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patients。 We are studying to improve our own skills with the young ones。〃 He lifted his flask slightly。
The steward looked uncertainly at Jehane。 The knife pressed； she felt the point fret through her clothing against her skin。
〃This is so；〃 she said； despairing。 〃Did your mistress leave no word at all？〃
〃Not with me； doctor。〃 He was still apologetic。 Were he a sterner man； she thought； he would now close the door upon them and tell them to e back when Zabira was in residence。
〃Well then；〃 Jehane tried； 〃if she left no…〃
〃But doctor； I do know you； and I know she trusts you。 It must have been an oversight。 The boys are making mischief； I'm afraid； but please e in。〃 The steward smiled ingratiatingly。 One of the men with her gave him a kindly glance and a silver coin。 Too much money； in fact； it ought to have warned a good servant something was amiss。 The steward palmed it and bowed them in。 Jehane would have happily dissected him。
〃Go right upstairs； doctor；〃 he murmured to Jehane。 〃Shall I have hot drinks prepared？ It is bitter this morning。〃
〃That would be wonderful；〃 the smaller assassin said； removing his cloak and then； courteously； Jehane's。 The knife was nowhere to be seen for a moment but then； as the steward hastily claimed all three outer garments； Jehane felt the blade against her side。
From upstairs the sound of laughing children could now be heard； and the protests of an evidently overmatched servant。 Something fell with a reverberating crash。 There was a moment of silence； then renewed high…pitched laughter。
The steward looked anxious again。
〃Sedatives may be called for；〃 one of her abductors murmured suavely； and smiled to let the man see it was a jest。
They moved to the stairway and started up。 The steward watched for a moment then turned away to give his orders for their refreshments。
〃They are only children；〃 Jehane said softly。 There was a hammering in her breast and a growing fear； colder than anything outside。 She was being aware that it was not going to be possible for her to do this。
At the top of the stairs； she thought。 Last chance。 She prayed there might be someone there。
〃Children die all the time；〃 the man with the knife beside her murmured。 〃You are a physician； you know this。 One of them ought never to have been born。 You know this too。 They will not suffer pain。〃
They reached the top of the stairs。
Corridors in two directions； ahead and to the right； the hallways wrapped around the inner courtyard of the house。 She saw elaborate； glass…paned doors opening out to the ambulatory overlooking the garden。 Other doorways led into the rooms。 The laughter had ceased now。 It was very quiet。 Jehane looked both ways； a little frantically。 Death was here； in this house； and she was not ready for it。
No aid； though； no answers to anything。 Only one young servant； little more than a boy himself； could be seen； hurriedly sweeping with a broom at the shards of what had evidently been a large display urn。
He looked up； saw them。 Dropped the broom in dismay。
〃Doctors！ Holy Ashar； forgive us！ An accident 。。。 the children。〃 He nervously picked up and then laid aside the broom。 He hurried anxiously forward。 〃May I assist you？ The steward…
〃We are here to see the children；〃 the bigger man with her said。 His tone was crisp； but again with its inflection of tension。 〃Take us to them。〃
〃Of course！〃 the young servant smiled； eagerly。 Why were they all so eager here？ Jehane's heart was a drum in her breast。 She could stand here； walk with them； let this happen； probably live。
She could not do that。
The boy stepped forward； one hand extended。 〃May I take your satchels for you； doctors？〃
〃No； no； that is fine。 Just lead on。〃 The nearer man withdrew his bag slightly。
It will take them time to find the boys； Jehane thought。 There are many rooms。 Help might e in time。 She drew breath to scream； knowing it meant her death。
In that same moment she thought； absurdly； that she recognized this servant。 But before the memory could coalesce into something more； he had continued his reaching motion； stumbled slightly； and bumped into the small man who was holding the blade against her side。 The assassin grunted； a surprised sound。 The boy straightened； withdrawing his right hand； and shoving Jehane hard with his left。
Jehane stumbled； falling…and cried out then； at the top of her voice： 〃Help！ They are killers！ Help us！〃
She dropped to her knees； heard something shatter。 She turned back； expecting a blade； her death； the soft dark presence of the sisters of the god。
Tardily； she saw the stiletto that had materialized in the boy's hand。 The smaller assassin was on the floor； clutching with both hands at his belly。 Jehane saw blood welling between his ringers； and then much more of it。 The bigger man had turned； snarling； balancing his own drawn blade。 The boy stepped back a little； ready for him。
Jehane screamed again； at the top of her voice。
Someone had already appeared down the corridor straight ahead。 Someone； unbelievably； carrying a bow。 The big man saw this； turned swiftly back towards the stairway。
The steward was standing there； holding a sword； no longer smiling or innocuous。
The assassin pivoted again； ducked； and without warning sprang at Jehane。 The young servant shouted with alarm； lifting his blade to intervene。
Before the knives engaged there came a clear sound； a note of music almost； and then Jehane saw an arrow in the assassin's throat； and blood。 His hands flew upwards； the knife falling away。 He clattered to the floor。 His flask shattered on the tiles。
There was a stillness； as after thunder has e and rolled away。
Struggling for self…control； Jehane looked back down the hall。 The man with the bow； walking forward now； was Idar ibn Tarif； whose brother she had saved and then tended。 He was smiling in calm reassurance。
Jehane； still on her knees； began to tremble。 She looked at the boy beside her。 He had sheathed his knife； she couldn't tell where。 The first assassin made a sudden rattling sound in his throat and slid sideways beside the larger one。 She knew that sound。 She was a doctor。 He had just died。
There was broken glass all around them； and blood staining the sand…colored tiles of the floor。 A trickle of it ran towards her。 She rose to her feet and stepped aside。
Broken glass。
Jehane turned and looked behind her。 Her father's flask lay shattered on the floor。 She swallowed hard。 Closed her eyes。
〃Are you all right； doctor？〃 It was the boy。 He could be no more than fifteen。 He had saved her life。
She nodded her head。 Opened her eyes again。 And then she knew him。
〃Ziri？〃 she said； incredulously。 〃Ziri； from Orvilla？〃
〃I am honored； doctor；〃 he said； bowing。 〃I am honored that you remember me。〃
〃What are you doing here？〃
She had last seen this boy killing a Jaddite with Alvar de Pellino's sword amid the burning of his village。 Nothing made any sense at all。
〃He's been guarding you；〃 said a voice she knew。 She looked quickly over。 In an open doorway； a little distance down the hall； stoo