Chapter CII
One day we were sitting in our tent waiting for the summons to the emir's kitchen that we might receive of his hospitality when the flap was suddenly lifted and a man thrust his way in. Trudy gasped and snatched at her veil to cover her face and I had my dagger half out of its sheath before we recognised him.
"Salaam aleikum, Fuad," he said, settling down crosslegged on the mat opposite me. "Keef halik, ya Sitt."
"Babrak, you mannerless Syrian!" I exclaimed, sliding my dagger back into its sheath before leaning forward to embrace him.
Babrak grinned at us. "I thought to surprise you and by the Prophet, I have succeeded."
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
"I have taken service with the Emir Abdullah Amir Fiqri," Babrak told us. "After I left you I came here and was received by him - and more than this, because of my knowledge of the Frankish languages I am in great demand. Every man who has purchased a foreign slave sends for me and even the Sultan, may God prosper him, uses me to communicate with his enemies."
"How did you hear of us?" Trudy asked, laying aside her veil.
"I came back to ash-Shams on leave," Babrak explained, "for in this weather the fighting has died down. I was talking with someone from the household of ibn Hamza and chanced to mention that I had been in service with Sid Guy d'Orleans and he told me that one had come seeking that name and I immediately guessed that it was you, Fuad. To find es-Sitt as well is a bonus."
"Have you any word of my father?" Trudy leaned forward eagerly.
Babrak jerked his chin and then shook his head in the Frankish manner. "Sitt, I am sorry. Although I am not often in ash-Shams, I do not forget es-Sid and ask concerning him whenever possible, but I have not heard anything, whether about him or about the others."
"What are you doing that keeps you from ash-Shams?" I asked.
Babrak groaned. "My emir is with the rest of the Sultan's army laying siege to the castle of Belvoir, so that is where I am most of the time."
"By God, Babrak!" I could not keep the horror from my voice. "Be careful. That is a strong place."
Babrak looked at me and nodded. "You've been there, haven't you," he said.
"Of course," I said. "When es-Sid dismissed us that day, he charged me to take news of the battle to Belvoir. I have been inside the castle; I have spoken to the deputy who rules there."
"You've been inside?" Babrak laughed. "Well, that is more than any of us so far. Tell me about it."
I told of my experiences in the castle and how I had been conducted here and there so that I saw very little, either of the fortifications or of the garrison.
"Well," Babrak said when I had finished, "that is interesting but not much help to us. As you say, it is a most strong castle, for on three sides there is the rock-cut ditch and even if we should destroy the walls with our machines, still we could not come at the castle."
"And on the fourth side you must come at the castle from beneath," I nodded. "I remember it well."
"Nevertheless the Sultan, may God give him success, is attacking from beneath, for if once we can break down the wall of the bashurah it will be possible to enter." He stopped and shook his head. "It is hard work, for every day we lose good men to the arrows and slings of the defenders."
"And can you break down the walls?" Trudy asked and there was no joy in her voice.
"Inshallah," Babrak replied, ignoring the sadness in her face. "Sooner or later. Meanwhile I keep as far away as possible and al-hamdu-lillah I have no skill with these machines, so there is nothing for me to do until the final assault or unless the men of the castle mount a sortie - as they did a month ago. That is why the Sultan himself is there with all his army. The deputy in charge of the castle greets you, Fuad."
"You have spoken with him?" I asked, greatly astonished.
Babrak grinned broadly. "When we first came to the castle the Sultan, may God give him wisdom, called for one who spoke the Franks' language to summon them to surrender and my emir put me forward. I rode to the gate with a branch in my hands but by no means would they receive me or open to me and in the end I had to climb down into the ditch and the deputy and his guards came down through a salley port to speak with me."
"And they refused?" Trudy asked, her eyes gleaming.
"They refused," Babrak confirmed. "Afterwards I spoke to him as a friend, telling him that I had been in service with es-Sid in al-Quds and had seen the defeat of Hattin. I warned him that all of Outremer was captured apart from a few cities on the coast but he said that even if they alone were left, still they would be true to their vows."
"When did he send greetings to me?" I asked.
"When I mentioned the battle of Hattin the man said that they had received an Arab youth on the day of the battle who carried warning to them and I guessed that it was you and said that you and I had been in the same service. He told me to greet you from him if ever we met again."
"May God take pity on him," I murmured. "They received me with kindness."
Babrak rose to leave. "Well, so far I doubt if we have harmed any of them unless some stone has fallen by accident upon them - and if they are wise they will surrender when we make a breach and so much bloodshed will be avoided."
"Go with God, Babrak," I told him at our parting.
"Go with God, Fuad," he returned.
"Go with God," Trudy said, coming forward to kiss him after the Frankish manner. "And if you hear word of my father, let us know."
"By God, Sitt, I will do so."
