The Way Of The Water, The Way Of The Sand: The Story of the Sab'yn

[Parallel Pain]

Chapter 4:
The Way Of The Water, The Way Of The Sand

King Yazil walked close to the bed. The Desert Wolf waited for him to get close, then suddenly flew up from the bed, whipping up the sheep skin covering him and throwing it over King Yazil's face. Quick as lightning he bent down, bent his arms, and pushed down hard on his feet. His elbow rammed into King Yazil's stomach hard as the flood waters. Yazil is knocked off his feet, falling to the ground. The Desert Wolf swung back his leg for a kick. But at that instant Halik, who was close to his father when the Wolf of the Desert went mad, jumped on him and knocked him to the ground. Yusif quickly added into the struggle, and pinned the struggling Wolf firmly to the ground. Zari' bent down to tend to his king and called for help.
The bodyguards of both the king and the prince rushed into the tent. They found their king lying on the ground coughing, holding his stomach in pain, their diplomat trying to tend to their king with a frightened face, and their prince, together with their spy, pinning down a howling Desert Wolf.
The Captain Yasir, the captain of the Sab'yn army during the assault on Tamane, and now captain of the king's bodyguard, drew out his sword and rushed towards the struggling Wolf. His cousin had been killed by the Desert Wolf's mercenaries, and now this mad mercenary knocked over his king. Like any bodyguard of the king would do, he was going to end the life of this miserable Wolf.
Halik still struggled to pin the Desert Wolf down. It was Yusif who looked up when Yasir closed. He saw Yasir standing before them, his sword drawn back, the shining iron blade ready to be plunged into the Desert Wolf's neck. "Yasir!" A voice from the bodyguard ranks yelled out. Halik noticed the shadows and looked up to see the sword, like a speeding arrow, started its plunge down. He had no time to react, and the Desert Wolf was pinned down beneath his body, unable to move.
A sudden loud clang resounded in the room, followed by a soft swish. The Desert Wolf looked up at Captain Yasir. He was no longer screaming. His face was not one of anger, but an unusual calmness for one who had faced death. A tiny stream of blood trickled out from his right shoulder, dying his soft, sandy brown cloak red. The sword had entered the soft earth just to the right of his shoulder, cutting a shallow gash into his flesh. On top of him, still pinning him down with the left knee, was Yusif. In Yusif's out-stretched right hand was a curved dagger, held firmly in the hands of the spy.
Yusif stared at the bodyguard captain. "Back off." The words were quiet, but heavy. Yasir did not move, but stared back at Yusif in amazement. Another bodyguard rushed forward. He was Yada', the captain of the army that fought the rebel Magabazou. He was Yasir's best pal, and now captain of the prince's bodyguards. He had called to stop Yasir, and now he tugged on his friend's arm.
"Yasir." A gentle voice sounded throughout the room. Everyone turned to the source of the voice. It was King Yazil Il Watar. He sat up an coughed. "Yasir, I understand your anger and pain. I had lost my favourite nephew in the chaos of Maryab eight years ago." Still squinting in pain, Yazil held his stomach with his left hand, and tried to support himself on his right. Zari' pulled the king to his feet. "I know it's difficult," the gentle king continued, "but I ask you to let this man live. Our kingdom needs this man."
