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Jehane began to understand。
〃We are your kindred； dear lady。 Physicians of your own faith from Fezana； e to study with you。 We have too little knowledge in the diseases of children； alas； and you are widely known for such expertise。 The two boys are past due for a routine examination。 You will take us there； introduce us as doctors you know； and bring us into their presence。 That is all。〃
〃And what will happen？〃
The second man smiled from by the fountain； he was donning the white and blue Kindath garments。 〃Is that a question you really want answered？〃
Which was； of course； an answer。
〃No；〃 she said。 〃I will not do it。〃
〃I am sorry to hear that；〃 the first man said； undisturbed。 〃Personally I do not like gelding men； even when provoked。 Nonetheless； you will note that your servant is securely gagged。 When we cut off his organs of sex he will naturally try to scream。 No one will hear him。〃
Jehane tried to breathe normally。 Sorenica。 They would have done this in Sorenica。 〃And if I scream now？〃 she asked； more to gain time than anything else。
Nothing seemed to perturb them。 The one by the fountain was fully garbed as a Kindath now； the first one removed his fur…trimmed robe； preparing to do the same。
He said； 〃There is a locked door here and a high wall。 You will have noted these things。 You would both be dead and we would be out through the house and a back passageway and lost in the city long before anyone broke through that door to find a castrated man and a dead woman with her intestines spilling out。 Really； doctor； I had hoped you would not be foolish about this。〃
Inwardly then； and quite unfairly； Jehane began to curse all the men she knew here in Ragosa。 Mazur。 Ammar。 Rodrigo。 Alvar and Husari。 With so much prowess surrounding her； how had this e to be？
The answer； of course； was her own insisted…upon independence； and their willingness to grant her that…which is what made the cursing unfair。 Under the circumstances； she decided； fairness didn't matter in the least： one of them； somehow； ought to have been here to prevent this。
〃Why do you want the children？〃 she asked。
〃You really are better off not asking too many questions； doctor。 We are not unwilling to let you both live after this is done； but you will appreciate that we are moderately exposed to risk here； and must not allow you to increase that。〃
But even as he spoke Jehane realized that she knew。 She could confront them with that knowledge but she was thinking clearly enough to know that that might mean her death warrant； and Velaz's； here in the abandoned courtyard。 She kept silent。
It was Almalik II in Cartada； she was certain of it。 Seeking to destroy the young boys； his brothers； who were threats to his throne by their very existence。 Kings and their brothers； an ancient story； retold in every generation； including hers now。
The two men had pleted their disguises。 Each of them picked up a small satchel and took out a urine flask： emblems of their assumed profession。 Velaz had been carrying Jehane's implements and her flask。 The larger of the assassins gestured and Jehane； after a moment； picked them up herself。
〃I am going to be next to you the whole way；〃 the smaller man said。 〃You can cry out； of course。 You will die when you do； and so； of course； will your servant here； unrescued。 We might also be killed； but you have no certainty of that； for we are skilled at our trade。 I wouldn't advise an attempt at disruption； doctor。 Where are we going？〃
There really were no options。 Not yet。 Not until she was out from this courtyard。 She looked back towards Velaz； but she couldn't see him now； over the fountain rim。 The wind had picked up and the rain was falling harder； slanting in cold； stinging drops。 There wasn't much time。 Bleakly； she named the house。 Then she put up her hood and went out with them。
The residence where the two small children of Zabira of Cartada were lodging； occasionally in the presence of their mother； more often not； was close to the palace quarter。 It was an affluent district； and a quiet one。
Any hopes Jehane might have nourished of being seen by someone who knew her were quickly abandoned。 Her two captors knew Ragosa well…either from previous visits； or from quick study。 They took her by a winding route that bypassed the market and palace squares entirely。 They were not in a hurry now。
They did go past one of the infirmaries where Jehane had patients too ill to be left at home； but the assassins evidently knew this as well： they kept to the far side of the street and did not break stride。 She remembered； as they went by the door； seeing Rodrigo Belmonte and Ammar ibn Khairan disappear together one night around the same corner where she now passed with two men who were using her to kill children。
They walked closely together； the men simulating intense conversation on either side of her： to all the world； three Kindath physicians with their implements and flasks； attending upon some patient wealthy enough to afford them。 In the neighborhood into which they passed； this was not cause for note or ment。 In the wet； cold morning few people were abroad to take notice in any case。 Even the weather seemed to be conspiring against her； Jehane thought。 She had an appalling image of Velaz； naked and shivering under the needle…like rain in that empty courtyard。
They came to the house she had named。
For the first time Jehane thought specifically about the children who lived here。 She had only seen them twice； summoned for the treatment of minor illnesses。 She had even thought about refusing； she remembered。 The younger of these two was the cause of her father's darkness and his silence。 Thinking about Ishak； though； knowing what he would have done； had caused her to attend as requested。 The children were not to be blamed。 The children were entitled to her care； to the strict observance of her Oath of Galinus。
Which raised a terrible question about what she was doing now。 She knocked on the door。
〃Ask for the mother；〃 the bigger man muttered quickly。 He betrayed； for the first time； a tension in his voice。 In a curious way； that calmed Jehane。 They were not quite so unruffled as they seemed。 Kindath offal； he had named Velaz。 She wanted these men dead。
The door opened。 A steward stood in the entrance； a well…lit hallway behind him and an inner courtyard beyond。 It was a gracious house。 She remembered the steward from before； an innocuous； earnest man。 His eyes widened in surprise。
〃Doctor？ What is it？〃
Jehane took a deep breath。 Unseen beneath the cloaks； a knife pressed against her back。 〃The Lady Zabira？ She is waiting for me？〃
〃But no； doctor。〃 The steward looked apologetic and anxious。 〃She is at court this morning。 She left no word about your visit。〃
The smaller of the two men with Jehane offered a dry chuckle。 〃A typical mother！ Only when the little ones are gravely ill do they wait for us。 We made an appointment two days ago。 Jehane bet Ishak has been kind enough to allow us to attend upon her visits to her younger patients。 We are studying to improve our own skills with the young ones。〃 He