"Some jinn is aiding you! Live then this once. I shall be cursed again for sparing."
Morgiana's only answer was to kneel and kiss his feet. Then she rose and stood with bent head and folded arms waiting his wishes. But Zeyneb had flitted between.
"Cid," he said abruptly, "there are horsemen approaching, very likely Christians; the gallop is that of heavy northern horses. Let us ride."
"Ride?" asked the dazed Iftikhar, "whither?" And he looked at Morgiana. His iron will was broken; he was content to let her lead him. She had already remounted.
"Toward Emesa, my Cid," she said directly.
"And what is there?" asked he, still dazed.
"The road to Egypt. You have still a name and a fame. All is not lost while Allah gives life. You are still young. The Egyptian kalif will rejoice to welcome such a warrior to his service."
"Mashallah!" cried Iftikhar, raising his hands, "when did you devise all this for me?"
"Many days since, lord. For in the hemp smoke it was written Kerbogha and the 'devoted' should fail."
"And you have been hidden at El Halebah?"