The Syrian could not believe his ears. He said, "Are you calling me a coward? Do you know who I am?"
"Yes, I know you. You are a savage, who is not ashamed to raise your hand against an unarmed man and a helpless girl."
The Syrian angrily pushed the girl aside and then stabbed Asim several times. Asim took a few steps back, blocking his thrusts with his sword, but when he retaliated, The Syrian's excitement turned to anger and anxiety. The spectators, who had been standing there in awe a moment earlier, were now shouting slogans of appreciation. The Syrian's slave, seeing his master retreating, tried to stab Asim from behind, but Ibad ran and punched him in the neck, causing him to fall to the ground. Ibad snatched the sword from his hand and placed one foot on his neck, saying, "It's better for you to lie here, nice and easy."
After a while, when the Syrian was panting like a tired horse, six riders on two galloping horses entered the inn and jumped off their horses without stopping. Firmus ran forward and once he addressed the dignified man in armor who seemed to be a high official in the Roman army and said, "You have come a little late. I did not know that an angel would arrive here to protect me before you, otherwise I would not have troubled you. If this noble Arab had not arrived here, you would have seen my corpse here now".
The Roman officer— whose eyes had been fixed on Asim and his opponent, as soon as he entered the courtyard— moved forward without answering, but seeing the condition of the duel, he did not feel the need to intervene immediately, and at the signal of his hand, his companions also stood with the spectators.
After a series of attacks, Asim pushed the Syrian from all sides and pinned him to the pillar, where a few moments ago, Firmus had been waiting for a miracle in a state of extreme helplessness and despair. Asim had only targeted his clothes instead of his body. As a result, the Syrian's expensive robe was torn in several places, his courage failing him every time due to fatigue and alcohol intoxication.
Asim said, throwing his turban aside with the tip of his sword. "Wine cannot turn jackals into lions. If you wish, you can save your life by throwing your sword."
Asim's words offered no consolation to his opponent, and after gathering all his remaining strength, the Syrian pounced on him like a wounded beast, but it was the last spur of a dying flame. After pushing Asim back a few steps, darkness fell before The Syrian's eyes and he swung his sword blindly in the air for a few seconds before falling face down.
The Roman officer quickly stepped forward and grabbed Asim's arm, pulling him towards him. "Young man? You have helped an innocent man, and we thank you. My only regret is that I arrived too late and could not see the whole spectacle. You have trampled a drunken elephant."
Seeing Asim confused by the surprise, Firmus interpreted for the Roman officer and Asim replied in Syriac, "He was only drunk with wine and I did not feel any pleasure in knocking him down."
"You don't know him," said Firmus. "But I have heard all about him. All the tribes of this region consider him a master of swordsmanship."
Asim replied, "Then I should be sorry that he was not conscious today."
The Roman officer said in Syriac, "You are brave and also noble. If you like, you can have an honorable place in our army."
"Thank you, but I'm going home as I am needed more over there".
"Where is your home?"
"I come from Arabia and my home is in Yesrab"
The Roman said, "My name is Patios. I would be very happy if you would stay at my home when you pass by Jerusalem."
"Thank you, but I won't be able to stay there. I want to reach my home without delay."
THe Roman said,"Firmus is my friend and you have saved his life. Now I have to ask, what service can I do for you?
One of the two Cypriot passengers addressed the Roman officer and said, "Sir, he has saved all of our lives. We come from Cyprus and it was beyond our imagination that the Roman government had given such freedom to such savages. It felt like a beast had escaped its cage here."
A Jew cried out, "Sir, this savage did not feel ashamed even to raise his hand against an innocent girl. I was afraid that he would kill us all in his drunkenness."
All the passengers were expressing their knowledge and anger against the Syrian in turn. But Ibad, who had snatched the Syrian's sword as soon as he fell, now, seeing the people turning to the Roman officer, had seized the sword's new sheath as well his ornate dagger. The Abyssinian slave, despite being a slave, could not watch the spectacle of his master's helplessness for long. When Ibad put his hand inside The Syrian's cloak and took out a bag full of coins, he went forward and grabbed his hand, but Ibad freed his hand in a single blow, got up and pushed the Abyssinian back a few steps. After that, the Abyssinian did not dare to move forward, but he shouted, attracting the audience to him.
