Swords of Arabia: Betrayal (13 page)

So,
although
much
had
been
prepared
for,
much
remained
uncertain
as
they
prepared
to
take
part
in
the
crucial
majlis
.
As
Zahirah
and
Firyal,
from
their
usual
position
behind
the
screens,
looked
out
impassively
and
watched
the
large,
airy
chamber
fill
up
with
the
fifty
or
so
family
members
along
with
the
heads
of
the
emirate’s
most
powerful
merchant
families,
they
knew
there
were
some
five
men
who
were
threats
to
Talal.
Two,
Nasim
and
Yusuf,
were
–
perhaps
–
containable.
They
would,
probably,
be
neutralised
by
the fact that they were
both
supported
by
the
same
faction
within
the
family,
and
so
their possible
support was divided.

The
other
three
however,
were
of
a
different
level
of
threat
entirely.
Mahmoud,
although
no
warrior,
was
one
of
the
more
senior
sheikhs
and,
in
addition,
had
an
almost
unrivalled
reputation
for
wiliness
and
being
adept
at
the
inter-tribal
politics
so
necessary
for
the
sheikdom’s
survival.
He
was
also
more
than
comfortably
wealthy
in
his
own
right
and
thus
was
in
no
need
of
any
of
the
financial
offerings
Zahirah
or
Firyal
could
offer.
Though
balanced
to
some
extent
by
the
great,
though
unvoiced,
distaste
for
his
mother
being
of
the
despised
artisan
class,
he
was
one
to
watch.
He
was
followed
very
closely
by
Faisal.
Both
men
had
strong
followings
and
were
in,
or
near,
the
very
prime
of
their
fighting
lives.

None
of
the
contenders
came
close,
however,
to
the
level
of
threat that
the
fifth
man
presented,
for
finally,
the
last,
but
very
much
not
the
least,
was
Badr.
Of
them
all,
he
was
the
one
who
most
closely
resembled
Fouad,
being
himself
a
powerful
warrior
and
ruthless
leader.
He
had
proven
skills
in
all of
the
arts
of
negotiation
and
subtlety
needed
to
hold
Narash
together.
In
many
ways,
and
in
the
eyes
of
many,
he
was
the
ideal
choice
to
follow
his
brother.

Though
they
suspected
that
he
thought
the
same,
Talal’s
supporters
didn’t
know
with
absolute
certainty.
The
wily
prince
had
played
a
skilled
hand
and
had
let
little
slip
about
his
intentions,
or
his
ambitions,
in
the
days
preceding
the
majlis
.

As
each
member
of
the
majlis
entered
the
chamber
and
took
his
seat
on
one
or
other
of
the
many
colourful
cushions
placed
on
the
richly
carpeted
floor,
everyone
knew
that
the
outcome
was
far,
so
very
far,
from
certain.
Every
one
present
also
knew
that
if
Talal’s
bid
failed,
his
life
would
be
in
real
danger.
No
new
Emir
would
lightly
leave
alive
one
so
recently
and
so
obviously
his
rival.

What
most
of
those
present,
Talal’s
supporters
included,
didn’t
know,
however,
were
the
ruthless
measures
that
were
in
place
should
the
choice
go
against
Fouad’s
son.
Destructive,
divisive,
certainly,
but
they
would
be
used
should
things
go
against
what
his
father
had
decreed.
For
the
moment,
they
were
in
abeyance
until
the
outcome
of
the
family
majlis
was
known;
in
abeyance,
but
capable
of
being
mobilised
at
a
moment’s
notice,
once
one,
or
perhaps
two,
people
deemed
them
necessary.

Chapter
Six

The
first
blow
for
Talal
was,
in
fact,
struck
before
the
gathering
actually
began.
Nasir
walked
in
with
his
nephew
at
his
side.
Crucially,
at
Talal’s
other
side
was
Abdullah.
Nothing
was
said,
it
was
too
soon,
but
Talal
was
handed
to
a
seat
near,
but
not
too
near,
Abdullah
himself,
who
took
the
place
of
honour
on
the
small
dais.
The
elderly
sheikh
ostentatiously
ignored
the
rising
murmurs
when
those
already
gathered
had
seen
Talal
enter,
though
he
was
aware
that
they
consisted
of
an about
equal
mix
of
surprise,
anger
and
welcome.

