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！
ficence。 May your reign be crowned with everlasting glory in Ashar's name。〃
He proceeds to perform the quadruple obeisance。
Behind him； the poet Serafi suddenly es to his senses。 He drops to the mosaic tiles as if smitten behind the knees and does the same。 Then； very much as if they are grateful for this cue as to how to proceed； the men in the audience chamber all perform full obeisance to the new king of Cartada。
It is seen that the only woman in the room； the beautiful Zabira； does so as well； touching the floor with her forehead beside the body of her dead lover； graceful and alluring as always in the movements of her homage to the son。
It is observed that Ammar ibn Khairan； who has been searched for through the whole of Al…Rassan； now rises to his knees and stands； without invitation from the dais。
It is also a source of belated； devastating wonder to those now imprisoned in the room by the drawn swords of the Muwardis； how they could have failed to identify him before。 No one looks quite like ibn Khairan； with those unconscionably blue eyes。 No one moves like him。 No one's arrogance quite matches his。 With the headcloth removed his signature earring gleams…with amusement one could be forgiven for thinking。 He will have been here in Cartada for a long time； it now bees clear。 Perhaps in this very room。 A number of men in the audience chamber begin rapidly scanning their memories for remarks of an injudicious sort they might have made about the disgraced favorite during his presumed absence。
Ibn Khairan smiles and turns to survey them all。 His smile is vividly remembered； if no more forting than it has ever been。
〃The Day of the Moat；〃 he says； to no one in particular； 〃was a mistake in a great many ways。 It is never a good idea to leave a man with no real alternatives。〃
For Serafi the poet this is inprehensible； but there are wiser men than he standing among the columns and beneath the arches。 Ibn Khairan's remark will be recollected； it will be expounded upon。 Men will hasten to be the first to elucidate its meaning。
Ibn Khairan； they will say； whispering in bathhouses or courtyards； or in the Jaddite taverns of the city； was meant to bear the responsibility for the executions in Fezana。 He had grown too powerful in the king's eyes。 He was to be curbed by this。 No one would ever trust him again。 Heads will nod knowingly over sherbet or forbidden wine。
With this one cryptic sentence； the dialogues of the next days have been set in motion； or so it seems。
It is an old truth； however； that events； whether large or small； do not always follow upon the agendas of even the most subtle of men。
Behind ibn Khairan； the new king of Cartada finishes arranging the pillows of the dais to his satisfaction and says now； quietly； but very clearly； 〃We are indulgent of all of your obeisances。 No man of you need fear us； so long as he is loyal。〃 No mention of the woman； a number of them note。
The king continues； as ibn Khairan turns back to him。 〃We have certain pronouncements to make at this mencement of our reign。 The first is that all formal rites of mourning will be observed for seven days； in honor of our tragically slain king and father。〃
The men of the Cartadan court are masters of reading the smallest nuances of information。 None of them see any hint of surprise in the features or the bearing of ibn Khairan； who has just killed the king。
He planned this too； they decide。 The prince would not have been so clever。
They are wrong； as it happens。
A great many people are about to be proven wrong about Almalik ibn Almalik in time to e。 The first and foremost of them stands now； directly in front of the young king and hears the new monarch； his ward and disciple； say； in that same quiet； clear voice； 〃The second pronouncement must be； lamentably； a decree of exile for our once…trusted and dearly loved servant； Ammar ibn Khairan。〃
No sign； no motion； no slightest indication of disfiture from the man so named。 Only one raised eyebrow…a characteristic gesture that might mean many things…and then a question calmly broached： 〃Why； Magnificence？〃
In the mouth of someone who had just killed a king； with the still…warm body lying not far away； it seems a question of astonishing impudence。 Given that the killing has doubtless been effected with the countenance and involvement of the young prince； it is also a dangerous query。 Almalik II of Cartada looks to one side and sees his father's sword beside the dais。 He reaches out； almost absently； and takes it by the hilt。 It can be seen that his unfortunate affliction of the eye has now returned。
〃For sins against morality；〃 the young king says； finally。 And flushes。
In the rigid silence that follows this； the laughter of Ammar ibn Khairan； when it es； echoes from column to arch to the high vaulted ceiling。 There is an edge to his amusement though…the discerning can hear it。 This is not part of what had been arranged； they are certain of it。 And there is an extreme subtlety here； the most quick…minded of them realize。 The new king needs to swiftly distance himself from regicide。 If he had spoken of murder as a cause of exile that distance would be lost…for his own presence； disguised； in this chamber speaks all that needs to be spoken of how his father's death has been achieved。
〃Ah；〃 says ibn Khairan now； into the silence； as the echoes of his laughter fade； 〃moral failings again。 Only those？〃 He pauses； smiles。 Says bluntly； 〃I feared you might speak of killing a king。 That dreadful lie some might even now be spreading through the city。 I am relieved。 Might I therefore live in hope of the king's forgiving kiss upon my unworthy brow one day？〃
The king flushes a deeper shade of crimson。 Serafi the poet abruptly remembers that their new monarch is still a young man。 And Ammar ibn Khairan has been his closest advisor and friend； and there have been certain rumors for a number of years 。。。 He decides that he now understands matters more clearly。 The king's forgiving kiss。 Indeed！
〃Time and the stars and the will of Ashar determine such things；〃 the young king says with determined； formal piety。 〃We have 。。。 honored you； and are grateful for your past services。 This punishment 。。。 es not easily to us。〃
He pauses； his voice alters。 〃Nevertheless； it is necessary。 You have until first starlight to be gone from Cartada and seven nights to quit our lands； failing which any man who sees you is free to take your life and is manded to do so as an agent of the king。〃 The words are crisp； precise； not at all those of a young man who is anxious and unsure of himself。
〃Hunted？ Not again！〃 says Ammar ibn Khairan； his sardonic tones restored。 〃But； really； I'm so tired of wearing a saffron head…cloth。〃
The tic in the king's eye is quite distracting； really。 〃You had best be gone；〃 young Almalik says sternly。 〃What we have now to say are words for our loyal subjects。 We shall pray that Ashar guides you towards virtue and enlightenment。〃
No wavering； the possibly loyal subjects in the room note。 Even faced with mockery and what could be seen as a threat from the subtlest man in the kin