Chapter 4: The Secret Door
Abdel ibn Zaid, fanatical leader of the fearsome rimahniya assassins, led his band of rimahniya from the oasis of Sarafiq the morning after his discomfiting interview with the prophet Muhmad. Even though Muhmad had known ibn Zaid was stalking Prince Ahmad as a lion stalks an antelope, he had still been open about the prince’s destination and itinerary. If what Muhmad had told him was true, the rimahniya had far to go to catch up with the prince and his entourage—and somehow, even though it would have been in the prophet’s best interests to lie, Abdel ibn Zaid felt intuitively that the man had indeed told him the truth. He hated relying on his sworn enemy for help, but in a matter as important as this he couldn’t afford to be proud; he’d take assistance wherever
