¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡doctor£»¡¡not¡¡the¡¡merchant£»¡¡who¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¨A¡¡village¡£¡¡Orvilla¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡patients¡¡there¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨e¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Captain£»¡¡his¡¡expression¡¡even¡¡grimmer¡¡than¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡will¡¡have¡¡more¡¡now¡£¡¡Leave¡¡the¡¡mule¡£¡¡Ride¡¡with¡¡Lain¡the¡¡older¡¡one¡£¡¡Alvar£»¡¡take¡¡her¡¡servant¡£¡¡Ludus£»¡¡Mauro£»¡¡guard¡¡the¡¡camp¡¡with¡¡the¡¡merchant¡£¡¡e¡¡on£¡¡¡That¡¡crawling¡¡maggot¡¡Garcia¡¡de¡¡Rada¡¡is¡¡here¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡At¡¡least¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jaddite¡¡raiders¡¡were¡¡slain¡¡in¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡moments¡¡before¡¡Jehane£»¡¡sheltering¡¡with¡¡Velaz¡¡at¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡burning¡¡houses£»¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡man¡¡the¡¡others¡¡called¡¡the¡¡Captain¡¡say¡¡clearly£»¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡enough¡£¡¡Gather¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡Captain¡£¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡who¡¡this¡¡was£»¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¡Everyone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡peninsula¡¡knew¡¡who¡¡was¡¡called¡¡by¡¡that¡¡name¡¡alone£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡title¡£
¡¡¡¡His¡¡words¡¡were¡¡echoed¡¡quickly¡¡by¡¡two¡¡other¡¡riders£»¡¡including¡¡the¡¡older¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡ridden¡¡here¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡killing¡¡stopped¡£
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡interval¡¡of¡¡time¡¡during¡¡which¡¡the¡¡raiders¡¡were¡¡herded¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡an¡¡open¡¡grassy¡¡space¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte's¡¡men¡¡were¡¡filling¡¡buckets¡¡at¡¡the¡¡stream£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fires¡¡alongside¡¡a¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡the¡¡villagers¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hopeless£»¡¡though£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡Jehane's¡¡untutored¡¡eye¡¡it¡¡was¡¡obviously¡¡wasted¡¡effort¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Doctor£¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡thank¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡stars£¡¡¡e¡¡quickly£»¡¡please£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡Jehane¡¡turned£»¡¡and¡¡recognized¡¡her¡¡patient¡the¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡eggs¡¡every¡¡week¡¡at¡¡the¡¡market¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Abirab£¡¡¡What¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡sister£¡¡¡She¡¡has¡¡been¡¡terribly¡¡hurt¡£¡¡By¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡£¡¡She¡¡is¡¡bleeding£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡child¡£¡¡And¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡is¡¡dead¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡what¡¡are¡¡we¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡doctor£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡woman's¡¡face¡¡was¡¡black¡¡with¡¡soot¡¡and¡¡smoke£»¡¡distorted¡¡with¡¡grief¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡red¡¡from¡¡weeping¡£¡¡Jehane£»¡¡frozen¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡by¡¡the¡¡brutal¡¡reality¡¡of¡¡horror£»¡¡offered¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡inner¡¡prayer¡¡to¡¡Galinus¡the¡¡only¡¡name¡¡she¡¡truly¡¡worshipped¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Take¡¡me¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡do¡¡what¡¡we¡¡can¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Ziri¡¡ibn¡¡Aram£»¡¡standing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡circle£»¡¡still¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father¡¡or¡¡mother¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡aunt¡¡approach¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡e¡¡with¡¡the¡¡new¡¡men¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡something¡¡held¡¡him¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡moments¡¡ago¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡preparing¡¡to¡¡die¡¡nailed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡beam¡¡from¡¡the¡¡barn¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡the¡¡words¡¡that¡¡offered¡¡his¡¡soul¡¡as¡¡a¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stars¡¡of¡¡Ashar¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡the¡¡stars¡¡were¡¡not¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡his¡¡soul£»¡¡after¡¡all¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡brown¡haired¡¡mander¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡arrivals¡¡remove¡¡a¡¡glove¡¡and¡¡stroke¡¡his¡¡moustache¡¡as¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡from¡¡his¡¡black¡¡horse¡¡at¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡had¡¡destroyed¡¡Ziri's¡¡village¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡was¡¡stocky¡¡and¡¡dark¡£¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡seem¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡to¡¡Ziri's¡¡eyes£»¡¡like¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡feared¡¡his¡¡approaching¡¡death¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡achieved¡¡your¡¡own¡¡destruction£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡with¡¡astonishing¡¡arrogance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡horse¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡who¡¡your¡¡louts¡¡have¡¡killed¡¡here£¿¡¨¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡high¡pitched¡¡for¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡almost¡¡shrill¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡what¡¡will¡¡happen¡¡when¡¡I¡¡report¡¡this¡¡in¡¡Esteren£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡broad¡shouldered£»¡¡brown¡haired¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡black¡¡horse¡¡said¡¡nothing¡£¡¡An¡¡older¡¡man¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡extremely¡¡tall¡¡and¡¡lean£»¡¡with¡¡greying¡¡hair£»¡¡said¡¡sharply£»¡¡¡¨So¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡are¡¡going¡¡back£»¡¡de¡¡Rada£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡stocky¡¡man¡¡didn't¡¡even¡¡look¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡though£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡horseman£»¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡said£»¡¡very¡¡quietly£»¡¡¡¨Answer¡¡him£»¡¡Garcia¡£¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡you¡¡a¡¡question¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡name¡¡was¡¡used¡¡as¡¡one¡¡might¡¡admonish¡¡a¡¡child£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡cold¡£
¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡Ziri¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡flicker¡¡of¡¡doubt¡¡appear¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡named¡¡Garcia¡£¡¡Only¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡though¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡aren't¡¡a¡¡plete¡¡fool£»¡¡Belmonte¡£¡¡Don't¡¡play¡¡games¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Games£¿¡¨¡¡A¡¡hard£»¡¡swift¡¡anger¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mounted¡¡man's¡¡voice¡£¡¡He¡¡swept¡¡one¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡a¡¡slashing¡¡arc£»¡¡indicating¡¡all¡¡of¡¡Orvilla£»¡¡burning¡¡freely¡¡now¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡would¡¡be¡¡saved¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡Ziri¡¡began¡¡looking¡¡around¡¡for¡¡his¡¡father¡£¡¡A¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡dread¡¡was¡¡overtaking¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Would¡¡I¡¡play¡¡a¡¡game¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡this£¿¡¨¡¡the¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡black¡¡horse¡¡snapped¡£¡¡¡¨Be¡¡careful£»¡¡Garcia¡£¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡insult¡¡me¡£¡¡Not¡¡tonight¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡your¡¡brother¡¡what¡¡would¡¡happen¡¡if¡¡you¡¡came¡¡near¡¡Fezana¡£¡¡I¡¡assume¡¡he¡¡told¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡assume¡¡he¡¡told¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡was¡¡silent¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Does¡¡it¡¡matter£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡grey¡haired¡¡one¡£¡¡He¡¡spat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡one¡¡is¡¡offal¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡less¡¡than¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡remember¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡black¡haired¡¡man¡¡sharply£»¡¡turning¡¡now¡¡to¡¡the¡¡speaker¡£¡¡He¡¡clenched¡¡his¡¡fists¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡good¡¡memory¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡you¡¡forgot¡¡your¡¡brother's¡¡warning£¿¡¨¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡called¡¡Belmonte¡£¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡calm¡¡again£»¡¡dangerously¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¨Or¡¡you¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡it£»¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡say£¿¡¡Garcia¡¡de¡¡Rada£»¡¡what¡¡you¡¡did¡¡as¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡on¡¡your¡¡family¡¡estates¡¡was¡¡no¡¡concern¡¡of¡¡mine¡£¡¡What¡¡you¡¡do¡¡here£»¡¡as¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡passes¡¡for¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡unfortunately¡¡is¡£¡¡This¡¡village¡¡lies¡¡under¡¡the¡¡protection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡Valledo¡¡whose¡¡officer¡¡I¡¡am¡£¡¡The¡¡parias¡¡I¡¡am¡¡here¡¡to¡¡collect¡¡was¡¡paid¡¡in¡¡part¡¡by¡¡the¡¡people¡¡you¡¡have¡¡butchered¡¡tonight¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡promises¡¡of¡¡King¡¡Ramiro¡¡and¡¡made¡¡him¡¡a¡¡liar¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡paused£»¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡words¡¡sink¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¨Given¡¡that¡¡fact£»¡¡what¡¡should¡¡I¡¡do¡¡with¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡not¡¡a¡¡question¡¡the¡¡man¡¡addressed¡¡had¡¡been¡¡expecting¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡slow¡¡of¡¡wit¡£¡¡¡¨Given¡¡that¡¡fact£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡mocked£»¡¡imitating¡¡the¡¡tone¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡lawyer¡¡not¡¡a¡¡soldier£»¡¡Belmonte¡£¡¡A¡¡judge¡¡in¡¡your¡¡eastern¡¡pastures£»¡¡making¡¡rulings¡¡about¡¡stolen¡¡sheep¡£¡¡What¡¡is¡¡this£»¡¡your¡¡courthouse£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡other¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¨Now¡¡you¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡understand¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡exactly¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¡We¡¡await¡¡your¡¡reply¡£¡¡What¡¡should¡¡I¡¡do¡¡with¡¡you£¿¡¡Shall¡¡I¡¡give¡¡you¡¡to¡¡these¡¡people¡¡to¡¡be¡¡spread¡eagled£¿¡¡The¡¡Asharites¡¡nail¡¡people¡¡to¡¡wood¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡We¡¡learned¡¡it¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡Did¡¡you¡¡know¡¡that£¿¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡we'd¡¡have¡¡trouble¡¡finding¡¡carpenters¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡bluster£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Garcia¡¡de¡¡Rada¡£
