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of Fezana。 There was that same anger now； and a kind of hurt that didn't sort easily with his profession。 Or perhaps that wasn't true： perhaps Rodrigo was good at what he did because he knew the price exacted by the deeds of soldiers at war？
Odd； how her mind was drifting。 Questions for which there were no answers。 Much like death。 The emptiness。 The physician's implacable adversary。 A sword wound deep into the collarbone。 There was no answer for that。
She said； clearing her throat； 〃Did he clean it 。。。 before he put the dressing on？〃
Belmonte nodded。 〃With a whole flask of wine。 Didn't you hear me？〃
She shook her head。 〃It looks like a proper dressing。〃
〃Lain's been doing this for years。〃
〃I know。〃
There was a little silence。 He knelt in front of her； beside Ammar。 〃His last words to me were to ask that we take care of you。 Jehane； I swore that we would。〃
She bit her lip。 Said； 〃I thought I'd been hired to take care of all of you。〃
〃It goes both ways； my dear。〃 That was Husari。 Ammar said nothing； only watched。 His ringers were cool； holding hers。
Rodrigo looked at him； registering the linked hands； and said； 〃Muwardi assassins suggests Cartada。〃 He stood up。
〃I would think so；〃 Ammar said。 〃In fact； I know it was。 There was an emissary who found me； as well。 A different kind of mission。〃
Rodrigo nodded slowly。 〃He wants you back？〃
〃He does。〃
〃We assumed that； didn't we？〃
〃I think Almalik wanted to make certain I knew it。〃
〃What was the offer？〃
〃All the things one might expect。〃 The tone was cool。
Rodrigo registered that； too。 〃My apologies。 I ought not to have asked。〃
〃Perhaps。 But you did。 Ask the next question？〃 Ammar released her hand。 He rose to his feet。
The two men gazed at each other； grey eyes and blue。 Rodrigo nodded his head； as if accepting a challenge。 〃Very well。 What did you tell them？〃
〃That I didn't know my answer； whether I would return or not。〃
〃I see。 Was that true？〃
〃At the time。〃
A silence。 〃Not so long ago； if it was tonight。〃
〃It was。 Some things have intervened。〃
〃I see。 And what would you answer if the same question were asked of you now？〃
A small； deliberate hesitation。 〃That I am well content with the pany in which I find myself。〃 There was a nuance there； Jehane realized。 A moment later she saw that Rodrigo had also caught it。
He gestured around the room。 〃We are that pany？〃
Ibn Khairan inclined his head。 〃A part of it。〃 The two men were of a height； the Valledan was broader across the shoulders and chest。
〃I see。〃
〃And you？〃 Ammar asked； and now Jehane understood why he had permitted…even invited…the questions。 〃Where will the men of Rodrigo Belmonte be serving this summer？〃
〃We ride against Cartada soon。 With the army of Ragosa。〃
〃And if King Ramiro should also be riding？ Against Fezana's walls？ What then； O Scourge of Al…Rassan？ Will we lose you？ Will we live to fear the sight of your banner again？〃
Some of the pany had e over and were listening。 It was quiet in the room and there was； indeed； light ing in from the east。 Sunrise soon。
Rodrigo was silent a long while。 Then； 〃I； too； am well content with where I find myself。〃
〃But？〃
The anger in Belmonte's eyes was gone。 The other thing was still there。 〃But if the armies of Esperana e through the tagra lands； I think I must go to them。〃
Jehane let out her breath。 She hadn't been aware that she'd been holding it。
〃Of course you must；〃 Ammar said。 〃You have lived your life for this。〃
Rodrigo looked away for the first time and then back。 〃What do you want me to say？〃
Ammar's tone was suddenly hard； merciless； 〃Oh； well 。。。 how about； 'Die； Asharite dogs！ Kindath swine！' Something of that sort？〃
There was a sound from the soldiers。 Rodrigo winced and shook his head。 〃Not from me； Ammar。 Not from those who ride with me。〃
〃And from those who will ride all around you？〃
Rodrigo shook his head again； almost doggedly。 〃Again； what can I say to you？ They will be much as the Muwardis are； I suppose。 Driven by hatred and holiness。〃 He made a curious gesture； both hands opening and then closing again。 〃You tell me。 What shall good men do in such a war； Ammar？〃
Ammar's answer came； as Jehane had feared and known it would： 〃Kill each other； until something ends in the world。〃
Alvar and Husari took her home as the sun was rising over the strewn and empty streets。 They all needed sleep very badly。 Alvar took his old room on the ground level； the one he'd used when she and he and Velaz had first e through the pass to Ragosa。
