Enjoy the chapter guys! Am sure it'll be a shocking one!

Faris ^.^



Rashideen Tribe



__________________________________________

~*And I tell myself, a moon will rise from my darkness.~* Mahmoud Darwish.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

The Fajr prayer caused Faris to sit straight and knead his eyes. He could not sleep, being in his enemy's tribe looted his slumber and that caused his brain and body to feel tremendously knackered. He ran his hand down his shoulder-length hair then peered at the ring on the small finger of his right hand. This was a ring his grandfather had gifted him, a ring that publicized his supremacy over others, over his siblings and cousins and this was the ring that welcomed on his shoulders.

Prince of knights turned his head to his right and breathed. What was he to do with this gullible woman? They were in the quarter of their marquee in order to slumber. However, as soon as the sky intensified the sprinkles of its darkness Raghad had snatched a coverlet then marched by the drape of the quarter to keep her distance from the man whom she rebuked to speak with or even glance at. Faris was exasperated but knew he could not do anything. The woman was mulish as a stick and she would not soften until it has rained. Then again Faris cherished the quieted that came with her hushed treatment, he took pleasure in their detachment.

The groom looked at the lantern that hung just above Raghad's head permitting his thoughts to linger. He pondered on his conversation with Badr and knew detaining his stay here will not aid them discovering their foes. To aggravate him further than conceivable, Jabber's words would tip toe in his brain. Faris growled, flung aside his coverlet then rose to his feet. His hand reached out for his headdress, his sword and with that Faris marched away from their tent towards the masjid to perform his prayer.

The sky was dark with layers of clouds decorating it, and the breeze that tangled and untangled his thobe around his legs was mild almost as if welcoming him. Faris looked around, this tribe was different from his, there were tents everywhere he glanced. To the right of the tribe, there were innumerable farms and herds whereas the left of the tribe was ornamented with tents. His sandals crunched tiny stones and the moon dowsed its thirst from his sight. At this, the neighboring stars shook their head with a tender sigh that rattled the wind, muttering the moon's eccentric behavior.

"Salaam Alaikum Faris." A voice reached his ears as the Masjid came in view.

"Wa Alaikum as Salaam." He gritted his teeth as his eyes landed on the men in front of him. Badr, his brother-in-law stood by the door of the masjid escorted by the man he wanted to butcher.

Jabber.

"I wanted you to meet a good friend of mine. This is Jabber, a good friend and the leader of my knights. Jabber is here to aid us." Badr elucidated eyes on Faris, who glared at Jabber with ominous eyes. Among all the men in the Rashideen tribe, Jabber indeed was the only individual who would walk alongside Badr.

"We have crossed paths." Faris retorted in a gruff voice.

"That is delightful then. We shall now discuss matters as he is one of us." Sagr al fursan observed Faris.

"What makes you think that he can tackle what we shall propose? I have yet to witness his capabilities." Faris al Fursan took a step forward. By Allah, his hand that rested on his sword itched, he wanted to destroy but knew better. Raghad is the daughter of a Sheikh, and just like Shouq, many would come to request for her hand. If Faris assassinated all those suitors his sister shall never wed.

Then why on earth did he yearn to slit Jabber's throat?

"He is my knight, Prince. And I am certain you are well aware of Rashideen knights' valor and forte." Badr hoisted his brow.

"There is a dog in our tribe, shall I say that the hound is valiant and proficient merely because it resides in the Borkan tribe?" Faris moved his gaze from Jabber to Badr then back to the man he wanted to kill.

"Shall we unsheathe our swords then, ya Faris?" Jabber offered testing the fiend with a clenched jaw. "Hounds are notorious for their barbaric temperament and for ripping men to shreds."

Faris smiled and moved his fingers on his sword. "La Ya Jabber. We are standing before a masjid," Badr moved in, standing between the men. "Besides, brother-in-law, Jabber shall aid me in this ploy and I am certain that you have people to shoulder you as well." Badr pronounced, he glanced towards Faris's sword then at the man himself. He waited for Faris to verbalize something. Badr knew something was dreadfully wrong, he was well aware that he would not be able to hold the monster if it was unleashed.

