One man toward the front, carrying no weapon, stepped forward and addressed them. “You trespass on Punjari land. Who are you? What is your purpose here?”
Prince Ahmad urged his steed Churash two steps further, taking the calculated risk that the Punjari would not kill him. He thus stood at the front of the formation as he said, “I am Ahmad Khaled from the holy city of Ravan, and I come on a peaceful mission to speak to King Zargov.” He deliberately dropped his title, again a calculated risk; if the Punjari thought he was someone important they might want to hold him hostage—or they might be in league with Shammara and kill him on the spot.
“What is the nature of your mission?” the Punjari captain asked.
“That’s for my friends and me to say directly to King Zargov. Only he can hear our m
