But whether they are hated or merely tolerated, the Badawi are always respected by everyone who comes in contact with them. They are known as fearless warriors, and their fierce battle cries alone have been known to send many enemies fleeing in terror. They are devout worshippers of Oromasd and strong supporters of family ties and traditional values. They laugh loudly and have coarse, vulgar senses of humor—but as Prince Ahmad remarked, they are also known on occasion for their overwhelming hospitality and kindness.
The Badawi are, in short, like the very desert they cross with such ease: simple on the surface, yet ever shifting and capable of treachery; constant, yet always in motion; calm, yet deadly turbulent; open, yet possessing inner secrets no stranger will ever fathom. Above all,
