“Then, she’s bid me explain the present situation in Hammad al Nakir. She wants you to understand how and why things have changed since Megelin’s victory.” Habibullah went way back, to the day when Yasmid had come to Bragi begging for help. He picked the tale up there. It was a long one. He bore down on the fact that the followers of the Disciple, defeated, now holding on only in the holy places of Sebil el Selib and along Hammad al Nakir’s rich eastern seacoast, had begun to despair. He said, “The Disciple himself has given up. He just sits and dreams opium dreams about days gone by. He doesn’t know where or when he is anymore. He talks to people who have been dead for twenty years. Especially to the Scourge of God.”

“Which leads up to you telling me what?”

“To my stating the obvious. The Movement is no longer a danger to Kavelin or any other western kingdom.” In a confidential voice, “It’s barely a danger to the heretic on the Peacock Throne, and that only because the Harish still consider him their prime target.”

“Maybe. But I don’t think the Disciple has changed his ideas. He’d be a danger if he could.”

“The point is, he can’t. He won’t be able, ever again. On the other hand, the heretic might well be.”

Bragi had a notion where the man was going, based on Michael’s report. Intuition told him he’d best give Habibullah a full hearing. “Go on. I’m interested.”

“The threat to the world today—your world and mine—centers in the east. In Throyes, specifically. In Lord Hsung. He’s a determined and treacherous man. He sent ambassadors to Sebil el Selib. They offered to help us recapture Al Rhemish. The Lady Yasmid exerted her influence and had them driven out. There were those who didn’t agree with her, but her doctrinal arguments were irrefutable. The lamb does not lie with the lion. The Chosen cannot walk hand in hand with the minions of the Evil One.”

“Yeah. I didn’t know she had that much pull.”

“She has a lot more…. If she cares to use it. She’s still the Disciple’s designated heir.”

“I meant push, I think. Drive. Off-your-ass.”

“I see. Yes. She has been lacking in initiative.”

Ragnarson pricked up his ears. Something in Habibullah’s tone suggested that times had changed.

Habibullah became confidential again. “Our agents in Al Rhemish say Hsung sent ambassadors to Megelin at the same time he sent them to us. The Tervola doesn’t care who he enlists. And indications are, he got a more sympathetic hearing there. Megelin now has a wizard stashed in the Most Holy Mrazkim Shrines. A master of the Power, not some feeble native shaghûn.”

“Uhm.” Bragi saw one of Habibullah’s unstated arguments. If Shinsan had people in Megelin’s court, then Kavelin and El Murid had a sudden congruence of interest. Imagine that. After all those years of enmity. “You’re suggesting we ought to get together on something?”