The babble of voices was so confused that Daoud could no longer tell what anyone was saying. Mansur ibn Ziri, commander of the halkha, and Anis, master of the hunt, pushed their way through to Qutuz's body, while some men still clutching scrolls ran from the chamber. They must fear even being in the room where the sultan was murdered.
I have killed the sultan.
Though his whole body shook with reaction and his limbs felt weak, his heart was full of joy.
His hand on his sword hilt, Daoud surveyed the large chamber. The Mameluke emirs were looking, not at Qutuz's body, but at one another. And they kept glancing at Daoud.
They had seen Daoud throw his arms around Qutuz. They knew who had killed Qutuz. And they knew why he had done it.
Baibars still stood apart in a far corner. His good eye met Daoud's, but his face was a mask.
As the last of the local men fled the place of death, a silence fell over the room. The Mamelukes were alone with the body of their sultan. The men of the halkha, the sultan they were sworn to protect now dead, looked at the emirs. The only voices now were the murmured words of Mansur and Anis as they bent over Qutuz's body.
With an effort Mansur pulled the dagger from Qutuz's back. Anis grunted when he saw the twisting blade.
Heart hammering, Daoud tensed himself. Would Mansur turn and accuse him? He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was behind him and took gliding steps backward until his shoulders were pressed against a pillar.
Mansur said in a voice that carried through the room, "The flame dagger. Our lord has been struck down by the Hashishiyya."