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s。 Yazir； torn by the burden of a host towards a guest and the spiritual duties of a leader to his people； had given his consent； reluctantly。 One more transgression for which Ashar would have to grant forgiveness when Yazir's time came to be judged。
That strange man had been the only one of the Kindath he'd ever met。
Two days ago a letter had e； delivered by a tribesman crossing back to the desert from Tudesca。 It had been carried before that by messengers across most of Al…Rassan。 It had begun as a note tied to a pigeon's leg； carried out from besieged Ragosa。
It was from the sorcerer himself； Mazur ben Avren。
After it had been read to him； three times； by a scribe； Yazir had walked from his tent and mounted a camel and ridden into the desert alone to think。
He was still thinking； tonight under the stars。 He had a decision to make…one that might shape the destiny of his people…and no more time for delay。 To delay further was to decide。
Ghalib was ready to cross to Al…Rassan； Yazir knew that。 Ghalib wanted to go where there was already war； to test himself and his tribesmen。 To die； if it came to that； with a red sword in his hand； battling in Ashar's name。 The surest path to Paradise。
The Kindath traveller； years ago； hadn't named that first world where the one true god reigned。 He'd said the name was another mystery。 Yazir wished he'd never heard the tale。 It refused to leave him； still。
Ragosa will not hold out until winter； as matters now stand； Mazur ben Avren had written。 But if you so much as land at Tudesca； and e no further this autumn than Aljais or Cartada； the Jalarans here will be greatly afraid and our people will take heart。 I believe we can endure if this happens； and in spring we may turn them back。
Ghalib had said the same thing。 He wanted to land before winter； to let the Jaddites fear their presence and push forward no further。 Yazir had been inclined to wait…for more ships； more men； and most of all； for tidings from Soriyya； towards which a Jaddite army was sailing even now。
What did a pious man do when he was asked； desperately； for aid in two different fields of holy war？
It has e to me as a thought； Mazur ben Avren's letter went on； that one reason you hesitate to relieve us from this peril is my own presence in Ragosa。 King Badir is a good man and a wise king； beloved of his people。 If it will ease the burden of decision that lies upon you； know that I am ready to leave this city should you send word。
Leave the city？ One did not leave besieged cities。 Unless 。。。
I will walk into the Jaddite camp so soon as word es from you that you have elected to cross to Al…Rassan and cleanse it of those who must be driven back lest this land be lost to Ashar and the Star…born。
It was a Kindath saying this； offering this。
Yazir imagined his reply being carried north and east； one rider after another； city to city； and then a carrier bird loosed from hills near Ragosa。 He imagined that bird landing in the city； his scribe…crafted note carried to the sorcerer。 Yazir pictured him reading it。
Strange； strangest thing of all： he never doubted for a moment that the man would do what he said。
The king will not take happily to my presuming to send this letter； and I beg your own forgiveness for my impertinence。 Should you agree with my unworthy thoughts； O Sword of Ashar； leader of all the tribes； send only the words 〃It shall be as has been written；〃 and I alone will understand and offer thanks to you and act as I have said。 May whatever sins Ragosa holds in Ashar's sight and your own be deemed to rest upon my head as I walk out。 My own people in this city honor their Asharite king and know their proper place。 If there has been arrogance and presumption it has been my own； and I am prepared to make atonement。
The crescent of the white moon lay almost upon the sea。 Yazir watched as it slipped down and out of sight。 The innumerable stars were everywhere in the sky and the innumerable sands were about him。
He heard a footfall； and knew it。
〃You asked me to e at white moonset；〃 his brother said softly； crouching on his haunches beside Yazir's spread cloak。 〃Do we cross？ Do we wait？ Do we sail for the homelands？〃
Yazir drew a breath。 There were deaths and deaths to e。 Man was born into this world to die。 Best do it in the service of Ashar； essaying those things that could truly be done。
〃Soriyya is too far；〃 he said。 〃I do not think either of us are destined to see the homelands； my brother。〃
Ghalib said nothing； waiting。
〃I would be happier in spring；〃 Yazir said。
His brother's teeth showed in the darkness。 〃You are never happy；〃 Ghalib said。
Yazir looked away。 It was true； of late。 He had been happy once； as a young man； without any great cares； in the Zuhrite lands south of where they were tonight。 Before his feet had been placed on a path of righteousness carved in blood。
〃We will cross the straits；〃 he said。 〃Beginning tomorrow。 We will not allow the Sons of Jad to burn any more of the Star…born； or take any more cities； however far our people may have strayed from Ashar's path。 We will lead them back。 It es to me that if the city…kings lose Al…Rassan to the Jaddites； we are the ones who will be answerable before the god。〃
Ghalib rose to his feet。 〃I am pleased；〃 he said。
Yazir saw that his brother's eyes were gleaming； like those of a cat。 〃And the Kindath sorcerer？〃 Ghalib added。 〃The letter that came？〃
〃Go to my scribe；〃 Yazir said。 〃Wake him。 Have him write a reply and have it carried across the water…tonight； before the rest of us depart。〃
〃What reply； brother？〃
Yazir looked up at him。 〃It shall be as has been written。〃
〃That is all？〃
〃That is all。〃
Ghalib turned and walked back to his camel。 He made it kneel and then he mounted up and rode。 Yazir remained where he was。 So many stars； so many； many sands； the blue moon high in the clear night。
He could still see his message crossing the straits； men riding； a bird flying。 A hidden opening in the walls of Ragosa； perhaps in the grey hour before dawn。 A man walking out； alone； towards the watchfires of his enemies。
Slowly； he nodded his head； picturing all this in the eye of his mind。 It was Ashar's will； Ashar's law： no Kindath was to hold sway over the Star…born。 It had been written。 And that sorcerer in Ragosa would not be the first； nor would he be the last man…brave or otherwise…to die in the days of blood to e。
The autumn seas were mild and generous the next morning and the next as the children of the desert； veiled before the wonder of the god's creation； knelt in holy prayer and then sailed on an unfamiliar element to the redeeming of Al…Rassan。
A little less than a year later two women stood； late on a windy summer's day on a hilltop near the sad ruins of Silvenes； in the moments before the ending of the world they both had known。
White clouds hurried overhead and laced the western horizon where the sun was low。 Banners snapping and blowing； two armies lay beneath them north of the swift and gleaming Guadiara。
The forces of Ashar and Jad had finally e toge