Chapter Six: Basra
As they enter Basra, Samir asks Riyadh:
Samir: "Where have you been, Riyadh?"
Riyadh: "I've been moving between Kufa and Damascus."
Samir: "Is what people are saying true?"
Riyadh: "Yes... Al-Hussein was martyred."
Samir's face sinks with sorrow.
Samir: "Where were you when it happened?"
Riyadh (speaking with difficulty, holding back tears):
"I saw it… from afar…
Without doing anything."
He clenches his jaw, on the verge of crying.
Riyadh: "I failed him, Master… I failed Al-Hussein."
A tear rolls down Riyadh's cheek.
Samir grabs his hand tightly.
Samir: "Why? Why didn't you stand with him?!"
Riyadh: "Fear... the fear of death, and the desire to live."
He pulls his hand away, lowering his head in shame, silent tears streaming.
Samir watches him with a heavy heart.
Then, staring forward with a distant gaze:
Samir:
"If only we had been there…
At least we could have stood with him.
Maybe then, we'd be free of this torment.
I don't want magic anymore.
We've become hated by many of our Muslim brothers…
And even the common people reject us."
—
Meanwhile, Nazzek, Imran, and Absi chat cheerfully and lightheartedly, dragging along Elias—who observes them all with an arrogant gaze.
Riyadh: "How could you trust Elias, Samir? Why bring him with us?"
Samir: "I don't trust him.
But we need numbers.
We can't win like this…
Our tribe has barely any sorcerers left.
Most of our magical warriors have informed Ali—the tribe's sheikh—that they refuse to fight.
We are... in a pitiful state."
Riyadh: "Seems like, in this life, there's no one left to truly trust."
—
The group continues toward the tribe's palace.
At the gate, the guards let them through and escort them to the sheikh's chamber—the chamber of Sheikh Ali ibn Malik.
Ali warmly greets them:
"Welcome, my friends.
Samir, it's been a long time."
He greets them one by one until he gets to Elias.
Ali: "And who are you?"
Elias: "I'm the one who'll dig your grave."
Ali (chuckling): "I like that."
Samir: "He's one of the Ten Sorcerers.
I don't fully understand what's happening."
Ali is visibly shaken.
Ali: "So it's like that, huh?
Seems life still holds many surprises.
Anyway—let's talk business.
Children, if you wish, you may sit elsewhere."
Absi: "Do you have food?"
Nazzek and Imran stay to observe the meeting, while Absi runs off to find food—and happily begins to eat.
Ali:
"Yazid sent me an angry message about what happened with Banu Rashid.
And let me assure you—Kareem denied the entire accusation."
Riyadh: "We need to find Elias's weapon if we want him to join our side."
Ali: "Weapon?"
Riyadh: "His magic depends on it.
He wields 'special magic.'"
Ali: "I see. Do you know where your sword is now, Elias?"
Elias: "I have no idea…
All I know is—I feel exhausted."
Ali: "Then rest.
Come see me again tomorrow.
We'll discuss everything further."
---
End of Chapter Six