Tree of Pearls, Queen of Egypt Read online

“Of course these numbers are insuffi

  cient. We shall conscript more,” the

  Dawadar dismissively replied. “Th

  e monies that our Minister has amassed from

  the pay of the dismissed recruits will be suffi

  cient to re-staff the army.” He glanced

  sharply at Mu’ayyid al-Din. “May God forgive the Minister for having made such

  a grave mistake in the fi rst place. Th

  e troops are deeply aggrieved by it.”

  Th

  e Caliph was about to interject a word in his Minister’s defense when Abu

  Bakr quickly intervened. “Why should the Minister care whether the troops be

  displeased or content? Th

  e only thing that interests him is Hulagu’s satisfaction.”

  The Accusation

  this innuendo shook Mu’ayyid al-Din profoundly, and the missing letter once

  again came to his mind. He studiously ignored the youth’s impudent remark,

  however, and turned once more to the Caliph. “Sire, I am still convinced of the

  wisdom of my earlier opinion. Th

  e money we have conserved will suffi

  ce to sat-

  isfy Hulagu and avert war. You are the General of our armies,” he added, turning to the Dawadar. “If you disagree with me and continue to insist that the troops

  may yet be made ready for war, then the matter shall be decided by the Com-

  mander of the Faithful.”

  Th

  e Caliph stared at Mu’ayyid al-Din. “I would know the opinion of our

  Minister.”

  “I maintain that we must conciliate Hulagu with the means at our disposal

  in order to avert war,” he fi rmly declared.

  “And yet he demands that I go to him, or that I send one of you in my place!”

  “His Highness shall send whichever one of us he sees fi t,” Mu’ayyid al-Din

  replied.

  Abu Bakr let out a contemptuous laugh. “I do believe that our Minister

  dearly hopes to be sent on this mission to his friend the Khakan,” he sneered.

  Al-Musta‘sim wondered at this untoward speech and he glared disapprov-

  ingly at his son. Abu Bakr now rose and his face took on a serious expression.

  “I speak the truth, father. Ask your Minister. Is there not between Hulagu and

  himself old friendship and established correspondence?”

  Mu’ayyid al-Din blinked in surprise and directed a reproachful glance at the

  Caliph.

  “You have no right to speak such words, Ahmad,” the fond father chided.

  Abu Bakr silently extracted a letter from his pocket and handed it to his

  father. “Th

  is letter is my witness.”

  

   | t r e e of pe a r l s , qu e e n of e g y p t Al-Musta‘sim took the letter and read it slowly, once, twice. Th

  en he looked up

  in stunned silence at his Minister. “Do you recognize this letter?” he demanded.

  Mu’ayyid al-Din made a monumental eff ort to remain calm and collected.

  He looked at the letter. “I know it, my Lord. It was stolen from me.”

  Al-Musta‘sim threw the letter at him. “It proves our son’s accusation. You

  have corresponded with Hulagu.”

  Mu’ayyid al-Din bent down to pick up the letter while he considered his

  words carefully. “Yes my Lord. But does it prove that I have conspired with him?

  Does he not complain of my refusal to serve his ends?”

  Abu Bakr now spoke. “It is clear from this letter that the exchange between

  you is long-standing. Was it not your duty to inform the Commander of the

  Faithful of it? How should we know what has passed between you? Most likely

  you have already agreed to deliver the city into his hands and some trifl ing diff erences have arisen over the manner in which the treachery shall be accomplished.

  Th

  is is not the conduct of a loyal minister devoted to his master, as you hypocritically claim to be.”

  Mu’ayyid al-Din was at a loss how to respond. He began to speak, but the

  Caliph silenced him with a wave of his hand. Anger was now visible on his face.

  “Abu Bakr speaks truly. I did not expect this of you, Mu’ayyid al-Din. You should have informed me of any communication between yourself and our enemy when

  fi rst it arose.”

