Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:30:06 +1300
From: arthur carkeek <artcart65@gmail.com>
Subject: eventide chapter 5

EVENTIDE

CHAPTER 5

BY ARTHUR



artcart65@gmail.com



As they finally came through the huge gates of the palace grounds; Eventide
saw that there were in fact, two palaces side by side and of the same size.

The palaces were separated by the long wide pond in which grew large white
flowers; he would later see that there were many multi coloured fish
swimming in its waters.

"Brother, why are there two palaces; I fully expected there to be only one
that we would share."

"The second palace; which is to be yours; was used for the Kahlif's wives,
concubines and female children. It has been cleaned and made ready for you
to furnish as you would want it."

"Why would he need a palace for his wife; did he not want to sleep with her
as we do in our land?"

"Oh, my brother; here we have other traditions. If a man is wealthy enough
or is of great importance, then he should have many wives. The old Kahlif
had forty five wives and over one hundred children; he could not have all
of them living under his roof; they would only be in the way. With sixty
concubines as well his palace would be overflowing; it is better to keep
them at arm's length or you would get no work done."

Eventide heard the chuckle from Mahmud as he told the story.

"It seems a very large palace just for one boy alone?"

"You will get used to it; perhaps one day you will have your own concubines
to fill it with; for now I would suggest you stay with me until we can find
some servants for you. It will take many to keep your palace running and in
good order."

"How many do you think I will need?"

"Well there are two ways; you could purchase slaves at the market or, you
could look for free men and pay them to work for you. Personally I would
use mostly slaves like I do; it is almost expected that you would own them;
it is part of your position. If you wish to have paid servants then you
will need to go out and search for those that suit you best, either way it
is what you would like and no other should say how you run your palace oh
great Kahlif of the burning sands and Djin of Shaitan; your word is our
command oh mighty one."

Even the sound of Mahmud's voice brought loud laughter to Eventide as he
nearly fell to his knees on the stone forecourt when he heard the
outlandish claims from Mahmud.

"Stop it brother or I will pee my pants from laughter."

"At your command oh great Djin, Master of all magic and Terror of the great
sandy wastes."

Eventide had to grasp himself to stop from peeing as he rolled on the
ground with tears of laughter in his eyes; even as tired from travel as he
was; Eventide could not stop laughing at the outlandish titles.

Finally they made it inside the first palace; Eventide had never in all his
life seen such opulence; everywhere he looked seemed to be covered in gold
leaf or encrusted in jewels. Large swaths of white marble covered not only
the wide passageways and tall round columns, but even the ceilings were
made from marble slabs so large they would have taken a hundred men to lift
into place.

The opulence just grew as they ventured further into the palace; even the
sheer size of the palace took his breath away. While from outside the
walls, Eventide had known the space was large, even though it was inside a
great city; when he actually saw it he could not take it all in; to his
mind there had never been such a place ever built and now he was standing
right in the middle of it all and this was only one of the palaces. The
thought of having to have his own palace of such a size made him pause to
see if he was really awake.

Mahmud led the way into the main large reception hall; there in the centre
of the hall were a large number of very well dressed people. Mahmud
whispered to him that they were the people who ran the city and reported to
them both at the end of each week.

Along the walls of the great hall were many younger people; these Eventide
learnt were Mahmud's paid workers; behind them; and with their heads hard
to the floor; were all of Mahmud's slaves. Eventide did not have time to
count them all but there were a lot of them.

Even if he just guessed at the number, Eventide thought there had to be at
least three hundred slaves and servants; would he really need that many.

For the next two hours; Eventide sat beside Mahmud as each and every man
had to be introduced and then they would present Eventide and Mahmud with a
small gift before taking a place on the side of the great hall to wait any
orders. Eventide let Mahmud run things for now; this was a strange and new
world for him and Mahmud knew better what to do and say to each of the
guest.

As the last rays of the sun sank below the horizon; Eventide and Mahmud
left the great hall for one of the smaller dining rooms where Omar waited
for them. Eventide almost smiled at the old man as he saw many servants
gathered around with offerings of sweet cakes and tea while Omar told them
short pieces of poetry to while away the time while waiting for his hosts
to appear.

