They were invited to sit once more, and resumed their seats on the log benches, while Ali took his place on the rug-covered slab, adopting the manner of a potentate enthroned. Hasan and Ali exchanged idle pleasantries until the cups were drained, and then the bandit called for meat to be brought.

One of the roasting joints was pulled off a nearby spit and brought dripping to the bandit leader. He pulled off a strip of flesh and stuffed it in his mouth and, licking his fingers loudly, indicated that the others should likewise enjoy a succulent bite.

'Now then,' said All, chewing thoughtfully, 'pleased as I am to entertain noble guests…' He lifted an ambivalent hand in their direction, 'in my experience, people do not seek out Ali Waqqar unless they desire something of him. So, tell me, if you please, what is it that you wish of Ali?'

'Most astute,' replied the prince affably. 'As always, you have discerned the heart of the matter. The day is speeding from us, and we have a long ride awaiting, so I will be brief. It has come to my attention that you may have a slave to sell. We have come to buy.'

'I see.' The bandit nodded, looking from one to the other of his guests. 'Although it grieves me to say it, I fear you have had a long cold ride for nothing. I have no slaves at this time.' He took another draught from his cup. 'None.'

'We seem to have been misinformed,' replied the prince. 'Forgive me, but I was certain they said you possessed a young female slave.'

'Truly,' said Ali placidly, 'I wish I had such a slave to sell, for she would be yours this instant. Alas, my friends, I have no slaves at all of any description. Business this year has been very poor, owing to the prohibition on travel between cities. You must have heard of this.'

'To be sure,' said the prince. 'Even so, it is a very great pity to have come all this way to no purpose. Perhaps I might be so bold as to suggest that I would be willing to pay seventy-five thousand dirhams for a likely young woman,' he paused, 'ffyou should happen to hear of anyone who has such a slave to sell.'

'I will bear it in mind,' agreed Ali Waqqar. 'Now, I beg you to excuse me, but you have had the misfortune to find me in the midst of a particularly busy day.' He rose from his cushioned slab. 'Accept my apologies. Duty, you know, is a harsh task master, and never satisfied.'

'Of course. As it happens, our return cannot be delayed any longer.' Hasan stood slowly. 'Until we meet again, Ali Waqqar.' The prince made a flourish with his hand.

The outlaw chieftain made a cursory bow and the visitors were escorted back through the cave and returned to their waiting horses. Cait watched the prince climb into the saddle; she strode to his mount and took hold of the bridle. 'Is that it?' she demanded. 'Is that the end of it?'

'Ketmia, hush!' he cautioned. 'They will hear you.'

'He was lying! He has Alethea. I know it.'

The prince glanced towards the cave entrance where the guards were watching them with dull interest. 'He does not have her,' he said in low tones. 'Believe me, he would never have allowed seventy-five thousand dirhams to slip through his fingers. If he had even the slightest hope of producing her, we would be haggling over the price even now.'

'If he does not have her, then he knows what happened to her,' Cait countered. 'He knows, and you must make him tell us.'

'Ketmia, please, this is not the way.' He looked to Rognvald for help. 'We must leave at once.'

'I think the bandit was lying, too,' Rognvald said. 'He may not have Alethea now, but I believe he knows what happened to her.'

Cait held tight to the bridle. 'I am not leaving until I learn what happened to my sister.'

'And I am telling you that if we do not depart at once, we will join her in her fate.'

'You seem very well acquainted with these brigands. It seems to me you know them better than you led us to believe.'

'It is because I know them that I say we must go,' growled the prince, losing patience. 'If you do not believe me, then believe your own eyes.' He indicated the cave entrance where three more of Ali's men, carrying swords and lances, had joined the first two; behind them, others could be seen moving in the dark interior of the cave.

Frustrated beyond words, Cait gave out a strangled shriek and stormed to her horse. She mounted quickly, and started away. Rognvald waited until she had passed him, then fell in behind her. They had ridden only a few hundred paces when there came a cry from the cave.

'Sharifah!'

Cait heard it and glanced back. Over her shoulder, she saw a slender, dark-haired figure racing towards them. The cry sounded again, and she swung around for a better look. Her heart clutched in her breast.

'Abu!'

Instinctively, she jerked hard on the reins; her horse halted and reared. 'Rognvald!' she shouted. 'It is Abu!'

Rognvald's sword was in his hand before her cry had ceased. He flew past her, shouting, 'Ride on, Cait!'

Ali Waqqar appeared at the mouth of the cave, saw Abu darting away, and roared a command at his men, who stood looking on in flat-footed indecision. He roared again and started shoving men right and left, knocking two or three over; those still on their feet leapt after the fleeing youth.

Abu put his head down and ran as if all the hounds of hell were snarling at his heels.

Rognvald, naked blade high in the air, raised himself in the saddle; he swept by the young man and made instead for his pursuers, closing on them with blinding swiftness. With a rattling battle cry, he drove headlong into them, scattering attackers in all directions. Wheeling his horse and making long, looping slashes with his sword, he kept the wary bandits at bay.

More brigands boiled out of the cave. Ali Waqqar stood in the centre of a confused knot of men, shouting and shoving. And then, even as Cait looked on, the chaos suddenly resolved into an attacking force. They came forth in an angry rush, shouting, swords flailing.

Heedless of Rognvald's command, Cait hastened to Abu's rescue, galloping across the rough, rocky ground, reining up hard as she reached him. With a tremendous bound, the young man flung himself on to the back her horse, shouting, 'Fly! Fly!'

She turned her mount and felt one bony arm encircle her waist. 'Fly! Fly!' Abu screamed. Away they flew: Cait, head down, lashing with the reins, and her passenger bouncing like a sack of meal and clinging on for dear life. She found the path by which they had come and headed out across the narrow valley.

Prince Hasan sped past them, racing to Rognvald's aid. 'Make for the ridge!' he cried as he thundered by. 'Summon the knights! We will hold them at the ford.'

His shout dissolved into a whirring sound-like the sizzling buzz of an angry hornet-and suddenly the prince jolted upright in the saddle as an arrow instantly appeared in his upper chest. Grasping the shaft with his free hand, he wrenched it out and threw it carelessly aside, continuing his headlong plunge into the fight. Another vicious whirr sounded in the air, ending with a meaty thud. Abu gave a startled cry. 'Go, sharifah! Fly!' Cait urged her horse to greater speed, streaking away over the rocky ground.

Two more arrows fizzed past before she was out of range. She struck the path and raced to the broken stone slab, passed through the gap, and splashed across the ford, speeding along the stream to the base of the ridge where she was met by the knights who had seen her approach in haste and had come down armed and ready for battle.

As soon as she was near enough, she shouted, 'Go! Rognvald and Hasan need you!'

Yngvar was the first to reach her. 'Where are they, my lady?'

'Follow the stream,' she gasped, breathless from her. ride. 'You will find them beyond the ford. They are attacked. For God's sake, hurry!'