Chapter 1: The Execution

[Waleed]

The acrid smell of the marketplace, its sultry scent mingled with the many citizens that made their way through the narrow confines of the man-made maze, lent to the air of tension that gathered on the breeze. In the middle of the marketplace, where once an almost empty expanse of cobblestones and dust usually existed, now had at its heart a gallows surrounded by a throng of eager onlookers. The fare for today was an execution, its guest, Mabruk al Hanash-- found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.

"Hang her!" many yelled out, while others yelled, "Give her the axe!" Even one fool yelled out, "Burn her!" But such practice was forbidden because of a terrible accident that happened many years prior, when the pyre that was alight had tumbled off to one side horribly maiming and killing several women and children, not to mention a few men, but they were overlooked in the larger scheme of things.

As Mabruk was brought to the gallows, her head covered with a black bag, the Emira’s mamluk’s made sure that no one could get within arm’s reach of her and not even the foolhardiest of idiots would attempt to spit at her for fear of hitting one of the Emira’s guards, for that would mean a death sentence in its own right. AT the top of the gallows Mabruk’s head cover was removed and the crowd jeered loudly, yet Mabruk remained stoic in her countenance.

“What shall it be?” Yelled out the man in black who stood by the side of Mabruk. As was tradition here, the official executioner would ask the crowd what manner of execution should the intended face, and then pick one amongst the crowd to choose the method. Today, he pointed his finger directly at Sami ibn Husam, “You there, what is your choice, the noose or the axe?”

Dabbous al-Maarouf min Afyal, reknown Barber of Afyal (or at least in his mind), stood nearby Sami, who was no more than 10 and 2 years old and remarked how the little street urchin looked like a doe caught in the light of a bullseye lamp.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

"Pick the noose boy." Dabbous said from the corner of his mouth, loud enough for the boy to hear. "Noose."

Dabbous resumed his scanning of the crowd. He was running low on coins, what with travel expenses and such. "Someone needs a haircut in this crowd. Or a tooth pulled." Or a purse cut... if my luck doesn't turn soon.

[Ya'qub]

Screwing up as much courage as he had within him, and not wanting to let on that being noticed worried him (it was his desire to blend with the crowd and be a faceless child amongst these older, heavier, slower and richer marketplace patrons), Sami puffed his chest out and blurted in his most proud and mature voice

"The noose! I want to see her kick!'

Then he shrank back as far behind the others as he could go.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

"Hold up boy!" Dabbous pushed through the crowd in an attempt to follow. As interesting as a bit of public justice could be, Dabbous had need of learning his way around this city, quickly. I need someone to learn me quick, the in and outs of this here fine city... yes indeed.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

"Let the justice begin! And as soon as justice is served, step up for a Justice Cut! Today only, fifty per... Half price hair cut and tooth examination my friends!". Dabbous yelled, his voice cutting through the noise as only merchants and carnival barkers can manage.

[Waleed]

The executioner nodded at Sami's answer and wordlessly went through the motions and tightened the noose about the neck of the condemned.

With a tug of the handle, the trap door beneath Mabruk fell open and she fell into the empty space below. Abruptly her body stopped at the end of the rope's length and there was an audible snap as her neck broke. So ended the life of Mabruk al Hanash.

Meanwhile the crowd remained only for a few moments more as the body twitched uncontrollaby. Sami was nowhere to be found, even though his pursuer was hot on his heels. Then out of the corner of his eye Dabbous spied a young man, a single tear creased the broad expanse of his face. His right hand firmly gripped the handle of his sheathed jeweled jambiya and his eyes, as Dabbous followed their line of sight, were as firmly locked onto the back of the young boy who answered the call for the means of execution. Slowly the man walked forward, never taking his eyes off the young man's back.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

"Hairs cut, teeth pulled, and boils lanced!" Dabbous continued to yell. He lengthened his stride and whipped out his folding straight razor. "Beards trimmed! Necks shaved!"

Throats cut... "You sir! Stop a moment and hear of the wonderful treatments I have to offer! I have the cure for what ails thee. Sir! Stop a moment."

[Waleed]

The young man intent on Sami's back seemed not to notice Dabbous yelling at him , in fact it seemed as if only he and Sami existed and all else was shadows in the mist.

His heart raced, he could hear his heartbeat in his ears, the pounding rush of blood to his brain, the cold metal in his grip, the overwhelming sensation of the world shaking and his body protesting against the strain of it all.

A firm grip grasped Sami's left shoulder from behind, as he turned and looked he caught a glimpse of a stranger yelling something, but he ignored it because the look in the eyes of the man who grabbed him completely grabbed his attention. So much so, that Sami did not realize the man had a drawn jambiya in his free hand.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

Dabbous dropped his pretense of politeness, a deep roar of frustration and anger welling up as he dug in and sprinted toward the attacker. i am too late!

