"Shiek" - читать интересную книгу автора (Connie Mason)

Jamal's mind wasn't on hunting. His thoughts were consumed by the stubborn Berber vixen who fought tooth and nail to stay out of his bed. Was he so repulsive then? His concubines didn't think so.

"If your mind isn't on hunting, Jamal, we are wasting our time out here," Haroun commented dryly.

"I needed to get away, my friend," Jamal said testily. "As you have noticed, I've not been in the best of moods of late."

"Force the witch to your bed, Jamal," Haroun advised. "You have been patient longer than most men in your place would be. Once you've feasted on Zara's sweet flesh, you can turn your mind to more important matters. It isn't like you to neglect your concubines. Had I a woman like Saha to pleasure me, I might never leave my bed."

Jamal grew thoughtful. "You covet Saha, my friend?"

"Forgive me, my lord, I meant no disrespect. It is wrong of me to desire that which is not mine. I accept whatever punishment you deem proper."

"We have been together a long time, Haroun. I would not dream of punishing you for so minor an offense. Saha is a troublesome baggage who needs a firmer hand than mine to control her."

Haroun grinned. "I would tame her with gentle but unyielding patience were she mine."

"Why have you never married, Haroun?" Jamal asked curiously.

Haroun flushed and looked away. He didn't dare tell Jamal he could not marry as long as he coveted Saha so fiercely. "I have yet to meet a woman I wish to marry," he said at length.

Jamal let the subject drop. "Perhaps you're right, I'm not in the mood for hunting. Let us return."

Suddenly Haroun reined his mount to a halt. "My lord, look! The remains of a campfire, a recent one. Who do you suppose travels this way?"

"Caravans usually don't stray so far off their normal paths," Jamal mused as he dismounted to study the tracks visible in the sandy soil, "yet there are camel tracks. What do you make of it, Haroun?"

"The camels were not carrying heavy burdens, my lord," Haroun said, kneeling for a closer look at the tracks. "The hoof prints are smaller than those of the camels normally used to carry heavy burdens.

"Racing camels," Haroun and Jamal said, coming to the same conclusion at the same time.

"Berber racing camels," Jamal clarified. "And they are much too close to Paradise for comfort."

"Do you suppose Youssef comes for his daughter?"

"'Tis my thought exactly. There have been no raids upon the sultan's caravans since Zara's capture. I received a missive from Ishmail just yesterday, thanking me for convincing him to spare the life of the cadi's daughter. He is pleased with Youssef's restraint since his daughter's capture."

"We must prepare for a rescue attempt by Youssef. I will alert the guards and put out extra watches."

"Capturing Youssef will certainly please the sultan," Jamal said. Yet even as he spoke the words, he imagined Zara's devastation should her father end up as the sultan's prisoner.

"I suggest you move Zara back to the harem," Haroun said. "You don't want to make it easy for Youssef to find her."

Jamal gave the suggestion considerable thought before rejecting it. "Zara will remain in the stables. Moving her now might alert Youssef to the fact that we know of his scheme. Youssef will find a welcome party waiting for him when he attempts a rescue. We have plans to make, my friend. Plans that must be kept secret from Zara. The stable slaves need to be warned to keep out of sight tonight no matter what happens."





Zara noted Jamal's return with apprehension. He and Haroun had bagged no game, which seemed unusual in an area abounding with wild animals. Nothing seemed amiss, so she assumed that her father had remained safely hidden during the sheik's foray into the mountains. She saw Jamal and Haroun speaking quietly to Ahmed and chafed with curiosity. There was no reason, however, for them to suspect a rescue attempt by her father tonight.