11. Preparations

As swiftly as Kalare had left her family home to reach her father some months before, it took considerably longer to depart for Jerusalem even though not all in the party travelled together. One week after the wedding was announced the sultan and his advisors left the estate, followed a few days later by Balian and most of his men. As he had no current residence in the city, Kalare stayed behind at lord Kadir's house. Yet when Balian arrived in the city he was swiftly called to appear before Saladin. He was welcomed to the palace by his old friend, lord Imad, who brought him to a private chamber where they awaited the sultan together.

"Are you aware of the nature of today's meeting?" Balian asked. "I admit I did not expect to be summoned upon my arrival in the city."

"I am, for I was the one who pressed upon the sultan its necessity," Imad replied. "Do not worry, my friend, it is a positive subject."

With Balian's initial doubts removed the men spoke quietly of times past as they waited Saladin.

When the sultan entered the room both men quickly rose to their feet.

"Welcome back to Jerusalem lord Balian," Saladin greeted as he motioned both men to sit back down and took a seat himself. "Has lord Imad informed you of the reason of this summons?"

"No, my lord he has not," Balian replied.

"You have returned to this city at this time with multiple purposes. To arrange a guard for your daughter and to find a suitable residence from where you can assure her safety," lord Imad stated.

"The safety of all my daughters, yes," Balian agreed.

"We have found you such a residence. One that is appropriate for the family of the future queen of Jerusalem."

"That is very kind. Yet I do not want to displace another man from his home. I doubt it will benefit the peace we are trying to establish."

"The current resident has many other holdings and wishes you and your family well," Saladin replied.

"You are certain of this?"Balian asked, to which both men dodded affirmatively. "Very well, which residence shall I direct my men to?"

"Those belonging to the master of Ibelin," lord Imad replied as he place a well known ring before Balian.

Surprised Balian looked at Imad who smiled knowingly. "You did more for those lands than any master previous or since."

"I thank you, my friend, for this great kindness. Be assured that you wil always be a welcome guest," Balian replied.

As lord Kadir's house slowly emptied, Emir and Kalare found themselves spending more time together without a chaperone. Though one of the women who served in the house had been assigned to Kalare in Ilarya's absence, Kalare had refused to be chaperoned at every minute of the day as that would surely be the case once she entered Jerusalem.

More than once did the couple find themselves together in the library. Sometimes they quietly read together, other times they spoke. Thus they learned more about each other as they both let down their guard bit by bit.

"Does lord Kadir have any current maps of the Holy land? These here seem to be several decades old at least," Kalare noted, as she and Emir had been quietly studying.

"I believe there are some in the other room. Is there anything specific you are looking for?" Emir replied.

"I was reading about this part of the world, to learn more about the land and its people," Kalare explained. Yet I have seen so little of it that it is difficult to place what I read."

"I shall bring you a map, though perhaps you should see more of this land and its people before the wedding and coronation," Emir answered before stepping out of the room.

When he returned and placed the map in Kalare's hands, she looked him directly in the eyes.

"Would it even be possible?" she asked. "I doubt such a trip would be agreed to now."

"Now might be the last time each of us is free to ride out without an army surrounding us," Emir countered. "This will be your only chance to walk amongst the people of the Holy land without them knowing who you are."

"What are you suggesting? Surely not that we travel without a guard," Kalare wondered both shocked and excited.

"Most people travel without a guard and we can each protect ourselves, can we not?" Emir replied. "Study the map and read which ever book you want. When you find it is not enough, decide what will be."

"They will not let us undertake such a journey," Kalare reiterated.

"Who will not?"

"My father, yours, the sultan, anyone who knows of the path we are on."

"Both the sultan and your father are not here to stop us. Everyone else will want to be in our favour before we become rulers. And my father will not know we have gone until after we leave," Emir explained.

"You plan to undertake the journey without asking permission."

"We must not ask permission. We can only rule if we trust our own judgement. For if we do not, no one else will."

