〃I wouldn't know； Ammar。 It seemed lively enough。 We spent some time looking for you； and then I realized it was hopeless。 It was easier to buy the location of your house and wait。〃
〃Did you really e to Ragosa expecting to find me in the streets at Carnival？〃
〃I came here because I could see no other way to speak with you quickly enough。 I had only hope； and need； when we set out。 There is no pany of men with me； by the way。 These two； and half a dozen others for safety on the road。 No one else。 I have e to say certain things。 And to ask you to e back to me。〃
Ibn Khairan was silent。 He had been waiting for this； and latterly； had been afraid of it。 He had been the guardian and mentor of this man； the named heir to Cartada's throne。 Had put a great deal of effort into making of Almalik ibn Almalik a man worthy of power。 He did not like admitting failure。 He wasn't even certain he had failed。 This was going to be ferociously difficult。
He crossed to the sideboard； deliberately brushing past one of the Muwardis。 The man did not move； or even spare a glance。 They hated him； all of them did。 His whole life was a sustained assault upon their grim piety。 It was a sentiment he returned： their way of life…single…minded faith； single…minded hatred…affronted all his sensibilities； his perception of what life ought to be。
〃Will you take a glass of wine？〃 he asked the king of Cartada； deliberately provoking the Muwardis。 Unworthy； perhaps； but he couldn't help this。
Almalik shrugged； nodded his head。 Ibn Khairan poured for both of them and carried the glasses over。 They saluted each other； top of glass touching bottom； then bottom to top。
〃It took courage for you to do this；〃 Ammar said。 It was right that he acknowledge this。
Almalik shook his head； looking up at him from the chair。 In the candlelight it could be seen how young he still was。 And standing more closely now； ibn Khairan could see the marks of strain。
〃It took only an awareness that if you do not return I do not know what I will do。 And I understand you very well； Ammar； in some things。 What was I to do？ Write you pleading letters？ You would not have e。 You know you would not。〃
〃Surely the king of Cartada is surrounded by men of wisdom and experience？〃
〃Now you are jesting。 Do not。〃
Quick anger flared； surprising him。 Before it could be suppressed； ibn Khairan snapped； 〃It was you who exiled me。 Be so good as to remember that； 'Malik。〃
A raw wound： the pupil turning upon the teacher in the moment of shared ascendancy。 An old story； in truth； but he had never thought it would happen to him。 First the father； and then the son。
〃I do remember it；〃 Almalik said quietly。 〃I made a mistake； Ammar。〃
Weakness or strength； it had always been hard to tell。 This trait might even be； at different times； a sign of both。 The father had never； in twenty years together； admitted to an error。
〃Not all mistakes can be undone。〃 He was stalling； waiting for something to make this clearer for him。 Behind； beneath all these words lay a decision that had to be made。
Almalik stood up。 〃I know that； of course。 I am here in the hope that this was not one such。 What is it you want； Ammar？ What must I say？〃
Ibn Khairan looked at him a moment before answering。 〃What is it I want？ To write in peace； I could answer； but that would be dissembling； wouldn't it？ To live my life with a measure of honor…and be seen by the world to be doing so。 That would be true enough and that； incidentally； is why I had to kill your father。〃
〃I know that。 I know it better than anyone。〃 The king hesitated。 〃Ammar； I believe the Jaddites will be ing south this summer。 My brother is with Yazir ibn Q'arif in the desert； still。 We have learned they are building ships。 In Abeneven。 And I don't know what King Badir intends。〃
〃So you tried to kill the boys？〃
Almalik blinked。 It was an unfair thrust； but he was a clever man； very much his father's son。 He said； 〃Those two men weren't killed in a tavern brawl； then？ I wondered about that。〃 The king shrugged。 〃Am I the first ruler in Al…Rassan to try to strengthen himself by dealing with siblings？ Were you not my teacher of history； Ammar？〃
Ibn Khairan smiled。 〃Did I criticize？〃
Almalik flushed suddenly。 〃But you stopped them。 You saved the boys。 Zabira's sons。〃
〃Others did。 I was a small part of it。 I am exiled here； Almalik； remember？ I have signed a contract in Ragosa； and have been honoring it。〃
〃With my enemies！〃 A young man's voice now； the control slipping； a boy's words。
