His frustration mounted as the days turned into weeks. The army grew, but the process was so damnably slow! His advisers frequently reminded him that his followers had to come long distances, often pursued by Royalists, and as they approached Sebil el Selib they had to contend with Yousifs patrols.

But the time came at last. The morning when he could kiss Meryem good-bye and tell her that when next they met it would be within the Most Holy Mrazkim Shrines themselves.

More than twenty thousand men responded to Nassefs call. Their tents were everywhere. Sebil el Selib reminded El Murid of Al Rhemish during Disharhun.

Yousifs people had been quiet for nine days. They had ceased contesting the passage of the warrior bands. Nassef had been telling anyone who would listen that he did not like it, that it was a sign that the Wahlig had something up his sleeve.

Then the news came. Yousif had mustered every man he could, some five thousand, and had installed himself at the oasis near Wadi el Kuf. His neighbors had loaned him another two thousand men.

Well have to fight him there, Nassef told El Murid. Theres no choice. We cant get to Al Rhemish without watering there. This is what hes been waiting for all these years. The chance to get us into a conventional battle. It looks like he wants that chance so badly that he doesnt care about the numbers.

Give him what he wants. Lets rid ourselves of him once and for all.

Nassef guessed right most of the time. But he had erred in calling in all of El Murids supporters. By so doing he stripped the desert of his sources of intelligence. He and El Murid would not learn the truth about Yousifs stand till it was too late.

Nassef selected twenty thousand men. El Murid took twenty-five hundred Invincibles. They left a substantial force to defend the pass in their absence.

It was a morning many days after departure. The sun hung low in the east. They moved up on the waterhole by Wadi el Kuf.

The wadi was a shallow, broad valley a mile and a half east of the waterhole. It was filled with bizarre natural formations. It was the wildest badland in all Hammad al Nakir.

Nassef and El Murid raised the Lords standard atop a low hill a mile south of the oasis, and an equal distance from the wadi. They studied the enemy, who was waiting on horseback.

They dont seem impressed by our numbers, Nassef observed.

What do you suggest?

It seems straightforward. Hold the Invincibles here, in reserve. Send the rest in one wave and overwhelm them.

This is a strange land, Nassef. Its so silent.

The stillness did seem supernatural. Thirty thousand men and nearly as many animals faced one another, and even the flies were quiet.