Swords of Arabia: Betrayal (16 page)

“Family
unity?
Yet
many
of
you
supported
Fouad
when
he
threw
into
prison
his
own
blood
and
left
them
there
to
rot
as
if
they
were
no
more
than
the
lowest
scum.
Lay
out
your
claim
for
Badr,
or
for
this,
this
child!”
he
sneered,
insultingly
emphasising
the
last
word. “All
of
you
bargain
as
would
with any
stall-holder
in
the
souk
if
you
wish,
but
do
not
shroud
your
wishes
in
baseless
platitudes!
Nor
ask
me
to
support
either
Talal,
who
is
much
too
young
to
lead
us,
or
Badr,
who,
though
I
admire
him
as
a
warrior,
was
one
of
the
ones
who
most
strongly
supported
Fouad
in
his
decision
two
years
ago!”

The
rest
of
the
family
members
were
shocked
into
silence
by
the
vehemence
of
the
elderly
princes.
Many
agreed
with
their
sentiments,
but
their
voicing
them
in
such
an
insulting
way
meant
that
they
ran
the
very
real
risk
of
ripping
the
family
apart;
not
to
mention
putting
themselves
in
real
jeopardy
should
either
Talal
or
Badr
emerge
victorious
from
the
assembly.
In
addition,
as
both
Abdullah
and
Nasir,
who’d
also
both
vocally
and
openly
supported
Fouad
at
the
time,
were
known
to
have
tempers
as
equally
fiery
as
Sahir’s,
the
entire
room
was
torn
between
turning
back
to
the
dais,
in
some
concern
and
much
anticipation,
to
watch
their
reaction,
or
to
keep
watching
Badr,
to
see
how
his
own,
rarely
lost,
but
equally
volcanic
temper
dealt
with
the
near-insult.

Whichever
way
they
looked
they
were
all
looking
in
the
wrong
direction.

The
real
surprise
was
taking
place
behind
them.
With
the
intense
concentration
of
most
in
the
room
focused
on
the
group
on
the
dais,
it
took
some
moments
for
them
to
realise
that,
at
a
discreet
sign
from
Nasir,
the
huge
doors
had
been
flung
open.

It
was
only
as,
by
one
and
twos
at
first,
and
then
the
entire
room
turning
as
one,
that
all
were
stunned
into
immediate
silence
as,
lead
by
Abdul,
the
small
group
of
now
ex-prisoners,
walked
into
the
room.
The
gathering
was
even
more
astounded
when
Nasir,
with
obvious
difficulty,
rose
from
his
place
and,
embracing
each
man
in
turn,
waited
until
each
had
taken
his
traditional
place
in
the
circle
and
returned
slowly
to
his
own
place
next
to
his
nephew.

“You
were
saying,
Uncle?”
he
said
quietly,
turning
towards
where
Sahir
was
sitting,
still
open
mouthed
but
by
now
entirely
silent;
as
indeed,
apart
from
the
greetings
to
the
quartet,
were
most
in
the
room.
Abdullah
spoke
again
before
the
silence
broke.

“I
see
you
are
bereft
of
words
with
the
joy
of
seeing
our
kin
restored
to
us,”
he
said
smoothly.

“It’s
a
trick!”
blustered
Husain.

“Brother,
I’m
not
sure
what
you
mean?”
queried
Abdullah
politely,
delighted
at
the
effect
the
sudden
appearance
of
the
four
had
had.
Looking
around
the
gathering,
he
could
see
surprise
giving
place
to
uncertainty.

“I
don’t
know, yet,
but
it
must
be!
It’s
as
the
salubbah
and
their
magical
tricks.
You
see
something
done
that
is
impossible
to
do
but
you
don’t
know
how!
Here,
it’s
that
we
don’t
know
why
,”
he
spluttered,
slowly
winding
down
as
he
sensed
he’d
lost
his
audience.
Hiding
his
fury
he
looked
across
at
Badr
who
throughout
had
kept
his
features
impassive,
betraying
nothing
of
any
anger
that
he
may
have
been
feeling
at
the
sudden
side-swiping
of
his
plans.
Indeed,
Badr
wasn’t
looking
at
him.
His
gaze
was
very
still
and
very
intently
focused
on
the
new
arrivals.
That
subtle
and
fast-thinking
prince
had
already
realised
that
they
held
the
key
to
his
succession.
Their
sudden
appearance
had
given
them
a
stature
they’d
probably
not
have
had
previously
and
being
sworn,
though
silent,
enemies
of
Fouad,
would
back
anyone
opposed
to
his
line
to
succeed.
Badr’s
supporters
relaxed
slightly
as
they
more
slowly
reached
the
same
conclusion.

“Perhaps
our
kin,
newly
restored
to
us,
should
express
their
views,”
Sultan
interposed
smoothly.
Unlike
Husain,
he
rarely
let
his
temper
show.
His
family
sometimes
wished
he
would.
For
so
ferocious
was
his
grip
on
it
that
when
he
did
erupt
it
was
if
the
entire
skies
had
fallen
in
on
the
unfortunate
who
had
roused
his
wrath.
“They
must
surely
have
the
clearest
idea
of
the
best
way
forward, having
had
so
much
opportunity
for
reflection!”
he
added
with
deliberate
savagery,
again
causing
unrest
in
the
room.
Although
many
did
agree
with
both
him
and
Sahir
as
regarded
the
imprisonment
of
family
members,
they
also
admired
Fouad’s
strength
in
doing
it and
were
aware,
from
family
history,
just
how
destructive
dynastic
in-fighting
could
be.