He closed his eyes, and for a moment he sat in the Gray Mosque and heard the voice of Sheikh Saadi.
The Warrior of God is known, not by his willingness to kill, but by his willingness to die. He is a man who would give his life for his friends.
He looked again at the short, smiling man before him and said, "I will stay with you."
Manfred put out a hand. "Daoud, you owe me no blood loyalty. I do not ask you to die in my company."
"And yet, but for my advice, you might not be here today," Daoud said. "I owe you that. I cannot leave you."
"Many of my own men already have."
"Then I must stay."
Manfred looked deep into Daoud's eyes. "What about Sophia?"
Daoud sighed. "God knows how much I wish I were with Sophia right now. But she is the most resourceful woman I have ever known, and she has friends with her in Benevento. And I have always known I could never take her back to El Kahira. If I live, there is no other place I can go but El Kahira. It is torment for me to think I will never see her again, but whatever happens to me, Sophia and I would have to part. Perhaps it is best that we be parted this way."
Manfred gripped Daoud's arms hard. "Stay, then, and be welcome among my companions."