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n； a land worthy of the god who had chosen it； and of the honour of men。 Not a place of scheming wiles； of a degraded； sensuously corrupt king； of people dispossessed of their lands by a cowardly treaty； or of ugly designs under the false； perverted aegis of Corannos for nothing less than annihilation here south of the mountains。
It was one thing to have ambitions for one's homeland； dreams of scope and expansion。 It was another to use the sky…blue cloak of the god to hide a smoke…shrouded inferno of men and women…a nation of them…thrown to burn on heretics' pyres。 Blaise had seen such fires as a boy。 He would never forget the first time。 His father had clutched his shoulder and had not let him turn away。
He knew exactly what Galbert wanted； what Ademar of Gorhaut would be guided to do when he came south。 He knew how strong； how wealthy the army of Gorhaut would be by the time the snows melted in the spring。 He had seen those pyres； he would not watch another burn。 He had sworn it to himself those long years ago； watching an old woman die screaming； flames in her white hair。 And to stop them； to stop his father and his king； he had first to defeat this Arimondan who stood now in his way with a curved sword already reddened by Blaise's own blood。
The most celebrated troubadours and the better known joglars did not watch the tournaments from the mons' standing ground。 By courtesy of Ariane de Carenzu； as a sign of their high favour in Arbonne； they were given a pavilion； not far down the lists from her own。 An invitation to sit among those in the pavilion was one of the prime measures of success each year among the musicians； and this autumn marked the first time Lisseut had found herself included in the elect。 She owed it to Alain； she knew； to his own growing reputation； and to the little man's brash assertiveness that memorable night in Tavernel when she had sung his song to the queen of the Court of Love and the dukes of Talair and Miraval。
And to the red…bearded Gorhaut coran who was now battling for his life on the grass before them。 It seemed he wasn't just a coran； though。 Not since those two bright banners had been run up above his tent and the herald's voice had fought to be heard over a roar of sound。 She had known since Midsummer who Blaise de Garsenc was and had kept faith by telling no one。 Now he had revealed his identity to the world； and had done something rather more than that。 The man she had upbraided so caustically in The Liensenne a season ago； and had then followed to the Correze gardens later that same night； was laying claim to the crown of Gorhaut。
It was with a sense of deep unreality that Lisseut remembered inviting him to e back with her that night in Tavernel。 Unlucky to spend tonight alone in this city； she had told him。 Unluckier still to have a degree of presumption as rash as her own。 Her mother would likely be forced to take to her bed if she found out about any of this。 Even now； months after； Lisseut could not stop herself from flushing at the memory。
Looking up at those two banners in the wind； she wondered what he must have thought of her； of the wet and straggle…haired； interfering； impertinent singer who had accosted him twice in a night and then taken his arm in the street and invited him to bed with her。 He didn't even like singing； she remembered。 Lisseut； among friends in a bright pavilion； had winced at that thought； too。 No one had noticed。 The others were busy wagering on the ing fight； laying odds on a man's death。
Then thoughts of herself and memories of summer had gone flying far away； for the two men on the grass had drawn their blades； the straight sword and the curved one； and had advanced upon each other。 Blaise had bent to throw grass and mud at the other man's shield； something she hadn't understood until Aurelian； without being asked； had quickly stooped to speak an explanation in her ear。 She had not turned to him。 She had been unable to take her eyes from the two men on the grass； though a part of her was recoiling in horror even as she watched。 They spoke to each other； but none of them could hear the words。 She saw the Arimondan react as if scalded by something said； and then spring to attack。 She saw him parried； once and then twice； as her breath caught in her throat。 Death was here。 This was not for show。 The reality of that came home to her； and just then she saw the curved sword planted； unexpectedly； in the earth。
And it had been in the next moment； precisely then； she would afterwards remember…the Arimondan's flung dagger slicing through Blaise's ear as he twisted away； then the swift； bright flowering of blood…that Lisseut of Vezét realized； with a cold dawning of despair； that her heart was gone from her。 It had left without her knowing； like a bird in winter； flying north to a hopelessly wrong destination where no haven or warmth or wele could even be imagined。
〃Oh； mother；〃 she whispered then； softly； to a woman far away among olive groves above a coastal town。 No one paid any attention to her。 Two men were trying to kill each other in front of them； and one of them had claimed a crown。 This was matter for song； whatever happened； it was matter for tavern and castle talk for years to e。 Lisseut； her hands gripping each other tightly in her lap； spoke a prayer then to sweet Rian； and watched； even as she felt the flight of her heart from her breast across the bright green grass。
Some things about fighting Blaise had had to teach himself； or learn from his brother at those rare intervals when he was at home and Ranald would consent to give him a secret lesson： Blaise was heading for the brethren； what use would skill with a blade be for him？ Other elements he had learned from the men who guided him in swordsmanship； quite a few years later than most young men in Gorhaut； in the year after the king had already made him a coran； more as a rebuke to his High Elder than through any recognition of Blaise's merits。
But the greater part of his education had e in the field； in war and in the tournament melees； the nearest thing to warfare that peacetime offered。 He was lucky he had survived in those first months and years。 He knew that now。 He'd been far too callow and untutored to have had any right to expect to walk away from battlefields at Thouvars or Graziani or Brissel； or those early tourneys at Aulensburg or Landeston in Valensa。 By the time of Iersen Bridge； though； he had known the craft of killing and surviving extremely well。 And it was there on that winter field that he had e nearest of all to dying： which was； of course； the darkest of many ironies at the heart of a soldier's life。
In any case； what Blaise proceeded now to do was as obvious to him as the direction of sunrise or the proper flight of birds in winter。 The Arimondan was badly hurt on his left side。 The task then was to make him use his shield again and again； to lift it high against forehand blows aimed towards shoulder or head。 It didn't matter if the blows landed； against a good man they wouldn't be expected to。 But with each one warded by a shield thrust upward in defence； Quzman's wound would be forced open more and hi