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Even Velaz seemed to miss the young Jaddite； she hadn't expected a friendship to develop there。 Singing the sun god's exultant chants of triumph； the Jaddites of Esperana had slaughtered the Kindath through the centuries or； in generations slightly less bloodthirsty； had forced them to convert or made them slaves。 Easy friendships； perhaps even less than love； did not readily emerge from such a history。
It was hard to attach that long； stony bitterness to Alvar de Pellino； though。 Or to Rodrigo Belmonte； for that matter。 The Captain still wanted her as physician to his band； he had made that clear as soon as he'd arrived。 Had said it was one of the reasons he was here。 She didn't believe that； but he'd said it； nonetheless； and she did know how important a good doctor was to a fighting pany； and how hard they were to find。
She remembered the night ride with him across the land north of Fezana and the river； Orvilla burning behind them； the bodies of the dead lying on the grass。 She remembered words spoken around the campfire later。 He remembered them too； she could see that in his grey eyes。 Rodrigo was still unlike anything she might have expected him to be。
She had teased him on that solitary ride under the two moons； letting her hands slide down to his thighs。 She had been irritated； deliberately provocative。 She didn't think she would risk that again。 She couldn't believe she had done it in the first place。 It was reported by Alvar that the Captain was married to the most beautiful woman in Valledo。
Rodrigo had spoken of his wife that night near Fezana as if she was an unholy terror。 He had an odd sense of humor。 Alvar worshipped him。 All his pany did。 It was obvious； and it said a great deal。
They had spoken seldom since he'd arrived； and only in public。 It was among a number of people； including ben Avren； the chancellor； at a reception in a palace courtyard； that Rodrigo had again declared his intention of recruiting her。 The chancellor had arched his expressive eyebrows but he hadn't raised the matter later when they were alone。 Neither had Jehane。
Rodrigo was usually outside the walls through the autumn's early； mild days； leading his pany…or parts of it…on a sequence of minor； overdue expeditions designed to deal with outlaw bands to the northeast； and then making a show of strength in the small； important city of Fibaz； by the pass leading to Ferrieres。 Ragosa controlled Fibaz； and drew taxes from it； but King Bermudo of Jalona had increasingly obvious designs upon the town。
He had already made his first tribute demand； the parias gold being exacted from Fezana by his nephew in Valledo serving as an example。 The Jaddites were growing bold。 Remembering that moonlit conversation by a campfire； Jehane asked Mazur once how long he thought Al…Rassan's city…kings could survive。 He hadn't answered that question。
Rodrigo had made it explicit that he wanted Jehane to e as physician with his pany on those early expeditions。 She knew he saw them as a test for both of them。 It wasn't entirely her decision； in a way。 She could have accepted or refused； but did not； waiting to see what would happen。 King Badir promised his newest mercenary leader that he would consider the matter； and then promptly increased Jehane's duties at court。 Mazur was controlling that； she knew。 She was uncertain whether to be vexed or amused。 By the terms of her engagement she was free to leave if she wanted； but they were determined to make it difficult。 Rodrigo； in and out of the city through the autumn； bided his time。
Husari ibn Musa rode with him on several of those expeditions。 Jehane's former patient was almost unrecognizable。 No longer the portly； soft merchant he had been； he had lost a great deal of weight in a season。 He looked a younger； harder man now。 The kidney stones no longer vexed him； he said。 He could ride all day； and had been learning to handle a sword and bow。 He wore a wide…brimmed Jaddite leather hat now； even in the city。 Jehane had said teasingly that he and Alvar appeared to have exchanged cultures。 When the two men first saw each other they laughed； and then grew thoughtful。
The leather Jaddite hat was an emblem of sorts for Husari； Jehane decided。 A reminder。 He； too； had sworn an oath of vengeance； and the recollection of that served to modify her surprise at the changes in him。 He was still actively doing business； he told her one night when he came for dinner in the Kindath Quarter； as he used to e to her father's house。 His factors were busy all over Al…Rassan； even here in Ragosa； he added； as the servant Velaz had hired poured wine for them。 There were； simply； other priorities for him now； Husari said。 Since the Day of the Moat。 She'd asked； cautiously； what affairs he was pursuing in Cartada； but that question he had deflected。
