"What else do you see? Please tell me."

"I have told you everything. I can only sense certain thingsbesides I only glimpsed her through you and so can only learn from what you know or feel, or direct me toward."

"The main thing is that she is safe."

Ganya nodded. "For now. Listen, Lazar, there is something else I want to suggest."

"Why do I already believe I won't like it?"

She smiled. "Perhaps you will."

"Lazar!" They both started at the sound of the voice calling from the darkness.

"It's Garjan," Lazar said, annoyed by the interruption.

"The one you don't trust?" she asked, her eyebrow arching.

"Yes."

"I know who he is, Lazar. My father told me that you travel with the Grand Vizier of Percheron."

"Does anyone else know?" She shook her head. "Well, as none of the people who were with your father last time are among us now, I would be grateful if we could keep it between us."

She nodded. "He will find us any moment. I want to tell you something. I think I should come with you."

"No, absolutely not. Definitely, no!"

"Listen to me," she urged.

He pulled away. "No, Ganya! I will not risk your life as well as that of your father. We are all probably walking into Arafanz's trap, into our deaths. No!"

"Lazar, I can help you. I can allow you to talk with Iridor. I can protect you both from him." She pointed into the darkness in the direction of the Vizier's voice.

"You know?"

"I know only that you fear him. I don't know why and I don't care. But my skills kept you safe. Trust them. Trust me."

"I shall think about it," he agreed, seeing that she had no intention of backing down.

"Don't leave it too long to decide, Lazar. My father will send us all away tomorrow morning. Now kiss me, make it look real when he comes upon us."

Lazar grabbed her and kissed her deeply. A moment later the Grand Vizier hoved into view.

"Ah, there you are, Spur! Did you not hear me?"

Lazar broke the kiss, winked at Ganya, and moved into Percherese. "I was otherwise occupied, Garjan, can you not see?"

"You certainly took your time," Maliz replied, his tone acid.

"I never rush a woman. And this one is far too delectable to hurry."

"Fayiz needs to ask you something," Maliz said, loading the name with ridicule.

Lazar sighed. "We're coming."

"I was told to find you and now I'm going to escort you." Maliz's tone was officious and presumptuous.

Lazar spun on his heel, his effort to sound lighthearted in the afterglow of his lover's embrace vanishing. "If you ever presume to tell me what to do again, I'll break your neck in a second and there won't be any warning." It was all bluster, since he had been warned that he couldn't kill Maliz, and yet he was surprised to see the Grand Vizier swallow, his lips pursing as he turned and stomped off.

"Hurry up, Lazar," he called over his shoulder.

The Spur's eyes narrowed in thought and he stared hard at the back of the fleeing man.

"Lazar?" Ganya pulled at his arm.

The spell was broken but the niggling notion that he had stumbled upon something stayed with him. "Yes," he replied. "It is time to go."

19.

Herezah was restless but thoroughly enjoying the newfound freedom of her new suite of rooms beyond the harem. An Elim guard moved with her at all times, which heightened her sense of importance. Since her new status had been declared, she had ensured that she was veiled, conservative in her dress, and guarded in her movements. She would give no one any ammunition at this point; she would be the model regent. But she knew her absence from the harem and her superior status would be galling to Salmeo, hopefully even frightening him.

She intended to make him pay for his indiscretion and his quietly spoken but not very well-concealed threat. Had he not disturbed them, things might have turned out differently between her and Lazar.

A bell jangled softly. "Come," she said, and Bin entered. "Ah, Bin, what news?"

He crossed the floor and bowed. "We have heard back from the Isles of Plenty, Crown Valide."

"And?" she asked, impatient.

He took a breath. "King Falza of Galinsea is aboard one of the ships. He has accepted your invitation."

She clapped her hands. "Thanks to Zarab! When?"

Bin's expression turned sheepish. "He would not say, Crown Valide. He said he would send a message soon enough."

"Soon enough?" she replied angrily. Then she reined in her critical tone. Bin was her eyes and ears in the world outside the palace. She needed him loyal and keen. And although she was not used to apologizing to anyone other than Boaz, she did so now. "Forgive me, Bin. That was ungracious of me. I realize you are merely conveying the information you have."

He looked surprised at her apology, bowing in acknowledgment. "I can confirm, Crown Valide, that there are now five more war galleys and we suspect more are on the way."

"The Spur warned there would be more and still Falza waits. He must surely know we are no match for their might."

"I'm sure he does. Perhaps he is toying with us?"

"Well, let us face the beast that threatens us, Bin. I shall go mad sitting around in the palace awaiting death."

