“O;     ALESSAN     FUL     REGREt     INfusing ;I could    o your judgment even now. A    arrow in his eye from here.”

        Not t ruefully, gauging tand t from    ridden along.    t Alessan and t on the way here.

        "S; Baerd said prosaically. "And you are t    it o no good if eitoo soon.”

        Alessan grunted. "Did I s?" edly.

        Baerds teet. "I would opped you in any case.”

        Alessan sly. t later, relaxed into quiet amusement. to long familiarity. Catriana, Devin saainly not at o be t circumstances made it a little    anxious and proud aed, all at once.

        noticed tomasso, bound at    and ao his horse.

        "ed better c; Baerd said as tra mood slipped a;to travel very fast. Sandres son he boy.”

        "e ter alk about t," Catriana said in a to made it suddenly very easy for Devin to reclaim his anger.

        "t; ed, raising ;I to trary."     coldly on o see urn away. Briefly rewarded.

        "Un; Alessan said. "I    to    note from you again. Catriana violated all I kno enougo elligent enougo noand    how she is feeling.”

        It    Devi as if    been punaco Catriana, but ars, a t floor.    fourteen years old again.

        "I dont particularly appreciate t, Alessan," riana saying coldly. "I fight my own wars.

        You kno.”

        "Not to mention," Baerd added casually, "teness of your g anyone alive for oo much pride.”

        Alessan co ig. to Catriana ;Brigar of Eanna, do you t kno t    be alloo matter. I t tle beto be one of us.”

        "If ?" Catriana    the music? Because he    sing? hy should someone from Asoli possibly be—”

        "; Alessan said sriana fell abruptly silent. Not o look or o feel, Devin tio simulate an inteerest in t soil be.    were wh fusion.

        Alessans voice ler riana,    to blame    you felt you o do and it did not succeed. he

        ot be blamed or cursed for folloly as , curse me for not stopping    the door. I could have.”

        " you t; Baerd asked.

        Devin remembered Alessan looking at    inner door t eo a land of dreaming.

        "Yes, w; ; me follow?”

        t    beops of trees. Only Ilarion    strange ligry folk called it whe blue moon rode alone.

        Alessa noises of t: rustle of leaf in breeze, of grass, to a brand anot.

        Alessan said: "Because I kneune aug from Asoli. Catriana, my dear, it isnt just tever you may test him?”

        On t scious, rational level, Devin uood almost none of t o gro o wal he waxing blue moon.

        Nor o Baerd and sari look on t moonlight he could see how pale Baerd had bee.

        "Alessan . . ." Baerd began, his voice roughened.

        "You are dearer to me t; Alessan said, calm and grave. "You o me. I     you for t in t ask unless I est him, Baerd.”

        Still Baerd ated,    seemed to matter to t deal.

        For a long moment no one moved. Finally Baerd, rol of ook Devin by teps furto to a small clearing among a circle of trees.

        ly o sit cross-legged on ter a moments ation Devin did t follo on triana saying in t m. ogeto keep teady;    cold, and it tle to do .

        riana follo    look back. For t ant ever it    lessly petent until t and ling ease. Abruptly, and for time in t long day, Devi as if o a try of dream, leaving be world.

        And in t of Ilarion, ale, so t it came to    first time like a spell, somet of t spaces of , in t was.

        "In took Astibar," said Baerd, "ando his

        peninsula from t.    into t ook took it easily, for t t you know.”

        raining to rialla ly, sadly, from a brana made no sound at all. Baerd    on.

        "In t year ttleground in an enormous balang game bet it could afford to give ter-beloved son, Stevan. Brandin of Ygrat to carve out a sed realm for o rule.    hing else.”

        trialla ill singing. Baerd paused to listen, as if finding in its liquest voice, gentler even tingales, an eething in his own.

        "ttempting to rally a resistan tains, ook Asoli province soon after, and , ely loyal aer trained. For    realm. te almost effortlessly, defeating eaced toget year. Or after, naturally." Baerds voice    quite detag for.

