One of the older boys boosted Haroun to the top of the wall. He stared as if smitten by some great wonder.

Radetics favorite was slight, dusky, dark-eyed, and hawk-nosed, a child-image of his sire. Even at six he knew his station.

Because he was only a fourth son, Haroun was fated to become his provinces chief shaghûn, the commander of the handful of sorcerer-soldiers serving with the family cavalry.

Yousifs Wahligate was vast. His forces were numerous, for they nominally included every man able to bear arms. Harouns responsibilities would be large, his immersion in wizardry deep.

Already Radetic had to share his pupil with witch-teachers from Jebal al Alf Dhulquarneni, the appropriately named Mountains of a Thousand Sorcerers. The great adepts almost always began their studies at the time they were learning to talk, yet seldom came into the fullness of their power till they had passed their prime mating years. The young years were critical to the learning of self-discipline, which had to be attained before the onset of puberty and accompanying distractions.

Radetic wriggled his way into the pack of children. Ill be damned!

Fuad pulled him back. Of that theres no doubt. He assumed Radetics place. Holy!...A bare-faced woman! Teacher, you might as well turn them loose. Theyll never settle down now. Id better go tell Yousif that theyre here. Fuads face had taken on the glassy look of a man in rut. Radetic did not doubt that he had an erection.

The ways of the desert were strange, he thought.

Speculation had haunted the Royal Compound for days. Would El Murid really dare come to the Shrines?

Radetic shoved himself into the gap again, staring.

The woman was younger than he had expected. She rode a tall white camel. The fact of her facial nakedness completely eclipsed the presence of the wild-eyed youth on the white mare.

El Murid was, for that matter, overshadowed by the man riding the big black stallion.

That would be Nassef, wouldnt it? Radetic thought. The brawler who led El Murids dramatically named bodyguard, the Invincibles, and who was the brother of the Disciples wife.

El Murid. Youre a bold bandit, son, Radetic murmured. He found himself admiring the youths arrogance. Anyone who thumbed his nose at priesthoods rated with Megelin Radetic.

Boys. Get down. Go find your fathers. Do you want a whipping?

Such was the punishment for gazing on a womans naked face. His pupils fled.

All but Haroun. Is that really El Murid? The one Father calls Little Devil?

Radetic nodded. Thats him.

Haroun scampered after his brothers and cousins. Ali! Wait. Remember when Sabbah came to el Aswad?

Megelin suspected imminent deviltry. Nothing but bad blood had come of that ill-starred peace conference with Sabbah i Hassan. He stalked his pupils.

He had warned Yousif. He had cast horoscope after horoscope, and each had been blacker than the last. But Yousif had rejected the scientific approach in his own life.