Yasir looked at his king for a long moment, and bowed deeply. He pulled his sword from the ground and sheathed it. Halik and Yusif stood up, pulling the Desert Wolf on his feet with them. Halik spoke. "Keep your guards outside, and do not come in unless we call on you again. And don't let anyone else disturb us tonight." His voice was calm, but everyone could hear hidden under the calmness a vast volt of anger ready to burst open. Yasir and Yada' turned to the prince and bowed deeply, and hurried their bodyguards outside.
The Desert Wolf had lost all sense of struggle, and stood, as if lifeless, watching the bodyguards leave. Halik and Yusif sat him down on the bed. Zari' grabbed a chair for King Yazil to sit down. "I am sorry, Desert Wolf," the king started, still holding on to his stomach. "I am sorry for the behaviour of my bodyguards."
The Desert Wolf stared blankly outside the tent at the campfire and night sky. Yusif left the tent for a moment, and came back with a bowl of water and some pieces of clean cloth, and started washing the cut on the Desert Wolf's shoulder. The Desert Wolf, as if he had not even felt anything, continued to stare out the opening of the tent. Halik followed his gaze. The others did the same and saw what looked like the carnage of the battlefield on a gentle slope covered with dried grass. It was the battlefield from that morning.
"You killed Luhay'ath." They turned back to looked at the Desert Wolf. He was still staring blankly outside the tent. "Your men killed young Luhay'ath."
Yazil stared at him, wide-eyed. "He was a tyrant, that young man. You know how he treated his men, and yours."
Finally the Desert Wolf turned to face the Sab'yn king. On his anguish face were tears, little droplets fresh out of his eyes. Everyone was shocked, even the Desert Wolf. "He was NOT a tyrant." The Desert Wolf could hear himself talk, but did not know what he was saying anymore. "He was NOT a tyrant. He had his father's skills, his father's drive, his father's eyes. He would have been the best ruler for Sabata. I could have made him so. The people of the city would have gladly died for him. Even the Bedouins."
The four men from the tribe of Saba were shocked at the words of this man of the Qataban. Even the Wolf did not know why he felt so strongly for a person he had wanted to be strangled not even two days ago. But he continued, "He was so young. He was five years younger than me, at only sixteen. His father had received a son at fifty two years of age, of course he would have spoiled the young man." The Desert Wolf swallowed. "But for half a day, for just half a day. For half a day he let be believe the city could still be held, the battle could still be won. For half a day looking at his figures working tirelessly over the city plans like his old father, he gave me hope that the Bedouins could be brought back, that the city could be peaceful again. For half a day looking at him cheering up the troops, looking at the fight returning to the men's eyes, I had forgotten I had set out to retake Tamane. For half a day he had been a master that I would gladly have died for, that I SHOULD have died for."
A few more drops of tears fell on the bed. Though few in number, these tears carried with them more despair than all the water of the red sea. The tent was silent. "I am sorry." King Yazil said, an apology coming from deep inside his heart. "I did not know there was such promise in this young man, or I would not have issued such harsh terms of surrender." King Yazil stood up. He was deeply pained, not at how strong a tie the Desert Wolf felt towards the dead Luhay'ath, but at the fact that his army had killed of a potential subject of great skills. "Rest for today, Desert Wolf. Tomorrow we march back towards Saba and Maryab. There are things I want to show you in my kingdom."

