Tafas turned to him with a frown. “Why should you Christians be so generous?”
Matt didn’t think it was the right time to explain saving face. “Ibile can reap huge benefits from your Moors, milord. The Arabian Empire is bringing fascinating new knowledge from India and Greece, is it not?”
“So my scholars say, yes.” Tafas was wary of compliments.
“And fabulous tales, beautiful paintings and miniatures, breathtaking architecture.” Matt turned to Rinaldo and Alisande. “They have brought a new system of numbers from India, have invented a new form of mathematics called al gebr, and have made a great number of advances in medicine. Besides, their merchants are sailing down the coasts of Africa and India and bringing back silks, pearls, and delectable spices, not to mention gold, ivory, and ebony!”
“Oh, mention them.” Alisande smiled, amused. “Do mention them.” She turned to Rinaldo. “So Moorish merchants in Ibile can trade with their counterparts from Arabia, Majesty, and trade again with merchants of your own.”
“Yes, a most profitable trade, I doubt not!” Rinaldo said heartily. “I might even develop a taste for this ‘coffee’ of yours, Lord Tafas.”
“I already have,” Matt said emphatically. “I’m tempted to kidnap one of your officers, Lord Tafas, just so I can ransom him for his weight in coffee beans!”
Tafas smiled. “I shall see that twelve pounds are sent to you each month, Lord Wizard, in thanks for the service you have done me in unmasking Nirobus.”
Matt groaned with pleasure.
Tafas turned to Rinaldo. “It is a good settlement, my lord, and might last as long as you and I live, but certainly no longer. Your armies will try to push my Moors back across the Straits someday… it is inevitable.”
“That is the only major natural boundary, yes,” Rinaldo agreed.
“Also, my descendants will wish to expand, and I will not be there to forbid it… nor, in loyalty to my faith, would I wish to.”
Rinaldo scowled.
“I don’t think your heirs will mind,” Matt said quickly, “as long as the Moors expand by purchasing their land… and swear allegiance to the King of Ibile.”
Rinaldo turned to him in astonishment, then began to smile.
Matt turned to Tafas. “Trade may take longer than conquest, my lord… but it’s much cheaper, and far more profitable.”
“You would not mind having Moors among your subjects?” Tafas asked in astonishment.
“Certainly not, if they will fight side by side with my Christians when Ibile is attacked.” Rinaldo took fire at the idea. “They are doughty soldiers in war, and as the Lord Wizard says, they may enrich the land wonderfully in culture and commerce.”
Tafas’ face took on a cagey look. “Would you grant such Moorish citizens the same rights and protections that you have asked for Christians in my domain?”
“Of course,” Rinaldo said instantly.
Tafas looked doubtful… but also very hopeful.
“Maybe the prosperity of Moorish trade can pay back your people for their losses in this war,” Matt said to Rinaldo. Privately, he hoped the people of Ibile might develop a vested interest in having Moorish countrymen… literally vested, if they had the good sense to invest in Moorish businesses. “Conquest by gold instead of armies?” Tafas stared in amazement “What a splendid idea!”
Looking into his eyes, Matt felt a chill. The military genius was about to become an economic genius.
The Japanese weren’t supposed to develop that technique for another five hundred years… or was it the American fruit companies? Well, come to think of it, the British East India Company came first. Matt felt a lot better. He was only jumping history by four hundred years now. Aloud, he said, “Yes, Lord Tafas. If all else fails and the people of Ibile insist on getting their whole peninsula back, maybe they can work out a gradual retreat and buy-back plan.”
Tafas grinned, and Rinaldo said, “Let us hope it will not come to that, Lord Wizard. I think we may prove good neighbors after all, Lord Tafas.”
So the two armies parted with protestations of goodwill, trying to forget the dead they had just buried.
Tafas led his Moors back to the south, Rinaldo bade his noblemen march home and reclaim their castles, and Alisande’s army marched back to Bordestang. Alisande was delighted to find her capital intact, even though Mama had told her the whole tale of the siege. She heaped gratitude and praises on the older woman, then rode down to release the Moorish prisoners and send them marching to the coast under guard. They entered the city and were pelted with flowers. The people cheered the victors as they rode up to the castle, where Saul stood grinning on the drawbridge with Angelique beside him. Alisande kissed them both, then insisted on knighting Saul no matter what he said… he had refused the honor before… then rode into her castle singing the joy of homecoming. Matt lingered on the drawbridge to talk with Saul and his parents. “I have a little problem called Callio. We can’t just turn him loose to end up in jail again.”
“Amazing that he does,” Papa said, “when he is such an accomplished thief… but he cannot help boasting of his successes.”
Mama brightened. “So it is not the stealing that matters to him, only the acclaim?”
Matt nodded. “Starved for attention. You think he’s a klepto?”
“No, a natural entertainer!” Mama declared. “He already knows sleight of hand… let him learn to be a conjurer!”
“And an escape artist?” Papa nodded, smiling. “We will help him invent vaudeville!”
“Why not?” Matt grinned. “I’m sure he can do it, with a little financial support from the castle.” Then he grew serious “But we have another problem. Can we all meet tomorrow morning in the middle of the courtyard at first light?”
Papa and Mama exchanged a glance Mama said “Of course, if need be… “
“Sure,” Saul said. “Why?”
“We need to close off the connection to our home universe,” Matt explained. “Well, you might leave a thread,” Papa qualified. Mama nodded “Only between this castle and your post office box, Mateo. We do, after all, wish to send a few Christmas cards.”
The next day, Mama entertained Alisande alone, in the chambers the queen had appointed for the use of Mama and Papa Mantrell. Mama poured and handed a demitasse to her daughter-in law. “It is nowhere nearly as strong as the Moors brew it, Majesty, and is well diluted with cream and sweetened with honey. Humor me by drinking of it.”
“I will,” Alisande said, “if you will call me ‘Alisande’ when we are alone.”
Mama’s smile was pure sunshine. “I shall be delighted, my dear.”
Alisande tasted, and looked up in surprise. “Why, it is delicious when it is not so strong and muddy!”
“Is it not? But we must drink it only as a rare treat… too much of it can be bad for you.”
“Too much of anything can be bad for a person,” Alisande said wryly, “except possibly love.” She looked up at Mama anxiously. “I hope you do not have to leave for your home too soon, Lady Mantrell.”
“Jimena,” Mama said firmly, “though I would be quite complimented if you called me ‘Mama,’ as Matt does.”
Alisande tried to keep her smile in place while she dissolved inside. “As you wish Mama! But you must make this a long visit, so that I will have time to practice!”
“Well, as to that… ” Mama straightened in her chair a little, avoiding her eyes. “In our own world, my dear, Papa and I are quite ordinary folk; even though our educations should win us a fair amount of respect, they do not.”
“You will have great respect here,” Alisande said firmly, “even awe from the common folk.”
“We have felt that,” Mama said, smiling. “It is a very pleasant feeling. And our house in New Jersey, though pleasant enough, was not even as spacious as those of your merchants. Besides, Papa has no business now, and no job, nor have I.”