"What do you mean, Crown Valide?"

"I mean that I shall take control of this situation as best I can and I will present myself to Falza. He can hardly refuse me."

"Crown Valide, I must"

"Bin, I do hope you don't plan to contradict me?" The servant stared at her, wide-eyed, before slowly shaking his head. "Oh, that's good. You must not worry about me. We are all in this precarious situation together. My role right now is to do everything I can to protect Percheron. If that means throwing myself on the mercy of a foreign king, I shall not hesitate. I mean to return this city intact to my son when he reemerges from the desert with his heir."

She watched Bin stand straighter at her rousing words. She was right. Percheron needed a fearless leader right now. "Prepare a statement for our people, Bin. Let's let them know my intentions. Have it ready by eighth bell for me to approve."

Bin swallowed. "As you wish, Crown Valide. When, er, when do you intend to make this visit?"

"The day after tomorrow, I think...if we haven't heard from our Galinsean rival by then. Thank you, Bin. Send in Elza if you see her on your way out. I must make plans with her for readying me for this expedition."

The morning had dawned and brought with it a dry, hot wind. Lazar was eager to depart to get in a few hours' travel before it intensified.

Salim approached. "I hear you and Ganya enjoyed each other's company last night."

Lazar glanced at his Khalid friend. "She is very special, your daughter. Who looks after her in your absence?"

Salim shrugged. "She belongs to our people. She is our lajkaeveryone would fight to protect her."

"I see," Lazar said, nodding. "It is time to send your people on their way, Salim. We must make our own way west now."

"How do you know in which direction we are to travel?"

"You will have to trust me on this. And I am going to pretend to my companions that you know the way."

"I? Lazar"

"Please, Salim. Just do as I say."

The Khalid stared at him through narrowed eyes, their gazes locked momentarily before the desert man nodded. "Ready your people."

Lazar turned immediately to start hurrying along his Zar and the Grand Vizier. "Are you set?" he said to Boaz, although he could already see that the young Zar was ready to leave.

"Yes," Boaz replied crisply, and Lazar did not miss the chill of his tone.

Lazar called out to the Grand Vizier. "Tariq, we're leaving now. Your camels await." He returned his attention to Boaz. "I'll see you over there."

Boaz did not respond.

"Highness," Lazar said, moving close to the Zar so he could speak quietly. "Is anything wrong?"

"No, why? Should there be?"

Lazar noticed the Zar gave him no eye contact, was busying himself picking up his sleeping roll. "You seem a little out of sorts, Majesty."

"Do I?" Boaz asked, fixing him with an imperial gaze.

"You slept well?"

"I got more sleep than you, Lazar," Boaz fired back. There was none of the usual amusement in his tone.

"I hope you understood that I was with that woman because I was given no choice. It was expected."

"Yes, I worked that out for myself."

"But you're upset about it?"

"No, Lazar, you're the one who thinks I'm upset. I feel perfectly calm."

"Forgive me, Highness. It's just that you don't seem nearly as happy as you were yesterday.'

"Perhaps the gravity of our journey and what must be achieved has fully registered with me," Boaz said. Still Lazar detected a note in his Zar's voice that he had never before heard.

"Fair enough," he said. He would have to work out the hard way what was prompting this suddenly odd behavior in the Zar. "I shall meet you at the camels."

As Lazar walked toward the beasts he could see an argument in full swing between Salim and his daughter. He wished he could avoid being pulled into it, but he could see they were both waiting for him to arrive. Salim shrugged helplessly, embarrassed, as the Spur drew close to them.

"Lazar!" Ganya began, her eyes filled with anger. "I've told my father that I will be joining this caravan and that"

"No, Ganya, you will not," Lazar interrupted. "It's too dangerous."

"But last night"

"Last night was last night. I will not risk your life. I explained that."

"It is my life to risk!"

"Risk it somewhere else, Ganya. Right now you are too precious to your people for me to allow you to come."

She looked at him, the hurt in her expression obvious. But the fight went out of her stance and he could see that she had heard the tenderness in his voice.

"My love," her father began. "What we do is more than dangerous. It's suicide." He gave a short, humorless laugh.

"And yet you and Lazar press ahead!"

"Lazar must find this woman who belongs to his Zar. I must find your brother. You have nothing to find."

"Father, this should be my decision, not yours. And not his," Ganya argued, pointing at Lazar.

"Is there a problem?" Maliz's voice broke into the debate.

Once again Lazar was irritated by the manner in which the demon crept up on him. "Just a difference of opinion," Lazar said, hoping the Grand Vizier would move on.

"Oh? Can I help?"