Father al Hassein looked out the window of his study, his arms crossed as he watched his children play. They darted around the small courtyard of the estate, playing tag or swinging wooden swords in mock combat with some invisible troll or demon.
أعطاه مجموعة كبيرة من الأطفال على مر السنين
His wife and concubines had given him a plethora of children over the years. His eldest three were now out in the world, proving themselves. All of them destined for glory in the far north, the region of the Greenbelt within the River Kingdoms.
أصر على أخذ رنا رحلتها وحدها كما القربى لها،
Rana had insisted on taking her journey alone as her kin, but Father al Hassein knew his daughter did not poccess the street skills to protect herself in the wild lands. He had insisted two of the house guards go with her, he could tell her pride was hurt but she was no Kamilah and he would not send her out in the cruel world by herself.
ربي، الامبراطور لا تريد الحرب.
"My Lord, the emperor does not want war." The man standing on the other side of the desk was dressed in white robes, laced on the edges in true gold threads. A chain with large steel links hung around his neck, ending in a ruby the size of a man's thumb. Hebizid Vraj, the vizier to the Padisah Emperor himself. "He is displeased with the news coming from Taldor and Galt--yet Xerbystes says no one from his armies are among the ten thousand and the Cathedral claims only the peaceful spreading of the Dawnflower."
الوزير، وأنا أفهم القلق الامبراطور مع عشرة آلاف، ولكن لا أرى كيف يمكن أن تكون أي
Father al Hassein's face was stern. "Vizier Vraj, I understand the emperor's concern with the ten thousand keleshites, but I don't see how I can be of any help. Whatever forces were worked to gather so many people are surely beyond that of a merchant house."
المشكلة يا سيدي، هو أن جميع هذه التقارير تتحدث عن ابنتك
"The problem, my lord, is that all of these reports speak of your daughter, Kamilah al Hassein. The reports call her a warmong--."
سوف لم أسمع مثل هذه الاهانات في بيتي
"I will hear no such insults in my own house!" Father al Hassein narrowed his eyes, "Kamilah holds the honor of al Hassein and the emperor in high regards," he lied. Damn you, Kamilah, he thought. "Any struggle with the Taldan curs were surely in defense, and I cannot help it if Kamilah is a notable fighter."
وأعطى الوزير اي رد فعل على انقطاع قحا
The vizier gave no reaction to the rude interruption, "Well, I see there is nothing further to be gained here. The emperor will not be pleased, ten thousand people do not flock together to join a missionary boy a thousand miles away on a whim." The vizier turned to leave. "The Dawnflower bless you, Lord al Hassein."
التفت الأب حسين مرة أخرى إلى النافذة ونظرت إلى أولاده
Father al Hassein turned back to the window and looked at his children. Who or what is behind the ten thousand? That was a question Father al Hassein had asked himself even before the vizier requested an audience with him. Is Zuhair prepared for what is to come?
