The Golden Blade Page #2

for no doom could be greater

than to fail in this.

But there is discontent

in Baghdad.

Rebellion against you

is growing, Caliph of Caliphs.

Each day brings news

of Basra's violence.

Each day sees new attacks

against our people.

Then route our caravans

another way.

But the land in question

belongs to Baghdad.

The land in question is only

sand and has ever been in doubt.

Let Basra keep the sand, Jafar, for

war brings only sorrow and violence.

Let go, fool! Let be!

Hold still, crimson plague!

Behold the conquering hero

subduing a helpless girl!

Khairuzan, now what mischief

inspires you?

No mischief of mine, Father,

but of those in the streets who

set loose tongues against you.

So, you have been about the

city again against my orders.

Look at you. You look like

all the jinns of Gehenna.

I go among my people

only to learn the truth.

Is there harm in this?

Harm?

Is brawling with rabble

fit for the Princess?

Such acts are aid to a riot.

A princess would have

no need of these acts

if your idle son did his duty and

struck down my father's defamers.

My son protects the Princess.

Protects me?

He demolishes me!

You are too impetuous.

Impetuous fails to describe

such conduct.

The Princess' contempt

for holy laws,

her behaving like a country

wench incites the people,

destroys faith in the throne,

opens the door to rebellion.

Jafar speaks wisdom,

my daughter.

I command that the Princess

Khairuzan be confined to the palace.

I charge you, Captain Hadi,

with full responsibility.

As you desire,

O Caliph.

I would have a word in private

with you, Prince of True Believers.

If you mean Basra,

there will be no war.

It was the Princess

I had in mind.

The Princess is no longer a child

who can be curbed by confinement.

True. She has grown

into womanhood suddenly.

We did not properly

perceive it.

Perchance the answer

might be in marriage?

Marriage? For Khairuzan?

It's said that marriage

calms the tempestuous nature.

He who now watches over her as his

charge would cherish her as his wife.

Granted my son is not

gifted in speech Ol Man nelS,

but he is of noble birth and

as a warrior, second to none.

Your thought indeed has merit.

I shall speak to Khairuzan.

Perhaps it shall be arranged.

If one's son be not wise,

let him at least be tall.

What is amiss?

I incite a riot.

You interfere.

It was the foolish princess.

Enough, it is done,

and the Basra incident

avails us nothing.

What can be gained

from a strip of desert waste?

What stupidity.

It's to undermine the Caliph,

to take power in our own hands

that I provoke these troubles,

not for a parcel of sand.

But I'm wasting words.

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