She said it so calmly that the amir did not seem to hear at first. He made to rise from his chair and then stopped in mid-motion and fell back again. "Kazimain," he implored, "do you know what this means?"
"I know when someone has asked me to marry," she answered smoothly. "And I know well when I have agreed."
Lord Sadiq looked from her to me and back again, tapping the arms of his chair with his fingertips. "What if I said that I thought you were saying these things merely to save his worthless life?"
"If you were to tell me such a thing, my lord," Kazimain replied without hesitation, "then I would say that it is the amir who is telling lies. The truth is that Allah has brought us together and, out of obedience, we wish to be married."
"He is a slave, Kazimain," the amir pointed out.
"Who holds the power to change that," wondered Kazimain, "if not the amir himself?"
"That is what he said," grumbled Sadiq. He tapped the arms of his chair for a long moment. I could see him struggling to grasp the implications of the circumstances arrayed before him. Sure, the thing had taken a strange leap; he was no longer certain what to say or do.
Here, Faysal endeavoured to help. The amir's advisor stepped forward and bent to whisper in his ear. Sadiq listened, nodded, then said, "Before I could grant such a request as this man has made, I must be certain in my heart that he was not a spy sent here to help bring our people to destruction."
"As to that," I said, "I have offered to tell you whatever you wish to know once I have obtained my request."
"I must have more than that!" snapped the amir. "You are asking gold and rubies of me, but offering only dung and pebbles in return."
We had reached an impasse; neither of us could move without giving valuable ground to the other. Kazimain took it on herself to break the deadlock.
"My Lord Sadiq," she said, "is not a spy by nature scheming and duplicitous? What schemes has this man fomented? What duplicity have you discovered in him?"
"None," admitted the amir. "Yet, lack of discovery does not mean there has been no deception. A spy will necessarily be skilled in hiding his deceit."
"Thus," pursued Kazimain, "lack of deceit becomes proof of deception. Innocence confirms guilt. If that is what justice has become, Wise Amir, then all men stand condemned."
"You twist my words, woman!" growled the amir. Turning his face to me, he said, "The accusation has been made and is yet to be denied."
By this I knew that he was softening. I decided to risk meeting him halfway. "Were I to gain approval to marry your kinswoman, the problem would cease to be important," I pointed out.
"You are saying this to save your life," Sadiq maintained, but the fight was going out of him.
"I am saying it because it is true," I countered. "If it helps save my life, well and good. If not, you will have killed a loyal and trustworthy man, and one who has ever treated you with gratitude and honesty. I can say no more."
"If I grant you the approval you desire," said the amir, his tone that of a horse-trader seeking to make the best of a bad bargain, "will you yet treat me with honesty and loyalty?" I opened my mouth to speak my affirmation of his offer, but he stopped me with a raised finger. "And will you answer all my questions to my complete satisfaction?" He lowered his hand, inviting my reply.
"Lord Sadiq," I told him, "whether my answers will indeed satisfy you, I cannot warrant. But you have my word that I will answer your questions in all truth."
"You expect me to rely on the word of a slave?" demanded the amir.
"Even as my life depends upon yours," I said. "For my part, I have seen enough to know that you are a man of honour who makes no vow he cannot fulfil. Whatever promise you undertake, I will trust it with my life."
This response pleased him inordinately. His smile was so quick and genuine, that his anger now seemed to have been mostly bluff. I had surprised him, but his greater interest lay in learning the truth. Threats were simply the quickest and surest way to obtain it.
Turning to Kazimain, he adopted a gravid air once more, saying, "It is shameful for a woman of a noble house to marry a slave." He paused, fingering his bearded chin thoughtfully. "We cannot allow our kinswoman to bear such a disgrace. Therefore, I suppose we must do something about the rank of this man whose proposal of marriage you have accepted."
Turning to me, he proclaimed, "Aidan, you came to me a slave, but from this day you shall call no man master. With Allah, All Wise and Compassionate, as my witness, I return to you your freedom."
"Thank you, Lord Sadiq," I said, bowing with genuine gratitude.
"You are free, my friend," he said. "Go in peace."
I do not know if this last was said to trick me, or confuse me into making a blunder, but I told him, "I am content to remain at your side as long as you will have me. I would consider it both duty and joy to serve you in some small way."
Sadiq beamed with pleasure. "The choice is yours." Motioning to Faysal, who leaned near, he said, "The apartments vacated by my former advisor have been unused these past two years; see that they are prepared at once. Also, the silver formerly paid for these services will from this day be paid to Aidan."
"Lord Sadiq," I protested quickly, "I ask nothing more than I have already been given. I am a man of simple needs; it is more than enough."
"You, my friend, are a man soon to acquire a wife and, in due course, Allah willing, many children. Your days of simplicity are, I fear, quickly approaching an end. In any event, I could not possibly allow my kinswoman to marry a fellow lacking the means to support her properly."
"I am overwhelmed by your generosity, my lord, but-"
The amir raised an admonitory hand. "Try me in this," he insisted. "I know whereof I speak." He stood and spread his arms wide. "Now then, allow me to be the first of many to extol your impending marriage, and offer my felicitations."
Kazimain ran to her uncle, throwing herself into his embrace. She kissed him on both cheeks and kissed his hands also. I followed, stepping forward somewhat awkwardly-still trying to comprehend what had just happened to me-gripped his hands and embraced him. Kazimain thanked him, and I thanked him; she kissed both of us many times and, with tears gleaming in her eyes, proclaimed it the happiest day of her life.
Then, before I could speak even a word to her, she darted away, saying that she must tell everyone what had come about. She disappeared from the hall in a rush.
"I believe you must be touched by God," the amir said, watching her go. "The man who has won Kazimain's heart has claimed a treasure worth many kingdoms. One day you must tell me how you accomplished this remarkable feat."
"That is a secret," I replied, "I shall guard with my life."
Lord Sadiq laughed at this, turned and commanded Faysal to have refreshments brought to his private rooms. Placing his hand on my shoulder, he led me from the reception hall saying, "And now, my friend, I think it time we began telling one another the truth."
54
The amir poured the cool sweet lemon water into golden cups, and passed one to me. He had dismissed Faysal and the other servants so that none should overhear. Leaning back on his cushions, he eyed me shrewdly and, after a sip from his cup, said, "You may speak freely. On my honour, no harm will come to you. If I placed so much as a finger to the tip of your nose, Kazimain would have me boiled in oil."