The sun, rising over the pine forests to the... 316
The sun, rising over the pine forests to the east, was bronze in a close, deep blue skyIt was warm already this early in the day; it would be very hot by mid-morning
By which time the fighting would have begun
Brandin was conferring with d'Eymon and Rhamanus and his captains, three of them newly appointed from the provincesFrom Corte and Asoli and Chiara itselfNot from Lower Corte, of course, though there were a number of men from her province in the army below them in the valleyShe had wondered briefly, lying awake one night in the flagship off Farsaro, if Baerd was one of themShe knew he wouldn't be thoughJust as Brandin could not change in this, neither could her brotherHowever much might alter, this single thing would go on until the last generation that knew Tigana died
And she? Since the Dive, since rising from the sea, she had been trying hard not to think at allSimply to move with the events she fake fendi spy bag had set in motionTo accept the shining fact of Brandin's love for her and the terrible uncertainties of this warShe no longer saw the riselka's path in her mind's eyeShe had some sense of what that meant, but she made an effort not to dwell upon it during the dayNights were different; dreams were always differentShe was owner and captive, both, of a bitterly divided heart
With her two guards just behind her she moved forward on the crown of the hill and looked out over the wide east-west running valleyThe dense green pine woods were beyond, with olive trees growing on steeper ridges to the south and a plateau north leading to Senzio town
Down below the two armies were just stirring, men emerging from their tents and sleeping-rolls, horses being saddled and harnessed, swords cleaned, bowstrings fitted and readiedMetal glinted in the young sun all along the valleyThe sound of voices carried easily up to her in dolce
