CHAPTER 4
Saladin's Main Encampment
Saladin and Hakim sat under an awning in the camp. A board game that would later be known as chess was under way. Shifting uncomfortably once again Hakim stifled a groan.
"How is your bowman?" Saladin asked.
"He's not mine. The man is little more than a wild thing," Hakim glared into his old friends laughing eyes.
"If all of the hunters are as feral as your Shadow it is of little wonder we cannot catch them. You know we would have never caught him except for the squire's horse going down," Saladin noted softly in his silky voice.
"It has cost me dearly," Hakim grumbled shifting yet again.
"It is well the rider is more reasonable than the horse," Saladin smirked. Manfully several nearby guards' suppressed their snickers.
"It is not a horse the damn demon bit me, TWICE," Hakim protested.
"I saw," Saladin sounded ... strangled. "He only hurt your pride," the sultan comforted his life long friend.
"Pride hell! He bit my ass. I'll be riding sore for a month," Hakim hissed. A sudden gust of dust must have been responsible for the guards, coughing fits.
"Indeed you will be," Saladin sympathized some more. Hakim glared.
"The little shit bit me," Hakim snarled.
"I know Hakim, the mean black horsey bitted your butt ... twice," Saladin laughed aloud.
"The bowman," Hakim exhibited his forearm. A large bruise held the clear imprint of teeth centered in it.
"It's a good thing you wear a bowguard," Saladin remarked. "Such perfect teeth are rare," he admired the bite.
"I'm so glad you approve. The horse has excellent teeth too. Do you want to see," Hakim shaped.
"I'll take your word for it," Saladin snickered and fell back laughing hard. Soft laughter filled the area as the bodyguards finally broke down.
"Are you done now?" Hakim asked after several minutes.
"Yes forgive me old friend there has been little to find humor in these last weeks," Saladin sighed.
"No offense taken at least you enjoyed something," Hakim smiled ruefully. "I'm not doing it again no matter how much of a laugh you need though."
"So what should I do with those two?" the sultan asked looking towards the shackled captives. The bowman's head came up as if he could feel the gaze upon him. A challenging stare was returned. A protective hand came to rest on the still unconscious squire.
"Ransom them back to their knights with the rest of the captives I suppose," Hakim scowled. Saladin waved Ari his master of spies over.
"Go question the other captives find out who our bowman and his friend belong to," the sultan ordered. Bowing Ari turned to fulfill his duty.
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The dark haired one is Sir Bucklin of Wilmington's squire.
"Sir Bucklin is one of Duke Pierre of Larabee's by-blows," Hakim mused.
"As is the squire they had different mothers though," Ari reported.
"This Sir Bucklin tell me of him," Saladin commanded.
"A bit of a rogue but a loyal companion," Ari reported.
"He is landless," Hakim said quietly.
"The boy, how does this knight treat his squire?" Saladin asked softly.
"From all reports he truly loves him as a brother. Most say he will ruin the boy by holding back the discipline," Ari continued.
"Should we ransom him back to his knight?" Saladin asked.
"It would be best, the boy is foolhardy but his knight keeps him from harm," Ari suggested.
"Wilmington has no funds and Pierre will not pay to reclaim an unwanted son," Hakim said bitterly.
"Make the ransom low enough that the knight can meet it," Saladin smiled ruefully. "Now for the settlement of Hakim's bowman," the sultan continued.
"He is one of Sir Christopher of Larabee's Black Wolves," Ari reported.
"Sir Christopher is the Duke Larabee's heir," Hakim reminded.
"Those thrice cursed bowman of his are excellent warriors but no knights," Ari explained.
"This Shadow what do the other prisoners say of him?" Saladin demanded once more locking gazes with the blue eyed falcon.
"Perhaps a translator, mayhap an advisor even to the infidels the black wolves are foreign," Ari shrugged. "There are some who say the hunter is the knight's catamite as well. They spend much time together despite their ranks".
"I haven't really looked him over but those eyes are compelling," Hakim noted.
"I think Mommar's thumb twitching in the dust. Nipped any such thoughts in the bud," Saladin smirked.
"There are no reports of Sir Christopher ever having a male lover before," Ari noted calmly.
"A simple companion then. Set the ransom lower than the squire's," the sultan ordered examining one of his pawns thoughtfully.
"My Lord?" Ari asked in surprise.
"It would be a insult to the squire if we value a common bowman higher," Saladin explained his reasoning. "It would injure the boy's spirit if we did so". The sultan held the pawn gently in his palm.
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Two Days Later
"Well the captives have been ransomed back," Ari reported.
"The squire and the bowman?" Saladin asked curiously.
"Sir Bucklin yelled and ranted. He shook the boy a little then hugged him till the boy begged for air," Ari chuckled.
"The bowman?" Hakim demanded his voice was curiously flat.
"Sir Christopher never acknowledged him. When they left the bowman rode at his left flank," Ari frowned.
"A position of trust at least," Hakim sighed in relief.
"You liked the wild falcon," Saladin smiled.
"Glad to see the last of him," Hakim muttered unconvincingly.
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