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A little later she heard the sound from outside。 She had been waiting for that sound。
Ammar swung up and onto the window ledge。 He stayed there； motionless； regarding her a long while。
〃Will you forgive me？〃 he asked finally。 〃I needed to e。〃
〃I would not have forgiven you； ever； had you not；〃 she said。 〃Hold me。〃
He jumped down to the floor and crossed the room。 He lay on the bed beside her and she laid her head on his chest。 She could feel his heartbeat。 She closed her eyes。 His hand came up and touched her hair。
〃Oh； my love；〃 he said softly。 〃Jehane。〃
She began； again； to cry。
This passed as well； though not soon。 When she had been quiet for a time he spoke again。 〃We can lie like this； as long as you like。 It is all right。〃
But there was an emptiness in her； and it needed not to be empty any more。
〃No we can't；〃 she said； and lifted her head and kissed him。 Salt。 Her own tears。 She brought her hands up and laced them in his hair and kissed him again。
Much later； with both of them unclothed； she lay wrapped in his arms under the bedcovers and fell into desperately needed sleep。
He did not。 He was much too aware of what was to e…later this same day。 He had to leave Ragosa； before nightfall。 He would urge that she remain here。 She would refuse。 He even knew who would insist upon ing with them。 There was a darkness looming in the west； like a high…piled thundercloud。 Above Fezana。 Where they had met。
He lay awake； holding her in his arms； and became aware of a great irony…observing how the newly risen sun poured in through the eastern window and fell upon them both； as if someone or something wished to cloak them in a blessing made entirely of light。
Part V…Even the Sun Goes Down
Fifteen
The governor of Fezana was a watchful and a cautious man。 If he occasionally remembered that the lamented King Almalik I； the Lion of Cartada； had begun his own ascent to glory from the position of governing that city for the khalifs of Silvenes； he more often reminded himself of his extreme good fortune in having been the only important city governor to survive the transition from father to son in Cartada。
When unsettled by dreams of loftier position he had learned to allow himself an evening of distraction： a quantity of Jaddite wine； dancers； encounters…watching or participating…involving slaves of both sexes in varying binations。 He had discovered that the release afforded by such activities served to quell the disturbances of inappropriate dreams for a time。
In truth； it wasn't merely good fortune that had ensured his continuance in Fezana。 During the last years of the reign of the elder Almalik； the governor had taken pains； quietly； to establish cordial relations with the son。 Though the tension between the king and the prince was evident； the governor of Fezana nonetheless judged that the young man was likely to survive and succeed his father。 His reasoning was simple in the extreme： the alternatives were untenable； and the prince had Ammar ibn Khairan for his guardian。
The governor of Fezana had been born in Aljais。
He had known ibn Khairan from the poet's boyhood in that city。 Concerning a number of the tales emerging from that reckless； not…too…distant time he had a first…hand awareness。 It was his own considered judgment that any prince being counselled by the man that boy had bee was someone a prudent administrator would do well to cultivate。
He had been proved right； of course； though greatly unnerved when the young king had promptly sent ibn Khairan into exile。 When he learned that the exiled courtier was in Ragosa he conveyed； by indirect means； his good wishes to him there。 At the same time； he continued to serve the younger Almalik with the diligence he had applied to the father's interests。 One remained in office…and wealthy； and alive…by such petence as much as by luck or scenting shifts in the wind。 He stole very little； and with discretion。
He was also careful not to make assumptions。 So when the unexpected； indeed startling； parias demand from Ruenda arrived by royal herald early in the spring； the governor sent it on to Cartada without ment。
He might form conjectures as to how this demand had emerged； and even admire the subtlety that had produced it； but it was not his place； unless invited by his king； to offer opinions about any of this。
His tasks were more pragmatic。 He fortified and rebuilt Fezana's walls and defenses as best he could； given a dispirited populace。 Having spent years dealing with a dangerously rebellious city； the governor judged he could cope with enervated depression for a time。 The additional Muwardis in the new wing of the castle were not especially good at wall…building…desert warriors could hardly be expected to be…but they were being well paid and he had no punctions about putting them to work。
He was aware of the religious broadsides being posted about the city that winter； as he was aware of most things in his city。 He judged that the wadjis of Cartada were being allowed some leeway by the new king as a conciliatory gesture； and that this was spreading to the other cities of the kingdom。 He had the prostitutes harassed a little more than usual。 A few Jaddite taverns were closed。 The governor quietly augmented his own stock of wine from the confiscations that acpanied this。 Such actions were normal； though the times were not。
The Kindath were receiving rather more vituperation than was customary。 This didn't particularly distress him。 He didn't like the Kindath。 They seemed always to have an air…even the women…of knowing things he didn't。 Secrets of the world。 The future mapped in their wandering moons。 This made him nervous。 If the wadjis chose to preach against the Wanderers more ferociously than in the recent past； it was apparently with the king's approval or acceptance and the governor was certainly not about to intervene。
He had graver concerns that year。
Fezana wasn't fortifying its walls or adding Muwardis to the garrison simply to keep soldiers busy。 There was a mood in the north this season that augured ill for the future； whether mapped in the Kindath moons or not。
Even so； the governor； being deeply cautious by nature； couldn't quite believe that Ramiro of Valledo would be foolish enough to e and make war here； laying a siege so far from his own lands。 Valledo was being paid parias from Fezana twice a year。 Why would any rational man risk life and his kingdom's stability to conquer a city that was already filling his coffers with gold？ Among other things； a Valledan army ing down through the tagra lands meant extreme vulnerability back home…to Jalona or Ruenda。
On the other hand； the governor had heard along with everyone else tidings of that Jaddite army assembling in Batiara； due to sail east this spring for Ammuz and Soriyya。
That sort of thing could set a very bad example； the governor of Fezana thought。
Spring came。 The Tavares rose and subsided without undue flooding。 In the temples Ashar and the holy stars of the god were ritually thanked for that。 Fields made rich by the river were tilled and sown。 Flowers bloomed