  Mu’ayyid al-Din again attempted to defend himself, but Al-Musta‘sim again

  commanded his silence. “I have long supported you against the rumors that sur-

  round you, but now it seems that your detractors did not lie. I can see no reason for your silence regarding this correspondence with Hulagu, other than that you

  thereby expect some great benefi t to yourself.”

  Mu’ayyid al-Din could no longer hold his tongue. “I saw no purpose in

  speaking to his Highness of matters that would only vex him. It is my duty to

  serve him faithfully and to defend the sacred institution of the Caliphate. Is there then anything in this letter that indicates treachery? If so, then this slave is the hostage of his master’s will.”

  Al-Musta‘sim shift ed uneasily in his seat. “So it shall be,” he mumbled. “And

  now answer me this. Would it also have vexed me if you had revealed the where-

  abouts of the slave-girl?”

  Mu’ayyid al-Din was taken aback by this sudden question. “Which slave-girl,

  your Highness?”

  t h e ac c usat ion | 

  “Ahmad’s slave-girl. Th

  e one who caused all that trouble at Karkh.”

  “Forgive me, your Highness, but I perceive not the relevance to our present

  discussion.”

  “Your ingenuousness surprises me,” the Caliph replied. “Were you not aware

  that the massacre of Karkh took place because of her? Because Ahmad discovered

  that she was hidden there, and the people of Karkh refused to give her up?”

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  “And on that day you told us that you knew nothing of her whereabouts?”

  “It was so, my Lord.”

  “How dare you persist in this lie when she is concealed in your own house?”

  Mu’ayyid al-Din started at this fresh and unexpected accusation. “In my

  house?” he repeated incredulously.

  “Indeed. Or at least in the house of your kin in Qadhimiyya. Ahmad recov-

  ered her from there yesterday with the aid of our Dawadar—without resorting to

  violence this time,” he added ruefully.

  Mu’ayyid al-Din suddenly felt a ray of hope descend upon him. He would use

  his knowledge of the girl’s true identity as a weapon against Abu Bakr!

  “Is the Commander of the Faithful certain that his information in this case

  is accurate?” he sardonically inquired.

  “Here is Ahmad, and the Dawadar stands there. Th

  ey are the ones who

  recovered her yesterday,” the Caliph replied.

  “Has the Commander of the Faithful seen the girl?” Mu’ayyid al-Din

  continued.

  “No, I have not seen her, but I trust in their testimony.”

  Abu Bakr now rose and feigned great anger. “Do you accuse me of being a

  liar, sir?” he demanded.

  “I cannot answer to that,” replied Mu’ayyid al-Din. “But I do know that I

  am no liar. As you have charged me with treason and insubordination, you are

  obliged to show evidence suffi

  cient to prove your accusations. If you do so, I am

  prepared to submit to the executioner at once.”

  “Th

  ere is no need to prove them,” Abu Bakr said,
“for we all know them to be

  true.” He reseated himself and, playing nervously with his mustache, assumed a

  detached and contemptuous look. Th

  e last thing he wanted was to be obliged to

  produce the girl before his father, and he now regretted ever having mentioned

  the aff air. He could not have known, however, that Mu’ayyid al-Din was aware of her true identity.

   | t r e e of pe a r l s , qu e e n of e g y p t

  “Would it do any harm to have the girl brought here so that we may see her

  and hear her testimony?” Mu’ayyid al-Din pursued.

  “It would not,” the Caliph replied. “Where is she?” he asked, turning to Abu

  Bakr.

  “It would be unseemly to bring a slave-girl into the Assembly Room of the

  Commander of the Faithful,” Abu Bakr persisted. “Does his Excellency truly

  deem her presence amongst us to be of any importance?”

  “It is exceedingly important,” the Caliph said. “Our Minister stands charged

  with treason and falsehood, in part due to this woman. We must therefore have

  her testimony.”

