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After 15 days, Sarah arrived in Bilesa, and the city was as she had left it, with the same atmosphere. She looked at the walls and the bracelet before going to meet her father, Mustafa, the head of the Bani Isa clan. He had taken control of Bilesa and faced the Christian enemy, claiming that their army was not large compared to Bilesa's, but he relied on mercenaries and had spread his clan members across Andalusia.
There were no emirates with Bani Isa members, which strengthened their position.
The current rulers are Mustafa, who has maintained control, and his heir, Ahmed, Sarah's younger brother. Mustafa had been without a son for a long time, having only one daughter, Sarah, but after five years of Sarah's birth, he was blessed with a son. Despite this, Sarah remained his favorite.
The last time she visited was a year ago, and she was accompanied by her son, Belqin.
As Sarah made her way to her father Mustafa's room, her heart was filled with anxiety and questions. She entered the room and found Mustafa sitting behind his intricately carved desk, reviewing some documents with focus. Sarah stood before him and spoke with determination, trying to control her emotions:
"Father, why are you supporting Belqin, who is still too young for this position? Don't you think this could lead to disaster?"
Mustafa looked up at his daughter with deep understanding and said in a calm but firm voice:
"Sarah, I fully understand your concern. But in the current situation, we cannot afford to lose Belqin as he is the only suitable candidate for the heir. We are in a position where we cannot wait for the right times"
Sarah, confused, asked, "But why all this? Why not find another solution?"
Mustafa took a deep breath and began to explain with a hint of worry in his voice:
"The situation in Bilesa is not as it appears at first glance. Funds are scarce, and our army is very small. We have a good military force, but it is not enough to face the challenges ahead. We need to hire mercenaries to ensure our military strength and also need support from other emirates to stay afloat."
Sarah, showing signs of confusion, said, "How can Bilesa be in a position where it needs support from other emirates to maintain itself? Aren't there any other options?"
Mustafa shook his head and said, "Things have changed significantly. In the past, we faced difficulties, but now the situation is much worse. Our support for Granada in previous wars has made us enemies with some other emirates. We have confirmed information that Alfonso VI's army is preparing to attack us. If Alfonso's army arrives here, we could lose Bilesa. And that's not all; other emirates might support Alfonso's army against us, making our position even more complicated."
Sarah was shocked by the news and widened her eyes as she asked, "But didn't Prince Badis ben Habous promise you full support?"
Mustafa smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, Prince Badis ben Habous promised me, but the reality is that he is very old. We do not know what will happen if a new prince takes over. His promises may change, and we cannot pin all our hopes on a promise that might become uncertain."
Sarah froze for a moment and then said, "But you know that Prince Badis ben Habous might not approve of this, and we might not find other support in time."
Mustafa replied firmly, "I know that the prince will not agree to this step, but what I want to achieve is for other emirates to see that I am opposed to Granada and that I have legitimate reasons for requesting support. If they support us with money or soldiers, that is what we need right now."
Sarah, feeling the weight of the situation, tried to grasp the political implications of this decision. She wondered quietly, "You realize that this could have major political repercussions. How can we handle all these problems without putting Bilesa at further risk?"
Mustafa smiled wearily and said, "I know that the situation is complex and difficult, but we are in a position where we cannot retreat. We must deal with reality as it is and do our best to ensure our survival. These options may not be ideal, but we are forced to take difficult steps in times of crisis."
Sarah remained frozen in place, her eyes filled with confusion and contemplation. She realized that her father was trying to balance political interests with personal concerns and that making decisions under these circumstances required great courage. As she absorbed the situation, she felt the heavy responsibility and the challenges facing her family and her country, and thought about how to move forward in this crisis.
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In her private room, Sarah sat at her smallwooden desk, which faced a window overlooking the sleeping city. The candlelight flickering on her desk cast gentle shadows on her face, as if the light was in sync with the fluctuations of her thoughts. She reached for her pen and began writing a letter, expressing her deep feelings and concerns.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
To Whom It May Concern,
I write this letter with feelings of anxiety and fear about what the future may hold for us. In my recent conversation with my father, I realized that there is a deep tension and lack of trust in the fulfillment of the promises made by Prince Badis ben Habous due to his advancing age. My father expressed his concern about the new prince's commitment to the current promises, which is a legitimate concern that must be taken into account.
Moreover, the financial situation here in Bilesa is becoming increasingly difficult, and my father revealed the possibility that the Christians are preparing for war against us. If this is true, the situation becomes more complex, and we are in dire need of significant support.
I write this letter hoping to contribute to achieving reconciliation and clarifying matters. I request that you consider the magnitude of the challenges we face and assist in providing the necessary support to protect Bilesa and secure its future.
I sincerely hope that this letter will contribute to achieving peace and resolving our current problems. We need collective efforts and understanding in these trying times.
With sincere regards,
Sarah
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Sarah finished her letter and sealed it with her personal seal. She felt that the words she had written reflected all the anxiety and challenges facing Bilesa, and she hoped that this letter would have a positive impact on the strained situation. As she placed the letter in its envelope, her heart was filled with hope that this step would help achieve the peace and stability that everyone needed.
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Five days after sending the letter, it reached Prince Badis ben Habous at his grand palace. The prince met with Minister Al-Arabi Al-Nayei and Commander Omar in the reception room, where the dim candlelight cast shadows on the walls, adding an atmosphere of anticipation and seriousness.
