 CHAPTER 4 OF COLLED, A TALE OF ORIBIA This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joe DeNoya, Somerset, New Jersey. COLLED, A TALE OF ORIBIA, by Francis Marion Crawford CHAPTER 4 COLLED pondered deeply, being uncertain what to do, and trying to find out some action which would win for him what he wanted. Zahaul received no answer to her question as to the number of enemies he had slain, and she did not ask again, for she thought that he was weary and wished to rest in silence. What do you like best in the whole world, he asked after a long time, to see what she would say? I like you best, she answered, smiling, while she was still playing with his sword. That is very strange, Kled answered, using. But the color rose darkly at his cheeks above his beard, for he was pleased now as he had been displeased before. Why is it strange, as Zahaul, are you not the palm tree in my hand and a tower of refuge for my people? And will you dry up the wealth in which the tree draws life and take away the cornerstone of the tower's foundation? You speak in fable, said Zahaul, laughing, yet you imagine the fable yourself when you likened me to a palm or to a tower. But I am no lover of allegories, my sword is my argument, and my wit is my arm. The wall by the tree is the wall of love, and the chief foundation of the tower is the love of Zahaul. If you destroy that, the tree will wither and the tower will fall. Surely there has never been such a man as you, Zahaul, answered, half-justing, but half an earnest. You are as one who has bought a white mare, and though she was fleet and good to look at, and obedient to his voice and knee, yet he is discontented because she cannot speak to him, and he would fain have her black instead of white, and if possible would teach her to sing like a Persian nightingale. Is it then not natural in a woman to love a man? Have you heard no tales of love from the storytellers of a harem? I have heard many such tales, but none of them were told of me, Zahaul replied. Will you drink again? Is the drink too sweet, or is it not cool? She had risen from her seat and held a golden cup, bending down to him, so that her face was near his. He laid his hand upon her shoulder. Hear me, Zahaul, he said, I want but one thing in the world, and it was for that I come out of the Red Desert to be your husband. The net thing I will have, though the price be greater than rubies, or than blood, or than life itself. If it is mine, I freely give it to you. If it is not mine, take it by force, or I will help you to take it by strategy, if I can. Am I not your wife? She spoke thus, supposing from his face that he meant some treasure that could be taken by strength or by wild, for she could not believe a man could speak so seriously of a mere thought such as love. Neither my right hand nor my wit can give me this, but only your heart, Zahaul, he answered, still holding her and looking at her. But now she did not laugh, for she saw that he was greatly an earnest. You were still talking of love, she said, and you were not jesting. I did not know what to answer you. Gladly will I say I love you. Is that all? What is it else? Are those the words? I care little for the words, but I will have the reality, though it costs you your life and mine. My life? Will you take my life for the sake of a thought? A thought, he exclaimed, do you call love a thought? I had not believed a woman could be so cold as that. If not a thought, what then? I have spoken the truth. If it were a treasure or anything that could be taken, you could take it, and I could help you. But if the possibility of possessing it lie not in deeds, it lies in thoughts, and is itself a thought. If you can teach me, I will think what you will. But if you cannot teach me, who shall? And how will it profit you to take my life or your own? Is it possible that love is only a thought, Escaled, speaking rather to himself than to her? It must be, she answered. The body is what it is in the eyes of others, but the soul is what it thinks itself to be. Happy or unhappy, loving or not loving? You are too subtle for me, Zahawa, Kaled said, yet I know that this is not all true. For he knew that he possessed no soul, and yet he loved her. Moreover, he could think himself happy or unhappy. You are too subtle, he repeated. I will take my sword again, and I will go out and fight, and pursue the enemy and waste their country. My sword is not so hard to cut through steel as to touch the heart of a woman who does not love. And it is easier to tear down towers and strongholds of stone with the naked hands than to build the temple upon the moving sand with an empty heart. Kaled would have risen at once, but Zahawa took his hand and entreated him to stay with her. Will you go out in the heat of the day, wounded and wearied? she asked. Surely you will take a fever and die before you have followed the Shamars so far as two days' journey. My wounds are slight, and I am not weary, Kaled answered. When the smith has heated the iron in the forge, does he wait until it is cold before striking? But think also of the soldiers who have striven hard, and cannot thus go out upon a great expedition without preparation as well as rest. I will take those whom I can find, and if they will go with me, it is well. But if not, I will go alone, and they and the rest will follow after. It is summer too, said Zahawa, keeping him back. Is this the time to go out into the northern desert? Both men and beasts will perish by the way. Has not Allah bound every man's fate about his neck, and can a man cast it from him? I know not otherwise, but if heat and hunger and thirst did not kill the men, they will certainly destroy the beasts, whose names are not recorded by Azrael, and who have no destiny of their own. You hinder me, said Kaled, and yet you do not know how many of the Shamar might be lurking within a day's march of the city, slaying your people, burning their houses, and destroying their harvest. Let me go. Will you love me better if I stay? You will be better able to get the victory. Will you love me better if I stay? If you go now, you may fail in your purpose and perish as well. How could I love you after then? It is the victory you love then. Not me. Could I love defeat? Nay, do not be angry with me. Stay here at least until the evening. Think of the burning sun and the raging thirst and the smarding of your wounds which have only been dressed this first time. Think of the soldiers too. They can bear what I can bear. Was it not summertime when the Prophet went out against the Romans? I do not know. Stay with me, Kaled. I will come back when I have destroyed the Shamars. And if the soldiers will not go with you, will you indeed go out alone? Yes, I will go alone. When they see that, they will follow me. They are not foxes. They are brave men. Kaled rose and gird his sword about him. Zahawa helped him, seeing that she could not persuade him to stay. Farewell, he said shortly, and without so much as touching her hand, he turned and went out. She followed him to the door of the room and stood watching as he went away. One of us too was to rule, she said to herself, and it is he for I cannot move him. But what is this talk of love? Does he need love, who is himself, the master? She sighed and went back to the carpet on which they had been sitting. Then she called in her women and bid them tell her all they had heard about the fight in the morning. And they, thinking to please her, extolled the deeds of Kaled, and all the tens he had slain, they made hundreds. Out of the thousands of the enemy's army, they made tens of thousands, till the walls of Riyadh could not have contained the hosts of which they spoke. And the dry sand of the desert could not have drunk all the blood which had been shed. Meanwhile, Kaled went into the outer court of the palace, where many soldiers were congregated together in the shade of the high wall, feeding camels meat and blanket bread, and drinking the water from the well. They were able-bodied and unhurt, for those who had been wounded were at their houses, tended by their wives. Men of Riyadh cried Kaled standing before them. We have fought a good fight this morning, and the power of our foes is broken. But all are not yet destroyed, and it may be that there are many thousands still darkened within a day's march of the city, slaying the people, burning their houses, and destroying their harvests. Let us go out and kill them all before they are able to go back to their own country. Afterwards, we will pursue those who are already escaping, and we will lay all the tribes of Shamar on the tribute, and bring back the women, captive. Thereupon a division rose among the soldiers. Some went for going at once with Kaled, but others said it was the hot season, and no time for a war. It is indeed summer, said Kaled, but if the Shamars were able to come to Riyadh in the heat, the men of Riyadh are able to go to them. And I, at least, will go at once, and those who wish to share the spoil will go with me, but those who are satisfied to sit in the shade and eat camels meat will stay behind. In an hour's time, I will ride out on the northern gate. So saying, Kaled rode slowly down into the city toward the marketplace. The people were carrying away their own dead, and dragging off the bodies of their enemies, with camels, by fours and fives tied together to bury them in a great ditch without the wall. When Kaled appeared, many of the men gathered around him, with cries of joy, for they had supposed that some of his wounds were dangerous, and that they should not see him for many days. Wala, he is with us again, they shouted, jostling each other to get near, and standing on tiptoe to see the good mare that had carried him so well in the fight. Masala, I am with you, answered Kaled, and if you will go with me, we will send many more Shamars to eat thorns and thizzle, as many as dwell on Kasim and Tabel Shamar as far as Hael. And by the help of Allah, we will take the city of Hael itself, and divide the spoil, and bring away the women captive. And when we have taken all there is, we will lay the land of their tribute, and make it subject to the jet. So let those who will go with me arm themselves, and take every man his horse or his camel, and dates in barley and waterskins, and in an hour's time we will ride out, for Allah will certainly give us victory. Let us bury the dead today, and tomorrow we will go, said many of those nearest him. Are there no old men and boys in Riyadh to bind the sheaves you have mown, asked Kaled? Are there no women to mourn over the dead of your kindred who have fallen in a good fight? And as for tomorrow, it is yet in Allah's hands, but today we have already eaten with us. However, if you will not go with me, I will go alone. The men were pleased with Kaled's speech, and indeed the greater part of the dead were buried by this time. For all the people had made haste to their work, fearing lest the bodies should bring a pestilence among them, since it was summertime and very hot. Then all those who were unhurt and could bear arms went and washed themselves, and took their weapons and food, as Kaled had directed them. Before the call to afternoon prayers, the whole host went out of the northern gate. Then Kaled accomplished all that he had spoken of, and much more, for he drove the scattered forces of the enemy before him, overtaking all and at last slaying all whom he overtook, as far as Zulfa, which is by the narrow end of the foot. Here he rested a short time, and then quickly crossing the sand, he entered the country called Kasim, which is subject to the Shamars. Here he was told by a woman who had been taken that the Shamars were coming with a new army against him out of Hael. He therefore hid his host in the pass of the hills just above the plain, and sent down a few Bedwins to encamp at the foot of the mountains, bringing them call themselves Shamar, and make a show of being friendly to the enemy. So when the army of the Shamars reached the foot of the hills, they saw the tents and only one or two camels, and Kaled's Bedwins came out and welcomed them, and told them that Kaled was still crossing them the foot, and that if they had passed haste through the hills, they might come upon him unawares, and had an advantage as he began to ascend. Thereupon the enemy rejoiced and entered the pass in haste, after filling their waterscans. When they were in the midst of the hills, Kaled and his army sprang up from the ambush and fell upon them, and utterly destroyed them, taking all their horses and camels and arms, after which he went down into the plain and laid waste to the country at Bout Hael. He took the city, as the