The Lions of Al-Rassan. Guy Gavriel Kay

the sun circle of the god with thumb and fingers. “I swear by holy Jad,” he said formally, “that I will never lead my company in warfare into the lands of Valledo.”

      It was almost what the king had asked. Almost, but not quite, and Ramiro knew it.

      “And if you find a Valledan army beyond our borders?” he asked.

      “I can swear no oath,” Rodrigo said quietly. “Not an honorable one. Not if I am forced to take service elsewhere for my livelihood and that of my company. My lord, this is not,” he added, meeting the king’s gaze squarely, “a departure of my choosing.”

      A long stillness.

      “Do not take service with Cartada,” said the king at length, his voice extremely soft.

      Rodrigo stood motionless, visibly thinking.

      “Really, my lord? You will begin so soon? Within two years?” he asked cryptically.

      “It may be so,” Ramiro said, no less ambiguously.

      Men were struggling to understand, but the two of them seemed to be in the midst of a private exchange.

      Rodrigo was nodding his head slowly. “I suppose. I will regret being elsewhere if it does happen.” He paused. “I will not serve Almalik of Cartada. I don’t like what he did in Fezana. I will not serve him there, or anywhere else.”

      Fezana.

      At the mention of the name a few men began to nod their heads, looking at their tall, proud king. A glimmering of what this seemed to be about began to come to them, like shafts of the god’s sunlight falling into the clearing. Ramiro wasn’t a jurist or a cleric, after all, and there might be more than hunting in the days to come.

      “I accept your oath,” said the king of Valledo calmly. “We have never found you lacking in honor, Ser Rodrigo. We see no reason to doubt it now.”

      “Well, I am grateful for that,” said the Captain. It was impossible to tell if there was mockery in his voice. He took a step forward, fully into the light. “I do have a request of my own.”

      “Which is?”

      “I will ask Count Gonzalez to swear before the god to guard my family and possessions as if they were his own while I am away. That is enough for me. I need no binding of his death. The world is a dangerous place, and the days to come may make it more so. Should accident befall a Belmonte, Valledo could ill afford to lose its constable as well. I am content with his sworn word, if it pleases the king.”