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licately mulled concoctions of wine and honey and spice…forbidden； of course； which only added piquancy to the morning's adventure。 They would appraise the latest flamboyant invective much as they discussed the declamations of the court poets or the songs of the musicians。 Talk by the warming fire would usually turn then to the officers of the army； many of them quartered in town for the winter…with diverting implications。
It was not at all a bad place to be in the cold season； Cartada。
This remained true； the longer…lived and more thoughtful of the courtiers at the palace agreed； even in this year of a change of monarchs。
Almalik I had governed Cartada for the khalifs of Silvenes for three years； and then reigned as king for fifteen。 A long time to hold power in a turbulent peninsula。 Younger members of the court couldn't even remember a time when someone else had governed； and of course there never had been another king in proud Cartada。
Now there was； and the prevailing view seemed to be that the son was beginning well。 Prudent where he needed to be； in defense and in minimizing disruption to the civil service and court； generous where a powerful monarch ought to be generous； with favor shown to artists and those courtiers who had taken risks for him in the days when his succession was 。。。 problematic； to put the matter discreetly。 Almalik II might be young； but he had grown up in a clever； cynical court and seemed to have learned his lessons。 He'd had an exceptionally subtle tutor； some of the courtiers noted； but that remark was offered quietly and only among friends。
Nor was the new king a weakling； by all early appearances。 The twitch above one eye…a legacy of the Day of the Moat…remained； but it seemed to be no more than an indicator of the king's mood； a useful clue for a cautious courtier。 Certainly there were no signs of indecisiveness in this monarch。
A number of the more visibly corrupt of the officials had already been dealt with： men who had allowed their long association with the last king to 。。。 override their integrity； and had been engaged in a variety of fiscal improprieties。 Several were involved in the dyeing monopoly that was the foundation of Cartada's wealth。 In the valley south of the city the cermas； beetle made its home； feeding on the white ittixa flower and then producing； dutifully； the crimson dye that Cartada exported to the world。 There were fortunes to be made from supervising that trade； and where great wealth went； as the old saying ran； the desire for more would follow。
There were some of this sort at every court。 It was one of the reasons one came to court。 And there were； of course； risks。
Those apprehended officials who were not yet castrates had been gelded before execution。 Their bodies were hung from the city walls with dead dogs on either side of them。 The castrates of the court； who really ought to have known better； were flayed and skinned and then staked out on the cleared ground beyond the Silvenes Gate。 It was too cold for the fire ants； but the animals were always hungry in winter。
New officials were appointed from the appropriate families。 They swore all the proper oaths。 Some poets and singers left for different courts； others arrived。 It was all part of the normal course of events。 One could tire of an artist； and a new monarch needed to put the stamp of his own taste on a great many things。
The harem； long dominated by Zabira； the late king's favorite； went through a predictably unsettled phase as the women maneuvered viciously for their opportunity with the young king。 The stakes were extreme。 Everyone knew how Zabira had begun； and how very high she'd risen。 There were knifings； and one attempt at poisoning； before the harem…mistresses and the castrates managed to reassert a measure of control。
One cause of the turmoil was that so little was known about the new king's preferences； though rumor was always willing to oblige with guesses。 There had been tales； especially those concerning the disgraced Ammar ibn Khairan of Aljais； the king's former guardian and mentor…but shortly after Almalik II's ascension word from certain of the less discreet supervisors in the harem put the more scandalous of these stories to rest。
The women； it was reported； were being kept extremely busy。 The young king appeared to have an entirely conventional orientation in matters of love； and an appetite that…by one of the oldest omens for the outset of a reign in Asharite lands…presaged well for his prowess in other matters。
The auspices were good in a great many ways。 Fezana had been subdued； rather violently it would always be remembered。 Silvenes was quiescent； as usual： only broken； dispirited men still lingered in and about the sad ruins of the Al…Fontina。 Elvira on the coast had seemed inclined to offer some signs of unwonted independence when Almalik I died； but these flickerings had been quickly snuffed out by the new ka'id of the army； who made a symbolic journey south with a pany of Muwardis just before winter came。
The old ka'id was dead； of course。 As a much…applauded gesture of courtesy the king had allowed him to take his own life rather than face public execution。 This death； too； was only normal： it was not considered a wise idea for new monarchs to allow generals to continue in power； or even remain alive。 It was one of the inherent risks that came with accepting a position of high mand in an army in Al…Rassan。
Even the outlaw Tarif ibn Hassan； the terror of merchants on the southern roads and all lawful tax collectors； seemed to have decided to turn his attentions elsewhere this season。 He had eschewed his chronic； debilitating raids from impregnable Arbastro into the Cartadan hinterlands in favor of a genuinely spectacular action in Ragosan territory to the north。
Talk of that affair continued through the winter as hardy travellers and merchants straggled into the city with newer versions of the story。 It appeared that ibn Hassan had actually managed to seize the first…ever parias tribute from Fibaz to Jalona； slaughtering the entire Jaddite party in the process。 An astonishing coup in every respect。 Another strand to the forty…year legend。
The embarrassment to Ragosa…since King Badir had authorized the payment in the first place…was extreme； and so were the economic and military implications。 Some of the more free…spoken of those drinking in the taverns of Cartada that winter offered the view that the Jalonans might even ride south in numbers e spring； to teach Fibaz a lesson。 Which meant； to teach Badir of Ragosa a lesson。
That was someone else's problem； the drinkers agreed。 For once ibn Hassan had caused real trouble elsewhere。 Wouldn't it be nice if the aged jackal obligingly died soon？ Wasn't he old enough； already？ There was good land around Arbastro； where a loyal courtier of the new king of Cartada might one day find himself with； say； a small castle and a crown…bestowed estate to manage and defend。
Winter was a time for dreaming； among other things。
The new king of Cartada had neither the leisure nor the disposition to share in such dreams。 An edgy； precise man； very