Shamars had taken Bria. For he himself got upon the wall at night with the strongest and bravest of his followers, and slew the guards and opened the gate just before dawn, but there was no Kaled and Hael to rally the soldiers and give them heart to turn and make a stand in the streets. Kaled entered the palace and took the Sultan of Shamar alive, not suffering him to be hurt, for he wished to bring him to Riyadh. This Sultan was a man of middle age, having only one eye and also otherwise ill-favored, besides being cowardly and fat, so Kaled ordered that he should be put into the litter and litter into the cage, and the cage slung between two camels, but he commanded that the women of the Haram should be well treated and brought before him, that he might see them, intending to bring back the most beautiful of them as presents to his father-in-law. Surely said the men who were with him, you will keep the ferris for yourself, but Kaled turned angrily upon them. Have I not lately married the most beautiful woman in the world, he asked? I tell you it is for her sake that I have destroyed the Shamars, but the Sultan shall have the best of these women, and afterwards the rest of them will be divided amongst you by lot. When the women heard that they would be distributed among the men of Nujed, they had first made the pretense of howling and beating their breasts, but they rejoiced secretly and soon began to laugh and talk amongst themselves, pointing out to each other the strongest and most richly dressed of Kaled's followers, as though choosing husbands among them. But one of them neither wept nor spoke to her companions, but stood silently watching Kaled, and when he sat down upon a carpet in the chief kawa of the house, she brought him drinking in the goblet set with pearls from guitar, and sat down at his feet as though she had been his wife. But he took little heed of her at first, for he was busy with grave matters. The other women, seeing what she did, thought she was acting wisely in the hopes of gaining Kaled's favor, seeing that he was the chief of their enemies, so they too came near and brought water for his hands and perfumes and sweet-needs thinking to outdo her. But she pushed them away, taking what they brought for him, and offering it herself. Are you better than we, the women said angrily? Has our Lord chosen you for himself, that you will not let us come near him? Then Kaled noticed her and began to wonder at her attention and zeal. What is your name, he asked, but she did not speak. Who is she, he inquired of the other women? She is an unbeliever, they answered contemptuously, and she is proud, for she trusted her white skin and her blue eyes and her hair which is red without henna. She thinks she is better than we. Command us to uncover our faces that you may see and judge between us. Let it be so, let us see who is the fairest, said Kaled, and he left. Then the women who sat at his feet threw aside her veil, and all the others did the same. Kaled saw that the one was certainly more beautiful than the rest, for her skin was as white as milk, and her eyes like the sea of Oman when it is blue in winter. She had also long hair, plaited in three tresses which came down to her feet, red as the locusts when the sun shines upon them at evening, and not die. There is a baymaire in the stable of black ones, Kaled said. What is the name of the baymaire? Her name is Aziz, and she is Christian, said one of the women. Not Aziz, Al-Masta, said the beautiful woman in the accent which showed that she could not speak Arabic fluently. Al-Masta, a Christian. She was lately said as a president to our master by the Amir of Basra, said one of the others. He paid a thousand and five hundred sequins for her, for she was brought from Georgia, said another. But I am a free woman, and myself the daughter of an Amir. Then all the others began to scream. It is a lie, they cried. Your father was a white slave from Syria. You are fools, retorted the woman who had spoken. You should have said that you were also free women and the daughters of Amirs, so our lord would have treated you with more consideration. The other saw their folly and were silent and drew back, but Kaled only smiled. As good mayors are bred in the stable, as in the desert, he said, and the women laughed with him at the jest, for they saw that they pleased him. But Al-Masta was silent and sat at his feet, looking into his face. You must learn to talk Arabic, he said, and then you will be able to tell stories of your native country to the sultan, for he loves tales of travel. Al-Masta smiled and bent her head a little, but she did not understand all he said, being but lately come into Arabia. I will go with you, she answered. Yes, you will go with me to Riyadh, to the sultan, and perhaps he will make you his wife, for he is none at present. I will go with you, she repeated, looking at him. She does not understand you, said the women, laughing at her ignorance of their own tongue. It is no matter, Sikaled, she will learn in due time. Perhaps it is pleased a lot to send my lord to sultan the wife without a tongue, for a blessing in his old age. I will go with you, Al-Masta said again. She can say nothing else to you, the women. What of them pulled her by her upper garment, so that she looked round? Can you say this? My father was a dog, and the son of dogs, said the woman. But Al-Masta pushed her angrily away, for she half understood. Then the woman grew angry, and shook her fist in Al-Masta's face. If you fight, you shall eat sticks, said Kaled, and then they were all quiet. Thus he took possession of the city of Hael, and remaining there some time he reduced all the country to submission, so that it remained a part of the kingdom of Nijed for many years after that. For the power of the Shamars was broken, and they could nowhere have mustered a thousand men able to bear arms. Kaled set a governor in the place of the sultan, and ordered all the laws of the country in the same manner as those of Nijed, and after he had been absent from Riyadh in the two months, he set aside a part of his force to remain behind and keep the peace, in case there should be an outbreak, and with the rest, he began the journey homeward, taking a great spoil, and many captives with him. During the march, most of the women rode on camels, but a few of the most beautiful were taken in litters, lest the fatigues of Riyadh should injure their appearance, and thus diminish their value. Al-Masta was one of these, and the sultan of Hael was taken in a cage as has been said, though he was not otherwise ill-treated, and received his portion of camels meat and bread, equal to that of the soldiers. Kaled said messengers on fleet mayors to Riyadh to give warning of his coming, but he could not himself proceed very quickly, because his armies was burdened with so much spoil, and as there was now no haste to overtake an enemy, he journeyed chiefly at night, resting during the day wherever there was water. For although the summer was far advanced, it was still hot. He thought continually of Zahawa, by day in his tent, and by night on the march, for he supposed that she would be glad when she heard of the victory, that she would now love him, because he had avenged her people and taken Hael, and brought back gold and captives, besides other treasures. She was already pleased with my deeds before we left Riyadh, he thought, for she asked me how many of the Shamars I had slain with my own hand, and at last she wished me to stay with her, most probably because I might tell her more about the fight. How much the more would she be glad now, since I have killed so many more, and have brought back treasure, and made a whole country subject to her father. Was that even gold by the love of a woman? It chanced once during the day that Kled was sitting at the door of his tent after the sun had gone down, and before the night march had begun. Upon the one side at a little distance was the tent of the women captives who had been taken from the palace in Hael, and upon the other the soldiers had set down the cage in which the Sultan of Shamar was carried. The men had laid a carpet over the cage to keep the sun from the prisoner during the heat of the day, lest he should not reach Riyadh alive, in a dark temper. Now the soldiers had given him food, but had forgotten to bring him water, and it was hot under the carpet now that the evening had come. But he could lift it up a little on one side, and having done so he began to cry out, cursing Kaled and railing at him, not knowing that he was so near at hand. Of you whose portion shall be to broil everlasting, and to eat thistles and thorns, and to lie bound in red hot chains as I lie in this cage. Have you brought me out into the desert surely your entertainment on the day of judgment shall be boiling water and the fruit of al-Zakram, and whenever you try to get out of hell you shall be dragged back again and beaten with iron clubs, and your skin shall dissolve and the boiling water shall be poured upon your head. In this way the captive cried out for he was very thirsty, but when Kaled saw that no one gave him water he called in the darkness to the women who sat by their tent. Fetch water and give the man to drink, he said. One of the women rose quickly and filled the jar at the well close by and took it to the cage. And then the railing and cursing broke out afresh so that Kaled wondered what had happened. Who has sent this unbelieving woman to torture me with thirst, cried the prisoner. Are you not a zeus whom I was about to take for my fourth wife on account of your red hair? But your hair should be a perpetual flame hereafter, burning the bones on your head, and your flesh shall be white with heat as iron in the forge. If I were still in my kingdom you should eat many sticks. If Allah delivers me for my enemies I will cause your skin to be embroiled with gold for a trapping into my horse. The moon rose at this time being a little past the full, and Kaled looked toward the cage and saw that the woman was standing two paces away from the sultan's outstretched hand. She dabbled in the cold water with her fingers so that the plashing sound was heard and then drank herself and scattered afterwards a few drops in the face of the thirsty captive. It is good water, she said. It is cold. And he understood that she was torturing the prisoner with the sound of the sight of the water and with her words. So he rose from his place and went to the cage. Did I not tell you to give him drink? he asked, standing before the woman. Oh my lord, be merciful, cried the captive when he saw that Kaled himself was there. Be merciful and let me drink for your heart is easily moved to pity and by an act of charity you shall hear after sitting in the shade of the tree to drop and drink forever of the wine of paradise. I do not desire wine, said Kaled, but you shall certainly not thirst. Give him the jar, he said to Almasta, but she shook her head. He is bad and ugly, she said, but if he not drink, he will die. Then Kaled put out his hand to take the jar of water, but Almasta threw it violently to the ground and it broke to pieces. Thereupon the captive began again to rail and curse at Almasta and to implore Kaled with many blessings. You shall drink for I will bring water myself, said Kaled. He went back to his tent and took his own jar to the well and filled it carefully. When he turned, he saw that Almasta was running from his tent toward the cage with a drawn sword in her hand. He then ran also and being very swift of foot he overtook her just as she thrust the sultan through the bars, but the sword caught in the folds of the soft carpet and Kaled took it from her hand and thrust her down so that she fell upon her knees. Then he gave the prisoner the jar with the water that remained in it for some had been spilled as he ran. Who has given you the right to kill my captives, he asked of Almasta? Kill me then, she cried. Indeed, if you were not so valuable I will cut off your head, Kaled answered. Why do you wish me to kill you? I hate him, she said, pointing to the captive who was drinking like a thirsty camel. That is no reason why I should kill you. Go back to the tents. But Almasta laid her hand on the sword he held and tried to bring it to her own throat. This is a strange woman, said Kaled. Why do you wish to die? You should go to Riyadh and be the Sultan's wife. No, no, she cried. Kill me, not him, not him. Of whom do you speak? Him she answered again pointing to the prisoner. Is he not the Sultan? Kaled left aloud, for he saw that she was supposed to have been taken to Riyadh to be made the wife of the Sultan of Shamar. Indeed, the other women had told