Departure
Salah al-Din looked displeased but not angry, when Nasir entered his tent with Fazia. His dark eyes were set squarely on the two.
"You missed prayer this morning." He was gently reproachful but didn't seem alarmed at Nasir's appearance.
"I am sorry, Master. I felt it necessary to resolve the problem with the prisoner."
"During prayer?"
"I thought it the best time. My approach was a little…unorthodox."
"I see. And the matter has been resolved?" Salah al-Din didn't change his facial expression.
"Yes. She will return to her leader immediately." Nasir assured him.
Looking to Fazia, Salah al-Din asked, "I trust you will not need any more of Nasir's time?"
"No, Sultan." She bowed respectively.
"Good." Salah al-Din turned to some papers that he held in his hand. Nasir and Fazia taking his cue took their leave.
The camp was abuzz with activity. Attack of the Castle at Karak had become necessary due to the belligerent and horrific acts of Reynald de Chatillon. Nasir hadn't been privy to the latest news due to missing prayer and early meetings with Salah al-Din. Not many had noticed Nasir's absence but as Mullah Khaled approached Nasir and Fazia, it quickly became apparent to Nasir that the Mullah had noticed.
"Do you have a good reason for missing prayer this morning?" the Mullah hissed.
"Yes, I do." Nasir responded abruptly.
"Being?"
"Being none of your business." Nasir replied coldly.
The Mullah looked haughtily at Fazia but said nothing. In a moment he turned quickly and sped off toward Salah al-Din's tent. Nasir was relieved at his speedy departure but concerned about the conversation that would be taking place in the Sultan's tent.
Fazia touched Nasir's arm with a gloved hand as a lone Bedouin rider entered the camp trailing a white stallion. He stopped in front of Nasir and Fazia but did not dismount. Nasir immediately recognized the stallion as the one from the desert. Fazia quickly mounted her horse and began heading out of the camp. Suddenly she turned, "Imad ad-Din, stay alert when you're traveling alone in the desert! You never know what might be waiting for you there!" With that she turned and sped off.
Nasir smiled to himself as he watched her go. His mind was still reeling from the absurdity of the day and of this women's behavior. Nevertheless, everything about her he found irresistibly intriguing and he was not likely to forget her. Finally, the two riders were shrouded in a ghostly curtain of circling dust as they moved toward the hills. After watching for a moment, Nasir turned and moved reluctantly toward Salah al-Din's tent.