ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-µÚ31ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
tured¡¡east¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Serrana¡¡Range¡¡in¡¡the¡¡days¡¡when¡¡Silvenes¡¡was¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡western¡¡world¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡Khalifate's¡¡thunderous¡¡fall£»¡¡every¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡kings¡¡had¡¡his¡¡share¡¡of¡¡craftsmen¡¡and¡¡artists¡¡to¡¡exalt¡¡and¡¡extol¡¡his¡¡virtues¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡all¡¡lions£»¡¡if¡¡one¡¡could¡¡believe¡¡the¡¡honey¡tongued¡¡poets¡¡of¡¡Al¡Rassan¡£
¡¡¡¡One¡¡couldn't£»¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¡Poets¡¡were¡¡poets£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡a¡¡living¡¡to¡¡earn¡£¡¡Kings¡¡were¡¡kings£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡a¡¡score¡¡of¡¡them¡¡now£»¡¡some¡¡foundering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ruin¡¡of¡¡their¡¡walls£»¡¡some¡¡festering¡¡in¡¡fear¡¡or¡¡greed£»¡¡a¡¡few¡a¡¡very¡¡few¡conceivably¡¡heirs¡¡to¡¡what¡¡Silvenes¡¡had¡¡been¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Alvar£»¡¡on¡¡little¡¡enough¡¡experience£»¡¡that¡¡King¡¡Badir¡¡in¡¡Ragosa¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡numbered¡¡among¡¡those¡¡in¡¡the¡¡last¡¡group¡£
¡¡¡¡Amid¡¡all¡¡the¡¡strangeness¡¡surrounding¡¡him¡the¡¡unknown£»¡¡intoxicating¡¡smells¡¡from¡¡doorway¡¡and¡¡courtyard¡¡and¡¡food¡¡stall£»¡¡the¡¡bells¡¡summoning¡¡the¡¡devout¡¡to¡¡prayer¡¡at¡¡measured¡¡intervals¡¡during¡¡the¡¡day¡¡and¡¡night£»¡¡the¡¡riot¡¡of¡¡noise¡¡and¡¡color¡¡in¡¡the¡¡marketplace£»¡¡Alvar¡¡was¡¡grateful¡¡that¡¡here¡¡in¡¡Al¡Rassan¡¡they¡¡still¡¡measured¡¡the¡¡round¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡by¡¡the¡¡white¡¡moon's¡¡cycling¡¡from¡¡full¡¡to¡¡full¡¡as¡¡they¡¡did¡¡back¡¡home¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡that¡¡hadn't¡¡changed¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡say¡¡exactly¡¡how¡¡long¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡here£»¡¡in¡¡another¡¡world¡£
¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡so¡¡much¡¡more¡¡than¡¡three¡¡months£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡look¡¡back¡£¡¡His¡¡year¡¡in¡¡Esteren¡¡seemed¡¡eerily¡¡remote£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡almost¡¡unimaginably¡¡distant¡£¡¡He¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡would¡¡say£»¡¡could¡¡she¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡loosely¡¡belted£»¡¡flowing¡¡Asharite¡¡garb¡¡during¡¡the¡¡summer¡¡past¡£¡¡Actually£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡wonder£º¡¡he¡¡was¡¡fairly¡¡certain¡¡he¡¡knew¡£¡¡She'd¡¡have¡¡headed¡¡straight¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Vasca's¡¡Isle£»¡¡on¡¡her¡¡knees£»¡¡in¡¡penance¡¡for¡¡his¡¡sins¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡was£»¡¡though£»¡¡summer¡¡was¡¡hot¡¡here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡One¡¡needed¡¡a¡¡headcovering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡white¡¡light¡¡of¡¡midday£»¡¡one¡¡less¡¡cumbersome¡¡than¡¡a¡¡stiff¡¡leather¡¡hat£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light¡colored¡¡cotton¡¡tunics¡¡and¡¡trousers¡¡of¡¡Al¡Rassan¡¡were¡¡far¡¡more¡¡fortable¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡¡streets¡¡than¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wearing¡¡when¡¡they¡¡arrived¡£¡¡His¡¡face¡¡was¡¡darkened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sun£»¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡half¡¡Asharite¡¡himself£»¡¡Alvar¡¡knew¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡odd¡¡sensation£»¡¡gazing¡¡in¡¡a¡¡glass¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡looked¡¡back¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡mirrors¡¡everywhere£»¡¡too£»¡¡the¡¡Ragosans¡¡were¡¡a¡¡vain¡¡people¡£
