按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The king of Cartada made no reply。
A moment later； Jehane heard them going out； and then down the stairs。
She waited until she heard the front door open and close again； and then she raced to follow…through the second bedroom； and out into the corridor。 She spared one quick glance into Ammar's chamber。 There was a man lying on the floor。
The doctor in her pelled a pause； for too many years this had been an instinct。 She rushed in； knelt beside him； felt for a heartbeat。 He was； of course； dead。 No blade remained； but the wound was in his throat。 The Muwardis knew how to kill。
Rodrigo would have been at his desk。 Writing a letter home。 Expecting carousing friends； if any knock had e。
Jehane scrambled to her feet and sped down the stairs into the entranceway。 She looked for her mask on the small table。 It was not there。 She froze。
Then she understood。 Ammar had taken it： that the Cartadans not see an owl mask and surmise the presence of a woman here。 For all she knew； King Almalik might even have understood the symbol of the owl as physician： he had been Ammar's pupil； hadn't he？
Which was a part of the grief that now lay like a stone at the center of a spinning night。 She pushed open the door and ran out； unmasked now； into the roiling street。 She began forcing her way through the crowd towards the barracks。 Someone groped for her； playfully。 Jehane twisted away and kept moving。 It was difficult； people were everywhere； amid torches and smoke。 It took her a long time to get through。
Afterwards； she realized that it was the silence that had warned her。
When she came back into the square before the barracks； she saw that the huge crowd had grown unnaturally still and had forced itself back towards the perimeter of the square； away from a place where someone lay on the ground。
By the torches and the one moon； she saw Ammar standing there； unmasked； ashen…faced； with a number of other men she knew extremely well。 She pushed her way through the murmuring onlookers and knelt beside the wounded man on the cobblestones。 It only took one glance。 It was too late for a doctor's art here。 Heartsick； too shocked to speak； she began； helplessly； to weep。
〃Jehane；〃 whispered the dying man。 His eyes had opened and were locked on hers。 〃Jehane 。。。 I 。。。 so very 。。。 〃
She put her fingers gently to his lips。 Then laid her hand against his cheek。 There was a Muwardi knife embedded in his chest； and a hideous； pouring sword wound deep in his collarbone； and that was what was going to kill him。
A moment later； it did。 She watched him reach for a last； inadequate breath and then close his eyes； as if in weariness。 This was one of the ways men died。 She had seen it so many times。 Her fingers were still against his cheek when he went away from all of them； to whatever lay in wait beyond the dark。
〃My dear；〃 she said； brokenly。 〃Oh； my dear。〃
Was it always like this？ That one thought of all the things one so much wanted to say； endlessly too late？
Above her the circle of soldiers parted。 Someone passed between them and sank to his knees on the other side of the body； heedless of the dark blood soaking the cobblestones。 He was breathing quickly； as if he'd been running。 Jehane didn't look up； but then she saw him reach forward and take the dead man by the hand。
〃May there be light waiting for you；〃 she heard him say； very softly。 〃More and gentler light than any of us can dream or imagine。〃
She did look up then； through her tears。
〃Oh； Jehane；〃 said Rodrigo Belmonte。 〃I am so sorry。 This should never have happened。 He saved my life。〃
At some point； with all the unmixed wine he had drunk； and the heady smell of incense burning in the room； and the many…colored candles everywhere； and the useful pillows on bed and woven carpet； and the extraordinary ways it seemed that a slender golden leash could be used； Alvar lost track of time and place。
He moved with this unknown woman； and upon her； and at times beneath her urgency。 They had removed their masks when they entered the house。 It didn't matter： she was still a hunting cat tonight； whatever she was by daylight in the customary round of the year。 He had raking scratches down his body； as if to prove it。 With some dismay he realized that she did； too。 He couldn't remember doing that。 Then； a little later； he realized he was doing it again。 They were standing； coupled； bending forward against the bed then。
〃I don't even know your name；〃 he gasped； later； on the carpet before the fire。
〃And why should that matter tonight； in any possible way？〃 she had replied。
Her fingers were long； the painted nails sharp。 She was wondrously skilled with her hands； among other things。 She had green eyes and a wide mouth。 He gathered； through various signs； that he was giving pleasure as well as taking it。
Some time afterwards she chose to blow out all the candles and leash him in a particularly intimate fashion。 They went out together； naked； with the marks of their lovemaking on both of them； to stand on the dark balcony one level above the teeming square。
She leaned against the waist…high balustrade and guided him into her from behind。 Alvar was almost convinced by then that something had been put into his wine。 He ought to have been exhausted by this point。
The night breeze was cool。 His skin felt feverish； unnaturally sensitive。 He could see past her； look down upon the crowd。 Music and cries and laughter came up from below and it was as if they were hovering here； their movements almost a part of the dancing； weaving throng in the street。 He had never imagined that lovemaking in such an exposed fashion could be so exhilarating。 It was； though。 He would be a liar to deny it。 He might want to deny many things tomorrow； Alvar thought suddenly； but he was not capable of doing so just now。
〃Only think；〃 she whispered； tilting her head far back to whisper to him。 〃If any of them were to look up 。。。 what they would see。〃
He felt her tug a little on the leash。 He had put it about her； earlier。 It was on him again。 Very much so。 His hands； which had been gripping the balustrade beside her； came up and encircled her small breasts。 A man was playing a five…stringed lute directly below them。 A ring of dancing figures surrounded him。 In the center of the ring a peacock was dancing。 The peacock was Husari ibn Musa。
〃What do you think？〃 Alvar heard； tongue at his ear again； the long neck arched backwards。 So much like a cat。 〃Shall we bring a torch out here and carry on？〃
He thought of Husari looking up； and winced。 But he didn't think he was going to be able to deny this woman anything tonight。 And he knew； without yet having tested the limits of it； that she would refuse him nothing he might ask of her between now and dawn。 He didn't know which thought excited or frightened him more。 What he did know； finally understanding； was that this was the dark； dangerous truth at the heart of the Carnival。 For this one night； all the rules of the circling year were changed。
He drew a long breath before answering her。 He looked up from the crowd below them to the night sky： only t