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of his throat； and then down again； across his chest； and down again。
〃Ariane；〃 he said。
〃Hush；〃 she murmured。 〃I did promise not to make you agitate yourself。 Don't make a liar out of me。〃
His turn to laugh； helplessly； and then； not long after； to stop laughing as other sensations took control of him。 It had grown dark in the room by then； night deepening outside。 They had lit no candles。 In the shadows he saw her lift her head from his body and then rise to stand by the bed； another shadow； and slip free of her clothing。 Then she moved again； in a swirl of scent and a rustle of sound； to rise up over him where he lay。
〃Now remember； you aren't to get excited；〃 Ariane de Carenzu said gravely as； with a smooth； liquescent motion； she lowered herself upon his sex。
Lights were shining now in the town across the water； someone's footsteps came down the hall； a voice answered a quiet challenge from the guards and then the footsteps went on。 The river ran softly below； aiming for the distant sea。 Blaise felt Ariane's movements above him like the rhythm of a tide。 He lifted his hands to her breasts； and then began to trace the outline of her face in the darkness like a blind man。 He slid his fingers over and over through the long glory of her hair。 Once again； aware of how unfair such a thing was； he could not help but contrast her to Lucianna。 It was the difference； he suddenly thought； between love…making as a process of sharing and as an act of art。 There were dangers in both； Blaise thought； for the unwary。 It occurred to him that he might very easily have given the morning's red rose to this woman； had he not wanted to send a private and a public message beneath the canopy of the Portezzan pavilion。
He must have slept； afterwards； he didn't know for how long。 Ariane had dressed herself； and there were candles burning throughout the room。 She had not left him； though； she was watching from the chair again； as if this were his first awakening。 There was something deeply reassuring about waking to find her watching him； he wondered if she knew that was so。 He felt differently this time； drowsier。 He looked from her calm face to the window again。 The feel of the night had changed while he slept； a moment later he realized why： the blue moon； which would be full tonight； was riding above the castle and the world。
Blaise turned back to Ariane。 And with the movement； remembrance of the morning came flooding back over him； the clear； sunlit image of that banner of the kings flying in his name。 He lifted one hand； in an instinctive gesture。 And still half…asleep said； in a whisper near to dream： 〃But I don't want to be king of Gorhaut。〃
〃I know；〃 Ariane said； without moving。 〃I know you don't。〃 With her night…black hair and her pale； almost translucent skin she looked like a ghost； a racoux； in the candlelight。 She smiled ironically。 〃I wouldn't worry about it； Blaise。 We are unlikely to live so long。〃
She left a little while after that。 Bertran came in and visited briefly； sharing his new jest about their fraternity； deliberately avoiding anything of more weight or substance。 Rudel and Valery came by。 Blaise ate again while they were with him； a proper meal this time； brought by Hirnan； he was still hungry。 The doctor and the priestess arrived afterwards and urged him to drink more of their herbal infusion。 He declined。 He felt all right； actually。 Some pain in the ear； rather more at the moment across his shins and the back of his calf where the Arimondan's sword had caught him； but； on the whole； he was better off than he'd any right to be。 He didn't want to be drugged again。
They left him alone for a time； going downstairs to the banquet and the singers。 Blaise dozed a while； then got out of bed and sat by the window looking out。 Faintly he could hear the music from below。 He was thinking of Rosala； as it happened； when there came a knocking at his door again； and the countess herself came in； with Ariane and Bertran。 Rudel was just behind them； and the chancellor； Roban。 Their faces were grim。 Ariane； Blaise saw immediately； had been crying。 Before anyone could speak he made himself take a slow； deep breath as if pulling himself back to the world。
〃There is a man who has e；〃 said Bertran as the countess； very pale； kept silent。 Her face was a mask； a carving in marble。 There was a look in her eyes though； a depth of anger he had never seen before。 〃A man from Gorhaut。 He has given us some extremely bad news and asked leave to be brought to you。〃
Valery and Hirnan ushered the man in。 Blaise knew him； if only slightly。 A coran of Garsenc； one of the better ones； he remembered Ranald saying once。 The man； without a word spoken； sank to his knees before Blaise。 His hands were uplifted and pressed together in position for the oath。
Slowly； aware that this too was a beginning of something irrevocable； Blaise rose from the window seat and cupped his own hands around those of the coran。 He heard the ancient oath of Corannos spoken to him then in that high room in Barbentain Castle as if he had never heard the words before。 Exactly as with the banner； he thought： it was different when it was meant for you。 For a moment he looked over at Ariane。 She was weeping again。 He turned back to the coran； concentrating on the words。
〃I swear to you in the name of the high god Corannos of fire and light； and on the blood of my father and his father； that I will keep faith with you。 I offer my service to the gates of death。 I acknowledge you in the eyes of men and the most holy god as my liege lord。〃
The man paused。 Blaise； just then； remembered his name： Thaune。 He was from the northlands； the accent had given that away in any case。 Thaune looked up and met his eyes for the first time。 〃And I acknowledge you also；〃 he said； his voice surprisingly strong now as he spoke words that went beyond the ancient oath； 〃as my true king。 I will not lie easy at night nor unclasp my sword belt until you are upon the throne in Cortil in the stead of the traitor now sitting there。 In the name of Corannos； all this I swear。〃
Blaise cleared his throat。 There was a feeling of dread in him； Ariane's tears； the silence of those around him。 He said； 〃I accept your homage。 I take you as my man； Thaune of Gorhaut。 I offer you shelter and succour and my own sworn oath of fidelity before the god as your liege。 I bid you rise。〃 He shifted his hands and helped the coran stand。 〃And now；〃 he said； 〃you had better tell me what has happened。〃
Thaune did so。 In the midst of the telling； Blaise discovered with some real urgency； that he wasn't as fully recovered as he had thought he was。 It was Hirnan； watching closely； who moved the chair by the window quickly over for him。 Blaise sank down into it。
It seemed that his father and King Ademar had not begun with messengers and elegantly phrased demands for Rosala's return with her child。 They had begun with fire。
Cadar was having an odd night； waking often to feed and then falling asleep again almost as soon as the wet…nurse put him to the breast。 The priestess was indulgent； unworried。 It took a week or two； she said； for some of the lit