¡¡¡¡Autumn¡¡had¡¡e¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meantime£»¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡light¡¡brown¡¡cloak¡¡over¡¡his¡¡clothing¡¡now¡£¡¡Jehane¡¡had¡¡picked¡¡it¡¡out¡¡for¡¡him¡¡when¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡began¡¡to¡¡change¡£¡¡Twisting¡¡and¡¡pushing¡expertly¡¡now¡through¡¡the¡¡crowds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡weekly¡¡market£»¡¡Alvar¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡believe¡¡how¡¡little¡¡time¡¡had¡¡really¡¡passed¡¡since¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡and¡¡Velaz¡¡had¡¡e¡¡through¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡pass¡¡and¡¡first¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lake¡¡and¡¡the¡¡towers¡¡of¡¡Ragosa¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡at¡¡pains¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡his¡¡awe¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡though¡¡looking¡¡back¡¡from¡¡his¡¡newly¡¡sophisticated¡¡vantage¡¡point¡¡he¡¡suspected¡¡that¡¡his¡¡two¡¡panions¡¡had¡¡simply¡¡been¡¡generous¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡pretend¡¡not¡¡to¡¡notice¡£¡¡Even¡¡Fezana¡¡had¡¡intimidated¡¡him¡¡from¡¡a¡¡distance¡£¡¡Ragosa¡¡dwarfed¡¡it¡£¡¡Only¡¡Cartada¡¡itself¡¡now¡with¡¡Silvenes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡khalifs¡¡looted¡¡and¡¡gutted¡¡years¡¡ago¡was¡¡a¡¡more¡¡formidable¡¡city¡£¡¡Next¡¡to¡¡this¡¡high¡walled£»¡¡many¡towered¡¡magnificence£»¡¡Esteren¡¡was¡¡as¡¡the¡¡hamlet¡¡of¡¡Orvilla£»¡¡where¡¡Garcia¡¡de¡¡Rada¡¡had¡¡e¡¡raiding¡¡on¡¡a¡¡night¡¡in¡¡summer¡£
¡¡¡¡Alvar's¡¡life¡¡had¡¡forked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡branch¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡his¡¡path¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡running¡¡east¡¡through¡¡Al¡Rassan¡¡and¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Serrana¡¡Range¡¡to¡¡these¡¡walls¡¡with¡¡Jehane¡¡bet¡¡Ishak£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡north¡¡and¡¡home¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Captain¡£
¡¡¡¡His¡¡own¡¡choice£»¡¡too£»¡¡endorsed¡¡by¡¡Rodrigo¡¡and¡¡accepted£»¡¡if¡¡grudgingly¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡by¡¡Jehane¡£¡¡She¡¡would¡¡need¡¡a¡¡guard¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡Alvar¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡after¡¡a¡¡memorable¡¡camp¡fire¡¡conversation¡£¡¡A¡¡soldier£»¡¡he'd¡¡added£»¡¡not¡¡merely¡¡a¡¡servant£»¡¡however¡¡loyal¡¡and¡¡brave¡¡that¡¡servant¡¡might¡¡be¡£¡¡Alvar¡¡had¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡be¡¡that¡¡guard£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Captain's¡¡permission¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡see¡¡her¡¡settled¡¡in¡¡Ragosa¡¡then¡¡make¡¡his¡¡way¡¡home¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡hadn't¡¡told¡¡them¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡love¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡They¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡let¡¡him¡¡e¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡known£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡that¡¡much¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡also¡¡ruefully¡¡certain¡¡Jehane¡¡had¡¡realized¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡early¡¡in¡¡their¡¡journey¡£¡¡He¡¡wasn't¡¡particularly¡¡good¡¡at¡¡hiding¡¡what¡¡he¡¡felt¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡was¡¡beautiful£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡dark¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡her¡¡direct£»¡¡unexpectedly¡¡blue¡¡gaze¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡she¡¡was¡¡clever£»¡¡and¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that£º¡¡trained£»¡¡acplished£»¡¡calmly¡¡professional¡£¡¡Amid¡¡the¡¡fires¡¡of¡¡Orvilla¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡her¡¡courage£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡anger£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡two¡¡young¡¡girls¡¡in¡¡her¡¡arms¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡entirely¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡range¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡also¡¡a¡¡Kindath£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Wanderers£»¡¡the¡¡god¡diminishing¡¡heretics¡¡the¡¡clerics¡¡thundered¡¡against¡¡as¡¡loudly¡¡as