Once the funeral had passed Elisheba made her move and marched towards the castle. But the gates remained closed. She ordered her army to prepare for a siege and went back to her command tent.
The next morning Elisheba left her tent and went straight to the gates of the castle, on foot.
When she arrived a smaller door in the gate was opened. Elisheba looked back at her army and there was a shade of doubt in her eyes.
But then that disappeared: "Master Ilias?" "Yes, milady" "It's been ages since we saw each other. And I see you got promoted." "Yes, no longer training little girls how to fight anymore."
"Why are the gates closed?" "Your mother's people are afraid there will be razzia's." "My mother's people? They are my people too, you know." "I just want to take my mother's seat. And if that leads to a fight with my sister, it will have no consequences for the people who have lived here for years and always served my mother faithfully and wholeheartedly."
"Do I have you word?" "You have my word. I swear this on my father's and my mother's grave. They taught me well. And I know how important a given word is." "Then the gates will be opened."
In the mean time Maryam was sure that her sister was taking the initiative and felt totally powerless. She was sure there was something she could do. And then an idea struck her.
She got behind her desk and started writing several letters addressed to the sheikhs in the desert and the emirs in Opal.
When finished she called ibn Arabi and told him to make sure that the letters were delivered urgently and "For your eyes only" to the addressed people.