Ibn Khairan felt something twist within him like a soft blade。 He knew this part of the man。 Of the king。 He said； 〃It seems we live in a world where boundaries are shifting all the time。 This makes it more difficult for a man to do what is right。〃
〃Ammar； no。 Your place is in Cartada。 You have always served Cartada； striven for it。〃 He hesitated； then set down his glass and said； 〃You killed a khalif for my father； can you not at least e home for me？〃
It seemed that with understanding there so often came sadness。 This one was measuring himself； still； against a dead man； just as he had when his father lived。 He would probably do this all his life； whether long or short。 Testing。 paring allotments of love。 Demanding to be cared for as much； and more。
It occurred to ibn Khairan； for the first time； to wonder how the young king had reacted to the lament Ammar had written for his father。 Where lesser beasts now gather 。。。 He also realized； in that same moment； that Zabira had been right： 'Malik would not have suffered the concubine who had loved his father to live。
〃I don't know；〃 he said； answering the question。 〃I do not know where my place is now。〃
Somewhere inside him though； even as he spoke those words； a voice was saying： This is a lie； though once it might have been true。 There is something new。 The world can change； so can you。 The world has changed。 And in his mind； amazingly； he could hear her name； as if in the sound of bells。 There was a momentary wonder that no one else in the room seemed to notice this。
He went on； straining to concentrate。 〃May I take it that this visit is intended to convey a rescinding of my exile and an invitation to return to my position？〃
He made his words deliberately formal； to pull them back from the raw place where the king's question had taken them。 Can you not e home for me？
The young king opened his mouth and closed it。 There was hurt in his eyes。 He said； stiffly； 〃You may take it as such。〃
〃What position； precisely？〃
Another hesitation。 Almalik had not been prepared for a negotiating session。 That was fine。 Ammar had not been prepared for any of this。
〃Chancellor of Cartada。 Of course。〃
Ibn Khairan nodded。 〃And your formally declared successor； pending marriage and legitimate heirs？〃 The thought…monstrous thought！…had only e to him in this moment。
One of the Muwardis shifted by the fireplace。 Ibn Khairan turned and looked at him。 The man's eyes locked on his this time； black with hatred。 Ammar smiled affably and drank slowly from his glass without looking away。
Almalik II of Cartada said； softly； 〃Is this your condition； Ammar？ Is it wise？〃
Of course it wasn't wise。 It was sheerest folly。
〃I doubt it；〃 ibn Khairan said carelessly。 〃Leave that in reserve。 Have you begun negotiations for a marriage？〃
〃Some overtures have been made to us； yes。〃 Almalik's tone was awkward。
〃You had best accept one of them soon。 Killing children is less useful than begetting them。 What have you done about Valledo？〃
The king picked up his glass again and drained it before answering。 〃I am receiving useless advice； Ammar。 They agonize； they wring their hands。 They advise doubling the parias； then delaying it； then refusing it！ I took some measures of my own to stir up Ruenda and we have a man there； do you remember him？〃
〃Centuro d'Arrosa。 Your father bought him years ago。 What of him？〃
〃I instructed him to do whatever he had to do to cause a mortal breach between Ruenda and Valledo。 You know they were all to be meeting this spring。 They may have done so by now。〃
Thoughtfully； ibn Khairan said； 〃King Ramiro doesn't need his brother's aid to menace you。〃
〃No； but what if he is induced to ride against Ruenda； instead of against me？〃 Almalik's expression was that of a schoolboy who thinks he has passed a test。
〃What have you done？〃
King Almalik smiled。 〃Is it my loyal chancellor who asks？〃
After a moment； ibn Khairan returned the smile。 〃Fair enough。 What about Fezana itself； then？ Defenses？〃
〃As best we can。 Food storage for half a year。 Some of the walls repaired； though money is an issue； as you will know。 The additional soldiers in the new wing of the castle。 I have allowed the wadjis to stir up anger against the Kindath。〃
Ammar felt a coldness as if a wind had e into the room。 A woman was hearing this； out on the balcony。
〃Why that？〃 he asked； very quietly。
Almalik shrugged。 〃My father used to do the same thing。 The wadjis need to be kept happy。 They inspire the people。 In a siege that will matter。 And if they do push some o