¡¡¡¡Jehane£»¡¡walking¡¡back¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡knot¡¡of¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡burning¡¡village£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡little¡¡girl's¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡each¡¡of¡¡hers¡¡and¡¡a¡¡black¡¡rage¡¡in¡¡her¡¡heart£»¡¡saw¡¡only¡¡the¡¡blurred¡¡motion¡¡of¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte's¡¡right¡¡arm¡£¡¡She¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡crack£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡whip£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡cried¡¡out¡£
¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡realized¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡whip£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡black¡¡line¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡on¡¡Garcia¡¡de¡¡Rada's¡¡cheek¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡be¡¡scarred¡¡for¡¡life¡¡by¡¡that£»¡¡she¡¡knew¡£¡¡She¡¡also¡¡knew¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡his¡¡life¡¡to¡¡end¡¡tonight¡£¡¡The¡¡fury¡¡in¡¡her¡¡was¡¡as¡¡nothing¡¡she¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡felt¡¡before£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡huge£»¡¡terrifying¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡she¡¡could¡¡kill¡¡the¡¡man¡¡herself¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡breathe¡¡deeply£»¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡a¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡self¡control¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡her¡¡father¡¡had¡¡been¡¡marred¡¡in¡¡Cartada¡¡it¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡Jehane¡¡and¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡as¡¡rumor¡¡first¡¡and¡¡then¡¡report£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lived¡¡with¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡for¡¡two¡¡days¡¡before¡¡they¡¡were¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡had¡¡been¡¡done¡¡and¡¡take¡¡him¡¡away¡£¡¡What¡¡she¡¡had¡¡just¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡one¡room¡¡hut¡¡by¡¡the¡¡river¡¡was¡¡raw¡¡as¡¡salt¡¡in¡¡an¡¡open¡¡sore¡£¡¡Jehane¡¡had¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡scream¡£¡¡What¡¡was¡¡medicine£»¡¡what¡¡was¡¡all¡¡her¡¡training£»¡¡her¡¡oath£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡an¡¡atrocity¡¡such¡¡as¡¡this£¿
¡¡¡¡Anger¡¡made¡¡her¡¡reckless¡£¡¡Leading¡¡the¡¡two¡¡children£»¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡straight¡¡in¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡between¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡and¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jaddite¡¡raiders£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡he'd¡¡called¡¡Garcia¡¡and¡¡had¡¡just¡¡scarred¡¡with¡¡a¡¡whip¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Which¡¡one¡¡was¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡children¡£¡¡She¡¡pitched¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡to¡¡carry¡£
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡abruptly¡¡a¡¡silence¡¡around¡¡them¡£¡¡A¡¡young¡¡man£»¡¡fourteen£»¡¡fifteen¡¡perhaps£»¡¡began¡¡hurrying¡¡towards¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡two¡¡girls¡¡had¡¡said¡¡there¡¡might¡¡be¡¡an¡¡older¡¡brother¡¡still¡¡alive¡£¡¡The¡¡mother's¡¡sister£»¡¡Abirab£»¡¡who¡¡used¡¡to¡¡request¡¡endless¡¡salves¡¡and¡¡infusions¡¡of¡¡Jehane¡¡at¡¡the¡¡market¡¡for¡¡foot¡¡pains¡¡or¡¡monthly¡¡cramps¡¡or¡¡sleeplessness£»¡¡was¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hut¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡impossible¡to¡¡smooth¡¡the¡¡horror¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dead£»¡¡viciously¡¡mutilated¡¡woman¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stillborn¡¡child¡¡that¡¡had¡¡spilled¡¡from¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡young¡¡man¡¡rushed¡¡up¡¡to¡¡them¡¡and¡¡knelt¡¡beside¡¡his¡¡sisters¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them¡¡collapsed£»¡¡weeping£»¡¡against¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡The¡¡other£»¡¡the¡¡older£»¡¡stood¡¡very¡¡straight£»¡¡her¡¡face¡¡grave¡¡and¡¡intent£»¡¡looking¡¡around¡¡at¡¡the¡¡raiders¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡red¡¡shirt£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡quite¡¡clearly£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡red¡¡boots¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨There£»¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡man¡¡called¡¡Lain¡¡Nunez¡¡after¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡pointing¡£¡¡¡¨Bring¡¡him¡¡forward£»¡¡Alvar¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡A¡¡younger¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡band£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡with¡¡the¡¡oddly¡¡high¡¡stirrups¡¡on¡¡his¡¡horse£»¡¡leaped¡¡from¡¡his¡¡mount¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡ranks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡surviving¡¡raiders¡¡he¡¡pushed¡¡someone¡¡into¡¡the¡¡open¡¡space¡£¡¡Jehane¡¡was¡¡still¡¡too¡¡consumed¡¡by¡¡