her so to anger her. Not this man, he said, endeavoring to make her understand. There is another Sultan at Riyadh. The Sultan of Shamar is one. The Sultan of the Jed, another. You, she asked, suddenly springing up with you. The moon was bright and Kaled saw her eyes gleam like stars, and her face grew warm. But when she took his hands, her own were cold. No, not I, he answered. I am not the Sultan. But her face became gray in the moonlight and she covered her head with her veil and went slowly back to her tent. This woman loves me, Kaled thought. And as I have not talked much with her it must be because I am strong and have conquered the people among whom she was captive. How much the more, then, will Zahawa love me for the same reason? So he was light of heart, and soon afterwards he commended everything to be made ready and mounted his bay-mare for the night march. End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of Kaled, A Tale of Arabia This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recorded by Joe DeNoya, Somerset, New Jersey. Kaled, A Tale of Arabia by Francis Marion Crawford Chapter 5 When Kaled was within half a day's march of Riyadh the Sultan came out to meet him with a great train of attendants and courtiers with cooks bringing food and sweet-meats and a number of musicians. And they all came together for a short time in the shade of the trees for there were gardens in the place. The Sultan embraced Kaled and put upon him a very magnificent garment after which they sat down together in a large tent which the Sultan had brought with them. When they had eaten and refreshed themselves they began to talk and Kaled told his father-in-law all that he had done and gave him an account of the spoils which he had brought back commanding the most valuable objects to be brought into the tent. After this the Sultan desired to see the women captives. There is one especially whom it may please you to take for yourself said Kaled and he ordered al-Masta to be brought in. When the male slaves had left the tent al-Masta drew aside her veil the Sultan looked at her and smiled stroking his beard for he was much pleased. Her face is like a pearl and her hair is the setting of the red gold he said. Truly she is like the sunrise on a fair morning when there are red clouds in the east. Al-Masta looked at him and afterwards she glanced at Kaled who could not avoid looking at her on account of her beauty. Her face was grave and indifferent. Then Kaled told the Sultan how she had hated the Sultan of Shamar and tried to kill him on the journey. This is a dangerous woman my son said the old man but he laughed as he said it for although he was old he was no coward. She is dangerous indeed. Will you love me, pearl of my soul's treasures he inquired of her, still smiling. You are my lord and my master she answered looking down. When Kaled heard this he wondered whether his father-in-law would get any affection from her. Zahawa had answered in the same words By Allah I will give you such gifts as will make you love me said the Sultan. What shall I give you? His head answered Al-Masta raising her eyes quickly. The head of the Sultan of Shamar? Al-Masta nodded and Kaled could see that her lips trembled. A dead man has no companions said the Sultan looking at Kaled to see what he would do and said nothing. So the Sultan called the slave and ordered the captives head to be struck off immediately. Then Al-Masta threw herself upon the carpet on the floor of the tent and embraced his feet. See how easily the love of a woman has got Kaled thought even by an old man who's beard is gray and his limbs heavy. When Al-Masta rose again she thought that Kaled triumphantly as though to remind him of the night of the journey when he had hindered her from killing the captive in his cage. But though he understood her he held his peace for he had cared nothing whether the prisoner lived or died after he had delivered him over to his father-in-law and he was considering whether he might not please Zahawa in some other manner. This was not easy however for he was not aware that Zahawa had any private enemy whose head he might offer her. After the Sultan had seen the other women and the best of his spoils Kaled begged that he might be allowed to ride on to Riyadh alone for he saw that the Sultan intended to spend the night in feasting where he was encamped. The Sultan was so much pleased with Al-Masta and so greatly diverted in examining the rich stuffs and the gold and silver vessels and jewels that he let Kaled go almost without trying to detain him though he made him many speeches praising his conduct of the war and would have loaded him with gifts. But Kaled would take nothing with him saying that he would only receive his just share with the rest and the fame of his generosity immediately went abroad among the soldiers and the Bedouins throughout all the camp. So Kaled rode away alone into Riyadh for he desired no company being busy with his own thoughts. He reached the gates at nightfall and went immediately to the palace and entered Zahawa's apartments. He found her sitting among her women in her accustomed place with no one to care for her. Kaled had no one to care for and he had no one to care for and he had no one to care for and he had no one to care for and he had no one to care for sitting among her women in her accustomed place listening to the tales of an old woman who sat in the midst of the circle. As soon as Zahawa saw her husband she sprang up gladly to meet him as a friend would have done. Though it is summertime I have pursued the enemy said Kaled and though the sun was hot I have got the victory and brought home the spoil. He said this remembering how she had tried to hinder him from going then he gave her his sword and sat down with her while the women brought food and drink and hungry and thirsty. The women also brought their musical instruments and began to sing songs and praise of Kaled's deeds but after a time he sent them all away and remained alone with Zahawa. Oh Zahawa he said you are my law and my rule you are my speech and my occupation you are my quibla to which I turn in prayer for to love you I have got the victory over many foes and yet I see that your cheek is cold and your eyes is undisturbed have you no other enemies for me to destroy or have you no secret foe whose head would be a pleasant gift Zahawa laughed as she fanned him with a palm leaf do you still thirst for war Kaled she asked truly you have swallowed up all our enemies as the dry sand swallows water where shall I find enemies enough for you to slay you went out in pride and you have returned in glory are you not satisfied and as for any secret foe if I have any I do not know him rest therefore eat and drink and spend your days in peace I care little for other food or drink Kaled answered and I need little rest will nothing but war please you must you overcome Egypt and make Syria pay tribute as far as Damascus before you will rest I will conquer the whole world for you if I wish said Kaled what should I do with the world said Zahawa have I not treasures and garments enough to spare besides the spoil you have now brought home and besides if you would conquer the world you must needs make war upon true believers amongst whom we do not count the people of Shamar be satisfied therefore and rest in peace how shall I be satisfied until I have kindled delight in Zahawa's eyes at my coming and until I feel that her hand is cold and trembles when I take it in mine do I say to my eyes be dull or to my hand do not tremble Zahawa asked is this what you ask of me something I can command at will as I can a smile or a word if it is teach me and I will learn but if not why do you expect of me what I cannot do can a camel gallop like a horse or a horse trope like a camel or bear great burdens through the desert have you come back from a great war only to talk of something which you call love which is yours and not mine which you feel and I cannot feel which you cannot explain nor describe and which after all is but a whim of the fancy as one man loves sour drink and another sweet do you think that love is nothing but a whim of the fancy as to call it barely what else can it be would you love me if you were blind yes and if you were deaf yes and if you could not touch my face with your hands nor kiss me with your lips yes as a how I laughed then love is indeed a fancy for if you cannot see me nor touch me nor hear me what would remain to you but an empty thought have I seen you or touched you or heard your voice for these last two months and a half as Caled yet I have loved you as much during all that time you mean that you have thought of me as I have thought of you by the memory of what was not fancy but reality would you dispute with me Caled there is more wit in my arm than in my head Caled answered there is more wit in my arm than in my head Caled answered and it is not easy for a man to persuade a woman it is very easy provided that the man have reason on his side but where are the treasures you have brought back the slaves and the rich spoils I would gladly see some of them for the messengers you sent told great tales of the riches of Hale tomorrow they will be brought into the city my father has remained feasting in the gardens toward Daria and the whole army with him I wrote hither alone why did you not remain too because that whim of the fancy which I call love brought me back Caled answered that I am glad you love me said Zahawa for I am glad you came quickly are you truly glad I was very tired of my women she answered I am sorry you have brought nothing with you are there any among the captives who are beautiful there is one a present sent lately to the Sultan of Shamar she is very beautiful and unlike all the rest your father is much pleased with her and will perhaps marry her of what kind is her beauty as Zahawa she is as white as milk her eyes are twin sapphires her mouth is a rose her hair is like gold reddened in fire Zahawa was silent for a while and twisted a string of musk beads around her fingers and the women Caled said it last why did you not keep the beautiful one for yourself as Zahawa suddenly throwing aside her beads and looking at him curiously surely you who have borne the brunt of the war might have chosen for yourself what pleased you best Caled looked at her with great astonishment have I not married Zahawa would you have me take another wife why not is it not lawful for a man to take four wives at one time then this woman might have loved you would you desire to be loved would it be nothing to you if I took her nothing I am the king's daughter I shall always be first in the house I say she might love you then you would be satisfied Zahawa Zahawa cried Caled is love a piece of gold that it matters not whence it be so long as a man has it in his own possession or as it would of the ooo tree that will me buy it and bring it home and make the whole house fragrant with it is a man's heart like his belly which is like satisfied with different kinds of food he who eats knows by the taste whether he eats Persian mutton or barley bread or only broiled locusts but a man who believes that he is loved knows that he is loved so far as knowing as possible and must be satisfied if to be loved is what he desires that may be true but he who desires bread is not satisfied with locusts it is your love which I would have not the love of another you are like a man who hopes to get by argument a sum of money from one who has nothing since Zahawa smiling at him can you make gold grow in the purse of a beggar or can you cause a gada bush to bear dates by reasoning with it your heart is a palm tree but mine is a gada bush yet an angel may touch the gada and it will bear fruit answered Caled for he remembered how the angel had turned dry leaves into rich garments for him to wear doubtless Allah can do all things but where is the angel hear me Caled for I speak very reasonably as a wife should speak to her husband who is her lord and master my lord is not satisfied with me and desires something of me which is not mine to give let him take another wife beside me I have given my lord a kingdom and riches and power let him take another wife now who will give him this fancy of his thoughts for which he yearns though she have no other possessions in this way my lord will be satisfied Caled listens sadly to what Zahawa said and he banded to spare for he was not subtle in argument nor eloquent in speech the reason of this was plain in the days when he had been one of the genie he had wandered over the whole earth and had heard the eloquence of all nations and the arguments of all philosophers learning therefore that