ranald's younger brother storming out of the room and the castle swearing never to return to Gorhaut while that treaty stood。 Thinking back to that night； Ranald suddenly had an image of his wife crying silently in her seat by the fire while the three of them screamed at each other。
〃You are rejecting her。 A most natural reaction；〃 his father says now； hands fortably across his ample belly。 He has gained weight； Ranald decides sourly。 It goes with the increased power。 〃Indeed； a better man would already have made arrangements to have her killed。 Shall I do that for you？〃
〃The way you arranged for the duke of Talair？ Thank you； but no。 You aren't very efficient； father。〃 He can still trade barbs； to a point； but this subject makes Ranald uneasy。 Truth is； he doesn't like the idea of Rosala dead。 He doesn't want her back…that much is clear in his own mind…but that doesn't mean she has to be executed for reacting urgently to some threat by his father。 He adds； 〃We trivialize ourselves if we pursue her in that way。〃
Galbert blinks； as if surprised。 He probably is； his older son thinks。 It isn't often that Ranald shows up for encounters in a state of such lucidity。 He feels a tired self…contempt rising again。 His father says； 〃You would let her go； then？ And have the world laugh at you。〃 Galbert uses the dismissive； flicking gesture Ranald has always hated。 〃Well； so much is your own affair。 I cannot play the man for you forever。 You will concede；〃 he continues； in a tone of exaggerated civility； 〃that there is an issue regarding the child？〃
There is； of course。 Though； in fact； Ranald has e to realize during the course of the morning that he is ambivalent about that； too。 He is； he has long ago decided； an ambivalent man。 Life was so much simpler in the days when； as King Duergar's appointed champion； all he had to do was unhorse and defeat whomever they sent against him。 He'd been good at that ten years ago； he'd been extremely good。 He is less good at thinking through something like this。 But if Rosala cares so much that she would risk death and accept exile to keep a child from Galbert's hands； well； Ranald； to be absolutely truthful； can understand such a feeling。 The problem is； he can't give way to it。 He is the duke of Garsenc； first among the nobility of Gorhaut； his father； who ought to have bee duke himself when Ereibert his brother died childless； is High Elder of Corannos instead； with even more power accruing from that。 Rosala's child…Ranald's child…is a pawn in an enormous game of power。
〃If it is a boy；〃 Ranald says quietly； 〃we take him back。 I will offer her her life and her freedom to go where she will； but she gives back the babe…if it is a boy。 If it is a girl child I truly do not care。 Let them go。 The king will free me to remarry。 As soon as tomorrow； if I ask him。 I'll beget other children。 If only to make you happy； father。〃 He smiles bitterly again。 〃Will you want all of them for your designs； or just a few？〃
Galbert ignores that。 〃You say we should take a boy child back。 Why should you imagine that Rosala would consent to such a thing； if that is why she fled in the first instance？〃 His voice； too； is low。 He won't want this conversation bruited about either。
Ranald shrugs。 〃She too can have other children。 For a life of freedom from us she might be willing to do this。〃
〃And if not？〃 his father pursues； dangerously calm。 〃If she is not willing？〃
Belatedly Ranald sees where this is going。 It is going where almost everything Galbert de Garsenc has touched of late seems to go。 He rises from his chair； suddenly agitated。
〃Did you do this deliberately？〃 he snaps。 〃Did you goad her into flight purposely？ To create this situation？〃
Galbert smiles placently； his eyes crinkling； almost disappearing into the folds of his skin。 〃What do you think？ Of course I did；〃 he murmurs。
〃You are lying； aren't you。〃 Ranald feels his hands forming into fists at his sides…his father's own gestures； he has tried and failed to break himself of it。 〃The truth is she goaded you and you spat out something you didn't mean to say。〃
His father shakes his head slowly back and forth； his jowls waggling with the motion。 〃Don't be pletely the fool； Ranald。 Why do you think I went to see her at Garsenc in the first place？ Why would I want a baby？ What would I do with an infant？ You seem sober this morning。 Seize the opportunity： think。 It will be in your own interests； incidentally…whatever you might privately imagine…to confirm my version of the story。 I cannot conceive of events falling out better for our purposes。〃
〃Our purposes？ Your own； you mean。 You will now make war on Arbonne to bring back the child。〃 It is just barely possible that his father is telling the truth； that this entire escapade of Rosala's flight was cunningly engineered。 It is the way he deals with people； the way he has proceeded all his life。
With a crash that shatters the stillness the largest door to the room bangs open and thuds against the stone wall。 Father and son wheel swiftly。 Massive in the doorway； beard and hair dripping with perspiration； blood and grass stains on his broad shoulders and chest； mud spattering breeches and boots； King Ademar of Gorhaut throws his riding whip down on the stone floor and snarls； 〃I want her back！ You hear me； Galbert？ I want her back here immediately！〃 His face is a vivid red； his pale eyes are glassy with rage。
〃Of course； my liege；〃 says the High Elder soothingly； recovering his poise with speed。 〃Of course you do。 You are conscious of the insult to our family and seek to help us respond。 We are profoundly grateful。 Indeed； my son and I were just discussing how next to proceed。〃
〃Proceed however you must！ I want her back！〃 Ademar says again； running a gloved hand through his hair。
〃And the child； too； of course。〃 Galbert murmurs。 〃The child is so very important。〃
His deep； calming tones seem finally to take effect。 The king of Gorhaut takes a breath and shakes his head as if to clear it。 He says； a little more lucidly； 〃Of course。 The child too。 Very important。 Heir to Garsenc； if it's a boy。 Of course。〃 He looks at Ranald for the first time and his eyes flick away。
〃If they keep a boy child from us；〃 Galbert de Garsenc says then； still in the quiet； assuaging voice； 〃the world can scarcely dispute our right to go after him。〃
Ademar bends suddenly and picks up his whip。 He strikes it sharply against his own leg。 〃Right。 You do it。 Gotzland； Arimonda； the Portezzans 。。。 explain it； make it all sound right； whatever you need to do。 But I want her back。〃
He spins on his heel； not even looking at Ranald a second time； and strides heavily from the room。 Behind him； expressionlessly； a servant reaches in and swings the heavy door closed； leaving the two Garsenc men alone again。
Registering his elder son's expression； Galbert begins； quietly； to laugh。 〃Ah； well；〃 he says； not bothering to hide his amusement； his jowls shaking； 〃you have just made a discovery。 It seems that someone here at least desires the return of your lady wife。 I do wonder why。〃
Ranald turns away。 He feels sick to his stomach and he needs a drink。 The memory of the king； huge and wrathful in the doorway； seems imprinted on his brain。 He can't shake free of the image。 He wonders where his own rage is； where his capacity for such feelings seems to have gone over the years。
〃It all works out so neatly for you； doesn't it？〃 he says quietly； looking out the window now on the inner courtyard of the palace。 Ademar's corans are dismounting there in the bright sunlight； displaying the bloody trophies of their hunt。
〃If they shelter the wife and heir of Garsenc；〃 his father says peacefully； in the deep； sonorous voice； 〃they must not imagine they can do so with impunity。 In the eyes of the world we will have the cause we need。〃
〃And if they do surrender them？〃 Ranald turns back from the window。 He is wondering how long King Ademar has been coveting his wife。 He wonders how he has never noticed it before。 He wonders； finally； if his father has been quietly guiding that desire。 Another tool； another instrument of policy。 He