Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
K adar didn’t think he’d ever been as nervous in his life. He had everything riding on the next few hours. He’d cut himself off from his old life before he’d secured his new life. And he hadn’t a clue what he’d do if Sarah refused him now he wasn’t king. Return to the palace to play second fiddle to his younger brother? No way. Now he’d found a way out of the constraints of his life, he had no intention of returning in any role whatsoever. Not to the palace, anyway. He’d work for his country, but not in the city. It was the country he loved, and the country he’d work for, away from the political center. That would be a role far better suited to his brother, for whom diplomacy and charm were second nature.
As he and his driver drove through the open gates of the small city where the Al-Barraq tribe lived, and slowed to navigate through the crowded streets, he looked around with interest. It had been years since he’d been here. He’d been with his father then, and yet, despite the years, the same impression hit him forcibly. It was like his country used to be. Traditional, full of people on foot, rather than in vehicles, bustling and prosperous looking. He knew it thrived as it was closer to a port than the capital city. He also knew that several of the richest merchants who lived here didn’t trade in physical items but used the internet. So traditional looking, with a traditional culture, but forward looking too. Taking whatever technology would fit into their lifestyle to enhance it. He felt it would be a model that the capital city could benefit from emulating.
They pulled into the grounds of the local sheikh—Sarah’s great uncle. Kadar was arriving unannounced, which was unusual. But, as he was no longer king, it was also no longer required. But, by the time they’d parked, men had appeared at the front door, standing waiting, their faces grave. It didn’t bode well.
He got out of the car, looked around, breathed in the warm desert air, and his first impressions were reinforced. This place embodied everything he loved about his land. He turned his focus to the small group of men who had emerged from a large house. The middle man was Sarah’s uncle, and head of the family. He stepped forward to greet him.
“Your Highness?” the man said with a slight question mark. It was too soon for them to have been officially informed, but it was obvious by the intonation that they knew something had happened.
Kadar decided not to correct him yet.
“We are honored you should visit.”
“The honor is all mine, Sheikh Rahim,” Kadar said, unable to prevent himself from checking over the man’s shoulder. Was Sarah there, listening somewhere? If she was, she was out of sight. “I trust your father is well?”
The man bowed. “Indeed. Never better. He will be eager to meet you.” He stepped aside and indicated the marble interior of the building. It was no palace, but it was a beautiful mansion with many other buildings around it to house family and officials. Again, the leader was at the center of the family, at the center of the large town and the community. There was no isolation here, as there was at the palace.
“And I am eager to meet him, too.”
More eager to meet Sarah, but protocol had to be followed, and he walked alongside the man through the entry hall, followed by curious faces and hushed comments. He’d never felt more conspicuous, even when he’d been king. Then he’d had a role. Now, no one, not even himself, knew what that was.
He was pleased to see Sarah seated with another woman to the right of the sheikh, with men seated on the other side. His instinctive smile faded when met with Sarah’s serious expression. Her eyes were fixed on him, but they were guarded, confused. He could hardly blame her. If anyone had told him a few months ago that he’d have taken such actions, be doing such a thing, he wouldn’t have believed them. He’d have thought they’d been smoking drugs.
“ Inshallah ,” greeted the sheikh. “As I say, we are honored by your visit, Your Highness.”
Again, the slight hesitation showed that they knew something had happened.
“And ask if you will partake of some refreshment after your long journey,” the sheikh continued.
Although Kadar wanted to get down to business straightaway, he couldn’t ignore the customs of the land. That would be worse than anything he had to say or not say. So, he waited, as food and drink were brought in, and taken out again, hardly consumed, and polite conversation was made until that, too, had run out.
At last, Kadar knew it was time. He cleared his throat.
“Thank you for your kind welcome. But I am here for a purpose. I am here to inform you all that I am no longer king of Sirun.”
There was a sharp intake of breath, although the sheikh’s inscrutable face didn’t change.
“I am sad to hear that, Your Highness.”
Kadar lowered his head. “Thank you. But my brother will be crowned king in due course and I am sure will make a better king than I.”
There were polite murmurings against his assertion. But Kadar was only interested in the reaction of one person.
