nto Anjou's hands," Daoud insisted.

"There is nowhere for me to escape to," said Manfred. "I have lost all
my fighting men. All my kingdom lies open to Charles."

"Sultan Baibars would receive you as a revered guest. Or the Emperor of
Constantinople."

_And we could take Sophia there with us._

Manfred shook his head with a rueful smile. "I would be honored to eat
your sultan's bread and salt. Or to visit that wonderful city,
Constantinople. But I do not want to see the shambles Anjou makes of
this land my father and I labored so many years to make beautiful.
And--I have been a king, and I do not want to end my life as an exile."

_But we are all exiles_, Daoud thought.

Manfred continued. "I thank you for all your help, Daoud. You must get
away while you still have a chance."

Tears burning his eyes, Daoud saw that the little space Manfred's men
defended had shrunk even as they spoke. He thought of Sophia, waiting
for him in Benevento. He thought of El Kahira, of Blossoming Reed, of
going before Baibars and telling him he had failed to stop the alliance
of Tartars and Christians.

He would never see any of them again.

He closed his eyes, and for a moment he sat in the Gray Mosque and heard
the voice of Sheikh Saadi.

_The Warrior of God is known, not by his willingness to kill, but by his
willingness to die. He is a man who would give his life for his
friends._

He looked again at the short, smiling man before him and said, "I will
stay with you."

Manfred put out a hand. "Daoud, you owe me no blood loyalty. I do not
ask you to die in my company."

"And yet, but for my advice, you might not be here today," Daoud said.
"I owe you that. I cannot leave you."

"Many of my own men already have."

"Then I must stay."

Manfred looked deep into Daoud's eyes. "What about Sophia?"

Daoud sighed. "God knows how much I wish I were with Sophia right now.
But she is the most resourceful woman I have ever known, and she has
friends with her in Benevento. And I have always known I could never
take her back to El Kahira. If I live, there is no other place I can go
but El Kahira. It is torment for me to think I will never see her again,
but whatever happens to me, Sophia and I would have to part. Perhaps it
is best that we be parted this way."

Manfred gripped Daoud's arms hard. "Stay, then, and be welcome among my
companions."

_I have brought destruction and death to so many_, Daoud thought. _Now
is the tim