¡¡they¡¡cursed¡¡the¡¡Asharites¡£¡¡Alvar¡¡tried¡¡not¡¡to¡¡let¡¡that¡¡matter£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡was£»¡¡it¡¡did£º¡¡it¡¡made¡¡her¡¡seem¡¡mysterious£»¡¡exotic£»¡¡even¡¡a¡¡little¡¡dangerous¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡wasn't£»¡¡actually¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡sharp¡¡and¡¡practical¡¡and¡¡direct¡£¡¡She'd¡¡taken¡¡him¡¡to¡¡her¡¡bed¡¡for¡¡one¡¡single¡¡night£»¡¡not¡¡long¡¡after¡¡their¡¡arrival¡¡in¡¡Ragosa¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡done¡¡it¡¡kindly£»¡¡without¡¡guile¡¡or¡¡promise¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡certainly¡¡intended¡¡that¡¡such¡¡a¡¡matter¡of¡fact¡¡physical¡¡liaison¡¡would¡¡cure¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡youthful¡¡longings¡£¡¡Alvar£»¡¡clever¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡right£»¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡clear¡¡about¡¡that¡£¡¡She¡¡allowed¡¡him¡¡no¡¡candlelit¡¡illusions¡¡at¡¡all¡¡about¡¡what¡¡a¡¡night¡¡together¡¡meant¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡kindly¡¡towards¡¡him£»¡¡Alvar¡¡knew¡£¡¡Though¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡had¡¡proved¡¡uneventful£»¡¡she'd¡¡been¡¡grateful¡¡for¡¡his¡¡pany£»¡¡found¡¡him¡¡reliable¡¡and¡¡trustworthy£»¡¡his¡¡energy¡¡diverting¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡understand£»¡¡being¡¡observant¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡way£»¡¡that¡¡she£»¡¡too£»¡¡was¡¡embarking¡¡on¡¡something¡¡new¡¡and¡¡strange¡¡without¡¡being¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡her¡¡way¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡also¡¡knew¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡love¡¡him¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡that¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡physical¡¡act£»¡¡the¡¡night's¡¡harmony¡¡of¡¡two¡¡young¡¡bodies¡¡far¡¡from¡¡their¡¡homes£»¡¡their¡¡union¡¡made¡¡no¡¡sense¡£¡¡But¡¡far¡¡from¡¡purging¡¡him¡¡of¡¡love£»¡¡that¡¡night¡¡in¡¡her¡¡room¡¡had¡¡set¡¡a¡¡seal£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡heated¡¡wax£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡feelings¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡old¡¡stories¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡women¡¡used¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡around¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡after¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡meal¡¡on¡¡the¡¡farm£»¡¡brave¡¡Horsemen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡god¡¡loved¡¡endangered¡¡maidens¡¡on¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡and¡¡for¡¡life¡£¡¡It¡¡wasn't¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡happen¡¡that¡¡way¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fallen£»¡¡divided¡¡world¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡really¡¡lived¡£¡¡It¡¡had£»¡¡for¡¡Alvar¡¡de¡¡Pellino¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡make¡¡a¡¡great¡¡issue¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡loved¡¡Jehane¡¡bet¡¡Ishak£»¡¡the¡¡Kindath¡¡physician¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fact¡¡of¡¡existence£»¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡where¡¡the¡¡god's¡¡sun¡¡rose¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡proper¡¡way¡¡to¡¡parry¡¡a¡¡left¡handed¡¡sword¡¡stroke¡¡towards¡¡one's¡¡knees¡£¡¡Walking¡¡the¡¡crowded¡¡streets¡¡of¡¡Ragosa£»¡¡Alvar¡¡felt¡¡much¡¡older¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡when¡¡he¡¡rode¡¡south¡¡with¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡to¡¡collect¡¡the¡¡summer¡¡parias¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡autumn¡¡now¡£¡¡The¡¡breeze¡¡from¡¡the¡¡north¡¡off¡¡Lake¡¡Serrana¡¡was¡¡cool¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡sharply¡¡cold¡¡at¡¡night¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡wore¡¡cloaks£»¡¡and¡¡two¡¡layers¡¡of¡¡clothing¡¡under¡¡them¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡on¡¡duty¡¡after¡¡sunset¡£¡¡Not¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡at¡¡dawn¡¡after¡¡a¡¡night¡¡on¡¡the¡