Swords of Arabia: Betrayal (21 page)

Events
subsequently
proved
how
right
she
was.

***

The
nail-studded
double
doors
to
the
great
central
meeting
chamber
were
thrown
open
and,
with
some
fanfare
and
much
dignity,
the
representatives
of
the
Ottoman
Empire
strode
into
the
room
and
down
the
aisle
between
the
seated
notables.
The
Ambassador,
and
most
of
his
delegation
striding
in
behind
him,
were
in
full
military
uniform,
medals
glittering
in
the
harsh
sunlight
that
poured
in
from
the
great
window
embrasures.
In
the
middle
of
the
day,
only
the
room’s
many
fans,
ensuring
the
constant
movement
of
which
was
the
prime
duty
of
a
number
of
slaves,
kept
its
murderous
heat
at
bay,
allowing
the
occupants
to
breathe
with
at
least
some
degree
of
comfort.

Zahirah
and
Nasir
had
won
the
battle
to
have
Talal
always
present
on
such
formal
occasions.
As
they
said,
he
could
learn
little
of
ruling
otherwise,
and so
it
was
that
he
sat
on
the
raised
dais
flanked
by
his
two
uncles.
As
agreed,
all
would
listen
to
what
the
embassy
said,
but
only
Badr
or
Nasir
would
actually
speak
in
public.
Nasir,
as
impassive
as
the
others
in
the
chamber,
suddenly
had
to
fight
hard
to
control
his
features
as
his
eyes
came
to
rest
on
the
tall,
slim
figure
immediately
behind
the
heavily
built,
middle-aged
ambassador.
The
other
person
made
no
such
attempt
and
his
broad
grin
brought
an
answering
one
from
Nasir.

Kerim!

Remembering
protocol,
he
fought
back
his
instinct
to
leap
off
the
dais
and
embrace
his
friend.
Instead
he
merely
smiled
warmly
and
remained
seated
by
his
nephew
as
the
embassy
reached
the
foot
of
the
dais.
The
leader
gave
a
slight
bow
to
Talal,
who
nodded
gravely
back
and
courteously
indicated
the
rich
cushioning
on
the
floor
for
them
to
be
seated.

After
some
small talk
and
the
obligatory
offering
and
consumption
of
refreshments,
all
served
on
the
most
opulent
of
Firyal’s
many
serving
dishes,
the
Ambassador’s
tone
changed.
“Highness,
Lords,
it
is
good
to
again
be
with
men
from
a
tribe
long
our
allies,”
he
began.
“We
had
hoped
that
we
would,
by
now,
be
joined
together
with
our
brothers
in
battle,”
he
added
pointedly.
“We
do
understand
of
course,
the
shocking
impact
that
the
tragic
death
of
your
valiant
father
has
had
upon
Narash.”
he
nodded
respectfully
to
Talal
who,
as
tutored,
kept
his
face
blank
of
all
emotion
as
he
gazed
calmly
back
at
the
much
older
man.
“That
those
events
could
do
little
but
delay
any
riding
to
join
us
is
entirely
understandable.”
he
paused,
then
continued.
“It
is
now
some
months
since
that
dark
day,
however,
and
I
understand
that,
grievous
as
the
loss
was,
Narash
is
now
attempting
to
move
on,
recover
from
the
grief
and
the
blow
that
such
an
event
inevitably
caused.”
He
paused
momentarily
and
then
went
to
the
heart
of
the
reason
for
their
presence.
“Our
Caliph
and
Sultan
wishes
me
to
ask
when
we
may
expect
the
warriors
of
Narash
to
be
again
riding
by
our
side?
As
your
friends,
the
Rashid,
are
already
doing,”
he
ended,
again,
pointedly.

Ya Allah
!
So quickly to the heart of the matter! Things must indeed be reaching a turning point for such speed
,
thought
Nasir
as,
his
impassivity
now
firmly
back
in
place,
he
gazed
down
at
the
embassy
from
the
slight
prominence
of
the
dais,
as
Badr
responded.

“We
thank
you
for
your
words,
Ambassador.
It
has
indeed
been
a
grievous
time
and
one
we
are
only
now
moving
away
from.
So,
your
visit
is
timely,”
smiled
Badr,
his
smile
carefully
filled
with
little
real
warmth.
Friend
he
might
be,
but
he
was
also
a
skilled
negotiator,
and
well-knew
the
value
of
apparent
disinterest,
especially in
that
which
one
most
desired.
“You
ask
when
we
can
be
riding
again
by
your
side.
This
gives
us
some
difficulty
on
a
number
of
fronts.
We
understand
that
war
has
now
much
changed.
Our
swords
and
old
rifles,
whilst
still
more
than
enough
for
fighting
insolent
Bedu,
even
ibn
Saud,
are
no
match
for
what
we
hear
has
now
arrived
in
our
land.
And
to
purchase
such
weapons
would
take
time.
And
much
gold,”
he
added
pointedly.