Daoud said, "Allow the sultan of the lands of Islam, who feels himself a brother to you, to come to your aid with this gift." He upended the leather bag over the table, and a flood of tiny lights spilled out. Erculio gasped and drew back from the small pile of precious stones. Manfred stared in wonder. "This is enough to pay and equip enough knights and men-at-arms to double the size of my army. Your sultan gives with a great heart." He looked at Daoud with more warmth that Daoud had ever seen in those cold blue eyes. "Or is it in fact you who give?" "My lord the sultan commanded me to use this wealth carefully, and to help you if your enemies should attack." Manfred said, "These, then, remain of the jewels I sent you with to Orvieto? Twelve? You are a remarkably good steward, Daoud. I should put you in charge of my treasury." Daoud inclined his head respectfully. "I hope you will put me where I can serve you better, Sire." "And where is that?" "Sire, my work here is far from done. Give me a unit of your army to command. Let them be, if you permit, fighting men of my own faith." _And I may yet kill the Tartars and rescue Rachel._ Manfred's face fairly glowed. He picked up one of the jewels from his table, a large precious topaz of a warm golden color. He took Daoud's hand, laid the rare stone on his palm, and closed his fingers over it. "This is yours. Use it to recruit and supply a troop of your own in my service. They should count themselves blessed by God to have a Mameluke to train and lead them." "It is I who am blessed," Daoud said. He looked at the stone in his hand. It was a shade lighter than the color of Sophia's eyes. He bowed again to Manfred. At last he could fight as he preferred to, leading troops in open battle. As a Mameluke. Smiling to himself, he stroked his chin. _And at last I can let my beard grow._ * * * * * _A letter from Emir Daoud ibn Abdallah to El Malik Baibars al-Bunduqdari, from Lucera, 19th day of Rabia, A.H. 663:_ Next to the Byzantine Empire this kingdom of southern Italy and Sicily is the most civilized of Christian nations. That is to say, a Muslim might almost be comfortable here. In fact, many are. The chief interests of King Manfred's courtiers are falconry, poetry, dalliance with beautiful women, and philosophical disputation. My lord will note that I do not mention warfare. King Manfred seems to hope that some intervention by God or fate or chance will make it unnecessary for him to take the field against Charles d'Anjou.