Swords of Arabia: Betrayal Read Online Free PDF Page B

women shrugged away any major part in the granting of their freedom. “We were, though, somewhat surprised!” he continued and then paused, leaving an opening for the two to explain, if they so wished, why they’d reversed their well-known aversion to the quartet. Firyal did so wish, to an extent anyway.
    “Whatever small part we may have played, it was merely that both we and our family in Narash are too small to survive if we’re divided. We hope that by the gesture taken by my grandson and Nasir, you will see that we mean neither you nor your families any harm, and we hope that any past misunderstanding, on either side, could be laid to rest,” she ended. The slight upward lilt turned the last part of her sentence into a gentle question should they wish to hear – and answer it.
    “The price for our release is our support for Talal as emir.” Abdul stated bluntly. “I’m surprised, frankly that the family have chosen him, the times being what they are,” he added.
    Firyal, glad that, despite the recent devastating changes, the quartet were still as cut-off from events as she’d ordered many months ago, shook her head. “My grandson is not yet confirmed by a family council.”
    “Ah – so the price of our release is our supporting the boy!” half-sneered Mansour, sensing a weakness in the two women who were still, he had not the slightest doubt, his bitter adversaries, and would always remain so.
    Showing no sign that the very core of the reasons behind the meeting had been reached, Firyal shrugged dismissively and replied grandly. “We are family, Nephew; why would we wish to bargain like traders in the souk ?” She was happy to ignore both the fact that she and Zahirah did so virtually every day, and that the men seated opposite her were well aware of their activities.
    “Then, why? Why release us, if not to support Talal in the council?” probed Abdul, keenly aware of what, despite their elegant denials, must be the real reason behind their seeming generosity,
    Zahirah interposed quietly. “If you feel it right to support Talal, then you will do so; it would be unseemly of us to link support for him to your being released. For our part, it’s simple enough. My son and many others wish to try and break through the endless cycle of brother killing brother, uncle killing nephew in the endless circle of blood-letting, that is all.”
    Abdul, watching her closely, didn’t believe for a moment her disinterest in getting their support, but admired the faultless way she spoke as though this were the case.
    “An admirable ambition, sister, most admirable. So – we are free to go, leave the citadel and seek out our families?”
    “Of course, whenever you wish;” she paused, then continued, “although I imagine that as the majlis is due to start shortly, you would wish to attend it, at some point, and have a voice in its affairs . ” Her response was bland, but ended with the slightest emphasis. “And,” she added, her words casual, her gaze anything but, “before you leave, perhaps we may discuss how any in the family may aid you to rebuild your lives after so long apart from us all.”
    Then, with blinding clarity, the wily old sheikh saw exactly what Zahirah’s intentions were, both during the majlis and beyond. His subtle mind raced as he realised other things too, all of which told him clearly which road they should – had to – travel. Whatever amount of honey coated the words being uttered in the friendliest, the softest, of voices, he knew with crystal clarity that there would be no release for any of the four from their imprisonment – except, perhaps, by death – without their agreement to back Talal. It was equally clear that a price, and probably a satisfyingly high one, would be paid for that support. Finally, and, in a curious way, the deciding factor in the proud old sheikh’s mind, was that all of this had been conveyed in the most subtle and face-saving way imaginable.
    Knowing