"That may be true, yet it would be irresponsible to leave without informing anyone," Kalare replied. "Perhaps, if we decided to go, we should not ask but we should tell."

"If you decide you want to know more of this land than can be read in books."

Through a silent agreement the couple did not seek each other's company the next day, nor did they speak the day after that.

Yet when Kalare saw Emir preparing his horse she went to him as she realised he had been the one constant in her life since she left her home.

"Are you leaving my lord?" she asked as she entered the stall.

Emir quietly observed as Kalare stroked his horse's head before he answered. "That remains to be seen."

"What does it depend on?"

"Your choice," Emir replied as he harshly brushed his horse. His words and demeanour was unlike that of the man Kalare had come to know over the past months.

"Do you wish for me to change my answer, to withdraw my consent to marry you? Or perhaps you would rather that I had had no choice in the matter."

Emir quickly realised the impact his words had had. He stopped brushing his horse and joined Kalare at the horse's head, behind which she hid her face.

"No, my lady, I wish for neither," he said, his voice decisive and clear. "I apologise if I gave that impression."

"Yet you said it was my choice which determined whether you remain or leave. Surely you are free to go as you please."

"What sort of man would I be, what sort of husband would I become if I left you before we are wed? No, I will not leave you here nor will I force you to come with me." Emir explained.

"If I was not here, would you still be here?"

"Unlikely. Before we met I spend very few days of the year here. I am ill used to remain in one place for long."

"You cannot rule Jerusalem from the road," Kalare pointed out.

"No, I cannot."

"Would you prefer it if I joined my father in the city or if I joined you on the road?"

"Are you certain you want me to decide this for you?"

"I am," Kalare's confirmation came quickly and belayed no doubt.

"You have studied the map I gave you?"

"I have."

"Were there one or more places which drew your interest?"

"The Sea of Galilee appeared worthy of a visit and it should provide enough opportunity to learn about the people of this land," Kalare smiled.

"It is and it will," Emir agreed as returned with a smile Kalare had not seen since travelled together months ago.

"I suspect you would rather leave today than tomorrow. Yet I must ask for some time to prepare and I would ask you to consider leaving word of our intentions for those who care for us."

"Tomorrow morning shall be soon enough and I will consider which would be an appropriate way to leave word."

"Very well, I shall prepare by finding my sword as I have not seen it since we arrived here."

When Kalare's attendant arrived the next morning to help her dress she found two letters instead of a young lady. Unable to read, she took the letters to Amina, whose room was closest.

Surprised, Amina found that one of the letters was addressed to her and the other to lord Balian. After quickly reading the letter, she rushed to present it to her father.

Unaccustomed to seeing his daughter so early in the day, Kadir instantly knew something had happened.

After explaining how she received the letter Kadir asked Amina to read the letter addressed to her out loud.

My dearest Amina,

Do not be frightened. I assure you I am well and left of my own accord. As you know my interest in these lands and its people has only grown since I agreed to marry your brother. Though lord Kadir's library holds many secrets it was unable to give me a true sense of the land and people to which I shall be queen. Lord Emir and I shall travel north together, unattended and unguarded by soldiers for the last time in our lives. I look forward to the day I may call you sister. We will see each other again soon, in Jerusalem.

Your dear friend,

Kalare.

Kadir only shortly contemplated the meaning of the letter before he send a servant to search for his eldest son, though he expected no result. At the same time he send for his stable master.

"My lord," the stable master greeted as he bowed deeply.

"Fetch my fastest horse and quickest rider," Kadir commanded. "This letter must reach lord Balian in Jerusalem without delay."

The stable master hesitated before he replied. "My lord," he said, "our two best horses and riders were send out early this morning by lord Emir to find lord Balian and our great sultan, Saladin."

"The best we have at the moment will have to do," Kadir bristled.

"That would be your son Tamir, my lord," the stable master replied.

"Bring him to me," Kadir ordered another servant.


Author Note
Sorry it took so long to write/upload a new chapter. I got a new, full time job so I have less time for writing.
I will continue this story though, don't doubt that.