However, after a pregnant pause, Faris chuckled then dropped his hand from his sword. "Indeed." He hissed the words then sauntered towards the masjid, disregarding the knights.

By Allah, the spectators that held their breath outside of the masjid were shell-shocked at the sight inside. The Knights, the beasts who were ready to drench the earth with crimson blood a moment ago stood alongside each other with Faris in the middle, while Badr on his right and Jabber on his left. The tribesmen could not believe it, they could not bind a thread of their brain around the fact that before their Lord, their Maker, the men would forget their abhorrence, that they would drop their gaze in utter silence. That moment they knew that indeed, nothing else had the authority to bring them together aside from this religion, apart from the love for their Lord.

Faris did not stay behind to chat with the men. As soon as the Iman concluded the prayer he stood up and walked out of the masjid tremendously irked. He needed to depart, he could not stay in this tribe any longer without spilling blood, his wrath and urge were daunting, so formidable that he had to murmur verses of Quran to tame his fury. Instead of making his way towards the tents Faris al Fursan veered towards the farms eager to cleanse thoughts from his brain and to do so he needed to remain unaccompanied.

He stayed there under the shade of a palm tree for a long while not willing to go back to the woman who drove him insane. Faris rubbed his chin with two of his fingers as he recalled the state of Ali's corpse and the wounds on his body. His eyes narrowed when a thought creaked in his brain. Both men who were killed belonged to his tribe, the one Salem was accused of terminating and Ali. Whoever had the strings desperately wanted the Borkans to unchain their power on the Rashideen.

His blood simmered. How dare them to perform their tricks in his tribe? Did they not know that Faris would peel off their skin and hang their heads on their swords for others to witness if he hearkened of this? Faris al Fursan closed his eyes, he had to make a move, and make one quick before another body finds its way on his doors.

After a prolong while when the sun had ascended and the tribe was engaged he departed from his place towards his tent. The knight needed to sleep, he desired to close his eyes and hush his brain. As he walked towards his tribe a ghost of a smile made its way to his lips when children circled around him then sprinted away laughing.

He brought the end of his headdress around his throat then tossed the end over his shoulder concealing his face from the cold wind. Faris clenched the side of his thobe in his left hand then slowed his steps relishing the sun rays. His slow steps, however, came to a standstill when he was about fifty feet away from his Khaimah. To say rage clouded his senses would be foolish, it weaved his veins then wrung them to such an extent that his heart picked its rhythm.

Raghad accompanied by her sister Maha and another woman stood before their tent along with Jabber and Khalid. Knight of Knights swallowed as his eyes narrowed into slits. Crimson red was what he witnessed that moment, Faris wanted to rip the man's hands and feed them to dogs. He wanted to ram his sword deep inside his heart. Just as soon as those thoughts whizzed in his brain he closed his eyes, hurled a curse to satan then murmured verses of Quran yet once again.

Faris stood there by a well, the same well he had taken water from to rinse mud from Tufan's back when he concealed his horse's identity. If one were to see him stand there they would ponder a serene man merely stared at the beauty of the tribe, but, by Allah, they could not be more wrong. He was beyond livid, he yearned to teach his spouse a lesson, a lesson she would never forget. His mind coaxed him to commit actions he would condemn his soul for.

Khalid and Jabber chortled at something his thoughtless woman said. The men glanced at each other, then at her and laughed once again. The knight placed the index finger of his left hand over his mouth and tilted his head. "If only I had acceded to Jabber's request." A voice followed by Badr's form made its way to him.

From the corner of his eye, Faris saw sagr al fursan stand beside him. The man crossed his hands over his chest and peered at what Faris had been observing. "Then why did you not?" A tranquil collected voiced inquired.

Badr inhaled then chuckled. "If Borkans had not invaded my tribe on that hapless day. Fates would have been different." He replied.

Faris ran his tongue over his chapped lips. He reminded himself that this was the daughter of his foe, he did not wish to marry her, nor did he want to do anything with her. "Come. I must show you something." Badr added then ambled away. With a last glance towards Raghad, Faris followed Badr.

**

Half a dozen men stood in front of Faris. The men were garbed in black from head to toe, even their faces were eclipsed with a black material. Faris eyed their swords, the small daggers that hung from their waist. Those men were lethal, they were men only a few, aside from himself, dared to create. They were spies, they were men one appointed to kill, they were assassins.

The knights stood on top of a hill, a hill that was far away from the boundaries of the Rashideen tribe. Faris had speculated where Badr led him while making their way here, he never pondered that the man would disclose such a treacherous secret to him. Somehow, it unsettled something within him. Faris did not like the trust placed upon his shoulders. He was here to negotiate and locate the culprit behind these murders not to generate another kinship. He knew Faris knew that the shrewd man Badr was attempting to drizzle water on their rage, he was trying to terminate the detestation among the tribes by revealing certain matters Faris would never disclose himself.

"What is the meaning of this?" Faris quizzed, well aware of the answer.

"These men will support us. They are trained to spy and seeing as we have people yearning to see a bloodbath, these men," Badr pointed to his army. "Will bring us news only shadows are aware of."

Faris did not reply, his eyes surveyed the men with utmost inquisitiveness. "Do not tell me, Prince, that you have not sent your assassins in order to notify you of unwanted movements," Badr added when he looked at Faris.

"Why must you enquire when you are aware of the answer?" Faris rejoined in a calm voice. Right before he departed for the Rashideen tribe, the knight of knights had apprised Nasser, his sibling to enlighten his spies. Faris knew things would not be the same as soon as he reached his enemy's tribe and he was indeed correct.

"Father believes you are present here for something far beyond the blame placed on my neck."

"He is a wise man."

Badr gave a nod then sighed. "I am certain you know that one of these men will reside in the Borkan tribe."

Faris chuckled. "Are you asking for permission, sagr of knights?"

"When have I ever asked for such a thing to ask now? Like you mentioned the prime mover of this ploy lives among the Borkans and it is only sensible to take such actions."

"Do as you please. However, I do not guarantee their life. If my knights catch a whiff of these assassins you, ya Badr, will witness their bodies."

Badr laughed, it was a hearty laugh. "That is if, ya Faris, if they catch a whiff of these men."

**

The day slithered over the sky rather leisurely. Yet once again the sky was cloaked in a gloomy garment urging the tribe to retreat. Faris tossed and turned, however, could not sleep. His body was exhausted, it had been two nights and a day in this tribe, yet he could not goad his eyes to close and rest. After Badr had disclosed his assassins to Faris, both knights watched the masked men ride away from the hill to their designated destinations. Faris had returned to his tent unwilling to see Raghad and to his contentment the tent was vacant.

His eyes stared at the ceiling of the quarter of their Khaimah. There was an appalling ache in his head, the side of his neck throbbed with a horrendous pain and his body felt hefty. The knight stood up then made his way to the mattress on the other side of the tent. Faris sat down then crossed his feet. He grabbed a steel cup then poured qahwah in it. His brows creased when the cold qahwa caressed his throat causing a shiver to travel down his spine. With a sigh, he took three dates and noshed them.

Nothing could be heard, the hushed whoosh of the wind just outside his tent was peaceful. For a moment Faris wanted to remain there for an eternity. That instant there was nothing other than him and the wind. Just as the thought crossed his brain he tusked and poured another cup of qahwah.

Just like the previous morning, he departed from the tent at the sound of the call to prayer. This morning, however, he did not have the privilege to meet Jabber. Faris prayed in the masjid and just as he was about to leave Badr had sauntered in. Both knights did not converse, a mere nod of the head was what they needed to comprehend each other.

Peace.

Truce.

