ther£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡only¡¡trying£»¡¡as¡¡best¡¡she¡¡could£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡worthy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡teaching¡¡and¡¡his¡¡example£»¡¡deserving¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flask¡¡she¡¡carried¡¡as¡¡heir¡¡to¡¡his¡¡reputation¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡finished¡¡with¡¡Abir's¡¡dressing¡£¡¡The¡¡wound¡¡had¡¡healed¡¡well¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡pleased£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡proud¡£¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡her¡¡father¡¡would¡¡have¡¡approved¡£¡¡She'd¡¡written¡¡to¡¡him¡¡soon¡¡after¡¡their¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Ragosa¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡always¡¡some¡¡hardy¡¡travellers¡¡who¡¡could¡¡carry¡¡messages¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡through¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡pass£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡swiftly¡£¡¡Her¡¡mother's¡¡neat¡¡handwriting¡¡had¡¡conveyed¡¡Ishak's¡¡reply£º¡¡This¡¡will¡¡be¡¡too¡¡late¡¡to¡¡be¡¡useful£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡cases¡¡when¡¡you¡¡operate¡¡in¡¡the¡¡field¡¡you¡¡must¡¡watch¡¡even¡¡more¡¡carefully¡¡for¡¡the¡¡green¡¡discharge¡£¡¡Press¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡near¡¡the¡¡wound¡¡and¡¡listen¡¡for¡¡a¡¡crackling¡¡sound¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡known¡¡about¡¡this¡£¡¡Such¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡meant¡¡death£»¡¡unless¡¡she¡¡cut¡¡again£»¡¡even¡¡higher¡and¡¡few¡¡men¡¡survived¡¡that¡£¡¡But¡¡Abir¡¡ibn¡¡Tarif's¡¡wound¡¡did¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡green¡¡and¡¡his¡¡endurance¡¡was¡¡strong¡£¡¡His¡¡brother¡¡seldom¡¡left¡¡his¡¡side¡¡and¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Rodrigo's¡¡pany¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡collective¡¡liking¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sons¡¡of¡¡ibn¡¡Hassan¡£¡¡Abir¡¡did¡¡not¡¡lack¡¡for¡¡visitors¡£¡¡Once£»¡¡when¡¡Jehane¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡she¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡lingering¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scent¡¡favored¡¡by¡¡the¡¡women¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡neighborhood¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡sniffed¡¡the¡¡air¡¡elaborately¡¡and¡¡tsked¡¡her¡¡disapproval¡£¡¡Idar¡¡laughed£»¡¡Abir¡¡looked¡¡shamefaced¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡well¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road¡¡to¡¡recovery¡¡by¡¡then£»¡¡however£»¡¡and¡¡secretly¡¡Jehane¡¡was¡¡pleased¡£¡¡The¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡physical¡¡desire£»¡¡Ser¡¡Rezzoni¡¡had¡¡taught£»¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clearest¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡returning¡¡good¡¡health¡¡after¡¡surgery¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡checked¡¡the¡¡fitting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡dressing¡¡a¡¡last¡¡time¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¨Has¡¡he¡¡been¡¡practicing£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡Idar¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡enough£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡older¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brothers¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡lazy£»¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡Abir¡¡swore¡¡in¡¡quick¡¡protest£»¡¡then¡¡apologized¡¡even¡¡more¡¡quickly¡£
¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡game£»¡¡in¡¡fact¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡watched¡¡carefully£»¡¡Abir¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡push¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡exhaustion¡¡in¡¡his¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡how¡¡to¡¡get¡¡about¡¡with¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡¡sticks¡¡Velaz¡¡had¡¡fashioned¡¡for¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡Jehane¡¡grinned¡¡at¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¨Tomorrow¡¡morning£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡to¡¡her¡¡patient¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡looks¡¡very¡¡good£»¡¡though¡£¡¡By¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡next¡¡week¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡you¡¡can¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡place¡¡and¡¡go¡¡live¡¡with¡¡your¡¡brother¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡paused¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡for¡¡effect¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡will¡¡surely¡¡save¡¡you¡¡money¡¡on¡¡bribes¡¡here£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡have¡¡pany¡¡after¡¡dark¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Idar¡¡laughed¡¡again¡£¡¡Abir¡¡turned¡¡red¡£¡¡Jehane¡¡gave¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡a¡¡pat¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡leave¡£
