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〃We could say that every year each season ends something。〃
〃We could say that。 Are you going to？〃
He shook his head。 〃No。 I have felt for some time we are nearing a change。 I don't know what it will be。 But it is ing； I think。〃 He paused。 〃Of course； I have been wrong about such things。〃
〃Often？〃
He grinned。 〃Not very； Jehane。〃
〃Thank you for your honesty。〃
He continued to look at her。 The direct gaze。 〃Pure self…protection； doctor。 I dare not dissemble with you。 You may have to bleed me one day。 Or cut off a leg。〃
She realized that she didn't like thinking about that。
〃Have you a mask for the Carnival？〃 she asked； inconsequentially。
He smiled again； crookedly。 〃Actually； I do。 Ludus and Martin； who like to think they are amusing； bought me something elaborate。 Perhaps I'll wear it； to humor them； and walk about early for a while； but I don't think I'll stay out。〃
〃Why not？ What will you do？ Sit in a blanket by the fire？〃
He lifted the small parcel he carried。 〃Write letters。 Home。〃 He hesitated。 〃To my wife。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Jehane。 〃Stern duty summons。 Even during Carnival？〃
Rodrigo colored slightly； for the first time she could ever remember； and looked away。 The last fishing boat was in now。 The sailors were unloading their catch。
〃Not duty；〃 he said。
And Jehane realized then； belatedly； something important about him。
He walked her home。 She invited him in for a midday meal； but he declined； graciously。 She ate alone； fish and fruit； prepared by the cook Velaz had hired for them。
Thoughtfully； she went to look in on her patients later in the day； and thoughtfully she came home at twilight to bathe and dress for the banquet at the palace。
Mazur had sent jewelry for her； another generous act。 It was a notoriously elegant occasion； she had learned； the king's banquet on the eve of Carnival。 Husari had presented her with her gown； crimson dyed； edged in black。 He had flatly refused payment…one argument she had lost； resoundingly。 She looked at the gown in her room。 It was exquisite。 She had never worn anything like it in her life。
The Kindath were supposed to wear blue and white only； and without ostentation。 It had been made clear； however； that for tonight…and most certainly for tomorrow…such rules were suspended in King Badir's Ragosa。 She began to dress。
Thinking about Husari； she remembered his speech of the morning。 The pompous； lofty style of a mock…scholar。 He had been jesting； he said。
But he hadn't been； or not entirely。
At certain moments； Jehane thought； in the presence of men like Husari ibn Musa or young Alvar； or Rodrigo Belmonte； it was actually possible to imagine a future for this peninsula that left room for hope。 Men and women could change； could cross boundaries； give and take； each from the other 。。。 given enough time； enough good will； intelligence。
There was a world for the making in Esperana； in Al…Rassan； one world made of the two…or perhaps； if one were to dream； made of three。 Sun； stars and the moons。
Then you remembered Orvilla； the Day of the Moat。 You looked into the eyes of the Muwardis； or paused on a street corner and heard a wadji demanding death for the foul Kindath sorcerer ben Avren； who drank the blood of Asharite infants torn from their mothers' arms。
Even the sun goes down； my lady。
Rodrigo had said that。
She had never known a man like him。 Or no； that was not quite so。 One other； met on the same terrible day last summer。 They were like a bright golden coin； those two； two sides； different images on each； one value。
Was that true？ Or did it just sound true； like the words of one of those pedagogues Husari mocked； all symmetry； no substance？
She didn't know the answer to that。 She missed Nunaya and the women outside the walls of Fezana。 She missed her own room at home。 She missed her mother。
She missed her father very much。 He would have liked to have seen her looking as she did now； she knew。 He would never see her again； never see anything again。 The man who had done that to him was dead。 Ammar ibn Khairan had killed him； and then written his lament。 Jehane had been near to tears； hearing that elegy； in the palace where they were dining again tonight； in a room with a stream running through it。
It was very hard； how many things in life you never discovered the answers to； no matter how much you tried。
Jehane stood before her seldom…used looking glass and put on Mazur's jewelry。 She stayed there； looking at herself； for a long time。
