Zuleika and the Barbarian

leather pants and a gold breastplate. His dark horsetail of hair was intricately braided behind him so that the people might see his strong, handsome features. On his feet he wore red felt boots, showing that he was not prepared for battle, but rather a social encounter. He would lead the procession, followed by a troupe of the sultan's guards and then a troupe of his own men. Zuleika would follow in her open litter for all the people of Dariyabar to see.

'Let the musicians go before you, my lord,' the princess suggested. 'It makes your entry into the city even less ferocious, and more felicitous.'

He nodded at her with a smile, and signaled the group of players forward. They carried pipes, and oboes, cymbals, drums, and trumpets. Immediately they began a triumphal march, and the parade began to move forward. They passed through the great iron-bound gates of Dariyabar, the musicians playing. Behind them rode Amir Khan, and to his surprise the people cheered him. Accompanying the soldiers behind him were men on horseback with drums who beat a rather fierce tattoo to remind the people that they really were warriors. Then came the princess, and the citizens of Dariyabar were driven into a frenzy of delight.

'Zuleika! Zuleika! Zuleika!' they called out her name.

From her litter the princess smiled, and waved until her arm was sore and threatened to fall by her side.

She was followed by General Sabola and another mixed troupe of soldiery. Then came Bahira's litter. On either side of the entire procession walked the slaves carrying the parasols. And finally, the great lumbering war elephants in their bejeweled green satin coverings brought up the rear of the procession, which marched down the main avenue of the city to the great white marble palace with its gold-leafed gates and gilded towers. The khan's men were astounded by the richness of it all, and by the loyalty of the people to their princess.

In the palace courtyard the princess and Bahira, along with Rafa, exited their litters. Now they walked in procession to the great audience hall of the sultan of Dariyabar where Sultan Ibrahim awaited them, smiling broadly.

'I welcome you back to Dariyabar, Amir Khan,' he said in a strong voice such as Zuleika had not heard him use in many years.

A servant ran forward to take the bridle of the khan's horse, and Amir Khan dismounted the beast and it was lead away. The khan bowed with a deep flourish. The courtiers nodded, pleased by this show of respect for their sultan, and when Amir Khan stepped forward to kiss Sultan Ibrahim's ring of office a distinct murmur of approval hummed through the hall.

'I thank the sultan for his generous welcome,' the khan said. 'Now I would ask one other thing of him. Give me your daughter, the Princess Zuleika, for my wife. My pleasure in her far exceeds that of a man for a mere concubine. And give my general, Lord Sabola, the daughter of your vizier, Abd al Hakim, the lady Bahira to wife as well.'

'My daughter you may have to wife, Amir Khan,' the sultan said, 'but the lady Bahira is not my child to bestow upon your general. It is her father's choice. Come forward, Abd al Hakim, and say what you will do,' the sultan commanded his vizier.

Abd al Hakim was a plump little man with a small white beard. He came forward, his red-and-silver striped robes flapping. 'Her mother would know if she is happy with this arrangement, my lord sultan,' the vizier said, bowing low to his master. His voice was high and reedy.

'If I get any happier,' Bahira said boldly, 'I shall die of it, my father. Aye, I am more than content to be this lusty man's wife.'

The sultan's court erupted into laughter as this blunt statement from the vizier's eldest daughter, who had always been thought to be a meek creature, met their ears.

'So be it, then,' the sultan said, a twinkle in his eye. 'Bring forth the temple priests, and the marriages shall be celebrated now.'

The priests, with their shaved heads and their loins wrapped in white linen cloths that fell to their ankles, came into the sultan's hall of audience. They were bare-footed. The chief priest, distinguished by a gold-and-onyx collar about his neck, signaled for the two couples to come before him. 'We worship the lords of the sky, the waters, the earth, and the winds. Do you respect these gods, my children, and agree to abide always by their natural laws?'

The four voices agreed, and the four heads nodded.

'In the name of the gods, and in accordance with the laws of our world, do you take each other as mates till death parts you?'

The voices once again agreed, and the heads nodded.

A young priest stepped forward and held out a small round gold salver to them. Upon it were four small pieces of bread. The four lovers each took a piece of the bread, and fed it to their chosen mate. Two cups of sweet wine were presented. Each couple took one, and offered their mate the cup. When all four had drunk, the cups were removed.

'Two have become one now,' the high priest said. 'The feeding of the grain, the sip of the grape, binds you to each other in the sight of the gods. Multiply, as do all the creatures of the earth, and you shall be blessed.' The high priest turned to the sultan. 'It is done now, my lord Ibrahim. Is there any other way in which I may serve you this day?'

'Nay,' the sultan said. 'I am content to see my child wed. Come now, and let us partake of the feast that has been set out in their honor.'

'You feast? You dare to celebrate when Prince Haroun is missing?' They all turned to see Golnar, who had come into the hall. 'What have you done to my good lord?' she cried piteously, stretching out her gold-bangled arms.

The sultan signaled to his guards. 'Remove the lady Golnar from the hall,' he said in his strong voice. He watched impassively as she was carried, struggling, from his presence. The old man turned to his court. 'I do not know where my nephew is, but none here can say I have ever borne him any malice. I am as mystified as you all are. But now is not the time to discuss or investigate this matter. This is my only child's wedding day. I will not have it spoiled! Come now into my banqueting hall,' the sultan said, and they all followed him without another moment's hesitation.

Chapter Five

Golnar, Prince Haroun's favorite, had been returned most forcibly to her harem. 'When my lord is sultan here you will pay for this outrage!' she screamed at the guards who none-too-gently thrust the struggling woman back into her quarters, closing the great doors to the harem firmly. Golnar shrieked with her fury, and looked about for some hapless soul upon whom she might vent her anger. There was no one. Slaves, eunuchs, and harem women were nowhere in sight. The fountain in the main chamber tinkled pleasantly, but the air was devoid of any other noise. Even the birds in the gardens beyond seemed hushed by her anger.

Taking a deep breath, Golnar calmed herself. She reached for a piece of paste candy on a nearby silver salver, and sucked upon it thoughtfully as it melted in her mouth, releasing the flavor of plum as it did so. Where was Haroun? How could he have disappeared at just the perfect time for his enemies? And disappeared without any trace at all? She had personally questioned Haroun's bodyslave. He was as mystified as they all claimed to be. He had put his master to bed. When he had gone to awaken him in the morning, Haroun was gone. There were no signs of a struggle. The imprint of his head was yet upon his pillow. What had happened to her prince?

Golnar was no fool. Haroun was gone, and suddenly Zuleika was returned into the city amid great pomp and spectacle. She was married to Amir Khan before the court. Her best friend, the vizier's daughter, was wed to the khan's general. Something was afoot, and Golnar suspected that Zuleika's husband would be appointed the sultan's heir, as Prince Haroun had so conveniently disappeared. And the sultan. He had been dying but two days ago. The physicians all said so. Yet now he appeared in miraculous good health. How had that happened? And then Golnar knew. There was magic afoot here!

She went directly to her private apartments. Her personal servants were also among the missing. So much the better, she thought, as she locked the door to her bedchamber behind her. Then she pulled the latticed shutters tight, and drew the gauze draperies over them. No one must see her. Opening the painted wood cabinet she drew out a slender alabaster vial, and setting it upon a table, uncorked it. 'Mother,' she called.