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She said gravely； 〃I am sorry you are discovering it in this fashion。 I was told you were here； but there seemed to be no easy way to inform you； given that I have left Garsenc without Ranald's knowledge and am not going back。〃 She paused for a moment； to let him begin dealing with that。 〃I did give birth two days ago； by grace of Corannos； and Rian。 My son is asleep down the hall。 His name is Cadar。 Cadar de Savaric。〃 She stopped a second time。 Blaise was feeling as if he had been struck again； a second blow to the head； in the same place the staff had hit before。 〃You may see him if you like；〃 his sister…in…law concluded。
〃How sweet this is； how truly touching；〃 came an amused voice just behind him。 〃The lost children of Gorhaut。 Surely I was right； there will have to be a ballad about this。 Why don't we all go dote upon the child？〃 He hadn't heard Lucianna ing up； once； his whole being would have been focused on knowing exactly where she was in any room。 In the strangest way； Blaise felt an obscure sadness in this change。
〃I don't recall inviting you；〃 Rosala said calmly。 〃You might still feel like using the blade I saw。〃
So she had seen that knife； and probably the blood on him where the dancing blade had pricked。 Blaise wondered what she had thought。 He wondered what there was to think。 Lucianna Delonghi； however； was not accustomed to being disfited by other women。 〃I only stab babies when they wake me at night；〃 she murmured in her laziest drawl。 〃Grown men tend to give greater cause； and different pleasures。 Since I am awake； your child is safe for the moment。 From me； at any rate。 Are you not afraid； though； that dear； impetuous Blaise will seize and spirit him home to his brother and father？〃
〃Not really；〃 said Rosala。 She looked at Blaise。 〃Should I be？〃
Lucianna laughed。 The countess of Arbonne stood quietly； looking at Massena Delonghi's daughter； her expression thoughtful now； and under that level； appraising scrutiny Lucianna grew still。 Blaise's mind was racing； despite the pulses of pain； struggling to sort through the towering implications of all of this。 And there was something else as well； half…buried at the base of that tower： a night of storm in Garsenc Castle eight months ago； when he had left for the last time。
Quickly； he pushed that thought away。 She had asked him a question and was waiting for his reply。 He said； 〃Having left them myself； I am unlikely to be the one to take anyone back to that castle。 As to that； at least； you need not be concerned。 You know they are unlikely to accept this； though。〃
〃We all know that；〃 asked Signe de Barbentain。 〃There was some hope earlier that you might have a suggestion。〃
〃A suggestion about what？〃 asked Rudel； ing up to them。 〃Cures for a cracked skull？〃
〃Family affairs；〃 Blaise said shortly； though it was more than that； a great deal more； given who and what his family were。
And it was precisely in that moment that the new thought appeared and immediately began； with unsettling speed； to take shape in him。 He made the required introductions and then turned back to look at the others on the far side of the room。 He was suddenly thinking hard； and there was a cold logic； a kind of inexorability to where those thoughts were leading him。 They didn't make him happy though； not at all。
Urté de Miraval was talking quietly with Massena Delonghi beside the fire。 Quzman the Arimondan was in the process of being bound by the corans of Barbentain； they weren't being especially gentle about it。 The man's head was held arrogantly high； however； he didn't bother to struggle。 Next to Blaise； Rudel Correze bowed to the countess and then bent low and kissed Rosala's hand。 Lucianna murdered something to her cousin； under her breath； Blaise didn't hear what it was。
He took a deep breath。 Life might be easier； he reflected just before he spoke； if he didn't keep making it harder for himself。
〃One moment； if you will；〃 he said quietly； addressing the chancellor of Arbonne。 It was interesting； actually： the other conversations stopped the moment he spoke； as if they had been waiting for him。 He wasn't used to being the key to a gathering such as this。 He wondered how it had happened。 Lucianna was standing unnecessarily close to him。 He tried to ignore that fact。
Roban the chancellor； who did not much like him； lifted an eyebrow。
Blaise said； 〃I do have a suggestion to make。 This affair ultimately concerns only that man and myself。〃 He nodded at the Arimondan。 〃There is nothing that need involve the countess or the 。。。 wider issues of our time。 I killed his brother when attacked some time ago。 He sees that as cause for vengeance。 I might say I would feel the same； had it been my own brother slain。〃 He heard Rosala make a small sound； an indrawn breath behind him。 That was interesting too； of all of them； she seemed to be the first to sense where he was going。 Or part of his path； at any rate。 She could not know it all。
〃What you say is not strictly true。〃 said Massena Delonghi； interjecting soberly。 〃There remains the matter of the violated truce。 Whatever might lie between the two of you； which is indeed your own affair； he was bound to hold back until the fair was over。〃
〃And it isn't even their own affair in any case；〃 said Rudel； irritatingly intruding himself。 〃Correct me if I err； but I do seem to recall hearing last summer of a decree by the countess of Arbonne regarding killings between Talair and Miraval。〃
Blaise understood what his friend was doing then； and reproached himself。 He ought to have known better。 Rudel wasn't intruding： he was handing Blaise the next thing to say； if he wanted to say it。 And it seemed that he did want to say it； or he would not have begun this at all。
〃As to that； I am in fact no longer a coran of Talair。 Not since the attempt on my life on the road。 With my identity revealed there it seemed inappropriate to Duke Bertran that he be giving Galbert de Garsenc's son mands as if to any other mercenary。 I am with him now only as a friend。 There is therefore no breach of the countess's decree in anything that passes between Quzman of Arimonda and myself。〃
The Arimondan had begun； again； to smile； the white teeth showing against his dark skin。 His magnificent body was ridged and corded with muscle。 He was clever； and extremely dangerous。
〃I propose；〃 said Blaise calmly； 〃that this man and I fight each other at the tournament； and that all affairs of tonight be considered ended with whatever happens then。〃
Quzman was looking at him。 〃I might be forced to regard you as a man； after all；〃 he said。 〃To the death？〃
Blaise shrugged。 It had e。 〃Why bother； otherwise。〃
Behind him； Rudel Correze swore violently under his breath。 Which meant that he had not； after all； seen exactly where this had been going。 There was some small pleasure in that； he was rarely so far ahead of Rudel。 Behind him； Rosala was silent now。 It was the countess who spoke； very softly。 〃I should not allow this。 You have a reason； I dare hope？〃
〃I hope so as well；〃 Blaise said； not turning； his gaze holding the Arimondan's。 The first moments of a challenge； he had been taught long ago； often determined what followed。 It was important not to look away。
Urté de Miraval smiled broadly。 〃One thousand in gold on the Arimondan；〃 he said。 〃If anyone chooses to cover。〃
〃I will；〃 said Massena Delonghi。 〃It will add spice to the watching。〃
His daughter laughed。
〃It appears；〃 said Signe de Barbentain； 〃that I am expected to consent to this。 I cannot imagine whence that expectation es。 Why should the Arimondan be allowed an even chance at his life？〃
Blaise turned to the courageous； exquisitely beautiful woman who ruled this country。 〃There is no reason but my asking it of you；〃 he said gravely。 〃Arbonne has always been known for the greatness of its rulers and their generosity。 There are those in Gorhaut who might prefer to deny that。〃
He paused； her blue gaze was intently searching his eyes。 〃I am not one of them； your grace。 Not any longer。〃
He thought he saw a flicker of understanding； and then sorrow chasing it away； but he was certain of