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what's happened。〃
〃Do you want me to take two or three men and try to find out？〃 Martin asked。
The Captain shook his head。 〃I don't think we'll have to。 We'll light a good fire tonight。 Double the guards； Lain； but I want them to know we're here。〃
Some time later； after the evening meal and after the sunset prayer for the god's safe night journey； they gathered around the fire while Martin played his guitar and Ludus and Barano sang under the brilliant stars。
It was just after the white moon had risen in the east； almost full； that three people rode into their camp； with no attempt at concealment。
They dismounted from their mules and were led into the glow of the firelight by the posted guards and； as the music and the singing stopped； Rodrigo Belmonte and his pany learned what had happened in Fezana that day。
Three
From within Husari ibn Musa's chamber late in the afternoon they heard the screaming in the streets。 A slave was sent to inquire。 Ashen…faced； he brought back word。
They did not believe him。 Only when a friend of ibn Musa； another merchant； less successful…which appeared to have saved his life…sent a servant running with the same tidings did the reality bee inescapable。 Every man who had gone to the castle that morning was dead。 Headless bodies were floating in the moat and down the river； carrion for the circling birds。 Only thus； the very efficient king of Cartada appeared to have decided； could the threat of a rising in Fezana be utterly dispelled。 In one afternoon virtually all of the most powerful figures left in the city had been eliminated。
Jehane's patient； the luxury…loving silk merchant who was； however improbably； to have been among the corpses in the moat； lay on his bed with a hand over his eyes； trembling and spent in the aftermath of passing a kidney stone。 Struggling； not very successfully； to deal with her own churning emotions； Jehane looked at him closely。 Her refuge； as ever； was in her profession。 Quietly； grateful for the control she seemed to have over her voice； she instructed Velaz to mix a further soporific。 Ibn Musa surprised her； though。
'〃No more； Jehane； please。〃 He lowered the hand and opened his eyes。 His voice was weak but quite clear。 〃I need to be able to think carefully。 They may be ing for me。 You had best leave this house。〃
Jehane hadn't thought of that。 He was right； of course。 There was no particular reason why Almalik's murderous desert mercenaries would allow an accident of ill…health to deprive them of Husari's head。 And as for the doctor…the Kindath doctor…who had so inconveniently kept him from the palace 。。。
She shrugged。 Whichever way the wind blows； it will rain upon the Kindath。 Her gaze met Husari's。 There was something terrible in his face； still growing； a horror taking shape and a name。 Jehane wondered how she must look herself； weary and bedraggled after most of a day in this warm； close room； and now dealing with what they had learned。 With slaughter。
〃It doesn't matter whether I stay or go；〃 she said； surprised again at how calmly she said this。 〃Ibn Khairan knows who I am； remember？ He brought me here。〃
Oddly； a part of her still wanted to deny that it was Ammar ibn Khairan who had arranged and achieved this wholesale massacre of innocent men。 She couldn't have said why that had any importance to her： he was a killer； the whole of Al…Rassan knew he was。 Did it matter that a killer was sophisticated and amusing？ That he had known who her father was； and had spoken well of him？
Behind her； Velaz offered the small； discreet cough that meant he had something urgent to say。 Usually in disagreement with a view she had expressed。 Without looking back at him； Jehane said； 〃I know。 You think we should leave。〃
In his subdued tones； her grey…haired servant…her father's before her…murmured； 〃I believe the most honorable ibn Musa offers wise counsel； doctor。 The Muwardis may learn who you are from ibn Khairan； but there is no great reason for them to pursue you。 If they e for the lord ibn Musa； though； and find us here； you are a provocation to them。 My lord ibn Musa will tell you the same thing； I am sure of it。 They are desert tribesmen； my lady。 They are not 。。。 civilized。〃
And now Jehane did wheel around； aware that she was channelling fear and anger onto her truest friend in the world； aware that this was not the first time。 〃So you would have me abandon a patient？〃 she snapped。 〃Is that what I should do？ How very civilized of us。〃
〃I am recovering； Jehane。〃
She turned back to Husari。 He had pushed himself up to a sitting position。 〃You did all a physician could be asked to do。 You saved my life； though not in the way we expected。〃 Amazingly； he managed a wry smile。 It did not reach his eyes。
His voice was firmer now； sharper than she could ever remember。 She wondered if some disordered state had descended upon the merchant in the wake of overwhelming horror： if this altered manner was his way of reacting。 Her father would have been able to tell her。
Her father； she thought； would not tell her anything again。
There was a good chance the Muwardis would be ing for Husari； that they might indeed take her if they found her here。 The tribesmen from the Majriti were not civilized； at all。 Ammar ibn Khairan knew exactly who she was。 Almalik of Cartada had ordered this butchery。 Almalik of Cartada had also done what he had done to her father。 Four years ago。
There are moments in some lives when it can truly be said that everything pivots and changes； when the branching paths show clearly； when one does make a choice。
Jehane bet Ishak turned back to her patient。 〃I'm not leaving you here to wait for them alone。〃
Husari actually smiled again。 〃What will you do； my dear？ Offer sleeping draughts to the veiled ones when they e？〃
〃I have worse than that to give them；〃 Jehane said darkly； but his words forced her to pause。 〃What do you want？〃 she asked him。 〃I am running too fast； I'm sorry。 It is possible they are sated。 No one may e。〃
He shook his head decisively。 Again； she registered the change in manner。 She had known ibn Musa for a long time。 She had never seen him like this。
He said； 〃I suppose that is possible。 I don't greatly care。 I don't intend to wait to find out。 If I am going to do what I must do； I will have to leave Fezana； in any case。〃
Jehane blinked。 〃And what is it you must do？〃
〃Destroy Cartada；〃 said the plump； lazy； self…indulgent silk merchant； Husari ibn Musa。
Jehane stared at him。 This was a man who liked his dinner meat turned well； so he need not see blood when he ate。 His voice was exactly as calm and matter…of…fact as it was when she had heard him talking with a factor about insuring a shipment of silk for transport overseas。
Jehane heard Velaz offer his apologetic cough again。 She turned。 〃If that is so；〃 Velaz said； as softly as before； his forehead creased with worry now； 〃we cannot be of aid。 Surely it will be better if we are gone from here 。。。 so the lord ibn Musa can begin to make his arrangements。〃
〃I agree；〃 Husari said。 〃I will call for an escort and…
〃I do not agree；〃 Jehane said bluntly。 〃For one thing； you are at risk of fever after the stones pass and I have to watch for that。 For another； you will not be able to leave the city until dark； and certainly not by any of the gates； in any case。〃
Husari laced his pudgy fingers together。 His eyes held hers now； the gaze steady。 〃What are you proposing？〃
It seemed obvious to Jehane。 〃That you hide in the Kindath Quarter with us until nightfall。 I'll go first； to arrange for them to let you in。 I'll be back at sundown for you。 You ought to be in some disguise； I think。 I'll leave that to you。 After dark we can leave Fezana by a way that I know。〃
Velaz； pushed beyond discretion； made a strangled sound behind her。
〃We？〃 said ibn Musa carefully。
〃If I am going to do what I must do；〃 said Jehane deliberately； 〃I； too； will have to leave Fezana。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the man in the bed。 He gazed at her for a disquieting moment； no longer a patient； in some unexpected way。 No longer the man she had known for so long。 〃Th