ly handed his horse's reins to his brother and followed。 Fernan made as if to e too； but the king held up a finger and shook his head and Diego watched his brother stop； crestfallen。
It was the first time he had been alone with the king。 Kings weren't alone very often； he thought。
They walked through the stand of trees…beech and oak； a few cypresses like sentries at the edge of the wood。 There were small white flowers everywhere； like a carpet on the forest floor。 Diego wondered how they grew in such profusion in the dark； cool shade。 They came to a place near the eastern end of the woods and here the king stopped。 He turned to look south and Diego did the same。
In the light of the setting sun they could see the gleam of the Tavares River。 Beyond it was Fezana。 River and city had been nothing more than names on a map for Diego once； tests from their tutor： 〃Name the cities owing allegiance at this time to the king of Cartada。 Name that king。 Now write those names； and spell them correctly。〃
Tavares。 Fezana。 Almalik。 Not just names any more。 He was in Al…Rassan； land of terror and legend。 Here with the army of Valledo； e to conquer。 To reconquer； for all of this had once been their own； when Esperana was a name of power in the world； long ago。
Truth to tell； looking out at those massive stone walls the color of honey in the slanting light； Diego Belmonte found himself wondering how even this king and this army dared imagine taking such a city。 Nothing in his experience…he had only seen Esteren once； and then Carcasia…could pare with this splendor。 Even as he stood looking south； his image of Valledo grew smaller。
Rising behind the walls Diego could see domes gleaming in the last of the light。 Places of worship； he knew。 Shrines to beliefs the clerics of Jad named foul and evil。
They looked beautiful； though； to Diego。
As if reading his thoughts or following his gaze； the king said softly； 〃The two nearer domes…the blue and white…are those of the Kindath sanctuary。 The silver ones that shine； the larger ones； are the temples of Ashar。 At sundown； soon； we ought to be able to hear the bells for prayer； even from here。 I remember loving that sound。〃
The king had spent a year exiled in Al…Rassan； Diego knew。 Just as； earlier； Raimundo and Diego's own father had been exiled by King Sancho the Fat to the cities of the infidels。 That episode was part of their family history； tangled up with why Rodrigo wasn't constable of Valledo any more。
Diego； feeling he was expected to say something； murmured； 〃My father ought to know this city well enough。 He's been here before。〃
〃I know that； Diego。 Do you think you'll be able to tell me when he is ing out； and where？ There will have to be a way out through the walls。 The gates will be locked by now。〃
Diego looked up at his king。 〃I'll try。〃
〃We need some warning。 I want to be there； wherever he es out。 Will you know where he's going？ Which part of the city？〃
〃Sometimes I can do that。 Not always。〃 Diego felt guilty again。 〃I'm sorry； my lord。 I don't 。。。 I can't tell very well what I'll see。 Sometimes there's nothing。 I'm afraid I'm not very…〃
A hand came down on his shoulder。 〃You have already been a help and if Jad finds us both worthy you will be again。 Believe this。 I am not saying words to ease you。〃
〃But how； my lord？〃 Diego knew he probably shouldn't ask this but he had been wondering about it since leaving home。
The king looked down at him for a moment。 〃It isn't plex； if you understand war。〃 His brow furrowed as he reached for words。 〃Diego； think of it this way： you know men cannot see very well in the dark of night。 Think of war as all taking place in darkness。 During battle or before battle； a captain； a king； knows only what is happening next to him； and not even that much very clearly。 But if I have you with me and I have your father manding a wing of my army…and by Jad I hope I will soon…then you can tell me something of what is happening where he is。 Anything you give me is more than I would otherwise have had。 Diego； you can be my beam of light； like a gift from the god； to see by in darkness。〃
There was a stirring of the wind； leaves rustled。 Diego； looked up at his king； swallowing hard。 It was odd； but in that moment he felt both larger and smaller than he was。 He looked away； abashed。 But his gaze fell once more upon the mighty walls and gleaming domes of Fezana and there was no fort there。
He closed his eyes。 The familiar spinning came。 He reached out a hand and braced himself against a tree。
