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〃I told you all I didn't want to be watched or followed；〃 Jehane protested。
Idar ibn Tarif reached down and squeezed her shoulder。 He wasn't much like any outlaw she'd heard about。
〃You did； indeed； tell us that；〃 Ammar said； without levity。 He was sitting on one of the small beds now and was regarding her carefully。 The candlelight burnished his hair and was reflected in his eyes。 〃We all apologize； in a measured degree； for not obeying。 Rodrigo felt； and I agreed； that there was some chance you were at risk； because of your rescue of Husari from the Muwardis among other things。〃
〃But how could you know I wouldn't recognize Ziri？ I should have recognized him。〃
〃We couldn't know that； of course。 He was urged to be cautious in how he followed you； and had a story to tell if you did see him。 Your parents approved of this； by the way。〃
〃How would you know that？〃
〃I promised your father I would write him。 Remember？ I try to keep my promises。〃
It seemed to have been quite thoroughly worked out。 She looked at Ziri。 〃Where did you learn to use a knife like that？〃
He looked both pleased and abashed。 〃I have been with the Captain's men； doctor。 They have been teaching me。 Ser Rodrigo himself gave me my blade。 The lord ibn Khairan showed me how to conceal it inside my sleeve and draw it down。〃
Jehane looked back at Ammar。 〃And Velaz？ What if he had known him； even if I didn't？〃
〃Velaz did know him； Jehane。〃 Ibn Khairan's voice was gentle； rather like the tone in which he'd spoken to the younger boy。 〃He spotted Ziri some time ago and went to Rodrigo。 An understanding was achieved。 Velaz shared our view that Ziri was a wise precaution。 And so he was； my dear。 It was Ziri who was on top of the wall of that courtyard this morning and heard the men from Cartada tell you their purpose。 He found Alvar； who found me。 We had time to be here before you。〃
〃I feel like a child；〃 Jehane said。 She heard Alvar's wordless protest behind her。
〃Not that；〃 said ibn Khairan； rising from the bed。 〃Never that； Jehane。 But just as you may have to care for us； if arrow or blade or illness es； so we must； surely； offer our care to you？ If only to set things in balance； as your Kindath moons balance the sun and stars。〃
She looked up at him。 〃Don't be such a poet；〃 she said tartly。 〃I'm not distracted by images。 I am going to think about this； and then let you all know exactly how I feel。 Especially Rodrigo；〃 she added。 〃He was the one who promised I would be left alone。〃
〃I was afraid you would remember that；〃 said someone entering from the corridor。
Rodrigo Belmonte； still in boots and winter cloak； with his sword on and the whip in his belt； strode into the room。 He had； incongruously； a cup of chocolate in each hand。
He offered one to Jehane。 〃Drink。 I had to promise this was for you and no one else。 The older one downstairs is greedy and wanted it all。〃
〃And what about me？〃 Ibn Khairan plained。 〃I did damage to my wrists and fingers making wolves and pigs for them。〃
Rodrigo laughed。 He took a sip from the other cup。 〃Well； if you must know the truth； this one was for you as a reward； but I didn't actually promise； and the chocolate is good and I was cold。 You've been inside and warm for a while。〃 He lowered the cup and smiled。
〃You've chocolate on your moustache；〃 Jehane said。 〃And you are supposed to be outside the walls。 Defending the city。 Much good you are to anyone； arriving now。〃
〃Exactly；〃 Ammar said with a vigorous nod of his head。 〃Give me my chocolate。〃
Rodrigo did so。 He looked at Jehane。
〃Martin fetched me。 We weren't far away。 Jehane； you'll have to choose between being angry with me for having you guarded； or for not being here to defend you myself。〃
〃Why？〃 she snapped。 〃Why can't I be angry for both？〃
〃Exactly；〃 said Ammar again； sipping the chocolate。 His tone was so smugly pleased it almost made her laugh。 He does nothing by chance； she reminded herself； struggling for self…possession。 Ziri and Idar were grinning； and so； reluctantly； was Alvar。
Jehane； looking around her； came to accept； finally； that it was over。 They had saved her life and Velaz's； and the lives of the two children。 She was being； perhaps； just the least bit ungrateful。
〃I am sorry about the broken promise；〃 Rodrigo said soberly。 〃I didn't want to argue with you back then； and Ziri's arrival seemed a stroke of fortune。 You know he came through the pass alone？〃
〃So I gather。〃 She was being ungrateful。 〃What will be done about those two men？〃 she asked。 〃Who were they？〃