Leaving behind a small garrison, the Sab'yn army headed back for Maryab. Once again they entered the hills of Qataban. Once again the peasants from near-by villages rushed out to the sides of the road to cheer on the victorious troops. They rode in front of their bodyguards marching on foot, at the front of their army. Halik turned to the Desert Wolf, who was looking at the cheerful faces of the people. "We had taken your advice, and cleared out these hills of bandit clans." The Desert Wolf turned to the prince, who continued. "We have even invited some of the Bedouin tribes to take up their territories in these hills, and they have agreed in return to watch over our caravans from the other tribes to the north and clear the hills of bandits for us."
"This is all thanks to your guidance, Desert Wolf." Yusif joined the conversation. "If you had not left us the message, we would have marched to Sabata while the rebels are still in the hills. Because of one suggestion from you," Yusif stretched out his hand and picked up a tiny yellow desert flower held out at him from a young peasant girl. He continued, "because of one suggestion from you, these peasants can finally live a peaceful live after years and years of chaos. Look at the liveliness in their eyes."
The Desert Wolf looked at the prince and his childhood companion. He turned back to the peasants, and picked up a piece of bread offered to him. He smiled. He heard familiar sound of hoofs. He looked up into the hills. His mercenaries had been given back their horses by King Yazil, and were travelling with the Sab'yn army as light cavalry for as long as their leader remained with the army. He smiled again.
They entered Maryab amidst the cheers of the local population. They were showered with praises. The soldiers marched with their heads held high. The Desert Wolf looked around, examining the shop stores and buildings and the cheering crowd. "What are you looking for, Desert Wolf?" Zari' noticed and asked. The Desert Wolf shook his head in silence, but continued to look around.
They reached the town square. King Yazil dismissed the troops, who headed for home and their families. Then Yazil led them inside the palace. A beautiful young woman in her late teens rushed out to greet them. Yazil and Halik rushed up to the young woman. Yusif and Zari' stopped in the courtyard, observing the court custom. The Desert Wolf stood frozen at the entrance, admiring the woman's beauty. Her long, dark brown hair flew gracefully behind her. Her eyes gleamed in the sunlight like jewels of a colour yet unnamed. Her beautiful body moved gracefully in a snow white robe. She moved eloquently, unlike the maids they had passed by. "Father, Brother, so glad you are home. The year had been long without you around."
"Oh my dear, your mouth are as sweet as always." Yazil laughed.
"How is mother?" Halik asked.
"Oh she's fine." The woman answered. "She came down with a slight cold about a few weeks ago, but when news came of your victory, she suddenly got well without needing any herbs." She giggled. "Come, come, we'll talk about this later, go inside." She walked down the steps and out into the courtyard in front of Yusif and Zari'.
"Princess." Yusif and Zari' bowed. "Glad to see you lively as always." Zari' said.
"You have turned so pretty we did not recognize you at first." Yusif added.
"You flatter me with that same sentence every time, Yusif" The young princess giggled.
"I do?" Yusif asked, pretending he didn't realize. They laughed.
"Come, come in. We have a great feast all ready." She gestured them towards the inner palace and walked towards the last guest, who continued to stand frozen in the gateway. She walked towards him with open arms and a wide smile. "Welcome to..." she stopped, her smile disappeared, her hands dropped to her side. She looked carefully at the man standing in front of her. The man was tall, dark black hair, with thick eyebrows, a strong build, and the eyes of a lion, the eyes she had seen only once before. Her face turned red. She spoke with a voice so soft, it was inaudible to anyone but her and this new guest. "The Desert Wolf."
Yusif and Zari' looked at each other confused. Yazil and Halik smiled. Halik walked back out the palace, through the courtyard, and to the couple staring at each other. "Desert Wolf," the Desert Wolf turned to look at him. "Do you remember my sister, Mubsamat?"
The Desert Wolf's eyes widened. He looked at the woman standing before him, the beautiful lady. The last time he had seen her she had been a cute, playful little girl of eleven, and he had been fifteen, having just earned a name for himself for clearing the bandits around Maryab. He forgot to bow, and looked at Mubsamat, who twitched uncomfortably under the glance, her original light skin on her face now red. Halik laughed and put one arm around each of their shoulder. "Come on. The feast is ready, right? I want to meet my young Tawbtawan."
They walked inside. Yusif and Zari' told the guests of the successful campaign, and the welcoming peasants. Yazil and Halik listened to the Queen Hamlat, Halik's young wife Lady Tawbtawan, and other nobles talk about what went on in the city while they were away. The Desert Wolf was silent, examining the ranks of nobles and the atmosphere. Mubsamat was unusually quiet today, walking around directing the maids and serving the guests. The two changed momentary glances, and always quickly turned aside their vision. There wasn't a person at the feast (besides the two of them) that didn't notice the queer atmosphere between the young mercenary general and the princess.

