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Alvar had been to the palace with Jehane； and several times with Rodrigo。 There was a stream running right through it； watering some of the inner gardens and courtyards and passing； by a means Alvar could not grasp； through the largest of the banquet rooms。
At the most sumptuous of his feasts King Badir…sensuous； self…indulgent； undeniably shrewd…liked to have the meal floated along this stream in trays； to be collected from the water by half…naked slaves and presented to the king's guests as they reclined on their couches in the ancient fashion。 Alvar had written a letter to his parents mentioning this； he knew they wouldn't believe him。
He usually tried to avoid running through the streets these days…it was too youthful； too undignified…but the news of the morning was enormous and he wanted to be the one to tell Jehane。
He skidded around a leather…goods stall and grabbed for the awning pole to help him turn。 The pole rocked； the canopy tilted dangerously。 The artisan； a man he knew； cursed him routinely as Alvar shouted an apology over his shoulder。
Jehane and Velaz would be at their own stall in the market。 She had been following her father's practice and her own from Fezana。 Even though handsomely rewarded at the palace； she was always at the booth on the country market morning； and in her consulting rooms two afternoons a week。 A physician needed to be known outside the chambers of the palace； she had told Alvar。 Her father had taught her that。 A doctor could as easily go out of fashion at court as e into it。 It was never wise to be cut off from other sources of patients。
It had been Velaz who had told Alvar what had happened to Jehane's father。
In the time before Rodrigo's arrival the two men had taken to having dinner together some evenings when Jehane was at court and Alvar free of watch or patrol duties。 The night he heard the story of Ishak ben Yonannon and King Almalik's youngest son； Alvar had dreamed； for the first time but not the last； of killing the king of Cartada and ing back through the mountain pass to Jehane in Ragosa with word that her father had been avenged for his dark； silent pain。
This morning's news had ended that particular dream。
She was not at the booth。 Velaz was alone at the back； closing up early； putting away medicines and implements。 She must have just left； there were patients still milling about in front of the stall。 A buzz of excitement and apprehension animated the whispered conversations。
〃Velaz！ Where is she？ I have news！〃 Alvar said； breathing hard。 He had sprinted all the way from the western gate。
Velaz looked at him over his shoulder； his expression difficult to read。 〃Alvar。 We heard； from the palace。 Almalik's dead。 Zabira of Cartada's here。 Jehane's gone to court。〃
〃Why？〃 Alvar asked sharply。
〃Mazur wanted her。 He likes her with him now； when things are happening。〃
Alvar knew that； actually。 It didn't bring him any pleasure at all。
Jehane derived a healthy enjoyment from the extremely rare occasions when she engaged in the act of lovemaking。
She also had an equally healthy sense of self…respect。 The universally acknowledged truths that Mazur ben Avren the chancellor of Ragosa was the most illustrious member of the Kindath munity in Al…Rassan； the most sagacious； the most subtle and the most generous； did not negate the equally fundamental fact that he was the most sexually rapacious man she'd ever encountered or even heard of； outside of royalty with its harems。
He was royalty； in a sense； and he might as well have had a harem。 Ben Avren was known as the Prince of the Kindath throughout Al…Rassan； and though he actively disavowed the name…a prudent act given the malevolent watchfulness of the wadjis…there was truth to that title； too。
Royalty or not； Jehane resisted being bedded by a man who clearly expected to do so as a matter of right。
She had made that point as emphatically as she could the first night he'd invited her to dine in his private quarters in the palace。 There had been two musicians in the room。 It became evident that they were expected to linger after the meal and continue playing while the chancellor and his current panion disported themselves
Jehane was otherwise inclined。
Mazur ben Avren； seeming amused more than anything else； had contented himself with sharing sweet wine and small cakes after their meal； offering anecdotes about her father whom he had known well； and culling her own thoughts…prehensively…about the likely course of events in Fezana now； among the Kindath munity and the city at large。 He was the chancellor of Ragosa before all else； he made that clear。
He made it equally obvious； however； that he expected her resistance to him to be temporary； and regarded it as an affectation more than anything else。 He was fifty…seven years old that year； trim and fit； with a full head of grey hair under a soft blue Kindath cap； a neatly barbered； perfumed beard； a modulated； meditative voice； and a mind that could move without hesitation from poetry to military planning。 He also bore the unmistakable look； in his dark brown； heavy…lidded eyes； of a man accustomed to pleasing and being pleased by women。
There had been days and nights in the period that followed when Jehane had asked herself whether her resistance to him was； in fact； merely an impediment of pride。 Most of the time she didn't think so。 Ben Avren； stimulating and gracious as he was with her； bestowed the exact same appraising glance upon too many women。 Upon all women； in fact。 He certainly wasn't waiting for her favors in chaste frustration。 In a certain way； one had to admire his omnivorous hunger。 Not many men at his age could harbor…let alone implement…such an appetite。
His amusement at her refusal did not fade； neither did his witty； elegant courtesy or the invitation that always lay just beneath that courteousness。 There was never even a hint of anger； or force。 This was； after all； one of the most cultivated men in Al…Rassan。 He asked her opinions； flatteringly。 She was careful about what she had to say； and not too quick to answer。
She began noticing changes in herself as time passed； in the way she thought about things。 She found herself anticipating what Mazur's questions might be； considering her answers in advance。 He always appeared to listen to her； which was something rare in Jehane's experience。
It came to be accepted that the chancellor was being regularly attended upon by the court's new doctor； in the audience hall and elsewhere。 Everyone at court； even King Badir； seemed to be aware that ben Avren was persistently wooing her。 It was； evidently； a source of amusement for them。 She was a woman of his own faith； which made the entire； extremely public dance even more diverting； as summer gave way to autumn and the code of dress in the palace changed with the changing leaves in the gardens and in the forests beyond the walls。
Jehane didn't much like being a source of diversion for anyone； but she couldn't deny it was pleasant to be attending at a court as sophisticated as this one。 Nor could she plain about being afforded less than plete respect professionally。 Her father's name had ensured 。that at the beginning； and her own unfussy petence in a number of matters had consolidated it； after。
Then Rodrigo Belmonte had arrived； with his full pany； exiled from Valledo in the wake of events she knew。 The Day of the Moat and the burning of Orvilla had altered lives other than her own； it seemed。
Things began to change again。 Alvar went to live in the barracks with the rest of Rodrigo's pany； leaving her alone with Velaz。 His departure was a source of both relief and regret for Jehane。 The second emotion surprised her a little。 His feelings for her were too obvious； and too obviously more than what she'd hoped they were： the transitory passion of a young man for his first love。
There was more to Alvar de Pellino than that； however； and Jehane had to admit that during the time of her steady siege by the chancellor； when pride kept her from his bed； it had occurred to her to take refuge with her Jaddite soldier again。 He wasn't her soldier； though； and he deserved better of her。 Alvar might be young； but Jehane could see clear signs of what had led Rodrigo Belmonte to bring him south and then let him acpany her alone to Ragosa。 But had she wanted a domestic life she could have had it in Fezana by now with a number of Kindath men； not with a Jaddite from the north。
There might be a day when she regretted decisions made and the ones not made； the paths that had led her to be well past her prime marrying years now； and alone； but that day had not yet e。
Their small house and treatment rooms seemed quiet and empty after Alvar left。 She had grown into a habit of discussing the events of the day with him。 How very domestic； she'd thought wryly more than once。 But the truth was that many times the thoughts she'd later relayed to the chancellor had been Alvar's； over a late…night cup of wine。
Even Velaz seemed to miss the young Jaddite； she hadn't expected a friendship to develop there。 Singing the sun god's exultant chants o