"I see," said Zafra nodding his head.
"See what?" asked Colin.
"We have a conflict of oaths," answered Zafra.
"Colin is not Aleach," demanded Rodan. "He does not have the right!"
"He has sworn an oath, Jarbi. You know that it does not matter if he is Aleach or not. The druid is correct. This young man has the right to serve his Pasha."
Rodan shook his head angrily. "Colin is a minor like Elwin. He cannot be held to that oath."
"How old are you?" Zafra asked Colin.
"I turned eighteen last week."
Zafra nodded his head again. "In the eyes of Aleach, you are no longer a minor. So we have a conflict of oaths. There is only one way to settle this."
"No!" cried Rodan, "I will not fight him."
Colin's eyes went wide, "Fight!?"
Zafra nodded. "Yes. It is the law of the Fijah. If two oaths are in conflict, and cannot be reconciled, then they must be settled through a test of arms. The survivor's oath is deemed the stronger and purer oath. Do you, Colin, claim your rights to battle for your lord?"
The moment was tense. Colin's nervous gaze danced from Prince Elwin to Rodan, then back to the sheik. "I... I do not know..., I do not wish to fight, but I will not let him take my lord against his wishes."
"The law is the law,” Zafra sighed. "The Fijah is not always easy, but it must be obeyed. If you wish to keep your oath and help the prince to reach the Karr al-Isma, you must fight."
"Zafra Pasha, that would not be a fair fight. He is only a boy!"
"Oh," murmured Kayno under his breath, "If I were you, I would not be too sure of winning."
"Perhaps there is another way," Elwin spoke up.
"Speak," commanded Zafra. "If we can avoid bloodshed, I will be in your debt."
Elwin went on. "The two oaths are not necessarily in conflict. If Rodan would allow me to find my sister first, I will promise that I will then to go Mythra. Both oaths would be upheld and honored."
Zafra nodded. "Elwin Pasha, you are wise. You continue to amaze me. You would make a great sheik or even a caliph."
"You honor me," replied Elwin with a short bow of his head. "But I am of Kambryan blood. Forgive me for saying so, but I do not believe that the Aleach would accept me."
"You are no doubt right. It is a shame, though." The sheik turned to Colin. "Will this comply with your oath?"
"Yes,” Colin replied hurriedly.
"And you, Jarbi? Will you accept this compromise? Will you avoid the spilling of blood by letting your oath wait?"
Zafra waved off Kayno who was about to say something. “You must choose, Jarbi."
For a painfully long moment, Rodan was silent. Elwin feared that he was going to refuse. Then Rodan gave the sheik a tight nod. "Though it means we shall all die, yes, Zafra Pasha, I will agree. I would rather die a thousand deaths than kill the young friend of Pallas and Elwin."
"Then let us drink." Zafra clapped his hands, and a young servant appeared from an adjoining room. "We drink for the life saved and to new friendships."
The servant dropped to the floor, bowing low to the Sheik. "How may I serve you, Pasha?"
"We will have Kumiss."
Moments later, the servant returned carrying a tray with several large silver goblets and a large glass pitcher. The pitcher was amazingly crafted with colored glass in the shades of red, sky blue, and green. While the glass vessel shimmered in the light of the tent’s lamps, the goblets were of equally impressive quality. Each of the goblets had been created out of pure silver and engraved with elegant and detailed geometric patterns. In a smooth, graceful motion, the boy balanced the tray with one hand and poured with the other, never spilling a drop of the Kumiss.
Taking the goblet he was offered, Pallas stared down into the silver cup. Swirling the white liquid around he looked down in confusion. "What is it?"
Trying to keep his voice level, Rodan replied, "It is a type of sour beer made of fermented mare's milk. Drink it!"
"Horse milk!" Pallas exclaimed. "I can't drink horse milk!"
"Do not be a fool!" snapped Rodan between clenched teeth. "The Sheik honors you. Do not insult him or me by refusing."
Grumbling, Pallas held his breath and sipped the beer. Finding that it was not as bad as he feared, he discovered that he kind of liked it, though he would never admit that to Rodan.