Eventide saw that there was no central table like at home; instead there
were wide, soft couches laid side by side around a central open fire; he
was to discover that there was no need for a table as the servants would
kneel beside the couch while he selected what he would eat or drink and
wait until he had had his fill before leaving, he would then be replaced by
another servant with a different selection.

Eventide's first night in the palace of Sufaria turned out to be very
entertaining and all thoughts of being tired from the long journey
disappeared with the sound of Omar's gentle voice as he regaled them with
poetry and short stories.

It was late in the night before the day caught up with the two young
ones. Omar, seeing the boys yawn; smiled and told them it was past his
bedtime. With kind words and a smile; Omar left the boys to go to their
beds; he had accomplished the mission that had been set by his Emir. From
this day on there should be little doubt or very few of the people that
would not obey any command from the young Infidel boy.

It was the heat of the new day that awoke Eventide; he had been getting
used to the heat of the desert as he travelled but first thing in the
morning was still a struggle for his body to acclimate to.

After he had had his morning drink of fresh mint tea, a slow bath and had
dressed in his best new clothes; Eventide was led to where Mahmud waited to
start a new day. First was a visit to his new palace; waiting for them was
a large round bodied man; his appearance told of being well fed and his
flashy clothes said he had money to spare.

On the man's fingers were many expensive looking gold rings. Eventide did
not like the man on first sight; there was an air of deceit about his
demeanour and Eventide was careful about what he said or did.

Mahmud also did not look as though he trusted the man; after short
introductions and, when the man whose name turned out to be Mustapha; told
them he was the head of the household staff, Mahmud asked to be shown
through the palace and to see what staff they had to work with.

After nearly an hour, the two boys finished with their tour of Eventide's
palace; neither he nor Mahmud were impressed by the standards in the
palace; it appeared as though the bare minimum had been done; what was
really worrying was when Mahmud asked to be taken to the treasury and for
Mustapha to produce all of the accounts scrolls for inspection. Both boys
saw the large man start to pale a little as they waited for the accounts to
be brought to them.

Mustapha looked nervous and tried to hide his hands as he fidgeted while
trying to look calm; he was not successful and both boys knew he was going
to try to hide something about the finances of the palace.

Mahmud called Ishmael to his side and whispered something to him. Ishmael
nodded and quickly left the room; he had not returned by the time one of
the old servants appeared with a large box full of scrolls in his arms.

Mahmud told the servant to put the box down and leave the room and then
told Mustapha to stand to the side and wait until the man from his own
palace arrived to go through the accounts.  Achmed arrived with fresh mint
tea for the two boys while they waited; it was only a little time later
when a man Eventide had not met, walked into the room; one glance at the
box of scrolls and he nodded to Mahmud and proceeded to open the box and
unroll the scrolls for inspection.

Eventide was impressed with the little wooden frame the man used for
counting; he had never seen anything like it before. After asking Mahmud he
was told it came from the Far East and was called an abacus; the rows of
round balls on different posts had varying value and could be used to
quickly add and subtract numbers.

It took the newcomer only an hour to finally put down the strange
instrument and even though he still had a number of scrolls left untouched;
he nodded his head to Mahmud.

"How much is missing?"

"At this stage Kahlif and without doing a final count of the rest of the
scrolls; I would say more than ten thousand gold; there is more but it will
take me time to finish a full inspection."

"Thank you, please continue and give us a full accounting. Salud, I need
you in here now."

Mahmud waited until Salud came inside the room before he nodded in the
direction of the now terrified man who was already on his knees with his
head on the floor.

"Salud, take this son of a camel to the dungeon; when that is done get the
guards to arrest and hold all the staff of this palace; hold them until
they hear from us."

Salud bowed and left with the crying man being pushed roughly by an angry
Salud. As the man disappeared, Ishmael appeared and looked to Eventide.

"Brother, there is a street urchin at the palace gate; he said you told him
to come here today."

"Yes I did, thank you Ishmael; could you bring him in here?"

Ishmael bowed and went out; it took only minutes before he came back with
Habib by his side; the young street urchin looked in awe at the palace
around him; in his wildest dreams he never thought he would get to enter
such a place.

Eventide smiled at the look on the boys face; he knew just how the boy
felt. When Habib saw the two boys sitting on two couches at the centre of
the room, he dropped to his knees and bowed low until his head touched the
floor; after the story yesterday by the great Omar; he knew he was in the
presence of the great Shaitan Ben Izurak; this was not the time to be
cheeky or arrogant.

