BELLY DANCING TENT

Song of Songs 1:5 NIV

Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon.

Ever since Abu Bin Zayyid came to accept his feelings and fascination with the well-endowed Kulusumu Anifa in the full bloom of womanhood.

He had become happy and yet nervous.

What could happen if he got the courage to propose to her? Putting that aside, what words was he going to use to win her over? She is not like those daughters of the Order members who could marvel at his murderous exploits.

She was a physician for Allah's sake. He was ignorant of most medicine except those medicines used to treat the poisons he utilized in his work. This is when he wished he had paid more attention to the medicine classes during his training years.

There was no glory for an Assassin's Order member who purely pursued the path of medicine, better for the ones specializing in concocting poisons, but the best path for growth, riches, and glory was being a field operative. As a youth, there was no question of the path that had the most hope for growth and fame with the ladies.

He remembered how the single girls and women in the base flocked around the men who had returned from the field to hear tales of their exploits. Those who performed outstandingly were lucky to have the ladies compose songs in their honor. As a boy, he was envious of those men and could not wait for his time to go into the field and slay some infidels in a spectacular way that none could ignore his story when they heard it.

Now he was questioning himself if he chose badly.

And what could be her reaction to his proposal?

She was a headstrong woman with views that sometimes did not conform to what was expected from a woman in Arab society.

At first, he was not happy about it but slowly got to love her for her independent mind and personal convictions.

She was a breath of fresh air in a society where women were almost slaves to their male siblings and husbands.

Will she manage the life of a wife to a member of Assassin's Order?

He was into the killing business while she was into the life-saving business. What a great contrast this was.

Putting aside her reaction or response, what about her brother Adam?

Abu Bin Zayyid was of the view that he secretly knew or suspected what his real business was. Otherwise, he could have questioned him out of concern about how he got the wounds when he was brought in half dead. But he did none of that, meaning one thing, those who brought him over told him everything and he concluded that it was not safe to pry any farther in his affairs.

For business' sake. He had no problem with putting his curiosity and blame for whatever his profession was in check.

Could he remain this calm when it came to the affairs of his young sister? Abu Bin Zayyid was not sure.

Probably, he could resist everything he got from having his lovely sister getting hitched to a death merchant. First and foremost, the image of the Assassin's Order was the worst in this part of Arabia.

Considered to be heretics, mindless drug addicts who threw their lives away to kill prominent and beneficial members of society.

Even though most of the focus was now focused on Knight Templars who were not fellow Arabs or Muslims. It did not take away the hatred and fear bred for several generations.

Some Arabs could prefer to work with the Christians and Knight Templars compared to the secretive Assassin's Order.

What if Kulusumu Anifa accepted his love proposal, could his brothers or elders in the Order accept her?

They were very particular about not bringing in outsiders to maintain the confidentiality of the Order. There was no banishment for rogue members, the only way one ceased to be a member was through death.

So, the option of eloping with her was not a solution because the Order was everywhere in the Muslim and Christian world. It may take several years but they could eventually catch up with them.

Growing up, he was told stories of dissatisfied members who deserted the Order but were hunted down to atone for their despicable actions.

All this distressed Abu Bin Zayyid. But he was not willing to admit that she could not be his, and neither was he willing to see her in the hands of another man.

"Kulusumu Anifa, you will have to be mine and only mine." He spoke out with one hand holding his chest.

***

Ambrose Henri and Jean Pierre paid four silver deniers at the entrance of the belly dancing tavern. Two silver deniers for each of them.

The anticipation of the former was at a boiling point.

Most ordinary everyday goods and services cost less than one silver denier in this region, however, this was a special establishment, created to cater to the wealthy clientele who were dying of boredom or were not very religious to find solace in prayer and scriptures.

"Boss, wait for all your change." The attendant at the entrance communicated when he saw this newest European client rushing to enter minus getting his proper balance.

This type of client could later complain that his money had been stolen when they tallied their overall expenses and found out it was not matching with the money in their possession. Or worse, they could negate their payment having drunk lots of alcohol but lacking enough money to clear the bill.