¡northwestern¡¡wall£»¡¡Alvar¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡masts¡¡and¡¡spars¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fishing¡¡boats¡¡in¡¡the¡¡harbor¡¡rimed¡¡with¡¡pale¡¡frost¡¡under¡¡the¡¡full¡¡blue¡¡moon¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡sunlight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡leaves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oaks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡forests¡¡had¡¡gleamed¡¡red¡¡and¡¡gold£»¡¡a¡¡dazzle¡¡of¡¡brilliance¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡the¡¡Serrana¡¡mountains¡¡that¡¡guarded¡¡Ragosa¡¡from¡¡Cartada's¡¡armies¡¡and¡¡had¡¡screened¡¡her¡¡from¡¡Silvenes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Khalifate¡¡had¡¡been¡¡capped¡¡with¡¡snow¡¡on¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡slopes¡£¡¡The¡¡snow¡¡would¡¡last¡¡until¡¡spring¡£¡¡The¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡which¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Jehane¡¡and¡¡Velaz¡¡had¡¡e¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡open¡¡all¡¡year¡£¡¡Friends¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him¡¡these¡¡things¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Jaddite¡¡taverns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡or¡¡the¡¡food¡¡stalls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡marketplace¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡friends¡¡here¡¡now¡£¡¡He¡¡hadn't¡¡expected¡¡that£»¡¡but¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡their¡¡arrival¡¡it¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡obvious¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡only¡¡Jaddite¡¡soldier¡¡in¡¡Ragosa¡£¡¡Mercenaries¡¡went¡¡where¡¡there¡¡was¡¡money¡¡and¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡Ragosa¡¡offered¡¡both¡£¡¡For¡¡how¡¡long£»¡¡no¡¡one¡¡knew£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡summer¡¡and¡¡fall¡¡the¡¡city¡¡on¡¡Lake¡¡Serrana¡¡was¡¡home¡¡to¡¡an¡¡eclectic¡¡array¡¡of¡¡fighting¡¡men¡¡from¡¡Jalona¡¡and¡¡Valledo£»¡¡and¡¡further¡¡afield£º¡¡Ferrieres£»¡¡Batiara£»¡¡Karch£»¡¡Waleska¡£¡¡Blond£»¡¡bearded¡¡Karcher¡¡giants¡¡from¡¡the¡¡far¡¡north¡¡mingled¡and¡¡frequently¡¡brawled¡with¡¡lean£»¡¡smooth¡shaven£»¡¡dagger¡wielding¡¡men¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dangerous¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡Batiara¡£¡¡One¡¡heard¡¡half¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡languages¡¡in¡¡the¡¡marketplace¡¡of¡¡a¡¡morning¡£¡¡Alvar's¡¡Asharic¡¡was¡¡increasingly¡¡fluent¡¡now¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡swear¡¡in¡¡two¡¡Karcher¡¡dialects¡£
¡¡¡¡Walking¡¡a¡¡little¡¡distance¡¡aside¡¡with¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡they¡¡had¡¡parted£»¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡had¡¡told¡¡Alvar¡¡that¡¡he¡¡need¡¡not¡¡hurry¡¡home¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡leave¡¡to¡¡linger¡¡in¡¡Ragosa£»¡¡with¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡post¡¡letters¡¡of¡¡report¡¡with¡¡any¡¡tradesmen¡¡heading¡¡towards¡¡Valledo¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡King¡¡Badir's¡¡army¡¡had¡¡summoned¡¡Alvar¡¡on¡¡the¡¡third¡¡day¡¡after¡¡their¡¡arrival¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡well¡run£»¡¡highly¡¡disciplined¡¡army£»¡¡for¡¡all¡¡its¡¡diversity¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡marked¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gates¡£¡¡The¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡armor¡¡he'd¡¡won¡¡at¡¡Orvilla¡¡were¡¡too¡¡good¡¡for¡¡him¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡noted¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡closely¡¡interviewed£»¡¡enlisted¡¡at¡¡a¡¡salary¡¡and¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pany¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡also£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days£»¡¡permitted¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡barracks¡¡and¡¡live¡¡with¡¡Jehane¡¡and¡¡Velaz¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Kindath¡¡Quarter£»¡¡which¡¡surprised¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡happened¡¡in¡¡Esteren¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡because¡¡of¡¡Jehane's¡¡position¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡immediately¡¡installed¡¡at¡¡court£»¡¡newest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡physicians¡¡to¡¡the¡¡king¡¡and¡¡his¡¡notorious¡¡Kindath¡¡chancellor£»¡¡Mazur¡¡ben¡¡Avren¡£¡¡Her¡¡formal¡¡place¡¡in¡¡a¡¡palace¡¡retinue¡in¡¡Ragosa£»¡¡as¡¡everywhere¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡carried¡¡with¡¡it¡¡certain¡¡perquisites¡£