A week later, Mubsamat woke up from a restless night. King Yazil had took the week to show the Desert Wolf around Maryab and the surrounding provinces of Saba, and Mubsamat had followed them around. During the first few days she had wanted to ask the Desert Wolf about her promise, but she soon realized the seriousness of the matter and contended herself with following them. She quickly got dressed and went to the courtroom to look for her father. Instead he found her brother and Zari' already busy at work sorting out matters of state, and receiving complants from the citizens. She saw Yusif, preparing to leave, and stopped him. "Where's my father?"
Yusif bowed at the princess. "He took the Desert Wolf into the city to show him around, my princess."
"Thank you, Yusif." The princess hurried out the palace. Yusif looked at her figures, greeted on both sides by happy citizens, disappear into the streets. He chuckled, and set out for Carna.
Mubsamat wondered through the street, asking around for the king. It took her quite a while, but she finally found them near the southern gate, examining the crowd coming and going. She walked towards them, but Yasir, loyal bodyguard, stopped her. "I'm sorry, princess, but the king asked not to be disturbed by anyone."
Mubsamat nodded, and stood with the bodyguards. 'I had just wanted to follow them, that's all,' she told herself. 'And I can do it with these men.'
She listened closely, trying to pick up their conversation over the morning crowd. She saw Yazil walking up to a large caravan parked for inspection. The Desert Wolf followed. "You see all these caravans, packed with the incense of the red sea coast, the livestock of Hadramaut, the silver of Saba, the gold of Ma'in, and finally the ivory of Qataban." She heard her father speak. "These caravans are packed with expensive goods. But there are no mercenaries following them."
"It is true." Mubsamat heard the Desert Wolf answer. "Not so many years ago, such large caravans would have hired mercenaries to keep away the bandits, or would have paid heavy fees to Bedouin tribes for protection. It is quite amazing what you have done."
"It's thanks to you. Clearing the bandits around Saba, and then telling us to clear the bandits around Qataban. You have done much in making these lands safe and prosperous, and the people know it. You heard those shop keepers greet you." Yazil turned to look at the Desert Wolf. "You are well known for your deeds in these lands. I will need help to unite Arabia. I am no great general. My son is much more talented in those arts than I." The Desert Wolf nodded in agreement. The king continued, "but to build a strong kingdom in Arabia, I need more generals than just my son. And I need competent advisors, especially men who has seen through the hardships of the people and could tell me how to benefit their lives. I need you, Desert Wolf. I am begging you to join us."
The Desert Wolf shook his head. "I am a mercenary general, great king." He answered. "Men like me causes suffering of the people. We kill for a living, and when we do, the women and children cry, and the lines of families are ended. Men like me are not fit to advise you about the hardships of the people. As for uniting Arabia, Prince Halik would be sufficient." The king moved to speak, but the Desert Wolf continued. "I have seen too much death. Many good men who followed me had died, and I had with my own hands caused the deaths of many more. Now I only wish to be another trader, so I can witness the rise of your prosperous kingdom in peace. I only ask you take care of my men."
The Desert Wolf bowed deeply, and, without waiting for an answer, turned around to head back towards the palace for his belongings. He froze. Standing a few steps in front of the bodyguards was Mubsamat, tears of anguish running down her face. She turned, pushed her way through the bodyguards, and ran into the bustling streets. The Desert Wolf watched her figures getting smaller and smaller, as the peoples parted to make way for here. Yazil walked up beside him, his gaze following her daughter. "You had promised my daughter six years ago that you would come and work for me, and then you would play with her again. For six years she has rejected suitor after suitor, waiting for you. She has never made a scene like this in the streets."
"I broke that promise when I chose to become your enemy and defend Tamane." The Desert Wolf took a few step forward.
"Desert Wolf." Yazil spoke behind him. The Desert Wolf stopped. "There are a great many more things I want you to see. Make your decision after you see those things. If then you still want to retire and become a trader, I won't stop you. So I want you to follow me around my kingdom for a few weeks."
"Yes, great king." He answered without even turning around, and resumed his walk back towards the palace.
"Leave your belongings in the palace, Desert Wolf." King Yazil called behind him. "We're heading out for Ma'in, for Carna. We leave first thing tomorrow."