[Ya'qub]

Aug 5, 2008 14:29:36 GMT -7 Waleed said:

A firm grip grasped Sami's left shoulder from behind, as he turned and looked he caught a glimpse of a stranger yelling something, but he ignored it because the look in the eyes of the man who grabbed him completely grabbed his attention. So much so, that Sami did not realize the man had a drawn jambiya in his free hand.

Sami's eyes were wide with fear. Casting glances right and left he quickly sized up his location and did what his years of living on the streets had taught him. Without warning he brought his knee up high into the man's groin. He didn't know if he would do any damage, but he hoped to startle him enough to loosen his grasp and allow the youthful urchin to escape.

[Waleed]

As the young man was about to say something to Sami, he was cut short as Sami kneed him in the groin, causing him to double over. But he was not completely disabled as he saw out of the corner of his eye a man charging toward him. At the last moment he was able to block the man's incoming attack with a razor and able to regain some of his composure as he assumed a defensive stance with his jambiya held outward a few yads back from the pair. To the trained eye, one could tell the young man was not proficient in the martial arts, but merely acting on instinct. With anger and rage in his eyes the young man spews out the words, "Did she kick enough for you, you little bastard!"

[Zaim al-Daleel]

"Its not to late to walk away," Dabbous said, flipping his straight razor shut. He rolled the ivory handle between his thumb and fingers. "Take your grievance up with the Emira. Leave the boy alone."

[Waleed]

The young man's eyes narrowed, in his mind he was weighing the options. He could throw his jambiya, but would he also be throwing away the rest of his life? Sorting through the options set before him, he chose life. "May you live a life of hardship and pain, never knowing a slaked thirst or sated belly." Then he sheathed his jambiya and moved backwards, still wary of the barber before him, and slowly dissapeared into the crowd.

Seeing the danger averted, Dabbous turned to see Sami trying to do the same, the look of fear still prevalent on his face.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

"Hold up boy!" Dabbous called out, slipping his razor into the folds of his sash. "He's gone. No worries!" unless that young man holds a grudge... and I wager he will

Hustling after the boy, Dabbous continued: "That was a mighty blow you delivered to his tender-berries! Mighty indeed. Hold up and talk with me a bit, or take me somewhere, but I could certainly use your help."

[Ya'qub]

At the plea for help, Sami's curiosity got the better of him. He deliberately slowed a little so that the older stranger could keep up.

At the right moment, he ducked into an alley way, watching for his rescuer.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

Dabbous drew up short at the alley. "Thank you, young sir. No doubt you could make your way blindfolded through these self-same alleys."

The barber spread his open hands wide before him. "I'm a friendless man in a strange city, in need of a friend. Or at least a guide."

Dabbous smiled, revealing two rows of shiny white teeth. "Either will receive generous compensation."

[Waleed]

Elsewhere...

"Yksuy, morbha huemil layte?" The odd looking man asked of his traveling companion. "Yes yes, we will make it in time, do not worry." But Aman was worried, he was lost and neither the overcast sky nor his memory could help him in this, his greatest time of need.

The sky grew darker, thunder rolled far off in the distance and through strained eyes Aman made out a shape of a building off in the distance. As the two approached the building, it was clear that somehow Aman had delivered what he promised. "Ah, see, we are here, just as I said." His statement was well received by his companion, so much so he decided then and there to gift his guide with a glance of his face.

When Gyzzthar was done sucking the brains out of Aman's perforated skull, he curled back his tentacles back under his hood and once more covered his face. "Thankss youss Amanss." With a click of his beak, the stranger in the dark entered the long lost temple ruins.

[Zaim al-Daleel]

Dabbous' smile faltered, but only momentarily. don't talk to strangers, I wager his parents said "Don't blame you, no sir, not one bit. We haven't been introduced properly."

Dabbous extended a hand. "Dabbous al-Maarouf min Afyal, pleased to meet you. Recently of the great Isle of Afyal, presently unemployed. I'd tell you that I'm the greatest barber you'll meet but I'm not comfortable with a lie that size. I'm the second greatest."

[Ya'qub]

Sami stared at the stranger.

"Why me?" He asked, nervoulsy looking around. "Why did you help me?"

[Zaim al-Daleel]

"Why me? Well, why not you? Who are we to question Fate?" Dabbous glanced heavenward, checking the weather. "My bones tell me a storm approaches... Do you know where a man and his friends might pass the night under shelter? Some place that doesn't require many coins?"

[Ya'qub]

Dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, Sami beckons to the stranger. "Follow me..."

The street urchin led the stranger through a maddening tangle of alleyways and past several doorways that looked too much alike one another to a sheltered corner. It was still outdoors, but under a makeshift canopy in a secluded area. This was obviously Sami's home, as sparse as it was.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

[Zaim al-Daleel]

Few coins indeed... "A man's tent is his castle," Dabbous stated seriously. "If you'd share yours with me for a few nights I'd be in your debt."