        "From Corte, Brandin ur    of o meet Alberi Ferraut and pin    Stevan souto take t free provin t and to join    to meet ttle t I ted he Palm.

        "It ake, t really    teen years ago. Neures of t provinces ievan to aste of leaders of t anders, relying on o il thers joined him.”

        Baerd paused for a moment, imbre to    seemed to Devin to be carrying many different them sorrowful.

        "At t; Baerd said, "a little more tando and t Corte, Stevan    by tterest resistao find in the Palm.

        Led by t last provin t met t th sides.

        "And Prince Valentin of t province . . . te, sleevan of Ygrat su after a bitter day of death.”

        Devin could almost taste t time to ook rated as if reating eac o be set into t was his own pride.

        And rig t seemed to Devin t a distant bell began to toll in some recess of his mind.

        Ranging a ly back from t but clear, from over m fields of waving yellow grain.

        "Brandin kne; Baerd said, ; back sout, leaving Alberico a free    aando. he

        came do of    t of    foes wed for he Deisa.”

        Once more Baerd looked over at Alessan. ly in t. ;Brandin ao pieces    mercy or respite. Drove to try soutook no prisoners.    first marc a t noevan of Ygrat provin blood and fire. Before t oy in tains—tevanien. On t o rubble and sand ty by ttle by took ter t year ortured and mutilated and killed in Chiara.”

        Baerds voice    till t bell    to e, tolling in Devins mind, louder no;Brandin of Ygrat    land suc spell ore its name a erly from t been born in t provi e revenge.    as if e, after tterest of our a enemies among the provinces.”

        Be Catriana ;Brandin made it e to pass t no one living could    land, or of its royal city by t oains. ion, and tripped away our name.”

        And t    umn dark of Astibar. tion, an indit, to trees and t and stars—tars t co pass.

        t accusation cself like a fist ig memory meant to Devin dAsoli: t o be toue of his soul.

        Memory alisman and        dead and gone forever. Marra could live; ern fato    t of o    nig , pounding to ter of     cut him like a fresh and killing wound.

        it o steadiness, ration t o matter more t terrible . Devin looked at t ed. ood    o place.

        Older by far t;t last province, Devin. A song of ty of to of t place could    tune in told me you did. It is    is op you    it to Morian to see w mig doorway.”

        Devin nodded, abs t later ;If this is so, if I have

        properly uood you, till    aken away.”

        Alessan said, "It is so.”

        Devin discovered t    trating, but    make top.

        ;t olen from me all my life. ill you . . . give it bae? ill you tell me the land where I was born?”

        Baerd by starligoo    beyond trees.

        Alessan    o tell. Devin didnt knoime, a long, desding note, and t time in ;tigana.”

        it. And    abrupt, absolute iillness a surge of loss broke over er t -deep pride.    a strange ligion as of a summons rushe corridors of his blood.

        taring at e, transparent even by starligterest t—an acood, and gave to the release he needed.

        "t; Devin said.    seem to be trembling anymore. Around a difficult t    on, for it : "tigana. tigana. I igana. My name . . . my true name is Devin di tigana bar Garin.”

        Even as o glory blazed in Baerds face. tig as if to    glory in, to keep it from esg into to clutc fiercely to eady breat Catriana touchdraw her hand.

        Baerd    in a place beyond speec    is one of taken a. tigana y by t city under Eannas lig named. Or per fair.”

        A t seemed to genuinely long to bee lauger and love toget time Devin turo look up at him.

        Alessan said, "If you o y s run o find t said t sed ies.”

        In tried, his voice could only carry loss.

        "You    inland city, Devin, and so ain river. e owers.”

        t name, but time it    from time it    took o her and his childhood.

        ;You do kno you?”

        "Of course I do," said Alessaly.

        "Please?" Devin asked.

        But it riana ime m in Avalle And I dont care s say: Im going doo today On a springtime m in Avalle.

        may, Ill build a boat to carry me aake it to tigana Bay And ther from Avalle.

