Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 21, 2025
The bait was cunningly presented, so cunningly that not for a moment did Asad or even the malicious Marzak suspect it to be just a bait and no more. It was his own life, become a menace to Asad, that Sakr-el-Bahr was offering him in exchange for the life and liberty of that Frankish slave-girl, but offering it as if unconscious that he did so. Asad considered, temptation gripping, him.
Thou to become a fighter upon the seas! I would that Allah had stricken me dead ere I begat me such a son as thou!" Marzak recoiled before the fury of words that he feared might be followed by yet worse. He dared make no answer, offer no excuse; in that moment he scarcely dared breathe. Meanwhile Rosamund in her eagerness had advanced until she stood at Sakr-el-Bahr's elbow.
"It is done," Marzak had cried exultantly. "The dog hath withstood him and so destroyed himself. There will be an end to Sakr-el-Bahr this night." And he had added: "The praise to Allah!" But from Fenzileh came no response to his prayer of thanksgiving. True, Sakr-el-Bahr must be destroyed, and by a sword that she herself had forged.
He returned disappointed, with a tale that sowed dismay in Fenzileh and Marzak. Fenzileh, however, made a swift recovery. After all, it was the best that could have happened. It should not be difficult to transmute that obvious dejection of Asad's into resentment, and to fan this into a rage that must end by consuming Sakr-el-Bahr.
Marzak lingered with his father after Oliver had taken his leave, and presently they were joined there in the courtyard by Fenzileh this woman who had brought, said many, the Frankish ways of Shaitan into Algiers. Early on the morrow so early that scarce had the Shehad been recited came Biskaine-el-Borak to the Basha.
He was leaning that afternoon upon the rail, idly observing the doling out of the rations to the slaves, when Marzak came to join him.
For one, I'll not have thy shaft blundering through my oarsmen and haply killing one of them. Most of them are slaves specially chosen for their brawn, and I cannot spare any. Another reason is that the mark is a foolish one. The distance is not more than ten paces. A childish test, which, maybe, is the reason why thou hast chosen it." Marzak lowered his bow and Sakr-el-Bahr released his arm.
She shrank back at that, for there on the poop sat Asad under his awning with Marzak, Biskaine, and his other officers in attendance. "Come," he repeated, "there is naught to fear so that you keep a bold countenance. For the moment it is Sheik Mat check to the king." "Naught to fear?" she echoed, staring. "For the moment, naught," he answered firmly.
Here cushions were thrown, and upon these squatted now Asad-ed-Din with Marzak, whilst Biskaine and some three or four other officers who had escorted him aboard and whom he had retained beside him for that voyage, were lounging upon the gilded balustrade at the poop's forward end, immediately above the rowers' benches.
She is a garden that shall yield me roses. Together we shall yet taste the sweet sherbet of Kansar, and she shall thank me for having led her into Paradise. Abandon that rosy-limbed loveliness!" He laughed softly on a note of exaltation, whilst in the gloom Marzak frowned, thinking of Fenzileh. "She is an infidel," his son sternly reminded him, "so forbidden thee by the Prophet.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking