“Dread lord of all the East, we hear you and we know our risk.  You have given us your friendship; we accept it, and are thankful, and seek no more.  God, you say, has brought our lady Rosamund to you for His own purposes, of which you have no doubt since her face is the very face of your dreams.  Then let His purposes be accomplished according to His will, which may be in some way that we little guess.  We abide His judgment Who has guided us in the past, and will guide us in the future.”

“Well spoken,” replied Saladin.  “I have warned you, my guests, therefore blame me not if I keep my word; but I ask no promise from you who would not tempt noble knights to lie.  Yes, Allah has set this strange riddle; by Allah let it be answered in His season.”

Then he waved his hand to show that the audience was ended.

Chapter Seventeen:  The Brethren Depart from Damascus

At the court of Saladin Godwin and Wulf were treated with much honour.  A house was given them to dwell in, and a company of servants to minister to their comfort and to guard them.  Mounted on their swift horses, Flame and Smoke, they were taken out into the desert to hunt, and, had they so willed, it would have been easy for them to out-distance their retinue and companions and ride away to the nearest Christian town.  Indeed, no hand would have been lifted to stay them who were free to come or go.  But whither were they to go without Rosamund?

Saladin they saw often, for it pleased him to tell them tales of those days when their father and uncle were in the East, or to talk with them of England and the Franks, and even now and again to reason with Godwin on matters of religion.  Moreover, to show his faith in them, he gave them the rank of officers of his own bodyguard, and when, wearying of idleness, they asked it of him, allowed them to take their share of duty in the guarding of his palace and person.  This, at a time when peace still reigned between Frank and Saracen, the brethren were not ashamed to do, who received no payment for their services.

Peace reigned indeed, but Godwin and Wulf could guess that it would not reign for long.  Damascus and the plain around it were one great camp, and every day new thousands of wild tribesmen poured in and took up the quarters that had been prepared for them.  They asked Masouda, who knew everything, what it meant.  She answered: 

“It means the jihad, the Holy War, which is being preached in every mosque throughout the East.  It means that the great struggle between Cross and Crescent is at hand, and then, pilgrims Peter and John, you will have to choose your standard.”

“There can be little doubt about that,” said Wulf.

“None,” replied Masouda, with one of her smiles, “only it may pain you to have to make war upon the princess of Baalbec and her uncle, the Commander of the Faithful.”