The Treasure of Akram el-Amin by Chris L. Adams

Author:Chris L. Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: true love, desert, arabian nights, bedouin, scimitar, scheherazade, desert adventure

Bid for Freedom

“Nay, I am real. But you! Surely you were fashioned by Allah from starlight and moonbeams! Nay, not even these can compare to your beauty!” professed Iskandar.

The girl, seeing now that the lad was real and not some figment of her imagination, said, “Tell me, why have you come?”

“I am Iskandar ibn Ilyas. My father is a long-time rival of the Sheikh, Akram el-Amin! He has sent me to appropriate el-Amin’s most valuable possession so that when I am one day Sheikh the people will see that I am wise, cunning and brave! I have seen many treasures this night, and have traveled alone, on foot from my father, the Sheikh’s, douar that I might return in honor upon the back of one of el-Amin’s prized stallions. But until now I had no idea what el-Amin might consider his most valuable possession! Yet now, after seeing you and finding how he keeps you behind swords, I know that it is you he values above all things!” avowed Iskandar.

The girl gasped.

“You must refer to Ilyas ibn Saleh! I have heard my father speak of him!” she said.

“Your father? Come Izzah - I must return with you to my father’s douar! Come with me! Later, if you wish it, I shall return you to the tents of el-Amin!”

“I will go!” she said spontaneously, unable to say nay to the fair youth. “I am but a prisoner here; mayhap in your father’s douar I shall be free! And I shall be with you!”

Iskandar’s heart skipped a beat. Stepping to the lass he placed both hands upon her shoulders, thrilling at the touch of the young girl’s flesh.

“And I, you!” he said passionately.

Grasping the girl’s hand, he led her then back the way he had come. After many close encounters with the various members of her father’s retinue and with more each passing moment coming into the tents for the evening, they came at last to the small slit he had made when first he entered the collection of tents of Sheikh el-Amin.

Having the prize with him he decided not to risk attempting to steal the stallion a well, saying as much to Izzah.

“We shall climb out the way I came, and return to my father’s douar on foot. I had wished to take a stallion, but the risk is too great! The journey is long, but I can carry you!” he said.

“Nay, fair Iskandar! You would not light a lantern and then place it under a box! Nor would it profit a man to place a handful of coin into a pouch with a hole! Should you return with me to your father’s tents it shall indeed bring your name honor - but should you ride into Sheikh Ilyas ibn Saleh’s douar upon my father’s stallion, your peoples’ children’s children shall speak of your deeds of derring-do after we are long gone!” she demurred.

As soon as she finished speaking a great hue and cry was heard - the head man of

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