Elwas al-Souki presented himself with his usual rectitude.
His pursuit of form and manners only made Yasmid more uncomfortable.
Her mood shone through when she said, “If you’re here to describe the Disciple’s progress Habibul ah beat you to it.” The ghost of a puzzled frown, then an even fainter, more fleeting touch of hurt, crossed al-Souki’s face. “That is something else, Blessed One. There has been a dramatic development amongst the Royalists. The news just came.
The man nearly kil ed himself getting it here fast.” Blessed One? “Yes?”
“The sorcerer Magden Norath is dead. He was kil ed in a town cal ed al-Habor, in an attack so sudden that he had no chance to defend himself.”
“I know al-Habor. But, Magden Norath? Dead?”
“Yes, Sacred Voice. Our spy was an eyewitness.” Not possible. Could not be. Magden Norath had attained near demigod status during the Great Eastern Wars.
“Dead,” she said again, dumbfounded. “But… That’s not…
There’s more. Isn’t there?”
“Much more. The rest is not so joyful.”
“No. After that I suppose there would have to be something awful to balance the scale. What is it?”
“The witness believes the assassin was a ghost. Or some revenant, undead thing. He swears the kil er was Haroun bin Yousif.”
Her body turned to water. For an instant she got caught up in the ridiculous question of whether or not Elwas knew about her and Haroun. Of course he did. That had been no secret for a long time.
“Impossible!”
Equal y stunned, Habibul ah said, “We never real y knew that, did we? I never heard tel of anyone actual y seeing a body. He just stopped being seen alive.”
“But…”
“Chances are a mil ion to one against it. This spy just wants to see ghosts.”
Al-Souki said, “He doesn’t want to believe it, either. He desperately wants the assassin to be something supernatural instead.”
Yasmid buried her head in her hands. “This wil get exaggerated into total insanity.”
Al-Souki said, “I may have overstepped, Lamp of God, but I did move to make sure the mul ahs don’t whip up the fanatics.”
Yasmid stared, astonished.
“Have I overstepped?”
“No. This news could spark a new round of wars. Tribal warlords won’t be scared of a Megelin without Magden Norath behind him.”
Elwas coughed, looked reluctant, but went on after a pause.
“Megelin may have acquired a more powerful protector.” This would be the real y bad news, saved for last.
“Light of the Ages, the Faithful have numerous friends in al-Habor. The water remains sweet and reliable. The crossroads needs to be watched. Royalists on secret missions often pass through.”
“I’ve been there. Get to the point.”
“Norath and Megelin went there to meet someone.”
“Megelin, too?”
“He was not harmed. His bodyguards kept him safe. They moved him into the local Sheyik’s stronghold.” Megelin and Norath had gone to al-Habor for a secret meeting? Were the Tervola eying the west again?
Elwas said, “The Faithful in al-Habor say that Megelin came to meet the Star Rider.”
Much worse than a visit with Tervola, then.
Yasmid released a long sigh. Somewhere in scripture there was an appropriate verse that ran something like, “And the thing we dread befal s us.”
“Stop. Habibul ah, clear everyone out. You and Elwas stay.” Habibul ah did as he was told, as ever, without understanding. He shut doors then came close so she need not speak loud and be overheard by eavesdroppers.
She asked, “Elwas, how strong is your faith today?”
“Shaken, Shining One. Badly shaken.”
“Stop giving me titles. Habibul ah? How about you?”
“I am no fanatic but I am a Believer. My faith today is the same as it was yesterday. Why should it change?”
“Elwas. How widely known…”
“Only a handful know now. In a month the world wil know.” Habibul ah said, “I’m confused. Why is the death of Magden Norath a tragedy for the Faith?”
“It isn’t. Him and Megelin having a secret meeting with the Star Rider is.”
Habibul ah looked no less confused.
“Old Meddler, Habibul ah. Behind half the evils of history.
He was the angel who saved and educated my father. He wasn’t an emissary of God. My father did God’s work but he was set on that path by a devil who wanted a world fil ed with warfare and chaos.”
What Yasmid said was nothing new. El Murid’s enemies had made those claims for years. She watched Habibul ah perform the mental acrobatics needed to avoid angry denial. He converted to sublime acceptance quickly. “God, in His Wisdom, used His Enemy to instigate the Disciple’s Great Work.”
“Exactly. And that wil be dogma from now on. Elwas?”
“The logic is irrefutable. God has Written everything already.”
“Good. I want the imams and mul ahs gathered for evening prayers with me. I’l also want the Invincibles available to deal with those old men if they give me any grief. We’l establish an official position before the rumors get crazy.
Elwas, can I trot my father out?”
“Go see him. Make that judgment yourself.”
...
Yasmid was alone, except for Habibul ah, whose proximity she seldom shook. Habibul ah waited for her to face the most troubling aspect of the news.
Final y, softly, she asked, “Is there a chance that Norath’s kil er real y was…?”
She could not say the name.
“It must have been. It would have to be. Who else?
Dramatic unity.”
“Excuse me?”
“That would be God having a chuckle at our expense. For even more drama He should’ve brought the assassin face to face with the King.”
“Oh. My.” Yes. If that was Haroun he must have come within yards of their son, with neither knowing.
“Habibul ah, I feel too old and too tired. Find me a place to leave the world behind.”
“I feel that way myself, quite often. Then I remind myself that the only one who ever managed that is your father.” Yasmid wanted to bark and snarl. But what point?
Whatever she said, Habibul ah would have an answer. And it would make much too much sense.
Chapter Nine:
Inger stalked into the room where Babeltausque waited. Only a day had passed since his conversion.
Already he insisted on seeing her. She hoped a quick response did not make her seem desperate. “You’re