Eventide saw that the teen had used some of the coins to by a new pair of
leather sandals although his Djabalah was still the same worn and torn one
he had been wearing on the street.

"Stand up Habib." Mahmud asked the boy.

Habib could not believe his ears; he was being asked to stand and face the
great Shaitan Bin Izurak and also the young Prince of the Bedou.

Trying to maintain a sense of deference to the two Kahlif; Habib did as
asked and stood tall but kept his eyes lowered; it was a time to show deep
respect to the two Kahlif. Eventide got the nod from Mahmud and began to
tell Habib what he had in mind.

"Habib; as you heard the story yesterday, I am not from here but I find
myself with a large problem. We have discovered that the Major Domo, who
was meant to watch over my palace, was in fact stealing; he also had
included a large number of the original staff in his scheme. I now find
myself with very few people to look after the palace and my own needs. As
you must well know; a palace is very large and takes a lot of people to
keep it clean and working but, most of all I need someone who will be
honest and can organise the others; someone who will not fail me when I am
not here to watch over the palace. Is that someone you, Habib?"

"My Lords; I know little about running such a large house although should
you ask me to watch over this palace then I can raise enough boys to do
that."

Mahmud then took up the discussion.

"Habib; we all know the reputation of the street boys and their habits of
lifting things that do not belong to them; would you place your life in
harm's way to do that which my brother asks of you; if you do I would then
find an older person with the knowledge to run the house over-all but it
would be you and the boys you name that would do the work and be
responsible for the safety of the house and my brother."

"My Lords, you have only to ask and I will lay my life down for you; I also
promise to find as many honest boys to do the work you demand; I promise
this on my life."

"Then take note for it is your life that you will lose if anything goes
wrong with my brother's palace or his valuables. If you agree to this then
you and all those you name will be well paid and given good clothes and
food; you will all be housed inside the palace and your life on the streets
will end but; take note; it is your life that hangs in the balance should
one of the boys named by you ever show himself to be a thief or worse, for
you shall stand beside him when the Scimitar falls on your head."

"Then my Lords I shall place my head in front of the Scimitar should I fail
you; tell me how many boys you need and I will find them."

Eventide had no idea how many he would need and so turned to Mahmud for the
answer. Mahmud whispered to Eventide.

"You will need at least one hundred boys; I have a young man who has been
in my palace since he was a young boy and is well able to help with the
organisation of a large palace; he is also very honest as he is also a
Bedou although not one of the brotherhood. Do not forget you will have to
have some slaves, even if just for appearances. I would suggest you buy at
least twenty slaves, we can go to the slave market later today."

Eventide nodded his acceptance of Mahmud's advice and turned to Habib.

"Thank you Habib, I would ask you to go and find one hundred honest boys;
you will be in charge of them; my brother will have a young man come to
organise my palace and to show you all of what needs to be done each
day. How long will it take to find enough boys?"

"My Lord, it will be no more than two hours; do you wish them all to come
back here for you to meet them?"

"I have to go to the slave markets to purchase slave to also work here."

"My Lord; If I may be bold; should you wish to purchase new slaves then I
would suggest I go with you. If the sellers see you they will raise their
prices higher than normal so they can make huge profits; even with My Lord
Prince at your side, they will try to inflate the price. If you would allow
me to accompany you both, I would be willing to act as your agent so that
they do not know who is bidding, it will be my proof of honesty to purchase
the slaves at the least price to you."

"Then I will wait for you to return and then we will go to the market."

Habib bowed low and walked backwards until he was at the door; with a final
low bow he left and the two boys sat back to relax; while they waited,
Eventide asked about the keeping of the slaves and what he should do and
look for in buying them.

Mahmud began to give him a few short lessons in the keeping of slaves in
the old world. For this region it was an old and respected way of
life. Some slaves were those captured after battle and others were hunted
way to the south of the great desert; Eventide would have to decide what he
was looking for and then tell Habib exactly what he wanted them for. It
gave Eventide something to think on while the two boys waited for Habib's
return.

It was after their midday meal before Habib was shown into their room; he
had assembled all the boys who he said he trusted with his life and had
made them wait out in the courtyard for the two Lords to look over.

Mahmud had called for a young man who, to Eventides eyes; looked to be in
his early twenties; he was called to accompany them outside to inspect
Habib's young friends.

