ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-µÚ89²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
of¡¡Fezana¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡that¡¡same¡¡anger¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡hurt¡¡that¡¡didn't¡¡sort¡¡easily¡¡with¡¡his¡¡profession¡£¡¡Or¡¡perhaps¡¡that¡¡wasn't¡¡true£º¡¡perhaps¡¡Rodrigo¡¡was¡¡good¡¡at¡¡what¡¡he¡¡did¡¡because¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡price¡¡exacted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡deeds¡¡of¡¡soldiers¡¡at¡¡war£¿
¡¡¡¡Odd£»¡¡how¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡drifting¡£¡¡Questions¡¡for¡¡which¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡answers¡£¡¡Much¡¡like¡¡death¡£¡¡The¡¡emptiness¡£¡¡The¡¡physician's¡¡implacable¡¡adversary¡£¡¡A¡¡sword¡¡wound¡¡deep¡¡into¡¡the¡¡collarbone¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡for¡¡that¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡said£»¡¡clearing¡¡her¡¡throat£»¡¡¡¨Did¡¡he¡¡clean¡¡it¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡before¡¡he¡¡put¡¡the¡¡dressing¡¡on£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Belmonte¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨With¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡flask¡¡of¡¡wine¡£¡¡Didn't¡¡you¡¡hear¡¡me£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡looks¡¡like¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡dressing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Lain's¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡this¡¡for¡¡years¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡silence¡£¡¡He¡¡knelt¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡beside¡¡Ammar¡£¡¡¡¨His¡¡last¡¡words¡¡to¡¡me¡¡were¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡that¡¡we¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¡Jehane£»¡¡I¡¡swore¡¡that¡¡we¡¡would¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡bit¡¡her¡¡lip¡£¡¡Said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡I'd¡¡been¡¡hired¡¡to¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡all¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡goes¡¡both¡¡ways£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡£¡¨¡¡That¡¡was¡¡Husari¡£¡¡Ammar¡¡said¡¡nothing£»¡¡only¡¡watched¡£¡¡His¡¡ringers¡¡were¡¡cool£»¡¡holding¡¡hers¡£
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡registering¡¡the¡¡linked¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Muwardi¡¡assassins¡¡suggests¡¡Cartada¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡stood¡¡up¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡would¡¡think¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡Ammar¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨In¡¡fact£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡emissary¡¡who¡¡found¡¡me£»¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡A¡¡different¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡mission¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡nodded¡¡slowly¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡wants¡¡you¡¡back£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡does¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡assumed¡¡that£»¡¡didn't¡¡we£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡Almalik¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡make¡¡certain¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡was¡¡the¡¡offer£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡the¡¡things¡¡one¡¡might¡¡expect¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡tone¡¡was¡¡cool¡£
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡registered¡¡that£»¡¡too¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡apologies¡£¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡to¡¡have¡¡asked¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Perhaps¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡did¡£¡¡Ask¡¡the¡¡next¡¡question£¿¡¨¡¡Ammar¡¡released¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡men¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡grey¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡blue¡£¡¡Rodrigo¡¡nodded¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡accepting¡¡a¡¡challenge¡£¡¡¡¨Very¡¡well¡£¡¡What¡¡did¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡them£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡my¡¡answer£»¡¡whether¡¡I¡¡would¡¡return¡¡or¡¡not¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡see¡£¡¡Was¡¡that¡¡true£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨At¡¡the¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡A¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¨Not¡¡so¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡tonight¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡£¡¡Some¡¡things¡¡have¡¡intervened¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡see¡£¡¡And¡¡what¡¡would¡¡you¡¡answer¡¡if¡¡the¡¡same¡¡question¡¡were¡¡asked¡¡of¡¡you¡¡now£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡A¡¡small£»¡¡deliberate¡¡hesitation¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡I¡¡am¡¡well¡¡content¡¡with¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡find¡¡myself¡£¡¨¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡nuance¡¡there£»¡¡Jehane¡¡realized¡£¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡Rodrigo¡¡had¡¡also¡¡caught¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡gestured¡¡around¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡are¡¡that¡¡pany£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Ibn¡¡Khairan¡¡inclined¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨A¡¡part¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡two¡¡men¡¡were¡¡of¡¡a¡¡height£»¡¡the¡¡Valledan¡¡was¡¡broader¡¡across¡¡the¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡chest¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡see¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡Ammar¡¡asked£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡Jehane¡¡understood¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡permitted¡even¡¡invited¡the¡¡questions¡£¡¡¡¨Where¡¡will¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Rodrigo¡¡Belmonte¡¡be¡¡serving¡¡this¡¡summer£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡ride¡¡against¡¡Cartada¡¡soon¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡army¡¡of¡¡Ragosa¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡if¡¡King¡¡Ramiro¡¡should¡¡also¡¡be¡¡riding£¿¡¡Against¡¡Fezana's¡¡walls£¿¡¡What¡¡then£»¡¡O¡¡Scourge¡¡of¡¡Al¡Rassan£¿¡¡Will¡¡we¡¡lose¡¡you£¿¡¡Will¡¡we¡¡live¡¡to¡¡fear¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡your¡¡banner¡¡again£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡had¡¡e¡¡over¡¡and¡¡were¡¡listening¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡quiet¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡light¡¡ing¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡east¡£¡¡Sunrise¡¡soon¡£
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡was¡¡silent¡¡a¡¡long¡¡while¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡¡¨I£»¡¡too£»¡¡am¡¡well¡¡content¡¡with¡¡where¡¡I¡¡find¡¡myself¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨But£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡anger¡¡in¡¡Belmonte's¡¡eyes¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡still¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡if¡¡the¡¡armies¡¡of¡¡Esperana¡¡e¡¡through¡¡the¡¡tagra¡¡lands£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡must¡¡go¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Jehane¡¡let¡¡out¡¡her¡¡breath¡£¡¡She¡¡hadn't¡¡been¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡she'd¡¡been¡¡holding¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡you¡¡must£»¡¨¡¡Ammar¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡your¡¡life¡¡for¡¡this¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡looked¡¡away¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡and¡¡then¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡me¡¡to¡¡say£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Ammar's¡¡tone¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡hard£»¡¡merciless£»¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡well¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡how¡¡about£»¡¡'Die£»¡¡Asharite¡¡dogs£¡¡¡Kindath¡¡swine£¡'¡¡Something¡¡of¡¡that¡¡sort£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡from¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡£¡¡Rodrigo¡¡winced¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨Not¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡Ammar¡£¡¡Not¡¡from¡¡those¡¡who¡¡ride¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡from¡¡those¡¡who¡¡will¡¡ride¡¡all¡¡around¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Rodrigo¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡again£»¡¡almost¡¡doggedly¡£¡¡¡¨Again£»¡¡what¡¡can¡¡I¡¡say¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¡They¡¡will¡¡be¡¡much¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Muwardis¡¡are£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡£¡¡Driven¡¡by¡¡hatred¡¡and¡¡holiness¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡made¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡gesture£»¡¡both¡¡hands¡¡opening¡¡and¡¡then¡¡closing¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡tell¡¡me¡£¡¡What¡¡shall¡¡good¡¡men¡¡do¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡war£»¡¡Ammar£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Ammar's¡¡answer¡¡came£»¡¡as¡¡Jehane¡¡had¡¡feared¡¡and¡¡known¡¡it¡¡would£º¡¡¡¨Kill¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡until¡¡something¡¡ends¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Alvar¡¡and¡¡Husari¡¡took¡¡her¡¡home¡¡as¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡rising¡¡over¡¡the¡¡strewn¡¡and¡¡empty¡¡streets¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡needed¡¡sleep¡¡very¡¡badly¡£¡¡Alvar¡¡took¡¡his¡¡old¡¡room¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡level£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡he'd¡¡used¡¡when¡¡she¡¡and¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Velaz¡¡had¡¡first¡¡e¡¡through¡¡the¡¡pass¡¡to¡¡Ragosa¡£
¡¡¡¡Husari¡¡took¡¡Velaz's¡¡bed¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡where¡¡Jehane¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡patients¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡bade¡¡them¡¡good¡¡night£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡night¡¡was¡¡done¡£¡¡She¡¡went¡¡up¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡to¡¡her¡¡room¡£¡¡She¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡window¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡sky¡¡grow¡¡brighter¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡roofs¡¡of¡¡houses¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡morning¡£¡¡The¡¡dawn¡¡wind¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡scent¡¡of¡¡almond¡¡trees¡¡from¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡across¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡quiet¡¡now¡£¡¡The¡¡streets¡¡were¡¡empty¡£¡¡Velaz¡¡would¡¡not¡¡see¡¡this¡¡morning¡¡e¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡tried£»¡¡again£»¡¡to¡¡think¡¡how¡¡she¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡this¡¡to¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡backed¡¡away¡¡from¡¡that¡£¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡something¡¡else£º¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡arrange¡¡for¡¡burial£»¡¡a¡¡Kindath¡¡service¡£¡¡Avren¡¡would¡¡help¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡she¡¡would¡¡ask¡¡him¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this£¿¡¡Find¡¡someone¡¡to¡¡chant¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡words¡¡of¡¡the¡¡liturgy£º¡¡
One¡¡sun¡¡for¡¡the¡¡god¡£¡¡
Two¡¡moons¡¡for¡¡his¡¡beloved¡¡sisters¡£¡¡
Uncountable¡¡stars¡¡to¡¡shine¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡
Oh£»¡¡man¡¡and¡¡woman£»¡¡born¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡path£»¡¡
only¡¡look¡¡up¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡shall¡¡guide¡¡you¡¡home¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡cried¡¡again£»¡¡the¡¡tears¡¡spilling¡¡down¡¡her¡¡cheeks£»¡¡falling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡windowsill¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡After¡¡a¡¡time¡¡she¡¡wiped¡¡her¡¡face¡¡with¡¡the¡¡backs¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡not¡¡bothering¡¡to¡¡undress£»¡¡though¡¡there¡¡was¡¡blood¡¡on¡¡her¡¡clothing¡£¡¡The¡¡tears¡¡had¡¡stopped¡£¡¡An¡¡emptiness£»¡¡pushing¡¡outwards¡¡from¡¡her¡¡heart£»¡¡took¡¡their¡¡place¡£¡¡She¡¡lay¡¡there¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡¡sleep¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡little¡¡later¡¡she¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡from¡¡outside¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡that¡¡sound¡£
¡¡¡¡Ammar¡¡swung¡¡up¡¡and¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡window¡¡ledge¡£¡¡He¡¡stayed¡¡there£»¡¡motionless£»¡¡regarding¡¡her¡¡a¡¡long¡¡while¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Will¡¡you¡¡forgive¡¡me£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡finally¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡e¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡forgiven¡¡you£»¡¡ever£»¡¡had¡¡you¡¡not£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Hold¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡He¡¡jumped¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡He¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡beside¡¡her¡¡and¡¡she¡¡laid¡¡her¡¡head¡¡on¡¡his¡¡chest¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡heartbeat¡£¡¡She¡¡closed¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡His¡¡hand¡¡came¡¡up¡¡and¡¡touched¡¡her¡¡hair¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡my¡¡love£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡¨Jehane¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡began£»¡¡again£»¡¡to¡¡cry¡£