Today Faris was clothed in a white kandoora with a gray headdress on head accompanied by his sword. He made his way towards the fence almost hundred feet away from his marquee. Faris had not seen his loyal horse from over a day, he needed to make certain Tufan was well-attended to. The sky was still dusky and countless stars twinkled around the moon humming their own melody. When he passed a flock of the camel on his right some of them followed his form as he strolled away.

A smile graced his lips as soon as Tufan caught sight of him. The beast galloped up to its master near the iron rail and rubbed its head on Faris's outstretched palm. Faris twisted his head left then right in order to locate the door so he could free his horse. He turned his body to right then took a few steps smiling as his horse, Tufan, followed his steps. "Yes, yes, Tufan. Faris has longed to see you as well." The Knight murmured while pushing a wood plank propped against the iron rail. Tufan grunted in delight then made its way to Faris who commenced to caress its forehead, grinning. Knight of Knights replaced the plank back then sauntered away from the fence with Tufan on his side.

The knight and his horse halted by a tanoor. Faris sat down and pressed his back to the cold wall of the tanoor Meanwhile Tufan circled him. It was then the sun started to peel off shades of darkness from the sky. Just from the first waves of the sun trees yawned, awakened by the chirping of the birds. The sound of Tufan's hoofs casted a spell over his body, gradually Faris felt his eyelids become heavy. He tilted his head to the side, eyes on Tufan as it paced back and forth in front of Faris and with that, he welcomed a light slumber.

Sleep propelled Faris into a deep abyss, it plunged his conscious in an ocean where he confronted serenity and peace of mind. Just as another wave of slumber clashed with the ocean of his senses a sharp squeal caused him to open his eyes and the next moment blood smeared his left hand, splattering on the wall of the tanoor. Adrenaline roared in his veins as Faris lunged to his other side away from the sword that was aimed for his chest. Four seconds, it took him four seconds to perceive that there were two armed men there to slaughter him and if it were not for Tufan's squeal, his warning, he would have been dead by now.

Faris drew out his sword, his incensed eyes set on his opponent who stood before him, face concealed with a garment. Did the Rashideen violate the treaty? Were those men sent by Badr? His hold tightened around the hilt of his sword and with that Faris took a step forward. If only the birds could shield the eyes of the spectators with their feathers if only the sand could generate a wall around the beast who charged forth like a barbarian hungry for blood.

All that matter that moment was blood, blood to quench the thirst of his sword. Faris did not pay heed to the crimson water that oozed from the ghastly gash on his forearm, he wanted his opponent dead, and by Allah, that is exactly what he did. The man hoisted his sword in the air to struck Faris, however, staggered back as the knight of knights booted him in the abdomen with an unearthly force that is when his grip loosed around his weapon and his sword landed next to his feet. Without wasting another second Faris thrust the tip of his sword in the man's heart, slowly treasuring the sight.

It was not the crowd that congregated around him as witnesses that seared his sanity to an extent that blood rushed to his brain. It was not the man who had caused the wound on his left hand, it was not the fact that the Rashideen tribe had wrecked the treaty. It was the man, the other man, who charged at him with two sabre swords and rage in eyes.

Khalid!

Faris's grip on his sword was so hard that blood coated his palm. There was no mistaking it that he would kill those cowards who attempted to murder him in his slumber, and Faris knew he would not blink twice before he rips Khalid's throat out. However, the brute wanted to take his time, Faris would torment the fool and then savor his blood.

"I should have known. You have always had a desire to place that rusty sword on my throat." Faris growled, his chest heaving. A strong wind blew his hair, swaying them as his headdress had fallen when he had lunged to the side.

"If only I had committed this earlier. My sister would not endure so much." Khalid barked seizing more attention from the tribesmen.

"Your sister." Faris al fursan laughed, he shook his head then took a single step forward, enticing the twit. "And what makes you believe that you can kill me, Khalid?" When he uttered the reckless man's name the wind shuddered seeking refuge from the sun.

"You are bleeding which indicates that you are human. And killing a human is not a hurdle." Khalid hissed back then sprinted towards Faris disregarding the fact that this was the man who trained monsters, a man who generated exceptional knights eminent among tribes.

