The sultan's eyes narrowed, and a deep crease appeared between his brows as he turned to Baibars. "Is this Frankish murderer a protégé of yours, then?"
Baibars nodded. "I have seen reason to take a personal interest in him, if it please My Lord."
What did that mean? What had Baibars seen in him that day in the slave market, and why had Baibars come there that day?
I have long watched for such a one as you, who could have the outward look of a Christian knight but the mind and heart of a Mameluke. One like you could be a great weapon against the enemies of the faith.
"It does not please me," said Qutuz shortly. "There is too much breaking of rules among the Bhari Mamelukes." He spoke, Daoud thought, as if he were not originally a Mameluke himself.
"There is a law among Mamelukes more binding than any lesser rule," said Baibars quietly. "He who feels himself greatly sinned against must strike back. If he cannot do that, he is not enough of a man to be a Mameluke. Even as this foolish boy said, the strong must rule."
Daoud saw grave approval in Baibars's brown face and realized that it did not matter at all to Baibars that Kassar was a Kipchaq. His joy grew as he realized that he had Baibars on his side.
Daoud remembered Nicetas's dying words—I am not strong enough to be a Mameluke.
But together we were strong enough to do what had to be done.
Qutuz said, "If all Mamelukes believed only in the rule of the strongest, we would have chaos."