aign near Fibaz； how he and Rodrigo seemed to have an effortless interchange of authority as situations altered。 This was； she had e to realize； one of the sorrows she was carrying： whatever bond had evolved； whatever unspoken awareness they shared across two worlds…it was going to be severed now。
A Jaddite army in Al…Rassan made certain of that。 The two of them were aware of it。 Nothing had been said on the hill； watching the dust； but it was known。 They were here to take her parents away from danger； and after that 。。。 ？ After that； whatever it was that had begun that autumn day in Ragosa in a symbolic battle beneath the ramparts would e to an end。
She wanted to talk with Ammar。 She needed to talk with him； about this； and so many other things。 About love； and whether something could truly begin in a time of deaths； with endings all around in the world they had known。
Not on this ride； though。 They had spoken with glances and the briefest exchanges。 Whatever was to be resolved； whatever diminished or expanded possibilities the future might enpass in the mingled signs of their stars and moons； would have to be considered afterwards。 If time and the world allowed。
She had no doubts of him。 It was astonishing in a way； but she'd had none at all from those first moments in the street at Carnival。 Sometimes the heart's arrow found its way to certainty despite the cautionings of a careful nature。
He was what he was and she knew something about that。 He had done what he had done； and the stories ran the length of the peninsula。
And he had said he loved her and she believed him； and there was no need for fear。 Not of him。 Of the world； perhaps； of darkness； blood； fire； but not of this man who was； it seemed； amazingly； the destination of her soul。
They entered Fezana in the midst of a milling； terrified mass of people from the countryside fleeing the advance of the Jaddite army。 Wagons and pushcarts clogged the road into the city and the bridge before the wall； blocking the gates。 They were enmeshed among crying children； barking dogs； mules； chickens； shouting men and women； Jehane saw all the signs of a general panic。
Ammar looked over at Rodrigo。 〃We may be just in time。 There could be violence here tonight。〃 He said it quietly。 Jehane felt fear； like the pounding of a drum inside her。
〃Let's get inside；〃 Belmonte said。
Ammar hesitated。 〃Rodrigo； you may be trapped in a city your army is besieging。〃
〃My army is in Ragosa； preparing to set out for Cartada； remember？〃 Rodrigo's voice was grim。 〃I'll deal with changes as they arise。〃
The other man hesitated again； as if about to add something； but merely nodded his head。 〃Cloak yourself； then。 You'll be slain on the spot if they know you for a Valledan。〃 He looked over at Alvar and then； improbably； flashed the grin they all knew。 〃You； on the other hand； look more like a native than I do。〃
Alvar returned the smile。 〃Worry about Husari；〃 he said in effortless Asharic。 〃He'll get us all killed with his hat。〃 He looked over at Jehane and smiled。 〃We'll get them out。〃
She managed to nod her head。 It was extraordinary what the passage of less than a year had done to him。 Or perhaps not so： there had been steel and a mind in Alvar de Pellino from the beginning and he had spent much of this year in the pany of two of the most exceptional men in their world。 He was on the way； Jehane thought suddenly； to being something out of the ordinary himself。
Husari and Ammar led them； urging their horses steadily through the crowd。 Stumbling out of their path； men swore at them； but not loudly。 They were armed and mounted； and that was enough。 They forced a way through。
There were guards at the gate but they were overwhelmed by the clamor and chaos。 No one took note of them； no one stayed their course。 Late in the afternoon of the day the Valledans arrived。 Jehane came back into the city where she had been born and raised。
They reached the Kindath Quarter just ahead of the mob bearing weapons and brands of fire。
Since Ishak had begun to talk again； Eliane had discovered that her husband's hearing was extremely good。 It was he who first heard the sounds from outside the Quarter and drew her attention to them。 She could understand him almost perfectly now： the mangled words； because they were his； were to her as water in a dry place。
She put down the letter she had been reading him…Rezzoni ben Corli had written from Padrino where he was living now with his family。 He had sent news of Batiara in the aftermath of the massacre in Sorenica。
She was to remember； later； that this was what she had been reading when Ishak said he heard a noise outside。 Crossing to the window； Eliane opened it and stood listening。 An angry sound； a crowd in the distant streets。
The window of Ishak's study overlooked a mon courtyard shared by a dozen of the larger homes in the Quarter。 Looking down； Eliane saw a number of people below； talking nervously； gesticulating。 Someone ran into the courtyard： her friend Nasreh bet Rivek's younger son。
〃They are ing！〃 he shouted。 〃They've killed Mezira ben Mores！ They are ing for us with fire！〃
Someone screamed from a window across the way。 Eliane closed her eyes； clutching the ledge。 She was briefly afraid she would fall。 She had been warned of this； explicitly。 They had been making plans to leave； hard as it was to abandon a home at their age。 It seemed they had waited too long。
There was a scraping sound as Ishak rose from his chair behind her。 Eliane opened her eyes and looked out； drawing a ragged breath。 Faces appeared at windows； people ran into the courtyard。 The sun was westering； the cobblestones sliced by a diagonal line of shadow。 Frightened men and women crossed in and out of the light。 Someone appeared carrying a spear…Nasreh's older son。 Frenzied movement in a once…quiet place； a babble of sound。 The huge noise was nearer now。 Was this； then； how the world ended？
Ishak spoke her name。 She started to turn back to him； but in that moment； blinking in disbelief； she realized that one of the people running into the courtyard below was her daughter。
Jehane had known the guards at the iron gates to the Quarter。 They let her enter with the men acpanying her。 They had heard and seen the mob gathering by the market square。 The Kindath guards were armed…against regulations…and posed。
No signs of panic that Alvar could see。 They knew what was ing。 They knew about the Jaddites too。
Jehane hesitated just inside the gates。 Alvar saw her look at Ammar ibn Khairan。 And in that moment…not before； in fact…he finally understood something。 He felt a quick； hard pain； much like a blade； then it was gone。 A different feeling lingered； nearer to sorrow。
He had never really imagined she might be for him。
〃Ser Rodrigo； you take her in；〃 ibn Khairan said quickly。 〃You're still a danger if you are seen。 Husari and Alvar and I will help out at this gate。 We may be able to do something。 We can gain you time； if nothing else。〃
If nothing else。 Alvar knew what that meant。
Jehane said； 〃Ammar； it isn't just my parents any more。〃
〃I know that。 We'll do all we can。 Go get them。 I know the house。 Be downstairs。 If we can； we'll be with you。〃 He turned to Rodrigo。 〃If you hear we've broken； get them out。〃 He paused； blue eyes on grey in the light of late afternoon。 〃I charge you with this；〃 he said。
Belmonte said nothing。 Only nodded。
Jehane and the Captain left them。 No time for more words； of farewell or otherwise。 It didn't seem as if the world was allowing any space for such things。 The noise from the streets was louder now。 Alvar felt fear touch him then； a quick finger beneath the skin。 He had never dealt with a mob； he had never even seen one。
〃They have already killed three of us；〃 one of the Kindath guards said grimly。
The gates to the Kindath Quarter were recessed into a narrow laneway。 The crowd would be channelled and backed up here when they arrived。 That would have been deliberate； Alvar realized。 The Kindath had experience with these things。 A terrible truth。 It occurred to him that Queen Vasca； whom his mother w