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ht do at some risk privately she dares not do in public： she might defy him to a certain point； but open shame he will not allow。 A woman can be killed for that in Gorhaut。
She stops on the drawbridge and turns slowly back to look at him。 After； she will remember that moment； the sun high； a breeze stirring the red and golden leaves of the chestnut trees along the avenue； birdsong in the branches； the stream beyond； glinting blue。 A glorious autumn day。
〃I wonder；〃 says Galbert de Garsenc； lowering his voice； moving the horse nearer； 〃has your dear husband told you of our latest agreement？ He has probably neglected to； in that forgetful way of his。 We have decided that if you should bear a son it is mine。 Ah！ You seem surprised； Lady Rosala！ It is just as I thought； the careless lad has not informed you。 A boy is promised to Corannos； a daughter you may keep； a daughter is no use to me immediately； though I am sure I will devise a purpose for her later。〃
Rosala is actually afraid she is going to faint。 The sun swings in an erratic arc in the blue sky。 She takes a stumbling； sidelong step to keep her balance。 Her heart is a thudding hammer in her breast。 She tastes blood； she has bitten through her lip。
〃You 。。。 you would deprive your family of an heir？〃 she stammers； her brain stunned； refusing to believe what she has just heard。
〃No； no； no； not necessarily。〃 He chuckles now； all benign good humour for the watching eyes of those inside the forecourt。 〃Though we need another Elder in our family at least as much as we need an heir in this castle。 Ranald's brother〃…he never speaks Blaise's name…〃was to have followed me to the god。 A great deal of our future depended upon that。 His refusal has marred my planning； put me in a difficult position； but if you present me with a boy matters may yet be remedied。 I will； of course； delay final consecration for a time； to judge how best to make use of the child…here at Garsenc or in the god's house。 There will be many matters to be considered； but I daresay you will help me by having other children； dear daughter…in…law。 And if you do not…seeing as it did take some time to conceive this one…why then I imagine Ranald could find a second wife who will。 I am not greatly concerned on that score。 And I must confess； I am looking forward to attending to a grandson's education and upbringing personally。 I pray you； do not disappoint me； lady Rosala。 Bear a strong boy child for me to take back to Corannos。〃
She can say nothing at all。 She seems to have lost the power of speech。 She can scarcely stand。 She feels suddenly exposed； naked in this place to the indifferent or mildly curious scrutiny of her household corans and the serfs of the estate。
〃You really ought to go in now；〃 says Galbert kindly。 〃You do not look well at all。 You ought to be in your bed； my child。 I would escort you there myself but I am afraid I have no time to linger for such domestic intimacies。 The press of affairs demands my attention back at court。 I do trust you have taken my meaning； though； and I will not have to e again？〃
He turns； not waiting for any reply； lifting one hand to her that the corans might note his salute； it is the hand that holds his whip； though。 That will not be an accident； nothing with this man is an accident。 She sees that he is smiling as he rides away。
Inside the castle a short time later； alone in her suite of rooms； white…knuckled hands gripping each other； Rosala de Garsenc realizes； without knowing the actual moment of making her decision； that she is going to leave。
Galbert made a mistake； she thinks。 He never meant to tell her about these plans； he must have known how she would feel about them； she had angered him though； revealed an awareness of his thoughts； and he replied rashly； to frighten and wound her； to have the final word。
She doesn't know how she is going to do it； she only knows she will not stay and surrender her child to that man。 I am at war now； she thinks； realizing that her only possible advantage is that she knows it and Galbert might not。 Inside her； as if in response； the baby kicks hard against her ribs for the first time that morning。
〃Hush；〃 she whispers。 〃Hush； my love。 It will not happen。 Fear no harm； for none shall find you。 Wherever in the world your father is； whether he ever es to shelter you or no； I will guard you； little one。 I swear it upon my life； and yours。〃
Blaise was thinking of the child as the men of Talair rode north through the cool breezes of autumn in Arbonne： of Aelis de Miraval's son； and Bertran's。 Since Ariane had told him the tale that Midsummer night three months ago； he had thought about it more often than he would have expected to； unable not to gaze curiously at such times at the man his own father had paid a quarter of a million in gold to have killed。
A tragedy had unfolded here some twenty…three years ago； and the effects of it were still rippling through Arbonne today。 He remembered Ariane's quiet； measured voice telling him the tale as dawn broke over the littered streets and alleys of Tavernel。
〃As I told you just now；〃 she had said； 〃discretion is everything in love。 My cousin Aelis had none； though she was very young； and that might be considered an excuse。 There was something uncontrolled in her； something too fierce。 Hatred and love drove her hard； and she was not a woman to accept her fate； or work within walls built to house her。〃
〃Neither are you；〃 Blaise remembered saying。 〃What was the difference？〃
She had smiled at that； a little sadly； and had not answered for a time。
〃The difference； I suppose； is that I saw what she did； and what followed upon it。 Aelis is the difference in my own life。 She told her husband； you see。 She hoarded the truth for a last； bitter swordstroke…with its own slow； killing poison； if you will。 When the priestess who had e to her said she was not going to live they brought Urté to her confinement bed。 He was sorrowful； I think。 I have always thought he was genuinely in sorrow； though perhaps more for the loss of the power she offered him than anything else。 Aelis had no softness in her though； she was all pride and recklessness； even on her deathbed。 She pushed herself up in the bed and she told Urté the child was Bertran de Talair's。〃
〃How do you know this？〃
〃I was there；〃 Ariane had said。 〃As I say； that moment altered my own life； shaped what I think I have bee。 Those words she spoke to Urté changed our world； you know。 We would live in a differently ordered country had Aelis not taken her vengeance。〃
〃Vengeance for what？〃 Blaise had asked； though he was beginning； slowly； to understand。
〃For not being loved；〃 Ariane had said simply。 〃For being valued at too much less than she was。 For being exiled to the dank； grim fastness of Miraval from the lights and laughter of her father's court。〃
He had thought it might be that。 Once he would have scorned such a thing as beneath contempt； another woman's vanity marring the unfolding of the world。 It had surprised him a little that he didn't still see it that way； at least that night in Tavernel； with Ariane de Carenzu in his arms he