from the walkway and stand before the king's isle。
〃Is this a mother's visit？〃 Badir went on。 〃Have you e to judge our royal care of your children？〃
The king knew it was more than that； Alvar realized； having learned a great deal himself in three months。 This was a gambit； an opening。
〃There is that； Magnificence；〃 said Zabira of Cartada； 〃though I have no fears regarding your attentiveness to my little ones。 I am here； though； with more import to my visit than a mother's fond doting。〃 Her voice was low but clear； a musician's； trained。
She said； 〃I have e to tell a tale of murder。 A son's murder of his father； and the consequences of that。〃
There was near silence in the garden again； only the one bird still singing overhead； the breeze in the leaves of the trees； the steady lapping of the two streams around the isle。
In that quiet； Zabira said； 〃By the holy teachings of Ashar it is given to us as law that a murderer of his father is eternally unclean； to be shunned while alive； to be executed or driven from all gatherings of men； accursed of the god and the stars。 I ask the king of Ragosa： shall such a man reign in Cartada？〃
〃Does he？〃 King Badir was a sensualist； known to be self…indulgent； but no one had ever impugned the quality of his mind。
〃He does。 A fortnight ago the Lion of Cartada was foully slain； and his murdering son now bears the scepter and the glass； and styles himself Almalik II； Lion of Cartada； Defender of Al…Rassan。〃 There was a sound in the garden then； for all the details were news： she had crossed the mountains faster than messengers。 Zabira drew herself up straight and raised her voice with deliberate intent。 〃I am e here； my lord king； to beg you to free the people of my dear city from this father…killer and regicide。 To send your armies west； fulfilling the precepts of holy Ashar； to destroy this evil man。〃
Another ripple of sound； like the breeze through the leaves。 〃And who then shall reign in glorious Cartada？〃 Badir's expression gave away nothing at all。
For the first time the woman hesitated。 〃The city is in peril。 We have learned that the usurper's brother Hazem is away to the south across the straits。 He is a zealot； and seeks aid and alliance from the tribes in the Majriti deserts。 He has been in open defiance of his father and was formally disinherited years ago。〃
〃That last we know；〃 Badir said softly。 〃That much all men know。 But who then should reign in Cartada？〃 he asked again。 By now even Alvar could see where this was going。
The woman had courage； there was no denying it。 〃You are guardian here in Ragosa of the only two loyal children of King Almalik；〃 she said； with no hesitation now。 〃It is my formal petition that you take that city in the god's name and place there as king his son； Abadi ibn Almalik。 And that you lend to him all such aid and support as you may during the time of his minority。〃 It was said； then。 Openly。 An invitation to take Cartada； and the cloak of right under which to do it。
Jehane； listening with fierce attention； looked beyond the woman in crimson and black and saw that Alvar had managed to obtain admittance here。 She turned again to the king。
But it was the chancellor who now spoke； for the first time； the deep voice measured and grave。 〃I would know； if I might； is this also the thought and desire of the steward you bring with you？〃
Looking quickly back to Zabira； Jehane realized that the woman did not know the answer to that question； that she had played a card of her own； and was waiting on what would follow。
She played the next； necessary card。 〃He is not my steward；〃 Zabira said。 〃You will know； I believe； who this man is。 He has been gracious enough to escort me here； a woman without defenders or any recourse at home。 I will not dare presume to speak for Ammar ibn Khairan； my lord chancellor； my lord king。 No one alive would do that。〃
〃Then perhaps the man who appears before us in the false garb of a steward might presume to speak for himself？〃 King Badir betrayed the slightest tension in his voice now。 It wasn't surprising； Jehane thought。 The woman had raised the stakes of the game extraordinarily high。
Ammar ibn Khairan； whom she had kissed…amazingly…in her father's study； turned his gaze to the king of Ragosa。 There was a measure of respect to be seen in him； but no real deference。 For the first time Jehane realized just how difficult a man this one could be； if he chose。 He had also； she reminded herself again； killed a khalif and now a king。
He said； 〃Most gracious king； I find myself in a troubling circumstance。 I have just heard words of open treason to my own kingdom of Cartada。 My course ought to be clear； but I am doubly constrained。〃
〃Why？ And why doubly？〃 King Badir asked； sounding vexed。
Ibn Khairan shrugged gracefully。 And waited。 As if the issue was a test； not for him； but for the assembled court of Ragosa in that garden。
And it was Mazur the chancellor who said； 〃He ought to kill her； but will not attack a woman； and he may not draw a weapon in your presence。〃 There was irritation in his voice。 〃In fact you ought not to even have a weapon here。〃
〃This is true；〃 ibn Khairan said mildly。 〃Your guards were 。。。 courteous。 Perhaps too much so。〃
〃Perhaps they saw no reason to fear a man of your 。。。 repute；〃 the chancellor murmured silkily。
A dagger of sorts there； Jehane thought； chasing nuances as quickly as she could。 Ibn Khairan's reputation enpassed many things； and it included a new dimension as of this morning's news。 He could not； on the face of things； be said to be a harmless man。 Perhaps especially not for kings。
Ammar smiled； as if savoring the innuendo。 〃It has been long；〃 he said； with apparent inconsequentiality； 〃since I have had the privilege of exchanging words with the estimable chancellor of Ragosa。 Whatever our jealous wadjis might say； he remains a credit to his people and the great king he serves。 In my most humble view。〃
At which point the king mentioned appeared to lose patience。 〃You were asked a question；〃 Badir said bluntly； and those assembled in that garden were made sharply aware that whatever poise or subtlety might be here on display； only one man ruled。 〃You have not answered it。〃
〃Ah。 Yes；〃 said Ammar ibn Khairan。 〃That question。〃 He clasped his hands loosely before him。 Alvar de Pellino； watching closely； found himself wondering where the hidden weapon was。 If there was one。 Ibn Khairan said； 〃The lady Zabira； I will confess； has surprised me。 Not for the first time； mind you。〃 Alvar saw the woman glance away at the flowing water。
〃I was of the impression； innocently； that she wished to be escorted here to see her children；〃 said the man garbed as her steward； 〃and because there was no haven for her in Cartada。 Being of a regrettably short…sighted nature I thought no further on these matters。〃
〃These are games；〃 said the king of Ragosa。 〃We may or may not have time for them later。 You are the least short…sighted man in this peninsula。〃
〃I am honored by your words； my lord king。 Unworthy as I am； I can only repeat that I did not expect to hear what I heard just now。 At the moment my position is delicate。 You must appreciate that。 I am still sworn to allegiance to the kingdom of Cartada。〃 His blue eyes flashed。 〃If I speak with some care； perhaps that might be indulged by a king as august and wise as Badir of Ragosa。〃
It occurred to Jehane just about then that ibn Khairan might easily be killed here today。 There was a silence。 The king glared； and shifted impatiently on his bench。
〃I see。 You have already been exiled by the new king of Cartada。 Immediately after you did his killing for him。 How extremely clever of the young man。〃 It was Mazur again； and not a question。
Badir glanced at his chancellor and then back to ibn Khairan； his expression had changed。
Of course； Jehane thought。 That had to be it。 Why else was the prince's advisor and confidant here with Zabira instead of controlling the transfer of power in Cartada？ She felt like a fool for missing the point。 She hadn't been alone； though。 Throughout the garden Jehane saw men…and the handf