Eventually； she heard music approaching outside； and then a knocking at the door downstairs。 She heard Velaz going to answer。 Mazur had sent an escort for her； strings and wind instruments； it sounded like。 She had made him feel guilty last night； it seemed。 She ought to be amused by that。 She remained motionless another moment； staring at her image in the glass。
She didn't look like a doctor serving with a military pany。 She looked like a woman…not young with the extreme freshness of youth； but not so old； either； with quite good cheekbones and blue eyes accentuated now by paint and Mazur's lapis lazuli at ears and throat。 A court lady； about to join a glittering pany at a palace banquet。
Looking at the figure in the glass； Jehane offered her small shrug。 That； at least； she recognized。
The mask； her real disguise； lay on the table beside the glass。 That was for tomorrow。 Tonight； in the palace of King Badir； however altered she might seem； everyone would still know she was Jehane。 Whatever that meant。
Thirteen
〃Were you pleased？〃 the king of Ragosa asked his chancellor； breaking a panionable silence。
Mazur ben Avren glanced up from the cushions where he reclined。 〃I ought to be asking you that；〃 he said。
Badir smiled in his deep； low chair。 〃I am easily pleased；〃 he murmured。 〃I enjoyed the food and the pany。 The music was splendid tonight； especially the reeds。 Your new musician from Ronizza is a discovery。 Are we paying him well？〃
〃Extremely well； I'm sorry to say。 There have been other offers for his services。〃
The king sipped from his glass； held it to the nearest candle flame and looked； thoughtfully。 The sweet wine was pale： as starlight； the white moon； a northern girl。 He tried briefly but failed to think of a fresher image。 It was very late。 〃What did you think of the verses tonight？〃
The verses were an issue； as it happened。
The chancellor took his time before answering。 They were alone again； in the king's chambers。 It occurred to ben Avren to wonder how many times over the years the two of them had sat like this at the end of a night。
Badir's second wife had died six winters ago； giving birth to his third son。 The king had never remarried。 He had heirs； and no single overriding political interest had emerged to dictate an obvious union。 It was useful at times for a secure monarch to be unattached： overtures came； and negotiations could be spun out a long while。 Rulers in three countries had reason to believe their daughter might one day be queen of wealthy Ragosa in Al…Rassan。
〃What did you think of the verses； my lord？〃
It was unlike the chancellor to deflect a question back。 Badir raised one eyebrow。 〃Are you being careful； old friend？ With me？〃
Mazur shook his head。 〃Not careful。 Uncertain； actually。 I may be 。。。 prejudiced by my own aspirations in the realm of poetry。〃
〃That gives me most of an answer。〃
Mazur smiled。 〃I know。〃
The king leaned back and put his feet up on his favorite stool。 He balanced his wine on the wide arm of the chair。
〃What do I think？ I think most of the poems were indifferent。 The usual run of images。 I also think；〃 he added； 〃that our friend ibn Khairan betrayed a conflict in his verse…either deliberately； or something he would rather have kept hidden。〃
The chancellor nodded slowly。 〃That seems exact。 You will think I am flattering； I fear。〃 King Badir's glance was keen。 He waited。 Mazur sipped from his wine。 〃Ibn Khairan's too honest a poet； my lord。 He might dissemble in speech and act； but not easily in verse。〃
〃What do we do about it？〃
Mazur gestured gracefully。 〃There is nothing to do。 We wait and see what he decides。〃
〃Ought we to try to influence that decision？ If we know what our own desires are？〃
Mazur shook his head。 〃He knows what he can have from you； my lord。〃
〃Does he？〃 Badir's tone sharpened。 〃I don't。 What is it he can have from me？〃
The chancellor laid his glass down and sat up straighter。 They had been drinking all night…during the banquet； and now alone。 Ben Avren was weary but clear…headed。 〃It is； as ever； yours to decide； my lord； but it is my view that he can have whatever it is he wants； should he choose to remain with us。〃
A silence。 It was an extraordinary thing to have said。 Both men knew it。
〃I need him so much； Mazur？〃
〃Not if we choose to stay as we are； my lord。 But if you wish to have more； then yes； you need him that much。〃
Another reflective stillness。
〃I do； of course； wish to have more；〃 said King Badir of Ragosa。
〃I know。〃
〃Can my sons deal with a wider realm when I