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ere at day's end with only our cousin and my friend Blaise； it seemed appropriate to conclude that some meeting of a private nature was about to take place。〃
However posed Rudel might be； the duke of Talair was a match for him。 Coolly； not smiling now； Bertran said； 〃Such a conclusion might indeed seem appropriate。 The question is； why； having made that deduction； would you take it upon yourself to intrude upon that meeting？〃 There was something unreal； an almost hallucinatory quality to the dialogue taking place； Blaise thought。 One of the men talking so pleasantly here had attempted to kill the other just three months ago for a quarter of a million in gold。 He couldn't think of any other men he knew who could have had this conversation。
Rudel sipped his wine again。 He favoured them all with his most brilliant smile。 〃To be honest；〃 he murmured； 〃I thought it might be amusing。〃
Looking at his friend； at the clever； handsome face； Blaise knew with certainty that this was at least part of the truth； possibly even the largest part。 He saw that Bertran realized it； too。 The duke's own amusement was obvious。 He shook his head and looked over at Valery。 His cousin's expression was wry。
〃Does this fellow remind you of anyone？〃 Bertran asked。
〃Someone I grew up with； yes；〃 Valery said。 〃A cousin I never expected to see reach the age you seem to have attained。〃 Blaise turned his head towards the door； he had heard voices； and now there were footsteps outside。 〃What；〃 Valery went on calmly； 〃do you want us to do with him？〃
〃I should mention；〃 Rudel said quickly； before Bertran could reply； 〃that I had one more piece of information in solving this riddle。 While I was watching by the walls this evening； at the gate from which you left； I did see a small party of men； one of them masked； the others hooded； ride out at darkfall。 They were not in a hurry。 It gave me the opportunity to have this most enjoyable encounter in private with you。〃
There came a diffident knocking at the door。 〃Yes； Serlo； what is it？〃
The young coran's voice on the other side was angry and confused。 〃I am sorry； my lord； but another party is here。 A man in a mask who says he has a meeting with you here tonight。 He has an escort with him。〃
〃Four men；〃 Rudel said helpfully。
〃Four corans with weapons；〃 Serlo went on。 〃I don't recognize the livery。〃
〃I don't think you are meant to；〃 Bertran said； opening the door。 〃I think that is our proper guest。 Escort him here； Serlo； and then entertain his escort。 These may not； in the end； turn out to be friends； but they are guests tonight。 Treat them accordingly。〃
Serlo； looking unhappy； went away。
〃I grow more and more curious；〃 said Rudel Correze cheerfully。 〃I'm so glad you invited me in。〃
Bertran swung the heavy door closed。 His expression was quite sober。 〃We have only a moment；〃 he said。 〃I can have my corans render you unconscious； or bind and gag you in a back room somewhere。 I may have to。 One last time： is it only idle mischief that brings you here？〃
Rudel's expression； not surprisingly； had also changed； but less than one might have expected…unless one knew the man。 Eyes bright in the firelight； he said； 〃I am not accustomed at this point in my career to having to solicit missions； but I did tell you I was between engagements。 You might spare my pride and regard that as a hint。〃
There was another brief silence； and then Bertran de Talair began； helplessly； to laugh。 Blaise； staring at his friend； followed suit a moment later。 Rudel grinned back at them both； pleased。 Whatever one might ever say about Rudel Correze； Blaise thought ruefully； things were seldom dull when he was around。
The same； for that matter； might be said of En Bertran de Talair。 The duke said； 〃You are seeking employment with me； is that correct？〃
〃I am。〃
〃Might I ask why？〃
And now Rudel's expression finally became serious； and one was inescapably reminded that this was the scion of one of the wealthiest； most aristocratic banking houses in Portezza； with family connections to most of the nobility in that country。 He laid down his glass on the small table beside him。
〃Shall we say that I do not mind if my skills are bought？ Indeed； my profession demands that this be the case。 I do mind； however； rather a great deal； when my relationships are similarly exploited without my knowing it。 I was not aware that Blaise was with you when I accepted his father's contract。 I would not have done so had I known。 I have reason to believe that Galbert de Garsenc chose me only because of my friendship with his son； and not for any flattering appraisal of my talents。 This thought does not please me。 I have formally relinquished his contract。 It will satisfy my own sense of honour to work to ensure that no one else successfully fulfils it； if the sum is offered again。〃
〃I doubt it will be。 They have made their point； and have a larger game to play now。〃
〃I think you are correct in that； my lord； but even so； I would be pleased and proud to enter your employment； En Bertran。〃
Valery coughed。 〃I rather doubt；〃 he said； 〃that we could afford your current rates。〃
Blaise grinned。 Rudel did not。 〃I will be happy to forget that。 It was an unnatural offer in a number of ways。 I will be honoured to accept whatever you are paying my friend Blaise at this moment； though I cannot； as I'm sure you'll appreciate； work for less。〃
Blaise and Bertran exchanged a glance； looked over at Valery； and then all three of them began to laugh。 Rudel attempted to look dignified which； Blaise reflected； is a difficult thing to do when three men are laughing at you。
This was； however； a friend； and one who had clearly been disturbed by the dangerous events of last summer。 He was also proposing to join them…though Blaise still felt an inward disquiet when he tried to weigh his own plex allegiances here。
He let Rudel in on the jest。 〃You have undervalued yourself； I fear。 I am not now being paid anything at all。 I've left the duke's employ。 I'm with him as a friend and a panion in the tournament two days from now。 I'm afraid you won't want to work for my current wages。〃
Rudel reddened again。 〃I see。 I seem to be bound by what I just proposed； however。 I can understand your amusement。〃
Bertran shook his head； as another knock came at the door。 〃Not so。 I will be pleased to have you with me。〃 He grinned。 〃And diverted as well； I rather suspect。 I'll pay you what I was paying Blaise before he changed his status with us。 We can discuss this further at our leisure…indeed； we will have to。 For now； I'll greatly value discretion from all of you。〃 He turned to the door and opened it himself。
Serlo was there； standing a little behind an extremely tall； dark…bearded man with a lean； fighter's build。 The man was indeed masked and hooded； clad in unrevealing black for the night ride。 On the threshold he carefully took in the four of them； smiled thinly and removed his mask； revealing thick eyebrows and deep…set grey eyes。
〃You have unexpected panions； de Talair；〃 he said in accented Arbonnais。 〃In fact； if we count myself you seem to have assembled a r