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This morning； though； on a challenge ground in Arbonne under a clear sky he had heard the younger son of Garsenc name Ademar a traitor and claim the throne of Gorhaut before lords and ladies of all six countries。 And the simple truth was； he realized finally； sitting his horse on that ridge above a burning hamlet； he agreed with Blaise de Garsenc。 His father would have felt the same way； he knew with certainty； though he would never have put such a thought into words。 They were people of Gorhaut； their lives and lands charged to the protection of the king…and their safety and history and trust had been given away by him with a signed piece of paper。 It was said that Galbert the High Elder had been behind the whole thing。 That he wanted to destroy Arbonne because of the goddess they had down here。 He didn't know much about that or very much care； but he had seen his father destroyed by living on another man's farm far from the northern lands he had known all his life。
His father had died at the end of that same summer； taking to his bed one morning； the scribe's letter had said； and passing to the god four days after without any last word spoken。 He had not appeared to be in great pain； the scribe wrote。 His mother had made her mark at the end； after the part wishing him all best fortune。 He still carried it； that letter。
He looked down a last time on the burning of Aubry。 He drew a long breath； finally clear in his mind； though not any the less afraid for that。 When he began to ride again it was south； the way he had e； carrying a different message； grim with fire and death and with more of each to e； certain as mortal man was born to die。
He had actually made his choice； he realized； on the evening of that last walk with his father in the rain。 He had had no way to put that decision into action。 Now he did。
He put spurs to his horse； leaving the fires of Aubry behind him。 His eyes were on the empty road before him； seeing how bright and strange it had bee in the mingling of the moons。
Blaise hadn't been happy about it； but the priestess and the physician； agreeing with each other； had insisted that he drink an herbal concoction that led him to sleep for most of the day。
When he awoke； in a room in Barbentain； the western sky outside his window was soft with the hues of sunset； dark rose and purple； with the blue…black of twilight soon to e。 He couldn't see the river from his bed； but through the open window he could hear it rushing past； in the middle distance lights were beginning to e on in the houses of Lussan。 He watched for a while； feeling curiously at peace though conscious of pain in his legs and aware of bandages about his left ear。 He brought one hand up and felt them。
Tentatively he turned his head back the other way and so realized； for the first time； that he was not alone。
〃It could have been worse；〃 Ariane said quietly。 She was sitting in a chair halfway to the door。 〃You lost part of the earlobe； but they say it will be no more than that。 Much the same as Bertran； actually。〃
〃How long have you been here？〃
〃Not long。 They said you would sleep until sundown。 I asked if I could speak with you alone when you woke。〃
She had changed to sober clothing from the bright regalia of the morning； her gown was a dark blue in colour； with her customary crimson only in the trim of the sleeves。 She looked very beautiful to him。 She smiled。 〃Bertran has been going about the castle all day claiming that the two of you are now clearly revealed as long…separated brothers。 The current version is that you were stolen by brigands from your cradle in Talair Castle and sold for three goats in a village in Gorhaut。〃
〃Three goats？ I'm outraged；〃 Blaise said with a sigh。 〃Five at least。 Tell him I refuse to be undervalued； even in a story。〃
Ariane's smiled faded。 〃You are unlikely to be undervalued； Blaise； here or anywhere else。 Not after this morning。 Your problems are almost certainly going to be of the opposite kind。〃
He nodded slowly。 It seemed that he could do that much without pain。 With an effort； he pushed himself up until he was sitting。 There was a flask on a table by the bed。
〃What is this？〃 he asked。
〃More of what you had before。 They said you might want it。〃
He shook his head。 〃Is there anything else？〃
There was wine； in a decanter by the far wall。 There was food as well； cold meats and cheeses and fresh…baked bread from the castle kitchen。 He was； he discovered； ravenous。 Ariane watered the wine and brought him a tray。 Blaise ate swiftly for a few moments； then looked up again。 She was smiling； scrutinizing him carefully from her chair。
〃They said the herbs might make you hungry when you woke。〃
He grunted。 〃What else did they say； since they seem to know me so well？〃
〃That I wasn't to agitate or excite you。〃 Her expression was demure。
Blaise felt oddly happy suddenly。 A feeling of well…being suffused him； looking at the woman； feeling the calm and silence of the twilight。 When he did leave this room the burdens of the world were waiting to be taken up。 For the moment though； however brief the moment might be； all of that seemed agreeably remote。 He was aware of her scent again； subtle as ever； but very much her own。
He said； 〃You aren't very good at not doing that； you know。〃
Surprisingly； she flushed。 Blaise grinned。 He shifted position and moved the lacquered tray to the chest beside his bed。 She remained seated where she was。
〃Has anything happened that I need to know about？〃 he asked。 He really did feel remarkably well。 More than well； actually。 He wondered if the two physicians had predicted this； too。 〃Anything that requires me； or you； for the next little while？〃
Ariane； her dark eyes wide； shook her head。
〃Is there a lock on that door？〃
The hint of a smile returned to her face。 〃Of course there is。 And there are also four guards of the countess outside who would hear any key turning。 Everyone knows I am here； Blaise。〃
She was right； of course。 Deflated； he leaned back against the pillows。
Ariane rose then； tall and slender； her black hair down as it always was。 〃On the other hand；〃 she murmured； walking to the door； 〃the corans of Barbentain are legendary for their discretion。〃 She turned the key in the lock with a click。 〃And since the whole castle knows I'm here； we couldn't possibly be doing anything but discussing what happens next； could we？〃
She walked slowly back towards him and stood by the edge of the bed。 Blaise looked up at her； drinking in； as a draught of cool； reviving wine； the dark…eyed； flawless beauty of her。
〃I had been wondering about that；〃 he said after a moment。 Her hand was playing idly with the coverlet； pulling it back a little from his chest and then tugging it up again。 He was naked beneath。 〃What happens next； I mean。〃
Ariane laughed then； and drew the coverlet fully back from him。 〃We'll have to discuss it；〃 she said； and； sitting on the bed； lowered her mouth to his。 The kiss was brief； delicate； elusive。 He remembered this about her。 Then her lips moved down； found the hollow of his throat； and then down again； acros