Eventide was surprised by the number of rag-tag boys massed in the
courtyard. Like yesterday, most were dressed in ragged and soiled Djabalah
although now some wore new sandals but most were bare foot. The boys looked
up expectantly as the two new Kahlif appeared above them on the steps of
the palace; there was an immediate shuffling as they all went to their
knees and bowed their heads on the stone flags.

Eventide turned to Habib.

"These are the boys you personally vouch for Habib?"

"Yes My Lord; each boy I know well and would put my head on the block for;
I trust them all with my life, My Lord."

"You may well do that Habib." Mahmud said with a smile before Eventide
continued.

"Thank you Habib, tell them they are now in my employ. This man is named
Yusuf; he will be in charge of the palace and will tell you all what needs
to be done; for now I want you to go and find some good clothes so you can
accompany us to the slave market. Go to the servant's quarters and see what
you can find; those that lived there before will not need them anymore."

Habib did as he was told and soon the horde of boys was trooping quietly
into the palace; Yusuf keeping a careful eye on them all as he followed
behind. It was not long before Habib returned; this time he was dressed in
clean clothes but not too fancy; as he told the two Kahlif.

"If I was to dress better, the auctioneers would again inflate the
prices. If I may suggest My Lord Izurak that you disguise yourself as one
of the Bedou; that way no one will see your face and know who you
are. After the tale of Grandfather Omar, there are many who would recognise
you."

Eventide agreed and went back to redress as a Bedou; once done he rejoined
the others and they made their way towards the city centre; it was a longer
walk to where the slave pens were and the three boys kept their faces
covered so as not to cause any unwanted attention.

It was the smell of the pens that first struck Eventide; the hubbub of
noise was overshadowed by the pervasive smell that was a part of the slave
selling business, that and the unmistakeable but subdued rattling of chains
as the slaves were pushed forward to be sold.

Eventide and Mahmud let Habib take the lead; they would stand behind him
and let him make the bids while they told him who they liked the look
of. Before they went near where the slaves were sold; Habib led them to the
rear where the slaves were on show; the stench was even stronger here as
the barred fronts of the small pens were not cleaned until all the slave in
them had been sold.

The two Kahlif were only too glad to leave the pens; at first it did not
give Eventide any hope of finding the right slaves for his needs; he was
not even sure if he wanted slaves at all. Having come from a low station in
life; he did not like the thought of having others enslaved to him but
Mahmud had said it was expected and so he would have to adjust his thoughts
to the present situation he now found himself in.

The slave market was full; there were still other long lines of slaves
arriving from all over the known world even as the auctioneers worked hard
selling those already there.

Habib stood at the middle of the large crowd with the two others just
behind him; around the trio were others all looking for bargains or just
cheap workers for the mines or fields outside the city walls.

The bidding was fast and furious; Eventide noticed that there was also a
lot of riballed remarks at some of the wealthy men that made purchases and
what the slaves were going to be used for.

When Eventide or Mahmud saw a likely slave, they would whisper to Habib and
let him do the bidding; it was Eventide's preference that the slaves be
young and healthy looking; he had his own private plans for the slaves at a
later date. It took four hours for them to finally gather twenty one
slaves; all were young and; although some looked underfed and weary; they
all looked to be healthy.

Eventide ended up with five youngsters from the European lands and the rest
came from the far south. The southerners were all very dark skinned but he
had been told they made good slaves and would take to learning their place
quickly while the lighter skinned ones could sometimes be trouble and would
need a firm hand at first.

At the end of the day and once the coins had been passed over in payment;
Habib was given the job of leading the newly purchased slaves back to the
palace; one of the keepers of the pen followed along behind to take back
the slaves chains once they were settled in the palace.

It did not take the keeper of the pens long to realise where they were
going as the three young teens led him closer to the palace; he would have
to tell his auctioneer how they had been fooled by the two new Kahlif and
the prices paid were far lower than they should have been able to get out
of the wealthy young teens. Perhaps next time they would be able to inflate
the prices to recoup what they had missed this time.

Once back at the palace; Habib was given the job of taking the new slaves
to the slave quarters under the palace; there they would be marked and
given a good meal; Habib was also told to make sure they were all bathed
and rested before they were allowed to go to their beds for the night;
tomorrow they would be told their duties and any errant slaves would find
out what would happen if they played up.