〃Two that I know of； as it happens。〃 It was Ammar。 〃Almalik used them several times。 It seems his son remembered that。 They were the best assassins he had。〃
〃Will this cause a scandal？〃
Ammar shook his head and looked at Rodrigo。 〃I don't think it has to。 I think there is a better way to deal with this。〃
〃No one knows they came so close but the servants here；〃 Rodrigo said thoughtfully。 〃They can be trusted； I think。〃
Ammar nodded。 〃That is my thought。 I believe I heard；〃 he said carefully； 〃that two merchants from Cartada were unfortunately murdered in a tavern quarrel shortly after they arrived here。 I think the appropriate Guild ought to send apologies and condolences to Cartada。 Let Almalik believe they were discerned the moment they came。 Let him feel that much more anxious。〃
〃You know the man；〃 Rodrigo said。
〃I do；〃 ibn Khairan agreed。 〃Not as well as I once thought； but well enough。〃
〃What will he do next？〃 Jehane asked suddenly。
Ammar ibn Khairan looked at her。 His expression was very sober now。 He had laid down the cup of chocolate。 〃I believe；〃 he said； 〃he will attempt to win me back。〃
There was a brief stillness。
〃Will he succeed？〃 Rodrigo was as blunt as ever。
Ammar shrugged。 〃I'm a mercenary now； remember？ Just as you are。 What would your answer be？ If King Ramiro summoned you tomorrow would you abandon your contract here and go home？〃
Another silence。 〃I don't know；〃 said Rodrigo Belmonte at length。 〃Though my wife would stab me if she heard me say that。〃
〃Then I suppose I am in a better circumstance than you； because if I give the same answer； no woman is likely to kill me。〃 Ibn Khairan smiled。
〃Don't；〃 said Jehane； 〃be quite so sure。〃
They all looked at her uncertainly； until she smiled。
〃Thank you； by the way；〃 she said； to all of them。
Twelve
Towards the end of winter； when the first wildflowers were appearing in the meadows； but while snow still lay thick in the higher plateaus and the mountain passes； the three kings of Esperana gathered near Carcasia in Valledo to hunt elk and boar in the oak woods where the smells were of rebirth and the burgeoning of spring could be felt along the blood。
Though even the best of the ancient straight roads were little more than muddy impediments to travel； their queens were with them and substantial retinues from their courts； for hunting…pleasurable as it might be…was merely a pretext for this meeting。
It had been Geraud de Chervalles； the formidable cleric from Ferrieres who； together with colleagues wintering at Eschalou and Orvedo； had prevailed upon three men who hated and feared each other to e together early in the year to hold afternoon converse after chases in field and wood。
A greater hunt was near to hand； the clerics had declared in the court of each king； one that redounded both to the glory of Jad and the vastly increased wealth and fame and power of each of the three lands that had been carved from what was left of Esperana。
The glory of Jad was； of course； an entirely good thing。 Everyone agreed on that。 Wealth and power； and certainly fame； were prospects worth a journey。 Whether these things were also worth the associated pany remained； as yet； to be seen。
Two days had passed since the Ruendans； last to arrive； had joined the others within Carcasia's walls。 No untoward incidents had yet transpired…little of note either； though King Bermudo of Jalona had proven himself still the equal of his nephews on horseback and with a boar spear。 Of the queens； the accolades had gone to red…haired Ines of Valledo； daughter of the hunting…mad king of Ferrieres； clearly the best rider of the women there…and better than most of the courtiers。
For a man known to be clever and ambitious； her husband appeared preoccupied and inattentive much of the time； even during the afternoon and evening discussions of policy and war。 He left it to his constable to raise questions and objections。
For his part； Bermudo of Jalona hunted with fury in the mornings and spoke during the meetings of vengeance against the cities of Ragosa and Fibaz； which had defaulted on his first…ever parias claim。 He accepted condolences on the death of a favored courtier； the young Count Nino di Carrera； ambushed by outlaws in a valley in Al…Rassan。 No one was quite clear how a party of one hundred trained and well…mounted Horsemen could have been slaughtered by a mere outlaw band； but no one was unkind or impolitic enough to raise that question directly。 Queen Fruela； still a handsome woman； was seen to grow misty…eyed at the menti