If it was not for poverty, he could not be found working in such an immoral place. Filled with drunkards, prostitutes, gamblers, and lecherous male patrons lustfully looking and at times groping the beautiful Arab female belly dancers all. Hiding under the pretext of being lovers of belly dancing or appreciating the wonderful Arabian music.

Thank Allah his family was not in the know of where he got his money or else he could be a big stain on their honor.

"Give the balance to my colleague over here." Ambrose Henri pointed to Pierre Jean while pushing aside the goatskin flap serving as the door to the tent.

"Come on Ambrose, we can't come together and you leave me at the door. Wait for just a few seconds.

On another note, I really don't know where to go." Pierre Jean voiced his objections.

"Haaa, it's just a big tent. How can you get lost inside." Ambrose responded in an impatient tone.

The attendant looked at him from head to toe before saying, "boss, it won't take long. The main show has not yet started."

He counted out the balance in coins and passed them to Ambrose Henri. He was not happy with how this foreigner was behaving, was foreseeing him being a problem. He reminded himself to tell people inside to keep a close eye on him and his colleague.

Walking inside the tent, they found that the place was spaciously decorated and furnished despite the plain exterior. The goatskin exterior created an impression that the interior is not beautiful but ordinary.

Bright yellow cloth curtains made out of silk partitioned the main section of the tent from the interior section.

Velvet multicolored pieces of clothes adorned the sides blocking out the rough view of the goatskins walls. On the poles supporting the tent, bright colored ribbons in green, red, and blue crisscrossed from the bottom to the top.

Oil lamps coated in gold or silver were hung on some of the poles to illuminate the interior of the tent. Being daytime, just a few of the lamps were burning.

Rectangular tables with low wooden chairs were placed within this main section of the tent. They were all well vanished to bring out the glossy wooden texture. Some early patrons occupied a few of the tables and chairs as they sipped drinks from silver coated metallic cups.

Sweet smelling incense was burning from a few sticks at the entrance, enveloping the whole place in a sweet and friendly fragrance.

"Wow, this incense is smelling good!" Jean Pierre exclaimed. "I wonder what herbs are used to make it." He added.

Ambrose Henri extended his head closer to the nearest burning incense sticks and took in a deep breath.

"Me too, have not come across this type of fragrant smelling incense before, we shall ask them, in case they are willing to tell us." He said after smelling the incense.

"Hope they are not stingy with it. Some places consider it as part of their trade secret so that the scent is unique to only their business premises." Jean Pierre offered his take.

"Indeed, that could be very unfair. But I understand the reasoning behind such an action, it is like perfume makers in Paris.

They will sell you their packaged perfume but will not tell you the composition of herbs and spirits used." Said Ambrose Henri.

"They are trying to protect themselves. I can guess their competitors are envious of them, and could not waver to produce a similar perfume if they knew the exact composition of ingredients plus their formula." Jean Pierre added as he walked to take a table and chair which was not occupied in the middle of the tent.

Men with instruments were at the far end of the main section. Seated on chairs as they played instrumental music. The singers or dancers had not yet arrived on the stage.

No wonder the attendant at the entrance said the main show had not yet started.

Ambrose Henri took a while to sit at the table Jean Pierre had chosen. He had wanted to sit at the back where it was easy to be overlooked.

Deep inside his heart, he knew it was not proper for him as a Knight Templar sworn to do God's work to be seen in such a place or to be enjoying himself in the pleasures of the flesh. To make matters worse, he had willfully dragged Jean Pierre into this scheme under the pretext of performing a confidential mission.

He thought twice about telling him that they shift before deciding against it. Resigned, he also took a sit next to him.

At least they were close to the music stage and could not miss out on the performance of belly dancing.

"Can't wait for the main show to start." Ambrose Henri said.

Hearing this, Jean Pierre was surprised. He bent over to whisper to Ambrose, "I thought we are here to collect some information."

Ambrose Henri turned red from embarrassment but he had to defend himself.

"Yes, the mission has not changed but we have to play the part of people who are here to enjoy themselves." He whispered back on top of the playing music.

"So, you say, let me get something to quench our thirst as we enjoy ourselves." Replied Jean Pierre as he lifted his hand for the passing attendant to come over and serve them.