On entering the palace; Eventide could hear the sounds of boys in almost
every room as they scrubbed and polished everything in sight; Yusuf walked
among the many boys to show them how to do each chore and tell them what he
expected to see as a result; even this early; Eventide could see the change
in the palace as Yusuf worked his magic and followed through on his own
sixteen years of being a student under Mahmud's household.

There was now only one thing missing to complete the palace; a cook, for
this Mahmud again came to the rescue. In his own palace there were ample
numbers of kitchen workers; he told Eventide that he should eat with him
tonight and then the two of them could go to his kitchen and see who they
could place in Eventide's palace as head cook. They now had plenty of new
staff to be able to place some of them as kitchen hands.

Eventide was amazed at how much there was to just staffing a palace; the
thought of having to go through the same thing when he returned home was
almost daunting although he knew that Freeman would have all his properties
well staffed by now.

Their evening meal as always was sumptuous and well cooked. At the end of
the meal; Mahmud led Eventide into his cavernous kitchen to find the needed
cook. Eventide could not believe his eyes as he looked over more than one
hundred staff now in the process of cleaning everything ready for the next
morning; he dearly hoped he would not have to have as many hands in his
kitchens. His hopes were dashed as soon as Mahmud began to call out names
and point to different helpers.

Mahmud selected two mid aged men for the position of head cook for
Eventide; both had been working in his kitchens since he was young; the
fact that both men were Bedou also helped.

It was not long before twenty cooks and helpers were lined up waiting for
their orders to move to Eventide's palace to begin their new task for
caring for the young Kahlif; Eventide could only stand and stare at how
quickly Mahmud had done this small piece of work.

During this time; the Emir had sent three of his personal physicians to
take care of Shaun's twisted leg. Eventide did not want to watch what was
to happen, but Shaun insisted he would like him to keep his company while
he went through doctoring.

The three physicians each had their own place and work to do; first one
gave a drink to Shaun; this; Eventide was told; was a soporific to make the
boy sleep and lessen the pain it would take to repair the leg.

When Shaun was in a deep sleep; two of the men then used two wooden blocks
to re-break the damaged leg; Shaun gave a very sharp and unnerving grunt as
he lay sleeping when the two blocks came together and the loud sound of the
broken bone was heard in the room.

As one physician felt lightly with his fingers to straighten the leg and
make sure the bone was properly in its place; the other was working on the
boys foot; twisting it and pulling steadily on it until it was seated in
the right place by the other.

The third physician was working on a strange fine white powder in a large
bowl to which he was adding small amounts of water as he stirred the white
paste.

Eventide asked what it was and was told it was a white rock that they
ground into a fine powder and, when water was added; it would heat up a
little and when dry would be as hard as rock; it would be infused into
cloth bandages and wrapped around the repaired leg to keep it from moving
until it was healed enough for Shaun to once again move around like other
boys.

Shaun was kept in the bed for the first two weeks before he was allowed to
get up and, with the use of two long sticks was able to hobble around for
short periods; in all of this, the young boy complained only once and that
was about the stale smell his leg gave off from not being able to wash;
that and the beginnings of a continual itch were the only comments he had
made.

The first three days of his ordeal and Shaun was kept sedated with the
soporific; the physicians had warned that too much and the boy could become
addicted; Eventide had been very concerned when he found out the soporific
was made from the poison the Brotherhood used for slave making.

After three weeks everything began to settle down; Eventides household was
now orderly; the slaves were being well trained and his kitchen was
preparing meals of the highest quality; For Eventide it was a time of
learning about the running of such an important city and continuing with
his Hashin training.

The palace stables were now busier as the last of his promised horses had
arrived and all his camels were now held outside the gates on the common
lands. Mahmud had insisted on finding a Bedou cameleer to take charge of
them; he also had had to find twenty boys to work with leading the camels
once they went out to trade for Eventide.

There was little problem in finding the right man and there were many young
Bedou boys who wanted to work for the two Kahlif; the caravan guards would
also be from the Bedou with at least one of the Brotherhood to take charge
of them.

It was in the fourth week that Mahmud told Eventide it was time to send
their first caravan off to trade; they would join together Eventide's
twenty camels with Mahmud's one hundred. Mahmud had used an agent to
purchase many of the goods arriving from the east as this was as far the
eastern caravans went.

