Shadow of Death (Book 2 of Hanthalah)

Chapter 30

"By Allah, we did not send you to engage in trade, nor did we send you to be tyrants over the people!" 'Umar chided the shamed governor.

'Umar set strict standards for his subordinates. Soldiers were not permitted to indulge in luxuries like riding Turkic horses or mounts of fine breed in general, nor were they allowed residence in any of the cities established by the Romans and the Persians; instead, they would reside in camp cities, hastily pitched settlements of tents.

These included Busra and Kufa in 'Iraq as well as al-Fustat in newly conquered Egypt. Another restriction 'Umar enforced was that he forbade any of his subordinates in engaging in trade or any enterprise that would see them collect money that did not involve the Khalifa.

This was what the man on trial was guilty of. The man had been hauled in by none other than Muhammad ibn Maslamah. The latter was an inspector of sorts, trusted with the task of rooting out any corrupt government officials, perhaps personally dragging them to the Khalifa's presence.

The murderer of Qusayy now stood triumphantly at the governor's shoulder, smirking. My blood boiled at the sight. It was a wakeup call of sorts as well as a sobering reminder. It reminded me of who the true enemy was when all was said and done, but also that he was unreachable. Ibn Maslamah was a man of the state. An essential component of this nation.

'Umar's fury was a fearsome thing. He was of a reddish tint as is, but when his temper was roused, he would flush a darker shade, waving his staff in the air threateningly or otherwise pounding it against an open palm.

The governor was given the choice of retaining his earnings from trade and subsequently abandoning his post or see said earnings forfeit to 'Umar and remain a governor.

The man chose the latter option.

Often, 'Umar was not so lenient. He would not hesitate from discharging a governor or an official. He would hold them accountable as he would any other, sometimes by lashing them should their sin be most grievous.

In any case, the governor on trial was dismissed, and I was next on queue. I vaguely noted to myself that the Khalifa's shed was more crowded with unfamiliar faces now than I remembered.

Faces that would not prove so friendly.

But I obliviously walked forward then, with a foolish smile on my own face, filled with glee at the prospect of being within 'Umar's presence once more.

"Commander of the Believers," I greeted him.

"Raisin head!" he exclaimed, cackling. "The conqueror of Egypt returns."

I spared myself a rueful grin, lapping up at the praise. The moment of jubilance was disturbed by the distinct cough of a man at 'Umar's shoulder – one of the unfamiliar faces I mentioned.

"It is Allah that conquers," the man who spoke was spindly with sharp features. He looked like a starved rat. "Victory does not stem from 'Amr or Sa'ad, but from Allah."

"You need not lecture me, ibn al-Ahbaar, of my own religion," 'Umar chided him. "I do not believe you two have been properly introduced, though both share a similar background. Hanthalah, this is Ka'b ibn al-Ahbaar, a former rabbi in Yemen who is blessed with diligent understanding of the old scriptures."

I grunted. "The Jewish scriptures."

"The word of Allah," Ka'b ibn al-Ahbaar retorted defensively.

"But the Torah and the scriptures Allah has bestowed upon the Jews and Nazarenes have been corrupted by man, ibn al-Ahbaar," I answered in a level-headed tone. There was something about this man that made my skin crawl. Was I jealous he seemed to enjoy a closer relation with 'Umar?