Husari took Velaz's bed beside the chamber where Jehane saw her patients。
She bade them good night； though the night was done。 She went up the stairs to her room。 She opened the window and stood there watching the eastern sky grow brighter beyond the roofs of houses。
It was going to be a beautiful morning。 The dawn wind brought the scent of almond trees from the garden across the way。 It was quiet now。 The streets were empty。 Velaz would not see this morning e。
She tried； again； to think how she could tell this to her mother and father； and again backed away from that。 She thought of something else： it would be necessary to arrange for burial； a Kindath service。 Avren would help。 Perhaps she would ask him to do this？ Find someone to chant the ancient words of the liturgy：
One sun for the god。
Two moons for his beloved sisters。
Uncountable stars to shine in the night。
Oh； man and woman； born to a dark path；
only look up and the lights shall guide you home。
She cried again； the tears spilling down her cheeks； falling on the windowsill。
After a time she wiped her face with the backs of her hands and lay down on the bed； not bothering to undress； though there was blood on her clothing。 The tears had stopped。 An emptiness； pushing outwards from her heart； took their place。 She lay there but could not sleep。
A little later she heard the sound from outside。 She had been waiting for that sound。
Ammar swung up and onto the window ledge。 He stayed there； motionless； regarding her a long while。
〃Will you forgive me？〃 he asked finally。 〃I needed to e。〃
〃I would not have forgiven you； ever； had you not；〃 she said。 〃Hold me。〃
He jumped down to the floor and crossed the room。 He lay on the bed beside her and she laid her head on his chest。 She could feel his heartbeat。 She closed her eyes。 His hand came up and touched her hair。
〃Oh； my love；〃 he said softly。 〃Jehane。〃
She began； again； to cry。
This passed as well； though not soon。 When she had been quiet for a time he spoke again。 〃We can lie like this； as long as you like。 It is all right。〃
But there was an emptiness in her； and it needed not to be empty any more。
〃No we can't；〃 she said； and lifted her head and kissed him。 Salt。 Her own tears。 She brought her hands up and laced them in his hair and kissed him again。
Much later； with both of them unclothed； she lay wrapped in his arms under the bedcovers and fell into desperately needed sleep。
He did not。 He was much too aware of what was to e…later this same day。 He had to leave Ragosa； before nightfall。 He would urge that she remain here。 She would refuse。 He even knew who would insist upon ing with them。 There was a darkness looming in the west； like a high…piled thundercloud。 Above Fezana。 Where they had met。
He lay awake； holding her in his arms； and became aware of a great irony…observing how the newly risen sun poured in through the eastern window and fell upon them both； as if someone or something wished to cloak them in a blessing made entirely of light。
Part V…Even the Sun Goes Down
Fifteen
The governor of Fezana was a watchful and a cautious man。 If he occasionally remembered that the lamented King Almalik I； the Lion of Cartada； had begun his own ascent to glory from the position of governing that city for the khalifs of Silvenes； he more often reminded himself of his extreme good fortune in having been the only important city governor to survive the transition from father to son in Cartada。
When unsettled by dreams of loftier position he had learned to allow himself an evening of distraction： a quantity of Jaddite wine； dancers； encounters…watching or participating…involving slaves of both sexes in varying binations。 He had discovered that the release afforded by such activities served to quell the disturbances of inappropriate dreams for a time。
In truth； it wasn't merely good fortune that had ensured his continuance in Fezana。 During the last years of the reign of the elder Almalik； the governor had taken pains； quietly； to establish cordial relations with the son。 Though the tension between the king and the prince was evident； the governor of Fezana nonetheless judged that the young man was likely to survive and succeed his father。 His reasoning was simple in the extreme： the alternatives were untenable； and the prince had Ammar ibn Khairan for his guardian。
The governor of Fezana had been born in Aljais。
He had known ibn Khairan from the poet's boyhood in that city。 Concern