The dangers of the eastern road were nothing compared to those that
presented themselves on the roads and deserts to the west.

Eventide was amazed at the variety of goods to be traded; amazing smelling
spices, bolts of fine cloth with colours he could never have imagined in
his wildest dreams. Large square blocks of salt; metals and pottery as well
as gems or gold and silver; all was packed and sorted into loads capable of
being carried long distances by a single camel; Eventide was glad he did
not have to organise it all.

Shaun was now more mobile and would hobble down to the stables every day to
be with Shaitan; the horse looked as though he fully understood the trials
of the small boy and gave him no trouble where others could not even
approach the black horses stall.

The caravan had long disappeared into the western wastes on its journey of
trade; time had passed and it was now the time for the physicians to remove
the hard cast from Shaun's leg. It had not been easy for such an active
young boy to hobble around while others could run and go about their
duties.

The removal of the white cast; which was now far from its original clean
colour; had arrived. While one physician used a large pair of sheers to cut
through the heavy cast, the other checked that Shaun was comfortable and
there was no pain from the repaired leg.

When the last cut was made and both sides of the cast were dropped to the
floor; Shaun gave out a long and loud sigh; at last he was rid of the
burden that he had struggled with for over six weeks; the wide and happy
smile he gave everyone when he first saw his once twisted leg was now
straight, although very pale and a little thinner than his good leg; still
it did not detract from his joy at once gain being able to walk like any
normal boy.

Shaun had taken only his first few unsteady steps when Mahmud arrived; he
told the boy that; as a gift for his ordeal Mahmud would give him the young
white horse that he had ridden when entering the city, for his own.

Shaun could not believe his ears; with all the years his family had been
tending the horses of others; none of his family had ever owned his own
horse; he was taken aback and did not know how to thank the young Kahlif;
only the tears of joy told those watching what the horse meant to the
smaller boy.

It was two weeks later that the first bad news they had ever got, arrived;
it was in the form of a bloody and badly wounded guardsman from one of the
eastern caravans; as yet unknown by the new Kahlif's; this was to be one of
those defining moments in their young lives.

The boys had just taken the first few paces down the wide steps at the
front of Mahmud's palace when the bloody guard was helped into their
presence; their planned horse ride was put on hold immediately they saw the
wounded man.

Eventide noticed immediately that the man was not dressed as other people
on the city; his armour was all made of leather with bronze studs
throughout. A heavy bandage was tied to around his head and his left arm
was hanging limply by his side.

Under his right shoulder for support was one of the city militia guards who
was trying to help the wounded soldier to the bottom of the steps where the
two boys now stood.

The wounded man tried to pull himself upright and gave the two boys a rough
salute; there was no bow of respect as was common in the desert people.

The man gasped as he tried to tell his tale and, with the aid of the
militia-man; he slipped to the lower step to sit; it was plainly obvious he
was in a bad way and would possibly not last out the day.

The two boys rushed down the steps and knelt by the man as he tried to tell
them in broken Aramaic what had happened to him and the caravan they had
been guarding.

The short tale was one that had not been heard for a long time in the city
of Sufaria. Two days to the East of the great city; the caravan from the
high steppes had been attacked by a large gang of well organised
brigands. The man told the boys that the discipline and tactics of the
large group had shown some knowledge of battle and were not the usual rough
attacks of loose bands that were more normal in the far reaches of the
desert.

As the injured man was taken away to the physicians where he could be
healed, if that were possible; the two boys turned and went back into
Mahmud's palace; it was time to make plans as well as advise the Emir of
the turn of events.

Eventide followed Mahmud up the long winding steps of one of the four
minarets that stood at each corner of the palace walls. He had not been up
one of them since taking residence and was intrigued by their height and
grandeur.

When they finally reached the upper most part of the tall tower; Eventide
was surprised to see an elderly man surrounded by caged birds; the heavy
smell of bird droppings was almost stifling in the hot morning air; it took
little time for Mahmud to explain why they were there.

"I know you do not have this in your country but here; where the distances
are vast we have come to use these birds as messengers; they are fast and
can get a message to the Emir by the end of this day."

"It is indeed a new and strange thing you have here, Brother; what are the
birds called?"