Then he was with his father； and aware of something else in the same moment。 In a stillness at the edge of a wood Diego Belmonte reached out； trying to serve his country and his king； and he found himself enmeshed in Fezana's streets。 He felt danger surrounding his father like a ring of fire。
It was fire； he realized。
Heart pounding； eyes still closed； concentrating as hard as he could； he said； 〃There are torches and a large crowd。 People running。 Houses are burning； my lord。 There is an old man with my father。〃
〃Is he blind？〃 the king asked quickly。
〃I cannot tell that。 Everything is burning。〃
〃You're right！ I see smoke now。 In Jad's name； what are they doing there？ Where is your father going？〃
〃My lord； I cannot； I 。。。 wait。〃
Diego struggled to orient himself。 He never saw actual faces with this sight； only presences； auras； an awareness of people； with his father…or mother； or brother…at the center。 He sensed tall houses； walls； a fountain。 A press of running figures。 Then two domes； blue and white。 Behind his father。 East。 He opened his eyes； fought the dizziness； looking south。 He pointed。
〃They are going towards a place in the walls on this side of the city。 There must be a way out； as you said。 There is fighting。 Why is there fighting； my lord？〃
He looked anxiously up at the king。 Ramiro's expression was grim。
〃I don't know。 I can only guess。 If your father is with ben Yonannon and he is fighting； then it may be the Asharites are attacking the Kindath in the city。 Why； I cannot tell。 But it works to our gain： if Rodrigo gets out。〃
Which offered no fort。
〃e！〃 the king said。 〃You have helped me again。 You are my beam of light； Diego Belmonte； truly。〃
Even as he said this； the sun went down。 Twilight descended； swift and beautiful； over the plain north of Fezana。 To the west； a last glow of red suffused the sky。 The gleaming of the domes was gone。 Diego； looking south as they ran back towards the others； saw smoke rising from the city。
He was not allowed to go see if his father was able to get out and greet him if he did。
The king let Fernan e with him but Diego was forbidden。 It was judged that there was too much danger near the walls； with only the fifty men the king took with him； quietly stealing up to the river and moat in darkness。
Diego was outraged。 He was the reason the king knew where Rodrigo was going； he was the only reason Ramiro was able to do this； and he was being denied the chance to join them。 There were； it emerged； disadvantages to being useful to the king of Valledo。
Fernan was elated； but sympathetic enough to try to conceal it。 Diego wasn't fooled。 He watched his brother leave with the king's party and he turned； grim and silent； to go with the other half of the vanguard troop。 Ibero was with him； of course； and…to Diego's surprise…Count Gonzalez de Rada。
It was possible； he mused； riding west along the river； that the constable had no desire to meet Rodrigo in this unexpected way。 It was also possible that the constable was taking his oath to guard Rodrigo's family very seriously。 Fernan was with the king； so Gonzalez would stay with Diego。 He looked thoughtfully towards the constable but it was almost dark by then and they were riding without torches。
They didn't have far to go。 They saw campfires。 The white moon was rising behind them as they came up to the hamlet where the food wagons had begun assembling during the afternoon。 This was； Diego was given to understand； the obvious place to locate the stores and supplies for a siege。 That had been decided upon a long time ago by those who knew the terrain here。
Diego and the others entered the tiny village…it had already been abandoned by the Asharites。 The hamlet lay alongside the river。 There was a water mill。 Almost all of the houses looked new； which was unexpected。 The smell of cooking came to Diego。 He discovered in that moment that he was ravenous。 This was an absurd time to be thinking of food。 On the other hand； he told himself； what else was there to do now； besides wait？
He dismounted between Ibero and the constable。 Men came running to take their horses。 Diego turned back and looked east； towards the low moon。 Fernan would be at the river and the walls by now； waiting to surprise their father。 It wasn't； Diego decided； fair at all。
He looked around。 This hamlet had a name； of course…Fernan had marked it on one of his maps…but Diego had forgotten it。 He half…expected Ibero to demand that he give the name。 He was prepared to be extremely sarcastic if this happened。
They weren't far from Fezana in t