Before we could even halt our steps, the enormous gate rebounded on itself and gaped open again. Shoving Dugal ahead of me, I flung myself through. I landed, sprawling on my face in the dust on the other side. Behind me, the gate banged closed once more.
Sadiq, his mount still straining at the rope, called a warning. I heard a crack like that of a whip and looked up in time to see the rope recoiling through the air. Sadiq's horse, unbalanced by the sudden snap of the rope, toppled over backwards. The amir, unable to quit the saddle, was pressed to the ground as the horse rolled over him.
My feet scarcely touched the ground as I flew to him. I snagged the reins and jerked with all my might-raising the wild-eyed, flailing animal by strength of will alone. The horse got its feet under it and, with a lurching spring, stood, shaking its head and mane.
'Amir!' I shouted, throwing aside the reins. I leaped to his side, but Sadiq did not move.
PART FOUR
Black in sin is yonder house,
Blacker still the men therein,
I am the white swan,
King over them.
I will go in the name of God,
In likeness of deer, in likeness of bear,
In likeness of serpent, in likeness of King,
In likeness of my King will I go.
The three shielding me and aiding me,
The three each step aiding me.
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The amir lay as dead, his eyes half-open. The breath had been squeezed from his lungs and he was unconscious. Two of his rafiq, who had been likewise manning ropes at the gate, rushed to help me. 'Gently! Gently!' I told them, as together we rolled him onto his side; we were rewarded with a long, ragged gasp as air filled the amir's lungs. He coughed and moaned, and began breathing again.
From the far side of the towering gate came the wails of the wretches who had not been able to get out in time. The shrieks turned to screams of terror as those who stood at the gate were crushed against it by the mass of those pushing from behind.
Faysal ran to my aid. Kazimain's horse raced to where we stooped over the amir; sliding from the saddle, she rushed to her kinsman's side. She grasped his hand and began rubbing it briskly, trying to wake him. Bending to his ear, she murmured softly, her voice trembling with anxiety.
I could not make out what she said, but in a moment, the amir stirred and tried to raise his head. Kazimain bade him rest easy. 'It is done,' I told him. 'We are free.'
'Can you stand, lord?' asked Faysal.
The amir looked around, as if to ascertain who spoke. His wits returned to him then, for he nodded, and Faysal and I helped him to his feet. He swayed as if dizzy, but objected when we made to steady him. 'It is nothing, it will pass,' he said, shaking his head as if to clear it. 'Where is my horse?'
Faysal retrieved the animal and brought it to stand before his lord. As Sadiq climbed into the saddle, the massive gate behind us began to throb and shake. My stomach squirmed as I heard the dull cracking thud of human bodies breaking against the barrier: the slaves were hurling themselves at the unyielding timber in their despair. It was a hideous sound, and one I hope never to hear again. But there was nothing to be done for them, and we were not certain of our own safety until we were far from that place.
'We must not linger here,' said Faysal, glancing warily over his shoulder.
'Lead the way,' Sadiq commanded. 'The rafiq and I will follow.' He called his warriors to him and hastily formed a phalanx to guard our escape. Faysal, meanwhile, led us swiftly away. We hastened after him, scrambling down the trail as best we could, until we came to the place just out of sight of the gate where the pack horses and supplies waited. There we paused to assemble ourselves and better order our departure.
'The chief overseer will hold you to blame for setting his slaves to riot,' the amir said; he sat on his horse, watching the former captives limping towards us. 'I had no idea you had so many friends.'
Indeed, there were several dozen more than I had set out to free, for those who had forced their way out through the gate were now making their way to where we waited. 'I am sorry, Lord Sadiq,' I started, 'they all-'
But the amir waved aside my explanation. 'It would not have happened if the slave master had kept order. We will find a way to deal with them,' he said, then cast an eye towards where the Danes stood sweating and panting around the bundles they had, risking all, borne from their captivity. 'Your Sea Wolves appear to have acquired a few belongings while they toiled for the khalifa,' Sadiq observed.
Jarl Harald saw the amir's appraising glance, and knew well what lay behind it. He bent to the bundle on the ground between his feet and untwisted the knots. Brynach and Dugal, their own bundle slung between them, came to stand beside me. We all watched as Harald opened the folds to reveal a mass of dull, misshapen lumps of rock, pale and watery in colour.
'Silver!' exclaimed Brynach. 'Christ have mercy! They risked their lives for silver?'
'To the Danefolk, silver is worth more than life,' I explained. 'They risk everything for it whenever they sail beyond sight of home. Besides,' I added, looking at all the sacks, 'it is a fine abundance of silver.'
Retrieving one of the colourless chunks, Harald marched boldly to the amir's horse and gave the lump to Sadiq, who took it in his hand, hefted it, and nodded sagely before passing it back to the Dane.
'It seems the amir approves,' I observed to Harald. 'The Sea Wolves will keep their treasure.'
Just then, the slaves who had squeezed themselves through the gap in those confused last moments saw us and rushed forward, crying out to be allowed to journey with us. They whined most piteously: 'Do not leave us! We will die in the desert! Be merciful! Take us with you!'
Sadiq and Faysal held hasty council, whereupon Faysal returned to address them. 'The Lord Sadiq is moved by your pleas. In exchange for your promise to leave us in peace, we will see you safe as far as the Amida road, but no further.'
Sure, they all agreed readily, and, after everyone was given water and something to eat, we started off in two long columns. Sadiq and Kazimain led the way, followed by Ddewi on my horse, with Brynach walking beside him-Ddewi was not fit enough to walk and required someone to help him keep his saddle. Dugal and I walked behind them, carrying the bishop's bones, and the Sea Wolves came next, having divided their mass of treasure into many smaller bundles and distributed the weight evenly among all eighteen. Behind came the pack animals bearing the supplies, with the other slaves after them; the amir's mounted rafiq came last.
What a long, slow line we made. And it stretched out longer and moved slower as the day wore on. We camped early; the sun was not yet down when we stopped, and we had travelled but a short distance. But the newly-freed captives could go no further. Still, we were away from the hateful mines, and the valley stretched invitingly before us.
The amir made his camp a little apart from the others, and went to sleep almost as soon as he had finished his evening meal, saying that he thought he had taken too much sun. I was eager to hear how my friends had fared, and mentioned as much to Kazimain, who said, 'Go, my love. Renew your friendship. You will have much to tell one another.' She turned to where, despite the still-warm dusk, Sadiq lay rolled in his robe beside the little campfire. 'I would sit with the amir a little,' she said.