        But ly or rees so a dream of towers of Avalle.

        A dream of my home in Avalle.

        t sad o tune ed doo Devin, and    almost dro grace of Catrianas song. No breaking rumpets along ters of longing. A longing for sometaken aely, so pre    ever kno was gone.

        And so Devin    as Catriana sang. Small boys, young-looking for t o cry    sometoe for Devin to deal aken    tonight.

        If ood properly o him.

        to sears, and listened as Catriana finis bitter-s cradle song: a song of a cy, even    to build a so    to sail it int baor ever losing or fetting t all began.

        A child very much as Devin saw himself.

        . For o lose and fet tos bay.

        So ears folloher and his home.

        And in t    far from Astibar to eac    memory meant to    of t blazing sometook s o ight.

        Baerd    him.

        Very deliberately Devin    . Very carefully    w she Palm.

        tion for taking an oath.

        Baerd lifted    ure. toucips toget ther mans larger, callused one.

        Devin said, "If you    break faith you.”

        "Nor I ; said Baerd. "In tigana gone." tling as Alessan sank to ;Devin, I sioning you," ;t a to move too fast. You    be one    o break your life apart to e h us.”

        "; Catriana murmured, moving nearer on t;tomasso bar Saorturers tonigomorrohe singing career of Devin dAsoli may be

        over just as it truly begins." She darkness.

        "It is over," Devin said quietly. "It ended rianas expression did not c shinking.

        "Very ; said Alessan.     it . Alessan ated. "An er for me than you could have guessed,”

        he said.

        "You knew her?”

        "e bot; Baerd said quietly. "Sen years older t every adolest boy in tigana tle in love    of too, I think.”

        Anot t came . Devins fat. o sorro than Devin could have imagined.

        "e all envied and admired your fatell you," Alessan added. "t an Avalle man    to your naming day. I dont remember    was.”

        "You admired my fat; Devin said, stunned.

        Alessan    and ;Do not judge    er Brandin smasion and ting their souls.

        Your motigana gone.    and survived bottles by t; Above triana made a small sound.

        "I never kne; Devin protested. "old us any of t." there was a new ache inside him. So many avenues.

        "Fe; Baerd said.

        "s did," said Catriana a;took us as far ao a fisibar do from Ardin, and never spoke a his.”

        "to s; Alessan said gently. ill touc ;A great many of ts    t    a life unmarred by tigma t bore do still bear doigana. Or Loe as     now.”

        "t; said Devin stubbornly.    ced, deprived, betrayed.

        Alessan s;Devin, t judge yet: t tune by c to burden you or your brotage, but    a stamp upon you—a tune, y— and    you out into t akably, to anyone from tigana, but to no one else. I do not t er a ring t marked o anyone born where she was born.”

        Devin glanced back. Catriana    o see. It    ed to t, and    a strahe sea. he swallowed.

        "ill you tell me of ; urning back to Alessan. "Of my father?”

        Of stolid, darin, grim farmer in a    grey land.    noigana and errible battles by a river and ure—very deliberately sent out into tive c o onight.

        ly realized, almost certainly lied o

        t was all suddenly very hard.

        "I ell you w I know of ; Alessan said.

        "But not tonigriana is rig get ourselves ao me from noil the ending of my days.”

        Devin turo look up at Catriana. "ill you accept me?”

        Sossed ;I dont ; s;You seem to angled yourself rat; S ouch.

        "Be ; s;I sigana.”

        "And I    t; Devin offered.

        arlig. "O; s;Im sure you are. It able you found the experience!”

        Alessan snorted . "Catriana, my darling," ;I just forbade o mention aails of hem up yourself?”

        it test trace of a smile Catriana said, "I am ty    enforyt the same.”

        Baerd c;t; ; been t?”

        Catriana tossed    did not deign to reply.

        tood up. Devin flexed o relieve tiffness of sitting so long in one position.

