Swords From the Desert by Harold Lamb Page A

the wretches, yet this bull-Persian saw fit to think otherwise. He scurried around looking for chance spoil, and finding none, wiped his bloodless sword in a fold of his cloak. Then he rearranged his daggers, adjusted his turban, and set off with his arm linked in mine.
    Ever and anon he glanced over his shoulder, and he looked up and down the next street before diving into a Roumi wine shop filled with Bok- harians and Genoese men of the sea. Here my graceless rogue took cup in hand and cried out for all to hear that he had done two thieves to death. Such affairs were common enough in the alleys of this quarter, near the docks, and little heed was paid Arbogastes.
    "Take water, as thou wilt, 0 Badawan!" he grunted, seeing that I would have no wine. "Eh, what is the harm, among unbelievers? There is no harm! Of a truth, a single drop of wine is forbidden all believers, yet-behold, thou-I pour out the drop, and empty the cup myself. The law sayeth not, concerning cups. After all, the juice of the grape is trodden by the feet of fair maidens, and thou hast an eye for such."
    He brushed out the two corners of his curled and oiled beard, and filled his cup again from the skin on the rack.
    "From this day thou and I be brothers," he proclaimed. "How do men call thee, my lord?"
    Long ago my people of Al-Yamen, the Ibna of Al-Yamen, had descent from the Persian warriors, in the dawn of happenings. In that day and time the Persian swordsmen were men of pride. Now they have become boasters without shame, and this Arbogastes was no doubt compounded of Greek and Turkish fathers. Nevertheless, because he saw by the braids of hair and eye and ear that I was of Al-Yamen, he claimed fellowship.
    "Khalil, el Khadr,* am I."
    "A chieftain's son. Wah-this day is fortunate. Ask of me what thou wilt, only ask! By , Arbogastes is a man of courage also."
    He puffed out his round cheeks, and his dark eyes glimmered shrewdly. Arbogastes, in the dramshop, was a braver figure than Arbogastes beset in the alley. I think he knew that I had saved his skin, and wished to reward me in this way. The long purse at his girdle clinked heavily when he moved, and he moved his belly often. A captain of guards, I thought him, in the service of some lord from whom he had learned insolence. And another thought came to me.
    "Surely I have heard of Arbogastes," I made answer, as if greatly pleased, "and of his master, who is not less renowned than the emperor."
    Arbogastes was strangely affected by these words. He glanced about him swiftly, emptied his cup, choked, and leaned close to my ear to whisper with the sigh of a bull.
    "The time is not yet for such speech. My master, the Maga Domastikos, the very high chamberlain, has his finger on events, and gathers men through his gates."
    He blinked like an owl, to show that he knew more than he would say. His words had opened up the path I meant to follow.
    "I will speak with the Domastikos. Take me to him."
    "Thou? Well, why not? But why?"
    "There will be a siege. The gates are closed. A panther maddens itself by striking often. After the Roumis* have stood an onset or two from the Franks, they may massacre the Muslimin within the gates."
    Arbogastes nodded. He had thought of that, it seemed.
    "So," I explained, "by taking my place in the suite of a lord who is the equal of Murtzuple, almost-" Arbogastes nodded again, with a smirk-"I may escape the massacre and perchance render some service to the lord. As for thee-"
    "What?" The Persian jangled his purse and looked inquisitive.
    "Thou wert sent to watch the barbarian maid, Irene." I judged this to be so, nor did his face belie it. "The Domastikos, then, has an interest in her-"
    "By Ali, and all the Companions, he longs for the girl as though she were a jewel of great price! At the church of the Greek Patriarch, he saw her and desired her at once. So, when he fared forth, he summoned me to follow her. It was no great task. I sought my lord and told him that she was nobly