“Well,” said Sarah’s uncle, “it is gracious of you to come and inform us yourself. I know the relationship between our two families has a history of conflict and so I appreciate this mark of respect.”
Kadar nodded. “It is indeed a mark of respect, but it is also something else.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed and there was a light in them, as if to acknowledge that he knew there was another reason for Kadar’s visit. “And what is that?”
Kadar looked around. Sarah and the others were seated away from them. No one would overhear. He’d practiced the words, but they still felt strange on his tongue.
“I am here to ask for Sarah’s hand in marriage.”
Sheikh Rahim raised his eyebrows. “But I believe Sarah has stated a barrier to marriage. A caveat you have placed on the proposal.”
“I believe that circumstances are different now, and I can prove to her that any barriers to our marriage are no longer relevant.”
The old man sat back. “I believe it’s time for you to take your conversation to Sarah.”
“Thank you, Rahim.”
They both rose, and from across the other side of the large room Sarah turned to look and then turned away again quickly.
“And good luck,” the old man said wryly, allowing himself a twinkle in his eye now. “Although you are no longer king, I fully approve of her marrying you. It will strengthen our relationship and hopefully be a bridge to further constructive talks.”
“I hope so, too.”
The old man put his hand on Kadar’s arm. “But before you talk to her. Tell me, if she agrees, where do you intend to live? We have waited many years to see my brother’s family again. We feared them both dead. Now she has arrived, we wouldn’t want to see her leave.”
“And I wouldn’t wish to take her away from you. That is not my intention at all. If you’d have me, I’d wish to live here also. Because she’d wish it and because I would also prefer it.”
The old man looked surprised for the first time. “Things have indeed changed. I can see that now.” He glanced at Sarah, who was studiously listening to her great aunt talk. “You may yet be in with a chance with her. But, from the little I know of her, she is a woman of principle.”
“She is. And that is one of the many things I love about her.”
Kadar turned from looking at Sarah, and the sheikh smiled for the first time. “I can see what you say is true. It is in your eyes, and in your heart. Maybe it also is in hers. I’ll ask her to come to you.”
Kadar nodded and watched through the fretwork screen as the sheikh went to talk with Sarah, who rose to greet him. She listened carefully to what he had to say. Whatever the sheikh was saying, it was taking him longer than Kadar had imagined. It was no swift instruction that Kadar wished to speak with her. She said something, but the sheikh put out a hand on her arm, as if to reassure her. Kadar just hoped the sheikh was on his side and wasn’t issuing words of warning. Sarah nodded and finally walked towards him.
Once again he remembered her graceful walk, and how her warmth captivated anyone who came close to her. She drew your eyes as if there were no one else in the room. Or maybe that was just him?
“Kadar,” she greeted quietly as she stood in the doorway, as if reluctant to move in case she had to bolt away. He took a step back to reassure her he would not force her to do anything.
“Sarah,” he said. “Please, may I have a few minutes of your time?”
She nodded, and took the seat he indicated, spreading her robes around her as if she’d been wearing them all her life.
“You are well?” he asked. He was suddenly nervous. It didn’t appear that she was going to give an inch.
She nodded. “Yes. You?”
“Sarah,” he breathed. “What do you think? I’ve handed the throne over to my brother, relinquished all ties to it.”
“And he did not mind?”
“No. He’s looking forward to being in control. He is excellent at diplomacy, but his range of skills is much broader than that, more than most people know.” He smiled. “He hides his integrity well under his charming exterior. He will make an excellent king. Much better than me.”
She nodded, looked down and then looked up suddenly with those beautiful hazel eyes. “Why did you do it, Kadar?”
He reached over and took her hand in his. He took it as a good sign that she didn’t resist. “For you, Sarah. I could think of no other way to show you I want to marry you—that I love you, that I want us to be together—than by proving to you I have nothing to gain from such a union other than being with you. I was an idiot before.”
He ignored her grunt of agreement. “I was raised to think of everything in terms of my duty to my country. And when I discovered who you were and how our union could help bring peace to my country, I didn’t hesitate. But I should have. You made me see that. Sarah, please, I have abdicated the throne for you.”
