Swords of Arabia: Betrayal (28 page)

“Not
necessarily,”
argued
Kerim.
“Should
that
be
your
only
concern
we
could
have
troops
here,
in
Narash
itself.
In
sufficient
numbers,
their
very
presence
would
deter
the
British
from
attacking
you.”

“And
should
you
win
the
great
war
you
are
fighting,
your
presence
would
also
protect
us
when
ibn
Saud
next
casts
his
eyes
this
way,”
Nasir
observed
thoughtfully.

“You
expect
him
to?”

“Yes.
It
is
only
a
matter
of
time.
He
has
difficulties
at
present
trying
to
subdue
the
Ajman
and
other
Eastern
tribes
who
find
his
embrace
as
unwelcome
as
we
do.
Should
he
emerge
triumphant,
however,
he
will
turn
his
eyes
towards
us,
yet
again.”
He
didn’t
add
that,
at
Zahirah’s
suggestion,
a
number
of
the
rebellious
tribes
were
being
heavily
and
quietly
bankrolled
by
Narash.
“Anything
that
keep
the
al
Saud
busy
and
away
from
our
borders
is
well
worth
whatever
it
costs
us
in
pearls
and
gold,”
she’d
said
phlegmatically,
as
she
authorised
yet
another
large
payment.

“Ibn
Saud,
in
fact,
said
as
much
to
the
Lady
Zahirah,”
Nasir
ended
with
a
small
smile,
as
he
recalled
the
brief,
but
very
much
to
the
point,
conversation
that
Zahirah
and
ibn
Saud
had
had.

“They’ve
met?
asked
Kerim
startled.
“The
rumours
are
true,
then?”

“Oh
yes,
they’ve
met!”
he
responded
and
told
his
friend
exactly
what
had
transpired
between
Zahirah
and
ibn
Saud
at
their
brief
and
fateful
meeting.

“Come,”
he
said,
smiling
at
his
friend’s
dumbstruck
expression,
“let
us
return
to
our
falcons
and
see
if
the
rest
of
us
can
match
your
tally.
Signal
me
if
Talal
becomes
too
boring
and
insists
he
share
yet
more
of
his
‘knowledge’
of
falconry
with
you,”
he
added
laughing.

Kerim
shook
his
head
as
he
joined
in
his
friend’s
laughter.
“No,
on
the
contrary,
I
found
his
enthusiasm
refreshing.
He
was
particularly
impressed
by
your
tales
of
how
they
capture
young
passager
birds.
I
swear
he
has
more
than
half
a
mind
to
try
it
himself!”

“The
Lady
Zahirah
may
be
willing
to
allow
her
son
out
into
the
deserts
for
days
such
as
this,
but
I
doubt
she
would
allow
him
to
be
buried
up
to
his
neck
in
sand!”
Nasir
laughed,
referring
to
one
of
the
ways
some
trappers
hid
themselves
to
enable
them
to
capture
a
young
falcon
on
their
first
annual
migration.
Though,
he
thought
privately,
there
were
a
number
she
would
have
no
hesitation
in
burying
over
their
heads,
when
she
deemed
them
too
much
of
a
threat
to
Talal.
He
was
glad,
he
thought
idly,
that
he
wasn’t
one
of
their
number.
Then
he
suddenly
shook
himself
as,
despite
the
intense
heat,
a
sudden
chill
hit
him
between
his
shoulder
blades.
Shaking
it
off,
with
a
little
difficulty,
he
smiled,
as
he
spoke
of
his
nephew.

“It’s
been
good
to
see
Talal
enjoy
himself
today,”
he
remarked
as
the
two
friends
returned
to
the
camp.
“He’s
too
young
to
have
such
a
burden
placed
on
him,
so
thank
you
for
bearing
with
his
exuberance.”

Kerim
shook
his
head.
“No
thanks
are
needed,
my
friend.
I
like
the
boy.
I
have
three
brothers,
two
of
whom
are
around
his
age,
so
I’m
well
used
to
showing
amazement
at
how
much
they
know!”

Talal,
himself,
aware
of
the
unwritten
reason
behind
the
hunting
party,
looked
about to
question,
but
remained
silent
on
a
small
shake
of
his
head
from
Nasir.

Shortly
afterwards,
the
sun’s
blazing
heat
diminished
to
the
merely
excessive,
they
all
re-mounted
their
horses.
With
their
falcons
unleashed
from
their
blocks
and
again
back
on
their
wrists,
the
entire
party
let
their
youthful
high
spirits
return
and
they
galloped
happily
across
the
gravelly
flats,
alert
for
the
signs
from
their
trackers
that
prey
had
again
been
sighted.
The
men
tracking
were
experts
at
what
they
did
and
the
party
didn’t
have
long
to
wait
before
the
soft
cry
went
up
and
the
riders
again
prepared
to
release
their
birds.

“
Ay
-see
there!”
whispered
Talal
excitedly
to
Nasir,
who
turned
and
saw
the
small
herd
of
gazelle
grazing
near
a
scrubby
outcrop,
that
Talal’s
sharp
eyes
had
spotted
almost
as
soon
as
had
the
beaters.