It was interesting； Jehane thought； lying in bed that night： all these men who trusted her had certain questions they would not answer。 Except Alvar； she supposed。 She was fairly certain he would answer anything she asked him。 There was something to be said for straightforwardness in a world of oblique intrigue。 She had Velaz for directness； though。 She'd always had Velaz。 More of a blessing than she deserved。 She remembered that it was her father who had made her take Velaz when she left home。
Amid all of this； the king's three other court physicians actively hated her。 That was to be expected。 A woman； and a Kindath； and preferred by the chancellor？ Openly coveted by the most celebrated Jaddite captain for his pany？ She was lucky they hadn't poisoned her； she wrote in a letter to Ser Rezzoni in Sorenica。 She asked him to continue writing her father。 She said there was reason to believe there might now be a reply。 She wrote home herself twice a week。 Letters came back。 Her mother's careful handwriting； in slanted Kindath script； but her father's dictation now； some of the time。 Small； good things； it seemed； still happened in the world。
She didn't make that jest about being poisoned to them； of course。 Parents were parents； and they would have been afraid for her。
On the autumn morning when Mazur's messenger brought her tidings from Cartada and bade her follow him to court that jest didn't seem particularly witty any more。
Someone had been poisoned； it appeared。
In the palace of Ragosa； as Jehane arrived and made her way to the Courtyard of the Streams where the king was awaiting the newly arrived visitor； no one's thoughts or whispered words were of anything else。
Almalik of Cartada； the self…styled Lion of Al…Rassan； was dead； and the lady Zabira…more his widow than anything else…had arrived unannounced this morning； a supplicant to King Badir。 She had been acpanied only by her steward in her flight through the mountains； someone whispered。
Jehane； who had made the same journey with only two panions； wasn't impressed by that。 But neither was she even remotely close to sorting out how she felt about the larger tidings。 She was going to need a long time for that。 For the moment she could only grasp the essential fact that the man she had vowed to kill was somehow dead at Ammar ibn Khairan's hand…the story was not yet clear…and the woman who had birthed a living child and had herself survived only because of Jehane's father was soon to enter through the arches at the far end of this garden。
Beyond these two clear facts confusion reigned within her； mingled with something close to pain。 She had left Fezana with a sworn purpose； and had proceeded to spend the past months in this city enjoying her work at court； enjoying…if she was honest…the flattering attentions of an immensely civilized man； enjoying the determined skirmishing for her professional services。 Taking pleasure in her life。 And doing nothing at all about Almalik of Cartada and the promise she'd made to herself on the Day of the Moat。
Too late now。 It would always be too late； now。
She stood； as was her custom； on the margin of one bank of the stream； not far from Mazur's position at the king's right shoulder on the island。 Wind…blown leaves were falling into the water and drifting away。 As many times as she'd been in this garden； by daylight and under torches at night； Jehane was still conscious of its beauty。 In autumn only the late flowers still bloomed； but the falling leaves in the sunlight and those yet clinging to the trees were brilliant； many…colored。 She was aware of the effect this garden could have on someone seeing it for the first time。
The Courtyard of the Streams had been designed and contrived years ago。 The same stream that ran through the banquet hall had been further channelled to pass through this garden and to branch into two forks； creating a small islet in the midst of trees and flowers and marble walkways beneath the carved arcades。 On the isle； reached by two arched bridges； the king of Ragosa now sat on an ivory bench with his most honored courtiers beside him。 Flanking the gently curving path that approached one of the bridges members of Badir's court waited in the autumn sunshine for the woman who had e to Ragosa。
Birds flitted in the branches overhead。 Four musicians played on the far bank o