Zafra smiled and laughed. "This is a fitting end. Or perhaps it is a beginning." The sheik held up his goblet above his turbaned head. "Elwin Pasha, I hope you can pull off the impossible, and that we meet again. You are a boy... I mean a man of great courage. In my heart, I believe you will return, and then we will see what happens. Yes, indeed. We shall then see what happens."
Elwin smiled. "I am honored. I too hope to meet Zafra Pasha again. Perhaps on my return from the sacred mountain and I can introduce you to my sister."
Zafra laughed and had his goblet refilled. "I would be honored. If she is half the woman that you are a man, she would indeed be a marvel to behold."
Again, the sheik held up his drink. "Tomorrow we may die, but today we celebrate." He then drained his goblet and called for more.
After more toasts and drinks, the group turned back to the business at hand. The first order was to decide who should accompany the prince across the Great Plains. It was quickly determined that everyone in the tent, except for the sheik himself, would accompany Elwin. Again, Elwin wondered why Kayno was joining their little party. Everyone else had reasons; Rodan had given his word and oath. Pallas, Aidan, and Colin were Elwin's closest friends, and Faynn wanted to protect the sword from falling into the hands of Torcull, but Kayno's reasons remained a great mystery as did the man himself.
Promising to supply them with horses, provisions, and a fifty man escort, Zafra toasted the exhibition and returned to his celebrating. It did not seem to take much to give this plainsman cause to celebrate.
Interrupting his merrymaking, the sheik noticed Rodan' sullen mood. "Jarbi, it is unlike you to hold a grudge. A life was saved today. And by the way this youth carries his sword; I am not too sure that it was not your life that was spared. This 'Colin', young as he is, has the look of a man who was born with steel in his hand. So do not be glum, my friend, think on the bright side, and remember that by going into the Great Plains, you will no longer be hunted by the forces of Strigiol. Even the Black Army will not enter the plains and risk war with Aleach."
Listening, Colin asked, "Why won't they enter the plains? I mean no offense, Zafra Pasha, but Aleach is a conquered nation. Is it not?"
Elwin held his breath thinking the Sheik would be angered and insulted by Colin's question. However, Zafra only shook his head and laughed, something he was doing more frequently as he continued to consume more Kumiss. "Aleach conquered? Hardly. This is not the Aleach, Colin. This is Caiplich. Technically, Caiplich is a part of Aleach, yet it is populated and ruled by traders from around Kambrya. The Aleach come to the city to trade their horses, buy goods, but they do not live here." The Sheik stopped momentarily to let the servant refill his goblet. "No true Aleach would ever stay here longer than necessary. We come here to trade our horses for outside goods, and no more. Caiplich is really a city-state. It is a country in its own right. The city has only symbolic ties to the Caliph of Aleach. If Strigiol's king thinks that he has taken Aleach by conquering Caiplich, he is wrong." Zafra nodded his head to the east. "Out there, beyond the walls of the city, beyond the tents that surround it, is the true Aleach. That is my home." His dark eyes sparkled as he spoke of his beloved grasslands. “The home of Al-Amin and all of our ancestors who came before us.”
Rodan sighed. Setting his drink down, he looked to the east as if he could see through the canvas walls of the tent and out over the plains. "Aleach," he whispered as if to himself, "I swore I would never return." After a long moment of uninterrupted silence, the Reidh lord looked back into the tent and his dark eyes settled onto Elwin. "Your highness, I believe this is madness, and I be
lieve that we are going to die, but that is not what is bothering me. As an Aleach, I accept that death waits for us all. But there is something you need to know. There is a price upon my head. My presence could make things more complicated than they need to be." Again, the lord sighed as if every word came at a great personal loss. "Zafra Pasha knows this, but he is too great a man to mention it. Zafra Pasha has risked much in bringing me into his tent. You see, Zafra Pasha is my uncle, the brother of my mother. What he already knows, you too must know before we head into the east. In the Great Plains, Zafra Pasha cannot protect you or me. Even his generous escort of fifty men will be helpless if the caliph decides to have me arrested, which he is very likely to do if he discovers I am here. If that happens, I will be executed, and those with me will be put in danger."
"Why would the caliph have you arrested?" asked Elwin. "What have you done to him?"