  Abu Bakr rose impatiently from his seat. “I do not agree,” he emphatically

  repeated. “Hulagu’s threats against us are our present concern. Our father has

  seen both letters, and that is enough.” Having summarily dismissed the subject

  of Shwaykar in this fashion, he turned on his heel and strode towards the doors

  of the Chamber without having fi rst requested and received the permission of his sovereign to withdraw. His father merely looked on in mournful silence. Th

  ough

  this precipitate departure was not disagreeable to Mu’ayyid al-Din—for he still

  greatly feared the harm the boy was capable of infl icting upon him—he clearly

  felt the present necessity of exposing the outrageous theft that he had committed before the Caliph. He therefore marshaled his resolve and called out aft er the

  youth. “Ahmad!” Th

  e boy turned and raised his brows sardonically. “Yes?”

  “I insist that we conclude this matter of the slave-girl.”

  “Let us forget her. I willingly forgive our Minister for this minor dereliction

  of duty.”

  “And yet I do not forgive myself,” Mu’ayyid al-Din wryly declared. “I would

  that the girl be brought before us and prove this charge of treason that has been leveled against me. Th

  is is my right.”

  Abu Bakr’s only response was to laugh breezily and stalk out of the room

  with a fl ourish.

  Mu’ayyid al-Din turned to the Caliph. “Will his Highness command the

  girl’s attendance? Th

  e Dawadar has seen her, for he was with Prince Ahmad at

  the time of her recovery from the house of my kin in Qadhimiyya, as he claims.”

  Th

  e Caliph turned to the Dawadar as though giving him leave to speak.

  “Do you doubt the words of his Excellency Abu Bakr?” the latter demanded of

  Mu’ayyid al-Din.

  t h e ac c usat ion | 

  “I doubt neither his words nor yours. But I nevertheless beg his Highness the

  Caliph to summon the girl immediately.”

  “I see no harm in this request,” the Caliph said to the Dawadar. “Bring her

  to me.”

  Now, the Dawadar saw no reason to resist this direct order, for he knew noth-

  ing of the real connection between the girl and the Caliph. He had wondered at

  Abu Bakr’s refusal to comply with such a simple request and had put it down to

  the folly and pride of youth. He rose accordingly and spoke. “I shall bring the girl by direct order of my Sovereign, his Highness the Commander of the Faithful.”

  Th

  e Caliph nodded and the Dawadar bowed and immediately withdrew. He

  was not long gone, for the house in which they had lodged Shwaykar was close to

  the Palace of the Crown.

  “Th

  e slave is at the door, my Lord.”

  “Let her enter,” the Caliph said.

  Mu’ayyid al-Din watched the door attentively, for fear that another girl had

  been brought in place of her whom he sought. He recognized her at once, as soon

  as she set foot in the Audience Hall, and he fell back, assured. Shwaykar advanced tremblingly into the Caliph’s presence and stood perfectly still before him with bowed head. Th

  e Caliph now spoke to her. “Were you not concealed in Qadhimi-

  yya and recovered only yesterday by our General?”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” she meekly replied.

  “Who was it that hid you there? Speak the truth!”

  “Who dares to lie in the presence of the Commander of the Faithful?” she

  murmured. “A man named Sahban hid me there, my Lord.”

  “Was it not the Minister Mu’ayyid al-Din that hid you?”

  “No, Your Highness. Neither did he know that I was concealed there.”

  “Have you had prior interactions with our Minister?”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “How did you meet him? Who took you to him?”

  Shwaykar trembled and hesitated, for she divined in these questions a trap set

  for the man who now stood watching her closely and who had shown her nothing

  but kindness. In truth, she was reluctant to tell any part of her story to the Caliph.

  Mu’ayyid al-Din fi nally broke his silence. “I beg his Highness to ask the girl

  her name and from whence she comes to Baghdad. I also beg his Highness to

  inquire as to the reason for her concealment.”

   | t r e e of pe a r l s , qu e e n of e g y p t

  “And what is the relevance of these questions to the matter at hand?”

