by Leslie North
“Well, Amira is all about politics and national affairs, which makes sense since she is the queen but there has never been any love there,” the King said as he sighed. Their marriage was arranged for political purposes and doomed from the start.
“And Tiana?” Basil smirked as he asked about the king's mistress. Tiana was trouble, she had been from the word go.
“Well, there was love there, but lately she's on some power trip. She seeks to bear me a son for political reasons.”
For a time, the King was really into Tiana. She eased his mind. His marriage to Amira was rife with conflict. He thought that they would grow on each other but that never happened. Having Tiana at least meant having a woman he loved. However, she had gotten greedy. The King's love was no longer enough for her. The queen was irked by Tiana's presence, which quickly turned into bitterness.
It was becoming a big issue. His queen and concubine were forever bickering and competing. The King had taken on the old tradition of having a concubine. She was supposed to be an official lover but nothing more. Instead, Tiana was aware of the distance between the King and Amira. She took the opportunity to be with the King whenever she could. She was determined to be the mother of the next heir.
“Remember Eva?” Basil asked.
“Oh dear,” The King grunted loudly.
“Thank heavens she did not stay in the picture for too long.”
Eva was their father's mistress. The late King had taken on the tradition as well. He had a mistress but his queen was not fond of the idea. She was very strict and elegant. Eventually Eva gave up being the King's mistress. It had not been easy. The queen was scary.
“Perhaps mother can chase Tiana off the way she did with Eva,” the King said. Basil laughed as he remembered how his mother was with Eva. He was still a boy but the memory was vivid in his mind.
“You might need to consider the option when things get tougher.”
After a few moments, they all mounted up. It was time to continue their journey as the horses had gotten enough rest. If they rode for the next couple of hours without rest, they would reach Noor City by sunset.
Chapter 10
Noor City was exactly how the Prince remembered it. Deciding to stop for the night, they broke camp before sunrise and rode into town. As a historical city, it was not overly populated and when the citizens saw the Prince and the King riding in on horseback, the local citizens stood in awe. Most of them had never seen the royals in person. The children were waving at them. The women smiled and cheered. The men bowed their heads. The King acknowledged them. His younger brother stared into the distance. He was too busy thinking about Saja.
During their honeymoon, he had woken her up every morning with a kiss. He loved being the first person she saw when she woke up. She'd lie in his arms as he kissed her and made love to her. He missed the feeling of her skin against his, the touch of her soft lips, her taste, her scent, her giggle. She was beautiful inside and out. She did not deserve what was happening to her. It was not fair. Basil returned his attention to Badir and the King. The three of them were sitting on horseback looking at the city as they dissected the it into three sections with the King, Basil and Badir each leading a team of armed men.
“I am going to tear this city up until I find her,” Basil said with an intense expression.
“Let's do it,” Badir said.
“Do not encourage his merciless rage,” the King admonished. He knew his brother would literarily tear up the place until he found her. He would do whatever it took to bring his bride home.
“I am feeling merciless right now,” Basil said. El-Tamar was not going to escape this alive.
“Think of Saja.”
“I am.”
“She would not want you harming anyone, even if it was her father.” The King knew Basil wanted El-Tamar's head on a platter and so did he, but it was not wise to do that to his father-in-law. Even if Saja did not see him as her father.
“Fine, but if I find a single hair missing on Saja, then whomever is responsible will live to regret the day he was born,” with that Basil rode off.
“I appreciate your help,” the King said to Badir before he rode off. They were all going in different directions. It was more efficient and smarter that way. They already had soldiers on the roads. No matter which direction El-Tamar went, he was definitely going to be caught. There was no escaping as the noose slowly closed around him.
* * * * *
El-Tamar stood outside as he made calls and the necessary arrangements to assure the safety of his family. The house they were in was originally slated for demolition due to structural damage, but he managed to purchase it for cash and keep the deal out of the public records. Bringing the two women here was the smartest thing that Abia had done. Since the family name wasn’t listed anywhere on the property, it would be hard for the Prince to track them down, or at least slow him down. They would have some time to get the money and flee before they were caught. No doubt, there were already soldiers searching for them.
Abia had said she contacted Badir and gave him the details of their offshore account. He was to wire the money there by sunset; otherwise, something terrible would happen to Saja. To keep her calm, Badir had agreed to her demands. Little did she know that Badir and the Prince were already in Noor City looking for them. Badir called the Prince and informed him of the ransom instructions. He almost broke the phone in anger. The audacity of that woman. She thought that she could threaten Saja's life and get away with it. She would pay dearly for her actions.
