But, Mohab soon caught his attention and hit him with the fist of his left hand! Shaddad’s hand holding the sword dropped it, and before Shaddad jogged to his dagger, Mohab kicked him with full strength; bashing him with his body and putting him on the ground. There, he stripped him of his weapons.

Shaddad shouted angrily, “get away from my body... I can barely take my breath!”

Mohab replied, “not before you order your soldiers to withdraw.”

Shaddad gave his order, and so, Mohab let him go. Shaddad stood, dusting his clothes with rage, and gathering his weapons. He mounted his horse, then looked at Mohab with a malicious stare, full of hate – one which Mohab met with confidence, then he shouted.

“You will regret this, Mohab.”

He went back to pulling the tails of defeat, and Mohab returned his sword to his sheath and checked Rammah.

“Are you all right?”

Rammah breathed slowly and merely pointed towards his bloodstained waist. Mohab realized how deep the injury was and nodded to Dirgham to bring the drug basket and water bag from the back of his hors. Dirgham give him a basket of leather rapidly, ehere Mohab put it on the ground, opened it and pulled out some blades, wooden sticks and a potion of dry herbs, pre-arranged for such things.

Rammah lay on the ground and lifted his shirt, looking at the wound which was not so deep that needed to be tagged. He washed it well with water, then tore a small piece of fabric from his clothes. He fixed it tightlt to the wound and tied another piece around the waist of Rammah to increase its stability.

After this, he made a sandy hill where he left the feet of Rammah perched and let him rest under the palms. He recommended his men to nourish him well.

After a while he returned to him when Rammah restored some of his health so he said to Mohab with a weak voice, “thank you. You are so chivalrous!”

Mohab smiled. “You are the first to find this oasis.”

Rammah responded, “were it for the old-seated revenge among our tribes, I would ask you to bring your tribe to share this place together.

Mohab sighed deeply, “Unfortunately, since I opened my eyes, I see nothing but fighting and blood between Bani Al-Shams and Bani Al-Negm and Bani Al-badr. If we were familiar with each other and we forgot the hatred of the past, we would not have died. Forget this, Rammah. I will go with my men to find another oasis.”

Rammah grabbed a Mohab's hand. “You know the intensity of the dispute between our tribes. It is still to the point that it is forbidden for us to communicate with you, or talk to you. Yet, I want to preserve our lasting friendship, Mohab.”

“This is difficult. I do not know how my father will react when he knows my situation with you here.”

“So, let us keep our relation of friendship secret. Let's meet far from those who don’t agree, those who knows of the fund and who we are. You are the Crown Prince and I am the Crown Prince. Maybe if we become leaders tomorrow, we will agree and unite.”

Mohab was impressed by the idea of Rammah and raised him on his shoulder before he went out with his men. When they moved away, Dirgham approached with his horse to Mohab.

Dirgham spoke up. “What you did was so utterly wrong. How can you trust your enemy?”

“In this situation, Bani Al-Najm did not declare their weapons in our faces. And who knows, this may be the beginning of a reconciliation between us!”

“Beware of Rammah. If he was as good and simple as you think, he would not have been able to win the mandate of the Covenant, bypassing all the customs and traditions of the Bani Al-Najm tribe, and bypassing his older brothers!”

There was too much heat in his blood to discuss it.

“Forget this and let's find another oasis.