deeds are no part of words and that they who would be believed must speak little and do much but the genie possessed no insight into the hearts of women Caled reflected also at the length of life granted him was uncertain that he had already spent two months and a half at a distance from Zahawa in accomplishing the conquest whereby he had hoped to win her love but since this is utterly failed he cast about in his mind for some new deed to do which could be done without leaving her even for a short time but he was troubled by her indifference and most of all by her proposing that he should take another wife as he thought of this he was filled with horror and he understood that he loves Zahawa more than he had supposed since he could not bear to think of setting another woman beside her then his face became very dark and his eyes were like campfires far off in the desert and he took Zahawa's wrist in his hand holding it tightly as though he would not let it go as his heart grew hot in his breast words came to his lips unawares like the speech of a man in the dream and he heard his own voice as it were from a distance I will not take another he said what is the love of another woman to me it is as dust in the throat of a man thirsting for water show me a woman who loves me her face shall be but a cold mirror in which the image of a fire is reflected without warmth her soft words shall be to me as the screaming of a parrot her touch a thorn and her lips ashes what is it to me if all the women of the world love me kindle a fire and burn them before me for I care not let them perish altogether for I shall not know that they are gone I love you and not another shall a prophet a man to fill his mouth with dust though it be the dust of gold mingled with precious stones and water or shall I be warmed in winter by the reflection of a fire in a mirror I want neither the wealth of hail nor a wife with red hair let them take gold who do not ask for love I want but one thing and Sahawa alone can give it to me my heart burns but I would give it to be burned forever in hell if I might get your love now this I ask this only I desire for this I will suffer and for this I am ready to die for my time Sahawa was silent looking at him with wonder and yet not altogether pleased she saw that she could not understand him though she did as well as she could has he not all that the heart of a man can desire she thought am I not young and beautiful and possessed of many jewels and treasures have I not given him wealth and power and has he not with his own hand got the victory over his enemies and mine and yet he is not satisfied surely he is too hard to please but he reading her thoughts from her face continued in his speech what is all the happiness of the world without love he asked it is like a banquet in which many rich vayans are served but the guests cannot eat them because there is no salt in any of them and what is a beautiful woman without love she is like a garden in which there are all kinds of rare flowers and much grass and deep shade but in which a man cannot live because nothing grows there which he can eat when he is hungry truly said Sahawa this is what you will make of your life for there was a garden called Derrem planted in a secret place of the deserts about Aden by Shadad the son of Ad who desired to outdo the gardens of paradise and was destroyed for his impiety with all his people by the hand of Allah but a certain man named Abdullah Ibn Qalaba was searching the desert for a lost camel and came unawares upon this place there were fruits and water there and all that a man could wish for for Abdullah dwelt in peace and plenty praising Allah then on a certain day he desired to eat an onion and finding none anywhere he went out intending to obtain one and having eaten it to return immediately but though he searched the desert in many months he was never able to find the garden again wherefore it is said that Abdullah Ibn Qalaba lost the earthly paradise of Arem for a mouth full of onion how can you understand me if you do not love me as Khaled love has its own language how can you understand each other's words but when the one loves and the other loves not they are strangers though they be man and wife or they are like persians and arabians not understanding either the other's speech or that if the wife cries father her husband will bring her a cup of water supposing her to be thirsty for those who speak one language must be of one heart and they who would be of one heart must love each other then Zaha was sighed what is it she asked in a low voice what is it you would have but though she had already asked the question many times she found no answer and none that he was able to give could enlighten her darkness it is the spark that kindles the flame Khaled said and he pointed to the lights that hung in the room your beauty is like that of a cunningly designed lamp inlaid with gold and silver and covered with rich ornament which is seen by death but there is no light within and it is cold though it be full of oil and the wick be ready Zaha turned toward him someone impatiently and you are as one who would kindle the flame with words having no torture she answered have I not done deeds also as Khaled or have I spoken much that you should reproach me surely I have slain more of your enemies than I have spoken words to you tonight but if I asked you for an offering of blood or a marriage dour of dead bodies Khaled was silent for he was bitterly disappointed and his eyes fell upon the sword which hung on the wall he felt that he could almost have taken it and made an end of Zaha for very anger that she would not love him had he not gone out for her into the raging heat of summer and born the burden of great war and destroyed a nation and taken a city moreover if neither words nor deeds can gain her love what means remain to him to try all through the night Khaled pondered calling up all that he had seen in the world in former times until he fell asleep at last weary in heart very early in the morning Zahawa's women came and stood by his bed and waked him he could see that her face was pale in the dawn her limbs trembled and her voice was uncertain Arise my lord she said but messenger has come from the army with evil news and stands waiting in the court Khaled sprang up and Zahawa awoke also what is this message he asked hastily but the woman threw herself upon the floor and covered her face as though begging forgiveness because she brought evil tidings speaks as Zahawa what is it our lord the sultan is dead cried the woman and she broke out into weeping and crying and would say nothing more but when Zahawa heard that her father was dead she sat down upon the floor and beat her breast and tore her hair and wailed and wept while all the women of the harem came and gathered round her and joined in her morning so that the whole palace was filled with the noise of their lamentations Khaled went out into the court and questioned the messenger who told him that the sultan had held a great feast in the evening in the gardens of Deriyah having with him the woman al-Masta and the other captive women and being served by black slaves but suddenly in the night when most of the soldiers were already asleep there had been a great cry and the slaves and the women had come running from the tent crying that the sultan was dead this was true and the jewish physician who had gone out with his master declared that he had died from an excess of humours to the head brought on by surfeit of sweetmeats there being at the time an evil conjunction between Khaled and Durek in square aspect to the moon and in the house of death Khaled therefore mounted his bay-mayor and rode quickly out to Deriyah where he found that the news was true and the women were already preparing the sultan's body from burial having ordered the morning and commanded the army to prepare for the return to the city Khaled set out with the funeral procession and when he reached the walls of Riyadh he turned to the left and passed around to the northeast side of the city where the burial ground was situated he related the body of his father-in-law and prepared for himself during his lifetime and afterwards, dismissing the mourners he went back into the city to the palace after the days of mourning were accomplished the will of the sultan was made known though indeed the people were well acquainted with it already by his will Khaled succeeded to the sovereignty of the kingdom of Najed and to all the riches and treasures which the sultan had accumulated during his lifetime but the people received the announcement of acclamations and much joy followed by a great feasting for which innumerable camels were slain Khaled also called all the chief officers and courtiers to the banquet and addressed them in a few words according to his manner men of Najed, he said it is pleased Allah to remove to the companionship of the faithful our master the sultan my reverent father-in-law upon whom be peace and to set me upon you as king instead being the husband of his only daughter which you all know as for the past, you'd know me but if I've wronged any man, let him declare it and make reparation and if not, let none complain hereafter but as for the future I will be a just ruler so long as I live and will lead the men of Najed to war when there is war and will divide the spoil fairly and in peace I will not oppress the people with taxes nor change the just and good laws of the kingdom and now the feast is prepared sit down cheerfully and may Allah give us both the appetite to enjoy and the strength to digest all the good things which will be set before us but Khaled himself ate sparingly for his heart was heavy when they had feasted in drunk trang juice and heard music he retired to the harem where he found Zahawa sitting with Al-Masta, the Georgian woman there being no other women present in the room he was surprised when he saw Al-Masta though he knew that the captive women had been lodged in the palace the distribution of the spoils from the war having been put off by the mourning for the sultan when Al-Masta heard him enter she looked up quickly and a bright color rose in her face as when the juice of a pomegranate is poured into milk and disappeared again as the false dawn before mourning leaving no trace Khaled sat down is not this the woman of whom you spoke Zahawa asked I knew her from the rest by her red hair this is the woman your father would have taken her for his wife but Allah has disposed otherwise she is beautiful she is worthy to be king's wife since Zahawa asked Al-Masta for she hardly understood her face turned as white as bone bleached by the sun and her fingers trembled while her eyes were cast down Zahawa looked at Khaled and laughed see how she trembles and turns pale before you she said and a little while ago her face was red you have found a torch where we thickenedle this lamp and a breath that can extinguish it I do not know Khaled answered but it looked atendably at Al-Masta and remained silent for some time it is now necessary to divide the spoils of the war he said at last and to bestow such of these women as you do not wish to keep upon the most deserving of the officers my lord will surely take the fairest for himself since she loves him said Zahawa again laughing but somewhat bitterly may my tongue be cloven and my eyes be put out and my hands wither at the wrists and my feet fall from my ankles if I ever take a wife but you said Khaled so be it I heard him say this even while Al-Masta's face was unveiled before him she understood that he was greatly an artist let me keep her from my handmaid she said at last is she mine that you need to ask me but would be wiser to give her to Abdul Karim the sheik of the horsemen I have promised that the spoil will be fairly divided and though few have seen this woman many have heard of her beauty and besides she would wear you for she cannot talk Arabian nor does she seem quick to learn she has the first right since Allah has removed your father upon whom be peace your words are my laws answered Zahawa obediently and indeed it may be that you were right for I believe that she could neither dance nor sing nor play upon any musical instruments she would certainly wear me after a time as you say give her therefore to Abdul Karim for his share they then made Al-Masta understand that she had to be given to the sheik of the horsemen but when she had understood she shook her head and smiled so that Khaled and Zahawa wondered whether she had comprehended what they had told her do you understand what we have told you as Zahawa who was diverted by her ignorance of the Arabic language I understand and