Byzantium

fingers. 'The bone is crushed,' she gasped, her voice dwindling to a whisper.

'Faysal,' I commanded, 'ride to Amida. Bring a physician at once.'

He stared at me. 'I do not think there is a physician in Amida.'

'Go, man,' I snapped. 'Hurry!'

Faysal inclined his head in acknowledgement of the command-a gesture I had seen him make a thousand times, but always to Lord Sadiq, never to anyone else. He left the tent, and Kazimain and I attempted to get the amir to drink some water, but succeeded only in wetting his chin and the side of his face.

'Stay with him,' I told Kazimain, 'I will fetch Brynach. He is learned in many things; he may know what to do.'

Upon emerging from the tent, one of the rafiq met me and announced that Kazimain's escort had arrived and was ready to take her away. I looked to where the warrior pointed and saw six men on horseback. 'Tell them they must wait,' I said, and hurried on.

Brynach, Dugal, and Ddewi had risen and lit a fire to take the chill from the morning air. Upon hearing of the amir's distress, Brynach nodded and said, 'Have no fear for Lord Sadiq. We have among us one who is many-gifted in the healing arts.' He put out his hand to Ddewi, who sat with hand extended before the crackling fire, his features placid.

'You cannot mean-' I protested.

Brynach nodded.

'But he is not himself. His mind-he does not even know where he is. Sure, he cannot do anything.'

'Are you God now that you know what a man is capable of doing?' There was no rancour in Brynach's tone. He turned to regard Ddewi with satisfaction. 'He is hiding within himself. We have but to coax him into the daylight once more.'

'Your faith is laudable,' I said, struggling to keep the contempt out of my voice. 'But it is the amir-I fear for his life. And if any ill should befall him at Ddewi's hands…'

Brynach blithely waved aside my objection. 'It is right to bear concern for one another, but your fears betray a lack of faith.'

'It is not a matter of faith,' I declared harshly, 'but one of expedience. Ddewi does not even remember his own name. What if I were to entrust to him the care of the amir, and Lord Sadiq died?'

Brynach placed a hand on my shoulder in a fatherly way. 'O, man of little faith, trust God, and see what he will do.'

In my experience, all that came of trusting God was that matters went from bad to worse-and usually so rapidly as to steal the very breath away.

Despite Brynach's faith-blinded confidence, I would not have allowed Ddewi to so much as sit quietly in the amir's tent, if Faysal had not returned to camp with the unhappy word that there was no physician in Amida.

'No one?' I growled.

He shrugged. 'A few old women sit with those who are ill.'

Dugal, having seen Faysal's lathered horse, joined us, and as Bryn explained what was happening, I asked, 'What happens when someone falls seriously ill?'

'They die.'

'No doubt,' put in Brynach, 'this has come about that God's glory may be increased.'

'No doubt,' I muttered sourly.

'Be of good cheer, brother,' Dugal exhorted. 'It may be that this will be the saving of them both.'

With that, everyone turned to me expectantly, awaiting my decision. 'Where else,' I asked Faysal, 'can we find a physician?'

'Samarra or Baghdat,' he answered.

But, strange to say, it was not Faysal's voice I heard; it was Amet's, calling me across the marketplace. Come to Sebastea…

Oh, Brynach was right, it was a matter of faith-not as he imagined it, however. It was not God, or even Ddewi, who vied for my faith. The question was this: could I trust my vision? I had trusted once, and it had proven false. If it proved so again, the amir would pay with his life.

Samarra was a long way behind us now, and Baghdat further still. Even if we rode night and day, we could not reach either place before many days had passed and, looking at him now, I doubted whether the amir could endure the journey. Well, the choice was clear at least, if not easily made.

I felt a touch at my arm. 'Aidan?' Faysal asked. 'What are you thinking?'

'Faysal, listen. There may be another choice. What about Sebastea?'

He considered this for a moment. 'It may be closer,' he allowed. 'It is a sizeable city.'

'I think we should go there.'

Faysal hesitated; I was on the point of urging again when Kazimain spoke up. 'We must do what is most expedient,' she said. 'We do not know how long he can endure.'

'Very well,' replied Faysal. 'I yield to your judgement.'

Turning to Brynach, who was bending over Ddewi, whispering in his ear, I said: 'Bring Ddewi to the tent. I will allow him to tend Lord Sadiq until we get to Sebastea. However, Kazimain will remain with him to see that he does no harm.'

Dugal and Brynach, each taking an arm, raised the unwitting monk between them, and led him towards the tent, Brynach speaking low to his young charge the while. It was not a sight to inspire the highest confidence. I watched them walk away, misgiving deep and dire rising within me. May God help us all, I thought, but it was a cold-hearted wish with neither hope nor faith in it at all.

After escorting Ddewi to the amir's side, Dugal returned to where I stood talking to Faysal about how best to proceed. 'Never fear, Aidan,' Dugal told me, 'all things work together for the good of those who love God.'

Faysal, regarding the big monk curiously, asked, 'Please, what is he saying?'

'He said not to worry, that God ever toils for good,' I translated roughly, if enthusiastically.

'We have a similar saying,' Faysal replied. 'The Faithful say, 'All is as Allah wills.' It is the same thing, I think.'

Faysal began to organize the arrangements which would enable Sadiq to travel, doing for the amir what he once did for me. 'We may leave for Sebastea shortly; I will let you know when we are ready, he told me.'

While Faysal undertook the required preparations, I went to Jarl Harald and explained to the Danes why we yet lingered in camp. Gunnar, Hnefi, and some of the others crowded around to hear the news. I told them Lord Sadiq had fallen ill in the night, and that we were going to Sebastea to find a physician. Harald accepted this with good grace, saying that he would personally carry the Arab jarl on his back if it meant he could recover the sooner. 'We owe him a great debt of honour,' he said, and meant just that.

Then, having set the Sea Wolves the chore of breaking camp, I returned to Sadiq's tent. Brynach and Ddewi knelt beside the amir; Kazimain, who stood over them, turned to meet me as I entered. 'It is remarkable,' she said. 'Already Lord Sadiq rests more easily.'

'What did he do?'

'He merely touched the amir with his hands while he prayed.'

I did not doubt her, but attributed the observation more to her own desire to see her kinsman healed than anything Ddewi might have done.

'God willing, he will sleep now,' Brynach informed us.

'He was sleeping before,' I retorted. I cannot say why I took offence at the monk; I know he meant only good. But his assurance rankled me, and I bristled at his unquestioning confidence: it made of the amir's injury a trivial thing. And, of course, nothing is simple.

Brynach gazed at me curiously. Forcing a more reasonable tone, I said, 'Make him ready. I have already given orders to break camp.'

Leaving the tent, I hastened to where Kazimain's escort was waiting. 'Our plans have changed,' I told the head man. 'You are no longer needed. Thank the shaykh and tell him that the amir wishes you to keep the money you have been paid. Lord Sadiq may have need of your services another day.'

For good or ill, the decision was made. I turned my face towards Sebastea.