Swords of Arabia: Betrayal by Anthony Litton Read Free Book Online Page B

grip had been on all aspects of Narashi life that they were actually talking about the succession. It was not unusual when the death of a ruler occurred for the state to rapidly fragment into bloody skirmishing, each rival fighting like rats in a sack for the supreme prize.
    Reluctant to force a vote he was not yet at all sure of winning, Abdullah then silently acknowledged another who wished to speak.
    And the long meeting continued well into the afternoon. As Nasir and Zahirah had foreseen, Nasim and Yusuf neutralised each other. Neither agreeing to give way to his kinsman, their fragmented support was nowhere near enough to carry them even near the throne.
    There were still three remaining threats to Talal’s ascension, however, and by the end of the seventh hour, the picture there was beginning to become clear. Nothing had been said, overtly, but all in the room knew that one – Mahmoud – had peaked. He had, though, made a much stronger than expected showing and Zahirah and Firyal watching closely, thought that they’d miscalculated and that the basic weaknesses of his position, his birth and lack of true warrior status, were being ignored in favour of his other attributes. But then, slowly, one or both began to work against him and, almost invisibly, his strength also started to ebb away; though, again, nothing was said.
    That left two, and suddenly there was a major surprise. Faisal, after remaining silent throughout the long day, suddenly spoke.
    Ah! Here comes his bid! thought Nasir wryly, impressed by his uncle’s timing. The meeting had been going on so long that many in the room were almost unconsciously drifting into agreeing to support anyone, to bring it to an end.
    But Nasir was wrong
    “I think we have spoken long enough.” Sure he had the attention of everyone in the room and being a born showman and storyteller, the stockily built prince, with an incongruously aesthetic looking face, paused for effect - and then changed everything, everything entirely.
     

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    “It is time to resolve this, re-affirm our family’s unity; become as one again.” He paused, then continued. “I feel our brother Badr should become our next emir.”
    It was if a thunderclap had crashed scant inches above everyone’s head. The sudden, stunned silence in the room was total as every man took in the seismic shift the declaration of Faisal, himself with powerful backers, had brought about.
    Behind the half-screens, Zahirah and Firyal exchanged alarmed glances. An alliance between the two powerful princes was one eventuality they had not foreseen. “ Ya Allah ! We’re lost! thought Nasir, his alarm matching that of his two kinswomen. Looking round he could see the sudden master-stroke had un-nerved and unbalanced everyone sitting round the room. Supporters of Mahmoud looked as stunned as those supporting Talal. The only ones who looked at all happy besides Badr’s and Faisal’s supporters, were Nasim and Yusuf who now clearly realised they’d never have won against such an alliance. Nasir felt the whole room shift and he knew the mood was swinging swiftly, and rapidly starting to harden behind Badr’s candidature. Men turned where they sat and started to look towards Badr. Though he remained silent and unmoving, he seemed to grow almost visibly, a man well able to take the throne and rule in his brother’s place.
    But, if one unexpected interjection can unsettle, unbalance, a meeting so can another. Suddenly, Sultan, a half-brother of Faoud’s and a mid-ranking sheikh who’d always kept studiously neutral of all the factions within the family, suddenly cut across the growing clamour for Badr.
    “What say you, kinsmen? Shall we support our brother Badr, another whose supporters talk family unity but act otherwise? I see much similar double-talking in those who secured the citadel; turned it into a haven such as we all must feel entirely secure in, and at such speed too!” This was almost purred