are you not pleased that you were to be wife of Abdul Karim who was a rich man and still young I was to be the Sultan's wife said Al-Masta with difficulty looking at Khaled you told me so the Sultan is dead, Khaled answered who was the Sultan now she asked Khaled as the Sultan said Zahawa you said I should be the Sultan's wife Al-Masta repeated doubtless I said so Khaled replied but Allah has ordered it otherwise Al-Masta again smiled and shook her head End of chapter 5 Chapter 6 of Khaled A Tale of Arabia This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recorded by Joe Danoya Somerset, New Jersey Khaled A Tale of Arabia by Francis Marion Crawford Chapter 6 On the following day Khaled made a division of the spoils and gave Al-Masta to Abdul Karim and joining upon him to marry her since he had but two wives and could do so lawfully the sheik of the horseman was glad for he had heard much of Al-Masta's beauty and he loved fair women 40 years old so he called his friends to the marriage feast that same day and Zahawa sent Al-Masta in a litter to his harem giving her also numerous rich garments by way of a dour but which in fact were due to Abdul Karim as his share of the booty so the men feasted with music until the evening when the bridegroom retired to the harem and the Qadi came and read the contract after which Abdul Karim sat down while Al-Masta was brought before him in various dresses one after the other as his customary when the women were all gone away Abdul Karim began to talk to his wife but she only laughed and said the few words she knew not knowing what he said and presently she began to sing to him in a low voice in her own language her voice was very clear and quite different from that of the Arabian women whom Abdul had heard and the tones vibrated with great passion and sweetness so that he was enchanted and listened as in a dream while his head rested against Al-Masta's knee she continued to sing in such a manner that his soul was transported with delight and at last as the sound soothed him he fell into a gentle sleep Al-Masta still singing softly loosened his vest touching him so gently that he did not wake she then drew out of one of the tresses of her hair a fine steel needle extremely long and sharp having at one end a small wooden ball for a handle she continued to sing she thrust it very quickly into his breast to its full length so that it pierced his heart and he died instantly but she continued to sing lest any of the women should be listening from a distance presently she withdrew the needle so slowly that not a drop of blood followed it and having made it pass thrice through the carpet she restored it to her hair after which she fastened the dead man's vest again so that nothing was disarranged she sang on after this for some time and then after a short silence in the couch uttering loud screams and lamentations and beating her breast violently the women of the harem came in quickly and when they saw that their master was dead they sat down with Al-Masta and wept with her for he lay dead there with no mark of any violence nor any sign whereby it could be told that he had not died naturally when Khaled heard that Abdul Karim was dead he was much grieved at heart for the man had been brave and had been often at his right hand in battle but the news being brought to him at dawn when he awoke he immediately sent the Jewish physician of the court to ascertain if possible the cause of the sudden death the physician made careful examination of the body and having purified himself returned to Khaled to give an account I have executed my lord's orders with scrupulous exactness he said and to find that without a doubt the sheik of the horseman died suddenly by an excess of humors to the heart the son being at that time in the nadir for he died about midnight and being moreover an evil conjunction with the dragon's tale in the heart of the lion and not yet far from the square aspect of Al Marek which caused the death of his majesty to late Sultan upon whom be peace but Khaled was thoughtful for he reflected that this was the second time that a man had died suddenly when he was about to be Al Mastur's husband and he remembered how she had attempted to kill the Sultan of Hael and had ultimately brought about his death have you examined the dead man as minutely as you have observed the stars he inquired no mark of violence upon him nor of poison nor of strangling there is no mark by Allah I speak truth my lord may see for himself for the man is not yet buried am I a jackal that I should sniff at dead bodies as Khaled go in peace the physician withdrew for he saw that Khaled was displeased and he was himself as much surprised as anyone by the death of Abdul Karim a man lean and strong not giving to surfacing and in the prime of health men Allah he said as he departed we are in the hand of the Lord who know with our rising up and our lying down it is possible that if I had seen this man at the moment of death or at a little before I might have discovered the nature of his disease for I could have talked with him and questioned him but Khaled went in and talked with Sahawa she was greatly astonished when she heard that Al Mastur's husband was dead but she was satisfied with the answer of the Jewish physician who enjoyed great reputation and was believed to be at that time the wisest man in Arabia give her back to me to be one of my women said she it is not written that she should marry a man of Najed unless you will take her yourself but Khaled bent his brow angrily and his eyes glowed with the coals of a campfire which is almost extinguished when the night wind blows suddenly over the ashes I have spoken he said and I have heard she answered let there be an end but give me this woman to divert me with her broken speech I fear that she will do you an injury of which you may not live said Khaled what injury can she do me as Sahawa in astonishment not understanding him she asked of your father the head of the Sultan of Hael whom she hated and your father gave it to her peace be upon him as Sahawa piously upon him peace but when he would have married her he died suddenly at the feasting and now this Abdul Qareem is dead also without sign in the night as a man stung by a serpent in his sleep these are strange doings if you think she has done evil let her be put to death said Sahawa but the physician found no mark upon Abdul Qareem by the hand of Allah he was taken doubtless his fate was about his neck but it is strange Sahawa looked at Khaled in silence but presently she smiled and laid her hand upon his with her whole soul she said you think she has slain Abdul Qareem by secret arts in the hope that she may marry you and your father also then they were both silent as Sahawa covered her face since she could not prevent tears from falling when she thought of her father whom she had loved if this be so she said after a long time let the woman die immediately it is necessary to be just Khaled answered I will put no one to death without witnesses not even a captive woman who is certainly an unbeliever at heart has anyone seen her do these deeds or does anyone know by what means a man would be slain in his sleep or in a feast so that no mark is left upon his body at Dariyah your father was alone with her in the inner part of the tent and she was singing to him that he might sleep Frive made inquiry and when Abdul Qareem died he was also alone with her I cannot understand these things but you are a woman in subtle it may be that you can see what is too dark for me it may be therefore give her back to me and I will lay a trap for her so that she will betray herself as she has really done evil and when we have convicted her by her own words she shall die are you not afraid Sahawa can I change my destiny if my hour has come I shall die of a fever or a cold whether she be with me or not but if my years are not full she cannot hurt me this is undoubtedly true but I will first question the woman myself so he sent slaves with the litter to bring al-Masda from the house of mourning to the palace and when she had come he sent out all the other women and remained alone with her and Sahawa making her sit down before him so that he could see her face her cheeks were pale for she had not slept having been occupied in weeping and lamentation during the whole night and her eyes moved restlessly as those of a person distracted with grief Kaled then drew his sword and laid it across his feet as he sat and looked fixedly at al-Masda if you do not speak the truth he said I will cut off your head with my own hand Allah is witness when al-Masda saw the drawn sword her face grew wider than before and for some moments she seemed not able to breathe but suddenly she began to beat her breast and broke out into loud wailings rocking herself to and fro as she sat on the carpet my husband is dead she cried he was young he was beautiful he is dead wow wow my husband is dead kill me too Kaled looked at Sahawa but she said nothing though she watched al-Masda intently then Kaled spoke to the woman again make an end of your limiting for the present he said it is pleased Allah to take your husband to the fellowship of the faithful peace be upon him tell us in what manner he died and what words he spoke when he felt his end approaching and I wish to know all al-Masda agha did not understand or made a pretense of not understanding but when she heard Kaled's words she ceased from wailing and sobbed silently beating her breast from time to time how did he die? Kaled asked in a stern voice he was asleep he died replied al-Masda in broken tones you will get no other answer since Sahawa she cannot speak our tongue is there no woman among them all who can talk this woman's language Kaled with impatience for he saw how useless it was to question her there is no one I have inquired leave her with me and if there is anything to be known I will try to find it out so Kaled went away and Sahawa endeavored to sue al-Masda and make her talk in her broken words but the woman made as though she could not be comforted and went and sat apart upon the stone floor where there was no carpet rocking toon fro and wailing in a low voice Sahawa understood that whatever the truth may be al-Masda was determined to express her sorrow in the customary way and that it would be better to leave her alone for seven days she sat thus apart covering her head in mourning and refusing to speak with anyone so that all the women supposed her to be indeed distracted with the grief at the death of Abdul Karim and each day Kaled inquired of his wife whether she had yet learned anything and received the same answer but in the meantime he was occupied with his own thoughts as well as with the affairs of the kingdom the latter was nothing in his mind compared with the workings of his heart when he thought of Sahawa it chased one even that Kaled was riding among the gardens without the city attended only by a few horsemen for he was simple in his ways and liked little to have a great throng of attendance about him so he rode alone while the horsemen followed at a distance was ever a man or an angel so placed in the world as I am placed he thought for I should still have been with my fellows the genie from which I am now cut off and at least I should have lived until the day of the resurrection but now my horse may stumble and fall my neck may be broken and there is no hereafter or I may die on my sleep or be killed in my sleep and there will be no resurrection for me nor any more life anywhere in earth or heaven for Sahawa would never love me was ever a man so placed and I am ashamed to complain to her anymore for she is a good wife obedient and careful of my wants and beautiful as the moon is full rising amidst palm trees besides being very wise and subtle how can I complain has she not given me herself whom I desired and a great king to which indeed I did not desire but which no man can despise as a gift yet I am burned up within and my heart is melting as a piece of frankincense laid upon coals in an empty chamber when no man cares for its sweet savor surely I am the most wretched of mankind oh, that the angel who had made garments for me out of the Gada Bush and a bay-mare of a locust would come down and lay his hand upon Sahawa's breast and make a living heart of the stone which Allah has set in its place so he rode slowly on reasoning as he had often reasoned before and reaching the same conclusion in all his argument which availed him nothing but suddenly as the sun went down a new thought entered his mind and gave him a little hope the sun has gone down he said to himself but Allah has not destroyed the sun who will rise in the east tomorrow