Swords of Arabia: Betrayal Read Online Free PDF

and all in Narash; that should be sufficient,” Nasir again spoke calmly, resisting the urge to order them back to their cells.
    “Safe from all?” Mus’id, Abdul’s younger brother and the fourth member of the quartet, asked quietly.
    Nasir, knowing what, or rather who, was in his mind, replied. “Yes, from all. Indeed the idea to free you came in large part from the ladies Zahirah and Firyal.”
    The four prisoners’ surprise that they had the support of the two powerful women, neither known for showing gentleness to those they considered enemies, was quickly followed by relief and a growing joy that they would, could, at last, be freed. And given that their very freedom was due, in part at least, to two of those they feared the most, meant, perhaps, that they would live long enough to enjoy it. Seeing their involuntary glances towards the half-screens, as always in place at any important meeting. Nasir shook his head. “The Ladies would wish to meet you at another time, should we reach an agreement.” He saw them relax a little. No man wished to be seen at his weakest and dirtiest by any woman, particularity two as powerful and vengeful as those two.
    “So, do we have your word that you will become our friends again, plot nothing against us; and should you so desire, support our kinsman as your Emir?” he asked, cynically, little doubting their answer, or it’s worth. He asked the question into yet another of the silences their new found hope had plunged the captives into.
    Each looked at the other, though their decision had already been made. They were not fools and had little doubt that this offer was the last they would receive. None wished to return to their dark cells, images of which would always haunt their sleepless nights for as long as their lives lasted.
    They nodded; after all, words were cheap and even if they weren’t, they would pay almost any price to regain their freedom.
    Nasir nodded to the guards who moved forward and removed the men’s chains. When they’d done so, the duo left the dais and briefly embraced them. “Water and fresh clothes are ready for you, as is more food and drink. When you are refreshed we will talk further, and the ladies Firyal and Zahirah have expressed a wish to meet with you. To show their joy that we are as one again,” he added, to forestall any questions. Though there would have been none. There was, after all, little the men wished to say or do that would risk their new-found freedom; not yet, anyway.
    ***
    Some time later, the four prisoners, already looking years younger having been fed, watered, been allowed to wash, have their beards trimmed and provided with clean clothes, were shown into the small audience chamber attached to Firyal’s large airy apartments overlooking the harbour.
    Seated with Zahirah on the small dais, she smiled as they entered and, waving away her attendants, she gestured to the light food and drink placed on small tables before a jumble of large cushions placed near the dais.
    “Brothers, nephew, cousin, we greet you and welcome you back into our family,” she said, rising with difficulty and gesturing they be seated. As a mark of the informality of the meeting, both she, scorning any help, and Zahirah, left the dais and also seated themselves amongst the cushions, where they all engaged in light conversation.
    Then, after several minutes, Abdul cut through the social pleasantries. “Sisters, my apologies for any haste, but I think you can appreciate our wish to return to our homes, see our loved ones,” he said seriously. He showed no trace that he was aware that his audience knew that at home, he was in fact regarded indifferently, an indifference he fully returned. Preserving the proprieties was important however, as he thrust through to the main reason for his interjection. “We understand that we are – to some extent at least – indebted to yourselves for our release, and we thank you,” he continued, as the two