¡¡¡¡This¡¡passed¡¡as¡¡well£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡soon¡£¡¡When¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡quiet¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡can¡¡lie¡¡like¡¡this£»¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡you¡¡like¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡all¡¡right¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡an¡¡emptiness¡¡in¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡needed¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡empty¡¡any¡¡more¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡we¡¡can't£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡lifted¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡him¡£¡¡Salt¡£¡¡Her¡¡own¡¡tears¡£¡¡She¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡up¡¡and¡¡laced¡¡them¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡him¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Much¡¡later£»¡¡with¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them¡¡unclothed£»¡¡she¡¡lay¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡under¡¡the¡¡bedcovers¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡desperately¡¡needed¡¡sleep¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡much¡¡too¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡what¡¡was¡¡to¡¡e¡later¡¡this¡¡same¡¡day¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡Ragosa£»¡¡before¡¡nightfall¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡urge¡¡that¡¡she¡¡remain¡¡here¡£¡¡She¡¡would¡¡refuse¡£¡¡He¡¡even¡¡knew¡¡who¡¡would¡¡insist¡¡upon¡¡ing¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡darkness¡¡looming¡¡in¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡high¡piled¡¡thundercloud¡£¡¡Above¡¡Fezana¡£¡¡Where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡met¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡lay¡¡awake£»¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡irony¡observing¡¡how¡¡the¡¡newly¡¡risen¡¡sun¡¡poured¡¡in¡¡through¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡window¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡both£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡someone¡¡or¡¡something¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡cloak¡¡them¡¡in¡¡a¡¡blessing¡¡made¡¡entirely¡¡of¡¡light¡£
¡¡¡¡
Part¡¡V¡Even¡¡the¡¡Sun¡¡Goes¡¡Down
Fifteen
¡¡¡¡The¡¡governor¡¡of¡¡Fezana¡¡was¡¡a¡¡watchful¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cautious¡¡man¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡occasionally¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lamented¡¡King¡¡Almalik¡¡I£»¡¡the¡¡Lion¡¡of¡¡Cartada£»¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡his¡¡own¡¡ascent¡¡to¡¡glory¡¡from¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡governing¡¡that¡¡city¡¡for¡¡the¡¡khalifs¡¡of¡¡Silvenes£»¡¡he¡¡more¡¡often¡¡reminded¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡his¡¡extreme¡¡good¡¡fortune¡¡in¡¡having¡¡been¡¡the¡¡only¡¡important¡¡city¡¡governor¡¡to¡¡survive¡¡the¡¡transition¡¡from¡¡father¡¡to¡¡son¡¡in¡¡Cartada¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡unsettled¡¡by¡¡dreams¡¡of¡¡loftier¡¡position¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡himself¡¡an¡¡evening¡¡of¡¡distraction£º¡¡a¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡Jaddite¡¡wine£»¡¡dancers£»¡¡encounters¡watching¡¡or¡¡participating¡involving¡¡slaves¡¡of¡¡both¡¡sexes¡¡in¡¡varying¡¡binations¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡the¡¡release¡¡afforded¡¡by¡¡such¡¡activities¡¡served¡¡to¡¡quell¡¡the¡¡disturbances¡¡of¡¡inappropriate¡¡dreams¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡£
¡¡¡¡In¡¡truth£»¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡merely¡¡good¡¡fortune¡¡that¡¡had¡¡ensured¡¡his¡¡continuance¡¡in¡¡Fezana¡£¡¡During¡¡the¡¡last¡¡years¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡Almalik£»¡¡the¡¡governor¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡pains£»¡¡quietly£»¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡cordial¡¡relations¡¡with¡¡the¡¡son¡£¡¡Though¡¡the¡¡tension¡¡between¡¡the¡¡king¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡was¡¡evident£»¡¡the¡¡governor¡¡of¡¡Fezana¡¡nonetheless¡¡judged¡¡that¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡survive¡¡and¡¡succeed¡¡his¡¡father¡£¡¡His¡¡reasoning¡¡was¡¡simple¡¡in¡¡the¡¡extreme£º¡¡the¡¡alternatives¡¡were¡¡untenable£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡had¡¡Ammar¡¡ibn¡¡Khairan¡¡for¡¡his¡¡guardian¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡governor¡¡of¡¡Fezana¡¡had¡¡been¡¡born¡¡in¡¡Aljais¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡known¡¡ibn¡¡Khairan¡¡from¡¡the¡¡poet's¡¡boyhood¡¡in¡¡that¡¡city¡£¡¡Concern