[65] 'Itha-mar,
now for your report. What is the temper of the city? Where is his
Sultanship of Roum?'
'The city, sire, is calm, and I believe content. The sultan and the
caliph are still hovering on the borders of the province.'
'So I supposed. Scherirah will settle that. Let the troops be encamped
without the walls, the garrison, ten thousand strong, must be changed
monthly. Ithamar, you are governor of the city: Asriel commands the
forces. Worthy Jabaster, draw up a report of the civil affairs of
the capital. Your quarters are the College of the Dervishes. Brave
Scherirah, I cannot afford you a long rest. In three days you must have
crossed the river with your division. It will be quick work. I foresee
that they will not fight. Meet me all here in council by to-morrow's
noon. Farewell.'
The chieftains retired, the high priest lingered.
'Were it not an intrusion, sire, I would fain entreat a moment's
audience.'
'My own Jabaster, you have but to speak.'
'Sire, I would speak of Abidan, as valiant a warrior as any in the
host. It grieves me much, that by some fatality, his services seem ever
overlooked.'
'Abidan! I know him well, a valiant man, but a dreamer, a dreamer.
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