Prince Badis ben Habous took the letter in his hands and read it carefully, while the minister and commander waited anxiously. After finishing the letter, the prince looked up and said thoughtfully, "This letter gives us new insights into the current situation. It seems that Bilesa cannot send its entire army to support us, which gives us an opportunity to adjust our strategy."
Minister Al-Arabi Al-Nayei smiled, looking at the prince with admiration, "The situation is now excellent. Bilesa's clan support us in the past, but they now feel they are losing due to this support. If we can exploit this opportunity to strengthen our alliances through marriage, we might resolve many of the issues we face."
Commander Omar added seriously, "Yes, thanks to Sarah for providing this valuable information. If the Christians are preparing for war, now is the right time to improve our moves. Marriage will be an effective way to solidify relationships and demonstrate mutual support."
Prince Badis ben Habous turned to the minister and said, "I want you to start searching for a suitable girl from the Bani Isa clan, specifically from the head of the clan's family. We need to arrange a marriage that might strengthen our alliances and address the problems we face."
The minister nodded and said, "I will start searching immediately. We need to ensure we choose a girl who will serve our interests and enhance our relationship with Bani Isa."
The prince then looked at Commander Omar and said, "What about other risks? As we know, some other emirates may exploit the situation to support Plissé in exchange for being against us. We need to be aware of these movements and take precautionary measures."
Commander Omar replied thoughtfully, "Yes, wemust be vigilant. We need to plan to counter any alliances that may pose a threat to us. We should monitor developments closely and be prepared for any surprises."
The three exchanged thoughtful glances, as
Prince Badis ben Habous was fully aware of the complexity of the situation. He knew that any mistake at this stage could have serious consequences. He emphasized the importance of working carefully and planning thoroughly to achieve their goals.
The prince took a deep breath and said, "We will not let any opportunity slip through our fingers. We will work to strengthen our alliances through marriage and remain vigilant against any potential threats. We must be ready to handle all scenarios."
As they agreed on the next steps, the room was filled with a sense of enthusiasm and caution. They all realized that the future held many challenges, but they were determined to face these challenges with strength and resolve. Sarah's letter had profoundly impacted their strategies, and they were now in a position to take decisive steps toward achieving their goals and strengthening their position against the increasing dangers.
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Three days had passed since Prince Badis ben Habous had ordered Minister Al-Arabi Al-Nayei to find a suitable girl from the Bani Isa clan for a marriage alliance. Now, the prince was in a state of anger, as no suitable girl had been found yet. He convened a meeting with Minister Al-Arabi Al-Nayei and Commander Omar in his opulent palace, where the dim candlelight cast shadows on the walls, adding to the atmosphere of tension and anxiety.
With visible frustration, Prince Badis ben Habous said, "Three whole days have passed, and you haven't found a suitable girl from the Bani Isa clan? Why has there been no tangible progress?"
Minister Al-Arabi Al-Nayei replied quietly, feeling the pressure, "My lord, the situation is more complicated than I anticipated. The family of Prince Mustafa consists only of Sarah and Ahmed. As for Prince Mustafa's brothers, two of them have no daughters, and the third has a daughter, but she is already married."
Prince Badis ben Habous raised his eyebrows in disbelief and said, "If the previous plan has failed, what alternative solution do you propose now?"
The minister hesitated and said, "There mightstill be a chance if we reconsider our options. Currently, Sarah is the only available option, but I know this choice may be difficult."
Prince Badis ben Habous, now extremely angry, shouted, "Are you suggesting that my grandson Abdullah should marry Sarah, who is the widow of my deceased son? This is absolutely unacceptable! How dare you propose such a thing?"
The minister lowered his gaze and said in a trembling voice, "I understand your anger, but the circumstances we face are complex. The options are limited, and we might need to face reality with flexibility. Marrying Sarah might be the only available solution to ensure the necessary alliances."
Prince Badis ben Habous, still enraged, said, "Leave now. I don't have time to discuss unrealistic options. How can I place my grandson in such a position?"
The minister left the room, visibly frustrated and worried. As Prince Badis ben Habous remained alone in his chamber, he began to reflect deeply. His anger gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of anxiety and tension. He knew that the situation required an urgent solution and that the available options were dwindling.
The prince paced slowly around the room, examining the wall engravings and the small details of the decor, trying to calm himself. His thoughts raced, intertwining and colliding, from external threats to internal crises and political alliances.
He was aware that any wrong decision could lead to severe consequences.
Thoughts of external enemies, internal crises, and political alliances continued to swirl in his mind. The choices were limited, and each decision required precise calculations. As he walked around the room, he tried to think of new options that might be less damaging to his family's reputation.
Prince Badis took a deep breath and said quietly, "We must find a solution, but we must be cautious. Time is not on our side, and we must act wisely. I will not allow any hasty decision to harm our interests."
The prince continued to contemplate, reviewing the available options. He realized that any wrong decision could exacerbate the crises. As the challenges mounted, he understood that he might be forced to accept less-than-ideal decisions to protect his interests.
While considering his options, Prince Badis ben Habous felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He needed to make a tough decision and find ways to deal with the escalating crises. With each new consideration, he recognized that time was slipping away quickly, and every passing moment could lead to a change in the course of events.
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