"As you know, I am half Aleach. What you do not know is why my father, mother and my wife died all those years ago. It is something only the count, the sheik, and I know, and none of us care to speak of it."
Rodan swallowed hard as he continued. He looked down at the floor and went on. "My wife, Teba, did not have her family's approval to marry, I had asked but was refused. We were young, foolish, and very much in love, and as the young tend to do, we did not care, so we married anyway. According to the Fijah, the law of Aleach, it is a crime to marry without the family's blessing. I brought great shame upon Teba's family. The Fijah says that such an offense is punishable by death, but the caliph who ruled at that time was a kind man. Knowing that I was an outsider and did not know or truly understand their laws, the caliph took pity upon me. He was a man who understood love. Still, he could not let such an offense go unpunished. Teba's clan, the Ibn Jallab, were and still are a powerful clan, and they demanded retribution. The caliph decided upon a compromise. He exiled Teba and myself, banning us ever to return to Aleach. So we left the High Plains, hoping to make a home in Reidh. Reidh was the land of my father. And for a while, we were happy in Reidh. As a favor to the caliph, and my Reidhen father, Pallas' father, Count Murray, gave me land and a place I could call home. But Teba's family could not or would not accept the caliph's compromise. They wanted the letter of the law followed. They wanted their daughter back so that she could be given a ceremonial execution for bringing such shame upon their name."
Aidan gasped, "They would kill their own daughter?"
"Yes," Rodan closed his eyes as if he were holding back tears. "The caliph was an old man, and he died soon after we had left. Following the death of the caliph, there was a short war of succession and the Ibn Jallab family rose to a new position of greater power. Teba's cousin, Adra, married Banu Abu Ishaq, who succeed in becoming the next caliph of the united clans of Aleach. Caliph Banu, mostly for reasons of his own, requested that Count Murray return Teba to Aleach. Knowing what would happen, the count refused. But the Ibn Jallab family would not give up. With the new caliph's unofficial permission, Teba's clan sent a small raiding party across the mountains and into Reidh.
Their plan was to kidnap Teba and to bring her back to Aleach. At the time, I was in Port Murray and far from my home in Northdall. The Aleach party came as a surprise, and they were successful. They murdered my mother, Zafra's sister and took Teba." Rodan looked up at the Sheik. His cheeks were wet with tears. Never before had Elwin seen the stoic lord cry.
Zafra nodded as if telling Rodan to go on.
"Returning from the fields, my father, found what had happened and went after the Aleach raiders, who were now attempting to escape back over the mountains. There came a late snowstorm. In the mountains, such storms are often fierce. There were no survivors. One of the Aleach raiders was Caliph’s youngest brother. He now holds me personally responsible for his death."
Elwin hesitated, before saying, "I am sorry for your pain. And yours, Zafra Pasha. I have heard it said that your sister was as kind as she was beautiful."
Rodan nodded. "My mother was both. And though it happened a long time ago, the memories remain. If my love had not been so blind, Teba would still be alive, and so would my father and mother. For that matter, Banu's brother would be alive as well."
Zafra half rose in protest to what Rodan was now saying, but Rodan waved him off. "No, Zafra Pasha. You are kind, but what I am saying is no more than the truth. Through blind love, I killed those that I loved most. But that does not matter now." Rodan lifted his head to Elwin. "Now you see why I am a liability to your chances of ever reaching the Karr al-Isma."
Elwin cleared his throat. "I appreciate your honesty, Lord Macay, but we are in this together. I am no less a hunted man than you. And if we are lucky, we'll be in and out of Aleach before either the caliph or the Ibn Jallab knows we have been in the high plains."
Rodan shook his head. "The caliph's clan already knows. The Abu Ishaq has spies everywhere."
"They are here in Caiplich?" asked Elwin.
Zafra nodded. "Yes. This is the time when all the clans bring their horses to the city. All the clans are represented here. The caliph himself is not here, but one of his brothers is. His name isKhalu Abu Ishaq, and that is bad. Khalu is the heir to Caliph Banu, and may one day rule the Grasslands of Aleach. He is also a cruel and ambitious man.”
"Then why have they not come for you?" Elwin asked Rodan.