while the white cock crows in the first heaven many things have been which the sight of man cannot see it may be that although I see no signs of love in the heaven of Sahawa's eyes yet love is already there and will before long rise to the sun and illuminate my darkness for I am not subtle as the evil genie are but I must see very clearly before I am able to distinguish he rode back into the city planning how he might surprise Sahawa and obtained from her unawares some proof that she indeed loved him to this end he entered the palace by the secret gate covering his garments with his abba in his head with the kuffiya he wore in order to disguise himself from the slaves and the soldiers whom he met on his way to the harem he passed on toward Sahawa's apartment by an unlighted passage not generally used and hid himself in the niche of the wall close to the open door from which you can see all that happened and hear what was said Sahawa was seated in her custom place and Al-Masta was beside her Kled could watch their faces by the light of the hanging lamps as the two women talked together you must put aside all mourning now as Sahawa was saying for I will find another husband for you another husband Al-Masta smiled and shook her head yes there are other goodly men in Riyadh although Abdul Karim was one of the goodliest in the day who knew him he was the sultan's friend but he was more soldier than courtier he deserved a better death Abdul Karim died in peace he was asleep Al-Masta smiled still but more sadly and her eyes were cast down he died in peace Sahawa repeated watching her narrowly but it is better to die in battle by the enemy's hands such a man falling in front of the fight for the true faith enters immediately into paradise under the petrol shade of the trees another blackness or shame shall cover his face there the rivers flow with milk and with clarified honey he shall rest on a couch covered with thick silk embroidered with gold and shall possess 70 beautiful virgins whose eyes are blacker than mine and the skin whiter than yours having color like rubies and pearls and their voices like the song of nightingales in the gem of which travelers tell these are the rewards of the true believer who is left in Al-Qur'an by our prophet upon whom peace a man slain in battle for the faith enters directly into the possession of all this but unbelievers shall be taken by the forelock and the heels and cast into hell to drink boiling molten brass as a thirsty camel drinks clear water Al-Masta understood very little Sahawa said but she smiled nevertheless catching the meaning of some of the words the Sultan Khaled loves black eyes she said he will go to paradise doubtless he will quench his thirst in the incorruptible milk of heavenly rivers Sahawa replied he is the chief of the brave the light of the faith and the burning torch of righteousness otherwise Allah would not have chosen him to rule but I spoke of Abdul Karim he died in peace said Al-Masta the second time and again looking down I did not know how he died Sahawa answered looking steadily at the woman's face it was a great misfortune for you do you understand I am very sorry for you you would have been happy with Abdul Karim I mourn for him Al-Masta said not raising her eyes it is natural and right doubtless you loved him as soon as you saw him Al-Masta glanced quickly at Sahawa as though suspecting a hidden meaning in the words and for a moment each of the women looked into the other's eyes but Sahawa saw nothing for a wise man has truly said that one may see into the depths of black eyes as into a deep well but the blue eyes are like the sea of Amman in winter sparkling in the sun as a plane of blue sand but underneath more unfathomable than the desert Al-Masta was too wise and deceitful to let the silence last so when she had looked at Sahawa and understood she smiled somewhat sorrowfully and spoke I could have loved him she said I desire no husband now that is not true Sahawa answered quickly you wish to marry Khaled and that is the reason why you killed Abdul Karim Al-Masta started as a camel struck by a flood of locusts what is this lie she cried out with indignation who has told you this lie but her face was as grey as a stone and her lips trembled you probably killed him by magic arts learning your own country, says Sahawa quietly do not be afraid we are alone and no one can hear us tell me how you killed him truly it was very skillful of you since the physician could not tell how it was done but Al-Masta began to beat her breast and to make o's and acervations in her own language which Sahawa could not understand if you will tell me how you did it I will give you a rich gift Sahawa continued but so much the more Al-Masta cried out stretching her hands upwards speaking incomprehensible words Sahawa waited until she became quiet again it may be that Khaled will marry you if you will tell me your secrets Sahawa said after a time then Al-Masta's cheek burned and she bent down her eyes will you tell me how to kill a man and leave no trace as Sahawa still pressing her look at this pearl is it not beautiful see how well it looks upon your hair it is as a leaf of a white rose upon a river of red gold and on your neck you cannot see it yourself it is like the full moon hanging upon a milky cloud Khaled would give you many pearls like this if he married you will you not tell me whom do you wish to kill Al-Masta asked very suddenly but Sahawa was unmoved it may be that I have a private enemy she said perhaps there is one who disturbs me against whom I plot in the night but could find no way of ridding myself of him a woman might give much to destroy such a one Khaled will kill your enemies he loves you he will kill all whom you hate you make progress you speak our language better you will soon be able to tell the Sultan as well as I could myself but you did not love him Al-Masta answered boldly Sahawa bent her eyebrow so that they met between her eyes as the grip of a bow then Khaled's heart leapt in his breast for he saw that she was angry with the woman and he supposed it was because she had secretly loved him but he held his breath lest even his breathing should betray him the portion of fools is fire said Sahawa not dating to give any other answer for she was a king's daughter who was a bought slave the Khaled had taken her in war be merciful I am your handmaid and I speak Arabic badly you speak with exceeding clearness when it pleases you indeed I cannot talk in your language for it is not long since I came to Arabia we will have you taught for we will give you a husband who will teach you the sticks there is a certain hunchback having one eye and marked with a smallpox whose fists are at the feet of a camel your husband for you and will teach you the Arabic language and your skin shall be dissolved but your mind will be enlightened thereby be merciful I desire no husband it is good that a woman should marry even though the bridegroom be a hunchback but if you will tell me your secret I will give you a better husband and forgive you there is no secret I have killed no one who was told to the lie and moreover continued Sahawa not regarding her protestations there are other ways of learning your secrets such for instance as sticks and hot irons and hunger and thirst in a prison where there are reptiles and poisonous spiders besides many other things which I have no doubt the slaves of the palace are acquainted it is better that you should tell your secret and be happy there is no secret I must have repeated and she would say nothing else for she did not trust Sahawa and feared a cruel death as she told the truth but Sahawa weiried of the contest at last being by no means sure that the woman had really done any evil and having no intention of using any violent means such as she had suggested for she was as just as she was wise and would have no one suffer wrongly Kaled indeed cared little for the pain of others having seen much bloodshed and war and would have caused Al-Masta to be tortured if Sahawa had desired it but she did not preferring to wait and see whether she could not entrap the slave into a confession Kaled now came out of his hiding place into the room in advance towards Sahawa who remained sitting upon the carpet while Al-Masta rose and made a respectful salutation but neither of the women knew that he had been hidden in the niche Sahawa did not seem surprised though Al-Masta's face was white and her eyes were cast down though indeed Kaled wished that it had been otherwise he was encouraged however by what he had seen for Sahawa had certainly been angry with Al-Masta on his account and he dismissed the latter that he might be alone with his wife you are wise Sahawa he said and gifted with much insight but you will learn nothing from this woman though you talk with her for a whole year for she suspects you and is guarded in her speech and manner I was standing by the doorway a long time you did not see me but I heard all that you said why did you hide yourself Sahawa asked looking at him curiously in order to listen he answered and I heard something and saw something which pleased me when she said that you did not love me you were angry did that please you you were more easily pleased than I had thought should I bear such things from a slave how is it her business whether I love you or not but you were angry repeated vainly hoping that she would say more did not wishing to press her too far lest she should say again that she did not love him she however said nothing in reply but busied herself in taking his kafia from his head and his sword from his side that he might be at ease he rested upon the cushions and drank of the cold drink she offered him this woman Al-Masta is exceedingly beautiful he said at last it would indeed be a pity that a slave of such a value would go into the possession of another so that we can see her no more it is best that you should keep her with you Sahawa laughed a little she sat down beside him and began to play with her beads this is what I have said she answered I will keep her with me it is better so said Khaled that he remained silent and deep thought having devised a new plan for gaining what he most desired it seemed to him possible that Sahawa might be moved by jealousy if by nothing else for although he had sworn to her that he would never take Al-Masta for his wife and that nothing could really have prevailed upon him to make him do so yet it would be easy to talk to the woman and speak to her of her beauty and appear to take the light in her singing which was more melodious than that of a Persian nightingale since she would now be permanently established in his harem nothing would be easier than for him to spend many hours in the woman's society being a simple-minded man the plan seemed to him subtle and he determined to put it into execution without delay he had loved him since the first day when she had been brought before him in the Palace of Hael and this would make it still more easy to rouse Sahawa's jealousy though she had herself advised him to marry Al-Masta he did not believe that she was greatly in earnest for he felt assured that if the possibility were presented before her in such a way as to appear imminent she would be deceived by the appearance it is better that she should remain here he said after a long time for we cannot put her to death without evidence of her guilt and if we are obstinate in wishing to give her a husband we do not know how many husbands she may destroy before she is satisfied she is beautiful and will be an ornament in your Kaaba indeed I do not know why I sent her away just now when I came in let us call her back that she may sing to us some of her own songs Sahawa clapped her hands and Al-Masta immediately returned for she had indeed been waiting outside the door endeavoring to hear what was said since she suspected that Khaled would speak of her and ask questions she understood well enough that she was willing to show though she could as yet speak but a few words of the Arabic language sit at my feet to Khaled and sing to me the songs of your own people Al-Masta took a musical instrument from the wall and sat down to sing her voice indeed was of enchanting sweetness but as for the words of her songs the seven wise men themselves could not have understood a syllable of them seeing that they were neither Arabic nor Persian nor even Greek nevertheless Khaled made a pretense of being much pleased against the cushions and closing his eyes as though the sound soothed him as for Sahawa she watched the woman with great curiosity wondering whether it were possible that a creature so fair as Al-Masta could have done the evil deeds of