You see Nassef as a bandit because he has raided caravans. What makes him remarkable and dangerous isnt the fact of his crimes, but the skill with which he committed them. If he ever rises above theft in Gods name to making war in Gods name, then God help us. Because hell probably destroy us.

Megelin, nobody is going to laugh if El Murid speaks. Nobody. And as a speaker he is as dangerous as Nassef is as a fighter. His speeches are creating the weapons Nassef needs to rise above banditry.

The boys movement is at a crossroads. And he knows it. Thats why he came to Al Rhemish this year. After Disharhun hell either be discredited and fade away, or hell begin sweeping the desert like a sandstorm. If we have to trump up charges to stop that, we will.

Fuad returned with a lemonade-like drink. Megelin and Yousif accepted their portions. Fuad seated himself quietly, out of the way.

Radetic, squatting on a scarlet pillow, took a sip, then said, And Fuad wonders why I think you a barbarous people.

My brother has never visited Hellin Daimiel. I have. I can believe that your people would laugh a messiah out of business. Youre all cynics. And you dont need that kind of leader.

We do, Megelin. The heart of me craves an El Murid. Hes telling me exactly what my heart wants to hear. I want to believe that were the Chosen People. I want to believe that its our destiny to master the world. I want something, anything, to make the centuries since the Fall worthwhile.

I want to believe that the Fall itself was the work of an Evil One. Fuad wants to believe. My cousin the King would like to believe. Unfortunately, were old enough to recognize gossamer on the wind. A deadly gossamer.

Megelin, that boy is a death merchant. Hes put it in pretty packages, but hes selling another Fall. If we turn to him, if we break out of Hammad al Nakir in order to convert the pagan and resurrect the Empire, well be destroyed. Those of us who have been across the Sahel realize that the world out there isnt the one conquered by Ilkazar.

We dont have the numbers, the resources, the arms, or the discipline of the western kingdoms.

Radetic nodded. These people would be hopelessly overmatched in any war with the west. Warfare, like everything else, evolved. The style of the Children of Hammad al Nakir had evolved in a direction suited only to the desert.

But his jihad doesnt terrify me yet. Thats a long way off, Yousif continued. The struggle here is what frightens me. He has to win his homeland first. And to do that he will have to tear the belly out of Hammad al Nakir. So. I want to draw his fangs now. By fair means or foul.