too old for war, but he didn't listen," Mother wept. "He didn't listen to me."

"I will avenge him."

"No!" Mother sobbed. "I will not lose you as well. You are my only son, and all your sisters have married..."

"Then I will not avenge him. I will do as you wish, Mother."

"I love you, Claudio. Remember that."

That night, as the setting sun painted the horse ranch in bronze colors, Catalina, Claudio, and the family servants decided on the time and place for the funeral. The honorable Lucento would be buried the next day at the family ranch, near the horses he loved so dearly.

The priest—a devotee of Hieronus, god of justice and just war—sprinkled the corpse with oil. "Hieronus, take Lucento Adamantus into your home. He has lived an honorablemourn in private. But it is necessary." She nuzzled her head into Claudio's shoulder, dampening his shoulder with her tears. "Go, pack your things." She looked up at the rider. "Tell the emperor to expect my son." She whispered in his ear as they walked toward the ranch house: "Be careful."

He set out early in the morning with a handful of servants. He did not ride in the carriage, where all his things were; a knight rode horses, by definition. He would ride until he was saddle-sore, and beyond.

By late afternoon, they reached an immense wooden sign along the main road:

THE PATH OF TIDUS

Fort Martello... 55 miles

Aurelea... 75 miles

The sign listed more towns and cities below, but at the bottom, Claudio's destination was written:

Imperial City... 531 miles

He sighed