One who is entirely faithful and entirely to be trusted.
One who does not attempt to retain for himself a portion of the booty
garnered in the name of Islam."
"Bah!" said Asad. "Wilt thou talk forever of those two slaves? And who
may be this paragon of thine?"
"Marzak," she answered fiercely, flinging out an arm to drag forward her
son." Is he to waste his youth here in softness and idleness? But
yesternight that ribald mocked him with his lack of scars. Shall he
take scars in the orchard of the Kasbah here? Is he to be content with
those that come from the scratch of a bramble, or is he to learn to be a
fighter and leader of the Children of the Faith that himself he may
follow in the path his father trod?"
"Whether he so follows," said Asad, "is as the Sultan of Istambul, the
Sublime Portal, shall decree. We are but his vicegerents here."
"But shall the Grand Sultan appoint him to succeed thee if thou hast not
equipped him so to do? I cry shame on thee, 0 father of Marzakl, for
that thou art lacking in due pride in thine own son."
"May Allah give me patience with thee! Have I not said that he is still
over young."
"At his age thyself thou wert upon the seas, serving with the great
Ochiali."
"At his age I was, by the favour of Allah, taller and stronger than is
he. I cherish him too dearly to let him go forth and perchance be lost
to me before his strength is full grown.
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