He rested his staff against a shoulder and opened his hands in the gesture of welcoming. “Will you join us, little sister?” Kirit looked sharply at him but did not object. “We have scant hope of victory, but we must make the effort.”

She laughed, and the air wicked away her tears. “Allies, then?”

“Indeed we are,” he agreed with a sweet, sober smile. “The last of our kind.”

54

At dawn, as the clangor of the temple bells called men to prayer, Keshad confronted the guards at the gate, holding his blessing bowl in cupped hands.

“I need to pray.”

They looked at each other. One went into the guardhouse and emerged with the sergeant while the other stared straight ahead, pretending not to see Kesh.

“No foreigners allowed in Sarida today,” said the sergeant. He was a big man with hair shaved short and powerful hands that looked ready to crush the windpipe of any clamoring fool who annoyed him.

“I need to pray.” Again he displayed the bowl. “I am a believing man. Not like the others.”

He did not look into the courtyard where sour-faced men gathered yawning and stretching to mutter among themselves at the locked gate. The foreign merchants had heard trumpets in the night, and now it seemed they were to be imprisoned all day, not even let free to buy and sell in the market. Mutters turned to cheerful greetings as Eliar emerged from the cubicle he shared with Keshad, and at once the conversation flowered with laughter and spirited banter. Everyone liked Eliar! Kesh could not understand how the others could stomach the Silver’s convivial ways and inanely amiable chatter.

“All peace be upon Beltak, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Shining One Who Rules Alone,” said the sergeant at last, having taken his time to think things through. “The priests bid us to open the exalted gates to all men. To turn away a man who wishes to enter would be like killing him. Therefore, go. But return here after. This guard will accompany you. He speaks nothing of the trade talk, so no point in trying to converse.”

“My thanks,” said Kesh. “I’m just surprised. We heard trumpets last night, and now we’re told we can’t go into the market. It’s impossible to do business.”

“Those are my orders.”

And that, Kesh judged, was far enough to push this one. He waited while the inner gate was unlocked, a laborious process involving chains, locks, and keys, and cursed if Eliar didn’t trot up behind.

“Heya, Keshad. Where are you going? How did you get permission to leave? Are they opening the gates for the day, finally?”

“Move back,” said the sergeant in a curt way that made Eliar startle and Kesh smile. “No one allowed out.”

“He’s being allowed out!”