"We call them, Homing Pigeons. They are trained to return to their nest
boxes in the Emir's palace; they are so much faster than the normal
messenger on horseback as you will see."

Eventide watched as Mahmud talked to the old man; the young Kahlif then
took a thin strip of fine silk and wrote a short message. Once complete the
message was rolled tightly and slipped into a small round container which
was then attached to one of the bird's legs. With little ado; the elderly
man went to an open window and released the bird high into the air; the
bird circled the tower twice before taking off at speed towards the distant
city where the Emir held court.

While Eventide was enthralled by the system of using birds as messengers;
he was only too happy to leave the tower and the thick heady smell of bird
droppings. The use of the birds was to be a small trick he was to rely on
heavily in times to come.

When the two boys returned to the large official grand hall of the Kahlif's
court; Eventide saw all twenty boys of the brotherhood were gathered behind
the two thrones that he and Mahmud used when giving orders to the city folk
or the guards in an official capacity; the hall was filled with all manner
of people. Most stood around in wonder of why they had been called so
suddenly to the Kahlif's palace; others had a look of knowing and were
waiting patiently for their orders, which they were sure were to come soon.

As the two boys took their thrones above the waiting people; one of the
brotherhood came close to their shoulder and began to whisper information
quietly into their ear so that those waiting below could not hear; it was
not unknown for spies to be in all the courts of the land and the Wadhi
Sufaria was no exception.

Once the final report was finished; Mahmud lifted his hand for silence in
the room; there was an immediate hush as the gathered people looked up and
waited for the young Kahlif to begin speaking; this would be the first
official dictation of the two young Kahlif; it was time to see the metal of
the young boys.

Some among the crowded hall had thought the favouritism shown to two such
young boys was beyond careless; even though one of them was a nephew of the
Emir but; for an Infidel to be given such an honour was cause for much
speculation; it did not go unnoticed by the ever watchful boys of the
brotherhood; they all took note of those who showed certain traits towards
their little brother as he sat beside Mahmud.

Mahmud began to speak to all those gathered below the thrones.

"Some of you may have heard the rumours; I am here to tell you they are
true. For the first time in ten years; a caravan under the protection of
the Emir has been attacked not more than a few days from the city. This
will not go unpunished. Blacksmiths; you will prepare the weapons in your
foundries. Guard Commander; you will ready fifty of the cities guard to
accompany my own soldiers; they are to be ready by first light in two days
time. Hostlers; you will prepare a caravan of fifty camels and have them
loaded with food and water as well as forage for our horses. Commander of
the Army; you will have fifty men ready to leave by first light; they will
join with our bodyguard from the Bedou. You all have your orders; as I said
we leave at first light in two days, now go and have your men ready."

There was an instant scuffling as those with orders hurried away to prepare
their men; it was to be a full hunt for the perpetrators; there would be
little mercy shown for those who would attack an innocent caravan so close
to the Kahlif's city.

Eventide followed Mahmud from the great hall and into their own private
quarters where the members of the brotherhood now awaited them; they would
now have their own strategy meeting. The new events would be the first real
test for Eventide as a brother and there was a lot of planning to do before
they left in two days.

On his return to his own palace, Eventide still had a small problem
accepting the sight that met his eyes every time he return home; his free
servants met him at the top of the steps and his new slaves were kneeling
inside the doorway with their heads firmly on the marble floor. It was the
slaves that always gave him cause for discomfort; he was just not used to
having others bound to him and at his mercy. He well knew it was the norm
in this land but it did not make it any easier.

Finally the day of departure arrived; as both Kahlif could not leave the
city together for any length of time; it was decided that Eventide would
lead the small army and Mahmud would stay behind to watch over the city.

On the previous evening, just as the boys were to sit down for their meal;
a contingent of elder brothers had arrived under the orders of the Emir;
they would bolster Eventides twenty young brothers by thirty. While all
were now dressed as Bedou, if the occasion arose they would change into
their usual black if there was work for the brotherhood.

Eventide felt strange as he lead the long caravan of soldiers out of the
main gates of the city; he was dressed mostly in white as was befitting a
Kahlif; his brotherhood clothes were packed along with the others. He was
not sure he was fit to lead so many but Mahmud had said it was no different
than when they faced the squires; Eventide did not share his confidence;
the men they were now chasing were not inexperienced squires but ruthless
brigands.

TBC.


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