Shadow of Death (Book 2 of Hanthalah)

Chapter 38

I shivered beneath 'Abd al-Rahman's grasp.

"Brother," I whispered, trying to compose myself in order to negotiate my release.

He backhanded me across the face, provoking a stream of blood from my lower lip.

"Your brother is dead," he whispered back. I took a moment to reminisce about the proud young boy I had met all those years back, and how much he had evolved under my guidance. How old was he now? A year shy twenty?

"Yet I see his fair face before me," I noted.

"Save me your honeyed words!" 'Abd al-Rahman bellowed at me, digging the knife deeper into my skin. I felt the warm blood trickle down my throat.

I spared a brief glance to my side, gauging how far away 'Abd al-Ka'aba was and whether he was able to intervene. I could not see him.

"You are my brother," I told him with a low, soothing voice. I knew 'Abd al-Rahman better than he knew himself. I knew he was gullible, weak-willed, small-minded with a high opinion of himself. I needed to use just the right words.

"You are my flesh and blood," I continued. "Time and again, you asked me whether I knew who you were."

Son of no one, fatherless, motherless bastard.

"Whether I knew whose son you are."

Father killing demented little shit.

"But have you ever stopped to think it is them that ought to be proud of their link to you, 'Abd al-Rahman? As I am? You will be the greatest warrior in these lands, 'Abd al-Rahman, once I temper you. Join me in Mu'awiyah's court, 'Abd al-Rahman."

"You lie because you are in a vulnerable state," he accused me.

I rejoiced at the brief hint of self-doubt I caught in his tone.

"Vulnerable state, brother? You know me to be vulnerable? I taught you all you know. You think I cannot escape this hold if I wished it?"

In truth, 'Abd al-Rahman was a hulking brute and he had a dagger pressed to my throat. Any wrong movement would render me dead or severely injured. He needn't know that, though. I tried to push away any desperation from my voice.

"What I wish is for you to flourish, 'Abd al-Rahman. I saw you transition from boy to man, and gods, what a transition it has been! I want you to mentor my sons in the same manner, 'Abd al-Rahman. Their uncle. Together, we can be an unstoppable force!"

"Your sons are dead boys walking!" his face flushed red, his eyes venomous. I maintained my steadiness.

"My boys can become testimony to your prowess. Make the correct decision, 'Abd al-Rahman. Abandon this newfound cult of yours and join us. With what you know of them, we can scour them of Arabia and Syria, send them all to the afterlife, where they belong."

"Join you? After you betrayed me time and again?" he dug the dagger deeper.

"I did not...did not betray," I could barely speak. I was wheezing out words. "It was all part of a process to forge a man out of you. Make you a warrior using fire and blood. And tragedy!"

'Abd al-Rahman started shaking and his eyes glistened. He gulped.

"You made me...you made me..." his voice trailed away. His grip on me was beginning to falter.

"Kill the man who abandoned you! Massacre the people who looked down upon you with disgust your entire life! By rights, your father ought to have freed you and your mother years before the Khalifa did."