The princess, after crying through the rest of the day and night, decided to follow them. They went slowly, Yazil showing the Desert Wolf the homes and farms of happy citizens. They reached the outskirts of Carna in about a week's time. At mid-afternoon, they entered the city. Instead of a bustling market scene, the people were lined up on the side of the road bowing down to them as the pass. The entire city was out in the streets, from the nobles to the merchants to poor farmers and their children. The Desert Wolf turned to Yazil. "What are they doing?"
"They're bowing to you, Desert Wolf." Yazil answered. "They are bowing to you."
The reached the town square, and there at the centre, before a large group of wealthy merchants, was Yusif. He walked forward, with a little box in hand. He walked before the Desert Wolf. "Great Wolf of the Desert. The merchants of this city would like to offer you this gift as thanks for your work in making this region of Arabia safe."
He held out the box. The Desert Wolf took the box and opened it. Inside were a number of gold and silver pieces, as well as large number of jewels and crafts. They reflected brightly in the mid-afternoon sun. The Desert Wolf shut the box and turned to Yusif. Before he could say a word, Yusif rose his hands and clapped. The merchants behind him parted, and a few men carried forward three large chest and placed them in front of him. He bent down and opened them. The first was filled with finely made textiles, clothing, and expensive incense. The second were filled with hunting trophies. There were elephant tusks, gazelle antlers, goat skin, fox skin, even an Arabian Leopard hide and an Arabian Ostrich egg. The third was filled with fine crafts of every kind from small statues of himself and his band to silver drinking vessels, to jugs of the finest wine with him and his men painted on it. Before the Desert Wolf could speak a word, Yusif clapped again, and more men walked forward. This time they had with them three fine Arabic horses, tall and muscular, with dark brown skin and eyes of black jade.
The Desert Wolf turned and stared at Yazil with a disgusted face. The king smiled and shook his head. "You think I am trying to buy your loyalty. I am not. On hearing of your return from Sabata, people from all over my kingdom rushed to put together gifts for you. They picked representatives from their community and sent them to Maryab with their gift. The people who had expensive items picked out the best, the people who hadn't put together some money to buy a few items. And these are what they ended up putting together. You can ask anyone here whether I had bought, or even ordered them to bring out these goods. They will tell you no."
The Desert Wolf looked up and around the crowd in disbelieve. But wherever his glance went it was made with nods. A few men even answered his questioning eyes with words: it's true. "Great Wolf of the Desert." Yusif spoke, and the Desert Wolf turned to him. "The people had asked me to speak for them, and to thank you for making this kingdom safe. They want to say no matter if you choose to continue to serve, your deeds would always be remembered."
Yusif bowed deeply. The merchants behind him followed. The Desert Wolf looked at them, speechless. There was a great silence, then a voice rose up from the crowd from behind him. "Great Desert Wolf!" Everyone turned to the source of the voice. It was a young farmer, with his young son, about ten years of age, standing beside him. They stood in front of the crowd. "Great Desert Wolf! You might not remember us but you and your men had saved us from a group of marauding Bedouins seven years ago. We beg you. Please protect our homes like you have done. Please!" The man and his son bowed deeply, their upper body almost perpendicular to their legs.
Yusif rushed forward past the Desert Wolf and King Yazil. "What are you saying? We agreed not to beg and let the Desert Wolf deci..."
Before Yusif could finish, one of the rich merchants in the town square cried out. "Desert Wolf! You might not remember, but five years ago I had just been robbed by bandits and left to die in the desert. Not only did you save me, you got back a large portion of my cargo! I beg you too, to keep watching over this land! Please!" Soon the crowd all put forward their stories and pleads. There was a sudden rush or words, and then silence as the people all bowed.
King Yazil smiled. Yusif was stunned. The Desert Wolf froze for a long moment, then looked all around the bent bodies around him. "I..." he started, and trailed off. He knew he had made a name for himself, but not like this. "I can't accept this, I..." He looked around again. "Raise your heads, please, all of you, I didn't..."
"The Desert Wolf will hold back on these gifts for now." King Yazil spoke. The Desert Wolf turned to look at the king. "He is tired after a long journey, and we still have much road to cover. Let him rest. When he made his decision, then he will receive the gift. Yes?" The Desert Wolf could do nothing but nod. They walked forward, past the piles of gift, towards Il Sharih's old villa. The people before them, like the stories of Moses told by the Israelites, parted like the waves.