        "Ferraut ea?" Baerd asked. "hich border?”

        "Ferraut," Alessan said. &quean as soon as tomasso talks—poor man. If Id been t hey rode by.”

        "O," Baerd retorted. "ity soldiers surrounding ibar by now.”

        "You ; Alessan said wryly.

        "Is t speak?" Devin interjected a;Im t Menico, you see. If Im named . . .”

        Alessan s;Everyoalks uorture," ;Especially if sorcery is involved. Im t Menico too, but t anyt it, Devin. It is one of ties of t at risk by almost everyt; ;t I knew w    lodge.”

        "You ed to c," Catriana reminded ; ime?”

        "I did, and yes, I t; said Alessan crisply. "till dont knoo be the—”

        opped t for tling leaves it    in trialla ly raised one    rh his hair. he shook his head.

        "Do you kno; o Baerd, in    a versational tone, " times? It ; ;e on—and pray    too late!”

        tars ser of Eannas Diadem , folloingale was

        singing, as if in anso trialla of before, as tated for a moment ture Devin already reized. through.

        By tomed by noo darkness—on thin.

        till rested on its trestles, altered and knocked a t tibar.

        t Scalvaias severed errible distance ao trol the lurch of siess in his ge.

        "O; Alessan o time.”

        "t; came a ed voice from deep in one of t;tra birth.”

        Devin jumped ,    h shock.

        tood beside tirely ;I t you ; he said.

        truggling to uand, straining to make out tall, gaunt form by t glohe embers.

        Alessan seemed quite unruffled. "Im sorry I kept you ing t; ;It took me too long to riddle to express my sorro for you, my lord Sandre.”

        Devins jas oo fast for him.

        "I    t," said t figure in front of t;I do not deserve your respect t of anyone else. Once per anymore. You are speaking to an old vain fool—exactly as t too many years aloangled in    i carelessness. It    me tonighe Sandreni will be no more.”

        te, objectively damning, devoid of self-pity. tone of a judge in some dark ion.

        " ; Alessan asked quietly.

        "traitor." Flat, unied, final.

        "O; Baerd exclaimed. "Family?”

        "My grandson. Giannos boy.”

        "t; Baerd said, quiet and fierce. "ody norammeled in darkness until time.”

        t to ;taeri killed ; ;I    t abbed o deny tever t    t ; ed absently.

        t to eaterty coffin.

        "You said you ed for us," Alessan murmured. "ill you tell me why?”

        "For t; Sandre moved for t time, stiffly making o t on ttering flame. A shower of sparks flew up. he

        , poking il a tongue of flame licked free of the ash bed.

        turned and nos, but th a cold defiance.

        "I am ; Sandre said, "and yoes on. It goes on o e. My quest and your oil hey go on.”

        "You ening, t; said Alessan. "From in t I said?”

        "t deal of o say," traigeur in ;I    you named yourself, and o tell t I know who you are.”

        ook a step t him.

        "I knoly igana!”

        It oo mug to uand. too many pieces of information    oo many different dires, tradig eac dizzy, overal violeo e upon. At time, to be dead—tes    very m—ibar left alive in this lodge.

        If ibar!

        For if    spoken tigana, given    Alessan oo, Devin fougo assimilate—a Pri Valentin    Brandins vengean all.

        Devin simply stopped trying to put it all toget o listen and look—to absorb as muco t —and to let uanding e after, o think.

        So resolved, er a blank silence more to reveal t;Noand. Finally I uand. My lord, I t you al among men. From t time I sa my first triad Games ty-took you for. ay alive?    from these years?”

        "?" It riana,    immediately made Devin feel better:    tely treading er here.

        "; Baerd said flatly.

        t;to spells not directed specifically at t; Alessan added. "true of all magic-users, ing doo this peninsula.”

        "And to do ; Sandre dAstibar said in a corrosive voice. urned and jabbed viciously at t fully time and roared into red light.

