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lms。 Lisseut hated that arch。 She had from the moment she'd first seen it years ago： there was too much oppressive power stamped upon it； the sculptor's undeniable art wholly given over to the brutally explicit message。 The arch reminded her now； every day； of what was ing。
She would have been safer at home； she knew。 Vezét couldn't be reached by an invading army for a long time yet and； if it came to that； a well…known joglar could take ship from the coast and find a ready wele in Portezza or Arimonda。
That last thought hadn't even lingered long enough to be seriously considered。 Even when it had bee clear that the flattering invitation she and Alain had accepted…to winter on Rian's Isle…had brought them squarely into the path of death； Lisseut knew she would not leave。
There was a reason she could have offered if anyone had asked； but no one did ask。 It had been Ramir's song though； in Lussan at the Autumn Fair that； more than any other single thing； had shaped her feelings now。 If there was a role； any role at all for her to play in this appalling time it would not lie in hiding away south by the sea or fleeing across the water。 The imagined presence of that stone inside her； sinking silently down as through dark； still lake waters； might have had something to do with it； too。 She would have admitted that； she was usually honest with herself； and the worst part of that pain seemed to be gone now。 It had been months since the Lussan Fair； she didn't even know where Blaise was。 She called him by his name in her mind now。 Surely that much could be allowed？
Alain had stayed on the isle as well。 She had thought he would。 Her affection for the little troubadour had grown with each passing day。 He had even begun practising with a sword； rowing across to join the corans of Talair every afternoon。 He was not very good。 Lisseut had gone to watch him one day； and foreboding had lain within her like a different kind of weight。
That grim sense of premonition was with her again now as she gazed out across the whitecaps at the stones of the arch beyond the western shore； trying to deal with the tidings that had e with the messenger from the High Priestess。
〃Will they build their own arch； do you think； if they destroy us all？〃
She hadn't heard Rinette approaching。 Not entirely happy； for she still hadn't worked out her feelings about the coolly arrogant young priestess； she turned and regarded the other woman。
As always； it was the owl that gave her pause。 Only the High Priestess at each temple； or those named and being trained as their successors； carried the birds。 Rinette； no older than Lisseut herself； was very young to be marked as heir to the High Priestess of Rian's Isle。 Once she'd ascended to that rank she would be second only to Beatritz de Barbentain herself among the hierarchy of the goddess in Arbonne。 Lisseut had even heard talk among the priests and priestesses of the isle that Rinette intended to follow Beatritz down the paths of blindness when that day came。
Lisseut of Vezét； child of this world； finding her pleasures and griefs among men and women； had found herself unsettled by the very thought。 If Rinette had been older； a dour； pious zealot； it might have been easier to deal with； but the brown…haired priestess was beautiful and drily clever； and she seemed to know and enjoy the troubadours' repertoire of songs almost as well as Lisseut and Alain did themselves。 Once she had even corrected Alain on a line…reading during his recitation of one of the old speak…pieces of Count Folquet。 Lisseut； genuinely shocked by the interjection； had quickly searched her own recollection and realized that the priestess was right。 Not that this made her any happier to have heard an audience member interrupt a troubadour。
What； she remembered thinking； was the world ing to？
A remarkably inconsequential issue that seemed since the winter invasion and now this morning's news。 She was made aware； looking at the tall； slender woman beside her； that Rinette's fate if Gorhaut conquered was even more brutally clear than her own； and the priestess； by her sworn oat to the goddess； lacked even the options of flight south or overseas。 Given that； given the darkness of the time； it suddenly seemed profoundly ungracious to be carrying a grievance against the woman for correcting the misreading of a verse。
The world had greatly changed since Ademar of Gorhaut had led an army through the mountains into the green hills and valleys of Arbonne。
〃A second arch？〃 she said quietly； addressing the question asked。 〃I wonder。 Do they build anything； these northerners？ 〃
〃Of course they do。 They are not inhuman； they are not really so different from us；〃 Rinette replied calmly。 〃You know that。 They are badly taught； that is all。〃
〃There seems a great deal of difference to me；〃 Lisseut said sharply； 〃if they burn women alive and cut the heads and sexual parts off dead men。〃
〃Badly taught；〃 Rinette repeated。 〃Think of how much of the mystery and the power of life they have lost by denying Rian。〃
〃You'll forgive me； but I can't spare a great deal of time just now for pitying them that。 I'm surprised you can。〃
Rinette gave a small； graceful shrug； looking out at the western shore and the arch beyond。 〃We are trained to think that way。 The times are evil；〃 she said。 〃Mortal men and women are what they have always been。 Five hundred years from now we will all be dust and forgotten； and our fates； but Rian and Corannos will still steer the course of the world。〃
It was rather too much for Lisseut； this holy posturing。 〃I wonder；〃 she said harshly； good intentions forgotten； 〃if you will take such a long view when we see the army of Gorhaut ing across the lake with torches in their hands。〃
And regretted the words the moment they were spoken。
Rinette turned to her； and Lisseut saw then in the clear light of morning that the other woman's eyes were not nearly so tranquil as her voice and words might have suggested。 She recognized； belatedly； that what she had been hearing was an attempt to master fear。
〃I do not wele the prospect of being burned alive； if that is what you mean；〃 Rinette of the Isle said。 〃If that isn't what you mean； perhaps you'll tell me what you are trying to say。〃
And after that of course there was nothing for Lisseut to do but apologize as best she could； and then carry on through the day； and the next two； wrapped in her vest against the wind and the coldness of her own deep fears。 Alain rowed across the whitecaps of the lake to Talair each day； carrying a borrowed sword。 He came back the second afternoon with a vivid red contusion on his forehead。 He made a small joke about deceiving people with a show of clumsiness； but Lisseut had seen that his hands were trembling。
On the fourth day the armies came。
It was； in fact； a near thing。 High on the ramparts of Talair at midday after the brutal； forced march from Barbentain and Lussan； Blaise looked down at their exhausted men in the open space below； and then north in the clear light for the first sign of those they were to fight。 He was uneasily aware that besides the eerie