They were in the hills just north of Ma'in the next day. Yusif had headed back towards Maryab, but Mubsamat still followed them, standing with the bodyguards. The Desert Wolf was thinking about the sight he had witnessed yesterday, his mind numb. As they reached the top of a hill, Yazil spoke "You told me when I first met you, that your way of being a general was to follow the way of the water and the way of the sand." He stopped.
The Desert Wolf stopped beside him. A wind blew across his face. Beyond the hills was a sea of sand, the Arabian Desert.



"Yes, I did," the Desert Wolf answered.
The king turned to the mercenary general. "Can you explain to me again what you meant by the way of the water and the way of the sand?"
The Desert Wolf nodded. "Both water and sand are flexible. They can adjust to any crack, go through any hole. But a flood water will burst at the dike you least expect when you least expect it to, and the force of the flood will destroy anything that stands in its way." He turned and pointed out at the Arabian Desert. "The sand, on the other hand, are strong like those dunes. You can't move them. Yet they move fast with the wind, like the wind, and are on top of you before you in a sandstorm before you know it. And when they cover up a well in the desert, you don't know it's a death hole until you step on it." He turned back to look at Yazil. "An army need to be flexible, fast, stand strong, and strike hard. Its movements need to be unpredictable, and its traps unnoticeable. That's the way of the water and the way of the sand."
The king nodded and turned to look out at the vast sea of sand. He stared at it for a long time. The Desert Wolf followed his gaze. The sun warmed their faces, and the wind cooled them. Finally, Yazil spoke. "Beyond this desert are the lands of the great empires of the Seleucids of Mesopotamia and the Ptolemy of Egypt. They are fighting for the lands beyond this desert. You know about them?"
"I've heard."
There was another long pause, then Yazil continued. "I have my own theory about the way of the water and the way of the sand. It's about the workings of my kingdom."
The Desert Wolf turned to look at the king, but the king continued to look out towards the desert. He pointed at the sea of sand. "This desert is all that stands between the divided tribes of Arabia and those great empires. The harsh terrain of the desert are the homes of the Bedouin tribes, and they are loyal to no one. It's the desert and the Bedouins that kept those empires from taking over our home." He dropped his hand and turned towards the Desert Wolf. "The sand is our barrier against these great powers. But there will come a day it will not stop those empires. They will come down the coast and try to take over us. When that happens, the people of Arabia need to be its new barrier."
Yazil bent down, grabbed a handful of sand, and stood up again. He opened his palms face up and held the sand out to the Desert Wolf. The Desert wolf examined the sand, then looked back at Yazil. Yazil looked at the mercenary general. A wind blew across the hill top, and Yazil spoke. "We are sand, Desert Wolf. We are the sand of Arabia. The powers of the empires are like this wind. It's not that strong, not that fierce. It's not enough to blow away a large sand dune like the one we stand on. But little handfuls of sand like this will be easily brushed aside and blown away." The sand in Yazil's hands were carried away into the wind. Yazil turned and looked at the sand flying in the wind until they were out of sight. He turned back to the Desert Wolf. "To build a large sand dune that this wind can not move, I need sand. I need lots and lots of sand. I need men like you, Desert Wolf, to help me protect Arabia from these winds. Will you join me?"
The Desert Wolf did not know what to say. He is ashamed at himself, and amazed at what this man of almost fifty years of age has seen. The king looked at him. "Don't answer my question yet. I still want to tell you the way of the water." He turned and started down the hill. "We're heading back to Maryab, for Saba." His bodyguards followed their lord down the hill. The Desert Wolf stood on top, looking at them. Mubsamat climbed the little distance to stand beside the Desert Wolf. She did not say anything, but looked at him. He looked back at her, and couldn't say anything.