  “His Highness shall see presently that they are of the utmost relevance.”

  “Very well,” the Caliph sighed as he turned to Shwaykar once more. “What is

  your name and your city of origin?”

  Shwaykar understood from Mu’ayyid al-Din’s intrusion that he wished her

  to speak the truth. “My name is Shwaykar and I was sent from Egypt to serve as

  a singer at the court of the Commander of the Faithful.”

  Th

  e Caliph was struck dumb by this revelation. Was this then the singer that

  had been lately stolen from him? His astonished eyes fl ew fi rst from Mu’ayyid

  al-Din to the Dawadar; then he resumed his questioning. “Shwaykar, the slave of

  Tree of Pearls?”

  “Yes, your Highness. I am she.”

  “And you were coming to join my household?”

  “Yes.”

  “By whom were you captured? Where were you hidden all this time?”

  “It was your Highness’s son, Prince Abu Bakr, who seized me, and I am pres-

  ently housed under his roof.”

  Th

  e Caliph stared fi xedly at the girl. “Are you not the slave who caused the

  incident at Karkh?”

  “I am that slave, my Lord. I had escaped in order to save myself.”

  “But how did my son manage to take possession of you?”

  “At the outskirts of Baghdad a band of soldiers descended upon the caravan

  that brought me from Egypt and claimed that they were come from the palace of

  the Commander of the Faithful to take me to him. I was given up to them, and

  they took me to a palace which I later discovered to be that of Prince Abu Bakr.”

  Th

  e Caliph now fl ew into a great rage and the Dawadar stared at the girl

  in amazement. He sorely regretted having brought her into the presence of his

/>   master, for he feared that Abu Bakr would suff er the wrath of his father. Mu’ayyid al-Din kept his silence, but his heart jumped for joy at this victory. Shwaykar, meanwhile, was somewhat heartened at the prospect of leaving Abu Bakr’s house

  and entering that of the Caliph, though she still cherished her dearest hope of

  being fi nally returned to Egypt and Rukn al-Din.

  A Father’s Love

  having finally ascertained the truth, the Caliph clapped for a page and

  ordered him to take Shwaykar to the Custodian of the Imperial Harem, and he

  charged the page to make sure that she be honored and given every possible com-

  fort. He then turned to the Dawadar. “You have just heard that Ahmad was aided

  in this criminal exploit by men from amongst our own troops. Is this proper? Is it fi tting that our men conduct themselves thus? Is this not treason?” he spluttered angrily.

  Th

  e Dawadar understood this outburst as a personal reproof, and he was now

  obliged to lay blame on the Caliph’s son in order to defend himself. “I assure you, Your Highness, our troops were not acting on my orders but on those of Prince

  Abu Bakr. Th

  ey could not have refused a direct command from his Excellency.”

  “And why not?” the Caliph hotly retorted. “Do you defy me in order to obey

  my son while I yet live?”

  Th

  e Caliph was exceedingly agitated. He huff ed and gasped for air and grit-

  ted his teeth in fury. Mu’ayyid al-Din was almost inclined to believe that he would have ordered Prince Ahmad’s execution, had he been present in person. How he

  wished that the Prince would come! As though reading his thoughts, the Caliph

  resumed his speech. “Where is Ahmad now?”

  “I know not, my Lord,” the Dawadar uneasily replied.

  “Find him and bring him to me this instant!”

  Th

  e Dawadar bowed and turned to withdraw. Th

  e Caliph glanced at Mu’ayyid

  al-Din with a contrite expression on his face. “We have doubted our Minister

  unfairly—may he be rewarded. Why did you not immediately inform me of the

  girl’s true identity?”

  “Because I did not know it myself until a few days ago, my Lord. I bade the

  man who brought her to me to hide her in a safe place until the opportunity arose

  

   | t r e e of pe a r l s , qu e e n of e g y p t to consult the Commander of the Faithful without the knowledge of Prince Abu