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hadn't been enough。 Not yet。 Only fifteen or twenty families； clearly leaving hopeless situations in the north； had been brave or rash or desperate enough to try making lives for themselves here on the threshold of Al…Rassan。
Things might be changing year by year； but the memory of the Khalifate's armies thundering north through these high plains was a raw one yet。 And everyone with a head above the ground knew the king was too fiercely engaged by his brother and uncle in Ruenda and Jalona to be reckless in support of two speculative garrisons in the tagra and the families who huddled around them。
The balance might be shifting； but it was still a balance； and one could ignore that only at peril。 Thinking； as they continued south； about the narrowed eyes and apprehensive faces of the men and women he'd seen in the fields beside the two forts； Alvar had decided there were worse things for a farmer to contend with than thin soil and early frosts in the north by the Ruenda border。 Even the fields themselves down here had seemed pathetic and frail； small scratchings in the wide space of the otherwise empty land。
The Captain hadn't seemed to see it that way； though。 Ser Rodrigo had made a point of dismounting to speak to each of the farmers they saw。 Alvar had been close enough to overhear him once： the talk was of crop rotation and the pattern of rainfall here in the tagra lands。
〃We aren't the real warriors of Valledo；〃 he'd said to his pany upon mounting up again after one such conversation。 〃These people are。 It will be a mistake for any man who rides with me to forget that。〃
His expression had been unusually grim as he spoke； as if daring any of them to disagree。 Alvar hadn't been inclined to say anything at all。 Thinking； he'd rubbed his bruised jaw through the beginnings of a sand…colored beard and kept silent。
The flat； high landscape of the plateau did not change； and there were no border markings of any kind； but late the following afternoon old Lain Nunez said aloud to no one in particular； 〃We're in Al…Rassan now。〃
Three days later； nearing sundown； the outriders caught a glimpse of the Tavares River and； not long after； Alvar saw for the first time the towers and walls of Fezana； tucked into a northward bend of the river； honey…colored in the westering light。
It was Ludus who first noticed the strange thing。 An astonishing number of carrion birds seemed to be circling and swooping above the river by the northern wall of the city。 Alvar had never seen anything like it。 There had to be thousands of them。
〃That's what happens on a battlefield；〃 Martin said quietly。 〃When the battle's over； I mean。〃
Lain Nunez； squinting to see more clearly； turned after a moment to look at the Captain； a question in his eyes。 Ser Rodrigo had not dismounted； and so none of them had。 He stared at Fezana in the distance for a long time。
〃There are dead men in the water；〃 he said finally。 〃We'll camp here tonight。 I don't want to go closer； or enter the city； until we know 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 t