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte£»¡¡booted¡¡and¡¡cloaked£»¡¡leather¡¡hat¡¡in¡¡one¡¡hand£»¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡on¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡expression¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡something¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡Her¡¡heart¡¡thumped¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡parents£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡no¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡Jehane¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡are¡¡tidings¡¡you¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡He¡¡crossed¡¡towards¡¡her¡£¡¡Velaz¡¡appeared¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡screen¡¡where¡¡he¡¡made¡¡his¡¡salves¡¡and¡¡tinctures¡£
¡¡¡¡Jehane¡¡straightened¡¡her¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡held¡¡herself¡¡very¡¡still¡£
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡presuming¡¡in¡¡a¡¡way£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡still¡¡my¡¡pany¡¡physician£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡you¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡this¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡blinked¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡moment£¿
¡¡¡¡He¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Word¡¡has¡¡just¡¡e¡¡from¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡coast£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡last¡¡ships¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡east¡£¡¡It¡¡seems¡¡a¡¡great¡¡army¡¡from¡¡several¡¡Jaddite¡¡lands¡¡has¡¡gathered¡¡in¡¡Batiara¡¡this¡¡winter£»¡¡preparing¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡to¡¡Ammuz¡¡and¡¡Soriyya¡¡in¡¡the¡¡spring¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Jehane¡¡bit¡¡her¡¡lip¡£¡¡Very¡¡large¡¡news¡¡indeed£»¡¡but¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡a¡¡holy¡¡army£»¡¨¡¡Rodrigo¡¡said¡£¡¡His¡¡face¡¡was¡¡grim¡£¡¡¡¨Or¡¡so¡¡they¡¡call¡¡themselves¡£¡¡It¡¡seems¡¡that¡¡earlier¡¡this¡¡autumn¡¡several¡¡panies¡¡attacked¡¡and¡¡destroyed¡¡Sorenica¡£¡¡They¡¡set¡¡fire¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡and¡¡put¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sword¡£¡¡All¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡told¡£¡¡Jehane£»¡¡Velaz£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡so¡¡sorry¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Sorenica¡£
¡¡¡¡Mild£»¡¡starry¡¡nights¡¡in¡¡winter¡£¡¡Spring¡¡evenings£»¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡Wine¡¡in¡¡the¡¡torchlit¡¡garden¡¡of¡¡her¡¡kinfolk¡£¡¡Flowers¡¡everywhere£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡breeze¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡Sorenica¡£¡¡The¡¡most¡¡beautiful¡¡sanctuary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡god¡¡and¡¡his¡¡sisters¡¡that¡¡Jehane¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡seen¡£¡¡The¡¡Kindath¡¡High¡¡Priest¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sweet£»¡¡laden¡¡voice¡¡intoning¡¡the¡¡liturgy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡doubled¡¡full¡¡moons¡£¡¡White¡¡and¡¡blue¡¡candles¡¡burning¡¡in¡¡every¡¡niche¡¡that¡¡night¡£¡¡So¡¡many¡¡people¡¡gathered£»¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡peace£»¡¡of¡¡calm£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡home¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Wanderers¡£¡¡A¡¡choir¡¡singing£»¡¡then¡¡more¡¡music¡¡after£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡winding¡¡torchlit¡¡streets¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡sanctuary£»¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡round£»¡¡holy¡¡moons¡£
¡¡¡¡Sorenica¡£¡¡Bright¡¡city¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡with¡¡its¡¡vineyards¡¡above¡£¡¡Given¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Kindath¡¡long¡¡ago¡¡for¡¡service¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lords¡¡of¡¡Batiara¡£¡¡A¡¡place¡¡to¡¡call¡¡their¡¡own¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hostile¡¡world¡£
¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡sword¡£¡¡An¡¡end¡¡of¡¡music¡£¡¡Trampled¡¡flowers¡£¡¡Children£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡of¡¡them£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡voice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡we¡¡have¡¡been¡¡told£»¡¨¡¡Rodrigo¡¡said¡£¡¡He¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡breath¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡can¡¡I¡¡say£»¡¡Jehane£¿¡¡You¡¡said¡¡you¡¡could¡¡not¡¡trust¡¡the¡¡Sons¡¡of¡¡Jad¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡that¡¡you¡¡could¡£¡¡This¡¡makes¡¡a¡¡liar¡¡of¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡could¡¡see¡¡genuine¡¡distress¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wide¡set¡¡grey¡¡eyes¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡hurried¡¡to¡¡find¡¡her¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡tidings¡£¡¡There¡¡would¡¡be¡¡an¡¡emissary¡¡from¡¡court¡¡waiting¡¡at¡¡her¡¡home£»¡¡or¡¡ing¡¡here¡¡even¡¡now¡£¡¡Mazur¡¡would¡¡have¡¡sent¡£¡¡Shared¡¡faith£»¡¡shared¡¡grief¡£¡¡Should¡¡it¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡another¡¡Kindath¡¡who¡¡told¡¡her¡¡this£¿¡¡She¡¡could¡¡not¡¡answer¡¡that¡£¡¡Something¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡shut¡¡down¡¡inside¡¡her£»¡¡closing¡¡around¡¡a¡¡wound¡£
¡¡¡¡Sorenica¡£¡¡Where¡¡the¡¡gardens¡¡were¡¡Kindath¡¡gardens£»¡¡the¡¡blessings¡¡Kindath¡¡blessings£»¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡and¡¡women¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡learning¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sorrow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Wanderers£»¡¡century¡¡upon¡¡century¡£
¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡sword¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡closed¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡Saw¡¡a¡¡garden¡¡in¡¡her¡¡mind's¡¡eye£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¡Opened¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡again¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡Velaz¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡adopted¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡the¡¡day¡¡her¡¡father¡¡made¡¡him¡¡a¡¡free¡¡man£»¡¡had¡¡covered¡¡his¡¡face¡¡with¡¡both¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡was¡¡weeping¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡said£»¡¡carefully£»¡¡to¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡of¡¡Valledo£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡cannot¡¡hold¡¡you¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡doings¡¡of¡¡every¡¡man¡¡or¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡your¡¡faith¡£¡¡Thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡bringing¡¡these¡¡tidings¡¡so¡¡speedily¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡home¡¡now¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨May¡¡I¡¡escort¡¡you¡¡there£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Velaz¡¡will¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Doubtless¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡see¡¡you¡¡at¡¡court¡¡later¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day¡£¡¡Or¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡didn't¡¡really¡¡know¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was¡¡saying¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡could¡¡read¡¡the¡¡sorrow¡¡in¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡her¡¡to¡¡offer¡¡to¡¡that¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡not¡¡assuage¡£¡¡Not¡¡this¡¡moment£»¡¡not¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¡Velaz¡¡wiped¡¡at¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡lowered¡¡his¡¡hands¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡man¡¡she¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡seen¡¡weep¡¡before£»¡¡save¡¡for¡¡joy£»¡¡the¡¡day¡¡she¡¡came¡¡home¡¡from¡¡her¡¡studies¡¡in¡¡Batiara¡£
¡¡¡¡Batiara£»¡¡where¡¡bright¡¡Sorenica¡¡had¡¡been¡£
¡¡¡¡Whichever¡¡way¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡blows¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡fire£»¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡not¡¡rain¡¡that¡¡had¡¡e¡£¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡for¡¡her¡¡cloak¡£¡¡Idar¡¡ibn¡¡Tarif¡¡had¡¡picked¡¡it¡¡up¡¡and¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡it¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡Wordlessly¡¡he¡¡helped¡¡her¡¡into¡¡it¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡doorway£»¡¡past¡¡Rodrigo£»¡¡following¡¡Velaz¡£
¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡very¡¡last¡¡moment£»¡¡being¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was¡her¡¡father's¡¡daughter£»¡¡trained¡¡to¡¡ease¡¡pain¡¡where¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡it¡she¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡touched¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡as¡¡she¡¡went¡¡by¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Winter¡¡in¡¡Cartada¡¡was¡¡seldom¡¡unduly¡¡harsh¡£¡¡The¡¡city¡¡was¡¡sheltered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡winds¡¡by¡¡forests¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡beyond¡¡them¡£¡¡Snow¡¡was¡¡unheard¡of£»¡¡and¡¡mild¡¡bright¡¡days¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡unusual¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡also¡¡rain¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡churning¡¡market¡¡squares¡¡and¡¡alleys¡¡to¡¡mud£»¡¡but¡¡Almalik¡¡I¡¡and¡¡now¡¡his¡¡son¡¡and¡¡successor¡¡had¡¡allocated¡¡substantial¡¡resources¡¡to¡¡keeping¡¡the¡¡city¡¡clean¡¡and¡¡functioning£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡produce¡¡market¡¡flourished¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡season¡¡was¡¡an¡¡inconvenience£»¡¡not¡¡the¡¡serious¡¡hardship¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡further¡¡north¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east¡¡where¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡rain¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡£¡¡Winter¡¡flowers¡¡flecked¡¡the¡¡celebrated¡¡gardens¡¡with¡¡colors¡£¡¡Fish¡¡thrived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Guadiara£»¡¡and¡¡boats¡¡still¡¡upstream¡¡from¡¡Tudesca¡¡and¡¡Silvenes¡¡and¡¡went¡¡back¡¡down¡£
¡¡¡¡Since¡¡Cartada¡¡had¡¡shaped¡¡a¡¡kingdom¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡¡after¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Khalifate£»¡¡the¡¡inns¡¡and¡¡cook¡¡shops¡¡had¡¡never¡¡suffered¡¡a¡¡shortage¡¡of¡¡food£»¡¡and¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡the¡¡city¡¡from¡¡the¡¡forests¡¡for¡¡the¡¡hearth¡¡fires¡£
¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡also¡¡winter¡¡entertainments¡¡of¡¡esoteric¡¡variety£»¡¡as¡¡befitted¡¡a¡¡city¡¡and¡¡court¡¡that¡¡claimed¡¡aesthetic¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡military¡¡pre¡eminence¡¡in¡¡Al¡Rassan¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡Jaddite¡¡taverns¡¡were¡¡always¡¡crowded¡¡in¡¡winter£»¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡imprecations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wadjis¡£¡¡At¡¡court£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡taverns£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡better¡¡homes£»¡¡poets¡¡and¡¡musicians¡¡vied¡¡for¡¡patronage¡¡with¡¡jugg