Once
seated,
the
prince
looked
around
at
his
assembled
family.
Behind
his
always
reserved
manner
and
increasing
frailty
he
was
an
astute
reader
of
men
and
could
see
that
the
majority
were
genuinely
shocked
and
grieved
at
the
sudden
death
of
the
life-force
that
had
been
Fouad.
He’d
been
their
leader
for
almost
twenty
years
and
many
in
the
family
were
genuinely
unsure
of
how
the
country
would
survive
the
huge
external
pressures
at
present
pushing
relentlessly
against
it.
Abdullah
hoped
such
grief
and
uncertainty
would
act
as
the
glue
to
bind
them
all
together
in
the
choices
to
be
made
both
today
and
in
the
dangerous
days
following.
He
hoped
so,
but
sincerely
doubted
it.
Power
was
almost
as
big
a
drug
as
women
he
thought;
more
so,
as
one
got
older,
he
reflected,
a
trifle
sadly.

Once
the
usual
courtesies
had
been
offered,
refreshments
consumed
and
the
slaves
had
left
the
room,
he
spoke
quietly.
“Brothers,
nephews,
cousins,
honoured
friends,
little
did
we
think
a
few
short
months
ago,
when
we
met
and
it
was
agreed
that
Talal
be
designated
his
heir,
that
we
should
so
soon
afterwards
lose
Fouad
himself.
He
was
the
very
strength,
the
very
heart,
of
Narash.
No
one
can
easily
stand
in
his
place,
no
one,”
he
said
flatly,
looking
round
at
each
of
his
kinsmen
as
though
defying
them
to
challenge
his
statement.
Instead,
the
loud
and
genuine
murmurs
of
agreement
that
greeted
his
words,
gave
him
a
little,
just
a
little,
hope
that
they
could
reach
an
agreement
satisfactory
to
all.
“Despite
that
short
period,”
he
went
on,
“I
invite
you
to
confirm
the
decision
that
we
all
freely
took
–
and
acknowledge
Talal
as
our
Emir.”
He
paused
and
looked
round
the
assembled
gathering.
The
direct
question
so
soon
and
so
unexpected,
placed
those
who
had
indeed
intended
to
question
that
decision
in
something
of
a
quandary.
Bringing
the
ten
year
old
in
himself
and
seating
him
amongst
the
men
of
the
family
also
showed
clearly
where
Abdullah
himself
expected
the
decision
to
go.
He
knew
it
was
a
master-stroke;
had
known
it
when
it
was
suggested
to
him.
He
had
known,
also,
that
the
audacious
move
would
wrong-foot
at
least
two
who
had
intended
to
claim
the
leadership
for
themselves.

Wrong-footed
they
had
been,
but
not
silenced.
“We
are
glad
to
see
our
nephew
amongst
us,
though
somewhat
before
his
time,”
began
Miteib,
full
brother
and
close
ally
of
Faisal,
his
words
bringing
more
than
a
few
nods
of
vigorous
agreement.
Though
Fouad’s
son,
it
would
normally
be
only
as
a
man
that
Talal
would
take
his
seat
at
the
family
majlis
.
For
Abdullah
and
Nasir
to
bring
him
in
and
be
seen
beside
him,
showed
their
clear
intent
in
having
him
declared
emir
in
place
of
his
father.
It
was,
in
effect,
a
very
public
declaration
of
their
loyalty.
They
knew
that
those
both
opposed
and
supportive
would
have
already
weighed
the
weight
of
their
act.
Though
widely
separated
in
age,
both
were
highly
regarded
within
the
family
and
now
the
opponents
of
Talal
knew
something
of
what
they
were
up
against.
Something, but not all
,
thought
Nasir.
He
was
well
aware
of
two
major
surprises
awaiting
the
assembled
family
members,
though
only
one
would
be
used
–
provided
that
neither
Talal’s
life
nor
his
position
were
threatened.

“Indeed,
it
would
be
several
years
too
early
were
it
not
for
his
being
his
father’s
heir,
as
agreed
by
us
only
a
few
months
ago,”
responded
Abdullah
firmly,
his
faint
hopes
of
an
easy
agreement
rapidly
disappearing.