She shook her head. “Don’t tell me you abdicated the throne for me. That’s too much pressure to put on me.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s true. But I also did it for me. My brother will make a far better ruler than me. My place is with the people on the land. It always has been. Sarah, I?—”
She raised her hand to stop him from speaking. “Kadar, please say nothing further. I need to tell you something. Something which I’d hoped to tell you last time we met.” She shrugged. “But I didn’t have an opportunity.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve kept something from you. Something important.”
“What is it?” He frowned. “You look scared. What is so important that it would frighten you.”
She looked up at him and swallowed. “I’m scared of your reaction.”
He hated seeing fear in her eyes. His frown deepened. “Tell me.”
“I’m pregnant.”
A sweeping sense of bliss filled him, and he roared with laughter.
It was her turn to frown. “What is so funny?”
“You!” He put one arm around her waist and tilted her chin so she was looking up at him. “That you should fear my reaction to you telling me you’re pregnant. Habibti , I’m not angry! You have made me so happy. There is only one thing which could make me happier.”
She smiled back. “And what’s that?”
“Marry me. Please. I made a terrible mistake before by putting my duty before my heart. I’ll never let that happen again. And the only way I could prove it was to propose to you again, except this time I have nothing to gain by the marriage except you. Nothing else. I need you to trust me. Please, put me out of my misery and tell me if you trust me. If you can see a future together with me?”
Her smile broadened, and her eyes shone. She nodded. “Yes,” she gasped, but slipped her hand from his and walked away.
He was desperate to reach out for her, to hold on to her and make sure she never left him. But he couldn’t. It was up to her.
He thought his heart would break. Then, something miraculous happened. Instead of walking out through the door, she closed it, and the sound of voices receded. Slowly, she turned to face him. “There. That’s better,” she said.
“ You might think so. But your family might think otherwise. It’s not usual for an unmarried woman to be out of sight of her family. Not usual for a beautiful, single woman to be alone with a man.”
“It doesn’t matter in this case.”
“Really? And why is that?”
“Because I don’t intend to leave this room a single woman. I intend to leave it as a woman who is engaged to be married.” She walked toward him with the gait of a woman confident that she was loved. “Will you, Kadar, take me, Sarah, to be your wife?”
He swallowed and nodded. It seemed all that was required of him. He enjoyed watching Sarah take over control.
“And do you, Kadar, promise to be faithful to me, and to be with me throughout our lives together, caring for each other, loving each other, respecting each other, trusting each other?”
He nodded again.
“Excellent. Then I think we can seal our engagement with a kiss.”
She cupped his cheeks and pressed her body to his.
He lightly touched her lips before she could kiss him. “There’s only one thing you need to know.”
“And that is?” she asked breathlessly.
“That there will still be times and places where I exert my authority.”
“Is that right?” Her beautiful lips curled into a smile, which nearly made him forget what he was saying. But this was too important.
“That is, indeed , right.”
“And when and where might these places be?” she asked.
“Do you really need to ask?”
She blushed and nodded.
“When we are alone and making love. Then you will cede control to me.”
She raised an imperious eyebrow. “And you really believe I will allow that?”
“Oh, I won’t have to ask for it,” he said. “And you, my love, will be begging me to take it.”
She laughed then, and he kissed her.
Eventually they emerged hand in hand, and raised their joined fists, Sarah laughing and showing off the ring which he’d placed on her finger. The place erupted into roars of laughter and shouts of congratulation as Sarah was hugged first by her cousin and then all the other women. Cautiously at first, the men—unused to being overly familiar with someone who, until the day before, had been king—clapped him on the back and congratulated him. Drinks and more food appeared, and soon music was added to the celebratory atmosphere.
It reminded him of when he’d lived with his uncle and he’d entertained family and friends in the traditional way. It was real. It was far from his old life in the palace. And, for the first time, he almost felt sorry for his brother for whom an arranged marriage loomed, as well as managing the politics, their errant mother, and a difficult economy. But then Sarah gripped his hand and smiled at him, and he knew he could have done nothing different. His brother would be just fine. Besides, he’d do his bit too. He’d make sure that at least one of his country’s problems was no longer. The Al-Farraq tribe. Because he would be one of them.