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That edged smile did not waver Bayan’s lips ticked up, briefly, as if in a spaser, but he did not lose control "I will not ask you to bow your noble head, even to ht to But if our armies will join, then there can be only one commander That one must be Sapientia"

"God have mercy, Bayan, let’s not mince words, if you insist That one may be Sapientia in name, but it will be you in fact As it is now"

"So, how does this trouble you? You will have as much chance to influence her as I do, will you not?"

Sanglant laughed harshly "I’ such a thing"

"Bowing the head is not easy to learn, so I ado our separate ways after Sapientia also is Margrave of Eastfall, I think you rerant the raviate of Eastfall into your care I want Bulkezu dead I want to drive the Qulant If you did not, you would not be here now" They had reached the end of the horse lines and crossed now, by unspoken consent, toward the first line of sentries "But I do not forget your Wendish pride"

"Nor your own daria’s offer, not Salia’s Thus did he choose a consort for to ht air had finally cleared the cobwebs fro back his head to watch as clouds swirled over the face of the ain "I never had a child before," he said softly

"Now do you understandthe ht drifting hazily behind ht haze "A child of my blood will ascend to the throne of Wendar and Varre Beords you teach your sreat E tirave But few, I think, forget the noble feast he presided over Be cautious, I pray you, in parading a child who has learned to say those sweet-s words, ‘I ary"

3

POOR Lord Manegold, vain and shallow, had to carry Bulkezu’s standard when they rode down froetop to the parley He looked like he’d rather be dead, nowords Ekkehard muttered privately to him before the prince was escorted away to wait nervously with an honor guard close around him, just to otiations for the parley had taken an excruciating day conducted first through scouts, then through eain with various demands, offers, and comproleae with one hundred picked riders at his back, Lord Manegold at the front holding up his standard, and Hanna beside him, her hands bound to make it clear she was his prisoner Boso had dressed hie, and he looked as ridiculous as a dog fitted out in a lord’s cloak and jewels, trotting along at his eline and the outer palisade of the fort stood a large pavilion, sides raised up like wings to let the breeze through, the neutral ground on which both parties would meet A force of one hundred mounted men waited beyond the pavilion

Princess Theophanu had already arrived Her face was as expressive as the blank mask-visor on Bulkezu’s helleam of erass and crossed into the shade afforded by the raised wings of the tent

The princess had Henry’s cunning Seated in a chair al throne, she allowed Bulkezu to coh he were a supplicant Duke Conrad the Black fidgeted at her back with the salant had, aThere were, besides theirl of ten or twelve years of age who stood behind an empty chair placed next to Theophanu’s, and three stewards ready to serve goblets of wine

Bulkezu’s riders halted the precise distance back from the pavilion as Theophanu’s cavalry waited in the other direction He rode forith Hanna and Boso to his left, three of his captains to his right, and Cherbu at his back The windiron coverts as the breeze coursed through his griffin wings, lifting a seductive melody into the air He surveyed the positions of his troops, and of hers, the place her, that remained empty for him With his helmet on, it was impossible to see his face He looked back toward Cherbu, and the shan with his hand, briefly noted Satisfied, Bulkezu pulled off his helht it neatly and tucked it under his arm