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Of course there had been alternatives； had he wanted them badly enough。 He could have left the world of power and its atrocities。 He could even have left this beloved； diminished land of Al…Rassan and its puffed…up petty…kings。 He could have gone straight from Fezana to Ferrieres across the mountains； or to any of the great cities of Batiara。 There were cultivated； princely courts there where an Asharite poet would be made wele as a glittering enhancement。 He could have written for the rest of his days in luxury among the most civilized of the Jaddites。
He could even have gone farther east； taking ship all the way back to Soriyya； to visit the stone tombs of his ancestors； which he had never seen； perhaps even rediscover his faith at Ashar's Rock； make a vigil under the god's stars in the desert； finish his life far from Al…Rassan。
Of course there had been alternatives。
Instead he had taken revenge。 Had disguised himself and e back to Cartada。 Made himself known to the prince and then bribed a palace steward to admit him into the retinue of the court as a slave。 The largest single bribe he had ever given in his life。 And he had killed the king today； with fijana smeared on a muslin cloth。
Twice now； then。 Twice in fifteen years he had murdered the most powerful monarch in the land。 A khalif and a king。
I am increasingly unlikely to be best remembered； ibn Khairan decided ruefully； entering his home； for my poetry。
〃You have a visitor； Excellence；〃 the under…steward said； hovering inside the doorway。 Ibn Khairan sat on the low bench by the door and the man knelt to help remove his boots and replace them with jewelled slippers。
〃You had someone admitted without my presence？〃
The man was now the steward； actually。 New to his duties in a terrible time； he looked down at the ground。 〃I may have erred； Excellence。 But she was insistent that you would see her。〃
〃She？〃
But he already knew who this had to be。 Amusement briefly resurfaced before being succeeded by something else。 〃Where have you put her？〃
〃She awaits you on the terrace。 I hope I acted rightly； Excellence？〃
He rose and the steward did the same。 〃Only； ever； admit a woman this way。 Have dinner prepared for two and a room readied for a guest。 You and I will speak later； there is much to be done。 I am leaving Cartada for a time； by the king's decree。〃
〃Yes； Excellence；〃 the man said expressionlessly。
Ammar turned to go within。 He paused。 〃The new king。 The old king is dead；〃 he added。 〃This morning。〃
〃Alas；〃 said his steward； with no evident sign of surprise。
A petent man； ibn Khairan decided。 Dropping his riding gloves on a marble table； he walked a sequence of corridors to the wide terrace he'd had built on the west side of the house where his own chambers were。 He had always preferred sunset to sunrise。 The view overlooked red hills and the blue curve of the river to the south。 Cartada was invisible； just beyond the hills。
The woman； his visitor； was standing with her back to him； admiring that view。 She was barefoot on the cool flagstones。
〃The architect didn't want to build this for me；〃 he said； ing to stand beside her。 '〃Open spaces go inside a house；' he kept telling me。〃
She glanced up at him。 She would have been veiled for the ride here； but the veil was lifted now。 Her dark； accented eyes held his a moment and then she turned away。
〃It does feel exposed；〃 she said quietly。
〃But see where we are。 From what am I hiding here in the country； I asked my architect and myself。〃
〃And what did you answer yourself？〃 she asked； looking at the terraced slopes towards the river and the setting sun。 〃And your architect？〃 She was extremely beautiful； in profile。 He remembered the day he had first seen her。
〃Not this；〃 he said； after a moment； gesturing at the land stretching before them。 She was clever； he would do well to remember that。 〃I will admit I am surprised； Zabira。 I am seldom surprised； but this is unexpected。〃
The foremost lady of King Almalik's court； the courtesan who was the mother of his two youngest children； effectively the queen of Cartada for the past eight years； looked back at him again and smiled； her small； perfect teeth showing white。
〃Really？〃 she said。 〃On a day when you kill a king and are exiled from your home by your own disciple； a simple visit from a lady is what disconcerts you？ I don't know whether to be flattered。〃
Her voice was exquisite； there seemed to be music beneath it。 It had always been thus。 She had broken hearts and mended them when she sang。 She smelled of myrrh and roses。 Her eyes and fingernails had been carefully painted。 He wondered how long she had been here。 He ought to have asked the steward。
〃There is nothing simple about either the lady or the visit；〃 he murmured。 〃Will you take refreshment？〃
A servant had appeared with a tray bearing pomegranate juice and sherbet in tall glasses。 He took the drinks and offered her one。 〃Will I offend you if I also suggest a cup of wine ？ There is a Jaddite vineyard north of us and I have an arrangement with them。〃
〃You would not offend me in the least；〃 Zabira said； with some measure of feeling。
Ammar smiled。 This was the most celebrated beauty in Al…Rassan； and young still； though perhaps a little less youthful after this morning。 Ibn Khairan was only one of the myriad poets who had extolled her over the years。 He had been the first； though； there would always be that。 He had met her with Almalik。 Had been there when it began。
The woman we saw at the Gate of the Fountain；
As twilight stole down upon the city walls
Like a cloaked thief of the day's light；
Wore the first holy stars of Ashar
As ornaments atop the dark fall of her hair。
What shall be the name of their beauty
If it be not her name？
Sacrilege； of course； but Al…Rassan after the Khalifate's fall…and long before…had not been the most devout place in the Asharite world。
She had been seventeen years old that evening when the king and the lord ibn Khairan； his closest friend and advisor； had ridden back into Cartada from a day's hunting in the western forests and had seen a girl drawing water from a fountain in the last of the autumn light。 Eight years ago。
〃Really； Ammar； why would you be surprised？〃 the same woman asked him now； infinitely sophisticated； eyeing him over the rim of the glass。 Ibn Khairan gestured at the servant； who withdrew to bring wine。 〃What do you imagine Cartada might hold for me now？〃
Carefully； for he was conscious that what he had done this morning had turned her world upside…down and put her life in peril； he said； 〃The son is son to the father； Zabira； and much of your own age。〃
She made a wry face。 〃You heard what he said to me this morning。〃
Not quite； the prince had murmured。 They had all heard that。 Zabira had been careful； always； but it was hardly a secret that with Hazem the second son entangled hopelessly with the most zealous of the wadjis； her own older child was the only real alternative to Prince Almalik…provided the king had lived long enough for the boy to e of age。 He had not。 Ammar wondered； suddenly； whe