        "I survived," said t;simply because no one kne involved not. I used my po a flicker, si eve to feign my deatroronger. It ime each of

        t of t o t kno?    good is a finding spell, or a fledglial arro leads oraigo a Barbadia; tterness in the old Dukes voice.

        "Or one of Brandins," Alessan murmured.

        "Or Brandins," Sandre ec;It is this land.”

        "And it is," said Alessan, "or so nearly so as to be thing. I have been searg for a wizard for a dozen years or more.”

        "Alessan!" Baerd said quickly.

        "; t.

        "Alessan!" Baerd repeated, more urgently.

        t learo be tigana looked over at ;Not t; ically. "Not Sandre dAstibar.”

        urned back to tated, cakable pride, ;You rue. tigana, all t dest,    bind a o to death.”

        For t time a gleam of curiosity, of an actual i in somet;I do kno story. t I er I came into my oo be igana. ually claim t w rue?”

        "It ain it still is. I o test it t is our primal story: tigana is t of our Princes, Ra Micaela he Princes has never been broken.”

        Devi a plex stir of emotions    even try to ee angling t. Micaela. ened and ember.

        And ibar laugh.

        "I kno story too," t;t iganese arrogance. Princes of tigana! Not Dukes, o;    to;You and oniginkiy of tyrants and of today and spe old lie at me? You ?”

        "It is trut; said Alessan quietly, not moving. "It is    o ts to claim a lesser title. t of Adaon to al son could not be immortality—t, Eanna and Morian forbade. But ted a binding poo o ters of igana lived in t direct line. If you doubt me and    it to test I    to be ligibar. If    is because we o be.”

        "Not any more," t;Not since Brandin came!”

        Alessans face ted. .

        "; Catriana snapped. Bravely, Devin t.

        Prind Duke ignored ent on eac gradually receded into tess remained, in eyes and stand th.

        Alessan said, "I    expected t from you. Under all tances.”

        "You are in no position to    to expect from me," the Duke replied, very low.

        "Under all tances.”

        "S pany nohen?”

        For a long moment sometion, plicated immeasurably by deatiff, reflexive pride of boto tension, found t h.

        "I ," said Sandre dAstibar finally. "Not like t; ;ill you accept an apology from one who is sunken as low as he has ever been?”

        "I ; said Alessan simply. "And I , indeed, part ime. Your middle son aken alive. omorro tonight.”

        "Not tonig; t absently. "Alberico appree seriously debilitated by il a time w o ... play.”

        "tonigomorro; said Baerd,    voice jarring t;It makes little difference. alk. e must be away before he does.”

        "Per," Sandre murmured in trangely detac t;I    I    tell you t Alberico used a magiigrong it is still pulsating. And    to save    kno ;    Alessan. "o giving Brandin of Ygrathe whole peninsula.”

        "You ?" Alessan said. "You agree h me?”

        "I t to be true, and I kno ibar. I o    said, but once aken doogether.”

        Alessan nodded, and some of rolled tension seemed to ease aill t.”

        Baerd, smiling a little o t;You mentioned Albericos use of magic as if it s meaning t in tters.”

        "No s a    to be ignorant." Sandre smiled t;traig from tonig any paltry po I invoke ely sed. I t your names are not given to torturers tomorrow.”

        "I see," said Alessan, nodding slo see anyt as if urbulent ion. "You    take yourself t?" Alessans eyes .

        Saed. I t say I regret it—I    strains o do. I    go in t I am not strong enoug someone else out. I    take hough.”

        "I see," said Alessan again, but in a different voice. t;I am sorry,"    lengtly.

        te beard and t cheeks his eyes gave

        not all. Beo the room.

        "I ion," Sandre said.

        "hich is?”

        “t you alloo e o Morian. ibar I    speak to no one, aco preserve any purpose noo t of my dying I must go igana,    a feeble e? A    bound by some legend?”

        For a long time Alessan , looking at t at edly,    he room.

        "tac; e ued tone of voice, "to your beard and your we hair?”

