I didnt think of it. Why should I? Its not mine. Weve been a pair of prize idiots, brother. And it looks like were going to pay the ancient price of idiocy.

The devil Fuad did not give up for four days. Hardly a minute passed but what there was not some Royalist hunter within hearing of the den. Before their trial ended, Nassef and El Murid were drinking their own urine in a grave they shared with two decaying corpses. The body poisons filling the urine made them so sick it seemed certain they were but trading a quick death for a slow one.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

The Castle Tenacious and Resolute

There is great rejoicing in Sebil el Selib, Fuad snarled as he stalked toward Yousif, Radetic and the Wahligs captains. A heavy layer of trail dust covered him. Nassef and the Disciple have returned. They survived.

The cords in Yousifs neck stood out. His face darkened. He rose slowly, then suddenly hurled his platter across the room. Damn it! he roared. And damn that fool Aboud! When they finally take Al Rhemish and strangle him, I hope Im there to laugh in his halfwits face.

Wadi el Kuf had been the limit of Royal aid. Nothing Yousif had done or said had been sufficient to excite Prince Farid into exceeding his orders and following through. The opportunity had been there, to pursue and slay, to recover Sebil el Selib. But Farid had had his instructions, and had been satisfied himself that El Murid and Nassef were dead.

Farids father was old and fat and none too bright. He loved his comforts and could see nothing beyond tomorrow. He did not want his son wasting money or lives.

There had been a time when Aboud had been a renowned warrior and captain. He had driven the Throyens from the disputed territories along the northern end of the eastern shore. But that had been long ago. Time, that old traitor, slows and weakens all men, and makes them less inclined to seek hazard.

Thank God for Farid, Yousif sighed, his rage spent. No one else could have gotten us the help we needed at Wadi el Kuf. Megelin? What now?

We step back a few years and go on.

The same thing?

The same. And dont count on them making any more mistakes. Theyve had their one and gotten away with it. El Murid will take the lesson to heart. Hell listen to Nassef now,

Nearly eight thousand of Nassefs men had escaped Wadi el Kuf. They were back in the desert now, stunned, but a foundation for a new guerrilla infrastructure.

We should have attacked Sebil el Selib while they were still demoralized, Yousif growled. We shouldve hit them and kept on hitting till they gave up. None of the leaders were there.

Hit them with what? Fuad asked caustically. We were lucky they didnt come after us.