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o deliver it later； when the crowds had thinned。
〃I believe I need a drink；〃 ibn Musa declared。 〃Holy Ashar forgive us all our sins in this world。〃
Alvar； for whom it wasn't a sin； decided he wanted one too； though it was early in the day for him。 They had several flagons； in the event； before leaving the tavern。
〃Mountain cats；〃 Husari said musingly at one point； 〃are said to be ferocious in their coupling。〃
〃Don't tell me things like that！〃 Alvar groaned。
Husari ibn Musa…silk merchant； soldier； Asharite； friend…laughed and ordered another flask of the good red wine。
Walking alone through the crowd past the mask…makers' stalls； Jehane told herself sternly that the deception was minor and that she'd every right to her privacy。 She didn't like dissembling； however； and she cared for both men very much。 She'd even surprised herself with a twinge of what was unmistakably jealousy when that long…legged Asharite creature with the mountain cat mask had smiled at Alvar in a way that left little room for ambiguity。
Still； it really wasn't any of Alvar's business or Husari's that she already had a mask for the Carnival； courtesy of the chancellor of Ragosa。 She was wearied and irritated by the constant speculation that surrounded their relationship。 The more so since the arrival of the alluring figure of Zabira of Cartada had rendered Mazur's pursuit of Jehane almost entirely ritualized。
It was inconsistent to be as bothered by his largely abandoned attempts at conquest as she had been by his earlier assumption that her surrender was merely a matter of time； but Jehane was acutely conscious that this was exactly how she felt。
She sighed。 She could imagine what Ser Rezzoni in Batiara would have said about all of this。 Something about the essential nature of womankind。 The god and his sisters knew； they'd argued about that often enough during her years in Batiara。 She'd written him since learning the news of Sorenica。 No reply； as yet。 He was there most of the time； but not always。 He often took his family north with him； while he lectured at some of the other universities。 He might be dead； though。 She tried very hard to avoid thinking about that。
Looking around； she spotted Ziri moving through the crowd a short distance away。 For a time after she and Velaz had been abducted in the attempt on the life of the two children； Jehane had had to stave off a flicker of anxiety every time she went into the streets。 She had e to realize； quickly enough； that Ziri was always nearby； her lithe shadow； learning…far too young…how to hide knives on his person and use them to deadly effect。 He had killed a man to save her life。
They'd summoned her to the barracks one night to attend to Ziri。 He'd appeared deathly ill when she first saw him： white…faced； vomiting convulsively。 It had only been wine； though。 Rodrigo's men had taken him to a tavern for the first time。 She'd chided them angrily for that； and they'd allowed her to do so； but in truth； Jehane knew they were initiating him into a life that offered so much more than the one he would have had in Orvilla。 Would it be a better fate； a happier one？ How could a mortal answer that？
You touched people's lives； glancingly； and those lives changed forever。 That was a hard thing to deal with sometimes。
Ziri would realize soon enough； if he hadn't already； that she wasn't really buying a mask this morning。 That didn't matter。 He would be torn apart between stallions before he said a word to a living soul that might betray anything he knew about her。
Jehane was learning to accept that people besides her mother and father might love her； and do certain things because of that。 Another hard lesson； oddly enough。 She had not been beautiful or particularly endearing as a child； contrary and provocative were closer to truth。 Such people didn't discover young how to deal with being loved； she thought。 They didn't get enough practice。
She slowed to admire some of the handiwork on display。 It was remarkable how even the most unlikely masks…a badger； a boar； a whiskered grey mouse's head made of softest leather…were crafted in such a fashion as to be sensuous and attractive。 How could the head of a boar be sensuous？ She wasn't sure； but she wasn't an artisan； either。 The masks would be even more alluring； she realized； tomorrow night under torchlight and the risen moons； with wine running in the streets and lanes of the city； mingling anonymity with desire。
Mazur had invited her to dine with him the evening before； for the first time in a long while； and at the end of the meal had presented her； courteous and assured as ever； with a gift。
She'd opened the offered box。 Even the container was beautiful： ivory and sandalwood； with a silver lock and key。 Inside； lying on crimson silk； had been the mask of a white owl。
It was the doctor's owl； Jehane knew； sacred to the white moon and the pursuit of knowledge； a pale light flying down the long paths of the dark。 Galinus； father of all physicians； had had an owl carved at the head of his staff。 Not many people knew about that。 Mazur； evidently； was one who did。
It was a generous； thoughtful gift； from a man who had never been less than generous or thoughtful with her。
She looked at him。 He smiled。 The problem with Mazur ben Avren； she had decided in that moment； was that he always knew he was being perceptive； that when he offered a gift it was the precise gift that ought to be offered。 There was no uncertainty in him； no waiting to see if approval might e。
〃Thank you；〃 she said。 〃It is beautiful。 I will be honored to wear it。〃
〃It should bee you；〃 he said gravely； reclining at ease on the couch opposite hers； a glass of wine in one hand。 They were alone； the servants had been dismissed when the meal was done。
〃Tell me；〃 Jehane added； closing the box and turning the delicate key in its lock； 〃what have you chosen for the Lady Zabira？ If the question is not over…bold？〃 Contrary； provocative。 Why should one be expected to change？ And it was always a pleasure…such a rare pleasure…to cause this man to blink and hesitate； if only for a moment。 Almost childish； she knew； but surely not everything childlike was a bad thing？
〃It would be ungracious of me to reveal her disguise； would it not？ Just as it would be wrong for me to tell her what I have offered you。〃
He did have a way of making you feel foolish。
Her response to that； though； was much the same as it had been all her life。 〃I suppose；〃 she said lightly。 〃How many of us will you have personally disguised for Carnival； so no one but you knows who we are？〃
He hesitated again； but not from disfiture this time。 〃Two； Jehane。 You and Zabira。〃 The pale wine in his glass caught the candlelight。 He smiled ruefully。 〃I am not so young as I once was； you know。〃
He was not above duplicity in this sort of thing； but she had a sense he was speaking the truth here。 She was touched； and a little guilty。
〃I'm sorry；〃 she said。
He shrugged。 〃Don't be。 Five years ago； even two years ago； I would have deserved that。〃 He smiled again。 〃Though I must say； no other woman would have aske