A week later, they were back in Saba. This time Halik, Yusif, and Zari' were all there with them. King Yazil lead them up a tall, long staircase of a thick stone wall. This staircase was usually off limits to normal people, for the wall contained a very important resource: water. It was the Great Dam of Marib.



They reached the top of the dam. In front of them was a lake, of river water that from the mountains that had gathered behind this wall. Yazil started, "Our ancestors had toiled for hundreds of years to build this dam." Yazil pointed at the lake. "The water is not very high right now, for it is late in the year and the water had been mostly used up. In a few months the rain will come, and soon this dam would be full again." He pointed into the mountains to the north. "In those mountains are many, many streams. They come together to form rivers, and those rivers come together into one large river that gives us the water of this dam." Yazil turned to the mercenary general, stunned by the sight. "If those streams don't come together to form small rivers, and those small rivers don't come together to form a large river, this dam would be useless, and our people would starve." He let his arm drop. The Desert Wolf turned to look at this great king. "Each of us is a stream, Desert Wolf. The more streams, the more people that can be fed by the water of this dam. To feed the people, I need streams. I need more streams."
The Desert Wolf looked emptily at the Yazil. "Desert Wolf." Yazil spoke with a stern face. "For the good of the people of Arabia, I ask you to become a handful of sand in my fist, a stream in my mountains. No, I beg you." He bowed. He did not bend as far as the people at Carna, but the weight of his bow was heavier than all of them combined.
Zari' suddenly rushed up, and held out in his arms a nicely folded sheep-skin. "This is yours. You had told me when you left it with me three years ago that you want it back." The Desert Wolf turned and looked at Zari' and slowly took the sheep skin. Zari' walked beside King Yazil. "I am beg you, also, great Wolf of the Desert." He bowed. Prince Halik and Yusif walked forward and stood beside Zari'. They said nothing, but bowed deeply.
Mubsamat rushed forward, and knelt down in front of the Desert Wolf, tears streaming down her eyes. "I am begging you also, Desert Wolf. I don't care if you forget about me, but please, help my father." She rested her head on the stone blocks of the dam.
The Desert Wolf looked at the five people in front of them. A long moment of silence passed, the wind blew from the mountains, rippling their robes and blowing their hair. Finally, the Desert Wolf smiled, and looked up at the sun above their heads. "I need a name." The group in front of them raised their heads. Mubsamat rose to her feet. The Desert Wolf looked back down, at the people in front of him. "I need a name," he repeated. "A lord need a name to serve."
Another moment of silence passed. It was Halik who spoke. "You agree to join us?"
The Desert Wolf smiled at them, and suddenly bent down on his knees and put his head on stones of the dam, warm from the sun. King Yazil smiled. "Very well. I give you the name of my great uncle, the man who held the last threads of the old kingdom together. I give you the name of Nasha Yuhan'em."
"If I may," the Desert Wolf spoke without raising his head. "I would like to make one change to my name."
Yazil looked at the Desert Wolf, surprised. "What's the change?"
"I am not fit for such a great name." The Desert Wolf answered. "I would like to add the name Karab behind Nasha."
Yazil smiled. Yusif, confused, asked. "The name of the tyrant of Tamane? Why?"
"The name is to always remind myself not to become a lord like Karab." The Desert Wolf answered. "I want to be Nasha in front, not Karab behind."
"Very well." King Yazil spoke. "You shall be Nasha Karab Yuhan'em."
The Desert Wolf looked up. "I, Nasha Karab Yuhan'em, born Tribe of Qataban, grew up Tribe of Ma'in, the Wolf of the Desert, pledge allegiance to King Yazil and the kingdom of Sab'yn."