which she was suspected and planning how she would surprise her into the confession of guilt End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of Khaled A Tale of Arabia This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Khaled A Tale of Arabia by Francis Marion Crawford Chapter 7 Not many days passed after this before the women of the harem began to whisper among themselves in the passages and outer chambers See they said how our master favors this foreign woman who is in all probability a devil from the Persian mountains every day he will have her to sing to him and to bring him drink and to sit at his feet and he has given her several bracelets of gold and a large ruby surely it will be better for us to flatter her and show her reverence for if not, she will before long give us sticks to eat and we shall mourn our folly so they began to exhibit great respect for Almasta giving her always the best seat amongst them and setting aside for her the best portions of the mutton and the whitest of the rice and the largest of the sweet meats and the mellowest of the old sugar dates so that Almasta fared sumptuously but though she understood the reason why the women treated her so much more kindly than before she was careful always to appear thankful and to speak softly to them for she feared Zihua to whom they might speak of her and who was very powerful with a sultan she was indeed secretly transported with joy for she loved Khalid and she began to think that before long he would marry her this was her only motive also for she was not otherwise ambitious after which did many evil deeds she did them all out of love for him though Khalid was by no means soft-hearted he could not but pity her sometimes seeing how she was deceived by his kindness while he was only making a pretense of preferring her in order to gain Zihua's love often he sat long with closed eyes while she sang to him or played softly on the barbat and he tried to fancy the voice and the presence where Zihua was but her strange language disturbed him for there were sounds in it like the hissing of serpents and like choking which caused him to start suddenly just when her voice was sweetest for the Georgian tongue is barbarous and not like any human speech under the sun resembling by turns the inarticulate warbling of birds and the croaking of ravens and the noises made by an angry cat nevertheless Khalid always made a pretense of being pleased though he enjoined upon Almasta to learn to sing in Arabic for Arabic he said to her is the language of paradise and is spoken by all beings among the blessed from Adam our father who waits for the resurrection in the first heaven to the birds that fly among the branches if the tree sedrat the throne of Allah singing perpetually the verses of Al Quran the black-eyed virgins reserved for the faithful also speak only in Arabic shall I be of the hura al-oyun of whom you speak Almasta inquired how is it possible that you should be of the black-eyed ones when your eyes are blue Khalid asked laughing and besides are you not an unbeliever I believe what you believe and I'm learning your language there is no Allah beside Allah and Muhammad is Allah's prophet and Muhammad is Allah's prophet Almasta repeated devoutly good and the six articles of belief are also necessary teach me said Almasta laying the barbat upon the carpet and folding her hands you must believe first in Allah and secondly in all the angels thirdly you must believe in Al Quran fourthly in the prophets of Allah fifthly in the resurrection of the dead and the last judgment and lastly that your destiny is about your neck so that you cannot escape it I believe in everything said Almasta who understood nothing of these sacred matters shall I now be one of the hura al-oyun but you have blue eyes when I know that I am dying I will paint them black said Almasta laughing sweetly the angels Munkar and Nakir will discover your deception said Khalid when you are dead and buried these two angels who are black will enter your tomb they are of extremely terrible appearance then they will make you sit upright and will examine you first as to your belief and then as to your deeds you will then not be able to tell lies if you truly believe and have done good your soul will then be breathed out of your lips and will float in a state of rest over your grave until the last judgment but if not the black angels will beat your head with iron maces and tear your soul from your body with a torment greater than the flesh from the bones I believe in everything Almasta said again supposing that her ascent would please him you find it an easy matter to believe what I tell you he said for he could see that she would have received any other faith as readily but it is not easy for a woman to enter paradise and since it is your destiny to have blue eyes they will not become black for Al-Oyun however are not mortal women and no mortal woman can ever be one of them since they are especially prepared for the faithful but a man's wives may enter paradise with him in a glorified beauty which may not be inferior to that of the black eyed ones if for instance Abdul Kareem had lived and been your husband you might by faith and good works have entered heaven with him as one of his wives Almasta looked long at Khalid trying to see whether he still suspected her and indeed he found it very hard to do so for her look was clear and innocent as that of a young dove that is fed by a familiar hand I would like to enter paradise with you said Almasta with an appearance of timidity is it not possible it may be possible but I doubt it but it is answered with gravity in those days while Khalid thus spent many hours with Almasta Zihua often remained for a long time in another part of the harem either surrounded by her women or sitting alone upon the balcony over the court absorbed in watching the people who came and went the slaves were surprised to see that Khalid seemed to prefer the society of the Georgian to that of his wife and ordered say nothing to Zihua and contented themselves with watching her face and endeavoring to find out whether she were displeased at what was happening or really indifferent as she appeared to be Almasta herself was distrustful supposing that Khalid and Zihua were in league together to entrap her into a self-accusation and though her heart was transported with happiness while she was with Khalid yet she did not forget to be cautious whenever any reference was made to Abdul Kareem's death she also took the long needle out of her hair and hid it carefully in a corner in a crevice between the pavement and the wall lest it should at any time fall from its place and bring suspicion upon her Khalid watched Zihua as narrowly as the women did to see whether any signs of jealousy show themselves in her face and sometimes they talk together of Almasta it is strange said Khalid that Allah, being all-powerful should have provided matter for dissension on earth by creating one woman more beautiful than another, the one with blue eyes the other with black the one with red hair and the other with hair needing henna to brighten it are not all women the children of one mother and are not all men her sons also it is strange that Allah, being all-powerful should have provided matter for sorrow by creating one man with a spirit easily satisfied and the other with a soul tormented by discontent Khalid looked fixedly at his wife and bent his brows but in secret he was glad for he supposed that she was beginning to be jealous however he made a pretense of being displeased is man a rock that he should never change he asked or has he but one eye with which to see but one kind of beauty have I not two hands, two feet, two ears two nostrils and two eyes that is true Zihua answered but a man has only one heart with which to love one voice with which to speak kind words and one mouth with which to kiss the woman he has chosen and if a man had two souls they would rend him so that he would be mad at this Khalid laughed a little and would gladly have shown Zihua that she was right but he feared to be treated with indifference if he yielded to her argument so soon and he held his peace nevertheless Zihua continued after a time you are right and so am I you said indeed, not many days ago that your two hands should wither at the wrists if you took another wife yet I advised you to do so and now it is clear from what you say that you wish to marry Almasta I am your handmaiden take her therefore and be contented for she loves you but now Khalid was much disturbed as to what he should answer for he had hoped that Zihua would break out into jealous anger he could not accept her advice because of his oath and still more because of his love for her yet he could not send away Almasta since by doing so he would be giving over his last hope of obtaining Zihua's love by rousing her jealousy take her Zihua repeated the palace is wide and spacious there is room for us both and for two others also if need be according to divine law take her and let there be contentment have you not said that she is more beautiful than I no answered Khalid I have not said so you have thought it which is much the same for you said that her hair was red but that mine needed henna to brighten it marry her therefore this very day send for the qadi and order a feast and let it be done quickly is it nothing to you whether I take her or not at last seeking desperately for something to say is it for me to set myself up against the holy law or did anyone exact from you a promise that you would not take another wife and if you rashly promised anything of your own free will the promise is not binding seeing that there is no authority for it in al-Quran and that no one desires you to keep it neither I nor Almasta Zihua laughed at her own speech and Khalid was too much disturbed to notice that the laugh was rather of scorn than of mirth how shall I take a woman who is perhaps a murderous he asked shall I take her who was perhaps the cause of your revered father's death may Allah give him peace surely the very thought is terrible to me and I will not do it will you convict her without witnesses and where is your witness did not the physician explain the reason of the death and did he suspect that there was anything unnatural about it but if you still think that she destroyed my father and Abdul Karim peace on them both why do you make her sit all day long at your feet and sing to you in her barbarous language which resembles the barking of jackals and why do you command her to bring you drink and fan you when it is hot afternoon this shows a forgiving and trustful disposition this is an unenturable argument thought Khalid being very much perplexed can I answer that I do all this in order to see whether Zihowa is jealous she will certainly laugh to herself and say in her heart that she has married a fool so he said nothing but bent his brows again and endeavored to seem angry and Zihowa took no notice of his face and continued to urge him to marry Almasta have you ever seen such a woman she asked have you ever seen such eyes are they not like twin heavens of a deep blue each having a shining sun in the midst is not her hair like 70,000 pieces of gold poured out upon the carpet from a height her nose is a straight piece of pure ivory her lips are redder than pomegranates when they are ripe and her cheeks are as smooth as silk moreover she is as white as milk freshly taken from the camel whereas my hands are of the color of blanket bread before it is baked your hands are much smaller than hers said Khalid who could not suffer Zihowa to discredit her own beauty I do not know she answered at her fingers but they are less white and Almasta is far more beautiful than I you yourself said so I never said so Khalid replied more and more perplexed there are two kinds of beauty that is what I said Allah has willed it Almasta is a slave and her hands are large it is a pity for she is like a mare that has many good points there is too much idleness in the stable I say that there are two kinds of beauty yours is that of the free women of a pure and beautiful race hers is that of the slave accidentally born beautiful Zihowa gathered up her three long black tresses and laid them across her knees as she sat then she shook off her golden bracelets one after the other to the number of a score and heaped them upon the hair which do you like best she asked the black or the gold the day or the night here you see them together and can judge fairly between them Khalid sought for a crafty answer and made a pretense of pondering the matter deeply after the night he said at last the day is very bright and glorious but when we have