In one year the coast as far as Caldera had fallen to Herod. Not, Aaron wasconvinced, because of the great and so close thing at Dak-es-Souetta, butbecause of one traitor in one tower in Harak Pass.
When he started brooding about it he got himself out of the mood by mockinghimself for thinking someone as insignificant as he could have been so nearthe heart of any crucial historical event.
Yoseh lay on his cot with his hands behind his head, staring into the darknessbetween the ceiling beams. The burn on his face hurt. The ointment didn't domuch to help.
"Why so thoughtful tonight?"
Yoseh looked up at Nogah. He replied with complete honesty. "That man in thatalley. He could have killed us if he'd wanted. All of us. Easy."
"Probably. But he didn't."
"But he did want to. I could see it in his face, behind the fear and surprise.
He hated us and wanted to kill us but it was more important to keep thatlittle boy under control."
Nogah looked at him a moment, then nodded. "Come on. Fa'tad wants to ask youabout it."
The muscles across Yoseh's stomach tightened till he felt like he was havingcramps. His eyes began blinking. He could not stop. "No. I can't."
"Come on, Yoseh. He's only a man."
"He's only Fa'tad al-Akla. He scares the Demon out of me."
Nogah smiled. "It's about time somebody did that, little brother. You'vealways had too much brass for your own good. Come on."
Yoseh rose. He followed Nogah, wondering if this was how men felt as they wentto the gallows.
The Dartar compound was outside Qushmarrah proper, beyond the Gate of Autumn, on a field where the city's soldiers once trained. A thin curtain wall twelvefeet high surrounded it. All the buildings within abutted against this, theirroofs forming a platform for defenders. Everything was crudely constructed ofmud brick painted to protect it from the rain. The wall enclosed about threeacres.
Yoseh and Nogah had to cross the enclosure to reach Fa'tad. Stars had comeout. The air overhead was unusually clear. Camels and horses, goats and cattlemumbled to one another. The smell of hay and crowded animals was strong. "Itmust be about time to send a herd south," Yoseh said.
"Any day now. There are enough men whose time is up to take them."
"You've been here five years, Nogah. Why do you stay?"
"I don't know."
"Foo. I'm your brother, Nogah. I've known you all my life. You would'vethought about it a lot each time before you signed on again."
"Maybe I can do more good here, earning the ferrenghi silver that buys theherds. Down there I'd be just another mouth."
"Not to mention that while you're up here you don't have to keep butting headswith Father."
Nogah snorted. Then he chuckled. "No. Up here I have Fa'tad al-Akla, with whomthere is no arguing. Father you can wear down sometimes."
"Before I left he almost broke down and became human. 'Four sons I send to Fa'tad now. And none of them come back. You come back when your time is done, little Yoseh. You come home.'"
"That sounds like him. And I'm sure he sent some blustery message to hisprodigals."
He had, of course, but Yoseh hadn't bothered to report it. "Yes."
They walked a few steps. Nogah said, "So?"
"He said, Tell my Nogah, my firstborn, to come home. Tell him I am one stepahead of the dark angel and beginning to limp. An heir's place is beside hisfather in his last hour.'"
"His last hour, eh? One step ahead of old Death?"
"He said it. I didn't."
"And he just took another wife."
"Yes."
"That's the third one since I came north."
"There are a lot of women who can't find husbands because so many of the young men don't come back from duty in Qush-marrah."
"So Father is easing the shortage."
"His duty to the tribe, he told me. If he hadn't taken the poor girls in, their fathers might have put them out of their tents. They might have starved."
"No doubt these foundling waifs come without dowries, too." "Are you kidding? He'll take ugly but he won't take poor."
"And they always call him that charming old rogue Mel-chesheydek." They reached the opposite side of the compound. Nogah said, "Nogah, Yahada. We're here." "I'll tell him." The guard posted outside Fa'tad's quarters stepped inside.
"It's a serious problem, Nogah," Yoseh said. "The old men are talking about making it so nobody can join Fa'tad who hasn't already taken a wife and at least gotten her with child."
"Those sour old bellies must be full, then."
"What?"
"They didn't talk that way when they were starving. Then it was send the boys whether they want to go or not."
Yahada opened the door. "Come in."
Yoseh preceded his brother, his knees starting to shake. His first glimpse of Fa'tad did nothing to reassure him. Those eyes ... Grey as iron and cold asthe bottom of a well. There was no anger in them, but still he felt like aclumsy child.
Fa'tad nodded infinitesimally, "Nogah." The old man sat cross-legged on asmall cushion. He had filled the room with the appurtenances of a caveshelter. They did not hide the truth. "This is your brother Yoseh?"
"Yes sir."
"I overheard what you said a moment ago. Is it true, Yoseh, that they intend to meddle with me down there?"
Yoseh did not know how to answer. The question sounded like one with a snarebuilt into it. He chose his words carefully. "They want to encourage the youngmen to return home more quickly."
A specter of a smile twitched Fa'tad's lips. "Oh, yes. As they so quickly didwhen they were young auxiliaries scouting for Qushmarrah's armies. You wereright, Nogah. Their bellies are full, and sour with memories of what they lostwith their youth. Yahada, find Barok. Tell him he needn't worry about how he'sgoing to get all that livestock safely to the mountain." Fa'tad smiled agenuine smile. He looked at Yoseh as if he were speaking to him alone. "Theyneed to be reminded that the drought is still with us." His face clouded, thenlost all expression.