“I urge caution,” the first wazir said. “It sounds to me as though this landless prince is asking nothing less than full control of your army for his own purposes.”
“He’ll get the army, but not full control,” King Armandor said. “I myself shall lead the army of Khmeria into this battle.”
“But Your Majesty, your age—”
“If we fight in the name of Oromasd, then Oromasd will grant me the strength of youth.”
Then, brushing aside his advisers, King Armandor placed his mongoose gently upon the ground, stepped down from his throne and walked forward to embrace Prince Ahmad personally. “In memory of your late father,” he said, “I greet you as I would my own son, and I swear to you that your battle will become my battle. The wisdom of the prophet Muhmad is widely known and respected; if he tells
