"Good. That is enough for now,"Sinjarsaid with satisfaction. "I will give him moremedicine throughout the night which should calm his fever. He has lost a lot ofblood. That is the most serious strike against him. By dawn, we should know ifhe will live or die."
Leila met her father's dark eyes, not surprised by hisblunt statement. She knew as well as he that the physician's art was imperfectand fraught with many uncertainties. They had done all they could for theirpatient. Only time would decide the final outcome, yet something told her thisman would survive. He was too strong not to.
"Shall I stay with you, Father?"
"No,"Sinjarreplied, shaking his head. "If he survives past this night, yourassistance will be needed in the days to come when I am called away on otherduties. I want you to go home and rest." He motioned to two of theMamelukesoldiers. "They will escort you, my daughter."
Leila handed him the cup and rose to her feet, suddenlyvery tired. She turned to go, but her father's hand upon her arm stopped her.
"I am very proud of you,"Sinjarsaid simply.
"Thank you, Father."
"Your apprenticeship will soon be over. When I seesuch skill as you demonstrated tonight, I have no doubt you will be most worthyof our profession. Jamal is blessed to have you for his betrothed, and itpleases me that you accepted the marriage I arranged for you. Between us, thepractice of Al-Aziz will be very great indeed."
Leila smiled despite her weariness. His praise never failedto send her spirits soaring, as her goal of becoming a full-fledged physicianmoved ever closer to reality. It was her most cherished dream.
"I owe my humble worth to the greatness of myteacher," she responded sincerely. "Good night, Father."
With a last glance at the crusader, Leila lifted herface veil and fastened it to her headband as she walked from the cell, her legsfeeling slightly wooden. Her efforts of the past hour had taxed her more thanusual, or perhaps she was tired simply because she had been up since dawn. Shewas glad the walk home was not a long one.
"This way, revered daughter of Al-Aziz," saidone of the soldiers, leading the way while the other man walked a few pacesbehind her.
Leila clutched herkufiyyaaround her shoulders and silently obliged him. She kept her eyes riveted on thesoldier's broad back as she followed him from the prison, not wanting to viewany more wretched prisoners. Truly, she had seen and heard her fill of miseryfor one night.
It was enough that she could not chase the hauntingimage of the crusader's eyes, a blue as deep and vivid as the MediterraneanSea, from her mind.
Chapter 2
"What has happened?"Sinjardemanded, rushing toward the grim-faced captain of the prison guard with Leilain tow. "Your message said to come in haste, nothing more. When I left mypatient only a few hours ago to seek some rest at my home, he was stillunconscious—"
"He is unconscious no longer, my lord Al-Aziz,"the captain interrupted smoothly, bowing in greeting with his hand pressed overhis heart. "That is why I sent the message. I thought you would want tosee him now that he is awake. He gave us a great deal of trouble at first, butI have things well under control. Don't let his roaring trouble you. He can dono harm now. The wild animal has been tamed."
Leila sensed her father's agitation at this laststatement when he proceeded across the large room, she and the captain rushingto keep up with his long strides. As they approached the crusader's cell, shecould hear the enraged cries growing louder, andgoosebumpsprickled her skin. In a way it did sound as if a ferocious animal were cagedinside.
"What happened to GovernorMawdud'ssoldiers?"Sinjarflung over his shoulder. "Theywere standing guard when I left earlier this morning."
"Our lord governor has since recalled them, O honoredone, granting me full charge of your patient's security," the captainreplied as they reached the cell. The two new guards snapped to attention,their wickedly curved scimitars held rigidly in front of them.
Leila's cheeks grew bright red as more incensed rantingpenetrated from behind the closed door.
She had never heard such foul cursing! In onebreaththe crusader consigned every last one of his captorsto writhe in hell's fire, and in the next he was naming all the vicious thingshe would do if he got his hands on a guard again. She was surprised the captainand his guards gave little notice,thenshe realizedwith a jolt that she was the only one who could understand him since he was speakingEnglish.
"Here, see for yourself, my lord," thecaptain said, opening the hinged peephole. "Your patient seems remarkablyimproved." He inclined his head respectfully, raising his voice to beheard over the loud oaths emanating from the cell. "In my humble opinion,of course. I only presume as much because the crusader savagely attacked one ofmy guards before he could be subdued."
"He did not kill the man,"Sinjarbreathed in consternation, peering through thepeephole.
"No, esteemed one. The guard lives, though he hasbeen retired from duty until his arm mends." Contempt crept into thecaptain's voice. "This crusader's strength is immense. He snapped theguard's arm like a mere twig and would have easily done the same to his neck ifour swords had not swayed him. It is my hope the governor's letter of ransom isdelivered soon so we might be rid of this madman."
Listening incredulously to this news, Leila started asher father rounded on the man, his face livid. She had rarely seen him soangry.
"By all that is sacred, my patient is standingshackled to thewall!"
"Yes, a necessary precaution—"
"But hardly suitable to his recovery,"Sinjarobjected hotly. "The crusader may be fullyconscious, but he is not yet out of danger. His shoulder wound could open atsuch rough treatment. If it putrefies the governor's ransom could well be lost."
"He is extremely dangerous, my lord," thecaptain countered, unwilling to back down. "If you had seen him earlier,you would agree. Loose in his cell, he will be like a tiger unleashed, ready topounce upon and maul whoever enters, including his respected physicians.GovernorMawdudhas put me in charge, and I deem itbest that he remain shackled. Perhaps, if it would better please you, theprisoner could be chained to the cots. Either way, he must be restrained. I donot wish to lose any more of my men to this rabid beast."