El-Tamar maintained a small army of soldiers that he paid monthly for future services. Comprised of only twenty men, they were highly trained mercenaries willing to do what it takes to get the job done. He bought their obedience and loyalty with cash. El-Tamar only called upon their services in the event of an emergency and this was definitely one. He summoned them to the house to stand guard and keep watch for the Prince’s men. If the situation went south, at least they would serve as a distraction while El-Tamar and his family fled. He had to prepare for every potential scenario, as his family clearly did not think through their actions before snatching Saja. As they say, revenge is a dish best served cold, and his wife and sons were too hotheaded to contemplate the consequences for their actions. This was now a matter of life and death.
After making calls and all the necessary arrangements, he went back into the house. He rejoined his family at the breakfast table. Abia had just finished making breakfast for them.
“Whom did you call?” Abia asked her husband.
“Have you given them food?” he asked about Saja and Mona.
“Worried that I might starve your bastard?”
“Abia, do not start. It is too early for this. I am sick of your insolence.”
“Had you controlled yourself twenty-four years ago, then…”
El-Tamar cut her off before she finished her sentence. He knew exactly how it was going to end. “Then we would not be in this situation. I know! You don't have to keep telling me,” he shouted and banged his fist on the table. She was being shortsighted. She refused to see that her own son had contributed to this mess that they were in.
“Please do not fight anymore,” Anwar said. He stood up and dished some food out for Saja and Mona. He took the tray to the room where they were held. He opened the door and walked in with the tray. Saja was analysing him as he walked towards them. She noticed his complexion was off.
“And what is wrong with you?” Saja asked him.
“What are you talking about?” Anwar asked.
“You do not look well.”
“Why do you care?”
“You need to be healthy and strong in order to continue torturing me.”
Anwar frowned and shook his head. He had not spent much time with her but she was as her father had described her. He put the tray down in front of them and walked out. He returned to the kitchen and sat down.
“They've been fed now,” he said to his parents
as he picked up his fork. His tone was full of irritation. Lately all his parents fought about was Saja. It was taking a toll on him.
“I called Guadalupe,” El-Tamar said changing the subject. Guadalupe was the commander of his mercenaries.
“Will he come?” Abia asked. Her faced brightened when her husband nodded.
“Also, if we get the money before sunset, then we will leave straight away. We will have to get flights from Umad.”
“Why that far?” Akeem asked.
“Well, we cannot fly out from Basrat. Obviously, Badir has our names and faces listed at the airport. The royal family is close to the king of Al-Badry, so he would have been informed about us by now,” El-Tamar said.
“That leaves Umad as the closest country we can go to.”
“Yes.”
“The borders are easy to cross,” Aman said as he realised that it was a brilliant idea.
“Exactly,” El-Tamar agreed. Umad seemed like their best shot of not being caught. They simply had to get to it as quickly and safely as they could. Once they were in Umad, they could stay under cover whilst they got fake identities and then fly out to a faraway country where the Prince would not find them.
El-Tamar told them of his plans. As they sat there listening, his family saw a different side to him. They no longer saw him as a useless father. He was making plans that they hadn't considered. They were taking it step by step. He was looking at the whole picture. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. El-Tamar put his finger on his lips to shush them.
“Blue sand,” a male voice shouted from the door. El-Tamar stood up and headed towards the door. It was Guadalupe using their secret phrase. He opened the door and saw the tall man with a rugged look standing there already dressed for battle. Behind him stood El-Tamar’s small army. They all put their right hands on their chests and dropped to one knee. El-Tamar was very happy to see them. Guadalupe saluted him.
“At ease, come in,” El-Tamar said to him. “You may all rise. I am honoured to have you all here,” he said to the soldiers. They rose and lined up against the house. They were already standing guard and ready for battle. El-Tamar and Guadalupe walked inside the house.
Abia stood up and greeted Guadalupe. She was very happy to see him. Her sons also greeted him. Before that day, they knew him as their father’s friend. They had no idea that their father had taken such precautions over the years or that Guadalupe was in charge of the security force.
Guadalupe sat down at the table and El-Tamar filled him in on the recent events and what he needed him to do. Guadalupe was very loyal to El-Tamar and the promise of additional money cemented that loyalty. Guadalupe agreed to help him straight away. El-Tamar was very pleased to hear that. At least something was going well. He had checked their offshore account a few times and there had yet to be a deposit made. He told himself it had only been an hour since they told Badir. They had to be patient. However, this was the Prince. He could pay that instantly, what was taking so long? It did not sit right with him. Something wasn’t right.
