Free The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

the apprehension in his eyes and realize that she really couldn’t clearly explain why the path of her life seemed to have forked so sharply with the news of this massacre. Why it seemed so obvious what she now had to do. Obvious, but inexplicable. She could imagine what Ser Rezzoni of Sorenica would have said in response to such a conjunction. She could almost hear her father’s words, as well. “An obvious failure to think clearly enough,” Ishak would have murmured. “Start at the beginning, Jehane. Take all the time you need.”
    She didn’t have that much time. She had to get Husari ibn Musa into the Kindath Quarter tonight, and do something even harder before that.
    She said, “Velaz, I know what happened to my father in Cartada. This isn’t a debate. I can’t explain fully. I would do so if I could. You know that. I can only say that past a certain point accepting the things Almalik has done feels like sharing in them. Being responsible for them. If I stay here and simply open the treatment rooms in the morning and then the next day and the next, as if nothing has happened, that’s how I’ll feel.”
    There was a certain quality to Velaz, one of the measures of the man: he knew when what he heard was final.
    They walked the rest of the way in silence.
    Â 
    At the heavy, unadorned iron gates that marked the enclosed Kindath Quarter of Fezana, Jehane breathed a sigh of relief. She knew both of the men posted there. One had been a lover, one a friend for much of her life.
    She was as direct as she could afford to be. There was very little time. “Shimon, Bakir, I need your help,” she said to them, even before they had finished unlocking the gates.
    â€œYou have it,” Shimon grunted, “but hurry up and get inside. Do you know what is happening out there?”
    â€œI know what has happened, yes, which is why I need you.”
    Bakir groaned as he swung the gate open. “Jehane, what have you done now?”
    He was a big, broad-shouldered man, undeniably handsome. They had begun to bore each other within weeks of their liaison’s beginning. Fortunately they had parted soon enough for affection to linger. He was married now, with two children. Jehane had delivered both of them.
    â€œNothing I could avoid, given my doctor’s Oath of Galinus.”
    â€œBurn Galinus!” Shimon said bluntly. “They are killing people out there.”
    â€œThat’s why you have to help me,” Jehane said quickly. “I have a patient in the city to whom I must attend tonight. I don’t think I’m safe outside the Quarter—”
    â€œYou most certainly aren’t!” Bakir interrupted.
    â€œFine. I want you to let me bring him in here in a little while. I’ll put him to bed in our house and treat him there.”
    They looked at each other.
    Bakir shrugged. “That’s all?”
    Shimon still looked suspicious. “He’s an Asharite?”
    â€œNo, he’s a horse. Of course he’s an Asharite, you idiot. Why else would I be asking permission of the stupidest men in the Quarter?” The insult, she hoped, would distract them enough to end the questioning. Velaz was blessedly silent behind her.
    â€œWhen will you bring him?”
    â€œI’ll go fetch him immediately. I have to ask my mother’s permission first. Which is why I came ahead.”
    Bakir’s dark eyes narrowed further. “You are being awfully proper about this, aren’t you. That isn’t like you, Jehane.”
    â€œDon’t be more of a fool than you have to be, Bakir. You think I’m going to play games after what’s happened this afternoon?”
    Again they looked at each other.
    â€œI suppose not,” Shimon said grudgingly. “Very well, your patient can come in. But you aren’t leaving the Quarter again. Velaz can bring him, although I certainly won’t be the one to order him to