A heavy sound arose from the armies： hungry； needing； enthralled。
Opening her eyes again； Jehane saw that Husari had e to stand beside her。 He was crying； without concealment or pretense。
She looked at him； and then away； without speaking。 She was afraid to attempt to say anything。 She had made a promise to herself。 Had sworn she would not weep。 Until it was over。 Until time had run away from them like those horses on the plain。
They were a match。 Both of them had always known it。 In a way； the desperate exigencies required to stay alive now were a good thing： they made it harder for the heart to intervene and cripple with its sorrow。
There were reasons for staying alive。 There was a woman on a hilltop east of them。 There was love。 He blocked a low thrust； barely； cut forward with the motion…a difficult thing…and was parried； elegantly。 Never a swordsman like this before。 Never a match。 Could it be called a dance？ Should they embrace？ Were they not？
One let the body rule here； faster than thought； movements not even imagined； a blurring engaged by the same when blades met。 The mind floating just above； out of the way except when it noticed something。 A weakness； a faltering。
No faltering here at red sunset。 He hadn't thought there would be。
On that hilltop to the east there was love。
Once； during their campaign for Ragosa； when they'd lured the old bandit ibn Hassan into ambushing the parias party for them； Jehane had joined the pany by the fire one night； and had offered a Kindath song。
Who knows love？
Who says he knows love？
What is love； tell me。
〃I know love；〃
Says the littlest one。
〃Love is like a tall oak tree。〃
〃Why is love a tall oak tree？ Little one tell me。〃
〃Love is a tree
For the shelter it gives
In sunshine or in storm。〃
He stumbled unexpectedly as an attack pushed him back； swore as he felt himself falling。 Too careless； distracted。 He had seen that rock； had thought of using it。
Twisting desperately； he released his shield…behind him； the grip upwards…and blocked his fall with his freed left arm； palm braced hard on the grass； sword sweeping into position to take the other man's descending blade and turn it away。
He let himself roll with the weight of that blow to the necessary place； reclaimed the shield and was up again…all in the same smooth motion。 In time to blunt the swift second stroke。 Dropped to a knee then and slashed across； faster than he should have been able to。 Almost got through with that one； almost buried his sword。 Didn't。 They were a match。 Both of them had known。 From first meeting in Ragosa。 That garden with the tame stream。
Who knows love？
Who says he knows love？
What is love； tell me。
〃I know love；〃 Says the littlest one。 〃Love is like a flower。〃
〃Why is love a flower？ Little one tell me。〃
〃Love is a flower
For the sweetness it gives
Before it dies away。〃
It would have been pleasant； the thought came to him； to be able to lay down their weapons on the darkening grass。 To walk away from this place； from what they were being made to do； past the ruins； along the river and into the woods beyond。 To find a forest pool； wash their wounds and drink from the cool water and then sit beneath the trees； out of the wind； silent as the summer night came down。
Not in this life。
He thought； then； of something he could do with his shield。
It would have been so much better had she been able to hate the man trying to kill Rodrigo。 It was this man； though； who had given the warning that saved Diego's life。 He hadn't had to do that。 He was Asharite。 He was now the mander of their army； the ka'id。
But she had never； ever heard Rodrigo speak of another man…not even Raimundo； who had died so long ago…the way he'd talked about Ammar ibn Khairan during the long； waiting winter just past。 The way the man sat a horse； handled a blade； a bow； devised strategies； jested； spoke of history； geography； the properties of good wine。 Even the way he wrote poetry。
〃Poetry？〃 Miranda could remember saying to this last； in the voice she reserved for her most withering sarcasm。
Rodrigo had a liking for verse； an ear for what he heard。 She did not； and he knew it。 He used to torment her with snatches of lyrics in bed。 She'd cover her head with pillows。
〃Are you in love with this man？〃 she'd asked her husband once in Fezana that winter…more than half jealous； if truth were told。
〃I suppose I am； in a way；〃 Rodrigo had replied after a moment。 〃Isn't it odd？〃
It wasn't； really； Miranda thought； on that hill by Silvenes。 The low sun was making it difficult to see the two of them now。 There were moments when she found it impossible to tell them apart。 She would have thought she'd know Rodrigo beside any man on earth； but he was in armor now； and far away； a moving shadow against red light； and the two men would e together； circle and turn； very close； before disengaging。 It was easy to confuse them in these movements leading to a death。
She wasn't ready to lose him。 To be alone。
It was the wind that was bringing tears to her eyes。 She wiped at them with the back of a hand； glancing sidelong at the other woman。 Jehane bet Ishak stood dry…eyed； white…faced； never moving her gaze from what was happening below。 Miranda thought suddenly： We have had our years。 I know what it is I will lose。 She hasn't even had time to gather memories against the dark。
Which was the harder loss to bear？ Were there measurements for such things？ Did it matter？
〃Oh； love；〃 she whispered aloud。 And then； to herself； a prayer； 〃Do not leave me now。〃
In that moment she saw one of them throw his shield。
She would never have thought there could be beauty in something so purely terrifying； but she ought to have known； remembering what they could do。 Both of them。
She had seen them fight…that challenge in Ragosa； the Emin ha'Nazar； the Kindath Quarter in Fezana。 She ought to have expected this。
Most of the time； eyes narrowed against the sun； Jehane could tell them apart。 Not always； though； as they overlapped and merged and broke apart。 They were silhouettes now； no more than that； against the last red disk of light。
She suddenly remembered； as if the thought had somehow been given to her； a cold night during that campaign in the east for Mazur and King Badir。 She'd heard the pany singing by one of the campfires； to the sound of Martin's guitar。 She had e out from her tent； half asleep； wrapped in a cloak。 They had made a place for her near the fire。 Eventually she had sung a tune her mother used to sing to her in childhood； as Eliane's own mother had sung it for her。 It was such an old song。
Both men had been watching her from across the fire that night； Jehane remembered。 A strange memory now； but it had e。 She remembered the night； the fire； the song。
〃Love is a flower
For the sweetness it gives
Before it dies away。〃
The sun； red as a flame； dropped below the western bank of clouds； underlighting them； hanging on the rim of the world。 The two men were shadow…figures against it。 They circled； came together； circled。 She could truly not distinguish them now； the movements were so much the same。
One of them threw his shield。
Hurled it flat like a discus； wrong…handed； straight at the other's knees。 The other man leaped to evade； almost did； was hit； fell awkwardly。 Jehane caught her breath。 The first one drove straight forward； hard； and they were locked again； entangled。
〃Rodrigo；〃 said Miranda suddenly。
The man without a shield was above the other； who had fought to his knees。 The one on the ground blocked the descent of a sword； was thrown back。 Hurled himself pletely over and away on the grass； letting fall his own shield to do it。 They engaged； without defenses now； blades whipping and parrying。 One body； almost。 A creature of myth； some lost； fabulous beast of long ago。 They pushed apart。 Two figures again； against the sun's disk。
Jehane's hands were up before her mouth。 One of the two men threw himself against the other again。 Half the sun was gone now； at the end of the world。 She could see the shields where they had fallen。
Someone ha