¡¡¡¡None¡¡of¡¡which¡¡had¡¡stopped¡¡Alvar¡¡from¡¡being¡¡embroiled¡¡in¡¡three¡¡fights¡¡not¡¡of¡¡his¡¡choosing¡¡during¡¡the¡¡first¡¡fortnight¡¡after¡¡he¡¡left¡¡the¡¡barracks¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡their¡¡house¡£¡¡That¡¡much¡¡was¡¡also¡¡the¡¡same¡¡everywhere£º¡¡soldiers¡¡had¡¡their¡¡own¡¡codes£»¡¡whatever¡¡royal¡¡courts¡¡might¡¡decree£»¡¡and¡¡young¡¡fighting¡¡men¡¡granted¡¡special¡¡privileges¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡their¡¡right¡¡to¡¡those¡£
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡fought¡£¡¡Not¡¡to¡¡the¡¡death£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡was¡¡forbidden¡¡in¡¡a¡¡city¡¡that¡¡needed¡¡its¡¡mercenaries£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡wounded¡¡two¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡cut¡¡on¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡arm¡¡that¡¡had¡¡Jehane¡¡briefly¡¡worried¡£¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡her¡¡concern¡¡was¡¡worth¡¡the¡¡wound¡¡and¡¡the¡¡scar¡¡that¡¡remained¡¡when¡¡it¡¡healed¡£¡¡Alvar¡¡expected¡¡wounds¡¡and¡¡scars£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡soldier£»¡¡such¡¡things¡¡came¡¡with¡¡his¡¡chosen¡¡course¡¡of¡¡life¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡also¡¡here¡¡in¡¡Ragosa¡¡as¡¡a¡¡known¡¡representative¡¡of¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte's¡¡pany£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡fought¡¡it¡¡was¡¡with¡¡a¡¡consciousness¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡upholding¡¡the¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Captain's¡¡men¡¡and¡¡their¡¡eminence¡¡among¡¡the¡¡panies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡role¡¡he¡¡shouldered¡¡alone£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡anxious¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡responsibility¡£
¡¡¡¡Until£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡end¡¡of¡¡that¡¡same¡¡summer£»¡¡Ser¡¡Rodrigo¡¡had¡¡e¡¡himself¡¡through¡¡the¡¡pass¡¡to¡¡Ragosa¡¡on¡¡his¡¡black¡¡horse¡¡with¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡soldiers¡¡and¡¡a¡¡silk¡¡merchant£»¡¡the¡¡banners¡¡of¡¡Belmonte¡¡and¡¡Valledo¡¡flapping¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡as¡¡they¡¡rode¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡along¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lake¡£
¡¡¡¡Things¡¡changed¡¡then¡£¡¡Things¡¡began¡¡to¡¡change¡¡everywhere¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨By¡¡the¡¡eyeteeth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡god£»¡¨¡¡Lain¡¡Nunez¡¡had¡¡cackled¡¡in¡¡horror¡¡when¡¡Alvar¡¡reported¡¡to¡¡them¡¡that¡¡first¡¡day£»¡¡¡¨will¡¡you¡¡look¡¡at¡¡this£¡¡¡The¡¡boy's¡¡gone¡¡and¡¡converted¡¡himself£¡¡¡What¡¡will¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡his¡¡poor¡¡father£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡Captain£»¡¡scrutinizing¡¡Alvar's¡¡clothing¡¡with¡¡amusement£»¡¡had¡¡said¡¡only£»¡¡¡¨I've¡¡had¡¡three¡¡reports¡£¡¡You¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡have¡¡done¡¡well¡¡by¡¡us¡£¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡exactly¡¡how¡¡you¡¡were¡¡wounded¡¡and¡¡what¡¡you¡¡would¡¡do¡¡differently¡¡next¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Alvar£»¡¡grinning¡¡for¡¡all¡¡he¡¡was¡¡worth£»¡¡a¡¡warm¡¡glow¡¡rising¡¡in¡¡him¡¡as¡¡from¡¡drinking¡¡unmixed¡¡wine£»¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡some¡¡time¡¡later£»¡¡running¡¡through¡¡the¡¡market¡¡under¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡skies¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cri