looked on it long only the night can bring rest and peace he was pleased with himself when he had made this answer supposing that Zihowa would find nothing to say but he had only lead a new trap for himself this is quite true she answered laughing that is also the reason why Allah made the day and the night to follow each other in succession lest men should grow weary of eternal light or eternal darkness for the same reason also since you have a wife whose hair is black I counsel you to take a red-haired one in this way you will obtain that variety which the taste of man craves if I follow your advice you will regret it said Khalid you think I shall be jealous but you are mistaken I am what I am can another woman make me more or less beautiful moreover I shall always be first in the palace so you take three other wives the others will rise up when you come in but I shall remain sitting I shall always be the first wife undoubtedly that is your right Khalid replied do you suppose that I wish to put any woman in your place then Zihowa left and laid her hand upon Khalid's arm how foolish men are she exclaimed do you think you can deceive me do you imagine because I have answered you and talked with you today and listened to your arguments that I do not understand your heart oh Khalid this is true which you often say of yourself that your wit is in your arm if I were a warrior and stood before you with a sword in my hand you could argue better for you would cut off my head and the argument would end suddenly but Allah has not made you and words in your mouth are of no more avail than a sword would be in mine for you entangle yourself in your own language as I should wound myself if I tried to handle a weapon at this Khalid was much disconcerted and he stroked his beard thoughtfully looking away so as not to meet her eyes I do not know what you mean he said at last you certainly imagine something which has no existence I imagine nothing for I have seen the truth ever since the first day when you desired to be alone with Al-Masta you are only foolishly trying to make me jealous of her in order that I may love you better when Khalid saw that she understood him he was without any defense for he had built a wall of sand for himself like a child playing in the desert which the first breath of wind causes to crumble the second blast leaves no trace of it behind and am I foolish because I have done this thing he cried not attempting to deny the truth am I a fool because I desire your love but it is folly to speak of it for you will reproach me and say that I am disconcerted and will offer me another woman for my wife go leave me alone if you do not love me you is as vinegar poured into a fresh wound and salt rubbed into ice that are sore with the sand go, why do you stay do you not believe me do you wish me to kill you that I may have peace from you it is a pity that you did not marry one of the hundred suitors who came before me for you certainly loved one of them since you cannot love me you doubtless love the indian prince would you have him back and give you his bones for I slew him with my own hands and buried him in the red desert where his soul is sitting upon a heap of sand waiting for the day of resurrection then Zihowa was greatly astonished for neither she nor anyone else had ever known what had been the end of that suitor and after waiting a long time his people who had been with him had departed sorrowing to their own country and she had heard no more of them what is this she asked in amazement why did you kill him and how could you have done this thing unseen since he was guarded by many attendants I took him out of the palace in the night when all were asleep and then I killed him said Khalid and Zihowa could get no other answer for he would not confess that he had been one of the genie lest she should not believe the truth or else believing should be afraid of him in the future I will give you his bones he said if you desire them for I know where they are and you certainly loved him and are still mourning for him if he could be alive I would kill him again I never loved him Zihowa answered at last how was it possible but I would perhaps have married him hoping to convert all his people to faith as you have married me in the hope or the assurance of giving your people a just king you are angry Khalid and indeed I could be angry too but with myself and not with you as you are with me though it be for the same reason for I begin to see and understand why you are discontented and indeed I will do what I can to satisfy you you must love me as I love you if you would save me from destruction said Khalid though Zihowa could not comprehend the meaning of the words she saw by his face that he was terribly moved and she herself began to be more sorry for him indeed Khalid she said I will try to love you from this hour but it is a hard thing because you cannot explain it it is easy to learn what cannot be explained do you think that all women love their husbands in this way you mean am I unlike all the rest Khalid took her hand and held it and looked into her eyes love is the first mystery of the world he said death is the second between the two there is nothing but a weariness darkened with shadows and thick with mists what is gold in the darkness for a moment and falls away to a cold ash in our hand when we have taken it but love is a treasure which remains what is renowned a cry uttered in the bazaar by men whose minds are subject to change as their bodies are to death but the voice of love is heard in paradise singing beside the fountains Tasnim and Sal Sahil what is power with which to draw wealth and fame from the waters of life to what end we must die or is power a sword to kill our enemies if their time is come they will die without the sword or is it a stick to purify the hides of fools the fool will die also like his master and both will be forgotten but they who love shall enter the seventh heaven together according to the promise of Allah death is stronger than man or woman but love is stronger than death and all else is but a vision seen in the desert having no reality I will try to understand it for I see that you are very unhappy said Zeowa she was silent after this for Khalid's words were earnest and sank into her soul yet the more she tried to imagine what the passion in him could be like the less she was able to understand it for some of Khalid's actions had been foolish but she supposed that there must have been some wisdom in them having its foundation in the nature of love what he says is true she thought I married him in order to give my people a just and brave king and he is both brave and just and I am certainly a good wife for I should be dissolved in shame if another man were to see my face and moreover I am careful of his wants and I take his kefir from his head with my own hands and smooth the cushions for him and bring him food and drink when he desires it or have I withheld from him any of the treasures of the palace or stood in the way of his taking another wife until today I thought indeed that this talk of love meant but little but he spoke of it because he desired an excuse for marrying Al-Masta who loves him but when I said at a venture that he wished to make me jealous he confessed the truth now all the tales of love told by the old women are of young persons who have seen each other from a distance but are hindered from marrying and we are already married surely it is very hard to understand after this Al-Masta to sit at his feet and sing to him as he had done before and Zihua was constantly with him in her stead at first Al-Masta supposed that Khalid only made a pretense of disregarding her out of respect for his wife but she soon perceived that he was indifferent and no longer noticed her she then grew fierce and jealous and her voice was not heard singing in the harem but she went and took her needle again in the pavement and hid it in her hair and though Zihua often called her when Khalid was not in the house she made as though she understood even less of the Arabic language than before and sat stupidly on the carpet gazing at her hands Zihua weiried of her silence for she understood the reason of it well enough I am tired of this woman she said to Khalid do you think I am jealous of her now Khalid smiled a little but said nothing only shaking his head I am tired of her Zihua repeated she sits before me like a sack of barley in a grain cellar's shop neither moving nor speaking she is yours Khalid answered send her away or we will give her in marriage to one of the shakes who will take her away to the desert in this way she will not be able even to visit you when she comes into the city but they decided nothing at that time some days later Khalid was sitting alone upon a balcony Zihua having gone to the bath when Almasta came suddenly before him and threw herself at his feet beating her forehead and tearing her hair though not indeed in a way to injure it what have I done she cried why is my lord displeased Khalid looked at her in surprise and answered nothing at first why are my lord's eyes like frozen pools by Takura and why is his forehead like Kasbeck in a mist Khalid laughed a little at her words Kasbeck is far from Riyadh he answered and the waters of Takura do not irrigate the red desert I am not displeased on the contrary I will give you a husband and a sufficient dowry go in peace let me stay let me stay for I love you I will eat the dust under your feet only let me stay I think not Khalid answered you weary Zihua with your silence and your sullenness let me stay she repeated over and over again she was not making any pretense of grief for the tears ran down abundantly and stained the red leather of Khalid's shoes though he was hard-hearted he was not altogether cruel for a man who loves one woman greatly is somewhat softened towards all such as do not stand immediately in his way it is true he thought that I have given this woman some occasion of hope for I have treated her kindly during many days and she has probably supposed that I would marry her less keen-sighted than Zihua and moreover she loves me do not drive me out cried Al-Masta for I shall die if I cannot see your face what have I done you have indeed done nothing worthy of your death for I cannot prove that you killed Abdul-Kerim I will therefore give you a good husband and you shall be happy but Al-Masta would not go away and embracing his knees she looked up into his face imploring him to let her remain Khalid could not but see that she was beautiful for the midday light fell upon her white face and her red lips and made shadows in her hair of the color of mellow dates and reflections as bright as gold when the burnisher is still in the goldsmith's hand though he cared nothing for Al-Masta and little for her sorrow his eye was pleased and he smiled then he looked up and saw Zihua standing before him just as she had come from the bath wrapped in loose garments of silk and gold he gazed at her attentively for there was a distant gleam of light in her eyes and her cheeks were warm though she stood in the shadow so that he thought she had never been more beautiful and he did not care to look at Al-Masta's face again why is Al-Masta lamenting in this way Zihua asked she desires to stay in the palace Khalid answered but I have told her that she shall be married and yet she wishes to stay let her be married quickly then is she a free woman that she should resist or is she rich that she should refuse alms let her be married there is a certain young man cousin to Abdul Karim a Bedouin of pure descent let him take her if he will and let the marriage be celebrated tomorrow but Al-Masta shook her head and her tears never ceased from flowing you will marry him said Khalid and if any harm comes to him I will cause you to be put to death before the second call to prayer on the following morning when Al-Masta heard this her tears were suddenly dried and her lips closed tightly on the second floor and retired to a distance within the room on that day Khalid sent for the young man of whom he had spoken whose name was Abdullah Ibn Muhammad El Harir and offered him Al-Masta for a wife and he accepted her joyfully for he had heard of her wonderful beauty and was moreover much gratified by being given a woman whom the former sultan would probably have married and gave him a grey mare as a wedding gift and a handsome garment the marriage was therefore celebrated in the customary manner and no harm came to Abdullah but as the autumn had now set in he soon afterwards left the city taking Al-Masta with him to live in tents after the manner of the Bedouins End of Chapter 7 Recording by Maricel Qui