        A sed later Devin range sound. It took    t ibar.

        "Do    you ; Sandre said as ; inge my locks red as the maids?”

        Alessan s;I . One of t for a single pany. I leave tters to Baerd t many to Baerd.”

        "t; Sandre said. o the yellow-haired man.

        Baerd, Devin sa look entirely    too.

        "I    s; to ;I s vo s of my days to e you do nret t tent you?”

        Slo;It will.”

        Listening, Devin uitive seoo, tered, t ly, or less trut.    t Catriana and discovered t sed quickly a look back.

        Sandre said, "I t set about doing urn from t I dare say you need not spend a nigrious there?”

        ttling to Devin still, but Sandres    siered the lodge.

        "Are you sure youll be able to stop your son from talking?" ly.

        "Quite sure," Sandre replied briefly.

        Devins bro. "ell t seems to me none of us is in immediate danger. Except for you, my lord. You must not be seen.”

        "Until Baerds done ; Alessan interposed. "But go on.”

        Devin turo ;Id like to say fareo Menid try to to give for leaving. I o    o e me.”

        Alessan looked tful. "e you a little, Devin, even t t kind of man.

        a lifelong trouper like Menico dreams about. And no explanation you e up o alter t t o make t dream a real thing now.”

        Devin srut. A season or t t alked about for so many years. to settle ern for o old friends

        and nerails. ell tories er nigake out a place by to be to and out of all the songs he knew.

        Devin so ts of    a;I just dont like disappearing on    once. eve got certs tomorrooo.”

        Alessans mout;I do seem to recall t," ;them.”

        "t; said Catriana uedly.

        "t; Alessan agreed d o day at t    occurred to me—a substantial    I expect to win.”

        able gro;Do you seriously tival of Vines is going to bliter o go make musi Astibar as if not like it.”

        "Actually, Im quite certain tival ; It ;Alberico is cautious almost before onig in ions, let trada scatter and go ely after. But only on t    is, frankly, w I would do myself.”

        "taxes?" Alessan asked.

        "Perer t t . An actual assassination attempt in a public place.     time—three families here.”

        Devin found it uling    son, grandco be fodder for Barbadian killing- degree. ried to trusively    evil.

        trut just t Menico, and t ter of costing troupe to troupe all time. Or left to start tired from to a busi offered ty. ting o go on er    s, but it . Someed to make it appear as if t.

        Someto ;ont it look a bit odd, too, if es? Riger Albericos unmasked a plot t ed    of lio ttention to ourselves like t? It isnt as if our disappearance    be noticed.”

        , for some reason, to Baerd. And    later .

        "No clot; Baerd said. "t does make seo say it.”

        "A good deal of sense," Sandre agreed. Devin fidgeted a little as iny of t;t;—tured at Devin and Catriana—"may yet redeem yeion for me.”

        time Devin refused to look at tead    over to t slashed by a family blade.

        Alessan broke te coug;t; one, "airely. Only t as many nigdoors as I e t    bed at nig," ;your eloquence e overe, Devin. Lead me baenico at two

        syrenya-players ive silence.”

        Baerd favored    Alessan appeared to e easily. "I ; Baerd said darkly, "from a recitation of your ournal s. I    o return. ell o burn tonig s e ba t t to rise from your pillo; ;t soft city living doesnt prevent you from being able to find the cache.”

        "Ill find it if s lost," Catriana said.

        Alessan looked from oo t;t isnt fair," ested.

        "It is just t.”

        Devin . Alessan ill gazing at Baerd. "You kno is only the music Im going back for.”

        "Of course I kno," Baerd said softly. ;Im only afraid t these days.”

        Intercepting t passed beted—on a nig ture of bonding and about love.

        "Go," said Baerd ill ated. Catriana ;e    you after tival. By t," ;expect tnize us.”

        Alessan grinned suddenly, and a moment later Baerd allo c deal. , Devin realized, smile very often.

        ill t t as ri-ana out to the wood again.
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