"Who is this?" the Roman officer asked angrily.
Firmus replied, "Sir, this is the slave of this savage."
Pointing at Ibad, the Abyssinian cried out to the Roman officer, "Sir, he has taken away my master's sword and dagger. He has also taken away my master's bag and taken away my sword. Sir, my master will flay me as soon as he regains consciousness. His sword is very valuable, sir!"
The Roman replied, "Your master will come to his senses in the dungeons of Jerusalem. And before we release him like this, we will make sure that you are safe from his punishment. Now, if his horse is here, put him on it and come with us."
The Abyssinian fell silent, but when Ibad picked up his sword and began to wield it, he shouted again, "I will ask Mr. Mir about my sword as soon as I come to my senses. It is very valuable, and he has hidden my sword somewhere. He has also disappeared my master's dagger and bag somewhere."
The Abyssinian fell silent, but when Ibad started to put the stolen sword in its sheath, he shouted again, "Sir, as soon as my master regains consciousness, he will ask about his sword. It is very valuable and he has hidden my sword somewhere. He has also hidden my master's dagger and bag somewhere."
The Roman stepped forward, took the sword from Ibad's hand, pulled it out its sheath, and asked Ibad, "Who are you?"
Instead of Ibad, Asim replied, "Sir, this is my slave. And in our country, slaves consider it their duty to seize the sword of their master's defeated enemy, but since this Syrian is your subject, you can make a better decision regarding his belongings."
The Roman smiled and looked at Asim, and while returning the sword to Ibad, he said, "This sword is very beautiful, but I cannot deprive a brave man of the reward of his victory."
Asim said to Ibad, "Ibad, all we needed were the swords. Return the bag."
Seeing Ibad's reluctance, Firmus felt the need to intervene immediately and addressed the Roman officer, saying, "Sir, two of his beautiful horses are also tied up in my stable. What is your ruling regarding them?"
The Roman replied with a smile. The owner of the horses is unconscious and the Roman government cannot take responsibility for their safety. I only regret that this savage was not killed before my arrival. But rest assured, he will not visit this inn in the future".
The Syrian's slave said, "Sir, you ordered me to put my master on a horse and go with you." The Roman replied, "Your master's head needs to be doused in cold water. When he regains consciousness, it will not be difficult for him to walk to the prison in Jerusalem."
A Jew shouted, "Sir, he's just regained consciousness."
The eyes of the spectators suddenly focused on The Syrian, he changed his position, then stood up and sat down with his head in both hands. One of Firmus' servants picked up a jug of water and poured it on his head. The Syrian did not resist. Now other servants of Firmus were also taking turns bringing jugs of water and pouring it on his head, and the spectators were laughing.
Firmus said to the Roman officer, "Sir, please sit down. I will order my best wine for you." The Roman officer sat down near a table.
Firmus turned to Asim and said, "You too, stay here. I'll send you food."
Asim said while sitting near Rumi, "I am grateful to you. These two swords are a great reward for me."
"But I didn't see the second sword".
"My slave has hidden it somewhere."
"I saw an Arab fight for the first time. Your army must be very good."
"Sir, there is no army in Arabia."
"If there is no army in Arabia, how does the government run there?"
"There is no government there".
"There is no army there. There is no government there, so how does the business of the empire run?"
"Sir, Arab is not the name of any kingdom?"
"What! You mean that you have no king".
"No"
Roman, completely surprised, asked, "Then what happens there?"
"There are only tribes or families."
"How can tribes or families survive without an empire, a government, and an army? I mean, how can there be peace among them?"
"Sir, the word peace is foreign to our ears. Nature has created us only to kill and to be killed. Outside Arabia, I have seen one empire fight another empire, but there are only wars between tribes. The wars of the kings of the Ajam[3] may end after the victory of one and the defeat of the other, but our wars never end".
"Only a strong government can end tribal warfare"
"Heh, we cannot imagine a government that would deprive us of the freedom to loot and kill".
"But you do not seem like a murderer or a looter to me".
Asim replied, "If a murderer of my kin was here, you would see me in a very different light."
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Author's Note:
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