The warriors looked pleased by the Harper's approval, but Sa'ar and Utaiba each raised suspicious brows.
"Yet, in the time it takes you to assemble, the Zhentarim will not be idle. They will discover what you are doing and move to prevent it."
Utaiba smirked, then said, "I doubt they can stop us in ten days. Even if they knew our intentions, they would have to find Elah'zad-and travel to it."
Ruha approved of this portion of the sheikhs' plan, at least. Located one hundred and fifty miles to the north, Elah'zad was an out-of-the-way oasis protected by a formidable mix of salt flats and rocky hills. It would not be an easy place for the Zhentarim to reach or attack.
Lander conceded the point by inclining his head, then turned the subject back to his earlier argument. "Even with ten tribes, you will still need Ruha to counter the magic of the Zhentarim. What would have happened had she not been in the canyon last night?"
The sheikhs and their men all frowned, but they knew the answer to Lander's question. Still, being correct did not mean the Harper had won the argument. The warriors scowled at him stubbornly for several moments.
Finally Kabina spoke again. "We did not know about the witch last night, so the gods will not blame us for what she did." The burly warrior fixed an icy glare on Ruha. "If we ride with her now, they will surely deliver us into defeat and slavery."
"It is not the gods who will deliver you into slavery," Lander countered patiently, still speaking in a reasonable but unyielding voice. "It is the Zhentarim, and your only hope of victory lies with Ruha's magic. Instead of banishing her, you should be begging her to help you."
"You do not understand the gods of the Bedine," Sa'ar declared.
"Perhaps I don't," the Harper responded, fixing his one-eyed gaze on the sheikh. "But you don't understand the Zhentarim. They won't hesitate to use their magic. Unless you fight back with magic, you are doomed."
A grisled, gray-eyed warrior said, "If we need magic, our gods will provide it for us, as Kozah provided the dust storm last night."
Lander turned toward the warrior and shook his head. "Kozah had nothing to do with that storm."
Ruha grabbed the Harper's arm. In his muscles, she felt a tension that did not show in his face, though she could not say whether it was caused by anger or fear. "Lander, talk no more," she whispered. "Nothing you say can change their minds." The widow did not add that his argument was also hardening their hearts.
The Harper did not heed her warning. "The dust storm was Ruha's doing."
A burst of astounded cries ran round the circle, and warriors glanced at one another with disheartened and angry expressions. They had taken the dust curtain to be a sign that Kozah favored them and were not happy to hear that a sorceress had caused the storm instead of their god.
Sa'ar studied Ruha for several moments, then asked, "Is this true, witch?"
The widow hesitated before replying. If Lander was arguing just because he was stubborn, it might be wiser to deny casting the spell and avoid upsetting the warriors any further. On the other hand, if the Harper actually believed he could convince the Bedine to accept her magic, she did not want him to think she was unsupportive.
"Speak the truth," the Harper urged.
Ruha swallowed once, then made her decision. "I created the dust storm," she said. "Not Kozah."
A few stubborn warriors muttered half-hearted denials, but most of the Bedine received the news in dumbfounded silence.
Lander seized the opportunity to continue his argument.
"In my land, N'asr is called Cyric, and Kozah is known as Talos," the Harper began. "But by whatever name they are called, the gods watch over all of Toril, not just Anauroch."
The Bedine greeted his statement with a mixture of blank stares and suspicious curiosity, but they did not interrupt. Ruha began to suspect that there was, indeed, a method to Lander's argument.
"In my land, magic is common," the Harper continued. "So my question is this: if magic is so terrible, why do the gods permit it in one part of the world and not in the other? Could it be possible that in all the centuries since the Scattering, they have entrusted it to mankind again? Is it possible that Kozah did not help us last night because Ruha was there to work his will instead?"
Utaiba raised his brow thoughtfully, and Sa'ar pursed his lips and rubbed his chin. Even the warriors appeared to be considering the matter, and a flutter developed in the widow's stomach as she realized the Harper actually had a chance to win over the Bedine. Ruha found herself wondering how it would feel to be a fully accepted member of a tribe.
Her contemplation was short-lived. A few moments later, Sa'ar found a weakness in the Harper's argument. "Your people did not make a desert of their home, berrani, so the gods have no reason to punish them. You and the Zhentarim may use magic, but that does mean it is permitted for a Bedine. It may even be that the Zhentarim have been sent into Anauroch to test our resolve."
Lander's face reddened, and a vein began throbbing in his temple. "In the name of Mielikki, why are you so determined to be Zhentarim slaves?" he yelled. "Are you fools? Isn't living in this desolate waste punishment enough for you?"
"Quiet!" Sa'ar roared, glowering at Lander. "We have decided. You and the witch must leave!"
"As you wish," the Harper spat. "Other tribes may have wiser sheikhs. I will take Ruha to Elah'zad and see."
"Then you will die," Sa'ar threatened.
Lander sneered. "Someday, but not by your blade."
The sturdy sheikh reached for his jambiya and Ruha realized that the matter was about to come to blood. The widow knew that this was not a battle she and the Harper could hope to win, so she rose and positioned herself between the two angry men.
"Hold your tongues and your blades," she said. "We will let the gods themselves resolve this argument."
"That was what I intended," Sa'ar snarled. His hand remained on his dagger hilt, but he made no move to finish standing.
"Let us consider the widow's suggestion," Utaiba said, laying a restraining hand on Sa'ar's arm. "What do you have in mind, Ruha?"
The widow inclined her head to the sheikh. "I was raised at the Sister of Rains oasis with the witch Qoha'dar," she said. "When my mistress died, I buried her book of magic spells in the ruins of the ancient fort that stands there."
"What does this have to do with gods?" demanded Sa'ar.
Ruha smiled and turned her attention to the stout sheikh. "With that book, my magic would be much improved," she said. "Lander and I will go to the Sister of Rains to recover it, then meet you at Elah'zad in ten days."
"But, from here, that means crossing the Shoal of Thirst-twice!" Kadumi objected. "It can't be done!"
"That's right," the widow said, fixing her gaze on Sa'ar. "If we reach Elah'zad with the spellbook, it will surely be a sign that the gods favor my magic. If we don't, then… well, everyone knows what that will mean."
Lander rose and smiled at Sa'ar. "Is that acceptable?"
"You have no idea what you're riding into."
"Nevertheless, do you agree?"
Sa'ar looked to his counterpart, who nodded. "It is their bones At'ar will bleach," Utaiba said. "And if they should survive, it will truly be a sign from the gods."
"Then it is decided," Sa'ar said, standing.
Utaiba also rose, indicating the meeting had come to an end. As the circle of warriors followed the lead of their sheikhs and began to break up, Kabina yelled in astonishment, then fell headfirst to the ground. The other warriors laughed at his clumsiness.
"Quiet, you fools!" snarled the Mahwai, scowling. "There's something here."