A Woman Scorned

Following the dispersal of the council, Nasir sat in the quiet company of his Master and the Mullah. He was completely bewildered. Who the hell is she? I would know if I'd seen her before, surely!

"Who is she, Nasir?" Salah al-Din echoed Nasir's thoughts.

"Master, I swear it, I do not know!"

"An animal. A demon, is what she is! No god-fearing woman would behave in such a manner!" The Mullah's self-righteousness grated on Nasir's nerves. But he had to agree that he had never met a woman who behaved in such a way.

"Perhaps you should find out what your offences are." The Sultan's suggestion was sincere.

"As soon as I gather my wits, I shall." Nasir's confusion was giving way to curiosity.

"I can accompany you, if you would feel more secure." The Mullah mocked.

"I feel safer with her than I do you." With that Nasir nodded to his Master and took his leave.

--

The guards had caged Fazia. She was crouched in a corner like a wild animal ready to spring should the door open. Nasir stood his distance. He couldn't be sure the iron bars would hold her. He regarded her closely and she watched him, her lips pulled into a sneer.

"Will you tell me, please, how I have offended you?" Nasir asked gently.

Fazia threw her head back and cackled. "You'll find no salvation here."

"Ah." Nasir paused. He tried to quell the anger rising in him. "You are an excellent fighter, but you are not a warrior. The man who dies at the hand of warrior knows the reason for his death." He hoped to appeal to some sense of honor she may have.

"Don't patronize me." She hissed. "You are no warrior either. Thousands have died under your sword and had no idea why."

"Not true. The directive of the Sultan's army has always been clear. Any man who challenges us combatively knows the reason for his death."

"Ha! You march through lands leaving a wake of destruction in your path. Did you ever stop to ask these men why they are challenging you? Do you even care that some hapless soul may just want to protect his land and water supply?" Fazia's face was flushed with anger.

"Our Sultan does not operate that way. He always meets first with the leaders of groups with grievances against him, like he did with your leader earlier today. I don't know where you heard your information, but it is a falsehood."

"The death of my father is not a falsehood!" Fazia growled.

"I killed your father?" Nasir thought he was beginning to understand.

"No." Fazia's word jolted him. "My father was killed five years ago when your great Sultan's soldiers attacked our small village. Our warriors had left for the day. All we had were untrained men to fight. You bastards slaughtered them, lined up the survivors, and then strutted back and forth choosing who would join you and whom you would leave to fend for themselves."

"You must be mistaken. Why would the Sultan have bothered with a small enclave?" Nasir was frustrated.

"Its no mistake. You were there." Fazia's eyes narrowed.

Nasir approached the iron bars. He looked directly into Fazia's eyes and in a low commanding voice he asked. "What did I do to you?"

"With a flick of your hand, and an arrogant chuckle, you sloughed off the value a woman could add to your ranks."

"I laughed at you? This is why you're determined to kill me?" Nasir was incredulous.

"In my foolish youth, I wanted to join your great Sultan's army. But because I was a woman you gave me no consideration. Now you see the kind of fighter you passed up."

"Indeed." Nasir couldn't help but smile. "There is more than skill required to be in this army. Personal vendettas have to be put aside and you fight only for the Sultan, without question."

"Don't be so condescending! You sloughed me off because I was a girl!" Fazia's voice was reaching a high pitch. Tears welled in her eyes and she moved to the back of the cage and turned her face away from him.

"I was wrong to have done so." Nasir felt a pang of remorse. "There is seldom an opportunity for a woman to fight with the army. In fact, I can't think of an occasion when one has. Generally women are not trained for combat, but then you do not fit into any generality. Five years ago I may have been the kind of man who laughed at the thought of a female fighter. But I have learned much from my Master, The Sultan. Assistance to our cause can come from many unexpected places. Forgive me."

To Nasir's disappointment no response was forthcoming.

--