"They will wait, Elwin Pasha." It was Zafra who answered. "They will wait to see why my nephew has returned. For a long time, the caliph has feared that I have been plotting to overthrow him and avenge the death of my sister. But I grow tired of the bloody wars. It is not something that my sister would have wished. Yet Khalu, the brother of Banu, will think that Jarbi has returned to help me in some grand plot. Khalu is as paranoid as he is powerful. He will believe that I am trying to make an alliance with the Count of Reidh. And while it is true I have close ties with Count Murray, I would never lead our people into a civil war over personal feelings.”
Deep in thought, Elwin considered the situation. Then with a nod of his head, he said, "Maybe you are less of a liability than you think, Lord Rodan."
Rodan raised his eyebrows. "How so?"
"The Aleach, from what I know of them and what I have gathered from our conversation here do not usually allow nor like foreigners to cross their lands. They especially don’t approve of outsiders traveling to the Karr al-Isma."
"That is true," said the Zafra. "Foreigners who try to cross our land without the caliph's consent are treated harshly. It is important that you are not seen. You will have to travel by night until you are in the deep plains. It will be slow going, but otherwise, you are sure to be captured."
"That is why Lord Rodan is a blessing in disguise," smiled Elwin.
Confused, Rodan stared at the prince. "What do you mean?"
"Tell me, Zafra Pasha," Elwin began, "will Khalu know when we have left and headed out into the plains?"
"He has many spies. However, if we are careful, we should be able to fool them for a short time," said Zafra. "With luck, it could be several days before the Abu Ishaq spies learn of it. Then yes, Khalu will follow. We can make this difficult as well, but they are not fools."
"Then let us not be too careful," Elwin’s smile grew wider. "Zafra Pasha, can you arrange it so that the spies know that we are going into the plains? And can it be done so Khalu will not suspect we want him to know?"
"Yes. I know the identities of several spies, and they do not suspect that I know they are of the Abu Ishaq clan. But why should I do such a thing?”
“With Rodan with me, what will they do?”
"They will be suspicious and curious. Most likely, Abu Ishaq will follow you all the way across the plains, hoping to figure out what is going on."
"Exactly," Elwin hesitated as he took a sip of his Kumiss. The prince had been drinking very slowly and was still working on his first cup. He needed to keep his mind and wits sharp. "The Abu Ishaq will be my escort to the Karr al-Isma."
Confused, the sheik fro
wned at first, then his eyes slowly brightened. As he grew to understand Elwin’s plan, Zafra threw back his head and laughed. "Clever! We will make a clansman of you yet!"
"I don't understand," admitted Pallas. "Why is that clever?"
"Your highness has matured since we were last together," stated Faynn, ignoring Pallas' question. The druid's eyes sparked with interest. "You are learning to see the world through your enemy's eyes. It makes things much easier when you know how they think. However, what you propose is risky. Yes, it is risky, yet it might just work, and it would save much time. I am impressed. To turn a threat into an advantage and to do it without the edge of a sword. Well done. Yes, I am impressed, and I am not easily impressed. You have found the enlightened way to solve one's problems. To seek solutions without the use of force is the way of the Druids. You have great promise, my young friend. If you were not to be a king, you would make a fine druid student."
"What is risky!?" exclaimed Pallas, still not understanding. "Won't somebody tell me?"
Elwin smiled at Pallas. Elwin was actually enjoying this part of his adventure, and it was about time something was fun. "We will use the Abu Ishaq's paranoid fear of Zafra Pasha to our advantage. As long as we can keep Khalu guessing and thinking that Lord Rodan and Zafra Pasha are conspiring against his brother, the caliph, we will be able to move freely. To discover what Lord Rodan and Zafra Pasha are up to, Khalu and the Abu Ishaq will follow us across the plains, but they will not stop us. With a little help of some misinformation, they might even think other clans are involved in this imaginary plot against them. We can lead them to believe there is to be some type of clan meeting deep within the grasslands. A meeting to overthrow the Caliph. Khalu and Caliph Banu will want to find out who are their enemies, and to discover what we are up to. They will keep everyone else from stopping us as well, including the Ibn Jallab. The caliphs' and his brothers' unfounded fear will be our passport to the Woods of the Mist. Unknowingly they will be our guards as we cross the grasslands."
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