Chapter 11
Guadalupe sent a couple of his men into town as lookouts. They were to report anything suspicious. If the Prince’s security team were on the way, they would know before they found the house. He already had jeeps fuelled and ready to leave when needed. They did not have any horses, which would have been better, but all of El-Tamar's horses had been confiscated by the Prince.
Saja and Mona were sitting there swapping stories, as there was nothing else to do. Saja was learning a lot more about Mona who was currently telling Saja about her first ever kiss.
“And then I head-butted him as I leaned forward,” Mona said. Saja covered her face with her hands and burst out laughing. “It was a mess,” Mona said.
“It seems you were clumsier than me,” Saja said. She never had the best of luck with guys. She had never had a proper relationship, nothing that lasted longer than four months. It was either the guy was put off from the start or he wanted something that she was not willing to give him.
“At my high school ball, I spilt punch all over myself.”
Saja's eyes flew open. “No, you didn’t!” Saja couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes,” Mona closed her eyes as she recalled the embarrassing moment. She had many of those in her teenage years. Saja kept laughing. The Mona she knew was well spoken and polished. She did not show signs of being clumsy.
“I hate to break up the party,” Abia said as she walked in with food.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Saja said. Abia laughed sadistically.
“I see you have healed,” Abia was intentionally provoking her by reminding her of the beating she received. If need be, Abia was willing to issue another.
“You look extra smug today,” Saja noticed that Abia had an extra pep in her step.
“One of two things will happen today,” Abia said as she set the tray down on the floor. “Either your husband will pay and you will return to him. Or, if he doesn't pay in time, well let's just say that you'll be fed through a tube for the rest of your life,” Abia said. She started walking towards the door.
“Neither one of those things will happen,” Saja called out behind her. Abia paused when she heard her words.
“Why is that?” Abia asked. She crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for Saja's reply.
“You do not know Basil very well if you think that he will play by your rules.” Saja smiled at Abia. Basil never played by anyone's rules. He made his own. If Abia thought that she could simply snap her fingers and he would do what she wanted, then she was in for a surprise.
“And that pleases you?” Abia was confused. Why was Saja smiling about it? She was expecting Saja to be unsettled. She wanted to see her speculate on when he was going to pay. She wanted to see Saja fear for her life and beg for mercy but she was not doing any of those things.
“Because I am going to enjoy watching all of you feel his wrath, and you will.” Saja picked up her pita and bit into it. Abia frowned and walked out. Surely, Saja was playing with her. The Prince was going to pay the ransom. Abia felt like upping the ransom amount. Saja's mouth needed to be charged.
Abia walked into the living room and flipped open her laptop. She logged into their offshore account to check the balance. The Prince still had not paid a dime. Abia sat there nervously wondering if Saja was right. Would the Prince not pay? Abia looked up when her husband walked into the room.
“Do you think he will pay?” Abia asked him.
“There is a chance he won't,” El-Tamar replied.
“How can he not?”
“He is an unpredictable man.” El-Tamar knew that all too well. Thankfully, he was not King. If he had been, there would be no stopping him!
* * * *
Later that afternoon, Guadalupe's men returned from town. They quickly informed their commander what they had found out. Guadalupe rose to his feet instantly and went to El-Tamar. He found him in his bedroom. He knocked before he entered. He bowed to El-Tamar before he spoke. He still respected him and treated him like a sheik.
“A suspicious group of men have been spotted in town,” Guadalupe said to El-Tamar.
“Suspicious, how so?” El-Tamar asked.
“They are dressed for battle. It must be the Prince’s men. We have to leave now!” In Noor City, there weren't any armies or rebels. It was a quiet, old city. There was never a reason for armed soldiers to be there. Hence why Guadalupe knew it was Prince Al-Qadir's men.
Abia walked into the room. Her husband and the commander looked panicked. She could already tell that something was wrong. “What is going on?” she asked them.
“We have to leave,” El-Tamar replied.
“Why?”
“Prince Al-Qadir's men have been spotted in town,” Guadalupe said. Abia's eyes flew open. She had not expected them to be so quick. Clearly, she had underestimated him. It made sense now, why they hadn't wired the money yet. Abia stormed out of the room and headed downstair
s.
She picked up the phone and called the Prince’s palace. The call was transferred to Badir's phone. He picked up the call. “Abia,” he said.
“Where is the money?” Abia demanded. She did not even bother to say hello. She got straight to the point. Her patience had run out.
“It is not sunset yet,” Badir replied calmly.
