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the verses during the ride east with Zabira。 Had offered them this evening to a banquet hall of Cartada's enemies。 A room with a stream running through it。 Water again。 Ashar's dream amid the desert sands。 It was an affectation； that banquet room； but impressive nonetheless； and tastefully done。 He could e to like Badir of Ragosa； he told himself； could respect Mazur ben Avren。 There was a life beyond Cartada； with scope and sweep。
Where lesser beasts now gather 。。。
He shook his head。 Turned away from the lake and started back； with the wind and the moons behind him now。
From the shadows by the oak…timbered wall of a warehouse she saw him leave the water's edge and the outthrust arms of the city walls。 She had retreated here to wait； after walking almost to the pier。 As he approached she saw…her eyes by now adjusted to the moonlight…an odd； inward look to his face and she was half…inclined to let him pass。 But even as that thought formed she realized that she had stepped forward into the street after all。
He stopped。 His hand moved to his sword and then she saw that he knew her。 She expected something ironic； a jest。 Her heart was beating rapidly。
〃Jehane bet Ishak。 What are you doing abroad at night？〃
〃Walking；〃 she said。 〃The same as you。〃
〃Not the same at all。 It isn't safe for a woman。 There's no point to being foolish。〃
She felt a useful flare of anger。 〃I do wonder how I've survived this long in Ragosa without your guidance。〃
He was silent。 He still had that strange look to him。 She wondered what had driven him to the lake。 She hadn't e out to quarrel； although she couldn't have said why she had e。 She changed her tone。 〃I am known here；〃 she murmured。 〃There is no real danger。〃
〃In the dark？ On the waterfront？〃 He raised his eyebrows。 〃You could be killed for your cloak or merely because of your religion。 Where's your servant？〃
〃Velaz？ Asleep； I hope。 He's had a long day and night。〃
〃And you？〃
〃Long enough；〃 she said。 〃Where you injured I tried to heal。 I've e from the infirmary。〃 What was it； she asked herself； that kept causing her to challenge him？
He looked at her。 The steady； unrevealing gaze。 The pearl in his ear gleamed palely in the moonlight。 He said； 〃It's too cold to stand here。 e。〃 He started walking again； back towards the center of the city。
She fell into stride。 The wind was behind them； cutting through her cloak。 It was cold； and despite what she'd implied； Jehane was unused to being abroad this late。 In fact； the last time had been the night of the day she met this man。 The Day of the Moat。 She had thought it had been his savage device； that slaughter of innocent men。 All of Al…Rassan had thought so。
She said； 〃I remember what you said in Fezana。 That it was none of your doing。〃
〃You didn't believe me。〃
〃Yes； I did。〃
He glanced at her。 They continued walking。
She had seen him go by earlier； from the doorway of the infirmary。 Her two patients had been sleeping； one drugged against the pain of a shattered arm； the other still deeply confused； a contusion the size of an ostrich egg on the side of his head。 Jehane had left instructions that he be awakened after each of the night bells。 Too deep a sleep tonight carried a risk。
She had been standing near the open doorway； breathing the night air； struggling against fatigue； when ibn Khairan went past。 She had put on her cloak and followed him； without thinking about it； no reason save impulse for justification。
They had done something astonishing that day； he and Rodrigo Belmonte。 Two men against five and had she not known better it might have seemed that the five had consented to be cut down； so swift and crisply defined and elegant had it been。 She did know better； though。 She was treating two of the five tonight。 The Karcher with the broken arm was struggling to deal with what had happened。 He was bitter； humiliated。 Not a man accustomed to losing battles。 Not that way； at any rate。
Stepping out into the street after ibn Khairan Jehane had been awkwardly aware that there were other kinds of women who did this sort of thing； especially after what had happened today。 She half…expected to see some of them trailing behind the man； adorned； perfumed。 Pursuing the hero of the moment； approaching to touch…to be touched by…glory； the shimmer that clung to fame。 She had nothing but contempt for such women。
What she'd done in following him was not remotely the same thing； she told herself。 She wasn't young or bedazzled； she wore a plain white cloth cap to keep her hair from her eyes while she worked； no jewelry； mud…stained boots。 She was level…headed； a physician； and observant。
〃Weren't you hurt this afternoon？〃 she said； glancing sideways and up at him。 〃I thought I saw you take a sword in the leg。〃
He looked dryly amused； an expression she remembered。 〃A scratch； truly。 One of them caught me with his blade when he fell。 It is kind of you to ask； doctor。 How are your patients？〃
She shrugged。 〃The broken arm will be all right。 It set easily enough。 The Batiaran that Ser Rodrigo felled was still having trouble remembering his mother's name before he fell asleep。〃
Ibn Khairan grinned； the white teeth flashing。 〃Now that is serious。 If it were his father's name； of course； I'd call that normal for Batiara。〃
〃Go ahead and jest；〃 she said； refusing to laugh。 〃You don't have to deal with it。〃 A silly thing to say。
〃I'm so sorry；〃 he murmured； all solicitude。 〃Did I add to your burdens today？〃
She winced。 She'd asked for that。 It was important to watch what one said with this man。 He was as sharp as Mazur was。 At least as sharp。
〃How is your father？〃 he said； changing tone。 She glanced over in surprise and then away。 She had a clear memory； as they walked through the dark streets； of this man on his knees before Ishak last summer； their hands clasped together。
〃My parents are well enough； I thank you。 My father 。。。 has dictated some letters to me since that night in Fezana。 I believe that 。。。 speaking with you was of help to him。〃
〃I am honored that you think so。〃
No irony in the voice now。 She had heard his lament tonight。 He had slain a man she herself had sworn to destroy。 Had made her own vain； childish oath the meaningless thing it always had been。 She had actually been close to grief； hearing the cadenced verses。 The sorrow behind the sword。
She said； 〃I had intended to kill Almalik myself。 For my father。 That's why I left Fezana。〃 As she spoke the words； as she told him； Jehane understood that this was why she had e out into the cold of the night。
〃I am not surprised；〃 he murmured； after a pause。 A generous thing to say。 Taking her seriously。 A Kindath woman。 A child's rash vow。 〃Are you angry that I forestalled you？〃
She hadn't expected that either。 She walked beside him a while in silence。 They turned a corner。 〃I'm a little ashamed；〃 she said。 〃I did nothing at all for four years； then came here and did nothing again。〃
〃Some tasks take longer than others。 As it happens； it was a little easier for me。〃
Disguised as a slave。 She had heard the tale from Mazur just before the banquet this evening。 Poison on a towel。 The royal son entirely plicitous； then exiling ibn Khairan。 There had to be pain there。
They turned another corner。 Two lights shone ahead of them now at the end of the street； outside the infirmary。 Another memory rising suddenly； against her will。 That same summer's night in Fezana； the same room。 Herself with this man at the window； rising on her toes to kiss him。 A challenge。
I must have been mad； she thought。 She stopped at the entrance to the infirmary。
And as if he could actually trace the course of her thoughts； Ammar ibn Khairan said； 〃Was I right about the chancellor； by the way？〃 A revealed edge of amusement again； infuriatingly。
〃Right about what？〃 she temporized。
He would have seen where she had been placed tonight； at the banquet。 He would have duly noted the fact that she was there at all。 She hoped； fiercely； that he could not see her flushing。 She almost regretted now that she had e。
He laughed softly。 〃I see；