King Yazil clapped his hands. The sound resonated on the dam. The bodyguards of the King and Prince approached. The Desert Wolf stood up and looked at them. From their midst, a group of men stepped forward. Captain Yasir and Captain Yada' were amongst them. "Lord Nasha." Yazil spoke. "I present you with your bodyguard. Captain Yasir shall be your spear carrier, Captain Yada' your drill master. You have met both of them. They are both skilled men. Use them well."
Nasha Karab Yuhan'em bowed to the king of the Sab'yn. "I will."
Yazil continued. "And I give you the governorship of the town of Tamane and its surrounding province of Qataban. I also decree that any word spoken by you about the governance of Carna and its surrounding province of Ma'in could overrule any order of the current governor unless that governor is myself, or any future king of Sab'yn."
The entire group stared at the king, their mouths wide open. The king had effectively given to this newcomer control of two of the four Sab'yn provinces. "My king, that's..." the new Lord Nasha started, but one look in Yazil's eyes and he stopped. "Yes, my king. I shall make sure nothing happen to these provinces, or die trying."
The king smiled. He stretched out his hand and held the army of his daughter. Mubsamat turned to look at her father. "And if you don't mind, I want you to take my over-playful daughter for your wife."
Mubsamat's face turned red. Lord Nasha looked at the princess, and spoke. "If the princess does not mind marrying such a young, inexperienced lord who has not been able to keep even his simple promise, then I shall be my honour to take her hand in marriage."
Mubsamat rushed up to the young lord four years older than her, and threw her arms around him. Tears of joy were streaming down her face. "You, idiot, what are you saying? You HAVE kept your promise."
Young Nasha put his hands around the princess, and gentle stroke her hair like he had done once before when she had dropped her clay doll. "I am sorry, Mubsamat. I am sorry for making you wait so long."
Mubsamat shook her head, and buried it in Nasha's embrace. "You kept your promise, that's all that matters." Nasha continued to hold his new bride tightly, stroking her long, dark hair.
The others looked at scene before them with a wide smile. It was Zari' who finally spoke. "Come on, let's go down. The mating wolves needs some room." They laughed, and started descending the stairs down the Great Dam. The young couple was embarrassed for a short moment, but only a short moment. And after, they were back in their own world.

King Yazil announced the addition of Lord Nasha Karab Yuhan'em and his decreed in court the next day. He announced the wedding, and announced that funds had been set aside to expand Lord Nasha's villa in Tamane and the building of a new temple in Tamane dedicated to Almagah, the supreme god of Sab'yn.



Many noble families voiced their protest, but King Yazil silenced all of them with a list of accomplishments of the new Lord Nasha, even giving him the credit of the taking of both Carna and Sabata.
Soon after, a lavish wedding feast was held in Maryab in celebration of the marriage of the King's daughter to the legendary Wolf of the Desert. The gifts from the people of the kingdom to Lord Nasha at Carna were presented once again, this time as a wedding gift from the people throughout the kingdom to the newly wed couple. It was a feast fit for a king.



Over the next year, Lord Nasha toiled daily over the works of Tamane, with frequent visits to Carna. Mubsamat was always beside him, helping him with work and giving him much needed comfort and advice. With Halik left in charge of Maryab, and King Yazil sorting out and overseeing the consolidation of Sabata and the province of Hadramaut, the kingdom was as peaceful and prosperous as can be.
Finally, it was time to continue with the unification of Arabia. The target was Ubar, on the edge of the coastal hills, which receive a yearly monsoon, and the dry barren desert. For this task, King Yazil entrusted Lord Nasha with the entire Sab'yn army minus his and the prince's bodyguards and a few units of town garrisons.
Everyone was shocked by this order, for this placed the actual powers of the Sab'yn kingdom in the hand of one lord. Neither the king nor the prince were accompanying Lord Nasha on campaign (though Mubsamat insisted she goes along). As a show of thanks, just before they left, the lord and lady Yuhan'em dedicated Tamane and Qataban to the god Almagah.



After a long march, the army met up with Yusif Um Namran in the rolling hills beyond Sabata.



Yusif was sent ahead to Ubar to spy and deliver false information. Meanwhile Lord Nasha and the army marched through the roadless low hills of Hadramaut, making their way slowly towards Ubar and the coastal desert.



In the meantime, with both the Sab'yn army and its best general away, the noble familes of the Sab'yn started to make their complaints heard.