Page 50 of Kismet

Chapter 14

Exhilaration roared through Shaheen as he raced out to meet the approaching caravan. She’d chosen him. In spite of all that had transpired between them, she was coming to him of her own free will. Tonight the woman behind the mask would be his.

A sudden cry tugged his attention away from Allegra. It took only a brief moment to recognize Hakim riding out to meet him on the plain. As the boy pulled his horse to a sliding halt, Shaheen narrowed his gaze at the haughty expression on his charge’s face. Clearly the young man still resented being ordered to escort his sister and Allegra’s maid back to Khalid’s camp, rather than being allowed to help rescue Allegra. It also gave him a possible explanation for Khalid’s sudden, yet timely, appearance here in Douar el Haj Brahim. As he studied Hakim in silence, he waited for the young man to speak. Defiance flashed across the young man’s face as he arched his eyebrows imperiously at Shaheen. Amused by the boy’s attitude, he smiled at Sheikh Mahmoud’s royal heir.

“I have told my father everything,” Hakim said coldly. A smug look rested on the young man’s handsome face, and Shaheen studied him in silence for a long moment. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Khalid riding toward them.

“I see,” he responded quietly. “Does that include your desire to bed Allegra Synnford?”

“I am old enough to experience a woman,” the boy blustered as color rose in his face.

“I think that is a matter of opinion. The one thing I’m convinced of is that you’re too young for Allegra Synnford.”

“And that is a matter of opinion,” Hakim sneered. “I think you will find my father’s thoughts are of a different perspective.”

“But does he have the complete story or simply what you wanted him to hear?”

The color darkening Hakim’s cheeks confirmed Shaheen’s suspicions. His young charge had been selective in what he told his father. Biting back another smile, he turned his head as Khalid and his personal escort cantered up to them.

“Ssalamū ‘Lekum, Excellency.” Shaheen bowed and touched his heart and then his forehead in the traditional Amazigh greeting.

A smile of pleasure curving his lips upward, Sheikh Mahmoud responded in kind. “Ssalamū ‘Lekum, Shaheen. You are looking well.”

“As are you, my friend. I’m surprised to see you, but it’s good you’ve arrived. I’m afraid the news I have to report is not good.”

“I imagine it concerns my brother,” Khalid ground out between clenched teeth. “It’s why I came early. I have news of Nassar as well.”

“What news?” He frowned at the underlying note of concern in Khalid’s voice, expecting the worst.

“My brother is raising an army.” Khalid’s words were a fierce explosion of anger and Shaheen’s jaw tightened. Given Omar’s brutal slaying, Nassar didn’t intend on taking any prisoners when he attacked.

“Did Kasim explain what happened to Omar?” Shaheen asked quietly.

“Yes. Omar was a good man.” Khalid closed his eyes and murmured a brief prayer then met his gaze with a dark frown of concern. “You were right to insist we watch my brother all these years, Shaheen. Our worst fears have been realized, my friend.”

“It doesn’t please me to be right,” he said with a sigh.

“But fortune favors us because you were.” Khalid sent him a grateful look. “Because of you, we have allies, but we’ll discuss all of this later. Right now, I wish to meet your guest.”

“My guest?” His body grew taut with tension. He knew full well who Khalid was referring to, but a part of him wanted to keep her hidden away from everyone but him.

“Ahh,” Khalid shook his head as he met Shaheen’s gaze with a mischievous glint in his eye. “So Hakim was right. Your mind has grown weak in your old age.”

Irritated by the words, he straightened in the saddle as he met Khalid’s amused look. With a quick glance at Hakim, he glowered at the younger man’s gloating features. The boy needed to learn his place.

“Age brings with it the gift of wisdom, whereas the folly of youth is that one arrogantly assumes much and knows little.”

Chuckling at the dark scowl on his son’s face, Sheikh Mahmoud shook his head as he turned his attention back to Shaheen. “Then you do have a guest staying with you?”

“I do.”

“Excellent. I will be most happy to return Miss Synnford’s maid to her. A pleasant woman, but she’s hounded me incessantly about bringing her to her mistress.”

“I’m sure Allegra will be delighted to see her friend again.”

“Allegra,” the Sheikh rolled the name off his tongue in an experimental fashion. “It seems Hakim fancies the woman for himself.”

The observation made him stiffen as he met the Sheikh’s curious gaze. He noted Hakim’s petulant expression and grimaced. Returning his gaze back to his friend, he shook his head.