Abdel ibn Zaid howled with pain at the sudden blow from an unexpected direction. He whirled to face whoever this new foe might be, and with the blade stuck in his ribs that sharp movement yanked the sword right out of Jafar’s hands. At the same time. ibn Zaid swung his blade through what looked to be empty air, and Jafar was hard-pressed to duck before it could slice into his head.
This momentary distraction gave Prince Ahmad just the time he needed. His enchanted blade flashed through the air, slicing off the assassin’s right hand at the wrist. Ibn Zaid shrieked again as his sword clattered to the ground and blood spurted from the stump of his right arm. His howls echoed back and forth through the caverns like the cry of some feral wolf. He staggered backward, flailing his left hand, and