Knight of Knights stood there waiting for him to come towards him, when Khalid's swords were at an arm's reach Faris duck down then slammed his elbow in the crook of Khalid's neck. He smiled when the man toppled over almost falling. Taking that as an opportunity Faris rammed his foot into Khalid's back so that the man's cheek was now pressed against the sand. Faris did not know what possessed him, he wanted to kill Khalid, he yearned to see the man drenched in blood. His fingers wrapped around the hilt of his sword itched to taste the warmth of his irrational blood.

Faris chuckled a fiendish chuckle, it was as if the hounds of hell had released his chains. With that he lifted his sword, ready to slaughter Khalid. So rapt in his wrath Faris did not discern the people who pushed tribesmen aside to approach him. So captivated with his prey he did not notice the woman who darted towards him with tears and terror in her eyes. So engrossed in his madness he did not take note of those doe-like eyes that begged him to halt.

Just as he brought the sword down to execute Khalid a voice screamed his name. "Faris no! Faris please no." He did not halt, he could not stop. Faris had to show the world that he would not stop for anyone. Suddenly slender fingers enfolded around his uninjured forearm and a terror-stricken face appeared before him. "Faris. Faris. I beg you to stop. Look at me, please." Raghad's shaky voice shrieked.

Slowly his gaze moved from his prey to his woman and here his eyes narrowed further if that was feasible. "Move woman!" He growled. "You do not know what you are committing." The voice that sounded from his lips did not belong to him, it belonged to monsters that lived in isolated desert plains.

"He is my brother. I cannot allow this." Raghad's desperate voice urged him to glance down at her. Her doe-like eyes were glassy; however, those tears did not kiss her eyelashes. He took note of how very pallid she was, those wide eyes searched his face, his demonic eyes, beseeching.

"You want me to allow this foul man live. A man who a while ago desired for his own sister to be a widow." Faris barked and Raghad flinched. The animal perceived how her fingers clutched his forearm, even in the state of downright fury he took note of the quiver in her hands.

"I have never asked anything from you. But, today, here I beg of you. Let him go, he is naïve," She shook her head the movement causing her shawl to slither down to the crown of her head. "Khalid does not know what he has done," Raghad begged, her bottom lip trembling.

"Move aside." He hissed.

"No. I know you do not want to do this. You cannot hurt him."

Faris looked away from her, his mind felt as if lightning ignited it just from her sight. How on earth can she request for such a thing? How can she allow a man like that live? Was she joyous with the thought of her being his widow? Knight of knights' gaze landed on Badr, who stood near the man Faris had killed, eyes narrowed, enraged.

"How can you be so sure that your filthy sibling is not involved with them?" Faris boomed at Badr, pressing his foot harder on Khalid's back.

"You and I both know he is not," Badr responded seething.

"That is what you ponder. You need to open your eyes before your loss of sight gets you killed." He snarled.

Badr looked away from Faris then in a blink of an eye he marched towards Khalid and that was when Faris took a step back, moving Raghad along with him as she still grasped his forearm. Badr bent down, grabbed Khalid by the arm and heaved him up then without a warning he slapped his sibling across the face in front of his tribe. Faris clenched his jaw at the sharp gasp that escaped Raghad's lips.

"And here I was thinking I, son of Sheikh Faisal will terminate this hatred wholly," Badr shook his head in despondency. "How foolish of me to even ponder so." He grabbed the collar of Khalid's kandoora. "Leave. I do not want to see your face. You are nothing but a disgrace to this tribe." With that, he shoved the man back who dropped his head in sheer humiliation.

"Take this traitor away from my sight!" Badr barked his orders and two of his knights seized both of Khalid's hands rather brutally. "Raghad," he called his back to them. "Your man is injured, tend to his injuries." Sagr al fursan pronounced those words then followed the men who took Khalid away.

_____________________________________________

Damn Khalid what have you done! Next chapter in sha Allah will be updated soon.